I am very thankful for the reviews minna-san~
While, I'm eating this chocolate cake of mine, I'll leave the disclaimer to Hinata-chan.
Hinata: indoorotaku doesn't own Naruto. Please read the fic minna-san.
ciao~
"We will all be going to Konoha." Yagura announced.
"WHAT?!" Naruto exclaimed, extremely shocked and surprised that all of them will be going to Konoha.
"Why?" Yagura asked, seemingly not noticing the shock in Naruto's voice.
"How would I explain to the council about this? They won't agree for the jinchuurikis to stay at Konoha." Naruto answered- well, more like complaining.
"Relax, Naruto. The council has been taken care of. All the five countries knew about the upcoming jinchuuriki war. All we need to do know is either train our skills and relax before going to the Mist." Yugito explained calmly.
"But, wouldn't it be hard for the villages without their Kage?" Gaara asked, concerned as to if the council would like it if Gaara participates in the war.
"It won't, Kazekage-sama. They have faith in the abilities of their own Kage- much like how Naruto will participate in the war." Han assured him.
"Will there be other ninjas needed in this mission?" Matsuri asked.
"Yes, Matsu-chan. We'll need the Sand siblings, former Team 7, Nara Shikamaru and the wife of the two Kages." Mei informed her.
"But, why am I involved in the war?" Hinata asked.
"Your son will be kidnapped, remember? We just couldn't leave you in Konoha if all they will do is chase after us." Fuu reminded her and she nodded in understanding.
"Then… what the council said about having a vacation…" Matsuri trailed off, knowing the all familiar conclusion.
"You're right, Matsuri. They offered us to take a vacation because they don't want the villagers to know about the jinchuuriki war." Gaara finished for her.
"When will we go?" Naruto asked.
"Tomorrow. Then, we'll stay at Konoha for a week then travel to Kiri." Utakata said, cleaning his bubble blower.
"Alright." Gaara said then asked, "But, where will all of you stay?"
The other jincuurikis stared at him longer and Gaara knew the answer- they don't have a place to stay in and they just barged in his office without thinking of it. He sighed. There is something definitely wrong with them.
"Follow me. I'll show you where all of you will stay." Gaara motioned for them to come with him.
"The master's bedroom will be used by Yugito and Fuu. The guest bedroom to the right will be used by Han, Roushi and Killer Bee. The one on the left will be for Utakata and Yagura. If you have complications regarding my uncle's house, don't hesitate to ask." Gaara explained to them.
"Gaara, I wanted to ask this question. Why are the girls using the master's bedroom while we use the guestroom? This is bias no?" Killer Bee asked.
"The master's bedroom is smaller than the guestrooms. If you wanted to find out if it's true then sleep there. For now, I'll go back in the Tower to tend to my wife." Gaara informed then and was about to go when Yagura spoke.
"Gaara-kun." Yagura called him and Gaara turned.
"Yes?"
"I also want to go. I need to talk to Matsuri-hime."
Gaara wanted to feel jealous right now. Matsuri had spent most of her childhood days with the Fourth Mizukage. Maybe, she even had a silly crush on him when she was a kid. But right now, he'll have to abandon those thoughts and proceed to what is happening right now.
"Sure."
They went in the Kazekage suite after that. Gaara told Yagura to wait for her for a while then Gaara went in his room. He knocked and Matsuri instantly answered it.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Yagura is waiting downstairs." He simply said and Matsuri went out of the room.
She greeted him first and motioned for him to go in a more private place. Once they left, Gaara sighed. She's with another man and he doesn't know the pain he is feeling now. It's not the same pain he felt when he was a kid. It's a pain that says he's in pain when he sees the two of them together.
"You're jealous, kid. It's common nowadays." Shukaku said to him.
He held his chest tightly like it was in pain. Why did he have to feel it now? Why is it hurting like this? Why? WHY?!
"I'll never leave you… that's a promise." A female voice rang at the back of his mind.
He was suddenly surprised back there. He doesn't know whose voice was it. It sounded like a voice of a little girl but he never met any little girl before-except for Temari.
"Who is she?" he asked himself, confused at the identity of the little girl.
Yagura and Matsuri walked on the streets of Suna. The people instantly kept murmuring about Matsuri with a younger boy from Kiri. All they concluded is that she's touring him.
"They are irritating me." Yagura complained and Matsuri only sweatdropped.
"Just bear with it, Yagura-sama." Matsuri said and he just sighed.
