Raine in the Desert

by Hack Interrupted

Gaara finds the love of his life

10. Chapter 10

10

Kabuto hurried down the hall to Orochimaru's study with the newly updated files in his hands. He had been to Suna and Konoha; he was tired from his journey. Get this over with and sleep for two days. He yawned once and ducked into the study. Orochimaru was in his chair reading. Saichi slept in his playpen not far from the sannin. "I'm back."

"How is Sasuke?" he rolled his eyes up to his spy. Kabuto offered him folders and Orochimaru took them.

"The same." It was bad news he hated delivering. Sasuke wasn't the perfect container anymore, Sasuke was broken.

Gaara. Orochimaru frowned and looked over Sasuke's medical records. Eight months and still no change. The Uchiha was still in a coma. "No seizures or hemorrhaging for four months. It's a good sign."

Kabuto frowned. "Orochimaru sama, even if Sasuke wakes up his body is no longer perfect for you. The damage to his brain."

He glared up at his servant. "I don't need you to advise me Kabuto. I understand what's wrong with Sasuke better then you do!"

"Forgive me," Kabuto shrunk back.

You better cower kid. His gold eyes went back to Sasuke's chart and Orochimaru read over Tsunade's notes. "Tsunade doesn't seem too hopeful for Sasuke either. I bet the bitch just gave up on him."

"Sasuke is treated like any other coma patient."

"But he's not just any patient. Sasuke is special, very special." He thought of that miserable bitch Tsunade. Orochimaru was sure that there was more she could be doing for Sasuke; she was choosing to take her time with the boy. Are you afraid to screw up Tsunade or are you more afraid to make Sasuke well?

Orochimaru had spent time with the Uchiha, years upon years of training and enhancing the boy. The sannin wasn't surprised that Sasuke had lived, Orochimaru had made him as close to indestructible as he could get. It was his next body after all. And he will pull through this. Sasuke's not going to die.

He flipped through the pages and found what he wanted. It was possible Sasuke had lost the ability to control some of his higher brain functions; genjutsu. That was a problem, the problem. If there wasn't a way to fix it then the Uchiha body would have a serious aggravating flaw. He grit his teeth reading the word scarring in that old bitches handwriting. Why don't you fix this Tsunade!

Kabuto had better news in the file below the Uchiha's. "Raine's twins are due any day."

My twins. "How is our little mother holding up ne Kabuto?"

He smiled a little. She looked like a snake that had swallowed something big. "I think she's nervous, but she and Gaara are happy together as always."

"Of course," he sneered. The kazekage was quite the thorn in Orochimaru's paw. He was going to have to die eventually but not just yet. Raine wasn't as mature as Rhiannon and one baby around here was enough. The sannin's eyes floated over to the sleeping baby. If Orochimaru had to wait to take an Uchiha body, Saichi was perfect. He could train him the way he wanted from day one. Saichi would be dyed Orochimaru's color from the start.

Gaara could keep Raine and the kids for a while. Orochimaru would have them when he wanted. The problem was his next container. He couldn't wait fifteen years for Saichi and he wanted to be in a body the same age as Raine. This container was strong but it wasn't enough. Orochimaru wanted a lifetime with his Rhiannon.

"I want to know when my twins are born; I want their medical records and blood samples. I will let Gaara keep them for now."

Kabuto nodded. He had been expecting this plan. "And Sasuke?"

Tsunade. "The hokage doesn't seem to want to fix my broken toy. That's alright. Let her be a bitch. It won't get her anywhere; not when I have you Kabuto."

He started to sweat wondering if he could repair the damage to Orochimaru's container. "As you wish Orochimaru sama."

It started off like any other morning in the kage's house. Gaara hustled to get Gabe into his high chair while Raine made breakfast for the family gathered round the table. She was in the middle of turning over a pancake when it happened. "Gaara," Raine tried to remain calm.

He looked over at his wife. Raine looked a little flushed. "You okay?"

"No. My water just broke."

Kankuro lifted a brow. "Wha?"

Temari stood excitedly. "Ah! The babies are coming!"

Now Kankuro understood what she meant and he fainted dead away. He fell out of his chair and hit the floor. "Kankuro?" Gaara peeked over the table at him.

The pain snuck up on her all at once and Raine doubled over. "Gaara!"

Temari hurried past Gaara to Raine at the stove. "I got this you go."

"Gabe…and Kankuro?" Raine couldn't remember ever seeing a man faint.

"I've got it," big sister smiled. She turned to Gaara; he had finally come to aid his wife. "Go on, go become parents again. We'll be along."

Gaara nodded at his sister and tended to his wife. All the months of doubt and worry and hope were about to come to an end. Their twins were coming. "Let's get you to the hospital."

Raine took her husband's hand. "I'm scared Gaara."

He smiled down at his suffering wife. "It's alright Raine. You and the babies are doing just fine," he tried to assure her.

"Yep," Megumi agreed. "Next contraction Raine chan I want you to push."

Gaara wondered if Temari had got the family to the hospital, was Kankuro swooning in the hallway? He almost chuckled at the thought and then Raine was squeezing his hand and screaming.

The first baby Raine delivered looked almost like Gabe did when he was born. Gaara's son had red hair and he also had his daddy's pale green eyes. Megumi laughed. "Now this little guy is truly a chibi Gaara."

The second baby took after Saichi. He had a fuzz of black hair and eyes even darker then his mothers. The nurses tended to the newborns in the order they arrived recording their information for history. Renji was first born of the kazekage's twins and Yusuke came into the world four and a half minutes later.

The nurses handed both babies to their mother and Raine looked at her twins. They were both beautiful; it brought tears to her eyes. "Oh Gaara…"

Renji looked just like him and for as much as Yusuke looked like Sasuke, he also looked like Raine. Gaara could see her half in the baby and he fell in love with both of his twins. "They're so beautiful Raine; both of our sons." Gaara kissed his wife.

Gabe was quite excited when mommy came home with two new baby brothers. He was fascinated with them, wanted to play with them. Caring for newborn twins and chasing Gabe gave everyone in the house a workout. They had hoped Gabe's fascination would wear off as the newness of the babies faded but it didn't. Finally the kazekage broke down and brought in some outside help.

Carmen came back to help with cooking and laundry and whatever else Gaara's poor frazzled wife needed help with. Raine insisted the nanny be a teacher, Gabe was smart and ready to learn all sorts of things. After weeks of heated debate the family settled on Kagome, an older almost elderly woman that tended to mother everyone in the house. His wife liked having Carmen back and she looked to Kagome for advice constantly. With his wife appeased and his family in good hands Gaara could work.

Kankuro and Temari were in and out all day to check on Raine and the kids. It had been hard for Kankuro to even think of accepting the Uchiha baby; until he saw his brother and mouse parent it. Even though Yusuke was not his brother's baby, he looked more like his mother every day. The toughened sand ninja had melted for the baby mice his tiny little sister had brought home from the hospital.

The first of the twins to demonstrate his abilities was Renji. He was three months old and Raine was changing the fussy baby when she found herself unable to move. She screamed for help and luckily Kankuro was there. Renji had wrapped his mommy in dozens of chakra threads in mid fit. Like his grandfather Sasori and his uncle Kankuro Renji displayed the talent of a puppeteer.

Yusuke was almost seven months old before he surprised his mommy with his special talent. She came upstairs carrying a basket of clean laundry she had to tuck away. Yusuke was standing in his crib holding the rail and watching a butterfly that had floated in the open window. Raine set the basket down and headed for the baby before he woke his brother still asleep in the crib.

Yusuke turned to his mommy with red eyes and Raine slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. It was determined that because babies have such limited vision Yusuke summoned his bloodline ability to see the butterfly more clearly. Raine only hoped that as her child grew he would continue to use his talents for such peaceful purposes.

Gabe was the first born son of the kazekage and everyone expected him to become a great ninja, but Raine wanted other things for the twins. She was afraid of what would happen if they learned to fight. It was a bit of a bone of contention between Raine and her loving husband. Gaara wanted all of his children to know how to fight; how to defend themselves should Orochimaru come to call.

They learned early on that Renji and Yusuke were inseparable. The babies fussed ceaselessly if they were ever more then ten feet away from each other. Paternity aside they had grown in the womb together; they were brothers, twins very attached to each other. The babies need for each other just warmed Gaara's heart all the more.

Gaara found it surprisingly easy to love both babies equally. He held them both at the same time often smiling as they reached for each other. Gabe was always trying to shower his baby brothers with toys, when Kagome didn't have him working out some great pre school puzzle.

Raine never went back on the pill; she didn't need to and she didn't want to. They weren't trying for another baby right away, but Raine and Gaara decided that baby four would be a completely natural surprise.

Renji and Yusuke weren't quite a year old yet when Gabe decided he had waited long enough. He stepped between the twins one morning as the family looked on. He took a hand of each of his little brothers and waited for them to scramble to their feet. "Let's go!" Gabe gave the command and the three of them took off running.

It was like it had been when Gabe took his first steps. Profound beyond words that it was it was his son that called his twins to walk. Gaara grinned as Raine and Temari gushed excitedly at the children. Even Kankuro was laughing. They'll always be together and they'll always follow Gabe. Gaara hugged his excited woman. He was happy.

Shikamaru arrived with news of the next chunin exam. He reported to Gaara and then went to find Temari. She was home with Raine and the houseful of kids. Shikamaru thought something about his sweetie seemed to shine when she was caring for her nephews. He liked to watch.

Temari had Gabe at the table with finger paint when Shikamaru came in. "Shika roo!" Gabe greeted waving a messy green hand.

"Oi buddy, being good for auntie Temari?"

"Good boy," Gabe assured Shikamaru and went back to painting.

Shikamaru took the seat next to Temari and smiled at her. She looked at him. "What?"

He laughed a little finding his courage. "I think it's about time don't you?"

"For what?" she frowned some.

"Time for us to get married; start our own family," he said it with a smile.

Temari's mouth fell open. Is he… "You're proposing?"

His right hand went to the pocket on his vest and Shikamaru pulled out the ring box. He held it in front of him and popped it open to show her the diamond ring inside. "Marry me Temari."

"Shikamaru!"

"I will come to you, to the Sand if you'll have me."

She would. "Yes!" Temari flung her arms around her love. "Yes I'll marry you!"

News of the wedding reached Orochimaru's ears, but he cared little. He had his hands full with Saichi. The baby was bright and already using his Sharingan. The sannin showed him many things that would eventually become nothing more then the boy's subconscious memory. Saichi was beyond being the perfect Uchiha. He would become the ultimate ninja and then the ultimate container.

Uchiha Sasuke slept through it all locked away in his coma in his room in Konoha.

When Shikamaru went to Sand Hinata stepped in as liaison for the two villages in matters pertaining to the chunin exams. She came with Shino and Kiba as often as she was allowed. There was time enough for them to get comfortable in the kazekage's home amongst their friends before they came bearing other news. It was decided that Kiba would tell the men while Hinata broke it to the wives.

Kiba Shino Shikamaru Kankuro and Gaara adjourned to the dining room for sake. They were on their second cup when Kiba told them. "Uchiha Sasuke woke up. The day we left to come here."

For a moment Gaara felt a sudden panic. Yusuke! "What is his condition?"

"Please tell me that guy's a fuckin vegetable," Kankuro wished.

"He's fucked up," Kiba consoled.

"Sasuke has suffered some brain damage," Shino was more clinical. "He was unable to speak as of yet. Tsunade sama was still trying to access his condition when we left."

Gaara felt cold inside. All of this time it was as if the Uchiha had ceased to exist. Yusuke… my Yusuke. "Does he…?"

