Where you go, I will follow...
Summary: Hyuuga Namiko never asked to be placed on a team with Maito Gai, but maybe fate knew exactly where she belonged or was it ever in fate's hands? Maito Gai didn't like leaving things to chance after all.
Disclaimer: I do not own many of the characters in this story. This wonderful fandom belongs to its creator.
Chapter: Politics/Time
Namiko scowled down at her swollen stomach at a particularly sporadic movement by demon 1 as she had so aptly named the first cruel fetus trying to kick his way out of his mother's belly. She was unbelievably sore. She was sure that her small frame not meant to support this, these monsters inside her.
The last week had been especially difficult for the elite kunoichi, so used to doing things her own way and not listening to either her aching body or her poor, frazzled husband. She had refused to eat just anything she felt like spur of the moment, keeping her diet balanced and listening to Aoi's advice down to the vegetable. Also, she had up until now refused to go without training. The hokage had been forced to intervene personally, embarrassing not only her but chastening Gai as well. She still couldn't bear to get away from improving herself so here she sat, hot… much too hot in the hokage's quarterly mission briefing.
"What do you think Namiko?" a voice said. She blinked opening her eyes, to see Ibiki-senpai was looking at her, scowling more like. She met his black eyes evenly. He was under the impression that she couldn't sulk and pay attention to an important shinobi briefing at the same time, huh? She was trained by Maito Gai after all. Her training in multitasking had been a grueling seven months long and every student of Gai's was quick to learn how to sulk while doing pretty much everything, including a twenty-five-task multitasking drill.
"I think we should raise the average age of genin promotion to 12 and restrict it for shinobi under 9," she said, point-blank. "Anything less than that would make us terrible guardians of their future and would lower the ability of our next generation to grow and surpass us in the long run."
"You must be emotional due to your circumstances Namiko. A shinobi should be allowed to become what they are regardless of age," a calm, seemingly-rational voice said across the table from her. She lifted her eyes to meet Danzou's, her elder cousin's sharp look keeping her temper in check, but only just. She tilted her head to the side coyly.
"The strongest shinobi are born out of the worst of circumstances… that is your nindo is it not?" she asked, lowly. He simply gazed at her. "Which is why, Danzou-san, you are precisely what is wrong with this village. According to you, killing half our hopeful shinobi is the only way to ensure a strong, robust fighting force. I think we all must agree that cutting our force in half at the start of their careers both traumatizing one and slaughtering another makes perfect sense," she said simply in a composed, respectful tone with only the slightest note of sarcasm to poison her words.
"Watch what you say!" some snapped, but it wasn't Hiashi-sama. She glanced at the unfamiliar jounin, possibly an ANBU shinobi since she didn't recognize him. She met his gaze without a beat, her hands resting perfectly in her lap, her back straight, her expression probably seeming almost bored to the shinobi of the room. The dark-haired man glared at her fiercely, but she merely stared straight back at him. No one won a staring contest with a Hyuuga. What a silly idea.
"That's enough," the hokage's voice finally interrupted. "This issue is one that should be dealt with immediately and I highly value the opinions of shinobi who were promoted young such as Maito Namiko. You were eight, Namiko-san?" he asked. A few eyes widened around the room a couple people trading whispers but she didn't bat an eye at the name.
"Hai, Hokage-sama, eight years of age," she replied. She didn't like to talk about that time. She had forgiven him but it still hurt. No matter how much Gai soothed her after nightmares, no matter how many times he'd fought back her night terrors… it would always haunt her. She knew that.
"And your closest comrades?" the hokage prompted. He was clearly on her side in the issue, not that he could simply slam his hand down on the table and make it so. Unfortunately, this grueling process was necessary to ensure no shinobi in the village felt as if their opinions didn't matter.
Well, if anyone asked a Hyuuga, the only opinions that mattered in the village was their hokage's followed closely by their clan leader. Always Hokage first however. That was important to them. It was the way of things because otherwise the Hyuuga would simply be some village inside of the village, mercenaries beholden only to their own laws and answering to the hokage only when their commander said as such. The clan was not separate. The clan was family, but that family was a part of something more,
Now, if only the other shinobi in the village would all come to that conclusion and then these meetings wouldn't be necessary. The hokage could weight his decisions off advice from this council, but a heated debate with sides and feuds would be unnecessary.
