Dancing In The Dark

In the Land of Sand

Sarah clasped onto Kakashi tight.  She did not want to go.  What if something happened to him while she was gone?  He was speaking softly into her ear as the other families gathered together waiting to leave as well.  She felt tears going down her cheeks but she didn't care if anyone saw.  He was her world and she was being sent away.

"I don't want to leave you," she whispered.

"I know," he sighed heavily. "But we can't take that chance.  You have to survive, our baby must survive.  They will have a harder time getting to you in the sand.  Especially with Gaara personally escorting you there."

"Don't you dare die on me, Kakashi Hatake," she told him in all seriousness.

Kakashi framed her face between his hands, staring into her eyes.  "Listen to me, Sarah.  I can't promise I won't die.  You know as well as I do how quickly that can happen.  I've already been dead once, it isn't something to fear."

"I can't... I can't lose you..."

"You will persevere for our child," he said firmly. "I love you and will always love you.  Even if I have to love you from the other side.  Do you understand what I'm saying, Sarah?"

She felt like she was dying but she nodded.  He shifted his eyes as Gaara arrived on a large cloud of sand from the sky.  He pulled his mask down to give her a long kiss then leaned his forehead against her own.

"We will call for you when we get these bastards," he promised softly.

"I love you, Kakashi," she whispered.

He kissed her soundly once more before slipping his mask back up.  He took her hand and tugged her towards the other families that were lining up to get on the large sand cloud.  It would be a fast journey to the Land of Sand.  Sarah just had a duffle bag with a few changes of clothes and toiletries.  She looked back at him as she was forced to drop his hand and get on the cloud with the others.

Kakashi crossed his arms in front of him as he watched the cloud of sand rise up and then suddenly streak across the sky.  He gave a heavy sigh of relief.  He knew that they were now safe for the time being.  Naruto looked over at him and gave a nod of understanding.  It was the first time in a long time that every member of Team 7 was together and they all had one purpose.  Even Sasuke had returned after receiving Naruto's message.

They were going to rain hell fire down on them once they located where they were hiding.  They had declared war on Team 7 and Team 7 would answer.

***

Melissa stared out the window of her home, watching for Iruka.  She had yet to go downstairs after the event from the other day.  It gave her the shudders even thinking about it.  She knew the man had to die but she had not expected what the aftermath to her mind would be like.  She had never killed anyone before and it was messing with her mind.  Worse, she couldn't talk with her best friend either because she was now in hiding with the others.  She felt antsy, as if there was something she should be doing but she did not know what that could even be.

She gave a thankful smile when she saw her husband walking up the street.  He looked like he was whistling, obviously having had a good day.  She was about to step back from the window when she watched a dark shadow loom over him.  She gasped and instinctively grabbed her sword and ran out the door.

"Iruka!" she screamed as the black shadow fell over him and encompassed him.

It was like a giant black blob.  Her eyes were wide as she looked up at it, not even knowing how to fight something like that.  It had basically consumed him and she didn't dare come at it without possibly injuring him in the process.  She thought frantically what to do but could not come up with a solution.