A/N: This chapter is extra long as my way of apologizing for taking FOREVER to update. Anyways, hope you enjoy...I don't think there are any ACTUAL lemons, though there are some limey parts. If there is something you don't understand, don't hesitate to send me a PM!! BTW, I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 36: Oh, the Inhumanity!
It was sunny and warm as a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties knitted on the front porch of a huge mansion-like house. It was surrounded by mountains, the only access to the small valley that contained it a single, treacherous path up the mountain. The woman stared out at the sky, not even looking at her knitting.
Eyes as pale as the moon stared out, wondering when her savior would return with the bi-weekly supplies. She felt a shift in the air seconds before her long, delicate pale blue hair swayed. She smiled and looked down the porch with those eerie eyes. "I see you've brought me guests, Hidan." she said in a gentle voice. She heard the gasps of the youths with the ex-mercenary. She smiled and stood, putting her knitting on the table beside her. "Bijou…come. We have more guests."
The young people looked at each other, and then at the woman once more. This time, there was a large one eyed grey wolf beside her. It's patch gleamed in the sunlight and it's one pale eye stared down at them. The wolf looked up at the woman. "Astair…there are several of them with the scent of the scientists on them. You should allow them to bathe and rest up." the kids took a collective step back at the sight of a talking wolf.
The wolf turned his one light brown eye to the kids. "What? Never heard of Ookami companions? We are the same as the Inuzuka, only a little more wild." the kids looked at Hidan, who shrugged and pointed at Astair.
"She's the woman that takes in all the strays Sakura-sama brings in. You'll be safe with her and she takes good care of her kids." Astair smiled at him, mischief on her face.
"Yes, I seem to remember a very angry young man I managed to win over with something as simple as sweet dumplings." the kids looked at Hidan, who had a red blush on his face. He glared, but his eyes softened.
"I can't help it that sweet dumplings remind me of days long past. You're not as young as these kids think, Astair…it's not nice to pick on people only a quarter of your true age." he saw Astair lift her eyebrow at him, her smirk still there.
"The youth of today are simply too impressionable. If I really wanted to, I could raise a small army from the kids brought to me. All of my children are special and I will not give one of them up. Every child in Gokuraku has been raised by me, including some of the now elderly. I remember every child that steps foot through my door." She retorted in a haughty voice. Her smile became wicked then. "I especially know a young lady who has had a night visitor to 'watch over her' since she came here. Should I let her know that someone has been watching her sleep?" the kids saw the surprise on his face, which quickly melted to unbridled rage mixed with embarrassment.
"ASTAIR you take your damn kids and take care of them! I don't know why I keep bringing them to you since you do this every time!" He growled and started to walk away. He felt a warm touch on his arm and turned to see a gently smiling Astair looking at him.
"I only tease you, Hidan, because I care about you. You know that I tease all my kids one way or another. It makes it so that you are no so sensitive about things that you should be, considering your pasts." Hidan looked down at the woman he had known since he was a teenager. Hidan smirked at her and looked back at the kids.
"Hope you guys don't have your feelings hurt easily. Astair can be brutal if you don't watch yourselves." The kids looked slightly frightened at this. The insult had Bijou growling and Astair laughing lightly.
"Hidan…you'll scare them if you aren't careful. Besides, I only tease you this mercilessly. You were always my favorite when it came to teasing…you couldn't take a joke at all as a kid." She brushed his cheek with her hand and then turned back to her porch, walking up carefully.
"Come, children. I want you to meet my other children. You might recognize some of them. They were all in the Center at one point or another." Hidan watched as the kids tensed, but when Astair stood among them her aura soothed them. Hidan grunted and turned to Bijou.
"How long until her body wears out, Bijou? She's been around for longer than anyone else. She was the first Sakura-sama 'rescued' from the Center…how much longer can her body last in its youthful state?" Bijou pinned Hidan with that baleful brown orb.
"Hidan…Astair hasn't been truly alive for years. I was a pup when Sakura-sama brought her to me, asking me to be her eyes. She looked the same then as she does now. I'm surprised that you didn't notice. She died long ago, when the Center first got their hands on her. The children are the only thing keeping her here. That's why Sakura-sama keeps children in the house with her. Astair is too important to lose and she would not stay in her current state if she didn't have the kids." Hidan looked down at the wolf, wondering what the old ookami was talking about.
"What do you mean by that, Bijou? She's alive and well from what I can see. How do the children keep her here when she seems fine?" Hidan knew that there was something unusual about Astair that Sakura had been trying to help the blind woman with. Despite being blind, Astair could do everything a normal person could do. She kept Bijou only for appearances. She didn't want people to know she was completely independent of others.
Bijou shook his head and looked back up onto the porch where Astair was crouched among the children, getting them to talk to her and tell her their names. "What the Center did to her…even Sakura-sama can't undo it. It was in the first stages, before Madara came into the picture. They tried to do things that even still they can't do. Whatever they did, it was so bad that Astair has blocked it completely from her memories and even Sakura-sama can't retrieve them." Hidan looked at Astair with new respect. She had suffered probably worse than anyone retrieved and she had taken it upon herself to care for the kids that were brought here.
Hidan nodded, but he knew Bijou wasn't finished. "The kids are the only thing she cares about. She doesn't want any of the kids to live like she had to. She was alone; there was no Sakura-sama for her at their age…only pain and sadness. She wants to give them the comfort she was robbed of. As for her youthful appearance…her physical body will never age. That is how Sakura-sama is keeping her here for the kids. She knows that Astair can give the kids what she can't…a home." Bijou looked up when he felt Astair's eyes on him.
"I'm coming Astair." he said loudly, and then looked back at Hidan. "You can't let Astair know that you know the truth about her. It would break her heart for one of her kids to treat her differently just because of what happened in the past. If you love her, treat her like you always have." With that said, Bijou turned and walked up onto the porch with Astair and the kids.
Hidan looked back and saw Astair looking at him with kindness in her blind eyes. Hidan smirked at her and raised one hand, fading away as he answered the summons of the woman that had saved them all.
--
Sakura was shaking so badly that Gaara began to wonder what had happened. He looked at her pale face and knew that she must have found or seen something disturbing. He sat in their lush bedroom, the seven toddlers they had taken from the Center all curled up in their bed. The only exception was the small red headed youth with emerald green eyes. That boy was lying in Sakura's arms, his little arms wrapped around her neck, face buried in her hair. Sakura held the child like her life depended on it, glancing behind her often. It was the first time Gaara could remember her ever looking extremely uncomfortable. Gaara walked over to her and he noticed she relaxed as soon as he was in scenting distance.
