Xin's eyes snapped open the minute her face hit the ground. Tears gathered at her eyes as the stinging settled in but she didn't have time to adjust. A hand dipped into her hair, fingers tightening in the locks to pull her to her knees. She gritted her teeth, inhaling sharply as pain bloomed from her scalp. Masaru stared down at her, a satisfied grin tugging at his lips. Whoever had her hair in a vice-like grip managed to tighten their hold, causing the tears to gush down her cheeks. "I told you that you would regret it, miko."
Xin immediately scowled up at him. "Fuck off," her lip pulled back into a vicious scowl.
The swift slap was enough to wipe the scowl from her face. "Now, miko, try to behave, yes? We can't have you mouthing off to Rasa, can we? It's in poor taste!" Masaru carried on as if he hadn't just viciously slapped the living daylights out of her.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're really annoying?"
Xin blacked out after the punch to the side of her head.
It wasn't long before she woke up again, thrown over someone's shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She scowled, vaguely feeling the hand rubbing a bit too intimately at her thigh. "I'm glad you're awake again, miko," Masaru spoke without bothering to look at her, somehow knowing that she was awake. "Now, remember as I said before, no mouthing off. Rasa isn't as forgiving and will have you killed immediately, understand?" he rambled on casually. Xin didn't react to his words, opting to keep quiet for the time being. Instead she hung limply, wondering how on Earth she was supposed to get out of this particular mess. If she was being taken to Rasa, that meant she was in Suna.
Christ and all twelve, she was in the Demon Realm.
A coldness settled over Xin as realization sunk in. She wasn't even in her realm anymore. This wasn't like those family trips to America or Egypt. She was literally in an entirely different realm surrounded by a different race. What's worse is that no one even knew she'd been spirited away to Suna in the first place.
Fuck, she was going to die here.
Her thoughts were halted when Masaru dramatically threw open heavy doors, sweeping sand everywhere. She couldn't see anything, as she was still slung over the shoulder, but she heard the room quiet down as Masaru paraded her in like some trophy kill. She hoped he would hurry things along, the shoulder digging into her stomach was becoming uncomfortable.
She was dragged from the shoulder and set on unsteady feet, hands tightly held behind her back. She was practically surrounded by a court of severe looking demons but one demon stood out in particular. She could only assume the demon glaring down at her like she was filth was none other than Rasa. She could see the similarities Gaara shared with Rasa, especially that evil ass look on his face.
Masaru leaned towards Xin. "Kneel, human."
Xin glanced at Masaru, eyebrows raised. "To General Zod?" she asked, knowing the comic book nod would be lost on a bunch of demons. "I think I'll pass."
The demon behind her growled and kicked at her legs, forcing her to her knees. "What did I tell you?" Masaru hissed down at her, eyes darting between her and Rasa. Xin didn't say anything, too busy agonizing over the pain blooming from her knees. "Do you want to die?"
"That's a dumbass question since you motherfuckers are going to kill me regardless!" Xin snapped back, hair flying wildly as she turned to glare at Masaru. She was fed up with him in particular, wishing she had a bat to swing at his head. A hand suddenly reached towards her, grabbing at her face. Masaru and Xin's bickering ceased the moment her face was wrenched upwards at an angle.
Rasa stared down at her, glare now gone. His expression was blank as he pulled her face into different directions, quietly studying her features. "This...is the girl that has my son's attention?" he asked after a long pause. "You've cast some sort of spell over him."
"Newsflash, Genius," Xin openly scowled up at him. "I'm a priestess, not a witch. I don't cast spells."
She probably deserved that backhanded slap.
Xin didn't immediately pick herself up off the floor, opting to quietly lay there and wonder where she'd went wrong. Her face was throbbing hotly and felt wet but she didn't move. Maybe if she laid still, they'd think she was dead and just leave her there. No such luck but a girl could hope. She was hauled back up, revealing the gushing wound across her cheek. Rasa tutted at the sight. "Humans," he shook his head. "Such weak creatures. I don't understand the fascination my son has with you but you understand that it will stop. I've given him enough free reign but playtime is over. You will end whatever hold you have on him."
She was a bit dazed from his slap. "Maybe if you ask me nicely."
She definitely deserved that next punch to the head.
Gaara wasn't sure how Naruto knew to get to the roof but he was the only reason he hadn't strangled Matsuri to death. "Come on, man!" Naruto raged, hauling him away from the demoness. "What the hell is going on?!"
"What did you do?!" Gaara demanded.
"I had to do it!" Matsuri shouted, holding her throat. A bruise was already forming. "You were becoming weak to her, all you did was follow her around and keep her out of danger! What about Suna? What about me?"
Naruto planted his feet and wrapped his arm around Gaara's torso. He grunted as Gaara fought to get out of his hold. "Oi, oi! Would you take it easy?! There's no need for this to get violent!" he snapped over the couple's yelling. Any minute now Xin would join them, threatening to hit them with her bat if they didn't stop all their yelling. She never came and that worried him. Matsuri and Gaara stopped shouting at the same time, Gaara glaring threateningly over Naruto's shoulder. "Finally! Now someone explain what the fuck is going on."
"Gaara, just listen for once!" Matsuri said before Gaara could threaten her. "She's no good for you, I tried to make you see and understand it before it was too late but you refused. I didn't have a choice."
"What's too late?" Naruto frowned, realizing that he didn't know much. "What's going on?"
"Xin is gone," Gaara spat, mean eyes never swaying from Matsuri.
"Gone? The fuck do you mean she's gone?" Naruto's own eyes began to narrow dangerously. "Gone where?"
Matsuri shifted uneasily. "She was weakening him and Rasa isn't happy about it. She's been taken to Suna to be dealt with accordingly."
They both stared at her, the air thickening with tension. "Accordingly?" Naruto repeated with a squawk. "Rasa is going to deal with her accordingly? Are you insane?! She'll be killed, you jealous harpy!"
He wasn't sure how they knew but Neji, Tenten, Suigetsu and Karin chose that exact moment to join them. Maybe it was all the violent energy that attracted them but they didn't seem happy at all. Tenten stepped forward from the group, glancing in between the three of them. "Where's Xin?" she asked curiously. They knew Hinata was busy with her morning classes but that didn't explain the empty apartment below them.
Naruto and Gaara glanced at one another, knowing things were going to get even messier now that the gang was here. "Suna," Gaara answered simply, not offering anything else.
"Suna?" Karin repeated, shoving by Tenten. "What do you mean she's in Suna?"
"Masaru took her to Suna as per Rasa's orders. She will be dealt with accordingly," Matsuri repeated, eyes slowly meeting Gaara's heated gaze. She'd seen him lose his temper many times before but not once was he ever this angry with her. Karin reached for her, snatching the other demoness up.
"Dealt with?" she hissed, fangs glinting under the morning sun. "Xin isn't under his jurisdiction so I don't see the need for her to be dealt with by him. You know what's about to happen? I'm about to deal with you," she snarled directly into her face. For once he and Karin were on the same page because Gaara was seconds away from strangling Matsuri.
"Guys, we don't have time for this," Tenten said urgently, looking around. "We need to figure out how to get her back and someone needs to go get Hinata. We're all gathered here arguing, Masuyo could attack her at any moment."
Naruto's face paled and he nearly stepped away from Gaara, ready to dart off to retrieve Hinata. Once she was told the news of her sister's kidnapping, who knows how she'll react. A part of him felt like he was responsible for Xin being spirited away. If he'd just been there instead of slacking off, Xin would still be with them. He hated the thought of Hinata being upset.
Neji noticed his look and frowned. "I'll go get Hinata," he turned sharply, not giving Naruto enough time to argue the matter, and stormed away.
"Karin, come on, let her go," Tenten urged quietly, pulling at the redhead's hands. "Attacking her won't bring Xin back. We need to calm down and think of a plan. Let's all go back inside and figure this out.."
One way or another, Tenten managed to get Karin to let go of Matsuri. She eased the angry redhead away, shooting looks over her shoulder at the remaining demons before vanishing back into the building. Suigetsu watched them go, taking a deep breath once they were gone. He turned back towards Naruto, Gaara and Matsuri, realizing just how complicated things had gotten with their presence.
