Chapter 6

Flashback- 2.5 years ago

Gaara frowned while staring out through the glass panel. It had been raining on and off all day. By the time he had finished shutting the lights off at the flower shop and flipping the sign to closed, it was thundering and pouring heavily outside. He yawned as he stared at another day's worth of work, wondering why he was wasting his life away. Then cursed when he remembered he needed to pick up green tea flavored shaved ice for Ino. He did not know how she could stand that stuff, but it was better than some of her other cravings.

Thought second pregnancies were supposed to be easier. Apparently someone forgot to notify the baby. They were already in the third trimester, yet Ino and Gaara had been tired, distracted, and ill-humoured to the point they did not know the gender, or thought of any names. His thoughts were interrupted by a large thunder and a streak of lightning in the distance.

About half an hour later, with shopping bag in hand, he got home soaked to the bone, and was surprised to find the entrance door open. After walking in and removing his wet shoes, he headed straight to the fridge to put away the ice shaving. He frown at the silence until he could hear footsteps running towards him. "Daddy!" He paused once his seven year old son grabbed his leg sobbing. He thought children were done with tantrums much earlier, but his son tended to cry, even now, very easily. While Gaara did wonder if Ino was being soft with him, he sometimes secretly loved that about her.

Nobody had cared about how Gaara felt when he was a child; he was glad that wasn't the case for his children. However, he debated if this would weaken their son, by not being to stand on his own. Ino tried to reassure him before that he would grow just fine. Gaara trusted her, because she was much better on managing their child's overwhelming wave of emotions than him. Most of the time, Gaara, tried to copy her. But still, sometimes doubt lately would pop out for him from time to time.

The redhead moved his hand to softly pat Heero's hair, before picking up the child in his arms and having him rest on his hip. "What's wrong Heero? Try to use your words"

His son struggled to get the words out stopping to sniffle. "...Mom, mommy was ...we were ...playing, ...and we were playing hide and seek." He returned to crying as if that was enough for Gaara to understand.

"...Okay?" He moved his hand to rub Heero's back like he would watch Ino do. "I see, so you were playing hide and seek?"

Heero used his arm to wipe his snot and and then put his hand on his father's shoulder. "I was hiding...but she never went to get me" Gaara knew sometimes Ino would fall asleep while playing with Heero. His lips would almost curved in a smile, but avoided it for Heero's sake. "Okay, did you ask your mother why didn't she come get you?"

"No.., cuz, she is hiding. I can't find her" Gaara paused with Heero in arms, then walked further into the house and projected his voice. "Ino?" At the silent response, he went to check her usual resting places, with no luck. He felt a bit of chill on his spine. With one stop by the closet to grab Heero's rain jacket, he carried him till the entrance to put their shoes on. "Heero, go to your uncle Chouji's and tell him to meet me here." Gaara said firmly while sliding the jacket on his child's arms.

After sending Heero away, he searched all over. There was no evidence of anyone else being in the house, but Ino was definitely not home. She wouldn't leave Heero in the middle of playing, then he remembered the open front door. Stepping outside, he looked around to see Chouji coming over.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. Can't find her. It's not like her to leave Heero on his own without locking the door." Together they were raking through the neighborhood. The more time passed, the louder the buzzing got in his brain. Where was Ino? The door was open. Heero and her had been playing hide and seek- and then it became obvious. Heero.

Turning around immediately, Gaara traced his steps back to his house. More specifically, past his home and towards the deserted one at the end of his street. In the back of that place there was an old tree house that Heero loved to climb on and hide from his parents from time to time. Because it had been raining Gaara forgot it was a possibility.

Ino hated that spot, complaining once to Gaara that it was built poorly and it was a hazard waiting to happen. They had spoken to Heero about it, but it was hard to tell sometimes what their son choose to listen.

As Chouji followed him over the fence, and dropped on the neglected yard, it wasn't long until he found the tree in question. His heart sank. Ino had been right about the risk of the place. Trapped by the collapsed pieces of the playhouse, underneath the rain, was his wife's body.

At dawn the next morning, Ino got the staff to wash her outfit again. She showered and combed her hair up in a respectable style.

Taking a last critical glance at herself she was as ready as she would ever be. When she was called into the Kazekage's office, she sat calmly in front of her brother-in-law who watched her warily. He knew why she was there, so she started gently. "I am not mad."

She thought of the argument she would present to the Kazekage. No arguing in unprepared this time. No cursing. She would be polite. No angry denunciation. She would be a mother deprived of her son. She would have the voice of reason on her side.

