After Boom

Rinnnng.

The piercing noise rang in Kankuro's ears like a bell shoved straight into his brain.

The person they tracked down was waiting. He's barely made it to the door, before the whole thing blew out.

Crow took the brunt of the explosion, splattering the puppet into pieces. His sacrifice spared both mater and lieutenant from the spiraling shrapnel.

Kankuro flew back at least ten feet, his body shielding Ani, who had the wind knocked out of her, but was more or less intact.

Hordes of people retreated their homes, frightened by the sound and the bright light, chaos surrounding the pair of shinobi like circling flies.

"

"We're under attack!"

"Run!"

"Kankuro! Are you all right?" Temari appeared beside him, her voice echoing in his ears as if he was underwater.

He felt himself lifted to his feet, head spinning, stomach threatening to unload his dinner on her shoes. "Temari?"

"What happened? What was the explosion?"

His senses came rushing back and he pushed past her, dizzy eyes trying to focus on the masses of fleeing people. "We have to find him. He's somewhere in the crowd. Used the explosion to hide."

"Who? Who are we looking for?"

The vomit refused to be tamed.

Temari's hand came to his back, turning up red through his shirt. "You're hurt. You need to go to the medics."

"No time! It's Yashida. That little bastard. I'll kill him with my bear hands!"

"How do you know it's him? What has Yashida done? Kankuro! Stop for one second and explain this to me!"

Ani used the wall to climb to her feet, spitting out blood from where she bit her tongue. "Captain Temari."

"Report."

"Yes, ma'am. Residue from the councilman's chakra was found at the prison. My butterflies followed his scent here."

"He set a trap for you?"

"It appears so, ma'am."

Temari's mind raced with the possibilities, her hand coming to her chin. "That means he knew you were coming. The councilman's house isn't that far from the prison. There's no way he would have had time to set up a bomb and escape. What's going on here?"

Her eyes scanned the tops of the buildings, a distinct feeling like she was being watched, crashed over her in waves.

She noticed the screaming villagers and the mass of shinobi who rushed to the scene, everyone bumping into each other like frightened cattle.

"Stay put, Kankuro, I've got this."

Temari opened her fan, one of three moons exposed, and blew a gust of wind towards the panicking crowd, sending people to their knees.

All eyes turned back at the unexpected force.

Her voice rang with command. "Villagers of the Sand! You are to evacuate to the lower shelter! There is a terrorist amongst us and your security is sniffing him out. If you see anything or anyone suspicious, you are to instantly report it to a Sand shinobi. Do not panic. Take your loved ones and head to the shelter. Clear the street!"

Like ants to the hill, all of the villagers quickly assembled into lines and evacuated. It wasn't the first nor the last time they'd go through these kinds of things. The memory of war lingered in the back of their minds like a deadly shadow.

Peace never seemed to last.

She folded up her fan and caught her brother trying to stand up again. "Sit."

"But I..."

"Sit!"

Her hand forced him to the ground.

Kankuro pushed it away. "You need my help to fight him. Yashida's more dangerous than he's led us to believe."

"I'm aware. All our council members have some form of blood on their hands. Just like we do."

The puppet master pulled his strings, bringing the bits of Crow to him. "I knew he dealt with traps and explosives. I didn't know he added puppetry to his skillset."

"How very unobservant of you."

He scoffed at her tone. "You're in charge of security. Why didn't you notice?"

Temari rolled her eyes. "Yes, I spend all my vast amounts of free time watching council members playing with dolls."

"Puppets!"

"Regardless. Neither of us were prepared; a problem we will rectify quickly."

She snapped her fingers for Ani to come closer. "Take the captain to the hospital. Make sure he stays there."

"Yes ma'am."

Kankuro groaned when the lieutenant slid his arm around her shoulders. "What are you going to do?"

"Report this to Gaara and then take over your hunt."

"I think he already knows."

She studied his face, when it nodded for her to look up. Temari's gaze went to the single eye that rested above their heads; Gaara's second sight.

The eye disappeared and she took that as her answer.

"Troublesome brothers." Temari mumbled to herself.

Ani started to lead Kankuro away, until his voice stopped her. "Be careful, sis. You know Yashida isn't acting alone. This stinks of something bigger."

"I know."

"How's it going with Rin?"

Temari looked away. "I don't know, but Gaara is going to have to abandon her soon. We need him."

"Never going to happen."

"What do you mean?"

Kankuro smiled, despite the rising nausea. "Our little brother is in love, Temari. No one is coming between those two."

~~~

Gaara opened his eyes, adjusting to the bright light of the lab, from the darkness outside.

Yashida.

He wouldn't have suspected him, but then, who would have?

Gaara's money was on Kaba long before Yashida, at least she was up front about her distrust of his authority. The small, unassuming man, never spoke much about anything in particular. In fact, the only time he ever made his voice heard, was when the others already expressed an opinion he agreed with.

What reason could he have to get involved with this kind of attack against his own village?

The Kazekage looked down at Rin's face, which drew together in an expression of pain. Sweat poured down her face, dripping into his sleeve.

"Rin..."

Gaara looked closer and saw bruises blooming on her fair skin, like poisonous black and blue roses. "What's happening to you?"

As if in response to his voice, her eyes suddenly shot open, but didn't focus on him.

Instead, they rolled to the back of her head, the stark white shinning sick against her tormented expression.

He shook her. "Rin! Rin! Wake up!"

Her right hand never left Haru's forehead, but her left shot to Gaara's, fingers latching in his hair, stinging his scalp, even before his sand could react.

Her voice took on a haunting, second tone. "Somnam Jutsu."