Author's Note (2020/04/09):

Hey everyone - I hope you are all doing well with the current global situation! I am still in quarantine and it looks like it will be for a while. I am trying to my best to get through it, dealing with my mental health is proving difficult as of late but I am trying to surround myself with positive thoughts.

As for this chapter, I will try to post regularly once a week until this story is finished - but upon doing my upcoming drafts, I have struck an iron-strong writer's block. This chapter is also the most dialogue-heavy chapter I've written thus far so I apologize for a lack of action and other ninja things.

Stay safe everyone! xx

Chapter 67
Fate

The scorching rays of the desert sun shone brightly that day.

Summer had finally made its appearance in the dry lands surrounding Suna, the heat signifying the change in season. Outside the village cliffs, sandstorms bellowed and the winds howled restlessly. The cold desert nights were becoming scarce, only to return when autumn would make its next approach. Stepping out from the shelter of the Kazekage's estate and its towering walls, Nomasaki ventured out alone. Her eyes dulled and tired after her bleed left her, she emerged from the shadows a shell of her former self. Hoping that a stroll through the village would clear her foggy head, she also dreaded the thought of facing the villagers who saw her in her vapid beastly state days before. She had to make amends somehow, or at the very least apologize. Knowing that Gaara was cooped up inside his office assured her.

She needed some time alone to think, and he was often a distraction, albeit a comforting one.

Making her way through the guarded path, she heard the footsteps of someone coming closer from behind. Pausing with her expression guarded and back tense, she turned towards them, meeting the faceless shinobi concealed by a cloth veil. A Suna ANBU – a man, and a quiet one at that – she thought, relaxing her arms at her sides. Her lilac eyes narrowed in caution, she glanced at their cloth-shroud. She could tell just by his glance where his darkened eyes lay hidden, their gleam unseen by her in the sunlight. The fact that she could not see their face filled her with unease and forgotten paranoia.

"Who might you be?" She demanded. "If you're an ANBU, shouldn't you be standing guard along the barrier?"

Kneeling before her, the ANBU bowed his turban-covered head to her. She could see the sheathed gleam of his katana at his back, reminding herself that she was without a weapon. Remembering his allegiance, she tried to remind herself that he was an ally – not of Kenzō's. Her stressed mind was hard to convince. "Nomasaki-sama," He said, his voice warm and calm. "By the instruction of Kazekage-sama, I am to guard you while you journey outside the estate."

His voice struck her as familiar. "Is that so?" She questioned, her gaze easing. "And if I don't require an escort?"

"My apologies," He answered, lifting his head as he met her drained eyes. "Gaara-sama made it very clear to not let you out of our sights at all times. His orders, my lady."

The formality struck her.

She was not used to the title, nor did she enjoy it. She was not a lady – not an honorable one, at least. She was a shinobi carrying the bloodline of her ancient and scarce clan, not even descended from the main branch. All she knew of her ancestry was the faint stories she remembered from her mother, and the 'lady' title did not fit anywhere. Only when Ekashiba would call her by the title did she deem it fitting - but he and her honourable father were a days' journey away in a land of distant snow and ice. Even as the partner of the Kazekage, one who was born of noble blood, she did not deserve that title in her eyes. She was just Nomasaki, and that was all she knew.

"Forgive me," She began. "But I'm no lady. I don't require a title."

"Your father is the chieftain of Yamagakure, my lady - and you are Gaara-sama's partner. It's common courtesy to address you as such, I'm afraid."

There it was, she thought. "Did he – Kazekage-sama – give a reason as to why I'm to be escorted through the village?" She asked. "Any at all?"

"All intel is confidential. Sorry, but you must understand."

Standing before the guise of the ANBU made her look upon him in silent understanding. His tone was sympathetic towards her, as if he also felt the sentiment was overkill. Gaara had a tendency to be overprotective at times despite his awareness of her skill, but she understood that enemies could be marching towards their gates at any moment. The times were not to be taken lightly.

"Very well, then." She nodded, watching him stand. "I… guess I have no choice, do I?"

Turning away from him, she proceeded down the narrow path shielded by the clay walls of the buildings that towered over them. Entering the village ahead of her, she disappeared into the sea of people with the ANBU following her closely behind.

It was going to be a long day, she thought.

Avoiding the noise, she entered the recluse shadows of the alley. Reaching a quiet street guarded by towering clay structures, the vibrant reds and golds painted upon them seemed to have melted away from the sun. Glancing towards him from the corner of her eye, her absent senses struck her for a moment. The air of familiarity returned as she saw the glint of his dark eyes, noticing the hint of brown laced within them. Although she had not been able to sense chakra since her wolf-driven rampage, she felt as if she knew him from somewhere close – in a memory.

