Chapter Eight
"Chelsea!" I feel someone shaking me in panic.
"What?" I say with equal panic back sitting up with a start.
"Are you okay?" Makoto asks while leaning over me. Rhianna is in the doorway looking worryingly at me.
"Yeah…why?" I ask rubbing my neck, still sleepy.
"You were crying in your sleep…" he trails off.
"I was?" I ask touching my tear stained face. Damn it. This was supposed to stop happening.
"I need to talk with you," Makoto says getting up from my bed. Rhianna is looking at us both silently. Where is Tyler? What time is it? I sigh and get up. I follow Makoto outside to the porch. Light is barely in the sky. I woke everyone up this early, and for what, my problems? He sits on the porch steps and motions for me to sit by him; I obey.
"So, you alright?" he begins by seemingly looking into me. I sigh and turn away.
"I'm fine," I respond softly about to get up when he pulls me down.
"I'm not sure I quite believe you…" he says looking at me.
"It was nothing…" I respond looking back.
"Was…Joey or Sasuke in it?" he asks seriously.
"Why does it matter?" I ask looking at him with my anger now apparent.
"Chelsea…you were crying for Joey not to leave you. I heard it all the way from the kitchen," he states letting me know he didn't get much sleep, "Then you told Sasuke not to leave you, right afterwards. I know it's hard, but this could affect your mental stability being a shinobi…" he begins. I panic. Is he talking about the hospital again? I am not going back.
"No!" I shout, "I'm fine…I'm a medic-nin…I am fine…I can handle it."
"Chelsea…I'm not talking about the hospital."
"Then what are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about…well…talking. Ever tried it before?"
I look at him sternly. Of course I have. "Yes."
"Have you tried talking to me?"
"No…" where was he exactly going with this?
"You should, I am much older and wiser than I seem, but I've seen it and been though it before, and will help you face more of a…a reality than what any hospital or parent could do. Friends are great, but do they know what to say? Not most of the time. Think of me as an outside source," he finishes with a smile.
"Yeah…" is all I could reply with looking off into the sunrise.
"Will you talk?"
"What? Now?" I ask looking at him
"Whenever you feel like you need it," he says looking at me with a smile.
I smile back. I never realized how cute Makoto really was. I shake off that thought and stand up, walking into the house and I stop in the doorway and turn back. "Thanks Makoto-sensei," and I walk in.
I walk into the kitchen with a smile on my face and see Rhianna drinking coffee with her arm hooked through Tyler's who was eating toast. Matt's head is down on the table and Saniiro is reading his book with coffee in front of him, which he pick up here and there to take a sip.
I take a seat at the table after grabbing some leftover toast, which that kid Tyler practically took all of it.
From what I know of him, he is a nice kid, just a little, well, not there. He loves the game Dungeons and Dragons and always talks about strategies and which he says he will miss while he is away in Konoha, but says he will promise his friends for a duel as soon as he gets back. He talks about his love for sports, like track, football and wrestling which he has all taken part of here in Suna. I listen to him as he talks about himself and his life in Suna and Rhianna just giggles here and there and never lets go of him.
I haven't seen Rhianna this happy in a long time. I'm so glad that we came back to Suna. Also, Tyler has a strange love of frogs, though he says he has never seen a real one before here in Suna.
"Well, there are plenty to catch in Konoha," I respond laughing.
"Really! Alright, I know of the Northern Leopard frog and the Common Green Backed frog and…" he carries on. I decide that at that moment outside was calling me and I excused myself. Hearing about frogs didn't interest me but while he was talking Rhianna giggled and kissed him on the cheek. Tyler decided he should tell Matt about it. Matt groaned with his head still on the table. Tyler also decided to tell Saniiro. Saniiro scootched a little away from Tyler, while turning a page in his book.
The sun was fully up by now and the heat was beginning to beat down on me. It was a good thing I was wearing my pink tank top with black shorts and my hair up. I proudly tighten my Konoha headband around my head and step out onto the streets of Suna. I turn on my communicator just in case.
I browse multiple stands and find everything laying on the streets ranging from fruits and vegetables to antiques and jewelry. I come to what seems to be a puppet stand. There are so many different shaped puppets…some a bit disturbing.
