Sabaku no Hana - Flower of the Desert - Desert Flower

Standard Disclaimer Applies.

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Chapter 3: Irony

"You called her a he! You actually made a mistake Kazekage-sama." Kankurou reminded Gaara for the third time as they sped towards the house of Sunagakure's main family, the current Kazekage's family. The thick trees that surrounded them a while ago started to lessen as they neared the dessert lands.

Gaara scowled at him in return. "And you didn't even sense her at all had I not pointed them to you."

"Well everybody knows I'm not as strong as you so it doesn't matter." Kankurou answered smugly.

Sweat dropping Gaara opened his mouth as if to say something but stopped when he felt the body he was carrying tensed. He glanced at his brother, his demeanour completely changing. "I need you to get the medics. Bring them to the infirmary and I want the anbu team to check the border where we found her."

With all trace of humour gone Kankurou nodded before disappearing in a blur to another direction. Gaara tightened his hold on the unconscious body of one of Konoha's best ninjas. He would soon need to inform the Hokage of her apprentice's condition.

The harsh wind that was blowing from the desert land that surrounded the village seems to still as the Kazekage finally exited the forest border and stepped on the sands. One of the Suna-jounin joined him, not really catching on his speed. "Kankurou-sama sent me Kazekage-sama. What do you wish me to do?"

Gaara nodded. "Get Temari to the infirmary."

"Hai Kazekage-sama."

As soon as the jounin left, Gaara increased his speed which he lessened a while ago for the lower level nin to match. He entered his house and went straight to the infirmary and was glad to see the three best medical ninjas of Sunagakure already waiting.

He gingerly laid Sakura's body on the bed before snapping his orders. "I want her healed. Find out what the poison inside her is and where it's from."

He heard a chorus of "Hai Kazekage-sama." before he left the room where the medical nins already started their jutsus.

"I came a soon as I can. What happened?" a slightly breathless Temari asked Gaara who was standing in front of the opened door of the infirmary, arms crossed while watching the healing process.

"Haruno Sakura is inside that room."

"Haruno? The Hokage's apprentice?" asked Temari in surprise. "The other member of Naruto's team?"

"The same." said Gaara. "The one that saved aniki before and helped save me."

"Do you know who attacked her?"

Gaara shook his head. "We didn't wait to find out. We don't know what she was hit with so we decided to bring her here first."

"Ah." said Temari, nodding. "And you sent Kankurou with the anbu team to where you found her."

"Hn."

One of the medic nin approached them looking tired. "Kazekage-sama, Temari-sama." she bowed.

"How is she Saki-san?" Temari asked.

"She's stable but I'm afraid we are unable to remove the effects of the poison fully."

Gaara frowned. "Have you identified what it is?"

Saki shook her head. "Gomen Kazekage-sama but we have never encountered its kind, demo what we know is one of its major effect."

"Which is?" Temari prompted.

"To block the body's main chakra points. It's slowing her body's ability to build and reserve her chakra to almost nothing." the medic nin said with a frown. "Although her condition has stabilised it might take a long time before she could fully regenerate her chakra to normal."

Gaara furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "And you don't have any idea where this poison came from?"

"What village it came from, no, demo" Saki began before bowing her head slightly in contemplation. "The effects and the way it had spread through her body is somewhat similar to the way poisons from some of the dangerous plants from Konoha's border acts."

"But poisons only have the ability to affect the body and never the chakra." Temari interjected. "Unless if it's infused with a powerful chakra."

"That's what we found most unsettling." said Saki. "We didn't find any trace of curse or seal on her or in the poison."

Gaara frowned at the implication. "How long will she be unconscious?"

"Two or three days. She should wake on or before the third day." Saki's look darkened. "But if she doesn't then the poison's effect might cause a permanent damage."

"Nani!" Temari asked in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"The poisons effect might settle in her system permanently, meaning she wouldn't be able reach her chakras full potential. Ever." Gaara answered for the medical nin instead. "That is what you meant right Saki san?"

Saki nodded, slightly taken aback with Gaara interjecting.

"Can you do a full report on everything that you've gathered by tomorrow?"

"Will do Kazekage-sama." Saki bowed before turning to enter the infirmary again, understanding that she was being dismissed already.

"Surely there's something else we can do." said Temari, biting her lower lip in worry.

"Us, none. The Hokage most definitely, but last I heard she was in a diplomatic visit with another hidden village. It would take at least five days if ever we call on her. The only other person who might have a chance to fix this is..." Gaara trailed off, fixing his stare on the unconscious form of Sakura.

"Her." Temari began, now chewing on her lower lip. "How ironic. The only person who can actually save her now is herself."

"That is if she wakes in time."

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Nihon go Vocab:

Nin – Ninja

Aniki – Older brother

Demo – But, However

Gomen (ne, nasai) – Sorry (can also mean a lot of other things but here its sorry)

San – Miss, Mister, denotes respect

Sama – Denotes great respect in the highest regard

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A/N

Gomen Gomen! I know it's rather late and the chappy's a bit boring but I've got a lot going on recently and been really busy. Will try to update a little faster.

Domo arigatou for the reviews:bows:

Please review again! -

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Anyhow I just want to share something incredible.. I was able to watch a lot of J.Doramas lately (squeezed it in my sleeping time actually) and I'm hooked! Hana Yori Dango's live action is the best! Although it's a bit of a cliffy, its soo good! Me encourages you to get a copy of it, the Japanese version of the series (because there's actually a Taiwanese version also, Meteor Garden and the sequel Meteor Rain but it doesn't really follow the manga's storyline). Oh and Gokusen 1 & 2 live action is good too. :sighs: Matsujun daisuke! Ehehehe… Ja ne Minna!

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Deleted scenes (or lines. hihi..):

"But hey! Why are you carrying her? Let me have her."

"Because buta, I'm stronger than you!"

(Can you guess where I would've inserted this? Too bad it's too OOC. Ahohohoho. O.o)