Chapter One


"Good Morning, Young Man," said the middle-aged nurse cheerfully from behind the hospital's front desk.

"Good Morning!" laughed Gai boisterously as he gave her a small salute with the bouquet of lilies he held in his hand.

"Aren't those just beautiful?" said the nurse as she observed the flowers. "You have excellent taste, Young Man."

Gai finished signing his name in the guest log and gave her a wide grin. "I like to think I have an eye for beauty," he said with a wink. Though he wouldn't dare mention it was the girl who worked at the flower shop who had picked them out.

"I wish my husband had the same taste as you," said the nurse as she winked in return. "That young lady you keep visiting is quite lucky to have you. Are you two engaged?"

Gai blushed and scratched at the back of his head in embarrassment, "Uh, actually we're just friends."

The nurse lifted an eyebrow and crossed her arms, "Oh really? You must be good friends then."

The color in Gai's cheeks grew redder under her scrutinizing gaze. "I suppose so, Ma'am."

The older woman gave him a smirk before quickly glancing at the clock, "You're late though. Her test has already begun."

Gai grabbed the counter in shock. "Late? The test wasn't supposed to start until after lunch!" He looked at the clock and it assured him he had plenty of time to spare.

"The Hokage-sama decided to perform the test earlier so she could be in attendance. They started almost an hour ago." She gasped as Gai immediately dashed around the counter in a blur of green and orange. "No running!" she called after him as he sprinted down the hallway.

'Damnit!' cursed Gai inwardly as he ducked and dodged various hospital employees. He had promised to offer her support for this test and he'd practically missed the whole thing. It didn't take him long to find the right place. One story down from the main level there was an examination room that had been set up to put Konoha's ninja through various stress tests to ensure they were fit to return to active duty. He saw two sets of doors off the hallway: large double doors to accommodate moving equipment, and a single door leading to an observational room. He entered the second door and was greeted by the methodical 'beeps' and 'bops' emanating from the various computer screens secured to the walls. On one side of the room was a large one-way mirror that allowed him to see into the examination room in private. He placed the flowers on one of the monitors as he walked to the window and leaned against the sill to peer through.

Twice as large, the next room also contained multiple computer screens and an assortment of exercise equipment. In the center of the room was a treadmill and running at a good pace was the very person Gai was there to see. Blond hair and breasts bouncing despite a very determined sports bra, Hani panted painfully as she struggled to keep up with the stress test she was being put through. Like a spider's web, attached to her chest were a dozen electrodes with cords that stretched out to the heart monitoring device in the room. One nurse stood by the device; making small notes on a clipboard at every few intervals. Another nurse in the room stood at the ready next to the treadmill with a water bottle in one hand and a towel in the next.

"You're doing well," came a firm voice from the observation balcony that overlooked the room. Tsunade and her assistant Shizune both read a long printed report of what Gai suspected was the EKG of Hani's heart. Their hushed tones combined with the equipment's noise prevented Gai from hearing their discussion.

"Can … I stop now?" gasped the young kunoichi desperately.

"Just a little longer," said the Hokage without taking her eyes from what she was studying.

"Unnn!" whined Hani as she grabbed the hand railing and struggled to keep up the pace.

Gai grinned as he looked over to one of the monitors and read the information for her test. She was nearing the tenth mile. Her heart was beating at around 150 beats per minute. And her oxygen percentage was at 100%. He was all too familiar with this test – it wasn't unusual for an injured shinobi to undergo this analysis when being evaluated on whether or not it was safe to take them off medical leave and Gai certainly had his fair share of injuries.

Hani wiped the sweat away from her forehead with her arm, "Tsunade … I can't … go any … farther … at this … pace!" The nurse next to her offered her the bottle of water. "Thank you," said Hani breathlessly as he took the bottle and haphazardly squirted water into her mouth and down her front.

Suddenly, Tsunade's voice echoed over the room. "No Shizune, that's not an option," she said a little louder than she meant to.

Hani looked up into the balcony with a look of concern, "What's wrong?"

Tsunade took a pen and started making notes on the report, "Nothing. You're done."

"Thank the gods!" sighed Hani as one of the nurses turned down her treadmill to a walk. She took the proffered towel and patted at her neck. "I didn't think I was going to be able to finish it," she said with a hoarse voice.

"Well, apparently we were a bit premature with this test," said Tsunade as she signed a clipboard Shizune had handed her.

Hani watched her in silence for a few moments, "What do you mean?"

