Holy chapters batmen it's been a while! I'm sorry to my fans for that. This chapter is only half I promised you, but otherwise it was getting too long and it wasn't sounding right yet and I wanted this up. I'm building the stage to the next fun climax in the story :)
Reunion is a Type of Heaven
Naruto sighed in relief. Haruka and Kakashi were calming down when Tsunade finally approached the couple. He had known that their reunion would be a painful one for Haruka if not Kakashi. Naruto was uniquely aware of what it probably meant to Haruka to have a mate and then lose them and then suddenly have them back. The isolation she had survived for five years simply exasperated the problem to beyond what she could emotionally deal with right now.
"I think we need to talk." Haruka looked up at Tsunade, nodding. But she didn't rise. She was kneeling in front of her love for the first time in years and he was holding her hand. Neither of them were interested in releasing the other. Naruto didn't blame them. He watched as Haruka looked at Kakashi shyly.
"Yes, I know someone impersonated me, but I don't actually know what the bitch did." Lee and Naruto chuckled quietly. Tsuande and Sakura hid a smile at her language.
"Likewise, we would like to know what happened to you." Haruka nodded at that. She looked up at Tsunade.
"How much do you know about where my team was that night?" Tsunade shook her head, but Gai spoke up.
"We were routing out the sound Shinobi. It was the third sighting of them. They went underground after this until Orochimaru turned up four years ago so it isn't remembered well, but we were already watching them." Naruto looked at him curiously. He had seen Orochimaru in the genkunai that Haruka had tossed but he hadn't asked her about it. It had gotten buried under the plethora of information and revelations her appearance had instigated. Haruka nodded.
"It was dark, you know how chaotic battles can get. At some point I ended up against Makoto." She looked down at her hand where it intertwined with Kakashi's. "We were always even. We have never finished a true contest. Even sparring, we were always interrupted by something." Sakura came forward, confused.
"But you won this time?" Haruka shook her head.
"We tag-teamed her. The village's safety was at risk. In that situation there is no room for that type of honor. It was two on one. Eventually we caught her." Naruto frowned sadly, more sympathetic then mad or sad. Haruka looked away from him. "A spear through the gut. Might have caught a lung, I don't remember. I was distracted." Naruto nodded as she looked at Tsunade.
"How much do you know about that night where Kyuubi was?" Tsunade thought a moment.
"I know that Kyuubi had been in our realm for several hours by the time we engaged each other. I also know that his actions were outside his influence until several hours after the battle was over." Naruto and Haruka nodded. Naruto noticed Sakura's startled look. He hadn't told anyone here about that night except Hinata. He was waiting until he got home. Sakura had found out about Kyuubi only a week before he left. Reluctantly, he pulled his attention away from his friend. His aunt needed him right now.
"That fits what I believed then and have been told since I returned. A forced demon summons." Tsunade nodded. "That was when He arrived. I called Yondiame immediately. He made the decision to seal Kyuubi inside Naruto." Several eyes landed on the self-conscious blonde at this. Naruto just stood there, letting his face blank of emotion. He knew this. He had talked about it with Haruka at some length, but that didn't make it any easier hearing it. "I ordered all the shinobi around me to the front lines; to try to buy Yondaime some time." She was looking at Tsunade at this point frantically, recalling the urgency of that night. Gai stepped in here.
"Then Orochimaru appeared." Haruka looked down at Kakashi's hands again as she nodded, calming herself.
"I trapped him in a dimension seal. It should have held him indefinitely, but I forgot something." Naruto recognized the smile as one of self-irritation. She blamed herself for this next part. "Makoto didn't die immediately. She had enough time and life left to catch me in a seal. It distracted me enough that he was able to disrupt the seal and it only held him for a decade. Makoto caught me in Jikan Hayai." She looked at Kakashi bleakly. Naruto made to move forward, to support her, but stopped when Gai also stepped forward, though he didn't touch either jounin.
"Fast time?" Gai translated. Haruka simply nodded.
