Gaara walked into his house, immediately sensing something was off. He was getting a bad feeling in his gut and he could not figure out what it could possibly be. He set his things down by the door and went into the kitchen and saw that the basket of food Shira said he would bring over was on the table. Peering into it, he noticed a few of the things were already eaten. "So Shira was here," he mumbled. He had expected Azumi to be in the kitchen eating. "Is she sleeping?" he asked softly. He went upstairs and into his bedroom. Azumi was not in there. He started to worry a little. Forcing himself to relax, he went into the bathroom, hoping to the gods that she was probably just taking a bath. As soon as he saw that it was empty, he rushed out of the room. As he passed the guest bedroom, he noticed someone in there. "Shira," he breathed, quickly heading in there and gently shaking Shira awake.
"Hhnng, Gaara?" He swallowed thickly, rubbing his face into the pillow. "You're back already?" He pushed himself up on to his elbows. "Did you—"
"Where is Azumi?" Gaara cut him off.
Shira woke up fast. "What...she isn't here?" he asked, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. "She was in the kitchen last." His heart started to race. His eyes widened as his blood ran cold.
"Fuck," Gaara growled. "Fuck!" He punched the wall. "She isn't here!"
"I didn't hear her leave." Shira pushed his hair back, stressed and starting to panic a little. "Maybe her brothers came over!" He tried to reason.
"No," Gaara shook his head. "No, that can't be it. Something isn't right." The bad feeling in his gut told him it was definitely not her brothers.
"Alright, alright, let's try not to panic right away," Shira said, more to himself. "Did you look all over the house?"
"Of course!" Gaara snapped, causing Shira to jump a little.
"Fuck," Shira pulled at his hair a little. "Well, then...let's go...uh..have you seen her snakes?"
"No!" Gaara started for the door. "We'll have to check...I...let's start with the coffee shop," he growled, rushing to the front door. He yanked it open and nearly slammed into the people he was not expecting to be on his doorstep.
The near impact made Azumi hiss in the pain she was anticipating. She closed her eyes, feeling the pain in her leg from a slight movement she made.
"She is going to need a splint," Utakata said to Gaara. "Her leg is broken."
Shira nearly fainted from relief and guilt at the sight of Azumi. Gaara stood in complete shock. Utakata had to clear his throat and yell his name to get the doctor to come back to himself. And the moment he did, he was in full medical mode. He pushed his rage and fear, every emotion to the side for later. At the moment, Azumi's health was the main focus. "Bring her to the kitchen now. Lay her out on the table," he ordered Utakata, spinning on his foot. "Shira, get my bag." Both men moved immediately to do as they were told. Utakata moved to the kitchen, gently setting Azumi down on the table. Shira entered the kitchen with Gaara's medical bag and set it down on a seat. Gaara put water on to boil and then returned to Azumi's side.
"I need you to make the antidote," Azumi told Utakata, propping herself up on her elbows. She handed him the list of ingredients that Komushi gave her.
"Me?" He took the note. "It's been a long time since I've made one," he frowned.
"You were poisoned?" Gaara's head snapped to the paper then to Azumi's face. "I thought you were immune?"
"I am immune to snake venom," Azumi said through a pained hiss. "I can still be affected by regular poisons but my system slows them down so it takes a bit longer to take effect." She gasped softly, biting her lip in pain. "I will help you," she told Utakata. "You are going to need venom from Naga, Ryuga, myself, and you."
"Mine?" Utakata asked.
"Mine is weakening right now. Yours will reinforce it."
"Alright," Utakata nodded, looking over the rest of the list. "Kaida, go find the—" he started to his snake when the two snakes slithered into the room with panicked hisses of their own at all of the activity happening around them. "Perfect timing, boys," he said, crouching to speak with them about their venom.
Above them Gaara watched Azumi. "Did he do this?" he asked her softly, knowing the answer full well.
Azumi did not answer at first, staying silent for a few moments. She could barely make eye contact with him, both out of shame and the fact that the poison in her system was starting to weaken her. She nodded slightly, looking down. "He did..." she said softly.
Shira brought the boiling water over and a couple of towels. "What else do you need?" he asked.