"His condition was to be determine when we left. I can tell you his prognosis looks like shit though," Shino knew a little something about medicine. Many of the bugs he used were helpful to human condition. "He's alive but…"

Kiba knew how to be blunt. "Sasuke is fucked. He can't tell us where Orochimaru is or where Saichi might be."

It was a double edged sword. Saichi was gone but Sasuke was no threat to Gaara's child. "I see."

"Has he been charged?" Kankuro didn't care if he was retarded. Sasuke had to pay.

"He's still under arrest, I'm sure Tsunade sama will see to it." Shino didn't add if he can even understand.

"Sorry," Kiba felt bad for Raine. She had been hoping for clues to lead to her lost child, but this was a closed door. "Maybe after some rehab or something."

Gaara nodded. "It's alright." He looked toward the door. "Hinata is telling Raine and Temari now?"

Shino; "Yes, that's correct."

The kazekage sighed and hoped that his wife was alright. "I think I should like a look at Sasuke myself, perhaps when we come to Konoha for the tournament. I want to see him." There was still a code among warriors. Gaara had defeated Sasuke; he could be honorable to the fallen. "Is he aware… of anything?"

Kiba shook his head and huffed out a sigh. "Doubt it, dunno. He's pretty fried."

Kankuro thought that was just fine. "Couldn't happen to a nicer guy." He finished his cup of sake.

Sasuke had indeed woke up. He woke to an unfamiliar grey place and people he didn't know hovering over him. It took him hours before he could hear voices; his brain wasn't used to interpreting any sound other then the rhythmic sleepy beats of the machines. Slow down. You're confusing me he tried to say to the people that talked to him but his mouth didn't work any better then his ears.

The hellish limbo lasted for three days. Speech and sound meant nothing. He wasn't sure where he was, but this was some sort of imprisonment. He was lashed down to a table with things attached to him. His back hurt and the room often decided to spin. Please god make it stop.

He tried to remember who and where he was. What was his situation and how did it come to be this way. It was hard to focus, time seemed to mean nothing and then the vaguely familiar blonde woman said "Do you understand Sasuke?"

"N-no."

Tsunade blinked at her patient. "What the…"

He wanted to grab her but his hand was restrained at the wrist. "S-s-stop."

Shit. Tsunade looked Sasuke in the eye and spoke slowly. "Sasuke? Do you know me?"

"Tsu…kage…" he forced from his uncooperative lips. His restrained hands clenched into fists and Sasuke glared at the hokage of Konoha. "What…you done…me?"

His speech was impaired but he didn't seem to notice. "Sasuke, I haven't done anything to you. I'm trying to help you. You were badly injured. Do you remember?"

Injured. I was fighting. His scattered mind tried to collect the pieces. "Fighting…" Red hair. He is "Ga- Gara."

"Yes, that's right. You were fighting Gaara. Do you remember Sasuke?"

The woman spoke slowly but her words still ran together in Sasuke's ears. Woman, that's right. There was a woman and Sasuke closed his eyes and shut the blonde doctor out. A woman and a baby. She was… He tried to remember her, this woman that he had been fighting to protect. She was beautiful. I think I loved her. We were…

Tsunade was trying to shine her penlight into Sasuke's eyes to check his pupils. He fought her, not wanting to let her look at him and grunting for her to stay back. "Easy Sasuke, I'm trying to help."

This place, it's Konoha. I left here to go find my brother. I was with Orochimaru. What happened? How did I end up back here? "Wh-why?" Sasuke was frustrated.

"Look at me Sasuke." The young man did and she noticed the way his left eye twitched involuntarily. "You remember fighting with Gaara?"

No not really. Everything was hazy, everything. Trying to see his memories was like trying to watch a movie through a dirty window. Things all ran together and nothing in particular stood out. Gaara of Suna. He was trying to kidnap my girlfriend. "Sand…traitors!"

The hokage frowned. Sasuke might be able to hear and possibly understand if she spoke slowly, but it was clear the damage was reaching. "Suna and Konoha are allies Sasuke. It's been that way for years. Do you remember that?"

He wasn't sure. What he did remember is he hated this village and Hidden Sand though he wasn't entirely sure why. Gaara and a boy with blonde hair and a dumb face. Him. He was so strong. I fought with him. I saw the thing inside of him. "Naruto," he said clearly.

His cognitive functioning was off. Sasuke couldn't concentrate, Tsunade couldn't hold his attention. "You remember Naruto?"

Sasuke tried to remember Naruto, but all he saw was the boy's idiot grin. "Naruto no baka."

Tsunade smiled. "Naruto will be happy to here you think so." It was as close to lucid as Sasuke had been yet and she had more questions. His condition still needed to be accessed. She decided to start small. Tsunade held up two fingers. "Sasuke, look at me. Can you tell me how many fingers I'm holding up?"

All of their little ones were finally asleep and the kazekage led his wife back to their bedroom. He took her into his arms and kissed her. "Long day mommy?"

Raine leaned against her husband. "They are busy boys."

He knew they were. Now that Gabe had shown them the way, the twins were into everything. Three active toddlers kept everyone on their toes. Gaara was glad Temari had finally wed Shikamaru for the extra set of hands around here at the very least. Uncle Shikamaru never passed on the opportunity to show off his exceptional paternal skills to his new wife. He was ready to start a Naara clan here in the desert. "Maybe the next one will be a girl."

She smiled up at him. It was wonderful having sons but, "A little girl?"

"A baby girl just like her mommy. You could dress her up and do her hair." She melted against him. "All the dolls she could possibly want."

"Does daddy want a princess to spoil?" Raine knew she did.

"I'd love to have one running around here that looked just like you." Gaara kissed his wife. It became passionate quickly. Busy children had cut into their private time and Gaara cherished every moment they had alone. "I love you Raine. Come to bed."

They made love and afterward Gaara held Raine against him. He didn't want to ruin the mood, but he wanted her to know. "When we go to Konoha for the tournament next month I'm going to go see Sasuke. I'll make sure for myself that he can't help us find Saichi's whereabouts."

"Gaara," she looked up into her husbands sleepy eyes. "Hinata said Sasuke is brain damaged. She already told me he might not be able to help." Raine hadn't given up on Saichi, but she had faced reality. Orochimaru was a snake and snakes were very good at hiding; right until you stepped on one.

"We're still looking Raine."

"I know." She reached up and brushed the hair away from Gaara's eyes. "I love you."

He rolled over on top of her. "I love you too." Gaara took her face in his hands and kissed her. The twins had made her body more voluptuous and Gaara couldn't keep his hands from her womanly curves. My beautiful wife.

Raine dug her hands into Gaara's wild hair. Sasuke's awakening didn't matter. Nothing about him concerned her anymore. Over the past two years Uchiha Sasuke had become little more then a bad dream. He was something the ninja were dealing with, not her problem.

She felt Gaara's breath on her neck and then lower. His touch set her body on fire. Raine arched her back and sighed, "Oh Gaara."

Oh yeah. Gaara had more then a few years experience as Raine's husband; he knew exactly how to please his wife. Looks like we'll be getting to sleep late again tonight. He didn't mind and Gaara took Raine again.

Tsunade took her time with Sasuke. She started with a complete evaluation of his cognitive functions and motor skills. The Uchiha had a slight limp; damage to the spinal column had been extensive. Sometimes he was unable to control the muscles of the left side of his face. It interrupted his speech and his eye narrowed on its own when he was feeling frustration or anger; which was about half the time.

Sasuke could recognize shapes numbers and symbols, but he often confused them. He had difficulty reproducing images he saw, writing was all but impossible for the young man. He didn't seem to be aware all of the time that words were missing from his sentences, but sometimes he could tell. It frustrated him; made him angry and hard to deal with. Tsunade called in a speech language pathologist and Yakuza met with Sasuke every other day trying to re teach the Uchiha how to communicate with the world.

The three days in hell had been nothing compared to the weeks that followed. Sasuke's memories started to take shape. His brother slaughtered their family, their clan. Sasuke was alone for a long time trying to become excellent. Just when things were starting to go his way again something terrible happened. Sasuke could remember their names but not everything that had happened, not clearly. He remembered enough to feel, they had humiliated him tormented him. Uzumaki Naruto and Sabaku no Gaara.

Then Orochimaru became Sasuke's sensei. Sasuke had spent years learning from the sannin. He gave him power and taught him many useful things. He was much better then Hatake Kakashi, he put no limits on Sasuke. He gave him the strength to kill his brother and avenge his clan. And then Sasuke did, right here in Konoha.

He remembered killing Itachi very clearly and it was too much for his recovering body to handle. Sasuke had yet another seizure this one accompanied by a nosebleed. Monitors in his room cried out in alarm as the Uchiha thrashed against his bindings. My brother. I killed him. He remembered shaking Itachi's lifeless body oblivious to the blood and tears running down his face or the medics rushing in to his room. Those black dead eyes. I killed Itachi!

The team moved in and held Sasuke down. One of the nurses crammed a bite stick in his mouth. Itachi! Sasuke tried to scream. He wasn't sure if he had or not. The ringing in his ears was too loud. I killed him! I killed him and then He saw the woman, the one he was sure he had loved. She had been there when Sasuke fought Itachi. He had called out to her. Raine. Her name is Raine.

Sasuke tried in vain to free himself. He wanted to run from this place. He was sure if he made it back to Orochimaru the sannin could fix what was wrong with him, explaine to him just what in the hell was going on. Raine was special to me. There was something between us. His head was forced into a restraint. We were in love. What happened to her? Where is she; where is Raine?

Three genin from Sand, two from the same team; were competing in the tournament. The first family of Sand arrived in Konoha a full day before the opening ceremony. They went to hokage's place and there was much fussing over Gabe Renji and Yusuke. Naruto Lee Kiba and Choji came to meet their friends. The happy reunion went on for hours. Finally the two kage's stepped away from their gabbing friends.

"What is Sasuke's condition?" Gaara asked.

"He's still having difficulty speaking, when he wants to speak to any of us that is. It's difficult to determine how much he remembers or how clearly. He's incapable of writing; reading and listening are problems for him. It's hard to hold Sasuke's attention for very long. His mood is as unpredictable as his thoughts. He's restrained to protect his care givers and himself."

It sounded like the Uchiha was in terrible shape. "Does he understand things? Why he's here, what he has done?"

"I can't be certain, but I would have to guess no. He remembers he fought you but I haven't been able to determine if Sasuke remembers why. He isn't exactly a cooperative patient. He seems to regard us as enemies."

"Has he been charged with his crimes?"

Tsunade sighed. "He won't always listen. I've told him several times but I'm not sure he understands. He knows he's being detained, he thinks I've done something to him."

He was afraid to ask but he had to know. "Has Sasuke said anything about Raine or the children? Does he know about Yusuke?"

Sasuke hadn't mentioned Raine or the babies to her or to Yakuza. "He hasn't indicated that he remembers them."

"Is it possible that he doesn't?"

"I doubt that he's completely forgotten but his brain is already trying to process so much. It could take time before he gets around to remembering details."

He frowned some. He didn't consider Sasuke's crimes against his family 'details'. "I want to see him. As the kazekage it is my duty to charge Uchiha Sasuke with his crimes against Sand."

"You're welcome to try Gaara. Perhaps if you speak slowly enough to him he might understand but," she shook her head. "Maybe he'll be lucid today."

Kankuro caught the tail end of the kage's conversation while Kiba was flirting with mouse. Sasuke's a feeb ne? "Gaara, I'm going with you."

Shikamaru took his wife, sister in law and all his little nephews back to the Naara household so his parents could see what was keeping their son busy these days. Kiba and Lee had things to do, but Naruto and Choji stuck with them. Shikamaru's mom melted at first sight of the baby boys.