"Four of my year were made genin at the same age as myself, two that were dead within a year. Six were made genin the year ahead of me and of those four were killed the same year they were promoted. My former captain, Gai-taicho lost one of his two teammates within eighteen months of his promotion at age seven," she said, her voice throwing out numbers as if they were no more than that- numbers, as if they weren't people, people who she cared about, who Gai had cared about.
"We know the statistics," that same dark-haired ninja said dryly. "We also know that our strongest shinobi are those that did not die, yourself for example."
"Uchiha Itachi graduated shinobi academy at seven, did he not?" she asked, coldly. A hush came over the room. This was still a sore subject throughout the village. Only a year ago… only a year since the incident.
"You have no right speaking about that!" a grey eyed man slammed his hand over the table.
"I didn't see you at the recovery," Hiashi's voice finally sounded, silencing the entire room. An eerie quiet fell. Stories were told of that day and even those who had shut themselves inside to hide from the horror of all that death were unable to close their eyes to the fact that the Hyuuga had led that recovery, had laid their rival clan to rest in a respectful and sorrowful ceremony, whispering prayers over their broken bodies and embracing their children once more before they were laid upon a pyre to burn as was the tradition of the Uchiha.
Namiko barely resisted the urge to smirk. She was training, training to be a better Hyuuga, to be able to handle political situations. She had the idea, or rather her father had the idea that she might make a good ambassador for Konoha one day. Who was she to deny mental training when physical was so barred from her. five more weeks… five weeks and she could begin to heal because demon 1 and demon 2 would be out of her. She was determined to make it to full term. She winced, as one surprised her by kicking rather hard once more. She ducked her head, covering her stomach with her hand. Damn it… Gai's children were strong. It was to be expected though, from that stupid man.
Debate had started up again, drawing eyes away from the Hyuuga woman. "Namiko?" Gekkou Hayate asked in a soft voice. She looked up with a wince and a smile.
"It is to be expected, of his children," she said palely.
"I could create a distraction," he suggested.
"Ah, no Gekkou-san. That will not do," she said, recovering her Hyuuga expression though her lips were lifted slightly in a small smile. She appreciated the offer, but she didn't wish to run away.
They were discussing Kakashi now, his natural abilities far outweighing those of any other young shinobi in the village. At 23 years old, the man was well on his way to passing the late fourth despite his knack for disappearing at important times and being late for everything such as this meeting. Namiko sighed.
Kakashi would always be the exception to the rule. Genin at five and chuunin at six. She couldn't lie and say that it had been bad for him. He may have had a strange philosophy growing up, but he was able to adjust to everything that was thrown at him, making it look easy all the while. He'd been a shinobi for fifteen years, surviving through the war unscathed. She didn't tell them though… he was emotionally very much altered. He hid it well and he liked his privacy so she would never betray him in such a way by pointing that out.
Still, Kakashi was amazing. She would be infuriated if he were not the fifth hokage, mostly because only Kakashi stood between himself and that position. She was almost sure that the only shinobi that could beat him in the village was the hokage himself. Funnily enough, that was coming from the wife of his "eternal rival". Oh what Gai would say if he heard that she thought that. His depression would be all-consuming. He wouldn't speak for weeks.
Namiko smiled, glancing to the door a moment before Kakashi appeared. She watched him make his excuses, however lame and ridiculous they were. She wouldn't know what Gai would be today without Kakashi, but she was glad for him even if he had Chidori'd her years ago. He waved to her as he moved to take the only empty seat in the room, immediately leaning back and taking an uncaring posture, looking more bored than Namiko felt.
Hatake Kakashi, Godaime Hokage… How right it sounded. She sighed, looking down at her swollen belly. A Konoha led by that man was a Konoha she would gladly bring her children into. He was her hope for the future, whether he wanted to be or not, whether he believed it or not. Lazy, powerful Hatake Kakashi… he would do great things, just like her Gai. Together they would make this village a better place and she would do her best to help them.
After the meeting, the Hyuuga-born woman made her way down the streets, denying with a cold glare when an unknown chuunin offered to escort her. He'd not needed to be told to realize he'd irritated the kunoichi, but she wasn't sure her glare was quite as forceful coming from a woman nearly eight months pregnant now. She was relieved when she made it to the school grounds. The children stared, but that didn't bother her quite as much as fellow shinobi. Once she found Iruka and they started eating, she could almost forget that she was the size of a Akimichi.
