Here it is. Happy reading!
... (sept. Nazo-20)
Nazoko tried to pay attention. She really did. The basic concept was easy enough to understand. Two groups would go around and start pushing the Iwa nin inwards and then force them to pull back. Simple enough. It was the details that slipped her mind.
It was hard to remember them when Shikaku's authoritative tone sent a shiver down her spine. Her eyes couldn't decide if they wanted to watch his mouth, as if they could SEE his low, gravelly voice, or the way his mesh shirt clung to his upper arms. If only he wasn't wearing that the stupid jonin vest.
She knew he was wearing a shirt beneath the mesh but it matched his skin tone so well that it was hard to tell. The fabric under the vest was fitted to every contour of his lean body. She knew it hid the light dusting of hair on his chest and the slightly thicker trail of course hair that lead-
Names broke her out of her lust-induced stupor. "Han and Roshi?" Every pair of eyes turned to her. "Han and Roshi of Iwa?" Please say she was wrong.
"No," the captain of the third company said sarcastically. "Han and Roshi of Mist. You know, since we're facing an army from Kiri."
She couldn't bring herself to glare when the blood left her face so quickly.
"Nazoko?" Kushina asked as she placed a hand on her arm. "What is it?"
She shook her head. "That is very not good. Why would the Tsuchikage send them out?" She spoke mostly to herself. Crap. What did she remember about them besides the obvious?
"Care to share what has Konoha's fearless Hell Butterfly so frightened?" Shion, the captain of the second company, asked.
"Han... is one of Iwa's jinchuriki." Her eyes flicked back and forth as she went through the information Hisoka pushed to the front of her mind. "He hosts the five tails. Uses steam release." Why didn't she remember anything else? She closed her eyes and focused on the nest person. "Roshi. He hosts the four-tails. Lava release kekkei genkai."
"And how, pray tell, did you get that information?" Uboshi, the third company captain, asked while leaning forward.
"Does it matter?" She tilted her head. She turned away from the annoying man. "Of course, being jinchuriki make them dangerous enough to us... Let's hope they haven't learned how to harmonize with them." Not yet at least.
"Harmonize?" Kushina asked. There was a light in her eye that showed her true interest.
Nazoko suddenly realized that she had never even considered telling Kushina about herself. How foolish. All this time, Kushina could have been working on becoming friends with Kurama. Nazoko flinched at her own stupidity.
"Let's just say it would make them twice as deadly... probably more."
Uboshi twitched. "Harmonize with a tailed-beast? Pah! That's ridiculous!"
She leveled him with an even stare. "Killer Bee of Kumo has done it with the eight-tails." At least... he would. Damn. Maybe she shouldn't talk.
Shion cut Uboshi off before he could say anything else. "If they have? What then?"
Nazoko lowered her head in thought. "The only thing it would change is their power level." Her head spun as ideas ran through it and were discarded faster than she could really process. One stuck out. It bothered her, how the changes she was trying to make now could affect the future in a negative way. Without Zetsu, how were the elemental nations supposed to come together? Would the Allied Shinobi Forces ever happen? Perhaps she could use this as an opportunity...
Would it even make a difference? Perhaps not. But... did the tailed beasts not also deserve a chance for a better life? Saving Obito wouldn't stop Madara, or Zetsu, from setting their plan in motion. Of that, she had no doubt. However, saving him would throw her into darkness.
She shook the thoughts from her head and brought up the original. It was worth a shot. At least no one could tell her she didn't try.
"Minato, you can transport more than one person with your Hiraishin, right?"
He nodded.
"Minato and I are the fastest ones here. We can act as the distractions for Roshi and Han while the rest execute Shikaku's plan."
"No." Shikaku shook his head. "My plan requires a heavy hitter in the middle. Someone else-"
"Anyone else wouldn't be fast enough. Kushina is an extremely heavy hitter and can easily take my place." She paused. "Minato is faster than me and his Hiraishin can get us both out if something happens. As a double safeguard, I can summon Shokan before going in."
She could see it. The battle behind his eyes. Shikaku knew that no one else present was fast enough to escape if things went wrong. However, his feelings were a different matter entirely. His logic and emotions were at war.
Minato placed his hand on Nazoko shoulder. "We'll both make it out, Shikaku."
Shikaku set his jaw and nodded. "Alright. Kushina, you'll be taking Nazoko's place in the middle group to push back."
Kushina nodded. "Got it."
The meeting didn't last much longer. The various captains left to inform their squadrons of what they were going to do. Nazoko lingered in the room, hoping to talk with Shikaku before she left. She met his gaze...