"From my perspective I've only been gone six years, I'm only 22 years old." She glanced at Kakashi nervously.
"That explains your appearance." She ignored Gai's mutter. Naruto hid a chuckle. She did look young for someone who should be in her early thirties.
"You were in a different place?" She looked at Tsunade. So did every other person in the clearing, except Kakashi. Naruto saw that the intelligent black eyes of his former sensei were fixed firmly on his current sensei. Much of this he didn't appear to be taking in, but Naruto rather thought if his former sensei processed anything from this discussion it was Haruka's emotional state.
"Not exactly, it was more of a different dimension. But there as nothing there." She frowned as she thought. Tsunade frowned in confusion.
"Just empty land as far as the eye could see?" Haruka shook her head bleakly.
"No." She swallowed. "No land. No plants. No animals. Just nothing. Not even gravity to tell which way was up. It was Byaka and Myself. We sustained ourselves on food I had with me and meditating, but for some reason I didn't feel hungry. There was nothing there. The only sound was my own voice, the only touch was my own skin." She looked at Kakashi as she briefly relived that horror. Naruto came forward then and placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her physically. He had awakened her multiple times from nightmares of being back in that place. "We had to use chakra to keep the dimension from collapsing on us. Without Byaka I wouldn't have lasted a week. She held it when I slept. Not that I did that much. Its much harder to sleep in absolute silence then in noise. Sometimes I would dream about Konoha." She tried to smile, but it wavered. Naruto squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "But I always awoke to that emptiness."
The others were looking at her in varying degrees of horror and sympathy. She swallowed again and pushed herself on.
"Byaka is part of the Bijuu so she and Kyuubi have a link. Jiraiya came to the place I had disappeared. You know, to pay respects. He brought Naruto. Byaka just reached out and grabbed Kyuubi and yanked. Since Kyuubi dug his heels in, we were ripped out of the dimension." She glanced back at Naruto, smiling. That was a tame version of what he remembered. Her suddenly banging into him, Youko unconscious for over a day, him hanging by his ankles. "That would have been just over a year ago now." Naruto nodded. She chuckled.
"You should have seen the welcome Jiraiya gave me. He was none to pleased." Naruto thought that was an understatement. She glanced at Tsunade in question, but Gai spoke up.
"We should tell you that story when more of us are around." Haruka nodded. Besides Kakashi looked like he needed some time to let it all sink in.
"Speaking of around, Gai, Kakashi, I sent Lee to get you for a reason. I need to move up your next assignment." They looked at their leader.
"To when?" She winced at Gai's question.
"Now, I'm afraid. You've got a new deadline to work with." She handed Gai the scroll. He read it over before nodding. He knelt next to Kakashi, hand on his friend's shoulder. Naruto looked at his teachers worriedly. Both of them. He had never seen Kakashi so emotional. And Haruka had been yearning for this ever since she returned. Separating them wasn't fair. Life as a shinobi wasn't always fair. He knew Haruka and Kakashi knew that better then anyone. Gai squeezed his friends shoulder.
"We need to go." He waited until Kakashi sighed and stood, hands still grasping Haruka's. Gai turned to Haruka's. "Don't worry, our youthful energy will make this fast. We'll protect Konoha!" He leaped off. Haruka felt a squeeze from Kakashi before he let her hands fall from his grasp and he too left. She bit her lip. This parting wouldn't be the last, she promised herself. It wasn't like she was being sealed. It was a mission. She was grateful for Naruto's presence, strengthening the feeling of him in her mind to ease the emptiness that should be her mate as she saw him leaping away from her.
"Come, I need to debrief you." She turned to Tsunade and nodded.
000
Hinata giggled as Hanabi chased Hoshi around in front of them. She had sent Shino and Kiba the information that Naruto was back and they would collect the rest of the gang. Naruto had sent that he had also sent Sakura off to collect their friends. Hinata had gotten dressed with Ten Ten and they had met her cousin and father at the gates a full hour before they were meeting Naruto. They decided that a walk would be a good idea, especially for Hanabi, whose energy at finally really getting to know the person so important in her family's lives was making her vibrate. Hoshi finally persuaded her into a game of tag or chase or something similar.
