Suna no Mugetsu Re-ku

Legalities of Guardianship

Fear was never something Baki ever expected on feeling.

Yes, the man would find himself facing the fear of losing his life should he ever make the wrong step. He felt this type of fear all the time, as well as the fear of doing something wrong which would lead to his men loosing their lives. This type of fear though was different, and he found himself not liking the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach at all. This fear, it was the fear that something would happen to Gaara, that something would happen to someone he held precious.

Ingrained into the minds of the Shinobi of Suna was to forget about such things as holding something precious, but in dealing with Gaara he quickly learned the one thing which kept the boy sane was the concept of holding loved ones dear, and Baki found himself adapting, even changing as the boy grew. Seeing Rasa again, and the swift movement Rasa took to stall him made Baki for a moment wonder if he was week, but then Rasa's words told him the issue lay in another place.

"Personally I'm far more concerned with Gaara tangling with that thing."

"That monster the man mentioned is real," was the first thought which came to Baki's mind, but the second was, "the Lord Kazekage actually cares about his son, and is willing to take me out just to protect what is precious to himself." Baki found himself inwardly cursing as Rasa placed a restraint on him. "No, the issue lies in the fact I underestimated Rasa. Gaara's always talking about how there is strength in the aspect of love for another person. I doubt the Lord Kazekage understands this though."

Soon the Shinobi which headed in the direction Gaara was came hurtling over, and looked at Baki in shock before quickly releasing the jutsu. "Lord Baki, I headed down one of the tunnels and ran into that thing. Lord Gaara went after it, and he's using his powers. Rasa's also there, so you're the only one who can handle the situation now."

Baki stood up. "I know that. I'm not sure I should at this point fear what Rasa will do with Gaara, but the end results of that child's fears." He hurried forward, and heard Rasa call out to Gaara from one of the tunnels, telling him to knock it off. The Sand ninja felt a tightening of his throat. "Well, I guess I also need to worry about Rasa's poor parenting skills."

He moved forward, and helped grab onto Gaara, so that the two got the boy out of the tunnel. Baki quickly picked up the fact Gaara didn't look well, with the saliva coming from his mouth, and the bloody side injury. "Don't forget you likely broke his arm when you landed on him." Rasa of course kept attempting to act like a father, though Baki was sure that the man would deny any form of affection for the child. "Affection though Rasa, is the way you get through to Gaara."

One chance of eye contact between Rasa and the boy of course made things worse, and Baki felt like vomiting. "It's not the smell, but that Gaara's boy couldn't handle any more physical, and mental stress. Lord Rasa's getting frustrated with Gaara just like in the past." It was thus time to butt in. "Lord Rasa, please let me take Lord Gaara." The man looked Baki in the eye, and the man made it clear that he didn't trust Baki. "Likely he doesn't feel my judgment sound, as he doesn't know what's going on. He's missing pieces of information."

Something thankfully made the man hand Gaara over, and he barked out his orders. Rasa of course did not wish to explain his logic. Baki followed after, and looked down at Gaara. "At least I can expect you to explain your logic, Gaara."

Baki felt the young fifth Kazekage lean into him, something Gaara would never do even under normal circumstances as certain boundaries remained, not because Gaara didn't wish to cross them, but because he worried about crossing the wrong ones. Stepping into the room, Baki found the atmosphere much to his dislike to be rancid with hatred for the boy he carried in his arms. He felt the young Kazekage flinch in his arms, and knew Gaara could sense the animosity as well.

"Best I don't leave the boy's side." Baki put Gaara down, and reluctantly took the medicine they'd concocted for Gaara. "Lord Gaara, can you look at me." He watched as two sea foam eyes drifted towards him, and he spoke softly to the teen. "This is supposed to help you, to stop your powers. You do remember that it's your powers that are causing your headaches, because they are always on. This is supposed to turn them off."

