/AN: Hey everybody! I'm getting lazy with my writing and for that I am sorry. I'm also verrrry busy.
Katy: I'll say!
Me: Anyway, I don't own blonde orange wearing ninjas.
Katy: Enjoy Chapter Six of Time Lines
Chapter Six: Sneaking Around
Tachi rolled over in her sleep, only to bump into something hard. Her eyes fluttered open, to see a shirtless well chiseled chest. Before she could scream, a hand covered her mouth. "You're cute when you sleep; you know that, Tachi-chan?" Tachi looked up to see Hiro.
"Why are you shirtless in my bed? Or do I want to know?"
"Don't worry. We didn't do anything." Hiro said, kissing Tachi's forehead, as she snuggled into his chest. "You fell asleep in my arms on the floor. So I moved our party to the bed. I got hot so I took off my shirt, and watched you sleep. Because of the demon, it's hard for me to get to sleep, and when I do sleep, I have nightmares. So, I just decided to stay awake for a change."
"Oh. I'm sorry. What time is it?" Tachi asked, looking out the window noticing it was still dark.
"Three forty-two in the morning." Hiro replied.
"Argh. It's early! Time to go to sleep." Tachi said, closing her eyes.
"Oh no you don't. We're getting your necklace back." Hiro said, shaking Tachi awake again.
"Can't it wait until morning?"
"No. In the morning your family will be up and I can't be here then. Your father would burn me to a crisp." Hiro replied.
"We don't want that, now do we?" Tachi said, closing her eyes again.
"We gotta find out where he's hiding it first."
"Beside table. Top drawer. There's a secret bottom, so you gotta pull the drawer all the way out and find a hooky thingy to pull it up." Tachi mumbled, sitting up. "Taro and I, when we were little and still friends, used to sneak in there and search for presents. That's when we found it.
I don't see how we're actually going to manage this. Sasuke's a light sleeper, Kaa-san can sense chakra easily, but that ability becomes dull when she's pregnant."
"Oh, well that's gonna complicate things."
"Yeah. Well, let's go." Tachi said standing up. "Come on. I'm tired and looking for a necklace Sasuke stole from me isn't my idea of a good time."
Hiro masked his chakra, Tachi doing the same. Hiro tried to open the door only to find it wouldn't turn anywhere. "Huh?"
"Oh. That's right. I forgot I locked the door in my tantrum." Tachi said unlocking it.
"You throw temper tantrums at your age?" Hiro gasped.
"Yes I do. But only when Sasuke keeps life long secrets from me and steals my favorite necklace. Then I throw a temper tantrum." Tachi whispered, opening the door.
"Aw, I feel special." Hiro whispered back.
"You should." Tachi and Hiro walked out into the hallway, making sure nobody was around. The hallway was cool with the night air. 'Taro must have his window open again.'
They went down the hall and passed a door that was pad locked. "What's in there?" Hiro whispered.
"My uncle's room." Came the simple answer.
"Oh." He had forgotten about the Uchiha massacre.
Next, they passed Suichiro's room. Before going any further, Tachi walked over to the side of the crib, Hiro following in suit.
"She's a cute baby." Hiro whispered, as they watched Suichiro sleep. He had a fear of being around children of any size. He was always afraid he would hurt them. His greatest fear was that if he was to father a child, the demon inside of him would reproduce with him, causing his offspring to become a jinchuuriki as well.
"She's bald too." Tachi said, giggling softly. Hiro smiled and continues with Tachi out of the room, back into the hallway. On the right side, there was another empty room and a door that looked like a closet. 'The shrine.'
Tachi had always gotten bad vibes from that room. She always felt as if someone was watching her in that particular room.
Finally, they reached Tachi's parent's room. Neither said a word as they entered. Sasuke was on his side, a protective arm around Sakura's growing stomach. Hiro pointed to a drawer with a lamp on it, looking to Tachi, who nodded.
They made their way to the table, being careful to be as silent as possible. Carefully, Tachi pulled out the top drawer and took out a kunai and used it to life the secret compartment. There, in all its glory was the necklace Hiro had given Tachi the day they met.
Gently, after retrieving the necklace, Tachi let down the secret compartment. With that, they quietly left out into the hallway.
Swiftly and silently, Hiro and Tachi slipped back into Tachi's room. "I can't believe we pulled it off!" Tachi said, softly.
