The night was quiet as they sat on the small, wooden dock, her feet just piercing the top of the cold water. The reflection of the many stars glistened atop the lake like it was made of the purest of glass. It was one of her favorite places in all of Konoha, a place she had frequented since she discovered it at the tender age of seven. Her blue eyes looked away from the water and to the figure that was sitting next to her. His back was straight, his long black hair cascading down his back. His pupil-less eyes were looking out at something in the distance, a look of serenity on his face.

These were the times Taki really enjoyed being with him. Neji always let his guard down when they were alone and she was thankful for that. He didn't do it around anyone else and just that alone showed her how much he thought and cared for her.

"What is it?" Neji asked her suddenly, her fixed gaze breaking. She hadn't realized that she had been staring at him for some time. "You can't stop looking at me."

"What, I can't look at my boyfriend and admire his amazing bone structure?" Taki asked with a smile. Neji looked over at her and smiled slightly, one of his dark brows raised in amusement.

"Well if you must," Neji replied, making a small laugh escape Taki's mouth before she gave him a playful shove in the shoulder. He looked away from her again and back out over the water, a faint smile still on his lips. Even if the smile was faint, Taki found it to be one of the greatest and manliest gestures she had ever seen. It even rivaled that time a few years back when she and Nana saw Kakashi reading his book on the river bank. His vest was off and his shirt was riding up, showing off a little of his stomach and waist line. Yeah, that was a sight she would never forget.

"Taki there's something I want to talk to you about," Neji said suddenly, capturing her attention again.

"What is it?" She asked, her blue eyes searching his face as she waited for him to answer.

"I wanted to say…" Neji started when a loud yell came from behind just as a figure launched itself over them and into the water. The cold water came up and splashed them slightly, a laugh escaping Taki and a frown coming to Neji's face. A head of bright blonde hair broke the surface of the water, a mischievous grin on the boys face.

"Hehe," the boy laughed as he looked at the two sitting on the edge of the dock.

"NARUTO!!" someone yelled from behind them and Taki turned quickly to see the owner of the yell. Sakura stood there with her arms crossed over her chest. She had on a flimsy pink tank top and tiny black shorts, her pink hair pulled back in a ponytail. A few figures stood behind Sakura, all with their own expressions on their faces. Sai stood there with a smile on his face, the fake smile that irked Taki to no end. He had no shirt on, only a pair of black track shorts. Shikamaru stood a little behind him, a look of boredom on his face, his brown eyes looking at the girl beside him. His shirt was missing also, just a pair of blue shorts slung loosely on his hips. Nana, Taki's old genin squad mate, was standing next to Shikamaru with a mischievous grin on her face as she removed her green shirt and cast it to the dock, revealing a red bra. Shikamaru let out a groan as he watched his girlfriend go for the button of her black shorts.

"Can't you keep your clothes on? You're so troublesome, you know that?" Shikamaru exasperated as he received a sly smile from his girlfriend. It was that day then. It was a crazy tradition Naruto had come up with when they were eighteen. On the night of any full moon everyone went swimming… clothing optional of course. Which only meant one thing; that Naruto was buck naked as he swam up to her.

"If you mean highly perverted, then yes I am troublesome," Nana said with a smile as she teased her boyfriend, some of her brown hair going into her face. He should have known how she was better than anyone. He was the one that caught her peeping on the boys in the onsen when they were sixteen.

"Just be glad that I don't like to sleep around. You're the only man for me Shikamaru," Nana said with a wink as she let her shorts drop to the deck, revealing matching red underwear. In truth Nana might have been a pervert, but when it came down to it Shikamaru was the only guy she had ever been with and that was the way she wanted it.

"I must be going," Neji said suddenly as he stood from the deck, his back straight as it always was. Neji never did approve of Naruto's tradition, but it happened to be one of Taki's favorites and to see her boyfriend act like he was always made her feel bad if she stayed.

"Ah come on Neji," Naruto said from the water. He had come to a stop next to Taki, one of his arms resting on the deck beside her leg. "Loosen up."

