Sorry for the long wait. I've been working from another location on a laptop, so writing this chapter has been murder. i should warn you, this one's a bit of a filler. it doesn't have much to do with anything. but i promise that things will get very exciting very soon, so bear with me.

Disclaimer: right now, the only thing i own are 4 & 1/2 boxes of pocky.

Two souls entwined

Everyone was looking between Gaara & Naruto, unsure of just what was going on. Ebizu's eyes kept jumping from Gaara to Sasori, his expression a sad one. Gaara took a step forward to his one time friend.

"Naruto-kun," he said, "It has been a while."

"What are you doing here?" Naruto asked, before realization dawned upon him, "OH! You knew about this as well, and came to assist us!"

Kakashi touched Naruto on the shoulder, "Naruto-kun, you should already know this. Look at what he's wearing."

Naruto blinked & looked at Gaara's cloak. He paused for a few seconds, as if unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

"You- you're in Akatsuki?" he asked in a disbelieving voice, "But, I thought you were..."

"I am, but not in the same way that you are."

"But... why?"

Gaara could barely look Naruto in the eye.

"A long time ago," he said, "I made a promise to a certain someone. I will not go back on or bend my words. I am bound to Akatsuki because of this."

Naruto's eyes widened.

"So... you are being forced to stay with Akatsuki, by your own word..." he said, before grinning & holding up his thumb, "All right then. I promise, I will defeat Akatsuki & save you!"

Gaara frowned at Naruto. Was he really this dense?

"No, Naruto-kun. Please let me keep my word." he replied.

"Why? What's so important that you'd face against your own friends?!" Naruto demanded. Gaara looked to his comrades. Deidara & Sasori nodded.

"Alright then, Naruto-kun." Gaara said, smirking at the boy, "I will tell you."

* * * * *

"I leave it to you to make your decision." Gaara said, using the Subaku Shunshin to leave before Naruto could reply. Naruto turned to face Deidara & Sasori,

"You two." he growled, "LETS DO THIS!"

As he ran at the two of them, Deidara smirked.

"The one who'll scream & run at you," he said, "Itachi actually described him pretty well."

* * * * *

Gaara reappeared at the spot his siblings were resting at.

"Temari, Kankuro, we're leaving."

His siblings looked up at him.

"Where's Sasori-san & Deidara-kun?" Temari asked.

"Aw, you miss mouthy?" Kankuro jested, before cowering under Temari's glare.

"I don't miss him!" she yelled, indignantly, "The guy saved my life, ok?!"

"Ok! Ok! Geez." Kankuro muttered, packing away his equipment.

"They are currently engaging Konoha Shinobi." Gaara said, "But I doubt they will have too much trouble."

Temari calmed down & packed her things away as well. They turned to Gaara.

"Where now?" Temari asked.

"I have been summoned to Amegakure." Gaara replied.

Both Temari & Kankuro looked at him.

"What does he want you for?" Temari asked. Gaara shook his head.

"I don't know. He probably wishes to speak about an issue too important to risk being overheard."

Temari frowned & nodded. Gaara turned in the direction of Amegakure.

"Fortunately, we are not far from Ame." he said, "It shouldn't take us long to get there."

Temari was looking uncomfortable as they walked. She often glanced back, a concerned look on her face.

"Are you alright?" Gaara asked. Temari blinked & looked at him.

"Wha- oh, yeah, I'm fine." She replied, before speeding up so she was walking beside Gaara. But Gaara continued to watch her, disliking her unease.

"It's unusual for you to care so much about the fate of a man like Deidara." He told her. She blushed lightly.

"I owe him one." She replied, "I hate to think that he's hurt while I could be helping him."

"You know the kind of person Deidara is. He hates for anything to get in the way of his art."

Temari looked to the ground.

"That's the thing." She said, "I don't really know anything about him."

Gaara looked up to the sky, picturing Deidara flying over on his clay bird, grinning & giving a wave.

"He's a good person." Gaara said, "His only crime is loving something too much. He appreciates beauty where others miss it, or ignore it. He's passionate, yet sensitive & devoted. I suppose he is the kind of person that women would throw themselves for. But I believe there's something more to him."

