A/N: Here's another wonderful chapter of Possessed. Just a warning, but since Sarafu has her body back now, I'll switch to her point of view on the occasion, such as at the end of this chapter, from now on,but it'll be separated by lines, so don't worry.

WARNINGS: leud refrences/situations, mild cussing (1 word)

The Missing Puzzle Piece

I will never forget the look on Gaara's face when he saw Sarafu (wrapped up in only Temari's jacket, no less) when we returned from our mission. His eyes seemed to bulge out o his head, and his messy red hair stood up on end…the intense look of love in his eyes. I could only imagine how many times he dreamed of this moment (though I should hope she was clothed in those). She ran over to him, through open her arms (in doing so exposing her body) and leapt into his arms. Gaara, eyes bulging for another reason now, swept her into his arms and caught her lips with a needy kiss. They had both missed each other very much.

I smiled to cover up the pain I just felt in my heart. For some reason, I couldn't join in on everyone's celebrations. I was happy for Sarafu, definitely, and Gaara, too. This was the moment we had all worked so hard for. Worked eight months for.

There was just something missing that was there before. It seem like a piece of the puzzle that was my life had fallen off, and now the picture I had created for myself just didn't look right. I watched at a distance, as they led Sarafu into the Kazekage building, arms around her smiling. I suddenly felt like an outsider in my own country.

I walked towards the door, and put my hand on the handle, but didn't move after that. Was I the third wheel now? After all, the only reason I ever got to meet any of these people was because Sarafu possessed me. I was never that good of a ninja; I only caused trouble for them. I couldn't even defeat my one enemy. I had already served my purpose here. I had a family waiting for me at home. I had a lot of school to catch up on. I had a life to return to.

'But it's not the life I want,' I thought, and waited for a voice to answer me. 'Oh yeah, that's right. No more Sarafu. I'm all alone in here.' And how lonely that felt.

My fingers slipped away from the handle, and I turned away from the dome building, and trotted silently through the sand. I didn't pay much attention to where I was going, just letting my feet guide me through the crowded streets, lost in my thoughts.

I wanted — no, needed someone to talk to about this. I felt so unbearably empty. I needed someone to fill the missing puzzle piece. That's when I realized, aside from the four people I was trying to avoid, I had absolutely no friends. When did I become such a loner? I always looked back on my life as being surrounded by people. I was never without someone to talk to.

'But no one knew me like Sarafu did,' I mentally sighed.

'And she's got her own body now, so get over it!' I reprimanded myself.

'I'm trying, but it's hard to share a body with someone, border line souls, and then just go back to normal!'

'Maybe Moregayo could cure it. He seemed to have all the answers before.'

Well, I seemed to have a pretty good idea, so I figured I'd listen to myself, and go out into the desert, where I could be alone with my large summon. This would be the first time I ever summoned without aid. Doubts rose within me, but I shoved them back down to the bottom of my stomach, and carefully pricked my thumb with a kunai. Forming the hand seals slowly, as if I had done them a thousand times before, I put my hand to the ground, and mentally said, 'Summoning jutsu!'

I was engulfed in a large burst of san clouds, and I had to cover my face to prevent myself from inhaling the dust. Maybe doing this out in the desert wasn't such a good idea.

"Hey, Sarafu, what's up with the smokescreen, eh?" a deep, rumbling voice in front of my bellowed. An unfamiliar voice.

The sand settled and I gazed at the owner of the voice as he gazed at me. I was staring at a human-sized dragon, a couple of inches taller than me. His scales were as red as blood, and his eyes were a fierce yellow. He stood on his hind legs, like a kangaroo, and had a single horn protruding proudly from his stout muzzle. Two massive wings were folded around him, and he had two stubby arms in front of him, sporting charcoal claws. His brow furrowed into one of confusion.

"You're not Sarafu," his voice rattled my lungs.

"Uh…no-hack-…I'm…I'm Misa," I coughed, the breathing causing sand to get into my throat.

"Oh, yeah," he rubbed his chin in a very human-like manner. "The new girl. Well, what's amiss? It looks like we're the only ones here in this…desert. You know, I was always fond of deserts. So warm, and the sand is soft and easy on the eyes. It's such a simple environment."

"Umm…I was looking for Moregayo," I rubbed my eyes, sand in them.

"Oh," I could feel his mood drop like a ten ton weight. "Well, sorry to disappoint, but I'm only Konkichii."

"Konkichii?" The name rang a bell. "I think I've heard Sarafu talk about you before. This is weird…I should know you. I mean, I shared Sarafu's memories and all, and you seem familiar, but I just can't remember."

"That's because those are Sarafu's memories, not yours," Konkichii said indifferently. "Now that she's finally free, she took her memories with her. Of course you don't remember her memories. The only thing you'll retain is what happened to you two during the whole time you were connected."

I sat in the sand, tired of standing. I stared at the sand, not as a whole, but as each separate grain jumbled together. "So is it her lack of memories that is making me feel so…lonely?"

