Chapter 2
Flashback - 11 years ago
Ino was warm enough to barely notice the covers trailing awkwardly between the foot of her bed and the floor. Possibly another sweltering day in Konohagakure from the looks of it.
It was approximately six in the morning, when the room was brightening from the sunrise. A few of the morning rays were straying boldly through their bedroom window. They were reflecting against her wedding band creating swirls in the ceiling as she twisted the ring on her finger.
A soft grunt from the left side of the bed reminder her that Gaara was awake as well. They had watched the night hours fade away together, whispering softly about the ceremony, the funny moments at the reception and their hopes and dreams for the future. It all felt unreal for her-to belong to each other now in mind, body and spirit. For ten years she dreamt of her wedding day and fortunately it went exactly as planned, granted, with the exception of the identity of the groom.
'I lucked out.' She mused while rubbing her exposed midriff. As a larger rough hand caressed the skin of her arm, she was reminded to thank Sakura for the white open front babydoll set. Gaara certainly enjoyed it.
Laying on his side, Gaara trailed his fingers through her blonde hair and brought her golden tresses to his lips. If he was curious about his new wife's small smile, he didn't show it.
"Good morning Sabaku no Ino." he mumbled. With his free hand, he cupped her right breast, tracing circles with his thumb and teasing her covered pink peak. He was looking down at her silently, waiting.
She gasped and focused on her husband's hand instead. Gaara gently squeezed her and leaned in to kiss the crook of her neck then raised himself to drop another feathered kiss on the tip of her nose. His hand stretched away from her chest to her belly and tightly intertwined their fingers together. When he pulled their hands to his chest, her gaze melted as she felt his heartbeat against her knuckles. The rising pulse served to make her grin wider.
"A yen for your thoughts," he finally whispered surrendering to his curiosity.
Ino took his hand and brought it to her cheek, feeling the tough calluses brush against her soft skin. She shifted over and leaned her head against his chest. His arm surrounded her waist and pulled her closer to his warm body.
"You know…" her breath caressing his skin, as her eyes glittered with excitement. "It may be too early to tell, but I feel it can happen- we could stay this happy forever." His fingers lifted her chin until their eyes met. His fathomless eyes darkened in response, drawing her further into their depths.
Gaara's deep voice tickled her forehead. "Teach me how to make you happy" he asked in a low raspy voice. His usual inexpressive stare wavered briefly, but Ino knew for that second she felt fear and passion radiating from his gaze.
Her lips parted in surprise; she couldn't remember hearing him express any insecurities before, even when they first started dating. This was a side of her new husband that rarely came out, but if she wasn't already overwhelmed with love, she would have fallen for him all over again. Her silky touch rose to trace the pale plains of his face and to trail over his jaw until their eyes met once more.
"I've never been happier than I am right now." Her brilliant smile blinded him. Gaara shifted closer and his sweet kiss overwhelmed her senses before his teeth tugged gently at her lower lip. Soon their bodies wrapped around each other.
"How is she?" asked Lee, bringing a set of chopsticks with a piece of broccoli to his lips.
Sakura sighed "Better. Heero's and Gaara's photographs are still lying all over the bedroom but she transferred this morning from her bed to the living room, and at least now, only cries when awake," commented Sakura dryly before sipping from a straw in her strawberry banana smoothie.
She glanced around at the remodeled Ichiraku. With its infamous popularity, and Naruto's sponsorship, the small stand had prospered enough to add a couple of booths and also a healthy smoothie stand next door. "She is crushed. I think she honestly ignored the signs."
"It is sad to see the youthful fiery passion between two love birds going through such turmoil." Lee glanced at the pink haired beauty across from him. "She's very fortunate to have you there."
Sakura face flushed lightly. In the last ten years, even though Lee had backed down from his passionate pursuit, they both had grown closer. Though his attention before would have grossed her out, nowadays his comments only comforted or made her strangely warm.
"Here is the extra meal-to-go you requested, Haruno-sensei," interrupted a glowing six-month pregnant Ayane.
