Happy Valentine's Day! I really had a lot of fun with this chapter. Thank you for those of you who have checked in with the last few chapters, I really appreciate hearing from you! Please enjoy this next chapter!
There was a grassy field on the way to Suna that everyone subconsciously gravitated towards. Naruto set Gaara down on a patch of the soft grass and Sakura approached him.
"Let me examine him," Sakura gently put a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Maybe there's still something we can do."
Naruto nodded his head and stepped back, giving Sakura some room. She crouched down and began meticulously checking his vitals.
"Well?" Naruto asked after a few hauntingly silent moments.
"I'm sorry," Sakura shook her head. "He's gone."
Naruto clenched his fists and bit his lip. Tears welled up in his eyes and he cried out: "It isn't fair!"
"We did the best we could, Naruto," Sakura offered, rising to her feet.
"Not that," Naruto shook his head. "Gaara had it so rough as a kid and he got himself through it. He worked his ass off and became Kazekage to make the world a better place, and look what happened! They killed him. They ripped the shukaku out of him like that's all he was, so all his hard work, everything that made him who he was, has been erased. All because they wanted the tailed beast that someone else put inside him!"
Chiyo laboriously stood up and hobbled over to Naruto. "He was a good man, then?"
"He was my friend. And yes," Naruto nodded. "He was a really good guy."
"I don't have much time left," Chiyo sighed. "I don't want my legacy to be all the destruction my family has caused. I'll bring your friend back."
Chiyo hovered over Gaara and her hands began to glow. The light grew weaker, then fizzled, then was gone. "I…I'm afraid I don't have enough left in me after that fight with my grandson."
"I'll help you!" Naruto put his hand on her shoulder. "I have plenty of chakra to spare."
"I haven't done much of anything today," Beki walked over to Chiyo's other side. "The least I can do is pitch in."
"It's okay, Beki," Naruto shook his head. "I've got more than enough on my own."
"I want to help," Beki's voice was soft and vulnerable. Naruto relented and gave her a nod of approval.
The pair stood there in silence as Chiyo did her work. "This is it," Chiyo said at last. "A life for a life. I can go in peace knowing I've set right some of my grandson's wrongs."
"Thank you, Granny," Naruto said and Beki echoed the sentiment, giving her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder. The last of Chiyo's life force passed from her hands and the light died out. Naruto and Beki gently laid Chiyo back onto the grass. Within moments Gaara began to stir.
Naruto crouched over him and smiled with relief. "Hey, buddy,"
"Naruto?" Gaara attempted to sit up but Naruto pushed him back down.
"You should rest for a second." Naruto said.
"I was just…How long was I out?" Gaara winced. He felt like he had been hit with an anvil.
"Do you remember what happened?" Naruto asked.
"I…I thought I died. There was this incredible, indescribable pain. It felt like I was being torn apart from the inside out. My life flashed before my eyes and then everything went dark. I didn't feel anything for a long time," Gaara explained.
"You did," Naruto's voice was soft. "You were gone there for a little while. Granny Chiyo used a jutsu where she traded her life for yours to bring you back."
"You all saved me," Gaara slowly pulled himself up onto his elbows. "Thank you so much for-" His eyes had been moving across the group as he spoke, but he fell silent at the sight of Beki. Her clothes were caked in mud and the ugly red splotches on her face gave away that she had been crying. "Beki? What are you doing here?"
"I came to save you, dummy," Her voice was trembling.
Gaara swatted at Naruto to help him to his feet. He stumbled over to Beki with his arms outstretched. Beki's eyes welled up with tears and she reached out and socked him in the chest.
"BEKI!" The whole group cried in unison.
"YOU SCARED ME!" Beki socked his arm, this time with a lot less force. "YOU WERE DEAD. I HELD YOU IN MY ARMS AND YOU WERE DEAD!"
"Shh, shh," Gaara pulled her to him and cradled her gently. "I'm so happy to see you."
Beki hugged him back and burrowed her face into his chest.
"I was wrong, Beki," Gaara kissed the top of her head. "The last time I saw you, I was so caught up in what I thought was a priority I lost sight of what was truly important."
"It's okay," Beki's voice was muffled by his shirt. "I wasn't mad at you."
"Let's get married," Gaara gave her a small squeeze and she looked up at him in shock.
"Gaara, now is not the time to make jokes," Beki grumbled. "I'm traumatized right now."
