Hey, I'm still here, rushing through some time here to get to the end, I hope it's okay. It took me a while to decide how I was going to do this chapter and how the infinite Tsukuyomi was going to go for Kayla. I had quite a few ideas for that but I think I like this one. It gives a cool AU vibe. Anyways I'm expecting it'll only take me a couple more chapters to finish this up.
Gaara hadn't shown her the ring that night. He left it as a surprise when he would make an announcement to the village the next morning. Something that had caused Kayla anxiety until she heard his speech. What had seemed like the whole village and more were gathered in the center of the village in front of the Kage building. The crowd had buzzed with murmurs and whispers until Gaara appeared and began to speak.
It was amazing how absolute silence fell. And more amazing how moving Gaara's speech turned out to be. He spoke like he was born to lead. Simultaneously, calming the village's worries and guiding them through his personal announcement flawlessly so that a few even have joyful tears pricking their eyes. Even the brash shinobi looked on approvingly.
'The life of a shinobi is short and full of hardship and death but a life without love is worse than death.' Part of his speech still rung in her ears.
They were engaged. The thought brought colour to her cheeks just as it had when he called her forward during his announcement and once again positioned himself on one knee. She was thankful that Temari had told her to wear her hair down. Even with the wild wind, it gave her some cover from the many eyes.
When the ring was finally revealed Kayla was awestruck at the smooth polished bloodstone sphere. Streaks of red cutting through green so dark it could have been black. The ring itself looked to be made of many thin gold tendrils wrapped together and laced around the stone.
As he slid the ring on her finger, the first drop fell. The wind had filled the sky with full clouds and as the water began to fall on the crowd celebration bordering on hysteria began.
In the years Kayla had lived in the Sand Village she had never seen it rain. She knew it rained out in the desert occasionally, especially near the oases but she had never seen it inside the village walls. The fat droplets were met with elation, excitement and an almost superstitious level of celebration.
She could barely believe what was happening. Open topped barrels were set out in the streets, on balconies and flat roofs to catch as much water as possible. Children ran through the streets or stood with their mouths open to catch the droplets.
It rained for a full day and when it finally ended, the village was in bloom. Plants and flowers of every colour sprung up out of the sand where nothing had previously existed. And just like the sand they lived in new life sprung into the villagers as well. The ensuing festival was immediate. The nomads had shown up during the storm, fearing flash floods out in the desert, but as soon as the news was spread they too joined the celebration. All sorts of vendors came out of the woodworks selling food and jewelry, clothes and crafts. The new blooming plants were gathered to make brightly coloured dyes and decorations.
The celebration lasted days. Whenever Kayla and Gaara ventured out into the festivities they were greeted with cheers and gifts. Kayla was presented with more flower crowns than she knew what to do with. And Gaara was surprised more than once by a hearty pat on his back and encouraging words from inebriated men.
Even if there was a lingering fear that the council would disapprove, Kayla couldn't help but be comforted by the vigour of the villagers' enthusiasm.
The celebration was well-timed, as news only got worse from there. Little over a month later, the Akatsuki attacked the Leaf village again. This time the village was destroyed.
It took days to convince Kayla that she couldn't go; that at 4 months pregnant there was nothing she could do to help even if she did go.
Temari went, bringing supplies and forces to help rebuild, promising Kayla she would bring back news of her sister.
Soon after the Raikage called for the 5 Kage Summit.
Kayla had sulked the entire time he prepared. Before she got pregnant she was sure she would've had a fighting chance to displace one of his siblings as a guard for this occasion. She couldn't argue this one no matter how much she hated being left behind. She had begun to show, even if no one in the village had the courage to ask her yet, she was stuck.
Watching him walk away took more self-control than she cared to admit, but he had made her promise to stay safe in the village. Of course, in exchange she made him promise to return safely. Baki wasn't her biggest fan by far but he enlisted her to help with running the village while the siblings were gone. It wasn't much but it helped keep her busy instead of fretting every moment they were gone.
There wasn't good news upon their return. War loomed. The Akatsuki, Madara Uchiha, was prepared to take on all 5 great nations to take the last two Tailed Beasts. Now the nations had to band together to fight.
Preparing for the fourth great Shinobi War had everyone working overtime. They were busier than busy. Training, and paperwork, and correspondence. Time escaped between their fingers like sand through an hourglass.
At 6 months Kayla was showing enough that they had to announce her pregnancy to the village. They gave no date, Dr. Amai had told them she carried small, although growth was steady so she wasn't worried. They hoped people's assumptions about her size would fill in dates well after Shukaku's removal.
Helping with the preparations made Kayla feel a little less useless. Gaara taught her many of his jobs so she could help pick up the slack as he prepared to lead the Shinobi Alliance Army.
On one such busy day, Kayla almost dropped the stack of documents she was holding when a new sensation surprised her. A kick, stronger than she thought possible, beat against her skin from the inside. She almost ran to Gaara, grabbing his hand to hold it flush to her stomach. She was still scared, but the look of amazement in Gaara's eyes as he felt the movement softened the fear.
The night before he left was the hardest. She was scared and angry, 8 months pregnant and not at all ready. He was worried she would go into labour while he was fighting. They stayed awake all night, feeling they needed to spend every second together until ultimately Gaara and all of the able-bodied shinobi ranked chūnin in or higher left.
