"There are hundreds of ninja that would be glad to stay at your side. Why are you making me promise this?" Her voice was soft, confused. The woman knew how she felt about the young Kazekage but she had to hear his reasons first.
"None of them would be able to see me the way you do. You don't look up to me in fear of who I am, and you don't look down on me in scorn for what I was. You have treated me like an equal since we first met. Even after you learned of my past you did not sneer at me or treat me any different than before. It gave me a sense of hope, that maybe there were others like you out in the world, and that maybe Uzamaki was right." The slight shrug told her that he'd deny it if Naruto was ever right about anything, but the admission was enough for her.
"And what about Shukaku? What does he think about you picking me as your partner?" She didn't say anything more as he got the semiglazed look in his eyes whenever he was in communication with the demon on a silent level.
When he came back to the here and now she could see that it wasn't really Gaara that was talking. "You don't look down on, or fear demonkind. Heck, even the Kyuubi is impressed with that. You'll get one promise out of me if you decide to stay. But you have to make your choice before I tell you what it is."
Hoshiwara blinked in disbelief at the outrageous fortune that had just landed in her hands. But smiling she leaned against the Kazekage and kissed him softly. She didn't have the words in his language for what she wanted to say so she went back to hers hoping that they'd understand. :My heart has been yours for the asking ever since we met. But be gentle, the moment it is broken is the moment I will die.:
It took both demon and host a monment to translate what she had said, she was using parts of her language that indicated great emotion, and she did not use them often. Once the meaning got across to them Gaara looked down at her in wonder. "You have known for that long how you felt?"
Hoshiwara nodded. "I am not a master of the fighting arts. But I'd like to think that I have mastery of another art. One that is mine to claim." Gaara nodded knowing what she was talking about now.
"Then you have my word as Gaara and as Kazekage that I will never leave you like I did." He paused and continued as his voice softened, the rough edge wearing off as he spoke. "There will come times when I will need to leave you alone, but I will not leave you as I did these last few weeks."
To Hoshiwara's greater surprise he leaned down slightly to kiss her. It was a promise, sealed with a kiss so to speak. As they seperated, Gaara observed her as she opened her eyes and he found that their color had returned to their normal blue gray color, glazed slightly with pleasure as she looked up at him with a small smile tugging the corners of her lips up.
He felt a surge of pride, and something else. It wasn't just from him, but from Shukaku as well. He had made her look at him like that, that breath taking look was for him alone and no one else. All it took was a simple kiss.
They were startled apart when a sharp rapping echoed in the room. "Hey Gaara, you coming outta there any time soon? You're meeting with Hoshiwara has taken at least twice as long as the rest of ours!" Naruto's annoyed voice came through the door.
Hoshiwara's eyes narrowed as she growled softly to herself. "I'm gonna kill him, and I don't give a damn if Kyuubi is a part of him."
Gaara looked at her in surprise before shaking his head with a smile. Naruto really could get under your skin, but he was a good person to have on your side. Though he could understand Hoshiwara's frustration at that timing. They were comfortable in that moment and both knew that the other wasn't ready yet to go public with their new found relationship.
Standing Gaara answered, the irritation at the interruption coloring his voice back to something resembling normalcy for him. "The meeting is concluding, tell the others to gather in the main room, there is something we need to tell them."
If Naruto was surprised, he didn't say anything as he moved at speed to gather the others. As they heard the loud ninja move away from the door Gaara held on to Hoshiwara for a moment, getting her attention. "I promised that Shukaku and I would not go berzerk when you told me what happened. But I will not let this pass unpunished." He saw the look of understanding in her eyes as he squeezed her hand before letting her go to lead the way back out to the main room.
As soon as the two entered the room everyone could tell that something major had happened and that it would affect the outcome of the mission. Hoshiwara was looking more skittish than she had when she first rejoined them thanks to Kakashi's aid and Gaara looked more like his demon counterpart than ever as he nearly hovered behind her shoulder. No one said a word though as Gaara pinned them all with a glare before starting. "Kakashi, I need to know exactly who was in that office when you helped Hoshiwara get out of there."
"Oh? Why is this information so important now?" He asked his voice carrying across to everyone in a lazy drawl. One would have thought he was looking to keep from exerting himself, until you looked closely at his one visible eye. It was watching the reactions of the room, and especially the two that had just got done talking very carefully.
"I will let Hoshiwara brief the rest of you on what she just told me." Taking a metaphysical back seat to the woman he was now bent on protecting he looked to her and nodded.