"Yeah, I know. I thought you said Sasuke was a light sleeper?" Hiro held his arms securely around Tachi's waist, his hands resting on the small of her back. Tachi's arms were resting on Hiro's shoulders, laying her head on his chest.
Tachi sighed. "You smell nice." She said. Hiro chuckled, Tachi feeling the vibrations in his chest.
"I didn't shower today. You'd think I'd smell like a garbage can." Hiro said.
Tachi buried her nose in his chest and took a big whiff. "You don't smell too bad."
"First you say I smell nice and then you say, I don't smell too bad. Make up your mind!" Hiro said, with a laugh.
"You smell like Hiro-kun and that's all I need. But you better take a shower before the Chuunin exams tomorrow, or else I'll have to hose you down like we did with the boys a few years ago." Tachi said.
"What did Renji do?" Hiro asked moving over to the bed, Tachi in toe.
"It wasn't just Renji. It was Renji, Kenji, Taro, and Kazu."
"Kazu?" Hiro looked puzzled in the dim light of the room.
"He's the ninja you're replacing. He and his sister, Riki died on a mission about six months ago." Tachi replied.
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it." Tachi said reflection back to when her biggest problem was a lone zit. "Anyway, Renji had this bright idea to go with out showers for a month and see who could work up the worst stink. It was gross. Kaa-san actually made Taro eat and sleep out side.
Finally it got so bad that me, Riki, Kana, Hikari and Misa ambushed them in a surprise attack of soapy water. Our main target was Renji. His stink was ultimately the worst.
Unfortunately, we ambushed them from the top of a building and slipped. Luckily the boys were there to break our fall. We laughed for days." When she finished, they were both laying on their sides.
"You guys do weird stuff for fun." Hiro said.
"Oh? And do you have something better?"
"Back in Suna, we'd hide in the sand, and wait for someone to come along. When they did, we'd jump out in front of them and scare them silly."
"Sound like fun." Tachi said quietly, trying to force her eyes open. This didn't go with out notice.
"Sleep Tachi. I'll see you in the morning." Hiro said as Tachi drifted into a dreamless sleep
-x - x - x-
Tachi awoke to find the space beside her cold and empty. Disappointed, she rose from her bed to look in the mirror, only to find that Hiro had left a note on the mirror:
'Tachi,
I left soon after you fell asleep.
Your necklace is in the top drawer of your dresser.
-Hiro'
With that, Tachi fled to the bathroom to freshen up. When she was done, she went back to her room. Today she picked out a black, short, mini skirt, and a white, form fitting tube top. For shoes she wore black plat form flip flops. She tied her head band around her waist and brought her kunai holster with her just in case of emergency. In it, her necklace.
Putting on a grim, upset face, she raced down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Ohayo Tachi." Sakura said.
"Morning, mom." The raven haired girl replied.
"Tachi, you have a letter, from the hokage." Sasuke said, handing Tachi the letter once she sat down. She ignored him, continuing to eat. "Tachi, you can't keep ignoring me forever." No answer came from the middle Uchiha heir.
Finishing her breakfast, she tossed her plate into the sink and left, taking the letter, and slamming the door behind her. Sasuke flinched at the sound.
Fighting back a tornado of emotions, the head Uchiha left and headed for the shrine.
Lighting the incense, Sasuke let the smoke engulf him. 'Where did I go wrong?' He thought to himself. 'I'm just trying to protect her. What do I do? How do I fix this?' Sasuke sighed, pushing tears back. Having his daughter hate him, was tearing him apart on the inside.
Suddenly, a book dropped off the shelf of a book case on the back wall. Rising, Sasuke went to take a look. Much to his confusion, it was a scrap book Sakura had made for Tachi. He sat down, beginning to look through it.
The first picture, was Sakura as big as a whale, sleeping on the couch. He remembered that day. The day Sakura's water broke in a tantrum to "destroy Naruto."
The dobe had taken a picture of Sakura the, flash waking her from slumber. She was angry, but as soon as she stood up water had puddled around Sakura's feet. Sasuke remembered Naruto's reaction.
/Flashback/
"Hey Sasuke. Look at Sakura. I bet that'd make a good picture, teme." Naruto said.
"Dobe, you've got a death wish." Sasuke replied, reaching for the camera Naruto held in his hands.
It was too late. Naruto had snapped the picture. Sakura was awake. "NARUTO! I'M TRYING TO-" it was then when they noticed the puddle around Sakura's feet.
"Ack! I killed the baby! Sasuke don't kill me! I'm sorr-" The head Uchiha hit the blonde over the head.
