Hi everyone! Thank you all for the great feedback you've been giving me. I really appreciate it and I have been so happy to hear from you! I got the next chapter cleaned up and ready to go. I hope you guys are ready :D

Konoha was only a few hours away. Beki's legs were weak from the journey; she hadn't totaled more than three hours of sleep a night since she left Suna. Her diet had also been poor. The foraging hadn't gone as well as Beki would have liked and the river fish she tried to catch all just slipped through her grasp. The issues compounded upon each other until Beki felt foggy and useless at everything.

Seiichiro had taught Beki a trick to keep her mind off the aches and pains that came with a hard journey. The first step was to make a laundry list in the exact order she wanted to take care of everything. Then all she had to do was keep reciting it to herself. Number one: I'm going to throw all my clothes in the washer, Beki thought. Then I'm going to take a long hot shower and get the last of the sand out of my hair. It was a tough call between eating and sleeping from there. When starved for her two most basic needs, it came down to what she would die without first. Beki considered her present condition and decided she was more likely to burn the house down trying to cook herself a meal than if she napped first. Sleep it is, Beki decided.

The guards at the gate hardly paid Beki any mind. For all they knew, she was just getting back from a hard training regimen. In other circumstances, Beki would have headed up to the Hokage's office to report the attack on Suna. She was certain, however, that the news had arrived long before she had. Beki dragged her feet all through town. If anyone called out to her, she didn't hear it. Somehow the colors in the world seemed duller and the sounds bled together until they were just shapeless noise.

It wasn't long before Beki was wiping her feet on the doormat of Hinata's house. She turned the key in the lock and walked inside to make a beeline for the laundry room.

Do the laundry.

Beki dumped the contents of her bag into the washing machine, taking care to fish out her bag of toiletries. She looked at the clothes she was currently wearing and shrugged. They weren't as soiled as she had expected them to be, but it made no sense to walk upstairs and strip just to have to bring the outfit down again to wash. She peeled off her shirt and leggings just to stand there and stare at them sadly. Beki had brought the leggings along because she knew they flattered her legs and her rear. The shirt she had packed because it was one of her favorites. It was made of soft brilliantly white cotton with shimmery strands of silver woven into the fabric. It gave the garment a subtle shine that reminded Beki of a dress she had as a young girl. Traveling the road had gotten it dirty and she prayed the stains would come out. She tossed the white shirt in the hamper to run with a light load later and started the dark wash. Just as she was about to pop the hooks on the back of her bra, she heard someone clear their throat.

"Uh, hi Beki," Naruto was standing in the kitchen, a slight flush in his cheeks and his eyes glued to the mug in his hands.

"Oh, sorry Naruto," Beki sighed. "I forget you live here now."

Naruto wrinkled his nose slightly to reflect his indecision in how to feel about that remark. "Welcome home. How was the trip?"

"I'm home now," Beki put her hands on her hips and sighed. "It doesn't matter."

"That great, huh?" Naruto laughed nervously. "What happened?"

Beki gave him a dismissive wave and headed for the stairs.

"I'm sorry your trip with Gaara didn't go so great," Naruto shrugged uncomfortably. "Hinata should be home soon from training."

"Cool," Beki shrugged as she walked up the stairs.

"Do you want me to go and get her?" Naruto walked over to the stairs and looked up at Beki on the landing.

"No, I'm fine," Beki grabbed a robe from her room and headed into her bathroom.

"Do you need anything till then?" Naruto called out. "Some water? A bowl of ramen?"

"No, thanks," Beki turned on the water and climbed in while it was still cold. The icy stream gave her goosebumps and set her shivering, but she was willing to do anything to get her space back. Once she was sure she was finally alone, Beki leaned against the back wall of the shower and let it support her for a moment. Her knees began to buckle and so Beki lowered herself down onto the cold tile floor, her muscles relaxing as the water warmed up to a comfortable temperature. In her exhaustion, Beki was left wondering if any of the previous few days' events had happened. Her boyfriend had whisked her away on a romantic getaway just to turn into a gargantuan murderous tanuki. He took her into town to make it up to her only to find the village had been devastated in an attack by persons unknown. Immediately afterwards, he had broken up with her in the most anticlimactic fashion Beki could imagine.

