Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Loveless Suna ❯ Chapter 54

Next chapter's up, sorry if last chapter was too short.

alyssa james: Thank you, I'm really glad to hear that.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or make any money from this.

Gaara recovered as first and leaned backwards. “Meaning Shizuka.”

“Yes.” My eyes widened. Did he actually realize he just confessed his love for me?

“Tell me what happens.”

“I can show you if you'll let me.” The redhead nodded his permission and the girl step towards him until his desk was the only thing between them. “Lean forward please.” The Kazekage listened and let the Seer put her hands on his cheeks while pressing her forehead against his. “Close your eyes.” Gaara complied and immediately you could feel the girl's chakra emitting from her body. The Kazekage's eyes started to move under his eyelids until they opened in panic. He let a breath through his teeth before his eyes darted to me.

“What did you see?” I asked feeling fear catch my heart. The redhead's eyes glanced back at the girl in front of him who had released him without a word.

“Show her.” She nodded and walked over to me. Repeating her instructions she laid her forehead against mine with my head caught in between her hands. Closing my eyes I wonder what I was going to see and how.

-

Suddenly I was standing between sand buildings and confused I wanted to look up but my body didn't express my wishes. Instead I started to run while my heart painfully clenched. My waist was killing me and my leg felt like it could fall off any moment. Grabbing the edge of a building I noted blood running from my wrist and the pain in my leg forced me to the ground. Panting heavily I looked up and saw Gaara's sand flying through the air. I need to get to him before it was too late. Forcing myself up again I stumbled as quickly as I could forward.

A flinch of pain passed my right cheek making me stop again. With large eyes I looked at the weapon I had bought with Kaeda for Aya. It was blocking a twice as normal axe and I realize she just saved my life. Following the weapon to his owner I met the genin's eyes and thanked her silently. She indicated I had to continue moving and I didn't need to be told twice. It seemed forever before I reached the marketplace. `Why is it always here?' I heard a voice in my head question as I wobbled further.

Now I could see Gaara standing before the Tsuchikage with Shizi's little sister behind him. With large eyes I watched blocks of earth rise from the ground and rush towards the Kazekage while vines crawled from a building behind him. Panting I stepped closer and the Tsuchikage's youngest daughter saw me. She made indications to run towards me but vines appeared from behind her and held her down. `Why is he restraining Asura?' The voice questioned again.

Supporting my waist with my hand I started to make my way towards Gaara. The Tsuchikage seemed to lose it and the earth under me turned hard before breaking. Jumping and crawling at the sand somehow I landed on the normal desert grains. `My chakra's completely drained!' I realized frightened. The Tsuchikage was yelling murder and dead while I got up again. Now I noted Temari. She was laying unconscious behind Gaara while he was using his sand stopping blocks of earth from crashing down on her. Vines suddenly struck towards me but with a quick reflex a had a kunai in my hand and cut them.

I could feel my strength leaving me but I needed to help Gaara. The Tsuchikage now started attacking the Kazekage and me at the same time. I used the last of my strength to keep myself alive while I from the corner of my eyes could see my redhead making his way towards me. To my terror I couldn't feel a lot of chakra from him anymore. `He's also at his limit.' I bit my lip avoiding another block of earth but fell for the trap laid behind me. My leg got stuck while the sand behind me hardened. I tried splicing it with the kunai but it didn't even scratch. My heart speeded up as a looked up at the enemy and I saw sharp darts of rocks flying towards me. `This is it!' The voice was passed hysteria. I wanted to close my eyes but couldn't. Next thing I registered were blood drops splattering on my face. Shocked I watched Gaara fall towards me and caught him in my arms while searching his eyes for a sign of life.

“Gaara?” For the first time I heard my voice and I wished I hadn't. All hope was gone. I felt his left arm fall downwards against my right and looked confused up. Temari was laying a couple of meters away from her shelter that had collapsed.

“Shi-zu-ka…” Blood ran out of Gaara's mouth as he pulled my attention back to him. I could see the sea-green eyes I loved so much lose their twinkle of life and his body lost his strength before collapsing lifeless against me.

“Gaara? Gaara! GAARA!” I screamed shaking him violently before hugging him close letting my tears stain his face. I could feel the wind impact before the next darts penetrated my skin.

-

I was standing again and the physical pain was gone. Hands released their hold on me and I fell myself lean forward. The Kazekage's clothes came into my view and fell against them while arms surrounded my waist. Tears were staining my cheeks as I hugged him close.

“What did you two see?!” Temari demanded hysterical. I took a peek at her but couldn't answer. “What?! Show it to me!” The blonde ordered the Seer who sneered at her.

“You can't. I can only show it to the people present in the vision, conscious people.”

“What the hell does that mean.”

“You're unconscious when it happens.” Gaara mumbled before pushing me to the back of his desk. He sat down in his chair again and pulled me on his lap. I turned my eyes to Temari who looked like she would burst out in tears any second now.

“Then tell us what you two saw.” Kankuro's voice sounded surprisingly steady as he let his sister cry on his shoulder. Leaning sideways I snuggled closer to Gaara who sighed. Clearly we both weren't eager to remember what we had seen.

