Blood In The Sand

"Are we there yet?" Kagura hissed, keeping to the shadows of the trees as he struggled to catch up to Gai and Rena, who were body flickering through the tree branches. They had been travelling for about five minutes and Kagura was already tired of the woods. Rena didn't doubt this was a result of how Kagura had grown up, always in the lap of luxury. But for Rena... everything had been blurry for the longest time.

As she stared off into the distance, she realized that although she'd argued with Suno about what he'd done, it was originally for her benefit. He'd been keeping down the trauma from Orochimaru's underground base. He still was. As she looked up at the blue sky, she found a certain appreciation for it- the darkness of those caves were far behind her. Even if she wasn't stalked by the constant memories and details, this much she could learn to appreciate. A small smile spread across her face as she felt the breeze gently push its way past her; she closed her eyes. In her mind's eye, she could see Gaara.

There were many reasons... for which that trauma should be hidden away.

Voices snapped her from her reverie, to which she leaned against the tree she was perched on. Gai stood on a branch, staring with an expression she couldn't quite place. Menacingly? Or was he planning something? Kagura stood behind the tree itself, peeking out with curious eyes. As Rena was about to speak up to try and formulate a plan, Gai dropped behind the two bandits, causing them to shriek in surprise. "Return what you stole from my students!"

He then proceeded to punch them in the face. Both bandits flew, to the point where Kagura stepped out from behind the tree and shielded his eyes, watching them fly with wonder and amazement.

Rena swore she would die right then and there. What the hell? Was this guy even a shinobi? As she jumped down from the tree, she rushed over to the two. She wasn't the type to do things by the book, but this was way too much! "Hey! Why would you ask them a question and then knock them out?"

"Why wouldn't I?" He declared with vigorous energy- brimming at levels that shouldn't even be possible. As Rena sighed, she decided to give up on Gai and look for clues on her own as to the bandit hideout's whereabouts. Looting the fallen bandits only gave her a few coins, not much else. As Gai ran around the forest, looking for the bandits while shouting at the top of his lungs, Kagura consistently complained. Endlessly.

"Why do I have to be here?"

"These bandit peasants should cater to me. I demand they expose their location immediately."

"It's so hot! God, why won't they show themselves?"

"Geez, doesn't that guy in the green jumpsuit ever shut up? It's the ugliest fashion statement I've seen all year!" Finally, Kagura had said something she could agree with. As she turned to watch Gai rush past the same area for what she had counted about ten times- she felt like she really was going to give up- until the man decided to go a little too fast and slam into a grouping of rocks, which tumbled over to expose a ladder. As he was recovering on the ground, Rena and Kagura walked up to it. "Hm. I've found the hideout!" Kagura declared.

Rena didn't really have anything to say to that other than a significantly drawn-out glare. She wondered why she had to put up with this. What kind of Elders would send the son of the Daimyo, if he was supposedly so important, with a Genin that Sansa herself had blacklisted from the mission list? How did she even get this mission without Sansa pulling a fit? Ah... she had left the moment she got it, not asking any questions. If she had stopped to say something to Sansa, surely she would have been stopped... but she didn't.

She sighed, her shoulders hanging, as she turned around and put one foot on the ladder rung. A shadow cast over her face and she looked up to see Kagura staring at her. "Are you sure... you want to go first? That looks like it can only fit one person at a time." As she gripped the sides of the ladder tightly, she realized that even though she was fighting with Sansa- maybe Sansa could sometimes be right, even if she was an extremist. Rena would probably do good to listen to her more.

