Raine in the Desert

by Hack Interrupted

Gaara finds the love of his life

15. Chapter 15

15

Hiei leapt into the window. "What happened princess!" the kage was unconscious and there was a seal upon his blood stained neck.

Raine fought her panic. Through the monitor she had heard her husband say Saichi what did you do? "Saichi! Where is he?"

Kankuro heard mouse's first scream and hurried out of bed. He arrived at Saichi's room and beheld the horrible sight. "What the fuck is this shit?"

She turned to her brother as more ANBU flooded in through the bedroom window. "Kankuro, its Gaara! Saichi has done something to Gaara!"

The ninja hurried in and took over. He ordered Gaara rushed to the hospital, Sand put on high alert and Saichi found. Kankuro ran to wake Temari telling mouse to get dressed and go with Gaara as he fled the room.

Raine ran back to their bedroom trying to fight her hysterics. Gaara… what has Saichi done to you? She pulled on her clothes as fast as she could and hurried into the hall. She almost ran right into Temari. "Temari!"

"Mouse, you okay?"

"I'm going to the hospital. Listen for the boys." Raine hugged her sister hard and flew down the stairs. As soon as she was out into the night ANBU was beside her. "Did you find Saichi?"

"We're searching for him now princess," Hiei assured her. He wouldn't leave the princess in the middle of this crisis.

Raine had an idea; a hope and she turned to the right and headed for the tower. Sasuke her heart beat hard in her chest. Maybe he can help Gaara.

Sasuke woke to the sound of the door opening at the base of his tower. He heard multiple sets of footsteps running up the stairs to his cell. The Uchiha sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "What's going on out there?" he called to his guard.

"Princess!" Sasuke's guard greeted with surprise.

"Open the door," Raine sounded winded.

Sasuke threw the covers off and got to his feet as Raine came rushing in. His heart instantly leapt into his throat. "Raine? What happened?"

Raine went to Sasuke as the first miserable tears formed in her eyes. "Saichi is gone. He's done something to Gaara. I think he tried to kill him."

Saichi… "Is Gaara alright?"

"I think you should come. Maybe your Sharingan…"

She didn't need to say anymore. Sasuke snatched his shirt and then his pants off the chair at his desk and put them on. He went to the anxious woman at the door. Sasuke's love had bed hair and wild eyes. "It's alright Raine. Take me to Gaara."

ANBU whisked the princess and the prisoner to the hospital to see the kazekage. Kankuro was with him and two medical ninja buzzed around him. Raine hurried in with Sasuke at her heels. "Kankuro?"

Kankuro saw the Uchiha behind mouse turn on his red eyes. "Left side of his neck Sasuke. Can you see what Saichi did?"

Sasuke hurried to Gaara's left side and saw it right away. "Move please," he tried not to shove the ninja in his way but he needed a good look, he had to be sure of what he was seeing. You've got to be kidding me. In the center of the seal on Gaara's neck was the mark of Kusanagi. "I see it,' Sasuke said with a frown.

"What did he do?" Raine was shaking and Kankuro put an arm around her.

"It's the mark of Kusanagi. Saichi must have… he must have had a snake within."

Raine startled. "Snake? What are you saying? There was a snake in my baby?"

Kankuro frowned; he knew what the Uchiha meant. Orochimaru could spit snakes out of his mouth; he must have made Saichi like him. "That explains the poison in his bloodstream."

"What are you talking about?" Raine clung to Kankuro frowning up at him.

Sasuke tried to help. "Orochimaru is capable of such things. He put that thing inside of Saichi. The mark is Kusanagi, the serpent."

The medical nin beside the Uchiha spoke up. "The kazekage is actually using chakra in his unconscious state to maintain the seal on the evil. He's fighting whatever that thing is but it's taking all he has."

Snakes were in her baby and her husband was fighting evil in his unconscious state. "No…" Raine swooned and Kankuro caught her.

"Oi mouse!" Kankuro held her up.

The Uchiha hurried to help. "Sit her down."

Kankuro moved his little sister to a chair and Sasuke came over. "Easy mouse. This aint the time to be fainting."

Sasuke put a hand on Raine's shoulder and looked at her pale face and frightened eyes. "It will be alright."

Raine blinked at Sasuke. "Can you help him? Can you get that thing off of Gaara?"

Shit. "I don't know how." Raine sagged and Sasuke looked up at Kankuro. "Is there someone here that can put a secondary seal over Gaara's? Give him some help to fight this thing?"

Big brother frowned. "Gaara is the kazekage for a reason. He's the strongest; his sealing technique is the most powerful in all of Sand. No one can compete with him."

"Can't someone help him?" Raine bleated and succumbed to her tears.

"Tsunade," Sasuke suggested immediately. "She may be able to help."

The hokage of Konoha was a peerless medical ninja and a legendary sannin herself. "You think she can fix this?" Kankuro hoped.

"She could at least put a seal over Gaara's. Give him more of a fighting chance."

Raine reached for Sasuke and grabbed his arm. "Do you know what is happening to him? What is that mark doing to Gaara?"

He didn't want to tell her, but Sasuke didn't want to lie to her either. "It's trying to devour his soul. If it can't be contained or removed it will kill him."

Kill… Gaara will die. "Oh god no," his wife gasped.

"Kankuro," Sasuke had another reason to go to Konoha. "This was orchestrated by Orochimaru. He probably put the command in Saichi's mind before we rescued him. He's trying to take Gaara out of commission for a reason." He cut his eyes down to his weeping beloved and then back to Kankuro. "She's in real danger."

"I thought you said you could protect her," Kankuro stepped closer to Sasuke.

Sasuke took Kankuro's arm and moved them a few steps away from Raine. He spoke quietly, he didn't want her anymore upset then she was already. "Gaara has sealed the power that Orochimaru gave me and there is no one here that can remove that seal. Gaara and I worked together to drive Orochimaru away. Also…"

"There's more?" Kankuro was beyond frustrated. Not only was his baby brother in real danger so was his little mouse.

"It wasn't Orochimaru that came for Saichi. I would have felt him. I am going to have to be on Raine twenty four seven. If Orochimaru took out Gaara it can only mean one thing. He is coming for Raine."

"Son of a bitch!" Kankuro hissed. The Uchiha was right. With baby brother down and out of the fight mouse's defenses were at least halved.

Thinking clearly in a bad situation was easy for Sasuke. He had trained for it all of his life. "Listen to me Kankuro; it isn't going to be safe here for Raine without Gaara. She'd be better off in Konoha too under Tsunade's protection. Naruto Lee Kiba; they'll all do everything in their power to keep her safe and out of Orochimaru's hands."

Kankuro looked at his brother in the hospital bed. Gaara and mouse. "Shit."

"Only you have the power to make this happen. You're Gaara's next of kin. You have the power over the family now."

The fate of the first family of Sand now rested in the eldest brother's hands. Kankuro took a deep breath and tried to organize his thoughts. "How long can Gaara fight that thing on his own?"

"I don't know. He sealed the evil immediately and he is very strong. He could maybe even last months."

Long enough to get him to Tsunade. Kankuro nodded and looked back at mouse. "Sasuke, stay with mouse. Don't let her out of your sight. We don't know who the hell could be creeping around Sand right now. I'll apprise the shinobi of the situation and I'll send a message to the hokage. I'm going to let Temari know what's going on and I'll make the arrangements for us to depart for Konoha at once."

Sasuke nodded. Kankuro was making all of the right moves. "I'll stay with Raine. Do what you have to do."

Kankuro sighed and went to his mouse. He crouched down to he was at her eye level. "Mouse listen to me. I'm going to go let Temari know what's going and I'm going to let Tsunade know we're coming. I want to get Gaara to Konoha right away. You can stay with him for a while if you want to but you need to pack up your things and his things. Temari can pack for the boys if you want her to."

Pack up and go to Konoha. "I…I can do it," Raine stammered. "I just want… to stay with Gaara for a little while."

Big brother nodded. Mouse tending to the kids and packing should take her mind off of Gaara's condition for a bit. "Sasuke is going to stay with you. ANBU is all over the place. We're looking for Saichi. It's all going to be okay so just relax."

She stopped crying and nodded at Kankuro. His eyes seemed to be telling her to stay strong. "Okay." She watched her brother hurry out and then her eyes went back to her husband in the hospital bed. Gaara looked pale.

He watched her sad eyes for a moment and then Sasuke went to Raine. He took up a post between her and the door, he was taking no chances. "Take all the time you need Raine. I'll help you with the boys too."

"Gaara's going to be alright isn't he Sasuke?" Even if it was a lie she wanted to hear him say yes.

"He's going to be fine. Tsunade can help Gaara." And if she can't… Sasuke looked down at his worried love. There is always that jutsu.

Raine stayed with Gaara for a few hours. She wanted to hear from everyone who examined or treated him and all of the medical specialists accompanying the kage to Konoha. It was near dawn when Sasuke escorted her back to the house. Temari and Shikamaru were up and waiting on the couch for her to come home. "They're ready to move Gaara whenever we are," she said tiredly.

Temari got up and went to mouse. "I haven't packed for the boys yet. I thought it might be better to just let them sleep."

"It's alright. They'll be up soon enough. We'll wait for Kankuro to come back."

"How about you? How are you holding up?"

"I'm a little tired but I'm okay." She stepped back toward the stairs. "I'll get some things together for Gaara and pack up a few things for myself. Have you guys?"

Shikamaru stood up looking half asleep. "Temari and I are packed and ready."

"Then I'll get ready too," Raine turned to go. It was hard looking at their worried faces. She headed up to her room stopping to peek in on the boys. Sasuke shadowed her until she got to her door. She stopped and faced him. "Sasuke, I appreciate your concern and all but do you really intend to follow me everywhere?"

"Yes." She frowned a little and he frowned back. "This is a dangerous time for you right now Raine. Unless you're taking a piss you should be holding my hand."

"That's ridiculous."

"The bad guys can melt out of the wall or the floor or the tree behind you, understand? I'm not taking any chances."

The idea was horrifying. "Is Orochimaru…?"

"He took Gaara out of the fight for one reason Raine; to make it easier to take you." He didn't like frightening her but he wanted her understanding and total cooperation.

Orochimaru; I wont go with him! Raine swallowed hard. "Can you protect me?"

"If you let me. You have to listen to me. You'll be a whole lot safer once we get to Konoha but for now I need you to listen and don't stray; understand?"

She wanted to be there when Tsunade fixed Gaara, not locked up by the evil sannin. "I understand." Raine turned and went into her room, Sasuke followed.