Something was bothering Gaara and he couldn't put his finger on it. He knew that it had something to do with the kid that was snuggled up to his mate, but that was about as far as it went. There was something eerily familiar about the kid. There was also a niggling in his brain to find out what was wrong with his mate. He reached down and cupped her face in his hands. She looked up at him and he could see the fear that she tried to hide and could feel the distress rolling of her in waves. He growled low and dangerously.
"What has scared you, mitsukai-chan?" he growled through their mental link so that he would not wake up the children and scare them. Sakura tried to suppress the memory of the man that had pinned her to the door. He reminded her of that man too much for her to be able to handle it. Gaara caught the memory of what had happened, why she was afraid of the man. It sent his inner demon into a rage to see her like this. His chakra went wild and his sand swirled around her, curling around her like a tail. The child woke up and just looked at the sand, and then at the older red head.
"Getting angry won't make kaa-san feel better, onii-chan." the little boy noticed the surprise on both the young adult's faces. He blushed lightly and snuggled against Sakura's shoulder once more, his little hand wrapped in her hair. Gaara was so shocked that his hands fell from their usual pose of being crossed over his chest. Gaara glanced at Sakura, who had small tears in her eyes. She smiled at the boy and wrapped him up in a hug, rubbing her face in his thick, crimson colored hair. The boy grumbled about not being able to breathe and Sakura released him with a chuckle.
Gaara noticed how Sakura's calm returned just as quickly as it had abandoned her. He settled down now that his mate was not upset, but he wanted blood for what the man had done to her. Intent on making sure that the man was never close to Sakura again, he leaned down and nuzzled the side of her face, kissing her on the corner of her mouth as he passed it. He stood and looked at the sleeping toddlers. He looked at Sakura and tilted his head, indicating he was going to do something.
'What are you doing Panda-chan? It's not like you to leave me alone for any length of time.' she teased him lightly about being with her ever since they had mated, and even before that. He blushed and sent her a mental slap on the rear, making her chuckle over their shared link. He shook his head and headed for the room where most of the others were gathered.
Once he was out of their room, he walked calmly towards where he felt his siblings were. He knew that there was something strange about the child that clung to Sakura. The boy was too familiar for his own sanity. What could it possibly mean? Pushing that aside, he pulled a sketchpad from his sand, which had conveniently sought one for him, and started sketching from memory. He sketched the man that had assaulted his mate and wished he had something to make the guy more recognizable. Almost as if his wish were granted, his sand handed him colored pencils.
He arched a non-brow and looked within himself to see a stewing tanuki. 'What are you doing, Shukaku? This isn't like you to actually help me with something, even if you agree with me…' Gaara was a little disconcerted with the fact that Shukaku was actually being helpful. Gaara heard the tanuki growl in his head and was even more curious.
'That guy touched our mate. I want him dead. In order to do that, he has to be identifiable and the best way is for you to make a drawing of him. This is about revenge, pup, nothing more.' Gaara wasn't so sure about that. He could feel the tension in the tanuki and wondered what was going on. However, Gaara did not question his demon, merely went about shading the mug shot of the man he intended to kill. When he was finished, he glared at the drawing. It wasn't the real guy, but it still made him want to kill.
Gaara knew that there were only a few people who could tell him who the man was. The ookami twins that were currently under lock and key with their companions, and the kids that were taken to Gokuraku. Hell, for all he knew that man Hidan could tell him who the guy was. He'd have to ask Sakura to contact the man. Gaara lowered the sketch as he came upon the door that separated him from his siblings. He took a deep breath and slowly entered the room.
--
Sakura could tell that something was bothering her mate…something about the small child that was cuddled up to her made him nervous. It was almost like he was seeing something from his own past. She wanted to comfort him, but was afraid he would reject her comfort. Looking around her, she saw the children she had saved and wondered why the Center had so many of them. She looked down at the little boy in her arms and wondered what it was he could do that the Center had wanted him, barely a toddler, for. As if sensing her eyes on him, the little red head opened his eyes and looked up at her, trust in his eyes.
"Kaa-san?" the child's voice shook and she held him tighter to her. She had never had anyone except Sai call her mom, so it felt a little odd having such a small child refer to her that way. She cuddled him again and he sighed, laying his head on her chest. His small arms were wrapped as far around her as they could go as he sought her comfort.
When she was sure the small boy was sleeping, she turned her attention to the other children. She knew these kids would not get the attention they needed at Astair's house. There were simply too many kids this time. She would have to find homes for these children among her own people. She knew which child would be staying with her. She smiled down at the little boy and closed her eyes, rocking slightly. She had to think of some way to get these children safe homes with people she knew she could trust.
A thought struck her then. Sai would be out of commission for a while, she could leave a few of the tykes with the child-like painter and his mature lover. She smiled at the thought of the surprise both would feel. Another thought hit her and she decided to call for her closest operative. 'Hidan…' she whispered his name through her mind and seconds later she felt the rift that signified he was about to appear.
Vibrant red eyes stared down at her from a stoic pale face. She looked up at him and smiled, making him blush lightly. He noticed the child in her arms, how it was curled into her body, seeking warmth. The child's face was nuzzled into her bosom as if to nurse. The sight made Hidan a little nervous, like he was intruding on something wonderful. Hidan noticed the laughter in her eyes and knew she had heard his thoughts. He blushed again and looked away from the two. His eyes landed on the six other toddlers that were sleeping on the large blood red comforter.
"More kids for Astair, I take it?" he looked down at her to see that she was shaking her head in the negative. He was confused, so he crouched close to her. "Sakura-sama…what are you going to do with all those children? You can't take care of all of them yourself…" he trailed off as she gave him an irritated glare.
"I realize I am not capable of taking care of all seven of these children. That is why they will be taken care of by my operatives." she sniffed and looked back at the children. She could feel Hidan's confusion and she looked back at him. "Sai and Shino will foster them until they are old enough to join our ranks." she saw the surprise in Hidan's eyes and smiled.
"You sure that's a good idea? They're just kids themselves…you really think they're up to this?" Sakura nodded and looked over at the children. She felt the smallest child there stir and look up at them. She had the palest blue hair Sakura had ever seen and fuchsia eyes. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and then looked straight at them. Curiosity lit the child's eyes as she looked at Hidan. Hidan looked back with equal amounts of surprise and curiosity. He had never had a child look at him without fear.
"Tou-san!" she whimpered and held her arms out to him. Hidan was floored by this and didn't move. She began making more noise and trying to make her way to him. This in turn was disturbing the other children. Sakura's eyes widened as she realized all seven children awake would mean trouble.
"Go pick her up, baka!" she hissed at Hidan, who snapped out of his daze and looked at his boss. There was something akin to panic in the woman's eyes and that was when he noticed the other kids stirring. Fear lit his eyes at the thought of ALL the kids awake and whining. He rushed over to the girl and picked her up, only to make a very un-manly sound when she cuddled up to him.