Namiko sat across from Iruka in front of his large desk. He was staring at her strangely. She ate her food slowly, savoring it. "Nami-Nami-chan," he said, his voice entreating. She glanced up, her eyes meeting his blush. "Who would have thought we'd be here today," he said.
"Here? At the academy? Iruka, you always were the best at this type of thing. You had all the patience none of us did, except Gai of course," she said, shrugging.
"I don't mean here… I mean, here… No war, no worries, just you and me and… and you're with Gai-taicho, and… I don't know-" he stuttered, scratching the back of his head. She smiled kindly.
"I would not have guessed it, Iruka. You know how I hated him," she said, but there was a laugh in her voice.
She was remembering how she'd snapped at Gai for not telling her about the clothes on the hanging line when she'd been the one to put them there. He'd apologized profusely though, begging for her forgiveness and promising to run the perimeter of the Fire Country as soon as he returned from his next mission. She'd then scolded him for being so eager to leave her side, which he'd apologized for and immediately declared he would carry her with him along the entire perimeter of Fire Country. After that she'd reminded him that she wasn't aloud to train and it would only frustrate her more and endanger their children to carry them so far from the village. Before he'd been able to start in on that, she'd kissed him soundly and laughed until she couldn't laugh anymore. He'd realized a few minutes too late that she'd been having him on since near the beginning and laughed, telling her that he wasn't sure he knew what he was getting into marrying a Hyuuga.
"Hated who?" a voice said from behind them. Namiko turned, her eyes widening fractionally as she gazed into the face of a small, pale boy. He was too-skinny, his clothes too big for him, his eyes wide and strange-looking, framed by a huge set of eyebrows. He looked almost like…
"Lee-kun, shouldn't you be studying with the other children?" Iruka asked.
"I sincerely apologize Iruka-sensei, but I saw you with this pretty girl and I thought… how could I get a pretty girl like that to smile at me in such a beautiful way?" he said, in a sweet childish voice. She gaped at him. He was like a little Gai! She found herself grinning broadly at him and glancing at Iruka who chuckled, shaking his head as he read her thoughts exactly.
"That's sweet of you, Lee-kun," she said, turning in her chair. His eyes widened at her huge belly and then his eyes shot to Iruka who quickly raised his hands shaking his head, emphatically.
"I am Maito Namiko, Lee-kun, Iruka-sensei's former teammate. It is a pleasure to meet a handsome and youthful young shinobi-to-be like yourself," she said, placing her hand on his head and ruffling his hair. He was so cute! His face reddened and he looked shyly at Iruka, embarrassed. Not by her words though, by something else.
"Is that a baby in there Maito Namiko?" he asked, shyly.
"There are two babies in there actually," she said softly. He lifted a hand then quickly moved it behind his back, clasping it with the other one.
"Excuse me, Maito Namiko," he said, taking a step back and then another, before turning and running. She stood, but she wasn't fast in this condition and it took a moment just to get onto her feet and then he was gone.
"What's wrong with him, Iruka-chan? Is he okay?" she asked, worriedly. There was something different about that boy though, physically different.
Iruka scratched his forehead, face reddening. "He's very passionate about becoming a ninja, but…" Iruka sighed. "No matter what the other sensei do, he cannot perform any ninjutsu or genjutsu," he admitted. Namiko's eyes widened and she looked at the hallway where the boy had disappeared, her brow furrowing. How sad…
"Perhaps Gai can help him," she said. Iruka frowned, looking at her in surprise, not understanding why Gai would… "Oh please, Iruka. You know Gai hardly uses any chakra. He insists on using his gates and relying on pressure jutsu… taijutsu."
"Lee is pretty bad at taijutsu as well," Iruka replied, frowning deeply.
"Nothing a little hard work wouldn't fix. If he truly wants it, he'll have to survive Gai to get it," she declared. "I'll talk to Kakashi. He can goad Gai into just about anything." She was already standing so rather than try to seat herself again only to get up after a few bites, she packed up her lunch, bidding farewell to her friend who merely nodded back as she walked out.
Namiko looked up at the beautiful day, drawing a deep breath. She started walking and then all of a sudden felt something very strange. She stopped immediately, gasping in fear. No… Gai was on mission. She was wet though. She could feel it. She started towards the hospital but didn't get far, finding a bench and breathing hard as she sat upon it.
