Chapter 14: Preparations

"I think you found your ace in the hole Kira. Well, besides your Shadow Shift anyway," Kankuro commented as he eyed the two pair of eyes – one set gold and one green - that were imbedded into the stone figures. "It's a little funny really… the form they took." He smirked as Kira gave him a small scowl.

Ryouko and Rue stood in front of him, both carved from the stone and dirt beneath their feet to form the very creature that her ANBU mask represented. Though they were a tad on the large side for sand coyotes, the moss spotted across their bodies matched the markings of the desert canine too closely to be anything else.

It was funny, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

"Yeah, well, apparently that's the form they'll always take from now on," she muttered slightly begrudgingly, her hand straying to the mask on her hip. Something she had been wearing during their travels but would continue to stay where it was once arriving at the gathering sight in the Hidden Cloud.

"The only changes will be the elements that make up our bodies," Ryouko spoke, her jaw opening to show razor sharp flint for teeth. Their eyes were nothing but holes, the light of their spirit color shinning out of them like a lantern. "The jutsu may be called stone familiars, but we can be made up of anything from the earth, even wood or plant life."

Kankuro nodded his head, rather unaffected by their eerie presence and design. Kira could only guess they'd both seen enough that nothing really came as a surprise anymore. "I wonder, could you slip from your bodies and keep them intact? Then make another one?"

Both spirits tilted their heads in a rather dog like manner that could have made Kira laugh if she hadn't been as interested as they were by her friend's words. "For what reason?"

"Well," the puppet master scratched his head. "A lot of earth styles are for holding people, trapping them, because stone and earth and wood are strong. A lot of predator type summon animals will be used for subduing their pray, tackling them to the ground, latching onto a body part with teeth. If they could do that and then leave the bodies…"

Kira felt the reasoning click as he spoke. "It would be like a holding cell."

"Yes, much like my Black Ant is, just not very portable."

Both spirits looked to each other and then to Kira and back again, silently communicating. "We have never tried it," Ryouko spoke, her sister bobbing her head, a mostly moss and dirt tail wagging.

"Don't see why it wouldn't work," the younger spirit chimed in and might have been grinning if such a thing were possible in such a form. Kira could see the possibility, all the ideas that her friend had given her to work with.

"We don't really have time to test it now, we should get back," she muttered, looking up at the dark sky, the moon a half circle among glittering stars.

They were in a rocky canyon like area, a good day of travel still ahead of them. Gaara was waiting for them back at camp and they had left him a little under an hour ago to fetch wood for the fire. Said wood was piled at her feet now, and Kankuro let out a grumbling agreement.

The spirits shook out their coats of stone, dust coming off of them as they did.

"We'll disperse for now then," the elder said and Kira nodded her head. Rue howled slightly, both their colors flashing before their eyes went dark and their bodies crumbling to the ground. It moments they were nothing but piles of dirt and stone. Kankuro let out a low whistle.

"Quite a trick you have now," he remarked, bending and picking up his share of wood. Kira did the same.

"Thanks for the help," Kira replied, "I've been so busy…"

"Yeah, I bet, and it's no problems. Come on, let's get back."

Kira smiled and followed him as he made his way back into the small out cropping of trees and brush. It was no forest, but in such a rocky area it was all they would get for cover since they'd found no caves. They walked in silence, as was normal when out on a mission, not wanting to attract any unwanted company. With war so close and most of the enemy unknown, it was unwise to be alone for long.

She saw the glow of the fire first - yellow, orange and red twisting and dancing, their tendrils reaching for the sky above - and then saw the campsite as they neared. Gaara was sitting silently on a smooth flat topped rock, one knee bent as he stared out over the land with an unblinking gaze.

When they stepped into the ring of light made by the flames he turned his gaze to them and Kira smiled, dropping her wood to the ground. Kankuro followed suite and then crouched, throwing a few pieces onto the fire and stoking it with a long stick.

"We didn't see anything out there, I think we're clear for the night," he muttered, plopping down on his already spread bedroll. Kira rolled her eyes and bent down to look through her small travel bag and pulled out a comb.

"I laid down some traps just incase," she added and pulled her hair out of it's tail, shaking out her side braids. Kankurō yawned, pulling off his hood and stuffing it under his bag that he planned to use as a pillow like he had the night before.

"Let's try to get some rest. We all know that once we get there, it won't be easy." The puppet master glanced to his brother and Gaara gave a nod, which was all the boy needed as he burrowed into his sleeping roll.

