©2007 Ekonika (S.N.R.)
Disclaimer: Kyaa!!! I've got Ideas!!! I can't wait to write this chapter! I don't own Naruto. And Actually, I don't have any ideas. For this chapter, anyway. It'll be spur-of –the-moment! Also, I'm going to add something…. Yep, lemme just pull some switches and press a button, and the very characters themselves will appear, to lend criticism and feedback! whirring noise I saw this idea on some other fanfics, and liked it, so it shall be! clinking then an explosion
Naruto "Yasu! glomp Good to see you! So, I'll be reviewing, then? Alright! So… where's my ramen you said I'd get for doing this?"
Me "Go take this instant ramen and boil some water."
Naruto "But… it says 'instant'."
explosion number two, Gaara appears
Me "Oops, I was trying to get Sakura. Sorry, Gaara!"
Gaara "…"
Naruto "… Well, I'm going to go make some ramen."
Me "Ok then… I'll work on getting Sakura here, go read." .
On second thought… Maybe I won't.
Chapter 15: Sunagakure
Cool water splattered to the ground and an indignant noise sounded as Yasu sat up. Her hand clutched her side in pain as her wound was irritated, but she shook her head to clear off the water.
"What was that for?" She stood shakily and looked around, spotting Gaara with an overturned canteen over her head. She shoved it away and walked over to her belongings, which weren't far from her. She rummaged through them, looking for dinner. When she'd found a bento and was happily munching, she finally sat back and figured out where she was, when it was, and why she'd woken up so disgracefully.
"We are camping, you were sleeping on my sand, and it is dusk. I've carried you here, Temari and Shikamaru returned a little while ago, and they have returned to Konoha. They were unable to capture all of the enemy, although they did catch up to them and did away with two. Another shenobi will arrive in the morning, and you should rest." Gaara spoke quietly and gently, as if he understood Yasu's irritation and sorrow. Yasu sighed and put away half of the lunchbox, not so hungry. She looked up when Gaara sat cross-legged by her, with his knee brushing hers. He didn't look at her, but stared into the distance.
"I know you won't want to rest, but I ask you to, as the friend I wish to be." Yasu stared at the closed lunchbox in her hands, suddenly feeling tired.
"If I go to sleep, then when will you sleep?" She glanced at his face, curious, now that his words had sunk in.
"I'll wake you for second shift." Gaara turned to her and met her gaze. Yasu took a blanket out of her pack and laid it out on the earth; she was unfit to even climb a tree, and had to suppress a groan of pain every time the wound was moved. She gathered some firewood and slowly pulled up some chakra to make a smokeless fire and light the tinder. Once the fire was going well, she warmed her hands and layed on half the blanket, pulling the other half over herself.
How will I travel? I'll only slow them down if I'm this sore by tomorrow… I'll be no good in a battle. "I'm sorry I'm injured, I should have just been paying attention… I'll do my best to travel tomorrow, but… it would be so much easier if I could ride, if Akira was here… I miss him." And Naruto… Yasu drifted off to sleep remembering when she'd ridden Akira with Naruto and they'd leapt up the waterfall.
Gaara looked over Yasu's sleeping body and reached out for her shoulder, softly resting his hand there. He smiled to himself, and it was an odd smile, for Gaara; he felt warm for once. What was it she'd said, if she could ride? A horse, then. He stood and made a sand barrier about her before walking away.
As the sun came up the next day, Yasu opened her eyes. It was dark, though; a large shadow hovered over her, too big to be a person. It lifted a giant hoof, which came crashing down by Yasu's side. She jumped up and away, landing in a crouch and skidding backwards, slowing herself down with one hand, holding her wound with the other. She saw the huge horse, and ten or so others. She spotted Gaara in confusion, which turned to irritation.
"Why… what's … why didn't you wake me for my shift?"
"Choose your horse, they're a wild herd, which I'm sure will be no problem for you."
