Chapter 22: The Challenge

A/N: Hey guys sorry for the delay. I was so busy with summer class I couldn't even type a single word without an interruption

Gaara carried Sakura back to their room and laid her down on the bed. She was too exhausted to stay awake when he started to dress her wounds. The sand master was so infuriated with Sasuke at what he did to her. The strings sliced their way through her flawless skin. Though he knew all too well she can heal it immediately, just the thought that another man laying his hands on her makes his blood boil.

Sakura stirred and gradually opened her eyes "Hi, Panda-chan," she greeted as she stroked his cheeks. "Are you alright now?" he asked laying his hand over hers. She nodded as she took as look on her bandaged wrists. "I could've killed him, you know," he said looking away from her. "But I know you wouldn't allow me," Gaara continued as he glanced back at her. Her emerald eyes wore a distant expression, unfamiliar to him.

"He said he loves me," Sakura confessed looking into the open window with the sunset clearly visible. Gaara knew there was something else so he remained quiet to listen to what she wanted him to hear. But he can't deny the slight pinch of hurting somewhere in his chest… Uchiha Sasuke was Sakura's first love… I can never change that… no matter how much I wanted to… he thought as he stared at her. "You know, if I was the girl back then that was so blindly attracted to him… I would've swooned upon hearing those three words from him. The three words I so wanted to hear ever since I was a child addicted to puppy love…" with these words, Sakura tried to smile in all her revelations… a poor attempt. "But when I finally got to hear it from him a while back… strange… I felt… blank… almost… empty." This time she faced him… their eyes meeting.

"It was the complete opposite of what I felt… when you said those words," she said with a gentle shimmer in her eyes. "But I never realized that… Sasuke could do that," she looked away with the thought of her raven haired friend raping her.

"I think it's the same reason why Ken resurrected Reika using the forbidden ritual… though I can't put it to words exactly but I think it's… blind love," Gaara finally spoke as he sat beside her on the bed. Sakura couldn't agree more so she only wrapped her arms around his waist in reply.

"Shizuka tried the same thing…" Gaara blurted out. "What? She tried to rape you?" she said humorously. "No, she tried to seduce me. Using an illusion technique, she disguised herself as you," he replied showing no interest in the matter. "And? What happened?" she inquired curiously but at the same time jealousy started to show itself in her statements. "She kissed me," he said shortly afterwards. "Ooohhh…" she said with interest and dismay.

"Then what happened?" she asked further. "Nothing," he replied sternly. "Are you sure?" she teased with a mocking smile on her lips. "I knew she wasn't you when she kissed me," he answered as he looked into her green eyes. "Really, how so?" She inquired as she leaned close to him.

Gaara drew her in and kissed her deeply. When the need for air broke them apart, Sakura was speechless. This was his turn to smile mockingly "That's why," he said.

"She dumped you, didn't she?" Shizuka said pitifully at the battered ninja dressing his wounds. "I don't need to hear that from you…knowing he dumped you as well. You failed to do your job," he replied rudely as he managed the bandages through his injuries.

"Me? Oh I'm not done yet… especially with "her"," she said as she approached him. "What do you mean? What are you planning against her?" Sasuke had to ask knowing Sakura was involved in this plan. "I plan to challenge her… the winner… takes the "prize"," she said with a deceitful look in her eyes. Upon hearing this Sasuke laughed out loud until his insides hurt, "You plan on challenging Sakura? Didn't her kick your ass before? What difference will it make tomorrow?" he said in between his laughs.

"Tomorrow I'll be prepared," she said. This stopped him from his mockery. "I'm not a good ninja but I'm a good alchemist," Shizuka informed him as she walked away. "Oh by the way, I could lend you my help… if you want," she teased before she disappeared into the darkness.

The next day…

"I don't like this idea… the last time we did this you ended up being almost naked," Gaara protested. "Aww, Panda-chan is worried," she teased but when she received a glare from him she stopped and turned serious as well. "Last time, I was careless. It won't happen again," she reassured him with a grin.

Gaara approached her and tied another necklace with a sand filled vial. He could've disagreed with her decision but he knew he had her mind set so "You know what to do," he said as he lifted her chin and kissed her shortly before they separate.

She was relived that after all that has happened he still believed in her capabilities. Heading far south, she came upon a huge door with an engraftment of a phoenix, a dragon and a unicorn. Upon touching the door, the hairs on the back of her neck stood… Something isn't right here.

Sakura further investigated the engraftments. The three mythical creatures seemed to be bent on protecting something behind this wall. They're either protecting it from being discovered… or… preventing it from getting out. Something caught her attention. There were dents on each of the engrafted creatures. The unicorn had it in its horn, the dragon in its claw and the phoenix in its eye. What could this mean?

As she was still investigating the ruin, "Long time no see, Sakura," a female voice behind her spoke. Sakura turned around to see the very person who left her to die. "Shizuka," she saw her form in a cloud of smoke.

