Title: A Demon's Tale
Author: swiftstar85
Genre: Drama/Friendship/Romance
Rating: T for some strong language, violence, suggestive material, and crude humor.
~Chapter Seven~
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, though I wouldn't mind if I did.
"WHAT IN THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING, QUOI?!" The very angry red haired Kazekage exclaimed as he stood over his apprentice inside the wooden shelter, who was cringing under him a little.
After the shock of Kankuro and Quoi's appearance wore off, everyone started glaring at the young apprentice for being there. This was serious, they all knew. Even Naruto saw the seriousness of the situation. They were lucky that they hadn't met Sasori's spy yet or their cover could have gotten blown. If they had went and saw Sasori's spy without noticing Quoi, there could have been a chance that everything would have fallen apart. Quoi could have, and probably would have ruined the entire plan. Luckily, Kankuro showed up before they met the spy and they caught the boy on time.
Still, Quoi was in a heap of trouble.
"Why didn't you stay in the Leaf Village, Quoi?!" Gaara yelled at his apprentice, pacing back and forth in front of him, yet looking like a very anxious and angry lion trapped within a cage. His eyes were slightly wide with anger and frustration but he was very concerned of how in the hell Quoi managed to hide his Chakra signature from him. He didn't look at the rest of his team as they stood far away from him and his apprentice but watched with serious looks on their faces as he questioned the boy. "I told you that you couldn't come! That you would be safe in the village and yet, here you are!!"
Quoi flinched a little from Gaara's rage but kept his head down in shame. He couldn't find himself to look right up into his master's eyes or any where else. He could only stare down at the wooden floor below him. He knew that he had messed up, and big time. "I'm.....I'm sorry, Master Gaara. I just..." He was saying, with shame.
"Quoi! You didn't think, that's what you did! Why didn't you just listen to me and stay in the village?!" Gaara demanded, now folding his arms over his chest and glaring at his apprentice.
Kankuro shook his head as he folded his arms and leaned against the wall, still eyeing Quoi with annoyance and irritation. "No kidding. If you would have listened, I could have gone on a date with one of the Leaf Kunoichi. Man, I swear, I could have gotten a date with that cute girl who hangs out with the weirdo with huge eyebrows and the Hyuuga stiff." He remarked. "But no, I had to chase after your scrawny little butt." He said dryly.
"Pfft." Sakura snorted as she gave Kankuro a nasty look. "Puh-lease, Kankuro. Tenten has a thing for Neji. Like she'd go out with a pervert like you. And don't call Lee a weirdo with huge eyebrows. At least he's got more manners than you."
Kankuro glared at her.
But Gaara shook his head as he continued to glare at his apprentice. "The point is," he said loudly interrupting the minor argument. He wanted to concentrate on the problem they were facing now. His young apprentice still didn't look at him but kept his head down. "You disobey my orders, Quoi. I told you to stay in the Leaf Village and you completely ignored me. Why did you disobey me?" he asked coolly.
Quoi let out a long sigh but slowly lift his head enough to look up into his master's eyes, though there was guilt and regret there. "I am so sorry, Master Gaara. It's just....I just wanted to watch you fight. I want to learn from you by watching you! It's just like what Ebisu-sama said! I can learn by watching you!"
"Not on this mission, Quoi!" Gaara said sharply. "This is an A rank mission and highly dangerous! It's even dangerous for ninja of our rank! And you are not a ninja! Coming after us is suicide for you! I cannot protect you and perform this mission, Quoi! This mission demands my full attention and now I won't be able to concentrate because you are here!" He yelled at him.
There was a pause between everyone, though Naruto was frowning as he watched his best friend yelling at his young apprentice. He knew that Gaara had a point of why Quoi shouldn't have come. This mission was dangerous for him. But seeing that grief stricken look on the boy's face, he didn't like it. He knew he should keep his mouth shut but he couldn't help it. "Come on, Gaara. Don't yell at him like that. I don't like it that he's......"