Hoshiwara wasn't comfortable with telling everyone here this, but she knew that it was an important part of the briefing. One that would decide the outcome of several jounins' trials. "As Kakashi was in the process of his double rescue, the first being the shuriken attack and the second being an attack in my office, there was a third situation that happened, just before he was able to get to me in the office." Her voice was quiet, and did not shake, but she had to pause once in while to hunt down the words she was looking for to stay in their language.
"What happened Hoshiwara?" Both Neiji and Hinata could see that she was scared of something, and on edge from what happened. Hinata had a good idea of what she was looking at as she was training to be a medic-nin. Neiji was still putting the pieces together of what would cause this woman to fall apart like this when he heard it right from her own mouth.
"Two of the ninja in the office attacked me. Pinning me by my clothing to the wall they were about to force themselves on me when Kakashi intervened. He was then trapped in a multi-user Genjutsu. I helped him out of that, but there is no doubt in my mind. If Kakashi had not been there, I would have been raped several times and possibly even killed for my resistance." Hoshiwara was blushing bright red now, and looked as if she wanted the floor to swallow her up and end her misery.
No one moved from their spots as they heard this, the fact that Gaara was nearly incandescent with suppressed rage being a very good reason for all of them to stay put. However he reigned in his anger far enough that he wouldn't startle Hoshiwara and put a hand on her shoulder giving her a subtle squeeze in reassurance. "Now. The information if you please?" The request was a demand, but his family thought nothing of it knowing that he wanted to protect the woman that had been dropped into their lives less than a year ago. The others looked at him oddly but were interrupted when Kakashi pulled a report scroll out of his jacket and handed it over to the Kazekage.
Opening the scroll his eyes narrowed at the list of names of people involved in the coupe. This was not going to be easy to recover from. Suna had extremely strict laws in dealing with traitors and this would cut their numbers considerably. A hand on his wrist pulled his attention from the scroll and as he looked over at the owner of the hand he noted that Hoshiwara looked like she had other things to add to the briefing. Nodding to her silently, yet still glowering at the information he was curious as to how they would be able to handle everyone in this splinter cell until the woman started speaking.
"Considering Kakashi has been watching me for the last three weeks, he and you all should know that both the Hokage and representatives of Konoha have been here to help with the investigation. I made a promise to the Hokage that once I knew who was behind the attack, I would inform her so that she would be able to assist in the capture and trial of this faction." Everyone looked at her as if she had lost her mind until she continued.
"It was the only thing I could do to diffuse the situation. Hokage Tsunade is a force to be reconned with, and with the help of the ninja team that was here to help me with the investigation, I feel that this will be an easier event to plan than we are all thinking at this moment." Looking around, she could see that the Konoha natives were more for the idea considering they haven't seen their friends and comrades in almost a month.
While the Suna natives wanted to keep the problem within their own territory, they knew that this attack had affected the Leaf ninja clans deeply and could see why Hoshiwara had made such a promise. Looking at each other they came to a general concensus and nodded. "Kakashi, you have a better knowledge of Konoha Village than I do." Gaara started out getting the older ninja's attention. "Do you have the Chakra reserves to make that kind of trip using your transport Jutsu?"
The gray haired jounin did a fast mental calculation of the distance and nodded. He could see where this was going, no one must know that the "dead" ninja's were still alive and with Hoshiwara on the missing and hunted list of this rogue group they would all rest easier knowing that she was safe with one of them.
Since Hoshiwara could not write very legibly in their language yet, it was decided that Temari would write the message for her while she dictated it. The only thing that would ensure that the scroll was legit was her own signature. By now news of her kidnapping would have reached Konoha due to the "alliance" treaty that was in place. However it was agreed that if anyone was to deliver the scroll it would be her. Kakashi would stay out of sight and out of sensing range of the village. The only change they made to Hoshiwara's normal attire was the addition of the Kazekage's head and face shields. The identification that would be needed for her to get into Konoha uncontested.
Once the letter explaining the need for aid was written and she had gathered her spare cloak, she stood next to Kakashi looking at Gaara with determination in her eyes. She was going to get her own revenge on the creeps. She hated feeling scared, it always lead to anger or rage for her. A moment later, Kakashi was gone and with him the woman that had been holding things down in their absense.
Once the two were gone, the other seven exploded into action. Gathering their equipment and replenishing whatever supplies they needed they prepared to leave the bunker to investigate the city. They needed to know just who was who and how they were looking at these latest developements.
In Konoha Hoshiwara's arrival at the gates caused an uproar. The gate guards not believing that she was the Kazekage held her for questioning much to her annoyance. Kakashi was still watching over her and could only chuckle to himself as he watched the guards try their third Genjutsu on her only to find that she had seen through it again.
"Who are you really. We know that the Kazekage Gaara is dead, and that his replacement is kidnapped." Izumo started out.