Konkichii's muscled relaxed, and he sat down next to me, his long, thick tail, swiping to the side. "It's only natural that you'd feel that way. After all, you touched souls. That is the ultimate form of bonding any being can undergo. Your soul instantly became attached to hers the minute they touched. Souls are just like that."

"But Moregayo said that our souls couldn't share a body, and that hers would devour mine."

"Bah!" A flicker of fire escaped the ruby dragon's nostrils when he snorted. "That Moregayo's all facts. He couldn't understand something as abstract as souls! Unlike that heartless bastard, I have feelings. I'm sensitive to my environment. I know how it feels to touch a soul. I did the exact same thing that you did. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't with a kindred spirit.

"You see, I was human once. Rather, I'm still human, just in this dragon's body. I was a ninja for the Hidden Leaf Village, Konoha, way back in its early years. An Uchiha in fact. Yes…proud brother of Uchiha Madara. He was the leader of the Uchiha clan. A great man. I loved my brother. So much that I even gave him my eyes. Of course, my days were numbered afterwards. I summoned this very dragon, and begged it to save me. It suggested the idea of joining it inside its body. But…we were both very foolish.

"You see, unlike Sarafu and the Moon Dragon, we didn't take the proper procedures. You and Sarafu were both human, so it's alright. However, dragon spirits are very different from human souls. When my soul touched his, my soul devoured his. Before I knew it, I was in this body, and the dragon who selflessly sacrificed itself to help me no longer existed. I don't know how my soul won over the dragon's, but I'm sure the same was not likely to have happened to Sarafu if she had remained connected to the Moon Dragon for longer than she did. I'm sure her dying might actually have saved her, if that makes sense."

"But she won over the Moon Dragon's in the end," I said, a little proud. "Her will to live in this world was stronger."

"Maybe so," Konkichii mused. "Anywho, getting back to my point on mixing souls….Well, in your case, your souls mixed, and then were separated. I bet a bit of Sarafu is still inside you, and a bit of you is in Sarafu right now."

"What do you mean?" I felt hope rise in my throat.

"Well, like a bit of her personality. Like…well, say she was an impatient person, and you weren't, well, now you would be the impatient one and she is patient. I don't think it's anything too drastic. You probably won't even find what the change is. But more importantly, your soul is not whole even though a bit of Sarafu's is there as well. A bigger chunk of you is missing than Sarafu's bit can fill up. I figure, is that you were more attached to your bond than Sarafu was. Not that that means that she doesn't like you or anything, just that she was ready to get her body back. But this also probably means that Sarafu will show more of the side-effects than you do and…well…"

Konkichii looked away from me and muttered softly, but I could still hear in the quiet desert, "…she won't have the empty feeling that you do."

I frowned in spite of myself. Great, so I got the butt end of the deal.

I arrived early in the evening at the Kazekage's office. Temari and Kankurou were still lazing about in Gaara's office. That had a blush on their cheeks and a distant look in their eyes. They were stone drunk. "Hey, where's Sarafu and Gaara?" I asked them, taking care not to raise my voice to high.

"Zaes at hes howse. Ze left, beecawse deys party poopers!" Temari slurred.

"Haha! You said pooper!" Kankurou snorted like a pig, which caused Temari to laugh, which made Kankurou laugh even harder.

"Thanks," I rolled my eyes, and left, heading towards were I knew Gaara's apartment was.

I wish they had had the decency to tell me what I was to find. I don't know why it never occurred to them.

I knocked softly on the door of apartment number 117. There's wasn't an answer, but I did hear some rustling and shuffling noises. I waited for a minute, expecting someone to open the door, but I got impatient (looks like that is still mine) and I opened the door on my own. The first thing I saw was a tangle of legs. Then a meshing of arms, and open mouths. Then scattered sheets and clothes. It wasn't until I heard the ecstatic moans that I realized what I was trespassing on.

As red as a beet, I slammed the door close in front of my face, and ran away. The embarrassment was so strong I couldn't help but cover my face as I ran home.

I had just caught Sarafu and Gaara doing the nasty!

Even though I was surrounded by noise in the clamor of the crowded bazaar, I could only hear my thoughts, as I turned an apple around to look at its glossy red surface. Most grown items such as fruits and vegetables were imported. Suna was a bartering town of awkwardly settled nomads. Farming never really was our forte.

My mother was glad to have me back home, and even gladder to find out that I was going to quit being a ninja. It was dangerous for the whole family, and I didn't want to visit anyone in the hospital ever again. Besides, without Sarafu, I was just a normal girl again.

Sarafu…

I haven't seen her since walking in on her and Gaara that one night. It's only been a couple of days since then, but it's felt like forever. As if all of it had just been a dream.

"Would you like to buy that, miss?" the voice of the old man running the stand broke my thoughts, and I realized how silly I must have looked staring so intently at an apple.

"Ah, yes, just give me a bag of them," I spat out quickly trying to regain my senses.

I grabbed the back and shoved it in the backpack I was carrying around. 'Man, this thing is heavy.' I lugged the giant pack onto my shoulders, bent with the weight, and wobbled my way down the road.

I nearly fell over when a couple of giddy school children knocked past me, running. "Hey, you lousy kids!" I shouted after them, but they were already storming down the road.