Tsunade dropped her pen on the desk and spoke flatly, "You failed the test."

"Failed? What the hell do you mean, 'failed'?" Hani wrapped her arm around the various cords that were taped to her and stepped off the treadmill. "I just ran ten miles in 60 minutes! How did I fail?"

Tsunade leaned against the balcony's handrail, "The test results show that your heart was straining too much during the test and that means you failed. I can't approve of you going off medical leave yet."

"What the hell, Tsunade?" yelled Hani as she stomped her foot out of frustration. "I've been in this damn hospital for nearly two freaking weeks! What have all the treatments been for?"

A vein bulged on the Hokage's brow, "The injury you sustained on your last mission should have killed you Hani, but thanks to that damn sword and Maito Gai, you're still alive. But the damage was still done – the third valve to your heart was so scarred when you returned to Konoha that you're lucky you didn't die of a heart attack on the way home! The treatments have healed your valve enough to keep you from collapsing dead anytime you try to walk a flight of stairs or bear down too hard on the toilet!" She took a slow breath in an attempt at calming her anger, "But we need more time and more treatments before I'm comfortable with releasing you."

Hani gritted her teeth, "How much longer will it take?"

"I'll be more comfortable after you've had another week of treatments-"

"Another week?" interrupted Hani. "You can't be serious!"

Tsunade tried to talk over her, "After that time, you will take this test again."

"Again?" yelled Hani. "No! I refuse! I'm not doing this damn test again!"

Gai turned his head quickly at the squall of a warning alarm from one of the monitors. He saw the warning prompt and moved immediately to the door connecting the two rooms.

"Hokage-sama!" gasped Shizune as she looked at one of the monitors on the balcony.

Hani was too angry to notice the alarm, "I don't need to do this test again! I feel fine!" She grew abruptly quiet as the blood suddenly drained from her face.

Tsunade pointed at Hani from over the railing, "Catch her!"

Hani's small frame dropped like a rock, but instead of hitting the hard tiled floor of the hospital room, she fell into the outstretched arms of an ever vigilant jounin. "Gotcha," said Gai in relief.

Tsunade and Shizune jumped from the balcony and landed next to them. "Hold her still, Gai," said Tsunade as she pulled up her sleeve and pressed it to the center of Hani's chest.

Gai looked between the three kunoichi, "What's happening?"

"Shh!" whispered Shizune who was watching Tsunade concentrate.

"Adrenaline," said Tsunade quietly as she channeled her chakra through her hand.

A nurse on stand-by handed Shizune the medication, which she injected into Hani's IV-Line.

Gai placed a hand on Hani's cheek as he noticed her lips begin to turn blue and her breath shallow. "Hokage-sama?" he said weakly.

The older woman skewed her eyes shut as the chakra glow around her hand swelled. "Her heart is panicking and unable to beat normally," she said in a soft voice.

"Panicking?" said Gai equally as soft. He looked down and lightly rubbed Hani's cheek with this thumb. "Is there anything I can do?"

"You can be quiet!" snapped Shizune out of frustration.

Tsunade placed her other hand on Hani's chest; increasing the chakra she poured into the young woman. She could sense Hani's heart spasm out of control and it was a delicate task to convince the nerves to slow down and not stop completely. She took a deep breath and released it slowly; calming herself and using the steady beat of her own heart to channel through to Hani's in an attempt at soothing it. But just as soon as she feared Hani's heart would start to affect her own, Tsunade's chakra was finally able to calm the nerves in the young woman's heart and persuade it to beat at a normal rate.

Gai released the breath he held as Hani suddenly gasped for air and the color in her face returned.

"There," said Tsunade as she withdrew her chakra and felt Hani's heartbeat with her own hands. "She should be alright now." She turned to Shizune, "Have her taken to her room and make sure she is hooked up to a heart monitor. If her heart tries this stunt again, I want to know immediately."

Her assistant bowed, "I understand, Hokage-sama." She spoke her next words carefully, "Are you certain you won't consider placing her on the list?"

"I've already explained it to you, Shizune," said Tsunade as she stood to make room for Gai to lift Hani and place her on a gurney. "The list isn't an option."

Shizune bowed again, "Hai, Hokage-sama."

Tsunade turned to Gai and placed a reassuring hand on his arm as he watched the nurses wheel Hani away. "Good catch," she said with a small smile.