"That wasn't my question! Why… I'm hired here, and… I'm just not sleeping tomorrow." Yasu stood and folded her arms, knowing she would sleep that night, but not until her watch was over. She turned her attention to the wild herd corralled by Gaara's sand. The huge horse was the lead stallion, a great big boy, and Yasu looked over him. She passed over him, and most of the good-looking horses. Gaara showed no sign of confusion as Yasu passed the swiftest-looking horse with a shake of her head.
She settled on the second to last horse, a grungy-looking dirt-colored horse, who seemed to glare with every look. Yasu saw she'd been sort of an outcast, and moved in to her side quickly, startling her. The horse reared, and Yasu was caught off-guard for a second as her side made itself remembered again. The grungy horse came down from her rear abruptly and sniffed Yasu's side, curious. The other horses were released as Gaara dropped the barrier, and they took off at a run.
Soon, Yasu's belongings were slung over the wild mare's back, and Yasu sat on horseback easily. She'd brushed the wild mare's coat with her hands and it was a cloudy grey-blue color. Gaara walked alongside the horse, and Yasu was leaning forward onto the horse's neck, playing in her mane happily, but still listening for danger.
"Her name is Cloud. That way, when she goes back to the wild, they'll respect her like shade in the summer, and warmth in the winter. She's had a hard time in that herd." Yasu hadn't had a problem teaching the horse just what she wanted, and when she presented Cloud with an apple from Yasu's uneaten Bento, Cloud was willing to do so.
They traveled for an hour before Yasu sensed something coming. Gaara, then loud followed Yasu's example and prepared for anything. Gaara relaxed, and Yasu stayed tense, although she wasn't prepared to fight anymore; Gaara must know who this 'aura' belonged to. Kankuro arrived and stood in the path before Yasu and Gaara. He nodded to Gaara, who simply watched him acknowledgingly. Kankuro walked up to Yasu and dipped his head slightly.
"Well, so you're the good-looking girl, Gaara's escort? I'm Kankuro, and I'll be relieving you of half your duties. I'll also show you around Suna, if you want." He patted Cloud's neck, and when she turned to bite him, he simply appeared on her other side. Cloud backed up and reared, and Yasu slowly brought her down. Gaara suddenly stood between the horse and Kankuro.
"Let's get going."
The day passed without a single need of caution, and as the sun descended from its high point, the grasses grew sparse, and the air became dry. Yasu had to stop and pull water up from the ground, using her water-jutsu to refill her canteen and let Cloud drink. Gaara and Kankuro seemed adapted to the climate, though, and didn't drink. It was rather mild, being the desert season of 'between summer and winter', the short few weeks that this season was.
A large cliff rose before them, and Yasu could see no way through it, but followed Gaara, looking out over the horizon. It was so flat here; she could see until the horizon. Almost like the ocean. As the cliff got closer, Yasu saw a crack in it, barely big enough for a horse to fit through. When they finally came out on the other side, a mass of earth-buildings stretched out before Yasu. She stared around, taking in as much as she could. The whole village was in the shade now, because the sun was far enough down that the cliff's shadow covered everything.
The group headed towards the center of town, where all the streets seemed to lead. Kankuro walked up to Gaara and talked in a low voice to him. Gaara nodded and mumbles something in return. Yasu was only vaguely curious: she was half-asleep, getting some rest now for the watch she would definitely have tonight, whether they were safe or not. Kankuro bowed slightly towards Gaara and departed towards the large circular building ahead.
Gaara sighed as Cloud acted more and more wild. There were few people in the streets, but they seemed to be gathering to watch the small procession.
As soon as Yasu arrived at the circular building, she was swept off the horse by Gaara and set onto a medical stretcher. Cloud was taken in hand by someone who obviously had worked with horses before, and led away, probably back to freedom.
"Yasu, just go get professionally looked after, you'll be free tonight from the hospital, and since the sun's almost set, it'll be no time. In face, I'll take you to dinner if it will help your opinion of me." Gaara placed his hand on Yasu's forehead, and all she could do was glare, once again feeling defenseless and useless.
