Preperations Cut Short

Life seemed to be boring for a Sorakage. They are limited to things they can do. They cannot make a mistake, or they will be disgraced by society. Ridiculed. Insulted. Spited. They are merely an icon for the people. And they are considered the weakest of all. But, it would be the weakest to bring them down.

The Summer Festival preperations were coming along smoothly. I wasn't needed. Ryushin tried to keep me company, but he was needed. I merely sat lazily in my office, staring out the window. There was nothing I could do. I couldn't roam the streets. I couldn't visit Chu, for she was also needed. I couldn't leave the office or I would be "slacking off".

"Yoko must've been so happy to leave this place," I sighed as a crow flew past my window. "But, I'll only have to suffer this a bit longer. Once this place is grounded, I'll have a lot of work to do. But still-" I groaned and spun around in my chair. "-this is sooooooo boring!"

I turned the chair around so that I sat facing the back. I leaned over the edge and stared out the window. At times like these, I couldn't help but think about my old friends. Lee, Jin, Hinako,. . .Gaara. What could they all be doing at this moment? Lately, this question had been eating me up inside. And since I don't have any work to take my mind off of it, I've been dying inside. This life was sheer torture for me. I needed to get out, fulfill my curiosity, interact with people. I wanted my carefree Genin life back. I wanted to see everyone again.

I clenched my fists as a lump grew in my throat. I couldn't take this anymore. I needed to get out. Escape. I wrote a note saying I was on an important mission and would return soon. I opened my wings, and leapt off the window sill. It felt so good to fly through the air. I immeadiatly felt free. That office was way too stuffy. Flapping my wings with more force, and dove over the high walls of the city and down into the sky.

After my scenic flight, I landed on a tall building inside Konoha's perimeters. I took out my old Konoha head band and tightened it on my head. It had been years since I last worn this thing. About 2 years to be exact. I smiled nostalgically, and folded up my wings. I climbed down the building and began to walk through the town. I couldn't help, but have a big grin on my face at seeing the old ninja village again. It held so many happy memories. I was surprised that I didn't meet up with anyone. Usually I would see at least one person I recognized. I shrugged it off.

They must all be off on missions or something, I thought to myself and continued on. I stopped when I found myself in front of the Hokage's office. It has been two years since I last saw this building. A feeling of uneasiness rose up in my stomach. How would everyone react when they saw me? Will they be angry? Will they hate me?

I decided that it was stupid to just stand there all day, so I took the difficult step up the stairs and into the Hokage's office. I knocked before I came in, and felt a strange lurch in my stomach when I heard a familiar voice answer for my entry. I walked inside and found Tsunade staring at me with shocked eyes. Her mouth dropped open, and I felt my face get hot. I expected this kind of reaction, but it still made me feel embarassed.

"S-Sarafu?!" She managed to say in surprise.

I nodded. "I've come back to pay a visit, Tsunade-sama."

She managed to regain her composure. "You sure have a lot of guts to come back after you disappeared. Where have you been?!"

I froze. To Tsunade, the Sky Village had been destroyed and I had no home. I smiled and cocked my head to the side. "You'll find out soon enough. So, where is everybody? I wish to say 'hi'."

Now, Tsunade's face seemed grim. "I'm sorry, but there's trouble."

I looked at her strangely. Her serious mood confused me, but I didn't realize the ground of the situation. "What trouble?"

Tsunade looked at me with cold eyes that unnerved me a bit. "Gaara was kidnapped by Akatsuki."

I didn't move. I didn't speak. I didn't think. I was still, as though time had stopped suddenly. My knees nearly buckled, but I caught myself, no my mind and my heart began to work. I gasped for air. "Is that where everyone has gone?! In search of him?!"

Tsunade nodded. "I don't know how its going so far, but Gai's team and Kakashi's team have all gone in search of him."

I slammed my hand against the wall. "They won't be enough! I'm going too!"

"I won't try to stop you. It seems to me that you no longer belong to Konoha. You're hiding something from me and I know it. Tell me, Sarafu, where is Hinako?"

I stopped and turned back to her. "What do you mean? She's not here?"

Tsunade shifted in her seat. "No. She left the day after you did. I figured that you two were up to something. You really have no idea about her whereabouts?"

I shook my head. Hinako left? Where could she have gone? How could she have gone? What about Neji? What about Jin? What the hell happened while I was gone?!

Tsunade observed me for a second and then sighed. "It seems this place is falling apart. Well, I won't keep you. Just, return, okay? We've got a lot of things to sort out."

I looked at Tsunade, my strangled expression gone, now full of with seriousness. I nodded my head. "Un." Then I ran out of the office. I opened my wings and flew onto the roof. I needed to get there as soon as possible, and I wasn't fast enough. I summoned Moregayo, and he grumbled at me as usual.

"Shut up, Moreagyo! This is an emergency! Gaara's in trouble! I need to find him as soon as possible!"

He glared at me. "That's a sharp tongue you have there, missy. I would watch it if I were you!"

"Dammit, Moregayo!" I screamed, my eyes threatening to burst into tears. "This isn't the time! Please, just help me find Gaara! I have to save him!"

Moregayo glared at me, but submitted. He lowered himself so that I could climb on. I flung my leg over his side like a horse, and he shot into the air. I nearly fumbled backwards from the sudden blast of air, but I gripped him tightly with my legs, and by sheer abdomen power, I righted myself. Although it was very uncomfortable, it was necessary. I needed to find Gaara as soon as possible. I could only hope he wasn't dead before I got there.

...to be continued.