Shikaku turned and left the room.
Her eyes closed as her heart twinged. Minato found her in that exact position twenty minutes later.
"Nazoko, we have to head out bef- What's wrong?"
She shook her head and inhaled deeply. Opening her eyes, she smiled sadly at Minato. "Shikaku's mad at me."
Her blond friend frowned. "Nazo-"
She held up a hand. "It's fine. Let's go." She led the way.
Well... It was easier than expected to lure the Iwa jinchuriki away. They were already separated from the rest of the force. Nazoko didn't know if it was because of their status or dumb luck. She wasn't sure if their status' were known to the public or not. Perhaps it was more of a self-imposed isolation.
She jumped away before the steam could hit her. Some of Han's attacks were rather loud. They sounded like a locomotive was coming at her. If nothing else, he could irritate his opponent's eardrums...
However, he was not the one she wanted to fight. Okay, she didn't want to fight either one, but Han wasn't the one she was aiming for. Her head told her that Roshi was the one most likely to listen to her while Han would be more difficult. She sighed. Minato was a little too far away for her to yell at, so she'd have to make do.
"You're Han, right?"
His head dipped. "I am. And you are Fuji Nazoko."
"Uh... yeah?" She chided herself. "Sorry. I AM Nazoko. I just can't quite get over the idea that people recognize me outside the village."
Han chuckled. "I can understand the feeling." The pair hadn't stopped moving during their introduction. However, he tilted his head and ceased his assault.
Nazoko copied the action and froze where she was. There were only a few feet between them and she was struck by how big the man was. He was easily three heads taller than her if not more.
"You don't seem to be giving this fight your all." It wasn't a question but there was curiosity in his tone.
Well, what do you know? Perhaps Han would be easier to talk to than she imagined. "I am here because I was hoping to talk."
"You want to talk? Our nations are at war."
"You are the five-tails jinchuriki." She saw him tense and she held up her hands. "I only want to talk. I ask that you listen and then, we can go back to fighting if you want."
Slowly... Too slow in her opinion, Han uncoiled. "I will hear you out."
She sighed in relief. "Thank you. I only mention that you are a jinchuriki because it is relevant. There are some people, I don't know who, that are looking to capture the tailed beasts. I wanted to warn you."
"How did you hear this?" He asked after a moment of silence filled only with the sound of Minato and Roshi fighting.
She tried to send him a smile but it ended up a grimace. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that." She sighed. "I can only say this... Whoever it is, you cannot underestimate them. They want what's sealed inside you. I don't know when they will come, but they will. It may not be this year or even in the next five years."
"Why tell me? We are enemies."
"We are enemies because of the villages we belong to." She frowned. "Maybe I hated all of Iwa when I was younger... When an Iwa shinobi took the life of my genin teammate..." She had to swallow back the thickness that started to form in her throat. "Even now, I am not particularly fond of your headband. But my anger and hatred are not for you. Also, the people who are after you, I can tell you their goal would not just endanger your life, but those of the people I love. So, if warning you and any other jinchuriki I come across can save them, it is the least I can do."
Nazoko turned her head towards Roshi. "I would tell him as well... But he seems to be having fun with Minato. Would you pass the message along for me?"
Han studied her for a long while before he nodded.
She bit her lip. "If you'd like... I can send along any other information I get regarding this subject..."
"Hm... How would you get the information to me?"
She slowly reached into her kunai pouch, ignoring Han tensing up again, and pulled out the small square of paper. She showed him the seal on it. "This is a special seal. It contains a sliver of my chakra. If you keep it on you, my summons will be able to find you." She understood Han's look of disbelief.
"You want me to willingly take something that will give you the means to track me?"
She smirked. "To be fair, I can't track this. Only my summons can." It was a long shot anyway. She shrugged and put it back in her pouch. "I thought I'd offer. I am serious though. Please pass on the message. One last thing... What's its name?"
"What?"
"The tailed beast inside you. What's its name?" They both jumped back when a ball of lava hit where they were standing.
"Stop messing around, Han!"
She and Han made eye contact. She'd said what she wanted to say and he'd listened. Their business was finished. Now, it was time to fulfill their duty to their villages.
She pulled out a section of her staff and twirled it. She lunged forward.
A loud whistle was released from his back as steam poured out. He lunged as well.
Difficult barely described the kind of opponent Han was. He had the five tails chakra at his beck and call on top of his unique jutsu. He was good with taijutsu. He was even more comfortable with it than she was. All she really had was her speed. Her physical strength seemed to be JUST above his own. That only counted when he wasn't using the steam to enhance his own strength.