"Naruto, be quiet." Sakura said sternly, surprising the blonde. Her eyes had not even left Quoi while Gaara was lecturing him but her face was very stony like and her eyes very hard. She was glaring at Quoi just like Gaara and even looked just as strict. She knew very well that Naruto gave her a surprised and hurt look after she told him to shut up but she didn't look back at him. "Gaara has every right to yell at Quoi right now. He told Quoi to stay in the village where he was safe and his disobeyed his orders. He is Gaara's apprentice! He should have listened to him and now we're facing a serious problem. We have only a day left before we have to go meet Sasori's spy and we've been set back on it. Quoi, you should have not come after us. It was reckless!" She scolded him.
Quoi gave her an annoyed look but flinched a little when he saw that Gaara had not reprimanded her for adding onto the lecture. He saw that his master was actually agreeing with him. "I.....I'm sorry. I just....I was scared, Master. I....I know I've done wrong by coming after you but I was scared of the other kids that your old sensei looked after. They were all giving me looks as if I didn't belong there. They knew I didn't. They were looking at me like an outsider and it scared me." he murmured.
No one spoke as they watched the young boy but Gaara's face softened only a little, but still remained a very stern teacher's face. He knew what looks that Quoi had gotten. Just by the sound of them they could only have been the same looks that he had gotten when he was a child in the Leaf Village. But still, he knew that Quoi had done something so serious. "Quoi, you shouldn't have come." He said strictly.
"I....I know. But I was so scared. Especially when that old man threatened me." Quoi murmured quietly.
That got everyone's attention. Gaara frowned seriously as he looked at his apprentice but slowly lowered his arms to his sides. He could feel the unease in Quoi but there was also a hint of fear in his eyes. Especially the sound of some old man threatening him. "Old man? What old man? What did he say to you?" He asked sternly.
Quoi shook his head as he looked right at Gaara, not even seeing how serious the situation really was. Especially with Sai's face even becoming very serious and his eyes narrowing. "I don't know who he was and I didn't see him very well. He was in the shadows of some tree while I was waiting for Iruka-sensei to get the class started. I was sitting in the back, minding my own business when he came up right behind me. He said that if I didn't leave now and go after you, he'd kill me, himself. He said that the mission you were sent on would probably end up killing even you too. I....I was scared for you, Master Gaara! I know you're strong enough to defend yourself but I....I just..." He was saying.
Frowning, Gaara's head dipped down a little before glancing over at Yamato. "I think it best if I had a word with Quoi alone. Kankuro, you best come with me though. This deals with you too." He stated before motioning to Quoi and Kankuro to follow. Yamato had only nodded before tilting his head towards Naruto, Sakura and Sai who watched as the young Kazekage, his brother and apprentice left that room and went into the next.
Once they were alone, Gaara made sure to put up a thick sand sphere around them so that no prying ears would hear. After it was up, he turned sharply towards Quoi and Kankuro, giving them both a look, which surprised the older brother. "Kankuro! Instead of checking out girls in the Village, you should have been watching Quoi! If you would have, this probably wouldn't have happened! Not to mention you would have seen who threatened him!" Gaara scolded his older brother before looking sharply at his apprentice. "Quoi! Under no circumstances, you should have left the Leaf Village! Even if someone threatened you! You should have gone straight to the Hokage or Kankuro and told them that someone threatened you! Not come after me! I told you I can't protect you on this mission and there's no way I can leave now to take you back! The spy we're suppose to meet is going to be at the bridge within the next day! And there's a possibility that he could be close enough to sense you! You're still not skilled enough in masking your Chakra!"
Quoi was taking a few deep breathes now, sounding as if he was going to start crying any minute. "I.....I'm sorry, Master Gaara! I was scared!" he said breathing deeply to try and keep himself from crying.
Gaara took his own deep breath and held it as he continued to glare at Quoi but then he looked away as he let it out. He knew that it wasn't going to help yelling at Quoi now. So with a sigh, he shifted his weight and looked back at his apprentice. He had to decide what he was going to do about him. He knew very well that it wasn't safe for the kid to be out there. But....the thought of someone threatening him, that was another matter. "Quoi, tell me about the old man. What exactly did he say to you?" He asked, calmly.