Naruto stood between Choji and Shikaku. He could see the way Shikamaru's dad was looking at little Yusuke. The twins were holding hands. One looked just like Gaara and the other just like Sasuke. Raine Temari and Shikamaru were all on the floor with the kids in it right up to their elbows. They were all used to the boys, used to seeing the Uchiha amongst his red headed brothers.

"It's sad," Shikaku said finally. "He's a fine boy. Sasuke would have been proud of him." He went to his son and got to the floor beside him.

Gabe scrambled into Shikamaru's lap and stared at the older version of his uncle. Shikamaru chuckled. "Oi Gabe this is my daddy."

"Daddy roo?"

Shikaku laughed a little, he was aware that Temari's family could provide no grandparents to the boys. Grandparents ne? His usually steady wife was practically falling all over the twins. "I'm an old guy," he smiled at the mini Gaara. "You can call me grandpa how's that Gabe?"

"Gan pa roo?"

Father and son laughed at the tike and Shikamaru tussled his hair. Gabe took it as a sign it was play time and he made his move to tickle his uncle. Uncle Shikamaru took it all in stride and surrendered to play time with Gabe. It had become one of his favorite parts of his day. He truly enjoyed being part of a big family.

"Shikamaru seems happy," Choji was smiling at his friend.

Naruto nodded. He was watching Renji and Yusuke. Shikamaru's mom had given them each a cookie and boy were they happy about it. Raine and Temari were laughing at them. "They're all happy." Naruto smiled. Gaara you're amazing.

Sasuke was moved to the part of the hospital where there were bars on the windows; the psyche unit on the third floor of the west wing. Gaara and Kankuro followed Tsunade up to Sasuke's room where ANBU stood guard. Tsunade went in first and the Sand ninja followed.

The Uchiha was awake sitting up in his bed. He was strapped into wrist and ankle restraints. Sasuke was staring out the window watching the clouds when they came in. He slowly turned his head to the trio. "Sasuke." Tsunade moved forward and started to check the machines still monitoring him.

Two men had come in with the annoying Tsunade hokage. Sasuke's eyes went to the red head. "You," he growled.

Gaara stepped forward. "Do you know me Sasuke?"

He did. My enemy Sabaku no Gaara. He's come to torment me! "G-Gaara!"

Kankuro laughed out loud and glared at the Uchiha. "G-Gaara," he mimicked hatefully.

Sasuke knew when he was being made fun of. He tried to move one of his arms but the belt around it held it in place. You "bastard…shit…me?"

"What was that Sasuke?" Kankuro put a hand up to his ear. "I couldn't understand your retard talk."

The Uchiha thrashed again and Gaara raised his hand. "That's enough Kankuro."

"It will never be enough."

"Antagonizing Sasuke isn't going to help you any." Tsunade didn't particularly like Sasuke, but Kankuro was pushing her patient.

Gaara stepped to the foot of Sasuke's bed frowning at the Uchiha. "Uchiha Sasuke, I'm here to charge you for your crimes against Sand." Gaara followed Tsunade's advice and spoke slowly and clearly.

I never did anything to your village you asshole! Sasuke concentrated hard. "Shit hole…in the desert."

"Fuck you Uchiha!" Kankuro snapped.

Gaara straightened. "You are hereby charged with the premeditated murder of six ANBU. You are charged with assault and attempted murder of the sister of the kazekage the Lady Temari."

Temari? Is that right? Gaara is…he's the kazekage! "…kage?"

"You are charged with stalking, menacing, kidnapping, assault and the attempted rape and attempted murder of the kazekage's wife; my wife Raine."

Raine… the woman's face jumped back into the forefront of Sasuke's mind. He could remember her leaning against him, hugging him and kissing him. No! We were in love. She said Sasuke started to shake. She wanted to be with me under the stars! "No!...mine! …loves me!"

"Easy Sasuke!" he was working himself into a fit. Sasuke started thrashing against his bonds. Tsunade hurried to get her hands on him. His nose had started to bleed.

He didn't have to be a speech pathologist to understand what Sasuke was trying to say. He's delusional. "She doesn't love you Sasuke, she never did. Raine is my wife."

"No!" Gaara was lieing, had to be lieing. Sasuke started to seizure as another clear memory came back to him. It hit him hard. Raine was in his arms and between them I love you Raine. I have for so long. I love Saichi too. We're a family was their baby. "No!" he screamed again as his body went into convulsions.

Gaara stepped back as Tsunade wrapped the restraint around Sasuke's forehead. Blood ran down the Uchiha's face, his machines bleeped in alarm. A moment later two medical ninja burst into the room. They hurried past the brothers from Sand, one of them tearing open a fresh bite stick. Sasuke was still struggling and then he started to scream.

He stepped back and bumped into Kankuro. Gaara straightened and looked back at his brother. He was watching the Uchiha's struggle with a cruel smile on his face. "Kankuro?"

"Couldn't happen to a nicer guy," he grumbled to his brother and then louder; "Let the son of a bitch bite his tongue off!"

Sasuke wasn't sure what was happening. He was being held down and he wanted to get up. He was sure that Gaara had taken Raine and Saichi. Our son Saichi! "Where is she?" He was vaguely aware someone was grabbing his face and Sasuke felt something prick his arm. No don't drug me I have to find "Rai-!"

Tsunade got the bite stick in his mouth and held Sasuke's face waiting for the injection to kick in and the seizure to come to an end. "It's alright Sasuke. You're going to be alright," she said slow and clear.

Gaara had turned back to the Uchiha when he had asked his question. He wanted to look away from Sasuke, but he couldn't. He struggled a little longer trying to scream with his mouth full and then finally Sasuke quieted. He lay still groaning softly. It was a miserable sound; the sound that comes out of you when you've run out of tears but yet you're still crying. A lonely, desperate moaning.

Tsunade waited until he was still and then she started cleaning the blood off Sasuke's face. The shot had kicked in and Sasuke was beginning to fly high. "Sasuke, can you here me?" She removed the bite stick and wiped his mouth. "Sasuke?"

He must Sasuke was so tired have her prisoner somewhere. Sasuke fought to open his eyes and couldn't. His lids were weighted. I have to help her. I have to Sasuke fell into a deep sleep.

She made sure he was out and then Tsunade stepped back to let her team finish with Sasuke. She turned to the sickly looking kazekage. "It will be a few hours before Sasuke wakes up again."

"That's alright," Gaara waved a hand. "I don't think I need to speak to him again. I've delivered the charges. It's enough." The truth of it was Gaara didn't want to see the Uchiha again. Death would have been kinder to Sasuke then this. He'll suffer…

Tsunade sighed. "I'm sorry, I tried to tell you."

Gaara was ready to get the hell gone. "It's fine. Keep me advised if there is any change." He took one last look at Sasuke. One on the medics was dabbing Sasuke's eyes. The Uchiha had been crying when he lost consciousness. What were you crying about Uchiha Sasuke? Do you know you're in hell? "Let's go Kankuro."

Kankuro wasn't as soft hearted as Gaara was. He followed his little brother out. "Don't you go feeling sorry for that guy Gaara. It's karma. Sasuke deservers every shitty thing that happens to him, more. Don't forget what he did to our sister and your wife just because he's fucked up. Sasuke don't need to remember dickola. I remember enough for the both of us. You should too."

Indeed he did. "I don't think he knows about Yusuke."

"He doesn't deserve to know about Yusuke." Kankuro had accepted Yusuke as Gaara and mouse's baby, not an Uchiha. "He's got nothing to do with him!"

Gaara was doing his best to stay calm. Seeing Sasuke in such a deplorable state had affected him. "You're right. There's no need to speak to Sasuke about Yusuke." I don't care what your broken brain is telling you Sasuke, Raine is my wife. Yusuke is my son and you… are a thing to be forgotten.

Gaara and Kankuro went to meet their family at the Naara place. Shikamaru's parents welcomed them as family as well. They spent hours in the backyard Shikamaru and Choji had grown up playing in. Shikaku didn't want their guests to leave. Things hadn't been this lively around here in over a decade. He offered to barbecue and the kids all stayed a little while longer.

After dinner Kiba and Kankuro helped Gaara and Raine get the kids back to the kage's suite. It took mom and dad working together to get their overexcited and overtired boys bathed and dressed for bed. Another hour later and the boys started to really tire. Raine settled them on the couch with their daddy and a Land Before Time video then went to tackle the disaster in the bathroom.

Traveling had left the boys a little jet lagged. Their afternoon with Uncle Shikamaru's family had worn them out all the more. As their mommy expected their sons settled after their bath. Before Littlefoot reached the Great Valley, Gaara's babies were asleep. Raine collected Renji first and then Yusuke. Gaara tucked Gabe in and grabbed the baby monitor. He took his tired wife back to their room.

There was something Raine had wanted to ask him, but not with the kids awake. Now as they undressed for bed Raine asked her husband, "How did it go with Sasuke?"

Gaara pulled off his shirt and turned to Raine. She looked worried and Gaara went to her. "It's alright Raine," he wrapped her into his arms.

Raine hugged at Gaara nervously. "Yusuke!"

"No, he doesn't know. Sasuke doesn't remember things clearly Raine. He hasn't mentioned Yusuke at all." Gaara could see the relief rush into Raine's eyes. "He's safe. Our boy is safe."

He pulled her close and kissed her. Our boy Raine melted into Gaara. Her family was safe. If Gaara says it's alright then it is. "Gaara," she sighed relieved.

"It's alright Raine. You and the boys are going to be just fine." He smiled a little not wanting her to think about the Uchiha. He had frightened her enough. Gaara stroked her cheek. They could finally put Sasuke behind them for good and move on with their lives. He kissed her again and backed them up to the bed.

Gaara lay Raine down and crawled up in bed on top of her. She looked up at him with dreamy eyes. "From the first moment I laid eyes on you I just had to have you in my arms." Gaara smiled a little. "I tripped you and I caught you; and I haven't let go since that day. You are always with me. I am always with you. I love you Raine."

She smiled up at him wrapping her arms around her husband. "I love you Gaara." Her hands found his hair, his sensitive ears. "Make love to me."

Everything is going to be alright. Gaara took Raine to him and loved her.

Sasuke lay in bed staring up at the moon. No one had come to bother him since he woke. He was left alone in his moonlit room. Sasuke was trying to concentrate, to remember what had happened. Gaara and his fucking brother had come to torment him. They accused him of murder and attacking women. My woman. Raine was my woman!

The old bitch hokage had told Sasuke a number of times that he had been comatose some amount over a year that he could never remember. What the hell happened to Raine and Saichi? What does that bastard mean she's his wife? Where's our son?

The image had come back to him and now it was hard to shake loose. Sasuke and Raine in the nursery watching over Saichi in his crib. Sasuke kissed her heatedly; his hands groped their way to the buttons of her shirt. Raine. Gaara has her! The ringing started in his right ear distracting and irritating him.

Orochimaru must have Saichi. That fucking Gaara didn't mention him. Sasuke frowned. Where the hell is Orochimaru? Why has he left me here like this all this time! Why didn't he protect Raine?

Another thought came to Sasuke. If Gaara has Raine and Gaara is here; is she in Konoha? He tried to sit up but his wrist restraints didn't let him get far. "Keh!" he hissed frustrated. Being tied down was problematic. He certainly couldn't go looking for his love with a hospital bed strapped to his back. Fuck!

Planning things out ahead of time was hard for Sasuke. His confused mind wasn't very good at following an agenda. Because of what these fucks did to me! He was sure his condition had something to do with Tsunade. The bitch was supposed to be able to fix anything, she chose to keep Sasuke all fucked up like this. Damn you old bitch.