"Matsuri, what is it that I'm hearing lately? You are already married to the Kazekage?" Yagura questioned, quite angry that Mei didn't even bother telling him about the little girl he used to play with married to another man.
"Y-You're right about that, Yagura-sama. Gaara is my husband." Matsuri answered, fidgeting with her fingers.
"And since when?" Yagura interrogated her.
"Just a day ago. Don't worry, he doesn't hurt me." Matsuri assured him.
Yagura scrutinized her first. She had finally grown into a woman. She's already an inch taller than him and her body is well endowed. No wonder Gaara likes her very much. Besides, she kept mentioning his name to them when she was young anyway.
"Of course you'll say that. Not to mention that you're really head over heels to him." Yagura stated.
"H-How did you know?" Matsuri asked, surprised that Yagura knows about her feelings for Gaara.
"You kept on blabbering about him when the two of us are together." Yagura stated as a matter of fact then muttered,"And here I thought that you also wanted to marry me before."
Matsuri was dumbfounded. She tell stories to him about Gaara when she was still young. Yet, why does she have no idea about it? Can it be that she doesn't remember anything about it?
"Yagura-sama, what do I tell you about Gaara?" Matsuri asked, curious as to what a child like her tells about him.
"You always defined him to be extremely cute and alone outside and inside. The two of you used to play on the swing. You even gave your first kiss to him and he kissed you back there. He even told you that he will marry you. That's what you told me about him." Yagura listed about everything, not noticing that Matsuri's face is getting redder and redder as he told her about all of it.
Matsuri is still having a hard time registering in her mind that Gaara is a part of her childhood. All she knew is that she had her first kiss with Gaara when she dared him to kiss her. But she doesn't know about the others. Oh, how cruel she was for forgetting those.
"Why can't I remember anything?" she asked more to herself, frustrated enough.
"I don't know. Let's head over there. My treat." Yagura said and Matsuri just followed him inside the teahouse.
Once they had settled down with their seats and meal, Yagura spoke.
"Why did you marry a small guy anyway?" Yagura asked.
"Aren't you also small?" Matsuri pointed out and it took every ounce of him not to pulverize her.
"That's not the point! You should marry someone who is taller. He's just an inch taller to you, mind it. Also, you shouldn't marry a jinchuuriki. It's a pain." Yagura explained.
"Still, I didn't plan to be in love with him in the first place either." Matsuri protested and Yagura only nodded.
She always knew Yagura's overprotective side. Yagura has always been an elder brother figure to her. He vowed to protect her along with his loved ones- especially Mei. He loved the little Mei up to the famous Godaime Mizukage Mei Terumi. But, he'll always the romantic atmosphere by calling her an old hag.
"Where's Mizu by the way?" Yagura asked, concerned at the little girl.
"She's with my friend. Don't worry; they are taking care of her right now." Matsuri said.
Yagura only nodded and continued eating with her. Once they are done, Yagura paid for the expenses and they continued their walk in the village. While walking, they continued to talk- especially about Mei.
"Are you still going to marry her, Yagura-sama?" Matsuri asked.
"I don't know. I never really plan on getting married." Yagura stated coolly and Matsuri only sighed.
Because of Yagura's small stature, he never planned to marry because girls in Kiri always thought of him as a kid. Well, you can't even blame Isobu for his physical form since he is just a turtle.
"Hey, it's not my fault I'm a turtle anyways." Isobu whined in Yagura's head and he just mentally sighed.
"Anyways, where will she stay anyway?" Yagura asked.
"She'll be staying at the guestrooms of the Tower since she's the Mizukage." Matsuri said and he suddenly got annoyed.
"Oh great! Just when I thought about being with her today." Yagura muttered sarcastically.
"Yagura-sama shouldn't get angry. Mei-san may also be here for issues with Suna so it will be bad for Gaara to let her stay in a hotel nearby." Matsuri tried to explain but he just got annoyed so she shut her mouth.
Just as they were walking, they happened to pass by the empty playground. Matsuri stopped to stare at it. She tried to picture the once lonely boy who always played at the swing, staring at the other kids who were playing without him.
"How sad…" she thought then walked towards the swing, completely ignoring that she's with Yagura.
She sat on it and stared at the sun. It looks like it will be noon soon and Gaara might be hungry for not having lunch at the exact time. For now, she'll concentrate on the swing and the memories it held for him. Though, Yagura told her that she played with him on the swings.
"Ne, you won't leave me right?" a child' voice sounded at the back of her mind.
She was surprised at that. Who's that kid and why does he sound familiar? Maybe it was Gaara but it's impossible since she hasn't met him when she was young.