- / -

Gai sighed despondently as he twirled the stem of a flower in his hand. He sat on a chair he pulled up next to Hani's bed. Washed and redressed in a hospital gown, she slept peacefully despite the noisy heart monitor that beeped from the side of her bed. One of the nurses placed the flowers he brought in a simple vase and sat it before an open window, letting the cool breeze of Konoha's eternal summer fill the room with the bouquet's scent. He gently placed his other hand on top of hers and gave it a reassuring rub to let her know he was by her side. In the calming quiet of the room, Gai let his mind wander and reflect back on the past few weeks.

Their trip back from the mansion had been a long one. Despite Hani's determination, she was far too weak to travel very far each day. They could only spend six hours a day on the road, and most of that time involved Gai carrying her. The other 18 hours of the day were spent resting at various inns.

Their first night they stayed up late after having eaten a hefty dinner. They sat in their matching twin beds, facing each other and leaning against the walls of their small room; reminiscing of their more youthful days. Hani rubbed the silken collar of her sleeper kimono between her fingers. "When I was young," she said with a small smile, "I wanted to be a dancer … like my mother." Gai watched as her eyes drifted off to the side from her mind wandering to more nostalgic thoughts. "She was an amazing dancer," she said with a hint of pride. "When she danced, people watched her like they were entranced; like she was a sorceress. Her whole body moved as if it was casting a spell." Her eyes fell, "After she died, that's when I finally wanted to be a kunoichi – a Willow Warrior. I didn't want the memory of my clan to be tarnished by her. I wanted to restore honor to our name and no longer feel like I should be ashamed of who I was. If not for me, then for my grandmother."

Gai smiled softly, "I've wanted to be a shinobi for as long as I could remember. Both of my parents were amazing ninja in their day and I would get so excited by the stories of their missions that I couldn't sleep at night." He adjusted his position till he was more comfortable. "My father told me, that if I trained hard and did my best, then I would be able to protect the ones I cared about." He smirked, "So I've trained hard every day of my life so I could make sure no harm came to those who were most precious to me …" His face fell, "Again."

Hani closed her eyes and sighed, her mouth curling into a bittersweet smile. Soundlessly, she crept out of her bed and moved before his. She stood before him, watching him in silence. Feeling the pressure of her stare Gai glanced up at her, but struggled to look her in the eye for more than a second at a time. She could see shame in his eyes, regardless of how hard he tried to hide it. "Move over," she said with a small push on his knee. He was quiet as she crawled into his bed with him and leaned against the wall by his side.

"Let me see your hand," she said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

He held out his right hand for her.

"Would you rather gain scars than shed tears?" She said as she cradled his hand in one of hers and used the fingers of her other to trace the fine lines that marred his knuckles. "Or do you use the external scars to hide the inner ones?" she asked softly.

Gai looked away. He was mute for a long time as he considered her words. "Both," he said finally.

"Don't feel bad," she said with a sigh. "Everyone does the same thing."

He took her hand in his. "Even you?" he asked, indicating her skin's flawless complexion.

She lifted her head and looked in his eyes with a smile, "Some of us have more scars on the inside than the out."

That night, after they had been asleep for hours, Gai's heightened senses alerted him to the sounds of distress. He awoke to the sounds of gasping and choking. He jumped out of bed before he even knew the source and after his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, he found the noises were coming from Hani. He walked cautiously to her bed and leaned in to watch her closely. She was still asleep, but her eyes were fluttering wildly while she struggled to breathe. Concerned for her welfare, Gai placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a stern shake. "Hani! You're dreaming!" he said roughly.

She startled awake and if he didn't already have his hand on her shoulder, she would have probably jumped out of the bed at the same time. Her eyes were wide and her breaths where deep and desperate as she watched him for a few seconds while she gained her bearings.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm … I'm fine," she said after her breath finally slowed. "Just a nightmare." She patted him on the arm reassuringly, "It was nothing. Go back to sleep."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, "Yes. Sorry for waking you."

"It's alright," he said as he headed back to bed. He didn't give it another thought until three hours later when he was awoken yet again from the same sounds. This time he headed straight for her bed and didn't hesitate before placing his hand on her shoulder again. But as soon as his hand touched her, she jumped away from him and roughly slammed her back into the wall her bed was pushed against. "Shit! Hani? Are you alright?" he asked as he reached out to her.

She immediately slapped his hand away defensively. "Get away from me!" she shouted.

Gai froze and watched her in dumbfounded silence while she rubbed her shoulder and looked around the room hastily. It took her a full minute just to realize she was actually awake. She covered her face with her hands as realization sank in. "I'm sorry – I thought I was still dreaming."