There was a pause as Quoi took a few deep breaths but then wiped his eyes free from any tears. "I do-don't know what he looked like. He was behind a tree and all I could see was that he was wearing gray and black robes. I think he had some bandages around his head. And he said that if I didn't leave the Leaf Village now, he'd kill me and then send someone off to kill you if I didn't go warn you first. And he said that if I stayed in the Leaf Village, he would hunt me down himself! I would have ignored him but he threw a kunai at me! It almost hit me! He was being serious! And it scared the heck out of me!" he said shuddering. "And I knew Kankuro wouldn't listen to me! He never does!"
"That is not.....!" Kankuro tried to protest.
But Gaara held up a hand to stop the interruption. He just kept his eyes on Quoi as he tried to think about what was just said. There was no doubt that the old man had to be Danzo. He must have found out about Gaara joining the team to retrieving Sasuke back and hadn't liked it. So who better to take out his anger on than the Kazekage's apprentice? And the young red head knew very well that if he sent Quoi back now, it'll be more than likely that Danzo would carry out his threat. He knew that Kankuro would do well in protecting the brat, but if Danzo really meant to kill the kid, he'd probably send out the rest of his Root ANBU to do it. And because Kankuro was only Chuunin, he would be no match for them. Not for all of the Root ANBU. And Gaara knew that he couldn't send Quoi back to the Sand Village. The Sand Ninja who held a grudge on the boy would try and kill him too. He needed to be there to make sure they stayed in line. Sighing with irritation, Gaara turned away from his apprentice and his brother.
'Looks like we're stuck with the brat.' Shukaku grumbled, himself.
Gaara let out a low sigh as he reached up and ran a hand through his already wild hair. He felt so frustrated but he knew that Shukaku had a point. He was stuck with Quoi and Kankuro. He knew he couldn't send them back now. It would be too dangerous. If Danzo was serious to killing Quoi just because of his involvement with the mission, which the young Kazekage knew he was, he would probably have Root ANBU out and patrolling the boundaries of the village to keep an eye out for the boy. 'Looks like I really don't have a choice.' He thought gravely. 'He has to stay.'
"Gaara, I can protect Quoi if he's serious. You know that." Kankuro spoke up, sounding very irritated.
Turning back, Gaara met his older brother's dark gaze but slowly shook his head. He let his eyes flicker over to his young apprentice then back at Kankuro. "I know, Kankuro. But if Danzo really does have a part in this, you won't be able to fight off his ANBU all at once. And it'll be more than likely that he's going to want to keep this hush-hush. Because you came after Quoi, he's probably ordered them to kill you too. I don't think Danzo expects me to even return to the Village because we might be going up against Orochimaru, himself. He is a Sanin, after all." He let out a sigh as he looked back at Quoi. "Quoi, you will stay by Kankuro's side at all times while you are with us. You will do exactly what I say and what he says. Fail to do that, and there will be a punishment." He then gave his apprentice a look of warning when he started smiling. "Quoi, you are in serious trouble. If I didn't care about you so much, I would take you right to the nearest village and leave you there, never coming back for you! I don't have need for ninja who disobeys my orders!"
Quoi winced a little but lowered his head in shame as he murmured. "Yes, Kazekage-sama. I'm sorry."
Sighing, Gaara shook his head as he moved a step closer to Quoi, getting his attention again. "Quoi, you have endangered yourself and this mission by coming after us but I understand why you did." He turned his cool gaze onto Kankuro, who was frowning. "Kankuro, you are to watch Quoi very closely and protect him from any harm. When Team Kakashi and I go to the bridge, you and Quoi will remain at a safe distance away from us. If anything happens to me on this mission......"
Kankuro just nodded as he glanced over at Quoi but then back. "I know. I get it, Gaara. I'll keep an eye on the little gaki. I just don't see why you're still putting up with the brat." he grumbled, though he winced when he saw Quoi lower his head sadly.