"It's not like you wanna go first. I'll be fine." Rena shrugged, giving a half-hearted smile. "Just be sure Gai gets up and comes down after me. Then you." Kagura nodded and walked to a place where Rena couldn't see as she began her descent. As she thought about her situation, she wondered about the mission itself. Maybe she should have refused or asked for a different job. Would the Elders think less of her for it? She was afraid. She hadn't been afraid of Gaara, not in a way that kept her away from him, but she was afraid she'd lose her last chance to become a shinobi. Sansa was already restricting her, keeping her from what she wanted to be- if she gained the ire of the council now, where would that leave her? The more she descended into the darkness, the less sure she was where the ladder ended until she finally felt the firm ground beneath her feet. Turning to look down the darkened corridor, torches lit the walls every few paces. There were spots of darkness between she could easily slip through. She heard footsteps and voices, so she rushed to the wall, flattening herself against it. As the voices came closer, she could see two men walking past each torch, their shadows mixing with the ones around them.

"There was a big noise that the Boss told us to check out. I'm telling ya, it's nothin'. Nobody is gonna find this place, dammit!" One complained, his gait aggressive as he swaggered around. "They made it a super pain in the ass to open AND seal the entrance, dammit! My shift up there isn't supposed to be for another three hours!"

"Stop complainin', jeez. It's a quick check- it's not like we have to go up there. Just look up the ladder and see if the hole is open. If it is, call up to the guys up there."

"Fine, fine. I wanna go back to napping. Damn successful raid, and what do I get? Door duty." The man's mutterings slowly faded into nothing as he passed by Rena. Rena didn't know what she could do- as there were not one, but two of them- Even with ambush privileges, she wasn't so sure how strong they were. Tempered with a cautious hand, she decided that striking was now or never; as she tackled the man from behind, who made a loud sound, causing the man looking up the ladder to turn around, they both smashed into the wall.

Then;

"DYNAMIC... ENTRY!"

Dirt and dust exploded around the hall; she could hear the walls crumbling and the ground shake beneath her. As the dust cleared, Gai's pose in the dusk became obvious as she stared in disbelief. She watched as Kagura came down the ladder a few moments after, Gai stepping out of the small crater he made.

As Kagura stepped off of the ladder, the passage up crumbled, dirt and rocks accumulating around their ankles. Rena didn't know where she should start. Sighing, she just shook her head, before bursting into rage. "Why the hell would you do that?! We don't know if there's any other way out and that's a pretty damn shabby hole! Now we're stuck in here with god knows how many bandits!" She just wanted to get back to Gaara, damn it!

"Be silent, peasant." Kagura brushed the dirt from his clothing, sweeping each of his shoulders with graceful, strict movements. "If need be, you'll dig us out with whatever tools may be available."

"Since when did this become my problem?"

"Since you got trapped in here with us, peasant." Kagura shrugged his shoulders, beginning to stroll down the dampened, darkened hallway. She could see his outline as he passed in between the doorways with a larger swagger than those poor bandits buried under the dirt.

"At least try to keep to the shadows, Kagura!"

"You will address me as Lord Kagura!" He snapped, spinning around faster than she could have anticipated him ever being able to move. "I'm not peasants like you! Remember- You're just a peasant! I dare say I can't even remember your name!" Rena sighed. It just seemed like the more they went on, the more Kagura seemed to take for granted and the worse he got. Still, there was no point in fighting with one another here. What was more important was they made it out of this damn cave and got back the delivery Kagura lost. Gai seemed to be eager to explore, his pace more frantic and not matching either Kagura or Rena's. He looked almost excited.

Really, what had she gotten herself into?

"Lady Merui. Kagura has still not returned." An ANBU member decked out in all-black bowed to Merui, before standing upright once more. "I think they should be on their way back now. I've received word from the advance team; they've infiltrated the Daimyo's Palace. The Daimyo... will be dead within the hour."

"Good. It's time for me to make my mark on this world; mark my words, my family will not take the humiliation of being under the Sunai any longer. This is... a forceful takeover. Even though it might seem like on the surface they're in control, they... Never will be again." Merui turned away from the assassin, shaking her head. The one she had sent to kill Gaara failed... but more curiously, the monster let his prey go. Her eyes hardened as she thought of the day where Gaara was dead, Temari would lose her right to the Hidden Sand and Kankuro would be easily controlled by the likes of her family until finally- theirs merged, and the Sunai were consumed by the Hebidoku!