"Well, ya really fucked up this time, yeah?"
Temari quietly watched as Xin's eyes began to twitch under her eyelids. She hadn't been unconscious long but the blonde was still concerned her brain had been rattled around inside her head. She thought the punch to the head was a bit excessive but it certainly wasn't her place to question Rasa. Instead she took the girl away to her room to recuperate, promising Rasa she'd keep an eye on her until she woke up. Xin twitched, groaning as she slowly woke up. Temari leaned over her, patiently waiting as the human gathered her wits. "Well," she said after a long pause of staring at one another. "My brother wasn't kidding when he said you have balls of steel," she commented with an amused smile. "Now tell me, are you really that courageous or are you dumb?"
"Well, it tends to go hand in hand," Xin commented dryly, slowly sitting up. "Does your dad always go around punching people in the head?"
"Honestly? No. It's a wonder you're still even alive after mouthing off like that. People have died for lesser offenses," Temari replied seriously, worried for Xin. It was obvious that this girl would not last long in their realm if left unattended.
"Well, to be fair, I'm really not a witch."
Temari only shook her head, deflating somewhat. "Try to understand, Xin. Reputation is everything and the fact that my brother is being led astray by a human girl is...well…it's almost laughable."
"No, I do get it. I understand what reputations can mean a little too well. Even so, shouldn't Rasa be taking this issue up with Gaara and not me? I already told him that there's no spell."
"He doesn't believe you," Temari replied quickly. "He's known Masuyo for decades, he's going to take her word over yours. She's well-versed in the mystic arts so if she says there's been a spell casting, then who are we to question that?"
"But miko can't cast spells. We heal, protect and purify but casting spells? Why on Earth would I cast a spell on Gaara in the first place?"
"According to Masuyo, for his protection," Temari shrugged a shoulder, realizing they were talking in circles. Xin blew at her hair, clearly fed up with the conversation. "You...you know how to heal?"
"More or less. I'm not an expert and I'm still learning," Xin replied, rubbing at her head. She thought back to all the late nights, toiling away with Hinata in an effort to learn how to control their spirituality. Hinata was better at creating barriers and healing while Xin had more of a knack for attacking.
Temari nodded slowly, like she was thinking hard about something. "I'm going to try to keep you alive but you have to work with me, miko. Keep your mouth shut until I can figure something out, alright?"
"Figure out what?" Xin asked blankly, rubbing at the side of her head. She was positive that if she parted her hair, a bruise had formed from the two punches she'd taken the to the head. It was like Rasa had already known she'd been sucker punched and made sure to target that side of her head. "You obviously can't just rip open a portal and push me through or you'll get into trouble."
Temari nodded, glad that Xin didn't expect much from her. "Unfortunately, I don't have the pull that Gaara does when it comes to Rasa so I can't go against his orders. We'll have to play the waiting game until Gaara comes for you."
The demoness noticed the immediate shift in Xin's posture at the mention of Gaara coming for her. She closed in on herself, a soft frown replacing her once blank expression. "He's probably still too busy with Matsuri to notice I've been snatched."
"Matsuri? Why would he be busy with her?"
"Because they were practically devouring each other when that freak Masaru got a hold of me," Xin replied sourly. She cupped her neck, remembering the bruised pattern of flesh leading down the column of her neck. She should've known that the kisses shared between them weren't genuine. Why on Earth would he actually be interested in her anyway? She was a human and he, a demon. They were as different as day and night. He was probably just getting cabin fever from being stuck with her and acted on impulse. He couldn't possibly have any interest in her. It was just...desperation.
"Was he?" Temari asked with high eyebrows. Last she heard, the relationship her brother shared with Matsuri had definitely soured. And although Gaara said otherwise, she knew Xin was partially the reason. Sure, maybe he wanted to end the relationship with Matsuri but Xin was definitely the push he needed to cut all romantic ties with Matsuri. Gaara harbored feelings for Xin. Maybe it was just because she was his sister but Temari just knew he liked Xin. And if her pouting was anything to go by, those feelings were returned.
This was all very...interesting.
"That...there has to be an explanation for that. I know for a fact that Gaara and Matsuri aren't together anymore."
"You sure? It looked like a whole lot of 'together' was going on before I was smacked into unconsciousness," Xin while avoiding Temari's gaze. She was not jealous, she just spent the last two weeks trying to convince her friends that she didn't like that redheaded nightmare. Just because they had one moment did not mean shit. If he wanted to be with Matsuri, then by all means. However, whether he decided to be with Matsuri or not, he owed it to Xin to get her back. The only reason she was stuck in the Demon Realm was because his father had some bogus idea of her casting some spell over him.
Which was fuckin' ridiculous. She was a miko, dammit, not a witch. Did witches even exist? She wouldn't be surprised, seeing as how folklore was running rampant. Even so, she was having enough trouble wrapping her head around demons, she didn't have time for some Harry Potter bullshit to happen. A line had to be drawn somewhere.
Temari studied the younger woman thoughtfully, taking in her defensive posture. "I'm sure he'll explain himself."
Xin only shrugged, feigning indifference. She didn't have time for Gaara's wishy-washy ways. It was obvious that Temari wasn't going to stick her neck out to save her and she couldn't just wait around for Gaara to finally pull himself from Matsuri. She had to get the hell out and she had to do it soon. She was surrounded by demons, yes, but she was a priestess, damn it. She had the power to purify these motherfuckers. To Hell with what Gaara said about her being a healer, a protector. Regardless, Xin was a fighter in every sense. Physically, emotionally and mentally.
If she was going to die, she wasn't going to wait around for them to kill her.
She was going to get the hell out of here.
Bringing Hinata home early to an apartment full of folklore yet minus one miko was not a good idea. Gaara could've told any one of them that but he chose to remain quiet, angrily glaring at Matsuri. Naruto sat in between them, the only thing stopping him from slapping her. "Neji, would you please slow down? What is this even about? You can't just pull me out of class and not explain anything," Hinata admonished her older cousin, barely missing the group's presence. She stopped short at the sight of everyone, confusion clear on her face. "What...is something going on?"
Her eyes skipped over everyone's faces, squinting at the sight of Matsuri. Alarm bells went off in her head once she realized Xin was the only one absent. Her gaze jumped Xin's bedroom, frowning when Xin didn't come parading out. Several gazes shifted around the room, almost nervously. There was no telling how Hinata would react. While she was usually docile and calm, she tended to get rattled whenever Xin was involved.
Hinata pulled away from Neji to journey towards Gaara. It made sense, when she left only an hour or two ago, Gaara was present with her sister. She stopped at the side of the couch, gripping the arm as she bent at the waist. Her eyes were wide, an eerie look plastered on her face as she studied the demon. "Where's my sister?" It was like the temperature had dropped fifteen degrees. Matsuri, partially hidden behind Naruto, leaned away. Luckily for her, Hinata's gaze didn't stray from Gaara nor did it falter.
Gaara, to his credit, didn't falter despite feeling completely uncomfortable. There weren't many people who could do that but Hinata was a special woman. The Hyuga sisters were protective of one another and if the roles were reversed, Xin would be the same way. "Matsuri and Masaru conspired to kidnap and deliver your sister to my father."
Hinata's head cocked to the side, glowing eyes falling on Matsuri. "You...you allowed my sister to be kidnapped? You planned it and had her taken to his father?" she asked in an eerily calm voice. Matsuri met her stare, frowning tightly, but nodded stiffly.
What happened next was almost hard to describe but it felt like something suddenly...popped from Hinata. Waves of pure energy that was searing hot came off her rolls, threatening to drown them all. Gaara, Naruto and Matsuri instantly tried to scramble away, skin peeling back and leaving rivulets of blood running down their faces. Karin and Suigetsu suffered the same fate, lurching away clumsily. Tenten and Neji were mostly unaffected, instead breaking out into a heavy sweat. "Hin...Hinata…" Tenten stumbled towards the miko. "Stop...stop! You have to stop, you're going to kill them!"
Hinata turned her head towards the brunette, her face blank. Gradually the energy began to fade away, seeping under skin and into her veins. She turned her gaze back to Matsuri, noticing that her skin was smoking, filling the air with burnt flesh. Neji reached for her, pulling her away from the demons. "Step out into the hallway with me. We'll come back once you've calmed down."