"Eh, Namiko, you alright?" Kakashi's voice wafted down to her from above. She looked up at him in mortification.
"Do I look alright, Hatake?" she snapped, all the good things she'd ever thought about him disappearing to leave only annoyance and frustration. No, not with Gai gone. She couldn't do this alone. She couldn't do it.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
"My water…" she gasped. He stared blankly at her. "Damn it Kakashi, the babies are coming!" she shouted. Horror, sheer and uncontrolled horror reflected in his eyes. "Damn you, don't just stand there. Get me to the hospital, baka!" she ordered. It took him a moment, but once he snapped into motion, he moved swiftly. He grabbed her arm, pulling it over his shoulders, wrapping an arm tightly around her waist and taking off. They were at the hospital in a couple short minutes. Namiko was rushed into a room, shouting back at Kakashi that Gai was on mission with his genin team and he had to find her father.
She felt the first contraction and knew that there was no way she was going to be okay without Gai. Fear clutched her and she grabbed for the only hand she could reach. Aoi! She was here! Tears filled Namiko's eyes, but Aoi gave her a competent, reassuring smile. Namiko felt herself relaxing somehow. Aoi wouldn't let anything happen to her. Aoi who reminded her so much of Rin. She would take care of her. She wouldn't let her down.
Kakashi wasn't used to being put on the spot like this in the village. He could handle nearly any situation on mission, but this wasn't a mission and this wasn't just some situation. This was a friend… a friend who was having a baby, whose husband was on mission with his new genin team. Reckless fool, he shouldn't be doing missions with his wife like this. Kakashi took off for the hokage's office, entering through the window without a word. The hokage turned.
"Hokage, Gai's mission… where is it?" he demanded, knowing his normal, cool and collected persona had fallen away in the face of this horrible enemy… childbirth.
"Seiko," the hokage said, without a moment's hesitation. He gave neither comment or reproach for being addressed so improperly. Kakashi jumped from the window, running towards the gate, remembering almost last-minute that she'd asked for her father. He redirected course and made it to the Hyuuga Compound. He didn't know where Namiko's father lived so he ran straight for the main branch home. He was greeted by a demure woman and was sure he scared her by demanding to see Hyuuga Norio immediately, but Norio stepped out from down the hallway, a frown on his face.
"It's time," Kakashi said the second Norio appeared.
"Time? Time!" he exclaimed, a grin spreading on his face. It flattened though. "Isn't Gai on mission?" he asked.
"I'm on it, just get to the hospital," Kakashi said swiftly. Norio watched the copy-nin go, impressed at how serious he was about it. Namiko and Gai had some good friends. He quickly begged Hiashi-sama's forgiveness for interrupting their game of shogi, but it wasn't even his day on and he was not needed here. His daughter needed him.
Norio ran to the hospital, finding out that Namiko was taken in for surgery… surgery? Why? What was wrong? No one was talking to him though. He was still growling at the poor, shaking young medic who had no information to give him when Gai arrived, ruffled and breathless. Kakashi must have replaced him on his mission. So quickly as well…
"Where is she Norio-san?" Gai demanded.
"They won't tell me anything," Norio snapped, exasperated.
"I-jounin-san, I don't-"
"MY NAME IS MAITO GAI AND I WILL BE SHOWN TO MY WIFE THIS INSTANT OR I WILL BEGIN TEARING DOWN WALLS UNTIL I FIND HER!" he shouted.
"Please Maito-san, I don't have the authority-"
"Gai!" a voice called from down the hall. Gai turned, relief rushing through him when he saw Aoi, but abandoning him when he saw her expression. He ran down the hall. She grabbed his hand unabashed, dragging him down the hall… towards Namiko.
"There were complications, Gai-san, but we're taking care of her. I need you to scrub in. Remember how I talked you through it before? I told you that we might have to resort to C-section if the doctor said-"
"Show me where," he said, swiftly. She opened the nearest door and thrust him in. Quickly, they both worked to get 'scrubbed in'. It was a painstaking process, hastened by his shinobi speed of course. The second he was in though, he rushed to Namiko's side. She wasn't conscious and he glared at Aoi. Namiko had been very clear about her hatred of mind-altering drugs, including anesthetic. She had no idea how bad Namiko's nightmares could be.