Hiashi smiled as he followed them at a more sedate pace. He was lost in his own thoughts. He had simply froze when he had seen Haruka again. She had been real. He wondered if she had run into Asuma yet. Or Kakashi. He hoped Gai was there when they bumped into each other. Especially considering the last time Haruka 'came home'. He hadn't been there, but Asuma had told him about it. Of the group, only Asuma, Kakashi and Gai had been in Konoha. Hiashi and his brother and wife had been gone on clan business. Hiashi dragged himself out of his internal thoughts when something Ten Ten said caught his attention.
"She seemed to know you Hinata?" He could bet Haruka was very interested in Hinata, for more then one reason. Hinata was thoughtful a moment before she nodded.
"Yes, I have met her. Twice in fact." He let his strides lengthen to catch up with the trio as Neji looked at his cousin with interest.
"I wanted to ask you about that, when did the two of you first meet. You obviously knew each other by the time I met her." Ten Ten looked at him in confusion.
"You've met her before today." Neji nodded.
"That day we arrested the conspirators on the council. She and Naruto intercepted them as they fled. That's how we were able to get all of them into custody." Hiashi snorted under his breath. He had wondered about that fight himself. Hinata nodded.
"Yes, Shikamaru and Kakashi-sensei helped erased the evidence of that. They both recognized Naruto-kun's foot steps. His shinobi abilities have grown, but no one walks around a clearing quite like Naruto-kun." She was giggling as Neji smiled and shook his head. Hiashi couldn't help but smile as well. Hinata was simply so happy when she was talking about Naruto. It felt like a breath of fresh air.
"I met Haruka some time before that. Remember that mission when my group reappeared in Konoha, just poof?" Ten Ten nodded as Neji frowned in thought. "That was when I first met her. That was the first time I saw Naruto again. They saved our lives and got us back to Konoha." Hiashi frowned. Hinata was rubbing her shoulder, where her seal was located. She didn't notice the scrutiny. Her gaze was far away in a memory. "I was so happy to finally see Naruto, to be able to touch him again. " She broke off before she said anything else and looked at Neji sharply. Her eyes narrowed a moment as they landed on Ten Ten and then him. "I'm just glad he's home."
Hiashi looked between the three children. Ten Ten seemed unsurprised by the mood shift. She obvious knew what Neji had done to get Hinata's attention out of the clouds and cognizant of her audience. Hiashi looked between the two of them again before it hit him. Hinata had chakra bonds! She was connected to Neji! Probably others. Hiashi could still remember when his bond to Haruka had first started. He had a hard time hiding his reaction to anything that came across the bond. Hinata reaction was hidden well, but he had still caught it.
This brought another thought to his mind. Hinata had been about to reveal something either he, or Ten Ten or more likely both, didn't know. Something Neji knew she didn't want to reveal. He remembered the day she had woken in the hospital after that mission.
"You're right, adults have too many secrets."
It looked like he should sit down with his daughter a minute later tonight and talk.
"She mentioned you Father. Did you two know each other?" Hiashi looked at his daughter as the question was directed his way. That was a question and a half! He assumed they were still discussing Haruka.
"Yes." The three looked at him expectantly. "She and I were in the same genin team." That met with stunned silence as he continued thoughtfully, trying to control the tumulous emotions welling within him at the thought of the kunoichi being home again.
"We were as close as any of you with your own team when she vanished."
000
Naruto was skipping two hours later as they headed for Ichiraku's. He had listened as Haruka gave Tsunade the short version of their travels, promising a long version at a later date. They had also discussed his training a bit, but Haruka said she refused to explain what all he went through and Tsunade should simply test him for herself. She did say that his taijutsu caught up with his rank, whatever that meant. Tsunade promised to schedule a training session soon to see his improvement.