"Yeah Neji don't be such a limp dick. You better watch out or someone is going to swoop in and take Taki from you," Sai said as he came up behind Taki. He crouched down and he wrapped an arm around her, his other hand reaching for her white hair and bringing it to his face. He let his head fall to her shoulder and gently caressed her arm as his dark eyes looked up at Neji. Taki tried to suppress her blush as she looked away from Neji and to Naruto. It wasn't the first time Naruto and Sai had done something like that to get to Neji, but sometimes she felt like they went overboard.

Neji didn't say anything as he ripped his white shirt over his head and threw it to the dock.

"Now we're talking!" Nana yelled from behind as she pushed Neji into the water, his sudden grip on her wrist taking her with him. A groan came from Shikamaru as he shook his head. Taki just laughed as she looked back at Shikamaru. He might have looked annoyed but Taki knew that he was enjoying himself, just like she was.

********

Taki's blue eyes opened slowly, not wanting to break one of her fonder memories from when she was back in Konoha. She had to admit that she missed the village and her friends, but she no longer belonged there and now she had more than herself to worry about. A hand came crashing down on her face, one small, pudgy finger poking her in the eye.

"Ow," She groaned as she moved the small hand, just to receive it right back in the face. Taki sat up quickly, the small hand and sheet falling into her lap. She looked over and saw Tai sleeping on the bed beside her. He was laying on the bed sideways, his arms and legs sprawled out in every direction. His blue pajamas were twisted, his brown hair wild and his mouth hung open slightly. Taki never thought that such a small person could take up so much of the bed. Taki silently slipped from the bed and to the bathroom, grabbing the towel folded on her dresser on her way out. She had about ten minutes to take a shower and start some breakfast before Tai was awake and ready to pounce on the day.

A knock sounded on the door and Taki let out a groan as she abandoned her path to the bathroom and started heading for her front door. A loud knock came again and she quickened her pace, ready to punch the person if they knocked again. She reached for the handle and ripped it open to see a man standing there with a slight scowl on his face. He was an errand boy for the Kazekage and the look on his young face told Taki right away that the boy wasn't thrilled about his job. He scratched at his red hair and let out a sigh as he let his hand fall to his side. He was clearly not a morning person.

"What is it?" Taki asked as she stood there, her delicate brow arched as she waited for the guy to answer. She had seen him before, always roaming the halls of the Kazekage building, sometimes neglecting to do his work all together. She really didn't understand why Gaara kept the guy at his appointed position. One was supposed to take their job seriously and if not they didn't deserve it. Taki clearly believed the man in front of her to be unworthy, but then again who was she to judge.

"Kazekage-sama needs you in his office as soon as possible," The man said curtly.

"Right," Taki said before she shut the door, hearing an annoyed growl from the other side. She didn't have time for bullshit from a guy like that so early in the morning. Her blue eyes looked down at the towel in her hand and she quickly tossed it on the table as she grabbed her tan Jonin vest from the back of a chair. She quietly made her way down the hall and to her room and stopped suddenly in her doorway.

Taisetsu was sitting on the bed with Kuma sitting in his lap. He was already fully dressed; his red shirt to big on his narrow shoulders and his dark brown shorts had a small rip at the hem of one of the legs. His brown hair was messy as always and he had a big smile of expectancy on his face. Taki smirked down at him, waving her hand.

"Make sure you brush your teeth really good," Taki said as the four year old let out a holler and leapt off the bed and headed for the bathroom as fast as he could. His energy was something that he had gotten from his father because Taki had never been as energetic as Tai was in her whole twenty-five years of life.

***

Gaara sat patiently in his office, the large chair one of the most comfortable he had ever sat in. Kankuro and Sasuke were standing in front of his desk waiting for the last member of their team to show up. Kankuro was looking over a tiny cat puppet he had in his hand, tinkering with one of the hind legs, and Sasuke was talking quietly to the two year old girl that he was holding in his arms.

She was sitting on one of his hips, his arms holding her in place. She was talking, but most of the words were incoherent as she rambled on. Sasuke listened intently to everything that Yui said, nodding his head like he understood. Yui tugged at some of Sasuke's black hair, making him smile just a little as he tickled her under the chin to stop. The girl giggled as she pulled her small hand away, her head dipping down to block his fingers. She looked so much like Temari it was uncanny, even her smile was the same as Temari's had been.