Even though those left in the village were nervous, day to day life went on as normally as it could. Kayla helped deal with problems here and there with the help of some younger genin determined to prove themselves. She was still surprisingly mobile for how pregnant she actually was, although Dr. Amai checked on her constantly. She almost believed that the war would come and go without hearing a word from the battlefield.
Then the moon turned red.
And she was suddenly... not where she expected.
She sat outside a coffee shop in a bustling city. Cars and trucks honked at each other, people milled up and down the sidewalk talking on cellphones, brick and concrete buildings, and even a few skyscrapers filled every space down the road. The noise made her head buzz and her thoughts swirl.
The glass table she sat at had spindly metal legs twirled into a decorative pattern. Her right hand tapped its fingers on the glass impatiently. She couldn't remember what she was supposed to be doing. She was nervous, feeling as though she were in the wrong place. As a kid, she remembered thinking she and Rose would move to a city, where no one knew them, they could make a fresh start but her mind felt fuzzy trying to remember more.
Her skin felt wrong. She looked down at a flat stomach, her red t-shirt showing behind an unzipped black leather jacket. Dark blue denim jeans covered her legs. She zipped up her jacket, still feeling uncomfortable when a shock of red hair caught her attention coming out of the coffee shop.
Gaara placed two cups on the table. Hers was a cappuccino with foam art of the kanji for love. She blushed. Seeing Gaara eased her nerves, even if she wasn't where she was supposed to be she was with him. He looked good, she noted absentmindedly. Dressed in a leather jacket and jeans like her. He seemed to notice her unease. "Are you okay?"
She tapped her fingers on the glass table again trying to get her thoughts in order. "Why are we here?"
He gave her a knowing smirk placing a hand over hers to still her tapping fingers. "Are you that worried about meeting my parents? It's just for show, there's nothing they could say that would stop me from marrying you."
Her eyes widened, not believing what she was hearing. Her eyes drifted down to her left hand, the gold ring with a bloodstone sphere on her ring finger was familiar. They were going to get married. She smiled at that. But there was something else nagging at her mind. Glancing down at her stomach again she straightened her jacket in an uncomfortable motion, trying to focus on what Gaara had said. She sipped her drink, avoiding answering while she was still confused. She had never met his parents, although she couldn't remember why. "Are you worried about me meeting your parents?" She finally asked to counter his question.
This time he gave the kind of smile that made her heart melt. "Not at all."
They drank their coffees quickly and Gaara walked her out to the street where two motorcycles were parked, one red and one black. They each picked up their helmets from the bikes and got them started. Gaara led her through the city streets, winding their way to one of the large skyscrapers.
When they parked again she realized it was a huge condo, the name Sunagakure displayed elegantly over the entryway. The ride had been exhilarating but now she was worried again, her skin feeling too tight. Gaara led her calmly into the building and to the elevator punching in a code and hitting a button for the top floor.
Kayla shifted nervously, smoothly down her jacket almost obsessively till Gaara grabbed her hands. "They'll love you." It was almost a whisper, calming her infinitely as she took a deep breath and offered a shaky smile in return.
When they finally reached the top floor the doors opened revealing a short hallway with a heavy-looking door. A gold plate on the door had the word Kazekage etched into it. They approached the door and Gaara knocked.
When the door opened Kayla knew exactly who she was looking at. She was just taller than Kayla with shoulder-length sandy brown hair and deep blue -almost purple eyes. She smiled kindly at the two at the door, first reaching to greet and hug her youngest son, then turning to Kayla with an angelic smile. "So you're the one who stole my baby's heart?"
"Mother," Gaara said in a warning tone. Karura just laughed and led them in.
Karura led them into the extravagant looking home. Hardwood floors, framed artwork, finely-made furniture, and gold details stuck out to Kayla as she was led to a spacious living area.
Gaara's father was already seated in the living room waiting. Proper introductions were made, some small talk shared about the trip there. Talking with them was so natural and comforting the clinging feeling on her skin lessened. At some point, Karura pulled out a photo album telling Kayla all sorts of stories about Gaara's childhood despite his protests.
Then Karura asked Kayla to join her in the kitchen to help get some refreshments. When they were away from the men Karura faced her. "You keep touching your stomach, are you feeling ok?" She asked in a motherly tone Kayla had never experienced before.
The question caught her off guard, she hadn't even realized she was doing that. Kayla raised her hands defensively. "Yes, I'm fine. I've just been feeling odd today, nothing to worry about."
Karura smiled sweetly again gathering the refreshments they came for, "You'll take good care of my boy, won't you?"
But before she could answer the dream faded. She was wrapped in some sort of cocoon. Her chakra network burned worse than when Shukaku's chakra had been running rampant through it. With her head still fuzzy from the Infinite Tsukuyomi a new sensation came upon her. Muscles flexing to a cramping contraction so hard and sharp that she screamed.
She was going into labour.
Dun Dun Duuuuun. I hope to update again soon and get this done, I had a few people favourite and follow this story and a someone re-favourite it oddly enough. Thank you so much to each of you. It absolutely floors me every time.