"Thank you very much, Ayane, lunch was as delicious as always, however please call me Sakura." She smiled before extending her hand to check the chakra signals from the woman's inflated stomach. "Have you been taking the prescribed vitamins?"
As the two women were conversing, Lee's eyes distractedly strayed to his female friend's body. The years have treated his former crush very well. It seemed to have traded all her baby fat for fit muscles and sexy curves, never mind that her legs seemed to stretch for miles. She practically was just as tall as Naruto now, although her 5'9" was still no match to his own 6" height.
He noticed Sakura pink wavy hair was longer and layered, although it was pinned up somewhat with a pen. Probably while she was doing her reports, he mused. Hn, it flatters her long neck.
Ayane grinned and nodded excitedly "So far so good."
"That is what I like to hear… we'll be following up with an ultrasound in your next check-up."
Sakura radiated confidence and joy for life that he still admired. Yet he secretly smiled, for he knew behind this caring, sucker-punching, pink haired medical genius, hid a younger version, still apprehensive about her forehead, her choices and her unstable love life. Not that she would ever ask for his opinion or admit it that she needed advice. He had also gained enough survival skills to know to avoid discussing it.
Ayane thanked Sakura before returning to the kitchen.
In turn, Sakura glanced over to her male friend, who was staring at his meal with a smile. She thought to ask but noticed the time. "Alright Lee-kun, I have to head back, and this afternoon I'm off to Ino's. Before I forget, are we still meeting Naruto for brunch tomorrow?"
"Ah, unfortunately, Naruto-kun mentioned earlier he is running an errand for Tsunade-sama and will be leaving tomorrow for Suna for a week or two."
"Oh right. I forgot about that. Hm, I was looking forward to your homemade blueberry milkshake. We'll have to reschedule as soon as he gets back."
They said their goodbyes as Sakura checked the time again. She was surprised twenty minutes had already gone by. As small as these breaks were, they gave Sakura her second wind for the rest of the day. Especially this week, between her job at the hospital and her visits at Ino's.
Maybe she would get another smoothie to go.
The blonde woman willed herself to die.
She sat, feeling her heart pound against the side of her chest, wondering when it would stop. Would the next beat be the last? Please, Kami-sama. She could not bear to think about what Gaara had said to her. If she were dead, she would no longer have to think of what lay ahead of her. She drowned out everything and focused on the tick tock sound in the background.
The mantel clock continued to tick, its pendulum swinging back and forth, the only movement in the still room. Several times it chimed, but Ino did not mark the numbers.
The sound was interrupted by the screeching of her entrance door opening. Sakura paused in the doorway, surprised of finding Ino in her robe lying on the coffee table. She could have sworn that was how she left the other woman this morning.
She cleared her throat and waited for Ino to turn her head and acknowledge her. The blonde woman made no such move and remained with her head on the table staring across the room with half-closed eyes. Finally, Sakura spoke up.
"Ino… brought you some food, get up." However she received no response from the other woman.
Sakura walked to the kitchen to leave the food bags on the counter before putting some water to heat for tea. Ten minutes later she poured the tea in a cup full of ice, then took a bottle from a brown paper bag and proceeded in pouring the liquid in the glass. In the living room she found Ino still laying on the table.
"Are you done with crying?" She crossed the room and flung open the curtains before opening the windows. "Some breeze will cool you off and air out this place. You'll feel more like yourself." She walked back to the kitchen and brought the ice tea. "I made you ice tea, strong then doctored with lemon and whiskey." She turned to the blonde woman once more. "Ino?"
The slim pink-haired woman knelt before putting her hand on Ino's shoulder. "Drink."
A deep frown creased Ino's forehead. She shrugged irritably.
"Drink." Sakura lifted the glass stubbornly.
"No."
"Ah, so you can talk, I thought you had lost the power of speech, along with your ability to move. You've sat there for so long, I was afraid we would have to bury you with the coffee table." Sakura set the ice tea on the side.
"Go away." Ino mumbled as she shifted.
Irritated, Sakura shoved Ino, with one hand off the furniture, but instead of getting a rise out of the blonde, Ino just laid pathetically on the floor. Sakura huffed.