"What do you want?" she asked. "Let's skip the long path shall we… you know all too well what I want… and I know… you're not going to give him to me willingly. So… we'll decide it in a battle," Shizuka drew her weapon. "I don't have time for this," Sakura turned away from her. Upon seeing this, Shizuka threw her kunai directly at her. Sakura having fast reflexes evaded it with great agility.

"Looks like I have no choice," Sakura said as she took her kunai from her holster. Shizuka positioned her kunai in front of her as a battle post. At this instant, the sky darkened and slowly flakes of something grey descended from the clouds. A small flake landed on the tip of Sakura's kunai. "Ash? Oh no, not now," Sakura whispered as she looked into the sky.

"Challenge," this word echoed through her very soul. "What?" she asked mentally. "Challenge!" the voice shouted. "Tell him what kind of challenge you want," she heard a faint statement from Maiev inside her head in the middle of all the commotion.

Sakura was in a state of confusion but Shizuka didn't know why. Wither way she wouldn't care. She saw this as an opening. Taking four kunai, she targeted each one to each of her limb. Sakura was in too much confusion to be aware of the things that were now heading towards her. It was too late for her when she became aware of the situation. Shizuka smirked upon hearing her cry of pain. As expected, Sakura evaded it poorly. Two dug into her thighs as the two lashed her arms.

Aside from the throbbing of her head because of the loud redundant voice demanding for a challenge, the immense stinging pain of the kunai on both her lower limbs added to her distress.

Gaara headed to the far west. He went back to where he saw the image of the desert monster together with a few symbols he cannot understand. They were some sort of history as to how the desert monster came to be. By looking at this, he somehow understood a little about the monster inside him. This might help in taming him better.

Then he felt a presence that made his blood boil, "I'm warning you… Sakura's not here to stop me," Gaara warned the figure behind the blur of smoke. "Too bad she's not here to see her precious sand boy fall," Sasuke said as the smoke spread.

At that moment, the gourd behind the sand master crumbled to pieces, his chakra was gone. "I didn't expect the renowned Uchiha to use this kind of method but I guess that only shows your desperation to win her back," Gaara replied as he took his kunai from his holster. This is going to be difficult.

Sasuke was the first to move. Sprinting towards his target, he aimed his shurikens at the sand master knowing that no sand will deflect it now. Gaara was not used to this kind of battle. He always had his sand to defend him. Good thing, he was also trained in martial arts as well. He evaded the flying stars with no difficulty. After this, the dance of death began. The tiny specks of grey from the shy descended unnoticed on the heated battlefield.

"Challenge!" this echoed in her mind for the countless time but this time her heart began pounding against her chest as if it would explode. She can't handle it any longer. As she avoided Shizuka's shuriken, "COMBAT!" she exclaimed the first kind of challenge that crossed her mind.

"Combat… Then combat it shall be…" the voice proclaimed as he laughed maniacally. The voice was heard not only by Sakura but by Shizuka as well.

The sky split apart and revealed the dark phoenix that once resurrected her. As it landed, it took shape of a man wearing peculiar phoenix armor.

Shizuka stood there dumb-struck about what was happening as the creature in front of her landed and took human form. "Haruno, Sakura… the challenge begins now," the man proclaimed and as he did dark flames emerged from the ground separating Sakura and the man from Shizuka and everyone else.

Okay, this is it. I just have to heal my wounds and… Sakura started to perform her usual healing technique but to no avail. "What's going on?" she panicked as weapons of all sorts began to materialize from the black flames.

No! I can't defeat him when I'm like this. What the hell is happening? Her mind screamed as she looked at the man now drawing his sword and gradually approaching her. Her gaze traveled to the person behind the flames, "Shizuka, release my chakra… NOW!" Sakura ordered.

Shizuka smirked. Who is this guy? No matter, if he plans on killing her. I'll give him the honor to do so. Her mocking smile was almost saying "What the great Haruno Sakura now needs my help? I don't think so," she said as se smiled triumphantly at the scene she was seeing.

Sakura resumed her battle stance. She posed her kunai in front of her in defense against the constant slashing of his sword. Her defenses were growing weak as his attacks increased. What should I do? Upon instinct, she looked at the necklace he gave her. No! This battle is mine alone! Her mind screamed in determination as her eyes lit flame.

Gathering all her strength, she pushed him back. Now that he was a little distant, she gave herself time to think. She placed her kunai back to her holster as she dashed into the weapon rack to take the twin sabers. Aside from the kunai and shuriken, Sakura was immensely good at using the twin sabers… his father taught her that.

The battle was almost fair except for the fact that Sakura was injured. This man is a very skilled swordsman and a great martial artist as well. She thought of as she dodged his kicks aside from the slashing of his sword. I have to injure him somehow.

