Disclamer:
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and can't say anything other then that about it…
I finished the script!! I'm so happy and I'm pretty proud of it… even if it it's kind of lame… anyway here's more of this for ya :D
Also we're coming to an end on this story… in fact this chapter is the calm before the storm…. So get ready for lot's of crappy action parts and all that Jazz :D
Big thanks to my beta Black Roses666!! I love her so much!! And can't thank her enough for all the work she puts into this story to make it readable
--Getting ready--
"Inu!! You're ok!! Oh, thank goodness!! I was so worried when I heard you were caught!!" The brunette rushed to her friend, her eyes were shining with joy and relief, not that Inu could see them.
"Oh, hello Tuyen; yeah, I'm fine. It takes more then a few Rock Nin to keep this girl down," Inu laughed lightly, "So, Tuyen, ready to get back to training?"
The brunet's look of confusion was reflected in her voice, "Wha…but…I mean, yes, but don't you want to recuperate?" Inu shook her head.
"The best way to recuperate is to get back into shape, all that sitting in prison made me stiff." She had, really, only been in the cell with Sasuke a few days, but Tuyen didn't need to know that.
--
"No, no, you're doing it all wrong!" Sasuke gasped as he almost fell over from exhaustion. Orochimaru frowned, his golden snake like eyes narrowing in frustration. Sasuke gritted his teeth as he did the routine over again.
He wasn't sure why Orochimaru was so adamant about him learning these moves so quickly. After there success with Rock they hard hardly needed to do anything. The whole thing was rather puzzling, if not a little frustrating.
--
It was almost sunset when Tuyen finished training. She told herself time and time again that Gaara would never show up, but that small glimmer of hope had driven her already exhausted body toward their meeting spot. She was right under the wall now, and there was no sigh of the sand master. This was stupid, she knew, and even though she kept telling herself that, she climbed up the wall. He wouldn't be there; just because he had been there that one night didn't mean he'd be there…
"You're late."
If it wasn't for his sand she would have surely fallen off the wall from surprise.
"G-Gaara, you came."
"Yes."
It was stupid, but she missed his one-syllabus answers. Tuyen shook her head; she was, after all, just a stupid girl. So in silence both the stupid girl and the sand master sat just enjoying each other's company.
It was funny how much Gaara had missed this routine. He hadn't really realized it until he had come back. The day after he met with Tuyen on the wall reminded him of all those tortuous days after she had left. He never wanted to go back to that, that, that feeling he had felt when she had run away. When she had left, all his days had just mashed together. It was like he was living in one continuous day. The utter emptiness that seemed to engulf him had almost been unbearable. The brunette's voice broke though his thoughts.
"I… I'm helping someone with something and I'm not sure how - - what - - will happen when I do… I…" Tuyen pulled her knees up to her chest as she watched the sunset "I just want to do something to help those who I love. You have no idea how helpless... how useless I've been feeling these past weeks."
Gaara was watching her with hard gray green eyes. She could feel them boring into her as she tried to put her feelings into words. How could she explain what she had and was now feeling? Sighing she hung her head in defeat. It was hopeless.
--
"If you're my servant now, how come I never see you anymore?"
"Aww, do you miss me, kid?"
Sasuke just smirked as he walked up to Inu's work bench. The blind smith didn't stop her work. However, Sasuke noticed, that when he leaned on the bench, Inu's grip on the large blade she was polishing tightened.
"Orochimaru wants to see you at the training ground in an hour."
"Oh goody, that gives me time to powder my nose."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. She was as sarcastic as ever, if not more. Shifting slightly, Sasuke's eyes narrowed, even someone like him could tell something was eating at Inu. Not that he really cared; he just didn't want his sparing partner to be all bent out of shape. Of course, this was Inu, she NEVER let anything get in the way of her fighting. Glancing at the blade for the first time, Sasuke frowned.
"I've never seen a blade like that before…whose is it?"
"Yours."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow glancing up at the blind girl's face. There was no hint of sarcasm there.
"Orochimaru wanted me to make you a blade now that you are his full fledged partner, or puppet, or whatever he's calling you now."
"I think its called successor."
