Life-less Dolls

Chapter 6

          Kankuro ran down the sandy streets towards the Kage building, dodging everyone as he did. He’d finally gotten free from Maiko’s puppet, but he had had to take it apart from the inside. It might have been easier to take control of the puppet and make it release him, but Maiko had a different way of controlling hers. They were more complex than he’d seen before and experienced that first hand as he had disassembled Colossus. Now that she had gotten away from him, and out of the village, he’d need more help to track her down.

          He stormed through the doors of the building and past everyone towards his brothers office. After he’d knocked quickly and gained admittance, he stepped inside and met his brother’s green eyes.

          “Something troubles you, Kankuro?” Gaara asked, his expression unreadable.

          “It’s about Maiko. She-”

          “Who told you?” Gaara asked suddenly and silence followed.

          “Told me what?”

          “So it’s not what I thought you were talking about then…-”

          Kankuro slammed his hands on the desk between him and Gaara, “Tell. Me. What?”

          “The council met last night and…our main discussion was about Maiko and the Zero Tails. They argued whether she should be allowed to stay in the village or not.”

          “What!? Why would that be even in question?”

          “Kankuro, with the beast following her around, it poses a threat to our village and its people.”

          “So, what are we supposed to do then? Throw her out of the village and watched as that monster devours her!?”

          “Where is all this caring coming from? When she first got here, the first thing you said about it was ‘Do I really have to babysit her?’”

          Kankuro’s eyes narrowed to a glare, “I just…care about her wellbeing, OK? I don’t want to see her hurt. Not by a person or anything else.”

          “And why is that?” Gaara’s expression hadn’t changed the whole conversation and Kankuro was growing angrier as he watched this.

          “Why does it matter!? Just-”

          “Because I want to know what you’ll say.”

          “What!?”

          “Why. Do. You. Care. About. Her?”

          “Because I love her!” Kankuro slammed his hand on the desk, looking down at his hand. Hearing nothing follow from Gaara, he looked back up at him and found his expression was a satisfied one.

          “About time you actually admitted it.” Gaara saw Kankuro’s confused look and continued, “The part about the council was true, but I finally convinced them to give her a chance at shaking the beast off her trail. I was planning on telling you tomorrow and offer my assistance, but it seems we are pressed for time right now.”

          “Huh?”

          “Are you going to ask for my help to find Maiko or not?” Kankuro was shocked. How did he know about all of that? Had he been looking out over the village when Maiko left? Seeing as the whole situation had really been a confusing thing, he summarized it to himself for what he NEEDED to know right now: 1. Gaara was offering his help to find Maiko and 2. They really needed to get a move on before something else found her first.