Hi everyone! Here's the weekend update! I've been really enjoying everyone's thoughts and comments on these last few chapters. Things might get a little confusing from time to time during this next part. If you find yourself with any questions please send me a message or leave the question in your review. That being said, please enjoy~!

As Beki walked out of the diner she could help but overhear some familiar voices. She had no idea what was going on but they sounded irate. Beki walked around the corner to see Sakura and Naruto with their backs to her and squared off with a pale kid.

"Hey Naruto, Sakura," Beki called out. "What's with all the racket?"

"Meet our new teammate," Naruto grumbled. "Sai, this is Tsukimori Beki. She's the daughter of the Getsugakure ambassador."

Beki gestured to herself and Naruto. "We're roommates. They put me up with them while I'm assigned here."

"Oh," Sai smiled, its forced nature plain. "So, that makes you the man of the house?"

Beki snorted. "Did he just call your manhood into question?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. She was gripping her crossed arms so tightly her knuckles were turning white. "He's been like this all morning."

"Haha," Beki gave Naruto a playful shove. "Get wrecked."

Sai blinked in confusion. "What does that mean?"

"Oh," Beki grinned. "You burned him." Sai's confused look didn't pass so Beki sighed and explained further. "That joke you made at his expense, I thought it was funny. It's a way of saying good job to you and laughing at the victim."

"Don't encourage him Beki," Naruto shoved his hands in his pockets. "I have never had to deal with anyone as rude as this guy…"

"He called me ugly," Sakura spat. "Can you believe it?"

Beki laughed. "What are you two getting so worked up about? I mean, Sakura, you're pretty and you know it. Naruto, you can make a small army whenever you feel like it." She pointed at Sai. "Look at the smile on this guy's face, he's clearly trolling you. Why are you letting a bunch of words get under your skin?"

Sakura and Naruto shared a knowing look. Sakura raised an eyebrow and Naruto nodded, their silent communication complete. "Oh Sai," Sakura cocked her head. "What nickname would you give Beki?"

Sai considered her for a moment, the happy façade slipping momentarily as he appraised her. He snapped his fingers and the false grin returned instantly. "Dainty!"

"BULLSHIT!" Sakura raged, flinging herself on him in a violent outburst. "LOOK AT THAT JAW! AND HER SHOULDERS ARE AS BROAD AS NARUTO'S! NO WAY IN HELL SHE'S DAINTY!"

Naruto stood there with a crestfallen look as the quarrel kicked up dust around them. He sighed with resignation and Beki elbowed him again. "Hey, this guy's funny. We should have him over sometime."

"Yeah," Naruto laughed uncomfortably. "He's a real riot."

"Oh, um, so have you talked to Hinata yet?" Beki asked.

Naruto shook his head. "No, we just got back when we were told this jerk would be Sasuke's substitute."

"So, I kind of have a family situation going on," Beki shuffled uncomfortably. "I guess my dad went missing around the border of the Land of Tea. They've got search parties out looking for him and everyone's sure he's going to turn up. In the meantime, I'll be acting as ambassador. So I'll probably be coming and going more than I used to."

"You're kidding!" Naruto threw his hands up. "I mean no offense when I say how are you an ambassador?! Beki, you haven't been on a mission in months and you just get promoted to your dad's job?!"

Beki shrugged uncomfortably. "It's not like I want the job, Naruto. I kind of…have to. It's the rules that I take over for him."

"Yeah yeah," Naruto waved dismissively. "I'm sorry about your dad. It just seems like everyone else is climbing the ladder around here and I'm still a genin! It'll take forever to become Hokage at this rate."

Beki pointed at the dust cloud. "Looks like your friends are finishing their fistfight. I'll see you later."

Naruto waved and trudged over to the rest of his team.

Sai kind of reminds me of Gaara, in that socially awkward kind of way. Gaara tries to connect though. This kid just seems like he's going through the motions, imitating things he's observed other people do. Beki stopped in her tracks and swore. Gaara. Seiichiro had also been involved in talks with Suna. Beki needed to send word to Suna to inform him of the situation. She booked it home and scribbled out a note on her official stationary. She surveyed her work and sighed. "He's your boyfriend, Beki. He's not going to look down on you for not addressing him as formally as Ishida." After the letter was sealed and stamped, Beki ran to the aviary. The birdkeeper was nice and immediately sent her letter on its way. Hopefully he won't have a problem postponing the meetings until I get my bearings from Ishida.

