Hay! Wuz up! Just so you know, I'm not dead! Such good news! Well, I guess I should tell you why you had to wait so long for an update. I'm LAZY! I bet you would have never guessed! The first couple of days I didn't update was because I was busy with band. Then after that I just sort of, you know, was all, ummmm….. I'll do it later. Plus, for some reason, I had a really hard time writing this chapter. Now you know why I don't want to slow down. Well, anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: That one guy, you wanna know why he's rich? It's because he's the one that owns Naruto. I don't got jack. Point made.

The Price of Freedom

Chapter 7

A beam of light from the approaching dawn shimmered across the shifting sand as Gaara rose a hand skywards; calling the massive expanse of nomadic people behind him to a sluggish halt. His people were undoubtedly exhausted after keeping a steady march all through the night after packing up camp all day. But true to nomadic nature, they never gave in to fatigue and pressed on evermore.

All eyes rose to Gaara, watching him as he dismounted his horse with grace only exercised by divine royalty; a signal that they were halting for the day, only to resume the march at dusk. Grasping the reigns of the dusty red stallion, he lead it down the side of a massive dune and settled at the bottom. Each dedicated drifter followed suit, soon encircling their leader waiting to hear of further instruction.

"We will rest here," Gaara shouted over the masses, "Stay in the shade, on this side of the dune. Drink little water, preserve what you can. We will march again at dusk. Until then, do what you will, but I suggest that you rest." A momentary silence fell over the crowd, then died quickly as each began to find their own place of rest.

Turning away, Gaara began to loosen the bit in his horse's mouth. "Will you rest as well?"

"That is none of your concern." He said addressing Tamari, who now stood next to his horse, loosening the saddle.

She snorted in an unladylike manner, "Of course it is. You're my brother, I have to make it my concern."

He said nothing, now grooming the complacent stallion, "Come on Gaara, how do you expect to go on when you get no rest. I hate to break it to you, but you're human too."

Glaring at her, he crossed his arms, "I would not like to be reminded of my faults."

"Gaara, being human is not a fault. It merely has some, downfalls, I guess." She replied rolling her eyes. Tamari glanced over at him, a small smirk widening across her face, "Besides, I think you may be a bit more human than we thought."

"What's that suppose to mean?" He questioned, giving her a wary look.

"Oh you know."

"Oh no I don't" he retorted, "Care to enlighten me?"

Laughing lightly she winked at Gaara, "I know you have an empathetic side brother, I have seen it with these very eyes."

"A good leader must have some empathy to wise and effective. That I already know." He said impassively.

"Sometimes I wonder if it's just a ruse, you pretending to be so naïve. Shall I paint a picture for you?"

His glare became colder, "Will you just get to the point?"

"You are an excitable one today aren't you? Fine, I'll spell it out for you. This new girl, Sakura, she's done something to you." Getting serious she gave him a look. One of those determined looks she always gets when she wants something, and Gaara knew better then to deny Tamari of her wants. But this was a different situation entirely.

"Tamari, you talk nonsense." He defied the look with little confidence, "The sun has gotten to your head, you should rest."

Another snort sounded from the blonde, "Ha! Rest! I should say the same for you little brother." Taking a step closer to him, she continued, "When you are with that girl, I see a side of you that I have never seen before. A side I would never give up for anything in the world."

He pulled away from her, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do. You're just too afraid to admit it." She paused, a thoughtful look on her face. "I didn't come to chastise you, I came to tell you, that you never know when tomorrow isn't going to be here. There are things in life I know that should not be ignored." Approaching him slowly she rested a hand on his arm, "If this girl means anything to you, you may only have this day to experience what that might become."

An indescribable look swiftly sped across his features; but was quickly covered up with another icy glare. "You know nothing of the matter," he hissed quietly before turning on his heel and storming away with his mount.

"What's got him in such a fowl mood?"

Tamari turned to see Shikamaru walking up to her. Looking away in hopelessness, Tamari crossed her arms. "He's being stubborn again. I'm only trying to help."

He eyed the boisterous blonde in amusement, "Help with what, dare I ask."

"I know he feels something for her, he's just too pigheaded to do anything about it." She stated critically.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow in question, "Gaara? Has feelings for someone? I know I haven't been here that long but he doesn't seem like the type." A pensive silence fell over him. "You couldn't mean…" He said in astonishment.

Tamari nodded, "Yeah, Sakura."

"And you tried to convince him to do something about it?" She nodded again. "I do suppose he would be one that would need a little push. I take it he didn't like your advice."

Crossing her arms, she gave him a fierce look, "Don't make it sound like that. He's just shy."

Shikamaru gave a small chuckle, "Whatever you say. I guess the powers that be had more intentions than I thought when I brought her here."

