Blood In The Sand

Soft fingers plucked at the strings of an instrument as birds flit around the beautiful plateau. The woman playing it brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, before glancing up at the sky. A wistful, longing glance that felt eerie, yet lonely. A single tear trickled down her cheek. "Please, Rena, hurry and grow up…"

Rena was racing through the streets of Sunagakure. She ran down a few alleys, jumping over and sliding under objects in her way, doing the best she could. The Kunai Wall Run was something she wouldn't be able to do until she ascended the ranks, but she still wanted to be in top shape for it! Behind her, Su tripped and stumbled over a set of crates, not used to going through such a cluttered path. Rena rushed back over to her, helping her up. "Are you all right, Su?!"

"I'm fine… you've fallen ten times more than I have today." Rena was trembling; that much Su could sense, even if she couldn't see the scuff marks on her legs. She smelt blood, however, with a thicker iron scent than usual. She'd heard the crashes Rena had into the crates; eyesight wasn't something she needed. Still, it seemed like Rena was a lot less there than usual. She wasn't paying much attention to Su. Admittedly, it had been a hectic few days, so Su didn't want to bother her with all of this. It'd only been a week after they got back, after all, and everyone needed to get settled. Maybe… Would it get better later?

As Su got up, Rena's head turned in the direction of the Kazekage's home. Her eyes softened. She was strangely silent. In Su's perspective. Did she not want to be here? Did she have other plans…? Why would she agree to a training session if she was going to be distracted…?

Su couldn't help it. She was jealous. Su wanted more of Rena's time, but most of all wanted Rena to be all there when they were together, although there was one person that kept popping up into Su's mind. "Why don't we go and visit Kankuro?" That was who Rena wished to see, too. They were about to get married, after all.

"Oh, uh, sure!" The undertone in her voice was happy. Su smiled- of course that was it. She was sure that Rena hadn't spoken to Kankuro since the funeral. It would be hard, but Su had to support their marriage. She couldn't be the friend that held Rena back from something she truly deserved.

She could feel it as Rena's hand slipped into hers, pulling her along. It'd been a while since she'd felt another's skin on her own- she usually shied away from it, seeing as her skin was venomous. It didn't seem to affect Rena, one of the only people she knew she wouldn't damage.

Rena was thinking about Gaara. There wasn't much else she could do- although this was usually the case. Rena thought of him always, one of the only things she did daily other than secretly training to get past Sansa. Rena hadn't seen her mother since the funeral, same with everyone else.

As she stopped before the home of the Kazekage, she stared up, looking at a window- hoping to catch a glimpse of turquoise eyes staring back at her. There was nothing in the window but disappointment. Not literally, figuratively, but it was pretty dark and impossible to see through, so it was a bit similar to disappointment.

Rena knocked at the door, three quick raps before stepping back- the door swung open slowly, and before she knew it, she could feel her hand on another's skin as she was pulled inward too fast for her to react. She heard the slam of the door almost immediately after Su's hand slipped out of hers; she had moved so quickly Rena felt like she had whiplash.

A tumbleweed passed by Su outside, who didn't know what was going on. "H-Hello…?" She tried calling but to no avail. She twiddled her fingers as she waited, her heart sinking. Had she been forgotten, just as easily as that?

"Rena!" As Rena's head stopped whirling, her vision came into focus as she saw a casually-dressed Kankuro. "It's nice to see you… even though everything has been a little hectic recently." She swore she could see a tinge of red flushing across his cheeks. "But we've got to focus, and we need to honor his memory as quickly as possible!"

"What do you mean?"

"My father's last wish. You and I are getting married." Rena felt like her entire world was crashing down around her. This marriage was the thing she had been trying so hard to ignore and avoid, right in front of her, forcing her to confront a problem she didn't want to acknowledge. "It has to happen next month. I was contacting the planner; we already have the venue. I've already taken care of the cake- it'll be the biggest you've ever seen!" He was so excited. "Now, I have a few color schemes here- what do you think of purple and white?"