'School. I've missed a whole year. It's too late to join school now, so I'm just helping Mom around the house, while Bro and Sis go to school. It's boring, but I have a lot of free time now.'

Soon, the streets thinned as I walked closer to the residential section. I heard a strange clanging metal sound. A familiar sound that caused my heart to run with joy. I walked further on ahead, past a corner, and found the source of the noise. The Academy. Little children a few years younger than myself were lugging kunai and shuriken at a sand wall, but that wasn't what was making the thrilling noise. On the occasion, the projectile weapons would collide and make that thrilling sound. 'The sound of battle.'

I hadn't been in a life-threatening situation, let alone a battle, in a long time. 'The last time was when I escaped Tobi in the Rock Country, to be exact.' I had never felt so alive, than when I was on the verge of death. The adrenaline rush, the fear of death pushing me onward on a crazy rollercoaster ride. And the great feeling of pride and accomplishment when I beat all those things down. I'm sure it was this feeling that lead to the invention of the victory dance. There was just no way to contain yourself in such a feeling. It was as if your skin was the only thing holding you together.

But I had given up that life of excitement. The cost was too high, and I had no self-confidence in my abilities. I turned around, trying to through the longing to be one of those clumsy kids hurling sharp objects at walls (and when the teacher wasn't looking) at each other. However, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw familiar golden eyes peering curiously at me. "Misa?"

"Sarafu?" I gaped. I hadn't expected to run into her here. "And Gaara? Wha-What are you guys doing here?"

"We could ask you the same thing!" Sarafu suddenly snapped. I had never seen her so angry. Well, of course, I had never seen her. "Where the hell have you been?! We've been looking for you, but every time we checked at your house, you weren't there! Why have you been avoiding us?"

"I haven't been avoiding you…" I lied, looking anywhere but at her truth-sucking eyes. "I've just been busy."

"Busy doing what? You haven't been on any missions!" Gaara grabbed Sarafu's hand in a means of comforting her, but it only seemed to excite her more. "Gaara and I haven't even gotten a peep from you since I got my body back."

"Well, the mission is done, so there's no need for me to lounge around you anymore," I snapped back, a potent anger rising in me.

"You have a job as a ninja, Misa! Once you finish one mission you do another."

"I'm not a ninja!" I shouted. I felt a lump rise in my throat. It felt as though the whole world shut up at that moment. I glanced over and saw that the children and the teachers at the academy were all staring at me, completely silent. "I never was, alright?" I said more quietly. "I was just a carrier for you."

"Like hell you were!" Sarafu didn't bother to lower her voice. "You did all of those things on your own! You're registered in the state building. I hate to break it to you, girl, but you're a shinobi, and you have a duty to your country to stop ignoring your Kazekage and do your damn job to protect this country! Do you think you get special treatment? That you get to slack off?!"

"THERE'S LIFE OUTSIDE OF BEING A NINJA, OK?!" I shouted with all the air in my lungs, tears streaming down my cheeks from the rage welling up in my heart. "I have a life outside of being a ninja! I was normal before I met you, and now you fucked up with my head and I'm going through some sort of mental trauma. I don't want anymore to do with being a ninja! And I don't want anymore to do with you!"

I hurled one of my apples at her, but it never connected with her face, because an arm of sand caught it. But I didn't care, I just wanted to channel some of this anger into something. I ran away, leaping up onto the roofs of the buildings, so I could get home faster. When I got home, I didn't bother to put up the groceries, and went up into my room and cried with shame and regret at all of the lies I had thrown into Sarafu's face.

Sarafu merely watched Misa through the sandy cloud, wanting to run after her and punch her in the face for being such a whiny brat, but she couldn't even lift a finger. Gaara brought the apple into one hand and Sarafu's shoulders into the other in a comforting embrace. After Sarafu (body and all) was returned to him, he made a vow to keep her with him, at all times. He was a quick learner. "Do you want a bite?" was his oh-so subtle way of trying to change the subject.

"It all makes sense now," Sarafu said to no one in particular, ignoring the apple Gaara was offering her. "I mean, when you think about it, all being a ninja has ever brought her is trouble and hurt. All I ever brought her was trouble and hurt. I'm to blame for messing with her peaceful life. Even if I can still feel the bond between us, she wants nothing to do with me anymore."

Gaara furrowed his non-existing eyebrows. He didn't like it when Sarafu gained an impassive face. She always showed such passionate emotion in everything she did. He was the stoic one.

Gaara had always been jealous of the bond Sarafu and Misa shared (although he'd never admit that to anyone). It took a lot of will power to make himself believe that he could not fill the void that Misa's soul had left in Sarafu's heart. Of course, he knew that there were other holes he could fill that Misa couldn't, and so he supposed, they were even. If he could, he wanted to make Misa leave get as far away from them as possible (not that he disliked the girl personally, but she was his rival in love, and thus, must be eliminated). However, if he did that Sarafu would only be as she is now. He wanted her to be passionate (even if she were crying), but this impassiveness was something he couldn't and wouldn't stand for. He would bring Misa back, whether she liked it or not.