"Fine." She rolled to her side on the cot, and one of the two guys carrying the cot winced unapprovingly through his mask. It moved smoothly away through the hallways and Yasu kept track of all the twists and turns, still irritated that she was being treated like… well, a Genin. Even though she was one, technically. Hopefully, the Chunin exams would change that. The doctors walked her through a final doorway into a rather quaint-looking room, and removed their masks, closing the door and blinds for privacy. Yasu realized that one doctor was actually a woman.
"Alright, we'll need to see the injury. You were stabbed through, correct? Not the worst, but certainly not good to leave untreated for a day. Professional help is…" She fell silent as she removed the bandages, seeing the nicely healing skin underneath. Yasu smirked triumphantly as it was realized the wounds WERE professionally treated, at least as much as possible without chakra. Still, though, the nurse was unsatisfied.
"You've clearly moved about too much, rest more!" She said, determined to get a scolding word in. Yasu sighed and rolled her eyes as the doctor took a sterile needle out of a dispenser and threaded it with a black dissolving thread. Yasu eyed it warily and winced as it was cleanly poked through her flesh, several times, to sew up the wound, which was already healed enough (in Yasu's opinion) that it didn't need stitches. She groaned, exasperated, as the doctor flipped her over for the entrance wound. By the time she was securely bandaged, Yasu was ready to battle someone again… someone who just threw out a used sewing needle.
"Alright," Yasu grimaced at her voice, not liking the doctor at all, "You may go, but take it easy, I will send for a nurse to accompany you to Gaara's quarters, and he will take you from there; he has asked we treat you as his special guest." Special guest my … Yasu thought irritably. She walked around, feeling a little better despite herself. The nurse arrived, a rather young guy, still older than Yasu, but young for a professional. He led her away, down all the same hallways, only going down a different one when they arrived in the lobby. They didn't speak at all, but when they had obviously reached the destination, he bowed himself away.
"I hope your stay here is a pleasant one, Honorary guest." He knocked twice on a brilliant set of double doors and departed. Yasu examined the hallway outside Gaara's rooms, and it was pretty decorative for a hallway. There was and aerial picture of the sand village. She examined it as the doors swung open silently, and Gaara appeared at her side.
"You are well, then? Do you want to get settled, or shall we just go eat?" Yasu considered, and Gaara understood her hesitance. "Your belongings are in your room, would you like to see where you will be staying?" Without waiting for Yasu's reply, he led her into his rooms, which had a hallway after a large kitchen and sitting area. "These rooms are reserved for the top ninja and council of Sunagakure, and the rooms farther down are for honored guests." Yasu stared at the brilliance of these rooms, and she suddenly realized what was so strange.
"Why do you have all this power in Sunagakure?" Gaara smirked back at her teasingly.
"You really are unaware of any political goings-on, aren't you? I am going to be the Kazekage, and you have brought me here for the celebrations and authorizations to commence, and when they are finished, you will accompany me back to the Leaf Village for my council there as Kazekage to Hokage, to seal ties with Konohagakure." Yasu plodded along, stunned, when Gaara came to a stop outside a large door.
"I hope you enjoy this room; it's not the biggest guest room there is, but it has access to the balcony, which is only accessible from three other rooms: another guest room, my quarters, and the main council room." He swung open the door and Yasu gasped in amazement; everything was well looked after, although it was apparent this room had not been used in a long time. There was a huge four-post bed with transparent satin-like materials draping, and everything was color-themed; brown, dark green, and gold. Yasu saw her belongings on the bed and sifted through them. Gaara stood in the doorway and waited patiently.
Yasu completed her assessment of the bathroom, kitchen, and even sitting room, which were all quartered off, and joined Gaara in the doorway.
"What would you like to eat?" He smiled at Yasu, and she felt incredibly spot-lighted. It was uncomfortable, and she looked away from him; her memory had made Gaara's eyes seem to flicker to a gorgeous blue…
"Barbecue and sweet-and-sour meat sounds good to me right now." Yasu surprised herself at how well she adjusted to the 'royal' treatment. Maybe I'm meant to be royalty. She laughed to herself, getting a confused but pleased look from Gaara. The longer he paid attention to her, the more awkward it seemed.
