I do not own Naruto.

It turned out that talking to the father into letting his daughter go with us wasn't that hard.

The Father: who's name was Mark, was a frequent visitor to Aubry's. So I bribed him with a free order of whatever he wanted the next time that I worked.

He grinned, and agreed. He said that as long as someone was with the two of them that he didn't mind Salem dating her. He just didn't want to be a grandfather yet. Especially from his youngest child.

I agreed, and he said that Toru would meet us at Aubry's in half-an-hour. It wouldn't make the messenger very happy that he had to wait, but he would get over it.

I got to Aubry's and found that I was very wrong about the messengers disposition.

He was in a terrific mood. Aubry had given him some of his special wine. The kind that he saved for either important people, or special occasions. The ninja was beat red, and his words were slurred.

''Sooo ya see, tat we 'ave ta leave as soon as dey makes up their minds.''

Aubry was stifling his laughter, and I walked over to the table were they sat.

When Aubry noticed me he chuckled.

''Amazing how people have different reactions to alcohol.''

The ninja was still ranting, talking to the air, and I looked back at Aubry.

''Jeez, how much has he had?''

Aubry shook his head. ''Still hasn't finished his first glass. He's spilled most of it, waving his hands around. So you came to tell me that you can't work tonight, huh?''

I smiled sheepishly, and nodded.

He grinned. ''You realize that as soon as you get back that I'm working you extra hard, right?''

I nodded, and he suddenly clapped his hands together.

''Good! Now about that pooch of yours? I think that it would be better if I kept her here while you're gone. She wouldn't now what to do in all that sand. Isn't that right Sora?''

Sora's ears pricked up, and Aubry laughed. ''That's what I thought.''

He grinned at me then turned back to the messenger at the table, and sighed.

''Him I'm not keeping. He's not as good of company as Sora is. All he does is complain. He may be a burden on you while you walk back.''

I nodded. ''Probably, in the shape he is now. I think that I'll go make some coffee. He can drink that, and maybe we'll be able to leave in the next few hours.''

I sighed. I had been hoping to get to Suna before nightfall. Now that didn't seem possible.

Aubry patted my shoulder. ''It's alright Ria. You'll be there before you know it.''

He smiled, and walked back to the table to take the bottle, and cup away from the drunken messenger. Well maybe we'll be able to leave before lunch tomorrow.

I sighed, again before walking towards the bar.

It turned out that we were able to leave an hour-and-a-half later. The messenger seemed to have a quick digestive system.

He was drunk, then had a hangover for about an hour, then he was fine and scowling.

He explained that being a ninja, anything that he eats, or drinks is processed through his body faster. I didn't care. I was going to be in Suna by sunset.

A few minutes later we set off. Leaving Sora with Aubry, and using her leash on Butterball. It really didn't help anything because he wanted to be carried the entire time.

So Salem, Misa, Mona, and I took turns carrying the panda cub to Suna.

The messenger was getting on my nerves as we walked. He was complaining that we were taking to long, and that we needed to hurry our 'non-ninja' butts up.

I told Salem that if he made another reference to him being a ninja, that he was going to have a broken nose to deal with. Salem had smiled, and nodded.

He turned to take Butterball away from Misa, who was doing just fine carrying him. I think that he just wanted to look strong, and chivalrous in front of Toru.

We took a few breaks to rest and eat, but they were never more then ten minutes.

As we got closer to the village we took less breaks, we were all in a hurry to be finished with the walking part of our trip.

We finally saw the gates, and that was only because Salem almost ran into them. The sand had hidden them from view, and so we were walking, towards what we thought was nothing, and then a large set of gates appeared in front of us.

When we reached the ninjas guarding the gates, the messenger had to explain what all of us were doing in Suna, and then with a few curious glances, we were let into Suna.