Forget Me Not

Finding Aiko

AN/ Hey I'm sorry for the awkward timing of my story. It's Shippuden but it's before the thing with Deidara. And it's after the second Chunin exams, the one run by Shikamaru.

I realized that after I added Naruto and he's supposed to be training with Jiraiyah.

Anyways enjoy. Btw I don't own Naruto but I wish I did so all of my otp's could get together.

Garra's P.O.V.
I paced back and forth in front of my desk. My sand swished anxiously in my gourd.

Why did I let her go? I mentally berated myself.

I knew it was dangerous. I knew there was a possibility she might not... I visiously shook my head, not allowing myself to think those things.

She's a few days late, I clenched my fists in anger.

Suddenly a girl with brown hair burst through the door.

My heart soared and I smiled, thinking it was Aiko. But an angry scowl took its place when I realized it was just my secretary.

"Lord Kazekage..." She gasped.

"Get out," I snarled. I was in a bad mood because I was strung out from worrying about Aiko. And this insolent girl had the gall to bust through my doors?

"But Lord, it's about miss Aiko."

My demeaner immediately changed. "Tell me what you know." I demanded.

"Miss Aiko's team was attacked by Lord Orochimaro's followers. We don't know what happened to her but her teammates were assumed to be dead." She said while gasping the words.

I felt like the ground opened up and swallowed me whole.

My secretary's words kept echoing in my mind, I couldn't comprehend them.

I knew it wasn't a good idea, but I foolishly let her go when she talked me into it. I couldn't resist her pout or the way she softly said my name in a pleading tone.

I shook my head and strode up to my secretary, mentally shaking off the red hot anger I was feeling. 

"I need you to organize three teams. All jonin rank. Have one team go to where Aiko's team was last seen. Then have the other team go to where Aiko was supposed to do reconnaissance. And I want the third team be our most elite group of tracker nins so they can track her. And I went you to send a letter to Tsunade- the Leafs Hokage- giving her all the details and asking for assistance." I fired off my instructions to my assisstant.

"Oh and have a team of chunins go and retrieve the bodies of the ones who died. We will hold a ceremony for them later." I added on.

"Yes sir," she ran out to make the preparations.

I looked out the window and silently prayed that she make her way back to me.

Flashback
"But I want to go Garra!" She protested.

"No." My tone was firm and unrelenting.

"I'm just observing, i'm in no danger." She tried to sooth me.

I didn't want her to go and spy on Orochimaru, it was dangerous and I couldn't fathom a world without her.

I wrapped my arms around her a pulled her so she was sitting on my lap.

"Please I have to, and you know why." Her words came out muffled against my shirt.

I did know why. Her parents and younger brother were murdered by Orochimaru while she was gone on a level D mission befitting a genin.

I hesitated as I looked into her goregous light brown eyes, that was pleading for me to say yes.

I clenched my teeth, "Fine but I'm going to pick who goes with you. I want them to be highly trained jonins and I want you to under no circumstances put yourself in danger do you understand me?"

I wish the council would let me go but they were adament about me not going on missions unless it was imperative.

I could always go against them but it would jepordize my Kazekage stature and Hinode would be very peeved.

She smiled and snuggled up to me. "Thank you."

"Aiko..." I trailed off. My heart
squeazed painfully at the thought of her leaving.

"Please come back to me." I whispered.

"I will," she vowed. "I love you."

"Love you too."

End of Flashback

I slung my gourd onto my back and stormed out of my office.

I was going to find her myself.

"Lord Kazekage, we need you here in case something were to happen to the village." The head of the council said as I was making my way outside.

Red hot anger filled my vision and I felt Shakaku stir.

Spread their blood and take there lives. He whispered enticingly.

I haven't heard his voice in a while. Aiko keeps me sane...

And now she's gone.

No! I roared at him in my head.

I turned a deathly cold glare on the councilman.

The sand at my feet swirled menacingly. Shakaku was fighting to break free and kill the poor fool who told me no.

With effort I held him back.

I grabbed him by his robes and brought him up to my face.

Lifting him a few inches off the ground I snarled, "What do you mean I can't go and search for my-"

"Gaara!" A voice behind me cut me off.

"What?" I said to my brother Konkurou, my voice deceptively soft.

"Our scouters caught sight of her heading this way. She's by the northern border." He gasped.

I was gone before I could catch the rest of what he was saying.

I used my sand to propel me forward and to move anything and everything in my path away.

I saw a lone, slim figure directly in front of me.

The figure staggered, but kept walking.

I sped towards her somehow I just knew it was her.

I recognized Aiko's dark red shirt first.

I ran towards her with a newfound burst of energy.

I watched with my heart in my throat as she tripped and collapsed.

I had the sand rise up and greet her to soften the fall.

"Aiko!" I called to her, my relief evident in my tone.

I dropped down beside her  and started to check for injuries.

A growl rose in my throat at the sight of her head wound.

Shakaku stired relstlessly, wanting blood to be spilt.

I know he would never admit it but Aiko grew on him and he wanted the death of the person who did this.

He might be a demon, but not even he wanted the nameless persons death as much as I did.

AN: Thank you for reading. Any comments are welcome, except bad ones.

Bare with me. I want there to be some romance going on with Aiko and Neji. But im not sure yet. Comment your opinion.

Remember any criticizing comments are welcome. Please tell me if there are any spelling mistakes. Just please be polite. My confidence is almost non existent.

I'll post again soon.