"Yagura said that you met him before, remember?" her inner self reminded her.
She was confused by now. How did she and Gaara met before? Does Gaara know about this? If he knew, why didn't he tell her about it? Maybe-
"Matsuri-hime, are you ok?" Yagura asked, noticing her troubled face.
"I-I'm fine! Why?!" Matsuri said, recovering from her earlier thoughts.
"It's nothing. I just saw your troubled expression so I thought something is up." Yagura stated and continued to stare at the sky.
Matsuri just dismissed their talk and went back to her thoughts again. The voice seemed so real. She won't deny that she never heard it in her lifetime. If what Yagura said was true, why can't she remember anything?
"Do you want to remember it?" Yagura asked all of a sudden.
"What?" Matsuri asked.
"Your memories. You lost them." Yagura stated.
"H-How?"
"Someone removed it and he's the one responsible for your memory loss."
Matsuri was shocked. Why would someone remove her memories of Gaara? Did something bad happen between her and Gaara before? But, Yagura said that her memories of Gaara were good memories. Can it be that the enemy does not want her to meet the nine jinchuurikis? Still, how can she use her powers if she will not meet them?
"Is there a way to get it back?" she asked, hoping that there is one and she'll be able to remember everything.
"There is one way but you'll only remember the memory that you considered the most unforgettable one. If you remembered that then Gaara-kun would surely also remember it." Yagura explained.
"Are you saying that he forgot about me before?" Matsuri tried to clarify but Yagura shook his head.
"Gaara never forgot you. Listen carefully. The man who removed your memory knows it well that once he removed your memory of Gaara, Gaara will also forget about you. It is like the principle of double-effect. You forget that someone and that someone will also forget you." Yagura elaborated.
She noticed how cruel it was- removing your memories of someone then that someone will forget you. It's like two lovers breaking apart. They just break apart without a proper goodbye and forget memories like nothing happened. She clenched her fist; she'll do anything to get one of her lost memories back.
"Yagura-sama, how will I get back my memory?" Matsuri asked.
"You'll never understand it and so does I. Isobu will do all the work." Yagura said and made a pool of water under them.
Matsuri was then pulled down by the water gently along with Yagura. Yagura then transformed to Isobu and swam towards her. If she was in her right mind, she would probably swim towards the surface but she just stayed there and waited for Isobu's actions. Isobu lifted his hand and poked his finger on her forehead. She find it weird at first then she was brought to the empty playground again. It was night time and the moon was full. And she started to hear hissing sounds. It's Gaara's sand.
"Stay away from me." Gaara ordered.
Matsuri got confused. Then, she heard rustling sounds of chains. She turned to the swings and saw her young form sitting on the swing. There was a genuine smile on her face that rivaled his scowl. He gritted his teeth in annoyance that she only stayed. If she stayed for long, she might not see the sunlight again. His head then throbbed in pain and he held it. He kept on hearing Shukaku's order on killing the girl on the swing.
Matsuri tried to warn her little form not to go near him but she knew that it was futile. Her little self went near him and she patted his head as if she was comforting him. She then wiped away his tears using her handkerchief and flashed him a toothy grin.
"You want something from me right?" she guessed while still wiping away his tears.
He immediately knew what she is talking about. She knew that he is a killing machine and she is offering him what he wanted. Before he could ponder about this, he already nodded and giggled. She then bit her finger very hard until blood came out. She then wiped the blood on her lips and kissed him. He was startled at first but he began to kiss her back then she pulled away.
"Are you happy now?" she asked and he only nodded, still savoring the copper taste on his mouth.
She giggled at his dumbfounded reaction and patted his head gently. He instantly felt warm and leaned more to her touch.
"Why did you do that? You know that I'm a monster right? I can kill you right now." He told her but she only stopped patting his head and looked at him square in the eye.
"You're not a monster. My mother said that you're only a child with a bijuu inside you." She disagreed with him.
"Still, I can hurt you." Gaara warned her but she only shook her head.
"You can do that but it doesn't mean that you will do that to me. You don't want to hurt people right?" Matsuri replied to him and he was surprised.
This girl really caught him off guard. She can see right through him. She understands the pain of being used and now, she's offering him the comfort that he really needed before.
"W-What is your name?" Gaara asked, stuttering and blushing at the same time.
"Matsuri. Kimura Matsuri." She introduced herself and pointer at him. "You're Gaara-kun, right?"