Suddenly a flash of red and brown came barreling through the doorway of his office and straight at Kankuro. He didn't have time to respond as Kankuro pitched forward slightly before letting out a yelp of surprise and pain. Taisetsu was latched onto Kankuro's leg, biting him. Taki came into the room, panting slightly as she narrowed her eyes at her son. She reached down for him and yanked him off, a frown on her face.

"Tai how many times," Taki started, cutting herself off. Tai was looking up at her, his brown eyes big and puppy like. A smirk came to Gaara's face when he heard Taki sigh. It was the look, it always worked on her. "Don't look at me like that."

It was no use she was already caught in his stare and she had to quickly look away from him. Kankuro fumed as he grabbed the back of Tai's shirt and lifted him off the ground, the cat puppet grasped tightly in his other hand. It wasn't the first time Kankuro had received a surprise attack from Taisetsu. The boy loved Kankuro since he was a few months old; he had even followed him around the Kazekage building when he had just learned to crawl. And even though Kankuro would deny it, he was quite attached to the little boy also.

"Dammit Tai it really hurts when you do that! You…" there they were again, those puppy eyes that were now staring at Kankuro. He tried his best to avoid them, but he couldn't.

"Just… damn," Kankuro finished as he set the boy back down on the ground. Tai smiled up at him, his eyes drifting over to the cat puppet in Kankuro's hand.

"What's that?" Tai asked as he reached out for it. A small smile came to Kankuro's lips as he bent down and handed it to the boy.

"I made it for you. Kuma II."

Taki sighed as she watched Tai grab it and give Kankuro a hug of thanks. It was the seventh puppet Kankuro had made for him and she was starting to wonder if Kankuro had intentions of teaching her son his puppet master technique. Tai's father would hate that, but then again his father had nothing to do with him. She watched as Tai ran over to a small chair in the corner of the room and sat down, falling silent and still as Yui made her way over to him. She might have only been two years old, but she was one hell of a walker. Taki could only guess that her quick learning skills were one of the Uchiha traits she had inherited. If that was so she was well on her way to becoming a great ninja. Yui climbed up in the seat next to Tai who had made room for her and she watched him intently as he bounced his new puppet around.

"You wanted to see us," Sasuke's voice rang out getting Taki's attention. Her blue eyes scanned to the red head that was sitting behind the large desk. His light blue pupil-less eyes were looking back at them as he slumped in his chair. He wasn't wearing his white robe that day and she preferred his that way. Without it he looked a lot less… superior and way more simple and approachable. She liked approachable Gaara more than superior Gaara any day.

"Yes. Twenty minutes ago a black figure was seen just outside the wall. I want you guys to patrol the perimeter outside the village and report your findings to right away if you have contact."

It was simple and to the point, just the way she liked it. They gave nods of understanding before they turned to leave the office. Taki took one more look over at her son and saw him looking at her. He had pride in his brown eyes as he waved at her. She smiled and waved back at him. A swelling feeling grew in her chest as she walked out the door; Tai's look still fresh in her mind. No matter what she did her four year old was proud of his mother and that made everything she did, every time she risked her life for the mission worth it. If she could see that face on the person that mattered most to her it was all worth it. Her choice to leave Konoha was worth it.

***

Taki frowned as she kneeled, keeping herself in the shade the large wall of Suna barely provided. Her blue eyes scanned the horizon in front of her and all she saw was sand. She scratched absentmindedly at the com unit that was around her neck, static going off in her ear. Taki wasn't sure who it was that said they had seen movement on the outside perimeter of Suna's wall, but the longer she kneeled there the more her murderous intent grew. She was hot and completely fucking miserable.

"You guys see anything?" Kankuro asked.

"Nothing," Sasuke answered, his voice sounding annoyed.

"I don't see anything. I think someone drank too much sake last night and is seeing things in this heat. I say we find who it was and beat the living hell out of them," Taki replied as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other. She had been crouching in the same position for so long that her legs had started to numb out on her.

"You know it's days like these that make me miss Konoha. I can just imagine it; the trees, shade and all the beautiful women serving me sake and dango. Don't you agree with me Sasuke?" Kankuro commented, making Taki's eyes narrow. Not only had he totally ignored her, but he was going on about all the girls she had grown up with… again. He obviously didn't see her as one of these beautiful leaf women he was always talking about. Taki let out a small laugh when Sasuke failed to answer. The way she remembered it, it seemed that Sasuke had never been attracted to any of the girls from the leaf.