"Whatever, are you done? I happened to have work to do." Turning her back on him, Inu went back to adding the finishing touches to his blade. Sasuke just shook his head, and walked out, much too Inu's relief. She wasn't sure why, but lately, she couldn't think straight with Sasuke around. It was annoying her, but she wasn't about to let it get to her.
--
"Hey, Hinata."
The navy haired girl look looked up sharply, shocked to see the brunette.
"Tuyen!! I—it's been a long time."
The teen nodded, looking around, "Yeah, it has. Where's Koree?" The dark haired girl looked down, as if unsure of what to say.
"Well, he was causing trouble with some of the other kids, so I sent him on an errand." Tuyen frowned slightly.
"Causing trouble…how?"
"W--well he's been kind of upset lately, maybe you should go talk to him. He trusts you."
"Humm, ok."
--
Koree was trudging back to the nursery with the bad go "goodies" (more like head bands and clothes they needed to wash and fix). He hated this, always being too small to really DO anything. Other slaves where starting to move up. He had heard about it from some of the other kids. Sasuke Uchiha had become THE Orochimaru's apprentice. Koree had to get out of this sticking place. He was going to become an amazing ninja, and then maybe, maybe, his father would realize that he was his son and come back for him.
Maybe.
"Koree?"
The young boy was jerked out of his daydreams by the sound of someone calling his name. Looking out, he saw Tuyen. Frowning, he brushed past her.
"What do you want?"
The young brunette was slightly shocked at his cold attitude but she didn't let it bother her to much.
"Koree, Hinata said you were upset about something."
"Oh, and why would you care if I was?"
Tuyen's aqua eyes grew wide, "W—why would you say something like that?" Koree stopped and turned around, dropping the bag that had been slung over his shoulder.
"WHY!! I thought we were friends, but you haven't been around for almost two weeks!!" Tuyen opened her mouth to say something, but the young boy held up a hand to silence her. "I thought I could trust you-- but you're just like everyone else, once you find something better, you move on."
"Koree, that's not true…"
"Tell it to someone who cares."
--
Inu had fallen asleep, her head resting on her work bench, some of her tools still in hand. She had been working three days straight, with hardly any sleep at all. Orochimaru was planning his attack, as well as working Sasuke to the bone to train him. The rest of the Sound ninja were getting ready for the attack, and needed their weapons polished and ready. And Inu was well…
She was planning something of her own.
But, sadly, all this had been wearing down on her. Not to mention that fact that when she finely DID get some rest, unwanted dreams would fill her head. She would wake, confused, frightened, and, worst of all, unsure of herself. Even now, as her exhausted body rested, her mind was working over time. She was very startled when Tuyen work her.
"Inu...Inu!!"
"HUH!! WHAT!!"
Tuyen handed her a plate of food, "You were talking in your sleep again, I got worried." The blind smith give a small grunt, and took the plate that Tuyen was holding out for her. Gratefully, she started to eat, glad to have something to fill her ravenous stomach. Tuyen sat by in silence. Soon, the purple haired girl stopped noticing her student's silence.
"What's the matter, Tuyen?"
She heard the young women in question fidget, "well, I'm just, it's not that I mind helping you, or even, even DYING, it's just that, I'm worried about some of my friends when we do this." Inu frowned slightly.
"Well first off you're NOT going to die, if you do everything I tell you that is, as for everyone else, I have a friend who is going to take care of that."
"Really!?" the relief in Tuyen's voice was plain and Inu smiled when she heard it.
"Yes, really, now eat your dinner. You'll need your strength for tomorrow."
--
The attack was coming closer and everyone at the Sound camp was tense. Gaara's siblings were no exception. Temari's normally cocky attitude was replaced with nervous twitching. Kankuro, who was normally pretty silent, had been talking nonstop all morning. Their odd behavior was more then a little annoying.
The Sand master was the only one who kept his usual solemn demeanor. He had left his infuriating siblings in there room to fidget and talk. He wasn't quite sure where he was going but as long as he was AWAY from them he was fine.
His walk soon took him to the nursery where Hinata was helping some young children. When she saw Gaara, the raven haired girl stopped what she was doing to give a polite nod. Gaara did the same but his eyes were on one of the boys who was sitting sulkily behind most of the playing children. Hinata's opal gaze fallowed Gaara's and she gave a small smile.
