Sorry for taking forever! She Brings Out The Best was next on my update list, and I had writer's block! Forgive me!!!!!

Otulia: I'm back! So…takes deep breath and begins to sing opera-style WE DON'T OWN NARUTO! JUST CHIOCHO!

Unraveling

Gaara stared impassively at the old man seated before him and his squad. Sarutobi, the third Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. He seemed stressed. It was no wonder, really, after the events that had transpired the day before. Who wouldn't be worried if one of the legendary Sanin had shown up at their doorstep with less than good intentions?

Baki-sensei was fidgeting. Gaara already knew that he was furious with him for betraying Orochimaru. Lord Kazekage had ordered them to help the snake accomplish whatever it was he needed to accomplish. They would be in big trouble when they returned to Suna.

The Hokage was speaking, so he turned his attention back to the matter at hand. They were being interrogated.

"What was Orochimaru planning?"

Temari glanced at Gaara, sending him a secret glare. This was his fault. "He wanted to capture that girl, Rienne."

"Why?"

Temari answered again. "He said she had run away before he was finished with her." The finality with which she'd said that told Gaara that she refused to tell everything. She would answer any questions asked, but she would not volunteer anything more.

But the whole story had to be told. "She'd come to Suna several times with the man she worked for, Arashi Mushin. He didn't trust Orochimaru, and neither did she."

The Hokage thought this over. Gaara simply sat, ignoring the angry auras of his squad members. He'd really outdone himself this time.

"Then why would Orochimaru act as if she had been working for him?"

Gaara didn't answer; he didn't have a clue.

He heard the door behind them open, and a girl spoke. "Lord Hokage, forgive my intrusion, but Rienne Bascott is here."

"Send her in."

He watched from the corner of his eye as she shuffled in. She moved almost automatically, as if her mind were elsewhere, and her eyes, which had been so full of emotion when she'd spoken to him, were eerily blank, devoid of any feeling. It was Orochimaru's fault she was like that; Gaara felt anger flare up in him at that thought.

The Hokage seemed almost reluctant to ask her anything, but they all knew this was an immediate issue. "Tell me, Rienne, what was your connection with Arashi Mushin?"

"He was my uncle," she answered tonelessly, never lifting her eyes from her feet. "He and my father were twins, but had their differences, and went their separate ways. When I left the village, I went to him. He took me in, but because he had many enemies, we kept up the façade that I was only working for him."

"What were his connections to Orochimaru?"

"My uncle hated him, and knew he was trying to turn Lord Kazekage against Konoha. He tried to intervene, but Orochimaru's trickery had won him a place of trust." Gaara nodded to himself. This he had already known.

"Now, why did you go outside the village to him yesterday?"

Rienne hesitated to answer, as if doing so would bring up something she did not wish to remember. And it probably would. "I thought it was my uncle; Orochimaru was disguised as him when I arrived." She paused again, this time as if she were gathering her thoughts. They knew there was more for her to say. "But my uncle never traveled unaccompanied, so I was suspicious. When I questioned him, I realized the truth, and…and…He told me he'd killed my uncle quite some time ago; he must have been taken his place, so he could use me."

"But you returned here, and so he came after you?"

Silently, she nodded. Gaara watched her, knowing she must be hurting inside. How Orochimaru could be so cruel, he didn't know. All he understood was that that conniving snake had to be stopped.

When the interrogation was finished, they were allowed to leave. Gaara stood slowly, his mind turning toward Suna. Chiocho was there, and undoubtedly worried about him. Inwardly, he sighed; he could understand her concern, as it was the same as his own. So many terrible things could happen when they were apart, and they would never know until it was too late.

They followed Rienne out into the glaring sunlight, and began to make their way toward the gates. They would not be staying another day, as Orochimaru could already be on his way to Sunagakure, and their only chance was to make it there before him.

As they walked off, Gaara watched Rienne. She was being approached by the pale-eyed shinobi who had rushed to her side after Orochimaru was chased off. Take care of her, he thought. She's broken-hearted.

Chiocho sighed. She was bored beyond belief. At the moment, she was sprawled along a branch in a gnarled and withered old tree by the wall, her head propped up on one arm. The other dangled below her, a ninja headband held gently in her hand. It glinted in the moonlight as she swung her arm idly, staring blankly ahead. Suna was dull.

She blinked in surprise, suddenly, and sat up, closing her eyes in concentration. She'd seen something through the eyes of the single butterfly she'd sent out to watch over the village. And she didn't like what she saw.

Without any further hesitation, she leapt on top of the wall and started running. It wasn't long before she caught up with her luminescent butterfly. Quickly recalling it, she stared out into the desert. There, not far away, was an approaching figure. Orochimaru. And he was alone.

Her heart sank. It couldn't be. Gaara's squad had gone with him nearly two weeks ago. So then, where were they? Had Orochimaru left them behind?

She growled low in her throat. That snake had probably left them in a hopeless situation, despite the fact that he, a Sanin, could have helped them.

Standing tall and closing her eyes, she made several hand signs, the headband still gripped in one hand. Three butterflies emerged, each trailing a glowing blue string behind it. They shot toward Orochimaru with lightning speed, and, before he could react, swirled around him, ensnaring him within the lines. Almost immediately, he fell to the ground, unconscious, and the butterflies returned to flutter around Chiocho.

"See how far you get with your spirit bound," she whispered angrily. Turning away, she lifted the headband to her forehead, feeling the cool metal against her skin. "Please, Gaara, come back to me. That's all I ask. Just…come back to me."

A single blue butterfly flew off into the night.

Dun, dun, dun! All done with this chap! Sorry I took so long! I had two research projects and finals to worry about! But I got it done! Now, tell me what you think! Por favor? Review for me!!!!