Disclaimers in previous chapters.
Sen walked towards Suna's gates, passing few villagers in the midday haze. She sighed. "I wonder if Gaara even knows I plan on leaving Suna," she said quietly. She shrugged. It wasn't like anyone was going to stop her. She exited the gates and when she thought she was far enough so that no one would over see, she stopped. Sketching the appropriate signs in the sand, she pulled a kunai out and slid it across her palm, pressing her now bleeding hand against the ground.
Elder Sage Owl appeared, shifting her feathers at the desert heat. "Little fledgling," she said in way of greeting.
"Elder Sage Owl," Sen said. "Could we-Could we just..."
The owl shifted her wing so that Sen could climb onto her back. When the girl was situated, she said, "Any particular direction, little fledgling?"
Sen spoke on a whim. "Towards Mizuki's."
The owl nodded and took off.
Kanemaru, meanwhile, was back in the training grounds. He was putting his all into it, but, sadly, he hadn't made much improvement.
Sen sighed as the desert breeze blew into her face. It sort of reminded her of Gaara's scent; his had something more that made it not just the desert but him, her Gaara. She shook her head. Damn. She was thinking of him as property. She sighed again.
Elder Sage Owl whispered, "Something wrong, little fledgling?"
"N-no, I mean, not exactly," Sen said. "I just wanted to take some time to clear my head, I suppose."
"I see."
Very soon they landed at the edge of Fire Country. "I'll be fine, now," Sen said as she got down. "I'll call you when I'm ready to come back, okay?"
Elder Sage Owl nodded and, in a puff of smoke, disappeared.
Sen took off through the trees, with the full intention of visiting Mizuki, when a sound made her stop. She froze, crouched on the branch like a cat, straining her ears to catch the sound again.
"But Danna, shouldn't we-"
"Shh. Be quiet, Deidara. Do you want all of the Fire Country to hear us?"
"No, Sasori-danna."
Deidara? Sasori? Weren't those two members of Akatsuki? Sen shut her eyes, remembering the file Sasuke had shown her and Mizuki all those weeks ago. Yes, the two she'd heard were definitely members of Akatsuki. But what were they doing here?
The sound of kissing could be heard next, and Sen felt her stomach turn over. They were gay! Kami, she had to tell Chiyo-baasan and Gaara about this. She performed the seal and disappeared quietly.
Sasori pulled back, eyes darting around the surrounding trees.
"Danna, what is it?" Deidara panted.
I know I sensed a chakra signature around here, Sasori thought. But it seemed female, and there appeared to be another with it. Odd...
"Danna," Deidara whined, dragging Sasori from his musings.
"Stay here," Sasori ordered and, before Deidara could protest, continued, "It seems we had a visitor, and we don't want our little secret to get out, now do we?"
Deidara shook his head fiercely.
"All right, go back to the base and tell them I'll be a little longer. I have a few loose ends I need to tie up." Sasori disappeared with a sadistic smile on his face as Deidara chuckled at what his Danna could possibly have planned before disappearing as well.
Half way into Wind Country, Sen collapsed to her knees as she re-opened the wound on her right hand before pressing it to the ground.
Halftalon appeared, clearly disgruntled about being summoned to the desert. Ruffling his feathers perturbedly, he turned to Sen and snapped, "Get on."
Sen scrambled on as Halftalon shot into the air. He wasn't as fast as Elder Sage, so they made it back to Suna by nightfall. "Um, Halftalon?" Sen ventured. "Could you drop me off where the Legendary Siblings are?"
Halftalon made an odd noise, somewhere between a growl and an agitated sigh, but shifted his flight so that, within a few minutes, they landed on the balcony of the building. He disappeared as his talons hit the ground, leaving Sen to stumble awkwardly to keep from falling on her face.
Damn bird, Sen thought to herself. If he was female, I would say he was PMSing...
"Eh? Who's there?" a voice, cracked with age, called out.
"It's only me, Ebizou-sama, Chiyo-sama," Sen replied, bowing respectfully. "Chiyo-sama, may I speak to you privately for a moment? It concerns Sasori."
The aged kunoichi studied her for a moment, before nodding and climbing to her feet.
Well, that went easier than planned, Sen mused as she leaped over the roof tops. Now, she just had to inform Gaara.