Sansa turned her head to the sky, watching as the mellow colours mixed together. Her short black hair blew in a gentle breeze as her eyes softened. Thinking of Rasa was easy to do, especially with all that she had read. She wanted to go back to his home and retrieve those letters, but perhaps all she could do was write them back. Maybe someday, Rasa would be able to read them- hopefully, after they safely returned him today.

Her hope was like a brightly burning fire in her heart. Rasa wouldn't give up so easily; he was just like his son. Perhaps Rena had taken on some of her interests in men. Maybe it was Sansa's fault Rena was so intrigued by the black sheep of the Sunai family; although Sansa could only have dreamed of Rena being engaged to Kankuro and being next in line to become someone prestigious and remembered in the annals of history as more than just a destroyer.

"But she's your child."

"She may be my child, but I made her for a singular purpose. This entire world shall live for her. Live... to die for her."

Rena wouldn't grow up to be lonely as her mother desired. There had been people who'd taken her death into their own hands before she matured enough to become what Owari wanted her to be. Although she was made to be that way, crafted by her mother, that didn't mean that was what she had to become. Rena would be given a choice, Sansa would be sure of that. The choice to be someone... be the hero, compared to being the demon everyone ran from. "The sky is turning darker, Sansa. We should probably head back to the Hidden Sand before someone notices we're gone."

"No." Sansa shook her head. "We aren't loyal to the Kazekage for nothing. We will not turn back until we find him. Even if the village thinks their Kazekages are weak, these people gave their lives and their blood for us. They are more than just the title of Kazekage; Rasa is a father. He was a husband. He's precious to more than just the Hidden Sand! So we must find him. Not only for the sake of his children, but the Hidden Sand as well."

Katari sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But we camp when it gets too dark. Even I don't want to brave the predators of the Sands. We're not going to make stupid decisions under the cover of the stars just because we think we can handle those kinds of threats."

"You know I always appreciate your judgement, Katari." Sansa nodded. "I agree with you. Making camp should be one of our number one priorities- we should start looking for a good spot."

Gai, Kagura and Rena were pressing on through the bandit's lair at mach speed. After Rena had realized it was clear neither of them cared anything for actually being stealthy, she gave up on trying to keep her sanity intact and joined them. Although she probably wouldn't admit it or speak of this moment again, she was actually having a lot of fun!

"Hey, bandits!" Kagura yelled.

"Heeey! Baaaandits!" Rena yelled right after him, cupping her hands around her mouth for maximum, booming effect. "Come on, we've beaten everyone who's come to see us so far!" It wasn't that hard. They waited around corners and Gai just sucker-punched whoever was stupid enough to fall for it. As they finally reached the end of the hall, there came a set of doors, which were opened by Rena. Something whizzed past her head as she was unable to react. It didn't hit or touch her, but Rena was astonished at the speed.

On top of a pile of rubble, a man sat, staring up at a hole in the ceiling above. His eyes were blank, glasses thin. He pushed them up, stopping them from sliding down his nose as he stood. She noticed him flip around what looked like a clear-coloured kunai. "And to think... I thought that this could turn a profit. Tch." He barely even acknowledged them, even when Gai barreled in.

"Are you the leader?!"

The man simply hopped down the pile of stones, one by one. "I thought that expensive medicine might score me some points, but it turns out it's completely ineffective... I'm in the goddamn red because of you morons..."

"Who are you? Where is the medicine?!" Kagura demanded, but still no response.

"Maybe I should just finish you off here for what you've done, but time is money, and I'm not keen on spending it on you."

"Please give the medicine back!"

The man's head turned so fast that Rena thought he might snap his neck. His glare bore into her, but all she could see was that he seemed different somehow. His hair was a light blonde, but not the kind that she'd seen in anyone she knew. Not even the leaf had been quite this... solid. His eyes were the same light yellow... piercing and confident. "So it's you, initiate."