He knelt next to her bed, "It's okay." He suddenly noticed her whole body was shaking, "Hani, are you sure you're alright?"

"No, I'm not alright!" she snapped, then flinched at her outburst and began rubbing her forehead with an unsteady hand, "I've been having nightmares since we fought Oda and I'm having a hard time getting over them."

"It's no doubt. You barely escaped death. Most shinobi who go through something like that are haunted by nightmares afterwards. Do you want to talk about them?"

She gave him a sheepish look, "No, I'd really rather not." She tucked her hair behind her ear as she started to get out of bed, "I'm going to see if I can find a bar that is open this late. Maybe a drink or two might help settle my nerves?"

Gai grabbed her, "Absolutely not."

She gave him an angry look, "Why not?"

"Hani, I've seen many a great shinobi who would have 'a few drinks' to help settle their nerves, only for them to become completely dependent on it. I'm not going to let that happen to you."

"Well, what do you suggest I do?" she asked, her tone irritated.

He thought about the options, "Well … I don't remember you having nightmares the night we shared the same bed. Did you have any then?"

She gave it some thought, "No, I didn't."

"Well," he said; the redness of his cheeks hidden in the darkness of their room. "We could try sharing a bed again."

A grin crept across her face, "Pervert."

He winced, "I didn't mean it like that. My intentions are purely innocent."

She looked away as she gave it some thought. "I'd rather become an alcoholic," she said with a smirk. Gai rolled his eyes and groaned. "I'm just kidding," she laughed. "Fine, I'll give it a try. Just keep it tucked in," she teased.

"Hey, I'm the one doing you a favor," he joked back.

"Oh well," she said in a mocking tone as she made room in her bed for him. "If you feel I need to owe you one, then I suppose you could cop a feel or two as compensation."

He climbed into bed with her. "Now you're just being mean," he said with a small pout. They looked at the space between them awkwardly. Neither of them sure how intimately close they were willing to be with the other. "How are we going to do this?" he asked carefully.

Hani rolled on her side to face him and tucked her arms in before her. "Anything other than spooning."

"Why?" asked Gai before he gave it any thought.

Hani brought her finger to his forehead and pressed it firmly between his brows. "How annoying is that?" she said after a couple seconds. "Pretty irritating, huh?" She stopped. "Now increase the size of my finger 10 times and imagine it poking you in the ass. That's why we're not spooning."

The redness in Gai's face deepened. "I said I was sorry. I really can't help it when I'm sleeping – and when it's the morning, there really is no helping it whether you're pressed up against me or not."

Hani closed her eyes, "All the more reason not to spoon, then."

They were both silent for a while before Gai spoke again, "Your finger times 10? Am I really that big?"

"Gai, shut up," she sighed.

From that point on they spent the night together. Gai would wrap his arms around her protectively each night as she drifted off to sleep next to him. She didn't reject him – she welcomed the security his presence offered her. And for whatever reason, sleeping with him warded off her dire dreams.

There was no sex between them in that time. Hani was far too frail and Gai too worried about her to even consider it. They would go to bed at dusk and remain there till noon, when she would finally wake. Even though Gai arose each morning at sunrise, he would remain in bed with her until she had awakened. He made the mistake one morning to sneak out and grab a bite of breakfast while she slept in, only to return to their room to find her sitting up in bed, shaking like a leaf from another bad dream. Gai made a promise to himself in that moment that as long as she slept he would remain by her side to guard over her. The next morning, he spent hours simply twirling the curls in her golden hair around his finger to satisfy a childhood curiosity. Another he spent what felt like an eternity staring at her face and resisting the urge to steal a kiss.

On the last morning, Gai awoke to find her watching him with a genuine good-humored grin on her face. When he asked her how she could have possibly woken before him, she informed him with a chuckle that he had been snoring for the past hour. "Why didn't you wake me?" he had asked her, his face red with embarrassment. "Because it gave me a chance to watch over you for awhile," she said with a smile.

They shared a kiss then. It was slow and long. She ran her hands over him that morning and his body ached everywhere she touched. He was at his most youthful in the morning and his body was already eager to be with her. But as she sat up him and leaned in to kiss him again, Gai noticed her arms shook under her own weight. Gai nearly choked on his words as he placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her, "You need more time to recover."