It didn't help that Roshi wasn't quite as refined. He'd spew his lava just about anywhere. Nazoko had to be aware of that and still track Han. His steam was actually making it harder to do. Not because it cut off her line of sight. No, his steam was filled with chakra. His and his beasts. It nearly masked his own completely.
She was at a disadvantage all around. All she really could do was dodge his attacks. One hit from him would shatter bones. His steam, if he willed it hot enough, would blister her skin. She couldn't see and her sensory ability nearly nullified. The constant burst of speed and sudden stopping she had to do was sapping her energy at a steady rate.
It was difficult to gage time. All she really knew was that the explosion in the distance was a godsend. Especially when Roshi's words told her the reason.
"Han. Retreat."
"Hn."
She and Minato let them leave.
"Did you say what you needed to?" He asked without taking his eyes from their fading forms.
"Aa. I hope it's enough."
He finally turned towards her. "I don't know what you hoped to accomplish with that, but for your sake, I hope so as well."
She furrowed her brow. "Minato... Why are you angry with me?" The expression he gave her after that chilled her. It was a dad look if ever she saw one.
"I'm not angry. I'm disappointed." He didn't let the conversation go any further. "Let's head back."
Hurt filled her chest. She'd been able to push back the feeling when she knew Shikaku was angry but this pulled it back to the front. She didn't understand... Shikaku had the excuse of being worried. Minato, on the other hand, did not. At least, not to the same extent. So, why the hell was he disappointed?
She trailed him, always leaving a few feet between them. It took them about twenty minutes to make it back to their group. Their distraction had taken them further away than she thought.
"Minato!" Kushina ran up and embraced the blond man. When she pulled back, the look of adoration was enough to make Nazoko uncomfortable. "You're alright. I'm glad."
"I'm not injured," he agreed with a gentle smile, looking her over for injuries.
Finally, the red-heads gaze turned to the brunette. "Nazoko! I'm glad you're oka-" Kushina frowned. "Your right arm..."
Nazoko glanced down. Oh. When had that happened? Her sleeve was torn to the elbow of her right arm. There were some areas that had blistered. Guess she wasn't fast enough. Now that she knew it was there, she began to feel it. She kept her face neutral and shrugged. "I'll survive."
"You really should see-"
She sent her friend a smile. "I appreciate the concern. I'll do what needs to be done. If you'll excuse me." She walked away. Too much. It was a little too much for her right now. She grabbed a small jar of burn cream from a passing medic and found a spot far enough away to give her the illusion of privacy.
She wasn't sure how long she sat there just staring at the jar and letting the physical pain be all she felt. Long enough that someone came looking for her, apparently. She felt the privacy seal as it activated.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She clenched her jaw and kept silent.
"Nazoko... We went to distract them. You obviously had an ulterior motive for going yourself. It could have ended badly-"
"Don't. Minato, you can't do that." She met his stare. "You told me you didn't want to know what the future held unless you needed to. I've been trying to honor that. The future I know has a lot of bad things, yes. It also has some good. I don't know what the future holds for Han or Roshi. Not in life. But their future ends with their death. I needed to warn them, Minato. To try and set in motion one of the few good things that I saw. If I thought, for a second, that my idea would have put you in jeopardy, I wouldn't have done it.
"You can't just tell me not to tell you about the future and then expect me to tell you every little thing I'm doing to try and create a better one. I know you. Your very nature is curious. Sure, you know when not to ask questions, but can you really say that you would have accepted me saying I needed to talk to our enemy and then just let it go? The answer "it has to do with the future" is only going to be acceptable so many times and you know it."
Minato winced. "You're right. I'm sorry." He sighed. "This is all a mess, huh?" He took the jar from her and applied it to the blistered areas. "What if I wanted you to tell me everything?"
"I wouldn't. Not because I think anything bad would happen. I just... I suppose I should say that I won't tell you right now... Not for another few years. Once a certain thing happens then I'll tell you anything you want to know. Until then, I'm afraid my lips will be sealed."
"You don't want to tell me so you can see my reaction," he deadpanned.
Nazoko chuckled. "Damn straight."
"Well, that does tell me a little bit at least. It isn't anything that would hurt me. As you say, we're family and you would never let anything hurt your family." He made a sort of scoffing noise. "Listen to me. I'm trying to figure it out even though I don't want to know. The temptation to know is strong and I think that's the problem. I DO want to know just as much as I don't. Those two sides are fighting inside me and even though I understand that your actions are driven to make things better, it bothers me that you can't tell me. That is only made worse by the fact that I was the one to tell you to not say anything." He bandaged up her arm.