They had gotten off on the topic of current shinobi and Naruto had lost interest in giving input, listening and taking in the news. Haruka had eventually succeeded in pounding the idea that news and information was important into his head. That didn't mean he had anything to offer to the conversation though. He had paid attention when Tsunade tossed a set of keys at Haruka, saying something about a new home. Haruka said they'd head over after they hooked up with the others. They had left soon after, not before Tsunade had wrangled a meeting with Haruka for later this evening. Naruto was a bit glad he wasn't required. Besides he had a lavender-eyed kunoichi to visit.
"What are those keys for?" Tsunade had tossed them at Haruka on their way out, saying something about home, neither had elaborated. Haruka had simply frowned but nodded in response. She was now looking at the keys in thought.
"They are the keys to the Namikaze Compound." Naruto stopped.
"Compound? Like the Hyuuga Compound?" Haruka looked back at him in somber amusement.
"A bit larger. Since our clan could invited people in who had our kekkei genkai and we weren't all one family but a more general group, we had a larger population then most clans, including the other two Konoha founding clans." Naruto cocked his head.
"Founding clans?" He remembered her mentioning something about that, but he was drawing a blank.
"The three founding clans of Konoha; Uchiha, Namikaze and Hyuuga? Remember? Order, Passion and Knowledge?" She sighed as she saw the confusion clear from his face. That had been one of the earlier lectures and his attention span had left much to be desired back then. She shook her head. "Anyway, we'll bunk at your place tonight and go there tomorrow."
"What? Whyyyyy?" She nearly smiled at his whine. He was really adorable when he whined and he almost never did it. People without her background wouldn't think so, but the fact that either of them could whine meant they were feeling safe and comfortable.
"Because you need to pack and we won't have time today to get a bedroom ready for either of us at the clan house." At his curious look she elaborated. "I doubt anyone's been in there since it was locked up after the mas- when it was sealed. It is probably covered in dust, among other things. I have a meeting with Tsunade-sama tonight. Unless you want to clean it yourself after dinner…?" Naruto shook his head emphatically. No, he had every intention of finding a certain kunoichi tonight after dinner. Speaking of food, he smelled ramen!
"Naruto!" He smiled as he saw Chouji and Lee coming over. Kiba and Akamaru were with them. It felt good to be home.
000
He ducked as the kunai came his waa. He was getting sick of this training. He wasn't sure why, but he was darn well sick of it. He felt the irritation wellin gup within him. His red eyes spun wildly as he leaped closer to the group of shinobi who were supposed to be using him for target practice. With a grin he tore through them easily. He felt the rush as their screams rang in the forrest air. Panting he straightened to throw another deadly kunai at his master as the creepy man appeared. Even without arms the man was a formidible opponent. He drew himself together. Losing his temper in front of this monster was a bad idea.
He had felt off for some time now. He felt like he was walking on the edge of a deep pool. Like the water was trying to suck him up and eat him. Every time his emotions started running away with him, the water would lap at his ankles, pulling, trying to drag him under. Down into the deep where his memories couldn't find him. It felt so good! TO forget everything. His family, friends, home, life. Everything.
But he couldn't. He had a family to avenge. And then he had a village toreturn to, should it be possible. His friends, comrades, he needed to remember them. They were the importance. His family was his past. He knew that, but when that water would lap at him, feeding him the dark emotions of his family's death, filling his heart with the single mindedness he hadn't felt since he was at the academy, he felt his feet slippin gon the brink. And a part of him didn't care. He didn't care that he was going to lose himself, drowning in that dark place of empty vengeful emotions. And while there, he would be too weak, too oxygen deprived to fight this slimy bastard.
"I'm heading out." His statement brought some alarm from the four eyes, but he didn't care. He saw the smirk on that bastard's face and sneered at it. He had his own ideas on this change in his state of mind. The wandering village and its people were just what he needed.