"I get why your brother wants to go on this mission. I knew Sunagakure was his first love, and recognize he gave up being Kazekage for me. Although he tried, he never fully adapted to Konoha. Gaara would eventually have wanted to return. Should I assume this mission is for him to regain good standing with the council and the village to return to his role?"

Kankurou was not surprised she had guessed as much. His sister-in-law was Inoichi Yamanaka's daughter. He nodded confirming her assessment.

Despite her expectations, Ino took a moment to process this. Gaara never intended to return to Konoha. She swallowed that pill and tried to act unaffected. "I can accept that; and even if that means we live apart, of course, I would never deny him his right to be Heero's father. Gaara loves our son." She sat straighter while making eye contact. "But Kankurou, you have to understand why I am against Heero going. It is too dangerous."

Her voice faltered to a whisper. He had to lean forward to hear it. "You know he is my only child."

Kankurou lowered his head faintly at the end of her words. He was the one who had suggested and supported this trip to Gaara and still believe it was the right decision for everyone involved. However, he did care for his sister-in-law enough to feel that the least he owed was to try to ease her grief.

"Your love and fear make you over sensitive to danger, Ino. With Gaara watching over him, not only is he safe, but this mission is every Genin's dream. Heero will returned broadened by the travel and mature amazingly by association with experienced shinobi."

"But part of his education is the Konoha culture and the Yamanaka's techniques and these will be neglected." She began desperately. Kankurou nodded reassuringly. "Yes, that is important to you being a good daughter and citizen. However, this is more than that, don't you see? This is an experience of a lifetime."

This was not going the way she wanted. "I don't want him to go. The danger is far too great"

"Even with Gaara watching his every step?"

Ino took a deep breath. Pride be damned. She would tell the truth, even if it stung her forever to acknowledge her insecurities aloud with her husband's brother. "Gaara will be distracted."

The Kazekage looked at her shrewdly. "By what?"

She made herself vulnerable. "You assigned Matsuri as part of his team. She has, and I can sense that she is still in love with him, and now with the timing of him leaving me...even if nothing is happening now, it wouldn't take much for something to happen. I don't want my son, to watch it unfold."

Kankurou exhaled a long , slow breath. "So that is what actually is bothering you"

"Exactly"

He drew another deep breath. "I cannot help you." That was not the response she needed.

"Kankurou, he can't take my son away from me, that is kidnapping"

"A father cannot kidnap his own child."

She stood abruptly. "Then you won't help me?"

"Heero will be just fine, Shikamaru is sending his own son with him, they are both my dear nephews and I trust Gaara will not allow any harm to come to them. Surely you can wait a little while. A year goes by very fast."

"It could very well be forever"

"Ino, you can't think like that, Gaara will make sure they both come back to you."

"I don't want Gaara to come back to me."

"Don't say something you don't mean. You have every right to be a little hurt and to worry, but I am sure you have exaggerated the situation in your own mind. Just because a woman likes a married man, it doesn't mean he is going to stray."

"You say that with the confidence of someone who has never been married. Gaara never had to worry before about Suna women throwing themselves at his feet."

"There is no need to get defensive. Gaara will come back, you both will make up, and as you grow old you will forget all about this."

Ino shook her head slowly. "I will never, never forget this"

"Ino…"

"Kankurou, I get that he left Suna for me, but I made sacrifices too. I gave up the Yamanaka's clan leader seat, despite my father's dying wishes, to focus being Gaara's wife and the mother of his children...it may have been a single child, but I have dedicated my life to both of them. Yet instead of Gaara respecting that, and talking to me as his wife, he went behind my back, convinced everyone, who I care about, that I am mentally ill and unfit to raise my son."

Her anger was restocking as she spoke. "Then, less than a week ago, he says he is tired of me. Announced he is taking my son from me and that maybe, just maybe he'll come back in one or two years. All this, to also leave with a woman who I know and I've told him, is in love with him. How...just how am I not justified to hate him?"

Kankurou took in her statement as he observed her critically. "I understand your frustration Ino, even if I disagree. I don't think you are crazy. But severe depression, is a mental illness. You are his wife, but for two years, while you were suffering on and off in bed, Gaara had to suffer, while trying to get most things done on his own. That included taking care of Heero and you."

He added pointedly. "Now how things unfolded were mostly beyond your fault, that being said, have you possibly considered that there is a logical explanation for every single one of your statements? I know you enough Ino to say, that you are a very bright woman, and that you do truly love my brother, but there are times, when you think you are on to something, that you get tunnel vision and choose only to see what supports your argument."

His statement hurt because it rang true enough, and he brought her past mistakes as evidence. Ino bit her lip and looked away. But he, just like Gaara, failed to see that she was getting better and was changing, could change even more. As far as they were concerned, they have given up on her, and have made up their mind. This conversation was pointless.