The Uchiha looked around with his Sharingan checking for anything out of the ordinary. He saw no sign of foul play in the room. Gaara's pants and sandals were on the floor mingled in with Raine's bra and panties. The covers on the bed were rumpled and askew. Too busy to put your laundry in the hamper ne? Gaara is a slob.

Raine went to their closet and pulled out their travel bags from the bin at the bottom. She went to Gaara's dresser first and opened his bag. Raine worked from the top down packing her husband enough clothes to last him at least a week. She was almost done when her hand brushed against something soft and square at the back of his drawer of t shirts. She pulled out the small velveteen box and stared at it.

Sasuke was watching her and moved closer. "What is it?"

Raine cracked the box open. A folded note covered a beautiful diamond tennis bracelet. She held the bracelet in one hand as she read Gaara's little love note.

For five wonderful years.

I love you wife.

Gaara

Her hand on the box tightened as Raine fought the tears. "It's my anniversary present."

He saw her small frame start to shake. Their wedding anniversary. "Raine," Sasuke stepped closer to her. He wanted to comfort her somehow.

"Gaara must have bought it our last trip to Cardiff." She couldn't win out against her bitter tears. "Gaara…"

Maybe it wasn't such a great idea, but Sasuke turned Raine around and pulled her against him. He hugged her and a minute later his love was crying all over him. His heart ached for her almost as much as it longed for her. "It's okay Raine. He's going to be alright. Gaara is going to be just fine. You'll see."

"I love him so much," Raine sobbed.

It hurt him to hear her cry for her husband like this. And I love you. "I know," Sasuke rubbed her back trying not to smell her hair or her perfume. I must be her friend right now. Hers and Gaara's. "He's going to be okay."

"What am I supposed to do without Gaara?"

"Be strong. Your family needs you right now Raine. You have to try to make this as easy on the boys as you can. I know it's hard but you've got to keep it together."

Raine knew what Sasuke was saying but it was hard not to cry. "It just hurts. I can't do anything for him."

Sasuke knew what it was like to be unable to do anything for the one you love. He gave Raine a squeeze. "We'll get Gaara to Konoha and he'll be better in no time so quit your worrying. Everything is under control Raine." He took her by the shoulders and looked down into her sad eyes. "You should finish packing. We should be ready to go when Kankuro gets back."

She stared up at Sasuke collecting herself and nodded. Be ready. Be strong pack. "Okay." Raine stepped back and finished securing Gaara's things.

With Raine's mind occupied on the task at hand Sasuke went to the window and waved over his most frequent guard Judda. "Any news on Saichi yet?"

"Nothing. We've got the border patrol on high alert." Judda had become quiet used to his ward. He was a favorite of the kazekage, a friend of the first family but still a prisoner of the Sand for his various acts of war.

"Where is Kankuro?"

"Speaking with some of the counsel members. The troops are assembling to transport kazekage and his party as we speak."

The Uchiha nodded. He couldn't leave Raine and there was no time to go back to his room. He supposed that he could swipe some of Shikamaru's clothes on the road and he didn't mind leaving behind the Jiraiya novels, but there was something very precious to Sasuke in his room. He wanted his picture. "Listen Judda, I can't leave the princess can you do me a favor?"

The kazekage had instructed Sasuke's guard to fall under his command in times of war such as these. "What do you want Uchiha?"

"I want you to get a picture from my room for me. It's… under my pillow."

Behind his mask Judda looked at Sasuke funny. "You want me to go back for your porn? Jeez."

Sasuke's face suddenly felt hot. "No!" he tried to keep it down. "Pervert, it's a picture of my friends. Would you get it for me?"

The prisoner looked flustered and Judda smiled. "Sure Sasuke."

"Just one more thing," Sasuke caught him before Judda could go. "Slip it to me on the down low ne?"

"Yeah okay," Judda turned and was off.

He turned back to Raine. She had moved on to her dresser and was packing her own clothes. Sasuke saw small silky things in her hand panties and averted his eyes. "Kankuro should be along soon."

"We'll get the boys up when I'm done here. I'll feed them early and let them pick out the toys they want to take. They can sleep all they want on the way to Konoha."

It was a good plan and he was glad to see Raine had calmed down. "I'll help."

Raine finished packing for her and Gaara and Sasuke carried their bags to the door. The sun was coming up when she went to the kitchen to start breakfast, Sasuke helped her. Temari and Shikamaru woke the boys as soon as it was daylight. They marched the tired trio downstairs just moments before uncle Kankuro came in.

The adults gathered around the counter speaking quietly so the children wouldn't hear. They were all ready to head out. Kankuro had to pack, a five minute task for him; they would leave after breakfast. Raine didn't want the boys worrying. She told them daddy had planned a surprise trip to Konoha for all of them and that he had gone on ahead of them. The boys were so excited about going to Konoha they didn't wonder if they should be worried about their daddy.

After breakfast and the hurried packing of toys the family was ready to meet the kage's party at the gates of Suna. Their ANBU escorted them past the covered carriage that supported the kage and his medical team to their two carts. It had been decided for safety's sake the boys would ride with Temari and Shikamaru, Raine would be guarded by Sasuke and Kankuro separately.

Raine and Temari were boarding the twins when Sasuke went to Gabe. "Come here Gabe," he moved them back and away from the others. Sasuke got down on one knee and smiled at Gaara's son. "I want you to do something for me buddy."

"Okay," Gabe was always ready to be helpful to the adults.

"You can make the sand do things like your daddy does. Do you think you can make a gourd of sand like daddy's to take to Konoha and surprise him?"

Gabe thought surprising daddy sounded like great fun. "Yes I can!" he closed his eyes and didn't see the stares he was catching as he made a gourd of sand just like his daddy's but small enough for the boy to wear.

"Is like daddy!" Renji pointed.

Sasuke picked up the gourd. "Good job Gabe." He stood and walked the boy back to his carriage. Temari and Raine settled the boys in and Sasuke tucked the sand into the carriage under Gabe's dangling feet.

Mommy and uncle Kankuro got their kisses and moved on to their carriage. They settled in and Kankuro looked at the Uchiha sitting next to his mouse. "Good thinking with the sand Uchiha."

"I don't like it," Raine frowned.

"It's better that he have the sand with him, it's for his own protection and sense of security Raine," Sasuke explained.

Their caravan started to move. "It's a long trip to Konoha," Kankuro reminded. "We'll take every precaution we can to get us all there safely. Relax and get comfortable mouse, it's going to be okay."

The first day on the road wasn't too bad. They stopped briefly in Cardiff and it appeased the little boys that had to sit for so long. They kept moving well into the night and eventually Raine drifted off to sleep. It was a light sleep and soon after they came to a stop the sound of Kankuro's snoring woke her. She opened her eyes and saw him stretched out on the bench across from her. Raine as also lying down; her feet were on Sasuke's lap and someone had tucked a pillow under her head.

Sasuke heard her breathing change and looked down at her with his Sharingan. She blinked tiredly up at him. "It's alright Raine, go back to sleep." She was too tired to argue and Raine closed her eyes. In a few hours they were moving again.

He dozed when the sun came up. Sasuke felt like he had been awake forever. The long night shift was behind him and he power napped to be ready for the long night ahead. They stopped again just short of fire country and the family took the boys to dinner in a quiet restaurant in a small village near the border. Raine had been missing the boys and they were starting to miss her too. It was good to get them together again.

After their brief respite the ninja moved on again. It was evening when they entered fire country. A fat moon climbed high into the sky and lighted the way. Eventually the caravan came to rest for the night. Sasuke sat awake listening to the crickets and the cicadas. The trip had gone so far so good; everyone was safe and Gaara was still holding on just fine. They would be in Konoha tomorrow, they were almost through this.

The Uchiha was locating new sounds out in the night, tree frogs and the occasional night bird when one such bird made a surprised squawk. Sasuke straightened holding his beloved's feet in his lap. Something scared it. "Oi Kankuro," Sasuke leaned over and swatted a meaty thigh. The ninja snapped awake. "Listen."

Kankuro sat up stealthily letting his ears wake all the way up. The shinobi guard outside were shifting their feet uncomfortably. "Orochimaru?" he mouthed the words in the dim.

Sasuke shook his head negative. He wasn't feeling the sannin at all. "Sound," he said barely above a whisper. Outside one of the wolves started to growl low in his throat. "They've probably come to test our defenses."

His eyes went to his sleeping mouse. "Are they after her?"

Sasuke nodded once. "I won't let them have her."

Shit. "How many Sound?"

"A few squads at least. Get ready."

He wasted no more time. Kankuro stepped out of the carriage. "I want the barriers up around these carriages now!" Shinobi flew into action as Kankuro hurried toward the place where his nephews slept. He pulled back the curtain. "Temari, Shikamaru!" they snapped awake. "The Sound has come."

Temari flew out of the carriage. "I'll cut them down, where are they?"

Kankuro started back toward mouse's carriage in the front. The ninken users had moved up to the front of the caravan. "Spread out and find them."

Sasuke drew the curtain back and looked out at Kankuro. The moonlight in her eyes started to wake Raine. "They'll move in a very specific attack pattern. We'll know their true intentions by the way that they attack."

Raine came awake and looked at Sasuke. "What's happening?"

"Sound has sent some scouts to test us. Don't worry Raine it will be alright."

She sat up putting her feet on the floor. "Is there going to be fighting? What about the boys? And Gaara!"

Sasuke looked at her, she looked frightened. "They'll be safe behind their barriers."

"Who is protecting the ninja making those barriers ne Sasuke?"

For a moment he just stared at her and then Sasuke got out quick. "Stay inside and stay down." She opened her mouth to protest and Sasuke quickly closed the curtain. He hurried the few steps to Kankuro. "Watch their attack pattern."

"I won't give then a chance to attack," Temari thumped her fan off the ground.

"Easy killer; you've got a lot of your own men in the bush," Sasuke frowned a little.

A wolf in the forest to their right started barking. It was joined by another to their left and more ahead. The sound of kunai striking each other echoed through the clearing. "Stay sharp!" Kankuro shouted the order to his shinobi.

Seconds later the Sound ninja broke past the first guard. A flurry of kunai and shuriken rained down on the caravan. The Sand responded quickly deflecting flying weapons from the barrier creators. The Sound charged in and the shinobi of Sand met them in battle. Ninja clashed in the moonlight.

Raine could hear things outside, there was fighting going on. She didn't want to look, she didn't really want to see but she couldn't help herself. She moved the curtain just a tiny bit so she could peek through the crack. It looked like a war was happening right outside of her carriage. Raine's heart leapt into her throat. The boys! Gaara!

