Chapter Two: A Dangerous Path

"Sato? Do you think we should find some shelter soon? It looks like it might rain and I wouldnt want us to catch a cold..." She looked up at the sky with a worried expression on her face, all traces of her earlier anger gone. Sato inwardly laughed at how easy she was to read and how innocent she was. He smiled at her and looked up at the sky, as well. "So little Kitten, are you afraid you'll melt?" She turned on him started to scold him, but he didnt take it seriously since he could see the amusement in her eyes. He looked up at the sky again and turned serious. "All playing aside, I do think it would be smart to find some shelter. It looks like the rain will last through the night." She smirked. "I already know that Sato! Lets go over there, I think I see a cave although its so misty that its hard to tell." He nodded and grabbed her hand as he led her over to the place she pointed out. He ignored the sensation it gave him and sped up. She grimaced and dug in her nails. "Im not hitting on you Kitten, its so that we dont get lost. Not to mention that I would like to reach there before the rain pours down on us. Now please, retract your claws." She sighed and eased up on her grip. "Thats better."

They came up to the cave and he released her hand, wondering at the sense of loss it left him and slowly entered the cave, looking for any signs of danger. "Sato, the rain has started. Hurry up already!" He cursed slightly as she ran ahead of him without watching for other creatures in the cave. In weather like this, it was most likely that this cave was already inhabited. "Shoyomi, be careful and get back here! There might be some...!" He was cut off short as he heard her scream. Terror filled him as he ran ahead to find that she had slipped. He sighed in relief and went to help her up. It was then that he noticed her frightened eyes. He followed them and saw a huge bear towering over them. There was no way for him to physically beat something this size. He made a quick movement with his hands and the bear became confused as the two humans he mauled became logs. It was then that he noticed them farther up the cave, towards the entrance and he lumbered toward them. Sato barely had time for another jutsu as he moved Shiyomi out of the way and earned a swipe from the bear across his arm. His next hand movements caused the chakra in his arm to twist and create a rope that he shot from his palm and twisted around the bear, limiting his movements. The bear let out a ferocious growl as he fell to the floor with a great thump.

Sato sighed and walked back to the front of the cave where Shiyomi was waiting for him. She ran up to him and hugged him tightly as she shivered with fear. He quietly calmed her down until she stopped shivering. She looked at his arm and went pale. "Sato! Sato, are you ok!" She hugged him again, being mroe careful of his arm and started to cry. "Im so sorry Sato! Its all my fault for getting ahead of you like that! If I hadnt been in such a hurry you never would have been hurt!" He felt his heart thump as she once again hugged him and he put his good arm around her as he gave her a small kiss on the head. "Dont worry about it Kitten. Its just a small scratch." He smiled and held her closer. She pulled away from an instant later and started to tear the bottom of her shirt off. "What are you doing Kitten!" He turned away, hoping she didnt notice that his face was heating up. He cursed under his breath when he felt her hand touch his arm. "Its ok Sato, Im not naked. Im just making a bandage for your arm. I dont want it to get infected or anything." He snorted and she shot him a glare. "Dont sit there and act as if your invincible! That wound looks like it hurt, now let me bandage it!" He grimaced as she wound the part of her shirt that she tore away as tight as she could and sighed. He looked at her face now, full of determination and he wondered where the girl who was crying in his arms a few minutes ago went. A look of pain shot across his face as she gave the bandage another tug. There was a tiny smirk on her face, and he just knew that this was her revenge on him for some unknown slight he has caused her. "There. All done. Now that wasnt so bad, was it?" She smirked full out this time and he growled at her. "Oh no. It wasnt so bad at all. I just feel as if my arm has been castrated, thats all!" She poke him on the nose and laughed. "Good! That means you'll be healed in no time!"

Sato let out a snort as he saw her sit down on the floor of the cave. He gave in and went to sit next to her, staring out at the rain that had caused them so much trouble. His thoughts turned inward to Gaara and the look he saw him give Shiyomi after she ran into him. He had to quell the small flame of doubt and jealousy that worked its way into his heart as he shot a quick glance at the girl next to him. She noticed his look and smiled at him and he felt his heart give a flip. This was no good. He couldnt allow himself to have these feelings over this girl. She was too important to his plans to finally get his kazekage to thaw out properly. He could not allow himself to feel jealous. But as time wore on, and the conversation picked up between them, he suddenly wished he could stay here with her forever, and to hell with Gaara. Finally, tired and spent, they both fell asleep next to each other, and Sato's dreams followed in Gaara's wake and chased after a green eyed girl who always seemed to stay just beyond his reach.