Beki ran her fingers through her hair and reached up on the shower shelf for the shampoo. Start with the basics, she heard her father say in her head. Take care of your needs from the bottom up and soon it will all feel better. Once she was clean Beki's spirits had bolstered a bit. The heat from the shower made her feel her exhaustion even more, however, so her next stop was her bed. She walked back to her room in nothing more than her fluffy white bathrobe and crawled under the covers. The moment her head hit the pillow, Beki was out. Luckily it was a dreamless sleep. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

The gentle caress of a hand on Beki's head stirred her from her slumber. Beki looked up hopefully but it wasn't Gaara's face that greeted her.

"Hey Beki," Hinata pat Beki's head. "I hear you had a hard time on your trip."

"How did you know I was away?" Beki gave her a confused look. "We didn't tell anyone but…Naruto." Beki rolled her eyes. "He sold us out."

Hinata chuckled. "No, actually. His impressions of you were pretty spot on, but I've known you longer than he has. There were a few dead giveaways that it was him and not you."

Beki sat up and adjusted her bathrobe. It had fallen open in her sleep and it was nipsickle cold in there. "So where to start…"

Hinata picked up Beki's hand and gave the bruises a concerned once over. "You could start with how you got these."

As Beki told Hinata the story of how the whole trip shook out, Hinata held her hands. "That's too bad," Hinata sighed. "It sounds like otherwise it would have been a wonderful time."

"I don't know what I was expecting, dating a Kage," Beki squeezed Hinata's hands for support. "It's always been complicated and it will always be complicated."

"How do you feel about it?" Hinata brushed the hair out of Beki's face. "Do you want to be with Gaara?"

Beki looked down at the comforter. "I don't know anymore. I really like him. It isn't obvious, but Gaara has a good sense of humor and a kind heart. He's good looking, talented, and successful. The perfect package. Except for his job, that is."

"You think everything would be fine if he was just a regular shinobi?" Hinata asked.

"Yes," Beki explained. "There wouldn't be all the secrecy, the priority juggling, or the interruptions. That and he's married to it. If Naruto becomes Hokage, he will always put his friends first. The job won't keep him from being your husband or a parent to your kids."

Hinata momentarily got a dreamy look at the mention of "kids" but quickly snapped back to attention. "You don't think Gaara would?"

"He obviously wants a family," Beki sighed. "I just don't think he'd know what to do with one."

"Like that time you said you wanted an alpaca," Hinata scooched over on the bed so she was sitting up beside Beki. "And we took you to the farm and you got bitten,"

"Yes, exactly like that but less hilarious and more disappointing," Beki said.

"Where do we go from here?" Hinata asked. "Are you going to wait for him to write you or will you make the first move?"

Beki shook her head. "Like I said, I don't know if I want this much trouble, Hinata. Maybe it isn't meant to be and I should just let it go."

Hinata pulled Beki in for a hug and held her comfortingly. Beki rested in Hinata's arms and sighed. "Even the best relationships come with trouble, Beki," Hinata pet her hair again. "I'm not saying that this situation isn't difficult-"

"Just that no matter who I'm with there'll be trouble," Beki nodded. "I get it."

"I will support whatever decision you make," Hinata explained. "You should sleep on it first and then have a good breakfast. It's hard to make big decisions with nothing in your stomach."

"Thanks, Hina chan," Beki closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You would probably go to Neji," Hinata scooted out of the bed and tucked Beki back in. "He's always been your backup."

"Yeah, he has," Beki yawned. "I'm lucky to have you guys."

"Make sure to mention that to Neji once in a while," Hinata said as she turned out the light. "See you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Hina chan," Beki said as the door closed. All at once darkness reclaimed the room. As soon as her eyes shut, Beki was so deeply asleep it was as if she had never been awakened. Peaceful sleep carried her through the night and early into the morning, dreaming happily of the salt spray of the sea and cloudy summer days.

"BEKI!"

The distress in Hinata's voice and the accompanying crash as Beki's bedroom door flung open set Beki on overdrive. Her feet were on the floor and her hand was wrapped around the hilt of a knife she kept on her nightstand before her eyes even opened. Instead of an assailant, Beki was met with a set of upset Hyuuga eyes and a nest of purple-black bedhead. The pale arms in the tangle of hair were clutching a sloppily written note. Beki unfurled her fingers from the hilt of the knife and took hold of the note instead. Hinata feebly released the paper, grateful to be relieved of its burden. The note was sloppily written, as if the author had composed it in the dark. She walked over to the blinds and pulled them open, washing the room in the blinding white light of the early morning sun.

"How can you even read this?" Beki squinted, her eyes stinging. "It looks like a drunken kindergartener was trying to write his Christmas list."