Gaara's hands paused, they were shaking with rage and he needed to compose himself again. He closed his eyes, clenching his jaw as he spoke. "Take her hand," he said tightly. "I'm going to reset the bone properly," he told her. "It's going to hurt."
Shira nodded, quickly taking Azumi's hand. "I'm so...so sorry," he said to her softly. "I shouldn't have...I'm sorry," he said again, squeezing her hand gently.
Azumi looked up at Shira. "You have nothing to be sorry for," she said through a pained grunt as she laid back. "Do not blame yourself for this. It is not your fault." She had surmised that Komushi followed Shira to the house since Komushi showed up so soon after Shira. However, that did not mean it was Shira's fault. She knew it was her decision to leave.
"But if I had stayed down here a little longer—"
"Shira," she cut him off, "we can talk all day about what-ifs but it will not change what has happened. And what has happened is not your fault. You have no reason to feel guilty."
"Brace yourself," Gaara told her softly. Shira nodded, lifting her hand to kiss her knuckles just as Gaara started to count. "One, two," on three he shifted her bone back into place and bound her legs together as fast as he could. Shira gripped her hand tightly hoping he could be any comfort to her.
Azumi squeezed Shira's hand back immediately, inhaling sharply and trying not to scream but letting it out anyway. Her other hand gripped the edge of the table really hard. "Fuck!" she yelled through gritted teeth, taking deep breaths.
Gaara finished just as the last of her screamed died down. He did not stop moving though. He cleaned the surrounding area with the hot water and then wrapped two clean hot towels around her legs. "I know it isn't much but hopefully that will reduce the pain even a little." He circled the table to gently smooth her hair back. He kissed forehead. "I'll go alert your family," he said as he kissed the knuckles of her other hand.
She took his hand, gripping it a little tighter than she meant to due to the pain. "No," she told him. "Do not tell them anything." She shook her head. "Not yet."
"Azumi," Utakata interrupted Gaara's confused protest. "I got all the venoms but yours. Are you sure you can give any?" he asked her. He had set all the bottles to the side and had a small jar in his hand.
She sat up and looked at the bottles to see how full they were and to determine just how much of her own venom would be needed. "I can," she nodded. She let Gaara and Shira's hands go and reached for the jar in Utakata's hand. He handed it to her and she brought it up to her mouth as she let her fangs out then filled the jar up almost halfway. By the time she was done, she was starting to feel very exhausted. She was running out of time. "You are going to need the first four items on that list," she told him as she handed the jar back. "Mix one item with one venom at a time before mixing it all together. It does not matter whose venom goes with what item. From there, make a generic antidote." Utakata nodded and stepped away to do as she instructed.
Gaara smoothed her hair back again, looking at her with so much fear. He knew she was strong but he should not have left her alone. She should not have been in this situation at all. He gently pressed a hand to her stomach while he held the other, pressing it to his forehead. He wanted to say sorry. But it was a useless word at the moment. He felt his own rage causing his body to shake again.
Azumi looked at him when she felt her hand press against his forehead. "I am sorry," she told him softly, turning her hand in his to run her fingers through his hair.
"Don't you dare," he said softly. "Don't apologize." He looked up at her. "None of this is your fault." He did not know how they got to her and he, frankly, did not care. It was the fact that they touched her. They entered his home and hurt her again. "I'll skin him alive," he growled lowly. "He likes pain so much, I'll give it to him." His eyes burned with a promise to her.
Shira's eyes widened. He walked around the table and put a hand on Gaara's back. "Hey," he said softly. "Let's let Utakata work. We can go set up the room for her," he said softly. He had not heard Gaara talk like that since they were teenagers.
Gaara hesitated for a moment before nodding and getting up. "Fine," he said softly. Azumi kissed his knuckles then let his hand go and the snakes joined her on the table, coiling on each side of her.
Shira led Gaara out of the kitchen and up the stairs to the bedroom. Once he deemed they were far enough from Azumi, he turned to Gaara. "You can let it out now."
Gaara broke down the second he was given permission. He threw anything he could get his hands on, tears rolling down his cheeks, fat and heavy. He screamed as he threw a punch at Shira who easily caught it. Gaara did not want to hurt Shira. He knew the other man could handle him. He did not hold back as he punched, again and again, Shira taking each in stride.
