Mission Impossible: Housewife

By KawaiPanda

Chapter Seven

A GaaraIno love story

Somehow I knew he would follow me to my room. Even though I wanted to burst into tears, and just make it all go away, the past thiry minutes disappear, I couldn't give into the tears that threatened to fall. Not five minutes passed between my slamming my bedroom door shut and his knocking.

Wordlessly, I allowed him inside my room, unable to look him in the eye as he walked inside. He didn't say anything for a long time. He didn't even look at me. Rather, he moved to stand at the balcony, staring up at the moon.

It was beautiful out, the sandy wind wasn't picking up currently, and the moon was bright and almost full. As I came to stand beside him, he glanced at me. Without having to say a word, I nodded, knowing what it was he wanted. "It was a long time ago... and we had no say in the matter. Our parents... they thought that it would be best to try and unite the families. They didn't know that he was already dating your sister."

"..."

"He assumed that I had something to do with their decision and has practically hated my guts ever since, even though I was the one who got them to break it off." It was more of a love hate relationship. After all, we still missions together, and regardless of how back and forth Nara was, I still cared for the dumbass.

I gave him a bittersweet smile and sighed. "I knew he wouldn't tell her. He made me swear not even to tell Choji, and he's his best friend!"

Falling silent, I turned back to the moon, awaiting whatever judgement it was he had to pass. It didn't take long for him to give it.

"I think... it would be best if you left." I was expecting him to be angry—but not that angry. My heart caught in my throat, and I took a step back, putting some space between the two of us.

His eyes were unreadable.

"Y-you want me to leave?" I took a deep breath, ordering my throat not to close up against my will. "Why?"

"... It would be best for everyone involved-"

"No!" I shook my head. "I gave up my dreams for this. I left my home for this. For you! I want to hear why you want me to leave."

"Ino-"

"Gaara, I just..." Desperation seeped into my voice before I finally broke off. Not only did I just lose whatever it was between us, I would go back to Konoha, a failure. Kami, I was going to be a laughingstock!

"Ino," I glared at my feet, unable to look at the red head as he cast me away. "Ino, I think it would be best if you left in order for things to calm down."

It took me a moment to understand his words, and when I did, my eyes widened in understanding. Looking at him, I asked carefully with narrowed eyes, "So, it's just to allow things to settle down. You're not sending me away permanantly?" So I didn't fail?

"No. I am not sending you away permanantly. Temari is going to be in a lot of pain from and while she will understand that this is not your fault, I am not willing to risk the two of you fighting."

It made sense, I guess.

"A-alright." I bit my lip and asked, "When am I to leave for Konoha?"

"A week."

My eyes widdened. "So soon?"

"Yes. The sooner Shikamaru is out of this village, the less of a chance there will be for his murder to occur." A small smile, while a bit grim, graced his lips and I couldn't help but giggle, feeling much better, especially when his hand sought out my own.

"True." I gave him a soft smile. "Do you know when I will be able to return?"

"I'm not sure." A frown. "Within a month or two."

I gulped. "That seems like an eternity."

"For that I apologize, however, knowing my sister, she will need some time to recover from this before seeing you again."

"Okay..." I looked down at out joined hands. "Promise." I looked up at him suddenly. Expectantly. "Promise me you will send for me Gaara."

"I promise."

XxXxXxX

The week seemed to pass too fast for my liking. I barely saw anything of Gaara, but we settled on a date for the wedding. And he promised to keep in touch with me during this separation. I was definitely going to write him. I mean, we had only a few more months until the wedding and I had to get to know him one way or another. Since being in Suna was out of the question for the next few weeks, I had to make due with what few options I had.

We made it about halfway to Konoha when our Suna escorts informed us that they were only told to take us this far. I wasn't surprised. I mean, Shikamaru did come with some other Konoha Shinobi and the travel back to Konoha would be faster without the Suna nin.

Only, their leaving made it a lot easier for Shikamaru to find himself alone with me. And that was something I did not want at all. I had been preparing for the verbal lashing since Gaara and I said goodbye.

So when the others decided they would scout ahead, Shikamaru took the oprotunity for what it was.

"This is all your fault!" He rounded on me the moment we could no longer sense our comrades chakra.

I rolled my eyes. "Tch. Don't blame me for your shortcomings, Shikamaru."

"Why couldn't you keep your mouth shut for once?" He grabbed me by my shoulders in a brusing grip, shaking me. His eyes seemed a bit... wild. "She won't even let me explain!"

"Maybe if you had been a man and spoke up earlier, say four years ago, this wouldn't be happening." I broke free of his grip.

"Kami, I want to strangle you right now."

I raised a brow at his statement and was about to reply but I felt several chakra signatures headed our way. When our comrades landed in the small clearing we had decided to use as our camping site for the night, Shikamaru was off collecting dry wood for the fire and I was cooking dinner.

I was kind of hoping the rest of the night would be uneventful. As if anything I wanted would ever occur.

Not even seconds after my eyes shut, it happened. We were attacked. I heard the clash of metal on metal. It's a very distinct sound and nothing could ever be mistaken for it. Not even the sounds of a blacksmith crafting his weapons.

So, immediately I was up and out of my sleeping bag in a matter of seconds, a kunai gripped in my hand. As I rushed out of my tent, I saw several ninja attacking Shikamaru. But I knew that everything would be okay. Why? Because Shikamaru was a shadow wielder. And not only were we in the forest where there was an abundance of shadows just waiting for his manipulation. It was night time, and he was pissed off.

He easily caught them all in his hold and just as easily broke their necks with his "Shadow-Neck Binding Jutsu."

Everyone was a bit surprised at how easily they were dealt with, save for me.

I ignored the seething man and took a look at their headbands. "Cloud. Why are they attacking us?"

"They couldn't know... could they?" One of my comrades asked.

"Know what?" I asked, confused as to why they were looking back any forth amongst themselves uneasily.

"... Ino, you are the fiance of the Kazekage. If word got out about it, enemies would be after you to hold over him." Shikamaru's snippy, know it all tone was annoying, but I brushed it off.

"Oh... But then, how would they know?"

"There has to be a mole." Ugh. Great. Just great.

"Damnit." I knew what that was going to mean for me. Protection orders on my behalf. After all, they were already making an attempt on my life. There was no reason for them to not try over and over again until they had captured me. "Whatever. I'm going to bed."

I stalked off to my tent, fuming at this new information. Sleep didn't come easily, and I spent most of it tossing and turning.

The following morning, I found myself roused by the others packing up and hastily scrambled to do the same. And then we were off, headed for Konoha. The journey was quick because we knew this country like the back of our hands and upon seeing the familiar signs of home, we sped up

When we reached the village, everyone went their own ways, and I hung back, taking in the sight of the gates. Gates I thought I wouldn't see again for a long time. I was kind of happy to be back. Nervous, but happy all the same.

"Pig!" The familiar screech of my best friend greeted me before I even entered the village.

"Forehead," I replied in kind, grinning at the pinkette. I had been expecting her, only, I wasn't expecting her to be angry. Almost angry enough to hit me with a chakra enhanced punch it seemed. But thankfully she didn't because it probably would have killed me. Unlike Naruto, I don't have a demon to speed up my healing process or keep me from dying from lethal blows.

"You're getting married and you didn't tell me?!"

Well hell.