"Tou-san…" the child murmured dreamily and then went back to sleep. Hidan arched a brow and was about to set the child back down when she started whimpering again, clinging tightly to him. In his mind, Hidan cursed loudly. He didn't know what to do so he turned back to Sakura, who, for her part, looked thoroughly amused.
"Sakura-sama-" he started, but she shook her head at him. He wondered what it meant, but regretted his thoughts seconds later when Sakura chuckled lightly at him.
"You put her down and she will bawl and wake all the other kids up. Looks like you're stuck with that one, my friend." she chuckled until she felt the small child in her arms begin to stir. She started rocking again, sending the child back to sleep. Hidan looked down at the little girl in his arms. Something weird blossomed in his chest when he looked at the child and he wasn't sure if he liked it. With an almost inaudible curse, he disappeared once more, not even waiting to find out why Sakura had called him in the first place.
Sakura just smiled as she looked at the remaining kids. Two down, five to go…Sakura smiled as she thought of the possibilities. She began to wonder if sticking the kids with homosexual couples was smart, but she knew that the couples were more apt to take care of the children, as they could not have their own. She sighed and thought really hard. She had not established much of a connection with the Akatsuki members, but she could trace them through her link with Lotus.
She felt a slight flicker of fear, before the fear turned to surprise and delight. Sakura prodded until her target allowed her to talk to them. 'Deidara…I need you, Sasori, Kisame, and Itachi as soon as possible. I have a mission for the four of you.' Sakura smiled as she imagined what their reactions would be like when she told them that their mission would be assisting Astair in the raising of the children in Gokuraku so that one day they could help save kids just like them. Sakura shook her head and looked at the child in her arms.
Sakura blushed when she noticed his face buried in her chest and his small hand curled around a lock of her hair. No wonder Hidan had blushed when he first entered…she looked like she had just breast fed the kid. She blushed, but there was warmth blossoming in the vicinity of her heart. She thought about what it would feel like to have a child…more specifically, Gaara's child. She heard a growling in her head, a purr-like noise of satisfaction and she had to stifle her giggle. Seems Gaara approved of that as well. She shook her head and waited for her four newest operatives.
--
Madara was furious…he was beyond furious. His latest experiment was gone, not even the lingering traces of any kind of jutsu could be detected. It was like the child in the tube had never existed. That child had been in cryo sleep for a while, growing very slowly without its mother's body to help it along.
This was not good…they were set to attack Haruno and her operatives in five days, but this set them back…heavily. That child was to be what he used to control his two most powerful, yet obviously reluctant, allies. Without that child, he had no hope of controlling them. He hissed as he watched most of his more 'human' experiments return for further orders. One smug looking one made him grind his teeth. He had never liked the man's piranha-like smile.
"Suigetsu…what has made you so happy?" he snarled, wanting somewhere to direct his anger. Suigetsu's smile never faded, but it did wane slightly. He gave a toothy grin to his creator. Malice dripped from every word.
"You may control me for now, but what will happen when she kills you?" Suigetsu laughed as Madara's face contorted into one of rage and fear. He loved that face on the arrogant bastard. He was the reason that Suigetsu couldn't function normally in a normal human society. He had an unusual blood lust thanks to the scientist and could turn himself into water at any given time.
Madara just ground his teeth and reigned in his temper. He would ensure that Suigetsu met with an 'accident' before he faced the Haruno. He knew exactly how to get rid of the shape shifter as well. Madara smirked at the water-based experiment. "Since you are so reluctant to do as I tell you, I want you to retrieve Juugo. He was let loose some time ago and has probably fed well. He shouldn't be too much trouble for the likes of you." Madara could see the reluctance in the man's eyes. Anyone sent after the large cannibal usually ended up his next meal. His appetite was insatiable.
Suigetsu did not show any fear at all. "Whatever…it's been a while since he tried to take a bite out of me. Who knows…maybe this time I can catch him and absorb his powers. If I do, you will be the first I come after." with that last smile, Suigetsu disappeared. Madara glared at the empty space, half hoping the man would get eaten, and half hoping that he could successfully bring Juugo back. It was then that it hit him that Suigetsu never told him what had made the water shifter so happy. He cursed and looked back at the empty cryo tube. Things were definitely not going his way.
--
Shino sighed as he looked around him. Temari was holding the little ookami boy like he was made of glass, Tenten had returned with a bit of a cantankerous attitude, making Neji groan when she said something in his ear, and there was no sight of the five that had gone to the Center. Ino had disappeared as well, and had yet to return. Shino sighed and looked down at his young lover…things were not going well, in his opinion.
Shino felt something approaching and looked up in time to see Gaara come through the door, a scowl on his face and a sketchpad in his hands. Shino stood and walked over to the red head that was his leader's lover. Shino bowed slightly and gave the young man a pointed look. "Where is Sakura-sama, Sabaku-sama?" It was obvious that Gaara had been deep in thought because when Gaara looked up at him, it was with surprise.
"What?" the red head asked, his voice slightly husky. Shino shook off the suspicion that they'd been 'going at it' and looked at the red head again. This time, he could see the anger in those jade eyes.
"Sabaku-sama…what has happened that has upset you?" Shino asked quietly, not wanting to alert Gaara's siblings that something was wrong. Gaara looked down at the sketchpad and then up at Shino again.
"We had some…complications. There were small children, the oldest no more than five years, being held. Sakura brought them here. Shino, you've been with Sakura for a long time, am I correct?" Shino was taken back by this sudden inquisition. He nodded and shifted slightly, putting himself between the red head and his young lover.
"Hai…I have…" Shino saw the anger building in those jade eyes and wondered what was going on. Suddenly, the sketchpad was shoved in his face. Shino took it and held it out so that he could see what was on it better. It was a man that Shino had never seen before, but it was obvious he was not friendly.
"Have you ever come across this man?" there was a deadly calm in the sand users voice, something that made Shino's blood run cold. He looked up at Gaara with calculating eyes.
"I have not, but you obviously wish to know this man. Is there a specific reason for you asking the identity of this man?" In that instant, he saw something he had never seen in the red head…fear.
"That man put his hands on my mate. She was terrified of him…he reminds her of the man with snake eyes from her home. I want him dead." the chill in Gaara's voice made Shino shiver slightly. Stirring behind them brought jade eyes to meet black ones. Sai sat up in bed, struggling to see what had frightened his okaa-san.
"Tou-san…let me see. I want to see the face of the man that has frightened my kaa-san." Sai's voice was light, but demanded respect. Gaara nodded and took the pad to the bed ridden artist. By then, several people were awake and walking around, conversing. As soon as Gaara put the pad in Sai's hands, there was a hiss. Gaara looked over Sai's shoulder and noticed Raidu, who was glaring at the sketch.