"Ungrateful punk, after I've been visiting, cleaning and feeding you for the last three days -this is how you act? Sitting around depressed and then kicking me out? I'm about to kick your ass, if you don't get up. I've brought you some food."
After several seconds, Ino's answer was spoken in a strained dry whisper.
"I'm not hungry."
"Well then in that case, drink, Ino." The pink-haired woman moved the ice tea to the coffee table.
Ino set her lips stubbornly and shook her head. "I said, drink it. If I have to tell you one more time, you'll be sorry."
"You can't tell me what to do… I'm not a child."
"Yet you are sitting on the floor sulking and pouting like a two year old in a tantrum. Drink." Sakura held the glass only a couple of inches from Ino's mouth.
Defiantly, Ino raised tired blue eyes drowned by sudden bright tears. "Sakura, he's gone. And he took my baby with him." Her body was wracked by harsh snubbing sounds that tore out of her throat. The tears spilled from her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.
Sakura had easily heard the same complaint at least a dozen times, and accepted she would have to hear it again. Rather than responding, she waited, immovable as a stone, holding in front of Ino's eyes the glass of tea that she was expected to drink. The sobs ceased at last.
Ino suddenly realized that she was thirsty. With hands that trembled, she managed to take the glass to her lips. Half-heartedly, she took a sip so small it had no effect on her raw, swollen throat. But when she would have set it aside, Sakura stopped her.
"No. Drink it all."
"No."
"Yes."
"Forehead-girl , I feel… as if I'm bleeding to death. Cold tea won't help."
"It will coagulate the blood from the wound," Sakura insisted.
"Damn you."
"Good." Her lips pulled back in a grin surrounding her white teeth. "Show anger. Feel the pain but don't cry. I think anger will do you good."
"How can I be angry with my son and Gaara?"
But she took another swallow. This time she could taste the whiskey. With a grimace of distaste, she tried again to put it aside, but Sakura closed her long fingers over Ino's and held the glass firmly.
The women's eyes met, clashing stubbornly. Ino's lips tightened.
"Drink, it can only help make you feel better."
With poor coordination, Ino lifted the glass to her mouth again. This time she drained it before setting it aside. Within a minute, the heat from the alcohol overtook her body.
"Good. Now we're going to get you showered and dressed then you can eat supper." Too numbed with sadness to resist, Ino allowed herself to be led to the bathroom.
Sakura turned the water on and checked the temperature before turning around to pull the purple silk robe from Ino's body and guiding her into the shower.
After she closed the curtains, and dumped the robe in the hamper, she sat on the counter while waiting for Ino to finish.
At length, Ino braced her elbow against the wall and covered her eyes with her hand. "Why did he do it, Sakura? I can't understand how I could have done anything so bad that he would have left me and taken Heero, too. I just don't get it."
The pink headed girl, pursed her lips, "You will never understand if you don't stop crying and begin to think."
Ino poured the bath gel on the shower loofah, before sluggishly rubbing it over her body. "That's what he said! He said I cried all the time."
Sakura's eyebrows shot up. Then shrugged to herself.
"Ino, make sure to scrub the back of your neck and behind your knees…I don't know… I guess men don't allow themselves to cry, and they pick on others who do. But it isn't how they really feel. I think sometimes they envy those who can cry."
After a few minutes Ino spoke softly. "He said my grief for the baby wasn't normal."
Sakura scoffed. "Gaara is hardly the authority on what is normal." She stood up and walked over to sneak a hand behind the curtain and shut the water off. "Get out now, any longer and you'll get sick. You need to dress up and come over to eat."
"I don't want anything, I'm…f….fat." The word came out in a wail.
Sakura wrapped her up in a towel. "That may be true, but don't say it like it makes you disgusting"
Ino continued "No, I am disgusting, otherwise why would he have left me?"
Sakura thought about it for a second. "I think he had many other reasons but I don't think your size was one of them."
"Even Heero wanted to go with his father. He didn't want to stay with me, his mother."
Sakura shook her head as she wrapped Ino's hair with a head towel. "That's normal for boys his age, they always look for adventure and to impress daddy, I wouldn't take it personally."