"Don't look at me like that," Aoi whispered. Gai glowered, but said nothing. He couldn't see what they were doing down below. It was blocked by a curtain. He grasped both of Namiko's hands, closing his eyes tightly and praying with everything he had.
This had been the last resort, only if something went wrong. What had happened? Why had she been brought here? He breathed short and shallow breaths, holding her hand against his forehead, breaking out in a cold sweat. That's when he heard it, the first cry. He opened his eyes and it felt as if the world stopped, no words, no sights, no smells, nothing but that precious, lively voice.
He had no idea… no idea what that sound could do and then they were in his face, the nurses, handing him the first little creature, cleaned and swathed as a second cry broke out. Then another little face, so small so fragile. They were… absolutely perfect. "Two strong boys Maito Gai. You're a lucky man," the doctor's deep voice barely floated over his consciousness, barely sticking because that went without saying. He was the luckiest man in the entire world. He stared down at them, then at Namiko, frowning as he saw she was so pale, her skin so drawn. He was directed backwards, the two, tiny babies still held protectively against him.
"Get him outside," a voice shouted but it sounded so muted. All he could see was Namiko. Gai stared at the door that closed on him. He was in shock he thought. He backed away until his back touched to the wall, sliding down it, the squalling of the two infants echoing in his ears. He looked down at them, their eyes closed, faces scrunched.
"You want Nami," he whispered, terror etched into his face. Aoi came out first, letting out a huge breath. She looked down at Gai, who held the two tiny infants in his large palms which rested on his thighs. His head was resting on the swaddles and she could hear how his breathing hitched and gasped. He was crying.
"Gai-san, Gai-san, Namiko is out of danger now," she said, shaking his arm, but he didn't move for a few long moments. When he did look up it was with a brilliant grin, tears running down his face… tears of joy now. Aoi's concerned face softened into one of fondness.
"Of course she is Aoi-san! My Namiko is a fighter!" he shouted. She winced at the sound, but looked down in shock as the two infants immediately went silent. She gasped, reaching for them. She took the first in her arms, but immediately the screaming started again. She handed him back quickly and they both settled quite comfortably
"Can I see her now?" Gai asked in a nervous voice, sounding like a gleeful child rather than a grown man.
"I'll take you to the room were they are moving her," Aoi said. He stood, holding the babies in front of him, both still balanced in his palms. "Gai-san, you cannot hold them like that!" she cried. His eyes widened and he looked down at them.
"Have I harmed them in some way!" he hollered, devastated.
"No!" Aoi exclaimed, not wanting to alarm him. "You just.. they're very fragile," she murmured. She turned them carefully in his arms, showing him how to support them, and making a few comments here and there. He listened diligently and in a few moments, he was holding them like a father, a real father. She'd learned that once directed, Maito Gai did nothing awkwardly. He was diligent and careful, but always confident in his actions.
She led the eager young man down the hall and into a recovery room, holding the door for him. He rushed forward, causing Aoi to cringe with worry again, but he was a graceful taijutsu specialist of course. He stopped in front of Namiko who seemed to sense his presence, blinking her eyes open dazedly.
"Gai-kun, you are here," she said, tears springing to her eyes. Aoi watched as her eyes alighted on the two bundles. Gai carefully lowered one to rest against her chest. She began to cry in earnest now, joyful tears though, tired and joyful tears. He lowered the second to her as well then sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping his arms around her so that his arms rested under hers, supporting the children. He slid himself in behind her, lifting her up against his chest, a leg on either side of her fragile body. She was on pain medication and it would be a while before she felt something like that again.
Aoi sighed. She had never seen a more beautiful and loving little family. She hadn't even imagined when she'd met them that they'd be like this. Namiko had seemed so stiff in her presence and Gai so strange, but once Namiko became comfortable with Aoi throughout the pregnancy she loosened up quite a bit, becoming warm and grateful. As time went on Aoi was able to see that Gai was so consumed with his love with Namiko that he could hardly even stand to look away in her presence. Every interaction with them in the last seven months had seemed like some strange intrusion for Aoi, but they were so fascinating to her. Aoi ducked out, leaving them to their private moment. She could give them twenty minutes before she began to set in on her post-op fussing. They deserved that at least.
Wow, glad I got this out. I hope you loved it as much as I loved writing it. Thank you to my wonderful reviewers. They honestly get me going again