Black Sand

Author Note: Sorry it took so long for this update. Its so damn frustrating to write these two. LOL as if I haven't said that before right? ahahaha! Anyway I hope you guys like this chapter I know I do. I haven't really looked it over so any mistakes and such I'm very sorry. If some how I idiotically messed with some details that I had already explained let me know so I can feel ashamed and go change them. lol
Special Chapter Dedication: This is going out to Conjuring A Dome Thanks for all that you said I really appreciate it. I hope this lives up to your expectations.

“Chapter Five”


Gaara slowly opened his eyes, his body strangely lethargic, and found himself alone in the bed. He sighed and rolled over to burry his face in the pillow Sai had rested on, it still smelt like him and the corners of his lips twitched up into a smile. It was strange to feel this away at all let alone directly attached to anyone he knew. The sound of crinkling had him pause and lift himself off the bed slightly to look down only to see a piece of paper.

A hairless brow rose to his hair line and he reached under him to grab a hold of it. Carefully he unfolded it his facial features sliding into a smile easily at what he saw. Sai had left him a note, with a rose, only this rose would never wilt for it was drawn in ink. The man really was good at his work, tracing over the lines with the tips of his fingers he’d swear he should be able to tough the thing.

Under the rose was a short sentence: “I apologize that I had to leave early without a proper good bye. I read in a book that this is inappropriate behavior after sleeping with someone.” A chuckle rumbled up from his chest at the notion. He would have to explain to the man later that the book was referring to having sex the night before, and not just sleeping next to someone in the bed. Still the thought was touching, and made him feel strangely light and weightless inside.

Sliding to the edge of bed, as he couldn’t stay there forever, he slipped his bare feet to the ground and stood up. It was strange that he hadn’t woke even a little when the man had left, it was a testament on how much he trusted the guy, and really he didn’t know the man overly well. Well, he amended, he knew very little about him personally but there probably wasn’t to much to know. It had been hinted from Naruto and Sakura that the man had lived a vaguely similar life as he had. Taught jutsu from a very young age and then the jutsu was tested by foes increasing the chances of death for the individual.

His green eyes darted over to the picture frame of his siblings and their elusive father. It was the only picture of the small family, and he had never been quite sure why he even had the damn thing as he resented his father even to this day. Out of all his siblings he looked the most like the man, the former Kazekage, and though his brother and sister had mourned the man’s death he had not. What was the point of mourning anyway? Everyone died at some point, but he supposed this odd detachment had a lot to do with the way he’d been raised. Once upon a time long ago he’d mourned a death, the death of the man he’d killed.

Gaara closed his eyes and looked away from the picture, because next to it was the man with the soft smiles full of lies. That man had warped him into a killing machine and taught him how to disconnect from everything around him. Grabbing his black under shirt he pulled it over his head and tucked it into his pants, before reaching out and swinging his burgundy jacket around his shoulders to pull it up over his arms and shrug it onto him. Long fingers carefully buttoned it one at a time, straighten the cuffs of his sleeves and picked up his gourd on the way out the door. Today he had a mission and would need the gourd, where as most days he only carried around a small pouch of sand just in case.

Opening the door he looked back one last time and a smile splayed across his features before he closed it behind him. Fixing his face into it’s usual indifferent mask and walked towards the front of the house. Coming into the living room he spotted Kankuro slipping on his sandals, the man was going on this mission with him.

“So you’re awake finally.” Kankuro stated looking up over his shoulder.

“Hm,” Gaara replied slipping on his own sandals.

“How was last night?”

“Peaceful,” he answered.

Kankuro smiled and stood, “that’s good to hear.”

Gaara looked up at his older brother, “are you ready to go?”

“Yep. It’ll be kind of nice to get back to work.”

“I’m sure,” Gaara commented.

***************

Sai stood perfectly still, a statue hidden in the trees, with his eyes closed as he listened to the world around awaiting his mice to return. He’d set out for this mission half way back to Konoha, meeting in the middle with another group. Sakura had met them there to be escort for Shikamaru and kids, while he met up with the Inuzuka and Abarame. They had been in ANBU form of coarse but he always recognized there voices, and Akamaru was a dead give away. He had of coarse switched from being Sai to ANBU Chameleon, where his name was immediately forgotten and he was just another nameless shunobi of the Leaf.

The group of ANBU were to continue on to the mission site and meet up with White Dove who’d been on her mission for three days at that time. White Dove never spoke, and only ever used hand signals, but he could never mistake the petite hands of a Hyuuga. No body else would ever really know it was her, to be sure, because no body else ever noticed such minute details about others. Well his other two team members, Sting Ray and Hawk, probably knew as well given who they were.