"Would you like to buy a puppet ma'am?" asks a clerk. I browse all the puppets at the stand. They are all so strange and different. You wouldn't find anything like this in Konoha.
"I'm just looking thanks," I reply fascinated with one really strange looking one sitting on the side of the stand. I touch it and it's smooth, but, seemingly rough at the same time.
"His name is Karasu," responds a black hooded figure from behind me. I whip around and take my hand quickly off.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just looking."
This guy has a complete black outfit with a black hood with ears and purple makeup lining his face. He has a circle on the front of his shirt which is split in half with one side being red and the other yellow. There are scrolls resting on his back.
"Its alright, they only bite in battle," he says with a smile picking up the puppet and throwing down some money on the counter while mumbling a thanks.
I give a small smile in return. "The name is Kankurou."
"My name is Chelsea, nice to meet you," I respond holding out my hand for him to shake. He grins and takes it in a firm hold.
"My, your hands are soft for a Konoha shinobi," he says nicely.
"Are you implying that they SHOULD be rough?" I ask laughing.
"Normally," he says with a grin. I laugh and we walk together to another stand. We talk and he tells me about his puppets. He has three favorites that he uses; Karasu, Kuroari, Sanshouo. I tell him a bit about Konoha and how its really hard to get used to the weather.
"Want to meet my sister?" he asks without hesitation.
"Sure," I say with a smile. We walk to an apartment like building, in the shape of all the other buildings, being very different from the design I'm used to in Konoha.
"Temari!" Kankurou yells walking in the door. The house is nice and seems comfortable enough. A blonde haired girl with her hair tied into four ponytails pops out of what I presume is the kitchen. "We have a guest Temari."
"Hello," she says rushed and turns to Kankurou, "a Konoha shinobi? Kankurou…Gaara won't be happy."
"Relax…she is cool," he responds putting his hands up in his defense.
Temari sighs in defeat. "Alright, she can stay for lunch." I shift uncomfortably and wave. Temari looks me over, scrutinizing me, and turns and walks back into the kitchen. I sigh a breath of relief.
"Ah, don't worry about her," he turns to me with a smile.
"Right," I reply, unconvinced. We go into the kitchen and sit down at the round table. Kankurou talks about his fighting with the best of the best puppeteers in all of Suna and how he defeated them all. I tune into his stories and giggle here and there when he becomes overdramatic. Temari rolls her eyes and snorts whenever he gets too excited and goes into tremendous detail in describing how he crushed his opponent. I realize I have to check in with my team, it being almost five.
"Excuse me Kankurou, Temari. I need to check in with my team. I've been gone for a couple of hours."
"Sure thing Chelsea-chan," Kankurou responds with a smile.
I step out of the kitchen and find my communicator isn't receiving any connection. I try going upstairs to see if I can get anything. Nothing. I see a door leading outside on a balcony. I try it out there, hopefully being higher up will help.
"Team 11, come in team 11. Makoto? Rhi? Matt?" I get no answer.
"Come in team 11, can anyone hear me?" I ask a little bit frustrated.
"You won't get any connection with a sandstorm coming," says a deep voice behind me.
I whip around to see a guy in white robes and fire red hair with the kanji love on his forehead and dark rimmed, sea foam green eyes. He is taller than me by a few inches. He walks up to the side of me and looks over the balcony.
"Er…sorry if I intruded. I was trying to receive connection and well…no luck."
He just glances at me and looks back at the street. Wow, what a talker.
"Heh, well I'm going to go now," I say slowly backing up backwards. As I turn around to make a dash for the door I find the same guy in front of me with something wrapping around my ankles. Sand!
"Mind telling me why you were in my house?"
"You see Kankurou, the puppet guy, well he invited me over for lunch and…" I begin quickly. Is this guy going to kill me?He stares me down. I stop talking.
The sand releases me. I sigh a breath of relief and he looks off into the streets of Suna.
"My brother is foolish inviting shinobi he meets on the street to the Kazekage's house as if he owns it."
This guy Kazekage? This must be Gaara. He looks back at me. I stand completely still, my breathing hitched. I heard about this guy, but him Kazekage?
