Thank you all so much for the reviews, I read and love each one of them :)
I'm getting this out a bit later than expected but it's been pretty hectic over here. I've been to a funeral, gotten a hell of a cold, lost three beloved pets, gotten blood tests and a whole heap of doctors visits... it's been a loooong week.
Disclaimer: Naruto is the property of Kishimoto, who funnily enough, still isn't me. He sure is missing out!
Enjoy!
Moving quickly across the desert Shikamaru glanced around, taking in every aspect of the open region surrounding them. It had been quite startling, leaving the dense forest, moving across open fields and then out into the open nothingness they were now travelling through. For the last two days he had been torn. It was hard to think of a strategy not knowing all the details of the disappearances and he was growing increasingly desperate to get the missing shinobi back to their village as quickly as possible. However, the formerly relaxing constant movements of his thoughts were making him feel quite nauseous. At night his dreams were plagued by blood and screams. He had woken up before dawn covered in a layer of sweat, unable to shake the horrifying images that continued to draw unconscious whimpers from his throat. Since that first night he had been unable to sleep for longer than an hour, the nightmares increasingly becoming more vivid as time continued to slip through their open fingers. Pushing exhaustion aside he urged the team to move faster, they were so close.
"Neji, use your byakugan to scan the area. Dust storms in this area are frequent and deadly." Neji didn't hesitate to follow Shikamaru's order. He often joined the chuunin on his journeys between the two hidden villages and was well aware of the numerous hazards the desert presented. Without thought he moved through the necessary hand signs and gathered his chakra around his eyes, feeling the familiar pop as the veins around his eyes bulge and the world was thrown into greyscale. He moved his head, eyes roving over the desert around them before focusing in the distance, south west of their location. He narrowed his eyes, focussing intently on the dark swirling mass that drew his attention.
"There is a large storm to the south west. It's moving steadily towards our location." Shikamaru looked up at Neji's words. His onyx eyes narrowed as he tilted his head to the side slightly. No doubt he was thinking of all the possible outcomes from their predicament. They were both aware that the safety offered by the cliff top caves was currently too far away. If they were to seek refuge now they would risk getting stuck for an undefinable amount of time as the storm raged around them.
"We need to keep moving forward, double pace. There is no time to lose." At his words the team doubled their pace, tailing Shikamaru as he followed a path which seemed to have been etched into his memory.
The sun glowed behind them, casting five long shadows far into the distance. A harsh wind whipped their hair around their faces, smashing loose sand into their backs. Where the coarse grains brushed against their uncovered skin it ground away at the soft flesh leaving angry red grazes. High cliffs loomed out of the golden expanse of the desert, seeming to swallow the village that lay hidden within their high protective walls. As the four shinobi moved closer six dark figures could be distinguished from the permanent oppressing shadow which surrounded the village.
Kankuro moved forward to greet the Hidden Leaf ninja, mildly surprised to see Shikamaru and Kiba. Admittedly, the biggest shock came in the form of an enormous white ninja dog.
Is that really the little runt of a pup I saved?
"Well, doesn't this take us back? Seems we're destined to work together, huh?" Kankuro laced his arms around their shoulders. His grin was obscured by the purple war paint decorating his face, transforming the attempt into a sort of grimace.
"Good times, good times…" he trailed off feeling the nervous energy radiate from the four familiar figures present. He looked them over critically, noticing the signs of fatigue plastered over their faces. Dark circles encased their eyes and they were all still panting, trying to regain their breath.
Just how long have they been outrunning the dust storm?
"I take it you're here to escort us to Gaara?" Shikamaru asked, freeing himself from Kankuro's unexpected embrace.
Laughing to hide his concern Kankuro moved forward and beckoned their group to follow him through the thin opening in the cliffs.
At least Kankuro has his humour; as creepy as it is. Probably helps the poor guy.
The five cloaked figures that had been standing with their guide moved behind the group and raised a rock wall, securing the village from the worst of the surging winds.
Kankuro lead them through the deserted town, heading straight for the Kazekage's office. Shikamaru shared a glance with Neji, furrowing his brow. He had never seen the place look so desolate and empty; it was like the life had been sucked straight out of the place. Noticing their confusion Kankuro sighed, feeling apprehensive about explaining the villager's whereabouts.
"They're all inside." He stated softly, the sudden noise making Kiba jump into Shino's arms.
"The villagers… it's hard for them to forget." Kiba righted himself and looked up at Kankuro in confusion. They had never heard the sand shinobi speak so softy, his words were dripping with sadness and regret.
"It's Gaara, they think he'll regress. They're scared of him still. They don't know how to trust a monster. They're blinded by their fear and hate so they can't see the boy before them." Kankuro trailed off, unable to continue talking about the cruelty and prejudices held against his younger brother.
"Let's move; the trust of the villagers isn't our business." Shikamaru drawled, quickening his pace and walking ahead of the group.
"Never thought I'd see the day he'd be in a hurry to get to work." Kiba grumbled.
"Come in Kankuro." Gaara's disembodied deep baritone floated through the thin hallway. The group followed the curve of the walkway until they were faced with the door to the Kazekage's office.
"I really hate it when you do that. It's creepy." Kankuro complained as he opened the door to reveal a large room. At the centre sat a familiar red head who was busy looking over the files before him. Gaara chuckled softly, schooling his features in their usual indifferent mask, and stood up from behind his desk.
Unnerving Kankuro was one of the things he enjoyed most. At the moment, it was the only thing he was enjoying.
He studied the leaf ninja before him as he shook each of their hands. Kiba and Akamaru seemed more reserved than usual, their wild, boisterous energy subdued. Shino and Neji were harder to judge. At first glance, Shino didn't appear as dishevelled as his companions. However, his posture was slightly slumped and he was leaning lightly into the door frame. The only sign that Neji had been travelling at the same break neck speed as his group was the slightly mused state of his long brown hair. Shikamaru was another matter. He was standing at attention, hands by his side, his normal slouch having disappeared with this assignment. His narrowed onyx eyes were inspecting Gaara with an intense focus the Kazekage had never witnessed before. His skin was slightly paler than usual; the veins more prominent, like he'd missed sleep in the last few days.
"Interesting…" he mumbled to himself.
So, he came to her rescue. Again.
A small smile briefly lifted his lips. Knowing Temari, she would be furious when she found out that it was Shikamaru who was leading the rescue mission.
He might not make it back to the Leaf he mused.
"So, Kankuro's taking us to Temari's last known location then?" Neji asked.
"He will take you safely through the desert. Temari was heading to the area struck by a mysterious and unnatural storm. Without a guide you wouldn't make it." Gaara answered bluntly. The humour he had shown on their arrival had dissipated quickly once they had begun their briefing and the group was now faced with the cold, detached Kazekage.
It made Shikamaru sweatdrop, how easily Gaara changed from a concerned, albeit socially stunted teenaged boy to the nearly emotionless ruler of the Sand Village. The visage reminded him of what Gaara used to be; a monster living only for the destruction for others; some…thing that lived only to hear the screams of those it killed. He shuddered involuntarily at the memory. Thinking about Gaara's macabre past now was likely to get them nowhere.
"Shall we set out?" Kankuro asked cheerfully, making an obvious attempt to lighten the gloomy mood which had descended upon the small party.