"I am calm," Hinata snapped back frigidly, snatching her hand away. "I don't want to step out into the hallway."
Matsuri wiped at the errant blood trailing down her face, scowling harshly. "Your sister—" she began, baring sharp teeth at the miko.
"Matsuri—" Gaara glared at Matsuri.
"—deserves whatever punishment Rasa decides for her. She's made Gaara weak and so have you. You and your sister, you've both made Naruto and Gaara weak. You're lucky Rasa didn't bother taking you either."
Naruto, Karin and Gaara simultaneously lurched towards Matsuri but Naruto reached her first, having been closer. He slammed into her, sending them both to the floor. They fell on top of the coffee table, the piece of furniture splintering under their combined weight. His hands wrapped around her throat, ignoring her frenzied hits against his body. Jagged black whiskers formed at his cheeks and his blue eyes faded to blood red, his pupils morphing to slits.
He snarled something at her in a language that Hinata couldn't understand. Neji reached for her again, yanking her away from the snarling bodies. For a moment, it seemed like everyone was okay with Naruto choking the life out of her. But Gaara stepped forward, calmly grabbing at his shoulder. "You can't kill her, Naruto. It could spark conflict between Suna and Konoha. Get up," he pulled the blond away slowly, reaching down to pry Matsuri from his grip. He didn't bother helping her back up, looking down at her in distaste. Matsuri coughed and gagged, trying to suck in oxygen. She reached for her bruised throat, turning to her side.
"Oh, get up," Karin rolled her eyes, not the least bit concerned. "You're fine, you jealous idiot."
"Instead of fighting, shouldn't we focus on getting Xin back? Why are we just waiting around like this? Open a portal and let's go," Tenten looked back and forth between Naruto and Gaara.
"We can't do that," Naruto snarled, hands pressed into his face. He took a deep breath, trying his hardest to reign in his anger. "It's exactly what Rasa wants. He wants Gaara to go back to Suna just so he can kill Xin in front of him."
"He'll know of my presence the moment I go back to Suna," Gaara added on to Naruto's explanation. His hands tightened into fists as he looked at Matsuri. Naruto couldn't kill her but he certainly could. He was in a tight spot thanks to Matsuri's jealousy but he couldn't allow Xin's death.
"How do we know he hasn't killed her, regardless?" Neji asked quietly, grip on Hinata tightening. He felt her legs give out and allowed her to lean against him.
"Because Rasa is a sadistic asshole. If he thinks Xin is making Gaara weak, he'll want to make an example out of her. It'll make him stronger and remind him that he can't care for someone like her."
"Do you?" Karin asked briskly, taking a step towards the taller redhead. "Do you actually care for her?"
Gaara met her gaze head on, "I care for Xin."
"Enough to go against Rasa?" she pressed.
"Enough to go against Rasa," Gaara confirmed without a second thought. Matsuri inhaled sharply, eyes going wide as she studied him.
"You…" she croaked painfully. "You would betray your father for her? For a human?"
"Rasa betrayed me first."
He turned from her, signaling the end of their conversation. He was through with Matsuri for the time being. "He'll sense my presence immediately so we'll open a portal to Konoha first. It'll take us three days and two nights and we'll mask our energy so he won't sense us coming."
Naruto nodded, having the same plan in his head. Hinata looked at them both. "I'm going with you," she spoke up, knowing they wouldn't like that statement. A chorus of rejection mixed together almost immediately.
"Hinata, be reasonable," Suigetsu tried to say soothingly, rubbing at her back. "The last thing we need is for ya to get snatched as well. Our realm is dangerous and you're like a walkin' buffet."
Hinata whirled around, smacking Suigetsu's hand away. "How is it any different here? It's still dangerous here. Besides, what if she's hurt when you find her? You can't heal her but I can."
"Can you?" Karin asked pointedly, immediately regretting it.
"Seeing as how she just melted our shit off, I wouldn't question what she can and can't do," Naruto swiftly came to Hinata's defense, eyes narrowed at his cousin. The last thing they needed was Karin's self-righteous bullshit at the moment. She took the hint for once, backing off. "Listen, Hinata," Naruto looked at the smaller woman, using her actual name. "It's too dangerous and there's too much at stake. You're not going."
Hinata's eyes narrowed slightly but she said nothing. She was going, whether they liked it or not.
Xin was unceremoniously dragged from Temari's room what felt like an hour or so later. She didn't fight them as they dragged her back to Rasa, pulling a face when she was forced to her knees once more. She didn't understand the point of kneeling to him. "You said you would inform us when she woke up," Rasa spoke casually to Temari. The blonde shifted uncomfortably for a second before her eyes hardened.
"She was still quite delirious so I was giving her time to focus."
Temari was a talented liar, Xin would give her that. That woman had a straight ass face and didn't even blink when Rasa continued to stare her down. He slowly turned back to Xin, eyes roving over her as if impressed with her. Xin returned the stare, arms wrenched behind her back once more. "Are you ready to cooperate, miko?"
"I've been cooperating," Xin replied steadily. "I told you that I'm not a witch. I'm a priestess and I haven't casted any spell on Gaara. Masuyo lied to you."
"What reason would Masuyo lie?"
Xin shrugged a shoulder, feigning disinterest. "I'unno, the woman's batshit," she retorted in a blank tone. She expected the slap but that didn't mean it didn't hurt any less. At least it wasn't strong enough to knock her onto her face, she wasn't sure if she had the energy to get back up at the moment.
"Mind your tongue," Masaru hissed down at her, eyes glinting as Xin slowly turned her head back towards him. She huffed, blowing messy strands of hair out of her face. Her cheek was beginning to swell, turning an angry scarlet that stood out against her pale skin. She could see the gleeful satisfaction in his eyes, fully entertained by her mistreatment.
If she ever got the chance, she was going to purify the living shit out of him.
"Why should I take your word over Masuyo's words?" Rasa questioned, not the least bit deterred by her being slapped around. "I have known her for years, before you were even a thought, young miko. Do you expect me to believe you over her?"
"So you should know firsthand that that women is a fruit loop," Xin retorted, jerking backwards at the last second when Masaru raised his hand to strike her again. "Would you stop that?!" she snapped irritably. "You're gonna knock my brain cells out my damn head at this rate!"
Temari turned her head, stifling the chuckle bubbling from her throat. Rasa glanced at her, not the least bit amused, but said nothing. Xin shot Masaru one last evil look before looking back at Rasa. "You should take my word over hers because I'm the miko, not her. I know what miko are capable of and what we're not capable of. We don't cast spells."
"Then explain my son's obsession in protecting you."
Xin's mouth pinched and her face heated up. But then she slumped in on herself, like she'd done earlier. "I don't know why Gaara does the things that he does. There's nothing binding him to me, Gaara could've left at any time. He chose not to."
Rasa continued to stare down at her, face a blank slate. It was hard to tell what he was thinking at that exact moment. "Relieve me of her presence," he finally said after a long moment, flicking a casual hand to ward her away. Xin wasn't sure if that meant she was going to die for sure but she didn't struggle once she was hefted to her feet. Rasa and Temari watched Masaru lead the human out, both quietly thinking. Temari wasn't sure what was taking Gaara so goddamn long but she had to buy him time. She had to keep Xin alive long enough for him to come snatch her big mouthed ass back.
"It's interesting that she can heal, don't you think?" she asked in a light tone. Rasa glanced at her but said nothing. "Perhaps...she might pay a visit to mother?"
The look Rasa sent his daughter was absolutely scathing but Temari stood her ground, holding his glare with an air of nonchalance. "I assume you're joking, Temari. If you actually think that I'll let that heathen near your mother then I must laugh. I thought you were more wise than this?"
Temari didn't react to the jab, knowing better. The only one who could really talk circles around her and get her flustered was her own mother. "I am," she replied plainly. "Which is why I made the suggestion. She's been sick for years and it's only getting worse. Our medics offer temporary relief but can never fully heal her. The miko can."
"You don't know that for sure," Rasa shot back. "She's not a guest here, Temari, she can't be trusted to heal your mother. She might take revenge and purify her instead."