Temari dashed ahead of her commerads and swung her fan. She knocked away three of them injuring at least the two in the front. The shinobi behind her ran to finish them off. "Let none of them leave here alive!" she ordered darting off to her left.

Kankuro brought out his killing puppets. Destroying all of the Sound attacking them was the right thing to do. Leave no one left to go back and report to Orochimaru. His puppet spit poisoned needles at two enemy ninja rushing his way.

Sasuke stayed close to the carriages. He lit up the Sound charging his right with a fireball and caught two kunai flung at him. He used them to deflect the weapons being thrown at the ninja maintaining the barrier around his loves carriage. Just as he predicted there was a higher concentration of enemies in the front of the caravan, they concentrated their energy on disposing of the shinobi protecting the princess. I won't let you have her! Sasuke increased his speed and tore after the enemy.

There were explosions in the forest and Raine heard the screams of the wounded and the dieing. She caught a glimpse of Temari running by and then she saw Sasuke beating the hell out of two Sound ninja at once. Raine let go of the curtain. She didn't want to see anymore. Gaara if only you could…

Temari ran to the back of the caravan and released her wind again and again. Kankuro went for the jugulars of his victims. ANBU slay common Sound without mercy. Sasuke ravaged his way from one cluster of Sound after another killing and crippling them. Gaara lay unconscious in the carriage at the back hearing some and being able to do nothing, at least not him personally.

Gabe sat up rubbing a tired eye and looked at uncle Shikamaru. He looked pale and he was frowning. "What is it?"

Shikamaru was peeking out the curtain when he heard Gabe. He turned to the boy. "It's okay Gabe. Go back to sleep."

The little one heard a lot of noise outside and he smelled smoke. He reached for the curtain on his side and pulled it back to see. "Bad ninja are attacking us."

"It's alright buddy," Shikamaru tried to sound easy. "Our ninja are winning."

All of this commotion was going to wake his little brothers. When Renji was waken early he liked to pinch. Gabe sighed. "Is taking too long. I will finish it."

Uncle Shikamaru watched Gabe close his eyes and press his small hands together. The gourd of sand at the boy's feet melted away and disappeared. "Gabe?" The first tremor shook the earth. "What are you doing Gabe?"

Daddy had fancy words for what Gabe was doing. "Sabaku kyu."

The ground shook again and the nearby Sound shinobi were suddenly enveloped in sand and earth that spewed up from their feet. Sasuke leapt back watching a Sound shinobi swallowed up by the sand. Gaara! No this is…

Gabe's little hands clenched into fists. "Sabaku soso." The noisy bad guys were squished into oblivion.

When the un trapped Sound saw that move the ones that could fled. The Sand moved in and finished off those that couldn't flee in time to escape their barrage of weapons and jutsus. A minute later all was quiet again in the clearing. Kankuro and Temari were doing just what Sasuke was doing, everyone ran for the boys carriage.

Sasuke got there first. "Gabe! Was that you?" he looked in and saw the gourd of sand reforming at the little boy's feet. It was him!

Kankuro reached his nephews. He had been hoping the sand attack had been Gaara, but the look on Shikamaru's face was unmistakable. The shinobi had seen what Gabe did. "Oi Shikamaru, what gives?"

"Gabe just performed two jutsus," Shikamaru tried not to shudder. He just killed…

The Uchiha looked at the chibi sand user. "How did you know what to do Gabe?"

The tired boy yawned. "I was sleeping and daddy said so in my dream. Daddy said the sand of Suna is full of his magic chakra so I use it to make the bad guys be quiet before they wake up Renji."

Auntie Temari startled. "Daddy said?"

"The sand," Sasuke pondered. "Of course the sand of the village has been manipulated by Gaara's chakra. The sand Gabe uses now…" he looked at Kankuro.

Big brother swallowed the lump in his throat. "Good job Gabe. Go back to sleep." He stepped back and nodded for Temari and Sasuke to follow. Shikamaru let the curtain close as Gabe lay back down with his brothers.

"Gabe did this," Temari surveyed the blood stained earth. "Gaara helped him somehow."

"Like Sasuke said, it's the sand. That gourd Gabe has is infused with his chakra and Gaara's. The sand's of home." Kankuro looked from his sister to the Uchiha. Aside from Gabe's demonstration of power, there were other components of the battle to consider. "They're after mouse."

"That's what I'm getting from that attack pattern. They seemed to concentrate on the front end. They weren't even worried about Gaara."

"I bet they thought Gaara was attacking them though," Temari grimaced. Her sweet little nephew had just slaughtered dozens of men.

The Uchiha shook his head. "It wont take them long to figure it out, that it wasn't Gaara. It should buy the caravan a little more time, but they will be back. They'll try to get to Raine before we can get her to Konoha."

Kankuro didn't like the look on his sister's face. "Stop it Temari."

She cut her eyes up to her brother. "What do you think mouse is going to say about what Gabe just did ne? She's going to freak!"

Sasuke stepped closer to Temari. "Gabe did the right thing. He acted as a shinobi of Sand and the first son of the kazekage."

"He's a baby," she growled back.

"Because Raine keeps him that way. Gaara has already shown him things; obviously," he waved a hand at the bloody ground.

"Mouse is going to be upset."

"Raine needs to accept that Gabe is already a talented ninja. He should be in the academy now and you know it. This wait until he's five shit is her wishful thinking."

Temari's mouth fell open. "Sasuke!"

He shook his head and looked at Kankuro. "If Gabe can do this half asleep he should be in training. He needs to get control of his power; he needs to learn to defend himself and his brothers from Orochimaru and even Saichi."

The devil and his evil spawn. "Keh," Kankuro hissed through his teeth.

"Raine won't like it I know, but we'll make her understand."

Kankuro put a hand up. "Gabe is Gaara and mouse's son. We can't make decisions like this for them."

"That's bullshit. So long as Gaara is asleep you are the head of the household. You're the eldest in your family Kankuro. Gaara is only in charge of the family because he's the kage; otherwise it would be all on you."

"Gaara will be fine when we get to Konoha!" Kankuro barked. He didn't appreciate the pessimistic pressure the Uchiha was putting on him.

Kusangagi. "And if he's not?"

Temari got between them. "That's enough. Mouse says no and Gaara has yet to say anything otherwise so let's just drop it now."

Sasuke turned away from the siblings frustrated. If Tsunade couldn't bring Gaara back quick Sasuke had to fall back to a plan B and recreate Gaara as fast as he could using Gabe. Raine and the children had to be protected. He went back to Raine's carriage and the barrier ninja let him through.

"Is it over?" the calm after was almost as scary as the fighting.

"Yeah it's all over. Everyone is okay. They were just testing us."

Raine swallowed hard. "That was just a test?"

He sighed aggravated and leaned back on the seat beside her. "Gabe helped."

Her heart leapt into her throat. "What about Gabe? Is he alright?"

"Gabe is fine he went back to sleep. He stopped many of the enemy with his father's jutsus. The rest ran scared."

His father's jutsus? "What did Gabe do?"

"Sabaku kyu and soso," Sasuke got technical hoping he wouldn't have to explain.

Gaara had told her what some of his jutsus could do; she had seen some of it herself. Sabaku soso… "He crushed them with sand?"

"Yeah."

"Did they die?"

Nothing left but splatter. "Yes."

"Gabe killed people?" her lips felt cold, numb and the feeling was spreading to the rest of her body quickly.

"Yeah, but he didn't see it. Gabe never left the carriage."

My baby… "Gabe…that's very bad. I… have to tell him to be good."

Sasuke thought she might be going into some mild form of shock. He took her by the shoulders, she was cold. "Oi, what Gabe did was incredible. He protected this caravan as the son of the greatest kazekage that Suna has ever had. Do you understand me Raine? He honored his father and protected his people."

"Gaara," it fell from her cold lips.

The curtain moved back and Kankuro stuck his head inside. "Oi, what the hell is this shit? What are you doing Uchiha?"

Sasuke turned his frown on Kankuro. "Quit your bitching if you aren't going to help."

Raine looked at Kankuro. Gaara was asleep and couldn't contain Gabe but Kankuro could he just didn't. "You let him," Raine reached for Kankuro and grabbed the front of his shirt. "You let Gabe kill people! Why didn't you stop him?"

"Stop it Raine," Sasuke pulled her hand away from Kankuro.

She turned on Sasuke next. "You're the one that made him bring the sand."

Kankuro scrambled into the carriage to help Sasuke with his upset little mouse. "Mouse you have to understand, Gabe is strong. He's almost a ninja already."

"He is a little boy," Raine corrected. "My boy."

"Gabe is Gaara's son. He is just like his father." Sasuke wanted her to see the way of things before she decided to kick some ninja butt starting with the two in here with her.

Just like Gaara. She knew that was how it was before she even brought Gabe into this world. "He's too young to be a killer," she turned away from both of them. A ninja couldn't understand how she felt.

The men exchanged a quick nervous look. "We'll be in Konoha soon mouse," Kankuro tried. "It will be okay then. You'll see. Just hang on a little longer."

First Gaara was cursed and now her son was killing people. It was too much to think about right now. "After Tsunade fixes Gaara I'm gonna kick his ass for this."

Raine lay back down and Sasuke shifted quick to keep her feet away from a tender area. The big ninja across from him wore the 'oh shit' look on his face. "We should get some rest too while we can. Morning is going to come early around here," Sasuke sighed and leaned back in his seat again.

Kankuro tried to relax too. His mouse was mad alright, he wasn't going to push her anymore tonight. Sorry mouse but Gabe is just like Gaara. He's going to become a great ninja whether you like it or not. He sighed and let his eyes slip closed. Kankuro would take rest while he could get it; Sound would be back.

Tsunade made it to her office still sipping on her first cup of coffee. Crap I'm late again. Shizune was outside of her office waiting. "Morning."

"You're late again Tsunade sama," Shizune scolded.

"Yep," she breezed by her attendant and went into her office. Shizune followed. "What's first this morning ne Shizune?"

Shizune picked her clipboard up off the desk. "Your first meeting is at nine with the heads of the hospital. Ten minutes from now."

The kage took her seat at the desk and reached for the file on top of her in box. She opened the folder and was rereading the proposal when the falcon swooped in. It was Caw, Sand's fastest messenger. Tsunade unfastened the note from the bird's leg. It was from Kankuro and it wasn't good news. "Shizune, get me Kakashi and Gai; Kureani and Asuma too. I want them to meet the kazekage's party on their way here now."