After a while, the punches slowed down. Gaara ran his hand through his hair, gripping it tightly and pulling at it a little. Shira watched him for a few seconds, wanting to make sure that he had truly let it all out. "I'm going to fucking kill him," Gaara growled.
"And you have every right to feel that way," Shira said with a nod. "But right now, we can't focus on him and need to focus on her."
"I know," Gaara rubbed his face. "I know," he repeated through a hiccup. "It just feels like no matter what we do he can find her," he sniffled, then growled through another hiccup. "She isn't even safe in my home." The tears threatened to well up in his eyes again.
Shira guided Gaara to sit down and rubbed his back gently. "Well, now that her leg is broken, moving her would be a problem," he said. "She should stay here but we'll make sure to have someone here at all times for her." He stayed quiet for a second. "And awake." He started to feel guilty again.
Gaara put his hand on Shira's knee, squeezing gently. "No one blames you," he told him softly. "But we all have jobs and she needs someone who can be with her at least until I get back."
"Sayumi," Shira perked up. His hand on Gaara's back stopped moving and his face lit up. "She can come over and stay with her!"
"Sayumi?" Gaara asked, slowly lifting his head to look at him. "Would she even be okay with that? They haven't met."
"They haven't," Shira chuckled. "But I know they'll love each other."
"How soon can you get her here?"
"Tonight, if you want. I'll ask her to come by and meet you guys."
"Please do," Gaara nodded, his face relaxing a little. He ran his hand through his hair and looked at the door. "We need to go back. I don't like being away from her for so long," he said, getting up.
"Okay, we'll head back and I'll go get Sayumi." He stood with his friend.
Gaara nodded and crossed the trashed room to the door. He would deal with it later. Together, they headed back to the kitchen. "How is everything going?" he asked Utakata on his way over to Azumi.
"Very well," Utakata said, "I think." He finished mixing the antidote and poured it into a cup for Azumi before handing it to her.
"I am sure you made it right," Azumi told him. "It may have been a while but this is not your first antidote."
"Well, we will know for sure when you start vomiting," Utakata chuckled.
Azumi nodded and quickly downed the antidote, grimacing almost immediately at the taste. "Yeah...that was made correctly," she gagged.
"Vo-vomiting?" Gaara backed up to reach for the now cold basin of water. He dumped it out and rested it in Azumi's lap. "Uh, what exactly is this poison suppose to do?" he frowned.
"You do not want to know," Utakata shook his head. "Do not ask again."
"He is right," Azumi said softly. "I am hoping this antidote works faster than the poison. I am already feeling exhausted." She ran her hand through her hair and sighed.
"I'm going to head out," Shira said softly. Gaara nodded, his stomach sinking at the thought of whatever this poison was meant to do. The worst-case scenario jumped forward in his mind. He glanced at her stomach, swallowing hard. Shira circled the table to take Azumi's hand and kiss her knuckles. "I'll bring some more food," he told her softly. "Something light for your stomach." He kissed her hand again.
"I'll make some tea," Utakata added. "You'll need it."
"Thank you," she said to both of them. Shira left and Utakata turned to make the tea. A few seconds of silence went by and Azumi looked at Gaara, taking his hand in hers. "Everything is going to be fine," she assured him. She was sure she took the antidote in time yet there was still a small part of her that thought maybe she had taken it too late.
"I should be saying that to you," he said, his eyes glassy. He pulled up a stool without letting go of her hand. "I should have been here to protect you," he said softly. He kissed her hand again, finger by finger, lingering on each one before pressing it to his cheek.
She shook her head. "Do not blame yourself," she said softly. "If anyone is truly to blame, it is me." She caressed his face then gently tilting it up so he could look at her. "But it has happened and there is nothing we can do about it now."
"Did they get any information out of you?" Utakata asked.
"No," Azumi answered. "They know nothing." She could feel the smallest tinge of nausea coming on and then looked around, holding the basin in her lap with her free hand. "I do not want to throw up in the kitchen," she chuckled.
"Bathroom?" Gaara asked her, standing up and squatting so she could put her arm around his neck. He waited until he was sure she had a good grip before pulling her into his arms.
