One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Temari and Kankuro awoke to Tenmai packing up camp. Little did they know that she and Gaara stayed up the whole night, silently enjoying each others company, carrying on conversations when it became to quiet. Her outfit was also a bit modified this morning. Over her tube top and hacked off pants, she wore a jacket going down to her boot covered feet, lightly kissing the ground. The sleeves were long and brushed her fingertips. They went to her knees when she held her arms up. The jacket had a mandarin-style collar, clasping at the neck.
Breakfast was served, a simple and small portion of granola, freeze-dried fruits and meat, all with water. Before full day break they were traveling again. It was much the same as the day before, running through tree tops and, occasionally, on the ground. They reached the border of the Wind Country a little after noon. Taking a break from running, they ate their rations, drank plenty of water, and stretched out their sore muscles.
Tenmai, after eating, walked onto the first patch of desert sand and drew a kunai. Slicing her thumb, she removed a scroll from her pack, this one different from the one used to summon Shugoshi. Holding the scroll in her mouth, she performed a series of hand seals then unfurled the scroll, running her bleeding thumb across the parchment. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro stood behind her, watching intently. A flash and smoke appeared before Tenmai and when it cleared, a giant falcon stood before them.
The height of it was unbelievable. It must have been as tall as a tree, close to twenty-five feet tall. It stretched out it's wings which were almost twice it's height. The feathers looked like gold in the desert sun, it's head had a more bronze look to it along with the long tail. It's eyes were like amber, glowing with knowledge and wisdom. It stooped it's neck low and looked into the eyes of Tenmai who smiled and hugged the creature around the neck.
“Everyone, this is Aarod (air-odd), he is my spirit protector and most loyal companion.” She faced the giant bird, who bowed to her because of her kind words. “We are in need of you flight and speed as we journey to Sunagakure. We stand now on the North-Northwest border of the Wind Country and are currently being followed. Our enemy has already attacked us once and we cannot afford another rendezvous until we are well rest and better equipped. Will you bare us hence forth to the village we seek, Aarod, Master of the Skies?”
“Of course, my mistress.” His deep voice echoed through the air, causing the ones behind Tenmai to step back a step.
“What do mean we were attacked?” Kankuro demanded, placing a hand on Tenmai's shoulder and whipping her around.
Before Gaara could summon his sand to hold his brother, Aaron let out a piercing screech, the air from his lungs throwing the Puppet Master back several feet. Tenmai rested her hand on the falcon's head, stroking his feathers. He relaxed under her touch. Gaara watched the exchange with curiosity. She had such control over the large animal, yet he seems to be of a royal animal line or something. Tenmai was completely undisturbed by the screech which caused her hair to blow around violently, considering he was right behind her.
“Aarod is very protective of me, Kankuro, so I would be careful, but to answer your question, yes. There was an attack yesterday afternoon when we stopped to collect water. I handled it.”
“Mistress, did you use the bloodline trait of Takigakure, by any chance?”
“Yes.”
“You know what that does to you.” he scolded. “You could loose control of them so easily.”
“Them?” Temari inquired.
“The Hidden Ones. They are the tortured souls of the world, out to seek revenge. There are select people of Takigakure that have the ability to pull these souls from the In-Between and use them against their enemy. In exchange, the Hidden Ones draw out Chakra from the summoner. They love powerful Shinobi, so much for them to feed on. While this is helpful, they can turn on the summoner, drain their Chakra, and take over their corpse. It is both useful and detrimental.” Tenmai explained, turning back to Aarod. “Are we ready?”
“Yes, my Mistress.”
The giant Falcon knelt and Tenmai jumped up onto his back where a saddle-like contraption sat. It allowed people to sit comfortably and not worry about falling. The other three looked at each other before following suit. Aarod spread his wings and beat them, rising higher and higher into the air with each flap. They were up in the clouds before long as he made his way south to Sunagakure.
Before long Tenmai took off her pack and handed it off to Gaara before going up to Aarod's head. They talked quietly to each other, before Tenmai nodded her head. Gazing back at the others, she smiled and saluted before leaping off the beast. Gaara was up in a flash and at the edge of the carrier, ready to use his sand to catch her. Aarod began to descend, following after her. Tenmai was free falling head first, arms out and hair out of it's braid.