She looked away and sighed. Her skin lacked its usual glow and her eyes seemed dark and tired. "I know," she said softly. "I can't seem to recover my strength, no matter how much I sleep."

Gai rubbed her shoulders reassuringly, "We will be at Konoha tonight. I'll take you to the hospital and they will help you regain your health."

Her voice was barely audible, "What if they can't help me?"

He chuckled as he pulled her in to lie on his chest, "This is the first time you've been seriously injured, is it not?"

She nodded.

"They are miracle workers at the hospital, Hani. And we have the good fortune of having the amazing healer Tsunade in our village. She will help you and she will make you better than new."

"I don't like the hospital," said Hani as she traced a finger across his chest. "I spent a lot of time there when I was a kid and undergoing poison training as a child."

"I spent a good deal of time there too," chuckled Gai. "Because I was a slow learner and it took a few good hits before I learned to duck faster." He took her hand and held it still to keep it from teasing his inner beast. "It's part of a shinobi's life to spend a lot of time in the hospital. In fact, my rival Kakashi Hatake is in the hospital for more time than he is out of it."

"Will you visit me?"

He smiled, "Of course! Don't think you will be rid of me so easily."

She was quiet for a long moment before speaking again, "What if I can't sleep?"

Gai took a slow, deep breath as he considered her words. "I think the hospital staff would frown upon the idea of me sharing a bed with you in the hospital at night, regardless of the reason." He ran a callused hand through her hair to reassure her, "Perhaps if you told me about your nightmares, it might help you deal with them?"

Hani was already sitting up and turning away from him before he finished his sentence. "I don't want to talk about it," she said sternly.

Gai sat up. "Why?" But before he could say another word, he noticed a red splotch on the back of her sleeper kimono. "Hani," he said quickly as he grabbed the collar of her clothing and tugged it down. "You're bleeding."

Hani looked over her shoulder as she untied her belt and let her clothing fall to her waist. Meanwhile, Gai reached around the bed and grabbed the medical bag. He changed the dressing for the exit wound on her back a half dozen times on their trip home and it had shown good signs of healing. The gauze had been a little bloody each time he had removed it but given that Hani's blood refused to clot normally, that made sense. But this was the first time it bled enough to saturate the bandage. "Don't worry," he said as her body began to shake. He pulled the old bandage free and quickly applied a clotting salve over her weeping wound. "They'll take care of this at the hospital." He spotted her head fall slightly. "It will be alright, Petal. I promise."

They arrived at Konoha late that night and not a moment too soon. Hani became so weak she was no longer able to hold on to him while he carried her. Gai resorted to securing a rope around her to him to keep her from falling off. He rushed to the hospital as fast as he dared. Her wounds were still fragile and he worried jostling her too much would result in more blood loss.

Thank the gods Tsunade was already at the hospital finishing her nightly rounds and was able to see Hani immediately. A dcotor assessed Gai in a separate room while a team of hospital staff tended to Hani. She was awake and able to respond, but just barely. For the next 48 hours, Gai was unable to visit her while she stayed in the intensive care unit. He had spent one night in the hospital for evaluation before he was released, but he refused to leave until someone had given him an update on Hani's status. When he was finally able to see her, he was relieved to see she was resting quietly; the glow had returned to her skin and her wounds no longer needed bandages. Tsunade's gifted touch left them pink and raw, but healed.

Gai was soon summoned to the Hokage's office so he could share all of the particulars of the mission and why it had turned into such a horrible mess. Tsunade had Oda's sword taken away by an ANBU captain and had a mountain of paperwork delivered to Gai's home for him to fill out so they could have a hard record of what exactly happened. However, he suspected Tsunade was simply trying to give him something to preoccupy him while Hani recovered. He visited her as often as he could – enough to annoy the nursing staff to the point where they would swat him away at the end of the day when visiting hours were over. It wasn't the first time he had dealt with stubborn hospital employees; he practically lived at the hospital when his precious student Lee was bed-bound after the chuunin exams.

For days, Hani did little more than sleep. But one day when Gai went to visit her for a lunch break, he was delighted to see her sitting up in bed as he walked down the hall towards her room. He immediately halted his steps as he spotted a beautiful, young, silver-haired woman dressed in a kimono sitting on her bed. The woman was calm and serene and Hani smiled at her with authentic love. Gai stood outside the room for fear that he would interrupt the two women in what seemed to be a private conversation. After a while, the visiting woman took her cane and stood. She leaned down and kissed Hani's forehead, then gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before quietly leaving her room and walking elegantly down the hallway. Gai did his best to blend into the wall as she walked past, but he couldn't help but note how every member of the hospital staff bowed slightly to the silver-haired woman as she moved through the building. Whoever she was, she had earned a great deal of respect. After she was out of sight, Gai knocked on the doorway to Hani's room. He was greeted with a bright smile and a "Hey Big Guy". Seeing that the spark had returned to Hani's eyes was a great reward for him and he was nearly moved to tears in that moment.