"Then perhaps she should be treated as a guest?"
"You mean to tell me that you believe her?"
"If Gaara was under some spell to protect her, wouldn't he be here by now?" Temari answered his question with a question. She was always good at this sort of thing, twisting conversations to her liken. "I'm beginning to think that perhaps Masuyo hasn't been truthful, father. Perhaps we should find her and find out more?"
But Rasa had no reply for his daughter.
This was clearly his fault.
Gaar rubbed harshly at his face, taking a deep breath. Suigetsu was completely right when he pointed out that they really fucked things up. From the moment Xin hit him with her car, it was a domino effect leading up to this very point. He should've left her alone after that encounter. He shouldn't have come snooping around trying to figure out what was in her veins. He shouldn't have allowed Naruto to meet her and her sister. He should've squashed the growing attraction and he should've gone back to Suna. He should've done a lot of things that would have avoided Xin's kidnapping. But he hadn't and Xin was gone. She was gone and it was his fault. He was foolish enough to let Matsuri trick him into leaving Xin on her own. It was a known fact among them all that Xin could easily wander into danger. That girl was spacey enough to wander to her death.
"I want to go back to Suna," Matsuri announced indignantly. Gaara barely threw a glance her way. He wanted her to go back just as bad but knew that was out of the question. She'd run right to Rasa and rat them out. Therefore, she had to stay put.
Hinata's eyes narrowed at the opposing demoness. Hinata's temper wasn't as short as her sister's temper but she found herself losing any tolerance for the demoness. Wordlessly, she held up her hand towards Matsuri. A light purple bubble suddenly flickered into view, forming around Matsuri. "You aren't going anywhere," Hinata uttered in a sort of tone that left no room for argument. Karin, who'd been standing pretty close to Matsuri, shifted away. Clearly she'd been completely wrong in assuming that Hinata and Xin weren't taking their miko heritage serious. Perhaps Xin had a fighting chance in Suna if she was on par with Hinata.
"You can't hold me here," Matsuri scowled at the priestess but avoided coming into contact with the dome formed around her.
Naruto scratched at his chin. "I think she can, Matsuri. If you want to try to break out, be my guest," he snorted, almost wishing that the brunette would make an attempt and get herself purified. He was completely through with her, angry that her jealousy would be Xin's undoing.
Tenten, the peacemaker that she was, spoke up. "I'll take Matsuri to my parents and keep her there. Mom will be able to form a similar barrier around her. You two need to formulate a plan to get Xin back."
"And you will get her back," Neji snapped meaningfully. "You owe it to her."
"I know that," Gaara replied with just enough bite. He wanted them to leave already, he didn't need them to constantly remind him that it was his fault that she was gone. He knew that well enough without them throwing it into his face every two seconds. It wasn't like he was basking in this bullshit. He was as upset as the rest of them, maybe even more so. "I'm going to get Xin back and Matsuri and Masaru will pay for this."
Matsuri noticeably paled but said nothing as Hinata's barrier flickered out. Before she could open a portal and escape, Karin and Suigetsu seized her, boxing her in between them. "Hinata, how about you come with us?" Neji offered, wanting her away from the demonic duo.
The stubbornness that Xin was so famous for must have rubbed off on Hinata. Or maybe she was always just as stubborn but no one seemed to realize it. Either way, she shook her head. "I'm fine here. I want to hear their plan," she said simply, taking a seat on the couch.
"Hinata," Neji offered her a serious look, clearly unaware of how stubborn she could be. "You're not going with them," he said with an air of finality. Something in the air crackled around them all as Hinata held his stare. Several seconds passed, Hinata's energy bearing harshly upon them. Then finally, the air cleared. There was defiance in her eyes and the tight set to her jaw seemed like she was going to argue.
Instead she replied very simply with, "Keep an eye on Matsuri."
The group left after that, Matsuri shooting errant glances at Gaara. He didn't return her looks, ready to be rid of her presence for the time being. Naruto leaned over the couch, clapping Hinata on the shoulder. "That was pretty badass, Moonpie. I thought you were going to melt our shit off."
Hinata's icy disposition faltered and cracked and she let out a breathless laugh. "I didn't mean to hurt either of you. I was just so angry and I lost my temper," she tried to amend peacefully, hoping they wouldn't hold it against her.
Naruto grinned at the miko, not the least bit offended. "It's understandable, don't fret over it. It was pretty impressive and you shut Karin up. Not many of us can do that."
Hinata nodded slowly, feeling almost empty without Xin's presence. She kept thinking she'd come waltzing out of her room, complaining about all the shouting. But she never did and Hinata could just feel her heart breaking. There was no guarantee that Xin was still even alive anymore. She knew that Naruto and Gaara insisted that Rasa wouldn't kill her outright but Xin was freakishly antagonistic when she was agitated. Hell, she probably cursed Rasa out already! Even if she wasn't dead yet, she was most likely hurt in some way. Hinata had to go with them.
"We'll have to mask our energy as soon as we near the borders," Gaara was saying, mind racing with planning. Hinata only glanced at him, frowning softly. "Hinata," he turned his attention towards her. "It's probably wise that you catch up with everyone else. Who knows if Masuyo is just waiting for us to leave you on your own…" he trailed off, hoping she wouldn't argue.. She didn't make a verbal reply, opting to hum in thought to show that she heard him. He mistook it as her being upset with him, which she was right for. "Hinata," he uttered quietly, eliciting her attention. "I'm going to get her back."
A somber smile pulled at her lips as she reached over to pat his hand. "I know you will," she stated confidently.
Gaara was a little shocked at her sincerity but said nothing more, standing up. "You ready to go, Uzumaki?" he asked, turning away from the little miko. Naruto came bounding around the couch, leaning down to swamp Hinata in a big hug.
"Listen, Moonpie, don't worry about a thing. We're gonna get your big mouthed sister back. We'll be back before you know it," Naruto said into her hair, squeezing her reassuringly. Hinata chuckled against his shoulder, patting at his back.
If the two had bothered to pay closer attention, they would have seen the blatant scheming in her eyes. Instead they turned away, Gaara waving his hand in a circle. A portal gradually grew from his coaxing, psychedelic colors swirling together and threatening to scramble Hinata's brain around in her head.
They exchanged goodbyes with the miko, promising to bring her sister back to her. She stood back with a soft smile, nodding along to their words. They both carefully stepped into the portal, vanishing back to their realm. She studied the ridges of the portal, watching as it began to close in on itself. Before it got too small, Hinata dashed forward, throwing herself through the portal after the two demons.
The portal snapped shut soundly.
All things considered, Xin wasn't having a horrible time. Sure, this wasn't the ideal situation and her face was leaking blood like a broken faucet and there's a big ass bruise taking up the side of her head but she's still alive. Rasa was clearly a lunatic and Temari constantly spoke in rhymes and riddles like some backstreet fortune teller but fuck all, she's alive still.
To her surprise, she was mostly left alone. She knew that this was a game to toy with Gaara but she at least expected to be tortured. Maybe Rasa believed her when she insisted that there wasn't any spells going on, that she truly was innocent. She was confined to a room with a simple cot in it, nothing special about it. The door wasn't even locked. But when she opened said unlocked door and peeked out, she was dismayed to see a freakishly hulk looking motherfucker standing opposite of her room. There's a deep hunger in his eyes as he leered at her and it made her wish that the door actually locked. Devouring miko serves as a power-boost. She could already tell that the demon ordered to keep her to her room was entertaining the thought of killing and eating her.
Great.
She wasn't the least bit surprised when the door opened and the Hulk incarnate somehow managed to fit his big ass body in her closet-space of a room. She was sitting on the bed as he eased the door shut behind him. They held a staring contest as Xin climbed off of the bed, putting it in between them. "Priestess," He grinned savagely.
He tossed the bed to the side with no issue, breaking it into two when it hit the wall. "That was unnecessary," Xin blurted out, glancing at the pile of broken furniture. The last thing she should be doing is reprimanding the Hulk but she couldn't help it. He lept towards her, hands missing her as she dodged to the left. She's closer to the door now, eyes darting to it. If she could just make it out...
No such luck.