…

"Are you kidding," Beki groaned as she opened the letter from Ishida. "This is like twenty pages long!" She spread them out over the kitchen table. "At least he organized them by village. Now I can go into that meeting with Tsunade at least kind of prepared and I can buy some more time on the ones for Suna."

"Oh, that reminds me," Hinata walked in and put another letter on the table. "That came in from Suna today."

Beki grinned at the stationary. She instantly recognized it as Gaara's. The moment she opened it, however, she was rudely reminded that her boyfriend was now her colleague. "Hinata, Gaara is making me go to Suna to brief him on everything in person!"

"You'll need to let Tsunade know so you can hire an escort," Hinata called out from the laundry room. "Can you request that it not be Team 8 or Team 7? Naruto and I are going to have date night this weekend."

Beki let out another frustrated groan and ran her fingers through her bangs. She held the hair back away from her face as she skimmed the papers. "Do you think it's unprofessional if I just read off these papers?"

"Definitely," Hinata closed the dryer door. "Bring the notes but try to be familiar enough with them that you are just using them to keep your place."

Living with an heiress is paying off. Beki packed up the papers and put them in a leather file. "I'll be back, I'm going to go talk with Tsunade."

"Have fun," Hinata let out a small gasp and Beki turned to face her. "Um, Beki, you tucked your dress into your underwear."

"Again?!" Beki pulled the dress free of her elastic waistband. "Thanks. At least I'll look kind of put together when I go in."

Beki hurried into town, the file folder carefully nestled between her arm and her torso. It seemed like she spent most of her time these days running between the aviary, Hinata's house, and the Hokage's mansion. Beki had been neglecting her training while she tried to iron out the ambassador situation and thus far had avoided Ebisu like a hide and seek champion. It had been a week and there was still no word on her father's fate. Beki could feel the pressure mounting and had a hard time sleeping at night as she simultaneously worried about her dad and tried to plan her next day. She had been keeping ahead of things but she lacked the polish of a seasoned pro like her dad or Ishida.

When Dad gets back I'm going to need him to teach me all the finer points. I haven't started a war yet but so help me, if I had walked into Tsunade's office with my dress tucked into my panties again-

"Off to see the Hokage again?" Yasahiro's voice pulled Beki from her thoughts.

"Hi uncle," Beki gave him a smile. "Just got word from Ishida. I'm going to go over everything with Tsunade now and then I have to arrange an escort."

Yasahiro shook his head in surprise. "An escort? Where are you headed?"

Beki adjusted the file folder self-consciously. "The Kazekage requested I deliver the information in person."

"You can't do that!" Yasahiro reached out and held her wrists, bringing his face close to hers. "Beki, we don't know who took your father, let alone who they were working for. If you leave town and you go missing as well-"

"That's why I'll hire an escort," Beki grinned wider. "See uncle? I'm not so bad at this ambassador stuff."

"You have to tell the Kazekage to come to you," Yasahiro folded his arms. "Just explain that considering the situation with your father, the higher ups want you to keep your feet planted firmly on Leaf soil."

"Uncle," Beki sighed. "I know you're worried but I'm not going to lie to the Kazekage, especially when I know Ishida would tell me I have to go. Right now, my concern is to maintain diplomatic relations as best I can until Dad turns up. If that means I must apologize to the Kazekage in person for delays in negotiations, so be it. Tsunade won't send me along with a subpar escort. I'll be almost as well protected as I am walking down the street."

"Beki, I really hope you know what you're doing," Yasahiro shook his head. "If you get taken and your dad comes back, or you get taken and no one ever hears from either of you again, that's a lot of burden to put on your uncle."

"You seem to forget that I always have a few tricks up my sleeve," Beki socked his shoulder playfully. "Remember all that stuff you taught me at the chunin exams? Between an escort, the Drowned Maiden, and all the training I have with these puppies-" Beki extended and retracted the gauntlets. "Anyone who came after me would have a bad time."

Yasahiro nodded and heaved another sigh. "Alright, Beki. It sounds like you've got things under control. But please, please be careful."

"I will uncle," Beki winked. "See you around."