000
Hinata watched with a smile as Lee and Kiba enthusiastically drew Naruto over to the group. She had felt his shy factor kick in the second he had seen them all together. She let herself watch Naruto a moment, like she used to before he knew about her feeling, before she stepped up behind him as he laughed with Chouji about ramen in other lands. His attention was all hers the moment her hand was placed on his shoulder. It so completely shifted his attention that he forgot what he was talking about, resulting in a round of laughter from their friends. She felt his smile infectious as his arm slithered around her waist and pulled her forward in a side hug. He retreated mildly once she was next to him, leaving only his fingertips on her back as he jumped back into the conversation full swing.
"Naruto! That you?" He looked over and with a sheepish smile he extracated himself from his friends and bounded over to the old man to give him a monster of a hug. The man cuffed him gently on the back of the head. "What do you mean hanging around my place and not eating ramen, you want people to think I make bad ramen? For my favorite customer, first bowl's on the house!" This was met with a wealth of cheers that subsided into laughter at his amendment. "First bowl, for Naruto, you goofs!"
"Oi, Old Man! I brought a friend home with me. She says she knows you!" Still laughing the elder turned back to Naruto as the chuckling blonde pulled Haruka forward. The girl had adopted a very Naruto-esk stance, one hand scratching the back of her head sheepishly.
"Hi Ji-san. I'm back." Her nervous giggle reminded Naruto of Hinata as the ramen maker froze. He come over with slow steps, reaching out.
"Haruka-chan?" The blonde nodded. "Haruka-chan. You're back! Haruka-chan!" He pulled her into a gorilla hug laughing so hard Naruto could swear he saw tears rolling down the man's face. Likewise, Haruka seemed equally pleased to see the man, letting him envelope her in a hug of a lifetime. He felt Neji thump him on the back, distracting him from the scene with his sensei.
"Welcome home my friend! Welcome!" Naruto turned to the Hyuuga brother, smiling. Neji sported an identical smile as they grasped each other's wrists. He was home.
"Ramen for everyone!" He turned back to his teacher and friend as the proclamation was met with cheers from everyone. He chuckled as Neji stepped back a bit behind him to make room for Ten Ten.
"About time you got back here Naruto. Tell me you learned enough to keep my teammates busy sparring with you for the next few months at least!" Naruto smiled and gave her a thumbs up. She smiled big and glanced over his shoulder at Neji. She must have liked whatever she saw because she looked back at Naruto and suddenly she was giving him a hug.
"Welcome Back Naruto. You were greatly missed." Naruto didn't know what to say to the whisper in his ear. She was still smiling when she separated and headed for the counter calling for ramen for herself. Naruto shook his head, confused. He still didn't get girls. That thought elicited giggles from more then one of his mental links. Giggles that nearly distracted him enough that he was almost caught by Lee's punch.
"You're not the only one who has improved! So have we! We all have the youthful fire of Konoha in our souls!" Naruto laughed as Akamaru pounced on the enthusiastic Chuunin. He felt Kiba's arm snag his neck and a fist twist in his hair breifly.
"What he means is we aren't the push overs you left." Naruto grinned at him, returning teeth for teeth in good-natured fun.
"Really? I guess I'll have to try this time." Kiba's grin went wild with challenge.
"I won't let you win this time around!" Naruto opened his mouth to respond, but a bowl of ramen entered his line of sight and all other thoughts ceased. All other thoughts except those appreciating the source of the golden noodles from heaven.
"Thanks Hina-chan!" The Hyuuga heir blushed and smiled at him. She nodded and vanished, taking her teammate with her. She wanted to rearrange their training schedule so that she was free this evening. Naruto took a moment to let his eyes travel the length of her body. He hadn't taken the time to the last few times he'd seen her. Being within her father's sight, he hadn't dared.
"Careful Naruto. You might have picked up too many habits from your perverted senseis." Naruto turned to his teammate with a cheeky grin.
"Not with you around I couldn't." Sakura blinked. Naruto was flirting with her. Quite effectively at that. He really had grown. She glanced at Hinata.
