Life-less Dolls

Chapter 7

          Dark clouds began to form around the lighthouse where Maiko and Sho were. The zero tails attention had indeed been caught by this rotating ray of light over the trees. The other factor that drew him toward the tower was Maiko’s chakra trace. Zero laughed darkly as he slithered across the ground and through the shadows, headed towards the tower with a dark purpose.

          Sho and I stood silently together outside the lighted tower. The only sounds I could hear were the faint howling of the wind and our own breathing. I closed my eyes preparing myself for the coming fight, not sure what I was going to do. I had none of my puppets with me and so none of my weapons. I didn’t know many jutsus beside the few that had involved Sho’s puppet, which he was obviously not anymore. It was then I heard a faint voice, like it came from deep within my mind. I recognized it immediately as Kankuro’s voice, but what he was actually saying, I wasn’t sure of. Then, it began to grow louder and became a whisper, yet low as it was, I still could understand what was being said, “Maiko…”

          I sighed slowly, listening to the sweet sound as my thoughts went back to him and the Sand village. Though I’d only lived there for a few months, I’d come to love the village in that small amount of time. I’d planned to return there after all this was over and done…but what is I didn’t return? This dark thought shocked me as I realized it could very well happen. ‘If it does happen that way,’ I told myself, ‘I’ll just have to find a way to speak to him from the other side and just…just tell him I’m sorry…’

          Sho moved all of a sudden and spoke deeply, “We have company.”

          I took a deep breath, knowing that it had to be the Zero Tails and turned toward the direction he faced.

          “I’m sorry Kankuro…”

          “Maiko…”

          “And…I…”

          “Maiko…!”

          “I think I really do-”

          “MAIKO!” Out of the shadowy trees of the forests around the tower came a blur of movement that collided with me and just about knocked me to the ground had they of not latched onto me. I didn’t know who it was at first until I saw Gaara appear out of the trees and them heard them speak.

“Don’t ever do that again! You worried me sick!”

“I-I…I couldn’t let you get hurt because of me. I-I didn’t know what else to do to keep you safe from-”

“I don’t care. I’d risk my life for you. Don’t you understand by now how much I would do for you?” For a moment, I forgot everything that was going on as I as hugged him back. Everything beyond that just blurred. Well, it did until someone cleared their throat, which broke us apart as we turned to look at Gaara.

“I believe there is still a problem at hand…?” He said, his tone ever remaining as emotionless as ever.

The severity of the situation returned as I did to reality and I snapped, “You both have to go back to the village, right now!” I then pulled out of Kankuro’s grasp.

“What!? NO!! We’re not going anywhere without you! We’re here to help anyway!” Kankuro retorted, griping my wrist so I couldn’t get away.

“No one can help us. It’s something Maiko and I must do alone.” Sho mused with me as he came up beside me and lowered his head next to me, “There is no time to explain things. You must leave now.”

“Sho’s right, you must go.”

Gaara narrowed his eyes at the bird, “We’re already here and have come all this way for Maiko like my brother said and we’re not leaving without. We’ll stay out of the fighting, but we’re not leaving.” Kankuro nodded in agreement.

Sho sighed, almost screamed as the bird he was, “Very well. Then up into the tower with the both of you. And stay out of sight once there.” Then he turned and lumbered back towards the middle of the clearing. I watched him go and heard Gaara say something to Kankuro, but what he said I wasn’t sure. When I looked back, Gaara was headed towards the tower while Kankuro remained where he was.

“Go already and stay hidden-”

“How do I know you won’t be hurt? Sure you have Sho on your side, but will it be enough? How do you even plan to fight this thing?”

“I…I don’t know. I don’t have any of my puppets and so none of my weapons either.”

“Then use one of mine.” He fished out a scroll from the pack on his back and handed it to me, “Just promise me something.”

“I won’t break it.” I said as humorously as I could; it didn’t work.

“Come back to me, alive. Don’t make me have to carry you back in a wooden box.” His voice almost cracked and I knew he was trying to stay strong. I fought back the few tears threatening me as I embraced him once more, my arms around his neck and holding him close as he did me. I knew Sho and Gaara were probably watching, but I didn’t care. This may very well be the last moment I spend with him and I make it as memorable as I could.

Suddenly, a deep rumbling beyond the tree line broke us apart; the sound that I found for a long time. We broke apart slowly and the he started toward the tower.

“Don’t keep me waiting, Maiko.” He called behind him to me, “I don’t have much patience.”

“You think I don’t already know that?!” I called back, a small smile appearing on my face. He laughed at this and then disappeared out of my sight. I sighed, taking a deep breath and then returned to Sho’s side. I knew he was watching and then I heard him.

“Heh heh heh…no longer running anymore? How wonderful!” Zero’s face and mask appeared in the dim light, crawling out of the shadows with a wicked grin covering his face, “Less time to waste on chasing you when I could use it destroying that village you hold so dear!”

He laughed more evilly than I had ever heard him laugh before. It was on attempt to scare me, yet something was different this time. Though I faced this great enemy, one that I’d run from all my life…I wasn’t scared anymore.