She sucked her teeth. "I'll tell you now... If I come across another jinchuriki, I'm going to do the same thing. They deserve to be warned."
His eyes grew steely. "The jinchuriki... They're in trouble?"
It was then that she realized Minato must know about Kushina. "At the moment, no. I can't say for sure how long that will be the case for most of them."
"What about..."
THAT was the point when she realized he wasn't sure if she knew about Kushina. "Minato... I've known about her before she even became it."
His chakra and posture relaxed. "And it doesn't... bother you?"
She sent him an unamused look. "You would know if it bothered me."
"Heh. I guess you're right." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"It might be a good idea to tell her about me," she mused. "I know she was interested when I mentioned harmonizing with the tailed beasts. I can't picture being able to explain the process to her without her demanding to know how I know. Not without lying and I've tried hard to not do that."
"You've done it before."
Nazoko looked affronted. "I have not! I might've twisted the truth and used tactics to misdirect, but I've never outright lied! Maybe if I hadn't met Sakumo and Okami so young, I wouldn't have such a hard time with lying. Seriously, those two are walking talking lie detectors."
"Ah. Fair enough."
A woosh of air left her. "I have no idea what to do about Shikaku. I would've told him about my plan. I'm actually upset that he didn't even give me the chance." The longer she thought about it, the more her anger grew. "No, I'm more than upset. It wasn't like I could just come out and tell everyone in the room why I was suggesting I go. I get that he was worried but-"
She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Minato was not the person she should be talking to. She'd have this conversation with Shikaku when he finally came around to talk to her.
"Sorry." She pulled out the tie holding her hair and ran her hand through it. "I'll talk to him about it." She hadn't trimmed her hair since Mikoto had to cut it about three years ago now. It'd grown about eight inches and was down to her lower back.
"Try not to hold it against him too long? He's a guy. Guys tend not to react well when someone we love is being put in danger."
She shook her head. "Don't try to defend him. No one reacts well when someone they love is in danger. That is not a guy thing. In some cases, my future knowledge is a balm. Not the greatest one, I'll admit. Just because you came out alive in the dream, doesn't mean you will now. You or anyone else... It's actually even harder with Shikaku in a way. His intelligence is going to make him some dangerous enemies outside the village. I worry if being with me has... I don't know. Changed too much and he'll end up dead before..."
Minato crouched down in front of her. "That must make it harder. Once again, I'm sorry that this burden has landed on your shoulders. I can only say that I'll try not to let it get to me again."
Nazoko made a face. "I suppose I can try to make more of an effort to keep you informed. I can't promise that it'll be anything more than "it's a future thing" but I'll try."
"Fair enough... Uh... Were you really thinking about telling Kushina?"
Nazoko snorted. "Maybe. Not outside the village though. Come on. It's getting dark and I'm tired." She stood and made her way to the woman's bunks.
Shikaku still hadn't come to see her by the time lunch was finished the next day. She had to remind herself that he was going to be in high demand right now. Their push to get Iwa further away from their border had been successful. He'd be needed to create a few plans to keep it that way.
She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and set to work helping the genin corps with their fortification efforts. It was thankless work. A lot of digging for the underground storage areas. She decided to do it manually rather than use an earth jutsu. It was easier to keep busy that way.
"Nazoko-san! How youthful of you to offer your aid!"
Her eye twitched out of habit at the voice. Memories of horrendous physical workouts flitting to the forefront of her mind. "It'll get done faster with more hands, Dai-san."
He sent her a thumbs up. "That may be true, but it is still work that you do not need to do and for that I commend you."
"Right... I'm glad to see you in such high spirits. How's that personal training of yours going?"
He stuck his shovel in by her and got to digging. "Very well, thank you for asking. Gai has picked up on it faster than I could have hoped."
She smiled. "Your son will be a taijutsu master one day."
Manly tears streamed down his cheek as he stared at her. "Your words are so kind, Nazoko-san! You are an inspiration!"
She listened to Dai's long-winded speech about his son. It was hard to get him, or Gai for that matter, to stop talking so the next best thing was to direct the conversation. At least she wouldn't be required to talk much.
He'd ask her a question here or there. She'd answer. He'd continue filling the silence. It was a good way to pass the time.
"Dai-san. It's good to see you."