"That look you gave Hinata spoke otherwise. Pervert." She gently knocked him with a friendly smile. He rubbed the place she's bumped with a content, but serious smile. That was rare for Naruto. He looked her in the eye, a bit of calm in the chaos that ranged at the ramen stand.
"Only for her." It then occurred to Sakura that the blonde was actually in love. This wasn't a crush like he had with her. This wasn't the worried hope that Hinata had had or the constant worshiping admiration that she and Ino had showered onto Sasuke during their younger years. This was trusting, single-mindedly caring love. She couldn't be more happy for him.
"Good! And don't you forget it brat!" His grin went cheesy again.
"Hey, who are you calling a brat. I'm actually older then you are." She smiled at him.
"Nope, you will always be the brat of our team." He stuck his tongue out at her, verifying her point when Chouji interrupted them explaining that it was his turn to buy Naruto ramen. They had all agreed that they would split Naruto's bill and that of his sensei today. It seemed the easiest way was to each buy a bowl of ramen for one of them. Surely between the ten of them, it would be enough, twelve if you counted Temari and Hanabi.
"Oi, Shikamaru, is your sensei coming?" Now that he had greeted everyone and tings were settling down into conversation, Naruto was thinking about Haruka. He had kept a corner eye on her and he had learned to read lips while he was gone.
After the initial greeting, Haruka had retreated off to the side. She had met up with Hiashi there. The Hyuuga would get to know his daughter's man later. Right now he had other things to focus on.
"Welcome back Haruka." Haruka looked at him out of the corner of her eye. She still didn't know what to say to him. "You were missed." He looked up at her at her snort. He let a wry smile cross his lips.
"I suppose you heard about what the group did?" Haruka growled at him.
"You bunch of idiots." Her low words weren't heard by anyone but him. He honestly couldn't tell whether her tone was that fond teasing or actual irritation this time. "Two members disappear and you all forget how to be a team? Akai is on his own right now because of that!" Hiashi winced. He hadn't ever fully believed the public story about Akai. He knew better.
"We are idoits." She smiled as she turned to him. He saw her eyes go glassy as she mumbled.
"You are! You really are!" His arms came around her almost by themselves as she hugged him. He felt her shaking a little as she swallowed her tears like he had seen her do a million times.
"I wasn't here!" Hiashi pulled back and looked at her, his own eyes probably glittering with untold grief for the lives lost since her disappearance. He smiled at her.
"I missed you, Haru-chan." She smiled.
"And I you." She looked back at Naruto in amusement, catching a passing thought about the mystery of girls. Hiashi also looked at the crowd.
"They want to spar with him. I doubt you'll get out of here without allowing it at least once." Haruka nodded.
"I expected that. I've already picked out the opponent. Naruto needs a work out anyway." Hiashi smiled and relaxed. She would have mentioned it if he wasn't invited to this spar.
"Where are you guys bunking for the night?" Haruka smirked at him.
"Naruto's. I have the keys to the clan compound, but we won't have time today to go. I have a meeting with Tsunade-sensei after dinner and I believe Naruto's is hooking up with your daughter for the evening." Hiashi smiled, well aware of his eldest's plans. He wasn't a spy for nothing.
"Have you run into Kakashi yet?" Haruka nodded, face going bland.
"He and Gai have a mission until sunrise." Hiashi nodded, understanding the restrained, unstated irritation.
"Then I invite you to visit with me tonight after Tsunade is done grilling you." Her smirk was infectious. She turned to him.
"As long as it isn't in your mansion. Why not come my way?" Hiashi looked at Hanabi, who was spending the night with Konohamaru and Co. She would be out of the compound, therefore safe from the family.
"Fine. We have much to discuss." Haruka frowned at him only half playfully.
"And if that didn't sound ominous."
Hiashi's sly grin in her direction was what Naruto caught as he asked Shikamaru about his sensei. He knew that Asuma was very close to Haruka.
