A storm of sand and blaze (Gaara fanfiction and The Love Story He Deserves)

Chapter 21: Life's nature

GAARA!

The voice of Shukaku resounded inside Gaara's head. He had been looking at the night sky from his ceiling, wondering if the moon had been this big any other time. He had never had a particular interest in looking at the stars, but this time the white satellite had called his attention like a hypnotizing kind of genjutsu. He had been thinking about Feza and how he could save her without his sensei Baki or his siblings noticing it during the mission. However, the answer would arrive unexpectedly with Shukaku's desperate call.

"What's going on?" Gaara hurried to ask.

"We need your help!" Shukaku continued "Feza used all her chakra and if you don't come quickly she is gonna die of hypothermia in the middle of nowhere! I am trying to keep her alive with my own chakra but it won't last the night!"

"Eh?" Gaara wondered for a second how could she have spent that huge amount of energy so fast. He realized it was not vital in that moment to know that answer but to find out where they were. "Where are you now?"

"We are one mile away to the north from the Land of Wind goldmine. Hurry up!"

"I'm on my way!"

Gaara took a blanket and some supplies from his apartment and looked at the stars to get the right direction where he should go. If he ran it would take him three hours to arrive, but he would save enough chakra for the return flying back on his sand to Sunagakure.

Just enough time to come back before dawn.

The young shinobi jumped over the houses' ceilings like a sneaky shadow and climbed the wall that served as a natural sand defense for the village. His short and slim figure could easily camouflage in the darkness from the sight of the guardians that took care of the exit security. He blended into the night's rough wind forming sand twisters until he finally reached a distance in the desert where the eyes of the guardians could no longer detect his presence. Then, his silent steps ran swiftly towards the goldmine.

Usually, when running through the desert, Gaara knew that he would have to take a short rest every two hours because his own body would dehydrate and lose temperature without even noticing. However, this time he did not stop. He knew that his plan did not contemplate any breaks and that he would have to endure in order to arrive on time.

The movements over the sand could let Gaara know which creatures were around him once he knew he was close to the mine. Of course, during the night many animals were out hunting, and it made the quest particularly difficult since he would have to filter many signals. But, after a minute of inspection, he got the exact location where Feza and Shukaku were. He enhanced his speed when running the last distance and, in the end, he found whom he had been looking for so urgently.

With a rapid movement, he covered the girl's body with the blanket to warm her up and took her on his back ready for the way back.

"Just in time!" Shukaku exclaimed "Eh, aren't you going to give us some water?"

"We first need to get back to the village. If someone finds us out, it will complicate the situation even more".

"As if becoming a couple of little kids again wasn't enough nightmare..." The One-Tailed Beast complained hopelessly.

"Do you have any idea of what happened after the creature swallowed us?" Gaara asked as they started to fly on his sand.

"I am not sure. I have not had enough time to think after what happened this evening in the den".

"What was it?"

"I believe it's better if Feza tells you herself. Besides, I need to rest too. I used most of my chakra to keep her alive".