"This is ridiculous and humiliating. Kazekage-sama, you have been a great disappointment to me. I understand your loyalty to your brother. But I had been under the impression that we were also family."

"Ino, this mission was an attempt to protect both of your interests. Don't do anything stupid. If you behave, then there is nothing he will need to overlook when he does return"

"You don't understand." She told him as she turned away from him. She was tired of everyone deciding things for her for the sake of everyone's best interest. She was tired of everyone telling her to behave.

"I hate him, I do not care if I ever see him again. But he is not going to keep my son." she finished while turning and exiting the room.

"No one is going to support you" Kankurou's warning carried over.

"Yeah, I fucking noticed that!" She shot back, fed up with holding it in, as she walked out.

Half an hour later, Ino still stood fuming outside the Kazekage's headquarters, until a familiar blond stopped by her. "Ino? I've been looking all over for you. Where-"

"-Naruto, I need one more favor" she intercepted automatically.

The blond stopped and his hand moved to scratch the back of his head."Ano, Ino, I ran into Gaara, and-"

"-Then if you ran into Gaara, you know where he is. I want to go say goodbye to my son." she lied naturally.

Naruto seemed taken back. "Eh, uhm I don't know what to say"

"Naruto, please,.. You're the only one left, that I can ask of this." Her eyes watered as she met her friend's eyes. "I can't let Heero go without saying goodbye... I would regret it always."

Naruto frowned. He hated seeing Ino this distraught. He thought Gaara had already resolved this. "Okay, I'll tell you where they are, you go and say your goodbyes, but meet me we will return to Konoha together. Promise me, that you will not leave on your own"

She disliked lying to her friend, but she justified it by remembering that everyone lied to her by omission first. Also, Naruto doubted that she could take care of herself - not that she could blame him after their last journey. "Yes, give me until tomorrow morning and I'll meet you at the entrance" She promised in vain.

Once Naruto gave her Gaara's location, and she reassured him about being able to walk on her injured foot, Ino said goodbye and headed off to the inn to get her bag from the lobby. She got enough water for two people and also got some energy bars for the trip. She headed to the city entrance and walked north about 2-3 miles to the campground Gaara was stationed. While she limped she managed to get there within an hour. Once she was out of site, on her own she henged herself as a male Suna genin and did her best to minimize her limping on the way to her husband's campground. Fortunately, when she arrived it was busy enough that it felt natural for her to join the group setting up equipment.

The sun was still up for a few hours, and she needed to kill time, since she knew she would be unable to escape with a child during the day. At one point she froze when Matsuri called on her, but if the other kunoichi recognized her, she did not announce it. Instead the brunette put her to work right away, giving her random errands. Ino had to bite her anger to not ruin her cover, so once she accomplished those, she stepped to the side and found a nook to wait until until it was dark out.

She jumped awake with a start. Running her hands through her face she wiped the sleep from her eyes and realized she had dozed off and it was dark out. The area seemed quiet except for the sound of camp fire crackling in through the night. She knew Heero had to be in one of these tents resting, hopefully with his teammates and not Gaara. She climbed onto her feet, the stiffness in her limbs made her draw in her breath with a sharp hiss, and moved at a crouch toward the shadows in the campground. She took a long look to the right and left and while everything look deserted, her heart accelerated its rhythm in her chest, and twitched in her belly.

She found the largest tent in the ground and made her way there. She needed to make sure Heero wasn't there with Gaara first, and then go by process of elimination. The tent was five steps away. Four, Three. Suddenly, a powerful hand seized her backpack and spun her around. She gave a muffled cry and swung wildly at her captor.

She hit against dissipating sand and the man chuckled softly as he dragged her back against him. "Did you enjoyed your nap Ino?"

"Gaara!" She released her jutsu and relaxed against his hard chest, no longer afraid. His body was familiar to her, its height, its shape, its warmth. His breath came warm and with a hint of alcohol only inches from her ear.

"I was wondering if you were going to sleep all night long and wake up in the morning after we had left."

Resentful, Ino tried to jerk away from him. "You knew I was here all along" He tightened his grip on her bag as he hustled her way from the campground. "You've been a very busy girl, Ino, running all over town"

Her overwrought emotions dreaded what he was going to say to her. He knew what she had been up to all day. Was he going to gloat on top of everything else? "Let go of me!"

He shook his head. His face was in the darkness but she could hear amusement from his voice. "You didn't think I could sense my wife's chakra?"

