Read and Review please! I will be eternally grateful and probably review your story if you have one. Feel free to write whatever you want in your reviews. I take constructive criticism very seriously. It helps, but then again so do good reviews and compliments! I don't mind flames. I'd also like to thank anyone who reviewed previously.

Also, I'm VERY VERY sorry for putting this story on hold. Summer got to me, heck, I got to me. I hope you all except my humble apologies. Thank you very much.

Chapter 8: The Second Third

The oasis- nightfall

When Watcher marched back in as Kakashi started a fire. The two felt his chakra approach, one could never feel Watcher's chakra, but they felt it tonight. The shadows lengthened as full fledged dusk settled like a giant hand over the desert. Iruka shivered from dampness. Kakashi met his eyes for the first time in hours. Iruka raised an eyebrow as Watcher stalked into camp.

Camp, or home now, was situated in a clearing between two large palm trees, some scrubby bushes, and the pond. Insects buzzed about, but after a quick and thorough search through Watcher's wagon the two ninja had found some anti-insect cream. The horses wandered through the oasis, grazing unbothered by events around them. Iruka figured they knew more then he did about what was going on anyway.

"Heyo boys, ere' help me with this," Watcher gestured at a body slung over his shoulder. He swung and the person's head smacked into a palm tree with an audible thud. The tree shuddered. "Sorry about that," He turned about again and made the same mistake.

"Stop, you'll hurt... It," Iruka grimaced and rubbed a temple.

"What's wrong with yer head?"

"Oh, I guess I saw you slamming her head there, and mine started to hurt... It hasn't been a good day,"

Kakashi shivered. He recognized this chakra for what it was, the cause of the previous explosion. If this girl was so strong, how powerful was Watcher, to have beaten her? Kakashi studied the body. No, not a girl, not quite.

"Take her and lay her down somewhere," Watcher swung her over to Iruka, but the chunin hesitated.

"Don't worry I wouldn't give you anything that would hurt you. You need to be intact to deal with this," Iruka took the body. He laid it down on his own bedroll by the fire, which crackled merrily in flickering laughter.

Kakashi watched Iruka carry her. The girl couldn't be more then 16. Her dark skin seemed a dusky color in the quickly fading light and blended in perfectly; a desert tan. Her hands groped at air. Sharp nails caught his attention; they were roughly edged and long. Crescents of dry blood were visible beneath each nail. His eyes drifted from there. Face; a pert, pointed nose, curving lips- Kind of like Iruka's- No defiantly not human. Her mouth hung open. Inside, rows of edged teeth were visible. All of them incisors.

Watcher took a seat on his bedroll. Iruka busied himself with a fire cooked meal. Kakashi stretched out across from Watcher on the other side of the fire. Lovely, now we have two monsters. Iruka handed Watcher a cup of hot water. Watcher dipped a black handkerchief in the cup, waving his fingers when the water scalded them.

It was then that Kakashi noticed the crescent shaped marks on Watcher's face. Gauges ringed his eyes, mouth, nose, and circled his ears. The girl blooded him. Clotted cuts reopened when Watcher pressed the steaming black cloth against them. Iruka unconsciously moved farther away from the girl. Watcher noticed.

"It's okay, she's gone right now. When she comes back she'll be no more powerful then the average genin,"

"What?" Iruka frowned. His body was beaten, he was sick, more then ready for bed, and he had to deal with strange demonic women. Watcher sighed.

"Look," he reached over next to him, turned the unconscious girl's face skyward and pried open a puffy black eye. "Kakashi, you should see this too," Both shinobi leaned forward. Iruka rubbed an eye.

Kakashi smiled, he had been right. Not human. Her eyes were too almond shaped, with huge brilliant green irises. Almost the same color as leaves, bits of yellow slashed through it like rays of sun. Immediately, the pupil contracted into a tiny black circle, blocking light. The eye reminded Kakashi of a predatory cat's eye. Watcher dropped the eyelid and immediately picked it back up again. This time the pupil was a thin slit, splitting the eye in two halves. Iruka shifted, touching one of his eyes. Watcher dropped the eyelid.