"Gaara?" Shizune blinked. "What's happened?"

"He's been attacked by Saichi. Gaara is unconscious." There was no time to waste. "Hurry Shizune!" The attendant ran out still clinging to the pig to follow the hokage's orders. Tsunade turned to the window and looked out at the bright morning sky. What have you done to these kids now Orochimaru!

The kazekage's party started moving again shortly after dawn. Their pace was more hurried, the need to get to Konoha had become more urgent. Gabe had little memory of what he had done in the night and the adults didn't bring it up to him; maybe it was better the young one thought it was all just a dream.

Sasuke became more anxious as the morning wore on. He checked repeatedly with the scouts, but there was still no sign of Sound activity in their path. The Uchiha didn't trust it. His former master wasn't going to give up on acquiring Rhiannon's new body so easily. Sasuke suspected an ambush and warned Judda to be on the lookout.

Finally the frustrated Uchiha mumbled, "Maybe he's waiting to make sure Gaara's dead." Raine and Kankuro looked at him wide eyed. "Orochimaru didn't order that bite for the hell of it. He wants Gaara dead."

"They didn't go after Gaara though," Kankuro pointed out.

"They might have assumed he was dead. If Gaara hadn't sealed the evil he probably would be. Saichi's snake bite would have killed anyone with lesser skills quickly."

"So when they saw the sand," Kankuro deduced, "The shinobi weren't sure what to do so they went running back to their master for orders."

The Uchiha nodded. "Once they figure out it wasn't Gaara they'll be back."

Raine startled. "They're coming back? We're going to be attacked again? They're trying to kill Gaara?"

"Gaara isn't their objective. They're after you Raine."

"There's going to be more fighting because of me?" Raine was getting upset again. Gabe might be unaware of what he did last night but his mommy was not. "I don't want Gabriel doing that again Kankuro, do you hear me?"

Kankuro raised his hands in surrender. "Take it easy mouse. No one said anything about Gabe fighting. Calm down."

"He did what he did last night on his own," Gabe's mother reminded. "I don't want him doing that again."

"Don't yell at Kankuro," Sasuke tried to help. "We all know Gabe did the right thing."

She turned her frown on the friend beside her. "I don't want him killing anybody else. He is a child not a shinobi!"

Sasuke took on the brunt of her mother's frustration. "Gabe will protect his brothers. He'll protect you too Raine. He doesn't see it as fighting he's just reacting to a threat."

"He doesn't need to protect us! We're surrounded by ninja!"

Big brother tried to be soothing too. "Of course we are and the shinobi will protect you and Gaara and the boys. Gabe won't have to lift a finger."

Raine thought she was being patronized. All of their 'its okay' and 'don't worry's were starting to get to her. "What if I left, would the caravan still be attacked?"

"Don't even think about it mouse."

Fuck this shit. Raine looked Sasuke in the eye. He wouldn't lie to her. "Is it safer for this caravan for me to leave it?"

"The Sound are after you. They will follow their target."

"Can you protect me Sasuke? We'll grab some ANBU and make a break for Konoha. Draw the enemy away from Gaara and the boys."

Kankuro leaned forward. "No mouse. Your ass is staying right here."

Sasuke shifted his eyes from Raine to Kankuro. If the Sound followed them Gabe had no reason to fight, he would not kill. "She has a point."

"No. No way," Kankuro shook his head. "I won't allow it."

Raine grabbed her brother's hand. "I won't let Gabe kill again. Not if I can do something to prevent that from happening."

"If we left the caravan we could be in Konoha in about eight hours," Sasuke backed Raine up. "It only sounds risky. I can protect Raine and we'll have two squads of ANBU with us. If Tsunade sent ninja out to meet us we'll find them or they'll find us. We can send them back to escort you the rest of the way to Konoha."

She didn't want to leave her family but Raine didn't want her son to use the sand again. "Sasuke says it's safe. I say we do it. I want those Sound guys away from Gaara and our boys. If they'll follow me then I say let them."

He looked away from his mouse back to the Uchiha. Chances were Sound would pursue Raine. Sasuke and twelve ANBU were enough to keep her safe until she could reach Tsunade hokage. Shit. "Alright. Let your guards know. When you see your chance to make a grand exit, take it."

"There's a clearing on a hilltop not far from here. Very open, very visible from everywhere. We'll part there." Sasuke hopped out of the carriage to speak to Judda and Hiei about their new mission.

Kankuro looked at mouse. She looked miserable. "It's okay mouse. Everyone is gonna be just fine. We'll be right behind you."

They came to the clearing and Raine checked on her boys once more. They were excited that they were almost to where Naruto lived. She kissed them and told them "See you in Konoha." Raine went with Sasuke to their ANBU waiting in front for them. It was scary to think about but right now the kazekage's wife had control of the shinobi. There were some privileges being the princess. "I'm ready."

Sasuke swept Raine up into his arms. "Hang on to me Raine. We're going to run like the devil is behind us understand?"

Raine had read something like that in a book once. "Beat the devil."

The Uchiha nodded. "Move out," he gave the command.

He wasn't kidding about moving faster and Raine got a better grip on her protector. "Sound will follow us right?"

"They're probably moving to intercept us now."

"There's going to be fighting?"

Sasuke tightened his hold on Raine just a little. He liked the feel of her up against him, his arms around her and hers around his neck. "You'll be perfectly safe. Our boys can handle whatever they throw at us."

Naruto ran between Sakura and Kakashi. He was worried about his friends. "Gaara is going to be alright isn't he Kakashi sensei?"

"We'll know more after Tsunade gets a look at him," Kakashi tried to sound hopeful. "No need to worry just yet."

"His medical team has listed his condition as stable," Sakura butted in. "I'll see if I can upgrade that to good as soon as we meet up with them."

"Sasuke is with them," Naruto thought aloud. He had kept correspondence with his old friend. It sounded as if Sasuke had enjoyed his life in Sand with Gaara's family. "He'll be guarding genie."

Sakura nodded. She had all the dirt on the kazekage and his prisoner via the hokage. "Gaara made it an order. So long as he is kage Sasuke is sentenced to protecting Raine. He worded the proclamation in such a way that even if he is rendered unable to be there to give the orders Sasuke will still be her bodyguard."

Kakashi had information too. "Raine chan is in charge of Sasuke and both of their ANBU guards, there are twelve of them. I suspect its Sasuke that will be giving the orders when it comes to protecting the princess. Gaara was smart to plan ahead like this. Even in his present condition he has made sure his wife is protected from Orochimaru."

"Gaara is an excellent kage," Sakura smiled a little. "Tsunade is always impressed with him. He's intelligent and thoughtful. He cares for his people, he cares for his family."

"Sasuke and Gaara became friends," Naruto was still thinking about the Uchiha's letters. In the last one he had said that Raine had forgiven him. "Him and genie too."

"I think it's great that they all came together the way they did," Sakura was proud of all of them. "They let a lot of stuff go and learned to like each other."

From the letters Naruto knew that Sasuke was still in love with genie. "Sasuke will keep genie safe. He won't let Orochimaru get her."

Sakura sighed. "I hope they find Saichi. I'm sure Raine and Sasuke are worried about him. They parented him for months. It must be hard to lose him again."

They lost their son. Naruto felt bad for his friend. "Sasuke was really happy being a dad. He loved it at Gaara's place."

"It's good to know that Sasuke has changed for the better. Gaara saved Sasuke from darkness." Kakashi was grateful to the kazekage.

Not Gaara, well not just Gaara; genie. Raine and their babies. Naruto couldn't wait to see his friends.

Hiei was to Sasuke's right; Judda to the left. Their ANBU were spread out in perfect formation and Sasuke kept them moving near breakneck speed. They had equipped the Uchiha with a sword and a pack before setting out. For the time being Sasuke was one of them. Their mission was to protect the princess, to get her to Konoha and the hokage.

Raine's thoughts were trained on Gabe. It made her stomach hurt when she thought of her happy little boy murdering so many. "Sasuke, how old were you the first time you killed somebody?" she asked quietly.

She's thinking about Gabe. "Thirteen maybe. I don't know; it was a long time ago."

"Does Gabe understand that he has taken life?"

"No. He was half asleep Raine. What he did was Gaara's will. Gabe just eliminated a threat. He never saw anything and he fell right back to sleep after he did it."

Gaara's will. It's what Gaara would have done to them if he could have. "How much like Gaara is Gabe? How much can he do?"

"I don't know but," Sasuke heard opportunity knocking. "I'd have to train with him a little to evaluate his power skill and control."

"Gabe's never been in training. He's too little."

Gaara had shown his son a few things, it was a secret. "Might as well get him on a schedule now. I think he's ready to learn a few things. Some real easy basic training so I can see what he's capable of. It will tire him out. He'll sleep good."

It wasn't as if Gabe's tutor had come with them, if Gaara needed time to rest training with Sasuke would occupy Gabe. "I don't know. I want to talk to Gaara about this first."

Sasuke wasn't as hopeful about Gaara's condition as he pretended to be. He wasn't so sure Raine would be talking to Gaara about anything anytime soon. "Think it over. It would be a good way for Gabe to work off some of that energy he's got piled up." Sasuke smiled at Raine. "Training is order and structure. It's good for active little boys."

She smiled a little too. "Active little boys ne?"

"They are busy." Sasuke was missing his little guys a little. He was worried about Saichi. The sannin had mistreated him and once again Saichi had fallen into Orochimaru's hands. He was hoping the ninken squads of Konoha would scout fire country for trace of his missing boy.

Raine thought she saw something change in Sasuke's eyes. Instinctively she knew what it was. "Saichi went back to Orochimaru."

"It had to have been Sound that came for him the night he attacked Gaara and disappeared. Orochimaru has his shinobi doing his bidding."

"Saichi attacked Gaara because of Orochimaru. He tried to kill him."

"Yes. With Gaara out of the way your defenses are halved, perhaps more. Saichi has gone on to Orochimaru but I'm sure he's waiting for his parents to join him. He wants our bodies for him and Rhiannon. Saichi will see it as us raising him with their help."

He calls Sasuke daddy and Orochimaru father. "What are they going to do to him? Are they going to lock him back up in some dark hole underground?"

Her grip on the front of his t shirt tightened. "Take it easy Raine. Orochimaru will cater to Saichi to welcome him home. He'll be given everything he wants. Saichi is okay for now so don't worry."

"I don't want Orochimaru to have him."

Neither do I but he does. "We'll get Saichi back. I know where Sound's compounds and hideouts are. Everyplace can be investigated until we find him." He was stretching the truth a little. Sasuke did remember a lot of different things but not everything.

