Who am I? [Gaara]

Chapter 18

We are running through the forest, following the dog. After a good month, one I spent mostly with Gaara, I should have seen this coming. The Leaf Village is in peril. For some reason, Sand and Sound shinobi started attacking the Leaf. And worse, Gaara and Sasuke ran off into the forest.

Now, Sakura, Naruto and I are after them. Sakura and Naruto probably only care about Sasuke. I don't blame them for that, but I do disagree. Gaara and Sasuke, both of them are in trouble. And as a medical ninja selected to function and assist the chunin exam, I'm responsible for both of their lives.

Suddenly, Sakura breaks the silence.
"What if Shikamaru just ran away because this is too much work for him?" She says with worry express in her voice. I feel my eye beginning to twitch. That can't be true! Shikamaru offered to pretty much sacrifice himself so that we could get our sorry butts away from the ninja that were following us.

He might die, and die for us! Does she not care?!

"Shika would never do that. He might be lazy, but when he says he will do something, he does it, no matter what. He is risking his life back there for us!" I exploded.  She seems rather taken aback by this and dropped the subject.

I don't often have to raise my voice, and I certainly don't just tell people off.

I sigh and look back. If Shika would've die, I wouldn't ever forgive myself. I feel a light tear trickle down my cheek.

"Hey, Kasumi, don't worry. Shikamaru will be fine. I just know it!" Says Naruto. I nod and give him a smile, letting him know I'm okay. Which I'm not. Oh well, I just have to get over it, and use cold logic. One life is better than five. One dead body is better than five. My hands are trembling lightly. I can't help having a bad feeling that something big will happen. We keep going, jumping from branch to branch.

After several minutes, we finally get there. We caught up.

I can't do anything but stare. Gaara! He... He... He's half demon! I crumple down onto the branch, my whole body shaking. It's just like last time, exactly like that time on my first mission! He's got that look of insanity, a pure sinister look. He's got that scary grin spread across his lips. The sand is covering his arm and part of his face. Sasuke is motionlessly lying on a branch, some kind of markings spread across half of his face.

Gaara launches himself towards Sasuke. I shut my eyes. I can't take this, not again. But when I felt movement beside me, my curiosity forces me to open my eyes again. When I see what's going on I feel both joyous and heartbroken, all at once.

Naruto just kicked Gaara in the face. Sakura, as expected, is already beside Sasuke, looking rather helpless. Although that's rich, coming from me...

"Sa-Sakura....SAKURA?!" I hear Naruto cal out so suddenly.

"What is it?!" She screamed frantically and had a sorrow look.

"Who the hell is that?!" ask Naruto, pointing at Gaara. I stand up.

"That's my friend, Gaara." I say, jumping over to Sasuke. He looks like he's going to need to be treated. Naruto up ahead seems to be mumbling something to himself. Ah, forget him! Worry about Sasuke! He's the one with the injuries, not Naruto! The dog that we've been following suddenly speaks.

"Mind you I'm not the battle type." He says. I looked at him up and down. I think we can tell.

"We can tell!" Sakura yells, as if reading my mind. I try to focus, and begin healing Sasuke. My mystic palm technique is flawless, but something tells me it's not going to be enough.  I know some other medical nin-jutsu, but all of them will be useless in this case. I lift my hand from Sasuke's arm. What to do, what to do?! These random markings, they... I don't even know, they just seem to be immune to the mystic palm technique. What could it?! A curse? Nah, I doubt it. If it was a curse mark, he wouldn't be allowed to fight in the finals. Then what is this?! I have nothing that would help. I'm useless as a clock without wheels.

"You guys!" We suddenly turn to Naruto's voice.

"Get out of here!" he yells. His words seem to have a backwards reaction to the meaning. I freeze, not being able to move a muscle in my body. I can't leave. I can't just... Run away from Gaara. While Naruto is facing us, Gaara decides to use the opportunity. He launches himself past Naruto, heading straight for Sasuke.