"K-Koree isn't feeling him-himself today" she whispered. Gaara's eyes were still fixed on the boy trying to remember where he had seen the child before. Ahhh, yes, he had been with Tuyen. Koree, feeling Gaara's eyes boring into him, looked up, and then scowled, turning his back on the redhead. Blinking uncaringly, Gaara turned and left.
--
Tuyen had left to get a few more things so Inu was alone; but not for long.
"I was wondering when you would show up."
A soft laugh rung out from the back of the smith's forge, "What's 'ur problem?"
"Nothing much, did you talk to Neji?"
"Yep."
"So, everything's ready then?"
"You bet."
Inu smiled slightly as she went back to polishing her blade. "I saw that necklace you gave Tuyen, that was nice of you, but don't you think someone will guess?"
The older woman laughed "No way!! She'll be safe, don't cha worry."
Inu shrugged and then turned so she was facing the woman, not that it mattered since she couldn't see her anyway. "All right, get your troops ready and we'll see you on the outside."
The young woman frowned slightly "You betta be there with them or 'm gana come in afta you."
Inu laughed running her fingers threw her thick purple hair, "I'll keep that in mind."
--
Tuyen's hands were full of the last supplies Inu needed. She was so distracted that she wasn't looking where she was going. Sadly this mistake caused her to trip on a lose stone in the walk way. She screamed as she started to fall forward, but her body never hit the stone floor because a soft blanket of sand caught her.
"G-Gaara!!"
The young man stood in front of her his hands folded over his chest in his usual manner. Getting back up she collected her things then looked up at the redhead.
"H-how are you?"
"Why do you keep stuttering?"
"Oh, sorry, I was a little surprised"
"…"
"Well I'm glad to see you," suddenly, the relation off what was about to happen dawned on her; if they were free they would probably NEVER see each other again. Something hard hit her heart and she blinked back tears. Gaara's eyes widened slightly for a moment as he saw tears starting to form in the young woman's aqua eyes. Wiping away the tears that threatened to appear Tuyen smiled shyly.
"I-I guess I w-was just a little started is a-all"
"You're stuttering again"
Tuyen laughed as her taking a deep breath "Sorry, Well I better go, it was nice to see you, Gaara…" her voice trailed off as she turned to go. This wasn't how she wanted to say good bye. Stopping for a moment she spoke again, not daring to turn around in fear that she would cry.
"Gaara, I—I know it's silly but if I never see you again, I want you to know I really enjoyed being your friend and I would never...detest you." with that she took off running, never looking back.
--
REVIEWS!! –hugs you all-
Fallen Angel3579:
Lol Gaara's going to be in it more now :D we're almost the to end –sniffs- he's going to some amazing stuff!! HAHAH yeah I guess it would probably help is SHE understood what was going on XD
CrystalHeart27:
Lol and here's another REALLY LATE UPDATE!! –crickets-
avatar-chik:
Hehe yeah sorry about that… my Beta was having exams so I had to fend for myself and by the end I get so excited to post I forget to look over it another time XD –is such a dork-
teen titan girl:
YOU DO!! WOW I thought everyone was like "GAAA we want more Gaaraness not this stupid oc's past!!" XD I'm glad you like it :D
Black Roses666:
It's ok RELALY!! I'm just so grateful that you take time out of your busy day to help me out!! and thank you oh so much for Betaing this chapter –hugs- you're the best!!
InsaneEmpathWolf:
AWWW thank you so much!! I'm trying my best to make in enjoyable even if it's not totally accurate. WOW thank you so much!! I tend to get very worked up about making oc's I spend lot's of time on them and try to make them as believable as I can. I can't tell you how happy your review made me!! I was grinning like an idiot and giggling like a mad person. –hugs you to death- thank you so much!!
P260even:
WOOT!! –glomps you- haha yes I'm done but it still took be forever to post this XD anyway it's here now and that's all that matters :D
And thank you all for reviewing!! It makes me so happy to get the input of my readers!! And you all have no idea how much you inspire me!!
Liz