"You know this man?" Gaara asked his voice hard and lethal. Raidu looked up at Gaara, electricity shooting from one eye to the other. He looked back down at the sketch and remembered well why he hated that man.
"Yeah…I know the bastard. He cornered Lotus back a few months ago. It's why Madara put him in a cell made of glass. He's a water shifter. His body is made of water. Another one of Madara's 'failures'. When I found out what he did to Lotus, I made sure he knew what a couple thousand volts felt like." the sneer on the older boy's face was nothing but genuine. Gaara nodded and turned back to everyone in the room.
"We dealt a crippling blow to Madara and his forces today, but we also came across mass atrocity. Madara is now experimenting on small children, no older than five years. We saved seven children varying from three to five years. There were multiple kids of older ages, including Tsume's twin sister, Gin. The older children were taken to Gokuraku, the 'safe house' Sakura established for victims of the Center." Gaara noticed the horrified expressions on the other's faces at the mention of the experimentation on small children.
"Sakura has the seven toddlers in our room and they are currently sleeping. Sakura is going to find homes for them with people she trusts and she knows can keep the children safe. If she asks this of you, I expect you to comply with her wishes. It means she is putting a great deal of trust in you. If you are not asked, count yourselves lucky, because that means you will be active agents." Gaara could feel their surprise and admiration of him through his link with Sakura. He also felt her chuckling at him through their bond.
"If Sakura calls you to her, do not hesitate to go. Do I make myself clear?" everyone nodded and went to discussing the recent revelations and what they had been talking about before he started talking. Gaara went back to Sai and Shino. He looked both of them straight in the eyes. "Sakura wants to see the two of you. I can feel it through our bond. Shino, since Sai is bedridden for the moment, I want you to go and talk to Sakura."
Shino nodded and, with a last glance at his young lover, walked out the door. Gaara nodded at Raidu and Sai as the brothers began conversing with one another and stealthily made his way over to his siblings. He looked at the youth in his sister's arms and couldn't help but wonder what kind of mother she would be. Would she be like their mother, kind and compassionate, or would she be hard and unyielding, like their father. He shook his head and watched as she rubbed the boy's back, cooing every so often when he became restless.
For her part, Temari seemed subdued. Gaara looked at her to see her shoulders were shaking slightly. He knew what was going on, but he did not know how to comfort her. He looked up and his jade orbs locked onto black ones. As if they were speaking to each other, Gaara motioned for the shadow master to comfort his sister, as he could not. This surprised the man greatly, but he wasted no time. Immediately he bent to her side and cupped her cheek in his hand.
"Temi-chan…you have to stop crying…you'll wake the kid." he cooed to her softly. He knew it was completely out of his character to do so, and there was a strong possibility that he would catch hell for it from the other men, but at that moment, the only thing that mattered to him was the ceasing of her tears. He kissed her on the forehead and wrapped his arms around her, murmuring to her. Gaara looked away as his protective instincts demanded he beat the other male to a pulp for touching his sister.
Gaara walked away from the two so that he would not do something his sister would make him regret. He ended up walking over to Kankuro, who held Karin in his arms. Her blonde hair shadowed her face, but her shoulders bounced as she wept quietly. Gaara felt as if a rift was welling up inside him and he knew that Sakura was feeling her 'sister's' pain. Gaara knelt before his brother and the blonde woman that had captured the puppeteer's heart.
"The children are safe and nothing has been done to them. Sakura is doing everything in her power to make sure they have nice, normal lives." Karin looked up at him, tears staining her cheeks and magnifying her eyes. Gaara smiled gently at her, not allowing anyone but the two of them to see.
"N-nii-san…where is my onee-san?" she asked in a child like manner. Gaara was a little startled when she referred to him as her older brother, but he just let it go. He looked up at Kankuro, who had a pained look on his face. It was obvious that whatever Karin was feeling, so was the puppeteer.
"Sakura is in our room calming the children. I can ask her to come to you as soon as she finds homes for the children, if you would like?" he made it into a question, giving her the choice. Karin thought about it for a few seconds and then nodded, a slight smile on her face.
"I would like that…" she said shyly and then looked up at Kankuro. A small pout appeared on her face as she looked at him. "Kanky…why are you so sad?" Kankuro blushed violently as she used the nickname he hadn't consented to her using as of yet. He looked at his younger brother's reaction, only to see the red head was gone.
Kankuro pulled her closer to his body and buried his face in her hair. "When you are sad, it makes me sad. When you are happy, it makes me happy." he replied and nuzzled her cheek. She giggled slightly, only loud enough for the two of them to hear, and snuggled closer to him. She sighed as she felt him wrap his arms around her completely.
Before she drifted off to sleep, Kankuro heard her giggled response of "Kanky makes me happy…". He blushed again, but there was a smile on his face. His dark eyes sparkled with an emotion most would call love.
--
Neji could tell that his lover was in a mood. He couldn't call it a good mood, because she was glaring out the window like someone had stolen her pocky and was outside, taunting her. He couldn't call it a bad mood, because she hadn't destroyed anything and she wasn't picking a fight with him. So he settled for a word he had heard one of their southern operatives use: cantankerous. She wasn't sad, mad, or happy…she just was.
Not knowing how to approach her, he merely leaned against the wall next to her. He noticed that she looked over at him from the corner of her eye and the mood lightened slightly. That was good news for him. She wouldn't be taking her frustrations out on him…at least not in public. He could tell from the flare of her nostrils that something was bothering her and that she refused to talk about it at that moment.
Wanting to get her in a better mood, he held his hand out to her, his eyes asking her to come with him. She closed her eyes and put her hand in his. He pulled her towards him and they slipped out of the room, heading back to their own room. He smirked at the thought that she was most likely too distracted to put up much of a fight against him. He pushed their door open and pulled her in behind him, pushing her against the door before it had even shut. He kissed her hard and passionately, his hands wandering. He heard her moan into his mouth and pull him closer.
Neji's head was swimming. He enjoyed this just as much as he enjoyed fighting. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. He noticed that she kept her head down and cupped her cheek, making her look at him. He gasped, then growled when he saw the tears there. He hugged her to him as tightly as he dared, rubbing her back and trying to comfort her. He listened to her as she poured out her heart.
"They're just children…how could anyone do that to them. They're barely more than babies…" she wailed, gripping him tightly. He had never seen her like this and it angered him that he couldn't beat the hell out of the people responsible for her tears. He held her half an arms length from himself and cupped the sides of her face, making sure she was looking at him.