"He said he'd be along with Kurenai soon. He wanted to drop off some reports." He gave Naruto a look that screamed they'd talk later about something. Naruto shook his head in confusion, but accepted Shikamaru's judgment. He trusted the bright teen completely. Ino was smiling next to him.
"Speak of the devil." She pointed out the tall man lumbering up in an easy pace. Apparently no one had told him that Haruka was with Naruto and Haruka's summons hadn't been able to find him. Naruto felt, more then saw Neji distract everyone else for him as he slipped to the side to keep an eye on his sensei. He silently thanked the Hyuuga. Glancing over he saw that just like Hiashi, Asuma had froze when he saw her.
Haruka gave him a sheepish smile and a wave. Naruto could feel the fear running through her. It was so thick, even he started to feel nauseous. She hadn't ever explained much of her friends and he hadn't asked since every reminder of her lost bonds was a painful one. Still she had mentioned Asuma several times, so he figured he had to at least be one of her closer friends.
"Hey Asuma. I'm back." He blinked at her a moment before a wide grin spread across his face. An identical one lite Haruka's face as she stepped towards him. One step turned into two. Then three.
When she was first brought before the Sandiame she had met a young shy boy about her age. She had taught him how to hide and track. He had watched her go one countless missions only to smile at her when she returned. Every time he fell, her hand grasped his and every time she tripped his hand pulled her up again. Through childhood and the academy. Through her adoption and his sibling's birth. Becoming a genin team all the way up the ranks. She never forgot that one important conversation. The one where he confirmed her most cherished wish.
You're my friend?
That's right!
Then I'm your friend too.
That's how it works, silly.
Forever?
Forever and always.
Haruka's lips trembled as she looked at her best friend. She had disappeared on them, abandoned them. Of all the people she needed to hear it from, Asuma was the most. She didn't think she could survive without his friendship.
"Forever?" Asuma's smile widened at her question, an echo of their childhood.
"Forever and always." She broke into a run at that, leaping into his arms, both of them laughing, tears streaming down their faces.
"Welcome back Koneko-chan."
000
Gaara and Yuuki simply sat together after the other two closed the door. He wasn't sure what to do next, but he wanted to help. It turned out, Yuuki had her own plan. Or maybe she just stated talking subconsciously. He wasn't sure. Either way a story came pouring out of how she was raised by the Mizukage. He protected her from the village. One night she insulted him, she went too far asking about her parents. Then the mission.
Gaara had shared much of his past with her and in turn he was aware of her role in her village, but this was a part he hadn't heard before. Yuuki had always skirted the issue of who had taken care of her, raised her and taught her outside of her bijuu. Similarily, Shukaku hadn't gotten any information from the dragon herself. He felt sympathy and understanding as she explained the understanding she had reached when she saw those children. Killing defenseless children hadn't been something he had ever done knowingly, though he too had he hands stained.
She described the woman, what she was saying, how it felt. Gaara rather agreed that the woman was simply trying to save her children's lives by disarming Yuuki. But her death had meant something. Her final word to Yuuki, a name. It wasn't her children's names, Shiro and Kurei. It wasn't her name, Kira. Yuuki rather thought it was given to her. A gift for taking care of her children. Yuuki had spirited the chilren out of the house and hid them nearby before returning with their clothing. She had diced the mothers body and spread the child's clothes amoung the remains, making it look like she had killed the other two in a fit of rage.
The village was told somehow that she was the killer that night. Over the next few weeks she saw her life turn to hell. The assassin had started the rumor that she had killed that family. He had also told the Mizukage that she hadn't killed the family, but failed so he had killed them for the Mizukage. She had known about his jealousy at her being picked for certain missions over him, but hadn't thought he'd take it to this extent. The mizukage had shielded her from much.
A week after that incident, one of the local bullies decided it was safe to act on the rumor circulating about her bijuu.
000
Haruka was still chuckling when Asuma set her down. So was he.
"About time you got back!" She smiled widely, cocking her eyebrow in amusement.