He figured she must be in leagues with Gaara, the kage of Sand. The two villages had mended their relationship and were allies. Sasuke thought it might have been that way for a while, years maybe. Sand had been manipulating Sasuke's pathetic home town since around the time he went to study under Orochimaru; he thought. Gaara and Tsunade are working against me. Hidden Sound is their common enemy. So am I.

Sasuke pulled at the thick wrist straps again. Getting out of here was going to be a bitch. Tsunade had done things to him, Sasuke couldn't bring out his Sharingan; he couldn't push chakra out of his body. Why the hell hasn't Orochimaru come to get me! He sighed aggravated as the ringing infected both ears. God I fucking hate this!

The ringing in his ears wasn't as troublesome as the dread in his broken heart. Raine. What has Gaara done to Raine? Sasuke tried to remember more about her. It seemed that they knew each other for quite a while. She was someone that Orochimaru had known; perhaps it was the sannin that had introduced them. He tried to remember more but it was hard. He wondered if Tsunade was doing something to repress his memories; trying to hide Raine from Sasuke for her ally Gaara.

Of course, they're in on it together. Tsunade locking me up like this. Gaara and his bullshit charges. It's a conspiracy. They're trying to hide Raine from me. Sasuke got a sinking feeling in his stomach. Did they…kill her! Have I been charged to cover up their crimes? Sasuke remembered Gaara saying something about murder in his asinine little spiel. So help me Sasuke clenched a fist. She better be alright!

There had to be a way out of this nightmare, with or without Orochimaru. If I can just get out of this place. Whatever the evil hokage had done to him, surely Kabuto could fix it. I have to get my strength back. I have to find her. I must rescue Raine.

The tournament began the next day, but Raine and the boys did not attend. There was no way three active toddlers were going to sit still for hours in the kage box. Temari and Shikamaru stayed behind to help Raine with the boys. Gaara and Kankuro headed off to watch the fights after breakfast with the family.

Shikamaru held the squirming Renji while Temari scrubbed strawberry preserves off his face. He absolutely hated having his face washed and Yusuke was out of his line of sight. Raine was putting him into clean clothes. "Nii sa. Nii sa!" Renji tried to swat auntie Temari away.

Yusuke heard his brother calling for him and tried to squirm away from his mommy. "Just a minute Yusuke." He rolled while she was trying to pull his pants up and Raine tried to compensate.

Gabe took advantage of the commotion to do a naughty. He scrambled up on his bed and started jumping. "Yay yay!"

Raine got Yusuke's pants on and let him go. He scurried to his feet and ran straight for Renji. "Gabe!" she turned to her eldest. "We don't jump on the bed Gabriel. You could fall and break your arm." She started toward him to stop his hopping.

"No mama no!" Gabe wiggled his butt and giggled. Mommy was coming to get him.

Shikamaru set Renji down and the clean baby hurried to his twin. Raine was attacking Gabe on the bed; tickling him for misbehaving. Shikamaru backed the mommy up. "You have to listen to mommy if you want to go to the playground."

"Slide!" Yusuke looked at his uncle as his cranky twin took his hand.

"That's right buddy." Shikamaru bent and patted Yusuke on the head.

Raine let up on Gabe. "Are you going to listen and be a good boy Gabe? You want to go play don't you?" Gabe had recently developed a fascination with the swing.

"Good boy," he promised mama.

Temari laughed. She thought all her nephews were good boys. "I'll throw a bag together for these guys." A morning at the playground sounded like fun.

He was awake, staring out the window again when Sasuke heard the door. Someone came in and approached his bed; he didn't bother to look to see which stupid nurse it was. Sasuke was lost in his own miserable thoughts, sliding into a black hole of depression.

The Uchiha was still contained and restrained. He appeared despondent, not even acknowledging Kabuto's presence. "Sasuke, can you hear me?"

The voice was familiar. Sasuke turned and studied the be speckled face staring at him. I know you. You're Sasuke felt a glimmer of hope. "…Kabuto!...me out…fuck took you…?" Get me the hell out of here now! Sasuke pulled at his wrist restraint and grit his teeth at Orochimaru's servant.

Kabuto raised a hand frowning and sighing with disgust. "Shut up for a minute Sasuke. You're not really talking anyway."

He didn't know what Kabuto meant, but he did know he didn't like the little prick telling him to shut up. Sasuke made himself speak slowly. "Release me."

"First things first. Just lie back and be still."

"Now!"

Kabuto frowned. "Release you for what Sasuke? You're so weak you can barely walk. You can't run from this place in your current condition."

"Take…to Orochimaru!" Kabuto was infuriating Sasuke again. I hate this guy!

"Let me look at you Sasuke. I'm here to help." After a moment Sasuke sighed annoyed and relaxed against his bed. Kabuto fed chakra into his hands and started to examine the Uchiha. He could see where bone had been fused back together all throughout Sasuke's body. There was scaring on many of his organs as well. So this is what happens when you're crushed by Sabaku no Gaara is it?

His body was soft; his muscles had withered from lack of use. Even if Kabuto could rub away the seals preventing Sasuke from reaching his chakra and bloodline limit his body was still too weak to fight his way out of Konoha.

Sasuke was getting impatient. Just fix me and let's go damnit! "Oi!"

Kabuto's hands made their way to Sasuke's neck. "Sit forward and be still." Sasuke huffed, but he did it. The medical specialist examined Sasuke's spine. It too had been put back together like a jigsaw puzzle of bone. Kabuto used his chakra to evaluate the nerves; there was damage but This is repairable. Why did Tsunade not fix this? "Sasuke, do you get tingling in your limbs?" he asked moving his hands to Sasuke's head.

"Mmm," he grunted affirmatively. All the godamn time.

His chakra moved around the Uchiha's skull and then into his brain. There was damage here too but most of it looked like textbook stuff. A nero specialist could treat Sasuke's brain. Surely they had a talented one here in Konoha; Tsunade herself could probably fix most of this. Have you lost your touch old hag or do you just like to see people suffer? Sasuke's easier for you to handle like this ne? You bitch. Is there nothing you won't do to spite Orochimaru?

"Well Sasuke, I have good news and I have bad news. Hold still a moment; let's see if I can't fix that annoying speech impediment of yours."

Sasuke felt something warm at the back of his neck and then his face tingled. I'm being healed! I'm finally being healed!

Kabuto spoke as he tended to Orochimaru's container. "Tsunade is a bitch Sasuke; she could fix you if she really wanted to. She hasn't. She's left you to like this to suffer, to wither away and die. And she calls herself a doctor."

I knew it! "You fix!"

"Stay still. I'm trying something now." With the damage he had Kabuto wondered about Sasuke's memories. The charts said little of value. "There's more bad news Sasuke. I won't be taking you with me just now. You're going to have to endure this a little longer."

Like hell. "No! I have…Raine!"

"Ahh, so you remember your sweetie do you?" He was nearly finished with his first treatment. Tell me Sasuke, what do you remember about the mother of your sons?" Kabuto wanted to test his speech.

Sons? He rolled his eyes over to Kabuto. Sasuke could only remember one baby. "Saichi. Our son is Saichi."

"Yes, you and Raine had Saichi. Orochimaru has been caring for him in your absence."

It was relieving to hear his baby was alright. "Raine; where is Raine?"

Sasuke was defiantly confused. His brain denied him access to clear memory. "What do you remember about her Sasuke?"

He shook his head. "Little. I remember being with her and Saichi, but the rest is a blank." Sasuke was aware he was speaking clearly and he touched his face. "Tsunade repressed my memories of Raine didn't she? So I wouldn't remember what Gaara has done to her. What has Gaara done to my woman?"

Confused and paranoid. Wonderful. "Gaara is Raine's husband. They're quite happy together raising a family and all."

No…she married Gaara? They have a family? It's impossible! "How long have I been out of it?" What did you do to her Gaara!

"Almost two years Sasuke. The twins are already walking." Kabuto kept testing the Uchiha, dangling the carrot to see how damaged his memory and perception was.

"Twins?" he felt cold suddenly. "What twins?"

"Raine's special twins. The ones fathered by you and Gaara. Your son's name is Yusuke. He looks just like his big brother Saichi."

Yusuke…Something inside of him dropped. "I have another son? Another child with Raine? Yusuke? Where is Yusuke?"

"With his mother. Gaara is raising him as his own."

Gaara is what? "No," Sasuke growled.

He didn't want to push Sasuke too hard; Kabuto didn't need any of these damn monitors going off in here. "Raine is a good mother. That is why Orochimaru has left Yusuke to her. Having brothers around will encourage his competitive side, toughen him up."

"I thought you said Orochimaru had Saichi."

"He does. I meant Gabriel and Renji; Raine's children with Gaara."

Gabriel. It hit him like a slap in the face. Raine had a baby with Gaara before we… "She was with Gaara when…"

Kabuto smiled a little. "You and Gaara fought over her quite a bit ne Sasuke? He didn't like you screwing around with his wife."

Raine was married to Gaara when we… Sasuke searched for a memory, any memory about it. He remembered Raine frowning at him, they were having some kind of a lovers quarrel but he couldn't remember it clearly. Sasuke heard his own words echo in his mind. You're cheating on Gaara with me just like your mother fucked around with Orochimaru behind Sasori's back.

Sasuke's mouth fell open as his mind exploded with new understanding. No wonder Gaara was so pissed, Sasuke was having an affair with his wife. Now that he thought about it, he was pretty sure he had even sent the kazekage's wife a love letter. He laughed a little. "So that's how it is. Raine and I were having an affair."

Kabuto sat back quietly watching Sasuke and listening. The Uchiha was most defiantly confused; making up his own memories to fill in the blanks. Sasuke had control over his facial muscles again. His speech was clear and just now a wicked smile stretched the Uchiha's lips. Let him think what he wants to for right now. We'll straighten it out later.

"I'm the other man, that's why Gaara hates me. That's why he said I tried to rape her and kill her. He can't stand it that she wanted me." He looked at Kabuto again. "Does she still? Does Raine still love me?"

"As much as she ever did," Kabuto was sure. Sasuke was confused about Raine but it was obvious he still had some kind of feelings for her. Kabuto was just grateful the Uchiha couldn't remember him accusing Sasuke of raping the kage's wife. He could still remember the furious Uchiha hiss at him I didn't rape her you fucking scumbag. If Sasuke felt for Raine, Kabuto could use it to his advantage.

Sasuke was willing to bet she still loved him a lot. She gave me sons too Gaara. Raine loved me. He remembered waking up next to her in bed. "I want to see her."

I'm sure you do. "I don't think that's going to happen Sasuke. Gaara would never allow it."

Of course Gaara was trying to keep Raine away from him. "Fuck Gaara. I want to see her. Where is she?"

Kabuto peeked at his watch. "She should be walking down 9th street right about now. Taking the boys to the playground."

Sasuke froze. He had been right; Gaara was here and so was Raine. "She's in Konoha?"

"They're here for the tournament."

They, the boys "Yusuke? My son is here?"

"Yes. Orochimaru is checking up on him right now." He didn't see the need to add anything about Gaara's children, but the sannin wanted to see them too.

Orochimaru is here too. "Release me. Take me to Orochimaru now."

"I can't. Not yet Sasuke."

Sasuke jerked his arm against the restraint. "Get me the fuck out of here Kabuto."

"We didn't come to Konoha to fight, just to observe and help you along in your recovery." Kabuto took a step back away from the bed. "Orochimaru's orders."

"Orochimaru ordered you to leave me here like this while my family waits for me on the other side of town! Fuck that, you get me out right now!" he thrashed against his bindings. "I'm gonna start screaming mother fucker then what are you gonna do?"

Shit. "Stop it Sasuke." The temper tantrum was taking hold. Kabuto put his hand over Sasuke's mouth and held his head against the pillow. "Knock this shit off now Sasuke or you'll never see Raine again. If you do anything, I mean anything right now to provoke Gaara or Tsunade they'll turn you into a vegetable!"