"Tenten…these people care for nothing but themselves, that is why we do what we must to ensure that they do not succeed. This is why we do what we do and why we train like we do. You are a part of this now, you are part of the force working to shut these monsters down for good. You are doing your part, just like the rest of us. The children weren't hurt, we got to them in time. From what Sabaku-san said, they took all the children that Madara had been keeping. He can't surface and get more, because he just recently went on a kidnapping spree…there would be too many questions. I'm sure Sakura-sama did this for a reason." He crushed her against him, stroking her long brown locks and murmuring loving words to her while she rubbed her face in his shirt.
She looked up at him with sad but determined eyes. "You're right, Neji-kun. I'm sorry to be so weak…" Neji stopped her train of thought by kissing her deeply. She kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck. They were about to move to the bed when a knock sounded on their door. Neji growled and broke the kiss, cursing while he walked to the door. When he got there, Ino held a little girl by the hand. The girl hid behind Ino's leg and stared.
The girl seemed to scent Tenten and made a small yip before running into the room and jumping into the brunette's arms. Tenten giggled and hugged the girl while standing. She looked much better now that the girl was here and it made Neji sigh in resignation. Tenten grabbed his hand and held it. The little girl looked at Neji and then at their joined hands. She sniffed them and looked back at Ino with a pout. Ino giggled and held her hands out to the girl. The girl ran over to her and jumped into the blonde's arms.
Tenten smiled and looked at Neji. "Let's go see how the others are doing. It'll be nice to see Gin reunited with her brother." Neji smiled at the sight of her acting normal once more. That had been all he wanted…even though another romp in the sheets would have been nice. Tenten seemed to sense this and leaned in to whisper to him. "Later…when we don't have to worry about Sakura-chan calling us." Neji blushed and cleared his throat, acting like he didn't hear her. Tenten giggled again and followed Ino and Gin out, her hand tightly in Neji's.
--
A young woman with unusual gold eyes, fair skin, and black hair was sitting in a room, sewing, with another young woman with black hair and black eyes. She was carrying on light conversation with the women when she heard a gasp and looked over at the woman. "Megumi-chan…are you alright!?" the young woman asked. She noticed the other woman hunched over, holding her stomach.
"W-what's…h-happening!?" the woman whimpered and started shaking. The woman turned on her side and the golden eyed woman noticed that Megumi's abdomen began to swell rapidly. Panicked, the girl ran out of the room, yelling for help.
"Astair! Astair, come quick! Something is wrong with Megumi-chan!" Rapid footsteps were heard and then Astair was there, along with Bijou. Bijou grunted and sat on his haunches. Astair put her hand to Megumi's stomach and confirmed what Bijou had been thinking.
"She's pregnant once more. Sakura-sama must have found her baby and decided to return it to her. That is the only explanation for this. The baby has unnatural enhancements that I will have to have Sakura-sama either neutralize or seal." Astair looked at her young companion and smiled. "Natalie…I need you to find Hidan. Just call his name after you walk outside, he should hear you." Natalie nodded and took off out the door and ran down the back steps.
"HIDAN!" she screamed, her eyes frantically searching for her savior. The day she had been rescued, she had woken to find the man with unusual redish eyes staring at her with interest. She had immediately screamed and squirmed, only to find she was in his arms. She had blushed and started flailing about, demanding he put her down. He had muttered something about her being annoying and had promptly dropped her on a large soft bed and had disappeared.
Ever since, their relationship had been a sort of love-hate deal where they fought insanely, but if anyone interfered, they would both turn on said person and work together against the third party. Natalie sensed something beside her and looked to find Hidan materializing. Before he even knew what was happening, Natalie was clutching at him, tears in her eyes. He looked at her and she saw something in his eyes darken. She was about to speak when she noticed the little girl that was curled up in his arms, her head on his shoulder.
"Is she another child for Astair to take care of?" Natalie asked looking at the child with unusual hair. She heard Hidan curse lightly under his breath before he sighed.
"I wish…the little monster spotted me talking to Sakura-sama and mistook me for her dad. She started whining and almost woke up six other toddlers. She wouldn't shut up until I picked her up and Sakura-sama told me I was stuck with her." Natalie saw his scowl and she looked up at the child once more. Her golden eyes softened and she leaned against Hidan, making him stiffen.
Natalie smiled as she leaned against him, giving her a better view of the child. She brushed the hair from the child's face and giggled lightly when the little girl whined and rubbed her face against Hidan's shoulder. Hidan watched the two interact and felt the peculiar warmth again. He cleared his throat and cocked his head towards the house.
"Why were you screaming like a banshee for me?" He saw confusion flash over her face before tears formed again. He narrowed his eyes and unconsciously hovered over Natalie protectively.
"Megumi-chan is in trouble. Astair says that Sakura-sama must have returned Megumi-chan's baby, whatever that means…I didn't even know she was pregnant…and that Sakura-sama was needed to neutralize something inside the baby. She looked up at Hidan once more and noticed he had a far off look in his face. She tugged lightly at his shirt, but he didn't look at her.
She put her face extremely close to his, trying to snap him out of his daze. She almost screamed when he blinked and looked at her once more. He blushed when he noticed how close her face was to his. "S-Sakura-sama says that Tobi can cure the child without her…we just have to make sure that Tobi is awake and that Itachi has removed all traces of the genjutsu. Let's go!" Hidan grabbed her hand and they took off for the building tha served as the hospital. Hidan didn't notice the blush that stained Natalie's face.
--
Lotus stood under the spray of the shower and thought about the person that had shown her how to feel. She missed him, but knew that if Madara knew about him that he would be dead. She remembered when she had first seen him…he had been fighting against several men that were trying to make him do something he didn't want to do. She had walked in and looked at them all. He had gasped when he'd seen her and when their eyes had met, Lotus had felt something she had never felt before and hadn't felt since.
When she had asked what was going on, one of the men restraining him had said that the young man was due for an overhall in the neural stripping center because he was slowly starting to revolt against Madara. Lotus had been interested in the youth and had killed the men without thinking twice about what she was doing. The young man had looked up at her with amazement. She had blushed for the first time when he had smiled at her.
Yelling had been heard and he had taken her hand and ran from the place. They had hid and he had asked her to come with him. She had given him a sad look and told him that she couldn't leave because she was incomplete. He had begged her and told her that it hadn't mattered that she was 'incomplete' as she had called herself. She had shook her head and had kissed his forehead, her eyes shining with the one emotion she hadn't felt since he'd left…love.
She closed her eyes as memories of her first love washed over her. She knew there were cameras here, but she disrupted the signal of the one in the bathroom for obvious reasons. She turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around her body while making her way into the bedroom. She put on her black uniform and laid back on the bed. She closed her eyes and let her consciousness separate from her body. She wandered the realm between sleep and wakefulness and watched others who lingered here.