Kira muttered a goodnight to her friend as she combed out her raven hair and moved over to Gaara and sat down on the ground, her back against the rock he sat on. They sat in a calm silence for a while; the only sound was the repetitive sifting noise of the comb moving through her hair and the pop and crack of the fire. Her hair was starting to get rather long, much longer then she normally kept it, as it nearly reached the bottom of her ribs now when it was down. She swept the mass of fine strands over her left shoulder and set the comb down frowning into the fire. Her mother had always been the one to cut her hair, and Kira was rather sure if she tried she'd end up looking like she'd gotten trapped in something and had ripped her head loose.

It seemed to take no time at all for Kankurō to slip into dreams, his quiet, off tune snore alerting her and she sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "I don't see how he can sleep with everything that's going on," she muttered, frowning. She'd hardly slept since they'd left the village, too keyed up to do much more then rest and wake to every sound made.

"You're worried," Gaara replied just as softly, both of them wanting to not wake his bother. She glanced at him over her shoulder. Sometimes she wondered if he was waiting for her to disagree with his statements, but so far he had always been right.

Kira bit her lip, her fingers still in her hair. "Don't I have a right to be?" Everyone was nervous; no one in her age range had fought in a war. Kira had seen battle, yes, but not to this degree. She found her chest seizing up every time she thought too long on it. Her shoulders felt heavy with dread that came from too many worries to count.

"It's more then that," Gaara fished and Kira felt the twitch of a smile on her face.

"You're rather talkative," she prodded back and didn't have to even look at him to know he'd given her an all too patient but knowing look. Sometimes she wondered on how he could possibly be younger then she was. She looked at the fire again, her hand slipping from her hair to move to her belt to pull her ANBU mask free. "You're right though."

"You brought it with you, even though you won't be able to wear it?" Gaara questioned and she leaned her head on the rock, saw his dangling leg in her side vision. Kira stared at the mask, the odd dog like face snarling back at her. The surface was battered, scratches and scuffs roughening it, the carved and painted sign of Suna stamped on the forehead.

"It's…. You'll think I'm weird," she expressed with a frown. Though, if she thought about it, maybe he already did.

"You know I won't," he reminded her like she knew he would. It still made her feel better to hear it though. She chewed her lip for a moment her thumb rubbing at the mask's edge.

"I should hate this thing, for everything it reminds me of, and the reasoning behind me owning it." Esley and Gaara's father had said it was perfect for her. A desert coyote, a scavenger that has no home and takes the scraps left over by wolves. "But I don't because, I guess it's always been my shield, sort of." She glanced up to him and saw a flicker of confusion on his face as he waited for her to continue. "I've never gone on a mission without it, never fought a battle without wearing it."

For Kira, it was how she'd bee able to separate herself from what went on in ANBU ops. There was Kira, and there was Koyote, the shadow jumping ANBU. She wasn't quiet sure why that made her feel better, to take off the mask and there for take off the blood on her hands. Kira knew it was still there, in all regards it made no sense.

Kira was so lost in thought, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Her mask slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground as she looked up again. Gaara was leaning forward now, his arm stretched out as he tentatively touched her. She glanced at his hand, remembering that touch from when he had sat with her when her mother had died.

He didn't say anything at her explanation, but she could see from the expression on his face that he understood. It wasn't the first time either of them had heard of an odd way to cope with what their job entailed. Reaching up she looked back at the fire as she laid her hand over his.

"You know…Honestly this entire thing, it scares me," she whispered, as if speaking the words too loud would hurt her, as if it were as shameful as her old master had told her. "It seems like every time I leave someone I care about behind, I come back to find something bad has happened to them." Gaara had been kidnapped, killed, and revived; her mother had passed away. She felt his hand squeeze her shoulder slightly, the fingers curling under hers, as if to tell her it was all right. "Aren't you scared?"

When he didn't answer she looked up at him and saw he was staring at the fire much like she had been. His face was carefully blank, as if her question had flipped a switch. It took her less then a full minute for her to understand why. Her question, while normally simple, wasn't something Gaara could truly answer her. Because, as a leader, to openly admit to being scared, even nervous, could cause his people to waver.

Kira looked back down, her thumb rubbing the back of his hand much like she had with her mask. She had hoped that maybe because they were friends and they were alone that he might answer her, but the fact was that she was also one of his Shinobi. After a moment she pulled her hand away and he did the same.

"You should try to sleep," she said finally, "once we get there I doubt either of use will feel at ease enough to get any good rest." It wasn't like he could say he didn't know how, Kira had solved that over a month ago. It was true he didn't do it often, only really when she demanded it. It was strange, having to tell him to sleep.

