Well, this is a short chapter. But a lot happens! Enjoy :)

Chapter 26, Running.

I have successfully kept the rain going for two whole days. I haven't been able to do much else, only sit and watch the others play card games or laugh at jokes. All I can do is sit wrapped up in a blanket and concentrate on the clouds as well as always looking for different places to take water from.

It is a very hard job.

I sent Kakashi out searching for sources of water a few hours ago. I expect him back any moment. Concentrating as hard as I am I cannot let myself slip for one second or I could lose the storm. I am running out of water from the places I have been taking from. And I don't want to kill what little trees and bushes are left. I don't want to dry up the river either. The less animals effected, the better. They will also help us. It may be a bad idea to keep any large game alive, they will only feed the enemy, but I cannot think of killing them all.

I closed my eyes against the laughter and tuned them all out. I can feel my concentration slipping. I am having just as hard a time keeping my concentration locked as Jessica does. I also haven't slept since I started this. And I've barely eaten. I can't afford to take my mind off the storm for more than a few seconds. I am afraid that if I do the storm will stop and I will never get it raining again.

Already the plains are flooding. I have Jessica working on sinking the water into the ground to make it a real marsh. Area's are already starting to look good.

It was then that Kakashi came from outside. He looked breathless. Without looking at anyone else he fell to his knees in front of Sakura and pulled her face to his in a rough kiss. A desperate one.

"They are coming," He breathed against her lips. "You need to get out."

Everyone was on their feet in seconds. Gaara lifted Jessica to his back where she clung tightly, looking confused. "What's going on?"

Shikamaru, Kiba, Akamaru, and Kankuro ran from the tent, setting up guard around the perimeter. Sakura and Kakashi hugged each other tightly then Kakashi ran from the tent to join the others. I helped her grab the important things and shove them into bags.

"You need to get out of here, Doe," she said. She tossed a pack to Gaara. "The three of you need to run. Kakashi said their numbers are big." She shoved some food into another. "We can handle the first wave to give you time then we will all meet at Konoha. You need to stay safe. Our people cannot go on without the three of you. Understand?"

Gaara put a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Thank you, Haruno. Be safe."

She smiled. "You as well."

Oh no, I don't think so. "I am not running! Please tell me you are joking." I looked back and forth between Sakura and Gaara. "Jessica needs to be taken from here, yes. But there is no reason for me to leave. I can fight. I'm itching to fight."

Sakura stepped right up to me, looking hard into my eyes with her steel green ones. "You listen to me, and listen to me good. You will grab that bag and leave with Gaara-sama and Jessica this very second. You are no good to anyone dead. Remember that."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "What is the reason I am here, Sakura? The only damn reason I am on this planet is to kill those bastards. To keep them from hurting the ones I love. How am I supposed to do that when my tail is between my legs and my back is to them? No. I will stay. And I will fight."

Gaara cleared his throat. "We need to get moving. They are closing in."

Sakura took a step closer, using her two inches on me as a way to intimidate me. With a quick swipe of her fist I was knocked out, crumpling to the ground like a rag doll.

– –

I woke to the sounds of birds songs and the sun shining in my eyes. I screamed and slammed both of my fists into the ground. How dare she do that to me! Who does she think she is! I can't believe Sakura knocked me out! I screamed again and punched at the ground.

"Doe-sensei, be quiet!" Jessica leaped on me and covered my mouth tightly. "They are close."

The smell of blood on my little girl had me up in a flash, checking her over. She isn't hurt. But who's blood is this? A twig snapping had me spinning, shoving Jessica behind the tree. The man with a mask and a sword was beheaded by a sharp gust of wind. I grabbed Jessica, pulling her onto my back, and I started running. Where the hell is Gaara. I ran as fast as I could, but still they followed, trying to catch up.

I propelled myself over a fallen tree and broke Jessica's grasp on me. "Stay," I whispered, jumping back over just in time to push them back and away from my daughter. I kicked one in the face, hearing the crunch as his nose jammed into his brain. I used the wind to slice open the one who was trying to climb over the tree.

A kunai dug into my shoulder, tearing it open. I grunted and spun as I kicked out my foot, snapping the mans neck with the force of the impact. Where the hell is Gaara! Better question, I thought as I ducked from a punch, what the hell did he do with my weapons? I kicked him in the gut and grabbed his head, snapping it to the side and letting his body fall limp to the ground. I stood there, panting, looking for the next one to attack. But that was it. Only five men attacked. A scouting group, maybe?

I reached over the tree and held my hand out to Jessica. She grabbed my hand and I pulled her over, hugging her tightly. "Are you alright?" I breathed out, my heart still racing. She nodded, tears streaking her cheeks. "Who's blood is this? Are you sure you aren't hurt?"

