We had just stepped into the desert. We were supposed to arrive at Sunagakure today. "One moment, please," I requested, then did a quick jutsu to cover me in an earth dome. I changed into my outfit quickly.

"Damn girl, you're going to get HOT in those clothes... but then again, you're hot already, so..." I glare at Katsuo.

"Bakaget shojo," Erai muttered. I pulled my hood over my head, glaring at the ground.

"Aren't you going to get overheated in that?" Ayumu asked quietly.

I shook my head. "We'll see who's over heated soon," I smirk. We continue running. My outfit blocks the sun but allows the wind to circulate, cooling me. 

About an hour later, I hear the first complaint. "The sun is hot! I'm taking my shirt off," Katsuo complained. I grinned.

"That's only going to make it worse!" I call out.

He's to tired to reply, other then a slight, "Tch. What would you know?".

About five hours later, around three p.m, Erai stops us. "We're about three miles from Sunagakure," She told us, "Get dressed, you two," She orders the boys, pulling her vest back on herself. I smirk to myself.

We arrive at the gates after about twenty minutes. We get our I.D's out, prepared to finally reach our destination. We walk up to the gate guards. Everyone gets in with no problem, until it's my turn.  The guards take my card then suddenyl stiffen in surprise.

"You!" They shout together.

"You!" I reply.

"Me?" We all say together.

I pull a little leather ball from my back pack. "This accidentally rolled out here... can I come back inside?" I ask in my younger voice. We stared at eachother, then burst out laughing.

"Did.... Did I miss something?" Ayumu whispers.

"I have no idea," Katsuo replied in a mutter.

"That's enough dilly dallying," Erai orders, "Let's get going,"

"Ah, you'll be going to the council," One of the guards calls out, then gives us directions. "Yeah, the council is in charge, with our Kazekage being dead..." He trails off. We walk towards a large building in the center of town.

"You," Erai turns to me, "Stay out here, and try not to get in trouble," She orders. I sigh, leaning against the building. About ten minutes pass, and they still aren't outside. I look up as someone walks right past me.

"Temari!" I exclaim in surprise.

She jerks, turning towards me. Her eyes widen. "You! From the fight! Ke-- Kayla? no, Kina..." She trails off.

"Keira," I laugh. She laughs as well. 

:I didn't recogniez you in these clothes," Temari apologizes.

"It's fine," I wave a hand, "I was the only one on my team smart enough to wear it. The rest are going to have nasty sunburns," I smirk.

"Did they--"

I cut her off, "Try to have as little clothing as possible to cool down? Yes. They didn't realize you needed to protect themselves from the sun," I explain.

"Didn't you tell them?" She asks.

"I tried. They don't believe me. I mean, Erai doesn't want me on the mission, Katsuo is a pedophile, and Ayumu... he's the only normal one. Other than me, of course," I responded.

"Ah," She sympathized, "So you're on the mission to create a treaty?" She questioned. I nodded.

"I'm really supposed to just watch and learn," I admitted. 

"Well, congratulations anyway," She smiled. The happiness fell off her face, replaced with a serious expression. "I just want to thank you... for helping Gaara. He told us how you were his childhood friend," She confided.

"Did he?" I asked.

"Yeah," She smiled, "I still remember your cute little face, Kiko-chan," She teased lightly. I let a small smile spread across my face.

"Yeah, there was... a slight misunderstanding," I concurred.

"Tch. A small misunderstanding that made you want to kill eachother," she scoffed.

We look at eachother and start laughing slightly. "Yeah... It may have been a bit more than a small misunderstanding," I admitted, "But... do you... do you think I could, y'know..."

"Visit him when you have time?" She finished. I nodded in surprise. "Yeah, I think that would be fine. He's really trying hard to repair his relationships. To tell the truth, it's a little awkward," She confided. 

I nodded my understanding. "Keira! Stop wasting time and come here!" Erai shouted. I growled under my breath.

"Well, I'll see you later! Maybe we can train together sometime," I suggest.

She nods. "Sounds good! I'll let Gaara know you're around!" She calls. I wave my acknowledgment. 

"We have an apartment here," Erai points at a map. I nod, not really looking. 

"Aren't you going to take the map?" Ayumu asked.

"Hm? Oh, no, I know my way around," I shrugged distractedly.

"Don't be cocky, Yakunitatanai shojo," Erai rerimended.

"No, no, I seriously am fine," I reassure.

"Fine. Walk us to apartment 4b, on the west side," Erai challenges.

'''kay," I respond, begining to walk. I make a turn down an alleyway, and I hear Katsuo snort and catch a glimpse of Erai rolling her eyes. I must have deviated off their highlighted path. But I know all the shorcuts!

We walk out of the alleyway in front of the apartment complex. "Ta-da! " I gesture with my arms sarcastically. Erai shoves the map into her pocket, grumbling irritably. We walk into the apartment. There's two rooms with two beds each, but only one bathroom.

Ayumu and Katsuo take their shirts off, and Erai takes her vest off. I smirk as I see their red skin. "What are you laughing at? I bet your ten times worse then us! You were wearing that cloak the entire time!" Katsuo groans.

I take my cloak off. I turned in all directions, revealing my smooth, un burnt skin. (OUTFIT UNDER CLOAK IN EXTERNAL LINK) "You didn't even get chafed by the sand!" Ayumu observed. 

I suppress the, 'I told you so,' that's threatening to burts from my lips. "Well, do you mind if I go to the sweet shop?" I ask. I felt the need to get some pocky. 

"Yeah, don't--" Erai cuts herself off, finishing the sentance in her head. Get lost... 

I walked out the door after putting my cloak back on and down the street. The sweet shop was across the village. I jumped from building to building, entering the shop. I bought a large package of strawberry and chocolate pocky, immidiately taking one out and munching on it.

I'm walking along when I spot a group of kids playing on the playground. I stare wistfully at them. A woman with the children glares at me, and I realize that I had been staring to long. I turn my head down with a sigh, and continued trudging home.

I'm nearly home, walking through an alley way when I trip over something. Or, someone. A young boy looks up with teary eyes. I crouch beside him. "What's wrong?" I ask him.

"T-the other kids tease me because of my hair," He whimpers.

"Hm? This hair?" I take a strand of the long purple hair. "Oh, girls must be really jealous of this soft hair. Eventually, everyone will realize they're wrong, and they'll love you, and your hair. Bu before that happens, you have to learn to love yourself first," 

I take a piece of pocky and hand it to him. "Now, go on home to mommy and daddy, okay?" I ask. He nods, a grin breaking through his tears. He runs down the road, pocky in hand. I turn slightly. I feel like someones watching me...

I scan the entire area and walk home. Must have been my imagination... I shake my head.

With my back turned, I didn't catch the rasp of sand on sand, being dragged back to its owner.

______________________________________________________

Chapter Forty Two!

If you want to get a dedication, like bellgirl17, then comment and vote on my story! It's easy to make and account, like she did, if you don't have one!

Comment! Vote!

Bye!

gaara119