Head down, bare wet feet leaving footprints across the hardwood floor, Ino stumbled towards the bedroom. "I just want to die."
"Don't talk like that. You have a beautiful home, you are a healthy 29 year old woman, who has a funny, adorable son, with an equally horrible temper." She found an outfit for Ino and put it on her bed.
"Had a son, Sakura, had."
Sakura sighed sucking up the temptation to bump Ino in the head. "I said you have a son. Turn around so that I can help you with this, your food is going to get cold."
"I can't stand it, Sakura, this quiet empty house…"
The taller woman pulled away. "Then why don't you return with me to the hospital? You know Tsunade would continue your studies and and you could re-start your training to get back into shape."
"No… I just don't think I can do this anymore."
Sakura frowned. "You've been a civilian for too long. Too much of the soft life has left you weak."
Ino felt exhausted even before replying. "Gaara says I forced him into civilian life and that is part of the reason he hates me."
Sakura shrugged. "If all you want to do is drown in your sorrows, then go ahead, fall down and die"
"Sakura!"
"Do you know how many patients I've dealt with, that will never see the light of day again, and that can no longer walk, feed themselves or even remember who they are? You need food and to count your blessings."
Ino stood, reprimanded, but followed Sakura along to the dining area and picked lightly over her meal. Sakura made small conversation about the daily gossip as Ino finished her meal. Then afterwards, the blonde woman walked Sakura to the door, as her best friend was retiring for the day.
"You are very fortunate Ino that you are still standing and that all that is physically holding you back is your grief. Go to bed. Once you get stronger you should then deal with your problems." Ino nodded and watched her go.
Before Ino left for her room she served herself a glass of wine and carried the glass and bottle to the bedroom. She sat on the window sill and rested the foot of her glass on her stomach while she watched the sun go down.
Wine certainly did have a way of making things seemed a little better. But only a little. It did not kept her from thinking about her husband though. What could she do to get Gaara back? Her mind twisted and turned like a mouse in a maze.
She had not even had a chance to talk to him. He had done all the talking, all the accusing, all the fault-finding.
Suddenly, she sat up, taking another sip of wine. She had not had a chance to have her say. If she had seen it coming, she would have been ready to dissuade him. He would have had to listen to her and she would make perfect sense of this situation.
Maybe it wasn't too late, to catch up to him. It had only been three days. Her old self would never let anything get in the way of what she wanted, not without a fight.
She would have to get up as early as possible to track them down. Surely if she appealed to Tsunade, the old woman would side along with her, share their destination and encourage her to meet her husband and her child.
Maybe, Gaara would change his mind and let her tag along in their mission, or hopefully by the time she would see him, Heero's constant whining would convince him that he was better off leaving the child with her.
Yes, tomorrow, Ino Yamanaka, would go after her husband.
"No way," said Tsunade.
Ino's eyes bulged at the response.
"What do you mean 'No way' you old hag?!" The older woman's eye twitched.
"What is it with you blonde brats? Watch your manners. I've had enough with Naruto, and I'm starting to see where Heero's getting most of his habits."
Ino willed herself to calm down. "Tsunade, I know my son's faults, but he is still a child and that's normal at his age. I feel that's more than enough reason for me to go along with them. If this mission is as important as it sounds, Heero will need as much guidance as he can get."
"Ino, I know this must be hard for you, it isn't easy for a mother to part from her child for such a long time. However, you are not fit to go anywhere in your current state." Tsunade turned to look out through her grand window view. "I would not have believed Gaara if I hadn't seen so for myself. I believe, you should take advantage of this time to take care of yourself. For the next couple of weeks you should focus on healing and treating yourself. Then come to terms with your priorities and responsibilities for the following year. But stand clear, I could not request the Kazekage to assign you to the team, when it is obvious that you will become a hindrance to the mission. The answer is no."
Ino's stood deflated with defeat. The older woman's eyes soften at the beaten pose of the younger female. It reminded her of herself at one stage of her life, which she sooner wished to forget.