"Initiate...?" Her brows furrowed. She could swear she heard that somewhere before- but the memory faded as quickly as it came. "Who are you?!"

"Ah, yes, I suppose someone like you would forget. No matter- it's interesting I'm running into you here. How about you let your companions wither down here and come with me for a chat?"

"I refuse!"

The expression on his face made it clear he didn't enjoy her response. "Well... that's fine. Rena, you may not remember me, but we were once something as close to 'friends' as a tool like you can have. I'm excited about your awakening-" His tone of voice, flat and bored, didn't give away his excitement- "So when you're awake again, you should come find me first."

"How do you know my name?"

"Well, you know me. Or, maybe you don't, not right now. I only ask and offer once. You've lost your chance at knowledge. Goodbye, child of the blood." As he turned away, Rena lunged at him, reaching for his shirt. She could feel her fingertips touch against it, but suddenly, a burst of yellow flew out of the hole in the ceiling. Although the light was dim as night was falling, she couldn't make out anything other than the fact he was gone. Questions filled her head, ones she frustratingly didn't have answers to.

Above, as the yellow flew out of the hole, a weapon sliced it clean through. The glint of a blade in moonlight caused the man with glasses to stop, pushing them up slowly as a thick crack resounded in the night- the spectacles were broken. "You know, if you keep breaking my glasses, I'll have to charge you ten times what they're worth."

Fuyuki simply stared at him. "And what are you doing approaching the Empress' legacy?"

"Please. Do you think mere rules affect someone like me? Don't forget who is the true backbone of our meagre numbers. I handle everything. I corrupt the politicians, I find the marks, I am the one that controls this pitiful world for the sake of our Empress. You won't guilt me out of approaching Rena."

"She's not what we once knew, Kinju. There is no reason to approach her; she is not what will yet rule us."

As Kinju walked past Fuyuki, their shoulders merely brushing against one another, his voice became a low whisper. "That's exactly why I have approached her. Do not forget your place, Fuyuki- go back to obsessing over your insects and leave the higher brain functions to me." And like that, he was gone with the wind. There wasn't much Fuyuki could do or say to stop him without the Empress around. Kinju may do as he pleased, but Fuyuki would definitely report this to Owari.

It could have been worse. At least their researcher wasn't with him... the two seemed close these days, but also keen in making trouble wherever they went... Fuyuki shook her head, seemingly dissipating into shadows.

Below the surface, Rena looked up. "It's way too high to climb up... and the walls are squared, there's not really anything sticking out we can grasp..."

"No way am I doing some dirty menial work like climbing. Find another way." Kagura demanded, sitting on a nearby rock and crossing his legs as he looked at his fingernails. "Ugh. I can't believe this! There's dirt under my fingernails- dirt! Disgusting!" Rena rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe that even for a second she felt bad for Kagura and even wanted to support him in becoming a shinobi.

Still, she guessed she couldn't be too hard on him... for all of his complaining, he never once asked to turn back. He always forged ahead, naive of any danger, always interested in progressing. She could admire that, really. Maybe he wasn't so bad as he seemed.

"Hmmm.." Gai was staring aggressively at the pile of rocks the man had been on, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. "Alright!" He sprung up, causing both Rena and Kagura to jump. "I have a solution!"

"What's your-"

"DYNAMIC... ENTRY!"

Rena and Kagura were quite literally blown away at the impact of which Gai came crashing down on the pile of rocks. They both flew in different directions, their backs hitting the wall- they could feel the ground quake. As the dust cleared, Gai stood atop the rock, arms crossed, still thinking.

"IN WHAT WORLD IS THAT A SOLUTION?!" Rena screeched.

"MY FATHER WILL HAVE YOU THROWN IN PRISON FOR THESE DAMAGES! I BROKE A NAIL!" Kagura's screech was louder, high enough to break a wine glass. As they both rushed over to Gai, both of them angry in their own ways for their own reasons, a light trickle of water began to spurt up.