“Suna was under attack by Earth.” The redhead started and I could see the Konoha nin's frown. “The Tsuchikage was throwing rocks at Temari and me. Protecting her baby she got knocked unconscious.” The blonde looked up from her brother's shoulder. “Rocks kept coming and I used my sand to block them from falling on her.” Again I could see Temari laying there under a ton of blocks. “Shizuka showed up, wounded…” His arm around my waist tightened while the other one rose letting his fingers stroke my cheek. “The Tsuchikage started attacking us both. Her leg got stuck and he send large darts towards her. I didn't had a lot of chakra anymore so I moved Temari with my last and jumped before Shizuka.” He ended leaving a silence to dominate for minutes.

“How are we going to stop it?” Sakura broke it in the end. Suggestions were being voiced but none good enough. I grimaced already knowing the solution. The Kazekage rejected every plan and sighed in frustration. His hand started to make circles on my back and I looked up at him. I had to tell him.

“What?” He asked as he met my eyes.

“You have to let me die.” The blue-green orbs immediately widened and a determent “NO!” was heard. The hand on my back had also stopped.

“What are you not telling us?” Sasuke demanded and I shrunk a little under two blazing pair of eyes.

“I die anyway.” I forced myself to keep my eyes locked on Gaara's. “The second wave of those darts kill me.” I could feel the fingers on my back press into my skin. “If you don't stop the first wave you could kill him.” My redhead looked like he could explode any moment.

“Won't Temari be in danger?” Sakura avoided the time bomb and forced all eyes on her. I glanced at her before looking back at Gaara with a questioning look.

“As long as I'm conscious my sand will hold the shape I give it.” He answered.

“Where does it happen?” Kakashi asked and I turn to him.

“The marketplace.”

“Again?!” Temari mumbled sarcastically. I could understand her, it had also been my reaction.

“When?” Baki appeared from behind the copy-nin. I hadn't even seen him, but guessed it wasn't weird for him to be present. Realizing I didn't know I looked back to Gaara who was looking at his sister.

“Temari's stomach was clearly larger.” I turned to the blonde who had laid her hands on her abdomen.

“How long do you think we have?” The Kazekage shrugged his shoulders.

“A month give or take.” The Seer answered for him. “I've helped my sister during her pregnancy.” She explained.

-

I was standing on the roof staring out over the village. From the corner of my eyes I saw Gaara rise on an elevator of sand. He stepped on the roof and walked towards me. Stopping right behind me I could feel his warmth but he didn't touch me. “What do you think, is the reason behind the attack?” I asked still staring ahead. Gaara only sighed and I could feel him move his hand till it could give me a ghostly touch. “Asura was with the Tsuchikage.” I continued knowing I wouldn't get an answer and felt the hand freeze. “What you did to her… is it bad enough to start a war?” I questioned and turned around. The sea-green eyes gave the answer, the one I didn't want to get. “Maybe if we had stayed longer…” I started. “Would she have told him by now?” Looking at him brought the tears back in my eyes. In one quick movement I was enveloped in his arms.

“I'm sorry.” He whispered in my ear as I hid my face in his chest. “You better be! And don't think I'm forgiving you! I just don't want to spend what could be our last month together fighting.” I hugged him close and could imagine a small smile on his lips.

-

“The plan has started to form.” Temari announced when she entered my room. I had been practicing my Rasengan again, it had been a while.

“Am I going to like it?” I asked but only got a shrug as answer.

“We'll put more guards on the marketplace and speed up the wedding.”

“And?” The pregnant blonde sighed.

“He won't let you leave. He's scared you'd die because he wasn't there.” I bit my lower lip and glanced at my hands before looking back up at her.

“Is there any way to hide chakra reserves around the marketplace?” I questioned making her blink in surprise.

“That maybe isn't such a bad idea.” She sat down on my bed. “I have heard about objects that can hold chakra but where to find one is another question.”

“And making one?” I asked twirling on my but towards my bed but the blonde shook her head.

“That's a time-consuming operation and time is something we don't have.” Glancing downwards again I sighed before making up my mind.

“Then we'll have to find one.” Temari looked sadly at me.

“And where are we going to start our search.”

“A library?” I suggested and got an odd look back before suddenly the blonde's face brightened.

“In the ruins of the Veste.” She announced. “That village contained the largest library on the globe.”

“You said ruins.” I remembered her.

“Yes, but the library is still there.” That lightened my mood.

“You're certain we'll find the information we need there?” I asked to be certain and she nodded fiercely.

“Definitely!”

“Then I guess we have a destination.”

“Now, you only have to convince Gaara to let you go.” Temari smiled and I dropped my head again.

“It's too dangerous for you to accompany me, isn't it?” She nodded.

“I'd like to come but Shikamaru would kill Gaara and that would destroy our relations with Konoha.” I rolled my eyes.

“Fine, I get it, I'll be the only one convincing the stubborn Kazekage.”

Stephke23: Hopefully getting a chakra reserve for Gaara will do the trick. Praying it survives until it's needed. R&R