For once, he felt little butterflies in his stomach and blushed at the way she called his name with the suffix "-kun". Also, he could swear that he heard Shukaku chuckle at his foolishness as he nodded dumbfoundedly. Matsuri then blushed while watching the scene unfold in front of her. Gaara is really cute when he blushes! She just got frustrated a little because she didn't bring her camera to take a picture.
The little girl then took hold of his wrist and led him to the swings. She knew what they will do. They will play on the swings until they got tired of it. Gaara smiled for the first time in ages. This girl who knew him very well wanted to play with him. He wanted to pinch his cheek to check if it was a dream but her hold on him made it feel so real to him.
"Matsuri." He called her, stopping for a while to talk to her. She also stopped and turned to him then tilted her head in question.
"Ne, you won't leave me right?" he asked, worrying that one day she'll leave him just like Yashamaru.
"I'll never leave you… that's a promise." She assured him, grinning like an idiot.
Gaara's face lightened up and he thanked God for many times that He brought him a friend. For all the hardships he had been through, he was given a friend. He then reached out to her and touched her cheek which slightly startled her.
"When I grow up, you'll be my wife. That's my promise." He told her with determination in his tone and she got surprised at that.
"E-EEEEEEHHHHHH?!" she exclaimed in surprised, blushing in embarrassment at the way he proclaimed that she will be his wife.
Matsuri giggled at that. Gaara was really young back then. He doesn't even know the meaning of wife yet. But, what he said did come true. She's his wife now but it will be for the time being. After a year or so, they'll move on with their new lives like nothing happened.
Yagura waited for Matsuri to regain consciousness. It's been two hours since she passed out. Also, the sun will set in an hour or so. If she didn't wake up, she might be trapped in her past forever.
"Isobu, when will she wake up? Gaara-kun must be worried sick about her now." Yagura said in an impatient manner.
"I don't know about that. If the memory viewing is still not finished, she won't wake up." Isobu answered.
"Can I wake her up now?" Yagura suggested.
"NO! If you do, she'll be trapped in her past forever." Isobu told him, fearing what will happen to Matsuri if Yagura wake her up.
Yagura just waited. It seems that that unforgettable memory is so long to watch. Suddenly, Matsuri was being lifted off the ground by the sand. He knew very well who it was. It's Sabaku no Gaara.
"What happened?" he asked, masking the worry in his tone.
"Isobu brought back a lost memory but she'll only wake up once it got fully back to her." Yagura explained to him and Gaara nodded in understanding.
"I'll carry her home. Are you alright to go by yourself to my uncle's house?" Gaara said and Yagura assured him that he knows the way there then Gaara went off with Matsuri, lying on a sand platform.
Matsuri woke up from her dream. She now knew how she met Gaara and their first promises. But, she felt that there was something wrong. Something like… the memory is lacking in some details. She looked to her side then saw Gaara sleeping with his head on his arms. She reached out to touch his hair but it was stopped in midair when he spoke.
"You're awake." He noticed.
She nodded and he sat on the edge of the bed, scooting closer to her. He then kissed her forehead and gently pulled her on his chest, tangling his fingers on her hair. By his actions, she knew that he was soothing her- wanting her to relax for a while.
"Matsuri." He called her and she looked up to meet his face.
"What?" she asked, curious as to what he wanted to say to her.
"If we happen to divorce, will you still agree to marry me again?" he asked the question in his mind.
She was taken aback by his sudden question. If she was still the crazy fangirl before, she would say yes and marry him again and again. But, she's not the same as before. She still wanted to marry him just in case he asked but she knew that if she did that, she may never know his motive for marrying her again. So she answered the best answer in mind.
"It depends. If you also feel the same way then I'll marry you. If you don't, we can be friends." Matsuri answered his question in a condition form.
He only nodded. He finally realized his pent-up feelings for her. He only realized it when he made a talk with Naruto and Sasuke a while ago. The throbbing jealousy, the want to protect her and the desire to touch her-it was all love. He loves her and he knows she feels the same. But, he has to let her go as promised. If he didn't, she will feel obliged to focus her life on him rather than herself.
For now, he hugged her really tight and she only hugged back-feeling his warmth. He wanted everything to stay like this. She'll be right here beside him, hugging him. She'll be giving him kisses that comfort his soul. But, fate played a trick on them. They will really divorce in the end and move on with their lives.
"You know, just say you love her and the two of you will be inseparable." Shukaku advised him but he mentally shook his head.
"If I told her my feelings, would it change everything now?" Gaara asked back and Shukaku only sighed in annoyance.
For now, he would just shut his mouth and hug her for a while.