Her jacket was buttoned up to the collar and the sleeves billowed around her. The air around her suddenly shifted and she began to fly, arms tucked tightly against her body. Aarod leveled out with her, flying along side. Gaara and Temari looked on in wonder. Only a person who had a large amount of chakra control and knows the jutsu required could pull it off. They didn't even see her perform hand seals. Kankuro was still wondering why she jumped as he watched her fly over Aarod, and over their heads, to the falcon's other side. A loud shout and screech answered his question as a flock of large birds bearing riders rose up and tailed them. Tenmai barrel-rolled back to the offenders.
Spreading her arms out, her sleeves billowed behind her and she pulled her arms before her, hands grasping the opposite elbow. Muttering a word under her breath, the sleeves puffed up and blew out, a barrage of difficult-to-see needles launched at the birds, and took down almost the whole fleet. Three were left flying, the others falling out of the sky like dead weights. Pulling her arms back to her body, she drew a sai off of her left thigh and passed it to her right hand. With her left, she pulled a hand fan out of her jacket and opened it up, the metal edge glistening in the sun.
With a boost of chakra, Tenmai sped at them, her sai killing the rider on the first bird and the fan cutting the birds head clear off. As she made at the other two, an arrow found it's mark in her right shoulder, so, despite the pain, she threw her sai, impaling the neck of the one who shot her. The last was taken out easily, it's head severed, along with the two now riderless birds. Barrel-rolling again, Tenmai headed back to the others, putting her fan back.
The wound throbbed, trickles of blood falling to the golden sands below. Landing on Aarod's back, Tenmai fell to her knees and gently eased the arrow out of it's resting place. Undoing the clasps of her jacket, she pulled down the material to reveal her bleeding shoulder. Temari poured the water from her canteen over the wound while Tenmai pulled a small medical kit out of her pack. Gaara watched the two girls clean the blood off and stop the bleeding. Tenmai placed a hand over the wound, a soft aura surrounding her hand, healing it.
“Aarod, let's make haste!” she yelled to the falcon who wings began to beat faster instantly.
“Are you alright?” Temari asked, tenderly placing a hand on her previously injured shoulder.
“I'll be fine.”
“What was that? The flying and everything?” Gaara wondered, kneeling before the girl.
“It is a silent jutsu I learned a long time ago, back when my mother was alive. Her grandfather was from the Land of Wind.” she smiled sadly, remembering. “The ones that were attacking us were working for my father and were, probably, the team mates of the ones who attacked in the forest yesterday. There are more behind us so we need to hurry to Suna. When we get there, I'll take Shugoshi around the wall. We need to get a barrier up. I won't be able to take them all down without getting some rest.”
“But we could get the Shinobi from Suna to take care of them.” Temari told her.
“Do you think they will stay on the ground when they can ride in the skies?” Gaara reminded his sister, turning his gaze towards the desert.
Suna rose on the horizon, it's stone wall reflecting the desert sunlight. Aarod picked up speed, hurrying towards the city. Tenmai took out another scroll, summoning her spider friend. As they passed over the wall, she yelled for Gaara to take care of her pack as she grabbed her neglected sword and jumped onto the stone with Shugoshi. They walked along the top, placing kanji notes every foot, each with a drop of blood atop the writing. They were finished within an hour, their 'guests' having not made themselves known. Standing in front of the first note, Tenmai did a series of hand seals.
“Barrier of the Forbidden Doctrine!” she yelled.
Her chakra rose to substantial amounts and bits of it flew off to each note. As soon as the energy reached them, they reacted in unison, throwing a pale blue aura up, meeting high above the city. The aura formed a dome over the city, barely visible, until it faded out, still intact. Tenmai smiled and knelt next to Shugoshi who pushed against her. Running her hands over his head and back, she pulled a different note out of her pocket. This one was placed on Shugoshi's back. It allowed the dome to absorb the unlimited amount of energy from Shugoshi, his energy being linked to the In-Between. He stiffened as it took control, his body becoming like stone.