Hani had recovered rapidly in the next couple days, so much so that Gai was certain she would ace the stress test. It was much to his surprise that today he was now sitting in a chair at her bedside where her progress had clearly taken a huge step back.

"It's no surprise to see you here," came a calm voice.

Gai practically jumped out of his seat from being startled, "Hokage-sama!"

"Shh," she said softly. She walked to the end of Hani's bed and took the clipboard that hung on the footboard. "How has she been sleeping?"

"Peacefully," said Gai as he checked Hani's face for any sign of distress.

"Good. I had her sedated to be sure." Tsunade flipped through a few pages pinned by the clipboard before returning it to its place. "Hani gave us a bit of a scare there, didn't she?" she asked as she lifted the blankets from Hani's legs and felt her feet for a pulse and to check their warmth.

Gai wrenched his hands worriedly, "Hai, Hokage-sama. I'm actually pretty shocked she collapsed."

Tsunade returned the blankets and walked to the side of the bed, "Me too." She felt the pulse at Hani's collar for a few seconds before running both her hands down Hani's neck and feeling for any abnormalities along her collarbone. "I never would have ordered the test if I thought she would be in any danger."

"Will she be alright, Hokage-sama?" asked Gai nervously.

The older woman turned to him and smiled, "She'll be fine. Shizune will be doing her treatments from now on. There is no one in the hospital better with scar treatment than her."

Gai watched Hani's chest rise and fall a few times before speaking, "Shizune said something about a 'list'. What was she talking about?"

Tsunade sighed as she tucked her jacket around her before sitting on the edge of Hani's bed. "Shizune had suggested we consider putting Hani on the transplant list."

"Transplant list?" asked Gai in shock.

"Yes, in case we're unable to heal the damage to her heart. But I've made it clear that Hani isn't a candidate for a transplant."

"Why not?"

"Her body isn't like yours or mine. She's been ingesting poison for over twenty years – her body has suffered permanent damage from doing so. For instance, her liver has been impaired to the point where it is no longer able to clot her blood properly. In addition, the antigens in her system that make her resistant to poison makes her blood toxic. If we were to take blood from her and transfuse it into someone else, it would kill them in minutes."

Gai looked at Hani's resting face, "I had no idea."

"No form of training comes without consequence." Tsunade brushed a small strand of hair from her face, "Basically if we tried to transplant a new heart into her now, if she didn't bleed to death on the surgery table, the contaminants in her blood would destroy the organ before it even had a chance. That's why it's important we fix the heart she has. She only gets one."

"Will she be able to continue to be a kunoichi?"

Tsunade smiled, "I have a lot of faith in Shizune." She took Hani's hand and checked her IV line. "And if there is one thing I've learned about the Hachi Clan, it's that their women are extremely stubborn and if they set their mind to something, they'll see it through to the end. I have no doubt that Hani will pass the stress test with flying colors next time." She rolled her eyes slightly, "Only to save herself from having to exert that much physical effort a third time."

Gai chuckled in understanding.

Tsunade watched him, "So … why are you here, Gai?"

He was a bit taken aback by her question, "What do you mean Hokage-sama?"

She lifted her chin as she announced her words more clearly, "Why are you here?"

Gai looked between his superior and Hani. "Because she is my comrade and she was my partner on the mission that resulted in her being injured."

Tsunade observed him with a calculating look, "You're not blaming yourself for this, are you?"

Gai quickly looked away, "I was in charge of this mission … it was my duty to protect her."

Tsunade sighed deeply as she closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Gai, why do you keep doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Blaming yourself whenever someone gets hurt. You do this every time one of your students is put in the hospital, or a teammate is wounded. It's not healthy. Every ninja knows the cost of putting their lives on the line and understand that injury comes with the job."

Gai swallowed the lump in his throat, "I don't think you understand, Hokage-sama." He looked at the sleeping woman, "The blow that nearly killed her was intended for me."

Tsunade's eyes widened in disbelief, "Hani sacrificed herself?"