Gaara and Tsunade were the ones that fucked him up like this to begin with. Gaara held his love prisoner in a miserable marriage. He had to save her and Sasuke couldn't do that if old bitch hokage made him worse. "I have to get out of here," he mumbled under Kabuto's hand as calmly as he could.

Kabuto nodded. "Soon Sasuke. I promise you that but for now you must endure it." He lifted his hand from Sasuke's mouth to his forehead and started feeding his chakra into him again. "I'm going to try to fix you up a little before I go. Just relax Sasuke. For now your family is safe."

"How safe is Raine from Gaara?" Sasuke thought he must have walked in on them at some point because his mind held an image of Gaara and Raine fucking in bed.

Sasuke always was a jealous guy especially when it came to Sabaku no Gaara. "Gaara won't harm her. He's a devoted husband."

"Did he forgive her little transgression with me ne?" He remembered being with Raine in a hotel room at the edge of the desert. He watched her shower, she fed him dinner.

Kabuto answered a question with a question testing Sasuke's mind again. "Do you still love her Sasuke?"

Sasuke closed his eyes. Kabuto was making his whole head feel warm and tingly. "Her perfume was sweet; lilac and honeysuckle. I could just sit and watch her for hours. She's so beautiful. She always looked so happy."

Even for a guy like Kabuto it was sort of spooky to hear that Sasuke's confused mind had led him to believe that the memories had of stalking the kage's wife were of times they spent together. No wonder he thinks it was an affair. Sasuke watched her, a lot. He spent a ridiculous amount of time in Sand peeping on her. He had her memorized. "Shall I take that as a yes?"

He could remember the way Raine looked when she was asleep. Like a princess. "Yes," Sasuke sighed. "I love her. I want to be with Raine again."

If Kabuto could repair the Uchiha's body, "You will be Sasuke, soon. You won't be stuck in this place forever and once you get out, you can go and rescue your beloved. You and Raine will never be apart again."

Raine… The last picture Sasuke remembered her drawing was of Saichi asleep in his crib. "I don't want her to go back to Sand with Gaara."

"It's better if she does, at least for now. Don't worry Sasuke, Orochimaru has everything under control."

"I don't want Gaara fucking her." Sasuke was sure the Sand bastard enjoyed it too much. I saw your oh face you miserable shit. You like it with my woman too much.

Kabuto rolled his eyes. "He's been fucking her Sasuke. What's a little more ne?"

You've always been an asshole Kabuto. Sasuke tried not to get angry. "When am I getting out of here?"

Kabuto was working on Sasuke's higher brain functions, something the genjutsu using sannin needed working properly. I can fix this body. Sasuke might remain fucked up, but he doesn't matter anymore. Uchiha Sasuke will cease to exist, paranoid delusions and all. It's almost time. "Soon Sasuke."

Raine and the boys spent the morning at the playground. Temari and Shikamaru came along to help. No sooner then they had arrived Choji showed up. He missed Shikamaru terribly and wanted to get in some time with his friend. He liked playing in the sand box with the little ones too. Temari and Raine took turns pushing Gabe on the swing. He couldn't get enough of it.

What an adorable family. Orochimaru threw a handful of crumbs to the birds. Disguised as an old man no one paid him any mind. He was just another bump on the park bench. He watched Raine and her children. Everyone was growing up to Orochimaru's liking. She's almost the woman Rhiannon was. The sannin grinned. I bet Sasuke would like it if she was a little more like her mother ne?

Kabuto was seeing to Sasuke now, making sure his container was still the best of Orochimaru's options. If for some great unknown reason Orochimaru want going to be able to take Sasuke's body, he had another in mind. Either way Orochimaru could make use of Sasuke; as a container or as a way to dye Sabaku no Gaara's heart black. Whichever it was to be, Sasuke and Raine would be reunited soon.

Watching her play with children was a great way to get a good look at Raine from many a flattering angle. The twins had enhanced her bust and her hips. She was curvy, no longer a skinny little girl but a shapely young woman. In a year she would be Rhiannon. Orochimaru smiled and threw another handful of crumbs to the birds. And then you're mine. You will bring my Rhiannon back to me. Such a good daughter to sacrifice herself for her mother. You are the perfect container for Rhiannon my sweet little Raine.

Yakuza had to work the first afternoon of the tournament if he wanted time off to see the finals, which he did. Uchiha Sasuke was his two o' clock. The kid had been making some progress but he was a freak show to look at. Hokage kept him painted up with seals to keep him contained. He was always strapped into whatever his ass was in be it bed or wheelchair. He glared at Yakuza; sometimes he lifted his lip and growled like a dog.

Sasuke ne? Alright, let's see how he's doing today. Yakuza made for the psyche ward and Sasuke's room. Sasuke was sitting up in bed and turned to him when he came in. His eyes seemed alert this afternoon and Yakuza smiled. "Good afternoon Sasuke," He spoke slowly and a bit loud as he approached his patient. "How are you today?"

"Stop talking to me like I'm retarded."

The ninja startled. Sasuke was frowning at him. "You said that very clearly Sasuke."

"Where is Tsunade?"

"Still at the tournament I believe. It hasn't ended for the day yet." Yakuza reached for his penlight. He wanted a look in Sasuke's eyes.

"That fucking bitch could have fixed me."

The eyes he wanted to look into were burning with hatred. Yakuza flashed his light and watched Sasuke's pupil. It reacted normally, perfectly actually. No delay in response at all. "What makes you say that Sasuke?"

"Look at me asshole! Listen to me. Do you not see that someone fucking competent has treated me?" He was contemplating biting the therapist's nose off when Yakuza backed off. "I want to see that bitch Tsunade right now!"

"What do you mean someone treated you?" Stay calm and gather information was rule number one for anyone in the medial field.

"I wanna see that fucking Sabaku no Gaara too." He pulled against his bindings. "I have a right to answer his charges and I have a right to fight them. Gaara is a fucking liar. His wife was my mistress."

He was right about some things, wrong about others Cognition and confusion colliding in a freshly healed brain. "I think you have the wrong idea Sasuke."

"Don't tell me I can't defend myself. The Uchiha were the police in this shitty village!"

His thought patterns… "Yes Sasuke that is true. If you believe that you are lucid enough to answer the kage's I will let them know." Tsunade better look at him. "Who saw you today Sasuke?"

Sasuke smiled. "Are you afraid? Worried Orochimaru is slithering his way around Konoha this very minute?

Orochimaru! Yakuza took a big step back. He had to inform hokage at once. "Sasuke you," Yakuza turned and bolted for the door.

"Run you little bitch. Bring me your hokage."

Yakuza ran from Sasuke's room and he didn't look back.

ANBU approached Tsunade during the last round for the day and whispered the news in her ear. Gaara saw her eyes widen and then she looked pissed. Uh oh. The kage barked orders at the ANBU and shifted in her seat. "Tsunade?"

"Sasuke's awake and very lucid. He's had a visitor today, probably Yakushi Kabuto."

"Kabuto is here? What about…!" Raine and the boys! Gaara hurried to his feet.

"I'm on it Gaara. If Orochimaru is here I'll find him. Go to your family if it will ease your mind." Gaara started off at once and Tsunade called after him. "He asked to see us Gaara, both of us."

Gaara nodded trying not to let his panic show. "I'll see to Raine and the boys and then I'll get back to you Tsunade." Gaara tore out of there like his heels were on fire. Kabuto or Orochimaru… He made it out of the stadium in record time. He was on a mission to make sure his family was alright.

Gaara noticed all kinds of ninja activity as he hurried back to the suite. Raine should be dressing the children for dinner. We're supposed to meet the others at Sanji's Place. Gaara flew through the streets of Konoha willing his wife be there Raine. Be safe. He made it to the suite, to the door. "Raine!" he threw the door open.

Raine was on the floor building some Lego thing with Gabe. Her husband rushed in looking harried. "Gaara, what's the matter?" she got to her feet.

"Daddy!" Gabe announced.

He heard the twins coming from the other room. They're all here. They're all "You're safe," he sighed.

Raine went to Gaara. Something wasn't right. He hugged her tightly to him the minute she came within reach. "Gaara?"

"Someone visited Sasuke today, Kabuto probably. Orochimaru may also be in Konoha. Sasuke is lucid and asking to speak to me and Tsunade."

Orochimaru! Raine hugged her husband nervously. The twins scampered in followed by the newlyweds. "You can't leave me and the boys Gaara!"

"It's going to be alright Raine." He cut his eyes up to his sister's husband. Judging by his frown Shikamaru had heard everything Gaara just told Raine. "Shikamaru, would you find Naruto and Lee? Kankuro and Kiba too. They're all probably still at the arena."

"No problem." He hurried out to go and gather an army of defenders.

"Sasuke is lucid," Temari was pissed. "What the fuck does that mean?"

Gaara shook his head. "I don't know. He wants to talk, maybe something about Orochimaru." He looked down into his wife's wide frightened eyes. "It's alright Raine. You and the boys are fine. Everyone is safe."

"I don't ever want to see Orochimaru again!" the sannin was probably the person she most despised in this world.

He hugged her tighter. "You don't have to."

ANBU and the best jonin in Konoha began a systematic search for Orochimaru or Kabuto. The village bustled with the activity of the tournament hiding the Sound ninja in the throngs of people coming in and out of Konoha. Gaara surrounded his family with the very best protectors and went to the hospital to meet Tsunade.

The hokage was talking to two medical specialists when Gaara arrived. She dismissed them and turned to him. "What's going on Tsunade?"

"Sasuke has been examined. Much, and I mean much, of his nerve damage has been repaired. Flawlessly so. I have no doubt that it was Kabuto."

Gaara was a little confused. "The damage has been repaired? I thought you…"

Tsunade put up a hand and stopped him. "I'll admit I was taking my time with Sasuke. I was hoping to let him heal more naturally; it would have been better for his disposition."

She could have… "You could have fixed Sasuke?"

Shit. "Maybe not quite like Kabuto did. He's good and he has no fear."

"But you could have done more to help him?" Why didn't you?

"I wanted Sasuke to have a slower more natural recovery. I was hoping Orochimaru might lose interest and give up on him. I was still helping Sasuke, just in my own way."

The sannin wanted Sasuke's body. If Orochimaru thought his container wasn't any good anymore; "I understand."

She was glad that he did. She rolled her eyes over to the door. "Are you ready for this Gaara? I hear he's in rare form."

Gaara didn't think it could be much worse then seeing the Uchiha seizure. "Its fine Tsunade, let's just get this over with. Raine is worried. I want to be with her."

Tsunade nodded and stepped to the door. She went into Sasuke's room with Gaara behind her. The Uchiha looked at them with clear black eyes. "Alright Sasuke, we're here. What do you want?"

Sasuke dealt with the bitch hokage straight off. "You could have fixed me you bitch and you didn't. You deliberately left me infirmed and you have the fucking nerve to call yourself a great healer!"

Tsunade never blinked. "It was Kabuto that came to you wasn't it?"

"Of course it was Kabuto you stupid bitch!" Sasuke wished he could kill her; strangle her preferably. "He's better then you old hag!"

Gaara couldn't just stand by while Sasuke screamed at a lady. "Mind your tongue Sasuke you're speaking to the hokage."

He cut his eyes over to Gaara. His hatred seemed to bloom and unfold looking at the kazekage. "You fucking bastard," Sasuke growled.

Gara straightened trying to stay calm and access the Uchiha's condition. "What do you want Sasuke?"

Sasuke's lip curled into a snarl. I've got a list you prick. He decided to shock Gaara at once. "I want Raine to bring Yusuke to see me. I want to see my son."