"Kankuro, I don't-"

"You're right, that's a little bit too much. Gold and beige represent the Hidden Sand better, as our marriage will." He laid out different pamphlets, looking through what looked like seed packets. "I had seeds of flowers for your wedding bouquet imported from every single country. We still have some issues with the trade routes, but I sent someone before, you know. The Chuunin Exams." His eyes softened as his fingers lingered over the packets. "I thought you'd want to grow your bouquet and then press it after, have it framed above our bed."

"We should probably-"

"Talk about floral arrangements, yeah. I was thinking of sand roses-"

"No!" He was taken aback by the desperation and surprise in her voice. It seemed like, for a moment, he would slow down and stop.

"You're right, that's too morbid. The roses are burned with the dead, after all…"

That wasn't the reason she didn't want sand roses. She thought back to her days as a child, with Gaara, days spent exploring, adventuring, and playing. Sand roses were beautiful then, just as they were now- especially considering he gave them to her. She wouldn't desecrate that memory with something as ridiculous as this, something she didn't even want! "Kankuro, I think that-"

"The other thing we have to speak about is rings. I know that we haven't conventionally done this, but I want a true wedding, one that's ultimately traditional. I know people have gone crazy over the beautiful dresses recently, but I have a feeling a kimono will do better for our needs." A… kimono? That wasn't her at all. She didn't want to wear one, especially not for her wedding. She wanted to choose this kind of thing for herself. "And I've already picked one out- It's gorgeous. Turquoise goes well with your hair. I'm having modifications made immediately."

"Kankuro!" The rage in the person's voice caused him to jump in fear. It was Temari, who grabbed Rena's hand. "Take a goddamn hint, why don't you?!" She pulled Rena to the stairs, but Kankuro moved to stop them.

"Where are you taking her? We have a wedding to plan in under a month!"

"Away from you." Temari spat, dragging her up the stairs as Kankuro watched helplessly. Rena was happy to get away from him- he was a good friend, but a friend was all he was. All the girl felt he could ever be. Even if things were changed, Rena wondered if she could ever see Kankuro as anything more than what he was. Rena supposed Kankuro was pretty good-looking for being a boy since it didn't make her sick to look at him or anything, but it just didn't have that spark. That intoxicating spark she felt around Gaara. She wished that Gaara would have been the one to save her, but she couldn't always have it her way.

"Temari…"

"I get it, Rena. I understand what's going on. Trust me, I know more about your situation than you do." Temari led her into her room, the door coming to a full close behind them, a finite, small click.

Kankuro still couldn't stand up to his sister. Something popped up in the back of his head, an annoying little thought he tried to shoo away, but he swore he saw something behind Rena when he'd dragged her inside. It wouldn't hurt to check, would it? He opened the front door, and his eyes were almost bulging as he stared at Su. "I'm so sorry! Come inside, don't just wait out there." He stepped aside, and Su took a moment to realize he was inviting her in. She followed his lead, hoping she wouldn't run into anything.

"Where's Rena?"

Upstairs, Temari glanced out of her window. She looked more sad than happy, but that was understandable, considering all that had happened recently. "When I was a little girl, I asked my father if I could be Kazekage." She turned her head, staring at Rena. "It was a simple, harmless little question. To me, at least. But my father took it differently. He told me I could never be Kazekage, that a woman could never hold such an absolute position of power here."

"But, there has to be female Kage-"

"Other villages don't matter!" Temari snapped, pausing, her face falling from rage into another sad expression. "I'm sorry. There are. There have been. Just not…. Here. This is the Hidden Sand, and it values tradition and bloodlines above all." She sat down on her bed, looking down at her feet. "I didn't even want to be Kazekage, you know? I just wanted to know that, like my brother, I could be. And his answer was, 'You'll never be able to.'"

"I didn't know Rasa was like that…"

"He wasn't. A Kage captures the hearts of their people with strength and conviction. I understand that now." I can't be Kazekage, because the people would never accept me. It wasn't my father's fault. It's the way this entire village thinks- and it gets worse the more you know." She patted the spot beside her, which Rena took, gratefully.