Tamari shot him a puzzled look but let his statement pass. Her look softened as she gazed at the ex-General. She couldn't imagine him commanding great armies, commanding the death of any warrior for that matter. He seemed far too kind. "Why did you do this?"

Now it was his turn to throw confused looks, "What do you mean?"

"You threw away your life for that girl, so she could be free. Now you help us in battle. I doubt we would have any chance without you." Gratitude poured out of her in words.

Looking away, he answered shamefully, "Because, like her, I wanted to run away. She just had more courage to be the one to run first."

A gentle, inquisitive expression showed upon her face, "Run from what? You had a good life."

"I felt so dirty working under that spoiled brat. He commanded me to do things I'm not proud of." Turning back to Tamari he continued, "I promised my mother, before she had died, that I would live my life with honor. Honor to remember her by. Being Sasuke's errand boy was not only ruining my reputation, but dishonoring my mother at the same time."

Now thoroughly embarrassed at how soft he was being, Shikamaru spun on his heel and began to walk away. He felt a hand on his shoulder, "I am truly sorry for your loss. But," pulling his shoulder gently, she forced him to turn and face him, "I am also truly glad you came to us."

He gave her a small smile and shrugged out of her grasp, leaving her in the shadow of the dune pondering the meaning behind the one true smile she'd never seen.

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A shimmering green light flooded over an area shrouded in shadow. A multitude of eyes watched her with fearful awe as her power poured out of her open palms. Under her scrutiny was an old man with a broken shoulder. The pain that had once masked his haggard face was washed clean as a torrent of relief flooded his veins. Color rushed back to his skin and the cold sweat that had ravished his body vanished.

The holy light faded as the bruises slid from view. His eyes rose to meet hers in absolute wonder, "The pain, it's vanished."

"Then my deed is done." She let her pink locks out of it band and sat upon the ground. Many of those still untouched by her hand rose in protest.

"What of my son?"

"My arm is still broken!"

"Will you not help us?"

Sakura raised her hands for silence. The angered people quieted down and reseated themselves. Looking out across the sea of dirty faces, she gave her tired response, "I am tired. My power takes much of my energy. If I continue without rest, I may not be able to help the rest of you. I cannot heal when I am dead myself." A hushed murmur scattered through the crowd. "Is there any who will not live until I am rested?" No one spoke.

"Then I ask of you, can any of you spare me a small bit of water?" Many rushed to get their canteens, but the old man gave her his first. She looked at him worriedly, "Are you sure?"

He gave her a fond, toothless smile, "You took away my pain. I feel as if I could pitch a tent this very moment! By all means, take what you like."

Returning his smile weakly, Sakura took a large drink from the canteen and screwed on the lid, "Thank you."

Handing it back to him, she watched as the onlookers became bored of the situation and left the area to find sufficient shade to sleep. But the old man still sat next to her, grinning at her stupidly. "Is there anything else I can get for you?" He questioned.

Holding up her hands she declined, "Oh no! I'm fine, but thank you." Glancing around the area once more, she spotted Gaara. He was sitting with Shikamaru, undoubtedly making plans for the coming battle. Another twinge of guilt in her gut made her look away sadly.

Suddenly, she turned back the old man, "Why, do you know, does Sasuke want to rid the world of your people?"

A sad smile played upon his lips as he looked at the ground, "We are his biggest threat."

"I don't mean to sound rude, but—"

"We are small, this I know." He wagged a finger at her, "But it's not our numbers that scare him, only what we are." She gave him a confused look. "I don't suppose you have heard of any rebel groups in Konoha?" Sakura shook her head, "I didn't think so. Well, we are not only a nomadic tribe. We are the ones that speak truth, and truth is what Sasuke fears." He paused to cough weakly. "We know that he is not the true Emperor. Can you imagine what uproar that would cause with the people he is ruling?"

Sakura was silent. She had also been fooled by the mock king. But then who is the rightful Emperor? Is he one of the nomads? Could it be… "The paintings!" Sakura gasped, "That's why Sasuke didn't look like any of the other paintings! They all looked the same, just like…" Her eyes trailed in realization to the redhead across the way, "Gaara… but how…"

"Gaara's father was the rightful Emperor when Sasuke's father decided to betray his friend." The old man continued to answer her questions, "He had been the General of the Imperial Army, a smart man, too smart for his own good. He became jealous of the King and framed the murder of his own wife. The true Emperor was run out of the city to die in the desert. But what he wasn't counting on was a massive following, and formed a rebellion group to take back the throne." Pausing to cough again, he drank some water and continued, "Sadly, he was taken by the wasting sickness before his dream was realized. But Gaara does not seem interested with the retribution of his father, only with the survival of his people."