"It's from Naruto," Hinata began, the note of panic still in her voice. "A rescue squad was dispatched in the dead of night and they came to offer Naruto a spot on the team."

"What's going on?" Beki's eyes skimmed the childish peaks and valleys until they stuck on two words: "Gaara" and "kidnapped". The paper crackled as it folded into her vicelike grip as Beki's fists clenched in panic. Beki suddenly felt chilled and her mind raced so quickly that she was developing a headache.

"The terrorists that attacked Suna while you two were away came back," Hinata explained. "After a battle for the city in the sky, Gaara was overwhelmed and abducted."

"They asked Konoha to aid them because they were heading towards the border?" Beki asked.

Hinata nodded. "At least that's what I got out of Naruto's note."

Beki shook her head. It still amazed her how much Hinata could make out of the chicken scrawl Naruto called handwriting. "We have to go after them."

"I agree," Hinata squared her shoulders. "Whatever challenges Naruto faces, I want to be by his side."

"Despite the unstable ground our relationship is on right now, I can't stand idly by while Gaara's in the hands of these bastards." Beki sighed. "All that's left is to get ready."

…

Beki dressed silently in full view of the windows of her room. Modesty was a moot point in a compound full of people who could see through walls, but Beki dropped all pretense on this somber occasion. The Kazekage was in incredible danger and Konoha had elected to come to their aid. This created a tricky political situation for Beki as Getsu technically had no business interfering. If she should step in and the mission go amiss, the whole debacle could be put on her shoulders. Alternatively, if Beki was injured or killed in action, Getsugakure could come after Konoha or Suna for coercing her into acting outside her authority. Even if she left a note, it could be discredited as a forgery.

Beki put the politics out of her mind for a moment as she surveyed her options for mission gear. Over the last year, the family uniform Seiichiro had given Beki had fallen into disrepair. It had been tailored to Beki perfectly, which made it most suitable for training. That meant the garment had been torn and mended several dozen times, the bright embroidered family crest was faded from washing, and the treating of grass stains had left the knees discolored. Beki set it aside and picked up the outfit Yasahiro had given her for the chunin exams. It fit well, however the seam where she had mended the slice that had exposed her breasts during the finals was painfully obvious. It immediately drew the eye, like a subtle bullseye over her heart.

This is not what I should wear for heroic adventures, Beki thought bitterly as she tossed it aside. With my luck, the seam would give out and I'd give everyone another eyeful.

At last Beki surrendered and picked up the box at the bottom of the closet. In a swell of birthday induced joy, Beki had decided to blow her bonus from her performance in the exams on a custom set of gear. It had eaten through her savings and even tapped into the money Seiichiro allotted her for expenses. His letters to her went long unanswered; Beki tried to compensate for the loss of funds by letting his letters pile up and then answering several of them at once in one awkwardly constructed series of one line answers. Seiichiro was furious, of course. Beki thought the outfit was worth the trouble yet the small pang of guilt at the memory of its cost kept her from breaking it out.

The outfit was mostly based on the one Beki wore for the chunin exams but it was designed in consideration for Beki's specific needs. The pants were the same silvery gray her Tsukimori uniform had been. They were hip high cargos just loose enough to allow for free movement but tight enough that they didn't catch on bushes, and they were cuffed at the bottom so they fit snugly over her boots. The bodysuit, made of the same snowy white wetsuit material as Beki's chunin outfit, had long fitted sleeves with thumb holes. Beki's favorite part of the whole ensemble was the iron gray vest that went over the bodysuit. The vest had a high collar to protect her throat and was constructed of a breastplate and a back plate with no shoulder pieces. It stopped right at her rib cage, which would protect her vitals but allow for free movement of her waist. After the close shave with Shinichi, Beki had opted for the protective piece and had gone as far as having a large hood sewn in. Now that Beki had a reputation as the Drowned Maiden, she had to take some pains to conceal her identity. The element of surprise was completely spoiled when a person could watch her hair and eyes change color.

Once she had finished putting on the outfit and her gray Getsu headband, Beki pulled up the hood and smiled slightly to herself. Completely anonymous shinobi. Hell, if I play my cards right, people may not even know I was involved in this rescue mission, Beki thought.

"I'm ready," Hinata shuffled breathlessly into the room, a bag of perfectly packed provisions and gear in each hand. "I've got all the essentials in here."

Beki took her bag and looked. Hinata had packed light, which was smart. Rescue missions depended almost entirely on speed, so cumbersome "ready for anything" kits could spell defeat for even experienced shinobi. Beki looked up at Hinata's expectant face and a light switch went off inside.