Raine relaxed a little. That was good to hear. "We can really find him?"

"We'll find him." Orochimaru, you're going to pay for this.

Akamaru growled up to Kiba. "Oi!" Kiba started sniffing. "Akamaru says he smells Sasuke up ahead of us." Another grunt from his dog. "Raine is with him. They're surrounded by a dozen shinobi"

"They've separated from the caravan," Neji turned on his white eyes. "Why?"

Kakashi had an idea. "The caravan may have been attacked. With Gaara unable to fight Orochimaru will try and seize the princess. They must be luring the enemy away from Gaara and the children."

Hinata activated her eyes as well. "Neji?" her cousin came running up beside her.

The dog gave another warning and Kiba translated. "There are others moving in to intercept us. Forty, twenty on either side. It's an ambush."

"Let's move it!" Asuma picked up the pace and his commerads did the same.

Sasuke was getting that feeling deep down in his gut. "Oi Judda."

Judda nodded. "Ahead, coming from both sides."

"Stand ready. We'll tear right through them." Sasuke looked down at Raine, she had wide eyes. "We're about to encounter the enemy. I need at least one hand free." He shifted her quickly. "Wrap your legs around my waist."

Raine did. She was scared. "Sasuke?"

"Hang on to my neck but don't choke me. Keep your head down. Put it on my shoulder so you're out of my way."

She clung to him tightly as his right hand went for his sword. Around them other ANBU were doing the same. "You're going to fight with me like this!"

"Just hang on tight. It will all be over in a minute." Raine squealed and buried her face against Sasuke's shoulder. Under different circumstances he'd be enjoying the hell out of this right now.

There was movement in the trees ahead and then it was raining shuriken. Sasuke deflected what came at him as did the ANBU flanking him and still running forward. Sound ninja began to appear and they raced to meet the ANBU's charge.

Sasuke's movements were fast, scary. Raine heard the sound of steel clanging off steel all around her. The screams started as the ninja began to slaughter each other and she clung to Sasuke as tightly as she could. They turned quickly and someone cried out in death right beside her. She squeezed her eyes shut even tighter and tried not to scream.

Forty Sound, but their numbers were shrinking. The ANBU of Suna was made up of some very talented ninja. They were all nearly as elite with a sword as the Uchiha was himself. Their ninjutsu skills were impressive as well. There was a time when Sand had very few ninja and concentrated on making only the best. Sasuke thought the cream of that crop was right here fighting beside him. Sound couldn't keep up, couldn't get close.

"Hold on tight," Sasuke warned Raine before he back flipped to a good spot in a tree. He sheathed his sword and his hands flew through the seals. Sasuke blew fire at the Sound ninja running their way. The pursuing pair fell from the trees screaming and engulfed in flames.

"Keep to the charge!" Hiei commanded. It was cut and run and the enemy had already suffered many losses. The ANBU the princess and the prisoner were all intact. They slashed their way forward cutting through the enemy that wasn't smart enough to run.

They were running again and Raine chanced a peek over Sasuke's shoulder. Trees and people were on fire. There were sliced up bodies everywhere. ANBU was still cutting their way through the enemy. She put her head back down; she didn't want to see anymore. "Horrible."

"We're almost in the clear," Sasuke assured her as he charged the two sound in their way. Even with Raine on him he was still too fast for the ninja to defend against him. He got nicked by a kunai in his arm but it wasn't bad. Sasuke killed the Sound shinobi and kept running.

Out of all the Sound that attacked less then a dozen remained alive. They turned tail and ran, the Sand shinobi moved on. Soon they were in the clear and Hiei and Judda resumed their posts at the Uchiha's side. "The enemy is gone," Hiei informed.

Sasuke nodded and looked down at Raine. "It's alright, it's over."

Raine loosened her death grip on Sasuke and he moved her so that he was carrying her. She still clung nervously to the back of his shirt as she peeked around. Some of her shinobi had blood on them. "Is everyone alright?"

"We lost no one," Judda boasted to the princess.

A shaky sigh worked its way out of her. "Are we going to be safe until we get to Konoha? Are they coming back?"

"Probably not," Sasuke was guessing but it felt right. "They probably weren't expecting to get their asses kicked so easily. If they want to face us they'll need stronger ninja."

Hiei looked at the Uchiha sidelong. Sasuke was the man responsible for Kurama's death. It was a hard thing for him to get over. The ANBU accepted that the prisoner was the princess's strongest defense with the kazekage out of commission but it was still hard. "They don't have time to send in reinforcements before we reach Konoha."

Raine heard a familiar howl ahead in the forest. "Akamaru?"

A shinobi in front called back to the group, "It's shinobi from Konoha. Hokage must have sent them."

She wiggled a little for a better view. A few minutes later she saw Kiba and the big dog in the distance. Behind him she saw Naruto and Sakura. "Sakura! She must look at Gaara! Sasuke, take me to her."

The shinobi of Sand and Leaf met on the forest floor. The ANBU captains quickly explained the situation to the Konoha jonin. Sasuke took Raine to their circle of friends. Kiba and Lee waited with Naruto and Sakura. Raine hurriedly told Sakura all she knew about Gaara's condition. Sasuke filled in the gaps.

Sakura frowned a little. It sounded quite serious. "I'll look at Gaara as soon as we find them. Do you want me to fix that for you Sasuke?" she gestured to his arm.

Raine looked down and saw the bloody cut. "You got hurt?"
"It's just a scratch." He offered his arm to Sakura to be healed.

It was a simple thing to heal. Sakura went to work using chakra to close the wound. "It's not bad at all. I'll be done in a minute."

"How you guys holding up?" Naruto bounced his gaze between Sasuke and genie.

Sasuke smiled a little and put his free arm around Raine's shoulders. "We're just fine, aint that right Raine."

The princess sighed. She didn't like Sasuke holding her and killing people at the same time but, "Yes, we're fine."

"We're almost to Konoha," Sasuke assured his love and gave her a squeeze. "This will be over soon."

Raine nodded. "I just want Gaara and the boys to catch up."

"They're right behind us and we've cleared them a path. They'll be in Konoha a few hours after we arrive. The leaf ninja will escort them the rest of the way."

Sakura finished with Sasuke and stepped back between Naruto and Kiba. The ninken user and his dog were anxious to be off. Kiba wanted to see Kankuro. "I'll check on everyone for you Raine," Sakura offered with a smile.

"Thank you Sakura."

"Well protect the caravan," Naruto promised.

Kiba was ready to go. He still didn't care much for Sasuke and the jerk was comforting Kankuro's sweet little sister. Kiba would have knocked his block off for touching Raine, but she seemed to be calming down for the Uchiha. Kankuro had told him they had all come to be on decent terms with Sasuke but Kiba still thought Sasuke was too friendly with her. "Take good care of her," Kiba tried not to frown at Sasuke.

"We'll take Raine to Tsunade and double back to meet you," Sasuke said to the ninja oozing negative emotions at him. The Uchiha hadn't forgotten about that punch in the nose yet either.

Their teams were ready to head out so the ninja headed to them. Lee waved to Raine and she waved back. Naruto was the last to go. "Take care Sasuke. We'll talk later?"

Sasuke smiled a little. "You bet."

The Konoha shinobi departed to go and catch up with the caravan behind them. Sasuke looked down at Raine again. It was nice having his arm around her. I'll protect you my love. "Are you ready to go? Not much further to Konoha."

She looked up at Sasuke. He was trying to smile for her. "Alright, let's go."

He swept Raine up into his arms and Judda and Hiei took up the guard around them. "Let's move out," Sasuke gave the command and they were running again.

The Konoha ninja reached the kage's traveling party before long and Sakura went to examine Gaara right away. Naruto hopped in the carriage to visit with the boys. Shikamaru got out to chat with his old team. It did him good to see their familiar faces; Choji and Ino were smiling at him.

Shortly after the kage's party took on extra shinobi. ANBU and Sasuke made it to Konoha safely with the princess. They went straight for hokage's place. Tsunade was waiting for them and Shizune saw the Uchiha, the princess and the two ANBU captains into hokage's office.

Sasuke took the initiative and told Tsunade everything that had happened. He warned her about the curse Gaara had sealed on his neck. Kusangagi the serpent was not to be taken lightly. After he finished reporting on Gaara and the status of the caravan Sasuke had another request of the hokage. "I'd like to look at some maps later. I may be able to find where Orochimaru is hiding if you can spare some shinobi to investigate."

Saichi. Raine stepped up next to Sasuke. "We can't leave Saichi in Orochimaru's hands. It's too dangerous for him. That monster will do something bad to him again."

Tsunade eyed the worried parents. She had kept tabs on little Saichi's progress, she was a consulting medical specialist on his very special case. Orochimaru put a snake in their baby the bastard. "I can get some things together for you Sasuke. Any lead you may have to help us find Orochimaru will be investigated."

Raine sagged a little and Sasuke put his arm around her. "We'll find him," he hoped that it was a promise he could keep.

The hokage watched the Uchiha with the kage's wife. He was soft spoken and comforting to the mother of his sons. "There really is no need for you to go back to the caravan. I've reserved your suites Raine chan. Why don't you go freshen up a little, maybe get something to eat? I'm heading over to the hospital shortly to wait for Gaara. You can join me there in a little bit ne?"

She understood the hokage was busy with everything that was going on right now. "Yes, thank you Tsunade."

"No problem mouse," Tsunade smiled.

Raine and her guard went out so Tsunade could get busy. Sasuke stepped up to Judda. "Form a team of four and go back to meet the caravan. I'll keep her ANBU and two of my own on us. I'll take the princess to rest up a little. As soon as you arrive back in Konoha come for us. She's going to want to be there when hokage looks at Gaara."

Judda called three of his men to him and they took off as soon as they were outside. Raine's guard surrounded them as they moved through Konoha and on to Raine's familiar suite. It was where she and Gaara stayed the last time they were in Konoha. Sasuke went inside with her and ANBU fanned out surrounding the place.

She knew her way around and Raine went through her bedroom to the bathroom to wash her hands and face. Sasuke followed her in looking over the room with his Sharingan. All looked well. He went to the window and opened the curtains so ANBU could see in. He flashed Hiei the okay with one hand and turned to check on Raine. She was scrubbing her face with a washcloth at the sink. "You okay?"

"I guess. It feels kind of good to be standing for a change." It was a long ride to Konoha. Her legs were crampy and stiff.

"You just need to stretch a little and you'll feel better."