A drop of condensed air slid down his neck to go under his shirt to continue drown the middle of his back and he resisted the itchy urge to do something about it. To think everyone thought that Konoha was humid, they obviously had never been to Grass during the spring solstice. You could go outside perfectly dry and a minute later your clothes would be stuck to you and your skin would be like the outside of a cold glass of over water. As it was he’d been out here since early that morning and it was mid afternoon now. His eyes glanced up at the sun through the leaves and branches of the green tree, judging by the position of the sun, and his internal clock, he’d been up here now for nine hours, twenty minuets and fifteen seconds.

Sai resisted the urge to sigh, and readjust the ANBU mask glued to his face from sweat. If all went well and their intelligence they had gathered was correct he wouldn’t have to be where he was at that moment to much longer. He was tired and sore, doing this sort of work for nearly a month could even grate on his nerves and he wasn’t emotional by any means. He watched one of his mice skitter across below him and he tensed, soon it was to happen soon.

He held his breath momentarily and the sound of a wood pecker digging into bark could be heard over the sounds of the forest. He counted the number of times the beak went into the tree and nodded internally, the man they were after from the Bingo book was close at hand. The sound of a cicada twittered its tune happily going about its day, and the sound of a monkey common to this part of the country, let out its loud screech warning off others of its kind off from his territory. Sai paused a moment before answering the call with a more feminine monkey call using his mask to echo the sound off in different directions making it seem as though a group of the creatures were present instead of four Konoha nin pretending to be animals awaiting their capture.

Hawk sounded off again, the screech of the male ape loud and clear in its true meaning, the buzzing sound of cicada from Sting Ray, and then the sound of White Dove. He counted down from ten, as his fingers went through the seals, and allowed his boa constrictors to slither off his page and down towards the man coming at him. Thankfully he had easily learned how to create this ink creatures while still holding back his chakra.

A large ax swung into the tree effectively killing his snakes and he leapt from the tree as kunai came flying into the tree top millimeters from his body. He’d been made, hopefully the man was unaware of the others. Sai flipped backwards his gloved hands grabbing a hold of tree branch to swing him downward, letting go he went towards the ground and landed soundlessly. Quickly working he painted several birds and let them loose into the sky, adding enough chakra to it to send them squawking.

“Heh, you’re pretty good I didn’t even know you were there ‘til I saw your snakes.” The man said into the forest with a long drawl hefting his large ax onto his left shoulder like it was a babies toy.

Sai slowly stood from his crouching position and face the man who seemed a little surprised that he’d practically walked over him without realizing that he’d been there. A moment of silence rang out deafingly clear, the murderous intent wrapping around him like a thick blanket. Sai’s eyes narrowed, though the man would never see it his ANBU mask blocking it.

Jumping and flipping backwards as the ax went swinging at him a moment later he barely missed it, the sound of it hitting the wood with a loud thwock echoing through the forest. Sai closed his eyes and counted to five before the man was able to get his weapon out of the tree. Tossing kunai to distract the man long enough for him to make and signals behind his back letting his team mates now their window of time to attack. Then, as if never having been there, he disappeared into the forest without a sound.

The man growled low in his throat irritated as he was unable to sense the nin anywhere, he knew Konoha ninja never went out on a mission alone, but there was nothing to indicate the guy had had friends. Which only made him even more acutely away the kind of danger he may actually be in. His dark orange eyes narrowed, leave it to Konoha to come with both fists swinging. He smirked, their reputation certainly held up where others never did.

Feeling a presence behind him he swung his large weapon only to see it hit into a tree trunk again, he cursed his luck and tugged on it to get out only to have a large white dog jump him from the side sending him to the ground. His breath left his chest in of woof of air, and his back scraped across the dirt ground. Not pausing longer than a second he pulled the six inch dagger from the side of his left leg and sliced it across the air as the dog was already gone.

“Fuck.”

Sting Ray stood up like some sort of monster of the lagoon and bug went flying at the enemy taking away much of the chakra the man used making him feel weak and fatigued. Sluggishly the man swatted at the swarm and stood up only to have the first guy drop down from the tree above and snakes wrapped around the torso of the enemy.

“Wow ya’ll are fuckin’ good at this.” He tsked before another ANBU landed in front of him.

The man looked at the shortest of the group and his eyes widened as he realized that he would be sleeping very soon. A hand, two fingers poised, came flying at him in neck breaking speeds only to land seven different chakra points in three seconds effectively cutting the flow off. He smirked, it had taken them all of twenty minuets to subdue him. A chuckled rumbled out as he fell forward towards the ground.

