Welcome to chapter 8- Thanks for your patience! I had a bit of writers block but hopefully that's behind me now. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

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Temari surveyed the desert around her from the back of her camel. She was following Baki sensei in the line of camels making up their caravan. The sun was beating down and the wind whipped at her chadurn, the scarf like headgear that protected them from the intense heat.

Although they were supposed to act like civilians, Temari used her wind jutsu to keep the scarf on her head. She suspected that Gaara was doing something similar with his sand since his wrap hardly moved. Kankuro however was fun to watch. His scarf seemed to dance away from him like one of his puppets. He hardly ever wore civilian clothes, preferring his cat like headgear from the Puppet Corp. It buckled under his chin and stayed in place. She watched him finally wrap the scarf twice around his head and tie it in a huge knot. He looked like a mummy. She chuckled to herself, glad that no one could hear.

They had joined the caravan the day before. She had forgotten how slow common citizens traveled. Even the trip to River had been with ninja and those used to traveling in the diplomatic service. She was sure she was going to lose her mind. She just hoped Gaara was able to be patient.

Gaara on the other hand, was actually enjoying the peace and quiet this mode of travel provided. No one could talk much due to the single file line of the camels. The animals didn't require him to guide them. He was in the middle of the line and he could tell that the animal was trained to follow the exact distance behind the camel in front of it. His saddle was padded and somewhat comfortable so he decided to meditate. As the warm sun shone on him, the wind whipped through his clothes cooling his body and relaxing him. He was always more comfortable around sand. He knew that later in the mission he would be traveling through some of the wettest countries but for now he would enjoy the desert as his camel rocked him into deep relaxation.

Kankuro was uncomfortable. His legs were hanging at an odd angle from his seat. It was his own fault. Instead of checking his equipment like he was supposed to, he had been flirting with the salt merchant's daughter. She was a pretty thing and he'd had little to occupy his mind with on the trip so far. He squirmed in his seat trying to find a more comfortable position. He couldn't even complain. He didn't want Baki to know he'd been distracted by a pretty face,

They were traveling with the salt merchant's caravan until they reached the boarder of Rain Country. There the caravan would split into two parts. They would part from Baki and head across River Country towards Grass Country. The travelers would camp tonight and reach River sometime before lunch tomorrow.

Kankuro shifted in his seat again. 'Screw it' he thought. I can't sit like this for another four hours. He hooked his long leg over the head of the camel. The animal was so well trained he doubted it even noticed what happened on its back. He turned in his seat so he was sitting backwards with his back along the neck of the camel and his legs over its rump. 'Not bad' the change in position shielded his eyes from the sun too. Using a little chakra to keep his butt in place Kankuro proceeded to fall asleep. Not however before seeing Baki give him a stern look for his audacity. 'Hey, a ninja's gotta do what a ninja's gotta do' he thought with a smirk.

It was a couple hours before nightfall when the caravan came to a halt. They were beside the burned out shell of an inn. It was a popular stop on the trade route. Travelers could take shelter in its ruins. There was a paddock for the camels and a walled area with a fire pit in the center. As one of the few women in the caravan, Temari was expected to help cook while Kankuro and Gaara helped set up the tents and unload the camels. The salt, being almost more precious than gold, was given first priority. Once it was housed to keep out wind and rain, the rest of camp was finalized. On missions they usually used small one man tents. On this trip though, they had one tent big enough for the four of them. Temari watched her brothers set it up from her station near the fire.

Dinner was a simple but filling meal of rice and curry, after which the women packed up the cooking supplies. The remaining rice was made into balls to be used for breakfast the next day. The salt merchant planned to move out at dawn and everything was made ready to quickly strap on the camels and continue the trip. The men checked over the animals and merchandise one last time before retiring for the night.

Gaara took first watch. Having meditated for a large part of the afternoon, he was alert and rested. It was around midnight and he was getting ready to wake Kankuro for his shift. He detected the chakra signatures of three people. Their movements were more swift than a civilian's and their chakra was stronger than a common person. Gaara masked his own chakra and watched to see what they were up to. The three figures swiftly investigated their cargo and took count of the number of people in the caravan. It was only due to Gaara's excellent hearing that he could tell what the nin were saying.