"How can she go from chakra monster to genin level?" Iruka asked. "This was what you pulled us out here to meet, right?"

"Feel it," Kakashi interrupted; stunned at subtle changes he hadn't noticed before. "Her chakra is dwindling, slowly, but it's going down. How?" Watcher nodded, adding a teabag to his hot water.

"Yes, Iruka, this is what you were to meet,"

"Why did you ask me to bring weaponry, then," Iruka made a poker face.

"I should've though that'd be obvious. Imagine that I lost when we fought. Oh, Iruka, you're burning dinner. I'll make it. You watch Jezebel for shock," They traded places, Iruka considerably perturbed.

"How strong was she?" Kakashi sipped some watery soup from a tin bowl.

"Strong enough to give me a run for my money. I caught her by surprise... She may have made it all the way here,"

"And if she did?" Kakashi shook his head; we wouldn't have been able to fight her.

You would have been eaten,"

"Huh?" Watcher didn't even dignify that response with an answer. Iruka stuck a finger into his soup, he licked off the tip. "It felt like the demon fox was back when you two fought. Only I couldn't tell which was the fox," Iruka offered a small smile. He stood up, putting the bowl of burned soup down and stripped off his damp shirt.

Kakashi listened to all this with his eyes closed. He opened them just in time to catch of glimpse of Iruka's white stomach as the chunin threw a blanket around his shoulders, tying it at the waist. He debated closing his eyes again but Watcher decided for him. They stayed open.

"Not a demon fox. More like dragon. You saw her features. She's a predator. Iruka, look at me! Had she caught you, she would have done one of two things, perhaps both" Iruka's head snapped up. "Kakashi, listen. The first option would be to horribly mutilate your quickly dead corpse to her hearts content, that is, if you get in her way. I've seen her victims, some look mauled. Others aren't recognizable,"

Kakashi's face felt hot. Watcher was right; she was a predator, and this was too elaborate to be a joke. Watcher told the truth. It had to be the truth. Dare he ask what happened to the other victims? No, he already knew. Eaten, it was supposed to be a joke. Watcher continued.

"Jezebel's father is a demi-god, half-god, who knocked up a mortal woman. Jezzy, the girl, is mortal, with all the power of a lesser god-,"

"Like the kyubi?!"

"-At her fingertips. Because she is only 1/4th pure blood she belongs to neither world, you fallow?" They nodded. "So the consensus was to put her here instead of killing her. The only problem is here there is no one to lead her. The dragon has been allowed to run wild- beyond wild,"

"So, this is about control," Iruka interrupted.

"Maybe, or, that's part of it," Watcher drawled.

"Control of what? Chakra? Why do the gods care what happens to dragon girl anyway?" Kakashi lost them somewhere back with the theology. Not his best subject, nor one he had much faith in. Watcher rolled his eyes.

"Why do the gods care what happens to any of us? They play the world like we play shougi. Shinobi are sort of like trump cards in the Great Game,"

"What about the control?" Iruka bent the conversation back to his topic.

"Alright, here we go," Watcher sipped his tea calmly. "Ya see, it all ties back to a little thing called the Balance. The Great Game is played over the Balance, as is everything. Even the gods bend to the Balance. People can be classified into three basically accurate categories, good, evil, and neutral. Neutral covers the gray areas in between, which means it really isn't always neutral at all. We are all part of the balance,"

"I don't fallow," Kakashi's faith was in people, not gods. And if he did believe, he acted as an agnostic. But he couldn't ignore the figure tossing in Iruka's bedroll. Reality sucked. Come to think of it, he probably owed Iruka an apology. It seemed they would be stuck together for quite awhile.

Iruka picked up Watcher's thread.

"Think of it like a pendulum. The Balance can swing either way, to good or evil or to the middle, which is where it should be. In a perfect world it would be unmoving at "good". Am I correct?" Watcher nodded encouragement. As long as Iruka was explaining all her had to do was think his criticisms. In a perfect world the pendulum would be hanging at neutral. "If there is too powerful a force from any one side the other sides oppose it. Usually it can be dealt with. But there are special cases where it can't be. Is that where you come in? Watcher?"