"I fooled you once didn't I?" she said in anger. Gaara leaned in as if confiding a big secret "You were so excited about celebrating my birthday, I could only allow you to think that then. I sensed and watched you walk in the campground today and trying hard to blend in. Even asked Matsuri to give you some errands to keep you busy" Ino eyes widen in anger as she aimed to slap him, he released her as his sand blocked her again.

"You must have known I was coming for Heero" Gaara nodded. "I know everything, every single visit, since you finally decided to get out of bed. I even watched you sleep so that no one would hurt you"

She lashed out with an overly sweet tone. "How generous of you."

"I knew you were sarcastic, but never this much" he observed.

"I never had my son taken away from me, or have my husband leave me for a whore" she spat right back.

"Matsuri is not a whore, you are making up things in your mind and spreading stories all over town to embarrass me."

"Yeah, well, you are embarrassing me by being with her on a first name and no honorifics basis. How convenient for her boyfriend to practically dump her in time for your separation from your wife and your little excursion together. Hope she is good in bed and that all your running around spreading lies about my sanity were worth it."

"Shut up Ino" his tone sobered up.

"I am not giving up Heero to her or you."

Gaara had no interest to have this argument by the campground. "Come" He held out his hand.

Instantly, she pulled back, but he just as quickly raised his arms over his shoulder. "I just want to talk"

She hesitated staring around her in the darkness. Was she imagining things or was there the faintest hint of grey in the horizon? Did I slept for that long?! She shivered suddenly in dread. "Go- go ahead"

It seemed that not far off from the campground there were some cabins. Maybe this was where Heero was staying. He opened an empty one and moved his hand to lead her into presumably his own bedroom. She sat on a nearby chair as he knelt by her to undo the sand jutsu on her leg.

Gaara carefully checked her ankle and took out a cream to alleviate her blisters and numb the swelling on her foot. Then with a small towel he wiped the excess. His calloused hands were painfully gentle. Those had the been the hands that once worshiped her body. She watched him warily as he pulled from a cabinet some actual wraps and a bottle of sake. He wrapped her leg, and made sure it was secure.

"Test it, let me know if you can walk on it" She nodded bitterly. With the sand cast gone that was just one more connection he was severing. He wasn't even going to leave his precious sand with her.

He served her a shot glass of sake and held it in front of her. "Drink up"

She took the glass and set it down untouched on the desk. He took a shot directly from the bottle, before setting it aside. This was unusual for Ino, since her husband rarely consumed alcohol especially around her. It was out of character for him.

"Baki was upset at your behavior," He began reproachfully. "Understandably so. the man was just doing his job."

"His job's in hell." She replied evenly "I intend to speak about this with Temari."

"Temari already knows"

"She can't know everything. She would had protested Matsuri being on your team, knowing as well as I, how that woman feels about you."

"Matsuri was in the list Shikamaru approved to lead Shikadai's team. She is the best candidate, and was selected specifically because I was her instructor. We need her set of skills. She will be able to support me in Heero's development. Besides Temari and I agree that your illness was not getting better. It was not healthy for our son to stay with you, while I was away. For the sake of Heero I convinced both her and Shikamaru-"

"Shikamaru!"

"Heero is his nephew after all"

"You told Shikamaru lies about me!"

"They weren't lies."

"Of course, you also told him about Matsuri"

"You are mad, there is nothing to say about Matsuri because there is nothing fucking there!"

"I'll talk to Tsunade, she will stop you-"

"Tsunade already approved, I told you, I took care of everything"

Feeling angry and helpless, Ino flung the shot glass of sake at him to hit against his sand defense.

She grabbed random things from the desk and the room to flung at him. He humiliated her, had men follow her all around Suna, laughing at her, watching as she went to each embarrassing futile place after another.

Primal rage roared out of her throat as she started formulating jutsus she hadn't used since her adolescence. Anything that would trigger Gaara's defense mechanism and keep him away until she reached for the door to escape. However, not quick enough before Gaara had launched himself at her. They crashed together to the floor, Gaara underneath, their legs in the air, their bodies entangled by the door. "Ino, damn it, you hellcat, I don't want to hurt you!" he growled.

"Well isn't it too fucking late for that!" she screamed. "How much do you think I can take?"

"I am done with your tantrums" he said before flipping and ending on top of her. His body stretched on top of hers, he was much too heavy, yet she struggled against him, bucking up. Her violent movement bringing their loins in contact with each other. Shocked, she realized he was aroused.

Their faces were only inches apart, their breath commingling, they stared.

"Damn you puppet" he whispered as his mouth came down hard on her own.

The kiss was without the slightest tenderness. Indeed, it was meant as a punishment. She squirmed but he was relentless.

