A/N: I haven't been inspired lately. I've been wanting to draw pictures rathern than right the story out. Sometimes I just wish I could make this into a doujinshi, but I can't. (It would take WAY too long, what with all th tones, and drawing and paneling, bleh!) Summer lethargy has set in, so I'll be forced to think about my story, but don't expect to highly. ;

Falling Up

Even after reaching Suna, I didn't get to see Gaara. Temari reported the results of our mission, so I was unneeded. More rather, I wasn't needed here. Temari ordered me to "watch over Inukami." In other words, I couldn't let him cause anymore trouble, so I was stuck with this guy for the rest of the day, until Gaara gave the me orders.

Inukami followed me everywhere like a loyal puppy. "Watching over" him wouldn't be too much of a task. Even in the crowded afternoon bazaar, Inukami stuck to me like glue.

"Oi, Miss Misa, where're we going?" he asked, trotting lightly and dodging the onrush of th crowd.

"To the hospital."

"What for? You sick?"

"No. To visit."

I expected some cute quirk or tilt of the head as he usually does, but his light, airy atmosphere seemed to fall from its elevation.

We arrived at the hospital and the nurse at the front desk directed me to my family's room. I asked her to ask the doctor on their condition. It seemed that they were steadily recovering, but still needed to remain in the hospital for a while longer.

Most of the hospital rooms accupied many people, but my family had a room to themselves, and I was glad. It would've been an awkward visit with some stranger listening in on our conversation. I knocked quietly on the pale blue door, and slowly opened it. My mom lay on the bed to the far right, my brother and sister on two seperate beds opposite from her. Mom was sound asleep, but my siblings were wide awake.

"Sis!" My little sister cried happily at the sight of me. "I missed you! Where were you? I thought you'd be the first to see us when we woke up!"

"Did you get knocked on the head or something?" I rapped my knuckles on her head. "Since when have you missed me? Whatever. I got you a present." I handed her a box that I boughtat the bazaar on the way here.

She eagerly opened it and squealed with delight when she discovered its contents. "CHEESE! My favorite! Thanks, Sis!"

"Yo, bro!" I walked nonchalantly to my brother, who was quietly taring at me, a slight glint of hope and threat in his eyes. "I got you something, too, don't worry. Here!" I flung him a couple of peaches, his favorite. "How long has Mom been asleep?"

"Oh, you know how she is," my brother rolled his eyes. "She goes in ad out every now and then. She's gonna be like this until someone gets her out of bed. Whenever she gets comfortable, she's never moves."

"Well, I got her some chocolate," I produced a long, short, red box from my bag and set it on the table next to her bed. "I thought you guys might like something other than hospitle food. I hear it tastes like rubber."

"And plastic!" My sis chimed in, swallowing the last of the cheddar cubes to move on to the mozzarella cubes.

"The homeless shelter has better food than this place," my brother snorted. "But I guess the government cares more about the homeless than the people who're gonna die anyway."

"Hey, don't say that!" I yelled at him.

"Oh, by the way, who's that guy behind you?" my brother pointed over my shoulder.

Up until now, Inukami had been completely forgotten. I didn't even think of introducing him. And my sister seemed to be too absorbed in her cheese to care. "Oh, he's Inukami, some doggy I picked up in the Rock country. Nothing more."

Inukami gave me a pouty face a that last comment, but I ignored him.

You're family seems nice.

'Almost too nice. Do you think they had mental damage?'

Oh, come off it, Misa! You love your family and they love you too! Since you're stuck living with each other all the time, you grow irritated of each other. That's how it'd be with anyone. Since they just nearly died, they've come to realize how much they trul cherish each other and you. If you died tomorrow, don't you agree that'd you regret not being nicer to them? Spending more time together.

'Yeah, yeah! Don't lecture me. You don't even have a family!'

Yes I do. Orochimaru and my mother are my family. Even if they are dead, that doesn't break the bond between us. We are, and shall forever be, related.

'Sometimes, I think you're too mature for your age.'

Oh, I'm hardly mature. Now there's somethin you want to ask your family, isn't there?

"Hey, Bro," I spoke quieter, as he examined my face. His cool eyes staring endlessly. He always had that cold expression about him, but he couldn't help it. It's just how he is. "Say, hypothetically, you had four cats. One of the cats, however has a disease, and if you don't get rid of it, they other three will catch it and die, but the first cat won't. What would you do? Would you kill the first cat to save the other three?"