"Dobe! You didn't do anything. The baby's fine. But you won't be if you don't shut up!"
/End Flashback/
Sasuke smiled and flipped to the next page. A picture of Sasuke holding Tachi as a baby.
/Flashback/
Sasuke sat in the chair next to the hospital bed, afraid if he stood any longer, he would drop the little girl in his arms.
What would his parents say if she saw their grand daughter? Would his father approve of the choices he had made? Probably not.
Sasuke sighed. If only he knew.
/End Flashback/
The next picture of Tachi had been taken a few years later when she was three and Taro was four. Taro had been tall for his age. Tachi was sitting in Taro's lap, both giggling like an idiot.
They had shared a birthday until last year when Taro announced he hadn't wanted to celebrate his birthday.
The next few pages were of Tachi, Riki, Kana and Hikari, Taro, Renji, Kenji, Kazu, Naruto, himself, Sakura and Kakashi sensei, at other ninja functions, The team photo.
The Team Seven photo looked different than his team photo. In his, Sasuke had been brooding, looking off to his right. Sakura in the middle cheery with a smile. And then Naruto scowling at him. Kakashi had been behind him, his hands on Sasuke and Naruto's head.
Tachi's Team Seven photo had been completely different and unorganized. Kakashi had a hand behind his head and was smiling awkwardly behind his mask. Renji was cowering under Tachi, who had her fist raised to hit him. Kenji was stuck between the two trying to get them to stop fighting.
The next few pages were articles from the attack. Sasuke sighed. He needed some advise and fast. He knew who he was going to, to get it.
-x-x-x-Renji and Kenji -x-x-x-
"My arm hurts!" Renji cried anime tears.
"I told you it was a bad idea. You don't listen." Kenji replied, running a hand through his brown hair.
"Ugh!"
-x-x-x- Tachi -x-x-x-
Tachi sat on the bench she had been sitting on the night before. So many thoughts had been going through her head. Finally, she sighed, opening the letter she took.
'Uchiha Tachi,
At 8: 30 A.M tomorrow morning, you are to meet with your team at your assigned training grounds for the second portion of the chuunin exams.
You are to bring only as much as you can carry.
-The Sixth'
"So I guess you know about the incident." Tachi looked up to see Kakashi looming over her, his favorite orange book in hand.
"Porn rots your brain, sensei. Why do you read that stuff?" Tachi replied.
"You're avoiding the question Tachi."
The Uchiha sighed. "Does everybody know about it?" She asked, burying her face in her hands. Kakashi sat down beside her.
"Pretty much. Is there anything you want to talk about?"
"What I don't understand is why nobody told me until now. Why everybody lied to me?" Tachi mumbled through her hands.
"I wish I had the answers to those questions, but Sasuke is a complex person. I think it's because he's lost everyone before. Back then, he was crushed. If he loses even one person now, he might implode altogether. When you were in a coma he never left your side." Kakashi explained.
"That answers the first question. Lets replace it with another one shall we?" Tachi sighed. "Why does he hate Hiro?"
"You'll have to ask Gaara that." Tachi sighed again. "I know you're angry and confused right now Tachi, but you shouldn't hate him. He just wants to protect you." Kakashi said, looking at his pupil.
"I'll hate who I please." Tachi replied.
"You do that Tachi. Just remember, you might regret it someday." Kakashi said, as the female Uchiha left the scene, taking out the necklace from her kunai holster and putting it around her neck.
-x-x-x- Hiro -x-x-x-
The red head had tossed and turned all day. He couldn't sleep and it was starting to tick him off.
He didn't see how he was supposed to pass the second portion of the chuunin exams if he couldn't get even a wink of sleep.
"Hiro! Are you ever gonna get you lazy butt out of bed?" Hiro looked to the door, to see his twin sister standing there.
"I didn't sleep last night. I can't sleep. I have a head ache." Hiro explained
Chihiro dead panned and her eyes widened. "Are you having issues again?" The blonde went into the room and sat down on Hiro's bed. "If you are, you have to tell Tou-san."
"I know that. I'll tell you if it gets worse." Hiro replied, shutting his eyes again. Hearing Chihiro leave the room, he knew that his sister was going to tell his father. Finally, sleep took over Hiro's body.
After what seemed like minutes, Gaara was knocking on his door. "What do you want?" Hiro yelled, aggravated that he had been awoken.