"You're young for an ANBU," She began. "Have we met before?" Timidly, she turned away, second-guessing herself. "Sorry, it's just that… your chakra seems familiar."

"I sure hope so," He said. "We were on the same team once!"

Pausing in his steps, the ANBU reached for the cloth that covered his face. Drawing her curiosity instantly, she stopped as well, watching him carefully as they stood across from another in the silent alleyway. She could feel her heart pound in her chest from his words, pleading internally that her suspicions were true. Pulling down his veil towards his chin, the young man gave her a warm smile.

Black hair, dark eyes, and his cocky grin.

Shinto.

"Nomasaki,"

Hearing him say her name filled her with relief.

"Shinto!" She beamed, wrapping her arms around him instantly. "It's you!" Surprised by her gesture, he quickly returned the favor. Holding her close, he took her in. It had been years since he last seen her himself, only hearing of her from the mouths of others. She felt the same to him, her comforting kindness warming him instantly. Releasing him from her hug, she smiled softly. "I knew it was you all along! I–!"

"Shh–!" He hushed. "You can't know it's me, it'll blow my cover!"

"S-Sorry," She nodded, averting her embarrassed glance. "I… haven't been on a mission with the tracking unit for a while, so I forgot."

Looking at her from where he stood, he smiled at her timid expression. Clothed in her simple blue kimono, he realized how much he missed her. Her soft features struck by the scattered sunlight, he could see each fiber of gold that laced her long hair and the vibrance that returned to her violet eyes. "You're still the same timid-scatterbrained kunoichi, I see. Not much has changed since you moved back home, I take it?" He smiled back. A thought entering his mind, he jolted – his expression becoming urgent and worried. "Wait a minute – your sensory skills… how did you not recognize me at first?"

His startled expression jolted her, her joy slowly fading from her eyes. The dullness in them returned again, remembering her recent struggles that were left unsaid. Hanging her head low in shame, she held her hands into the fabric of her chest. "Oh, well… I…-," She said, her voice low and broken. "I… lost my powers…"

"Lost your powers?! Your Kekkei Genkai?"

Meeting his concerned glance, she nodded.

"How?"

"Ask Tenbu," She replied dryly. "They used some sort of ore on me when they attacked in Konoha… I've never been the same since." Looking down at her spread fingers before her, she examined them with saddened eyes. Unlike the last time, her fingers refused to tremble, although the familiar sense of the chakra around her was no longer within her grasp. Not even the wolfishness that lurked beneath her blood dared to boil. She felt fully human and completely empty. "Sometimes I can sense things, and other times… I can't. I… haven't been able to sense chakra, and I can't even control my Ōkamitoko…"

"So that wolf that ran through the village," Shinto pressed. "That was you, wasn't it? I wasn't seeing things, then."

"Yeah…" She nodded, bringing herself to face his glance. "I mean, I'm the only Yamamori in the village. Who else would it be?"

Her answer broke him.

He knew how much she loved to be a wolf, to shift her skin and be free of her human constraints as the creature coated of white fur. It was second nature to her, and it had been completely stripped from her being. The exhausted tint to her lilac eyes conveyed every ounce of regret she held within her. "I'm sorry this is happening to you," He lamented, averting his gaze to the ground below. Concerned, he met her eyes once more. "Does Meiyumi know? You know, she worries about you. A lot, actually."

"She may, but I didn't tell her myself." She replied, quietly. "She doesn't need to know, no one does–,"

Surprising her, Shinto placed his strong hands upon her shoulders. His expression was both stern and pleading all at once, catching her off guard from her self-pity. His intense grasp of her shoulders made her heart jump in her chest, her eyes widened into his. "Your friends do!" He said. "We worry about you, Nomasaki. You know you can tell us anything. Once Team Hashira… always Team Hashira!"

Letting go of her, he watched as she averted her gaze from his. The warmth from his words swelling into her throat, she could feel the oncoming sobs rise within her. She knew her mistakes, and she had to inevitably greet them. It had been years since they were once a team, but their forged friendship was something that would last a lifetime.

"Thanks, Shinto." She cried, silently. "I'm… sorry."