"Temari?"

"I… wasn't expected to be the strongest. That was never my role, you know. Women in my family have a history of being married off to those loyal to our clan, to strengthen ties. To give their children a chance to be Kazekage. And, if I'm honest, it's not just my family- women in the Hidden Sand are expected to marry those who have been chosen for them."

"Living a life like that…"

"Is something you already have a taste of. I know that my father and your mother had your wellbeing in mind, but I think I can see what you want. I care about you a lot, but I also care about my brothers, Rena. I may not have shown it enough in the past, and I may be a pain in the ass sometimes, but you're close to me too. I don't want there to be a day where I have to choose sides. Whether it be one of theirs, or yours, but this is your choice, so you tell Kankuro no if you really, truly mean no. Just don't hurt him."

"You're not usually as soft-spoken as this, Temari." Rena didn't know how to take it. She'd always been sisterly, but right now, Rena could see the pain of being a big sister. She didn't want to choose between family members. And maybe Rena did see Kankuro as a friend, but he was also basically family.

"Don't make me regret this, Rena. The person I have to marry is seven years older than me. I've never even met him before. I know it's different for you and Kankuro, but I'd never dream of telling you to deal with being married to someone you don't love."

"Is it… that obvious?"

"You cringe every time he does something to get your attention. Or, you disappear whenever he calls for you. I find you looking for Gaara no matter what the time of day is, and when I see you with him, it's like the world you're in has no room for anyone else. I don't think Kankuro ever had a chance, even from the beginning." Rena flushed, unsure of how to respond to Temari. Jeez, she thought it was obvious, but that apparent that anyone could look at her and Gaara and see the spark?! "There is one more thing. Kankuro can survive the pain of rejection. I'm sure he can. But Gaara…. Gaara is delicate. Even if it hurts, I will choose him over you. So never do anything that can harm him, got it?" The intensity in Temari's expression and words caused Rena to freeze. What had brought this on?

"I won't. I won't ever hurt Gaara!" Rena nodded, a little bit too much for Temari's taste, but Temari could tell- Rena's intentions were pure. They always had been. She smiled at the girl, wrapping her in a warm embrace- one of the only hugs she would ever give even in the confines of privacy.

"All right. I'll get you out of here; I know how hard this can be. The men in my family are exceptionally stubborn." That much was true. Both of them had declared their intention to be Kazekage. Even if she could side with Rena on this matter, there was no third option or middle ground in that fight- she would have to choose one or the other eventually. Kankuro, or Gaara. The one left in the dust would be hurt.

Downstairs, Su and Kankuro had been discussing the wedding. "Su, what do you think of the wedding so far? Do you think all my plans for it are right?"

"I do think they're thoughtful, yes." Su nodded, but her mood bordered on hesitation. "But…"

"But?"

"I don't think that Rena, or you, should get married so soon." Why would she say something like that?! What compelled her to do so, especially without any thought?! "I mean, there's just a lot of things to experience in life, you know? There's no telling that you two will love each other forever yet, and she's just been back for a few months, right?"

"That doesn't matter." The bitterness in Kankuro's voice made her wince. "I've spent half of my life agonizing over her disappearance. Now that she's back, I never want her to be gone again. I want to protect her and make her life amazing! I want to provide her with anything she wants, what's so wrong with that?!"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. It's just, not everyone's love stands the test of time." As with her brother.

"Ours will." Kankuro sounded so sure, so absolute, that Su felt like she was heavy for some reason. Was it because she'd never been so sure or complete about anything other than protecting Rena? She understood the feeling. Rena stood for Su in her lowest moment to pull her up and help her out. Maybe she'd done the same for Kankuro when he needed it, too. To call Rena kind was one thing- sometimes she was, sometimes she wasn't, but loyal...

Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps echoing around her. There were too many to know if it was real or not- it could be, but she doubted it. They suddenly ceased. "As much as I'd like for you guys to stay, Kankuro and I have a mission." She recognized the voice; Temari, someone she hadn't interacted with much and doubted she would. She shied away from the stranger.