Arms wrapped around her and she stiffened, until she heard his voice. 'I missed you Lotus…' She smiled and covered his hands with her own. She closed her eyes and leaned back against him.
'I missed you too…Raidu.' She heard his chuckle and she sighed, content for the first time in years.
--
Itachi closed his eyes and sighed as he finished reversing whatever Sakura had done to Tobi. She had him in such an expertly concealed genjutsu that at first, even Itachi had thought he was dead. However, Pein had assured him that the man was indeed alive and that Itachi was the only one that could reverse it besides Sakura. Itachi had been working for several hours to lift it and had finally succeeded.
He heard someone grumbling and looked down to see Tobi waking up. They had removed his mask and his shirt, just in case they needed to perform CPR on him. Itachi balked when the man before him opened eyes that looked much like his own. "Where am I?" he asked, rubbing his head. Itachi was about to answer when a change came over the man and his eyes turned black once more. The child-like expression on the man's face reminded the Sharingan user of the one called Tobi.
"Tobi has found his friends! Tobi is happy now!" Itachi sweat dropped, but the person he had seen before this child-like person had seemed somewhat familiar to him. He shook his head and looked behind him when he heard a slight scuffle and then the wail of a child.
The door was slammed open to reveal Kisame with a young black haired woman with golden eyes hitting him with one small fist and scolding him for waking up 'the kid'. Itachi glared at the girl and stood to assist his lover. However, everything was stopped when a pissed off Hidan walked in with a crying child clutching his neck. Itachi gave the Jashin monk a dumbfounded look, blinking rapidly.
"You stupid shark faced, sword flailing rat-" he didn't finish as the young woman turned around punched him in the head. Quite a feat being as she was a great deal shorter than he was. He looked at her and she bared her teeth at him.
"Don't you DARE finish that sentence. She's a child…you are going to have to clean up your language if you are going to take care of her!" the girl hissed at him before taking the sobbing child from him and cooing at the little girl. The child clung to the young woman and Hidan looked shocked, along with the other two men.
"That's the first time she hasn't screamed bloody murder since she saw me. Every time I tried to put her down before she'd make a huge fuss!" the silver haired man's mouth almost hit the floor with disbelief. Itachi cleared his throat and the two newcomers looked at him. The girl's eyes went wide as she looked at him.
"So you're the one that is supposed to take the genjutsu off of Tobi. We were instructed to take Tobi to Megumi-chan." A gasp brought everyone's attention to the man sitting up on the bed behind them. It seemed as if the man had just been sucker punched in the gut.
"M-Megu-m-mi?" the man's eyes were wide, but he didn't act like the Tobi that was part of Akatsuki…this was someone they had never seen before. Natalie cocked her head to the side and looked at him.
"Yes…Megumi…she was brought here by Sakura-sama many years ago. Her family was killed and her lover disappeared. She told me once that she'd been pregnant, but that she couldn't remember what happened to her child." Hidan's voice was soft, wondering if Tobi knew this woman. Hidan watched Tobi grasp his head and grind his teeth, as if in pain. He bolted off the bed and out the door, looking for this 'Megumi'. Hidan followed, as did Natalie, Itachi and Kisame. They watched as Tobi stumbled into Astair's house, into the room where Astair was holding Megumi. They watched as Tobi's eyes bulged as he saw the woman lying there, gripping her stomach in pain.
"M-Megumi!?" Tobi breathed. The woman looked up, shocked. Tears formed in her eyes and fell down her face as she saw the person she had thought was long dead.
"Obito!" she wailed and reached for him. Tobi dropped to his knees and fell into her arms, being careful not to crush her or the baby she was carrying. Everyone was shocked and it was then that Itachi recognized the name.
"Obito? You mean Uchiha Obito?" Itachi was even more shocked when blood red eyes looked up at him. He looked between the man and woman and realized what was going on.
"Madara stripped your memories of each other…didn't he?" Tobi looked confused and looked down at Megumi. His eyes suddenly bulged, as if he were in immense pain. He gripped his head as Megumi stared at him in horror.
"OBITO!" she screamed and tried to reach for him. However, his thrashing was becoming increasingly more uncontrollable and Astair was forced to pull Megumi away from him. Hidan noticed the man's eyes flashing between black and red, as if two personalities were conflicting with one another. However, he knew very well that it was most likely from electrical pulses being sent through his brain rapidly, trying to make it too painful to remember the things being surpressed.
With a bellow of rage, the man Megumi called Obito stood and ran headlong into the thick wooden frame of the door. A sickening crack was heard and then Tobi went still. Everyone stared at him with horror and Natalie covered the child's face so she would not witness such a thing. Megumi wailed and Hidan was about to go and pick Tobi up when the man's hand twitched.
Hidan watched in amazement as the man rolled on the floor, muttering something. He was sluggish getting to his feet, and when he did finally manage to stand up, there was blood oozing from a cut over his right eye and out of his nose. There was a thin line running down his chin from the left corner of his mouth. He smiled softly, his eyes soft and loving.
"Megumi…" he staggered over to her, nearly falling over three times, until he sank down to her and enveloped her in a hug. He buried his face in her hair and whispered her name over and over again. Hidan looked at the others, wondering what was going on. However, before he could ask, Tobi turned to face them.
"Thank you for reuniting me with Megumi. I've been trapped in the child-like state you saw before for a long time. It wasn't until you gave me Megumi back that I was able to overcome the stripping and alterations. I owe you more than I can ever repay. My name is Uchiha Obito, and this is my wife, Uchiha Megumi." Obito offered his hand and Hidan stared at it, shocked.
"You mean to tell me that you are that retarded child-like guy I used to have to play cards with all the time to shut him up? I don't believe you…what the hell just happened? Why did you charge Astair's doorframe?" Hidan looked suspicious and noticed the sheepish look on the older Uchiha's face.
"Like I said…I was trapped inside my own mind. Madara, my brother, managed to regress my mind to that level so that he could control me. He used an electrical device implanted in my head to keep me from reverting back to normal. I thought Megumi was dead, along with my child. I had nothing to live for except revenge, and it seemed I couldn't even do that well." Obito looked back at his love and smiled.
"But now that I know Megumi is alive, as is our child, I have everything to live for." he kissed her gently and laid his hand on her stomach. He frowned and pumped some of his chakra into the child. He felt the child move inside it's mother and then settle. He smiled once more and looked up at them.
"I was able to undo whatever Madara did to the baby, so it will be born healthy and happy." Obito smiled once more and picked Megumi up. He looked at Astair and smiled graciously at her.