"No, no – stop," He stammered, awkwardly. "Please don't cry, Nomasaki! I'm sorry – I didn't mean to–,"

"No, you're right." She smiled, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. "I've been neglecting my friendships as of late, including those with you and Meiyumi. I'm sorry… I should've reached out to you both." Biting her lip, she averted her glance in shame. "I was… scared that you hated me…"

"Hate you?" He sighed, smirking. "Never! I thought you hated me, joining the ANBU – your rival faction. I was too nervous to flex it too much when we met up on your return a few months back, but it's good to know you're alright with the change. Tracker-nin and ANBU aren't that different, after all." Pondering to himself, he placed his hand under his chin. "Now that you mention it, Meiyumi has been trying to organize a night out… maybe we should take her up on her offer?"

"I would like that very much!" She nodded, smiling softly. "Maybe once this all blows over."

"Would your boyfriend allow it?"

His tone suddenly changed.

Taken aback by his icy voice, her smile faded from her lips. Her eyes looked upon him stunned, her fear of his hatred entering her thoughts as she noticed he averted his narrowed eyes from hers. He knew, she thought – he knew everything.

"Don't look so surprised - the whole village knows, Nomasaki." He turned towards her. "You've been with the Kazekage for months... everybody knows."

"Well… he worries about me, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind. I don't have to ask permission to see my own friends."

"You seemed upset to have an ANBU following you earlier," He retorted. "Are you sure about that? Or are you trying to convince yourself otherwise?"

His stab at her caught her off guard.

Reflecting to herself, she had to admit – he was right.

Gaara was very kind and loving towards her, but he was also stern and overprotective at times. Especially since he returned from meeting that messenger in the oasis, something seemed to linger behind his thoughts, causing him to have many restless nights from his recurrent insomnia. She understood his worry greatly – she would have felt the same. But upon asking what troubled him, he would hastily change the subject or tell her to sleep. Dancing around it in her mind, she tried to feign a light smile.

"Tenbu is an active threat," She spoke. "He's worried they'll attack me again. He may be overreacting at times, but he cares about me." Looking to her side with her eyes narrowed slightly, she whispered to herself. "I'll admit, he should trust in me more…"

"Are you…? Never mind, forget it."

"What is it?" She asked, eased by his warm tone returning. "You can ask me."

Guilt setting into his eyes, Shinto glanced away from her, his eyes closed halfway as if in sadness and concern. "Are you… happy? With him, I mean."

Surprising her, she gave a warm smile from her lips. Never had he inquired about her love-life, but she could understand why he was suddenly bashful to ask the question. He worried about her, just as any friend would. "Yes, I am." She nodded. "He's misunderstood, but he's very kind. He loves me through everything… and I love him. I've never been happier."

"Really?" He asked, rising his glance upon her. "Even knowing that he was once a bloodthirsty killer?"

"He's not that anymore," She answered, her eyes guilty. "That was in his past," He was twisting her moral compass with his words, leaving her to push those disturbing thoughts and images of Gaara's reputation away. The monster he once was lurked within her psyche, remembering it through the whispers of the frightened villagers when she first arrived in Sunagakure. It saddened her greatly to think of him that way, and Shinto could see it plainly upon her face. "You and I both know he's changed since then… I didn't even know him when he was like that, Shinto –,"

"But you know he was, once. Are you able to look past that?"

The icy tone returned.

"I have to," She confessed, averting her saddened gaze. "That's what love is, looking past mistakes and faults." Turning back to him, she felt guilt swell into her chest. "Are you forgetting that I was once a spy for Kenzō? Gaara forgave me for that – he pardoned me–,"

"I just want to make sure you're making the right choice, for you – not anyone else." He revealed. "I know you, Nomasaki. You see the good in everyone… I just hope that you're being true to yourself, and not pretending for the sake of him."

"Shinto, I know you hold a great deal of hatred towards Gaara, but please –," She pleaded, stepping towards him in the alley. "I love him! I always have, so please… as my friend, can you accept that?"

As she approached before the setting sun, Shinto stepped away.

His back facing her, he closed his eyes. "He killed my parents." He spat through his grit teeth. "I was six, I didn't even know what death was until that night. Shukaku rampaged for hours before the Fourth Kazekage could stop him… it was too late…" Opening his dark eyes, he looked upon the sand covered ground in spite. "I'll never forgive him for that. Surely even you must be able to understand."

She could feel the bitter brunt of his words, lodging in her as if a rusted blade of hatred. Feeling his pain, she lowered her head in empathy. "I'm sorry…" Looking up to him, she timidly approached him once more. "If I can ask… Despite your contempt, why do you choose to serve him?"