They were engaged in close physical combat but Sakura was the first to draw back and as she did she threw one of the sabers at him. Being confident of his easy evasion, he moved slowly to the right to avoid the flying saber. But as he did something held him back.

As he looked back, his cape was pinned to the ground by three of Sakura's shuriken. Before he could even think, the saber impaled deep into his right shoulder.

Success! With his right shoulder in a state like that, he can't swing his sword with the same strength and accuracy. Her mind rejoiced as she stared at the man now retrieving the impaled saber from his shoulder. He smirked and Sakura knew immediately this was danger.

The man attacked again. The strength of his blows was weakened but his speed increased and now he was using his martial arts more often. He's very bright to improvise.

Sakura was in her losing state… her moves were becoming weak… her defenses slowed… but her determination wavered. Knowing this, she still fought. "Why do you want to be stronger?" the man asked as he looked at Sakura as she tried her best to get up.

Gaara and Sasuke were equals in the field of martial arts. When one advances the other defends and vice versa. The battle now came to the final climax. They dashed towards each other bent on killing the other. Gaara positioned his kunai as he sprinted towards Sasuke. At meeting point, Gaara had his kunai panted on Sasuke's side and Sasuke had his hand in his side as well.

Immense pain exploded through out his body. As Gaara looked down, Sasuke drew back his hand showing him what caused his pain. "This was my ultimate chidori," he said as he forcefully withdrew Gaara's kunai from his side.

Blood gushed out of their wounds and bathed the earth. Gaara's vision grew dim. "The sky mourns ash as the great Gaara fell- this sounds good," Sasuke teased him with a pathetic laugh.

He couldn't make out what he was saying but upon hearing the word "ash" his vision cleared and somehow his strength was rejuvenated. He tried to feel whether her vial had been broken but as he did he felt it was untouched.

Sasuke was surprised to see him standing from his attack. Gaara now dashed forward to finish their battle. In the end, Sasuke staggered backward as Gaara drew nearer with blood lust in his eyes. I will kill you if I must just to get to her. He lifted his kunai tainted with Sasuke's blood. Sasuke saw his defeat. He retreated to the safety of the forest.

Gaara had no time to go after him. As he looked around the battlefield and everything else were covered with ash. The challenge had long begun.

Sakura was down to her last strategy. The only problem is that this was a do or die situation… if she fails the consequence would be her death.

Do or die… I like those odds. Her mind said as she readies herself for the final strategy.

Gaara dashed to see a ring encircled by dark flames. The he saw her, Sakura dashed forward. The man tried to kick the incoming kunoichi but she planted her last saber in his leg. She then drew her kunai as the man swung his sword at her. This was the most critical part… the do or die situation. I just need the right time to… At that moment, Sakura bent low to closely evade his blade and poised her kunai at his throat. His reflexes were good because as Sakura dodged his swing he immediately posed his sword at her neck.

The necklace's lace was sliced by the blade. The vial shattered beneath them. The sand scattered by the wing as the black flames were eaten by the earth. Their breaths echoed thorough out the now-silent battle field.

Gaara saw the scene with perfect clarity. Sakura had the point of her kunai against the man's throat as the man had his blade against her neck… the battle was a draw.

"It was because of them… it is because of them that I wanted to be stronger…" Sakura said with all her determination as she looked into the eyes of the only person watching them.

The man was the first to drop his sword. After doing so, he knelt low. "I accept my defeat. With what you've proven I now acknowledge you as my master… From now on call upon my name when the need arises… my name is Illidan," After saying this, the man was engulfed with silver flames and a black phoenix emerged.

"You will make many sacrifices upon bearing my name… do you still wish to continue?" the phoenix asked as it flapped its huge wings. "Yes," she answered doubtlessly.

"Then take this…" Something impaled the earth. Gaara cannot see what was it but Sakura saw the transparent sword that was enveloped with silver flames. She held its handle and as she did the wild flames disappeared. "The mythical wind blade of the templars…" the phoenix informed. "Whisperwind," she said unconsciously as she did the sword minimized into a small black phoenix pendant. "You knew its name… that only proves you're her worthy bearer," he phoenix started to ascend. "I believe that was one of the reasons why you came to this place," he said as he finally flew away.

"It's done I suppose," Gaara said as he approached her painfully clutching his bleeding side. Sakura only nodded but when she saw his injuries, "What happened?" she asked as she quickly approached him. "Nothing," he didn't want her to be worried.

She knew for certain her chakra is still not present but still she tried to heal him. Suddenly, the effects of her healing technique were visible. It was either the effects of her technique wore off… or… she really cared about him. "Where are we going next?" he asked after she healed him completely. "Back… back to where it started," she replied as the traces of sunshine began to spread over the mountains.

Dawn has come at last.

A/N: Will you believe that I had to type this down twice because at the fist the computer had some sort of error… it can't copy any disks. I had to copy it from that computer to the next. Huh it was really infuriating. So please read and review… that's the only thing that makes me smile this summer.