"Gaara.." I hear myself whisper audibly. I'm still in too much shock to move. My body isn't responding to my commands. Sakura seems fine though, as she quickly gets out her kunai and stands in front of Sasuke and I.

"Kasumi, stop being a useless little cry-baby and use your medical nin-jutsu skills. Sasuke needs help, and you're the only one who can provide him with it at the moment!" She yells, glaring at Gaara. She seems so... in charge. The tone of her voice makes me obey, and I begin healing Sasuke again. I glance over at Gaara, and Sakura, who is fearlessly standing in front of us. I envy her. Why am I so helpless?

Then, Shukaku's hand shoves Sakura out of the way, pinning her against a tree trunk. This is bad. This is really, really bad! I felt my breath quicken and hitch. Gaara is standing right in front of me.

"Out of my way, Kasumi!" He says more of a demand. I stare up at him, but hold my ground. I'm not about to come off as a little coward. No way I would let him hurt my friends even if it means getting myself killed.

"I said, out of my way!" He repeats in a low matter, rather louder. My whole body is shaking.

"Gaara, I'm sorry, but I just can't do that." I say, looking him straight in the eye. Gaara stares at me. I feel like a traitor. Gaara grips his head. Shukaku, leave him alone! Suddenly, Naruto jumps over to us. He grabs Sasuke, and gives me a little nod, telling me to move. I do as he wants. I continue healing Sasuke. He seems to be getting a little better, though I can't get the black markings to disappear.

"What's wrong?! Are you afraid of me?!" My head jerks towards Gaara's voice. I slightly trembled.

"Gaara! Please stop!" I yell feeling my eyes water with fresh tears. By now, his whole body is covered with sand. He seems to ignore me. Gaara turns to Naruto.

"You'll never win because you fight for your friends! Forget your frinds, and fight only for yourself! Otherwise, you'll never be able to defeat me!" Yelled Gaara himself. Or it could be Shukaku. I can't tell anymore.

"But you don't fight only for yourself either!" Naruto sounds really confident. I stand up and quickly jump over to him. What the hell is this guy thinking?! Trying to taunt Gaara in his current state which is suicidal. How do I shut him up though?!

"Naruto, you idiot! Shut it!" I whisper furiously into his ear. He looks at me and grins. What the hell? Has he completely lost it? Naruto keeps talking.

"Gaara! You don't fight just for yourself! You also fight for her!" He points at me. I step away from him. Why did he have to get ME involved in this?! I'm just a helpless little medical ninja, a pathetic excuse for a shinobi! Is he trying to kill both of us?!

"You think I fight for her?" Says Gaara mockingly. I turn to him heartbroken and sorrow. He lets out this scary laugh venomously.

"I fight only for myself, and love only myself!" He continues sharply with words that nearly shattered my heart. Then, he swings his arm back. I picked myself together and observed him. I know this attack he uses. I've seen Gaara use his sand shuriken technique once. I close my eyes. This is probably going to hurt. I don't like pain or would I want to go through with it. Stupid Shukaku, using Gaara's body. I don't think that demon ever liked me... But then again, he is a demon. I sigh.

I wonder if the sand shuriken will kill me, or just injure me. Either way, the outcome of this is going to be bad. I hear a sweeping noise up ahead. That must be Gaara. I open my eyes for a brief moment. I was right. Sand shuriken. I put my arms in front of my body, just before one hits me.

A yelp escapes my lips. The sand ripped right through my radius and my ulna bones. It hurts! I feel a tear run down my cheek. Well, there go the hot steamy tears. I'm such a cry-baby.

Damn, I hate it! I hate being so weak and helpless! Why do I always need to be saved or rescued?! Why am I always that little 'damsel in distress'?! I guess it wouldn't mind if there was someone to protect me. Heck, I'd just get used to it. But right now, nobody can help me. I'm alone. Blood is trickling out of the wounds. Then, I feel my body hitting something. It hurts...

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A/N: Should I continue this Fanfiction? I don't know for sure if this is okay or great?