"I don't find it here."

"Our information must be premature. They must be joining the group on the next stop."

"Lord Orochimaru will not be pleased at the delay."

"He will be even more displeased if we rush and don't retrieve the package." The leader asserted.

"We will return when the caravan is complete."

In a flash the intruders were gone and Gaara was once again alone. He would let Kankuro sleep. He would be awake anyway he might as well analyze what he had heard.

An hour before dawn Gaara collected the food set aside for their party and entered the tent. Baki sensei was in the process of rising. Gaara kicked his brother's feet to rouse him.

"Is it my watch?" Kankuro said shaking himself awake.

"No. it's dawn. The camp was visited by ninja last night." was Gaara's surprising reply. He now had the attention of both men.

"What happened?" demanded Baki.

At the sound of voices Temari's eyes opened. She sat up and listened as her brother reported the night's events to Baki.

The sun was at its apex in the sky as the caravan entered the border town of Suna and River, The camels slowly made their way to a hostelry at the edge of town. The siblings could see camels and oxen in the paddock. Wagons were lined up in the stable yard. Each wagon had a civilian guard in place watching over the merchandise that was stored inside.

The salt merchant gave the signal to stop and the party from Suna along with the guards and caravan members climbed down from their camels.

"Oh" Temari moaned. She bent over stretching out her legs. She wanted to rub her backside but restrained herself in the presence of the others.

Gaara climbed down. He had used his sand to pad any spots that rubbed on his saddle. He was alert and ready. Since they were unsure of the intention the unknown ninja he would keep watch as they merged with the new caravan. He was looking for any clue as to the meaning of the ninja's words.

Kankuro knew one thing. He hated camels. They might be 'the ships of the desert' but they were damn slow and uncomfortable. He was unstrapping his scrolls containing his puppets when he caught the flash of brightly colored fabric out of the corner of his eye. Turning, he met the eyes of the merchant's daughter. She looked coyly from under long lashes. She was cute and she loved to flirt, just his kind of girl. He thought about slipping away and taking her someplace private. As his mind drifted with pleasurable thoughts of an afternoon spent in the arms of the lovely girl, he felt a heavy arm on his shoulder. He looked into the shrewd face of his sensei. Baki gave him a droll look.

"Get to work, Kankuro."

"Yes sir." How did the man do that? It was like he had eyes in the back of his head.

After Baki walked back to his own camel, Kankuro glanced at the object of his affections. She must have seen Baki, for now she wore a pout. He grinned at her and shrugged his shoulders. Play time would have to wait.

The team from Suna brought all their belongings into the inn. They would be staying one night before continuing on with the caravan to another border town between River and Rain Countries. They gathered before dinner to discuss the rest of their mission.

"As you know, I leave at day break for Rain and Rock countries." said their sensei. "After talking with the salt merchant, I feel this is still a viable plan. He is sending part of his salt supplies, along with members of his party in the same caravan I'll be joining. Since we can't know which caravan the ninja will be following we will stick to the current plan. Our objectives have still not changed. We know Orochimaru is planning something. We have this golden opportunity to learn more of his plans. This is what we've been working towards. I know each of you will do your best." he concluded.

"Hai" they answered.

"Oh and Kankuro," he said looking at the boy. "If that girl's father sees you looking at her like that, he'll have your balls for breakfast." Baki said dryly.

"What?" said Kankuro trying to appear innocent?

"I'd hate to inform the village that the eldest son of the 4th Kazekage was killed by an irate father. He is known as a stern father and a hard man. Watch yourself." instructed Baki.

Their sensei left the room and Kankuro turned to his sister with a wicked look on his face.

"I'll just have to make sure he doesn't catch me."

Temari swatted him with a look somewhere between a smirk and a frown. The boy was incorrigible. Sometimes she didn't know whether to laugh at his playfulness or kick him for his stubbornness.

Gaara rolled his eyes. All this bother over a girl. In his experience girls ran in fear and refused to have anything to do with him. The only girl he really knew was Temari and he couldn't imagine all this trouble over her.

He watched as the two began to bicker over who got to clean up first. 'They go through this every time.' Gaara thought in exasperation. He'd had enough. He pulled his towel and change of clothes out of his bag and walked calmly between them into the washroom. His brother and sister just had time to register what had happened when he slammed the door in their faces.