"I'm dead serious," Gaara said and Beki cringed. "Sorry, bad choice of words. I mean it. I love you and today showed me that we could lose each other any time. I don't want to miss out on any more time with you. So, let's get married."
"I'm ordained," Gai raised his hand. "I could marry you right now."
"If you wouldn't mind," Gaara said with a bow.
"No!" Beki cried.
"I always keep this on me in case of emergencies," Gai sensei reached into his bag he pulled out a priest's collar, which he snapped on and turned to the group. "Does anyone have anything white for the bride?"
"I've got it Gai sensei!" Lee ripped the bandages out of his pack and handed an end to Beki. "Hold this!"
"Lee, what are you doing?" Beki asked, but before the words were even out of her mouth Lee was spinning her at high speed. When the momentum wore off she was left standing there, dizzy to the point of nausea, and wrapped up in the bandages like a mummy. She tried to move her arms but she was completely immobilized. "LEE!"
"This is getting ridiculous," Tenten tried to object but Lee covered her mouth.
"I know you feel like the old maid in the group, since both Beki and Sakura have someone special, so I'm going to save you from saying anything you'll regret later," Lee patted her head and stepped back. Tenten made a disgusted noise and began making quiet protests.
"I am not an old maid," Tenten grumbled. "I'm only seventeen! And if someone would notice me, I wouldn't be single!"
"How's my hair?" Gaara turned to Naruto.
"It's good," Naruto fluffed it up on the sides and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks," Gaara said as he straightened his coat.
"Sakura?" Beki turned to her for support but she was standing right by Beki's side with a wad of wildflowers clutched in her hands.
"I always wanted to be a bridesmaid!" Sakura hip bumped her gently. "Congrats!"
Gai cleared his throat and said in a deep, respectable tone: "Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today-"
"NO!" Beki stomped her foot. "YOU WERE JUST DEAD AND YOU BROKE UP WITH ME TWO DAYS AGO," Tears were streaming down her face. "I'M SO HAPPY YOU ARE ALIVE BUT I AM SO DAMN CONFUSED RIGHT NOW!"
Gaara looked at her with sad puppy dog eyes. "You don't want to marry me?"
"NOW IS NOT A GOOD TIME!" Beki cried out. "Someone PLEASE cut me loose and rip that damned collar off Gai sensei!"
"I guess I have sprung this on you rather suddenly," Gaara said as he tore away the bandages. "I didn't want to waste any time."
"We need to get the Kazekage back to Suna," Neji interjected at last, eager to diffuse the situation that had snowballed out of control. He had been standing by, rendered speechless by the sudden proposal. Once it was clear Beki was an unwilling participant, Neji found the words to protest.
"My brother and sister are probably worried sick," Gaara sighed. He tried to walk forward but after a few feet his knees began to tremble and he swayed. Naruto and Lee caught him and supported him on either side.
Beki walked along behind him, feeling like a weight had been lifted from her chest. Gaara was alive and that was all that mattered. Neji and Tenten walked along on either side of her. Tenten was still grumbling about the "old maid" comment and Neji was silent. A mass of people had lined up outside the village and began to cheer when they saw Gaara. Temari and Kankuro were waiting out front. Kankuro looked like he had just crawled out of the hospital.
"Gaara, thank God you're okay," Temari heaved a sigh and smiled.
"I wasn't," Gaara shook his head. "Granny Chiyo sacrificed herself to bring me back."
"Poor woman," Temari frowned. "We're in her debt."
Gaara stepped forward on his own and turned towards the Konoha shinobi. "Thank you all. Please, get some rest. I'll see you all here in two hours."
"You know, in situations like this I don't usually have an appetite," Beki said to Tenten and Neji. "But I could eat an entire cow right now."
"It's the stress," Tenten sighed. "Let's go get something to eat."
"I hope they have 'entire cow' on the menu," Beki smiled, trying her hardest to feel normal again. The girls walked on ahead, discussing potential restaurant options, grabbing Sakura along the way. Gai sensei supported Kakashi as they walked into a nearby diner and Lee followed right on their heels. Naruto noticed Neji's hesitation and waved him over.
"What's going on?" Naruto asked. "You look so glum."
"You know I like her, Naruto," Neji sighed.
Naruto scratched his head. "You know, it's beyond me why you won't just tell her. One way or another, it's better than torturing yourself all the time."
"What's the point," Neji clenched his fists. "The guy just came back from the dead and asked her to marry him."
"She told him no," Naruto shrugged.