Raine wrung the water out of her washcloth and looked at Sasuke. There was some dried blood on his arm. His or someone else's she didn't know. She stepped away from the sink. "Clean yourself up Sasuke. That's gross."

He saw her eyes fall to his arm. He was a little splattered and there was some blood from his scrape. "Sorry." Sasuke stepped up to the sink and wet himself up to his elbows. He scrubbed up like an OR doctor before surgery.

Sasuke was all bloody when he was holding me. Raine checked the back of her skirt. Eww! "There's blood on my clothes."

My bad. Sasuke rinsed away the lather. "Let me see it."

Raine turned a little and pulled the stain into sight. "It's ruined."

"You can get the stain out princess," Sasuke teased. "If you can clean the boys stuff." He smiled a little and lifted his eyebrows at her.

"I don't have my oxy pen or my washing machine."

Sasuke turned off the tap and shook his hands off in the sink. "I'm sure they have oxy pens in Konoha Raine." He plucked the towel off its ring and turned to her drying his hands. "Do you want to soak it in cold water?"

"I don't have anything else to wear."

"Do you want Hiei to go get you an oxy pen and a new skirt?" Sasuke was trying to appease his anxious love.

She let go of her shirt and frowned at Sasuke. "You don't have to be a turd. I can buy my own damn clothes and laundry pens."

Now she was just being difficult. "I can have these things brought to you Raine."

"I don't need servants." She put her nose in the air and pushed past Sasuke. He started after her when she kept walking right out of the bedroom.

"Oi, where the hell do you think you're going?" Sasuke caught her at the door.

"I'm gonna go by some shit." Raine opened the door and Sasuke put a hand in her way.

"You can't just go wandering around shopping and shit."

Raine frowned at the Uchiha. "Yes the fuck I can. I am the princess of Suna and I can do whatever the hell I want! I'm going to go buy an oxy pen and some godamn jello cups and if you want to stop me you're going to have to sit on me!"

Sasuke blinked at Raine. She's snapped. "Okay Raine," Sasuke raised his hands slowly. "We'll go do some shopping."

The princess stormed out and Sasuke stepped out into the hallway after her. She's scary when she's mad. He closed the door and hurried to catch up to Raine. She pointed them toward the market district and Sasuke walked beside her. The pairing caught some odd stares. It just seemed to add to Raine's aggravation.

She was indeed pissed off. Raine ducked into the first clothing shop she could find. It didn't have any of her usual ware; she opted for something that would help her blend in better. She had never dressed like a ninja girl before, it was kind of weird. She stepped out of the dressing room wearing a lot of spandex and fishnet.

Hiei and Sasuke were waiting for the princess when she came out in her new clothes. The Uchiha's jaw dropped and Hiei had to do a double take. "Princess?"

Raine handed Hiei her dirty clothes as she headed toward the door. "Be a dear and make sure that gets back to my room."

Sasuke stared at Raine following after her. Holy mother of…hot mama! He felt Hiei poke him in the ribs and Sasuke blinked out of his trance. "Right, shopping."

Behind his mask Hiei rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah the princess is a cutie. That's why she's married to the kazekage. No ogling."

She went out and they followed. Hiei took to the rooftops and Sasuke resumed his place beside Raine. He looked down at her outfit. Her short pants formed nicely against her curves. He could see belly button and a little cleavage through the fishnet part of her shirt. He let her get a step ahead and grinned at the view from behind again. Spandex hugged her booty. Oh yeah baby!

"Sasuke?"

He cut his eyes up to hers. "Yeah?"

She frowned a little, he looked guilty. "Were you just checking me out?"

"Uh..." Oh shit. He tried to keep the heat out of his cheeks. "I was just looking at your clothes. They're nice."

"Are people still staring at us?"

Sasuke looked around them. There were a few guys eyeing Raine but everyone else ignored them. "Not really. You got some guys staring at you but that's just because you're beautiful." Eat your hearts out boys she's with me. Sasuke grinned.

Idiot. "Do you know where I can get an oxy pen Sasuke?"

"I believe I do. You want jello cups for the boys too right? There's a little grocer up here that will probably have both."

She sighed and tried to sound put out. "Fine. Show me where."

He peeked down at her; Raine's cheeks were a little pink. She's so beautiful. Sasuke smiled at her and offered her his arm. "May I escort you princess?"

Raine took his arm and leaned into Sasuke. "You are a turd you know that."

Sasuke chuckled. "That guy over there turned green with envy when you took my arm. See him, now he's pretending to read his newspaper."

"Shut up idiot."

He laughed again Raine was smiling. "Come on, let's go get some jello."

Sakura looked over Gaara; there was nothing she could do to help the kazekage so she called in Kakashi. The jonin made everyone give him some room and he put a seal of his own over Gaara's. Sakura checked him afterward; the kage was burning a lot less chakra. It eased the minds of his worried family.

Kankuro pulled Kakashi to the side and asked about his mouse. He assured big brother that the princess was doing just fine. They had probably arrived in Konoha by now. Sasuke and ANBU had done an excellent job of protecting her while eliminating the enemy. They had passed a few bodies on the way here but the Sand ANBU were all unharmed. "Everything is under control."

Kankuro settled down some and checked in on the boys. Naruto had Renji on one knee and Yusuke on the other. A silly grin dominated the ninja's face. Kankuro nodded the okay to Temari and looked back at Naruto. "Looks like they missed you."

"Is Naruto visiting," Yusuke said with a smile.

The proud uncle smiled. "That's right pal."

"Naruto is taking us to the playground where he used to play!" Gabe was excited.

Naruto grinned like a fool. "We're going to have a great time."

Raine bought a variety of snacks for the kids and for the guys; Sasuke helped her lug it all home. She tucked juice and soda into the mini fridge and stood. "I guess it will be room service for dinner."

Sasuke was trying not to stare at her in her new clothes. Raine always wore long skirts; he had never seen so much leg or cheek. "We can get take out if you want."

"The boys will be hungry. Kankuro and Shikamaru too. How about you Sasuke? Are you getting hungry yet?"

I'm starving he tried not to leer. "I can order dinner if you want. Ed will deliver."

She thought Sasuke had to be hungry after running and fighting. "Go ahead. I'll get us a cold drink."

He made a huge list on the provided stationary as Raine dropped ice into glasses. Sasuke went to the window when he finished. He waved one of his guards over and handed him the list. "Drop this off to Ed's on Autumn Boulevard. You aint gotta hang around he'll deliver."

She poured coke over the ice slowly so it wouldn't fizz too much. "You sure you ordered enough?"

"I bought the place out. Remember you're talking to a guy that can eat five dinners." Smiling he went to her and she handed him his drink. "It was a big order, give them about thirty minutes."

"How much longer until the caravan gets here?"

"A couple of hours," he sipped his drink. "Judda will come and get us the minute they roll into town."

Mommy missed her boys. She was worried about Saichi. Raine sipped her drink trying to tell herself that her pale sick baby was alright. "Sasuke can you find Saichi?"

"That is my goal Raine. I don't like Saichi being back with Orochimaru anymore then you do."

Raine frowned. "I didn't see this coming. I thought Saichi was doing so well." Her hand started to shake and Raine set her glass down.

It was clear she was hurting over losing their boy just as he was. "I didn't see it coming either. You were doing a great job with Saichi. He was really coming around."

"Yusuke packed Saichi's teddy bear for him. He thought Saichi was in Konoha with daddy." Raine shielded her eyes with one hand rubbing at her forehead.

Sasuke set his drink down and took her by the shoulders. "We'll get him back Raine."

Gaara said the same thing. "Can you really? Will you?"

"Yes." Sasuke was desperate to help his son. "I won't let Orochimaru have him. I know where to look and the ninken squads around here are excellent at tracking someone down. We'll find Saichi before long I promise."

Saichi would be alright for now; Orochimaru would spoil him some for a job well done. "Has he been taken back to rice country?"

She seemed to be calming and Sasuke let her go. He didn't want ANBU to think he was getting grabby with the princess. "Probably, but Orochimaru has places he can hide Saichi everywhere."

"He won't swallow him again will he?"

I hope not. Sasuke tried to smile. "No. Saichi is fine." Sasuke took up his glass and swigged some more soda. "We'll sweep and we'll search and we won't stop until we find him."

"What about Orochimaru?"

It was all the more reason Sasuke needed Gaara to recover quickly. "Gaara and I can handle Orochimaru."

Raine was worried about her love. "He'll probably need some time to rest after Tsunade takes care of that mark."

If Tsunade couldn't fix him Gaara was going to be resting permanently. Sasuke decided he would prepare for the worst case scenario and set his mind working on a plan B. He stepped over and turned on the TV. He was in luck, one of those talk shows Raine liked to watch with Temari was on. Yay distractions. "Oi Raine look Montel is on."

She peeked at the television. "Ooh it's that lady that talks to dead people." Raine took her drink and went to sit in front of the TV.

Sasuke watched her; he was really enjoying the view especially from behind. Raine looked great in spandex. He went and sat down with her hoping to give her some sense of normalcy. Some old hag on TV was rolling her eyes. "Oh please, you don't buy into this cooky shit do you?"

Raine frowned at Sasuke. "You can breathe fire and walk on the wall but you call communicating with the spirits cooky?"

He knew she liked her scary novels he just never thought she believed the crap in them. "The spirit world ne? Swedenborgian space too ne?"

"Alright Sasuke, where do you think we go when we die? If the dead can be revived like my mother, then where is she now that Orochimaru would bring her back from?"

The Uchiha blinked at her. He had never really put it together like that. "Some other dimension or something."

"The spirit world. This lady might be a little weird but she's in touch with something."

"She's a loony," Sasuke grumbled sinking into his seat beside Raine.

Raine rolled her eyes. "Just be quiet and watch."

Sasuke did, but not Montel or his crazy psychic; he watched Raine. He did is best to burn the image of 'shinobi Raine' into his mind for all time. Her hair was pulled back and the top half of her shirt was net. He saw neck, shoulder, and black bra straps. Oh boy. Sasuke sipped his drink and tried to concentrate on plan B. He had to know what to do should Gaara be out of the game for a while. There was no time to be a letch; he had some thinking to do.

They passed the time with TV and dinner; soon enough Judda came for Sasuke and the princess. Sasuke and Raine hurried through the streets to the gate to meet the boys. They were excited to be here and happy to be out of the carriage and running around. Naruto and Sakura had offered to take the boys to the playground while mommy saw to other things. The boys chased after Naruto and Sakura followed. The first family of Sand regrouped and headed to the hospital.