Forget what happens if something happens to me acting on my own, Beki thought. If Hinata comes along on this mission with me and something happens to her, I'll have a jinchuriki and Hiashi Hyuuga to deal with.

Beki stared her best friend in the face for a moment, weighed the wrath of two villages against the wrath of two men, and made her decision.

"Come on Hinata," Beki sighed. "Let's go."

Hinata's eyes widened. "Hold on, I think I forgot something."

Beki followed Hinata into her bedroom. She stepped into the bathroom and fished around in a drawer. Beki sat her bag on the floor and leaned against Naruto and Hinata's bed. A quick glance confirmed Hinata was still occupied, so Beki slid open the nightstand drawer just wide enough to survey its contents.

Bingo, Beki smirked as she slid her target into her pocket. By the time Hinata came back into the room Beki had completely replaced the drawer and was waiting for her by the door. Hinata grabbed her bag and followed Beki down the stairs.

"Hey," Beki turned around halfway to the kitchen. Hinata stopped and gave her a quizzical look:

"What is it, Beki? Did you forget something?"

Beki sighed. "Thank you for letting me know what was going on and giving me a chance to do something about it."

Hinata blinked in surprise and shook her head. "O-of course, Beki. You would do the same for me."

Beki looked down at the ground and then held her hands up in the air expectantly. Hinata eyed them cautiously.

"High five me, Hinata," Beki rolled her eyes at Hinata's confused expression. "Don't tell me you aren't pumped about this!? We're two bad bitches about to roll out and save the boys! Girl power!"

Hinata found it hard not to get swept up in Beki's enthusiasm. She held her hands up timidly, pulled back, and went in for the double high five. Just before their skin made contact, Beki reached into her pocket, whipped up out a pair of handcuffs, slapped a handcuff around Hinata's wrist, laced the handcuff around the solid spire of the bannister, grabbed Hinata's free wrist and latched it in the other handcuff. Hinata's eyes widened in horror as she tugged against her bindings.

"B-Beki?!"

Beki took Hinata's face in her hands and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry Hinata, but if Naruto didn't bring you along its because he doesn't want you to get hurt. If I take you out there and something happens, I'll have him AND your dad to deal with."

Realization dawned on Hinata's face like a black cloud. "BEKI! You can't leave me behind! I must go! I need to be with Naruto!"

"Sorry, baby," Beki said as she set Hinata's bag of provisions on the other side of the bannister so Hinata could easily access the food and water. "That's not a risk I'm willing to take."

Beki walked away feeling guilty. The clinks of Hinata's shackles followed her all the way to the door. Beki took ahold of the knob and looked at her crestfallen friend. "Don't worry about it. Someone will come by in no time, I'm sure."

"Beki, if you leave me here, I-" Hinata shook her head, tears forming in her eyes, equal parts rage and betrayal. "I won't forgive you!"

"Well, if you decide to," Beki opened the door and turned the knob repeatedly, marveling at how similar the sound was to the handcuffs. "Maybe you'll tell me why there were handcuffs in your bedside table."

She flashed Hinata one last mischievous grin and dipped outside, thrilled with her own prowess, and praying that she had made the right decision. Beki acted casual as she left the Hyuuga compound and headed for the village gates. Years of shenanigans had taught Beki that if she behaved as if nothing was amiss, no one would notice. The guards at the gate knew her well, so Beki flashed them a smile and waved. They chuckled and returned the wave, then one made a comment to the other that made him laugh. Joke's on you, Beki thought. If word gets out what I'm doing, your butts are on the line just as much as mine.

Beki had nearly reached the edge of the forest that composed Konoha's outer boundary when she heard someone call her name. A chill ran down her spine. Had she been caught so soon?

"Beki nee-san!" Konohamaru came running at her with Moegi and Udon in tail. "We just got back from our mission. Are you out training?"

Thank God, Beki thought. They'll buy anything I tell them.

"Yes!" Beki punched the air enthusiastically." I'm taking this new gear for a test run!"

"It looks really cool," Moegi felt the fabric of Beki's sleeve. "It kind of feels like a wetsuit."

"It kind of is," Beki scratched her neck. "You know, when I turn into the Drowned Maiden things get really damp and cold. This should keep me from catching my death out there."

"After we check in with Granny Tsunade, can we help you train?" Konohamaru offered. "It would sure beat what Ebisu sensei has in store for us."