"Choza-san!" Dai grasped the man's hand. "I'm glad to see you doing well! Do not fear! Gai has been training every day so he can live up to your expectations!"
"I, uh, wasn't worried. Gai is a very hard worker."
Nazoko kept her attention on the task before her. She could feel Shikaku's stare but the childish part of her wouldn't talk first.
"Dai-san, Choza can't seem to explain the sort of training you have been doing with your son. Perhaps you could tell me?" Inoichi led the excitable man and Choza away, leaving Nazoko and Shikaku relatively alone.
The only sound was that of her shovel scooping of dirt for a few minutes. Shikaku sighed. "Troublesome," he muttered under his breath. "Nazoko, I'm sorry. Will you please look at me?"
She paused. She could do that, right? She gauged the likeliness of her crying if she looked at him now. She took a breath to steel herself before turning. Damn. It was a lot harder than she thought it would be to keep the damn tears at bay. She managed... somehow.
He ran a hand behind his neck. "You didn't come to our room last night." That wasn't what he wanted to say. She could see that pretty clearly. It wasn't exactly "their" room. It was a room that could be used by a commanding officer and since they were both there, they figured sharing wasn't a bad idea.
Honesty seemed like the best way to go here. "I thought I'd sleep better in a room with someone who wasn't angry with me."
His eyes closed and his features took on a pained expression. "I'm not-"
"Yes. You are. I want to know why."
They both became aware of the silence around them. Those within the area had stopped what they were doing to eavesdrop. Nazoko huffed. She caught the gaze of one of the genin closest to her and tossed her shovel at him. She walked away and Shikaku followed.
She ended up bringing him to the same area that she'd spoken to Minato. This time, she placed the privacy seal before taking a seat on the log.
Shikaku stood in the Nara slouch. "Okay. I was angry. I... I don't like how you are always so reckless."
She raised a brow. "Reckless? Shikaku, given what I told everyone, you know that Minato and I were the best choices to distract those two."
"I know that." He growled though he aimed it at himself. "I know it was the best option but it wasn't the only one. You seem to always throw yourself into dangerous situations without trying to think of any other way. Kushina could have gone with Minato. It might have even been just as good of an option as you since-"
Nazoko shook her head. "Jinchuriki verses jinchuriki is not a good idea. I had other reasons for suggesting myself. I had every intention of telling you what those were but you... You WALKED OUT before I could! I haven't told you everything that I've seen. I NEEDED to try and talk to Han and Roshi. Maybe putting my name out there as the distraction seemed reckless to you, but I don't often make a decision without thinking it through!" Her voice had raised during her short rant.
"This isn't the first time, Nazoko! Back when Jiraiya suggested you be the one to do the sabotage mission, you agreed without hesitation. When you were on that reconnaissance mission in Grass that resulted in you being nearly killed by a suicide jutsu. Shibi said that you barely seemed to think about it! That's not counting all the little things in between that gave you the reputation for never leaving a man behind. When it comes to your own life, you just don't seem to care!"
"Of course I care! If it comes down to my life or the lives of a hundred others, I'm going to choose the more important!"
"Your life is the most important one to me!"
They were both breathing heavier as they stared each other down. Somehow, she'd ended up standing during the argument. She forced herself to sit and let out an explosive breath through her nose that sounded amplified due to the hands covering her face. She took a few deep breaths before trying to talk again.
"Shikaku... When I first started having the dreams, once I realized they were real, I was only worried about staying off of everyone's radar. I didn't want any attention on me. Then, I became friends with Minato. He became like a brother to me. Minato doesn't know this, but the future I saw... He dies." Her eyes teared. "Him and Kushina."
She swiped under her eyes. "That was when I decided I couldn't just sit back and let it happen. I had to save them. And then I met Jiraiya. He dies too. And then... I met you." Their eyes connected. "You die too. Shikaku, I can see why it looks reckless. Truly, I can. But everything I'm doing is to try and make sure no one I love will die before old age can do the job."
She let out a wet, humorless laugh. "The worst part is... You knew you were going to die. You knew, and you chose to continue doing your job. You and everyone else might have had a chance to get away from the attack, but you all stayed because you still had a job to do.
"If I fail and things still happen as I saw..." She sobbed. "I've already seen you die once. I can't live it as well." Arms pulled her forward and she was held tightly against a chest.
"Fuck. Nazoko, I'm sorry. I had no idea-"
"No, I'm sorry. I could have told you some of these things before all of this and I didn't." She clutched the back of his vest. "I can't promise that my decisions won't seem reckless, but I CAN promise that I won't be making them without thinking them through. And I will ALWAYS come home," she vowed.