"I haven't heard about any new mission, and I think I've got to stay and plan the wedding-"

"Kankuro." The edged malice in Temari's voice was enough for him to stop speaking and become compliant. He watched as her curled fist rose into the air, fearful of Temari's iron punches. The last time he stepped out of line and ate her favorite dish she'd purposely made leftovers for, she blew him away so far that he had to walk for a day to get back to the Hidden Sand. He wasn't going to risk that again, that would just be wasting more time than he needed to.

"Alright. I guess I'll see you later, Rena! Uh… I'll drop by your house, and we can talk." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, turning away sadly. Rena opened the door, only to almost run face-first into the person she'd been searching for. Her eyes lit up.

Gaara wanted to speak to her, too. But behind her, he could see Kankuro watching them, reminding himself of his position here- how he had no foothold to do anything. He pushed past her, past Su, who stepped aside in a hurry as Gaara rushed up the stairs.

Su hated that boy. His smell- even though he seemed to have changed personality-wise- would remain for a long time. He still smelled like blood. She didn't want anything to do with him- Rena still needed to be protected from that boy most of all. Rena watched as Gaara left, hearing the slam of his door.

"Well… goodbye."

It was only after Rena and Su had departed that Temari decided she had to say something. "Kankuro… are you sure about this?"

"Why is everyone so on me about this?! First Su and now you?! What's the problem with marrying the person you love?"

"Are you so sure that she loves you?"

Kankuro paused, looking around the room at all of the paperwork he had been filling out, all of the alternative wedding options, the color schemes. All of the time, effort, and thought he had put into this was more than he had ever applied himself to anything else. He had already made a list of acceptable gifts. "Well… she has to."

"No, she doesn't," Temari replied. "Have you ever, just once, sat her down and asked her if this was her idea, or how she felt about this? You seem more excited about this wedding than she does."

"How would you know?"

Although he wanted to deny it immediately, he couldn't argue with his sister. She'd never explicitly said she loved him. Never even alluded to it. Not once. He had been open with his feelings, but he couldn't ever recall a point where she'd been clear about hers other than with the things she'd done during the Chuunin Exams with Gaara, the things he had been ignoring. He'd acknowledged them once, but he refused to again. If he did, he wasn't so sure he could save his heart. "You don't have to listen to me, brother, but you'd be an idiot if you didn't."

Gaara's heart was still beating fast from the little interaction between him and Rena. He pressed himself up against the door, flattening his back, his heart hammering away in his chest and making it hard to breathe. His cheeks felt like they were buzzing, warmth bursting from the deepest parts of him, overtaking him. He had felt so weird, looking at her. He just wanted to leave the room right away, so he did. Thoughts of the funeral, of her comfort and embrace, flooded his mind- why now, he'd never understood- and caused him to slide down, covering his face with his hands as he tried to stop the buzz. A small smile crossed his face, sincere and hopeful, replaced with a grimace as he realized that she'd been with Kankuro. His brother.

Something as involved as marriage had never crossed his mind. He assumed he would never have to know anything about it because he'd never have anything to do with it. He hadn't thought about it in the past. Only recently did he pay any attention to it. His parents had been married before his mother's death, but that was the extent of his knowledge back when he was still the old him. Only the people who needed to be married did it, so he wondered why Kankuro and Rena had to. It was only for people who loved each other, but what was love? Was it what Naruto did for him, or was it how Rena stayed by his side, or his siblings when they cooked meals every night and stored them away so he could have them when he was hungry?

What was love? For him and everyone else? He said he loved her. Did that mean a feeling was love? That this weird, strange heat overtaking him and changing his usual behavior, making him think differently, was the answer to his question?

[Fooling Mode - Naruto OST]

"So, you say you have a way to get into the Hidden Sand? Without sneaking in?"

"That's what these robes are for, stupid."

"You're the stupid one, make no mistake, Kinju."

"Oh, doctor, how can you break my poor, innocent heart like this?!" Kinju shook his head, clapping his hands to his cheeks, feigning an agonized expression. "And to think you're always so needy when you want something, but so quick to insult me! Am I just a tool to you?"

