Author's Note: We are closing in on the end+tear+. The story is wrapping up soon and I'll be sad when it ends! I am foretelling you that there definately is an epilogue, and when I post the epilogue I will also be posting a final author's note. I highly recommend reading the final author's note. It has information about Devil in the Sand (including a timeline) and also has some explanations/previews of the the sequel. Don't miss it! Oh, and as for this chapter: welcome back Lee!
Lee jumped over stone and branch, his thoughts lost to the memories of his young red-headed lover, the one due to give birth to his children in less then a week. Time was running out. To say Lee was worried out his mind was an understatement. Even after nearly two months, he found his mind running in circles around Gaara. What if they didn't find him? Was Gaara dead? Were his babies still alive? A tear tickled down his cheek. 'We will find you!'
Tenten looked over at her companion and sighed. This mission had been quite difficult for her partner. But then again, who wouldn't be affected? Tenten knew that if she was in his position, she would be a frantic ball of nerves. Hell, even Neji was showing sympathy for their teammate's predicament. Neji needless to say, didn't show sympathy in the typical way one would expect (the stoic Hyuuga just didn't do the caring card well), but Tenten and Lee could still tell that he was giving Lee his support.
The group was on its way back to Konoha, their mission technically at an end. They had failed and this fact grated on Neji and Tenten's nerves. They never failed a mission. In fact, this had to be their first failure ever. To say their spirits were low was not an exaggeration. The team seemed to heave a sigh in unison as they continued on towards Konoha. The group slowed down and came to a halt when the vile smell of blood and rotting flesh wafted up their noses. Neji instantly activated his Byakugan and crinkled his nose. "There's a corpse a little ways up the river, but there is no one else in the vicinity."
The group nodded, deeming it safe, before proceeding up the river to where they found the rotting corpse. The man's body was mutilated beyond recognition seeing as animals had already found him and picked at his body for food. Damn scavengers. There were still a few splotches of blood on the ground next to the body and Neji bent down to examine it. "This body's been out here for nearly a week and a half. We probably won't be seeing his killer any time soon."
Tenten looked over at him. "So what do we do with the body?"
Neji gave her an emotionless face. "Leave it. There's nothing else we can do about it."
Break-
Good God; finally. Gaara stood at the top of a hill, having veered away from the river some time ago. Off in the distance, Gaara could see the tall towers of Konoha. He couldn't yet see the gates, but this was all he needed to feel elated at the prospect of a nice warm bed. His babies gave a little kick in acknowledgement as he slowly started down the hill.
A few more days and he'd be home. Just a few more days and he could lie down and sleep in a nice comfy bed. A few more days and he would be able to have a nice warm bath and relax his aching muscles. Just a few more days…and he could finally see Lee once again. Gaara wasn't quite sure what to feel. It was just too damn confusing to even attempt to think about. He felt strangely elated when he thought about how much Lee cared for him and their babies, but at the same time, his stomach clenched with guilt. Gaara loved it when Lee touched him, when Lee worshipped him; just being with Lee was an awe-striking experience. And he, Gaara, had been too weak to fend off Orochimaru. He was dirty, unclean. He couldn't tell Lee about the rape, he just couldn't.
Gaara's feet led him into the woods, almost as if moving of their own accord. As was often these days, a spasm gripped his stomach, forcing a hiss from between his lips. That one felt a bit different then the usual ones. Gaara ignored it and continued on, determined to reach Konoha. A painful spasm tore through his belly. Gaara clenched his teeth and kept on moving.
He got about an hour of walking in before the most painful jerk he'd ever felt ripped at his stomach. A silent scream escaped his thin lips, crying out desperately for air. Another took hold, forcing Gaara to his knees. Refusing to be defeated, Gaara grabbed hold of a nearby tree, forcing his body up. But this was no use. Within five minutes, Gaara was on the ground, writhing in his pain, feeling the sharp twist of contractions as he envisioned Konoha, not more then a mere couple miles away.
