Chapter 11 (Show Me What I'm Looking For)
The breeze feels pleasant and cool against their skin as clouds hug close to the sun above. Gaara glances up as they drift overhead, some of the thicker and heavier ones concern him. The mission is almost done. The woods they were in held smaller thinner trees, and close to a rocky outcrop just off to the east of Suna. It was the last place, and would take the longest due to some cave systems that could be used for hidden bases. Gaara's sand could easily flush out any invaders they sensed but for now they only traveled to it. The conversations have been light, usually mission focused but Akira is worrying him. After her nightmare her hands on the kunai are still shaky, her movements a little sluggish. He sees steel in her eyes though, and even when her hands shake, the grip is firm and ready.
He tells himself that it is enough, even if it sits heavy with him.
Everything else is going smoothly however.
So far due to the need of rest being minimal, they have cut at least a full day's worth of travel from their mission. Gaara had been pleased to find out, and now, all that is left is one more stop before heading home. A part of him is nervous now thinking of home as his eyes drift over to Akira. Her own were upward toward the heavy clouds, and he glances away quickly before she can catch him.
He had made the decision to tell her, but given she doesn't know about Yashamaru, or her own past, hesitation has found its home in his gut. He remembers her words to Kenji and wonders if telling her how he feels is the right choice. He doesn't want to be like Kenji, nor does he want to ruin what they have. Besides when had he started feeling like this? It seems sudden, to have fallen for her like this, to have trusted her this soon. A part of him worries over his thoughts, if his mind is even his…but then again Shukaku hates Akira, what would he gain if Gaara fell in love with her? Gaara shrugs it off and lets out a breath not having realized how tense he is.
Akira scans over Gaara and sees the way his shoulders are set; even with the gourd on his back she can tell his tense. The mission is going smoothly, and the conversations haven't been awkward, to her, at least. She glances upwards again before sighing.
"Are you worried about the sky too?" Gaara glances back toward her almost surprised.
'So, it wasn't the weather.' she surmises as he turns away from her.
"We may have to stop if it gets bad. But rain shouldn't put us behind." He says after a moment as Akira scans him over once more before leaving it alone. They were on mission, she couldn't be straight forward in asking, and if he was tense about something relating to the mission he would tell her.
Akira falls back into step behind him, keeping lookout, and only occasionally gets distracted by him. (She rationalizes that she cares that he is tense, and that is why she finds herself looking at his board shoulders.) Of course, she berates herself when she does get distracted since they are on mission. (And staring at Gaara's shoulders is not something she should be doing). So, she thinks of what Gaara could be stressed about, as she scans the tree line.
She wonders if it is because once they are back he will be Kazekage. But the thought doesn't sit well with her, he has wanted this for so long, has set his heart on being Kazekage. Now they were at the edge of him accomplishing his dream.
Maybe he is worried he will fail? Nonsense though, he has Baki, Temari, and Kankuro, she reasons before sighing and letting the subject go. He is tense, and she can't ask. He is also distracting, and she grumbles and berates herself in her head. She turns to look to her right before stopping and crouching low.
"Ga-." She starts and stops when he turns crouching down as well as they share a look.
Keeping low to the ground, they spy a group of ronin in the distance as they quickly and carefully follow behind.
"Oh fuck." Akira breaths once they get to the compound and Gaara finds himself agreeing with the sentiment. The compound is better than any he has seen before, and even with their strength, they might not be enough to take it. At first glance it may have seemed to be just some hidden tents on the inner walls of the rocky terrain, but the more they looked the more complex the system seemed, and if every light they saw shining in the darkness was a ronin, then they were far too outnumbered.
"We can come back later," he mutters as Akira looks at him before shaking her head.
"If we leave now this place might be abandoned when we get back."
"The size of it suggests otherwise," he says stepping closer and before Akira could start he continues. "We can come back and try and copy any plans or see if anyone is captured then-."
"I can get eyes into the place now if you let me speak," There is a glimmer of amusement in her eyes as she bites her thumb and presses a palm into the ground.
"You have a summons?" he questions as Akira shrugged.
"My mother passed down a mouse summons to me. Recently signed the contract but anyway met Chizu." She holds up her palm and smiles as the little brown mouse sits up on her hind-legs and gives Gaara a salute. Her tiny pink paw pressing against her Suna headband as Gaara feels his lips quirk up.
"I'll send Chizu in with the intent of getting an estimate number of our enemies, if any hostages are present, and see if she can find any details of any plans in there. That way when we report the location to Baki we'll already have a head start on the investigation of this damn place." She looks at Gaara then and his mint eyes have gone cold. "What-?"
"They are changing guards, send Chizu in and be quick." He instructs as Akira nods and lowers her hand down again, she mutters quietly to the little mouse who once more salutes and scurries off.
Gaara grabs her hand then and pulls her close as sand wraps around them and darkness whisks them away. They stop a few meters away from the compound as Akira pulls out a blank small scroll and presses a bloody thumb print to it. Gaara watches slightly impressed, before turning away to scan the small clearing they found.
"When did you acquire Chizu?" his voice is softer than normal, and Akira looks up at him surprised.
"I think last week specifically, but it always slipped my mind in telling you," she turns back to her scroll. "If it makes you feel better I don't think I told Temari yet." She hears him grumble something and she smiles to herself.
A puff of smoke appears as Chizu strikes a pose her face in her elbow while her other arm is extended out parallel to the arm covering her face and she's leaned forward a little. Akira chuckles as she taps the scroll, and Chizu jumps up then, pulling a brush from the tiny utility belt on her waist. She quickly gives the information she has found before Akira thanks her, and she nods once before dispelling the summons.
