The Path A Ninja Walks...
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The Moon Light's Shadow...
A/N: WARNING-The character known as Sage Amesawa uses a lot of profanity and colorful language as part of his "colorful" personality. Be prepared if you are sensitive to that. Please note it is not because I condone such manner of speech, and also the character does not mean to use it as a way to be harmful, it is just his personality.
"I think it's time for the changing of the guard..." said Sage as Hana made her return handing him some medicine as well while changing out the damp leaf they had been using across Saseme's forehead to help cool her down.
"Her fever doesn't seem to be dropping too much..." Hana sighed, "Will you be okay?" she asked Sage, "I can see if I can find some more herbs..."
"You need to rest to." said Sage, "At least let me scout the area before you go off again..." he sighed, "Besides, I think we have plenty...so when I get back, we should try sleeping in shifts."
"Right..." Hana said softly, "Hurry back then."
"Got it."
The boy was off in a cloud of color and all that was left were the two girls.
Hana sighed.
She felt pretty useless at this point...but it was all they could do for now...and she knew it.
"Nn...ngh!" Saseme began to whince.
Was it a night mare?
More Pain?
"Saseme..!" Hana gasped as she noticed the Uchiha's eyes finally flutter awake.
"You're okay...thank goodness." she said softly.
"...Hot..." the girl groaned.
"Okay...partly okay." Hana sighed as she peeled away the leaf again, "You're still running too high of a fever...you need to rest still...try to cool down..." she said as she stood, "There's a stream not too far from here, I'll fetch you some cool water and make you a medicine that should help reduce your temperature some..." she said while she helped the girl sit up a bit.
"Sage is scouting the area, he should be back soon...do you think you will be okay for a few minutes while I go gather the ingrediets and the water?"
"Ahh...yeah." Saseme sighed. She was sweltering...but she was conscious enough to be aware of her surroundings.
"All right then." said Hana, "I mean it...I'll be right back, so don't do anything stupid!"
"Fine." Saseme huffed with a roll of her eyes and her hand pressed to her forehead in a groan.
Not that she could do much anyway. She was hot...and her head was killing her. The events of the day just kept playing in her mind which didn't really help anything...
With a nod, Hana was gone, and the girl sat propped up against the tree. Her dark eyes glanced up to a starry sky, with a moon that shone through the trees.
She blinked as the moon beams calmed her...and she closed her eyes to a distant memory...
XXXXX
A restless sleep stirring the Uchiha girl awake didn't help her circumstances.
She sighed.
Was it the night bringing back memories of the day she tries so desperately to forget?
Or was it the stirring on the roof that kept her awake at night?
Taking the window she climbed above just to see what was causing the weight shifting motions above her bed...
It was Gaara.
"Gaa-chan? Can you not sleep either?"
"...No." he answered in a voice that was gravel to her ears...This was around a time before things got so bad between them...
"I don't sleep." he stated, "Aside from that...it...gets restless...when the moon is full."
"Oh...right." she responded softy, "The Shukaku...it's...nocturnal, isn't it?"
"That's right..." said the boy, "Why are you awake...Saseme?"
"I just can't seem to sleep..." she responded, "Can I stay up with you?"
"...You're not afraid of me..." he responded to her, "Why?" he questioned this often, "I could kill you...you know..."
"I trust in you. Gaa-chan." she said softly, "I know you won't hurt me."
"Do you?" he questioned again, "...I'm a monster...there's no certainty to that claim you make..."
"You're not." she said to him, crawling cautiously close by, "That thing...inside of you...that's the monster...you are just...Gaa-chan."
There was a silence between them. He knew she was there. He felt her. She kept her distance but at the same time she stayed so close...
She was the only one brave enough to try...
And even though he knew how easily he could hurt her...he never did.
That was enough for her to believe in...
and this concept simply just...baffled him.
"Saseme...I..."
XXXXX
"Gaa-chan..." Saseme whispered to herself as she looked into the moon. Gasping as a presence took her by surprise...being none other than that of the name she spoke.
"Gaa-chan!" she sat up quickly, "Y-you're so quiet- be careful." she warned, "There are others not far from us and my team is-"
"You never reported." he cut her off, "WE are your true team...remember that." There was a sharpness to his tone that startled her, she was best not pressing him...
"Yes that, I...Sorry." she stated, "S-something came up and-"
"I don't want your excuses." he hissed, sharp eyes gazing over he battered body, "...You are useless to me like this." he said to her, and she whinced once more, "Should you become a hinderance... note that I will kill you..."
She gulped.
"Hey, who are you!?" Hana's voice snapped in the distance and a Kunai came flying in, blocked of course by Gaara's protective sand.
"What is that!?" the ginger wondered, though she was too far to see. Just that whatever she hit seemed to disapear into a cloud of some sort.
"Gaa-chan, wait!" Saseme cried, as she stood to try to follow after him.
Wait...did Saseme just say...Gaa-chan?
"Saseme, where are you going!?" Hana called out to her as the girl took off, "I told you not to do anything stupid-you shouldn't be-UGH."
It didn't do much good to talk to a girl who wasn't even sticking around to listen.
"Dammit..." Hana grumbled in frustration, "Sage is really gonna let me have it..."
To Be Continued...