disclaimer: i own no one! got it!

Chapter 7: the gathering

Later, after I cried on my brother's shoulder for 2 hours and explained everything to them, we (meaning Temari, Gaara, Neji, Kiba, Hinata, and I) ran to Konoha.

None of us spoke to each other. I was too imbedded into my thoughts to speak. I don't know why the others weren't speaking. I was too busy thinking up strategies to hunt down Ken-maru. I decided that my emotions were useless and shut them off. Except for the ones towards my family. Those may stay for awhile. I only dared to look at Gaara and when I did; I found he was looking back at me. We held eye-contact for awhile then turned away.

After awhile I stopped, dropped to the ground and waited for the others.

"This is tiresome." I complained. "We're running at top speed and getting no where fast."

"You got a better idea?" Temari hissed.

I rolled my eyes and did some hand signs. We teleported 20 miles. I did it again. This time 45 miles. I almost did it again but Gaara yelled at to not to. We ran the rest of the way. When we got there, Gaara took lead.

When we got to the Hokage tower, Gaara made the rest of us stay outside, which kind of ticked me off because I wanted Ken-maru's head on a platter.

"Hey, guys, I'm going to head home." Hinata said, taking me out of angry thoughts.

"Why? We could use you for the mission." Neji said.

"Nah. I've got to do a few things for sensei. She's been kind of in state of mind after Asuma-sensei was killed." She said. Hinata gave Neji, Temari, and me hug and waved to Kiba. I was going to say something but Gaara came out.

"Good news and Bad news. Good news, we got Neji and Kiba. Bad news, we also got Jariya and Shikamaru." He said.

"We got who?" I said, in disbelief. "The lazy smart-ass I could deal with but him?!"

Right on cue, the drunk, white-haired, perverted old man came down the corridor. As he came closer, I got up and tried to walk away. I would have succeeded but Gaara held me in place.

"Hello again, Amaya-chan." Jariya said.

"Let me go, Gaara, before my skin crawls away!" I snapped. I hated Jariya with a passion. He just made my skin crawl. If you've been on a mission with him, alone, you'd be feeling the same way!!

"I didn't do anything! Quit being so dramatic!" He yelled.

"Because of you, my mind will never be the same!" I screamed! I made the mistake of walking into the bar to get him and he had his mouth on woman in some places that 15-year-old shouldn't SEE!! "I'm never going on a mission with you again!"

Gaara stroked my hair to comfort me and possibly to stop me from screaming. I instantly shut up but it didn't get me to stop shaking.

"Where's Shikamaru?" Temari asked.

And right on cue, Shikamaru came down the hall. What is this? Acting school!?

"Alright, We all together? Good. Let's go!" I snarled. "We lost precious time getting here and we're losing more standing here."

"What's her problem?" The two new-comers asked. Temari filled them in. I rolled my eyes and began running. I needed Ken-maru's head on a platter now, not later! We had a team, not a very functional one but hey, can't complain, and now we needed to get our criminal. NOW!

A/n: Alright. 2 chapters in one week! HA! reveiw!