"What's... that?" That would be the last thing Kagura would point out before suddenly, they could feel themselves shoot into the air as a result of a high-pressure column of water bursting out of the rocks below. All three screamed as they were wrenched into the air- Rena could feel herself sailing through the sky, she didn't know where anyone else was. She could only brace for impact as she was thrust into a deep mass of water, sinking to the bottom. As she struggled to breathe, wanting to cry out, she could only see darkness.

Not yet, damn it. Not like this!

The voice echoed in her head... was that hers?

I won't let us die like this, initiate. If I must, I'll summon them...!

It was as if those words were blotted out in her mind, something she couldn't hear. She could feel a ripple, a disturbance in the water as her eyes began to close. She saw something unintelligible- only when it was midway closer to her, could she see... "Gaa...ra?"

The boy embraced her, holding her close- she could feel him pulling her upwards. Even as the water invaded her throat, she still wanted to speak to him. The water pulled her down, weighed heavy on her skin, as she was lifted out of it. She was dizzy, but she felt the press of another's lips against her own. Air. However, all she wanted was Gaara's warmth, yet his lips were so cold. As she kissed him, it felt like she was kissing a stone wall; it didn't feel like he was reciprocating, but he didn't stop her, either. "I love you... Gaara."

"I love you too. Go to sleep now." That warbled tone of voice... didn't sound like anyone she knew. Maybe it was her ears playing tricks on her? Still, she couldn't risk making Gaara mad... they had just started to get on a good track again.

"Thank you... Gaara..." As he stroked her hair, she knew she was trailing off into dreamland. His lap was so soft...

The moon was high in the sky as Sansa silently stepped over the sleeping bodies of her friends and companions. She strode away from their camp, hidden in a sand dune that had formed a mini-cave. As she looked back, her eyes were only trained on them for a moment. She turned away, darkness enveloping her face as she looked down at her hands.

The power she vowed not to use. Something she'd used before, to finish off an assassin. Her hands trembled. She wouldn't become a tool of Owari again. She had created this identity to get away from her, to become her own person- not just the personal maidservant of the Empress of Blood. The student, the worshipper, the slave. All of these things she had been called. She hadn't batted an eye at the blood being shed before Owari took away her individuality and taught her a lesson she would never forget.

Right now, what counted is that she had to use this power to protect who she had around her now. Even if it was ugly- even if all of what she gained was because of Owari's training and connections. As she sliced her finger with a kunai, performing the summoning ritual, a puff of smoke exposed Jikara; its tail, the head of a snake, twisted in a malformed sense. As it stepped out, its front paws, the legs of a lion, were accompanied with a similar, familiar, furry face. Its wings stretched against the pale, dark sky- feathers dislodged themselves, black as a raven's, as it exercised.

"I have been waiting, Sansa. I was created for a purpose, yet you kept me locked away in a darkened chamber in the Village Hidden in the Shadows..." The beast's eyes glimmered with cruelty and anger. "You summoned me for mere moments before. Not enough time, nor enough respect, for us to discuss this crime against me."

"I apologize, Jikara. I've forgotten my purpose. Just because I now consider myself a member of the Hidden Sand does not mean I should reject the power the Hikari has cultivated with me with endless years of effort. I should use all of this because I worked for it. Owari can't take that from me- the blood, sweat and tears of my training. I can use this... for the good of the Hidden Sand."

"I thought you would never come to your senses. I may have been birthed from a forbidden technique, Sansa, but you and I are one and the same. Cursed, but not forgotten. Do not let me be forgotten."

"I understand. As rude as it may seem of me to ask you now after how neglectful I've been, I need your senses. I need you to find someone for me." She bowed her head to the beast, who seemed to scoff, annoyed.

"Releasing me from my binds so late and already asking a favour of me. Fine. Let this be a show of goodwill, now that you've stopped boycotting your true self."