"Aren't you still sporting a black eye from the beating you recently received from one of those beautiful Kunoichi from Konoha?" Taki asked with a small scoff.

"Yeah, but it was worth it. I mean the things Tenten can do… there was this one time…" Kankuro started, but Taki quickly cut him off as a sound of disgust came out of her throat.

"Please stop there. I don't want to hear about it."

"Yes you do. Then there was this other time…" Kankuro started again, but the cool, calculated voice of Sasuke rang over the line.

"I think you're forgetting something."

"Yeah, what's that?" Kankuro asked.

"Taki's from the leaf too."

Silence fell over the com and Taki felt herself twitch as a blush crept up her face. She was sure glad that they were not around to see it and what the hell did he mean by that? Taki heard a chuckle come from Kankuro before he spoke again.

"I see how it is."

"I think you're misunderstanding me again," Sasuke said, sounding displeased.

Taki went to reply when movement out of the corner of her caught her attention. Her blue eyes narrowed as she continued to stare at the spot waiting for something, anything that would tell her she hadn't imagined it. Then Taki saw it, a small flutter of black before a glint of silver raced toward her. She grabbed for a kunai in her pouch, moving her head just to hear the whistle of the kunai as it passed her and imbedded itself in the wall behind her.

"I've got contact," Taki bit off as she sprang from her spot, seeing the figure come into view.

Taki didn't wait for a response as she dashed toward the advancing figure. She hadn't gotten two steps before she was hit with an invisible wave of chakra. She flew back, her ass coming in contact with the sand and her head bouncing off the wall with a sickening crack. Taki shook her head to rid herself of the daze and planted her palm against the wall to push herself off. When she felt a sharp pain go through her hand a small yelp ripped from her throat. Her hand was pierced, a curved chakra blade nailing her hand to the wall.

"Son of a bitch!" She gasped as her free hand grabbed for her fallen Kunai.

She had no time to register how fast the guy was, but the next thing she knew he was kneeling over her, her legs between his. One of his hands shot out and grabbed at her throat, the other grabbing her wrist as she tried to stab him in the face. His hand around her throat tightened, a squeak the only thing escaping her lips as she began to dig her heels into the sand. Taki couldn't breathe and she desperately tried to extinguish the panic that was quickly rising as her legs began to kick out in desperation. Her blue eyes looked into the man's black ones. They were a pool of madness, a madness that shook her deeply. She hadn't seen eyes like that in a long time. As she continued to struggle his grip at her throat became tighter, the com digging into her skin. If she didn't do something soon she was done for.

The man suddenly lurched sideways, his grip slackening as he leaned away from her. Taki could just register a shuriken stuck in his shoulder. He slackened his grip on her even more as he moved to dodge another shuriken. It was all the opportunity that Taki needed. She ripped her hand free from his grasp and grabbed at the chakra blade, ripping it from her hand before shoving it into the tender flesh of the man's throat. Taki watched as his eyes grew wide with surprise as he looked back at her.

"Here's you blade back you fucking bastard," Taki rasped before she shoved the blade further in.

He let out a gurgle as blood soaked into the collar of his black uniform shirt. She brought her leg up and kicked him away, sending him flat on his back, blood from his lifeless body soaking into the golden sand. Taki's legs wobbled slightly as she went to stand, her lungs and throat burning as she panted.

"Taki are you alright?" Kankuro asked as he came running up beside her, grabbing the wrist of her wounded hand. He went to look at it but she quickly pulled it away and cradled it to her chest.

"I'm fine," She rasped, her blue eyes looking away from him and toward the dead ninja on the ground.

"Just let me look at it," Kankuro said, clearly frustrated with his squad mate.

"It's fine alright, just drop it," Taki spat back.

"It's not fine! It went through your hand, pinned it to the wall!"

She gave him a narrowed look before she bent down and ripped the headband from the man's forehead. Four vertical stripes were etched into the metal plate, making Taki frown.

"What the hell is a Rain shinobi doing all the way out here?" She asked as she looked between the irritated Kankuro and the stoic Sasuke.