"Your sister told me that your issues have been acting up again. Listen, if you need your seal to be resealed, we need to do it before the chuunin exams tomorrow, Hiro." Gaara said.
"Tattletale." Hiro mumbled, into the pillow. "I'm fine. I'll tell you if my symptoms get worse. Just leave me alone. I'm tired."
"I know how you feel Hiro. I'm never able to sleep. I haven't slept since I was three years old." All that came out of Hiro's mouth was a small snore. Gaara sighed in frustration, and left the room.
-x-x-x- Kakashi -x-x-x-
His students were conflicted. Again. It seemed his students were always in some kind of problem. Its like the elders always assigned him the children with issues.
With Naruto it was his problem with the demon inside of him. That and his hyperactivity. Although he's overcome it, he still has his ups and downs. And the poor man still acted like a child.
With Sasuke, it was his vengeful attitude and the urge to defeat his brother. Kakashi hadn't watched him close enough and Sasuke had betrayed the village right under his nose. And to this day his brother still roams free.
With Sakura… well, Sakura had been a love-sick puppy. Always chasing after Sasuke. Kakashi hated to admit it, but her know-it-all attitude annoyed him. And the fact that she couldn't defend herself worth crap back then, slowed them down. Of course, all of that was different now.
Oh and let's not forget the love triangle. Naruto liked Sakura, Sakura loved Sasuke, and Sasuke loved no one… so he thought. And then somewhere Ino fit into the equation by being in "love" with Sasuke, causing the rivalry between Sakura and Ino.
Nowadays, Renji is in love with Tachi, Tachi is in love with Hiro, and Kenji likes Naara Kana. Kenji and Kana… Kakashi laughed. Opposites attract, he guessed.
Kakashi sighed. He was getting too old for this.
"Kakashi." a voice said beside him.
"Sasuke?"
"I have a problem. I need some advice." The head Uchiha replied.
"Of course you do." Kakashi sighed. What's the problem Sasuke?"
"I talked to Gaara." Sasuke began. "He believes that Tachi and Hiro are in love with each other."
"Okay. And if they are…?" Sasuke let out a low growl. "That's a bad thing?"
"Aa."
"Why is that? Hiro seems like a good kid. What's wrong with him?" Kakashi questioned.
"He's sixteen. He's clearly got an attitude problem and a bad temper. He nearly killed my daughter. He's the son of the Kazekage. He's a jinchuuriki. Did I mention he nearly killed my daughter?" Sasuke replied, arms folded across his chest.
It was silent for a few moments as Kakashi thought. "Aren't you a year and a half older that Sakura?"
"Hn."
"And don't you remember when you chidori'd Sakura?"
"I just gave her a few jolts. It wasn't nearly enough to kill her." Sasuke cornered, annoyed that Kakashi would use that against him.
"She was in the hospital for a month." Sasuke sent a glare towards his ex-sensei. Leaving the subject be, Kakashi continued. "He's a really smart kid. He created a necklace that can be used as a walkie talkie and a locator. He gave Tachi a necklace so he knows where she is in the chuunin exams.
Naruto nearly killed Sakura because of his demon. It only happened once. Hiro attacked Tachi because of his demon and it only happened once as well.
Between him, his sister and the entire Suna Ninja Academy, Hiro scored the highest marks.
He defended her in that fight with Taro. He seems like a pretty good kid to me. Plus he's a jonin level shinobi."
"Tachi doesn't have the necklace. I took it from her." Sasuke said. "And if he's jonin level, why is he still a genin?"
"Gaara wouldn't let him take the chuunin exams until this year."
"You're not helping. What should I do?" Sasuke was becoming frustrated. "About?" Kakashi asked.
"Tachi and Hiro." Sasuke said through clenched teeth.
"Let nature run its course, Sasuke. If Hiro and Tachi truly love each other, things will work out. She's growing up. You can't keep her from little boys forever. You have to let her make her own choices. Weather the decisions she makes are good or bad, so be it. Life's a learning experience. You know that first hand, Sasuke." Kakashi said, trying to get through to his old pupil.
"Let her make her own decisions? I do that and she might end up pregnant." Sasuke said, dreading the thought.
"There are a lot of things that might happen, Sasuke. She might be killed on a mission. She might bekidnapped. She might be poisoned. She might get sick and die. What would you do if that happened? There would be nothing you could do, Sasuke." Kakashi said, getting frustrated with the Uchiha's stubborn attitude.