"Ebisu sensei?" Beki looked around suspiciously. That man could read her like a book. If he so much as caught sight of her, Ebisu would know Beki was up to no good. He would call her out and there would be no escaping him, since he had trained with her enough to know all her moves. "Is he out here with you guys?"

"Yes," Udon said. "He was right behind us. EBISU SENSEI!"

"SHHH," Beki covered his mouth. "Sorry," she released Udon and gave him an apologetic pat on the head. The trio all stared at her in confusion, so Beki leaned in close and whispered conspiratorially. "Can you three keep a secret?"

They instantly ate up the pretense, gathering closer and nodding like their little heads would fall off at any moment.

"See, the thing is, I'm sneaking off to do some training by myself," Beki explained. "Because my dad is the ambassador, no one ever lets me go off on my own. Could you guys not tell Ebisu sensei I was here? And if anyone asks if you've seen me- "

"We didn't see you," Konohamaru smiled knowingly. "We get it, Beki nee san."

"Your secret is safe with us!" Moegi winked.

"And kick Ebisu sensei in the shin for me," Beki smirked and ran off. "I owe you all one solid each!"

They watched her run off out of sight before any of them dared to speak and give away their position.

"What's a 'solid'?" Udon asked.

"It means she owes us each a favor," Moegi explained.

"There you three are!" Ebisu stormed out of the underbrush looking flustered. "You can't just run away from me when I'm explaining how to do something!"

The three shared a look of understanding and Moegi and Udon nodded at Konohamaru. Konohamaru approached Ebisu sensei, looked him dead in the eye, and kicked him in the shin as hard as he could. Ebisu yelped in surprise and the trio ran back the way Ebisu had come, leaving him spewing expletives in the road.

…

The journey to Suna takes three days, Beki recalled. If I cut how long I sleep and minimize my breaks, I may be able to shave off half of a day. In that amount of time, an untold number of things could happen. Gaara could escape on his own, Team Kakashi could rescue him, or the terrorists may demand a ransom for the captured kage. Beki had heard of the Akatsuki, a group of the worst ronin the world had to offer. Her father had discussed their activities with heads of state throughout the five nations. No one was quite sure how many members there were as only a few operated on the surface. Orochimaru had been a member at some point, but had broken off to operate on his own.

The Bingo Book contained pictures of the overt operatives of the organization. Beki could recall their faces: Deidara, Sasori, Kisame, and Itachi. The members had nothing in common: their physical appearances, nation of origin, ages, and specialties were unique. As far as Beki could tell, the only unifying factor were their cloaks: red clouds on a sea of black.

Beki was now in the deep woods, well on her way to the border of the Land of Fire. My father would kill me if he knew, Beki thought. What will I do if I need to fight the Akatsuki? They're all A and S rank shinobi. Beki considered what her own rank would be if she were in the Bingo Book and decided she would be a solid "C". I can't think about that now, Beki sighed. I'll deal with how to fight them if it comes to it.

Several hours into her trek, Beki had let her mind run blank. She focused on her breathing, the feeling of her feet rhythmically pounding on grass and dirt, and the peaceful sounds of the forest around her. Her goal was to make it out of the woods before she made camp. Judging by the position of the sun Beki was making good time. The trouble would be finding a safe place to camp, since Beki was by herself and would be considerably vulnerable. Could I just run through the night? She considered, but decided against it. The closer she came to Suna, the more exposed and out in the open she would be.

The sun was close to setting and Beki had nearly reached the tree line. She wandered off the trail into the woods a spell. There was a tree with nice thick foliage on low branches. If Beki camped out up there, it was unlikely she would be seen from below. Beki climbed up the tree, bypassing the lowest limbs and nestled into its crook. I'll sleep well here, Beki thought. It's peaceful and the air is fresh. Beki felt around her neck for the pendant that held some of Gaara's sand. If I sleep, that is. Her mind spiraled to thoughts of him. What would Beki do if she didn't get there in time to save him? The last time they had seen each other, the two had been forced to part under less than desirable circumstances. After talking to Hinata, however, Beki was certain that if she got a chance to talk to him, they could work things out. If something happened to Gaara and they never got that chance to talk it out, Beki wasn't sure she could get over it.

Subconsciously she touched the pendant. What if I can never talk to him again? To hear his voice or see his smile? A lump began to form in Beki's throat and she swallowed it away. There was no time to get emotional. She needed to sleep just through the darkest hours of the night and get back on the road again. She had a kage to save.