"That's not the point! I can't compete with that!" Neji grumbled. "How can 'I've had a crush on you for a while and I thought you ought to know' hold up against 'I died and realized that you're what's truly important. Let's be together forever'?"
"Look, if you don't buy a lottery ticket, you can't ever win, right?" Naruto patted his shoulder. "Now is probably not the best time, but go buy that ticket. You might not win, but at least you tried."
Neji shook his head. "Naruto, they almost got married right in front of me. I don't want to be a homewrecker."
"I'd rather be a happy homewrecker than miserable for the rest of my life," Naruto sniffed the air. "I'd love to keep talking but the ramen is calling me."
Neji waved him off. "Go on. Go make sweet love to your ramen bowl while I battle my inner demons."
"Thanks!" Naruto waved as he walked into a shop.
Standing there while the Kazekage proposed to Beki and then watching them almost get married had shaken Neji to the core. When Beki had refused to acknowledge Gaara as her boyfriend, Neji had taken it as a sign that maybe he had a chance with her. Now he understood that her refusal was simply because they were past the point of just being boyfriend and girlfriend, the same way Naruto and Hinata were all but married.
As he stood outside the restaurant waiting for Lee, Gai, and Kakashi to come out, he remembered Beki's appearance during the fight with Kisame. Neji had been worried that he was going to meet his maker in that water prison. Then Beki had floated in like a friendly nightmare to rescue him. For a moment, Neji thought he was dead when she took his face in his hands and kissed him. It was so unexpected he had made a fool of himself, only to realize she was there to help him breathe.
Neji folded his arms and tried his best to think about what he needed to do when he got home. There would be errands to run, cleaning to do, and so on.
She kissed me.
Stop it, he told himself. But there it was again, the memory of her body pressed against him, the way she held her face to his, and the sweet taste of her lips filling up his head and blocking out the world.
I guess if nothing else, that's the one good thing that came out of this trip, Neji thought.
"Boop!" Beki bopped him on top of the head gently. "Earth to Neji, come in Neji."
Neji shook his head and smiled at her. "Sorry, I was thinking about chores."
"Only you would be thinking about what chores with a smile," Tenten sighed. "Live a little, Neji."
"They're still not out yet?" Sakura furrowed her brow. "We need to get on the road. I have patients to see."
"I think that's them now," Beki said as footsteps approached them.
"Sorry," Gai sensei grinned. "Kakashi had a hard time getting out of the booth."
"My legs are turning to jelly," Kakashi grumbled quietly. "It's been a long day."
The group waited for Naruto, and once he had joined them they headed towards the entrance of the village. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro were waiting for them.
"There isn't a priest, is there?" Beki said under her breath as they approached.
"Nuh uh," Tenten shook her head. "I think you're clear."
"Thank God," Beki sighed. "I didn't want to reject the guy twice in one day."
The group spoke briefly and Gaara and his family thanked them all again for their time. Naruto and Gaara shook hands and the group turned to leave.
"Beki?" Gaara asked meekly.
The rest of the group stopped a few feet away to give them their space as Beki walked back over to him.
"Thank you for coming out to rescue me," He said. "I'm sorry to have worried you."
"You would have done the same for me," Beki shrugged. "Don't worry about it."
"I meant everything I said. I want you to know that," Gaara explained. "Please think on it."
Beki hesitated, but she knew it wasn't the time for a discussion. "I will."
"I miss you already," Gaara took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I hope to see you soon, under less distressing circumstances."
Beki patted his cheek and began to walk towards the others. "Bye, Gaara." She rejoined the group and they set out without another word. As soon as they were out of sight of the village, Kakashi's legs gave out and he collapsed.
"Don't worry!" Gai said as he hoisted Kakashi on his back. "I'll run you all the way back to Konoha."
"Neji!" Lee bent over. "Hop on!"
"Absolutely not!" Neji stepped away, appalled.
Beki ran up past Neji and hopped on Lee's back. "Onward, noble steed!"
"It's a race, then!" Gai laughed. "Let's see if we can make the trip in a day!"
"Yes, Gai sensei!" Beki and Lee chimed in unison.
"Here we go again," Tenten sighed.
…
When they arrived in Konoha, they made their way towards the Hokage's mansion.
"Do you think I should just, like, preemptively dip?" Beki eyed the village entrance as they approached the mansion. "She's going to be furious."
"You should have thought of that before you went on this escapade," Neji grumbled.
"Yeah," Tenten agreed. "You should have seen this coming."