"Well, had to give you a bit longer to prepare." He raised his eyebrow.
"Sixteen years isn't long enough?" She bopped him on the shoulder.
"Only six from my perspective." He looked at her in confusion.
"Six?" They were interrupted by a small, interrupting cough which made Haruka peer around Asuma's sturdy shoulders to see a jounin standing behind him. A wicked smile spread across her face slowly as she swept the woman with her gaze before returning to a now blushing Asuma.
"Asu-chan? Do you have a girlfriend?" He gave a nervous chuckle at her singsong voice. He had been mildly merciless when teasing her and Hiashi about their lovelives, and Haruka was a firm believer in payback. Still blushing, he wrapped an arm around the jounin in pride.
"This is Kurenai, my fiance." Of course the entire group had face-faulted at that. Everyone knew they were together, but no one except maybe Shikamaru and Hiashi had guessed just how close they were. Haruka recovered first with a squeal.
"Oooooh! Wonderful! Hello Kurenai-chan, it is so nice to meet you!" Asuma gave her a sheepish look.
"Nai, this is Haruka, my best friend." Kurenai looked like she wasn't sure she believed him, but withstood Haruka's embrace nonetheless.
Naruto's grin was contagious as the entire group erupted into congratulations for the two jounin. The party to celebrate Naruto's return got even louder. It seemed as if the entire block was involved.
At some point Ibiki had joined them. He had walked behind Haruka, placed his hands on her shoulders and spun her away from Asuma. Asuma and Hiashi, well aware of the relationship between these two were smiling. Naruto nearly leaped at the big shinobi before he noted the smile on Haruka's face.
"Ibi-kun!" The blush on the man's face was ignored as he swept her into a bear hug.
"Good to have you home Haru-chan." Naruto saw Ino smiling off to one side and remembered Hinata mentioning that the big, scary man was her teacher now. The big scary man who was smushing his current teacher. Naruto shook his head.
Ibiki eventually joined Teuchi at the counter for a talk while the party continued.
000
Gaara had held her tighter and tighter as she had talked. He hoped he met this assassin someday in a dark place where he could communicate what true fear meant to him. After the villager had realized that the Mizukage truly wasn't going to defend his pet, they became more bold, seizing her whenever their luck took a turn for the worse. She would spend all night at their mercy, usually going dead after a few hours and they would stop. If she wasn't receiving pleasure, they weren't receiving luck. She had spat that last sentence at the ground in disgust. The worse thing was there was some minor truth to it. Not luck as much as a small infusion of chakra that ran through a jinchuuriki's system during heightened emotions, and heightened sensation.
The main ringleader's name had been Hiruzen. That was who she had seen today in the marketplace. Hiruzen was a bully and a greedy one. He had been in the Mizukage's pocket as a spy and in the villager's pocket as a merchant and supposedly co-conspirator. Yuuki didn't know why he was in town. She hadn't stepped a foot in her home village since she became a chunin. She had pleaded with Gaara to not send her back. It had taken him quite sometime to not only calm her down, but to convince her that far from sending her back, he was never letting them lay a finger on her again.
He had gotten her to fall asleep finally, leaning against his shoulder. He was looking out the window over his village. He cared about this village. He cared about his family and his friends. But with her it was different. He looked down at the sleeping girl. He rather thought Kankuro had spiked the tea with a calming substance. He sighed. This was turning into quite the day. And it was only noon!
No distance of Place or lapse of time
Can lessen the frindship of those
who are so persuaded of each other's worth
Hi. I was going to go all the way until bedtime with this chapter, but I can't get a scene right so Naruto and HInata's drama will have to be next time. Besides it was puching the limit of 10K words I set for myself. Even cut, this chapter is 6K. I"m sorry it took so long. Please tell me what you think and I'll get Hinata's and Naruto's reunion up this week...I Hope! I will also proof this when I post the next to any humongous plotholes please point out ^_^
End quote is Robert Southey