No! Yusuke… "What are you," Gaara swallowed hard.

"Don't fuck with me Gaara! I know she's here. I know Yusuke is here. I want to see them!" he demanded.

"No." Never... "Absolutely not."

"He's my son damn you!"

Gaara took a threatening step toward the Uchiha. "Yusuke is my son Sasuke. I'm the one he calls daddy and that's just what I am. I'm the one raising him not you!"

Yusuke calls Gaara daddy… It almost made him sick. "I'm Yusuke's father and I have a right to see him." He cut his eyes over to the frowning woman. "Even criminals have rights in Konoha ne hokage sama?" he sneered.

"I do not live by the laws of Konoha," Gaara warned. "You will never see Yusuke."

"I will see my child or I will plead my case to the old fucks that think they're in charge around here. If I do that Gaara," he smiled a little. "Everyone will know Raine and I had an affair. Adultery against the kazekage is treason isn't it? I wonder what the old fucks back in Sand would say about Sasori's naughty little girl?"

Chilly fingers of doom tickled the back of Gaara's neck. "Raine didn't have an affair with you Sasuke."

"Denial? How pleasant." Sasuke fixed his eyes and Gaara's angry green ones. "Who do you think your counsel will believe oh great kazekage sama when I show them living proof of your wife's betrayal? What do they think of Yusuke, ne Gaara?"

His hands started to shake. "You sick son of a bitch. Raine never betrayed me. She never would."

Sasuke's left eye twitched a little. "Aren't you the picture perfect forgiving husband," he tormented his enemy. "Don't play games with me Gaara. I can remember things."

Tsunade saw the chance to jump in and practice a little medicine. "What is it you remember Sasuke?"

He looked from the furious kazekage to the hag. "All sorts of things. Things like our first son, Saichi."

"Where is he?" Gaara asked at once. "Where is Saichi?"

Sasuke cut his eyes back to Gaara. "Has Raine been worrying about him?"

Just fucking kill him, finish him off! It sounded like a fantastic idea. "Where is he?"

"He's safe with Orochimaru."

"Where?"

He chuckled. He answered Tsunade's question instead of Gaara's. "She has the softest lips, like flower petals. Her skin was always so warm and so smooth. Raine's got really nice tits too ne Gaara?" there was nothing left in Gaara's eyes but fury. "Her kisses always left me sweaty."

The cork in his gourd started to vibrate. "Shut the fuck up Sasuke you don't know what you're talking about. You know nothing about my wife."

That wasn't true, Sasuke was sure that he knew quite a bit about Raine. I won't let you deny it Gaara. "Her perfume is Sweet Fields, her favorite tea is ginseng, and her art pencils are all Tippy Black." Sasuke smiled a little, he could see Gaara was shaking. "Her specialty in the kitchen is salsa; she likes to read horror stories even though they scare her, Raine looks outstanding naked and dripping wet."

Gaara knew that Sasuke had stalked his wife, now he was realizing the extent of his voyeurism. "You sick freak."

"Sick? I don't think so. I loved her Gaara and Raine loved me."

He could take no more and the cork flew out of his gourd. "Raine never loved you!" Gaara sent his sand after the Uchiha.

Tsunade dodged the flying cork. "Gaara wait!"

Gaara's sand circled the bed. Gaara's hand shook as he glared at Sasuke. Sasuke returned his malicious stare. Murderous intent electrified the air in the room. "What are you waiting for Gaara? Kill me, if you can," the Uchiha provoked.

Tsunade got between them. "That's enough. Both of you."

"You stalked her, you terrorized her, you kidnapped her," Gaara set his nemesis straight.

"I don't need to hear your bullshit cover story Gaara. I don't care what you say to protect Raine from your archaic little society. If making me a criminal will keep her from being stoned to death by you barbarians then so be it; but I want to see her and I want to see my son."

The kazekage shook his head trying not to let Sasuke get to him anymore then he already had. Gaara turned to Tsunade. "He's insane?"

"It appears to be some sort of dissociative disorder." Tsunade frowned. "This is another one of those reasons I was taking my time with Sasuke."

The kage's were ignoring him and he didn't like it. Sasuke pulled against one of his wrist restrains. "I'm not finished with you Gaara."

Gaara ignored Sasuke. "What do you mean? What's wrong with him?"

"Bear with me." Tsunade went to the furious Uchiha and reached for his head.

Sasuke recoiled. "Get away from me you bitch!"

Tsunade didn't have to take Sasuke's shit so she didn't. She grabbed his head and held him still with her strength as she read his brain with her chakra. She looked over Kabuto's repair job. "Keh. All he cared about was fixing this body for Orochimaru."

Gaara could see Sasuke didn't like being touched by the hokage. His hands were white knuckled fists. "What is it Tsunade?"

"Kabuto fixed Sasuke's physical condition and completely ignored his mental one."

"There's nothing wrong with me anymore you old bitch," Sasuke argued.

She let go of him and stepped back. "Tell me Sasuke; are there still gaps in your memory?" She knew there were. "How did you meet Raine?"

Sure there was still a blank patch here and there, but he wasn't stupid. He had been able to fill in the empty with other memories and feelings. "I can't quite remember. I think Orochimaru introduced us." He looked from to Tsunade back to Gaara. "She was with you, but you weren't married." An evil smile stretched his lips. "I barely knew her and we spent the night together in Cardiff. She showered right in front of me. How could I say no to a beautiful woman like that?"

"Why were you in Cardiff with Raine?" Tsunade pushed.

Sasuke laughed. "What do you think? To fuck. We were in a hotel."

"Raine was with you in Cardiff because you kidnapped her," Gaara corrected coldly.

"Oh yeah, that's right. She wasn't cheating on you Gaara, she was kidnapped." He laughed again. It was clever the way the kazekage covered for his wife.

"You left Cardiff and joined Orochimaru in the desert. I rescued Raine and stopped Sound before you could attack Sand."

The Uchiha narrowed his eyes at Gaara. He remembered bits and pieces of a battle in the desert. Sound and Sand had been fighting. "Sand is a shit hole. Raine doesn't belong there. You stole her back from me."

He is crazy. "Raine belongs with her husband, me. I didn't steal her from you Sasuke; she was never yours."

Liar. "Jealous Gaara?"

"I have nothing to be jealous of."

Sasuke wished he had just one free hand. He wanted to reach over and slap that look off of Gaara's face. "She couldn't quit me even after she married you. She loved me. Raine gave me a son too."

Her patient said he remembered Saichi, but it was obvious his memory was distorted. "What do you remember about Saichi, Sasuke?"

Sasuke could picture Raine holding their newborn, rocking him to sleep in the nursery. The first pangs of loneliness touched his heart. I miss them. "Raine loved him. She was a good mother."

"You forced that baby on her," Gaara couldn't help it.

"She wanted Saichi as much as I did. Raine loved and wanted our child because she loved and wanted me. You weren't enough for her Gaara. I bet you're still aren't."

Tsunade sighed heavily. "Saichi was a test tube baby Sasuke. Kabuto created him in a lab using genetic material he stole from Raine."

It was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard and Sasuke laughed. "That's your cover story? Well I suppose if you throw enough medical terminology into a report you can dazzle anyone ne Tsunade?"

"It's no story," Tsunade was firm.

Sasuke shook his head. He had been seeing Raine for months before Saichi was born. He remembered sitting with her and watching her as she went about her daily life. "And how do you intend to explaine Yusuke?" Yusuke must have been conceived when Saichi was still quite small. When we lived together in Sound before Gaara came.

"Kabuto made Yusuke and put him in my wife right next to my baby," Gaara was done being discrete with the bastard. "She was pregnant when you kidnapped her."

As if. "I see, so this is where you get your stupid kidnapping charges. Every time your wife came running back to me it was kidnapping, right?"

Gaara tried to swallow has disgust. Clearly Sasuke couldn't remember the truth about what he did to Raine. "You are so fucked up."

"I was fucked up thanks to you two fucks but I'm feeling much better now and I want to see my son. Yusuke is my flesh and blood."

Gaara shook his head and called the sand back into his gourd. "Yusuke is my son and he doesn't need to know a pathetic twisted fuck like you."

"I will go over your head on this Gaara. You too you bitch. Yusuke is an Uchiha, my son. A paternity test will prove it. As a former shinobi of this pathetic village and the only adult Uchiha left I can ask that my son be granted asylum from Sand here in Konoha. You will let me see him or I will take him away from you!" Sasuke railed at Gaara. "You wanna put me on trial you bastard? Come on then; bring it the fuck on!"

Tsunade lifted a hand. "Oi, that's enough."

"I have the right to see my child!" Sasuke screamed defiantly.

The damned thing was, here in Konoha Sasuke did. Even criminals have rights. "I'm the hokage; I know your rights Sasuke."

Gaara turned his frown on Tsunade. "No. I wont allow Yusuke to be anywhere near Sasuke. He's obviously mad. I won't allow Yusuke to be exposed to him."

"I understand how you feel Gaara and I'm incline to agree with you. Sasuke's perception and memory." Tsunade thought of Kabuto again. "If they had just left Sasuke alone he wouldn't have lost so much. His memories are twisted, interrupted and he's filled in the gaps with his own fantasy."

Fantasy? You bitch! "Don't talk about me like I'm not in the room you shriveled up cunt! My memories might be sketchy but I know what the fuck happened!"

Slowly he turned to the Uchiha. "Do you? Then you must remember tormenting her in your little hole in the desert. Biting her face, ripping her clothes." Gaara stepped closer to Sasuke. "Or maybe you remember molesting her in her sleep, forcing yourself on her."

There was something disturbing about Gaara's cold eyes, his agonized tone of voice. "You're full of shit Gaara. Raine and I might have had some rough sex but I never forced her to do anything."

"You never slept with my wife." It was almost unbelievable how warped Sasuke's sense of reality really was.

Right, and my kids were grown in jars. "I remember her oh face Gaara," Sasuke dug. "The excited little noises she makes when she has an orgasm. The way she arches her back when …"

"You watched us make love you sick freak!" Gaara exploded. "You fucking stalked her; you watched everything Raine did! You don't know her because you were with her Sasuke. You know her because you fucking hunted her!"

"Like prey Gaara?" Sasuke wasn't going to give his enemy an inch. Gaara liked to torment him too much.

He remembered fighting Sasuke in the forests of fire country years ago. "Yeah," his stomach felt tight. "Just like that."

Sasuke straightened. "I'll answer to your pathetic little charges if it will keep Raine safe because I love her, but I won't sit here and listen to your shit. I won't let you try and twist what Raine and I had into something its not and I won't let you deny me my child."

Tsunade put a hand on Gaara's shoulder and steered them toward the door. "Gaara, listen to me."

Love her…deny him his child! "He's fucking nuts!" Gaara hissed.

"Kabuto healed the container and left Sasuke to flounder. He may never recover his real memories now. That's why I …"

Gaara took a deep breath. "I understand Tsunade." Kabuto's quick fix had left the Uchiha's mind in chaos.

"I have an idea Gaara, a way to appease Sasuke without dragging Raine into the middle of this mess." She had the kage's attention. "There's an observation room in the pediatric unit, two way glass. Sasuke could see Yusuke without the baby ever seeing him. Such an arrangement would satisfy Sasuke's right to see his child."

Let Sasuke see Yusuke his heart started pounding faster or drag Raine and Yusuke through a paternity trial. "Godamnit!"

"Well?"

She's going to hate me. Gaara nodded. Fuck! "Alright Tsunade. I'll do it your way. It had better be enough." Gaara stormed out of Sasuke's room. He wanted to be with his family and he had some bad news for his love. Forgive me Raine.

