50 Reasons Why

Chapter Fifteen

I tried all I could do. Maybe I was wrong about everything. I should have known she would disobey. She has done it every time but yet... I still wanted to believe she would listen that she would obey. I wanted to believe she could make all those forty-six reasons go away. Alas, she has just added another to it. Now at forty-seven reasons, I was making my way down the halls to search for that same infuriating blonde.

"Gaara-sama!" I heard Baki's voice behind me but I kept walking, only speeding up my pace. Soon footsteps came in synch with mine and I looked over at the taller sand shinobi. I only blinked at him and he shook his head in irritation.

"Gaara-sama, you can't just leave. What about the village? They were after you."

"Baki, I will be back soon. I will meet up with Kankuro's team on the way to join me." I may be angry, but I can still think rationally. Baki shook his head and he furrowed his eyebrow.

"Still Gaara-sama, just leaving the village? The council won't be happy to hear this-"

"I don't care." I roared and Baki flinched in his spot. I stopped to stare at the sand shinobi. He stood in his spot as well trying to read my expression. "Tell the council, I will handle this once and for all. Good day, Baki."

I turned to walk away and luckily he didn't follow. I heard a grumble before footsteps retreated down the hall. With a small smirk resting on my lips for winning that small obstacle, I made my way out the doors. A bed of sand formed and I leaped into it. As I made my way towards my siblings' whereabouts, I felt myself frowning even more. How did this blonde manage to convince two of my guards to join her? Not just any two, the two who I have found myself growing more confident and comfortable in. Can I trust them again after this whole mess? If Ino is injured in their hands... I shook the thought away as I tightened my fists at my sides. Has she run into the rogue ninja yet? What if they got to her before they were ready? Damn it.

"Gaara!" A voice disrupted my thoughts and I looked down at the caller. Kankuro, Temari and Asuma stood near the north wall and I went down to join them. The sand returned to my gourd as I stared at my siblings' faces.

"Gaara, what are you doing here?" Temari asked and I only stared back at her. She blinked as she looked me up and down before a look of anger began to take over her face. Kankuro blinked as well and he closed his eyes while pinching the bridge of his nose.

"No." He whispered. "Just no." He repeated louder then he looked up at me. "She's up there." He pointed towards a cave near the top of the wall.

"I can't forgive her for this." Temari whispered and I only looked at her. She mirrored the same anger I felt inside. I looked back up at the cave that the said blonde entered through according to my brother. She is in there.

"How long ago?" I asked keeping my view on the cave.

"Three minutes ago, they entered the cave," Asuma-san responded and I looked towards him. His face was stoic and I knew deep down he was hoping his student didn't go too far. He knew she did, but the hope she didn't was shown in his eyes. If he's around when I find her, she will be let off easy. Damn, I need to find her.

"Let's go," I commanded, my voice sounding a bit foreign to my ears. Ino, you better not have gotten yourself killed.

We ran up the walls together, stopping at the entrance of the cave. Not a sound could be heard from inside and I felt my anger growing inside. She disobeyed me to just be taken down in the end? Damn it, Ino. I stepped forward but my brother held an arm in front of me.

"Wait, I think I can hear something." He murmured and we all stared into the dimly lit opening.

"Shut it, Raiku." A scream that belonged to girl in my thoughts. She's alive, but she's facing him. Before I could react Kankuro already began running into the cave. Following after him, I stayed on his heels with Asuma-san beside me. Temari trailed just behind us.

"Nice one!" Ino's cheer echoed through the cave walls. She's engaged in battle, but it sounds like she hasn't engaged herself. I felt my pace quicken and so has my brother's.

"Gah!" A masculine shout echoed and soon we were coming into view of them. Who did that voice belong to? It wasn't Ino's, thank Kami. But wait, who was injured? I should focus on that as well.

"What?" She called back and soon, her form was seen to us. She hasn't been harmed yet.

"Ino!" Kankuro called ahead of me and she looked back at us. Her face showed confusion and for a moment, I felt relief fly through me. She really wasn't armed.

"Ino, look out!" A masculine voice called to her.

I noticed the hurling kunais flying towards her. My heart stopped and my mind went numb. She jumped to the right and I found myself rushing past my brother.

"Gaara, wait!" Kankuro called to me as I ran passed him towards the blonde in the air. My arms came around her and that moment I felt a rush of relief and happiness. A figure bumped into me causing her to fly out of my arms.

"Ino!" I called trying to fall towards her as well.

My back collided with the floor and I laid there for a moment. She was in my arms and I dropped her. I dropped her. That was something I never wanted to do. I sat up and coughs escaped through my throat. Damn smoke.

"Whoa, nice job, Zenma. You were able to still hold it after all that?" Ino's voice chimed through the cave and I looked over at her. She looked at me momentarily but then focused down to rub on her skirt.

I coughed once more while staring at her form. She only had the bruises from the landing and dust on her body. She was okay... for now. Her eyes met mine and I felt my anger grow. Why was she so fucking calm? I looked around to notice only her, Kankuro, and I stood in the room.

"Zenma, why so angry? We can find Zuko and the others," she stated a small smile on her lips. She leaned down to hand me her hand. Did she just call me fucking Zenma? I shook my head as I stood up on my own. I didn't need her help right now. She will need help from me.

"How dare you disobey me, Ino," I stated, my voice sounding more ominous than I expected, but damn it. I was pissed. Her eyes widened as fear flashed in her blue orbs.

"W-what?" She squeaked and I only stared at her.

"Did you just call him 'Zenma'?" Kankuro asked with annoyance laced in his voice. She looked over at him and I noticed the blush forming on her pale skin. Why isn't she looking at me? Look at me, damn it!

"I told you not to leave and now you dragged two of my best guards into this shit," I shouted at her and she stared at me. Her eyes widened even further and she shook a bit in her stance. She swallowed loudly. She looked so small and fragile. It made me content. I wanted to break her.

"You're in deep shit now. You really pissed my brother this time," Kankuro mused as a laugh erupted from his lips. He walked towards us and stood by my side. From another person's eyes, we may look like two predators ready to pounce on the prey. From my eyes, I was ready to crush the blonde vixen in front of me. She looked from Kankuro to me and her eyes locked with mine. Her mouth hung open slightly revealing her white teeth. Her pale skin was flushed and her eyes melted in my gaze. She swallowed loudly once more, her lips curling over her teeth.

"I'm fucked." She murmured and I felt myself smirk inside.

Yes you are, Yamanaka Ino.