Dinner was quiet, and a few townspeople stared, but it was pleasant. Yasu enjoyed the meat to the fullest, resisting licking the plate of the sauce and meat that would not be picked up with chopsticks. When dinner was over, she was allowed free reign of the town, and Gaara excused himself, bowing to Yasu, on the excuse of arrangements needing to be made. Yasu bowed deeply back, respectful of his title, and as a friend.
She walked around, using her chakra to find horses; the first horse she 'found' was Cloud, because she was familiar. Yasu soon sensed Cloud was within a captive herd, and let herself into the pasture, figuring she would be able to, especially since she was a guest. The horses came over, curious, and Yasu would spend the next few hours petting and grooming them before turning in.
In Konoha
The Toad Hermit sat at the base of a tree, watching his student train himself to exhaustion. He knew there was nothing he could do to help him calm down and take a break, but by the kid's extraordinary powers given him by the Kyuubi, he would be fine tomorrow. Wait, that wasn't right; not a kid, definitely. He was a young man now, and feeling the pressures of it, surely. Otherwise he wouldn't be training himself to exhaustion so foolishly over worry of the girl. The sage's new student wore heavily on both their minds, harrowing them with worry. Not that it did any good to worry; if the mission had been successful, Yasu would be in Sunagakure by now. Another thing Jiraiya had noticed was Naruto hadn't spoken of the Kyuubi to her. Perhaps he was worried it would change her opinion of him, though from what Jiraiya had gathered, it would take a lot more than that to make Yasu dislike Naruto.
"Ero-sennin!" Jiraiya was startled to the present by his student.
"What?" Naruto stood panting and scraped up but arrogant over Jiraiya, who bothered himself to stand. "Are you done trying to kill yourself off?"
"I'm going to Sunagakure. I have to go check, just to make sure." A snort came from the shadows, where a black horse had been grazing. He tossed his head, three tails waving back and forth intimidatingly. Naruto shot the horse an irritated glare, then his face brightened.
"Akira! You would know, of course, if Yasu is alright." Naruto strode over to the tailed horse and rested his hand on the rippling black coat. Akira had flourished in Yasu's absence; as if Yasu had a suppressing nature about her, which kept in Akira's demon nature. His tails had grown in, one a day. There was already evidence a fourth would be growing in, and Naruto took excellent care of the stallion, making his coat and tails shine. The sage and student had decided to keep Akira in the quiet until they determined how many tails he had. Of course, Hokage knew, but no one else would for a while. Naruto suppressed Akira somehow as well, but had nowhere near the effect Yasu had.
Akira snorted and shoved his head into Naruto's open hand, looking at him for a moment with fiery eyes. Naruto met Akira's stare and subdued the fire, until Akira seemed like a well-trained mount. Akira had been much more spirited lately, and Naruto and Jiraiya believed that only the kyuubi within Naruto (with the maximum number of tails) had the power over Akira to calm him.
"Well, boy, is Yasu alright?" Akira tossed his head, and Naruto took it that Akira didn't know. However, a thought ran through his mind; Shikamaru and Temari would be returning, tonight if all was well. He could ask them of Yasu!
"Come on, Sennin! Let's go find Shikamaru and Temari!" He started off, and Jiraiya sighed before yelling after him about the time of night it was and how stupid was Naruto, anyway? Akira watched them leave and continued grazing in the forested outskirts of the village, his temporary residence.
Enough information for you? lol Well, I got half-way through the chapter before realizing it was BORING, so I cut it up, threw in some good stuff, and put it down with sprinkles on top! I got a lot of good points across once I started writing in a no-nonsense sort of way, so I think I'll keep that up. Oh, another thing; if you don't want to review, I've decided I don't care. XP Because, first and foremost, this story is for ME! Akira's not only growing tails (how many will he get..? Huh? What do you think?) he's muscling out, becoming a fully mature stallion, whereas before he was rather strong, pretty fast, etc. Now, he's a tailed beast. Wonder if he'll have to be sealed? I don't think Yasu would like that very much. Well, hope this leaves you pondering! (Also, I need some good words for processing, coronation, proceedings, whatever describes Gaara's brining in. I can't think of just the right word, for some reason.) Well, I've ranted. Review please!