A/N: Wow, I'm half dead.

Disclaimer: I wish I owned it...

OMG it's Gaara!

Chapter Eight: Bitter Crimson Tears

A raindrop bounced off of Gretchen's nose, and she started. Please don't start raining...! "Pakkun-san?"

"Yes?" He was still far ahead of her.

"Can you track people in the rain?"

"Yes, but not as easily." He almost asked why, and then raindrops splattered his back. Pretty soon it was raining, and Gretchen nearly lost Pakkun.

"Stupid... rain," she muttered. Hey! What if I use my bone as an umbrella? Flatten and widen my leg bone. ... Only problem is, I have no idea how to do it.

"We're getting closer," called Pakkun. Oh, thank goodness. Gretchen quickened her pace, despite being almost out of breath.

---------

Riia groaned when she felt the rain. Lethargically she drew her sand over her head, creating a makeshift umbrella. The tears came again, but slowly. I wish I'd never tried to befriend Gaara... I should have known something like this would happen. I just can't help it, though. I'm too sympathetic towards him... We should leave without him... if we ever leave. I don't want him going soft until after his fight with Naruto... She buried her face in her arms, and rested them on her knees, drawn up to her chin. I hate this.

---------

Pakkun made a sharp turn, and Gretchen followed. "Can you tell how far away she is?" she asked.

"A couple of meters, not that far." Gretchen sighed in relief, and relaxed slightly. Please be all right, Riia. If you're hurt in any way... You shouldn't have run off like that without at least telling me! I get why you left, but you should have left with all of us! ... Speaking of which, I wonder what Sam, Amy and Cathryn are doing. She shook her head. Oh, just be okay, Riia...

Gretchen almost ran into Pakkun, and scrambled to stop. She turned around and looked at the dog.

"Why'd you stop?"

"She's here, behind that tree." Gretchen's eyes started to tear, and she scrambled around the tree. She gasped.

Riia had passed out, due to blood loss. Her umbrella had collapsed, and there was sand all over the drenched girl. Gretchen started to shake.

"Pakkun-san!"

"Yes?"

"Get Kakashi! Please!" Pakkun saw the damage, and leapt off at once to find the requested Jonin. Gretchen placed Riia in a more comfortable position against the tree, gingerly moving her arm off the wound. She shuddered at the slash in her friend's stomach, and nearly gagged. Riia, you idiot... "Oh!" The sand headband was gone. Gretchen wondered where it'd gone, then remembered a bloodstained area of the forest. Something had flashed at her through the rain as she'd gone by. Good thing it was close. She could see the blood from here.

Gretchen leapt off towards the spot, and scoured it for a while, finally finding Riia's headband lying on the ground, half-buried in dirt and slightly cracked. She unearthed it, and brushed it off. Well, at least now we know who attacked you. Likely Sound or Sand... Gretchen went back to her friend, and gingerly tied the headband around her neck.

Pakkun arrived soon after, Kakashi trailing. He raised his eyebrow.

"Is that the friend you were talking about?"

"Yes! We need to get her to the hospital now, and I can't carry her! Would you please...?" Kakashi surveyed the damage, and sighed. He hoisted Riia up onto his back, and started back to the village. Pakkun followed, and Gretchen decided to grab Riia's gourd and whatever sand was left in it.

They'd passed Cathryn, Sam, and Amy on the way to the hospital, and Gretchen stopped to tell them what happened. Cathryn was the most eager to come along and do whatever she could to help; she'd known Riia since they were in first grade, and she was one of her best friends.

Gretchen led them to the hospital, but only she, of Riia's friends, was allowed in to see her. She rested the gourd against the end table near Riia's hospital bed, and stepped away. The tears came again, and she tried to force them back, to no avail. She couldn't stand it, seeing Riia lying there, almost like she was dead... No! Gretchen shook her head, to rid herself of the image. Riia's NOT dead! Just... passed out! When she regains consciousness, everything'll be just fine... Gretchen sat in one of the chairs near Riia's bed, and slumped over, tears dotting the white linoleum under her feet.

A hand placed itself on Gretchen's shoulder, and she looked up. It was Kakashi. He was looking at Riia.

"I know how you feel, and I understand that you wish to stay with your friend, but you have to come with me. Your friends, too." Gretchen started. Oh, shit! I knew this was gonna happen! Now we're gonna get tortured or interrogated! And probably by Ibiki... She nodded her head slowly. "Alright then." Kakashi moved away, and Gretchen followed lethargically. They exited the room, and Cathryn rushed up to Gretchen.

"How is she?" There was panic in the girl's voice.

"She's... gonna be okay." Cathryn sighed in relief, and Amy and Sam's faces relaxed.

"You all have to come with me, now." Cathryn turned to Kakashi.

"Why?" she demanded.

"I'll explain when we get there." He started walking, and the look on Gretchen's face suggested that all of them come. Sam and Amy got up from their seats, and ran to catch up with the rest of the group.

Suddenly, Kakashi turned around to face all of them, and Gretchen was the first to notice that his Sharingan was exposed. She almost asked why, and then everything went black. She could still see Amy, Sam, and Cathryn, but everything else was pitch black.