Beki took the steps two at a time and instantly her face soured at the sight of the guard outside. He looked passively ahead as if he didn't recognize her.

"You know, all the teasing over the years and I thought we were friends," Beki scowled. "You could have told me my dress was tucked in my underwear."

"And miss you humiliating yourself in front of the Hokage?" The guard shook his head. "Sorry kid. You're asking to much of a person."

Beki scoffed and headed inside. It was during the period Tsunade kept her schedule clear, so Beki stood in line behind a few other walk ins. After about twenty minutes Beki was able to get up to the desk. "Tsunade sama," Beki smiled. "I have the materials from my superior. I can review them with you any time."

Tsunade glanced at her clock. "You have…ten minutes."

Beki blinked in surprise. "I guess I'll need a raincheck then. I have almost fifteen pages worth of stuff to cover here."

Tsunade pulled out her planner and took a pencil out of the cup on her desk. "Let's see. How does next Tuesday at 2:25 sound?"

"Fine, I suppose," Beki closed the file folder. "Do you think that would give me enough time to get to Suna and back to go over everything with the Kazekage?"

Tsunade shrugged. "That depends on if you have an appointment with him and how quickly you can get there and back."

Beki dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her eyes with her palms. She stopped after a moment and spoke through her fingers. "I'm just going to wing it."

"As a fellow professional, I would advise against that," Tsunade supported her chin on her hand, her face passive. "That's how you end up in people's offices with your ass hanging out."

Beki elected to ignore the comment and proceed onto the next order of business. "Well then, I'd like to hire an escort. Is there a chance you could send me out with a team other than seven or eight?"

Tsuande raised an eyebrow. "Look at you, making demands of me regardless of what I have available?"

"Hinata and Naruto are going on a date night," Beki folded her arms. "I put the two of them out enough. I would feel bad forcing one of them to be home alone when they could have the house to themselves instead."

Tsunade took a binder off the rack behind her and skimmed it silently for a few minutes. "I can dispatch a team with you tomorrow morning. It won't be eight or ten."

"Okay," Beki rose. "Thank you Hokage, sama."

"They'll meet you at the gate tomorrow morning," Tsunade closed the binder. "Should I just bill your father's account?"

"Is that the usual procedure?" Beki furrowed her brow in confusion.

"I never had to give your father an escort," Tsunade rifled through one of her drawers. "I have the information here. I'll take care of it."

Beki kept her face neutral despite the intentional dig and bowed politely. As she walked out the door and down the steps, she heard the guard call out:

"Good work, amb-ass-ador!"

Beki rolled her eyes and headed back toward Hinata's to pack.

…

Shizune watched after Beki with concern in her eyes. "Aren't you being a little hard on her, Tsunade?"

Tsunade shook her head. "Hard on her? This is nowhere near as bad as what she's going to get working with the other kage. Beki's in the big leagues now, Shizune. I don't want her to be blindsided by how she'll be treated now that she's the ambassador and not just his cute daughter."

Shizune bit her lip. "Do you think she's doing okay?"

"About her father?" Tsunade shrugged. "Its hard to tell. I would guess she's throwing herself into the work as a distraction. It would be difficult for anyone to face the possibility of being orphaned head on."

Shizune picked up Tonton and pet him, more to comfort herself than the pig. "Who are you going to send her with?"

Tsunade suppressed a sly smile. "Let's just say I'm not pulling any punches on that, either."

…

Beki arrived at the gates early, dressed in her best combat gear and with a belly full of Hinata's home cooking. She looked around for the team that would be escorting her. Her eyes fell on a group of four and her heart sunk.

"Beki nee chan!" Konohamaru called out as he raced over, throwing his arms around her in a great bear hug. "Can you believe it? We get to escort you to Suna!"

Beki wrapped her arms around Konohamaru, her horror at having to spend the next six days with Ebisu a nice distraction from how sad it was that Konohamaru was almost as tall as she was. "Did you grow a couple of inches again?"

Konohamaru stepped away, his eyes at her nose. He beamed at her. "I guess so! I'm going to be taller than you soon, Beki nee san!"

"Can you not?" Beki cringed. "Can't you just stay small and cute forever?"

"No one would respect me as Hokage if I was small and cute," Konohamaru puffed up his face. "That's nonsense."

