RECAP: They is goin to the archive building I dont think I'll be switchin between situations in this one so no MEANWHILE i dont think oh btw I'm sorry i keep syaing its almost over but everytime I try and finish I realize ive left something undone and I dont like stories with loose ends left so I plan on tying them all up before I finish here. I plan on my next one being Sasori and Deidara so if you have suggestions on those two give em to me in this stories comments plz. Trust me that one will definitely be shorter considering I don't know much personality wise on the akatsuki. Anyway please keep reading.
Tsunade wasn't really interested in what Naruto was doing but she wanted him out of her face so she was sending Shizune to take them to the archive building. Shizune wasn't really objecting but they could tell she didn't want to go. She led them out of the office and they started toward the Konoh archives. Naruto and Gaara were a few steps behind her and whispering so she couldn't hear them.
"Why didn't you tell Lady Tsunade the truth?"
"I just...she'd make it a huge deal..."
"But...nevermind..."
"What?"
"It just seems like..you're ashamed of us, at least when it comes to Tsunade..."
"That's not it at all!"
"OK so hold my hand."
"My pleasure."
Shizune wasn't listening to them or watching so she didn't notice. Naruto and Gaara were holding hand like they always did. Naruto was a little nervous about what Shizune would do when she saw but he didn't want Gaara thinking he was ashamed of him, he was far from it. The only thing holding him back from telling Tsunade was the fact that she didn't even know he was gay. To go in there and tell her they wanted to get married might have been laying it on a tad thick. They had arrived at the archive building. Shizune started talking as she opened the doors, still not facing them.
"OK look Naruto, contrary to very popular belief I have an ass load of work to do so I'm not staying. I don't really expect you to make Gaara wait out here so, Gaara you'll have to wait in the sitting area but even that's really pushing it. Naruto I know it'd be tough but if Gaara reads anything you have to either send him to Tsunade and if he doesn't you have to kill him OK?"
"Lady-like as usual."
She turned around a little annoyed.
"GOT IT?"
"Yeah, yeah. I got it."
Naruto forgot he was holding Gaara's hand until Shizune's eyes were quickly redirected to their hands. Naruto blushed and so did Shizune. She didn't say anything about it though and went back to the Hokage's office. Naruto and Gaara looked at each other.
"I wouldn't kill you."
"I'm glad."
"So how do we get you past all those books without seeing anything?"
"I won't look, and for added trust I'll close my eyes."
Naruto giggled and started guiding Gaara through the book shelves in the entry to the chairs towards the back.
"OK you sit and I'll go look around."
"I guess I'll be here."
"Be right back."
Naruto walked around for a while with Gaara occasionally looking over at him. After around 5 minutes Naruto came back over, empty handed.
"Find anything?"
"I have no idea where to look."
"Check under Konoha law."
"...Right. Be right back."
"Gaara giggled and Naruto continued searching. About five more minutes later he came back with a very thick book.
"Is that it?"
"Yep, Konoha basic law. I'd ask you to help but you can't so I'll read aloud."
"OK."
"Table of Contents: Criminal, Copyright, Immigration, Fraud, Insurance, International, Malpractice-"
"Naruto. Don't read the whole book. Does the contents say 'Common Law' anywhere?"
"Yeah, it's only a few of the whole book though."
"OK, that's where it should be."
"What exactly are we looking for?"
"A loophole."
"I thought we were looking for a law saying we can."
"Well think about it, how many other gay people do you know in Konoha, not many, so I doubt that they've made some kind of amendment saying that it's OK, but if they never actual say the marriages performed here must be between a man and a woman. In that case there's no need for an amendment."
"OK. We have common law...here it is, marriage. OK. Rules, if a minister is present, said minister must have the legal title of minister or ordination given within a 10 year period."
"That's not really about us yet."
"OK next. Both parties must be a mutual consent to the relationship constituting in marriage. That's not a problem for us...right?"
"Course not. Keep going."
"Both parties must be of legal age to enter into marriage or have parental consent of the marriage...we'll worry about that later."
"..."
"Both parties must be otherwise qualified to enter into marriage."
"What does that mean?"
"It goes on to say 'Both parties must meet certain requirements including being unmarried, of sound mind, and not sentenced to or currently serving a term of life in prison."
"Is that it?"
"No there's a small paragraph, 'Both husband or wife are able to nullify married under the following circumstances: Insanity precluding the ability to consent, Not intending-when marrying-to be faithful to the husband or wife, husband or wife being decieved by the other to obtain marital consent, the abuduction of either spouse-which constitutes as an impediment, husband or wife killed by the other in order to be free to marry, husband or wife having committed adultery, husband or wife were/was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time or marriage.' it keeps going and tells you how to get around the annulment of the marriage with very little money loss."
"Naruto...what are we gonna do?"
"What do you mean?"
"That whole paragraph referred to husband and wife over and over again."
"We should goto the Hokage...maybe this stuff is out dated..."
"Alright."