Gaara could only shake his head as he moved a little closer to his young apprentice and placed a hand onto his shoulder to make him look up at him. "You heard Naruto the other day, Kankuro." His words surprised both of them. "I care too much about him and he reminds me of myself when I was just a child. Quoi, don't disobey me again. Because the next time you do, I will send you to another village where you can be safe, yet you will cease to be my apprentice." he warned him before he steered him towards the door. Quoi could only nod as he let his master lead him back out into the other room with Kankuro behind.
"Gaara, what's the verdict?" Sakura asked as soon as they came out.
She, like the other three, had been waiting patiently for Gaara to finish lecturing the boy. But while he was, the four of them were trying to figure out what Gaara was going to do to his young apprentice as for punishment. Yamato had stayed quiet the entire time, looking thoughtfully out the window, yet had a look of discontent on his face. While Naruto stating that Gaara would probably just kick Quoi hard in the butt before sending him back to the Leaf Village.
Sai, on the other hand, stated that the young Kazekage had the very right to just kill the disobedient brat. That remark just made Naruto and Sakura glare at him while Yamato shook his head and held up a hand to intercept them from fighting again. But they were interrupted when Gaara, Kankuro and Quoi came back into the room. All four stood up and watched the red head carefully as he led his apprentice into the middle of the room. No one said a thing for a moment as they all looked at one another. But after Sakura finally spoke up, Gaara looked slowly around at them. "I can't send them back. Not now. We're too close to meeting Sasori's spy and there's a good chance that he might sense them if they move away." He said quietly before looking directly into Yamato's eyes, almost telling him that what he said wasn't exactly true. And Yamato seemed to have caught on because his eyes narrowed suspiciously and he frowned firmly but he slowly nodded, letting him know that he would speak to him later.
"This is foolish. You should kill the boy and be done with him. He disobeyed your orders to stay in the Leaf Village and he's endangering this mission." Sai said, disagreeing with Gaara's decision.
Both Sakura and Naruto shot the ninja in black a dark look while Gaara gave him a cool stare. The young Kazekage narrowed his eyes onto him, almost giving him a warning. But Kankuro folded his arms and gave the ninja a dark look for saying that. "Quoi's annoying and yeah, he's endangering your mission but if you ever threaten him again in front of me, pasty, I'll literately kick your ass. Got that?" The Puppet Master said coldly.
Naruto grinned and Sakura smirked, while Sai frowned at him.
"Kankuro." Gaara said quietly though inside he was smirking. He had to hand it to his older brother. He might get annoyed by his young apprentice almost all the time but he was pretty protective over the boy just like he was. So he didn't feel the need to worry about Quoi anymore.
The Puppet Master merely glanced at his brother but shook his head as he let out an impatient sigh and looked away before plopping a hand on top of Quoi's head and ruffling his head, who felt somewhat relieved that he stood up for him. "Yeah, yeah, Gaara. I know, I know. But the only one who gets to threaten the little brat is me. Who is this pasty guy anyway?" He remarked turning his eyes back onto Sai, who dipped his head lower.
"Sai." Gaara simply said. "He's Team Seven's new teammate. Just until we retrieve Sasuke." He then turned his attention onto Sai, giving him a look of warning again. "If you know what's good for you, you will not worry about Quoi. He will be Kankuro's responsibility and he won't interfere with the mission. Quoi knows what will happen if he does." he said, giving his apprentice a look who nodded quickly in agreement. He knew better than not to. "The reason why I can't send him back is for my own knowledge, and Yamato-taichou's. I'd appreciate it if no one asked me about either." With that said, he gave his best friend a stern look, which Naruto had been about to open his mouth to ask about why Quoi was staying. But the blonde snapped his mouth shut after getting that look.
"As long as he doesn't get in the way, it will be fine, Gaara." Yamato interrupted before anyone could say anything else. His arms folded across his chest before he looked around the room at the other three. "We have an early start tomorrow. I suggest we all get some rest." He told them.