He caught her by the locks of her hair and for a second, she wondered if maybe she should cut it shorter. He slammed her back against the wall, rattling her brain once more. She struggled against him, working against the nausea that was building in her stomach from having her head slammed into the wall. Her hands were skittering against him, nails digging into his skin to no avail. Off. Get off, get off, get off.
"I'll devour you," his face was buried in her neck, voice rasping against the bruised skin. She wasn't exactly sure in what sense he meant but she was panicking. Her clothes were torn, shredded and sliced in their scuffle, revealing the skin underneath. He inhaled her scent obsessively, turning her clothes to rags. Xin shook under his hands, realizing that her hands were essentially free. She could save herself, if she willed it. She didn't have to wait for anyone to come—no one was coming in the first place. She was a miko, for fuck's sake, and she could save herself.
Her palm smacked against his face, glowing eerily as she curled her fingers into his flesh. She shoved him backwards as the scent blood and burning flesh filled the air. The demon went down hard, screeching like a banshee, but Xin held on, willing her power to seep from the tips of her nails and into his flesh.
Somebody was shouting over the demon's screams but Xin ignored them, willing the motherfucker to just die already. She was stopped, of course, before she could commit such an atrocity by a slap to the face. "Masaru," Temari scowled at him, reaching forward to help Xin up. "Stop hitting her."
"She's a prisoner and she's nearly killed him."
"Within reason, I'm sure. He was instructed to stop her from leaving. Somehow I doubt that's what happened."
"...eat me," Xin mumbled incoherently. "He was going to eat me," she managed to piece together once the room stopped spinning. Her shirt fell to her lap, revealing the bright pattern leading down her neck. Masaru studied it, scowling softly.
"Weakling," Temari scowled at the demon, who was missing half his face. "Masaru, take him to the medics and have him looked at. Or not, I don't care, but remove him from my sight."
With Masaru and the Hulk gone, Temari was free to gently gather Xin up in her arms. She's freakishly small, Temari noted, not the type her brother usually went for. It almost felt like she'd come apart in her arms at any second. How Gaara could feel so strongly for such a weak woman was beyond her. "I'll get you some change of clothes," Temari announced, stepping into a steamy room. "You're safe here so take off the rags and get into the water."
She felt a little bad with leaving Xin on her own. It was obvious that she was a bit dazed but she managed to shake it away long enough to start undressing. Temari left her alone in what looked like to be a giant hot spring. The water was extremely clear, showing her reflection perfectly. She cringed at the state of her bruised and bloodstained face. Her hair was a wild nest and the streak of purple bruises down her throat added to her wild look.
How anyone in their right state of mind found her attractive was beyond her.
Wordlessly she slid into the water, inhaling and then exhaling deeply as the hot water soothed her aching body. She wasn't sure what they put into the water but it smelled freakishly healthy and clean. Temari came back with a bundle of clothes, muttering to herself. "I hope this fits," She rolled her eyes as Xin worked the kinks out of her hair. "Now come out and get dressed. I can't have you out and about for too long without Rasa taking notice."
Bummed that she had to leave already, Xin climbed out, receiving the bundle of clothing. She frowned down at it, unfolding it with a confused look. "Temari...these aren't clothes...this is...I don't know, scraps of fabric."
"We don't have a lot of women with your body shape," Temari stated plainly. "Your hips are far too wide, you have a small torso but a surprisingly large bust and you have short legs. That was the best I could find."
Xin gaped at her, clearly offended. "I...my...I do not have short legs!" she cried indignantly, glancing self-consciously at her legs.
"You have short legs," Temari confirmed in that same dry tone. "You're short, miko."
Xin huffed and turned sharply from the taller demoness, yanking the clothes on in a jerky fashion. Her outfit really did seem like scraps of fabrics but it helped her fit in a bit better. The fabrics were different tones of red, surprising her because red wasn't really her color. She was far too pale for the it. The skirt was long, with slits trailing up to nearly the low waistline. She made a noise in her throat at how low the skirt sat on her hips. The top was even worse. She wasn't sure how it was even considered a top. It literally looked like someone cut a piece of fabric and handed it over. It was...a bandeau bra, that was the closest thing she could compare it to. It snapped around her bust, securing her breasts tightly.
"...I feel cheap," Xin whined, turning back to Temari. "I feel like how Princess Leia felt when that fat motherfucker Jabba the Hutt put her in that slave outfit."
Temari stared back at her, eyebrows raised. "I...I don't know what any of that meant but you don't look cheap at all," she reassured the human, a saucy smirk curving her lips. "I think it will please Gaara when he finally gets here," she pointed out coyly. Xin reacted the same way she did the last time Temari mentioned Gaara. She didn't know why the blonde insisted that Gaara was going to get her out of this mess. He was too damn busy with Matsuri. It had only been a couple of hours since she'd been abducted, he was probably still under the impression that she was sleeping. That fuckin' jerk. "I know my brother better than you do, miko. I've known him far longer so believe me when I say he will come and take you back."
Xin didn't immediately reply, following behind Temari like a lost puppy. "Why are you helping me?" she asked after a long stretch of silence. She realized about halfway back that she was barefoot and wondered if Temari intended on that. It would complete the ridiculous 'slave girl' look she had going on.
Temari tossed her a glance over her shoulder, a thoughtful look on her face. "Because….because you're just a human."
Xin grunted, forced to her knees once more. She was cursing Temari to Hell and back for putting her in the ridiculous slave outfit. Now she looked like some sexed up miko turned slave in front of a bunch of drooling demons.
"I was informed of a...scuffle taking place, miko," Rasa began to speak and everyone else fell silent.
"A scuffle?" Xin repeated tonelessly.
"A scuffle," Rasa nodded, ignoring her blank expression. "Between you and Kenta. It took place only an hour or so ago."
"So the rapist has a name?"
Her ears were ringing with that particular slap. "Mind your tongue," Masaru shoved harshly at her shoulder.
"Fine—cannibal—whatever," Xin snapped, completely fed up with being slapped by Masaru. "Why are you even hitting me? He was trying to eat me! Or rape me, I don't know. Probably both. Why am I being slapped?"
"Because you deserve it."
The look on Xin's face, unblinking and dark, was threatening despite her being surrounded by more powerful beings. "You're next."
Rasa hummed, almost impressed with the look on her face. He could admit, however, that the state of Kenta's face both disgusted and impressed him. Xin was a small being and pathetically human but had power hidden under her skin that was clearly dangerous to their kind. Her gaze slowly fell back to Rasa. The ruthless look bled back into submission as she quietly studied him. "I didn't do anything wrong, I defended myself. It's not my fault he's a weak idiot," she spat, remembering that those who sought power-boosts were generally looked down upon. Rasa only nodded. If Kenta hoped to gain power by cutting corners, he deserved having half of his face singed off. He should be glad she hadn't purified him entirely. He'd been ordered to keep her from escaping but was not to touch her otherwise. He went against orders and would suffer for it.
Rasa's dark eyes trailed down Xin's neck, noting the splatter of splotchy marks leading towards her chest. They were different from the other bruises coloring her pale skin, more intimate and deliberate. The bruises also weren't as vibrant and fresh as the others, meaning they'd already been there when she arrived. "You claim, miko, that there is no spell to speak of yet my son insists upon your presence," Rasa began, ignoring the slump of Xin's shoulders and the exaggerated eye roll. He kept asking the same question and would get the same answer. She wasn't going to suddenly switch it up. "What relation has formed between the two of you?"
Maybe if she paid more attention to Temari's scheming, she would have realized that maybe there was a specific reason she'd been given the clothes. In all the excitement, Xin had forgotten about the patches of bruises decorating the column of her neck. Xin remained oblivious to what he was getting at, shrugging her slumped shoulders. "I...he….we're friends," she decided after a long moment. "I can't say for sure what Gaara really thinks of me or considers me as but I just know that in my eyes, we're friends," she confessed truthfully. She really didn't know what Gaara labeled her as. He confirmed that they weren't strangers or enemies but he never said anything about being friends.
And just because they shared a few heated kisses didn't mean they were anything more than friends. Especially since Matsuri somehow managed to find her way into his arms the very next morning. Maybe there was a reason why he didn't consider them enemies or strangers.