Gai nodded, "Yes and without hesitation. So it is my duty as an honor bound shinobi to ensure that she is returned to full health. I owe her my life and being by her side while she recovers is the very least I could do."

The older woman narrowed her eyes, "Why would she do that?"

"Well uh," said Gai who was at a loss for words.

"I didn't mean it like that," said Tsunade as she held up her hand. "What I meant was that I've never known Hani to be anything but … well, selfish. In fact, if she hadn't been stabbed through the heart, I would have seriously doubted she even had one to begin with."

Gai stared her straight in the eye, "I mean this as no offense, Hokage-sama, but you've clearly never had a chance to get to know her very well, if that's the highest you think of her."

The woman folded her hands in her lap and managed to keep her anger in check. "I know her a good deal better than you realize, Gai," she said with a forced sweetness. "However, regardless of whether or not you feel it's your duty to be here, I've assigned you to a mission. You will be leaving in the morning."

"But, Hokage-sama!" said Gai quickly as the woman stood.

"You do Konoha no good sitting in a hospital when you're perfectly healthy. I need you to carry out this mission – it calls for your team's superior speed."

"Surely it can wait a few more days—!"

"No it can't," said Tsunade, her patience wearing thin. "One of our couriers has gone missing. I need you and your team to find him as soon as possible. The documents he was carrying were very sensitive."

Gai tried to interject, "This sounds more like a tracking mission. Surely a team with an Inuzuka assigned to it would be better?"

"There aren't any teams with an Inuzuka that is as fast as yours. Besides, Neji's byakugan will work just as well."

"But, Hokage—!"

"You say 'but' one more time and I will throw you out of this building myself!" she snapped. She immediately closed her eyes and rubbed at the throbbing vein on her forehead. She had only been Hokage for a little over a year and the strain of being the leader of an entire village and the head of the hospital was beginning to take its toll on her. When she wasn't spending her day at her desk poring over the documents Shizune continuously shoved in front of her, she would be at the hospital making sure every patient was getting the best care possible. To say she was simply overworked would be the understatement of the year. She took a slow breath, recollected herself and then spoke with a good deal more control, "Hani will be fine while you are gone. Trust me."

Gai watched her walk around the bed to his side, "But I wanted to see her when she wakes up."

Tsunade laid her hand on his shoulder and took a firm grasp of his vest, "She's a big girl, Gai. I'm sure she will be fine without you brooding over her." She gave him a firm yank and pulled him out of the chair and towards the door. "Meanwhile, I highly suggest you go collect your team and inform them that you will be departing at first light." Gai quickly caught his balance as she pushed him through the doorway, "Stop by the mission office on your way home. The information you need will be there."

Gai clenched his jaw slightly before nodding. He knew resisting now would not be healthy for him, "Hai, Hokage-sama." He stole a quick look at Hani before turning from the door and storming away.

Tsunade crossed her arms and shook her head slowly as she watched him leave. Once he was out of sight, she turned back to the room and closed the door before walking to Hani's bed. She made a series of simple hand seals and then lightly touched the center of Hani's forehead. Instantly, the young woman's eyes opened. "Good evening," said Tsunade casually.

Hani blinked a few times in confusion as she looked around the room. "Evening?" she said coarsely.

Tsunade poured a glass of water and handed it to her, "Yes. Do you remember what happened?"

Hani sat up and took the proffered cup. "Judging by the electrodes that are stuck to my chest and the throbbing headache I have, it didn't go well."

"You had a heart attack," said Tsunade flatly.

"I – what?" said Hani as she nearly choked on the water.

"That's actually not why I woke you," said the older woman as she crossed her arms. "I want to hear what happened on this latest mission from your perspective. Specifically between you and Maito Gai."

Hani gave her a dirty look as she sat the glass on a nearby table, "What do you take me for, an idiot? Nothing happened. We were assigned a mission that turned out to be a farce and we just barely made it through. Excellent work on the background check for the contract, by the way."

Tsunade ignored her sarcasm. "Gai is here night and day watching over you like a love struck puppy. That comes across to me that something between the two of you developed."

"He has a heart the size of Hokage Mountain, Tsunade. He cares about people. Surely you remember what it was like to care about someone other than yourself?"

"So help me, Hani, if you weren't already in the hospital," she said out of shock at the young woman's audacity.

Hani disregarded her threatening tone, "If anything developed between us, it's that we became friends. The man's a big, naive oaf who believes there is good in everyone, regardless of how evil they might be. And the only reason he's been at the hospital as much as he has is because he wants to take the burden of blaming himself than leave it for others to endure."

