Very carefully, I pulled the syringe out of the skin. With a soft clink, it fell to the floor and my hands began to tremble as Hinata slowly seemed to calm down. Her breathing began to become more regular again, while the skin, gradually returned to its natural colour. For a brief moment, I had feared that Kankuro might have put the wrong thing in my hand, or something completely different. But now I was all the more ashamed of having accused him wrongly.

Unbridled joy flooded my body and I had to pull myself together not to hug the Hyjuga as she carefully opened her eyes.

„Hinata," Kiba said breathlessly, and Akamaru barked joyfully.

Ever so slightly, her lips twisted into a small smile. Slowly, she turned her head and looked at all of us. Her look was full of gratitude.

„Thank you," she whispered, „You are the best team I could ask for."

Kiba laughed sheepishly and scratched his head, and Shino snorted, as if he didn't quite buy her words.

I smiled wearily. So slowly my forces were really at the end. But the day had been really long. First the attack in the night by the Suna-Nins, then Hinata's poisoning and Kankuros unexpected help. I really hoped that he would keep his word and not betray me again. Because somehow, I was fond of him.

But I could also understand his fear of Gaara. Because as it had looked for me earlier, not much would have been missing and he would have gone for his brother. I shuddered at the thought of this terrible darkness that dwelled in him. What this concerned, I had to think a little of Naruto. He also had a dark creature inside him... But still, the two of them were fundamentally different, if only because of their character.

Slowly, but surely it came. The tiredness. Crawled up my back and paralyzed the limbs. Wrapped itself around me like a warm, tantalizing cloak and made my eyes fall shut again and again.

„Tora what is the matter with you?" Hinata had sat up and was looking at me anxiously. What an irony that just a few minutes ago we had been terribly worried about her.

I waved it off. „Just a little tired."

„You call that a little?" asked Kiba. „You've got bags under your eyes almost as thick as a panda."

A grin crept onto my lips. The little joke actually cheered me up a bit. But the tiredness remained.

„Is it maybe because I haven't slept in two nights and had some other things on my mind?"

Shino growled silently.

„You insisted on the last one yourself, though, you do realize that don't you?"

I fell silent. I guess the Aburame was right about that.

„It was a foolish decision to go to the Suna-Nins alone, but...you got what you wanted, and that's what counts."

Surprise flooded through me, that something like praise would come out of Shino's mouth was not something I had expected from him either.

„I still don't understand why Kankuro gave you the cure just like that...there's something fishy going on," Kiba interfered.

„Why don't you let it go Kiba. After all, he did it didn't he? The way he hit me; he didn't seem like he liked doing it. I...I think it was an order...or something," Hinata said hesitantly, looking in my direction.

Kankuros words flashed through my mind.

But Gaara has...

What did Gaara do? Why hadn't I let him speak? My anger had been too great for me to listen to him completely. I wish I had. Then I could easily answer that now. Maybe when all this was over, I would be able to talk to him about it again. But on the other hand, I strongly doubted that he would still tell me then.

„This is such a nonsense Hinata. The ninja from Suna are just ruthless. Especially that redhead guy who almost crushed Shino," Kiba growled.

„Why aren't you afraid of that Gaara Tora, anyway?"

I sighed wearily. Did I have to explain this now? Actually, I was too exhausted to get any words out now. A bed would be great now. Or warm tea. Who would have thought that I would ever miss this drink? I would kill for it right now.

„Tora...TORA!"

„Don't shout like that Kiba. My hearing is almost asleep," I muttered.

„That's exactly why I'm doing it," was the reply.

„Do you have to answer that now? Can't I sleep? I'm really about to be blown away."

"You almost sound like Naruto," Hinata said shyly.

My eyes were almost closed, but I could almost hear her blushing from her voice. Well. I guess nothing would ever change that.

„No please don't," Kiba groaned.

„Now, why don't you leave her alone? She's earned her sleep after everything that's happened," Shino interfered energetically.

„What...but?"

„Kiba...you really are a toddler sometimes."

„What did you just call me?"

My head slumped forward. They should still be arguing. I was too tired to get anything meaningful out of it now. Especially since I could become really exhausting with advancing tiredness and did not have the intention to go to the others thus still further on the nerves. They would be still grateful to me.

And so, I no longer noticed how Kiba put my arm around his shoulders and carried me away in just like this.

I awoke to the sound of footsteps on the stony ground. Ominously they echoed on it. Also, the underground, on which I lay, was cool and hard. Blurred I could recognize my environment. This appeared to me like a dimly lit cellar.

Water dripped from the ceiling and collected in small puddles below. Not far from me, Kiba, Shino and Hinata sat on stone blocks and looked spellbound in the direction from which I had heard the footsteps.

Almost threateningly they echoed on the walls and all at once I knew who was approaching and sat up abruptly. Sharp pain shot through my head and I slumped back. Damn, what was my head's problem with me. Was it all the lack of sleep or that I had used too much chakra? Possibly both.

„Tora," Hinata whispered, sitting down next to me.

Her warmth did me good and I began to push away the pain.

„Thank you for helping me, Tora."

„We all did," I mumbled tiredly.

„Yes...but..."

But all at once her body stiffened and began to tremble slightly. Cautiously, I looked up and spotted Gaara, who had broken away from his group and was now coming toward us with dragging steps.

My companions seemed to be frozen. But Temari and Kankuro were also confused. Something flashed in the eyes of the dark-haired man. Fear. Yes, but for whom? It didn't seem to be directed at him. Rather on me.

Temari's gaze was also directed at me, but her expression seemed composed. Like her two younger siblings, she was able to hide her feelings completely behind an iron mask. So, admittedly, it was a little scary.

Pushing back the pain, I straightened up and faced him. Hinata moved away from him ever so slightly, but I made no move to do so, just looked at him, returning the cold stare without flinching.

He stood closer than ever before. He loomed over me almost menacingly, his piercing eyes glowing in the darkness. If he wanted to kill me, he now had the perfect opportunity. But he simply glared at me. Didn't even seem angry. But still, it made me feel nervous and suspicious at the same time.

„Gaara. Do you want something in particular?", I asked, noticing how my voice was failing.

Of all times, it had to be now.

„You're good. We'll see how much."

Then he turned and left with his team. Frozen, I watched him leave. It almost felt like a threat. And I couldn't blame him.

After all, I had slipped through his fingers twice in a row.

And there wouldn't be a third time.

That was out of the question for him.