"Hey," Beki shrugged. "You two weren't complaining about me being there when I saved your asses in the water prison."
The two fell silent, their cheeks turning red at the memory.
"I was happy you were there!" Lee gave her a thumbs up.
"I knew you would be Lee," Beki said, more to make the others feel bad than to compliment him. "Because you are a good person."
They walked up the steps to her office and Beki's friend the door guard was there as always. He spotted Beki and gave her a mischievous grin.
"Somebody's in trouble," he sang at her.
"Shut up," Beki swatted at him. "Don't rub it in."
Shizune announced them, and the teams wearily entered her office.
"Good work, everyone. The mission was a success," Tsunade smiled. "I'm certain your reports will contain valuable insight into the Akatsuki threat, and your relations with Sunagakure have never been better. You all go home and get some rest. I'll expect your reports in two days. You're dismissed."
"There's one pressing issue," Sakura said. "As Sasori was dying, he mentioned he had a spy in Orochimaru's ranks. He was supposed to meet him in ten days."
Tsunade nodded. "Alright, go get cleaned up and come back. We'll develop a game plan."
Everyone began to file out the door.
"Except you, Miss Tsukimori." Tsunade's voice was steely and it felt like the room dropped a few degrees in temperature.
I knew this was coming, Beki sighed. I said I would accept any punishment, so here it comes. Be a man, Beki.
She bowed respectfully. "Yes, Hokage sama?"
"You eavesdropped on plans for a top-secret mission and snuck out of my village to invite yourself along," Tsunade's question came out more like a statement.
"Yes, Hokage sama," Beki kept her head down. She was waiting for Tsunade to boil over.
"What would I have told your father if you had died?" Tsunade slammed her fist on the desk. "You are a ward of this village and you just decided to leave without telling anyone?"
"You would have forbidden it, Hokage sama," Beki kept her voice level, not wanting to anger her further.
"You're damn right I would have!" Tsunade stood up. "It was none of your business and you had no idea what you were walking into. Akatsuki! My God! Orochimaru was Akatsuki, and he killed your mother! Do you ever think about what your actions will do to other people?! Your father would have been devastated and I would have looked a fool! I can just see it now, 'Ma'am, Tsukimori Haruka is dead!' How? I would ask. 'Akatsuki members killed her in the Land of Wind,' What do you mean, she's in the Hyuuga compound safe and sound!"
Tsunade came around her desk and took Beki by the shoulders, shaking her slightly. "What possessed you to leave the safety of the village to go rescue the Kazekage? Delusions of grandeur? Some kind of mental disorder that prevents you from rational thought?!"
"I," Beki looked Tsunade in the eye. Instead of anger, she found frustration and concern. Running away had worried Tsunade, and Beki could sense it wasn't for political reasons. She had been concerned for Beki's safety. Beki sighed, knowing that it would add insult to injury to lie. "Gaara is very dear to me. I was really worried about him."
Tsunade released her but didn't give Beki any space. The Hokage folded her arms and stayed right in front of her. "Go on."
"I know it was selfish, but I can't just stand by and do nothing when people I care about are in trouble," Beki explained. "I'm sorry I put you in a difficult position."
Tsunade stared her down, a flicker of suspicion in her eye. "Tell the truth."
"What are you-?" Beki began to protest but Tsunade's glare silenced her.
"You're a teenage girl, and you've never been the 'throw it all away for a friend' type," Tsunade tapped her fingers on her folded arms. "The only other person you've risked so much for is Hinata. As far as I know, you've talked to the Kazekage all of three times in the last three years."
Beki floundered for a believable explanation. Tsunade's voice dropped dangerously low. "Fess. Up."
Knowing she was backed into a corner, Beki relented. "The Kazekage and I are dating. Kind of. It's a long-distance thing and it's super complicated."
"Teenagers always think their relationships are 'complicated'," Tsunade scoffed. "Not as complicated as the international incident you almost just caused." Tsunade sighed, satisfied with the explanation. "I'm assuming your father is unaware of this…relationship."
"We're keeping it secret for a lot of reasons," Beki shuffled uncomfortably. Tsunade had extracted that secret as painfully as a tooth with pliers."
"Your time here has been relatively uneventful," Tsunade paced in front of her desk. "I feel like up until now we have accommodated you and dealt with your transgressions gently."
"Yes, Hokage sama," Beki said like a defeated child.
