Raine in the Desert

by Hack Interrupted

Gaara finds the love of his life

7. Chapter 7

7

The feudal lords still came to Sand once a month like clockwork to bicker in front of the kazekage. Hotohori didn't come alone all of the time, sometimes his son Seto came along. Seto was middle aged, fat and pampered. He always had three or four servants buzzing around him. He had visited his father's former servant once before, the kage's wife should be accommodating to a daimyo such as him, but this time he came to Sand with another mission.

Seto and three companions went to see Mrs. Kazekage while his father sat in a meeting. ANBU checked them out they were granted entry into the kage's house. Raine received her guests in the sitting room while Gabe napped in the nursery. "How are things at home?" Raine asked over tea.

"Old Ray san is dieing," Seto was blunt. "It would probably make him happy to see you again before he passed."

Old man… she set her cup down. "What's wrong with him?"

"He's a hundred and eight. It's a miracle he's lived this long. He insists it's the apples."

For your health. She remembered him saying it every time he tossed her an apple. It was sad to think of his cart without him beside it minding the shop. Yes, I would like to say good bye to Ray. "How much time do you suppose he has?"

He sipped his tea and fixed his eyes on the woman that used to scrub his fathers floors. Common trash. "If you intend to see him before he dies I suggest you go at once. He probably has only days left to live."

That night Raine spoke to Gaara about her fading friend. She wanted to see Ray before he died. Perhaps the old man could even tell her something about her mother. Gaara offered to take her as soon as the conference was over, but Raine felt pressed to leave at once. Reluctantly Gaara agreed to let her go with Kankuro and an ANBU squad. Temari stayed at home to look after Gabe.

The medical specialist on the team checked the old man out when they arrived. He was indeed dieing, but not because he was one hundred and eight. Yahiko pulled Kankuro aside and spoke quietly in his ear. "He was poisoned. About a month ago by the look of his organs. He has only days left to live."

"Poisoned?" Kankuro looked from mouse fussing all over the pruney old man to his ANBU. "That old fart?"

"A blood test may help me identify the poison."

Kankuro was getting a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Do it. Have a couple guys check out this village too."

"Hai." Yahiko hurried to tend to his patient.

Raine and Kankuro were guests of Lord Hotohori while in Lafayette. She was having a hard time getting to sleep in the bed she used to make in the room she used to clean. Raine sighed heavily and hugged a pillow. She missed Gaara. It had been a long time since she been in bed without him. Her mind was full of thoughts of old Ray. She hadn't been able to bring herself to ask him about her mother, she wasn't sure she could. Raine wanted Ray to die peacefully.

It went from late to later and finally Raine couldn't stand it anymore. She knew her way around this house and so long as she picked up after herself Toto wouldn't complain she had been in his kitchen. Some herbal tea Raine got out of bed and pulled her robe on. She went to the door and crept out into the hall. It was dark but she didn't need light to navigate her old home.

Raine tip toed down to the kitchen. It was dark in here too, an exhaust fan in every window kept out the moonlight. She flicked on the small light over the stove. It illuminated the counter and that was enough. She took the tea kettle off the stove to the sink and filled it with enough water for a cup of tea. She set the kettle back on the stove and set it on five. Raine stepped back to wait and then the world went dark.

Someone yanked the screaming kettle off the stove. Kankuro was shouting. Raine opened her eyes. She was on the kitchen floor staring up into the bright fluorescents. An ANBU guy had her wrist checking her pulse. As she started to come awake Raine felt a terrible pain just shy of her right hip. Her hand instinctively covered the place it hurt. "Oww."

"Princess!" Yahiko checked her eyes for sign of dilated pupils.

Kankuro got to his knees beside mouse. "What happened?"

"I was making tea and," the more awake she came, the more it hurt. "Something hurts. Maybe I fainted."

Yahiko moved his hand to where the princess was holding herself. "Please let me examine you." She moved her hand and Yahiko used his chakra to have a look inside. Holy shit! Yahiko swallowed hard. "Please be still Raine san."

Kankuro frowned watching the ninja with his hand on Raine. "She alright?"

No. "Her ovary has collapsed."

Ovary? Kankuro immediately thought of period stuff. Eww.

The room started to spin as the ANBU fed warm chakra into her body. "I don't feel so good." Her eyes rolled back in her head and Raine fainted.

"Oi mouse!" Kankuro panicked. "She's just gotta have woman trouble when she's with me right?"

"Kankuro san, I don't think you understand. This isn't natural. The organ collapsed because it was punctured and what was inside was extracted. Someone, someone with medical knowledge did this to the princess."

He didn't dig the medical jargon but Kankuro understood one thing perfectly well. He stood and looked at the closest guard. "Search the house and the grounds. Detain anyone suspicious. The enemy is here."

It had gone smoothly for Kabuto. It was great luck that she had gone into the kitchen where ANBU couldn't see her. Running water and banging on the stove she hadn't heard him come up behind her. A quick tap to the back of her head and Raine fell into his arms unconscious. Kabuto took what he needed from her and then ran like hell. He was already leaving Lafayette. He wasn't going to fight ANBU if he didn't have to.

Orochimaru was right. The old guy was the perfect lure. He even timed the geezer's demise so that she had to come here without Gaara if she wanted to see the old man again before he kicked it. Kabuto laughed. Orochimaru was clever. That's why he's the boss ne?

Yahiko treated and sedated Raine. She was resting in the guest room. Yahiko and Kankuro stood guard. As horrible as it was to think about Kankuro needed to understand what happened to mouse. "What exactly happened to her?" Kankuro braced himself.

The ANBU has a sweet girlfriend at the hospital that called Kankuro uncle throw up and faint. He tried to be as easy as possible. "Her attacker used a long needle to penetrate into Raine's ovary. The needle was guided carefully; someone able to see into the body did this. Her eggs were extracted and as a result a void was created within the organ. Because it was punctured it started to deflate and then collapse."

His stomach felt queasy. "You were able to fix it right?"

"I was able to repair the damaged organ yes, but it is empty."

"Empty?"

He tried to put it in a way Kankuro would understand without making him faint. "Raine san will no longer ovulate from that side. Every other month she's going to be shooting blanks. The chances of the princess conceiving another child have now been cut in half."

Holy mother of Kankuro got it now. "Fuck!" Gaara's going to have my head for this!

Yahiko was familiar with the snake hermit and his medical procedures. "I don't want to jump to conclusions Kankuro san, but it's likely that whoever stole Raine's genetic material has taken it to Orochimaru."

"Sound attacked Raine?" He shook his head. Of course it was Sound. Orochimaru knows Gabe is special because of her.

"That is my opinion yes. The others are still searching for any clue as to her attacker's i.d. and whereabouts."

Kankuro swallowed hard. It wasn't just Gaara that was going to flip out over this. Mouse… "What are they gonna do with her…things?"

Yahiko also knew why the kazekage's son was so gifted. "It's likely he'll try to use her eggs to create his own version of Gabriel. Maybe even an army of them. I'm sure Orochimaru has a candidate to donate the other half of the genetic material he needs."

His mouth fell open a little. "You mean…"

"Test tube babies."

"Son of a bitch." His mouse would be devastated to hear such a disturbing thing. Orochimaru had stolen away her unborn. He would make monsters out of what Raine and Gaara would have made their children. His stomach tightened into a ball. "That sick son of a bitch!"

Yahiko put a hand on Kankuro's shoulder. "If the perp is still out there, we'll find him."

Kankuro cut his eyes over to Gaara's wife sound asleep in bed. Mouse… He was sure he could guess who the sannin's "candidate" was. Sasuke…of course Orochimaru would want to make some kind of super Uchiha and that guy… He frowned thinking of the fucked up letter the fucker had sent to his sister in law. Sasuke wants a kid with Raine.

Ray died in his sleep hours after Raine was attacked. She woke to the bad news and Kankuro waited as long as he could before he gave her the rest. He sat quietly beside her as Yahiko explained what had happened to her. Raine squeezed Kankuro's hand. "Who did this to me?" she already knew. "It was Orochimaru wasn't it!"

"We have reason to believe it was Sound princess."

"Reason to believe…" she stood still holding Kankuro's hand. "Orochimaru made me like this! He came to collect the fruits of his research!"

Kankuro hurried to his feet and hugged his little mouse. He hated to put it so bluntly but, "Maybe now that he's got what he wants he'll leave you the fuck alone."

Got what he wants. Raine burst into tears and hugged Kankuro. "Gaara," she sobbed. "I want to see Gaara!"

"Okay mouse. We can go home."

Botta arrived a few hours ahead of Kankuro's party and hurried to make his report to kazekage. Temari and Gabe were visiting Gaara in his office when the harried ANBU burst in. "Kazekage sama!"

Gaara had Gabe in his lap. He knew by his mask it was Botta. He's supposed to be with… "What happened?"

"The princess was attacked but she's alright. Yahiko has seen to her."

Son of a bitch. Gaara broke into a cold sweat. I knew I shouldn't have let her go! "She was injured?"

He wasn't quite sure how to deliver such news. "Genetic material was extracted from Raine san. It caused her ovary to collapse. Yahiko was able to treat her."