Maybe...maybe she meant nothing to him.
"The marks on your neck," Rasa didn't bother to beat around the bush. At the reminder, Xin's face flushed heavily. Temari nearly grinned at the aspect but managed to hide it well. Rasa tilted his head to the side, eyebrows raised almost condescendly, "Who put them there?"
Xin felt like if she told the truth, it would spell even more trouble for her. But if she was caught in a lie, who knows how Rasa would react? He obviously didn't care that she'd been slapped, punched, body slammed into the wall and nearly eaten. She was pretty sure they only let her get away with attacking Kenta because trying to gain power by eating her was disgraceful. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She was damned if she lied and she was damned if she told the truth. She literally was stuck, coming up short with any plans that could potentially buy her some time and save her from getting the living daylights slapped out of her.
Something to her left stirred before stepping from a crowd of demons. Xin glanced towards the disturbance, surprised to see Jura. He didn't acknowledge her presence, throwing her off. "Forgive my intrusion, Rasa-sama, but Karura-san is awake and is requesting to see both you and Temari-san."
Xin watched in interest as Rasa's blank gaze seemingly light up. She vaguely recalled Naruto mentioning some odd sickness that plagued the reclusive Karura. Rasa looked back at Xin, as if he'd forgotten she was kneeling in the sand in front of him. Why was there sand everywhere, anyway? Did these people not understand the concept of a broom? Just because they settled in the desert didn't mean they had to let the sand inside. The sand chafed at her knees, leaving them bloody. She tried hard not to shift around uncomfortably, ignoring the stinging blooming from her knees.
"Very well. We'll continue this later. Remove the miko," Rasa waved her away, condemning her to Masaru. The demon yanked her to her feet, a death grip on her bicep. He forced her to walk, ignoring the blood leaking down her legs from her knees. Jura still hadn't turned in her direction as she was led out. Masaru didn't say anything as he manhandled Xin back to her shoebox of a room. She barely felt the grip on her, mind reeling at the appearance of Jura. He hadn't acknowledged her, not even once. Had that been done on purpose? Was he keeping their friendship a secret from Rasa? Or maybe he went back on his word and renounced their friendship?
Xin didn't even take heed of Masaru, a gasp leaving her as she was slammed against the wall for a second time. She paled as Masaru boxed her in, trapping her underneath him. She pressed the back of her head into the wall, trying to put some space in between them. Masaru curved down over her, burying his face in her neck. Xin was freaked the fuck out. "He's made his choice, miko," Masaru's voice grated uncomfortably against her skin. She figured he might've been talking about Rasa and the decision to kill her. "He doesn't want you, he chose Matsuri."
Oh.
"Swear yourself to me and you won't die by Rasa's hand," he continued into her neck, ignoring her uncomfortable shift around him. Sure, he promised Rasa wouldn't kill her but that didn't mean Masaru himself wouldn't kill her either. "Swear yourself to me, miko."
Xin wasn't sure why Masaru thought she would easily swear herself to him since he insisted on slapping the shit out of her at any opportunity. That wasn't a good marketing strategy and she wondered if he'd hit her again if she pointed it out. It seemed like Masaru would hit her for blinking wrong at this point. Masaru wedged a leg in between hers, sliding closer and pressing his hips to hers. Xin's face contorted in disgust, shakily raising her hands to press against his chest. He pulled back to look down at her. "I think I'll take my chances," she bit out through clenched teeth. "Get off of me."
His lips pulled back into a vicious smile. "You think you can survive without my aid, miko? You can't. Look around you, you've lost and Gaara isn't coming to save you. The only way you'll avoid death is by aligning and giving yourself to me."
Xin squinted up at him, jaw set tightly and stubbornly. "I haven't lost shit," she snapped at him, steeling her nerves. "I can and will survive this, Gaara be damned. You think I need saving? Kenta's face says otherwise."
Masaru leaned closer to her, face inches away from her. "You'll submit to me. I'll make sure of that. Gaara can't have everything, not all of the time."
She had no idea what the hell he was getting at but it wasn't for her to understand. She didn't understand the shadow Gaara casted over Masaru all of their lives. This was bigger than her and she could only serve as a pawn in the desperate game he was waging against Gaara. He had everything. He had power, influence and a woman who would willingly bow and submit to him. And he wanted to throw all of that away for...for this human girl.
This stubborn, disrespectful midget of a girl.
She didn't understand their world, didn't quite grasp the culture and politics of their world. She didn't get their customs, traditions and rules. She didn't realize how much power radiated from Gaara and what was expected of him. She was ignorant to it all and Gaara would fleetingly abandon it all for her. Everything Masaru ever wanted...he would abandon it for Xin.
It wasn't fair. He was going to ruin her, shatter and destroy her. He was going to break her into a million sharp pieces and shatter those pieces in the desert. He was going to strip her down, unwravel her layers to reveal the soft bits of her.
And then he would kill her.
Xin shoved at his chest, hands glowing brightly. A pained hiss left him as he stumbled back, breaking out into a sweat. He glared down at her, his skin where she touched boiling and sizzling. She didn't move any further, back still pressed against the wall and hands still outstretched. She was, after all, just a human girl. She didn't have it in here to actually kill someone, did she?
It would eventually serve as her downfall, Masaru decided.
"You rest, miko," Masaru uttered stiffly, trying to ignore the stinging pain left behind by her purity. "We'll have more to discuss later. You'll need your energy."
He left with a curt turn, slamming the door behind him. Xin watched the door for several minutes, ready for him to come barreling back in and catching her off guard. When he didn't do that, she slowly slid down the wall, sitting in a heap. Her mind was racing with whirling thoughts. She wasn't exactly sure what Masaru was playing at. She didn't really know what he wanted from her. He kept smacking the shit out of her only to insist that she submit to him. And what the fuck was up with him and his obsession for Gaara? Why did he keep throwing it in her face that Gaara wasn't coming for her?
Xin reached up, running her fingers through her hair. There was too much happening, too many questions and accusations flung at her face. She couldn't hope to keep up. The only silver lining was that she was safe from Masuyo for the time being. And that wasn't saying much because she traded one psychopath for another.
Xin sat against the wall for a long time, simply thinking. This was all too much for her. A headache was beginning to push at the edge of her brain. To help her calm down and focus, she summoned a tiny bubble of spiritual energy. She rolled the bubble between her fingers, expanding and squishing it to different sizes.
She did this for hours, taking her mind off her boatload of mishaps and fuckups. She was so engrossed that she almost missed the door easing open. Gaara's lectures about her spacey ways smacked her upside the head, reminding her that she needed to be more alert in the demon world. Xin was expecting Temari but was ecstatic to see that it was Jura instead. "Jura," she sighed with a slump of her shoulders, the ball of purity vanishing back into her fingers. The small human clambered to her feet, throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh, thank God," she almost sobbed into his skin. Having Temari was nice but Jura was her friend. She knew him better and felt comfortable with him.
"You," Jura pulled back to grin down at her. "have a worrisome knack for getting into trouble. How the hell did you end up here, of all places?"
"I was dragged here because apparently I've casted a spell on Gaara."
"You...can you do that? I don't know a lot about miko but I didn't know them to be spellcasters. Have you studied under Tenten?"
"Hell if I know. I've been telling Rasa that I can't cast spells like that but that fucker won't listen."
"Xin, please try to remember that that man can and will kill you and you speak too much out of turn. It's a wonder you're still alive now," Jura reminded her, brow wrinkling in concern. She was still clinging to him, laying most of her weight against him. He didn't seem to mind, arms wrapped tightly around her thin waist.
"He did punch me in the head."
"Rasa punched you in the head?"
"Yeah, I think there's a bruise."
"Pray to whatever God you believe in for guidance and protection. You'll need it."
Xin let out a laugh and finally began to unfurl her arms from him. She fell back to the flats of her feet, smiling up at him. Jura peered down at her, smiling somberly. "Who needs a God when I have you?"
It was Jura's turn to laugh but it sounded hollow and bitter to Xin's ear. His head dropped down, forehead clunking against hers. "Don't be cruel, Xin," he whispered softly, a forlorn look in his eyes. Xin blushed heavily, guiltily averting her gaze. She eased out of his embrace, taking a step back. He got a good look at her, eyes nearly falling out of his head. "The hell are you wearing?"