"You can't promise that."
"I just did."
"Well, I can't promise that I won't get upset at one of your seemingly reckless choices. I'll try to remember that you're not making them on a whim. And I'll try to not let my anger stop me from hearing your reasons. I also promise to always come home." He was quiet for a moment and then he groaned. "Now, please don't sleep in the woman's barracks tonight. I can't sleep anymore when I know you're around but not next to me."
"Okay. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night either," she confessed with an embarrassed giggle.
He kissed the top of her head and held her close. She basked in his warmth and was glad to have cleared the air... For now, at least.
...(oct.-nov. Nazo-20)
"Ow!"
The seamstress scoffed. "Stop fidgeting."
"Why are there so many layers?" Nazoko resisted the urge to cross her arms. "Yoshino didn't have to wear so many..."
Kairi hid a smile behind her hand. "Yoshino wasn't marrying the clan heir. I'm afraid the elders will be expecting a more traditional kimono for you."
"I know," she sighed. "They're just lucky that I'd like to start on a good note. If they're expecting me to bow down to their demands at every turn just because I'm giving in for this they have another thing coming."
Kairi nodded. "Good. They need a good ass kicking every once in a while. I'm glad Shikaku found someone like you. Someone whose heart is kind but strong. Someone who can keep up with him intellectually and will hold him to task."
Nazoko swallowed thickly. "Thanks... I think I'm the lucky one. Shikaku is really incredible, ya know? I can be pretty chaotic at times and he... He keeps me grounded. For the most part, he can keep a level head in any situation. He listens when I talk. He helps me figure out solutions to problems that haven't even happened and might never happen. He's a good man."
"On his own, I completely agree." Kairi studied her. "Shikaku is a very good man. With you, Shikaku is a great man. There is something he sees in you that makes him strive to be better. You're good for him, Nazoko-chan."
Nazoko tried to discreetly wipe a stray tear. She had no idea that Kairi thought so highly of her.
Nazoko made a face. "This tastes horrible."
Yoshino shook her head. "Which is why we are taste testing. So that's a no to that kind. Let's try the next one."
"I'm convinced you just want to get me drunk," she stated dryly.
Tsume threw her head back and howled with laughter. "Oh, come on, Nazoko. You've only tried three kinds! You'll have to drink a whole lot more if you wanna get drunk unless you've never touched the stuff before."
Nazoko sent the Inuzuka a flat look. "I haven't."
Tsume blinked. "Seriously?"
"Seriously."
Floored sounded like a good way to describe Tsume's new expression. "How the hell have you gone so long without trying sake?!"
"I have yet to drink any alcohol to date." Unless you counted Before, which she didn't. "I've had better ways to spend my time."
"How about this one?" Yoshino passed the next round of cups out.
A shudder wracked her frame. "Ugh. Too sweet. That one almost made my teeth hurt."
"You're so picky," Tusme teased.
"Oh, hush you. Drink you're free alcohol and keep quiet."
"Yes, Ma'am." Tsume mock saluted Yoshino and downed her cup. "Oh. Okay, that one is too sweet."
Nazoko let out a long breath. "Okay, I'm starting to feel it."
Tsume started cackling. "Already? You lightweight!"
Nazoko leaned back and crossed her arms. It took her friend a few seconds to calm down.
"You ladies seem to be having fun." Inoichi, Choza, Shikaku, and Ensui walked into the kitchen.
Yoshino was out of her chair quickly. "Welcome home." She gave Ensui a peck.
"Not particularly." Nazoko rubbed the back of her neck. "They're trying to get me drunk."
Tsume scoffed. "You're trying to get yourself drunk. I mean, really? Who hasn't had a single drop of alcohol by the time their twenty?"
Nazoko groaned. "Shikaku, why don't you pick one?"
He walked over and dropped a kiss on her cheek. He grabbed a bottle and poured it into a cup. "Try this one."
She did. "Huh. That's not too bad." She shrugged. "Works for me."
Yoshino frowned. "Don't you want to find one that you like? This is going to be what you drink at your wedding."
"Yoshino... I don't care what I drink. I don't care what I wear. I don't care what I eat. I don't care what kinds of flowers are being used. I'd be happy without all of it." She placed her hand on top of Shikaku's. "As long as Shikaku is the one standing beside me as my husband at the end of the day, THAT is all I care about." The hand on her shoulder tightened comfortingly.
Yoshino looked defeated. "I can't even argue with that statement."