You've got to be shitting me. Gaara stood up holding Gabe in one arm. "What about her attacker! Is he dead?"

"Da da da da!" Gabe waved his arms and was loud like daddy.

"Two stayed behind to continue the search but so far he has eluded us."

There wasn't a word to describe how pissed off he was right at this moment. "Are you telling me," Gaara was so furious he started to shake. "That someone escaped with my wife's unborn children?"

Gabe could feel what his daddy was feeling and a fit came on. "Ma ma!" Gabe started to squirm and kick his feet.

For a moment Temari had been so stunned by what she was hearing she couldn't even breathe. She felt a tremor and cut her eyes over to her brother. Gaara was furious. The hand not holding Gabe was a clenched fist. Gabe was squirming and then her nephew screamed. There was another tremor and the cork flew out of Gaara's gourd. "Gaara stop it!" Temari moved to grab her nephew.

Sand streamed out of his container and all around him. It isn't me. Gabe was screaming pounding his little heels into Gaara's thigh. Stop it Gabe…. "Stop it right now Gabriel!"

Temari snatched the screaming baby from her brother just as the sand hit the floor. She hugged Gabe to her and stared at Gaara wide eyed. "What is wrong with you!"

"It wasn't me it was Gabe!" Gaara was beside himself now. "I don't want him to ever touch the sand in that gourd! It's covered with sin!"

"I think you better calm down." Temari rubbed Gabe's back. The boy was having a fit. "Gabe was just picking up on what you were feeling Gaara."

"He's as pissed as I am?" Gaara spat.

"I said calm down." She kept Gabe close with one arm and used her free hand to push the stroller toward the door. She had to get Gabe away from Gaara and Temari felt like she wanted to cry and scream herself. "Gabe and I are going home. I have to calm him down before mouse gets back." She must be devastated. She's going to want to see Gabe.

Botta opened the door for her and Temari took the young master out. He turned back to his furious kage and swallowed hard. Gaara was frightening to look at when he was angry. "Kazekage sama?"

"Tell me everything you know about what happened in Lafayette; now."

The ANBU did and when he was finished Gaara started for the door. "Where are you going kazekage sama?"

"I'm going to get my wife." Gaara went out and headed for the desert.

It had been a quiet trip back to Sand. They were almost home. Raine rode beside Kankuro lost in her own thoughts. Big brother was miserable. He sagged into his seat wondering if Gaara would come to greet them. A moment later he got his answer. Sand surrounded mouse and lifted her right up off her horse. Kankuro tipped his head and saw her meet Gaara on a swirling cloud of sand.

Gaara hugged Raine to him and held her tight. "Are you alright my love?" he whispered in her ear. Raine wrapped her arms around him. "I never should have let you go."

"Gaara," she snuggled against her love. "I missed you."

"Don't ever leave me again Raine."

"I won't."

He took her chin and tipped her face up to his. "I love you." Gaara kissed his wife.

She felt safe again back in Gaara's arms. "I want to see Gabe."

"I'll take you to him."

Kankuro watched Gaara whisk mouse away on his cloud of sand, taking her home to Gabe. They'll be okay. Gaara probably hates me, but those two will get through this. He put his head down and kept riding.

Raine hugged and kissed and fussed over her baby. Gabe was happy to see his mommy too. "Ma ma ma ma ma ma!"

Temari smiled a little at the display. "Gabe and I had some fun, but he defiantly missed you. Are you okay mouse?"

She nodded at Temari. "Yes, Yahiko took excellent care of me."

Gaara frowned. No one had been taking care of her when she was attacked. "ANBU should have followed you out of your room. I'm getting real sick of their godamn incompetence," he growled.

"Don't say such things Gaara." Raine didn't like the tone of her husband's voice.

"They're supposed to be watching you Raine. Keeping you safe."

"I'm alright Gaara."

He tried to keep his temper in check. Raine was home safe again under his protection. How alright are you going to be when Orochimaru uses what he stole from you to create a bunch of monster Uchiha's ne? He turned away so she couldn't see the fury in his eyes. The thought of his wife sharing a child with that bastard was enough to make him want to kill; Sasuke, Orochimaru and any fucked up thing that they could create.

Temari could still see baby brother's eyes. Gaara was mad as hell. He's about to kill somebody. Mouse had gone back to fussing over Gabe. Gabe threw that fit because he could sense it; the intent to kill coming off of his father.

Raine adjusted Gabe in her arms. "Come on buddy, you can help me with dinner."

Gaara turned to his wife at once. "Raine, you don't have to."

"I happen to enjoy cooking for this family and Gabe likes to watch."

Temari could see mouse was trying to lighten the mood in here. "I'll help with dinner."

Raine started forward and Gaara grabbed her arm. "Temari, take Gabe for a minute. Well be right behind you."

Raine passed Gabe off and turned to her husband. His expression was calm but there was one hell of a storm raging in his eyes. Raine went to her husband as Temari carried their son out into the kitchen. "Are you angry with me Gaara?"

"No," Gaara wrapped Raine into his arms. The anger in his heart quieted some as he looked down into her sad eyes. "Damnit Raine I…" He took her soft cheek in his hand.

She hugged Gaara. "I'm home Gaara. I'm back with you and Gabe where I belong."

Gaara kissed her softly on the lips. "I'm so sorry."

Raine had done some thinking since they left Hotohori's place. Of all the miserable things that had run through her mind there was hope in something Kankuro said. "Maybe now that Orochimaru has what he wants he'll leave me alone."

It felt like a hand had reached in and crushed his heart. "Oh Raine," Gaara hugged her tightly to him. This is it. No more. If they fuck with my wife again I'll find Sound myself and kill them all! I'll tear their fucking country right out from beneath them!

Just as he suspected, Gaara was pissed at Kankuro. It took weeks for Gaara to get over it, but eventually the brothers were brothers again. Gabe went from crawling to pulling himself up to a standing position. He looked more like Gaara everyday; he was growing in a thick crop of dark red hair.

The family was enjoying a lazy Saturday morning. Gaara and Kankuro sat with Gabe in front of the TV watching cartoons. Kankuro had a big bowl of cheerios on his lap he was sharing with Gabe. Sometimes Gabe even helped uncle Kankuro out shoveling handfuls of cheerios into his mouth for him. Kankuro ate them without even looking to see where Gabe grabbed them from. Gaara had given up on trying to keep it neat in here. All of them had cheerios in their lap. There was no stopping the mess that was Gabe and Kankuro.

Raine came in with Temari behind her and looked at her family flopped on the couch. They were covered with cereal. "Gaara," Raine lifted her eyebrows.

He looked away from Sylvester and Tweety to his annoyed wife. Shit. "Uh," he stared sweeping the mess in his lap into a pile.

"Ma ma ma!" Gabe knew where mommy was. He rolled onto his belly and slid feet first off the couch. He didn't walk, he ran to his mother. Everyone froze watching him take his first very quick steps to his mother.

Raine crouched to greet her son. "Gabe!" the baby tripped forward into her arms and she hugged him.

"He walked! He walked!" Temari was bursting with excitement.

Gaara forgot all about the cereal on his lap and got to his feet. "He did. Gabe walked."

Raine looked at her husband smiling. There was a big silly grin on his face and she laughed. "Call him to you Gaara. Let's see if he'll do it again."

Gaara dropped to his knees and a second later uncle Kankuro was beside him. Gaara held out his hand to Gabe. "Hey buddy, come here. The cartoons are this way."

Kankuro held his arms out to Gabe. "Come see uncle Kankuro little buddy. I got soda."

"Oh da!" Gabe got back on his feet and a second later he let go of mommy. He hurried toward soda the same way he had run to her. Kankuro and Gaara watched Gabe toddling their way laughing and pushing their shoulders into each other.

Temari and Raine were giggling too. "Look at him go!" Temari bubbled. Gabe made it to daddy and daddy snatched him up first. Gaara put Gabe in his lap and tickled him until he was silly laughing.

Gabe wriggled away from daddy before he was tickled to pieces. He made a break for Kankuro. "Ka!"

"I'll save you Gabe!" Temari dropped to her knees. "Come here!"

Gabe changed course and hurried for auntie Temari. It sure was fun being the center of attention like this and the adults just couldn't get enough of it. They ran Gabe around until the poor kid couldn't take anymore. Finally he crawled up into Kankuro's lap and rubbed his eyes. Kankuro smiled down at his nephew. "I think we wore him out."

Raine's heart was full of pride and joy. She moved to take Gabe. "I'll get him."

"It's okay mouse, I got him." Kankuro didn't want to give him up. "I don't mind sittin through some cartoons." He looked back at the TV as if that settled everything.

The women giggled at big brother. Gaara was all smiles looking down at his tired boy. "He really did it. My son can walk."

That night after Gabe was tucked into his crib Gaara took Raine to bed and shared his excitement with her. Yes, nine more!

He was unsteady on his feet for almost two weeks but mostly because Gabe wanted to run not walk. Gaara came home to a few skinned knees and a bump on the head but Gabe didn't seem to mind. He just ran up to his daddy and said "Boo boo." The tot certainly didn't slow down.

