Enough people updated that I decided to go ahead and update it.

Disclaimer: I no own Naruto

Ch. 12: Kidnapped

An entire year passed. Naruto and Sasuke had both returned to Konoha much to everyone's pleasure. Kaoru had gone to visit them briefly but didn't stay long. She was never far from Gaara these days. If left alone he wouldn't take care of himself and Kaoru couldn't allow that. Gaara was always working these days. That wasn't such a surprise. He was the Kazekage after all. Being busy was part of the job description.

Kaoru walked into his office around lunch time with Kohaku waddling behind her. The little boy was a 17 months old and had just learned to walk about two months ago. For some reason that Gaara couldn't fathom the brat loved him. Kohaku went up to Gaara and grabbed hold of the bottom of his kage robe then tugged. Gaara glanced at him then up at Kaoru. After he nodded his head in acknowledgment he looked back at his paperwork, "Not now, Kaoru. I have some things I need to finish."

"They'll still be there later, Gaara-kun. Now come on. You need to eat."

He gave her a frustrated stare. This was a normal part of the day now. Someone would send Kaoru up to his office to make him leave. They would argue about whether or not he had the time to leave and in the end he would lose. She always knew just what to say or do to get him to cooperate. It was infuriating sometimes to know that she knew his that well. Gaara wasn't happy with this.

"Can't you ever just leave me alone," he demanded.

She gave him a sweet and innocent look, "Of course, Gaara-kun. But if I do that you'll starve to death. Then you'll make Kohaku upset."

He let out a sigh and stood up. Would he ever be able to just tell her no? It shouldn't be that hard. After all it was just a one syllable word. Kaoru looked at him with a smile. He shook his head, "I think I'm beginning to understand why Shikamaru is always saying the word troublesome."

"Well if you follow Shikamaru's example then you can only say that about the girl you love. He only calls Ino troublesome now. Everything else is a drag."

Gaara smirked at this bit of information. Somehow it didn't surprise him that Shikamaru only called Ino troublesome. Not only was Ino troublesome but she was also special to the genius. That word to Shikamaru was term of endearment. Half the time if he said something was troublesome he actually enjoyed it but was pretending not to.

"Troublesome is not a good thing for me like it is for that lazy ass," Gaara told her.

"I know but it sounded good at the time. Come on, Gaara-kun. We really need to get something to eat."

"We?"

She suddenly looked sheepish, "They always send me to get you for lunch because chances are I haven't eaten either."

Gaara shook his head at his friend. He wasn't the only one that was always busy. Kaoru spent most of her time at the hospital these days. In the last year Yuri had past more and more of the responsibility to her star student. She really wanted Kaoru in control of the medical core in Suna. No one could argue with her. The fact was everyone loved Kaoru. It was impossible not to. Gaara liked to pretend that he didn't notice all the guys trying to gain her attention. Those guys got on his nerves. Every time he saw one anywhere near Kaoru he felt like punching something and if he had his way it would be their face. Fortunately for them Kaoru was as dense as a rock when it came to that kind of thing. She didn't even know what the guys wanted from her. All she did was smile sweetly and more often than not told them she was too busy to go anywhere with them. Gaara hadn't noticed that if he asked Kaoru for anything she never refused him. No matter what she was doing at the time she would drop it just to do what he had asked her with a few exceptions.

Gaara and Kaoru walked out of the Kage's tower. Koaru was carrying Kohaku now. She would only let him walk inside at the moment. There were too many places for a curious kid to wonder off to outside. She walked beside the Kazekage and told him about her day at the hospital. Gaara told her a little about his day. It was still abnormal for him to talk very much. That was alright though because Kaoru talked enough for the both of them and she was happy while doing it.

After the two had finished eating Temari came up to them with a smile, "Hey guys. Kaoru, will you come train with me?"

Kaoru tilted her head to the side, "Where's Kankuro?"

"He's teaching his class at the moment."

"Oh, alright then. I've been ordered not to come back to work so I have plenty of time." Kaoru turned to Gaara and handed him Kohaku. As usual Gaara acted like he was holding a bomb. The two girls chuckled at him.

"Why are you handing him to me?" Gaara asked as calmly as he could. The kid had gripped his kage robes in both hands and didn't want to let go. He was also smiling at Gaara.

"Because I want you to look after him until I get back. My grandmother isn't home right now so you're the only one I can trust him with that's available. All you have to do is keep him in the office with you and give him something to play with," Kaoru told him with a smile.

"Kaoru, I'm not good with kids. You know that," Gaara said. He looked at the dark haired girl beside him, "Besides, shouldn't you get some rest?"

She gave him a sweet smile and he knew she was about to say something he wouldn't like. Her tone was dripping honey, "You're absolutely right, Gaara-kun. Tell you what. I'll take tomorrow off."

Gaara narrowed his eyes at her in suspicion, "That easy?"

"Of course it is. It'll be great because Temari and Kankuro are off too. We can all spend the day together. It's been a long time since the four of us had any time together," Kaoru commented.

"Wait, the four of us?"

"Yes, Gaara-kun. The four of us."