"But this vigilante roguery needs a punishment as dire as its potential consequences," Tsunade leaned against her desk. "If you pull a stunt half as risky as this one, I'll let your father know all about you and the Kazekage."
Beki's whole body tensed with apprehension. "He would kill him."
"And you would have to carry the burden of his death on your head for the rest of your life," Tsunade cocked her head. "They didn't make me Hokage because I pull punches, Tsukimori. Do you think I'm being unreasonable?"
Beki thought about all the trouble she could have caused for Tsunade and Konoha, for Gaara and Suna, and for her father and Getsu. She heaved a sigh and shrugged. "No, Hokage sama."
Tsunade approached her, invading her personal space once again. Beki held perfectly still, sensing impending doom. Tsunade stared her down and for a moment, Beki thought she was going to be struck. Tsunade raised her hand and flicked Beki's forehead. It stung a lot more than Beki would have thought. She raised her hand up to the sore spot and looked up at Tsunade in confusion.
"You," Tsunade pointed at her threateningly. "Are going to be watched night and day from now on. You go nowhere without a responsible escort."
Beki bowed, knowing protest was pointless. Objectively speaking, the Hokage had taken it easy on Beki. "Thank you, Hokage sama."
"You're dismissed." Tsunade waved her away. "Oh, and if you're so close to the Kazekage, tell him to get a haircut."
Beki gave her a weak smile and walked out. The door guard's grin slipped away when he saw Beki emerge mostly unscathed. Beki brushed invisible dirt off her shoulder and gave him a big smirk as she skipped down the stairs. The whole situation having worked out, all Beki wanted was a shower. She pranced along the road and ran into Naruto on his way back.
"Hey," Naruto's eyes immediately went to the spot on her forehead. "You got flicked?"
"Yeah," Beki subconsciously rubbed the spot. "I don't know why it smarts so bad."
"She held back on you, then," Naruto chuckled. "She can send a grown man flying with just the flick of her finger."
Beki blinked in surprise, her confidence shaken. "So, I just had a near death experience and didn't even know it."
"Yeah," Naruto beamed. "But Granny Tsunade is a softie, so you weren't in any real danger."
They arrived at the Hyuuga compound and began making their way up to Naruto and Hinata's house. As they approached the door, Beki slowed down.
"So, before we go in, just know that I can explain," Beki said.
Naruto narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Okay…?"
Beki opened the door. The handcuffs she had secured Hinata to the bannister with were laying harmlessly on the table.
Beki squealed in fear just before a massive gust of air shoved her backwards through the air, knocking her onto her rear. Without a moment's hesitation, Beki was on her feet and running for the gates like her life depended on it.
"Beki," Hinata's shrill voice carried through the air like a dagger. "You're going to pay for what you've done!"
Beki cursed loudly as she ran through the gates, slammed them shut behind her, and headed for town. An explosive sound from the direction of the gates cued Beki in that Hinata was still in hot pursuit. Once they got within the village proper, Beki began pulling carts into the road and leaping over stalls to put some distance between them. Beki stole a glance over her shoulder only to see that her attempts at slowing Hinata down had only made her more determined. She was just out of range for a devastating series of blows to her pressure points.
"HINATA, I'M SORRY!" Beki cried out behind her, not letting up speed.
"SORRY ISN'T ENOUGH!" Hinata cried.
Beki made a beeline for the Hokage mansion. She spotted Tsunade standing pensively on the roof, so Beki jumped up the stairs and grabbed for the rim of the roof. Tsunade's eyes met Beki's and she began to cry out for the Hokage just when a hand wrapped around her ankle.
"NO!" Beki cried, scrambling for the roof.
Hinata rotated through the air with Beki's ankle in her grasp and threw her bodily into the concrete below. Beki looked up at her friend falling toward her, Hinata's hands glowing purple.
"TWIN LION FISTS!" Hinata cried as she plummeted straight for Beki.
The impact knocked the air out of Beki's lungs and crushed the concrete beneath her. The pain was so incredible Beki was sure she would have a cracked rib. Then again, Hinata was too careful. She had struck Beki for maximum pain and minimum damage.
Hinata stood up and brushed the hair out of her face. "Well," she panted. "I guess this makes us even. I'll see you at home for dinner."
"Okay," Beki wheezed. "I'm just going to lie here in my indent for a while."
"Find your dignity while you're down there," Hinata threw over her shoulder as she walked away.
"I'll try," Beki said weakly, knowing now that she had suffered Hinata's revenge, Beki's mission was truly complete.