Slowly, everyone nodded, not wanting to argue about it anymore. Sakura had glanced worriedly at Quoi before making her way over to Gaara, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her touch made his face soften as he looked at her, before giving her a light kiss as she returned it. Both of them said their good nights quietly before she left the room into the one that Yamato had created for her use. Naruto waved at Gaara, Kankuro and Quoi, nearly shouting his good night before he too was out of the room. Sai was lingering though, giving Quoi a serious look but seeing that he was being glared at by Kankuro, he chose not to say anything. He also left the room.
Gaara then turned his attention onto Kankuro, giving him an equally serious look that Sai had been giving his apprentice. "Stay close to him, Kankuro. Although I do accept Sai as a comrade, I do not trust him." He gave Quoi a stern look next. "Quoi, you are not to leave Kankuro's side at all. Do we have an understanding?" He asked, frowning at him.
"Yes, Master Gaara. Again, I'm sorry." Quoi told him before he went over to a corner where Kankuro began laying his puppet scrolls down and tried to make a sleeping space for the kid.
There was a very long silence as Gaara watched his student and brother for a moment before he turned his attention over onto Yamato as he moved closer and he, too, watched the boy. They didn't speak for a long time but then slowly Yamato turned his attention onto the young Kazekage. "Do you really think it's wise to let them stay with us, Gaara? Sai has a point. They are endangering this mission. Their very presence can cost us this mission." he said quietly.
Slowly Gaara drew out a long sigh but shook his head. "I know. But if I send them back they could be in danger. As far as I'm concerned, Quoi told me that an old man threatened his very life, and mine. And knowing that old man, he will kill him even if he has to kill Kankuro just to get to him. I've almost lost my brother once, I won't do it again. I will take full responsibility for them both. As it is, we might need Kankuro's help after all. He's a very skilled ninja, himself. And he has a sharp eye. If our new comrade is up to something, he'll catch it. And he can protect my student just fine. No danger should come to him." he explained very quietly.
Yamato let out a sigh but turned away. "I hope you're right. I don't want to see your student get hurt and have this cause a conflict between our villages. Even if you were raised in the Leaf Village, you're sole responsibility is for the Sand Village. You still have a duty to commit too. And if one of your own was hurt just because of someone from our village," he didn't really finish. He just sighed and walked away.
Gaara, however, narrowed his eyes, knowing that Yamato had a point. If Quoi got hurt, even if he was one of the least favorite people in the entire Sand Village, he could guarantee it that the Elders would have something to say about it. Letting out his own sign, once again, he went over to the window and looked up at the half quarter moon. 'I will make sure that nothing happens to Quoi or Kankuro. Nor will there be a conflict between the villages.' He thought to himself.
Early the next morning, the training to build up the new team work began.
At the crack of dawn, Team Seven and the two new arrivals got up for the day and began their training to work on their team work. It was mostly Yamato, Sakura, Naruto and Sai that was working together for team work though. Gaara didn't join in with them. Instead, he was concentrating on Quoi's punishment, much to Quoi's greatest disappointment. He had hoped that his master would have forgotten about punishing him, though he hadn't really counted on it. It was rare that Gaara forgot anything.
So while Naruto and Sai were attempting to fight with Yamato and Sakura, Gaara had Quoi working on some of his training, but in a somewhat harsh way. The boy was to concentrate on his chakra control while holding fifty pounds of water. Now, it might have not sounded too terrible to most, but it was pretty hard for a ten year old who had a hard time in the first place with Chakra. He could barely mask his Chakra as it was. As for the water, it was pretty heavy to him. Especially when Kankuro had decided to joke around and put two large stones in the buckets without anyone actually realizing it until Quoi fell over, dumping the water out all over the ground.
Sakura slugged Kankuro for Quoi for pulling that little prank, which he was still unconscious.