"This was all Temari could find," she whined immediately. "My clothes were in rags thanks to that big motherfucker Kenta," she replied, folding her arms across her chest. It only made matters worse, causing her cleavage to bulge almost comically. "He tried to eat me."
Jura's forehead wrinkled in concern, eyes struggling not to dip any lower than her chin. "Kenta…" he uttered the word in distaste. He shook his head, warding the thoughts about Kenta away. "Does….is Gaara aware of your staying here? I'm not sure he'd agree with your treatment," Jura reached forward, hand nearly brushing the wound on her cheek. It was no longer bleeding but it was angry, blooming brightly against her skin.
"He has to know by now that something's up. I've been here since...the afternoon?"
"It's late in the night."
Disappointment hung over her at the revelation. So she'd been gone all day and Gaara hadn't made a sound. If he hadn't realized she was gone, someone else had to have noticed. Her sister, Naruto, Anko. Someone had to have realized that Hyug Xin seemingly fell off the face of the Earth. Her heart sank at the thought. Jura felt his own heart sink at the expression on her face. Someone like Xin, someone so full of life, should never look so sad. She looked exhausted and her bruised and red face wasn't helping any. He reached for her face again, hand cupping her bruised cheek gently. Her eyes slid shut and she leaned into his touch, sighing softly.
"I…" Jura stuttered, entranced by her. "I'm sure that Gaara has noticed and there's a reason it's taking him so long," he finally said, a nasty bitter feeling churning in his stomach. He warned her. He warned her not to get involved with Gaara, that he was a dangerous individual. But she hadn't listened. She'd done the complete opposite and dove headfirst into a life that she was unfamiliar with.
"He isn't coming," Xin decided after a long moment of silence. Her voice startled Jura from his thoughts, hand dropping away from her face. "Masaru only managed to clobber me over the head because I was upset. I was upset because I saw Matsuri shoving her tongue down his throat and he..he let her! He kissed her back!"
"...that doesn't sound right."
"I'm not blind, Jura. They were kissing and...and...they're probably still kissing, who knows?"
Jura shifted, shaking his head. Something wasn't right. Gaara had grown fiercely protective over Xin the last couple of months. It didn't sound right that he would abandon her so fleetingly to be with Matsuri. Last time he checked, Gaara had ended their romantic relationship anyway. So him kissing Matsuri while Xin was dragged off to Suna sounded fishy as fuck. If she had just listened to him...if she hadn't developed feelings for Gaara, she wouldn't be in this mess. Why couldn't she have just fallen for him instead? He didn't have all the expectations that Gaara had, he didn't have the brutal reputation to uphold. He could've whisked her away and no one would care.
Maybe…
Jura's hands tightened into fists. He couldn't take her from Gaara. If she couldn't be his wholeheartedly, then she couldn't be his at all. Besides, he couldn't do that to Gaara. They were friends and it was painfully obvious that Gaara had every intention of making Xin his. But now with all this Matsuri nonsense thrown in, things were getting wonky.
"So, you like Gaara then," he pointed out casually, stopping her mid-rant.
"I do not like that greedy son of a bitch. He can choke on Matsuri's tongue, for all I care."
"Sounds like you like him, otherwise you wouldn't be so upset about him and Matsuri," Jura pointed out almost smugly. "Which, by the way, makes no sense. He ended his relationship with Matsuri. In fact, I think you're the biggest reason why he ended it."
Xin had the nerve to blush. "Temari insisted that they aren't together too but I know what I saw. And..and besides, he would've been here by now, right? It's been hours. I…" she came to a hard pause, face scrunching up in misery. "I don't think he's coming," she confessed in a tiny whisper.
"Xin, you know that's not true. Gaara cares far too much for you," Jura insisted despite the bitter feeling stewing under his skin. "I...I'll go to your realm and see what's going on. Something isn't right and we'll get to the bottom of this," he reassured her firmly. The miserable face she'd been making eased up just a bit, allowing her to smile gently at him. "I have to go now before someone notices I've been here too long. Just please, for the love of your God, keep your mouth shut. Gaara is gonna have a fit when he sees your face…"
The larger demon gathered the miko up in a hug, mindful of the pattern of bruises marring her skin. "I'll try," Xin laughed against his skin, allowing him to hold onto her far longer than necessary. He left her quickly, leaving her alone again.
Something began brewing in her head.
Naruto and Gaara were aware of their tag along before the portal even spat them out in Konoha. Naruto turned and caught the body that stumbled out of the portal, frowning tightly. "Hinata!" he cried as she clutched onto him, her head spinning from her trip through the portal. She felt like her eyeballs were going to fall out of her head. "We told you to stay put!" Naruto shouted in alarm, panicking that he now had a dazed miko in the Demon Realm. Gaara stood back, not the least bit surprised. Hinata was a gentle soul but she was still a Hyuga. It seemed they all had notoriously stubborn natures. If the roles had been reversed, Xin would have stubbornly bullied her way into going with them. He had to give it to Hinata, she was clever.
"I said I was coming," Hinata asserted firmly once the world stopped spinning around her. "She's my sister and she could be hurt. You can't expect me to sit around."
"That's exactly what I expected you to do," Naruto growled down at her, clearly agitated. Hinata blinked at the demon, surprised at the hostility but didn't back down.
"Well, then, you expected wrong," Hinata said back, the tight set of her jaw resembling Xin. She channeled her sister as best as she could, squaring her thin shoulders. She didn't care if he was upset or not, she was standing her ground on this. "She's my sister, she needs me just as much as she needs you and Gaara."
Naruto held her stare but she didn't back down. Gaara let out a loud sigh, growing impatient. "We don't have time to argue like this. Knowing your sister, she's probably already cursed someone out."
Naruto turned sharply, not breaking his hold on Hinata. "You're okay with this?" he waved his hands in Hinata's direction.
"I'm not okay with it but it's clear she isn't going to listen to us."
"How are we supposed to travel from Konoha to Suna, two heavily populated villages, with a miko?" Naruto pointed out. He had yet to let her go, something that was not lost on Gaara.
The redhead shrugged, apathetic to it all. "We'll stop at Kushina's and ask her for clothes. No one is going to approach her if we're around her," Gaara planned easily, feeling antsy. He turned his gaze down towards Hinata. "Listen to me when I say this, Hinata. This is not a game. If we tell you to do something, do it. No arguments, no sneakiness, none of that."
Hinata nodded along to his words, knowing they had no time for mistakes. They couldn't get to Xin if they were busy trying to save her from being devoured. "God, you and your sister are enough to gray my hair," Naruto muttered sullenly, finally letting her go.
"You shouldn't take the Lord's name in vain. I'm sure that it's sacrilegious," Hinata quipped as they turned to the bustling village known as Konoha. Naruto and Gaara boxed her in between the two of them, advising her quietly to keep her head down. She could only catch small glimpses but Konoha seemed to be an odd mix of feudal Japan and modern Japan. They had technology but still dressed in robes and kimono. They looked mostly human but possessed features straight out of storybook. It's overwhelming to witness and Hinata was grateful for the two demons trapping her between them. They came across a house that looked like it could belong in the Human Realm. It was similar to her grandparents' house up in the countryside, causing a wave of nostalgia to settle over her.
She missed Xin.
They led her inside, relaxing the minute the door slid shut behind them. Clearly, whoever this Kushina woman was could be trusted. If Gaara and Naruto were so keen on trusting this woman with Hinata, then she would as well. A small woman with ridiculously long red hair greeted them in the living room, a large grin taking over her face. "Well, finally remembered that I am still alive and decided to visit?" she crowed playfully, opening her arms up to Naruto. He swamped her in his arms, much like he did to Hinata, holding the woman close.
Hinata hung back with Gaara, hands folded tightly in front of her. Gaara plainly regarded her, arms folded leisurely across his chest. He noticed the stiff set of her shoulders as she quietly watched Naruto and the redheaded woman. "Hinata," he leaned down towards her, deciding he'd had enough of her stiffness. "Kushina is his mother."