"Will you?" Gaara asked after a moment, not even really fighting her on it. He must have seen the reasoning in it. Kira moved her hands back to her hair, methodically weaving it into a low braid for the night. As her hands moved she thought about that. She was tired, but realistically one of them should stay up, given that they were out in the middle of nowhere. She had a feeling he'd protest if she said no though, saying that he was use to not sleeping.

"… Will you set your sand up?" she asked softly, and heard the gentle hiss as it floated out of his gourd. She smiled at the ground, knowing that his sand would act as a trap for any that walked upon it, locking them in place where they stood. Between that and her own set traps, Kira had no reason to not nod her head in answer to his question.

She used her hair tie to finish off her braid as Gaara moved off of the rock and undid his gourd, setting it on the ground near him as he stood next to her. Kira tilted her head giving him a silent smile and gestured to their sleep rolls a few feet apart and near the fire like Kankurō's. The redhead looked a bit bewildered and she laughed slightly.

It was still oddly funny to her that sleeping seemed worrisome to him, but Kira knew it helped. An hour later, after quiet humming, the crackle of the fire keeping beat, both teens laid asleep side by side with peaceful smiles lingering on their faces.

…

The fortress was enormous. Foundation built into rock, the highest of its points capped with low clouds. In its shadow stood rows upon rows of barracks, stocked and ready for the troops that would come in less than a week. For now, only the fortress housed people, those that had been called ahead for final planning and arrangements; the Kage, their advisors, the leaders of each regiment, and key players in the war.

Gaara hadn't bothered with the traditional robes since this wasn't some formal meeting like the summit – a gathering that had been nothing but mind games and the careful testing of each other's strength – as he walked down the hall towards the meeting room. On the outside, Gaara had put on his calm mask, constructed to hide the fact that his heart hammered in his chest and that his mind flew at the same speed.

He hadn't answered Kira's question that night about fear or uneasiness; he couldn't have. That didn't mean he didn't feel them though, as he was sure everyone did, even the veterans. Slightly behind him and flanking him were his brother and his bodyguard, both in gear like him, with weapons strapped on. It was a show of might, of readiness and unfailing strength, something they both needed to prove as members of the advanced unit.

From the corner of his eye he saw Kira's hand twitch, flexing for a mask that had been left in her room. She was worried just like he was, though you'd have to know her to be able to tell. She was cunning though, and that worrisome fidgeting would focus once the task was at hand. Kankurō looked as at ease as he always was with these situations. His brother had always adapted well, digesting information and getting a feel for a situation quickly and without fret.

Gaara had made the right choices, that was the one thing he was sure of as they walked through the threshold into the gapping meeting room that most certainly would have echoed if it had been bare walled. A large round table stood in the center, several already seated, while many others stood around in small two or three people groups.

The Raikage stood with his two right hand men, along with a younger ninja that Gaara recognized as the hidden Cloud's member Gaara had picked out for the advanced squad. The Mizukage was fretting over the young Seventh Swordsman from before, a few of her other subordinates standing off to the side looked at the scene their leader was making. Gaara's only really trusted ally, the Hokage, was already sitting down, her chin on her raised hand. Seeing Tsunade was a relief, as it had seemed she might not make it for a long while. Her would be replacement Kakashi – also one of the battalion leaders – stood near her off to the side, his nose in a book. It appeared Gaara and his company weren't the last to arrive, as the Suchikage was nowhere to be found.

The young ruler made his way towards the table, his brother and friend both following behind him. When they were almost to the table, a voice stopped his bodyguard instantly.

"Kira?" The voice belonged to a male Leaf shinobi Gaara wasn't sure he'd ever really met. He seemed vaguely familiar, but no name came to mind. Kira on the other hand seemed to know him and took a few steps away to meet the pale skinned boy half way.

"Sai, it's good to see you." She smiled slightly, her carefully hidden worries making it harder for her to focus on pleasantries. Gaara wished there was a way to reassure her that things would be all right, but to do so would be a lie, and he knew that wouldn't help in the end. It never did.

"I'm surprised to see you here," Sai remarked and Gaara saw how he looked her over in a passive way, eyeing her weapons and gear.

"Could say the same of you," Kira muttered eyes flashing to the ground and gluing themselves there. Gaara watched as she reached up and pulled at a piece of her hair.

"Lord Kazekage," the blond leader's voice drew Gaara's attention and he turned his attention again before finishing his journey to the table and taking a seat next to her. Kankurō placed himself behind his chair, back to them as he watched his friend speak with the Leaf boy.

"It is good to see you're well," Gaara said, nodding to Tsunade. The older women gave a crooked smirk.

"Takes a lot to kill some one like me," she grunted, "have to be durable to lead."

