By The Strings

23~ who?

"You won't live if you stay on the ground like that waiting to bleed out." A woman with short light brown hair smiled down at me, she just came out of nowhere.

"I'll help you back to the sand village." Her smile reminded me of Temari for some reason.

I followed her without even thinking, my legs wobbled under me from everything that recently happened.

"I'll bring you home safe." Those dark blue eyes showed nothing but love, not just for me but for everything.

"You just have to keep walking, one step at a time, we can make it." She reassured me at every step I took.

"We're almost there, just a little further!" She sounded more positive than before.

"Just a little more..." I coughed up blood as infection started to seep into my body.

"I can almost see the walls of Suna!" She was just lying now.

In Gaara's office, worry washed over him. The Hokage had sent a message requesting the return of Masako who should have already arrived there several days ago.

He didn't want to worry his two older siblings but he knew he couldn't keep it from them.

It had been a day since Kankuro left the village searching for her, Temari decided to stay just in case she showed up.

Kiba had caught wind of her missing, he as well was out searching for any signs of his older sister.

His nose brought him to the grave she had poorly dug days before, his heart ached along with Akamaru's.

He followed the trail of blood, the smell was overbearing.

Days passed as he hunted for her but nothing... He was so close to the sand village he decided to see if they had found her yet.

I followed the woman in the pitch black of the desert night, "tell my boys I miss them, won't you?" I furrowed my brows not understanding who she was talking about, my face was a deep red from the infection.

"As well as my daughter..." I tried to look back at the woman but she was gone.

I pressed my hand on my rotting wound as I went straight to the only building I knew how to get to.

There wasn't a single guard on duty which threw me off but I decided against questioning it.

"Gaa...a..."

I couldn't go any further, the fact that I got this far was a feat of its own.

I dropped onto his clean floor expecting to die as soon as I touched the ground but I never did.

I felt the warmth of someone carrying me, it felt quite nice... At least I wouldn't be dying all alone.

I smiled hearing my old man's voice along with Yosuke yipping.

"Your mom will beat both our asses if you don't wake the hell up." his voice was serious, mom was terrifying.

"I'll watch him until it's your time Princess..." I could see him sitting on the other side of a white room.

I hadn't seen him since he left us... He looked a bit older but still had that ridiculous smile Kiba shared with him.

"Besides, you're too young to die... Can't even drink in the afterlife at that age!" He laughed loudly.

"It's time to wake up..."

"It's time to wake up!"

"Wake your ass up Masako!"

I didn't move but I could hear my brother's voice, it was so odd hearing him after so long.

"Kiba you idiot! Let her sleep damn it!" I smiled in my mind hearing Sakura.

"Stop it both of you, your going to wake her up!" I heard Temari whisper yell at the two idiots fighting.

If I could move I probably would have fallen off the table hearing the door come off the hinges.

"What the hell puppet queer!"

"Oh zip it shit stain!"

My voice was strained and scratchy as I tried to speak, "can't a girl get some rest around here?"

The room went dead silent hearing my voice, "well don't all talk at once now."

My eyes slowly adjusted to the light in the room as I forced myself up with a hiss.

Sakura had left to give us a minute, "oh my God, your alive!" Kiba cried out hugging me tightly.

"You think you can get rid of me so easily?" I tried to make him feel better even tho I wanted to cry and throw things remembering everything that happened.

"You about gave Gaara a heart attack, he looked like he shit himself bringing you here." Temari saw how I was feeling.

"How did you even get back here?" She sounded amazed I got here alive.

"A lady... She had short brown hair, dark blue eyes?" She just gave me a look like I was crazy.

"Hey, Kiba, can I have a moment with your sister?" He paused before leaving the room so that we could talk.

"I'll be right outside." Temari glanced at Kankuro with a sad look before leaving.

"I should have accompanied you back home." He had been beating himself up over it for hours, I could see it on his face.

Without warning his arms wrapped around me, I had held it together for so long trying to get home... I just needed to let it out.

My loud crying was muffled by his chest, he ran his fingers through my hair trying to comfort me but it accomplished nothing.

I lost everything.