"I think that would be best," she hummed, wrapping her arm around him and securing the basin in her lap so she could take it with her.
"I will bring your tea to you," Utakata said.
Gaara nodded to Utakata then took off for the bathroom. It was not a far walk and he was soon putting her down on a stool near the bathtub. "Do you want to sit in the tub?" he asked, pulling another stool up to rest her legs on.
She bit back a pained grunt and shook her head. "No, this should be fine," she told him, clutching the basin close. She did not want to be moved again. Not just yet. The feeling of nausea increased but she did not feel anything coming up yet. It would be another couple of minutes before it actually started working but the nausea was already a definite sign that it was. "You do not have to stay in here if you do not want to," she told him. She started putting her hair up to get it out of the way for when the time came.
Gaara shook his head, moving to help her tie her hair up. "No, I won't leave your side until you send me away," he told her seriously. He tucked any stray hairs behind her ear then moved to get a rag to wipe her forehead and neck down.
She nodded and looked down into the basin. "Do not tell my father," she said. "I understand the situation is very serious...but...things can get worse if he were to know about it. If you have to tell someone, tell your aunt and uncle or even Yashamaru but please," she looked up at him, "do not let my father find out."
"I won't," he said without hesitation. He was not going to argue or fight her on her father. He had seen what the man could do and how far he would go for his daughter. He wanted to see Sasori crushed but if Azumi did not what him to know then he would not.
"Thank you," she said softly. She went silent for a moment and then gasped quietly when she remembered something. "Why have you not told me that your father tried to kill you?" she asked, maybe a little bit more angrily than she wanted. She was not upset with him but the thought of his father's assassination attempts upset her.
"Uh..." He leaned away from her, blinking a little dumbstruck. "I...how did you find out...uuugh." He ran a hand through his hair, figuring out the answer to his question quickly. "That's not something people normally go telling the girl they are falling for, is it?" he asked sheepishly.
She paused for a second. "Well, no...but...that is not something you should just keep from her," she frowned at him. "Especially when you are having a child with her and made plans to marry her."
"I...would have told you eventually," he said softly. "I wasn't exactly intentionally not telling you." His cheeks started to burn a little. "He tried it a few times. Okay, several times." He looked up at her. "He...blamed me for my mother's death and really hated me. Without my siblings, Shira, and...Sasori," he growled the name, "I probably wouldn't be here."
She reached out and took his hand, running her thumb across the back of it. "If I ever see your father, I might kill him myself," she said.
"There's a long line for my father's head," Gaara chuckled, lifting her hand to kiss the back of it. "But thank you, my love," he smiled fondly at her. He let go of her hand only so he could move a little closer then took her hand again. "I love you," he said softly.
"I love you, too," she smiled. Another wave of nausea washed over her and she knew it was going to happen soon. She tilted her head back and groaned softly. "Ugh, this baby is going to grow up not knowing everything that they went through before they were even born," she hummed.
"That's fine," Gaara chuckled, moving his hand to rub her back. "All they need to know is that they are loved and their mother is strong." He kissed her temple as he continued to rub her back. He wished he could help her more.
"Eh, their father is pretty strong, too," she smirked. "I hope they are more like you because I do not want to deal with another me," she chuckled.
"I'm not so great either," he chuckled. "Let's pray for a good blend?" he teased. "Your resilience, big brain, and, uh...my...nice hair?" he laughed again.
"How about your patience and understanding," she laughed. "And your heart made of literal gold."
"You're going to make me blush," he teased her. His cheeks turned light pink. "No matter how they come out they will be perfect."
Azumi smiled and hummed her agreement. Just as she was about to say something else, she felt it coming up. "Ugh," she groaned, gripping the basin and throwing up into it. Gaara grimaced, hating the sound of her in pain. He kept rubbing her back and tucking stray strands of hair away from her face. He would run a bath for her the moment she was done so she could relax. After a solid minute, she was finally done. "I think that is all of it," she groaned. Gaara immediately started running the bath.
"That sounded horrible," Utakata muttered from the doorway with her tea. He stepped closer to set it down on the small table near the tub. He glanced at the basin and nodded. "It is supposed to be that color. It worked," he smiled.