Gaara felt slightly panicked now. It didn't look like he was going to get out of babysitting duty and she was going to make sure he took tomorrow off. "Now wait a minute, Kaoru..."

He stopped when he saw the look that came into her eyes. It was that sad look that told him she was about to let him have his way even though she really didn't want to. Most of the time Gaara wouldn't give in to that look but this was one of those times he knew he couldn't tell her no. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, "Alright, damn it. I'll watch the bra...I mean Kokaku until you come to get him."

And just Gaara's luck. Kohaku chose that moment to say his first words, "Damn it."

The adults all looked at him in shock. The little boy laughed and clapped his hands together. Gaara's reaction was priceless. He started to say several other cuss words but didn't finish any of them. So he sounded like, "Shi...I mean da..." He eventually just stopped trying to talk so that he

The others started to laugh at him. They couldn't help it. His reaction to the kid was something to remember because it was funny that he could get so frustrated over a little boy that wasn't even two years old. Kaoru smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek, "Thanks, Gaara-kun. I'll see you later and don't forget to tell the council that you're taking the day off tomorrow."

The medic ran off towards the training area waving over her shoulder. Gaara could see the grin on her face. He wondered if she was serious about the day off thing. Somehow he knew she was. He might as well just plan on spending the day as far from his office at the three of them could get him. The Kazekage returned to his office with a shake of his head. His friends were forever making him take breaks from work. He smiled as he walked into the office.

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Temari and Kaoru were both dripping sweat. The two were a challenge to each other. All Kaoru had to do was touch someone with a medical ninjutsu and they were doomed. However, Temari was a distance fighter so getting close to her was difficult. Kaoru had been trained to dodge any kind of attack because who would heal the team if the medical nin got injured. Kaoru had just performed another attack and fell to her knees gasping for breath. Temari stumbled her way over to the medic that plopped down next to her.

The two were suddenly on alert. Something was terribly wrong. As they looked around nothing seemed out of place and there wasn't a single sound outside of their panting. Neither was sure what it was but they knew that something wasn't right. The problem was the more they looked for it the more they wondered if maybe they were being paranoid.

They had almost convinced themselves that was the case when something hit Temari in her shoulder. Kaoru rushed to her friend's side, "Temari, are you alright?"

"Yeah," Temari said through gritted teeth. She pulled the thing out of her shoulder. They both gasped.

"It's a dart. But that means that there was something on it," Kaoru commented while standing. She wanted to get Temari to the hospital before whatever was on the dart took full affect. Then she felt a small pain in the back of her neck. She reached back and pulled an identical dart to the one that had hit Temari. A wave a dizziness rushed through her. The last think Kaoru remembered seeing were black figures walking towards them with splotches of red.

"Well, we got both of them, Sasori. We can return to the base with them now right?" one of the men asked the other. This one had blonde hair that was up in a high ponytail. He had one large lock of hair that covered one half of his face.

"Of course, Deidara," the other said in an emotionless tone. All of his features were hidden by a mask and the cloak he wore. They each lifted one of the girls and turned. The two members of the Akatsuki walked away without a backwards glance.

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Kaoru woke up and rubbed at her head. God it hurt. Someone sat down next to her. Her crimson eyes darted over and saw Temari. It took Kaoru a moment to remember what had happened. When she did she jumped up and glanced around. They were in a small room with two beds. There was a single window but it wasn't big enough to climb out of. The door opened.

A red headed boy walked into the room. Something was wrong with him and it took Kaoru a moment to figure out what it was. He didn't feel. This man had no feelings for anything. There wasn't even a twinge. She looked at him in disbelief. That couldn't be right. Everyone had feelings. It was impossible for him to feel nothing...wasn't it? Only the dead didn't feel so was it possible that this mas wasn't living? If he wasn't human than what was he?

He looked at them, "I see you're both awake. That's good. I suppose you're hungry."

The man set down a tray of food he had been carrying. After a few moment Kaoru looked up at him in sardonic amusement, "I hope you don't honestly expect us to eat that, do you?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Never eat food from enemy if you didn't watch them like a hawk while they made it and even then don't trust it," Temari quoted from their sensei, Baki.

He smirked, "I suppose that is a wise thing to think. I can guarantee that the food is fine. You're no use to us dead."

"What do you want with us?" Temari demanded. She was standing now and glaring at the man.

"To get to the Kazekage of course. You two will be the perfect bait."

"What do you want with Gaara-kun?" Kaoru demanded.

"Who the hell are you?" Temari asked at the same time.

The man didn't seem to care at all that the two of them were upset. He just shrugged and said, "I am Sasori of the Red Sand. Also a member of the Akatsuki. We want Shukaku contained inside the Kazekage."

Kaoru gasped, "But that'll...that'll kill Gaara-kun."

He looked at her with those empty red eyes, "Yes it would, wouldn't it? Oh well."

Both girls glared at him for all they were worth. They already hated him because he was Sasori but now it was worse. He had threatened Gaara. If they ever had the chance they would kill him on sight. He walked back toward his work shop with a small smirk. Suddenly he gripped his chest where his heart should have been. Something was wrong. It hurt. He hadn't felt pain in a long time and he shouldn't be feeling it now. Sasori shrugged. Oh well, he would figure it out eventually.