Gaara was put in a private room for Tsunade to examine. Shizune assisted the hokage reading Gaara's body for damage and chakra consumption. Temari stood back holding Shikamaru's hand. Mouse clung nervously to Kankuro's arm. The Uchiha stood back frowning at the serious look on Tsunade's face.

"To start with I'm going to put another seal around that thing," Tsunade said looking down at her patient. She put a third seal over Gaara's curse, the kazekage never moved.

"Can't you take it out or off?" Raine asked nervously.

Not this thing. "This curse on Gaara is incredibly strong. I'm going to need some time," Raine stepped closer to the bed. "Gaara is alright for now."

"He's going to wake up now isn't he?"

Shizune looked at Kankuro. She shook her head subtly and Kankuro reached for his mouse. "Gaara is tired mouse. This has taken a lot out of him."

Raine looked at the hokage. "Gaara is going to wake up isn't he? Don't those seals do something to help him?"

"They keep him alive," Tsunade hated scaring mouse, but she wanted her to understand. "The more seals Gaara has over that cursed mark the less it will take out of him to fight that thing. It is still trying to kill him, we've just interrupted it."

Her whole body went cold with fright. "Gaara…"

The hokage looked at Kankuro; he was the head of the house now. "You know what this mark is?"

Kankuro nodded. "Sasuke told me."

"Then you understand that this is not something I can just fix in a snap. The curse on Gaara is very dangerous, removing the seals to purge the curse; if such a thing is even possible, might kill him. I need time so I can do this the right way, understand?"

Damnit Gaara. Temari swallowed hard. "How much time?"

Telling them it would take weeks might be too optimistic. "I need to research this thing. Two months maybe longer to hunt down all of the available literature I need."

Months…Gaara…It was like someone had knocked the wind out of her and Raine leaned into Kankuro. "Gaara's not going to wake up?"

"Not yet," Tsunade wanted to give her some hope.

Shit. Numerous months without Gaara to fight alongside him was nearly unacceptable to Sasuke. "Can't you do something to expedite the process?" you old bitch.

"You know what this thing is Sasuke. I'm not screwing it up. Gaara's very soul is at risk not just his life."

"Keh!" Sasuke knew what it was. He didn't need the old bat nagging after him. "You sure you just don't like seeing guys in a coma?" he growled back at her.

"Oi," Kankuro interceded. "Knock it off Sasuke."

The Uchiha was aggravated and his mouth wouldn't stop. Tsunade could have fixed him up a long time ago, instead she left him feeble. "I don't need to wait for your ass. I can put Gaara into another body, one without that cursed seal. Just bring me one!"

Raine turned her head and looked at Sasuke. He looked angry, but Raine was furious. She straightened and took a step his way. Sasuke turned to her and Raine slapped a hand over his mouth. "Don't you ever say that again!"

Sasuke grabbed her carefully by the wrist and looked into her stormy dark eyes. Kankuro grabbed her around the middle and pulled her back. "Take it easy mouse," big brother warned gently.

"Gaara is not Orochimaru! He isn't going to steal someone's body! For fucks sake Sasuke he's been protecting the two of us to keep that from happening to us!"

"Its okay mouse," Kankuro tried again. "Sasuke's just shooting his mouth off. He just wants to help Gaara that's all."

"Right," Sasuke sighed. Well I fucked that up big time. I should have known these bleeding hearts would say no. He looked down at the sleeping kage. "I just want to get Gaara back quickly."

"I will do my best," Tsunade promised. "I'll do everything to make sure Gaara is safe and comfortable. He'll be back on his feet in no time."

Shizune jumped in to help Tsunade. "Your suites are reserved for as long as you need them. You're guests of Konoha while Gaara is being treated."

The princess took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down. "What am I supposed to tell the boys?"

Sasuke had been working on it. "Daddy got called back to work but he will try to come back before the vacation is over," he answered.

Shikamaru nodded in agreement. "They'll be having too much fun to question where Gaara is. They know he's a busy guy."

Kankuro agreed too. "That should work for now. We'll just have to keep them busy."

Raine looked down at Gaara. She had been missing him terribly and the thought of waiting months for him to open his eyes was devastating. "Please Tsunade, do everything you can for him."

"I will. It's going to be alright," hokage vowed.

Sasuke had never had to contend with the busy little boys in a small confined space like Raine's suite before. They were everywhere, their toys were everywhere; meals and bath time was a near chaotic royal pain in the ass. The three boys shared a room and toys were always scattered on the floor no matter how many times it got picked up. Raine slept in her room alone with the door and the curtains open. Kankuro had a room to go back to but he spent his nights sleeping in the sitting room with Sasuke between mouse and the boys. Morning always came early. Yusuke was an early riser and woke his brothers all the time. They weren't quite a week into their stay before Sasuke was ready to snap.

He went to Raine after lunch as she tried to clean up the take out mess. The boys ran circles around them. Raine looked tired and stressed, there was lo mien in her hair. "I think we need more room."

That afternoon while the boys played at the park Tsunade came to speak to Sasuke as he requested. The Uchiha confided to her that they were all going mad in such a confined space and he had a few ideas on how to counter the problem. Sasuke was the soul survivor of the Uchiha, the wealth of his entire clan was left to him. He couldn't touch it now himself, he was still a criminal, but the hokage could. Sasuke wanted his house renovated for Raine and the boys; he wanted the two closest houses spruced up for their ANBU guard. He asked if Raine could have access to his money and the hokage said she'd look into it. Tsunade said she could have the three homes ready in a few days.

After the boys were tucked in that night Sasuke sprung the news on Raine and Kankuro. Raine shook her head and Kankuro lifted a brow. "How rich are you Uchiha?" the big guy was curious.

He shrugged and shook his shoulders. "I own a few blocks. I'm the only Uchiha left. It's all mine."

That sounded like big bucks to Kankuro. "You should probably get a lawyer to protect that bling there Uchiha."

Raine sighed heavily. "That's a bad house. How can you want to live there?"

"I lived there after my parents were murdered," Sasuke said casually. "There's nothing wrong with the place. Three bathrooms and a big kitchen. There's even a big yard for the boys to play. It's a nice quiet street and our neighbors are our ANBU guard. It will be perfect. You'll love it Raine."

She didn't think she was going to love anything about the murder house. She could remember how creepy it was. "What am I supposed to say to the boys about our little move ne?"

Plan B was pretty much worked out. "We'll tell them my old house got fixed up. It's bigger and has a yard, a more fun place to stay on vacation."

He's got an answer for everything. Raine headed to her room. It had been a long day and she was tired. "Fine, we'll go. I need the damn room."

Three days later Sasuke and Kankuro escorted Raine and the boys to the old Uchiha section of town. Temari and Shikamaru were already at the house moving the rest of the boy's things in. They passed the police station and went on. Raine was expecting it to be scary town down here but it wasn't. ANBU from Sand and Konoha stood around chatting not far from the house Raine had only been it once. It didn't look or feel the same.

"This is it guys," Sasuke ushered the excited children inside. "Our big vacation house."

The boys kicked off their sandals and ran screaming to find their rooms. Kankuro chuckled as Raine slipped off her shoes. The boys found their aunt and uncle and the screams were more excited. "Oh boy."

Sasuke extended a hand to Raine. "Come on I'll show you the kitchen."

Raine took Sasuke's hand and let him help her up the step. "Alright show me."

Kankuro headed the other way down the hall. "Big screen TV here I come!"

The kitchen was well stocked and there were many things like her own at home. Sasuke had tried to make his kitchen as much like Raine's as he could. The cupboard arrangement was different but it was a big room. She smiled a little. "You approve do you princess?"

This wasn't a scary death house at all. "I do. Show me the rest of the place."

They popped in on Kankuro. He was kicked back in the living room watching a lacrosse game on the big television. There was a sitting room on the other end of the kitchen and then the bedrooms came in a line. Sasuke showed Raine her room. He had told Tsunade to make it girly for her and she had. Raine liked it. Across the hall were the boy's rooms. Yusuke and Renji were in Sasuke's old room; there were also twin beds in Itachi's room for Gabe and Kankuro.

"What about you Sasuke?" Raine liked the look of the place. The boys were in the twin's new room mobbing aunt Temari.

"I'm back here in the dojo," Sasuke opened the door and showed her. "My room is on the other side of yours and Kankuro is just across the hall. ANBU is outside and next door. Everyone will be fine here." Sasuke smiled. "I think the boys like it already." He stuck his head in the twin's room. "Oi, who wants to see the backyard?" his excited little boys came running to him and the Uchiha laughed.

They were settled into the house within a week. Temari and Shikamaru were daily visitors, so were Naruto and Kiba. Sasuke was as helpful as he could be. He occupied the boys a lot and helped Raine chase after them. He went with her everywhere she went; the park the hospital to see Gaara, the store. Sasuke was still afraid to leave her side regardless of the stares they got. Some of the old timers glared at him, at them.

Tsunade had ordered books from all over the world to research Gaara's condition and cure. She and Shizune both spent hours pouring over old scrolls and making notes. Shizune came into Tsunade's office one afternoon with a somber look on her face. "The elders want to talk to you about Uchiha Sasuke."

A messenger arrived to speak to the princess and the Uchiha shortly after lunch. Tsunade and the elders wanted to see them, a meeting had been arranged. Sasuke and Kankuro exchanged a nervous glance and big brother advised, "Go get yourself looking like the princess of Sand mouse." She did.

Kankuro accompanied mouse and Sasuke, so did Hiei and Judda. Raine tried to think of how Gaara would handle these old people and she tried to stay calm. She sat down between Sasuke and Kankuro with her ANBU behind them.

Homura bowed a little to the princess. "Let's cut right to it shall we dear?"

"What's the problem?" Raine asked casually.

Koharu looked at Sasuke. "You are son. You're a criminal roaming the streets of this village."

"I've been convicted of nothing," Sasuke knew his rights.

"You should be in jail young man," the old man backed his friend up.

Raine lifted a hand. "Uchiha Sasuke is my guardian at the moment. My husband left very specific orders for him and our ANBU guard. Sasuke is still Gaara's prisoner."

"The kazekage is in no position to look after a prisoner," Homura frowned.

What would Gaara do? "I don't care what condition Gaara is in he is still the kazekage and his shinobi and Uchiha Sasuke will continue to follow his orders." Raine stood up. "Only the kazekage can transfer a private prisoner. If you want to lock Sasuke up you're going to have to wait for Gaara's signature."