As the day slowly burned away, Sakura was allowed a break and went to join Gaara in watching Quoi trying to hold up the heavy buckets of water on his shoulders and concentrate on his Chakra. She frowned as she looked him over before looking at Gaara. "Gaara, don't you think that is being a little too harsh?" She asked raising an eyebrow at her red haired boyfriend.
Gaara merely glanced at her but then turned his eyes back onto Quoi, keeping his arms folded over his chest. "We live in a harsh world, Sakura. Even if we like it or not. This punishment is easy for Quoi, so far. He has to learn." He said quietly.
Sakura kept her eyes on Gaara but then she faintly smiled and nudged him. "You're taking it easy on him, aren't you?" She teased and when he looked away, she laughed a little. Smiling, she moved a little closer to Quoi. "Gaara, why don't I help out a little? I've finished training with the guys. All Naruto and Sai are doing is trying to beat up on Yamato-taichou. You should have seen them. Naruto and Sai were somewhat working together. They managed to attempt the Rasengan, that's for sure." She turned around and gave the red head a pleading smile. "Come on. Let me help out a little." She told him, sticking out her bottom lip.
The Kazekage could only smile a little at her before he let out a low sigh. 'Shukaku's right. I am whipped.' He thought dryly at himself.
'Hahahahahahaha!! I knew it!' Shukaku bellowed with laughter but shut up when Gaara growled at him.
"Very well. If you really want to help out with Quoi, I won't stop you." Gaara told her, folding his arms but keeping a smirk on his face. "But I have to warn you. Quoi doesn't pay attention to others very well." He warned her.
However, about ten minutes laughter, the young Kazekage was staring at his apprentice with bewilderment as he watched Sakura sitting before Quoi, telling him all of the basics about Chakra control and even was showing him how to walk up the tree. Of course, at first, Quoi had had a hard time doing it but soon enough, he seemed to be doing very well with Sakura helping him a little. The boy was standing vertically on the tree with Sakura holding his hands and helping him walk up the tree, although, they were both laughing. By that time, Kankuro had woken up and he two was bewildered.
"Geezus, Gaara! Never in my life, or at least for the time I've known the baka gaki, have I ever seen him actually listen to someone else other than you." The Puppet Master said, his jaw dropped down wide.
Of course, inside Gaara's head, Shukaku was bellowing with laughter. He found this entire situation completely hilarious. Gaara could feel him rolling around inside his mind, laughing hard. 'Aww, geez! I think you're kid has a crush on Sakura, that's why he's listening to her! Little brat!' He laughed.
Gaara ignored him but continued to stare at his young apprentice with his face softening a little. He had to admit it, but he was amazed. He didn't even seem to care what Shukaku remarked about Quoi having a minor crush on his girlfriend. He was just happy that he was actually listening to his studies. And even happier than Sakura was helping him teach Quoi.
However, finally, Yamato, Naruto and Sai were done training with one another and Sai had succeeded into capturing the ANBU Captain like he and Naruto had been trying. But, the problem was, Naruto was not entirely happy with his partner. He walked right up to Sai and roughly grabbed his black jacket, making Gaara and the others frown.
"What is it?" Sai asked blankly.
Naruto glared right at Sai in great dislike. "Do you know what the word "Companion" means?!" He demanded angrily.
There was a long pause as everyone watched the two, somewhat uneasily. So, yet again, the two were about to fight. Gaara stood up with Sakura, Quoi and Kankuro and watched as Naruto and Sai had a little bit of a face off. Sai, however, frowned for a second before he pulled out of Naruto's grip and began writing on a scroll. After finishing, he showed it to Naruto. "Of course. What about it?" He asked, blankly.
Even Gaara, his brother and student had to frown at that, while Naruto gritted his teeth and glared harder at Sai. Sakura, however, quickly stepped forward, looking uneasy about a fight breaking out. "Hold on, Naruto." She told him.
"Please don't blame others for your own minimal amount of ability." Sai said blankly looking at Naruto. Even though his words just made everyone frown at him. "Had you not fallen for the Captains obvious provocation, I would have been able to stay hidden without being exposed. You went and had your clone transform into me, then made it obvious by using your own jutsu." His words only seemed to anger Naruto even more. "It's not pleasant to fight while looking after someone who can't even keep himself in check. I just worked with the success of the mission in mind."