Temari was listening intently, her eyes wide, "Something more?" Gaara nodded.

"He believes that art is fleeting. That true beauty lasts only for a second, before fading away. But, then he talks about how one day he will become his ultimate masterpiece. Is that what he's waiting for? The chance to die in his own way? He doesn't see a future for himself. He's afraid of time, of what it might do to him. He needs someone to show him that there is more to life than just that fleeting moment. It would take a very special person to change his mind, to stop the fear in his heart."

He turned to Temari.

"Do you think you are that person?" he asked. Temari looked away.

"I didn't know all that." She said, "Maybe, but what could I do for him?"

"The same you did for me."

Temari blinked & looked to her little brother.

"True power doesn't come from your jutsu or your abilities as a ninja." He said, "That power comes from your ability to love others, no matter what they do. If you love someone like that, you can protect them from any harm that may come to them."

He then placed a hand on Temari's shoulder. She was giving him her undivided attention.

"In that case, you are perhaps one of the most powerful people I have ever met." He finished.

Temari blinked back tears. She looked at Gaara, gave a small smile & hugged him. Gaara's brow rose. He wasn't used to this situation. Tentatively, he returned the hug.

"Hey guys," Kankuro called, "We're here."

Temari gasped at what she saw. Gaara shared her sentiments.

Smoke was billowing from Amegakure. Small fires could be seen in the night & cries were heard echoing through the darkness.

"So it has finally begun." Gaara noted.

"What?" Temari asked, "What's begun?"

"The final struggle for Amegakure." He replied.

They walked to the gates, which were devoid of their usual platoon of guards. Shinobi were running through the streets, some carrying wounded, others wounded themselves. Kunai & shuriken flew through the air, some heading straight for the three of them. Gaara's sand blocked the projectiles, but all the same, they ran to the tower as fast as they could.

They reached the tower & burst through the doors, where they were met by a dozen Shinobi.

"Gaara-sama!" the commanding officer exclaimed, before giving the order to his men, "Stand down!"

Gaara nodded to the commander & walked past him, his siblings following. They made their way up the staircase, Gaara elevating them with the sand. They reached the correct floor & knocked on the door.

"Come in." said the voice from inside.

"You two wait here." Gaara told his siblings, entering the room & closing the door behind him. Pein was at his usual place by the window.

"Gaara-san." He said, "You're here."

Gaara bowed, "You summoned me?"

"Yes. It has come to my attention that during your stay in Konohagakure, you were close to one Uzumaki Naruto, or the Kyuubi Jinchūriki."

From the shadows came another of Pein's bodies. This one had even spikier hair, looked older & had piercings on his face following the same lines as Itachi's creases. That Pein walked over to Gaara & placed a hand on him.

"This is my Naraka Realm. He was the one who handled your initiation." The Yahiko Pein said.

"So each of your bodies has names?" Gaara asked.

"Yes. This one is my Deva Realm."

"And the one that killed Madara?"

"That was my Human realm. The others are the Preta, Asura & Animal Realms."

"Gaara-san." Naraka said, "With this body I can determine if you are speaking honestly or not."

As he said this, the large head appeared behind him.

"Now, I want to know, will your relationship with Uzumaki Naruto, or anyone close to him, jeopardise your mission?"

Gaara looked Naraka in the eye.

"It will not." He replied.

Naraka stared at Gaara for a second. He nodded & released him, the head disappearing.

"I apologise for the interrogation." Naraka said, "But it was necessary."

Gaara bowed, "I understand. Is there anything else?"

"Yes." Deva said stepping forward, "You are to go & assist Kakuzu & Hidan in their search for the Nibi. They are on their way to Kumogakure, I have already alerted them."

Gaara nodded & turned to leave. But he paused before opening the door.

"Do you know of the fates of Sasori & Deidara?" he asked.

"Their battle did not go well. Sasori was killed & one of Deidara's arms was removed from him. He managed to retrieve it & Zetsu is currently preserving it. When Kakuzu is finished capturing the Nibi, I will have him re-attach it."

Gaara nodded & left. Temari & Kankuro were waiting patiently for him.