Naruto put the book up and went to get Gaara. He was standing and pacing a little by the chairs. Naruto looked at him and he was tearing up a little. Naruto took both of his hands in both of his own, and put his forehead against Gaara's.
"Don't worry. Everything's gonna be fine."
Naruto kissed him lovingly and they made their way out of the archive building. Still holding hands they walked over to the Hokage's office. Naruto could feel Gaara's hand getting clammy and tighter around his own. They got to the top of the stairs They started walking down the hallway. About halfway Naruto stopped and turned to Gaara, his eyes were still misty.
"Gaara, don't worry."
He let his tears leave his eyes.
"But what if she say we can't. What if she personally won't let it happen. What if we can't get married in the Sand either. What if somebody seperates us because I'm from the Sand and we never see each other again."
Gaara was sobbing now. Something Naruto had never seen before. He pulled him into a tight hug and felt Gaara's tears soak into his shirt. He'd never seen Gaara get so emotional. Gaara was holding on to him tightly and Naruto was rubbing his back to try and calm him and his breathing. He started talking in his ear.
"Shh. Shh. Eveything's gonna be alright. Don't worry. No matter what happens I will never let them take you back to the Sand without me. I love you Gaara, I always will. Even if we can't get married in either of our lands it'll be OK. We'll find a way."
"Thank *sob* you Naruto *sob*."
Naruto let go of Gaara and took his hand and kissed him. Gaara's eyes were red and his cheeks still had tears on them. Naruto wiped them off and kissed his forehead.
"Let's go in."
"...OK."
"Don't worry. I'll do most of the talking, she'll never know you were crying."
"Ha, you read my mind."
They walked up to the door, Naruto didn't let go of Gaara's hand to open the door this time. He walked in, Shizune wasn't there this time, she actually did have work to do. Naruto thought all she did was stand next to Tsunade. He continued to Tsunade's desk, still holding Gaara's hand.
"Grandma Tsunade."
"Good Lord. What is it Naruto!"
"Don't get snippy. Me and Gaara were wondering if it is in fact legal to have a same-sex marriage here."
"Why do you ask, that project for Gaara's friend?"
"No actually, me and Gaara were wondering."
She looked at their hands and then back to Naruto. He knew she understood. She reacted the very oposite way Gaara expected, she understood without saying anything or asking penetrating questions, she just...understood.
"I see. Well as far as I've read into those laws when I became Hokage, the only part stating that the marriages performed here are a 'union between a man and a women' would be the nullification regulations and all that jazz, something I find very ironic. Anyway the actual laws for the actual marriage ceremony never state anything about man or women it just says things like 'the spouses' or 'both parties'. So technically, yes you could get married."
"That's great!"
"Well I'm glad you're so excited about getting married but you do have to meet all the requirements. On top of that none of the nullification process will not apply to you two, but as far as I can see that's not a problem."
"So we have to meet all of the requirements?"
"Yep. You want to get married right?"
"Oh."
"The only one I see a problem with is the 'legal age' part. Neither of you are now, but with parental consent you can but as we all know only Gaara can use that. So Naruto I guess someone will have to make themselves your legal guardian."
"Would you do it?"
"I'd love to. That doesn't mean I want to take care of you. This is pure legality, I just need to file some paperwork."
"Thanks Grandma Tsunade."
"My pleasure. Now get out of my office, I have work to do."
Naruto laughed and he and Gaara left. Once they were out in the hall Gaara took Naruto by surprise and gave him a huge hug, as his eyes filled with tears of joy. Naruto gladly accepted the hug and he too had tears of joy in his eyes.
"Naruto, I love you."
"I love you too, Gaara."
Gaara took Naruto's hand and they walked out of the Hokage's office. They decided to goto Ichiraku's for some lunch. Naruto and Gaara started talking on the way over.
"I can't believe it."
"Believe what?"
"Think about Gaara. If you hadn't kissed me on that teacup ride...we wouldn't be together right now."
"Thank goodness I did then."
"I'm going to be eternally grateful to you for doing that. I love you."
Naruto turned his head and kissed him. Gaara thought that kissing in public was very out of character but it meant that Naruto was becoming more secure about other people's thoughts on their relationship, that made him happy, he knew it was harder for Naruto to do that because he knew everyone in town unlike Gaara. He liked being able to hold Naruto's hand, hug and kiss him without worrying if someone was looking at them funny. Gaara kissed him back, over and over again. Then they continued to Ichiraku's. They had their lunch then went back home. Everyone was right where they'd left them.
The four of them spent the rest of the day finding things to do around town and keeping busy. When it was about 10 at night everyone started getting ready for bed. Kankuro said goodnight first, Matsuri came after him and gave Gaara and Naruto hugs goodnight. Naruto and Gaara said they were going to bed soon after Matsuri had. Temari was still up, she'd planned it that way.
LOOK BOTTOM NOTE: Hello sorry but when I first upload these I keep forgetting that it's gonna be a huge friggin' block of english being shoved down your throat sorry about that. BOTTOM NOTE OVER AND OUT
