Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

A Leaf in the Wind Country	By : Figaliz Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 973 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Part Five: The Maze

Sasuke and Gaara left Sunagakure
before sunrise, leaving the village early to gain as much travel time during
the day as possible. Gaara took point, guiding, and Sasuke followed, watching
their backs against being followed or ambush. Gaara led them along a
circumspect route, through the canyons and steppes along the border between
Wind and Fire country. The direct route led through the dunes; shifting sands
more treacherous and deadly then a pit of vipers. Gaara was at home in those
deadly sands whose storms rose from wind and nothing and gave the Kazekage the
fierce joy of watching the desert itself rouse to hunt those pitiful creatures
that dared try and cross it. While Gaara would have been able to protect Sasuke
from the desert�s fury, it was easier, and probably faster, to take the longer
route. Not to mention safer; when the sandstorms rode the winds, Gaara�s more savage
instincts howled their loudest.
They stopped at noon and took their midday meal under the shade of rocks. The meal was shinobi rations, tasteless and
taken with scant mouthfuls of hot, dusty water. Gaara knew every water source
on their route, but he still rationed their water like the desert dweller he
was.
They rested in the shade, watchful
and silent, for several hours; waiting for the worst of the day�s heat to cool,
before setting out again. They traveled like that for two and a half days,
desert steppes turned to coastal chaparral and they turned south, traveling
through midday as the sea breeze cooled the noon heat and filled the air with
the scent of brine and kelp. They reached their destination on the evening of
the third day, stopping to make camp in a shallow cave on the outskirts of the
Maze. They hadn�t spoken much the entire trip; Gaara had rebuffed Sasuke�s few
attempts at conversation, and the dark-haired shinobi had gotten the hint and
had stopped trying to draw out the recalcitrant Kazekage. They ate dinner cold
and slept on the hard, damp rock of the cave. When the moon rose, shedding
enough light to see by, Gaara led them along the tops of rocky cliffs and down
nearly sheer slopes until they reached a crack in the rocks. It didn�t even
look like a cave entrance, it was so small. Gaara�s sand gourd dissolved as the
Kazekage wiggled and squirmed his way through the opening, his sand following
at his heels like an eager puppy. Sasuke had only a little less difficulty, he
was taller then Gaara, but a little slimmer as well. Once they were inside they
stopped. The moonlight filtered only a scant few feet into the cave, the rest
was complete and utter darkness, as black as hell. Sasuke could be standing on
the edge of a pit or two inches from a wall and he wouldn�t have been able to
tell without reaching his fingers forward.
�There are pitfalls and slick
places further in, the footing is dangerous so follow me closely.� Gaara�s
voice seemed to come from nowhere, even that soft whisper echoed through the
stones, so that the very darkness seemed to speak with Gaara�s voice.
�Certainly, just let me take out
the miner�s lights.�
�It�s better not. We don�t want to
tip off the pirates with lights. You really can�t see?� Gaara�s voice held
little inflection, but Sasuke thought that the Kazekage might be frowning. �Very
well. I will guide you.�
Strong fingers brushed Sasuke�s
arm, sending a shiver of adrenaline through Sasuke. Unexpected touch, combined
with the voice that was now almost directly in his ear, was not a wholly
pleasant experience for a shinobi, especially one trapped in complete darkness
with no way to defend himself but guessing. Sasuke�s nerves were like live
wires. He guessed it might be a trick of Shukaku that Gaara could see in this blackness,
or perhaps a sand Jutsu. Either way he was completely in Gaara�s care, and he
didn�t know if he cared for the experience.
Gaara felt the Uchiha stiffen under
his fingers, guessed some of what the other was thinking. No ninja would be
pleased with the circumstances. He had assumed that Sasuke�s Sharingan would
somehow help him see, but he should have asked before to be sure. Having to
guide Sasuke didn�t bother Gaara, but the implied helplessness of the Uchiha
was doing little to calm that voice which still sang out for Sasuke�s blood. Ignoring
the insistent murmur of� prey that whispered through his head, Gaara led
Sasuke through the Maze slowly, whispering to Sasuke when obstacles loomed.
�Duck low now for several steps. You can straighten. Watch your footing, the
stones are loose here. Veer left. Kneel. Take hold of my ankle, we must crawl
through here. Stand. There�s a pit to your right, walk carefully, put your hand
on the wall.� Gaara�s voice was barely audible, the darkness and quiet made his
usually cold tones sound almost intimate, though in truth his inflections were
as flat as ever.
After what seemed an eternity of
darkness Gaara paused. �Stop, you can sit. We�ll break here for now.� Gaara let
go of Sasuke, pressed a canteen into the Uchiha�s fingers then drank a little
himself, watching Sasuke in the blackness of the cavern. Sasuke had closed his
eyes. It was probably less unnerving that way Gaara guessed. There was
expression on the usually impassive pale face; annoyance, carefully controlled but
still visible in the faint frown and the line between Sasuke�s brows.
�How much longer?� Sasuke�s voice
was soft, emotionless.
�Half a day�s walk at our pace.�
Gaara replied. �Unless they�ve set up in some of the caves ahead. I will hear
them before they hear us, even with me guiding you.�
�If they are so far, then why no
light?�
�There are holes in these caves too
small for men, but not for light, and crystals that shine like suns when the
light strikes them right. We could be half a mile from any pirates and the
wrong reflection of a crystal would alert them.�
Sasuke nodded, remembered the
darkness, and replied. �I see.�
Gaara watched Sasuke as the Uchiha
leaned back against the wall, eyes still closed. Something had been bugging him
since Naruto�s visit. He�d grilled the angry Uzumaki about Sasuke, his motives
for leaving Konoha, his past and background. He�d already collected a report on
the Uchiha the day after Sasuke showed up, but he wanted the details from
someone who considered himself Sasuke�s friend. It also didn�t hurt that Naruto
was one of the few people Gaara trusted on an emotional level. Naruto had
ranted a lot about bastards and stubborn arrogant jerks, but under that Gaara
had seen the affection, the real bond Naruto felt for Sasuke, as well as the
hurt. What Naruto had said about Sasuke�s departure had led Gaara to believe
that the Uchiha had had specific goals in mind, and might have meant to return
to Konoha after they were seen through. By all reports those goals had been
achieved. As far as Gaara knew, Sasuke had no personal grudge against Shin
Kadu, unless it had something to do with his connection to Akatsuki, but that
was speculation. Gaara wanted to know Sasuke�s motives for hunting Kadu.
�Why are you here?� Gaara�s voice
brought the Uchiha�s eyes open, sent Sasuke�s head turning in the direction of
the noise. Gaara watched him, amused at the parody of eye-contact as he watched
Sasuke�s unfocused gaze; so Sasuke was still completely blind in the darkness.
That gave Gaara the psychological advantage, and he would use it.
�To take down a pirate gang.�
Sasuke replied at last, voice ever so gently teasing.
�You know what I mean.�
�Do I really?� Sasuke�s amusement
seemed genuine. �Why don�t you tell me what I know.�
�What have you got against Shin
Kadu?�
�He�s a dangerous man.�
�Many men are dangerous.�
�Not as dangerous as Shin. Especially
not to you. Why do you care? I�m helping you defend your village from possible disaster,
I would think you�d be more grateful for my help. You wouldn�t even know of the
threat without me.�
�I appreciate the warning.� Gaara�s
voice didn�t give a hint of appreciation. �But I still want to know what it is
to you what happens to Sunagakure. Or Shin. Which is it you�re interested in? The
future of Suna, or the death of Kadu? Why?�
�You�re rather curious aren�t you?
I suppose it comes from being Kazekage. Or maybe not. I recall you being
somewhat nosey when I trained with Kakashi.�
�I wanted to see the eyes of the
person I most desired to kill as he struggled to attain strength. Don�t change
the subject.�
�That�s an endearing thought.�
Sasuke was silent for a moment, and then leaned back against the rough stone
wall of the cave, face still tilted in the direction of Gaara�s voice. �I want
Kadu�s death. It is no matter to me who kills him, so long as he and his
organization are stopped. He is evil to the core. Hungry for power. He will
manipulate his way to the top and crush any in his way. He�s already destroyed
too many lives. It would be� Nice if he didn�t manage to destroy your village
as well. I named myself an avenger. Those lives on Kadu�s hands will be
avenged.�
Gaara curled his lips, darkness hid
his sneer. �Is that all? Is that really the reason? Why should I believe you?
You�ve lied before.�
�I swear as the last of my clan,
that is all. Would I place my life in the hands of someone I considered an
enemy? My life is certainly in your hands right now.�
�A fact which shows remarkably
little judgment or sanity.� Gaara commented. �I will believe you. But if you
betray me. If you betray Suna. Nothing in this world will save you from me. Nothing.�
�I�ll keep that in mind.�
It was a little infuriating, how
calm Sasuke seemed despite the situation. Trapped in total darkness with a man
who�d nearly killed him once, the monster Gaara, with no way out should Gaara
take his packs and leave, and the Uchiha wasn�t even sweating. Sasuke�s
complete lack of fear was certainly grating, but at the same time it was, just
a bit, exciting.
�Are you ready to continue?� Gaara
asked after the silence had engulfed them for another hour, nothing but the
drip of water and the distant sounds of the tide reached them.
�Yes, if you are.�
�Good, here, take my hand, this
next passage is very narrow, you will have to squeeze through.�

Reply to Reviews:

Dragon: Thank you! I�ve been updating as fast as
possible, I want to get it finished before college starts up again (pray with
me here that I manage or it might be a long time before it�s finished!)

DevilLived: Like the name ~.^ I am really glad the
plot isn�t striking anyone as too out there. I wanted something exciting (after
all the series is all about excitement) but not something that�s been done
before either. I hope I can keep it from becoming contrived or boring. As to
Sasuke and Gaara working together, it should be awesome. I�ll give you a
preview of the next chapter title: Chapter Six: Ninja vs. Pirate.
I know, dorky, right? It should be full of action though.

Yaoi no Sekai de: =) I�m really glad you like it! I
think Sasuke gets WAY the short end of the stick in a lot of fics. He�s never
struck me as emo, whiney or wimpy. He�s (in my opinion) one of the emotionally
and mentally strongest characters in the series, and probably the most complex.
He�s also super hard to write in a manner which I find satisfactory. He has a
very kind, gentle side, but most people don�t pay attention to it, or somehow
manage to portray that part of him as weak. He�s also a punk (he can be so
rude!) but you gotta love him anyway. As for Kankurou he has got to be one of
my FAVORITE characters in the entire series. So far in this fic his chapter was
the easiest to write.

Melha Seraphim: Thank you very much! I appreciate the
feedback, and am trying to update as fast as possible. I hope you continue to
enjoy reading it. ^^
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Leaf in the Wind Country