Gaara was getting ready for work and Raine was in the bathroom brushing her teeth. She'll brush her teeth and take a pill. Gaara was familiar with her routine. He stepped into the bathroom behind her as she hung her toothbrush up. Raine grabbed her birth control pills and Gaara reached around and took them from her.

She turned to Gaara smiling at his flirty behavior. "You're going to be late kazekage sama," she teased.

You're the one that needs to be late. Gaara chucked her compact of pills into the trash. "I don't think you need them anymore."

For a moment she just stared at him. Gaara was smiling a little. Another baby? Megumi had explained to them that it may take longer for her to conceive. It was likely that they would have to keep trying for months. "Gaara…"

He took her in his arms and hugged her. "I want another baby Raine. It's time for Gabe to have a brother or sister. Don't you think so too?"

She did and Raine smiled up at her husband. "Oh yes Gaara," Raine reached up and pushed the hair out of his eyes. She laughed and he smiled. "Another child!"

"You're a wonderful mother. You've done an amazing job with Gabe." He snuggled against the hand she had near his face. "I love you so much Raine, you and Gabe and I have so much more to give. I love having a family with you."

Gaara… She was so happy she almost cried. "I love you Gaara." Raine flung her arms around her husband's neck and kissed him.

Gaara got started trying to make another baby before he left for work. He shuffled off to the office with a spring in his step and a slobbish grin on his lips.

Kankuro came down for breakfast. To his dismay mouse wasn't down here cooking again. Temari had Gabe in his high chair and they were both eating cereal. "Why don't you ever cook breakfast?" he grumbled going to the cereal cupboard.

She frowned at Kankuro. "Why don't you?"

Kankuro pulled out his box of Captain Crunch. "Man we need to get Carmen back up in here to do some cooking while they're He could hear the mattress squeaking somewhere over his head. "Fuckin slob." Kankuro went for a bowl.

Temari thought getting Carmen back in here was a great idea. "I'll speak to her today."

Kankuro shook cereal into his bowl. He was supportive of his brother and mouse wanting to expand their happy family but, "I think Gaara's a sex fiend. He's addicted to that shit and now that he's got a reason to fuck he's going all out."

The thought had crossed her mind a time or two. "They've only been at it a few months. Megumi said it might take some time."

"Yeah, every other month she's shooting blanks." Kankuro sighed and went to the fridge for milk. "He's a fuckin slob Temari. They aint gotta go at it like this. Gaara's getting ass three maybe four times a day, probably everyday!"

She sighed heavily. She knew Gaara was a huge slob. "He'll lay off once mouse catches pregnant."

Kankuro rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure he will."

"Oh yes he will. I'm getting sick of missing meals because he's getting his noodle wet."

He chuckled pouring his milk. Good one Temari. Kankuro put the top back on and looked up at the ceiling. "Oi Gaara you damn slob! It's eight thirty. Shake a third leg we gotta go!"

"Ka!" Gabe agreed.

Gaara didn't mind that it was taking some time to get Raine pregnant again. He was enjoying all the trying. By his fourth month of trying his siblings started to look at him like he was the devil. Lucky for him there was a tournament coming up in Konoha. The whole family was going, they would make a bit of a holiday of it. They could all go their own way with their own friends for a few days. It was just the break they all needed.

The Kazekage's party arrived in Konoha a day early to spend some time with their friends. Temari went off to find Shikamaru and Kankuro went looking for Kiba. Gaara and Raine took Gabe to meet Tsunade hokage. Tsunade Shizune and Sakura couldn't get enough of toddling Gabe. Tsunade was so taken with chibi Gaara that she did something she almost never did; offer to baby sit.

Gaara and Raine had dinner plans with Lee and Naruto; Gabe seemed taken with Tonton so they took the kage up on her offer. Gabe would be safe and spoiled with Tsunade. After the meeting with Tsunade they kissing their little angel goodbye. Gaara and Raine started off through the streets of Konoha hand in hand.

Naruto and Lee were also headed to meet up with Gaara and Raine from another part of town. "I can't wait to see how big Gabe got," Lee was excited. It had been months since he had seen the baby.

"Shikamaru says he's running all over the place." Naruto laughed. "Says he's a little Gaara with eyebrows." The idea got Naruto laughing and Lee broke up beside him. They were half way to hysterics before Lee suddenly stopped.

Akatsuki. Two men in black cloaks covered with clouds stood in their path. Lee's feet automatically slid into a fighting stance. "Who are you?"

Naruto followed Lee's eyes to "Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame!"

Itachi adjusted his hat. "Uzumaki Naruto. You're coming with us."

"I don't think so." Lee brought a hand up. "Naruto, go get ANBU. I'll hold these guys here. Hurry!"

"No way!" Naruto stepped forward. "I'm not running from anybody!"

Kisame's hand went to the hilt of his sword and he looked at Lee. "I can kill this one right?"

"Do what you want." Itachi took a step towards Naruto. "Don't struggle," he advised.

Naruto brought his hands up to perform a replication jutsu when someone appeared between him and Itachi. Naruto's mouth fell open. No way…

He had been watching from the shadows. Sasuke had come here to kidnap Raine during the commotion of the tournament when fate interceded. "It's been a while brother."

"Sasuke," Itachi looked his baby brother over. Something's different.

"Sasuke!" Naruto gasped from behind his former friend.

Naruto and Lee shifted behind him and Sasuke put a hand out. "Don't get the wrong idea Naruto. I didn't come to save you but I cannot allow this piece of shit to live any longer then he already has." Sasuke called upon the power of his cursed seal. "Today you die motherfucker!" Sasuke charged his brother.

Gaara and Raine arrived at the restaurant and stood outside waiting for their friends. Suddenly in the east there was an explosion. Someone screamed and Raine startled. "What was that?"

Gaara saw smoke rising into the sunny afternoon sky. Something is on fire. "Stay close to me Raine."

"Where are Naruto and Lee? Is that them?" Raine was getting very nervous.

He couldn't leave her here alone but the explosion came from the part of town where Lee lived. Shit. Gaara lifted Raine into his arms. "Let's take a peek shall we?" He leapt to the roof with the wife he would protect in his arms.

Sasuke and Itachi clashed violently. Their fire jutsus set houses and shops on fire. People ran out into the street screaming. Itachi ripped up a chunk of the street and threw it at Sasuke. Sasuke smashed through it and pursued his brother.

"Naruto!" Lee jumped back avoiding Kisame's sword. "Get those people out of here!"

"Shit!" Naruto grit his teeth. Sasuke and Itachi were turning the entire district into a battle zone. "Kage bushin no jutsu!" Naruto and his clones ran to aid the fleeing civilians. Many were women with children.

Gaara arrived on the scene with Raine in his arms. Naruto was evacuating citizens; Lee was fighting an Akatsuki member he recognized as Hoshigaki Kisame and tearing the town apart, "Sasuke and Itachi."

Raine tightened her grip on Gaara's jacket. She saw monster Sasuke right away. Itachi, isn't that… "Sasuke is fighting his brother?"

What the hell is going on? Gaara removed the cork from his gourd. "I have to help those people." Gaara used the sand to help Naruto. He erected a wall of sand between the fighting and the fleeing civilians.

Naruto saw the wall come up behind him. "Keep moving!" He shouted to everyone. With his clones ushering the people to safety Naruto jumped to Gaara. "Gaara!"

His eyes shifted to Lee. Raine still had a tight grip on his arm. "What's happening here? Akatsuki came here for you didn't they?"

He was winded but he explained fast. "Yes, but then Sasuke showed up! He started fighting Itachi before Akatsuki could…" Naruto clenched a fist. "He said he's not doing it to help me, but…"

"Help Lee," Gaara instructed his frustrated friend. "Kill that Akatsuki fuck."

"Gaara!" Raine gasped.

Naruto frowned at Gaara. "I'll go help Lee get that guy, but don't get involved in their fight." He jabbed a thumb at the Uchiha brothers. "If Sasuke can kill Itachi I say let him."

"Naruto!" she looked at her blonde friend wide eyed.

"And if Itachi kills Sasuke instead?" Gaara frowned a little. He wanted to crush Sasuke right here and now. "Fuck you Naruto, Sasuke is my kill."

She couldn't believe what was happening. Konoha was on fire. Lee was fighting. People were screaming all around them. Sasuke was fighting his brother and Gaara wanted the bad guys dead, all of them. My kill…. Naruto took a step back and Raine up looked into Gaara's eyes. That look… Raine had seen eyes full of murderous intent before. "Gaara…"

Shit. This place was already quickly turning into a disaster area. The last thing Naruto needed was Gaara going ballistic in the mix. "Take it easy Gaara. We both need to keep a lid on it. Lee's house is two blocks away for fucks sake!"

Gaara took a threatening step toward his friend. "You think Sasuke is protecting you? Don't fool yourself Naruto. He's fighting Itachi for revenge, not for you."

"I know that!" I just wish…. Below them Lee cried out in pain. Naruto spun around to see what happened. "Lee?"

The fish man's sword had taken a nice chunk out of Lee's right leg. Blood sprayed from a severed artery soaking his pant leg red. "Lee!" Gaara lifted a hand and the ground around Kisame shook. He tried to jump clear of Gaara's reaching sand. A tendril wrapped around his left arm and Gaara closed his fist. "Sabaku kyu!"