"In spite of how much of a lovey-dovey schmuck Gai might be, when was the last time a Hachi woman took a killing blow for a man?" When the young woman didn't answer, Tsunade threw her head back in frustration, "Damnit Hani! You know better than this! This could jeopardize your skills as a seductress!"

Hani tightened her lips and glared back at her, "Nothing happened!"

Deftly, the older woman formed two seals and firmly pressed her left hand on Hani's abdomen.

"Tsunade!" shrieked Hani as she grabbed the woman's arm. She stifled a gasp as her cheeks flushed at the sensation of the woman's chakra invading her body. Her legs clenched together while her lower half was flooded with the feeling of hot water being poured into her.

The medic-nin's eyes closed as she got a sense of the physical status of Hani's body. There were no bruises - no tears. Her body was fully intact. In fact, she showed no signs of having ever been with a man. But knowing Hani's past, that just simply wasn't possible. Either way, Tsunade had no evidence to prove the young woman wrong.

"Stop," pleaded Hani with a shuddered breath.

Tsunade ended the jutsu and pulled her hand away. "Fine, I have no choice but to believe you," she said as she placed her right hand on the bed and leaned over Hani's blushing face. "But I find it difficult to swallow that a Hachi woman actually grew a heart and did something as decent as to risk her life to save a friend."

"My grandmother has a heart," said Hani while she did her best to show she wasn't intimidated by Tsunade staring her down.

Tsunade frowned at the mention of one of her beloved mentors, "Your grandmother is different. She was always a noble woman." Her eyes narrowed, "No … I see a lot of your mother in you. When I look into your eyes, I see her staring back at me with her smug face."

Hani brought her arms up to her chest defensively, "I'm the granddaughter of one of your teachers and the daughter of another … we even share a grandfather … do you really believe I could be such a horrible person?"

"No," said Tsunade softly after a long moment of consideration. She sat up and crossed her arms, "An insolent brat with a lack of respect for my authority perhaps, but not a horrible person. And that's why I have been as lenient on the laws of your clan as I have been. By now, you should already have a daughter old enough to start ninja training."

Hani's jaw dropped at the thought.

"However, I've seen firsthand what your clan laws can do to someone who is unwilling and I don't want you to become your mother. I think your father felt the same way and that's why he's let you live your life the way you've wanted up until his death. But some of those laws are there to protect you, Hani - not hurt you. And if I have any reason to suspect you might be in violation of them, then it is my responsibility as your Hokage to remove you from active duty. There are reasons we don't assign couples on the same mission – they may feel the need to risk their lives for each other needlessly. I hope you understand that."

"I do," said Hani with a small, cautious nod. She knew all too well that Dan, Tsunade's beloved, had sacrificed himself to save the medic-nin.

"Good." Tsunade glanced at the clock on the wall, "Damnit, is that the time? I haven't even started my rounds." She looked back at Hani who was still watching her like a scared kitten who was backed into a corner. "Shizune will be handling your treatments for the next week. After I've evaluated you, we'll put you through another stress test."

"Another one?" balked Hani.

The older woman rolled her eyes, "Yes, another one."

Hani reached out to her, "I will pay you good money to keep me from having to do it a second time."

"Tempting, but no. Regardless of whether or not you respect my decisions, its hospital policy and it's for your own good."

"Tsunade," said Hani, her voice full of desperation. "If you must make me run it again, please, for the love of the gods, let me borrow one of your support bras."

The older, bustier woman laughed at the request. "I suppose I could have that arranged if it would cut down on the whining next time." She walked to the door, but paused before opening it. "It's funny," she said as she looked off to the side. "For a minute there, I actually believed you had developed feelings for the Maito Gai." She shook her head and chuckled softly at the absurdity of her suspicions before leaving the room and letting the door fall closed behind her.

Hani fell back into her bed with a 'thud' and a huge sigh of relief. She would be damned if she were to admit out loud that Tsunade intimidated the hell out of her and telling the woman a flat-out lie to her face was anything but easy. But she couldn't tell her the truth – especially when Hani could barely acknowledge that truth herself.

It was then that a faint breeze blew in through the open window and carried the scent of lilies throughout her room. Hani turned her head and spotted the flowers that were left for her. She grinned sweetly as she admired the bouquet - there was only one person who would have left her such a gift.


Thank you, for reading!