Gaara returned to their crowded suite and calmly explained to his friends and family what was going on. He dropped the bomb on them about Sasuke seeing Yusuke; it didn't go over well. Temari started screaming, Raine started crying. Kankuro called the Uchiha every filthy swear word he could think off. The kids started to get nervous with the adults behaving so scary. Gabe ran to uncle Shikamaru and clung to his leg. Renji started to bawl; Yusuke took his hand to try and comfort his brother and ended up in tears himself.

Daddy went to his twins and picked them up. Raine ran into the bedroom crying and slammed the door. Shikamaru picked up Gabe and stepped away from Temari. She was still screaming at Gaara. Kiba shook Kankuro by the shoulder trying to get him to stop scaring the kids. Lee went to Gaara to try to help him with the crying babies.

Naruto sat back watching it all. Sasuke… Wide awake and pretty messed in the head; all of this was Sasuke's fault. He headed for the door. "I'll see if I can get an update on the search for Kabuto and Orochimaru." He hurried out; it hurt his heart to watch.

Sasuke thinks he loves her. He could still remember fighting his old friend for Raine like it had happened yesterday. Raine screamed as Sasuke shook her in his giant hand. He could remember the imprint of Sasuke's teeth on genie's bottom lip. The sick love letter Sasuke sent confessing to murdering that orphan boy to get close to Raine. Naruto put his head down and hurried to find Tsunade. He had questions and hokage had answers.

It was decided Raine, Temari and Shikamaru would bring the children to the observation room for a little play time. Gaara didn't like the idea of Sasuke seeing all of the boys and Kankuro was livid at the very idea, but Raine insisted. She refused to interrupt their day or give the children reason to fear. She wouldn't let them be separated. Tsunade escorted the family to the play room full of toys and games. Gaara kissed his wife and went to go be with Tsunade.

Tsunade Gaara Kankuro and Naruto went into the viewing room and waited. A few minutes later Sasuke was brought in shackled to a wheel chair. He smiled at the gathering. "Yo."

The nurse left him and Tsunade went to Sasuke. Kankuro glared at the Uchiha. "You don't deserve to see him," he growled.

Sasuke flicked his eyes up to the angry Sand ninja. "Are you a good uncle to my son Kankuro?" Sasuke coolly tossed back at him.

"Fuck you Uchiha!"

"Kankuro," Gaara already had a headache. "Why don't you and Naruto scare us up some coffee?"

"Whatever," Kankuro pushed past everyone and Naruto sheepishly followed.

Sasuke looked up at Gaara. "Well, where's my boy?"

Tsunade turned the chair and pointed Sasuke at the toy room. She pushed him close to the glass. "Right here."

There was a child amongst the red headed Gaara babies playing on the floor with black hair. Yusuke… Sasuke's mouth fell open as he laid eyes on his son for the first time.

"Yusuke is," Gaara started.

Sasuke laughed a little. "I can tell our sons apart Gaara." He watched his boy playing with a couple of stuffed horses. He was trying to make them gallop. "Look at him!" he marveled grinning. "Look how smart he is!"

It was beyond strange to hear a father's excitement in Sasuke's voice. "Yusuke's very bright. Raine reads to the children a lot."

Sasuke wanted to see Raine too but at the moment that bitch Temari was obstructing his view. It was alright though, for now he was content to look at his son. "Yusuke." The baby laughed and Sasuke counted four teeth in the front. I've slept through so much. "He's beautiful."

Gara rolled his eyes down to Sasuke in the wheelchair. His enemy smiled at the baby. "Yes he is. All of my sons are."

"She sure can make a beautiful baby." Sasuke watched Yusuke get up and start out for the chest of toys against one wall. "Is he good Gaara?"

There was something sad about the way Sasuke was watching his boy. "He is."

"Yes of course he is. Raine is an excellent mother," it was barely a whisper. Sasuke was fascinated with his boy. Yusuke dug two different stuffed toys out of the chest and went back to his brothers. He handed one of the toys to the baby that looked most like Gaara. "Yusuke and Renji right? I hear they don't like to be apart."

"They don't." Gaara looked from Sasuke to his twins. "The twins love each other, they rely on each other."

Sasuke watched Yusuke with Renji. Renji reached for Yusuke often patting his brother on the arm. They communicated with their strange baby talk one exciting the other. He couldn't help smiling at them. "They're our opposites Gaara, look. A chibi you and me that get along."

Gaara frowned a little. "They aren't us."

"No, they're better." Sasuke stared at Yusuke. The boy even had his eyes. "Tell me about him Gaara."

Sasuke had asked nicely. "What do you want to know?"

"Tell me about the day he was born."

Should I… Gaara sighed. "Renji came first, Yusuke four minutes later. He was seven pounds and twenty inches long, a healthy baby." Gaara could still picture Raine holding their newborn twins for the first time. "They were both so beautiful."

"When did he get his teeth? When did he start to walk?" Sasuke had missed a lot. He peeked up at Gaara. The kage was looking at him funny. "You know these things don't you Gaara?"

Of course he knew; he was Yusuke's I'm his father! "Teething started at six months." Gaara swallowed hard. "Yusuke and Renji took their firsts steps together. Gabe, he led them. They weren't a year yet."

The look on Gaara's face gave Sasuke a weird feeling in his stomach. "You've really been a father to my son haven't you?"

He frowned at Sasuke. "Yes I have."

"You love Yusuke?"

His headache was getting worse. "That's a foolish question. Of course I do. He's my son, he's my family."

Your family ne? "Did you change his diapers?"

"Yes."

"Rock him to sleep?"

"Yes."

"Did he cry a lot?"

"No he was a good baby." They had both been good, unless they got too far from their twin. Then it was crying time.

Sasuke watched every tick in Gaara's face. "Have you taught him things Gaara?"

"Yeah how to eat French fries," Gaara sighed frustrated.

He looked away from Gaara and back to Yusuke. "You won't be able to teach him to use his Sharingan. Only an Uchiha can teach Yusuke how to use his bloodline limit."

"I'm not real worried about it Sasuke," Gaara was getting irritated again even though Sasuke was calm. "He's a toddler not a ninja."

"But he will be a ninja. Look at them, all three of them. They are our sons. They will all be shinobi. It's in their blood."

Gaara narrowed his eyes at the Uchiha. "None of my boys will ever serve your demented master."

"Orochimaru was a good sensei, believe it or not." Yusuke got up to get another treasure from the chest and Renji got up with him. They went together hand in hand. Finally Temari moved and Sasuke had a clear view of Raine. "Raine…" Sasuke leaned closer to the glass that separated him from his family.

The way the Uchiha whispered his wife's name gave Gaara the chills. Sasuke was gawking at her. Gaara saw her get up and leave Shikamaru's side to go assist the twins. Sasuke's eyes followed her, eating her up. She turned their way to speak to Temari and Sasuke straightened some. "Sasuke?"

"She became an even more beautiful woman while I slept," he said quietly watching his love. Raine moved closer to Temari, closer to the glass that separated them. Yes, that's right. Come to me Raine, let me see you.

"Yes she has," Gaara dug a little himself. He didn't need the Uchiha to tell him anything about his wife. Gaara had been at her side as Raine blossomed into a beautiful woman.

He paid the kazekage little mind and completely forgot about the silent hokage standing back watching them both. Raine smiled at Temari and Sasuke felt his heart flutter in his chest. "I wish I could hear her laugh. It was such a pretty sound."

Gaara agreed with that too. He looked up at his smiling wife. Raine had been nervous about this whole thing; it looked as though Temari was easing her though. The twins went to their mommy and Raine crouched to talk to them. They smiled at her and then Yusuke tried to put his finger up Renji's nose. It was just something that they did sometimes. Raine thought it repulsive and took Yusuke's hand. Gaara chuckled as Raine pointed at the boys serving them another lecture on hygiene.

Sasuke was laughing at the silly display too. "They pick each others noses ne? They must be close." Raine was shaking a finger at them. "Mommy doesn't look happy."

"Mommy hates it," Gaara was smiling at his family. "She says its piggy."

He hadn't felt this genuinely happy in ages. "What's a booger or two between brothers?" Gaara must have found it funny too because he laughed with him. Sasuke leaned closer to the glass watching his love do her duty as mother. "Look at them."

I was just…laughing…with Sasuke! He looked down at the Uchiha again. He was watching Gaara's family with a dreamy smile on his face. "They're good boys."

Raine let up on the boys and straightened. She went back to talking to Temari; the twins went back to the toy box again. "Busy boys. It must be a lot for Raine to handle."

That was an understatement. "We all help with the boys. Kankuro Temari and Shikamaru are in and out all day. I come home as often and as early as I can."

"I'd ditch out on being kage to come home to this too." He sighed a little and put his fingertips on the glass. Sasuke watched Yusuke digging through the toys. "Can I hold him? You could just cover these restraints with a sheet and put him on my lap."

Hold him? He almost felt like a shit for saying it, but Gaara had a child to protect. "I don't think so."

"I'm not going to hurt him I just want," Sasuke frowned some. "I want him close. I want to feel him in my lap, smell his baby shampoo." He looked up at Gaara. Sasuke knew by the look in the kage's eyes, "You know what I mean."

He did know what Sasuke meant. Gaara loved being mobbed by his sons. Saturday mornings they crawled all over him until he got up and put on cartoons. "This is your visitation Sasuke. You're lucky Raine agreed to this much."

Sasuke looked back at Raine. "I want to talk to her."

"She doesn't want to talk to you. Raine won't see you."

Why, because you say so? "I have things to tell her about Saichi."

"You can tell me. Do you know where he is Sasuke?" Kabuto must have told him something that Sasuke hadn't shared with him or Tsunade.

"Saichi is with Orochimaru."

No shit. Gaara sighed trying not to sound frustrated. "Where?"

"I want to talk to Raine."

Gaara was about to respond when something in Sasuke's countenance changed. The Uchiha had raised an eyebrow and Gaara followed Sasuke's stare to Yusuke. Oh shit! Little Yusuke had finally noticed something strange about the mirror. He was walking toward it looking it over with red eyes. The baby had brought out his Sharingan for a good look at the curious thing. Shit!

Sharingan…Sasuke watched in awe as his son stepped closer. Yusuke looked through the trick glass at Gaara and then right at Sasuke. He's looking at me! "Yusuke sees me!"

Yusuke stepped up to the glass and put his hand up on his side in the same place as Sasuke's fingers. Sasuke gasped and laughed excited. It was a scene Gaara could have gone his entire life without ever seeing. He turned and bolted out of the room. Gaara ran to the toy room.

"I'm your father Yusuke," he told the baby he couldn't touch. His son was staring up at him. The door behind his boy burst open and Gaara came running in. Yusuke turned away from Sasuke as Gaara said something to Raine. Raine turned toward the mirror and for a moment she was looking right at him. "Raine….I'm here!"

Temari called Yusuke to her. It looked like Gaara and Raine were arguing. Sasuke frowned watching Raine get upset. "Leave her alone Gaara!"

"They can't hear you Sasuke," Tsunade finally spoke up.

Raine turned away from Gaara. It looked like she was going to cry. A second later the sand ninja was behind her. Gaara wrapped his arms around her and spoke in her ear. Watching them like this made Sasuke feel hot inside. He watched Raine turn to the kazekage. Gaara sweet talked her some more holding her and staring down into her eyes. Sasuke's lip curled into a snarl. It was jealousy burning up his insides. "Get away from her," Sasuke hissed almost inaudibly. Gaara kissed Raine. "Keh!"