It was silent for a while, and then Kakashi left leaving Sasuke to ponder what he had said.
-x-x-x- Tachi -x-x-x-
Tachi didn't know why she came here, it was an impulse. She just let her feet wander. Well if she was here she might as well take the opportunity to do what she wanted to. She knocked.
Gaara opened the door. "Hiro's in bed Tachi. He hasn't been feeling well. I'll tell him you stopped by though."
"Actually, Kazekage-sama… I came here to ask you something." Tachi said twiddling with her fingers behind her back.
"I have a feeling that this will be a rather long conversation. Come in Tachi-san." Gaara said, coming into the living room. Tachi shut the door behind her, and followed Gaara to the couch in the living room.
"Kazekage-sama-"
"Gaara, if you will. Sometime in the future, we will most likely be in laws." Gaara said.
"Oh… um… has Hiro said anything to you?"
"No. But when Hiro wants something, he doesn't let it go with out a fight. So, don't give up hope yet, Tachi-san."
"I see. Ka- I mean, Gaara-san, I was wondering if you remember what Sasuke told you when he broke the engagement when I was in the hospital?" Tachi asked.
"You're calling him Sasuke now?" Tachi nodded. Gaara wouldn't pursue the matter. Gaara thought for a moment, thinking of how to word the story. Finally, he sighed and looked to Tachi. "That happened almost ten years ago, but… I assure you none of it is sketchy in the least. Let's see, where to start.
You hadn't been diagnosed yet at the time, your heart had already stopped four times so they were still trying to get you stable. Your father, Hiro and I were the only ones in the waiting room. Your mother was waiting outside of the emergency room doors down the hall, along with Kakashi and Naruto. Chihiro went with her mother back to Suna. Hiro was sleeping on the couch next to me. At the time, Sasuke and I were having a stare down. We had already gotten into a fight twice, broken up by Naruto. It was clear that he was thoroughly angered.
Then the fighting started again. He busted my lip, I broke his nose.
/flashback/
"Fighting won't solve anything, Uchiha. It won't change the past." Gaara said, licking the blood from his lip.
"You don't think I don't know that? Kakashi said not to take my anger out on the building so why not take it out on the source of the problem?" Sasuke yelled, lunging for the Kazekage again, who dodged, and kicked Sasuke out from under his feet.
They fought for a while, and finally, Sasuke was pinned to the ground kunai against his throat; their noses almost touching. Sasuke had Gaara in a headlock a kunai against the Kazekage's throat as well.
"It seems we're at a stand still, Uchiha. Like I said, fighting never solves anything." Gaara said releasing his hold on the Uchiha only to have Sasuke pin Gaara down on the tile floor.
"The engagement's off. I'm not having Tachi marry a monster just so she can be killed. If you don't keep that beast away from my daughter, drastic measures will be taken. I'll stay away from you and you stay away from me, and that includes your spawn. Clear?" Sasuke said, resisting the urge to spit in the Kazekage's face.
"Crystal."
Suddenly another presence was with them. "Uchiha Sasuke, your daughter is in stable condition but, she's in a coma and there's no telling when she'll wake up. It could be days, weeks, or maybe even months. You can come in to see her if you like." A nurse said.
Getting up, Sasuke said, "We're through here." and went in to check on his daughter.
/End Flashback/
"It was only after that when Hiro told me that he saw everything." Gaara finished.
"Ugh, Sasuke's out to get me. Its like he doesn't want me to be happy. I hate him." Tachi said.
"He cares about you Tachi, but he's blind to what's right in front of him. If you want, I could help you meet in secret, until all of this blows over." Gaara replied.
"Really? That would be great! Thanks Gaara! You're the best!" Tachi said, hugging the Kazekage and running out the door.
Gaara sat there for a moment, realizing what he had gotten himself into. "Women are going to be the death of me, I swear it."
-x-x-x- Sasuke -x-x-x-
Sasuke came home late that night. Sakura was sitting on the couch when he walked through the door. "Sakura, what are you doing up this late?"
"I couldn't sleep. He won't stop moving." she said, placing a hand on her swelling stomach.
"Aa." Sasuke said, taking a seat beside her. "Is Suichiro asleep?" Sakura nodded. "Does Tachi still hate me?"
"I'm afraid so." Sakura heard Sasuke sigh. This was going to bother him so much.
/I'm not sure when I'll update next. I could be next week or it could be next month. I have no clue. But don't forget to leave reviews!/