"I'm a dog of the Suna ANBU, I have no choice." Turning back to face her, a small smirk painted itself on his lips, brushing aside his hurt. "I follow my commands to the fullest degree – even if they are uttered from that tanuki-eyed bastard." That comment struck her, her eyes glaring towards him. "Don't look at me like that, old habits die hard!" He laughed with a smile. "Besides, he assigned me to protect you. I couldn't say no to that. You're my friend, I'd do anything for you. Even if you asked me to accept your relationship… I'd have no choice in that matter either." Noticing her chuckling smile, he flinched. "T-That doesn't mean I approve! To be honest with you, Nomasaki – I…" Jolting himself, he stopped his words before they could have a chance of escape. "N-Never mind! It's embarrassing."

"No, I want to know," She said, a coy grin on her lips. "What are you hiding? You said you'd do anything for me – can I ask what you were going to say?"

Upon meeting her sweet smile, Shinto found himself lost in her strange eyes. He was trapped. Embarrassed, he covered his face with his palm, chuckling to himself in silence. "Damn it! You got me…" He sighed, averting his glance. "What I was going to say was that…" Facing her, he gave a light smile. "I actually had quite the crush on you back when we were genin, and I… still do. I guess you could say… I… love you."

Stunned, she looked up to him.

"Ah, so it wasn't obvious?" He laughed. "That's a relief."

Not once had she thought anyone other than Gaara would have held affections towards her. The fact that it was her estranged teammate shocked her even more. Having only thought of Shinto as a dear friend, his words not only stunned her but showered her in unimaginable guilt. No wonder he was upset of her relationship, she thought. It only added more fuel to the fire for his hatred for Gaara.

And she was partially to blame.

"Why did… Why do you…?"

"The same reason Kazekage-sama does," He smiled at her widened eyes. "You're smart, kind, thoughtful, and strong at heart." Looking away for a moment, he felt a flush of red paint his cheeks. "You're also very pretty. I'm honestly surprised no other suitors swept you off your feet by now… but I take it you've only had eyes for him, am I right?"

"You've felt like this… this whole time?" She stammered, her eyes wide and frozen. "I had no idea."

"I know you don't feel the same, and that's alright," He sighed. "I just wanted to tell you while I still have the chance."

"What are you saying?"

"We're shinobi, Nomasaki. We live very brief and dangerous lives. It could be a matter of time before I…–," Catching him by surprise, he saw her cup her face with her palms, crying silently. "Hey, now! Stop crying – I'm sorry!"

"You're so foolish…" She chuckled, quietly, wiping away her tears. "You haven't changed a bit, that's… comforting." Guilt painting her eyes, she tried her best to give him a warm smile. "Shinto, you mean so much to me. I hope you know that."

"I do," He smiled back with a nod. "Don't worry." Noticing the approaching rays of the setting sun, the cool tinge of the evening winds blew past them. Fastening his cloth shroud over his face, he gestured a nod back towards the direction of the Kazekage's mansion, its structure looming over them in a rising shadow. "Let's escort you home, it's getting late. Kazekage-sama is probably worried-sick and pacing in his office right now."

Nodding, she gave a light smile.

Following close behind him, she looked on at the towering structure in her view. Feeling the cool winds move past her, she felt the chill in her spine return, shuddering her in the memory of her sudden transformation. As she approached closer to her home, she mulled over the thoughts running wild in her mind. Gaara was hiding something from her – and she knew it was something dire.

From the gust of the winds, a silhouette appeared before her in the shadows. Knelt before her as a tracker-nin, their porcelain mask gleaming in the dimming sunlight as they stood before her as she paused in her steps. Their mask was shaped to the likeness of an owl, adorned in purple markings and blackened cavities for eyes. Its appearance haunted her, reminding her of the presence Tojiru once evoked towards her when she was a rookie.

Sohei.

He arrived as still as a shadow, cut clean with duty with his friendly eyes grim with his mission. Pulling a sealed scroll from his pack, the owl-faced tracker-nin handed it towards her. "Nomasaki-sama," Sohei spoke in a low-toned voice. "Moro-sama requests your presence."

Taking the scroll from his worn hands, she opened it, scanning the parchment with careful and dulled eyes. She froze. Her fingers flinched upon the paper, prompting her to roll it back into place. Cleansing her expression of shock, she opened her eyes towards them with a blank slate, her eyes emotionless and empty. "I understand…" She answered, begrudgingly. "As a tracker-nin of Suna, I accept."