"So this is why you've been neglecting your training," Ebisu strolled over, his arms crossed. "You could have sent word, you know."

"Sorry, my dad was abducted and I had to take over as ambassador," Beki adjusted her pack. "Social calls with weasels weren't high on my list of priorities."

"I am your sensei!" Ebisu stamped his foot. "I will not be disrespected in front of my other students!"

Beki shook her head. "Thanks, Tsunade. I get a genin escort."

"What was that?" Ebisu snapped.

Beki rolled her eyes as she strolled out the gates. "Oh, you know. Just that I guess I didn't warrant a real escort."

"That's probably just because Suna and Konoha are friends," Konohamaru raced up beside her. "We don't have a lot of problems with their border."

Beki ruffled his hair. "That's probably why."

"No, go on and say what you were implying." Ebisu shook her pack.

Beki looked him dead in the eye. "I don't have to do what you tell me to."

Konohamaru squirreled his head under Beki's arm and hugged her around her waist as they walked. "I feel like I never see you anymore."

Beki gave him a squeeze. "I've been busy."

"Are you doing okay?" Konohamaru looked up at her with concern. "Do you think your dad-"

"They'll find him," Beki locked his head in her elbow. "I just have to hold down the fort till he gets back."

"If you need anything, let me know, okay?" Konohamaru said between half-hearted attempts to free himself from her grasp. "Even if you just feel sad and need someone to hold your hand."

"That's sweet of you, kiddo." Beki kissed the top of his head. "Now get out of here." She shoved him back towards his squad. "Shouldn't we be running point?"

"You know, at this rate, it's better for me to just lure out trouble," Beki grinned.

…

The trip to Suna was uneventful even though it was excessively unpleasant for both Beki and Ebisu. Beki had woken up with the kids piled on her in various combinations each night so her back was stiff from her inability to move. Ebisu and Beki had used the kids to communicate aside from vague threats in each other's directions. Once they arrived in Suna, they sent word ahead to the Kazekage that she had arrived.

"You can head to the inn," The guard at the entrance handed back Beki's papers. "The Kazekage will summon you."

"Thank you," Beki bowed as she led the team inside. Konohamaru and Moegi were practically skipping along.

"This is our first time in Suna," Konohamaru whispered conspiratorially.

"I can tell," Beki chuckled. "You're going to wear yourselves out. Walking on sand is a lot harder than on grass."

"You've been here before, Beki?" Moegi asked.

Beki nodded as she looked around at the repaired buildings and smoke stains on the walls. "Not for a while, though."

The inn was modest but comfortably cool considering the heat outside. They headed up to their room and waited for the summons.

"You know, I should be fine here," Beki looked at the kids. "You guys could go explore. I won't be in any danger now that I'm in the city's walls."

"Sorry, Tsukimori," Ebisu folded his arms. "I can't allow you to be unattended. There's no way we can tell who might be after you."

"It wouldn't be the Sand shinobi," Beki didn't hide the irritation in her voice. "The Kazekage and I are friends. There would be no advantage whatsoever that he could obtain by holding my father hostage."

"You just can't know these things-" Ebisu waved his arms in the air in frustration. "You do a terrible job of looking out for your own wellbeing."

"I do just fine," Beki shot him a dirty look. "Or Tsunade would have sent along a team of more than just genin and a washed up has been."

"A washed up has been?!" Ebisu stormed over just as there was a knock on the door. They all froze in place as the door opened and the inn keeper bowed in greeting.

"The Kazekage has sent a summons for you, Ambassador."

"Go into town," Beki grabbed her bag as she headed for the door. "I'll be a while."

…

The sight of the Kazekage's mansion brought bitter memories bubbling to the surface. Beki recalled the destruction in the city, the screams of the victims of the attack, and the horrible churning in her gut. Not to mention the horrible heartache that had followed it. The two guards stationed outside Gaara's doors spotted her and exchanged a few words. One of them opened the door and popped his head inside. He stepped back out and closed the door. The two remained perfectly still until Beki had approached within spitting distance.

"The Kazekage is waiting," The one on the left opened the door and Beki walked inside.