:For gods' sake let me go you simple minded bafoons!: She finally screamed out in her native language. This got their attention and she glared at them. Kakashi was having trouble maintaining his composure as the small Kazekage went to work on cowing the two Chuunin. "First, I am the Kazekage that replaced Gaara. How do I know this? My name is Hoshiwara, I am not origionally of Suna. Second I promised the Godaime Hokage that I would tell her when I knew of who killed Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, Neiji and Hinata!" Catching her breath her eyes flashed dangerously as the two seemed to not care about what she was saying.
Gathering herself together she took a deep weighted breath and pushing her vocal range to soprano, she let the higher musical notes carry her call to the Godaime across the distance. As she let the note die out she noted that the two that were holding her captive were now in shock at her ability. Kakashi nearly fell off his perch as he realized that there was no chakra or any special powers backing that call. All it was was pure natural ability backed by years of practice in music.
It was fortunate for him that he did not fall off his perch because a moment later Tsunade appeared before the three in the gate hut. "What is going on here?!" She demanded. The call had been heard all over the village and as shocking as that was, it was even more surprising that she could pinpoint where it had come from.
"Godaime, we have someone here who claims to be the Kazekage, but is unable to produce any identification to prove herself." Kotetsu reported quickly.
"Untie me and I'll show you just who you're dealing with you pea-brained air headed twits!" Tsunade about lost her composure as she listened to the Kazekage insult two of her best chuunin. However it wasn't anger that threatened to break loose. It was laughter, there was no mistaking that voice. Granted, the last time she heard it she was listening to it at a softer level, but the accent and way of stringing words together were unmistakable.
"Untie her. The last thing I need is a war with our allies over having been excessively rude to the Kazekage." The light smirk went into a full blown grin as the ropes were loosened. The first action of the shorter woman was to stand up and dust herself off. Then as she saw the two chuunin relax she struck. An open palm to each of their faces and a knee to their groins.
"Next time, don't screw around with interrogation. If someone says they are someone important, go get someone in the village who can give you a positive identification!" She scolded them before washing her hands of the mess and turning to the Hokage.
"Godaime Tsunade, its good to see you again." She bowed slightly before smiling.
Tsunade stared for a moment at the complete 180 degree change in demeanor before laughing. "Oh, you have no idea how much I needed that. I assume you're here to update me on that mess that erupted in Suna?"
Hoshiwara nodded. "Can we head to your office? This is not something I'd want the general public to know." She got the affirmative before following the blond leader back to the tower that was the center of Konoha village.
As they entered the tower, the look of death from both Kage's was enough to prevent questions from being asked. Both women knew that people would want to know why the Suna Kage was there, but until they had all the information between the two of them, she wasn't about to let any information leak out. Upon entering the office Hoshiwara was mildly impressed with the sheer number of books that the woman kept around her.
Looking around she waited till the room hand emptied of people looking for the reason why that piercing note had floated over the village. "Tsunade, its good to see you again. Before we start I would like for you to read this, then ask any questions you may have." Reaching into her cloak she pulled the message scroll out of the pocket she had sewn in and handed it over to the older woman.
As Tsunade read the scroll she could feel her jaw starting to go slack at all of the information she was taking in. "You weren't kidding about not wanting this out in public. Is there anything else you want me to know about?" Her words suggested it was a request, her tone however was much like Gaara's in its demand for information.
"I believe that there is someone here who can answer your questions for information about what is going on in Suna better than I can Godaime." The only hint of the younger woman's smile behind the cloth that hid most of her face was the crinkling of the skin near her eyes.
Tsunade blinked. "You mean to tell me that you weren't alone out at the hut?"
Hoshiwara shot her a 'no duh' look before nodding. "I'd be a complete idiot to travel alone after what the traitors in Suna tried before." Looking around carefully she spoke in a lower tone that still carried to the windows. "You can come in now. It's time we let at least one person in Suna know that you're still about."
Kakashi swung in through the window, having heard the entire conversation outside as he had followed the two back to the Hokage's office. "Good to see you again Godaime." Was all he said with an irritating smile on his face that caused the blond woman before him to gain a nervous tick in her left cheek.
"Hatake Kakashi, What in the name of the sacred flames are you doing here!" Kakashi waved a finger in her direction chiding her.
"You know as well as I do that if someone is going to try and kill me, I'm going to want to know who it is. In this case, the best way to get that information was to "die"." Pausing a moment he teased her with the withheld information about the other four in his delegation to Suna before a sharp elbow in his side reminded him that right now wasn't the time to be playing with the Hokage. "The others are alive and well I am pleased to say. Between their training and Gaara's quick thinking everyone made it out of their alive."