Angrily, Naruto shoved away hard from Sai and turned his back onto the ninja in black, looking savage. "I...." he began. "....will never consider you a companion or a member of Team Kakashi."
With a sigh, Yamato shook his head and placed his hand against his forehead, looking very disappointed. In a way, Gaara couldn't blame him for getting a little upset. The whole objective of the training session was to learn how to work together and get along. But both Naruto and Sai just couldn't do it. It really annoyed the Kazekage of how Sai was always insulting his best friend, but it also annoyed him of how Naruto just couldn't swallow his pride and just for once work with someone so annoying like Sai.
"What would Sasuke-kun have done in that situation?" Sai continued. "Fought while looking after you? As a companion and a member of Team Kakashi? The one who betrayed the village and injured you....you still refer to him as a friend?"
There was a long, uneasy pause as everyone waited for what would happen next. They were just waiting for Naruto to just blow up. But the blonde only turned around and looked right at Sai, giving him a very dark look. It surprised even Gaara to see that his best friend hadn't rushed the Root ninja and begin beating him every inch of his life. It surprised him that his best friend was handling himself very well. "If it's to save that friend, I'll do anything. Even work with you." Naruto said with determination. Then he turned away from everyone and started away from them.
"Why does he still.....care about Sasuke that much?" Sai said quietly, clearly confused by Naruto's reaction
Gaara glanced over at the ANBU spy before looking over at Sakura as she moved closer to him. She had a sad look on her face as she watched Naruto walk off. "Naruto thinks of Sasuke as being like a brother. That's why." She paused for a second, not looking at Sai. "You have a brother too.....don't you understand that feeling?"
There was a brief pause before the fake smile was back on Sai's face. "No. Not at all." Now everyone was looking at him with a frown. Sai finally turned his attention onto the pink haired girl and Gaara, who frowning with confusion. "Remember what we were saying about picture titles?" Sai asked, and when Sakura nodded, he went on. "I have none of what you'd call 'emotions'."
His very words somewhat surprised the whole lot of them, mostly Kankuro and Quoi. They both frowned in alarm as they looked at Sai, while Sakura and Gaara just frowned at him. They merely glanced at one another once but turned their eyes back onto the ninja in black. 'So, he has no emotions. Not at all. This explains a bit much.' Gaara thought.
"You say you don't feel anything....." Sakura paused, tilting her head. "You say you don't have emotions....what do you mean?"
Sai slowly shook his head looking blank again. "Just what I said." was his only answer.
For a very long moment, no one said anything but stared at Sai. Gaara's eyes, evidently, trailed back to Naruto, who was leaning against a tree and digging his fingers into the bark. He could see his best friend was in a lot of pain by what Sai had said to him earlier. And he felt the same. He couldn't feel Sasuke like a brother but he had been a friend and a comrade. He knew what kind of bond they had because he shared the same one with Naruto.
"In that case....if you have a brother, can't you imagine what it's like when he's not there?" Sakura tried again.
Sai turned his gaze away from her and looked over at Naruto, his fake smile back on his face. "Hmm. Yeah...sort of...." came his answer. "Since. my brother's already dead."
Sakura looked taken back by surprise while Gaara, Yamato and Kankuro just frowned. There was a very long silence as everyone stared at Sai, almost as if he was nuts or he was too cold hearted to have said something like that with a fake smile on his face. Sakura tilted her head to the side, looking somewhat saddened. "Then you really should....." She was saying.
"Hmm. Should I have used that kind of expression?" Sai asked glancing over at her again.
Gaara frowned with everyone but then glanced over to Naruto, who had turned slightly back just to pick up his bag. The look on his best friend's face was so haunting. There was a look of almost an eternal sadness on his face. It was a look that Gaara hated seeing on Naruto's face. He had seen it only once before and that was when he fought with him because of Shukaku. Naruto had had that look on his face when he tried to leave the Leaf Village because of the monster inside of him. Sakura frowned just like him and shook her head as she turned towards Sai, who turned his back onto them. "Is there something you want to say?"
