Chapter 6
Great, now I have to become the love intrest of this weirdo, Ume thought to herself as she lay in bed that night. The windows were wide open so that the cool night air could get in, but she knew she's have to be up early the next morning to close them otherwise it would heat up her suite.
Temari had arranged for Ume to meet with a team of doctors to run a few tests that next morning, so she would have to keep a glass of water with the potion nearby. She didn't want to tell any truths that could get her killed.
No matter what she could do, Ume was restless. She tossed and turned unable to sleep one bit. She finally gave up, slipped a thin, but warm, shawl around her shoulders and went out onto the balcony of her room. Beneath her the quiet city looked as if it were deserted. She couldn't see anything move. Beyond the city were the rolling dunes. Somehow she had to agree with Temari, they were as pretty to watch as a forest or lake.
She tilted her head to look up at the windows of the Kazekage's office. She noted that, despite the late hour, he was still awake. Ume crept back inside and out of her rooms towards his office. When she found the way and got to the door, the brunette noted the light had dimmed somewhat.
The kunoichi knocked on the door, then opened it slowly. Gaara was in his seat leaned back with his eyes closed. Ume crept forward and just as she was going to put a hand on his shoulder he spoke.
"I'm awake if that's what your wondering."
"You didn't seem very awake."
"I was resting my eyes."
"Then what are you doing up at this ungodly hour?"
"I would say the exact thing back to you. You being awake at this hour is different from me. Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"I would be if I wasn't nervous about getting tested tomorrow."
"Well, its good you're awake and restless than. There's something urgent I must talk with you about."
"Yeah?"
"The tailed beast within you."
"The what in where?" Ume raised an eyebrow. Orochimaru never talked to her about this before. He just told her she had a lot of power from a good source, and when she heard a voice in her head, just ignore it. "Where is this going?"
"You are one of the carriers of a tailed demon. There are nine of them. Naruto had the nine tailed fox inside of him, and I-" He paused to look at the other side of the room. "I have the one tailed badger. You have their sister, the eight tailed lynx."
"I see."
"Whenever you are angry, there seems to be a time when you black out, right?" Gaara asked.
"Yes," Ume said, faltering a bit.
"When you come around, there is much destruction around you, but it's unexplainable. There are countless dead, but you have no idea what killed them. People fear you, hate you, but don't dare to test you. Am I correct so far?"
Ume was trembling. This man knew what she went through, and it was frightening. "Yes," The said quietly.
"That's how you killed somebody you once loved?" Gaara asked quietly.
The brunette was terrified of the Kazekage. He knew everything about her. He knew about things not even she knew about. So this was the man everyone feared and respected. No wonder he's Kazekage, Ume thought bitterly. "Yes, I killed my mother." She sighed.
"Let me see your stomach."
"No!"
"I assure you, my intentions are completely honorable. Now lift up your shirt so I can examine your belly button." She slowly lifted her shirt so that her belly button was exposed along with the strange seals and tattoos around it. Gaara poked it, then sent a bit of chakra through it to see the reaction. "Just as I thought, a weak seal. The moment you become angry enough, the demon can take control of your body. I'm going to strengthen it with another seal, that way when you get angry you won't have such violent reactions." She heard him charge chakra into his hand, and nearly gasped when his burning palm made contact with her stomach. She bit her lip to keep herself from screaming.
"Damn," She swore as she stood up. The kunoichi had fallen over from the impact.
Gaara looked like he could barely stand from the amount of energy he used. He kept himself balanced using the edge of his desk. "You should probably be able to get some sleep now." He suggested, and the brunette nodded. She silently walked over to the door, and opened it.
This man was frightening her. Not even Orochimaru could scare his like Gaara did. She suddenly wondered whether or not she could carry on her mission, let alone finish it.
Gaara watched the foreigner close the door, then he turned to the open porch door. "Temari, I know you're there."
"You'd make a poor Kazekage if you didn't notice me." The blonde noted before dropping down from the shadows. She stood there for a minuet looking Gaara straight in the eyes. "I don't think I've ever heard you speak that much to anyone over such a short period of time."
"Desperate time call for desperate measures." He noted as he slid into his chair. The cool wood felt good against his aching back. The seal had taken quite a bit of chakra, but it was nothing a few good hours of rest could restore.
"I think you like her."
"That's absurd and you know it."
"You've never acted that way except for around Kankurou and myself. Its very out of character of you."
"Well what ever it may be, since when was it your job to spy on me?"
"Ever since the day we were put on the same team." The blonde said while grinning. "Think about it though. Without me, where would you be now?"
"We can only guess."
"I also want you to think about that Ume girl. Perhaps there is something you find…attractive about her." Her grin widened as Gaara's frown deepened. "I might be right."
'I think she has you there pup.' The badger chuckled.
"Shut up." He said to both voices, praying that they were wrong.