Kaoru and Temari examined themselves for any injuries. Kaoru found the pin prick where the dart had hit her. She must of bled a little when she pulled it out. That wasn't what held her attention though. She couldn't find it. The medic ran her hands all around her neck but it wasn't there. Her necklace was gone. She knew she didn't take it off because she never did. The girl even slept with it on. She searched the room but still didn't find it. This wasn't good. If they left if with Gaara he would worry. Everyone knew she didn't take that thing off willingly.

Temari's voice cut through her thoughts, "I can't find my fan."

"That's a weapon so they probably wouldn't leave it with us. They even took our pouches," Kaoru pointed out.

"I guess you're right. Are you missing anything else?"

"Yeah. My necklace."

Temari's reaction mirrored Kaoru's, "Oh shit. They left it for Gaara to find." She sounded a bit more cheerful when she added, "Well, I can't say it was nice knowing them."

"What do you mean? Gaara-kun wouldn't kill them."

"Kaoru, I can't believe you're that naïve. Gaara would murder anyone that laid a hand on you without hesitation."

"No he wouldn't, Temari. That's just silly. He'll come save us though, right?"

Temari just nodded her head. Everyone knew how her younger brother felt about the medical nin. To this day she was the only one he would trust enough to fall asleep around. Kaoru was also the one he smiled around the most and he couldn't tell her no. That's way Temari always sent Kaoru when she needed something from her brother she knew he wouldn't like. Temari knew that once Gaara got his hands on these people he would murder each and every one of them and it would probably do it slowly and painfully.

---Meanwhile in Suna---

Kankuro had gotten worried because neither of the girls had shown up yet. Kaoru should have gone to get Gaara for dinner but she never did. The puppeteer knew his friend would never have forgotten. She had never gone to get Kohaku either and that worried both him and Gaara. Something had to be wrong. He went to the training grounds and didn't find them anywhere. What he did find made his blood chill. Laying on the ground were two darts. He picked them up carefully so that they didn't prick him and went to find Gaara.

Gaara listened to Kankuro and had Yuri examine the darts. She was able to confirm that there had been a tranquilizer on the darts so the girls weren't dead. That did little to reassure the Kazekage because they still didn't know who had taken them in the first place. Several search parties were organized but no one found anything. Gaara even sent a message to Konoha to ask for Kiba and Neji to help search. Tsunade sent them and even added Hinata to the group. The whole area was swarming with ninja looking for Kaoru and Temari.

The longer it took to find them the more Gaara worried. He knew that the chances were good that they had been kidnapped and that whoever had done it was really after him. Why couldn't people ever attack him head on? Did they always have to involve the people that mattered to him? A flash of Kaoru's smiling face came to his head. Fear followed quickly after it. What if it was too late? No, he couldn't think like that. He had to believe that they were alright.

Kiba walked into his office with Akamaru. He looked serious and worried. This did nothing to help Gaara's state of mind. Kiba's voice matched his face, "We've found something. You may want to come with me, Gaara-sama."

Kiba led him to the cliff over looking Suna. On the cliff was Temari's fan with a note attached to it. No one had touched it. Kankuro walked up to it and took the little piece of paper and began to read aloud.

To the Lord Kazekage

We have your sister and the one called Kaoru. If you want them back you'll have to come get them. Be warned that if you do that you'll only get them if you exchange your life for theirs. We will meet you here on this cliff in a months time for the trade. If you decide against the deal they will die. If you try to find them and rescue them they will die. Pretty much anything but agreeing to our terms will result in their deaths. So it would be best if you just gave in. One life for two lives, Sabaku no Gaara. We believe this is a fair trade.

Sincerely,

The Akatsuki

Everyone looked at Gaara nervously. It seemed as if the entire world was holding its breath in anticipation of his reaction. For few moments nothing happened. But just as everyone was about to let out that breath in relief the ground began to tremble. Chakra exploded around Gaara and it was all anyone could do to get away from him. Kankuro looked at his brother's eyes and gasped. One eye was his normal sea foam eye but the other was the golden eye of Shukaku. Both eyes looked way beyond pissed off.

Sand began to move wildly around. Everyone ducked behind something to protect themselves. Gaara stood in the center of the storm. He was just staring at something with his fists clenched at his side. For the first time in his life Gaara and Shukaku were in complete agreement and even for partially the same reason. The Akatsuki had to pay for threatening what was theirs. If one hair on Kaoru's head was injured both Shukaku and Gaara would hunt them down to the ends of the earth. The only difference was Shukaku didn't care about Temari. Gaara did. Kankuro finally got a chance to see what Gaara was looking at. Hanging off the large fan was a silver chain that had a heart shaped ruby on it. The sand lifted it up and brought it to Gaara. There was a little blood on it. 'Yes,' the two being living inside the Kazekage thought together, 'the Akatsuki would pay dearly.'

Alright. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter should be posted soon. Don't forget to review