Sai left the man there and looked towards the leader of the group. White Dove’s hands quickly went through the commands and he nodded. Hawk landed on the ground to his left and soon after his dog companion did as well. Dove told him with sign language what she expected of him and he nodded before hefting the man up onto Akamaru’s back and secured him there. Sting Ray stepped up from the shadows of the thick forest and made hand signs of his own to which Dove answered. After fully figuring out the plan to head home they set of towards Konoha prize in hand.

**************

Upon arriving back to Konoha they were immediately sent to the Hokage who greeted them with large grins and open arms. They gave their report, handed off the bounty, and were told to go to the medic bay to get checked up just to make sure everything was good to go. Sai sat behind his mask on the exam table his mind blank of any thought and only wearing a pair of black boxer briefs.

Sakura came in and scanned his body for any problems found none, handed him a note that said as much, and as he was leaving she punched him a good one in the arm. He looked at her quizzically from behind his mask.

“I know all my patients even if I only ever know them by what they look like under their skin. That’s for telling Sasuke and Naruto I was pregnant you ass.” She grumbled as she walked out the door towards her next patient.

He sighed, really women could hold grudges forever, they were far to complicated, which was probably why he wasn’t attracted to any. If he were to be attracted to any woman at all it would Hinata, and she was taken. By whom he hadn’t figured out but he was able to tell when she went from being a virgin to not being one. It had been so obvious, she had held herself different, and had simply looked different to him. It was all subtle of coarse but he was always able to tell.

People in general were complicated, which was why he wasn’t attracted to any of them. His mind paused and thought a certain redhead he’d seen over a month ago and had slept with. Gaara, Gaara was oddly different, and he couldn’t fully understand what it was about the man that made him feel this way. Made him feel…

His hand unconsciously rose towards his chest before he snapped back to reality. He really needed to get home and wash up so he could go see the children, assuming they were not visiting the other half of the family.

************

Carefully making his way towards the residence of the Nara he carried his three packages, happy as he could be to be home. Slipping off his shoes at the appropriate place he made his way down the wooden walkway towards the front room. He could hear the children and he just knew they would be excited to see him, if only for the gifts he had bought them. Nara’s father stepped out of the room his booming laughter surprising Sai.

“Oh Sai, good to see you.” He said placing a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of good will.

Sai bowed his head, “as it is to see you.”

“Ah, good to see you getting this social thing down better.” With that the man walked on his left hand tucked into his belt.

“Uncle Sai!” The two eldest cried in unison and came running at him.

He smiled at them as they collided with his lower half and hugged them tight.

“Kitty!!” Mairen called out walking towards him as fast as she could.

He knelt down and handed each child the gift he’d bought and when the youngest got close enough he picked her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck lovingly. His chest tightened and grew warm and he closed his eyes and hugger her as tight as he dared. He had read that favorites were not appropriate to have but it was hard not to like this one the most. Pulling back he handed her the small box which she greedily ripped open. To find a medium chocolate bow with an orange shaped chocolate there in. Mairen squealed in delight and tore at the box to get at her favorite treat. Sai placed back down on the ground so she could hit the foiled chocolate on the ground in order to eat it slice by slice, just as you would an actual orange.

“Grams he got me my own Shougi board!” Seiko exclaimed.

“Oh good, you can now learn with your father.”

“Grams, grams look, look! Tis small puppet!” Chiharu yelled.

Chiharu wanted to take after his uncle in Suna, while Seiko much preferred her father’s method. Neither really showed any chakra control as of yet, and Mairen didn’t seem to care one way or the other. Sai stepped into the room and smiled at Shikamaru’s mother who smiled in return.

“Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?”

“It would not be appropriate as I did not tell you ahead of time.”

“Nonsense you’re coming. The kids will love to have you here.”

Sai nodded.

“And Uncle Kaze is in town too. It’s why we’re having dinner to begin with.” Seiko informed him and he felt his stomach lurch at the thought.

The room seemed oblivious to his inner turmoil and he looked over to the small redhead with all the long ringlets falling messily about her face. She smiled at him and sucked on her chocolate the milky substance falling down over her chubby fist.

“Did you catch the bad guy?”

Sai looked over at Chiharu with a slight frown, “who said there was a bad guy?”

“Well you’re a good guy and there is always a bad guy.” Seiko said matter-of-fact.

Sai shook his head, “no that is not how it works.”

“Then how does it work?” Seiko asked with a glare.

“There is no such thing as a bad guy, only an enemy. Bad guys can never truly exist as everyone has there own beliefs and families. They are all protecting what they believe is worth it.”

“But they attacked us.”

“You must be referring to a war.”

Chiharu nodded.

“That would be a power lust, but they also do such things for reason they deem important.” He answered.