Kisame howled as Gaara's sand snapped the bones in his arm in half. Raine peeked over Gaara's shoulder and saw the gory fighters below. Oh…god. "Lee!" she screamed horrified.

Naruto leapt from the roof to help his friend. Fuck that looks bad. Where's Sakura when I need her? He went to Lee as the freak with the sword danced away from Gaara's sand swinging his sword at it.

She's here. Sasuke recognized Raine's voice even though he was nearly consumed by the power of his seal. He and Itachi were going at each other with taijutsu moves fast and furious. His brother was strong, but Sasuke had finally become stronger. It would cost him most of his strength to do it, but Sasuke would kill his brother. "You can't win," Sasuke started to circle Itachi.

This is… Itachi's Sharingan struggled to keep up with his brother. Sasuke was incredibly fast and his dark chakra was changing again. More and more came rushing out. He's opening the life gates… How can this be? How can this be Sasuke? "Sasuke!"

Naruto hopped back to the roof with Lee under his arm. Raine squealed and rushed to help him. "Lee!" she started tearing at her skirt to make bandages.

Lee tried to hide his pain. "Please don't worry about me Raine san. It's nothing that can't be fixed.

Raine went to bandage Lee's leg with a big piece of her skirt when she realized that there was a chunk of Lee missing. "Oh my god," Raine wavered.

Naruto took the fabric from her. "It's okay Raine. I've got him. Look away." He wrapped Lee's leg as tight as he could.

Raine rolled her eyes away from Lee and up to Gaara. His hands were out in front of him and Gaara's eyes were watching something on the ground. She turned and saw Sasuke fighting his brother. Everyone is…They're killing each other…

There was no escaping it and everyone saw it. "Lotus!" Lee gasped watching the monster Sasuke do his special move on Itachi. The Uchiha slammed into the ground kicking up dust.

"Itachi!" Kisame shouted. Shit is he dead?

Naruto stared at the dust cloud with his mouth hanging open. "Did he…?"

Sasuke shook Itachi with his giant hands. The life had left him; his eyes were dull and black. "Itachi?" Sasuke ached but his brother hurt no more. He didn't feel the broken body Sasuke was squeezing "Because he's dead." He pulled his brothers corpse closer and screamed in his dead face. "I killed you! I fucking killed you bastard! You're dead! You are dead!"

Gaara was distracted for a moment by the screaming Uchiha. Shit. Itachi sure as fuck looked dead. Kisame performed a quick jutsu and got the hell out of there. He needed to report back to Akatsuki ASAP.

Naruto's stomach rolled over. When the dust settled he saw Sasuke shaking his dead brother and screaming in Itachi's lifeless face. "Sasuke…"

The sand ninja could tell Itachi's partner had fled but Sasuke's still here. Gaara sent his sand after the Uchiha. Join your brother in hell you twisted fuck.

Sasuke used his normal hands to grab his brother's face. He looked into Itachi's lifeless eyes and Sasuke started to cry. Brother… it was over. Sasuke had finally avenged his clan. It's all over now. I'm free…I'm alone…I will… Sasuke dropped Itachi and jumped away from Gaara's sand. His eyes went to the group on the roof. "Gaara," he growled.

Raine stood between Naruto and Gaara watching it all. Oh god, he killed his own brother…. Sasuke jumped high into the air shedding his monster form for his natural appearance. He landed in a tree not far from the roof and looked right at her.

Sasuke didn't even want to fight Gaara or Naruto right now. He had exerted himself enough already. Too much more could kill him or render him unable to escape. Sasuke had something he wanted to live for, he had to leave this place, but he had to try. "Raine!" he screamed for her as miserable tears fell from his eyes. "I killed my brother!"

"You," Gaara couldn't give a shit less the bastard was in tears over murdering the last of his own family. He sent more sand after the surviving Uchiha.

Sasuke had only seconds before he had to move. He held a hand out to Raine. "We're the last of the Uchiha now Raine! Come home with me!" he begged.

Gaara's concentration faltered for a second. What the fuck is this we shit! "You son of a bitch Raine is of the Sand! She's my wife!" Gaara sent a torrent of sand after his enemy. "Die Sasuke! Just fucking die!"

Raine dropped to her knees. She covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut tight. Oh god please make it stop.

Naruto knelt beside Raine and put an arm around her. "Raine?" she started to cry. He looked back at the sand covered tree but Sasuke was gone. Gaara's eyes were searching for Sasuke. The kage's teeth were clenched and his sand churned in the street below. "Gaara?"

Lee couldn't stand seeing Raine like this. "Gaara! Reinforcements are coming, now would you forget about Sasuke for a godamn minute and take care of your wife!"

Lee's scolding took him aback and Gaara heard Raine crying. Oh shit. Gaara turned and dropped to his knees beside his wife. "Raine?" Gaara took her face in his hands. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Raine are you alright?"

Konoha shinobi started arriving from everywhere. ANBU was fanning out to search for the intruders that were trying to make their escape. Naruto waved a medic over. "We've got a man down over here!"

Gaara gently pulled her hands away from her ears. "Raine, are you alright?"

Behind her ninja were hurrying to help Lee. Raine's eyes went back to Itachi's body below. It was surrounded by ninja now too. "G…Gaara…"

Shit. Gaara pulled Raine to him and hugged her. I was so caught up in the fight that I… She must be traumatized. "It's okay baby, let's get you out of here." Gaara stood pulling Raine up with him. "Naruto."

Naruto looked from the ninja putting Lee of a stretcher to Gaara. Raine cringed against him. "Get her out of here."

Gaara didn't have to be told twice. He scooped Raine into his arms and she sagged against him. Gaara pointed them away from the violent scene and carried Raine back toward their suite. "It's alright Raine. You're safe. Everyone is okay."

Raine didn't think Lee was okay. Itachi defiantly wasn't okay, he was dead. "Why? Why were they fighting?"

"Akatsuki came after Naruto. They want the kuuybi inside of him."

She shrunk against Gaara feeling afraid for her silly blonde friend. "And Sasuke?"

"He has been aiming to kill his brother for a long time." Gaara couldn't be sure that Sasuke was in Konoha because of Itachi. The fiend could have another reason for being here. At least he didn't put up a fight for Raine. Maybe he really was here because he was following Itachi or maybe after killing his brother Sasuke couldn't fight anymore.

It didn't matter now. Konoha's ANBU were likely perusing both Sasuke and Kisame. Sasuke had to flee Konoha; he would have to leave fire country before ANBU would give up on hunting down their missing nin. He's gone. Raine is safe.

"I think we better go get Gabe. Tsunade sama has enough to deal with now."

Gaara knew Tsunade would be busy taking in reports but he suspected that his wife wanted the comfort of their child. "Okay. Let's go to hokage's place."

Sasuke ran away from Konoha again. Somewhere behind him he had left Itachi. He wondered if they would lay his brother's body to rest with the Uchiha. Father mother, perhaps one of your sons can rest in peace with you now. Your souls are free, you have been avenged and Itachi He was still teary eyed thinking about his brother. You're free too Itachi. You have paid for your crimes with your life. Go to them brother. Father is waiting for you.

Finally Sasuke had done it. It was as Kakashi sensei had told him it would be. Now he just felt empty. His chest felt hollow. He was the last Uchiha everyone in his clan was dead now. No. He pushed himself to run faster. He was going directly back to Hidden Sound. I'm not alone. It was unfortunate that he was unable to steal Raine away but at least she was there to see him avenge his clan. We're free to rebuild the Uchiha now Raine. A clan free of sin. Sasuke smiled through his tears. I'm not alone.

They arrived at hokage's place and it was bustling with ninja activity. Gaara wanted to take in as much of the intel as he could but Raine wanted to get Gabe out of there. Sakura offered to go with Raine and Gabe back to their suite. With the bad guys on the run and the sannin's apprentice to look after her, Gaara knew Raine would be safe. He agreed; it was probably best Raine hear no more about this then she needed to.

Gabe fell asleep in his stroller as Raine pushed him along. Beside her Sakura was quiet and there was a far away look in her eyes. "Are you alright Sakura?"

She had been dreading this day on so many levels. Sasuke and Itachi tearing up Eighth Street was just icing on the cake. "I'm sure you already know this but if they take that thing out of Naruto he'll die."

Raine had heard all about the biju from Gaara. "They didn't get to Naruto."

She took a deep breath and let it out. "Yeah thanks to Sasuke. Of all the people…" she shook her head.

Thanks to Sasuke… "He killed his brother."

"That has been Sasuke's goal all along. He could have been watching Naruto waiting for Akatsuki to make their move. Itachi was the one they sent after Naruto before."

"What will happen now? What will Sasuke do now that Itachi is dead?" As much as she hated Sasuke Raine knew what it was like to have no family. He was crying. Sasuke was crying because he killed his brother.

"I don't know. When you live for vengeance once you have taken it there isn't much left is there?" She frowned. Orochimaru hadn't taken Sasuke's body yet, she was sure killing Itachi had been some part of their original deal. Sasuke got what he wanted now Orochimaru will…

Raine stopped walking and turned to her friend. "Sakura, would you take me to Sasuke's house? The one he lived in here with his family?"