"We're going to Kumogakure." He said, "We are to assist Kakuzu & Hidan in their search for the Nibi."

"Ok." Temari replied, distaste evident in her voice. She didn't much like either of them.

They walked into the noisy streets. The sun was rising into a blood red sky, dark clouds whirling above Amegakure.

"We should leave." Gaara said, "It's about to rain."

They ran through the streets, heading for the main gates. Everywhere, Pein's Shinobi were running for cover. The opposition was cheering, believing that the other side had surrendered. But Gaara knew better. They dashed out of out the main gates & kept running. But they stopped when they sensed something strange. They turned to look at the top of the tower, where six tiny figures stood. The figures surveyed the streets below them, and leapt down.

"The six paths." Gaara muttered, grinning, "It's over."

He turned & walked away, but Temari & Kankuro were confused by what they had just seen.

"Wait, what just happened there?" Temari asked.

"Does your boss really expect just six Shinobi could be capable of taking out the entire opposition?!" Kankuro added. Gaara shook his head to himself.

"Of course not." He replied, "He probably could have done it with three."

His siblings both raised their brow & looked back behind them.

* * * * *

They walked up the mountainous region of the Lightning Country, taking in the sights offered only from the heights of its mountains. They were still quite a way away from Kumogakure, but so were Kakuzu & Hidan. It didn't take long to find them, or... hear them.

"I SWEAR TO GOD, I WILL KILL YOU!" Kakuzu roared.

"JUST TRY IT BITCH! NO ONE CAN KILL ME FUCKER!" Hidan screamed back.

"Yo, Reaper!" Kankuro called. Hidan's brow rose as he turned to Gaara & his siblings.

"'Sup, Stringer?" he asked grinning, his anger completely forgotten. Kakuzu's however, was not & he still looked pissed off as he turned & walked away. Kankuro caught up with Hidan a little quicker than Gaara & Temari. They fist tapped each other & walked on, talking about inappropriate things. Gaara sped up to meet Kakuzu, Temari followed. She'd much rather be near Gaara & Kakuzu than Kankuro & Hidan. Gaara caught up with the old man & walked alongside him, Temari on his other side,

"So-" Gaara began.

"Don't." Kakuzu warned, Gaara nodded & stepped back a little, giving Kakuzu his space to cool off. Behind them, Kankuro was laughing loudly as Hidan watched him with a cool expression. Kankuro practically worshipped Hidan. To him, the Jashinist was what every man should aspire to be. Strong, confident & well versed in inappropriate arts.

"I wake up the next morning," he said, "And she's lying in exactly the same position. I don't think she blinked at all!"

Kankuro nearly fell over himself laughing.

"Hey, how come I'm always the one telling the stories?" Hidan asked, "Don't tell me you haven't sampled one of Jashin-sama's finest creations? Alcohol, narcotics, women, anything?"

"Well..." Kankuro began, rubbing the back of his head nervously, "There was this one girl, way back. She was insane."

"Why, what was her deal?" Hidan asked, interested. Kankuro leaned in & whispered something into his ear. Hidan's eyes widened.

"And you married her, right?" he asked, missing Temari's glare.

"Uh-uh." Kankuro replied in a depressed voice, "I left to stick with them."

"WHAT?!" Hidan yelled, shocked, "You gave up that for those?! That has to be the stupidest thing i've ever heard!"

Kankuro hung his head in shame.

"Is that really all guys care about?" Temari asked, annoyed.

"He hasn't grown past it yet." Gaara replied, "He hasn't found out what really matters yet."

Temari looked at him, confused.

"What?" he asked.

"You make it sound as if-" she began.

"Hey, you guys!" Hidan interrupted, putting an arm around each of them, "Tell me one of you have got with a girl, please!"

Temari groaned with disgust.

"Heh." Hidan chuckled, before turning to Gaara, "What about you, Sandman?"

"Not yet." Gaara replied, not realizing his mistake in time.

"Oh ho! Good answer!" Hidan said, grinning. Temari looked at Gaara, frowning.

"So who's the lucky lady?" Hidan asked, getting a little too close for comfort.

"Its better you don't know." Gaara replied.