He stared at me with a calm expression, his brotherly instinctints telling him that this 'hypothetical' question was very serious. "Well, I'd say I'd get rid of the disease. Find a cure. That way, I can have all four cats. That first cat did nothing wrong by being a carrier. He couldn't have had anything to do with it, so therefore, he doesn't deserve to die, on behalf of the others. The real source of the problem is the disease, so why needlessly make a sacrifice?"

I stared at him, wide-eyed. The answer was so simple. There was no need to make a sacrifice, I just needed to get rid of the source. I smiled as this tormoil within my heart had been ceased. "Thanks, Bro," I began to walk to the door. "Tell Mom I droppedby when she wakes up."

"Leaving so soon? Ok then. Bye." My brother waved with a cool smile.

My sister looked up from her now empty box and waved energetically. "Bye, sis! Bring me some more next time!"

I walked out the door and briskly down the hall. I felt a lot better now that I had a goal in mind. Just listlessly following everyone around wasn't helping.

'The one who's been ordering the masked guy is someone called Deidara, right?'

So it seems. Planning to attack Deidara?

'You've read my mind. And I've got a plan.'

We're going to need to use Naruto after all, huh?

'But not after a little research. I need to know everything about Deidara, before I'm to confront him.'

I can't believe you're even considering going against an Akatsuki member! There's no way your'e strong enough!

'Want to bet?'

You're on!

I stopped abruptly outside the streets, causing Inukami to collide into my back. He looked at me curiously. "Miss Misa?"

I turned to him with a bright grin and said, "Doggy, we're going on a hunt."

Gaara glared back at me from behind his desk. I had forced Inukami to stand outside of the office, with much effort, so he wouldn't try to do exactly what Gaara was doing now.

"You're not going to do anything rash, are you?" he raised a non-existant eyebrow.

"Of course not!" I lied through my teeth. "Since we're plunging head-first into this war. I'd like to know about my opponent, should I ever face him."

"If something like that ever happens, the only advice I can give you is to run," Gaara sighed.

"But you personally fought Deidara!" I protested. "I need to know what I'm running from, if that's how it's gonna be. You must know something!"

The Kazekage gave one last sigh before he succumbed to my nagging. "Deidara uses clay to create 'works of art.' He does this by eat some clay from a pouch with a mouth in his palms. What he produces are statues of all sizes, and each are under his control. They also have an explosive power that he can ignite at any moment he wishes. When I fought him, he created a giant bird statue that could fly, so I'm sure any of his other forms of art have different abilities as well. From what I can gather, he seems to have a hot-headed personality and likes to boast."

"Hmm, I see," I muttered aloud, my brain processing all this new information. "Well, then, Lord Kazekage, I'm going to request leave to journey ot Konoha."

Gaara looked up at me curiously, his chin resting on the back of his folded hands. "You're not legally a ninja. You're technically a civilian, so you can leave as long as you have a travel visa, so you don't need to ask permission. Why do you want to go there, anyway?"

"Sarafu wants to see Mr. Kyo and I'd like to as well." It wasn't a lie. I did plan on meeting with Mr. Kyo when I got there.

"Fine, but be careful, I'll send a jounin to es-"

"Gaara, I'm not a kid," I glowered at him. "I can manage myself fully. I haven't been training for fun, you know. The only people I have to worry about are the Akatsuki. The journey here to Konoha should be free of any danger I can't handle."

"You're right," Gaara recoiled from the firmness of my words. "Sorry to offend you. When are you returning?"

"If all goes well, a week from now."

"Very well then, be off. Oh, and Misa..."

"Yes?"

"Be safe." He said that last line with such a heart-wrenching smile, that I felt like he knew I was lying. His words held a sorrowful wave about them, and I couldn't help but feel the guilt from my lies.

You had no choice. If you told him, he never would've let us go. He seems to baby us so much.

'I think he's afraid of losing you again. That's why he keeps not letting me go on any missions or do anything without an escort.'

Deep down, he's just a big ol' softie.

Inukami immeadiately followed me, after I had walked out of Gaara's office. I knew he had been listening through the door. Doggy's curiousity was the greatest in the world.

Do you think we should trust him with this information? If he's gonna follow us to Konoha, he'll inevitably learn of our plan.

'Even if I tell him to stay, he'll just follow me in secret, anyway. Besides, it's only Doggy. What's he gonna do? Go run off to Akatsuki and spoil our plans?'

True. But what about when we're executing the plan? There's no way he can survive in the midst of the battle, even with his 'Dog-charming' powers.

'I'll just tie him to a pole or something, or lock him up in a kennel and retrieve him later.'

I quickly had my things packed, and since Inukami held no other possession than his Siberian Husky, he was already ready to go. With Luna tied to my belt, I headed out into the world beyond Suna.