Red Moon Assassin

By: Gardie

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and related things. I just enjoy it and write fan fiction.

AN: I'm not allowed to reply inside chapters. One of strange rules. This chapter took long because I

had no inspiration and I get so few reviews and hits. It's almost not worth continuing but I will, just

because I don't like to leave a story half-finished.

Chapter 7

While at Shikamaru's farm, Sakura had been attacked and would have been captured by The Silently Cheeping Birds if it wasn't for her new friend, Ino, who held the gangsters off until Gaara and Kimimaro could arrive. They then left to head to Gaara's home village of Suna. They had travelled for two days now and had run out food. Luckily in the distance they could see a village where they could rest for a while and re-supply.

"It's so hot here," commented Sakura as they walked down the main street.

There was hardly in vegetation anywhere and the whole village was swirled in dust and sand.

"We're getting closer to the desert," explained Gaara, who seemed unaffected by the heat, "It will get even hotter when we reach Suna."

Ino sighed loudly, "I'd much rather go somewhere cooler. I'm sweating too much."

"You'll be fine," Sakura reassured her, "When we go to a hotel or something you can have a long, cold shower."

"I hope so."

Kimimaro picked out a cheap motel-type place hidden in an alley, much to Sakura and Ino's protests about its quality.

"We can't stay here!" protested Ino, "This place probably doesn't even have a shower!"

"And the beds have most likely got fleas!" added Sakura, "We can't stay here!"

"If you want to stay somewhere more expensive you'll need to pay," said Kimi, "Do either of you have money?"

The two girls shook their heads

"Then we have no choice. The rest of the money is needed for our supplies."

"If you don't like the beds then sleep on the floor," commented Gaara, "or just stay awake."

After forbidding Ino and Sakura from leaving the room Gaara and Kimi left to purchase some peripatetic paraphernalia (stuff for when they're walking). The two girls each had a shower, separately, and then, having absolutely nothing else t do, sat down to have a chat.

"I live in the city," began Ino, "with my boyfriend. But he had something important to do and so I went to visit my cousin who works at Shikamaru's farm. Where did you live before you went on this journey?"

"With my dad…before he was killed," Sakura mumbled.

"I'm very sorry," said Ino, "It's probably best not to think about it too much."

Sakura smiled weakly, just for show, "Perhaps. I then was taken to Red Moon for protection. Of course it hasn't exactly worked very well. I'm still being attacked and they're unable to avoid The Silently Cheeping Birds."

"Why are they after you anyway? Was your father some sort of billionaire?"

"I wish. My father was part of an ancient cult and I'm the only one who knows where their most secret treasure is. It's the treasure The Silently Cheeping Birds are after."

"What kind of treasure are we talking about? A whole mound of gold?"

"An old scroll."

"A scroll? What's so great about a scroll?"

"It was left on Earth by Orochimaru."

"The God!"

"That's what's said."

"That's pretty amazing!" squealed Ino, "A scroll that was left by a God! Just think what could be written on it! Imagine a sure-fire way to seduce any man you want!"

"Or a recipe for the sweetest chocolate in the universe!" added Sakura, caught up in Ino's excitement.

They continued to think up a whole bunch of very unlikely, but interesting, things that could be written on the scroll before Ino finally asked Sakura the question that was now burning inside her.

"Where is it anyway? The scroll?"

Sakura immediately became quiet, "I can't tell you. It's a cult secret."

"Aw! Come on. I'm just curious."

"Uh uh."

"Pwease?" begged Ino, using baby language, "Between friends?"

"If I tell you you'll go there and get hurt. There're traps around it."

"I'm not going to actually go there!" exclaimed Ino, "I'm not crazy. I'm just curious. I want to know."

Sakura frowned.

"I promise not to tell anyone."

"You swear?" asked Sakura, staring at Ino intently.

"I swear," answered Ino seriously.

"Okay, I'll tell you. It's no fun being unable to share a secret and if something happens to me at least the scroll won't be lost."

Then Sakura told her. They talked some more about the scroll and imagined getting it but soon Ino steered the conversation elsewhere and it was forgotten.

Kimi and Gaara came back later with supper and a bag full of provisions.

"Did anything happen while we were away?" asked Kimi as he put the food on the table.

"Nothing," answered Sakura.

"If you don't count us dieing of boredom waiting for you to get back," added Ino.

"Learn to occupy yourself," instructed Gaara, "I can stare at a wall all day and not get bored."

"That's not something to be proud of," stated Ino, "That's a lack of brain power."

A flicker of annoyance passed over Gaara's face before he ignored everyone.

"So what's for supper?" asked Sakura.

"Ham sandwiches," answered Kimi.

"For supper?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that more a lunch food?"

"It's cheap and easy to prepare," muttered Kimi, not appreciating the comment.

"Ino? Are you okay?" inquired Sakura.

It was a little after dark and Sakura was standing outside the toilet. Gaara heard her knock on the lavatory door and came to see what was the mater?

"What?" he asked curtly.

"Ino went into the toilet about a quarter of an hour ago and hasn't come back. She isn't answering me either."

"It's probably the sandwiches," commented Gaara but he still knocked as well, "Ino?"

There was no answer.

"I'm coming in."

"You can't do that!" hissed Sakura.

"Why not?"

"She's a girl on the toilet!"

"She's been in for fifteen minutes and isn't responding. She might have had a heart attack."

With that he rammed his shoulder into the door with surprising strength. The door wasn't made for that kind of treatment and the lock snapped off and the door opened to reveal…an empty cubicle.

"Ino?"

"She's not here," observed Gaara, stating the obvious.

"But…where?" asked Sakura.

Gaara pointed at the window behind the toilet, it was open.

"Fetch Kimimaro."

"Right."

Sakura ran into Kimimaro's room and saw him coughing into a glass that was filled with a foamy red liquid.

"Kimimaro! Are you okay?"

Kimi hid the glass in an instant and turned to her, a bone shruiken in his hand. He relaxed when he saw her.

"I'm fine," he muttered softly, "What is it?"

"Gaara wants you in the toilet. Now."

Kimi raised an eyebrow at her choice of words.

"Ino's missing…it looks like she ran away."

Kimi then jumped up, popped a pill in his mouth and rushed to Gaara. In the process he knocked the glass on the floor. Before Sakura followed she looked at the spilled contents. It looked remarkably like blood.

"What happened?" asked Kimi.

"Ino told Sakura she was going to the bathroom but didn't return. When we opened the door she wasn't here. I think she run away," informed Gaara.

"Maybe she was kidnapped?" suggested Sakura.

"No," disagreed Kimi, "I was in here before her and the window was closed. She must have opened it herself and left."

"Maybe she opened it for the smell?"

"Then she would have screamed when someone grabbed her, which no one would have had a reason to do. She's left us. I just don't know why. Even if she was by some chance a spy or something she hadn't learnt anything useful yet."

"She knew we wee going to Suna," commented Gaara.

"No," said Sakura, leaning against a wall for support and sliding to the floor, "I told her where the scroll is."

"Then that's it," decided Kimi, "She's either going to sell the information to The Silently Cheeping Birds or get the scroll for herself."

"Now what?" asked Gaara, "The mission's a failure."

"No. We must rescue the scroll. Sakura, it's your duty to protect the scroll; you have to get us there before Ino gets there. You'll then hide it in a new place or keep it until it can be taken to the rest of your cult."

Sakura nodded glumly, a tear running down her cheek.

"Gaara, get the supplies."

Gaara left to collect the supplies and Kimi stood with Sakura.

"I trusted her," cried Sakura, "I…trusted her."