"Yeah, but you missed a detail-,"

"A detail?"

"A force that can be reasoned with is always easier to deal with then one that cannot be. Usually this force can be dealt with by mortals on their own. A force that cannot be reasoned with is much more of a danger," Kakashi nodded, finally understanding.

"Now, she is a force to be reasoned with,"

"No, now she has the potential to be a force,"

"You aren't taking any chances, are you?"

Inside Jezebel's head- same time, different scene

Jezebel's eyes popped open. That bloody, bloody bastard! Jezzy expected, somehow, to wake up back at sand village. Instead she floated in a sea of mists. Gray wisps of fog clung to the air just as it did to her body. It swirled beneath her feet like sands. She raised a hand parting the tangible mist like spider webbing. Was she in a box full of fog or did the fog stretched out forever? Maybe she could walk into it and meet a wall. Or maybe if she walked into the mists she would be lost forever. What am I thinking? I'm lost anyway!

She rose, rather unsteadily, pressing a clenched fist to her side, and did a quick body check.

Shhhh, a voice. Jezzy's head whipped up. No one. The voice sounded as though it came across a ravine, even at a whisper.

"What?!"

You're too loud for this place. Jeez, you even walk loudly. Was it possible to walk loudly with a floor of substantial air? Jezzy didn't think so, but she could be wrong.

"Who are-,"

Just listen! The voice cut her off. The less you say.... The voice grated as though tasting each word before saying it. It was deep and somewhat comforting. It'll go faster if you say less. I'd don't have time here.

"Who are you? Why the hell am I here?"

I thought I told you to listen! The voice gave the impression of being distinctly male. This time he sounded annoyed. This isn't bloody easy! It's been seventeen years since I last saw you... Jezzy spun, he saw her. She squinted into the mists. You've grown lovely, when your hands are clean... Jezzy stared at her hands. They were pretty clean.

Wait... Caught by a sudden hunch Jezzy yelled experimentally. Nothing happened. And stupid, he added.

Jezzy clapped her mouth shut. She shivered involuntarily. The voice could be inside her head. It made her want to tear her pounding head off.

Don't make the mistake of trying to kill me. You can't. It'd be good for you to remember there is always someone stronger. Jezzy clenched her fists. Ignoring her feeble mental protests, the voice continued. To the point, change.

Dusk: several miles east- pre Jezzy/Watcher fight

Genma poked the fire with an unlit cigarette. Come on! Light, damn you. He let the flames flickering around mesmerize him a little, like tiny mouths gasping for water.

The squad had stopped for water here, near a pool. The team had been to Wind Country before but it wasn't their home turf. Genma didn't know if he trusted it at night. Especially with the mission they undertook. Wind Country was unforgiving. Land had swallowed shinobi whole, some plants were mounted with sharp defensive spikes. And that was not even counting the sand shinobi.

Genma's blond hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail it looked grayish in the fading light. He wore a variation of the typical anbu uniform, designed for the desert. Propped up beside his ponytail sat his clay mask, on sideways.

Genma blinked and realized how far in the flames he had been. Drifting off on a mission? Generally a very bad idea. He yawned and sat back heavily, resting his bare arms on his knees.

In front of Genma a tiny fire crackled and popped and failed to light his cigarette. Gai lounged next to him, mouth wrapped around Genma's canteen.

"Hey! Don't backwash like that! That's disgusting, Gai," Genma groaned. "I might have wanted to drink that,"

"Go get more. So," said Gai, removing his mouth from the canteen. "How do you think Anko and Ibiki are getting along?" Genma was more concerned with his canteen full of backwash. Gai glanced behind them at the short, squat tent they had erected for planning purposes. Loud voices charged out of it.

"If you think-!"

"Let go of that map! Anko-!"

"I don't need to help-!"

"This arrangement wasn't MY fault-!"

"If Ibiki can deal with you, me, you and Kakashi, you, Kakashi, me, and Anko together, then I think he can deal with an extra large helping of Titan Woman," said Genma. A string of kunai sailed past his ear. "Then again, maybe not," Oh Kami, I need a fix.