"Name," he commands.
"Chelsea," I respond meekly. He looks off again.
"Next time pronounce yourself before going through my room to my balcony," he says coolly. This guy sounds like Sasuke.
"Gaara…?" I start. He turns to me and I realize I have nothing to say. We stare at each other for a moment. "Nothing," I finish.
"Hn." Yup, definitely Sasuke-like.
"Byes," I wave and rush in the house. I sigh a breathe of relief when I get downstairs and back into the kitchen.
"Hey you guys didn't tell me you had…" I start only to be greeted with the Kazekage himself with his two siblings.
I gulp. "Chelsea, have you met Gaara?" Temari asks sweetly.
"Yes I have," I utter out. I nervously laugh when I get something on the other line.
"Chelsea, come in Chelsea, Makoto speaking."
"Makoto, this is Chelsea."
"Where are you," he asks. I look around.
"The Kazekage's house," I respond.
"What! How the hell did you end up there?"
"Long story, tell you later," I reply looking everywhere except at Gaara's face.
"Alright, head back now, we have matters to discuss."
"Copy, over," I reply. I look at Kankurou, then Temari, then Kankurou again, going over Gaara in fear that he might attack me with his sand again.
"Well thanks for lunch and the stories Kankurou and Temari," I say with a smile to the two of them. I dare myself to look at Gaara. He is staring stoically back. He is definitely related to Sasuke some how I decide. "Thanks Gaara, er, for letting me use your balcony," I say nervously, "I have to go," I reply walking out the door.
I can hear Kankurou yelling at Gaara asking him what he did. I laugh and get out of there. I feel this isn't the last time I meet Gaara of the Desert.
I finally reach the apartment and run into the kitchen. I see Makoto sitting at the table looking over a map and Saniiro reading that damn book still.
"Where are Rhi and Matt?"
"Coming," he replies in concentration.
I sit down across from Saniiro and glare at the book. He turns a page and peers out from behind it.
"Want to read?" he asks holding the book up to me.
"Uh, no," I reply looking away.
"Hyuu!" Rhianna yells running in with Tyler attached to her hand.
"Hello Rhi," I say with a smile. Tyler isn't so bad if you get around the whole weird thing. Matt drags in afterwards. Looks like he has been training, and out in this heat too! Everyone sits down and Makoto finally peers up.
"Alright gang, the game plan for tomorrow," he begins, "Well, last night was…interesting. We really didn't accomplish much at all. Genji brought Akano and there was tension. I went with a few, uh, pals of mine and we tried negotiations. Genji says give us Saniiro and we are through. I said, no, and well, things happened. A fight broke out between my men and his. I stopped the fight. Apparently there is no peaceful solution," Makoto sighs heavily and rubs the back of his neck looking down. When he looks up again he has plastered a smile on his face looking at all of us. He worries me sometimes.
"Um…" Matt starts looking at Makoto with confusion.
"This means," Makoto continues on, "That we will have to settle this the hard way. We need to get Saniiro to a completely safe place. Since negotiations with me will not be carried out, the leader of Suna should do. You can stay at a headquarters here with maximum security until everything is solved Saniiro. This could be awhile. We need to escort you there. This is out of Chuunin and their Master's hands."
"Alright," Saniiro says with a look of disappointment and sorrow. I would feel bad for him if he wasn't a pervert.
"So, we just escort him from here, to there, and go home?" Matt asks looking a bit happy. Rhianna looks disappointed at this realization.
"Pretty much," Makoto says with a sigh and a sip from his drink.
"Right," I respond looking back at Rhianna. She is looking down at the table.
"Rhi?" I ask.
"I'm fine, I will just miss Suna."
"But, Tyler is coming with us," I ask confused.
"Yes but, I love this place," she responds depressed.
"Don't worry Rhi, we will come back whenever we get the chance. Besides, I need time to come up with a game plan…" Tyler says looking hard at concentration.
I sigh and look at Makoto who is looking at the map fiercely. Matt is staring at Tyler with a weird expression on his face.
"Alright gang, time for bed," says Makoto soon afterwards rolling up his map.
We all head off to bed with sleep heavily on our minds. Gaara the Kazekage huh? Interesting.