Gaara's office was the same as her first visit, Beki was sure, but she was so emotionally drained last time a lot of details had escaped her notice. For example, the variety of cactuses scattered around the office or the ornate richly colored rug that covered most of the floor. Gaara had stood at his desk in greeting and Beki spotted Kankuro standing off to the side of the room, slightly out of sight.

"Kazekage sama," Beki bowed.

"Ambassador Tsukimori," Gaara gestured to the chair in front of his desk and Beki took a seat. "I'm so glad you could come on such short notice."

Beki reached into her bag and took out the leather file folder. As she rifled through the papers, she could sense Gaara's gaze on her.

"How are you?"

Beki looked up. "I'm in a little over my head but I think I am managing to adjust to the job."

Gaara folded his hands on his desk. "I was worried about you. I wanted to see you and make sure that you were holding up under the pressure."

Beki hesitated, paper in hand. "Do you mean to tell me that you had me hire an escort to come out here on hardly any notice so you could check in?"

Gaara shrugged. "Write it off as a business expense."

Beki stared at him in shock.

"To be fair, it would be expected for a newly appointed ambassador to meet with a kage in person before expecting to conduct any business with them." Gaara adjusted the papers on his desk.

Beki crossed her legs and tapped her foot impatiently. "But you know me, Gaara."

"I know you as Tsukimori Beki, not as the temporary ambassador of Getsugakure," Gaara explained. "We have to meet formally."

Beki stood up, put her papers on her seat, and gave the Kazekage a formal bow. In the level, composed tone she often heard her father use with hoity toity diplomats, Beki addressed the Kazekage: "Kazekage sama, I am Tsukimori Haruka no Getsugakure. My father is currently unable to complete his duties as ambassador as his whereabouts are unknown. I will be standing in as his replacement unless and until he is located and restored to his position. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and I hope with can work together amicably."

Before Beki could raise her head, Gaara responded to her performance with an exaggerated slow clap. "Impressive display, Miss Tsukimori. I would have to say you certainly know how to play the part of a young, inexperienced diplomat."

Beki held her tongue but Gaara was testing her patience. Why was it that the moment she had to take on her father's job everyone decided to play hardball with her? It wasn't like she wanted to be the ambassador. She was having a hard time dealing with all the possible fates that could have befallen Seiichiro without having to kowtow to the whims of kage. "May I present the negotiations now?"

Gaara watched her for a moment and Beki swore she saw a wicked glimmer in his eye. "Alright, hand over my copy."

"What?" Beki clutched her papers defensively.

Gaara sighed with mock indignation. "You came to a meeting with a kage and didn't make me a set of copies? If you suddenly decided to change the terms in two months, how would I have any proof of what the original agreement was?"

Beki felt her lips curling into a snarl and forced them back to neutral. She gripped the file folder in frustration, her knuckles turning white. "If you would allow me, where is your copier?"

"Would you mind showing her the way Kankuro?" Gaara gestured to his desk. "I have some other matters to attend to."

Beki followed Kankuro downstairs. He had a satisfied look on his face as though Gaara running Beki through the ringer was the most amusing thing he had seen all week. Beki stood in silence as she ran the Suna portion of the negotiations through the copier. They marched back upstairs to find Gaara sitting with a patiently expectant look on his face. "Are we ready?"

Beki resisted the urge to whack Gaara over the head with the papers. Instead, she held them out to him with a respectful bow. He took them from her, a small sly grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. Beki scowled internally. I have never understood my father's grumpiness until now.

"So if you would direct your attention to the first item on page one," Beki began.

Gaara held up a hand and glanced over at the clock. "Its five o'clock."

"And?" Beki looked up from her paper. "We have five pages to review."

Gaara leaned forward and rested his chin on his hand with a sheepish grin. "That means that it's time for us to go get dinner."

Beki held her breath as the rage slowly built up inside her. Gaara cocked his head. "What's wrong? Aren't you hungry?"

"You don't get to bust my balls for forty-five minutes and then ask me to dinner," Beki's hands were shaking. It was one thing to have to put up with this from Tsunade but Gaara was testing her patience.

"I was going to ask you to stay the night, too," Gaara grinned.

"Aaaand I'm out," Kankuro threw up his hands and marched out of the office. "See you tomorrow."