Giving a subtle nod of his owl-like mask, the shinobi before her knelt down and vanished within the shadows. Stepping towards her, Shinto came to a pause. "Everything alright?" He asked, his eyes narrowed within his shroud. "Was that…?"

"It's nothing," Turning towards him, her eyes glistened lightly in the sun, sorrow returning as she felt her chest once again grow heavy with guilt. Clasping the scroll in her hand tightly, she could not hide the discomfort within her violet eyes. "Please, take me home."

With a nod, Shinto led the way. Walking with her eyes mired in held sorrow, she could not shake the feeling that loomed over her.

Her fate was sealed.

As the darkness of night painted the bleak skies, she entered her home in silence.

Locking the door behind her, she turned to find Gaara standing across from her. Having no sensory abilities to call upon since her transformation, she jumped at every appearance of him from behind. His chakra was powerful, burgeoning, and very distinct in its feel – something she painstakingly missed as she begged internally to have her powers back. The desert gods did not listen to her pleas – mocking her and her old gods under their breaths.

Pausing before her, Gaara's expression was stoic, stern, and seemed to have been carved from the roughest stone. His insomnia could be clearly seen within the flecks of turquoise within his eyes, his blackened rings that surround them appearing more pronounced than usual. No doubt his worry for her made it worse. His slate-like expression made her unusually tense as he towered above her, her petite stature standing calmingly still in response. There was so much she wanted to ask him, but her words failed to reach her lips in time.

"You're late," He said, his voice tinged in worry. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," She nodded, feigning a smile. "Don't worry."

Noticing her fading smile from her expression, his glance turned concerned. "What is it?"

"Why are… ANBU waiting to escort me when I step outside?"

"Protective measures," He answered, averting his glance from hers. "If I can't watch over you myself, the ANBU are there just in case. This is a dangerous time, for everyone."

Her heart wrenched as she could sense the worry and care in his voice. Knowing that he was still hiding something from her, she stepped closer towards the distance between them, catching his attention. "Just in case of Tenbu? Or is it something else?" She questioned, her voice cracking in her shyness. "I can tell you're hiding something from me."

Sadly, his eyes met hers.

Silence.

"Gaara," She pleaded, her eyes glistening. "Please, tell me."

Averting his ringed-eyes, he hung his head low, the messy crimson strands covering his expression from her watchful glance. He knew he did wrong by not telling her the truth – and now it came back to bite him.

"Please, Gaara – I need to know,"

With a deep breath, he lifted his gaze towards her as a stoic expression painted his pale face. Drawing her in, she looked at him cautiously. She was already trembling before he had a chance to utter the words, his mere glance conveying what was left unsaid between them that night. "You're… their true target." He confessed. "Tenbu are searching for you… as well as my bloodline."

She froze.

At last, her worst suspicions were confirmed.

Hiding under the guise of hunting down the Kazekage clan, they wanted her – the last wolf. Instantly, painful memories of the ginkō ore that pierced her entered her mind, taunting her as she remembered how she writhed upon the concrete in agony and how she lost control of her body and smashed through the window as a monstrous beast. It all made sense to her now, ringing through her mind like a bell of surrender. "…What?" She felt the wind leave her body. "What are you saying…? No, they can't be–,"

"Do you remember when I went to the oasis?" Meeting his eyes, hers of widened lilacs wavered. Sensing the fear boil up within her, he swallowed the guilt that lumped inside his throat. "The informant said that Tenbu were looking for the 'wolf girl'… mentioning 'those eyes', 'beasts', and 'wolf's blood'… They want to use you for a ritual… a forbidden jutsu–,"

"Who was the informant?" She questioned, her voice quiet. "How would they know?"

Her question caught him by surprise.

He had not planned for her to ask that, and his mind was not prepared. There was no telling how she would react, but he knew by the pleading gleam in her eyes that he could not back down. "It was a woman named Hakuto," He said, dryly. "…of the Hoki Family."

"The… Hoki Family?" She repeated, shocked. Suddenly, her mind jolted. "You don't mean–?!" She backed away from him.

"Nomasaki -,"

"It was your betrothed?"

"She was never my betrothed," He corrected. "Well… she was briefly, but that wasn't my decision – nothing happened – that's besides the point–,"

"How did she know?" Her voice was low and cracking under pressure. "How?"

"The Hoki Family hired Tenbu to overthrow me… then they were betrayed," He explained. "Tenbu were speaking of a ritual involving using you as a…–," His words trailed. Fear overcoming her violet eyes, she held her hands into her chest as she stood under him. Glancing down for a moment, he brought himself to look back into her eyes. His expression was no longer stoic and stern, but broken and exhausted. "…sacrifice."

