Chapter 7
"I can't finish this mission." Ume stated to the snake on her windowsill. It was the same one from earlier. "I want to go home."
"Alright, I'll go ask him, but he won't be happy."
"I know." The snake disappeared in a small cloud of dust. Ume slumped into her chair and watched the sun rise. She had barely gotten any sleep the past night. For one of the few times in her life she was afraid, and she didn't like it.
After several minuets the snake returned. He looked a bit flustered, but he was happy to be alive. Orochimaru hadn't been happy.
"He said that if you leave he would personally hunt you down and kill you."
"Well that's just great!" Ume muttered and kicked the leg of a table. Pain spread through her leg, but she ignored it. "Can we arrange a meeting?"
"Let me ask." The snake moaned wearily before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. When he returned her looked even more tried. "He said yes. Tonight at midnight three miles outside of Suna."
"Alright thanks. You should stay here. You probably don't have enough energy to go back." She left him to sunbathe on the windowsill while she dressed. She dressed, then grabbed a water bottle and dropped the liquid in. She might need it later.
"What do her scans show?" Temari asked the doctors. They shook their heads.
"He brain is fine. Like most ninja she has had blows to the head, but nothing serious. We still believe a mind swiping jutsu made her like this, otherwise we had no explanations."
"Alright, thanks." The blonde said and turned around. Ume sat quietly in a chair while the potion began to wear off. She was glad that she had to potion. The Sand had some pretty scary questioners. Gaara sticking around wasn't helping either.
When she stood, the potion had worn off completely and she remembered everything. She hadn't said a word about her plans and about the Sound village. Now she just had to pray the doctors wouldn't recommend another check up for her. She hadn't enjoyed their poking and prodding.
The Kunoichi locked herself in her room, and watched the late afternoon sun turn the sand orange. Suna was so different from the Sound country, but it was beautiful. The same went for Konoha. Even a hardened ninja like herself could stop and appreciate the beauty of the land.
The snake had left her windowsill, probably to rejoin his family. Since it was only late afternoon, Orochimaru wouldn't meet her for another 7 hours. She was completely alone, but only for a little while. Soon, she grew bored, and jumped out of her window to the soft grass outside. She then slipped away towards the city unaware of the piercing green eyes following her back.
Ume's purse was halfway full, but it was more than enough for just walking through the city. Since no forehead protector or weapons were visible all the merchants and inhabitants of the city thought she was part of a caravan or just a visitor. They treated her respectfully, and somehow Ume appreciated that. She hadn't been appreciated enough in her life, not even under Orochimaru's care.
Halfway through Suna, Ume recognized a familiar chakra pattern following her. She quickly shifted her course so it led into the less bust allyways and residential areas. The person still followed. She came across a street with nobody on it, went halfway down, then turned around.
"Aha!" She said triumphantly. Then her face fell. It was only a cat.
She turned around, started forward then turned around again. The cat was still there.
"Alright, come here." She ordered it, but it stared. "Come here." She ordered again, but it began to lick its paw. "Stupid cat." She muttered and went to pick it up. It was a pretty thing with short white fur and bright blue eyes. It looked like a stray, so she decided to keep it.
As she began to walk again, the presence started after her again. She turned around and was face to face with Kankurou. "Knew it!" She laughed creepily. The Sand jounin raised and eyebrow.
"Okay, you caught me."
"Why are you following me?"
"Gaara's orders."
"Why?"
"A number or reasons. First of all to make sure you don't get killed. Second not get raped. Third-"
"Alright, I get it." Ume cut him off, a little irritated that Gaara wouldn't trust her to go off by herself. She scratched the cat on it's head and it purred in a content way.
"What's with the cat?"
"Yoshiro just happens to be my new pet. He looks like he needs a home too." She said, and held the cat carefully. It licked the side of Ume's face, than went back to his paws.
"I can think of several people who will object to you keeping a cat in the main buildings."
"Like I care what they think."
"You're not all that nice, are you?"
"Not the slightest."
"Thought so."
The pair then jumped across rooftops towards the government buildings. The cat stuck it's head out from Ume's protective arms and enjoyed the cool breeze from the wind. The Kuonichi set it down and took out some of her rashions to feed it. The skinny feline ate it like it hadn't eaten in years.
There was a knock at the door, and a genin was waiting outside. "The Kazekage and his sibilings wish for you to join them for dinner ma'am." She said. Ume nodded, and closed the door, but then opened it again when there was another knock. "I wasn't finished!"
"Well hurry up then."
"Fine. What your wearing is suitable. Dinner is, starting in 10 minuets. Everyone should be waiting downstairs at the dining room."
"Alright." Ume closed the door, then went to check on Yoshiro before heading out to dinner. When she got to the stairs, she spied Temari waiting for her. "What?" Ume asked as she walked past.
"Nothing. Just waiting for you to get down here otherwise you'd get lost lloking for the dining room. This building isn't exactly small."
"I noticed. Let's just get there."
"Testy."
"Shut up." She growled, and held her stomach. Ume was hungry, and she got cranky when she didn't have food. Temari went before her down one of the many hallways. The brunette just followed her until they reached a set of double doors which the blonde kunoichi threw open. Gaara and Kanurou were talking quietly from their seats, Gaara at the head of the table, and his brother to his right. Temari took the sport to his left, and Ume took the last spot that was set for dining next to Temari on the long table. She guessed that this room was also used for parties and social events from looking at it's enourmus size.
When dinner was served, the quartet began to eat. Kankurou and Temari were always arguing with each other, and Gaara seldomly put in a comment. Ume herself only spoke when she was asked a question.
Temari glanced between her brother and the brunette rapidly. Kankurou watched his sister wondering what she had up her sleeve. The blonde smirked, and cleared her throat loudly. Gaara looked over at her as did Ume. Both had similar grins.
"I have an announcement. My true calling has not been in the art of being a ninja. It is not where I'm truly needed. Where I am needed is in the brothels."
Gaara, who had been drinking from his wine glass, began choking on the dark red liquid. Kankurou was snickering behind his napkin, and Ume just stared.
"You're true calling?" Gaara gasped when his airway was clear.
"Yes, and Kankurou I didn't tell you what I saw last night."
"What on earth could you have seen Temari?"
"Gaara and Ume having sex." Ume choked on a piece of lettuce.
Ume was having trouble keeping her temper down. Gaara was in the same predicament. They were both looking at Temari with murderous intent. The puppet master was almost falling over laughing at the pair. Ume was beginning to rise from her seat, kunai drawn. She looked over at Gaara, who glared at her to sit down. She stayed at her seat, but did not sit.
"Temari, I'm assigning you a mission." Gaara said, keeping his voice in control although his eyes burned with rage. "You're going on a little trip to the cloud country, posing as a noble woman."
"You mean-"
"Yes, real normal women's clothing all the time. No ninja clothing."
"All the time! What kind of mission is this?"
"The undercover kind." Kankurou sniggered. Temari just glared at him.
I want to finish with 10-15 chapters, so cross your fingers! PS: I'M GETTING MY OWN COMPUTER! That means more stories, and quicker. I wont have to type on this laptop, then move it from that comp to a floppy disk, and then to that comp, then find out I got the wrong thing, ect.
Another thing is that I'm sorry I kinda changed my storyline. This was originally supposed to begin with Ume being uncovered by Sasuke as a spy for the Sound, then her being killed off. Then the story was supposed to run to a SasuSaku sort of thing.
Whoopsy.
Oh well, things happen. Plus I love Gaara.
This chapter is a celebration chapter because I have finished the entire story. Every day I'll put a new chapter or two out so I can just get it over with.