"Yeah..." Tusme stood and whistled for Kuromaru. "This is getting too touchy-feely for me. I gotta go pick up Hana. I'll see you on the big day." Everyone waved goodbye.
"So," Nazoko said after a moment. "That one."
"Yeah, yeah." Yoshino rolled her eyes.
"Nazo-chan," Kenta said as he took his daughters still form. "You look beautiful."
Nazoko opened her eyes and she sent a small smile to him. "Thank you, Tou-san."
"Are you ready?" He held out his hand.
She took one last look at herself in the mirror. The very outer kimono was a simple white color. The obi holding it together was beige with light forest green accents. While there were no official colors for a clan, the tan and green shades were most commonly worn in the Nara clan.
Mikoto had done her makeup. Keeping with her wish to not be overdone, her eyes had been lined in black but framed with a pale tan that was two shades darker than her skin tone. A very light pink gloss covered her lips. She'd refused to let Mikoto cover the pink burn on her jaw. It was as much a part of her now as everything else.
Okami had done her hair. Again, Nazoko hadn't wanted anything too complicated. The brunette strands had been pulled around until they fell over her left shoulder. She'd used a two strand french braid technique and a few bobby pins to secure it. Then she'd used the hair in front of her left ear and brought it to where the french braid had ended and styled it to look like a flower, securing it with more bobby pins. The remaining hair had been curled loosely.
She took Kenta's hand. "Aa. I'm ready." Despite her calm exterior, her heart was beating rapidly.
"Nervous?" He asked as he led her towards the door.
Was it nerves? She shook her had. "No. Excited."
"I'm glad." He sighed wistfully. "I'm going to miss your breakfast experiments."
A single laugh fell from her mouth. "You make it sound like I'm moving far away. I'm literally a ten-minute walk from you."
"So long as you don't forget about your poor tou-san," he sniffed.
He always had a way of making her feel at ease. She loved him dearly. "Thank you. For everything, Tou-san."
"Of course." He gave her an endearing smile. It was replaced by a teasing wink. "Now let's go bag you a husband."
Between her father's words and finally laying eyes of Shikaku, her heart had steadied. This was Shikaku, after all. He wasn't perfect, but she loved him. He would be her rock amidst the sea of chaos that was coming, steadfast and unyielding. Stubborn might be a word that could describe him as well.
If asked to retell how the wedding went, she wouldn't be able to say. Most of it was a blur. The only thing she remembered was not being able to take her eyes off of Shikaku and how completely and ardently happy she was. Especially when she'd been able to switch from the multilayered, bland kimono into the more brightly colored one. She was still wearing layers, but only three instead of the seven. It was supposed to be twelve... Yeah, she'd put her foot down and said that the elders should be happy she was even agreeing to seven.
Well, she remembered that and one other event during the reception. She was able to pull her eyes away from her husband -and how awesome was it to say that?!- when an awkward hush fell over the gathered people. Her mouth dropped open when her eyes landed on two people.
She had expected the Hokage. It was the wedding of a clan heir. Politics and all that crap would dictate he make an appearance. What she hadn't expected, and what had caused the awkward silence, was the second person.
She cleared her throat. "Kazekage-sama... It's a pleasure to see you again." She bowed.
"Fuji Nazoko... I suppose it's Nara Nazoko now. My apologies for stopping by unannounced. I was here to speak with your Hokage about a more official treaty when I heard the good news. I thought I'd give you my congratulations in person."
She bowed again. "It's an honor to have you here. Thank you. I do hope you can work out a beneficial arrangement between our villages."
"I believe we can. I expect we'll be seeing each other again soon." He dipped his head.
"Congratulations, Shikaku, Nazoko." Hiruzen followed the Kazekage's example of bowing his head before they both left.
No one tried to say anything until the two powerful figureheads were gone.
Nazoko turned to stare at Shikaku with a flabbergasted expression. He shrugged in response.
Eventually, the conversation returned. Most of it was about the kind of benefit that could come from their villages entering a treaty instead of an alliance. Finally, the guests started leaving.
It was a tedious process. One she was glad to be done with. When all that remained were the people who would clean up, she and Shikaku finally left.
"The look on Sensei's face when the woman's husband managed to sneak up on him was priceless!" Nazoko crowed. She was leaning heavily against him while she laughed.
Shikaku chuckled and watched her with a fond expression. "You definitely had an interesting team." He slid his front door open.
She toed off her sandals. "Oh, the husband was nothing compared to Kushina. When she found out, Sensei had an imprint of her fist on his face for a week. She didn't listen when I tried to warn her not to go."