She bit his lip instead. "What do you think you are doing? I hate you!" She hissed. Gaara licked his bleeding lip. With one hand he pinned her wrists above her head as he freed his right hand to hold her face to meet his kohl covered aqua eyes.

"Don't say that. Don't say you hate me… not when you still have power over me."

His fingers soften to apologetically caress her jaw. He leaned in to gently kiss the corner of her mouth. The kiss ceased to punish. Instead it move to brush under her ear and on her jawline, until he brushed against her bruised lips as her body shuddered in pleasure underneath him. He released her hands and pulled back.

Holding her with his eyes, he took of his shirt, exposing his toned chest, that resembled an Egyptian sculpture. Then his hands stripped away her top. When her breasts were bared, he lowered his mouth to them. Her breath hissed as he took one of her peaks delicately between his lips nibbling as his knee wedge between her thighs.

"Stop... Gaara," she moaned as she felt her defenses lowering. "Don't do this to me." Her fingers ran and grasped his red mane. Holding his head but not moving him away from her.

He released her, before resting his head on her chest as he listened to her heartbeat and struggled to calm down his desire, "Why? Why Ino? You are here, I am here and we both want it" He placed a kiss on her pale stomach.

Adamantly she shook her head back and forth. This didn't feel right. They were doing this as if the last week never happened.

She pushed him back. Her hands on his shoulders. "No...I don't want it. I don't want anything at all from you, nothing that you are willing to give." Her voice was cold, but her breathlessness and eyes betrayed her.

"You're lying." He used his arms to raise himself to hover over her again. He could feel, smell and practically taste her desire. When his arousal brushed against her mound, her lips parted and her sweet pink tongue moved to lick her lower lip as her eyes were clouding. He met her lips and kissed her again long and lovingly. She was delicious. He proceeded until she responded. His eyes glittered as his lips curved. "My sweet lying wife"

Suddenly, tears trickled from the corners of her eyes. She loved him still. Despite everything he had done to her. Her chest ached. Her arms soften their hold and slid around his shoulder. Damn him.

Something welled in her until her throat hurt from the effort to choke back the sobs. The hard floor bruised her back, but she welcomed his weight. But she couldn't let it go. "You can make me want you, but me giving in, won't make you love me again, will it?" She asked softly.

Gaara stopped touching her and lifted to meet her eyes. He absorbed the depth of emotion behind her unsure cerulean orbs. He closed his eyes as he moved off her to the side. "I care about you"

His words pierced her chest. He no longer loved her, not like she did. Ino gasped and turned to the side away from him. Gaara sat and ran a tense hand through his hair, as he tried to catch his breath while staying next to her. She choked on her tears, and sat up wrapping her arms over her chest.

"You were willing to fuck me, even when you are still planning to leave me." Her dry voice accused daringly, allowing a small hope to still remain that he would protest.

Gaara rested his hands on his bent knees. While he stared at a spot on the wall. "You know the answer to that"

I see. He pitied her. Enough to drink, and fuck his fat wife one last time before sending her away. Ino's heart closed up.

"No, actually. I may have just realized, I don't know who you are anymore."

Slowly she slid her top on, and felt goosebumps from the intense wave of emotions her body was trying to process. She was exhausted emotionally and whatever fight left in her extinguished when she noticed the first streaks of dawn striking the horizon and streaming from the windows. She stood up facing away from Gaara.

"I may have been an awful, unreliable, immature wife and for that I am sorry. I did love you, even now I still stupidly do. However, once you go through with this..."

Once. There were no longer if questions involved in her mind. "...I promise I'll hate you till I die." She breathed.

He got up and started straightening his clothes. He stared at the sake bottle with regret. This had been a mistake. "I need to take you to Naruto, and you need to go"

She knew it was pointless to insist but she still dug in her heels. "At least, let me see Heero." He shook his red mane. "No, you've said your good-byes twice. Again would serve no purpose except to upset you both."

The color drained from her numb face. "You really are a monster." Gaara's cheek twitched, before he lowered his face. Out of anyone he never expected to hear it from her.

"...Maybe you are right." He opened the door and escorted her out. He whistled, and two Suna jounin appeared in front of them. "Please escort my wife to Naruto Uzumaki and keep an eye on them on their way back to Konoha." He released her arm. "Goodbye, Ino."

As the jounin hustled her away, she did glance back only once. She saw Gaara staring back at her, with Matsuri approaching him from behind. Then, watched as the brunette placed a hand on Gaara's shoulder, and how he didn't shake her off.

He turned away from Ino cementing her thoughts. Cursing, Ino turned back having enough.

This is the last time I let you hurt me. She did not look back again.