The ninja halted looking at Raine strangely. "Wha? Why would you want to go there Raine? The place was picked over by ANBU years ago."

We're the last of the Uchiha now Raine! Come home with me! Raine swallowed hard. "I want to see it."

"Why? What's wrong with you? You don't look so good."

She didn't have a lot of time before Gaara would be satisfied that the bad guys were long gone and he came back to the suite to see her and Gabe. He said we. "I need to know my enemy."

Sasuke hadn't made a move to attack neither Raine nor Gaara this time. Sakura guessed that her friend was probably afraid after seeing the Uchiha fight. If poking through a dusty old house will do you some good "Alright. I'll show you."

Sakura led them into the old Uchiha section of town to the place Sasuke had done his growing up. For a long moment the women just stood staring at the house. "I haven't been here in a long time," Sakura said finally.

Now that she was here, she wasn't sure she wanted to go in the murder house. Don't be such a chicken. Raine let go of the stroller and stepped around it. "Sakura will you stay here with Gabe? I don't want to take him inside."

"Alright but leave the door open." She was sure it was safe but it was probably too dusty inside for little Gabriel.

She moved forward on shaky legs and pushed the front door open. She stepped inside; the air was stale and warm. Raine went up the step and into the house letting her eyes adjust to the dim. Much of the fading sunlight was muted by the layer of grime and dust on the windows. She moved down the hall leaving footprints in the dust on the floor.

Raine came to the kitchen first. She peeked in but didn't step in. The doorway was a haven of spider webs. There wasn't as much as a dish out of place. The room seemed to sigh at its abandonment. Raine looked at the stove. She wondered what the woman who had cooked the meals there was like. Sasuke said his mother was a saint.

The next room was the sitting room and Raine went in. She looked around the room but saw no pictures anywhere on the walls. Photo album she started searching the shelves. On the bottom shelf of a dust caked bookcase were the Uchiha family photo albums. She crouched down and pulled one out to make sure she had the right idea. It was indeed a photo book and inside were pictures of Sasuke's family from back when Sasuke was very young. Raine flipped through the pages. The dead smiled back at her.

Raine didn't want to stay in this creepy place any longer then she had to. She yoinked the first and last albums out and went through them. Baby pictures of Itachi and newborn Sasuke in one, pictures of Sasuke's last days in Konoha in the other. The last picture in the album was of Naruto and Sasuke.

Raine peeled back the plastic cover and looked at the picture. Naruto was grinning like a fool and flashing the camera a peace sign. Sasuke had his arms folded across his chest defiantly. He was rolling his eyes but there was a hint of a smile on his face. "They really were friends." She tucked the picture back in its place and flipped backward through the album.

There was a picture of a group of candidates outside of the forest of death. It was in black and white, probably some sort of official ninja thing. Sasuke stood with Naruto and Sakura but he was looking at Rock Lee. Her eyes moved over the crowd and she found him. "Gaara," a younger version her husband glared at the Uchiha from a distance.

If Gaara hadn't tormented Sasuke all those years ago when we first took the chunin exams together…

Raine sank back on her heels.

You think that because now he wears the kage's robes that all of his evil deeds can go unpunished? The world will be a better place with Sabaku no Gaara in his grave. His victim's souls will finally find peace.

Beside the picture of the group taking the exam was one of Sasuke alone. His back was mostly to the camera, he was sitting in the grass watching the sun set. Raine pulled the picture free frowning at how normal, how peaceful Sasuke looked. "You chose to become like you are now and Gaara…he helped make you like this."

Raine hung her head. Though Gaara was the love of her a life; a devoted and loving man there was a time when he wasn't so pleasant. Gaara Her tears fell on Sasuke's picture. Gaara had made an enemy of Sasuke long before she had even met him but she had suffered at Sasuke's hands too.

She hated to even think about it but would Orochimaru have left me alone if I never ended up with Gaara? Would Sasuke have run to that monster if Gaara hadn't tormented him so? The thoughts made her cry harder. She didn't want to blame Gaara for their distressing state she loved him. But it's his fault!

Retribution was a word all servants were familiar with. If you fucked up and broke something your ass was made to pay for it one way or another. The more valuable it was the worse the retribution was going to be. This whole nightmare she had gone through with the Sound shinobi was all about pay back. Orochimaru had changed Raine to get back at Sasori. Sasuke wanted revenge on Gaara for humiliating him. Sound wanted to make Sand pay for backing out of their alliance against Konoha.

"Why does there have to be so much…" She pulled herself together. Raine couldn't face Sakura a blubbering mess and she had been sitting in the dust long enough. She returned Sasuke's picture to the album and started re shelving them. A family photo fell out of the oldest one. The Uchiha babies with their mom and dad. She tucked it back into place hoping the dead were at peace.

There was one more room she wanted to check before she left. Raine got up and went down the hall to find Sasuke's room. The room was pretty barren of any clues about its occupant. A picture of team seven had been laid face down on the dresser but other then that the room was plain. Raine sighed and hurried to meet back up with Sakura.

"Find anything?" Sakura thought Raine looked a little flushed.

"A lot of cobwebs, that's about it." She took up her place behind Gabe's stroller again. "We should go. I don't want Gaara to know…"

"I got ya," Sakura started them off again. She was hoping that Raine was able to face some of her fears in the old Uchiha house. "I won't tell him we came here."

Raine nodded. "Thank you Sakura."

The tournament went on as scheduled. Raine spent most of it trying to distract the excited baby in her lap away from the scenes of violence. Lee's wound had been tended to and he was healed up in no time. Raine was glad to see him on his feet again. Naruto seemed sort of distracted, he spaced out a lot.

Raine didn't want to take Gabe to the bloody finals and Kankuro didn't want to sit in a noisy arena with a hangover. They passed on the tournament and took Gabe to the park instead. They sat together watching Gabe dig in the sandbox with a little red plastic shovel. "Kankuro, did you study Sasori? His jutsus and stuff?"

Crap. "Why would you ask me that?"

"Because you use the puppets and Sasori was the best with them." Raine had read up on her dear dead father.

"Some, a little I guess."

"Do you know what kind of a person he was? I mean… why did he turn evil," it was frustrating not knowing how to put it into words.

Kankuro was sure he knew more about Sasori them mouse did. "Power and loneliness. Sasori was a strong and talented ninja, but he had nothing but his talent. No family, no loyalty." Kankuro sighed. "Sasori killed Sandiame kazekage; he was supposed to be the greatest of all previous kage. Your pops was a one tough customer mouse."

"Power and loneliness," Raine stared at Gabe. "That's what made Sasuke evil."

Little brother had told him the Uchiha had screamed for mouse. He cut his eyes from his nephew to Raine. Sasuke ne? "Did he scare you mouse?"

She shook her head. "I knew I was safe beside Gaara."

"Of course Gaara would protect you. He loves you. He aint gonna let anything happen to you or Gabe."

"I think I disappoint him. I can't handle the sight of bodies ripped open and men trying to kill each other. It makes me cry."

"Gaara's not disappointed in you mouse," Kankuro reassured her. "Sometimes that stuff can be kinda scary."

She thought back to the fight, to falling to her knees between Gaara and Naruto. "I wasn't scared I…I could tell Lee was in pain. He had to be with a wound like that." She closed her mouth before she said anymore.

"The doc got Lee fixed right up."

"But that doesn't take away the time he spent in pain." She looked at Kankuro; he was looking at her funny.

"Ninja get hurt sometimes."

"And they kill their own family sometimes too."

Kankuro swallowed hard. He wasn't sure which Uchiha she was talking about, maybe both. "Sasuke," he guessed.

"Sasuke, Itachi, Gaara. Even my father was killed by his own grandmother."

There was a miserable look on her face. "Oi mouse," Kankuro took her by the shoulders. "Nobody in this family is killing nobody."

"I know that Kankuro it's just…"

"What? What's wrong mouse?"

Sometimes Raine could tell Kankuro things that she wouldn't tell anybody else. "I didn't cry because I was scared Kankuro, it was his scream. I've never heard anything more miserable in all my life."

Lee didn't really strike Kankuro as a screamer. She aint talking about Lee. "Mouse," he could tell by her frown who she meant.

"He was crying Kankuro, crying because he killed his brother." The thought made her stomach roll over. "Why did he kill him if he was going to regret it?"

"He doesn't regret it. Itachi killed everyone Sasuke cared about, their family the entire Uchiha clan. He sold his soul to Orochimaru for the power to kill his brother and avenge his family. Don't you feel sorry for that guy mouse."

It was just as his little brother had expected; Raine was too delicate to watch a real battle, to see ninja kill each other. The fight between the Uchiha brothers must have been incredible. Kankuro had seen the aftermath; he could imagine his little mouse saw some pretty crazy stuff. "Don't you think about what you saw no more neither. You put that shit right out of your head understand?"

Raine never had a brother or sister until she had married Gaara. Even though Kankuro and Temari were in laws she could imagine ever hurting either one of them. She yelled at Kankuro once about the cereal mess and felt guilty about if for days after. Gaara and his siblings squabbled sometimes, but they were never mean to each other. "How can people who are supposed to love each other hurt each other?"