“I’m confused.” Seiko murmured.

“Well when you get older you might understand better.” Grams answered and Sai nodded his thanks to her.

“It means that until we can except people for who and what they are as long as they are not hurting innocent people there will be enemies for no other reason than to protect those you love.” A male voice said from behind and Sai felt his pace quicken.

“Uncle Kaze!” All three exclaimed in unison.

“Done already?” Nara’s mother asked.

“I’m going to be here a weak, so Naruto has decided that we can break it up and he can get more done that way.”

“Well I suppose I should get dinner going then.” She said and stood.

“Can I help?” Seiko asked and when the older woman nodded she skipped off happily to cook dinner.

“How was the mission?”

“Long,” he paused and his lips turned downward, “and hot.”

Gaara chuckled for a moment and sat down next to him, Mairen offered him a piece of chocolate and he leaned forward to take it from her with is mouth. She giggled when he gave a very quite growl and snapped her hand back. Gaara never did such things in front of people, Sai knew and he felt himself wanting to smile. Of coarse he imagined that the redhead didn’t let just anyone sleep with him either and with out sand no less.

“Naruto says you completed the mission with very little effort.”

Sai gave a long suffering sigh, “he wasn’t really there how would he know.”

“Difficult was it?”

“Not overly so, just to much standing around motionless.”

“Achy muscles then.”

Sai nodded.

“Hey check it out!” Chiharu yelled and the two looked over to see him getting the small puppet to dance on it’s strings.

“Good job.” They said in unison surprising the both of them.

“He’s bent on being like Kankuro, He may have to come to Suna for his training if he shows any promise for it.”

“Bent? He is not bent.”

“It’s a figure of speech. It means he’s determined.”

Sai nodded and watched Chiharu happily make the small puppet dance a huge grin on his face.

“Maybe later we can go for a walk?” Gaara asked.

“I’m not sure if that would be a very-”

Gaara sent him a flat glare the green eyes growing dark, “I don’t see what the problem is.”

“You’re Kazekage…”

Gaara kept his face the same, and Sai could feel his determination withering away under the look. It was so odd, to have his choices taken from him, though he’d never had choices before. It was confusing to say the least. He looked away and made a sound in his throat that sounded closely to a choked off whine.

Mairen broke the tension, “I go too.”

“Good idea Mairen,” Gaara told her taking a cloth out of his pocket to clean up her face and hands. “It’ll just be two uncles and their niece on a casual stroll then.”

The young redhead clapped her hands and smiled at Sai, which Sai found himself frowning at her. This did not deter her happy mood in the least and he felt a new feeling wash over him.

“What is this feeling I’m feeling right now?”

“You’ll have to explain it to me.”

“I have an odd warmth in my gut and I do not like Mairen at this moment.”

Gaara smirked at him, “it’s called irritation.”

This was a feeling that he did not like, and hoped to never feel again, but looking down at the youngest he somehow knew he would be feeling it again. He groaned internally, they were all against him. That’s what it felt like, as if he were being attacked or cornered and it irritated him that they were doing so.

“Nine o’clock sound good to you? Mairen is likely to fall asleep that way.”

“That is fine.” He heard himself say even though he wanted to tell him no.

“We can ask the other two if they want to come to of coarse.” Gaara said before his shoulder brushed up against Sai’s.

Sai suddenly flashed back to the night they had touched, the night their lips had come together, and the smoothness of the other’s skin. He closed his eyes and felt warmth spread across his cheeks, he was embarrassed again, and nervous all at once and it was all very uncomfortable. He looked over at Gaara and saw that the man knew what he was thinking which only made the feeling of small bugs fluttering around his stomach, and made his face heat up more. Gaara leaned in a little closer and Sai found that his throat constricted and he was unable to breath.

“You’re blushing again,” he rumbled the sound of his voice making Sai shiver and look away.

Dear Kami, he couldn’t think straight, and he was praying to a deity that he didn’t even believe existed. Seiko ran into the room snapping the their attention to her.

“Grams says the food is ready.”

“Thank you Seiko.” Gaara told her and got up from the floor.

Sai picked up Mairen and followed the others towards the dinning area. A new feeling washed over him a feeling he had only felt once, and that was when Sasuke had looked into his eyes back in Orochimaru’s den. He recalled asking Sakura about the feeling days later and she had informed him that it was dread. Dread, he was feeling dread at the thought of tonight and he couldn’t really figure out why as the time he had spent with the Kazekage last time had been very nice.

Human emotion just didn’t make any damn sense, he concluded and sat down at the table his legs folded under him as he rested on the pillow. Hopefully later wouldn’t be as bad as his feelings seemed to be telling him it was going to be.

~TBC~

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