"Basically."

"Heresy! They say love thy spouse!"

Ignoring Kinju's statement, the doctor stared at the wall of the Hidden Sand, before what was mainly the border guard. "What's the plan?"

Kinju glanced back at the doctor, who held a chain in his hand. His eyes trailed up to the other robed figure, her face obscured. She was silent and didn't struggle much- she had nothing binding her. Although Kinju and the doctor were initially cordial, they had grown up beside each other and were equals in the bloodline. It meant that, mostly, both were on the same level, had no reason to disrespect one another, and no reason to fight one another. In other words, friends. Or, whatever term the Hikari coined it- 'loose acquaintance,' as Kinju would claim to any onlooker.

"Well, for one, keep her quiet. I have papers- I supply a few shops past the walls, and these documents are forged to make me look like a nobleman in the capital of the Wind. You're my bodyguards, I've only hired you on two occasions. The girl is your daughter, raised to be feral, so you keep her on a leash."

"I'm stuck, eternally, at twenty-five. In what world would I have a daughter?"

"We both are. Here's the story. You're a notorious whore. You're pretty enough to have worked the red-light district for some coin. Just think about it- it's a perfect alibi."

"I hate sex; sex is boring."

"You know, there's always been one constant between the two of us- we both find the other infinitely boring, but we're the only company each other will have for a very long time other than those other fools back home, You're obsessed with logic and I believe the world runs on money which means I'm always right."

"In a world where you are right, everyone else would name it a tragedy."

"And in a playwright's words, a tragedy is a type of play everyone would come to see, so it all works out in the end."

The two locked eyes, lightning bolts coming between them. Either way, their argument had always been either money over logic, or logic over cash. Their ideals, of course, clashed with Owari's- but that was what made her so enjoyable to follow. Her word was usually law for everyone, no matter the implications or the differing opinions. The doctor respected his clans-members, but that didn't mean he had to like all of them. "Let's get on with it already, then. And I'm not a whore."

"Fine." Kinju sighed, walking up to the guard outside of the city. He began to ruffle through his satchel, bringing out identification papers. "I'm Kanagi Gozen, of the Gozen Family. I'm sure you've heard of my prestige, so must we draw out this interaction? I own several establishments and supply even more here. You understand, don't you? Then let me through."

"Who's with you?" The guard checked over his identification papers, and assuming he saw nothing suspicious, handed them back to Kinju. "They don't look like anyone from here."

"Well, seeing as your incompetent Kazekage started a war with the Hidden Leaf, I figured I'd hire someone who could protect me. They're a freak show, too, so it's pretty entertaining- one, I found in a whorehouse. For shinobi, too. Some people like it freaky, or a certain kind of Jutsu, if you know what I mean." The doctor would have probably speared Kinju if he didn't want to see Rena so severely. He'd still do it, just later. That damn bastard deserved it. "And that other one, on the chain? That's his fucking daughter. Sick. The mother didn't want anything to do with it, so she locked it in a basement, and then when she decided she didn't want to feed it anymore, she threw it at the poor man. I decided to help their financial situation a little." The Hidden Sand guard recoiled in disgust, allowing the three to pass by him. Kinju waved to him on the way by, but he heard the man mutter.

"Jeez, noblemen are fucking disgusting."

"Put up your hood, Kinju, or you'll ruin this before it's started. Sansa hates you, you know."

"Sansa hates both of us. She'd rather paint the walls with our blood than stop and have a nice, friendly little chat." Kinju shrugged nonchalantly. "If it gets ruined, it gets ruined. I wanna explore, anyways- I've never been here personally, always sent paid messengers."

"As it should be, you're absolute trouble when left on your own. Why is it that every mission or operation we've ever been on together, you make up some elaborate lie to tell people to worm your way through?"

"Why, doctor, it's to remind me of how much of a jerk you are. And that you exist, and you aren't just a mass hallucinogen made from some mold in the fortress walls."

"You're an idiotic genius."