"Gaara..." Temari whispered, barely audible.

"Aw come on!" Hidan begged, "How about I give you names of my girls, huh? Let's see, there was... uh... damn, I don't have any names."

Kakuzu snorted.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT BASTARD?!" Hidan yelled.

"Yo, Reaper. Relax!" Kankuro exclaimed, "No-ones supposed to know we're here!"

"Aargh. Right, fine." Hidan grumbled, quieting down.

Gaara decided to try talking to Kakuzu again.

"Are you calm yet?" Gaara asked. Kakuzu grunted.

"I am." He replied.

"So what do you know about the Nibi?"

"Not much. The Raikage is very proud of his two Jinchūriki, the Nibi, known as Nii Yugito & the Hachibi, known as Kirābī. The Nibi has greatly affected her personality, leaving her both cautious & cunning. She uses the Nibi's chakra willingly, so we should expect a large scale battle. However, she is a loner. She separates herself from her fellow Shinobi. She sees the Jinchūriki as her people more than those of Kumo."

Gaara nodded.

"Perhaps seeing another Jinchūriki will lower her guard." He said.

"Perhaps." Kakuzu agreed.

"Fine. I'll go on ahead. Take your time; I don't know how responsive she will be." Gaara said, before turning to his siblings, "You two stay with these guys, I'm going on ahead."

"Do I really have to?" Temari asked, disliking the look Hidan gave her.

"What I am about to do may make you uncomfortable." Gaara replied, "For the sake of your opinion of me, I ask you to stay."

"Oh... ok." Temari said, a tint of sadness in her voice. Gaara stepped over to her & placed a hand on her shoulder.

"We'll talk later, ok?" he said. Temari smiled weakly.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

* * * * *

Nii Yugito was coming out of a shop, groceries in her arms, when she first saw him. A young man, maybe sixteen or seventeen years old. He had messy red hair, dark rings around his eyes & some kind of tattoo on his forehead. He was wearing full-length dark trousers, a long-sleeved red coat with flaring hemline, and a purplish grey vest. Overall she found him to be quite attractive, although she could never be sure if her feelings were her own or the Nibi's influence. One thing for sure, he was staring at her. She stared back for a moment, before heading on her way.

But he began following her. He hid it well, but the Nibi had augmented her senses; she could spot him easily. She decided to lead him on & began walking in an erratic manner, taking unnecessary turns & twists, trying to lose him. When this didn't work, she went for her other strategy. She leapt up to the rooftops & started running. But he even followed her there. She was certain now that he knew she was aware of him, but for some reason he didn't try to stop her. In fact, he seemed to keeping pace with her, not closing the gap or slowing down. Yugito couldn't help but get the feeling that he was mocking her. So she did the only thing there was left to do. She confronted him.

"Why are you following me?" she demanded. The man stopped & stared.

"You are Nii Yugito, correct?" the man asked.

"Yeah, so what?" she asked, glaring.

"I am Subaku no Gaara." He replied, "You & I share the same curse."

Yugito raised an eyebrow, "You mean-?"

Gaara nodded, "Ichibi."

"I see... Well in that case, you'd better come with me." Yugito replied, rather huskily. She turned on the spot & led Gaara away.

She took him to her apartment, where she led him in & locked the door behind her. She showed Gaara the living room; he took a seat when offered as she headed into the kitchen to put down her groceries. She came back & sat close to Gaara. Very close.

"So... Gaara, what brings you to Kumo?" Yugito asked, leaning close to him.

"There is someone here that I wished to meet." Gaara replied, very aware of her arm rubbing against his.

"Apparently the Nibi Jinchūriki is... confident." Gaara thought.

"Someone you wished to meet?" Yugito repeated, a sly smile on her lips, "Judging from that little game earlier, would I be right in assuming that person is me?"

"You would be."

Yugito let out a light laugh as she put an arm around Gaara's shoulder.

"Is this really how you read the situation?" Gaara thought. He was growing uncomfortable, but he knew that a sign of weakness would be exploited. If that happened, then there was no telling what Yugito would do, "This is going to be a trial."

Yugito seemed to be a lot more comfortable than Gaara; she had practically draped herself over him.