"Were you the one looking after Megumi all this time?" he asked quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone at that moment. Astair nodded and Obito smiled at her. "Then I am forever indebted to you as well. Domo Arigato, Astair-sama." Obito bowed as best he could considering he was carrying the pregnant Megumi. He looked down at her and his love shone in his eyes. He smiled and looked back at them.
"I will talk to you guys later. Right now, I must find a home for Megumi and myself. I wish to raise our child with her here, in this safe haven. I want to be a contributing member of this society and never have to worry that my child will be hunted like so many other children were and are still being hunted." Obito smiled and started walking out the door. Hidan shook his head and ran after them.
"Tobi…er, I mean, Obito!" Obito turned and looked at Hidan, who smirked at him. "There is a small two story near the hospital…it's unoccupied and you are more than welcome to it! It needs loving owners!" Hidan noticed Obito perk up and smile at him.
"Arigato, Hidan-san! I will not forget your kindness!" Hidan blushed and turned away with a muttered 'whatever'. He watched from the corner of his eye as the couple disappeared down the bustling road towards their new home. Hidan sighed and turned back to his companions, rubbing the back of his head. He noticed the smirk on Astair's face.
Hidan sighed and started scratching the back of his head. "Don't start with me Astair." he muttered and looked away, a slight blush on his face. Astair laughed at him and walked down the steps, her hand on his shoulder.
"Hidan…there is no reason for feeling embarrassed for being kind. Giving Obito and Megumi your own home is a noble act and you should feel good about it. They need somewhere to live and you are a wanderer. It will be much easier for you to build a new home than it would be for the two of them." Hidan heard a gasp and looked over at Natalie with a bored expression. She was looking at him with a wealth of emotion.
"Hidan…you gave Megumi-chan your house?" Hidan blushed and looked away again.
"I built it not long after I came here. I was feeling nostalgic of the place where I was born and decided to build it with some of the money I saved. I've never slept there, though. Feels weird in such a big place by myself." he said, muttering the last part and hoping no one heard it. He felt something against his back and looked over his shoulder to see Natalie smiling up at him, the child Sakura had entrusted with him between them, sleeping.
"You are a good man, Hidan." she whispered and rubbed her face against him. He blushed and looked away, muttering something about 'annoying girls and their silly romanticism'. Natalie smiled at him, knowing this was his way of dealing with something that made him uncomfortable. She looked down at the little one in her arms and smiled. Hidan was more complex than she had ever guessed. She would just have to see what other surprises he had in store for her.
--
Deidara was running all through Gokuraku frantically looking for his danna. The red head had disappeared on the pretense of there being too many people in the house where they were staying. Deidara knew that something was wrong and the fact that Sasori wouldn't tell him bothered the blonde immensely.
Deidara made it to the edge of town, where the dense forest surrounded the village on three sides, this side being the back with mountains in the distance. Deidara could sense his danna now and it made him happy. He didn't hesitate and took off into the forest. He ran for a few minutes before he came into a small clearing where he noticed there were many logs piled around the clearing and there were stumps everywhere. Deidara noticed two puppets carrying logs and cocked his head.
"What are you doing here, Dei-chan." Deidara jumped when he heard his danna's rough voice. He threw up one hand and turned to face the redhead that was only slightly shorter than himself (Deidara is 166cm about 5'5" while Sasori is 164cm about 5'4"). Deidara laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head, his black shirtsleeve billowing in the slight wind and his bangs blowing slightly.
"N-nothing, danna." He squeaked when he felt Sasori push him against the nearest tree. Sasori's eyes showed he did not believe his young blonde lover (btw, Sasori is like 23 in this story, not 35).
"Dei-chan…I'll give you one last chance to tell me why you are here, or I will have to-" he never got to finish because Deidara yelped and told him why he was here.
"Sakura-sama wants to see us!" he squirmed against the older male, his blue eyes wide and a blush on his face. Sasori purred and nuzzled the blonde's neck, making him gasp.
"Good boy, Dei-chan. That wasn't so hard, now was it?" he teased the younger man, smirking against his neck. Deidara stuttered, but nothing coherent came out. Sasori chuckled and nipped Deidara's neck, making the blonde yelp again.
"W-we have to…t-take Itachi a-and K-kisame…w-with us…" the blonde panted as his red headed lover nipped his neck gently a few more times. Sasori sighed and jerked his hands, pulling his puppets to him. The log they had been carrying landed with a thud and broke Deidara's daze. Said blonde blushed and pushed at Sasori, trying to get him off.
"Danna! We have to go! We don't have time to fool around!" the blonde blushed even more when the red head looked back at him with a wicked smirk.
"I didn't hear you complaining a minute ago…Dei-chan." Deidara gulped and blushed as Sasori purred his little endearment. Deidara shook his head and pushed at Sasori again.
"Daaaaannnnnnaaaaaa! We're going to be late! I don't want to keep Sakura-sama waiting!" Sasori sighed and rested his head on Deidara's neck. He growled and pressed Deidara even tighter against the tree, his breath sending chills up Deidara's spine.
"Very well…but when this is over, and I'm done here…we WILL discuss this little…intrusion." Deidara gulped and squirmed more, making the red headed puppet master growl. Sasori chuckled darkly and took out a cell phone. He dialed a number and rested his head against Deidara's shoulder. "Kisame…you and Itachi meet me and Deidara at Sakura-sama's masion in the country, the one we first met her at. Yeah…Deidara says she wants to talk to us. Uh-huh…yeah, okay, we'll see you there." Sasori flipped his phone closed and gave Deidara a hot look before pulling away.
Let's go, Dei-chan." Deidara just stared at him, and then what he'd said registered. Deidara smiled and followed after Sasori, disappearing.
--
'Lacey…I need to talk to you…' Lacey heard Sakura call to her and she stiffened. She wondered if this was about those children. She looked over at Lee, who had been watching her intently. He knew Sakura had called her by the way she had stiffened. Lacey nodded and Lee got up and walked to the door. He held it open for her as she walked out of the room and followed her, shutting the door behind them.
Lacey was nervous as she walked to where she sensed Sakura. She remembered Gaara's words and wondered if this was really happening. She was afraid it was too good to be true. As she walked down the hall she started wringing her hands together nervously. She almost jumped when Lee announced their arrival at Sakura's door. Before she could open it, it opened to reveal Shino carrying a small boy with black hair and black eyes. He held onto Shino for dear life, tears at the corner of his eyes.
Shino stiffened when the two saw him with the child, but the child buried his face against Shino's shoulder and the bug controller sighed and rubbed the boy's back. "Kuro…you're okay. Let's go see Sai now. He's waiting for us." The little boy looked up and nodded, still frightened but trusting his new 'daddy'. Lacey smiled at Shino, who blushed lightly and walked back towards the others. Lacey stared at the door, afraid to go in. She felt something nudge her and looked over her shoulder to see Lee encouraging her to go inside.