The elders exchanged a suspicious glance. Finally Koharu spoke. "You are much hated and feared here Uchiha. Moving back into the Uchiha district and shacking up with the princess of Suna whom you share a child with-"

"Oi," Kankuro straightened. "Oi oi oi. Aint nobody shacking nothing nowhere grandma. I live in that house too. It's a family place not some den of sin!"

"Do you think the people of this village believe that?" the old woman countered.

"I don't give a rat's ass when the chumps in this town think. Mouse aint doing nothing wrong and Sasuke is doing the job Gaara ordered him to do." Kankuro stood and took mouse's hand. "You know maybe instead of a witch hunt you could try a little sympathy. Mouse has had it rough since this happened to Gaara."

Sasuke stood too. "I'll do my best to keep a low profile so people won't feel uneasy but I won't leave Raine. It's my job to protect her."

"Then do it more subtly Uchiha," Homura favored the young man with a stern look. "The common people are beginning to think you're moving in on the kazekage's wife." He cut his eyes over to the princess. "And they think you're letting him."

That did it for Kankuro. It was either leave now or hit an old man. "Yeah, we'll be careful." He pulled mouse out of there as gracefully as he could. Kankuro was fuming by the time they hit the street. That miserable old fuck I outta…

"Kankuro, you're hurting my hand," Raine tried again to pull away and he let go.

"Sorry, that guy just pisses me off."

Sasuke sighed. "I thought moving everyone into my old house was such a good idea."

"It was, it still is." Raine straightened. She wasn't going to let a couple of mean old people get to her. "The boys needed a home away from home."

Kankuro huffed out some of his frustration. "Yeah I know."

"We'll do what's best for the boys while we wait for Gaara. They're happy there and that's what matters." Raine started off for home feeling the weight of the wedding ring on her left hand. It was hard to be strong like Gaara but she had to try.

The Uchiha grabbed Kankuro's elbow as they started to follow Raine. "Oi, I think it's about time I talk to one of them lawyers you mentioned. Before the old fogies get anymore bright ideas."

"Neji will know someone," Kankuro suspected.

Sasuke nodded. "The sooner the better."

Neji did indeed know a good lawyer; he had a cousin that practiced law. Neji brought him by the next afternoon and they sat at the table with Sasuke and Kankuro. The Uchiha wanted to know what he could do to protect his family fortune and was there a way to give Raine access to the account for household spending should they want or need something. Lucky for the Uchiha the attorney had worked with some of Sasuke's relations in the past and he was willing to help the young man.

Sasuke sat filling out and signing of yards of paperwork to give Raine custodial access to his fortune that he could not have himself being a criminal and all. She breezed into the kitchen to get the boys some jello cups and Sasuke shoved a paper under her nose. "Sign there, right under my name."

Raine scribbled her signature. "What's this for?"

Kankuro chuckled. "Sasuke just made you a millionaire mouse."

She blinked at Sasuke and he smiled. "How's that for restitution?"

"What are you idiots babbling about?"

"The Uchiha family fortune is now under your control princess," the lawyer enlightened the pretty girl. "Three point six million dollars."

Three million… "What!"

"I can't touch it Raine but now you can. Your name also assures that the old wind bags can't put it all in escrow either."

Sasuke had put her in charge of all of his money, a lot of money. "Are you nuts?"

Smart lawyers knew otherwise. "It was the intelligent thing to do. It protects Sasuke's portfolio and gives you access to extra money for the family."

Portfolio? The Uchiha was grinning. Raine turned to the fridge for jello cups. "Alrighty then."

Big brother was all smiles too. "You could use some more clothes for you and the boys right? Poor Sasuke has been wearing Shikamaru's hand me downs. Let's all go buy new underwear ne mouse?"

She turned holding the jello cups. All of the men in the room were smiling at her. They want me to spend money? That she could do very well. She looked at Sasuke; he did look a little scruffy. "Alright, shopping it is."

"Man she can shop," Sasuke sagged on the bench next to Kankuro. Bags were heaped at their feet.

Kankuro nodded from his daze. "This is the fifteenth store. How many more in this town?"

Sasuke shook his head. He had an idea of how to end the clothes buying spree. "Who wants to go to the toy store?"

The boys ran to them squealing with delight. "Good save," Kankuro smiled and got up.

After the trip to the toy store they were so loaded down with bags five ANBU had to help them carry everything home. Naruto just happened to arrive while Raine was cooking dinner and she set another place at the table. Kankuro was watching cartoons with the boys in the living room, they had new toys everywhere. Naruto joined them playing with One Piece action figures while Sasuke tried to be helpful in the kitchen.

There was a knock at the door and the Uchiha went to answer it. A serious looking Sand ninja stepped in. "I must speak with master Kankuro right away."

Sasuke took the ninja to the kitchen and fetched Kankuro. "What's going on?" big brother wanted to know.

"Kankuro san, there is talk of naming another kazekage."

"What!"

"The counsel is afraid that Suna looks weak with our kage in such pitiful condition."

Raine had never liked those counsel people. "Gaara is the kage!"

The ninja bowed to his princess. "With all due respect princess when will kazekage sama be able to return to duty?"

"Alright, I get the point," Kankuro growled. The counsel was full of cowards and alarmists. "I'll return to Sand and speak to them on Gaara's behalf."

"Kankuro?" Raine was aghast.

He turned to his mouse. "It's alright Raine. You've got Sasuke and your ANBU to protect you and the boys. I'll go talk to the counsel and tell them to chill out and then I'll be back in no time."

"Don't they know Tsunade needs time?" Raine was worried. If Gaara woke to such treachery he was going to be very hurt and very angry.

"I'll make them understand mouse." He turned back to the shinobi. "Come with me. I want to talk to Temari."

Sasuke and Raine watched them go. "They can't do that can they Sasuke?" Raine asked. She didn't want to believe Gaara's counsel had power over even him.

The Uchiha was getting a bad feeling. "Kankuro will take care of it Raine, no worries."

Sakura accompanied Kankuro back to Hidden Sand. She was a consulting medical specialist on the kazekage's case. She had personally ordered close to one hundred books for Tsunade and checked Gaara's physical condition every day. Kankuro was hoping she could dazzle the counsel enough to buy Gaara some more time.

The meeting conveyed and Sakura went into a lengthy detailed explanation of the kage's condition, his treatment and the research being done to free him from his curse. "How long?" an old man asked.

She smiled a little. "It will still be several weeks before Tsunade hokage has enough information to-"

"That's too long!" another old man piped up. "If Tsunade the sannin has not been able to revive Gaara yet then she isn't going to!"

"That's not true," Sakura tried.

Another counsel member turned to Kankuro. "Uchiha Sasuke is still guarding the princess Raine?"

Kankuro frowned. "Those were Gaara's orders."

"I hear the kazekage's wife and children moved into Uchiha Sasuke's home, with him."

It was the elders from Konoha all over again. No this is worse. "I live in that household too counselor."

"What exactly is the relationship between the kage's wife and Uchiha Sasuke?" another one badgered.

"They're friends. Sasuke protects her from Orochimaru."

"I see." The old man shoved a file Sakura's way. "I'd like the opinion of a medical expert on these DNA test results if you don't mind missy."

Sakura nearly cringed away from the damn thing. She had a sinking feeling she knew what was inside. Next to her Kankuro straightened and clenched a fist under the table. They were all staring at her and Sakura opened the folder. Yep, just what I thought.

"Well missy? Do those tests not prove conclusively that the baby rescued from Orochimaru, the same child that attacked and nearly killed the kazekage; is the offspring of Uchiha Sasuke and the princess Raine?"

"Yes but-"

The old man was relentless. He was working his old cronies up. "And on page two do you find that the kazekage's son Yusuke is not his son at all, he is also an Uchiha?"

"Raine was attacked and her genetic material was stolen!" Sakura defended.

"You can't deny that princess Raine bore another man's child while married to the kazekage. It's adultery and it's treason."

"That's enough!" Kankuro pounded a fist off the table. "Gaara gets laid up for a little while and you wanna kill his wife? How about the kids too ne? You gonna get rid of Gaara and sweep em all under the carpet?"

The counsel members looked at each other and then the viscous old man went on. "And on page three missy, does it not say that the princess Raine is the child of the traitor Sasori of the red Sands?"

Kankuro got to his feet. "Just what the hell are you getting at geezer?"

Another counsel member took over. His deep voice reverberated in the room. "Raine of the Red Sands was planted here in Suna. She and Uchiha Sasuke conspired against and tried to murder the kazekage."

"That's a lie!" Kankuro fumed. "Gaara will have your heads for such innuendo!"

Sakura got to her feet beside her friend and took Kankuro's arm. "Calm down Kankuro. They can't do anything so long as Gaara is still the kazekage."

"Sand will not wait for Gaara. We are in need of a new kazekage." The loud man again.

Kankuro shook his head. "You bunch of bastards! You've used Gaara from day one!"

Baki looked at his former student. With Gaara's family on the verge of becoming outlaws Baki knew who the next kage was going to be. "Kankuro! That's enough. This is a sacred place; bring no shame to your brother here."

Kankuro turned and stormed out. Sakura followed. The counsel all favored Baki with a nod. They knew who the next kazekage was as well.

He went back to the house with Sakura on his heels. "Kankuro, just calm down."

"No." He went inside and she kept following him. He went to the dining room and took some sake from the buffet. "Drink?"

Sakura frowned. "This is hardly the time to be tying one on."

"What else can I do ne?" he poured out a drink for himself. "I wanna go back in there and crack skulls. I wanna tap dance on those motherfucker's kidneys ya kin?"

"Settle down. You getting belligerent isn't going to help Gaara or mouse any."

Kankuro downed a generous swallow. "I can't do a fucking thing to help Gaara or mouse. Only Gaara can help her and only Tsunade can help him. I'm dicked."

"Tsunade can help mouse too and Sasuke," Sakura pointed out.

"You don't mean asylum?"

"If Gaara can't defend her will the counsel try Raine for treason?"

Considering her lineage, "They could. She is Sasori's daughter and she did giver birth to an Uchiha right here in Sand. They probably would. They may want to just silence her, get rid of her along with Gaara and Sasuke."

She was afraid of that. Some of the old traditions held firm in Suna. "Then let's gather all the intel we can and send a message to Tsunade. She needs to know those two might be in trouble. If she can give them political asylum before Sand moves to formally charge them, they'll be safe in Konoha."

Son of a bitch. Sakura was right. Working with the hokage made her smart about stuff like this. This was no time for sake. "I know a couple of guys I wanna talk to, and then we'll send a message to Tsunade. Come on." Kankuro hurried out and Sakura followed.