"Ino…I take my responsibilities as a Hokage and as a doctor very seriously. Please understand, neither of my roles would allow me to give you what you want," she said. "However, at most, I will grant you an opportunity to say your proper farewells. You two should not have parted on a sour note, especially at the length of this mission. Gaara and the teams will be stopping at Suna for a week for supplies and documents. You can meet him there."
Ino tried very hard not to crack a victory sign. All she really wanted was a chance to reason with Gaara and this more than satisfied it. "I am grateful for your understanding and decision Tsunade-sama. I will do as you say."
"Very well, you will need to be ready to part in an hour. Make sure to join Naruto, since he is also headed there to meet with their Kazekage."
"Thank you Tsunade-sama." Ino bowed her head, then walked to the door before she was detained.
"One more thing, Ino… Sakura has approached me about the possibility of you returning to your medical studies. I have agreed that we could use as many apt hands as we can. Know that when you are ready, our doors are open."
Ino swallowed uncomfortably and her hand tightened on the knob. She turned while staring at the floor, then proceeded to leave.
Ino went through her wardrobe for twenty minutes, realizing in frustration that for almost three and a half years, she had nothing new to wear. Resigned, she only packed some toiletries, alcohol and water in the hope Gaara did not mind buying her some newer outfits while over there. Before leaving she double checked her windows and fluttered her curtains shut.
During her walk to the city's gate, Ino ran in her mind different versions of her next encounter with Gaara. She failed to notice the distracted rushing blond making his way to her. They soon crashed and found their limbs and bags tangled. As she pushed herself from the floor by her arms, she froze when felt something awkward moving between her legs.
"Ano, love the view and and you smell divine, but should we be doing this in public?" asked a blushing Naruto between her thighs. The blood rose to Ino's cheeks as her left eye twitched. After letting her fist respond, Ino humphed and got up to dust clothes. Her eyes narrowed at the sitting blond male on the floor rubbing the side of his head. "Ah, Ino, a rare pleasure to see you out and about"
"You are getting worse each year," she dismissed her comment with her business-like tone. "But at least you save me the trouble of finding you. I have received authorization from Tsunade-sama and will be joining you on your trip to Suna."
"Huh? What are you talking about? Is that oba-chan asking you to supervise me? That old woman! It's not like I'm the one accumulating the drinking and gambling debts!" Naruto stood up, annoyed, and walked to the village's entrance.
"No, I'm meeting with Gaara and Heero there" she confessed, equally annoyed as she followed.
Naruto stopped, while looking away. "uh, why?" he asked with feigned curiosity
Ino's eyes glared in suspicion from the blond's back. "You already know why, don't you? Gaara talked to you"
"Aww come on Ino-chan, it's been awhile since we've all hung out, but I can tell. Neither of you looked happy" He stopped as he noticed her eyes watering.
Ino shifted and hid her face in a shadow."You knew he was leaving me…and taking Heero with him."
Naruto eyes widen "Ino…" He approached her and took her hands in his, relieved she didn't resist.
"I…well, I was there when he accepted to take part of the mission. But this is not permanent. Look I don't understand all the details, but I know Gaara. He is not the impulsive type, and he usually knows what he is doing even if he is not sure how to explain himself. Even if things are not going well for now, I am sure everything will work out."
At her lack of response, he felt the need to fill in the silence. "I know this really isn't any of my business, but maybe this break could be a good thing. You know, a pause from all the arguing?"
Ino jerked her hands away as her chin rose and her eyes narrowed. "You're right. This isn't any of your business. I will be going with you to Suna to resolve my marriage before my husband leaves with my child for a year. If you don't take me, I'll get there on my own."
Naruto raised his hands in front of him in defeat. "No need, you know me, Ino-chan, obsessed with helping others. It's fine. We'll just have to get to Suna as quick as possible. We will be crossing a long distance in the shortest amount of time. It is about 3 days away on a good week. I need to know if you are sure you can keep up?"
She stood stubbornly with no purpose to restate her goals or to turn back. Naruto looked unsure but after his short mental debate, he nodded at Ino and checked out her backpack. "Fine, if this is what you truly want, then let's go. Glad you packed as light as possible."