"We need to inform the Kazekage," Sasuke said matter-of-factly. Taki shook her head in agreement, her wounded hand still close to her chest. She was bleeding badly, the blood running down her arm and onto her tan Jonin vest. Sasuke reached out and snatched the headband from Taki's grasp, a small whimper of protest escaping her lips.

"I'll go inform the Kazekage. You go to the hospital," He said leaving no room for argument. Taki looked at him as he reached down and yanked his shuriken out of the man before she huffed in defeat.

Sasuke stood silent as he watched Taki walk back into the village. Her white hair had come undone and was cascading around her shoulders. Kankuro was walking beside her, ready to help if she needed it. She stumbled for a moment, one of Kankuro's hands grabbing her elbow and steadying her.

"No I don't need you to carry me!" Sasuke heard Taki exclaim as she ripped her arm from Kankuro's grasp. She walked ahead of him, Kankuro following. Sasuke could just make out Kankuro's shoulders bouncing as he grew angry with her. She could be so stubborn sometimes, almost as stubborn as Naruto. Sasuke looked down at the forehead protector in his hand, his grip tightening before he disappeared in a flash.

***

Gaara walked briskly into the hospital room, his eyes landing on the scene in front of him. Taki was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed, her legs hanging over the side. Her white hair was a mess around her shoulders and her blue eyes were down cast as they looked out from behind that red stripe that boldly ran across them. She had a bandage around her head and hand, a dark bruise on her neck where the com had cut into her olive skin. Taisetsu was standing on the bed next to her looking at his mother intently as he examined her. He had a small devise in his hand that he had pressed up against the side of her head. A tube ran from the cup like end to an earpiece that he had put in one of his small ears as if he were listening for any abnormalities. The young boy didn't realize that one couldn't hear the beat of one's heart through their head.

Taki spotted Gaara in the doorway and quickly straightened her posture. He walked into the room, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at the young boy. Tai smiled when he noticed Gaara, the contraption in his hand falling to the bed.

"Mommy got the bad guy!" Tai exclaimed proudly, making a lop-sided grin come to Taki's face.

"I know she did. Can I talk to your mom alone for a minute?" Gaara as he sat down on the bed next to Taki. "Kankuro is down the hall. He said that he had something for you."

Gaara didn't have to say another word as the boy jumped off the bed and flew out the door and into the hall. He looked over at Taki, her eyes fierce as she stared back at him. He could tell that she had many questions and if he knew her like he thought he did, she would want answers right away and he just didn't have any.

"What would a Rain ninja be doing all the way out here Gaara?" She asked him. Taki was one of the few that called him by his real name.

"I don't know. There hasn't been any news of Rain ninja in any of the surrounding area. I sent a bird to Konoha. Hopefully we will hear back from them by the end of the week," Gaara answered, getting a curt nod of understanding from the woman in front of him. A small flinch of pain came over her face when she moved her hand to put it in her lap, but she quickly tried to hide it. She had been that way since she came to Suna and it sadden him slightly. He could still remember when Taki was open about most things, but after that mission everything had changed for her.

"Are you okay? The doctor said that she had to use stitches to close the wound all the way, that her chakra only healed so much."

"I'm fine," Taki said as she kept her gaze from him.

"You don't have to lie you know. Not to me." Taki looked at him from the corner of her eye before she let her head drop to her chest and sighed.

"It hurts a little." Taki replied with a look of shame on her face. She didn't want to show weakness. Not now, not ever again. "Gaara?"

"Yes?"

"Can you promise me something?" Taki asked, looking at him fully now.

"Anything."

"If something happens to me…" Taki started, but quickly hesitated. She couldn't ask him that, not after everything he had done for her. "Nevermind."

She slipped off the bed and grabbed her discarded Jonin vest from the chair with her good hand and headed out the door. Gaara's brow furrowed as he watched her disappear. That girl had no clue how much they cared about her. She thought she was alone, but nothing was farther from the truth.

***********

Author's note: I do not own anything that is related to Naruto, you all know who does. I own the OC's and the plot that is it. I also wanted to say that this story takes place when the Konoha 11 are in their twenties, just incase that slipped passed anyone, but i'm sure it didn't. oh and anything in italics is a memory or a dream of a memory. it will usually be in the beginning because that is how i decided to do it. it was so you could see some of Taki's background... well i hope you like it and please review and tell me what you think.