The word sent a shiver through her. "You didn't tell me–?"

Tears forming in her eyes, she walked past him briskly towards the living room. Turning towards her, he eyed the back of her blue dress with guilt marked through his fractured expression. "You didn't need to know –,"

"Yes, I do!" She barked, whipping her head towards him. Surprising him, tears were already streaming down her face, her lip quivering as she tried with all her might to keep her emotions at bay. "You're in danger because of me! The whole village is!" Breathing to herself, she turned away. "It's my fault that they're coming… I should've stayed in Yama when I had the chance…"

"Stay in Yama?" He repeated, anger rising in his tone. "What are you saying?! Are you hearing yourself?!" Walking towards her, he grasped her shoulders. His frustrated expression bored its way into her of sobbing guilt and fear, startling her of the first sight of his anger. His touch was strong and protective in tone, but she could also sense a brief trembling in his fingers. He was masking his true feelings behind a stern face, sorrow clearly gleaming in his ringed-eyes before her. "Your homeland – your father would be in danger, then! Don't you care what happens to them? Sunagakure is the only place safe anymore. If you were anywhere else, they'd find you and use you for whatever ritual they're planning!"

"At least in Yama, I would be in the snow…" She walked away from his hold, starting towards their bedroom. "The snow doesn't keep secrets." She said, quietly, pausing with her back towards him. "The sand is too coarse and is no place for a wolf…"

"Nomasaki," He called after, his voice quiet and tinged with growing sorrow. "You know why I didn't tell you sooner… I only want to protect you–,"

"Protect yourself, please!" She pleaded, her eyes wet with tears. "I'm a broken wolf with no chakra, I'm not worth protecting!"

Turning towards him, her glistening eyes of violet glanced up at his gaze over her. He appeared behind her within the silence of his sands, his eyes solemn and empty. During their three-month relationship, they never had a fight until that moment – and it was horrible for both of them. Pleading internally for a compromise, Gaara knew that he was in the wrong had his poor grasp on social cues warn him earlier. Keeping secrets was a recurring theme in their relationship – and it was his unfortunate doing. Comfortingly, he held her in his arms, patting the strands of gold hair that fell over her. Silently, she wept into his chest, grasping to the burgundy fabric of his shirt. Resting his chin upon her head, he closed his eyes in held shame as he felt her shiver through him. He seen her cry a lot over the last few days and he desperately wished she would stop.

It would only be a matter of time before he wept, too.

"I told you before… I'll always protect you, I promise…" He assured, quietly. "I'm sorry… I should know better than to keep secrets from you by now…"

Wiping her eyes, she rested her head against him as her sobs failed to return. "I shouldn't be keeping secrets from you either,"

Startling him, she stepped out of his arms, her cheeks tearstained and eyes glistening with guilt. He felt his heart grow heavy in his chest from her expression. Her eyes spoke to him before she could even utter a word.

It happened.

"No," He began, shocked. "You don't mean–,"

Looking down at the floor, she nodded. "I've been summoned. I am to scout for Tenbu tomorrow at dawn."

He stepped closer, his eyes pleading. "You can't, you're their target–,"

"I'm a shinobi." She said flatly. "I made my oath, I take my orders… I'm following through with my mission. That's the oath I made when I became a shinobi of Suna. I don't exactly have a choice. Besides..." Starting for the bedroom, she paused and touched the wooden curve of the doorway with her fingers. "...they're after me, anyways. I have to stop them myself... or die putting up a fight to save this village and those I love."

Watching her silently, Gaara felt the sorrow swell up into his throat once more. She had no powers, she had no sensory skills – she would be risking her very life on that mission. Her wolf's blood would be the very cause of her death – and fate was waiting for her. The thought overcoming him, he turned away.

Turning back to him, she tried her best to give a gentle smile. "I'm turning in for the night… I leave for the Land of Claws at dawn."

"Don't do this…" He pressed, seeing past the smile on her lips. "Stay."

"I have no choice," She reminded him, her gaze saddening – defeated. "…Goodnight, Kazekage-sama."

Vanishing into the shadows of the corridor, she disappeared from his sight. Wanting so badly to follow her, his insomnia gnawed and tugged at his mind in torment. He decided that he would join her later – insomnia or not. As she slept that night with broken thoughts, he held her close – awake and unnerved…

Notes: In Shinto beliefs, the wolves (called ōkami, 狼) were spirits believed to be the messengers of the kami.