"Gaara, what are you doing?" yelled Temari. She gave the door handle a yank, but it was securely locked. "You Brat!" she exclaimed, banging on the door.

"It's no use beating on the door, he'll come out when he's ready." observed Kankuro while he gathered his towel and clothes.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm not waiting. I saw a public bath as we rode in. I'll take my chances there." he replied.

Temari was adamant. "I'm not going to a public bath when we have one in our room."

Her brother just shrugged his shoulders as he left the room.

Temari leaned against the door jam. 'Why do I have to have two brothers?' she thought.

"You better not leave sand everywhere" she hollered through the bathroom door.

…

When Gaara finally exited the washroom, he found his sister impatiently tapping her foot, towel in hand. He gave her a bland look.

"I don't leave sand everywhere. Yell at Kankuro" he retorted in his deep voice.

"Yeh, well you're growing up to be just like him," She growled. "And that's not a compliment.

She marched into the washroom and slammed the door.

Gaara laid flat on the bed stretching out all his muscles. He closed his eyes going over everything he had heard about Orochimaru and the Sound village looking for any clue they had missed.

…

Temari left the washroom in a much better frame of mind than when she entered it. Clean and no longer smelling like a camel, she was almost cheerful. She saw her brother lying on the bed.

"So how were the public baths?" she asked as she walked over to put her things away.

Gaara opened his eyes and looked at his sister with a puzzled expression.

"Gaara!" she exclaimed!

The boy frowned back at her.

"I thought you were Kankuro." She stood beside the bed and slowly ran her hand over his brown locks. Temari studied him intently and then she smiled.

"I will never get used to you without your red hair." She brushed his hair away from his forehead where his tattoo would be if not for the henge. She gave him a quick kiss on his brow, and then ruffled his hair.

"Just don't act like Kankuro, ok?"

Gaara gave snort of disgust and closed his eyes again. He felt her move away and busy herself with her bag. He wondered at her change of mood. It was unusual for Temari to touch him, let alone kiss him. It had felt comforting, he realized. Maybe girls weren't so bad after all.

…

The other members of the caravan were in the dining room when the four shin obi from Wind entered. The siblings took special interest in observing each new member and how they interacted with each other. They were joined by three new families. The first two were related.

Mokuzia-san was a woodworker. A big beefy man, he specialized in decorative vessels and furniture of all kinds. He and his wife had five children who seemed to be everywhere at once. The children ranged in age from four to eleven. They all seemed to have the thick brown hair of their father. The man was loud and jovial and he and Kankuro hit it off at once.

Kusuri- san was his brother-in-law. He was a tall beanpole of a man, whose wife was as round as she was tall. They reminded Temari of a nursery rhyme she had heard when she was young. He boasted that his wife could grow anything, using himself and his two daughters as an example. Kusuri- san mixed the herbs his wife grew to make medicines and balms. He seemed to have a loyal clientele, if the number of stops planned for hospitals and healers was anything to go by.

In Gaara's opinion the third party seemed to be the most likely candidate for observation. Hooseki- san was a gem merchant. The man was perpetually nervous. The boisterous Mokuzia children had him in a continual panic. He was accompanied by two guards and an assistant. Gaara had overheard the salt merchant talk about a gem merchant who would be joining the caravan after picking up jewels in Suna. This then was the man. There was an old adage: land, people, and money equal power. This man certainly had the money. When all else fails follow the money. That was Gaara's plan.

The party from Suna retired to their room early wanting to stretch out their sore muscles before another day on the road. Under the watchful eye of Baki, they laid out all their gear ready to load into the wagons. Gaara noticed that the more moist air was taking its toll on their weapons. He gathered his bag and took out his sharpening supplies. Gaara took up a position near the window, looking down on the court yard. As the other three people on his team lay down to sleep, they heard the steady stroke of the sharpening tool against steel.

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A/n Follow the money- hey if I didn't have to do that I could quit my job and write full time. Surely then the chapters would come faster. (maybe not). This chapter set up the characters for the next 2 chapters, which is going to be more exciting –I promise.

If you've read this far, take a second and review. I love to hear what you say. You're a great bunch. Crystal

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