"That's relieving," Gaara commented. "I want to give you a check-up once you've gotten some rest then. Just so I have a new baseline for your body," he said as he walked over to his shelf and realized he only had the scent she made for him. "You don't mind smelling like me, do you?" he asked, holding up the jars.
She looked at him and chuckled softly. "Of course, I do not mind," she smirked. Gaara grinned, putting the salt and oils into the bath for her. "Can you get me a cup of water?" she asked Utakata softly. "I can still taste the poison." He nodded and did as she asked so she could rinse her mouth out. Once she got rid of the taste in her mouth, she felt more at ease and set the basin in her lap onto the floor.
"We shouldn't be long," Gaara told Utakata. Getting the message, the other man nodded a bow and moved to leave the room. Gaara stripped down first then moved to carefully undo Azumi's clothing. "I'm going to get in with you since you don't really have your legs right now," he explained. He eased her clothing out of her bindings and placed it neatly to the side. "Ready?" he asked before getting ready to pick her up.
She nodded and held onto him as he picked her up. "It is almost as if all this time you spent carrying me has been in preparation for this," she joked.
"I was more hoping it was for when I'd carry you through our first home as a married couple," he laughed. "But I guess this is good too," he smiled, settling into the hot water with her. "It's not too hot?"
"No," she sighed, "it is perfect." She rested her head against him and hummed softly. Throwing up the poison took up what little energy she had left. She was running on empty at this point and knew she just needed to hold out for a few more minutes. She looked over at the table where Utakata set her tea and reached for it. It was just out of reach for her and Gaara pushed it closer very slightly, knowing she would rather have grabbed it for herself. She chuckled as she picked it up and took a sip. "I am going to hate not being able to move around on my own for a while," she grumbled.
"It won't be too long though," he chuckled. "I promise I won't dote...too much," he smiled, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. "But the moment the baby is here you'll be able to go back to moving freely," he said, slipping his hands into the water to cup her stomach. He could not wait to feel it kick.
She chuckled softly, resting her head against him again. Closing her eyes, she sighed a little. With another realization, she opened her eyes and gasped. "Aw, I cannot dance for a while," she pouted. She tilted her head back and let out a groan. "Honestly, the biggest downfall of a broken leg."
Gaara laughed softly, resting his chin on her shoulder. "It will give me time to try and catch up to you," he chuckled. "It will heal before you know it. Babies protect their mothers." He kissed her shoulder up to her neck, keeping each kiss soft.
"I cannot wait to meet this baby," she hummed, finishing off her tea. She reached out to place it on the table and with Gaara gently nudging it onto the table from her hand, it was a success. She sat up straight to wash up, not wanting to pass out in the bathtub.
"Me either," he smiled. "And now you will have all this time to think of things to make them or do for them while you heal," he smiled. "Like what kind of room they will have and outfits they will wear." He was starting to get excited all over again. He watched her wash up, his heart melting a little. She was so beautiful and so strong. He could not help reach out to gently take her face and pull her into a slow kiss. "You're going to be so amazing as a mother."
She looked at him and smiled softly, reaching her hand up to run her fingers through his hair. "Just like you are going to be an amazing father," she said. She reached up to let her hair down and looked around for what she could use to pour water over her to wash her hair. "Now would the amazing father like to help the amazing mother wash her hair?" she chuckled.
"I thought she would never ask," he smiled, reaching over the edge of the tub. He lifted a beautiful water jug just out of her reach. "This is only for my hair," he smiled proudly at it. "I made it," he whispered. He dipped it into the water and started to gently pout the water over her hair, running his fingers through it carefully. He set it down again nearby and started to massage her scalp.
She grinned at it. "It is beautiful," she hummed. She reached for a bottle of hair oil and smelled it. "Is this the one I made you?" she asked. It smelled familiar because she definitely smelled it on him but she did not remember if it was her creation.
"Everything I use is something you made me," he smiled at her. "I'll be honest, you gave me those gifts and I came gave my housekeeper my old stuff and used yours right away."
"Oh?" she smirked. "I am flattered." She smelled it again. "Would you mind if I used it?" she whispered through a chuckle.
"What's mine is yours," he smiled at her. "Especially since you made it," he chuckled.