Lacey took a deep breath and walked in. She was met by the sight of five sleeping children, one of which clung to Sakura. She noticed there were two children that clung to one another, almost like they were siblings. She saw two little girls that were laying a few inches apart, one blonde and the other black headed. Lacey's breathing hitched when she saw the two little girls and tears came to her eyes.
"They're the same age I was…they're so tiny…so helpless…" she whispered, but Lee heard her. He walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him and he smiled at her. Sakura watched them interact and smiled. Despite their bickering, the two genuinely cared about one another…that was good, as it would take both of them to take care of the children.
"Lacey, Lee…I need each of you to give one of these children a home. Go pick up the child you wish to care for." Lacey looked up at Sakura with wide eyes. She knew that Sakura hadn't called Lee, he would have told her. Not to mention the young man looked startled when Sakura told him to pick a child. Lacey looked at him and took his hand, calming him. He looked at her and smiled as she led him to the two little girls.
Lacey picked up the little black haired girl, who whined at being moved. Lee smiled and chuckled lightly as Lacey placed the child in his arms. The child made some more whining noises before she settled down back into sleep. Lacey picked up the little blonde girl, who whimpered until she felt warmth. She clung to Lacey when she felt a heat source. Lacey gasped and then smiled at the child, affection written all over her face.
"Do you have names you wish to give them? I have forged some documents on the children so that if anyone tries to take them away it will seem like the children have always been your own." Lacey looked at the little blonde in in her arms and smiled.
"This little one will be named Amaryllis. What do you think of that name, Lee?" Lacey blushed and smiled up at the dark haired youth. Said male blushed and smiled, nodding his head in agreement. "What about her…what are you going to call her Lee?" Lacey asked quietly, not wanting to wake any of the children up. Lee thought about it and looked at her. He smiled and looked back up.
"Torayu…my little tiger lily." he smiled affectionately at the small girl, then looked up into the shocked eyes of Lacey. He smirked at her. "What…didn't think I knew the names of any flowers?" Lacey blushed and looked down at the child in her arms. She smiled at the girl and looked up at Lee. She smiled as she moved closer to him so he could see the other girl he would be taking care of.
Lacey smiled as she thought of Lee helping her take care of these children. A thought ran through her though, and dampened her happiness. She looked up at Lee, fear in her eyes. He frowned and looked at her. "What's wrong Lacey-chan?" He noticed her become fidgety.
"Lee…both of us are active agents…how are we going to take care of these children. How do I know I won't be the one raising them alone…" the second part was her biggest worry. She saw the flash in the young man's eyes and he stepped closer to her, his body posture aggressive.
"I won't allow you to raise our children alone." he said in a heated voice. Lacey blushed at his forcefulness, surprised at how he was reacting.
"Lee…I-" he cut her off with a growl. She looked at him as he stared at her. She shook his head, making her wonder what he was doing.
"No, Lacey. These children are just as much mine as they are yours. We are going to raise them together and there is nothing you can say that will change that. I take my role as their father and your lover very seriously. You should have thought about that before you seduced me in your room. You won't get rid of me now, nor will I ever leave you." he noticed her blush and the gaping of her mouth.
"I…I didn't seduce you. We didn't have sex…it isn't seduction if you don't have sex!" she whispered frantically. She didn't want people getting the wrong idea, especially Sakura. Lee shook his head and reached out to her. He tugged her top aside to reveal a large hickey. She gasped as she looked from it to him and back. "Wha…where…when!?" she stuttered. Lee smirked and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.
"You may think that your little plant was controlling me, but I had more functionality than you think. I enjoyed our time together and look forward to more." he whispered to her and nuzzled her face. She stared at him, wide eyed, until she heard Sakura chuckling. She looked back at her boss with a mortified expression. Lee, however, looked unrepentant.
"Sakura-san…stop teasing Lacey-chan. She's embarrassed by being caught being affectionate with me." Lee smiled and looked Lacey in the eyes. An indignant bubble rose in Lacey's chest.
"I am NOT embarrassed of being affectionate with you. I am embarrassed because I am a private person and such conversations as being lovers is not something you discuss in front of friends, family, and especially employers. Sakura-san is all three!" she hissed and thumped Lee on the chest, avoiding hitting the little girl. Lee chuckled and shifted the girl he was holding. The girl mumbled, but settled down soon enough. Lee reached out and pulled Lacey to him, kissing her right there in front of Sakura. Lacey blushed and smiled when he released her and the two walked out of the room, their two new charges in their arms.
--
Hinata was nervous. Naruto had been oddly silent ever since they had rescued the children from The Center. She looked over at him and saw his melancholy expression. She wondered what was wrong with him, but her question was answered when she saw the small toy car Naruto had let the small boy he'd been holding play with. Naruto was staring at the car and he sighed occasionally.
Hinata smiled and slipped out of the room. She made her way to Sakura's room. She knocked lightly and was told to enter. She noticed that the two children she had been looking for were still on the bed, but most of the other children were gone. Hinata cleared her throat and looked at Sakura, who was rocking the small red headed boy.
"S-sakura-chan…c-can you do me a f-favor?" she asked nervously. She wanted Naruto happy and she knew that wouldn't happen unless he had those children back. Sakura nodded and Hinata wrung her hands. "N-naruto-kun has been very…sad…since we came back. He…he misses the children we took care of while we waited for you." Sakura noticed Hinata glance at the children on the bed and then back at her. Sakura smiled and she nodded.
"I was wondering who would be willing to take them both. It seems impossible and even downright cruel to separate them. Very well Hinata…you and Naruto will be responsible for those two children. If you need anything, let me know…okay?" Hinata smiled and bowed to Sakura.
"A-arigato, Sakura-chan." Hinata smiled and walked over to the children. She picked them up as they were, clutching each other. They were a little heavy, but she knew she could manage. She shifted them every so often as she made her way to her bedroom. She got there and put the children in their bed, pulling the covers over them. She went back and peeked into Sakura's room. "By the way, Sakura-chan…I have named the boy Yasuo and the girl Miyoko." Sakura nodded and Hinata left to go get Naruto. She found him walking back to their room and she smiled at him.
"Hina-chan…where were you? One minute you're right beside me and the next thing I know, you're gone." He arched a brow as she smiled at him. He cocked his head to the side as she took his hand and led him to their room. She put her finger to her lips and he was about to ask her what was going on when she pushed the door in and revealed the two children he'd become attached to. He gasped and looked at her.
Hinata smiled and nodded, answering his silent question. Naruto smiled and walked into the room. He put the toy truck in the little boy's hand and walked back over to Hinata. He kissed her gently and rested his forehead against hers when he broke their kiss. "Arigato…Hinata-chan."