"How did Minato handle it?" They walked up to the bedroom.
She twisted her obi until the bow was in the front and she began the process of untying it. It wasn't as complicated as she had thought it was Before. A lot of it was just folding and wrapping. The hardest part was actually pulling up the fabric of the kimono and folding it over JUST right so that it was even around the ankles.
"He doesn't know. She figured she got him pretty good as is. Also, now she'd have some blackmail."
"Could be useful."
She bit her lip as she stared at the outer layer of the kimono. Yoshino would kill her if she didn't fold it properly but it was so tedious. "I am never wearing a kimono this complicated again." She shrugged and tossed it on the chair. It wasn't like Yoshino paid for it. She pulled off the second layer and repeated the motion. She pulled out the ridiculous amount of bobby pins from her hair.
She turned around and found Shikaku watching her with half-lidded eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. Oh... This was their wedding night. Somehow, in all the fuss, she'd completely forgotten that. Her mouth was suddenly really dry.
Shikaku sighed and walked over to her. "Nazoko, if you aren't ready-"
An odd panic flooded her. "No! I mean..." She took a second to make sense of her thoughts. "I guess I just completely forgot about it." She winced. That hadn't come out right.
He ran a hand down the side of her face. "You looked like you were about to have a panic attack. There's no need to rush. I told you that I just want you to be comfortable with where we are."
She inhaled sharply. "You really would wait for me..." Her heart swelled with affection. Men like him didn't really exist, did they? Yet here he was. Her husband. She reached up and slowly pulled his head down to meet hers. It was a languid kiss. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't frantic. Just slow and relaxed.
She brought her hand down his chest and had it join her other to untie the last sash keeping her final layer together. She pulled away from the kiss and didn't let her eyes move from his as the silky fabric slid down her frame and pooled at her feet to reveal the strapless black bra -she didn't realize such a thing existed in this world- and the matching black panties.
"Nazoko." It wasn't said as a question yet it gave off the impression of one.
She smiled and reached forward for the tie holding his last layer together. "I want to, Shikaku." She nudged the fabric off his shoulders until it joined hers on the ground leaving him in only a pair of dark boxer-briefs. -Yet another thing she was surprised existed. Not that she was complaining.-
Her eyes roamed down his from. His shoulders were broad and strong, his waist narrow. She lightly trailed her fingers down his chest. The spattering of coarse hairs tickled the tips of her fingers. She traced the ridges of the muscles on her lean torso until she reached the thin trail of hairs that led down.
She brought her eyes back up to his and giggled. "Sorry. Lip gloss." She swiped her thumb over his mouth to rid him of the pink hue.
He caught her hand and kissed her palm. He slowly trailed his hand up her arm and behind her until he reached the clasp of her bra. How he managed to unhook the three tiny latches with only one hand, she'll never know. It dropped to the ground.
&&&***&&&(Link will be posted on my profile)
She chewed on her tongue for a moment as she thought the act over. While it wasn't this insanely pleasurable experience like some romance books described, it also wasn't horrible. Okay, the more she thought about it, the more she liked it. She tilted her head toward him.
"Let me know when you're up for another round," she grinned.
He threw his head back and laughed.
Yeah. This was a night she'd remember.
As I said, the link to the mature scene will be posted on my profile just as soon as I hear back from topsyturvy-dream.(Yet again, I must thank you for posting the mature scenes for me.) Hopefully in just a day or two.
As for the reason, I'm not just adding it to the story, it would be my luck that someone would report it. I just don't want to take that chance. Thank you for your understanding.
I do hope to have this story finished eventually, but I can't promise when. So I'm going to clarify something.
I will be offering a wrap-up via PM in 3 months IF, that is IF, I do not get back to working on the rewrite in that time. If I do get back to it, then I plan to post the first chapter of the rewrite as an apology of sorts for the long wait. I might even post the little EXTRAS(I mentioned this in a previous AN) for chapter one under another story as well. (I will post another "chapter" in this story to update you all)
I suppose I could still send you a wrap up in 3 months if you don't want to wait for the rewrite to catch up, but I would hope the wait is worth it. I'll leave that up to you. So, the wrap-up chapter will be available by December 1 if I don't get back around to the Naruto fandom.
I'll leave you all by saying thank you for the support you have shown me. I appreciate it. You've all been so wonderful. If you have any questions about anything, drop me a PM, please. I can't promise to respond to you otherwise.
Thanks again. You all rock!