"Cuz they're fuckin nuts now don't you worry about it anymore. We aint the Uchiha, we are the first family of Sand." He tried not to think of the awful lives they had when Gaara had a monster inside of him and a sadistic streak a mile wide. "Gaara loves you. You guys are gonna have a bunch of babies and we'll be one big happy family okay?"

Raine smiled at him a little. Kankuro was trying his best to make her feel better. One big happy family. "Alright Kankuro, I wont worry about it anymore."

Gaara and Raine spent their last night in Konoha with their friends. It was past Gabe's bedtime when they finally took the little guy back to their room and tucked him in for the night. Gaara watched her watch their son drift off to sleep. He slipped an arm around her waist. "How are you holding up mommy?"

Raine wrapped her arms around Gaara and looked up into his soft green eyes. "Gabe spent half the day at the playground. He'll sleep good tonight."

Gaara smiled down at her pulling her closer to him. Gabe's crib was in their bedroom. "Does that mean we can be loud?" he teased and kissed his wife.

She melted into him and gave herself to Gaara's kiss. A happy family. She felt his hands sliding over her curves. Gaara…It was hard to believe the gentle hands that held her waist and cupped her breast were tainted with murder. No, Gaara isn't like that. He isn't like… Gaara broke their kiss and his lips went to her neck.

He kissed her below the ear and whispered, "I love you Raine."

"I love you Gaara." With all of my heart I do. He was kissing her again stepping them back toward their bed. Their past didn't matter, not when he held her like this. If Gaara still have atoning to do for his past mistakes he would do it with Raine at his side.

Gaara swept Raine off of her feet and laid her down on the bed. He crawled up beside her smiling at the pretty blush in her cheeks. "You are so beautiful," Gaara took her soft cheek in his hand. "Are you sure you're alright Raine?" He had asked her the same question a dozen times since she had witnessed the ninja fight but he wanted to be sure.

"I'm fine Gaara," she reached up and brushed the hair away from his eyes. He had been fussing over for two days now. His concern made her smile a little. "Lee is alright and I just want to forget the whole thing."

"Okay," he kissed her softly. Seeing Lee up and running must have eased her mind a lot. She had been quite worried for him. Sasuke was long gone, so was Akatsuki. They had probably fled the country. ANBU with ninken were still searching, but Gaara doubted they were going to find anything. "We'll just forget it then."

He leaned over and kissed his wife. Sasuke had made no move to forcibly take Raine; maybe Sound really was going to leave her alone after all. Gaara took Raine to him praying it was true, that his wife was safe from Sasuke and Orochimaru. I'll keep Raine safe…always.

Sasuke put his hand on the glass watching the thing inside twitch a tiny hand. Saichi, I'm sorry. I couldn't bring mommy home today but I… He thought of the way Itachi's eyes looked after Sasuke killed him. They were dull black and lifeless. Your uncle Itachi is dead. I never even had the chance to tell him about you my son.

He was sorry he hadn't been able to bring Raine back with him. He wanted her to be here for the birth of their child. There was still time and hopefully his hasty retreat from Konoha had lead the kazekage to believe Sasuke wasn't going to try and take Raine again. I'll have to leave her alone for a little while but…

Sasuke sighed tiredly. "Don't worry Saichi. I'll get you your mommy soon."

They returned to Sand with no further incident. Gaara was relieved that Sasuke had crawled back to Hidden Sound without bothering Raine again. It really did look as though the lunatic had returned to Konoha for the purpose of killing his brother. Gaara's wife was safe and soon after they were home she seemed to forget all about the unpleasant things she saw on their holiday in fire country.

Raine was glad to be home, safe again in Sand with her family. She and Gaara went on trying to conceive and once more she was disappointed when Raine got her monthly. Temari did her best to try to cheer Raine up reminding her, "Making a beautiful baby like Gabe takes time. It will happen mouse, don't worry."

Maybe she was a little worried; she went to see Megumi. Raine's lady doc told her what everyone else did, these things take time. She knew it was going to be harder to conceive with only one function ovary, but it was depressing it was taking so long. Little Gabe needed a playmate other then Kankuro. Raine quietly cursed Orochimaru and she and Gaara kept trying.

Temari was tired of seeing mouse mope; the girl looked like she could use some fun. The ninja cleared a Saturday and invited her sister in law to come shopping in Cardiff with her. Gaara and Kankuro both readily agreed to watch Gabe while the ladies went and had a fun day in the city.

They arrived in Cardiff in the late morning and went to Belle Dandy for brunch. It was their favorite place to eat in all of Cardiff. They sat talking about their loving family back in Sand wondering how many boxes of cheerios would be spilt all over the place when they got home. By the time they walked out they were both in a great mood and ready to shop. Bundy's Shoes was having a blow out sale.

Raine had found three pair of shoes she liked; Temari hit the mother load and bought six totally cute pairs of sandals. They were on their way over to Macey's when Temari noticed something "off". She looked up and around for the six ANBU guards that were supposed to be glued to mouse and saw none of them. Godamn it, where are those guys?

"I think I'll buy a new nightgown," Raine giggled. "A red one!"

"I bet Gaara will like that," Temari smiled but her eyes were still trying to find ANBU.

She smiled at Temari and noticed her sister's eyes scanning the rooftops. "See something interesting?"

"No," but I feel…Temari stopped. Raine stopped a few feet ahead of her. Where the hell is ANBU?

"Was Kurama waving to you again?" She thought the ANBU had a crush on her sister in law. Raine looked up at the nearest roof.

Temari turned toward the source of her uncomfortable feeling. She scanned the area. Fighting, there's fighting going on. Where is… before she had to finish her thought Kurama was in front of her Oh shit! He had a sword sticking through his chest.

Sasuke pulled his sword out of the ANBU and let go of his body. He fixed his Sharingan on Sabaku no Gaara's sister. "Long time no see Temari."

Sasuke! Temari dropped her bag of shoes and reached for her fan. No!

Sasuke captured the Sand kunoichi with his eyes. Behind her Rain had turned toward the sound of his voice. Sasuke smiled a little and three seconds later Temari fell on her knees in the sand dropping her fan.

"Temari!" Raine screamed.

Temari's eyes rolled into the back of her head and she collapsed at Sasuke's feet. Sasuke shook the ANBU's blood from his sword and pointed its business end at the troublesome female ninja's face. Sasuke rolled his eyes up to Raine. Like the cricket in the spider web ne? "Hello Raine."

Oh shit oh shit! Instinct told her to run but what about Temari? I can't leave her he'll Sasuke took a step closer. Maybe I can make him chase me, get him away from her. Whatever reason sounded good. Raine turned screaming, "Yahiko!"

You can't run. Sasuke re sheathed his sword and he was behind her before she could take two steps. He grabbed her around the waist from behind halting her in her tracks. "Your ANBU can't hear you. They're dead."

"No!" Raine struggled against the Uchiha. "Let me go Sasuke! Help me! Somebody help me I'm being kidnapped!"

"Don't be like that Raine." Sasuke manhandled her so she was facing him. Raine pushed at his shoulders futilely. "I'm not kidnapping you. I'm taking you home with me where you belong."

No! Raine grabbed Sasuke by the throat with both hands and squeezed. "Die! Die you son of a bitch die!"

Sasuke smiled a little. He hadn't expected such violent resistance from his sweetie. "You have a fire inside of you. I like that." He reached up and pried off one of her strangling hands. Raine was far too weak to hurt or fight him at all.

She wasn't giving up without a fight. "Help! I'm being kidnapped!" Raine kicked at Sasuke's shin as she tried to free himself from his grasp.

Her display was starting to draw attention. It was time to go. "That's enough Raine, let's go." Sasuke swept her into his arms and she screamed. She tried to wiggle away from him so he rendered her unconscious with a gentle tap. He didn't really want to hurt her. Two men from the café district hurried Temari's way and then Sasuke saw the sand ninja no more. He cradled Raine against him and hurried to get the hell out of wind.

It was nearly dinner time and the women still weren't home. Raine had promised to make salsa but she wasn't home yet. Hunger drove the men into the kitchen. Gaara put Gabe in his high chair and gave him a dish of cubed cantaloupe. He sat at the table watching his boy snack while his own stomach rumbled.

Kankuro went to the cupboard and dug around for something good. Finally he decided to nuke a bag of popcorn. Gaara watched him pop the buttery smelling sack into the microwave. "Popcorn?"

A little snack wouldn't ruin his appetite for whatever delicious dinner his wife was going to cook tonight. "Sounds good."

He was watching the spinning bag inflate when Kankuro heard a pounding on the sliding glass door. He turned just as an ANBU burst in. "Kazekage sama!"

Gaara was on his feet in a flash. He knew the minute the door flew open something was wrong. "Where are Raine and Temari?"

He had run across the desert to deliver the horrible news. "Temari san is on her way back to Sand as we speak. A medical specialist is with her."

"Temari's hurt?" Kankuro was stunned.

"She is unconscious and will not wake up. It looks like genjutsu, something advanced."

Sasuke Gaara swallowed hard. Did he use the Sharingan on my sister? "Where is my wife!" Gaara tried not to sound as panicked as he felt.