Gaara couldn't agree more with that. "And have trusted allies." He muttered off hand. The Hokage tilted her head and Kakashi, who had been silent, gave a nod of his head in agreement. Gaara had read his file, so it came as to no surprise that the Copy Ninja would believe such a thing.

"Speaking of," Tsunade said off hand, eyes sliding behind him. "Unless your sister dyed her hair black, you have someone else in your circle now."

Gaara didn't have to look behind him to know that she was speaking of Kira who was more then likely still talking with Sai. He supposed he should have known that people would realize the difference.

"Kira is part of the advanced squad, so she had to be here. Temari is going to be helping lead our main troops to the Cloud," he explained simply. "She is also a trusted friend to both myself and Kankurō."

"She's the one I spoke to you of, the one that escorted relief supplies," Kakashi informed her and Gaara blinked, remembering that Kira had reported to the silver haired shinobi when she'd arrived in the village.

Tsunade hummed, a hand under her chin. "I see," she mused nodding her head. "Quite interesting."

Something about the way she said that worried Gaara greatly, and not in the normal way.

Any further conversation was cut short, as the Suchikage finally appeared, his two guards on either side of him while a few others trailed in further behind. The oldest of the Kage didn't apologize for his tardiness, nor did anyone comment on it, but upon his entry it seemed to send a silent cue. Everyone in the room made their way to the table, Kage and advisors taking seats, while others took their places behind their leaders. Kira joined Kankurō at Gaara's back, and he looked back for a moment and saw her staring ahead, her arms behind her back in a formal stance.

Mifune, the leader of the samurai division spoke first, acting as, once again, a mediator between the leaders. "We call to order the first meeting of the pre-war council. In less then a weeks, we will be at war." Heavy words, for an equally heavy truth. Gaara folded his hands in front of him, elbows on the table, waiting.

As was expected most of this meeting would simply be an introduction, showing trust by introducing the key players that would be commanding the troops, as well as other advanced units. Tsunade brought forward her key strategist, the father of the Nara boy – Shikaku – that Temari wrote to often. The Leaf and the Mist brought to light their main players for the communication line they would be using, and the Rikiage informed them of his assistant's transportation justu.

Gaara knew that the Raikage did this to flaunt his power and show his might. Gaara didn't really find that to be a very good tact, even if they were on the same side. He didn't approve of most of his father's secrets, but Gaara wasn't going to share anything more of his men then he had to. The included the people standing behind him.

"Our next line of business is the Surprise Attack Division. Lord Gaara and myself picked the ninja selected because of certain abilities." Shikaku spoke, his face half hidden behind a sheet of paper. Gaara gave a small nod, remembering the conversations he'd had with the older Nara through the communication screen. The man was more cunning than anyone Gaara had ever known. "This will be a chance for the nine of you to get acquainted over the next week. When I call your name please come to the side. Hoheto of the Hyūga of the Hidden Leaf, Ittan of the Hidden Stone…"

One by one Gaara listened to names being called out, each ninja doing as they were told and moving to the left of the room. Many of the ninja were either Jonin or Chunin, chosen not for their rank, but for their skills, a medical ninja from the Hidden Rain being one example, along with an earth user from the Hidden Stone that was known for his traps.

"Sai of the Hidden Leaf."

Gaara heard Kira shift suddenly, surprised when the boy she'd been speaking to earlier went and joined the others. Two more ninja were called up before Shinkaku turned the page over. "Kira Asasni of the Hidden Sand. And leading the team will be Kankurō, also of the sand."

Gaara felt them leave before they entered his vision, both calmly making their way over to the group. From the slight widening on Sai's eyes, Gaara could only assume they had both been surprised by the other's inclusion in the division. A few of the others eyed the raven haired girl, but Kira seemed to pay them no mind, not at all fazed with being placed on a team of eight men. He wondered if that was how she truly felt, or if she was just hiding behind protocol that demanded calm, collected actions.

Gaara turned his attention to the rest of the group. Kankurō spoke quietly with one of the ninjas to his left while Kira gave a bewildered look to the boy next to her, who was at the moment offering her a lolly pop just like the one in his mouth. Kira seemed to hesitate for a moment, eyes looking everywhere but his face, before reaching out and taking it. She gave the boy a small smile and then looked around, connecting with Gaara's gaze for a moment before giving a small nod.

Gaara recalled the conversation from two nights ago when she'd spoken of the mask she couldn't wear. He wondered how hard it would be for her, to fight and show that determination she'd had the first time he had met her. He could only hope one day she'd be able to cross the last hurtle in her way, the last remainder of what her training had done, and be who his family knew her as. This war would test her, just as it was bound to test him and every other person involved.

The only question left was, were they ready for it?