She smiled and kissed his jaw. "Thank you," she said, pouring a little bit out into her hand and rubbing it over her palms before massaging it into her hair. "I want to make you a few more," she said she moved her hands. "It will give me something to do while I am...broken," she chuckled.
"You aren't broken," Gaara chuckled. The scent smelled a little different on her. It was still intoxicating, if not more so on her. "Your leg is just healing," he said in an exaggerated kind tone. He laughed softly and kissed her arm. "I will love everything and anything you make me," he told her. "Did you want me to ask Utakata for anything? We can set up a workspace for you here."
"I can make a list," she said. "It will not be a lot." She finished massaging the oil into her hair. "I might make something for myself," she whispered more to herself. She reached for the jug to rinse her hair but it was, unsurprisingly, just out of reach. "What kind of products do you want?" she asked, trying to grasp for the jug.
He chuckled hooking his finger around the jug handle to pull it just in reach for her. He hummed in thought, pulling back so she could lift the jug. "Um, I still have a lot of hair oil, a scrub and bath salt would be nice," he said, starting to wash himself up as she filled the jug with water. "I still have my original cologne but variety would be nice," he smiled.
"Mm," she hummed in thought as she decided exactly what she was going to make him. "Alright, this will be fun," she smiled. She rinsed her hair and waited for him to finish washing up. "I am ready whenever you are," she said like she had a choice.
He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her once he was done. "Brace yourself," he told her as he shifted to lift her up as painlessly as he could. He set her back down on her stools from earlier and grabbed a warm towel for her. "Would you like me to do your hair?" he asked her, setting aside another towel just for that.
She gasped softly and grinned. "Yes," she said, taking one of the towels to dry herself off. She did her best to wrap it around herself in her sitting position. "And if I fall asleep, I am sorry," she chuckled.
"Do you want it up or...I can try to braid it," he offered, picking up the towel and started to dry her hair the way he had seen her do it. He smiled, leaning down to kiss her head. "Don't worry about it. Go to sleep if you need to. I'll get you to bed," he said softly.
She hummed through another chuckle. "We just need to comb through it and then we can put half of it up. It will help it dry faster." She looked around for a comb and reached for it. Gaara followed her line of sight and nudged it to her so she could hand it to him. He smiled to himself as he put her hair up as she asked, taking his time to make sure it sat right for her. When he was done, she leaned back against him. She tilted her head back to look up at him. "Thank you," she smiled sleepily.
"Anything for you," he smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. "Ready to move again?"
"Mhm," she hummed with a nod. She braced herself, mentally and physically, for the movement. He moved around her and she wrapped her arm around him so he could pick her up. He carried her to the bedroom and carefully set her down on the bed. She sat up and held her towel up while she decided what she wanted to wear. She then realized she was too tired to figure it out. "I will let you choose what I wear," she laughed.
"Oh, that's a lot of trust," he chuckled, fluffing the pillows so she would be comfortable. He then turned to the basket of clothing that was brought over for her and pulled out a deep purple dress. "How does this look."
"Purple," she chuckled softly. "It has been a while since I have worn purple. I like it," she nodded. He brought it over to her and she took it to feel the material. It was one of the dresses that Sachiko had given her so it felt very quality. Very slowly and very carefully, she started to put it on.
"I like this color on you," he said softly as he helped her where she needed it. Once it was on, she took his hand and pulled him into a kiss as she leaned back onto the pillows. As soon as she was laying down, she could feel herself falling asleep. He pushed back into the kiss then sat on the edge of the bed to stroke her hair. "Do you want me to wake you up when Shira comes back?" he asked her softly.
"Mhm," she nodded slightly. Moments later, Kaida came slithering into the room, quickly moving onto the bed and coiling up on Azumi's stomach. "Did you come here to nap with me?" Azumi chuckled sleepily. Kaida hissed softly, resting her head so she could look at Azumi.
"Well, since you have a napping partner," Gaara smiled, "I guess I'll go check on Utakata now." He pulled a drawer out and placed a bell on the nightstand. "Ring this if you need me." He kissed her head one more time.
"Thank you," she said softly, gently petting Kaida's head until she fell asleep.