Chapter 12
They do manage to collect a partial bounty after retrieving the three masked creatures they destroyed, as well as the rings and cloaks both men wore. It’s a staggering amount of money, even though it’s only about half of the eighty million ryou they should have gotten. They deliver the bodies to the bounty exchange station where Itachi’s agent works, and the boss there tells them she’d like to give them more, but what can you do? She completely understands that you can’t always leave a clean body, especially not when you’re an amateur. At this point Utakata leaves, tired of the woman’s condescension, and the other two quickly follow. They make camp a little way away to pass on the news.
Choumei is dozing by the fire in mindspace, leaning against Kokuou’s side. Kokuou looks up when Gaara, Shukaku, and Saiken appear, and nods. “I would like to thank you for rescuing us from Akatsuki,” she says. “From what I have heard, if it had not been for you Roushi never would have.”
“I’m so glad we have a friend like Gaara,” says Saiken happily, patting Gaara on the shoulder with one of her oozing tails. “If only Uta-kun would admit he thinks so too! He really does like you, you know.”
Gaara doesn’t know what to say to that, embarrassed but pleased, so he changes the subject. “Well, we managed to get rid of two Akatsuki members today, White Death and Kinyaku Kakuzu. How’s your team’s progress?”
“We did use your information,” says Kokuou, “but we have not yet found the pair rumored to be in Thunder Country. We have been surveilling Kumogakure and have concluded that it would be wiser to try to recruit Matatabi’s jinchuuriki than Gyuuki’s. She seems to have weaker ties to the Raikage. I believe Han and Roushi are considering speaking to both of them, however. Choumei, are you awake?”
“Mmm? Of course I’m awake. I’m always listening for gossip. I’m still mad that you didn’t let me and Fuu-chan come along, though. Hunting criminals sounds so interesting, and you can always use more luck!”
“Aw, Chou-chou, we would’ve loved if you could come,” says Saiken. “But I guess if your headman says no you have to listen. Oh, these guys were scary strong, though! Fuu-chan might have gotten hurt!”
Gaara lets the bijuu chat for a while before he interrupts. It’s nice just to sit, leaning back against Shukaku’s arm, and listen to them. Choumei and Saiken are two of the most talkative, and he gets the impression that they’re the only two who kept in contact since they were sealed. Eventually, though, he asks if Choumei can contact Itachi.
“I don’t think Ita-chan has ever heard me talk from Fuu’s mouth before!” Choumei laughs her buzzing laugh. “Anyway, you have a couple choices. It looks like the last sighting was almost a week ago in Yu. Ita-chan thinks once they hear they’re being hunted they’ll start lying low, so you might have to act fast.”
“Who did they see?”
Choumei is silent for a moment while she talks to Itachi, then she says, “Sakuretsu Deidara and Biwa Juuzo. Sasuke-chan says, just follow the explosions.”
“Great!” says Saiken. “Can’t wait for my revenge. We can set out tomorrow, after we’ve had a nice long rest. Oh, Gaara-chan, can I talk to you for a little before you go to sleep?” He follows Saiken a little way away from the fire, Shukaku watching them suspiciously while pretending to nap. He looks up at her questioningly, and she leans down to whisper, “So obviously we have to trick Uta-kun into admitting he likes you. Got any ideas?”
“Trick him?” Gaara frowns up at her. “I wouldn’t want to trick any of my friends. If he’s not comfortable saying something I don’t want to—”
“Ooooh my gooooosh,” says Saiken. Her eye stalks move in an exaggerated version of rolling her eyes. “You’re soooo boring. That’s probably why he likes you so much. Okay, let’s not call it tricking him. Let’s call it putting him in a situation where he’s more comfy telling you he likes you. Does that make you feel better about it?”
“I think we should be using our energy to take down Akatsuki before we start trying to become better friends.”
Saiken sighs dramatically. “I wish Shisui was a jinchuuriki. He’d definitely help. Fine, fine, we’ll wait. But you’re going to look really dumb if one of you dies before he can tell you!”
In Gaara’s opinion, if one of them dies he will have much bigger things to worry about. But he says, “Thank you for your concern, Saiken. I’m grateful to have a teammate who cares so much.”
She grabs him with one of her tails, in what he assumes is a very slimy hug. At that point, Shukaku decides to leave the mindspace, and Gaara opens his eyes in a hollow among the rocks. Shisui is eating and Utakata seems to be asleep.
“I’ll take watch,” says Gaara. “You should rest.”
“Oh, you’re back. It’s all right, I don’t mind keeping watch.”
“It will be more efficient if you sleep. I don’t really need to, but you should be at your best.”
“What do you mean, you don’t need to sleep? You’ve still got a human body, haven’t you?”
“I wasn’t allowed to sleep for the first twelve years of my life.” Gaara looks up at the moon, because he doesn’t want to see pity on Shisui’s face. “I think my body adapted so I wouldn’t need to.”
“What the fuck? Who said you couldn’t sleep?”
“Any time I slept Shukaku took over my body and started killing people,” he says, tired and expressionless.
“Do I need to give him a talking-to?” says Shisui angrily. Then, “Oh, no, I sound like Itachi. I’m turning into a mother.”
“It’s better now,” Gaara tells him. And he’s grateful, once again, that someone cares enough to be angry on his behalf.