Patting him on the head one more time, Tenmai stood and jumped away, making for the Kazekage's tower. She knew Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro would be there giving their full reports of everything that has happened to the elders. She was ready to give them a piece of her mind, almost as much as she wanted to yell at her village leader and elders. When she got to the building, it took very little time to get to the meeting room, the guards backing down and bowing to her as soon as they realized who she was.
In the meeting room, Gaara demanded an explanation from the Elders. Why did he have to marry a woman that he never met before? The Elders were shocked that he knew, he wasn't suppose to find out until he came to Suna. Tenmai opened the doors behind the Kazekage, bowed to everyone in the room, and took her seat on his right. He watched her out of the corner of his eye, noticing her heightened chakra levels.
“Elders, it is a pleasure seeing you all again, I just wish it was a better time.” Tenmai told them, looking around at each with a smile on her face. “This is just like my previous visits to Sunagakure, except it was under a different Kazekage, Chiyo was alive, and times were different.”
“You knew my father?” Gaara asked, facing the woman beside him completely.
“Yes, quite well actually. My father and him were close friends, believe it or not, and my father was also in charge of alliances back in the day. You don't remember?”
“I try to forget the past.”
“Never forget the past. While it might have been bleak and miserable at times, you never want to forget because those events made you who you are today, a powerful and loyal leader who would stop at nothing to protect his people. Memories shape us, Gaara, as do the events that take place and the people around us.”
“You would be wise to listen to her, Gaara. She knows what she is talking about.” Ebizou stated, one of the elders across the table.
“Ebizou-jiisama, I've missed you. How has everything been?” Tenmai smiled at him, truly happy to see the old man again.
“Everything has been fine, Mai-chan. How's your cousin?”
“Enjoying life and what it brings. He is a wonderful leader. Oh, he's engaged to this beautiful woman back home.”
“Really? So we can expect a wedding invitation?”
“Of course, all the Kages and Elders in our alliance are invited. Takigakure will finally have a married leader.”
“I'm lost, what the hell are you two talking about?” Gaara demanded.
“My cousin is the leader of Takigakure, the one who came to Tsunade's office in Konoha. Anyway, onto the subject we are all here for, when are Gaara and I to wed?”
“We will allow you to choose the date, as long as it is within the next year.” One of the Elders stated, the others nodding in agreement.
“How can you all sit back and watch this happen?” yelled Gaara. “I don't even know this woman as well as I should and you want us to join in a union we can't back out of nor avoid.”
“Gaara, sit down.” Tenmai commanded, pulling him by his sleeve into his chair.
“We will allow you two to discuss everything out and tell us your decisions. Dismissed.”
Tenmai stood up and bowed deeply to the Elders before grabbing the pack in between her and Gaara's chair. Latching onto the Kazekage's arm, she pulled him up out of his chair and out the door. He pulled away from her hold.
“Don't man-handle me, woman.”
“Don't call me woman, I have a name.”
“Just because we are being forced into this does not mean we have to get along.”
“You are so air-headed Gaara. Do you really not remember?”
“What do you mean?”
“We've met before Gaara.” She smiled sadly at him. “When we were younger, my father and I came here to negotiate alliances with your father. You and I were introduced. While our father's were discussing alliances, you and I would play together, swing on the swings or playing ball. The talks our father's were having were about our future. We were betrothed when we were younger, Gaara, not recently. And you were rather warm to the idea back then, saying that you would love to have me as your wife. Admitted, we were children, but it put a nice feeling in my heart. I have always admired you.”
“We knew each other? I....don't remember.”
“That's why you never forget the past. You always forget the important stuff. I can walk myself to the house. You have work to finish. Make sure you bring my trunk home with you, though.”
Tenmai turned around and walked down the hall, her back facing Gaara. A sad look settled on her face. She never forgot Gaara. She used to love playing games with him when she came to Suna. Those events were long before he realized what was inside of him, what made the villagers fear him. His sand protected him back then, but she was never touched by it. The Shukaku never bothered her, never saw her as a threat, so she was always allowed to hug Gaara and he loved the feeling he got in the pit of his stomach, the feeling that someone cared.
“Wait...Tenmai.” Gaara called out, jogging to the sad girl. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Allow me to escort you.”
“Alright.” She smiled warmly.