"Shikamaru, when do you plan on marrying me?" Temari asked her boyfriend, lying on the rooftop beside him.
Shikamaru looked up at her, a cigarette on his fingers. He then looked at the setting sun again. Women really ask questions about the future all of a sudden then expect. When it did not meet their expectations, they'll cry and hate you. Thus, women are really troublesome.
"I don't know." He said in a lazy tone.
"Are you telling me that you don't plan to?" she implied and he only sighed.
"It's not that, woman." He replied, annoyed at her exaggeration.
"Then what?! I'm getting old for heaven's sake and you never ask me for marriage. Jeez! If this continues, I'll-" she exclaimed and was about to fly off when he held her wrist.
"I don't plan because the time is not right. In a few months, the jinchuuriki war will start. I don't want the two of us to die with both of us tied to each other already." He explained to her while muttering how troublesome she was back there.
She was about to speak again when he placed a finger on her lips and she instantly blushed at the contact. He smirked at that and leaned closer to her.
"I'll marry you after the jinchuuriki war. That's a promise." He told her and she found herself nodding at him.
That was really a promise back there.
Sasuke and Sakura went shopping for some souvenirs. It seems that Sakura promised her beloved shishou that she will bring back sake from Suna to her and this made Sasuke annoyed because the old hag will drink her ass off again.
While Sakura turn to every direction to look for any store that sells sake, Sasuke noticed a stand that sells one. He also noticed the writing "only from Suna". He then turned to call her attention when men started to hit on her.
"Hey pinky, wanna hang out with us?" an old guy offered, touching her shoulder- only for Sakura to slap it away from her.
"Come on, it'll be fun." The other guy said and was about to touch her again when Sasuke came near and held Sakura's waist.
"You got a problem with my girlfriend, asshole?" Sasuke asked grimly, his expression very dark and his eyes glaring at them.
The two men instantly shivered when the Uchiha glared at them. They immediately apologized and run off to God-knows-where to. Sasuke then scoffed and Sakura turned to him.
"You don't need to do that." Sakura said and he just sighed, irritated.
"I already found the wine stand. Let's buy Tsunade her sake." Sasuke informed her, holding her wrist and pulling her to the stand.
And she knew immediately that he's only worried about her safety.
Naruto went on a date with Hinata that night. He wore his usual dark long sleeved shirt with a sleeveless hoodie patterned with dark jeans and his shinobi boots. He is waiting for Hinata outside the tower but she really is taking so long.
"What's taking her so long by the way?" he muttered to himself, staring at the stars.
"Uhmm… Naruto-kun…" Hinata called him shyly.
He then turned his attention to Hinata. She was wearing a black spaghetti strapped top underneath her loose purple long-sleeved shirt. It was then paired with her knee-length jeans and shinobi boots. And what's more? Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail. Naruto's eyes widened, already captivated at her beauty. Hinata blushed under his gaze and fidgeted with her fingers.
"H-Hina-chan, l-let's get g-going alright?" Naruto said and she only nodded, taking hold of his hand with hers.
This is gonna be a night.
Yagura lied on his bed, his hands under his head. He kept thinking about the man who erased Matsuri's memory. It seems that he never got the chance to get his finger laid on him before. He gritted his teeth. If only he already got rid of that man, Mizu won't probably go hiding herself now.
"Deep in thought, I see." Utakata noticed as he went in the room and sat on his bed.
"Where have you been?" Yagura asked, sitting up.
"At the garden. You know… getting to know about the others." Utakata said.
Yagura then started to think again. In a few months, the jinchuuriki war will start. Looks like all they need to do is help Matsuri and save the others.
"Hey, I have a favor to ask." Utakata proposed all of a sudden.
"Hm? What is it?" Yagura asked, surprised that he's making favors since Utakata hates Kiri.
"Can you ask your girlfriend if she met a girl named Hotaru?" Utakata asked him and Yagura's brow quirked up.
"Hotaru? Who is she?" Yagura asked, not knowing anything about the girl he mentioned to him.
"She's my student." Utakata informed and Yagura smirked.
"Oh really now? Here I thought you hate being a master." Yagura mused and Utakata only looked away, blushing.
"May we join the fun, everyone?" Killer Bee asked, leaning on the doorway.
Yagura and Utakata turned their attention to him and noticed the others behind him. They all grinned and invited them in their room. Oh, what a sleepover it is.
Sorry for late update!
I was really watching 5 centimeters per second when I typed this chap. Also, I really appreciate it if you guys, review my fic.
So please review~