Snow in the Desert.
Chapter Twenty-Eight.
A/n: Three in one night? Yes, I do spoil you all too much ;D
Miyuki and Gaara's departure was a tough one as he found it almost impossible to leave go of her. He kissed her with a passion that resembled the affection from a lover's tragic 'last kiss' and found it devastating to watch her disappear beyond Suna's horizon of gold and orange contrasting together. Gaara never thought such a beautiful sight would bring him such sadness. But despite it all, he still was convinced that Miyuki will return feeling better to him and not to Sasuke. He was positive. Miyuki and Temari walked side-by-side on their way to Konoha while Temari rambled about Shikamaru. Miyuki knew better not to interrupt when Temari was on the Shika-rampage so she remained quiet. Temari was carrying the one bag that Miyuki required as she was far too weak and the final moment she shared with Gaara didn't seem to help her either. Once Temari stopped talking for one moment, Miyuki decided it was the perfect moment to get her words in.
"I'm exhausted. Can we take a small break?" Miyuki asked.
"Well, I would prefer not to but I was demanded by Gaara that you must rust when you're tired." Temari admitted.
"Wow, aren't you caring." Miyuki said sarcastically while Temari laughed.
Miyuki struggled to laugh also.
They decided to relax in the clearing to the left of them. The weather was stifling and humid but they managed to find some refugee underneath shade. When they reached the ideal location, Miyuki dropped herself to the floor on to her back.
"When are the Anbu going to be here?" Miyuki asked.
"I don't know. They should be here in about twenty minutes, I think. I wasn't really keeping track on time to be honest." Temari admitted.
"Yeah, because you were too busy yapping about Shikamaru." Miyuki held a snigger while Temari gave her a look of death.
"Hey now, it's not fair to be talking about me while I'm not there." A lazy voice echoed throughout the clearing as Shikamaru jumped from a treetop.
"Shikamaru!" Temari announced, shocked as her face turned bright red with embarrassment.
Shikamaru reached his hand towards Temari who took it with delight as he pulled her to her feet.
"Shika, is it just you? Where's the Anbu?" Temari asked, startled.
"Don't worry, they're here too." Shikamaru announced as four other Anbu members fell from the treetops.
Miyuki watched them as they all landed gracefully on their feet. Miyuki looked towards the different painted masks they wore together in single file. She ignored the chatter that Shikamaru were having and watched the discipline that the Anbu members held. She knew with four Anbu members she was in fantastic hands, after all, Kakashi was in the Anbu once before too. They all stood in a single line until one of the members broke the formal pattern and advanced towards Miyuki. He leaned on one knee and came into eye level with Miyuki, although she couldn't see their eyes. Miyuki was extremely confused and slightly scared of the Anbu's actions.
The Anbu member obviously noticed her confusion and retreated his offering hand.
"Don't worry," The member laughed. She couldn't recognise the voice as it echoed off the mask.
"It's just me." The impostor removed his mask as Miyuki could only stare as he moved his finger tips into the eyeholes of the mask and slowly pulled it off his face.
Miyuki stared in shock as Sasuke was before her with a clear smile on his face.
"I can't believe it's you. We were told we had to protect a ninja, but I didn't think it was going to be you." He looked ecstatic as he cupped Miyuki's cheek with his right hand.
She attempted to pull his hand off her face but she was far too weak with a mixture of shock to efficiently move his hand from her face. Sasuke noticed and his eyebrows knotted together.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"No. I'm sick. Gaara sent me here for treatment." Miyuki forced the words out.
"Oh..." He removed his hand from her face and for once, his eyes fell from hers. "You're still with Gaara, huh?"
She could hear the disappointment. She noticed that his eyes were fixed on her wedding band from Gaara as he took her hand in his to twist the ring once.
"Miyuki, I'm sorry for everything, you know." She could tell he was ashamed.
"It's okay. But we have to start leaving now."
"Okay."
Sasuke rose from his feet and extended his arm into midair for Miyuki to take. As she took his hand, he pulled her up from the ground but noticed she was too weak to support herself as she tilted slightly.
"You can barely walk." It was a statement from the Uchiha.
"I'm okay, just lost my balance." She refused.
He didn't take her words into account as he hooked his right arm underneath her legs and his left around her shoulders to lift her comfortably into his arms.
"Sasuke, this is unnecessary." She told him.
"No, it's not. You're far too weak for walking." He was almost as stubborn as Gaara.
As they were walking together down the road, Miyuki noticed that she was surrounded by the Anbu. Temari and Shikamaru took the front lead together while two of the Anbu remained on either side of Miyuki and Sasuke and one behind the duo.
"We don't need this much security you know." Miyuki told Sasuke as her head rested lazily on Sasuke's chest, his scent bringing back old memories.
"It was requested by Gaara I presume." Sasuke attempted to keep a straight face.
"You should put back on your mask. Just in case of an attack." Miyuki warned him.
"It doesn't matter. What's wrong with you?" He changed the subject quickly.
"We don't know, I'm just sick."
"You don't know?" He questioned as he cocked an eyebrow, looking down directly at Miyuki.
"Yes. I've been tested in Suna specifically for poisons but the results came up negative for poisons. Therefore, I have to go to Konoha for extensive testing." Miyuki yawned.
"You should sleep; we'll be there in a while." Sasuke told her.
She couldn't help but to follow his command and closed her eyes as he walked as gentle as he could, attempting not to wake her peaceful slumber.
