Over the river and through the woods…

Kankuro's POV

The four of us stood in the dense foliage of the Forest of Death.

Gaara had just murdered three genin that had been too cocky to realize just who they were dealing with.

Team Shigure had come across our team just by chance, but after being stupid and ignoring our warnings, they decided to fight us. That resulted in a quick death for each of them.

Kira, who hadn't really been doing much during our time in the forest besides entertaining Temari and me with conversation, grew quiet while Gaara was in his rage.

She had recognized the sand that shielded Gaara when he was attacked, All of the power that was behind it was knew to her however. It was the first time Kira had actually seen Gaara fight, and she was very impressed at first. But then Gaara's bloodlust kinda surprised her, and she looked a little shaken. She was watching him now with careful eyes, standing next to Temari.

I picked up the scroll that the guy, now dead, had laid before us.

"Hey, we got lucky, it's a heaven scroll!" I turned around. "Alright! Let's head to the tower."

Gaara stood looking away. He said in a creepy voice, "Just shut up."

I stared at him. "Huh?"

"It's not…" he spoke in a shaky voice, "it's still not enough for me."

Gaara was looking off into the bushes, as if he could see something none of us could. I glanced at Kira, who looked very worried. Her eyes shifted from the place Gaara was looking at, and to his face.

"What… do you mean, Gaara?"

I didn't like where this was going. I hoped he wasn't gonna go looking for someone else to brutily murder, I was sick of being in these woods already.

"C'mon Gaara.." I said in a tired voice. "Let's go!"

Gaara turned his face slightly and set his icy green eyes upon me. "What are you… scared? You coward!"

What's with this sudden attitude?

I was starting to get annoyed. I started striding towards him. "Look Gaara, I know this test is no problem for you, but it's dangerous for Temari and me! One set of scrolls is good enough. It's all we need to pass!"

Gaara scoffed. "Losers. Don't tell me what to do."

Okay. Now I was really made.

"I grabbed a hold of his sash. "Alright, that's enough! Sometimes you have to listen to what your big brother says!"

He had a sly expression on his face, which just made me even more angry. "It's too bad I don't think of you as my brother." He said.

I heard Kira gasp a little.

"If you get in my way…" Gaara went on, "I'll kill you."

Kira tried to move forward but Temari held her back.

"He means it…" She whispered urgently.

That made Kira hesitate.

Gaara narrowed his eyes at me. I just stood there staring him down, unable tot think of something to say. Eventually Gaara swept my hand away and then moved his hand in the direction of the bushes. Sand began to move.

Temari tried to step in, keeping Kira behind her. "Wait, Gaara… You don't have to treat us like we're the enemies." She put one of her hands up but kept the other on Kira, who was looking a little frantic. She continued "Look, do it as a favor for your sister. Please?"

Of course Gaara had always treated Temari better than me since she was the girl, even if it was just a little better. But he still didn't stop from whatever he was doing with the sand.

It swirled around the bushes that were off to me left. I didn't understand what was happening.

Then Kira couldn't take it anymore. "No Gaara, please stop!" she wrenched herself away from my sister's grip and ran towards Gaara, throwing her self onto his outstretched arm. It didn't budge.

"Don't Gaara-kun, there's no need for more killing!"

Now I understood. Hiding in the bushes were three more genin. I couldn't tell who they were or if I knew them, but I could see their backs now, crouched down among the underbrush. Gaara was planning on killing them, That's why Kira was so upset. She must have known them then.

The sand increased it's speed. Kira shook him.

"GAARA!" Kira and Temari both screamed in unison.

His hand closed.

I shut my eyes tight, not wanting to see the blood.

There was a moment of stillness. Had he killed them?

Gaara looked over at Kira, who was still clinging to him. He opened his hand to reveal the cork to his sand gourd.

"Alright…" He said, giving up. "This time…" He turned and walked away.

Temari, Kira, and I all relaxed. Everything was okay now…

But then Kira went after him.

"NO!" Temari and I both tried to grab her but she evaded us.

"Hey, Gaara… I was just wondering…" She walked innocently beside him, but he just ignored her.

"Hey… what's wrong?" she reached up and lightly put a hand on his shoulder. With one swift motion, Gaara turned, slashed her hand away, and jumped away from her. It happened so fast I barely saw him move.

"Do not," Gaara seethed through clenched jaws, "touch me."

Kira's face twisted in confusion. Her negative emotions spread out easily across her expression. First she looked surprised, then hurt, then frustrated.

"Why not?" For the first time, Kira looked unhappy.

Gaara looked as if he wanted to say something, but decided against it. He turned and began to walk away again.

Kira wouldn't have that.

She trampled after him, "Gaara?"

I stepped forward. "Kira, its best to just leave it!" My voice was just above a whisper so that Gaara wouldn't hear, but Kira pretended not to notice.

She looked really mad now. "Why the heck are you always so mean to everyone that happens to cross your path?"

He kept walking.

This is bad. Kira! Please don't make him angry!

"What's wrong with you? What happened to make you like this?" she went on. "You seemed just fine with me touching you yesterday!"

Whoa, what did I miss?

I thought about making a joke, she was setting herself up for one after all, but that probably would not have helped with the situation. I wouldn't have been able to anyway cause that girl would just not shut up. "Just because you are miserable for some reason doesn't mean-"

Finally Gaara couldn't take it. He appeared behind her and almost grabbed her but she anticipated his movements and defended. She spun and avoided the spiral of sand that threatened to grasp her limbs. Kira moved quickly but Gaara was faster. He hit her to mess up her footwork, and in those few seconds where she was off balance, more sound clouded up and took hold of her tightly, binding her arms and legs together and twisting them. I could see her swallow a sound, but she didn't dare struggle. She knew it would only make it worse. Instead she stared at him with fierce eyes, now colored a bright, scary looking green. She reminded me of an angry trapped cat, spitting and glaring with pupils like little black slits.

There was a pause, and everyone stood for a minute to take in what had just happened. I exchanged a worried look with Temari.

Surely he will kill her!

I almost said something to him, but then he spoke.

"I was incredibly foolish to let my guard down for even a short amount of time. I promise you that it will never happen again." His voice showed no emotion, but his face was angry.

Kira said nothing.

"Living in the past won't get you anywhere. You are weak, and still too stupid to realize that I really don't care about you or if you think I'm mean."

Kira shook her head. "But I know you Gaara-"

"NO, YOU DON'T!" He was losing it now, his hand flew up and he let his fingers close around her throat. Rarely, no, NEVER had he touched one of his opponents before. This probably wasn't a good sign. There was nothing we could do now to save her now.