"Can't relate." He felt the whap at the back of the head before it even happened, but that didn't stop Kinju from face planting into the ground from the force of the doctor's hand. He slowly moved to get up, sighing as he turned around to glare at the man.

"I am smart."

"Nobody was saying you weren't, Doctor."

The Doctor's eyes narrowed, but he shook his head and began to advance deeper into the heart of the Hidden Sand. He had to continually stop Kinju from wandering him off, nearly taking the chain off of the girl and placing it on his companion. "I want to explore, Doctor. You keeping me here is limiting my freedom."

"I give you freedom, and you-" By the time he had turned to answer Kinju, the Doctor found himself and the girl alone, nothing but a cold breeze passing over them. "God damn you. Ten minutes until we're chased from the Hidden Sand." The Doctor raised his arm, which had a watch- setting it carefully to time ten minutes for an alarm; he knew he would have to do what he came for fast.

The Doctor turned to his latest victim, checking the area just in case there were observers. He devised there were none in the immediate area, as he couldn't even feel eyes on his back. Procuring a thin syringe from his pocket, he tested that the liquid would, indeed, come out of the needle, tapping it quickly before turning to the woman, who moaned.

He tightened the chain around his hand before yanking her toward him. She swayed, stumbling, almost falling over, but never quite managing to topple. She went quiet, lifeless yet small, slight motions gave her away as alive and more than just a statue. "Oh, you pitiful creation, you. All I can do for you now is free you of your misery." He stabbed the needle, deep into the woman's neck, before pushing the liquid into her bloodstream. It would take a few moments. "Be free of all sadness, fear, and doubt. Be a true, steadfast beast, living only to devour."

He watched as tears formed in the girl's eyes as the last spark of intelligence faded from her mind, the serum eating away at her humanity. She dropped to all fours, scuttling away and growling like a feral toddler. "I will not retake your freedom. Your new state is irreversible, beast. Your mind has shattered, and your humanity is gone. You can barely understand my words as they are." It began to turn away, but the Doctor realized he'd forgotten the most crucial part. "Stop." The beast came to a halt. The suggestive effect on its mind remained, and it would for maybe a minute more. "As you are now won't do. You're a useless civilian with the mind of a beast- I need you to wreak greater havoc if we're going to save Kinju from his idiocy." He beckoned to the beast, which followed his lead.

His hands flew through many hand signs, never missing a single beat. He felt chakra flow through him, building up before he paused. "Beast Creation Jutsu! Wind Imbuement!" His hand slapped the chest of the civilian, allowing his chakra nature to overtake whatever the civilians might have been. At that same moment, his touch opened up the first chakra limiter the civilian had within, allowing the beast's chakra to explode to a higher level. His hand slid up and tapped the second chakra limiter, causing the creature to scream in pain. "You can't handle any more of this without spontaneously combusting on the spot. You have an hour to live, beast. But, perhaps if you kill more people and take their lives, yours will remain." He'd have to make a note to use a shinobi next time. He could feel the thrum of the beast's heart, now that he linked himself to it through Jutsu- and even when it shot away, he could feel it on the move.

The Doctor turned and walked away, the breeze that the beast left behind caused his cloak to billow out. He had to find Rena. That was his purpose here.

X

I'm gonna die if I don't sleep. I just separated all of the chapters, which took four hours, did minor edits. I feel like I've gotten a lot better at writing through writing this! Trust me, it's been a LONG time since chapter one- five months, at least.

With that in mind...

WOO!

I'm so excited~! I'll be able to update more normally, like maybe six times a week or so~~~

I got so into writing that I kinda forgot how great shorter chapters were and as my passion grew, so did the length of the chapters!

Should I continue to place music at points in the chapters? I'd usually just link them, but instead, I wrote the titles of the songs and who they're by.

P.S. Even if nobody ever sees this, I'm proud of myself. I don't know if anyone will like it, or even get this far, but I've poured a lot of time and hard work into this and I can see myself improving. Even a paid grammar program can no longer detect any problems in my text!~

Thank god, it's actually kind of really expensive, so I'll probably just use it for three months more.

X