"Several of the teams on border patrol are searching for her now kazekage sama…"

No. Gaara's hand tightened into a fist. No no no no! "What about her ANBU guards? Where the hell are they!"

"Dead."

The cold reality set in and Kankuro shifted his eyes to his brother. Temari was attacked by Sasuke. He did to her what he did to Gaara and then he… Uchiha Sasuke has mouse. His little brother was shaking. "Gaara?"

For the moment he ignored his brother. "They're bringing Temari home now?"

"Yes kazekage sama."

Gaara looked at Kankuro. "Stay with Gabe, I have some things I have to do." He didn't give his brother a chance to argue, Gaara hurried out and the ANBU followed. Get me all of my jonin and my fastest messenger. Have them in the conference hall in twenty minutes." His ninja vanished in a blur and Gaara sped toward the gate.

Motherfucker. He had to lay eyes on his sister. He had to see it was Sasuke's doing even though he already knew it was; a kage's duty. Shit godamnit fuck! There was a horrible empty feeling in his chest and Gaara broke out in a cold sweat. Sasuke had his wife and it was likely his sister was going to need Tsunade to release her from the Uchiha's evil spell.

That's it, enough. I can't take it anymore. You want a war Sasuke? I'll give you a war. I will find Hidden Sound and crush it along with you!

I hear birds… Raine tried to pull herself up out of the darkness. She could feel something tickling at her cheek. She pulled her heavy eyelids open to see what was touching her and Raine lost her breath. Sasuke!

Sasuke had run until he was out of wind country. It had burned up a lot of chakra moving so fast for so long, but they were out of Gaara's desert. Just inside of grass country Sasuke had stopped to rest. He sat in the grass holding Raine against him with one arm. He used his free hand to brush the hair out of her face and couldn't resist touching her a little. His gentle caress roused her out of sleep.

He was watching her with a smile on his face. No! Raine pushed herself away from Sasuke as hard as she could. She got to her knees and then her feet as quickly as she could. Panic was taking over again. She could feel its icy fingers tightening around her heart. She started to run.

He watched her scramble still smiling; he even let her run a little. It was pleasant to watch. After a minute he got up and put himself in her path. Raine stopped short of slamming into him. Sasuke grabbed her arm. "That's enough Raine."

No it's not! She clawed at the hand holding her. "Let go of me Sasuke!"

Sasuke grabbed her other wrist to keep her from scratching at him and she started kicking his shins again. He sighed tiredly. "You can't hurt me so just stop it."

"Let me go!" she screamed up into Sasuke's calm face. "I won't go with you! I won't cooperate with you!" She kicked him as hard as she could to emphasize her point.

"I don't need your cooperation this time Raine." Sasuke wrapped up one of her kicking legs with his own. "The next time your going to be near people is when we arrive in Hidden Sound." He tipped back on his heel and fell over in the grass with Raine on top of him. She cried out startled as they dropped but Sasuke cushioned her fall. He pulled her arms out to the side so that she fell against him.

Shit godamnit. "Sasuke," she growled. Raine wanted to struggle, but not when the freak had her pinned down on top of him. She had no intention of rubbing anything against Uchiha Sasuke ever again. "What do you want?" she hissed glaring at him.

Her cheeks were flush. "You're beautiful when you're angry." Sasuke rolled them over so he was on top of her. He pinned her wrists to the ground and settled himself between her legs. She struggled just a little, he wished she would squirm some more.

She was afraid of what he was going to do. "Just kill me then Sasuke! Kill me and get it over with!" Gaara…I want to see Gaara!

He pulled her wrists together up over her head and held them together with one hand. "Kill you?" his free hand stroked her cheek. "I wouldn't dream of hurting you Raine."

"What do you want Sasuke?" she shied away from his touch.

"You." He grabbed her chin and pushed her teeth closed. Sasuke kissed her soft lips.

Her stomach fluttered like something was trapped inside of it. She tried to turn away from his kiss terrified he was going bite her face again. Raine squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the pain. None came and Sasuke pulled his lips away from hers slowly. Cautiously she opened her eyes to look at him. Her heart was in her throat. Sasuke was staring down at her. He didn't look pissed or violent; there was a soft almost sad look in his dark eyes.

Sasuke… I think he…

We're the last of the Uchiha now Raine! Come home with me!

He smiled a little sure that Raine was finally starting to see it; the love in his eyes. Her expression was one of understanding. "That's right Raine," Sasuke swept a finger over her lips still holding her mouth closed so she couldn't bite at him. "You don't have to fight me anymore. I'm not going to hurt you I'm going to make you happy. I have a surprise for you."

She felt her heart dive from her throat into her stomach. Raine didn't even want to think about what Sasuke had planned for her. Gaara… please hurry.

Hiei had switched shifts with Yahiko. It meant he missed out on going to Cardiff with the princess, but he needed the day off to go to the damn dentist. The cap on his bottom tooth had come off while he was sparring with Kurama. It didn't hurt, but the jagged tooth felt annoying as hell in his mouth. Kurama promised to bring him back some dumplings, but Kurama never showed up.

ANBU tracked him down and told him what had happened in the city. Kurama and Yahiko were both dead, all of the ANBU that accompanied the princesses to Cardiff were. The lady Temari had also fallen to the enemy. She wasn't dead, but they couldn't wake her either. The kage's wife was gone, abducted by Uchiha Sasuke. Hiei hurried to the conference hall regretting taking the day off.

Gaara accompanied his sister to the hospital. Temari's eyes rolled behind her lids. Occasionally she mumbled for her family, Gabe in particular. What did you show my sister Sasuke you son of a bitch! He made sure Temari was evaluated and sedated. Gaara sent his fastest ninja on ahead to Konoha to give the hokage a heads up. Sand was on their way to fire country. The kage ordered his sister made comfortable to the trip and ready to go within the hour.

His shinobi were assembled and waiting for him when Gaara got to the conference room. He immediately sent his three ninken using squads to Cardiff to begin trailing his kidnapped wife at once. He ordered his fastest squad to act as messenger between the searchers and the kage's party. The kazekage made sure that his were clear about one thing. "We are at war with Hidden Sound."

Gaara split the rest of his ninja into two groups. Half of them would remain here guarding the village just in case the enemy attacked while Gaara was away. The other half was ordered to accompany him. Enough was enough; the kazekage would lead his army right to the gates of Sound. He would rescue his wife and crush his enemies once and for all.

After the brief meeting the shinobi scattered to gather what they needed for their journey and Gaara hurried home to see his son before he left. Gabe was in his high chair with a variety of finger foods spread out on the tray in front of him. Kankuro hadn't known what to give the toddler for dinner so he gave Gabe a little bit of everything. "Da da!" the boy greeted waving a fish stick at his daddy.

"Temari?" Kankuro asked immediately.

"A medical team is making her comfortable for the trip to Konoha. She needs Tsunade."

Kankuro had been fearing and expecting the worst. "Sasuke got her didn't he?"

"Yes." Gaara sighed heavily and pat Gabe on the head. "I need you to take care of Gabe for me Kankuro. I'm going after Raine. I will get her back from Sasuke then I'll kill the meddling fuck and be done with it."

He was worried for his sister, but he was sure Tsunade hokage could help her. "I'm going with you Gaara."

He shook his head and turned to his brother. "No, I need you to look after Gabe."

"I'm a ninja not a babysitter!" Kankuro wanted to fight beside Gaara. He wanted to avenge his family.

"You're the only family Gabe has to take care of him right now."

"Da da ka!" Gabe agreed and stuffed a soggy fish stick in his mouth.

Damnit. He certainly wouldn't abandon his nephew. "Alright, but Gabe and I are going to Konoha with Temari."

Gaara nodded. A big dose of Gabe would probably be just what Temari needed when she woke. "Alright Kankuro, I'll get some things together for Gabe. I'll count on you to look after him and Temari."

Kankuro wanted to see his sister. "I'll guard them both with my life."

I know you will. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, just get mouse back." Kankuro was already working on a plan of his own. Kiba's clan and Hatake Kakashi…

"I will." Gaara kissed Gabe on the forehead and went to pack up a bag or two for his son. Every second counted right now. The longer Gaara dicked around here in Sand, the further away the Uchiha got with Raine. It would be easier to reclaim his wife and kill Sasuke before they reached Sound, but Sasuke already had a huge head start. Gaara had to hurry. Be brave my love I'm coming for you.

When she woke again; Sasuke had knocked her out when she tried to fight him when he started them moving again, it was dark. Raine saw a big fat moon high above the trees. She blinked at her surroundings. I know these trees. Lee had carried her as they bounded from one to the next. This is fire country. They were high up in the canopy, Sasuke bounding from one fat branch to the next as he held her against him. It's not too late to get away from him! Running from Sasuke was an exercise in futility, but she had to do something. "Sasuke?"

He cut his eyes down to her. He thought she looked cute with sleep puffy eyes and he smiled. "You're awake."

"I have to pee," it was a half truth but a good excuse to make him stop and unhand her.

Sasuke didn't want to stop in fire country if he didn't have to. Konoha shinobi were all over the place and he didn't want to run into any. A fight would just slow him down and Sasuke was in a hurry. "Hold it."

She frowned up at him and grabbed a handful of his shirt. "I can't."

