"Kyo," Katara hissed.
"Yes it's me, did you miss me?" he asked, his tone a joking one.
"Like hell I did," Katara snipped a deep glare directed at the male.
"Tsk, tsk, a princess shouldn't talk like that. I may have to punish you for that," Kyo stated with a smirk.
"Like you could," Katara stated, daggers still being sent at the male.
"Maybe I can't, but he can," Kyo stated pointing behind Katara and Gaara.
"Katara-hime, it's nice to see you again," the figure stated.
Katara whipped around to look at the person shock and confusion clouding her navy orbs. Her pale features screamed her confusion as she looked at the male not believing it was real.
"How? You were dead when we left," Katara questioned.
"Maybe, I'll tell you, but I rather not. I know let's play another game, Katara-hime, if you win I'll tell you and everything else you want to know, but if you lose you have to come with me," Takayuki bargained.
"Katara, don't listen to him," Gaara warned.
"I know," Katara replied.
Kyo popped off, "too bad really, since Katara your fate has already been decided. You'll be coming with us whither you like it or not."
"I want to see you try," Gaara snapped, sand exploding around Katara and himself, "try and touch her and you'll be a dead man."
"Oh really," Kyo challenged.
With a snap of his fingers a hundred ninja appeared and in a brief second disappeared in all different directions.
"Remember these guys, they're the reason you almost died before you reached this village," Kyo chuckled.
Gaara growled at him. Kyo smirked, but that would soon change when sand rushed out and pierced him strait in the heart. The other ninja dropped left and right as Gaara lashed out protecting Katara the whole time.
Takayuki quickly dodged multiple attacks before he appeared right behind Gaara.
"Instead of focusing on protecting Katara, you might want to think about keeping up your guard," Takayuki whispered in his ear before knocking him out.
Using a special jutsu he picked Gaara up and disappeared a far distance away from Katara.
"Now Katara, let's rethink this game. If you win I will tell you how I'm alive, what is going on behind the scenes of these negotiations, and I'll give you back your precious Gaara," Takayuki stated a smirk forming on his lips.
Katara growled at him.
"You little," she stated through tightly gripped teeth.
"It's your decision," Takayuki stated.
He performed a one-handed hand sign and a blue light surrounded Gaara before he suddenly disappeared.
"Just so you don't get the bright idea just to attack and steal him back," Takayuki smirked bigger.
"What did you do with him?" Katara yelled, anger boiling up inside her.
"Oh don't worry, he's in a safe place, but if you don't hurry and win this game he'll die."
Takayuki laughed an evil laugh as he looked at Katara unfazed by her glare.
"Come on, Katara-hime, it's time to play."