She sniffed, her hands grabbing my shoulders tightly. "It's Daddy's. I tried to heal him, Doe-sensei. I tried." Her sobs stopped her from saying anything else.

My heart skipped a beat. I became deathly calm. "Where is he?" I heard myself ask. Its like I am no long apart of my body. Jessica lead me back towards where we were to begin with. She pointed to a tree that had deep burrows under its roots. I left her standing there as I sprinted towards the tree, flinging myself under the roots. I felt around until my hands found a foot. I quickly scrambled towards the body and felt Gaara's stomach, then his chest. I could feel myself start to shake as I felt the blood on his chest, coming from a wound on his neck.

I let out a small scream and felt up to his face. Gaara's face is whole. But his neck is cut open. "Gaara!" I pressed my hands to his neck to try to hold it closed, to keep his blood in his body. Why? Why Gaara? "Oh please no, Gaara. Please. Please, no." I sobbed loudly and pressed tighter. I can feel the slight pump of the blood. A gurgle sound came from Gaara's mouth. I pushed all of my power into saving him. He's alive! "Oh my god, Gaara!"

Gaara is alive!

My heart raced faster than it has ever raced before. A shaking hand came up and locked into my short hair, thumb rubbing a circle under my ear. I blinked past my tears and stared into Gaara's green eyes. Thank god he is alive. "Stay with me Gaara. Please, don't leave me." I pushed more of my power into his neck, spreading it through his whole body. I healed him until there was nothing left, not even a tiny scar. Gaara's hands gripped me tightly and his lips found mine, kissing me hard.

I shook as I kissed him, letting out a sob.

But an ear shattering scream had me forgetting all about him.

I scrambled out from under the tree, Gaara hot on my heels. My first instinct was to kill whoever was holding my daughter by her hair, a kunai to her neck. But when I saw the line of blood forming, I came up short, Gaara nearly running into me.

A steam of loudly yelled curse words came from my mouth and Gaara's hands held my arms tightly to keep me from accidentally killing our daughter in my struggle to strangle the person holding her. "You're dead!" I screamed. "You are fucking dead! You can't do this! I killed you!" I screamed and screamed. "I killed you! I killed you!"

Her laugh was sharp and full of anger. "You killed me, you killed me. Then, tell me, sweetheart, why am I still here? With my knife at your daughters throat?" Anne chuckled as she yanked Jessica's head back sharply, making her cry out.

I swore again and lunged at her, only to be held back by Gaara. And from the grip he has on me I can tell he wants nothing more than to snap that bitches neck. "Let go of her," I growled. "Let go of her!"

Jessica cried loudly. Anne giggled as she kissed Jessica's forehead. "Don't worry, honey, I wont hurt you. As long as your mother here agrees and gives herself up."

"Mom?" Jessica whispered. She tried looking at me, but Anne held her hair to tightly.

Anne's head tilted to the side. "You don't know? Well, I guess she does look a lot different now. Her hair was longer last time I saw her. And she didn't have as much muscle. But, yes, girl, that is your mother. Kira Lorenzo. Savior of this world." She laughed at that. "Why hadn't you told her, Kira? Why do you always lie?"

I sliced at Anne with the wind, but before I knew it Anne had Jessica in a head lock, choking her. "Do that again and I will strangle her to death," she hissed.

I can't give up. She has my baby! I struggled against Gaara again, noticing his hands were loosening on me. I stopped and glanced over my shoulder at him. He is paler than ever. He had lost a lot of blood. I know she is waiting for my answer. What do I say?

"I didn't tell her because I only came here to die." I whispered. I went slack in Gaara's hands. While she is so close to Jessica, there is nothing I can do.

Anne laughed harshly at my words. "Only came here to die, hm? Well, agree to my proposal and you will get your wish."

"No, Doe-sensei!" Jessica yelled. "Don't do it!" She screamed as Anne plunged her kunai into Jessica's soft flesh of her arm.

Gaara's hands couldn't hold me back then. I screamed as I rushed at Anne. And nothing was going to keep me off of her. Not even the kunai that stabbed right into my stomach. I punched her as hard as I could in the jaw, knocking her away from my daughter. Jessica scrambled away, sobbing loudly from pain. I grabbed Anne's leg to keep her from running away. She twisted to punch me, but I got her first, another solid hit to her jaw.

"Bitch!" Anne shrieked. She kicked at me, hitting me in the face. I felt my hot blood running from my nose.

I landed a punch to her thigh, leaving her leg motionless for the time being. "I will fucking kill you good this time," I hissed, crawling closer to her head. My whole body feels numb. I pulled the kunai from my stomach and stabbed it hard into her arm, digging it deep into her bone. Try getting that out, I thought bitterly.

But a boot to my head had me seeing the sky clouded with big dots. I heard Gaara's grunt and Jessica's scream before the black dots took over completely.

I know it wasn't much, but did you like it? What do you think is going to happen now?