Sansa offered him an old relic from the good times, something she'd taken from Rasa's room- a scarf given to him by his ex-wife. She didn't quite want to give it up, because it was a part of Karura, too. Still, the beast sniffed it, its fur lightly grazing the object. He nodded, locking eyes with Sansa and turning around.

As they walked into the desert, Sansa spared a glance at the dwindling flame of the campfire they'd set. She could feel a mix of emotions within her chest as she followed the beast through the desert. The sand was soft underneath her feet, shaping to her footsteps. She could feel the cool desert breeze blow over her face; it was pretty cold out here at night, but that didn't matter to her as much as finding Rasa.

"Sansa! I found the scent!" The beast roared, almost excitedly. Sansa's attention was captivated as she jumped onto Jikara's back. The two raced into the desert, galloping at a pace that would make even a horse jealous.

"Gaara!" Rena said, shooting up from her little nap. She gasped heavily, feeling the uncomfortable soaking of her clothes. Looking around, she saw Gai staring at her. "Where's Gaara?" She asked.

"Gaara...?" Gai's voice seemed to grow solemn. "That guy... he isn't here. You ended up washing up on the shore of the lake a bit away from here; you were lucky."

"And I wasn't. Gai dived in and assumed I couldn't swim! It was a struggle to get to the surface and we almost both drowned."

"Why didn't you let him take you?" Rena asked.

"Because I'm not a damsel in distress!" Kagura snapped as he wrung out his clothes. "Anyways, who was that four-eyed jerk?! I'll have my father arrest him! He won't get away with what he's done!"

"What he's done...?" From what Rena remembered, he hadn't done anything to them.

"Planning that! I'm sure he planned it! That mastermind must have!" He yelled. "He even gave the medicine back to us!"

"When?"

"I don't KNOW THAT!" Kagura screamed. "He just did! It was just there! He didn't even come out to beg for my forgiveness!" As he huffed, he plopped his butt down on a rock nearby, crossing his arms and glaring out into the darkness. Rena thought that he would make a perfect princess if he never left his castle.

Rena's mind trailed back to the thoughts of the person who saved her. If it hadn't been Gaara, who else could it have been? She wanted to know who saved her. It had to be someone- she was definitely drowning back then, she remembered every moment of it. Gai stood up from beside the fire, offering Rena a fish on a stick. She remembered this kind of food from the Chuunin Exams- which she probably failed. Her eyes softened as she thought of the time spent with Gaara there, clutching the spot over her heart with trembling hands. She missed him so much that it hurt.

Kagura arguing with Gai over the food he offered was drowned out in the background as she thought of him. The warmth was enough to combat the wet and cold of her soaked clothing. "Why should I eat such basic trash?! I demand lobster with caviar, sweet melon, and sauteed sandworm!"

"And where do you plan on getting sandworm?" Rena asked, irate that Kagura had stopped her from daydreaming.

"Well, you'll kill it for me, of course."

"No." The entitlement of this brat had gone too far. "Sandworms are way too dangerous! That's a super rare, super expensive dish! I'm not about to go risking my life for a brat like you!"

"B-brat?! You'll suffer for this when you get back!" Kagura shrieked.

"I DON'T CARE! I WANT TO GO BACK NOW! ANYTHING BUT ANOTHER MOMENT WITH YOU!"

Kagura's face turned ashen as he turned around and sat on a rock, his eyes brimming with tears. He didn't know how to feel- nobody had really stood up to him like that before. All he had to do was give them whatever they wanted and they'd follow him like puppets. But... he knew the truth. That affection had always been so hollow that it didn't matter to him- so he kept demanding more and more from the children of nobility until he chased them all away.

He realized that perhaps, Rena's acknowledgement was slightly more important than he thought it would be. She... wasn't like those nobles. Even if she was just a peasant, he swore she cared about him! Especially when she let him handle those shinobi tools... was he just messing it all up by demanding more out of her to see if she would give him the kind of love he wanted from his friends? His head turned to view her, lying there, seemingly dozing off.

How could he fix what he broke?