Child of the Moon

The Horror

"Think we lost em?" Aki questioned, crouching on a wide branch.

"They're still following, but we have a rare opportunity to catch our breath," Nanami said. "Kiba is persistent."

"He's really just a sore loser," Aki laughed.

"Either way, we need to be careful not to run into anyone else, and make sure we reach the Tower as soon as possible," Aiyanna said.

"There is a group up ahead," Nanami said. "We will need to move through that area to avoid Team 8. If we move through the trees, we could probably avoid confrontation, and use them as a distraction for Team 8."

"Sounds like a plan, but we will need to be extremely careful," Aiyanna said.

"Agreed," Nanami and Aki nodded.

They advanced slowly, intending to avoid drawing attention, taking up a quiet position just on the fringes of where the group was. There was some smack talk, but from what they were able to tell, the Sand Ninja were the ones picking the fight.

"Didn't we decide Gourd Guy was one of the people to avoid until further notice?" Aki questioned.

"Yes, but this proves an excellent opportunity to gauge their strength," Nanami said.

"Agreed," Aiyanna said, forming a hand sign. "I'll make sure we're not going to be spotted easily, so keep your eyes peeled."

They watched one of the bigger guys swing some straw looking umbrellas, which then unleashed thousands of senbon. They all came down swiftly, and when the dust cleared, Gaara was encased in a sandy shell of senbon.

"I can't hear what they're saying," Aki complained.

"If we get too close, then we run the risk of trouble," Aiyanna said.

"He said he wants to kill them," Nanami whispered, her expression pained.

"Blood thirsty, ain't he?" Aki sighed.

"You're not gonna say we need to stop him?" Nanami asked.

"And risk getting taken out too? We don't know how strong either team is, so getting involved is gonna get us killed," Aki said. "This is part of the ninja life. Sometimes, ninja die."

One of the ninja ran forward, and Aiyanna put a hand on Nanami's shoulder as sand engulfed the ninja.

"Nanami, what did they say?"

"The sand acts independently of his will," she answered softly. "Any and all attacks will fail against him."

"I can probably counter that if need be," Aiyanna said. "But we shouldn't hang around."

"No kidding," Aki said. "This just put a whole new twist on the "of death" and to be totally honest, I'm not down for that."

Nanami nodded quietly, lost in her own thoughts.

The sand crushed the ninja, blood spurting out as the ninja's dying screams were swiftly cut off. The girls had edged around the group as carefully as possible, while the dead ninja's team pleaded for their lives and gave up their scroll. Aki spotted Kiba's group sitting in horrified silence on the far side of the group.

Sand slithered swiftly up the legs of the remaining two ninja, who screamed in terror.

"Now that's just unnecessary," Aiyanna muttered.

"Alright, we got lucky, it's a Heaven scroll," the other Sand guy said. He sounded like he was trying to play it off.

"Just shut up," Gaara snapped. "It's still not enough for me."

"Oh hell no," Aki said. "He's turned his attention on Kiba and the others..."

"Shh," Aiyanna hushed the red head.

A small argument broke out between the two Sand genin, with the sister pleading for Gaara to just let it be. Aiyanna was holding Aki down, a hand over her mouth as she waited for the opportune moment to strike. Nanami was anxiously waiting for her signal.

But it seemed that Gaara had decided to listen to the sister, and corked his gourd and continued on. Aiyanna and the other two relaxed simultaneously with the two siblings, and once certain the Sand Siblings were well ahead, they followed after.

They arrived mere minutes after the Sand Siblings. They chose to play it off, like they hadn't just witnessed Gaara murder someone in cold blood, and instead discussed what they thought Tsukiko was up to.

"I bet she's still oblivious to Kakashi-sensei hitting on her," Aki commented, as they passed through the door. "Or she's eating dangos."

"Speaking of dangos, I'm down for one of those right about now," Aiyanna sighed.

Around that moment, they happened to walk into the group of Sand ninja, who paused what they were doing.

"Think she'd treat us when we get outta here?" Aki asked as they walked straight past them.

"Maybe," Aiyanna could feel their eyes on them. 'I don't like this one bit.'

"Hey Nanami, think your brother is here yet?" Aki turned to the blind Hyuga, who hadn't spoken since their arrival.

"I don't sense him in the tower," she said softly.

"So... what now?" Aki asked.

"I guess we wait," Aiyanna answered.