Sai merely shook his head without looking at either one of them. "Not really. I just didn't know what kind of expression to put on when my brother died." he answered quietly.
That answer just made Gaara's mouth grow firm and he saw that it did the same to Sakura. Both of them looked at Sai with such hard and dry stares. There were two feelings that the young Kazekage was feeling right now for Sai. One was pity. He pitied him for not being able to feel any kind of emotion. He didn't seem to know what emotions truly were, even though he painted them down in his sketch book. To not know what the meanings of emotions, that was horrible. But the other feeling, the second, Gaara felt great dislike for him. To say that your brother died and then say that last bit so half heartedly, he hated the Root ANBU. He didn't know how he or Naruto, or even Sakura felt for Sasuke. He didn't have a clue and he didn't seem to care at all. It took a lot of will power to not kill him there, just to end his misery of emotionless life.
"Enough talking for now. We're heading out. So gather your things." Yamato interrupted.
So without a word, Gaara turned to Kankuro and Quoi, giving them a nod. Kankuro nodded right back and dragged the kid after him to get his bag from behind a tree. He, however, paused to stand by his younger brother. "That guy, Gaara, is truly messed up. Whoever has raised him has made him into the perfect machine for ninja." He murmured before going to get his bag with Quoi.
Gaara could only nod.
"Sai," Sakura spoke up, catching both Gaara and Sai's attention. "To be honest, I would have sent you flying just then. I told you that if you bad-mouthed Sasuke once more, I wouldn't hold back. And Gaara wouldn't hold me back. But I didn't do that because of what Naruto just said. That to save Sasuke, he'd even work with someone like you who bad mouths him." She turned around and started walking after Naruto but paused. "No matter who you are....to save Sasuke, I won't hurt you." She said rather coldly.
Sai tilted his head towards him, frowning but there was a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Sakura....you're very....yeah." He put on his fake smile. "You're very gentle with Naruto, aren't you? I don't understand feelings like those. It was in a book I read." He admitted.
However, Gaara shook his head as he folded his arms and moved to follow Sakura, pausing to look over his shoulder at Sai, who met his eyes. He gave him a very serious look but turned slightly away. "Reading about feelings in a book is completely different than what they truly feel like. I think it's a lie that you don't feel anything." His words made Sai blink. "You do feel things, even if you don't realize it. That is what explains your actions. You are only human. We all are. And feelings are what makes humans human." He said quietly.
"Come on." Naruto finally said impatiently coming back from behind the tree. "If we're not there by noon tomorrow, this will be all for nothing."
Gaara turned his attention over to Naruto and he nodded as he turned completely away from Sai. Sakura also nodded and walked over to Naruto, giving him a gentle pat on the shoulder, which made his face soften a little. The young Kazekage waited for his older brother and young apprentice to join him but he still didn't move until Sai was next to him. "Sai," He spoke too quietly, making the pale ninja look over at him. He didn't look at him but he dipped his head lower as he left his eyes flicker over to Kankuro and Quoi who were slightly ahead. "Quoi means a lot to me. So does my brother, and Sakura. And Naruto is like my brother. We've been through a lot together. We've always been there for one another. Naruto has saved my life more than I can even think of. He saved me from myself. From the Akatsuki. And he's helped me see the true me." He finally turned his attention onto the ninja next to him, giving him a very serious look. "I don't know why you're really here but if any one of them gets hurt because of you, I will kill you myself. And I will make it the most painful death. You say you don't feel anything. But I can guarantee you, if any one of them gets hurt because of you, I swear you will." He warned him very coldly before he moved on.
Sai, however, held back for a moment to look after him, yet for the first time in his life, he felt a cold sweat roll down his back and his body had tensed up. 'Is this....is this what they call fear?' He could only think before he walked after them.