20 mins later

"You wanna do something?!"

"Not particularly, why?"

"A practical joke or something?!"

"Gai, we're on a mission,"

"Oh man, because I just had the best idea!"

"Do you ever get tired?"

"No,"

Silence descended for several minutes.

"Hey!" said Gai.

"What now?"

"Do you smell something burning?" Genma sniffed.

"Yeah…"

"Your fingers!"

"Ahh!" The wrapping on his fingers caught fire. Genma leaped to his feet, stuffing his fingers in his mouth. "Mmph!"

"You need water," Gai observed.

"Thnnks sma ath,"

Genma bolted over the rise for the water hole. This was really a puddle with a fancy name. Genma shoved his fingers into it. Gai bent over, attempting to get water and not sand into the empty canteen.

"You should really smoke less Genma. If you did, you'd be near as fast as even me! Then you wouldn't have to get burned just to get a fix. Because that isn't good,"

Genma went into catatonic state; strategically ignoring Gai's every word while soaking his fingers. Instead he stared off to the west, where the last glimmers of daylight were fading. Soon they would have to douse the fire. It was too easy to see out here.

What are you doing out here, Kakashi? Someone tell me what's going on! Look a pretty rock… Kakashi, if you're home, I don't think you are, but If I'm wrong then I'll- I probably won't do anything-

Genma froze suddenly. Cold pricked at the base of his spine and rose up to his shoulder blades. He breathed in deep and quick, every hair from his arms to the back of his neck suddenly stood on end.

"Gai-," it came out a breathy attempt to speak. "Gai-,"

And the buildup of chakra exploded. Genma felt it wash over him like a drowning, acidic rain. It poured over his ears, roaring, screaming, and blinding him for a split second. Then he could breathe again. He squinted at the western horizon, where a tiny mushroom shaped cloud had begun to billow. The shockwaves would hit in a few minutes, he knew.

"Gai! Get Ibiki! Get him now, Gai," Genma backed up a few steps, stepping ankle deep into the puddle.

"Did you feel that chakra? It felt pretty strong to me-," Gai glanced at Genma and disappeared a split second later.

Run! Run, you fool! And he ran. Trying to catch up with the other three, who would head to the nearest rock shelter, an outcropped 200 yards from their camp. The ground heaved under his feet, as ones stomach rolls before they are about to throw up. Genma felt his feet leave the ground.

He was aware of grit in his eyes, nose, and mouth. He dared not stop. He glanced over his shoulder and his chest constricted. A wall of sand rose like a tidal wave behind him. With a great roar it crashed down just missing his feet. The ground leaped up to meet him and he crashed into blackness.

(Notes: Kakashi may seem stupid. He's not. Iruka is an academic, Kakashi is not.

Gai is worried about Kakashi, he just plays it off like it's not bothering him.

The downside of being imperious to small pains- "Do you smell something burning?"- Gai. Also, Genma is very very sensitive to changes in chakra- thus the reason he felt Jezzy from so far away).

To everyone who reviewed when I last update, months ago. cringe

kage-shalom- Thanks so much for reading. You sound like you read the whole because you thought the bloody thing was actually good! : P

Oh my goodness! Finally another chapter! Wolfgirl13, this chapter is for you and for your patience.

To The Fox of burden: your comments were much appreciated. For the record, Kankuro really isn't afraid of anyone except Gaara. But that was before Jezebel. Can you imagine actually meeting someone like that? There WILL be more Anko next chapter!

Hamusuta, there might be just a little Kaka/Iru in the future (because that I understand).

Woot! And a muffin for MindLezz. Glad you read the whole bloody thing!

hikariko I write dark. I know this, you know this. I'm glad you like my writing. See what you can pick up to amplify your "dark" side. grin

You're right. I believe I did rush the last chapter. I don't really remember why. But, anonymous lady, I appreciate you reading my piece.

Well, Jan-chan, they're coming again. Your questions DO get answered! Eventually anyway….

Please, please review.

- much luv, Bana

"Thnnks sma ath,"