Gaara offers his hand again once as Akira rises from her knees, and she quickly grabs his hand as sand whisks them away again. Just before the sand encircles them though he swears he sees something in the distance and wraps an arm around Akira. She blinks and feels her ears heat from the action, not having noticed the movement as they disappear. Only knowing that Gaara's arm is around her, and her head is on his chest, and this is unnecessarily close for moving away from the spot.
In the shadows, figures leap and chase after them, not happy at all from the security breach of a little mouse.
Gaara releases Akira once they land and he quickly scans the area again, as Akira looks at him concerned.
"Let's move." He mutters after a moment and Akira nods catching his eyes. They were either being chased, or he simply wanted to be safe as the two speed away. Akira feels herself losing her breath faster and her body feels heavier. She catches some movement on her arm and realization hits her as she shoots a glance at Gaara.
In the moment he pulled her closer, he had sent his sand to act as a second layer of protection around her. Only now her body felt heavier and harder to move, but she can't help the quirk to her lips at the thought. She feels especially grateful when she hears the heavy 'thunk' of a shuriken hitting the tree next to her.
She hears Gaara swear as she takes a breath and rips out her kunai. Her hands feel sweaty on the weapon and she feels her grip start to falter. Her heart thuds loudly in her chest as anxiety fills her and she lets out a shaky breath. She looks at Gaara then and re-grips the kunai forcing the shaking to stop before preparing to face the enemy.
'I can't- I won't let fear win.' She feels her hand steady as Gaara stops and spins to face their enemies. Akira parks herself a little behind him. They stand back to back, Akira's kunai pulled out and hovered in the air by chakra strings, while Gaara's sand stayed steady around them.
Gaara glances around quickly and stares at the rogue ninja adding up a total from what he can see and lets his sand whip out at them.
The few that face Gaara move out of the way as his sand tries to snatch at them. They laugh as he moves the sand to further separate the few in front of him, bringing him closer to his goal. Akira rushes her kunai forward and manages to immobilize one enemy with a slash to their heel. She rushes the next ones, aiming a high kick to their temple and when it is blocked smiles sinisterly as her kunai finds its home in his gut. Though Gaara and her are outnumbered, they are not out matched as Gaara finally catches the now scattered enemies and kills them. Akira put another two out of commission and kills the third, even with the sand armor her movements are only slowed slightly.
Shukaku can taste the blood on the air, can sense one enemy make his way to the treetops and before Gaara can act on the hidden rogue, he rakes his claws down against the bars of his cage and howls.
Gaara cries out after crushing a few enemies and holds his head in one hand. The pain in his mind nearly blinds him and Akira knocks out the last enemy on her side of the battle with a solid punch before looking over to him. She stares at the onslaught of whirling sand, of his face clenched in pain and slight terror. Akira brings her kunai in close again, and scans the area, deeming it safe enough as she slowly approaches Gaara but stops as he raises a hand.
"Stay back. Shukaku-." He starts and groans as he collapses to his knees. He can feel Shukaku's sand in his mind, seeping through the bars. It spans on everywhere, making his thoughts sluggish, his mind hazy. All the while, the beast within laughs and howls, and claws rake, scratch, tear down all the barricades.
He can feel it as it slowly overtakes him now. Sand pressing against his skin, against his soul-.
A hand presses against his shoulder, the other against his cheek and Akira's face comes into focus. He stares at her face; her pink lips and he winces realizing there are small cuts on it. The exposed skin being slashed at by his whirlwind of sand. Still it doesn't stop her, doesn't deter her as she does her best to smile at him. It doesn't reach her eyes, but there is steel in the dark brown of her eyes and he feels steadier.
"Hey it's ok, we're safe. I'm ok, you're ok." She whispers softly, her kunai scattered at the far edges of his whirlwind, and he shakes his head almost desperate for her to understand. To get away-. "No, no, listen, Gaara, hey, look, all the enemies are gone. We won, the mission is done, and we can go home." She brushes his hair gently and hugs him rubbing his back around his gourd as she presses his head against her chest. "You're going to get you're dream, don't let Shukaku win. You've come so far. You've changed so much, you're stronger than this." She mutters softly as the sand slowly dies down around her and Gaara takes a shaky inhale.
The bars have crumbled, but Shukaku does not go far before hard iron walls slam down around him, sand can't get through, it presses and tries but not a single grain can penetrate. Shukaku shudders and retreats. He is in control, the sand is his, not Shukaku's.
His mind is his, not Shukaku's.
He pulls back, and his mint eyes look at her, avoid of any star-like pupils and she can't help it, she grins. She's done it. She's helped him regain control. Gaara smiles back at her and for a moment relaxes. For a moment stops thinking and stares hard at those lovely brown eyes, lips, smile. He wants to kiss her, and maybe he would have….
He would have…. Yes, maybe in another scenario….
The next moment is not a kiss of the lips. It's not a gentle lovely scene that Gaara expects, has ached for.
The next moment is when the stray ronin sees an opportunity and takes it.
Akira is still smiling, still grinning, when the kunai pierces her chest from above.
-End- Song Choice: Show Me What I'm Looking For by Carolina Liar is interesting, due to the fact that I think it leads up to the next chapter quite nicely. Gaara realizes to a degree what he's looking for, knows Akira is important to him. But what will happen now that he's losing control, and her? Sorry (not sorry) for the minor cliffhanger, I will try and update soon, but we will be wrapping up the first arc here in a bit.
Well I hope you enjoyed it! Until next time!