A shade of red that resembled the color of Gaara's hair painted Hinata's face, causing a short laugh to ripple from Gaara's throat. "Oh..of course," she mumbled, embarrassed that she was actually feeling jealous. "She's very beautiful."
Gaara agreed easily, "very."
"—a miko?" Kushina blinked rapidly, peering around her son's large form. "Oh, I've never met a miko before. Isn't she cute?" she spoke rapid fire, stepping away from Naruto to get a better look at Hinata. "Oh, hello Gaara. Move for a second so I can see the pretty miko," Kushina waved Gaara away from Hinata, smiling at Hinata. Hinata was caught off guard when Kushina reached for her, cupping and cradling her face in her hands. "Oh, she's not just cute, she's beautiful," Kushina breathed sincerely. "What on Earth are you doing in our realm, miko? It's dangerous for a pure soul like yours."
The human didn't immediately reply, still a bit confused about Kushina's touch. "My sister...she was tricked and taken to Suna. I came to get her back."
Confusion settled in and Naruto stepped in, peeling Hinata away from his mother. He explained everything then, from Xin and Gaara's bizarre meeting to the events that led straight up to her kidnapping. It was a lot to take in, they realized about halfway through the story, but Kushina patiently listened to them. "Same old Rasa," Kushina decided after the story was finished. "I'll never understand why he trusted that black mystic in the first place. She's always been shady as hell. Minato and Karura never liked her, within good reason," she shook her head, hands placed on her hips. "It's commendable that you defied these two for your sister," Kushina grinned and waved at Gaara and Naruto. "They're scary, aren't they?"
"Not to me," Hinata supplied softly, smiling at her feet. Kushina blinked at her and then looked at Gaara. He only shook his head, pointing to Naruto instead. Kushina's red brows shot up her forehead, turning to give her son a smug look.
Flustered, Naruto quickly changed the subject. "Listen, mom, we need clothes for Hinata to hide her scent. She's too short for Ino to lend her anything and too...uh...developed for Sakura," he trailed off, avoiding having to look at Hinata. Gaara snickered loudly, allowing his friend to throw a punch to his arm.
"Oh, I'd be glad to play dress up," Kushina clapped her hands together good naturedly. "Come, Hinata, let's see what we can find."
Hinata was dragged off before she could protest, leaving Gaara and Naruto alone. Naruto collapsed against the chaise-lounge, groaning loudly. "Man, how'd we get stuck with miko twins this trouble-prone?"
Gaara shrugged a shoulder, settling down as well. "It's probably karma for all the bad shit we've done," he replied with a snort. "At least yours listens to you."
"She jumped through a portal after we told her to stay put."
"Xin would have hit us."
Naruto paused, thinking of that statement before agreeing. "And she would've screamed in our ears until they bled," he laughed dryly. "I really hope she's still alive, man. I just know she's mouthing off to someone."
"Let's hope it's to someone idiotic, like my brother," Gaara grunted, uncomfortable with the thought of Xin not being alive. He constantly thought about killing her in the beginning of their relationship but now the thought made him sick.
"I can't believe Matsuri tricked you like that. I didn't think she was that desperate," Naruto continued on, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wish Hinata would have purified her…"
"Once we get Xin back, I'll let her hit her. I think that would be more satisfying."
Before they could say anything else, Kushina returned with a blushing Hinata. She was dressed in a kimono-like blouse that was held closed with a black obi and a simple pair of black tights. Her scent, which was usually almost overwhelming, was buried under the combined layers of Kushina and Naruto. "Now you're all set to break into Suna," Kushina sung despite the less than favourable situation.
Naruto heaved himself to his feet, grinning in a way that completely resembled Kushina's grin. "You look great, Hinata. We'll worry less with you smelling like me and mom," he pointed out, standing over her. Hinata found herself smiling up at him in return, blushing even harder when Kushina playfully elbowed her in the ribs.
"Here, take this as well," Kushina held up a neatly folded cloak. "I'm sure you've never been under Suna's sun. It's unrelenting and you'll burn, Hinata. We don't want that, do we?" Kushina hummed while giving the cloak to the miko. The redhead then turned to Gaara, still smiling. "And you," she pressed a finger to his chest. "make sure to get this Xin back. I'd like to meet her, she sounds fun."
"Of course, Kushina," Gaara nodded along to her demand. He was thankful that Kushina wasn't laying the blame at his feet for Xin's kidnapping, even though it was entirely his fault. It was just nice that Kushina just wanted to meet Xin.
"Great, I can't wait to meet her. Now, as much as I would love for you three to stick around, Xin is in danger the longer she stays with Rasa," Kushina reminded them, her smile dropping in favor of a frown. "I'm sure something like this wouldn't have happened if Karura was in better health. Send her my regards, would you?"
Gaara easily agreed with the redhead before the trio wished her a goodbye. Naruto threw the cloak around Hinata and pulled her hood on over her face, completely disguising her. They left the house, traveling to the outskirts of Konoha. Naruto explained that he'd have to carry Hinata during their travels. She was a confused as to why he insisted on carrying her but relented, remembering that she promised to do as they said.
So she climbed on his back, making sure her hood was secured over her head. Once they were certain that Naruto had a good grip on her and that she wouldn't fall off, they took off. Gaara and Naruto ran at top speed, Hinata nearly felt like they were flying. Leaves, twigs and other debris of the forest were kicked up in their wake, disturbing the once peaceful place. They darted by other demons, some traveling at a more leisurely pace than others but they ran into no obstacles. They took breaks every so often, allowing Hinata to gather herself and stretch her legs. But they didn't break for too long, all three of them eager to reach Suna. The day bled into night, they stopped to camp only to get right back up as soon as the sun was up. They repeated the process for the next two days, finding themselves at the gates of Suna in no time.
The demonic gatekeepers didn't question why Gaara hadn't used a portal or even who their tag along was. They, like the other villagers of Suna, had learned to mind their business when it came to Rasa's youngest son. Even if he was with the grinning son of Minato, they knew not to test the redhead demon. They disguised their energy as planned, succeeding when Rasa didn't send Temari or Kankuro to hurry him along home. Instead, they made a detour towards the end of the village. "Hinata, you'll stay with an old friend, she can be trusted," Gaara explained as they eased through the bustling roads of Suna.
Hinata pushed back her hood just a bit, revealing her confused face. "I don't want to stay with an old friend," she said sharply. "What if Xin is hurt?"
"We're not taking you straight to Rasa," Gaara argued tensely. "If Xin is hurt, we'll bring her to you."
Her eyes were beginning to glow. "Gaara—"
"Hinata," Naruto intercepted the upcoming argue. "You said you wouldn't argue. Don't argue. We're halfway there to getting her back. There's no way we'll be able to hide you away from Rasa and break in to get Xin back."
Hinata let out a huff of frustration but let her hood face back into place, shielding her eyes as the glow dimmed down. "Fine. But be quick, it's been three days!"
They nodded along to her words, quickening their pace towards whoever this trusted friend was. The friend turned out to be another woman, a much older demoness with gray hair and a faceful of wrinkles. Despite her age, she had a youthful smile and mischievous glint in her eyes and accepted Hinata easily into her home. Naruto assured her and Chiyo, the elder demoness, that they would be back before sundown. Hinata wasn't at all happy about the circumstances but relented, sending them off with a stern order to bring her sister back as soon as possible.
As they neared the large residence that his family inhabited, Naruto and Gaara felt a familiar energy surging towards them. Temari appeared with a wide-eyed look about her. "I thought that was you two," she muttered while hurriedly approaching them. She always had a weird knack for hunting Gaara down, whether his energy was hidden away or not."Now you show up! What the hell took you so long? That woman is a timebomb!"
"She's alive," Gaara nearly sighed at the end of his sister's rant. He didn't care about anything else, just that Xin was alive. He wouldn't have been able to live with himself if she perished under Rasa's hand. "Where is she? Take us to her."
"I..I can't," Temari admitted almost nervously.
"You can't?" Naruto stepped closer to her, eyes narrowed. "Or you won't?"
"I can't," Temari repeated curtly. "Xin...she...she escaped."
TeeBeMe: somebody stop me cuz' I'm on fire. Another cliffhanger, who do I think I am?