Beki leered at Kankuro as he left and then turned her venomous gaze upon the Kazekage. "Now you listen here-"

Sand rushed out of the gourd at lightning speed, wrapping around her and pulling her forcibly into Gaara's arms. The moment she was locked in his embrace he planted a kiss on her lips. At first Beki was resolute in her anger, that she would remain stiff and angry the whole time. Her body betrayed her, however, coming loose in the warmth of his arms. The familiarity of his scent was comforting and Beki relaxed into his kiss. Beki closed her eyes and kissed him back as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He pulled away and gave her an eskimo kiss. "I'm sorry if I was being vexing. It was just too precious seeing you march in here with your little leather folder and your right out of the academy attitude."

Beki reached up and tapped his nose. "I'll have you know you came that close to being brutally murdered."

"Really?" Gaara pressed his forehead against hers. "How many times?"

"Well," Beki looked around the room. "Stabbing you with your letter opener, breaking the cactus planters over your head-"

"No!" Gaara feigned horror. "Not my cactuses! Kill me if you must but spare them. They're innocent of my misdeeds."

Beki sighed in resignation. "Fine. If I kill you I'll take them in and raise them as my own."

"That's all a man can really ask for from his assassin." Gaara gave her a final squeeze and released Beki. "So, about dinner?"

Beki rolled her eyes. "You're buying to make up for the harassment you've put me through. And to cover the costs of my escort to get out here."

Gaara shrugged as he opened the door. "Write it off."

Beki screwed up her face in confusion. "What?"

"You know," Gaara locked the door behind her. "It's a business expense."

Beki planted her face in her hands and groaned. "Please don't talk to me about taxes yet."

Gaara held out his elbow and Beki took the offered arm. He formed a sand cloud beneath their feet and lifted them off the ground. "So where are we going?"

"It's a place near my house I think that you'll like," Gaara smiled. "It's the only place around here with decent beef tongue."

Beki gave a fake cringe. "First eyeballs and now tongue. You're lucky I was raised by a single dad and I can handle gross stuff like that."

"I figure I haven't scared you off yet. I might as well keep being myself," Gaara unlaced his arm from hers and placed a hand on the small of Beki's back to stabilize her as they descended.

"it certainly smells good," Beki grinned. "I guess I didn't realize I was starving."

"Half the village heard your stomach growling." There was a bit of a line but to Beki's surprise Gaara walked her to a place at the back.

"I've never seen a kage wait their turn before," Beki elbowed him gently.

Gaara shrugged. "I'm not an 'in for it for the perks' kind of kage."

"I respect that about you-" Beki began.

"Beki nee san!" Konohamaru ran up to her with the force of a small truck and plowed into her. Beki managed to stay on her feet. "We were wondering when you were going to get out of the meeting."

"Sorry pal," Beki leaned her head in Gaara's directing to cue Konohamaru in that he was there. "Meeting isn't over yet."

Gaara folded his arms and gave a convincing sigh of frustration. "The ambassador and I just can't seem to come to an agreement on some terms."

"They're just a few cautionary provisions, nothing concrete enough for you to have to physically commit to them," Beki looked at Gaara and gave him a subtle wink.

If Gaara noticed her cue he gave no sign. "It's a little presumptuous for a temporary ambassador to be attempting that sort of negotiation on her first day."

Konohamaru began to look uncomfortable. "When do you think you'll be done with the Kazekage?"

Beki sighed and ruffled his hair. "I don't know, bud. Depending on how stubborn we both are this could take hours."

"Hours!" Konohamaru looked up at her in distress. "Do you mean this could take all night?!"

"Its possible," Beki shrugged. "So don't wait up for me. I'll be duking it out with the Kazekage so I won't be in any danger."

"If we finish at an odd hour I'll escort her home," Gaara gestured to the door. "We're next."

"Alright Konohamaru," Beki pat his back affectionately and disentangled herself from his grasp. "I'll see you later."

"Bye, Beki nee san," Konohamaru watched sadly as the two were led inside. The pair had done a decent job pretending to be grouchy with one another with all that shop talk but the moment they were inside they were smiling again. Konohamaru knew Beki was trying to protect his feelings. He had suspected that going out with her boyfriend would be part her visit to Suna, but Konohamaru had hoped that maybe he would get to spend some time with Beki. He hardly ever got to see her anymore. Konohamaru kicked at the dirt and headed back for the inn to let the others know not to wait up for her.