Sakura looked over at Gaara once more, "How could he just give up?"

"I don't think he gave up, I think he never wanted to try in the first place." The man said bitterly. "But then again, look at us, what can we do?"

She placed a comforting hand on his arm as she gazed at him sadly, "I'm sure Gaara will think of something. Maybe he was just trying to keep his people alive."

"I pray your right."

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The sun was bright and in the middle of the sky, eliminating the cover of shade that had blanketed the sleeping wanderers. Many tossed and turned in effort to find comfort in the sweltering heat, but most had given up and lay there lifelessly. If anyone looked over the edge of the colossal sand dune, they would think some bloodless battle had taken place and left no survivors, in which the dead slept restlessly.

One solitary survivor sat atop a flat rock, watching over his people like a shepherd over sheep. His eyes ran tirelessly back and fourth, gazing across a sea of sleeping bodies. But more often than not, they stopped to rest on a small pink haired girl; the girl that plagued his thoughts.

Gaara rubbed his eyes in annoyance, the dirt and sand that had never bothered him before now irritated him to no end. Resting his head in his hands, he attempted to make sense of it all. Recalling what is sister had advised earlier that day; he began to question himself. Maybe she had been right.

Looking up once more, Gaara was surprised to see the pink haired beauty sitting and gazing down at an old man. Entranced at how the light bounced off her tresses in elegant waves, he watched her every movement. It barely registered in his mind when her eyes rose to meet his in a piercing stare.

He was startled out his reverie when she ascended out her bed of sand. Waiting anxiously as she made her way through the resting people, he took note of her clothing. She looked much smaller now that the oversized robes had been replaced with a smaller, more fitting set. They were a jade green that matched her hair perfectly, tied back with a purple silk sash. The sagging robes no longer hid her small waist or shapely legs.

A pang of something he could not name ran rampant through his body as she now stood in front of him. "Why are you not resting? I can recall a time when it was blasphemy when I did not." She said with a small smile.

He returned with an equally small smile, "This is a different case entirely."

"Oh?" She said with a laugh, "I'll leave that for you to decide." Gazing at him, she thought for a moment. Taking the seat next to him the rock, she continued, "I heard something interesting earlier."

"And what might that be?"

"That you are the true Emperor." She stated plainly.

Tightening his fists he looked away, "I don't want to talk about that."

Sliding closer to him, she gazed at him, "Why not?"

"Because they," he gestured to the sleeping masses, "want me to drop everything and fight for the throne. If they had any idea of how foolish that plan was, they wouldn't even suggest it. It's not even a plan."

Resting her head on his shoulder, Sakura tried to console him, "You are doing what is best for your people. That makes you a good leader." He said nothing in return, only stared off into the endless expanse of sand. "So, Shikamaru tells me you we're headed to the forest."

A solemn mask settled on his features, "Yes, I expect to make it before dawn tomorrow. There we will meet Sasuke and hopefully this will be over."

"He also tells me that I have to go to some cave and hide." She commented, to see what he would say.

Nodding he replied, "All elderly, women and children will be going there."

Crossing her arms defiantly she shook her head, "I will not go run and hide. I'm going to fight with you."

"What has gotten into your head?!" He hissed quietly, "You are far too valuable to this community."

She rolled her eyes, "So are you. What if you died? Then who would lead your people?"

"That is a different matter all together. If I die, I have people to take over my position. You happen to be the only healer among us." He stated in a matter of fact tone.

Getting up off the rock, Sakura stood in front of him rebelliously, "I will not go run and hide. Especially from him."

In a fury Gaara stood up and glared at her, "You will go hide with the rest of them! You have no say in the matter." Stepping forward with every word, he forced her to stumble back, "You are far too important, you will not jeopardize yourself in anyway."

Fear flashed in her eyes, but then she stood her ground. Standing up straight, Sakura, nose to nose with Gaara, prodded him in the chest with her finger, "You can't tell me if I can fight or not. I'm my own woman and will not be held down by any man! I don't care who you are!"

Gaara was taken aback. He had never seen this side of her, a side that wasn't a scared little girl. It was oddly attractive. Before he had time to register what he was doing, his lips were on hers. He stared into her wide, doe-like eyes before pulling back abruptly.

Gathering his wits he was quick to apologize, and was rewarded with her lips in return. As the initial shock died, they both relaxed into each others arms. Maybe this is what his sister was trying to tell him. And he was positive that she was right.

I hope you liked this installment, in which we learn a bit more about own male characters. I know I did! Well, tell me what you think! I put in that little bit of fluff for you guys. And I hope all your questions about Shikamaru were answered. I got some reviews with confusion about him. This should have cleared it up.