The man found himself repeating himself a couple of times as Gaara simply stared, and a sickening thought crossed his mind as he sensed Rasa glaring at his back. "I doubt the Kazekage, or his men appreciate the fact I've crossed certain lines, but there really is no choice," and when Gaara let him know his worry, "yes, there is no choice but to cross lines that would two years ago not be considered acceptable."

Baki tasted the medicine for poison, and then put the drink to Gaara's lips. "I don't 'even' want to think what is going through Lord Rasa's mind right now, particularly with the fact he showed a protective side just a bit ago, and the man doesn't know what to do with that protective side of his. Please, just drink all of it despite the fact it tastes nasty." The man narrowed his eyes. "And also seems to have the same effect of alcohol..."

The man turned to look at Rasa, and could see the death look the man gave him. "Lord Rasa, exactly what was the original purpose of this concoction, and what is it made from?"

"There are plants which grow in these caverns, plenty of them. That, and the supplies that happened to be here, and the source of water we're lucky enough to have is how we've survived." Rasa came over, and sat down next to Baki without a second thought.

Baki turned his head to see how Gaara reacted to his father moving closer, and saw the boy completely tense up. His eyes widened though as the dark marks around Gaara's eyes began to fade, and disappear. "This..."

"I'm glad it's working."

"And here's the protective parent side of the forth Kazekage, however..." Baki took a deep breath. "Lord Rasa, you do realize that you just had me give a minor an alcoholic drink, correct?"

"Medicine is medicine."

"I also believe Lady Chiyo said something similar to you when she inflicted you with paralytic poisons every time you got on her nerves when you were younger." The man reached a hand up to the bridge of his nose. "I also don't think the forth Kazekage understands the problem with giving a minor alcohol, let alone..." The man looked down at Gaara. "... depending on how long we're in here, we may 'have' to give Gaara more, and it's not as simple as..." Baki tried the one other option. "The plant this is made from, the plant by itself doesn't have the same effect?"

"No. We tested it." Rasa continued to look down at Gaara, while the boy trembled. "About his injuries..." The man reached his hand out towards the boy, and Baki quickly grabbed the man's hand. "Baki, don't test me. I've been patient enough with you as it is."

"Do you really want your son stripped in front of everyone here? He is a minor still." Baki felt the man twist his arm behind his back, and felt and hand placed on is throat with a kunai.

"And what say do you have in this manner." Rasa's eyes reminded Baki of the look Gaara had once, and knew he may have over done things. "As I told you, my patience with you has worn thin, and I could kill you for the actions you've taken. You do know that?"

"I'm full aware of your stubbornness, Lord Rasa. I'm also aware of how Lady Chiyo used to curb said stubborn streak. The question is whether you're aware of this stubbornness, and the trouble it's caused." Baki heard mutterings of treason from behind Lord Rasa, but most of all he noticed the look of confusion on the forth Kazekage's face. "You, you really don't remember? You don't remember why Lord Gaara is afraid of you either, do you?"

"I don't." Rasa's grip loosened, and he backed away. "I'm also bothered by the fact Gaara is with you, and not Yashamaru."

"Lord Rasa, Yashamaru's been dead for a long time now. That's something you should..." Realization clicked with Baki. "...remember. Lord Gaara's not the only one whose memories have been effected, are they."

"The fact my memory is effected Baki, does not mean I'm not as dangerous as I would be with those memories."

"I'm actually worried you're more dangerous, because I don't want to know what you'll do should you regain your memories, if that is even possible." Baki clenched his hands together. "It is though my duty to protect Lord Gaara, even if it is from you and your men." Rasa continued to glare at him. "The situation is worse then I thought. I made a promise though to Lord Gaara, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to keep it with Rasa switching from protective parent, to Kazekage at a flip of a switch. Not to mention the fact he's not the third Kazekage's son for nothing. Say the wrong thing, and we're dead."

Rasa continued to glare at the man. "Everyone except myself, a medical-nin from my group, one other of my choice, and yourself will leave the room. You're also not to touch Gaara. Is that acceptable to you Baki?"

Baki let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, it is." The death look remained in Rasa's eyes. "Not that I have much choice. I need to think of this in a tactical manner."