She pulled away from Gaara and Raine's sad eyes floated back to the mirror wall between them. She was looking at him again and Sasuke's heart cried out for her. Raine…I love you. I miss you so much. Gaara said something to his sister and escorted Raine out into the hall with his arm around her shoulder. "Raine…"

Renji started crying when mommy and daddy went out. Yusuke hurried to him and took his brothers hand. Sasuke watched the twins feeling a hole open up in his heart. I wanted this with Raine. I wanted…

The door opened and Naruto came in carrying a coffee for Tsunade. He had left Kankuro in the hall with Gaara and Raine. Naruto passed the hokage her coffee. "Careful, it's still pretty hot."

"Is Raine chan alright?" Tsunade peeled the lid off her Styrofoam cup.

Naruto nodded at Tsunade and stepped closer to Sasuke. He was watching his son with a pained look on his face. "How are things in here?"

Tsunade blew on her coffee. "We're all just fine."

He thought Sasuke looked sad. "Sasuke, you okay?"

Like you really care. "They won't let me hold my son."

It seemed an awful lot like Sasuke loved his child. Naruto wondered what kind of father Sasuke would have made had he left the path of vengeance. He looked at Tsunade and she shook her head. "I…have to meet Jiraiya. He was getting back today."

Tsunade already knew that. He'd be invading her sanctuary tonight no doubt. "He knows where to find me." Naruto nodded and went out. For a moment all was peaceful.

Gaara came in looking stressed. He frowned at Sasuke. "She said she'd talk to you if you tell us where Saichi is." He wasn't happy about it; Gaara didn't like the idea of using his wife to extract information from Sasuke. Raine didn't want to see the Uchiha, but she was desperate for word about her lost child. Damn you Sasuke!

Raine will see me. I can talk to her I can "I'll tell her everything I know about Saichi."

Godamnit. He cut his eyes up to Tsunade. "Is there a place here where…" he didn't even want to finish.

Tsunade swallowed a mouthful of coffee. "I'll make the arrangements."

Sasuke smiled a little. I'll finally get to see Raine. It's been so long. Yusuke was trying to appease his pouting twin with pats on the arm. Tsunade went out and left him alone with Gaara. Sasuke let a silence fall between them listening to Gaara's aggravated breaths. "You hate me Gaara, I know. I hate you too."

He didn't want to listen to Sasuke's shit right now. "So what?"

"You love Raine and Yusuke, so do I." He rolled his eyes up to Gaara again. "As Yusuke's father I thank you for taking care of my son."

The Uchiha's thanks cut at him. "Yusuke is my son too. He's my wife's child and my son's twin. He's family and I love him. I don't need you to thank me for doing my job as husband and father."

He didn't like hearing Gaara refer to himself that way. Sasuke should be the one Raine was raising their family with. "I'm glad that you haven't let our problems with each other carry over to our sons."

"The boys are innocent." Gaara was thinking about his wife out in the hall. Raine was upset that Sasuke had been so close to their son and furious when she heard the Uchiha was keeping secrets about Saichi. He could still here her saying Oh I'll meet with Sasuke alright! I scratch his eyes out!

Sasuke looked back to his son. Yusuke was doing a good job of settling his twin. "They really are quite attached to each other, our sons." Renji stopped bawling and stuck his finger up Yusuke's nose. Yusuke laughed and shook his head. Sasuke chuckled at the boys. "Look at them Gaara, they look just like us."

It was a truth Gaara lived with everyday. "I know they do."

He decided something right then. "They'll never hate, they'll never fight. Our sons will always be brothers; the best friends that you and I could not be."

Best friends. For a long moment Gaara just stared at his rival. How much of what has happened to Sasuke is my fault? Gaara looked back at his twins; miniature versions of him and the man strapped to the wheelchair beside him. Our sons. "Renji and Yusuke will always be together."

"Then it's a promise between us fathers. Our twins will never be apart." He could see how much Yusuke loved his twin. "All brothers should be good to each other."

Gaara thought about his brother standing in the hall with his wife. He thought about the day Uchiha Itachi died at Sasuke's hands. The kage was pretty sure Sasuke lost a huge part of himself that day. Gaara didn't value Kankuro growing up the way he did now. I wish I had been better to him. What Itachi did to Sasuke... Gaara sighed quietly. "Yes they should and the boys will be."

Sasuke had been watching the way the twins responded to their big brother too. When Gabriel spoke, they listened. "They adore Gabriel. He is a good big brother?"

He smiled a little thinking about his boys. "Gabe has taught them how to get into everything. He leads and they follow. He lets the little ones get away with things when mommy's back is turned too." Gaara remembered the powder incident. Gabe kept Raine distracted while the twins pulled everything off her dresser. The powder hit the floor and spilled everywhere; the twins just had to play in it.

"My brother used to hit me in the head." It was a bitter sweet memory. "He never had time for me. I wasn't an unpleasant child I don't know why he didn't like me."

My brother feared me. It had been hard for his siblings growing up with monster Gaara. "Gabe is a good big brother. He looks out for the twins."

There was still time while Tsunade made the arrangements for Sasuke to meet with his love for the first time in nearly two years. "Tell me more about them Gaara, anything you want just tell me about my son."

Gaara thought it over, what to tell Sasuke about Yusuke. After a long moment, Gaara started out small. "You saw he's got four teeth in the front. He cut the bottom two at the same time. He had his first haircut a month ago. Yusuke was good; he sat still for the barber and got a lollypop after."

Sasuke sat quietly listening to Gaara talk. He watched Yusuke and Renji. They were returning to their play now that the drama was over. Yusuke has good brothers. Soon Sasuke would see Raine; he would make her happy and tell her about Saichi. Their son would make an impressive addition to the three playing in the next room. If only I were in Gaara's shoes.

Naruto found Jiraiya shortly after he arrived in Konoha. The sannin waved and Naruto ran to him. "Ero sannin, you're late."

"Oi Naruto. Have you seen Tsunade?"

"She's with Sasuke and Gaara." The ninja frowned. "A lot of shit has gone down the past few days. Kabuto has been to see Sasuke."

It didn't sound good, but Jiraiya had only disturbing news himself. "Tell me on the way. I have to speak to Tsunade."

Naruto told Jiraiya everything as they made their way to the hospital.

They found Tsunade in the hall with Raine and Gaara outside of a door guarded by ANBU. Kankuro Shikamaru and Temari had taken the boys back to the suite. "Hokage, kazekage might I have a word with you?" Jiraiya asked right off.

Gaara looked at the sannin. He and Raine were about to go talk to Sasuke. "Now?"

Jiraiya nodded. "No time like the present." If Orochimaru was lurking around now was an excellent time.

"Raine and I were about to have a word with Sasuke." Gaara stepped closer to his wife.

Tsunade could pick up an urgency in Jiraiya's tone and posture that the others could not. She really had known him forever. "Sasuke isn't going anywhere. What is it Jiraiya?"

He refused to be the one to break the news to Raine. Her husband could tell her later. Jiraiya smiled at Raine. "It's sort of official ninja stuff. You understand don't you dear?"

She blinked at the sannin. "Sure," and then said to Gaara, "Go ahead."

"I'll stay with Raine," Naruto offered.

Jiraiya doesn't want Raine to hear. Gaara nodded. "Thank you Naruto."

Naruto smiled. "No problem."

"We won't be long," Jiraiya assured.

Tsunade seemed tense; something was defiantly up the sannins. Gaara kissed his wife. "I'll be right back." The hokage was already leading Jiraiya away. Something was defiantly going on. Gaara wondered if Naruto knew what Jiraiya had to say.

They stood watching the big shots stroll off to some private office to talk. Naruto frowned a little. There had been no time for the sannin to fill him in on the way over; Naruto had run his mouth about what was going on here in Konoha. The trio turned the corner and when they were gone Naruto turned to look at Raine. She was looking at the door the ANBU were guarding. "Is Sasuke in there?"

"Yes." She wanted to meet with him and get it over with. She wanted to know about Saichi. "He knows something about Saichi."

"Are you okay with seeing him though?" Raine had been quite upset a little while ago.

"I can handle it. I'm not afraid of Sasuke. I don't have to be." Gaara and Tsunade promised her Sasuke couldn't escape his restraints; he couldn't use any jutsus or bring out his Sharingan either. She took a step closer to the door as if to prove it.

Her bravery seemed a little forced and Naruto smiled. "Sasuke can't hurt you."

The first step toward the door wasn't so scary so Raine took another. "He must have some idea where Saichi is. That Kabuto jerk probably told him something."

"Raine?" she started to the door. "Oi, what are you doing? You aren't going in there? Not without Gaara."

Raine looked over her shoulder at Naruto. "He can't hurt me right?"

He moved closer to her. "Sasuke is… Who knows what he'll say." He didn't think his friend of old would be vicious to Raine, but he might say some fucked up things.

"He'll tell me about Saichi. I can get the information before Gaara and Tsunade even finish with Ero sannin." She could be quick. Raine had no desire to linger in Sasuke's company. "In and out in five minutes."

"I think you better wait for Gaara."

"Sasuke has put Gaara through enough already don't you think?" She frowned. "I don't want him talking anymore of his shit to my husband. I can do this myself."

There was a protective glimmer in her eyes. Poor genie really has toughened up. "I can't let you go in there alone."

"Then come with me." She wanted this over yesterday.

Naruto sighed adjusting his head protector. "Don't you think Gaara will be pissed?"

I don't care. He let Sasuke see Yusuke. "It will be over with before he even gets back."

Raine had a good argument and Naruto wasn't sure he could even stop her if she wanted to go in there. "Okay, I'll go with you. Five minutes, ten tops."

"Good." Raine turned her attention back to the foreboding door and Naruto stepped in behind her. The ANBU stepped aside for the kazekage's wife. She summoned her strength and opened the door. Before she made it three steps into the room she saw him for the first time in nearly two years. Uchiha Sasuke….

They went into the residents lounge and Jiraiya began. He had just returned from tea country, a place Orochimaru seemed to like quite a bit. He had been a frequent visitor to three different and all very remote fishing villages. There he conducted experiments, testing his jutsus. Orochimaru practiced body transmigration jutsu on living and dead subjects, often on family members. Through his research he came to understand that the more similar the container is to the person transferred into their body, and the more willing the container is to becoming a host; the more complete the merging. The jutsu worked best with people that already had an existing bond, like family. "Like a mother and daughter."

"What are you saying Jiraiya? Orochimaru wants Raine as some kind of a container?" Gaara knew the snake wanted her children, as many as he could get from her.

Straight up always worked best for Jiraiya. "I think Orochimaru intends to put Rhiannon into Raine the way that he will be inside of Sasuke."

Gaara frowned. "Rhiannon is dead."

"That isn't a problem for Orochimaru." Tsunade was familiar with the sannin's abilities. He brought back the first and second hokage; it was an easy thing for him to do. He doesn't care who he sacrifices."

"Orochimaru wants Raine alive," Gaara pointed out. "If he wants her to have more children she has to be alive."

"Orochimaru has enough of her genetic material to keep him satisfied. Besides, it's possible her children will pass on their genetic anomaly," Tsunade argued.

Jiraiya shifted in his seat. "His experiments in the remote villages were practice for his body changing jutsus. He's perfected using the living and the dead."

His lack of respect for life sickened the hokage. "Raine would be a compatible container for her mother. A strong genetic match and a pre existing emotional bond."

Gaara shook his head. He didn't want to believe it. Put Rhiannon into Raine! "It's sick. Why would he do that!"

"I know a little more about that too. I found many of the people and places in Rhiannon's pictures. I found women that knew her; knew of her and Orochimaru." Jiraiya had been in wind country before he followed the trail to the seaside villages in tea country. "I got the real story about Sasori Rhiannon and Orochimaru."

His stomach was starting to feel tight. "What do you mean real story?" Gaara asked.

"Orochimaru told Raine the truth about her mother. They had a three year affair before Sasori killed her." Jiraiya settled. "Listen to me, I'll tell you both all I have learned."