"So Gaara..." she purred, "Why would you come all this way just to meet me?"

"I had always intended to meet the other Jinchūriki." Gaara replied, "I had heard interesting tales about the Nibi Jinchūriki, I decided that I wanted to meet her first."

"Really? Do you often get what you want?"

Gaara looked her in the eye.

"Always." He said.

"Ooh, you're confident, aren't you?" Yugito asked.

"A trait we both share." Gaara replied. It was all he could do not to flinch as he felt her nose contact his ear. She must have sensed something, however, as she let out a small laugh, the air from her nose hitting his ear & neck. Gaara could feel his temperature rising.

"You seem to have a plan as to where this will lead." He thought, "Very well... it looks like I will have to play dirty."

"I couldn't help but notice that pretty naginata strapped to your back." Yugito said, maintaining her husky tone, "That wouldn't happen to be the legendary Kumo artefact Sasayaki, would it?"

"As I said, I always get what I want."

"You did. So what do you want right now?"

"I want many things."

"Ah, mysterious. I like that."

Yugito started running her finger across the back of his neck. Gaara realized that if he wanted to maintain control, he would have to act now.

"What is it that you want?" Gaara asked. Yugito smiled.

"I'll show you." She said, getting up. She took his hand & led her into her bedroom. As she entered, she noticed a floating eye in the corner.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Another perspective." Gaara replied, mysteriously.

"You had this planned all along, didn't you?" Yugito asked, turning towards Gaara.

"What I want." He began.

"You get." She finished. Yugito gave him another sly smile. She reached behind her & began pulling down a zip.

* * * * *

Gaara stood outside, a hand over an eye as Yugito & a Suna Bunshin committed unspeakable acts. Gaara had tormented & killed people mercilessly, but what he saw happening in there truly terrified him. He prayed she wasn't so perverted. He was truly glad when Yugito finally lost consciousness & he could disperse the Suna Bunshin. It was lucky that at that point Kakuzu & the others caught up.

"Where is she?" Kakuzu asked. Gaara gestured back into the apartment. Kakuzu nodded, he & Hidan silently broke in. Temari tried to go in as well, but Gaara stopped her, shaking his head.

"HOLY CRAP!" Hidan yelled from inside. Kakuzu came out of the apartment with Yugito, adequately covered, over his shoulder.

"I'm not exactly sure." he said to Gaara, "But I believe that was your capture."

"MY MAN!" Hidan exclaimed, bursting out of the apartment, "That was some of the weirdest shit i've ever seen!"

He patted Gaara on the back.

"That's one hell of a start, Sandman!" he said, seeing Gaara in another light.

"Lets go." Gaara said, heading off. He stayed a little behind Kakuzu, who was flicking through his Bingo book, but stayed ahead of Hidan, who was asking Kankuro were Gaara learned all the stuff he had seen in there. Temari walked beside Gaara, not looking at him.

"You don't have to worry." Gaara said, "It was a Bunshin that did those things. I stood outside."

Temari looked at him, relief washed over her.

"Thank goodness!" She exclaimed, "I've been worrying that you'd grown past me!"

"Is that what has been concerning you?" Gaara asked, "You believe I will no longer need you?"

Temari averted her gaze.

"Kinda." She replied.

"Temari, you've saved me from myself on so many occasions. When the time comes that I have another to do that, you will already have someone else to protect with your love. I know of one person that needs it."

"You mean...?"

Gaara nodded.

"Deidara-san is alive. A little worse for wear, but he will soon recover. When we see him next, you two should talk. We're heading that way now."

Temari looked shocked.

"We're going to see him now?!" she repeated. Gaara nodded. As she freaked out about what she should say, Gaara thought about the relationships that had been made so far. He looked back, where Kankuro was trapped in Hidan's headlock. His older brother had traded the love of another away & had clearly regretted it. He looked at Temari, who was worried about the relationship with Deidara that hadn't even started yet. She had no idea how to deal with someone like him. He then looked away, not even knowing that he was looking in the direction of Amegakure.

"Love drives people to act very strangely." He thought, "Maybe I will experience that myself."