There was an urgent look on her face. We'll be in rice country in a few hours. He sighed and pointed them toward the ground. "Alright Raine."

They hit terra firma and Sasuke set her down on her feet. She backed away from him cautiously. "Go over there or something," she waved a hand at him.

Sasuke chuckled. Raine was so shy it amused him. He started away to give his modest woman some privacy. "Alright, but be quick. We still have a lot of ground to cover."

She swallowed hard still backpedaling away from the Sound ninja. Raine ducked behind some shrubbery and hunkered down so it looked like she was busy. I have to get away from him. We have allies here in fire. How far are we from Konoha? Raine got to her hands and knees and started to crawl off into the dark forest.

They have to be looking for me by now maybe even our friends in Konoha. How long have I been gone? Could Lee and Naruto know that I Raine heard a twig snap somewhere to her right. Shit he's coming. Raine got to her feet and started running. There was a quick succession of crunching brush and then she heard a growl.

Her blood ran cold and Raine peeked over her shoulder. Something big was after her and it was catching up fast. Oh shit! What the fuck is that! It passed through a clearing in the trees and Raine caught a glimpse of her pursuer in the moonlight. Oh shit! The biggest grizzly bear she had ever seen in her life was bounding after her. She screamed terrified and pushed herself to run faster.

The bear was close she could hear it snorting out a breath each time his font paws hit the ground. A second later it swiped at her and Raine felt part of her skirt tear off. She screamed and broke to her left. It was a bad move. Raine didn't see the woodchuck hole in the dark. Her toes caught on the edge of the hole and Raine fell forward with her arms out in front of her. She slid across the forest floor like a baseball player sliding into home plate. "Shit!"

Raine turned over and the bear reared up on its hind legs. She threw her arms protectively around her head and curled up into a little ball. There was no other choice, Raine opened her mouth and screamed, "Sasuke! Sasuke help me!" The grizzly roared at its loud dinner and pounced.

A split second before the bear could sink his claws into Raine, Sasuke moved her out of the way. He leapt into a tree holding Raine under one arm keeping his eye on the bear. "Sorry big boy, you'll have to hunt elsewhere. This is mine."

He saved me! Raine put her shaky feet on the big limb of the tree and tried to stand up next to Sasuke. She was still watching the bear. The angry beast threw himself against the trunk of the tree shaking it some as he roared up at them. Raine squealed and wrapped her arms around Sasuke's waist tight.

She's hugging me. Sasuke rolled his eyes to the woman beside him. Raine looked terrified. "You're alright." His free hand went to the hilt of his sword. "Stay here." Sasuke left her in the tree and leapt down to take care of the bear.

Her knees were knocking together as Raine tried to balance on the tree limb. Sasuke jumped to the ground unsheathing his sword. The grizzly turned on the Uchiha and they charged each other. A few seconds later she saw the bears head go flying off. The head tumbled through the air; the body lumbered forward another few steps and then fell over. Holy shit! Instinctively she tried to step away from the carnage but the branch was to narrow to take a step back. Raine pin wheeled her arms as she tipped backwards out of the tree.

Sasuke shook the blood from his sword and re sheathed it. He got under Raine and caught her in his waiting arms. Her face was pale with fright and her blue eyes were wide. "You're safe Raine."

She barely heard Sasuke's voice over the sound of her own heartbeat in her ears. "B…bear…"

"Yes I know." Sasuke adjusted her some in his arms to carry her easier. He leapt back into the trees. "It's dead. It can't hurt you."

Raine saw the bears head in a bloody pool of moonlight below. Its tongue was hanging out. She turned away from the gory sight and buried her face against Sasuke's shoulder. She didn't even care where they were going just, "Get me out of here Sasuke, please."

Sasuke complied. He was pleased that she had called out for him when she needed rescue. She wanted me to save her. Sasuke smiled a little. "You're safe with me Raine. I'm not going to let anything hurt you, but you know that don't you."

The scary truth was that she did. She didn't know what he wanted from her, but Sasuke was at least keeping her alive. Raine swallowed hard. She knew being on Sasuke's good side was preferable to having him pissed off and biting her. "Thank you for saving me."

"You don't have to thank me. It's a man's duty to protect his woman," he tested her. She was more subserviant now that he had saved her and slaughtered the source of her terror. "I don't mind at all."

His woman? The palms of her hands felt sweaty. She peeked up at Sasuke, he was watching her. Shit. What do I say! "Sorry to trouble you."

"Cautious little thing aren't you? You're smart as ever Raine, but you're stronger now I think. Being a kage's wife toughened you up ne?"

Gaara… her heart sunk. She couldn't help but frown at Sasuke. "Why have you taken me? Are you trying to lure Gaara into a trap?"

"You wanted me to come and get you."

Sicko. "No."

"Yes you did." Sasuke thought back to his pit stop in Konoha a few days ago. He often dropped by the old homestead, a morbid curiosity of his. "You went into my house. You went into my room."

A cold chill swept over her standing up the hair on her arms. "No I…"

"You left tracks in the dust on the floor and tears on my picture."

Her mouth hung open as she stared up at Sasuke. "I didn't."

"You did. I recognize your tracks Raine. You were wearing your dark red sandals and a long skirt. You held my pictures and wept for me."

She thought about sitting in the stale air of the Uchiha house crying for her love. I cried for Gaara not you! Raine knew she still had to be careful around Sasuke. Maybe if he thought she was empathetic to him he would be less dangerous. "So what if I did."

I knew it. Sasuke hugged her closer. She's falling in love with me. "I admit I was a little surprised to see how much you care, but it's a good thing Raine. It will make things much easier for all of us."

All of who? What are you going to do with me? "I don't understand what you mean."

Sasuke gazed into her eyes. He couldn't wait for her to meet Saichi. "It's alright to love me Raine. We'll have a happy life together in Sound."

Oh god… The fluttery thing was trying to escape her stomach again. She searched her mind for a safe reply but she couldn't think straight. There was no way she was going to love this monster, no way in hell she was going to have a happy life with him. "I…I have a husband…"

"Don't worry love. I'll make sure you're widowed soon. We'll be free to wed in no time." Sasuke kissed her forehead and Raine's body went rigid.

"No!" She couldn't help herself, Raine pushed away from Sasuke. "Put me down!"

He tightened his hold on her. "It's alright Raine. We'll be home soon."

Hidden Sound…if Sasuke takes me there then … "Gaara!" Raine cried out for her love.

A quick flick of his wrist and Sasuke rendered her unconscious. He didn't like her calling out for Gaara like that, not at all. "There is no more Gaara in your world Raine. I've freed you from that monster. You'll be with me now. With me and Saichi; your real family. You're going to love him." Sasuke hurried to get out of fire country.

Kiba Shino and Hinata were headed home after a mission. They were up with the sun and on the move after breakfast. They were bounding through the trees when something caught Akamaru's attention. He yipped and changed corse. "What's wrong with Akamaru?" Hinata asked from behind Kiba.

"He smells something." Kiba sniffed the air. "I smell blood."

The ninja went to the forest floor and quickly found the decapitated bear. Akamaru didn't bother with the bear. He went around it toward the source of the scent that brought him here. "The hell?" Shino frowned at the bear.

Kiba's nostrils were flaring. I know this scent! "Uchiha Sasuke!"

Akamaru hurried back to the group with the piece of fabric in his mouth. Hinata took it from the dog. "It's a piece of…"

"Raine chan!" Kina knew her scent at once.

Shino cut his eyes up to Kiba. "Uchiha Sasuke passed through here with Gaara's wife?"

Akamaru growled affirmative. "Yes," Kiba was certain.

"Byakugan!" Hinata immediately started looking for clues as to where the young mother might have been taken.

Kiba and Akamaru walked around sniffing the area out. Akamaru jumped into a tree and barked. "We can follow them," Kiba informed. "Their trail is still pretty fresh, only hours old." He jumped after Akamaru.

Shino and Hinata started to follow Kiba. "It was just the two of them?" Shino wanted confirmation from one of them.

"Yes," Kiba answered. "He must have kidnapped her!"

"Then Gaara and the sand shinobi must be somewhere behind us."

Kiba hadn't caught a whiff of other ninja yet. "We're closer to Raine then they are. We have to save her!"

Hinata had to agree. "There were signs of a struggle back there. Raine chan must be trying to escape from Sasuke."

"Good," Kiba grit his teeth. "Maybe it will slow them down." Kiba and Kankuro had a chat about the Uchiha and Raine over drinks at Phil's Place. Sasuke had some kind of sick obsession with her. Kiba could still remember the little love bites she covered up with his jacket. "That sick fuck, what's he doing to her now?"

It was obvious Kiba was furious but Shino knew how to stay calm in a crisis. He called a fast bug to him and gave it a message. Shino released the insect to carry the information to his father. Fast bug or not, it would still be nearly two hours before they could expect any kind of back up from Konoha. Uchiha Sasuke, he's a pretty dangerous guy.

We have to get to Raine fast. Sasuke will… "Hurry Akamaru," Kiba ordered. Team eight raced after the Uchiha and the kazekage's wife. Don't worry Kankuro, I'll find your little mouse and bring her back safely. It's a promise.