Mission Impossible: Housewife

By KawaiPanda

Chapter Nine

A GaaraIno love story

"Absolutely not."

"B-but-" I began to protest, but he cut me off.

"The wedding of our Kazekage will not be held in a foreign village."

"Even though it would show trust?" Temari demanded, lifting a brow.

"You may not-"

"Oh, can it. I'm Gaara's sister, and I do have every right to step in when it comes to things on a personal matter. And his wedding, top of the list." She crossed her arms, adressing him directly. "Anywho, wouldn't it be politically wise to hold the wedding in the country of his bride's origins?"

His face became red, and puffy as he stood up in outrage. "Now see here!"

"Oh, stop it Councilman Takahashi." The only woman left of the council interrupted. She glared at him. "He is marrying the girl, so why does it matter where he wants to do it? Motion is accepted." She smiled at Gaara and I. "And congratulations on your nuptials young ones."

I blushed and along with Temari, took my leave, giving a small wave to my soon to be husband as we left. We had only went to petition the location of the wedding and since that was done, Temari and I had no other reason to be a part of the meeting.

As we walked out of the room and down the corridor, I turned to her. "Thanks Temari."

"It's no problem. Besides, couldn't let your mothers' hard work go to waste, could I?" Without allowing me to reply, she walked off, and I found myself standing in the hallway all alone until footsteps informed me that someone headed my way.

"Don't worry. She'll be talking your ear off soon enough." Kankuro supplied from behind me. I wasn't surprised. Rather, I turned towards him and we began walking together.

"Are you sure?" I sighed, and headed back to the mansion Kankuro beside me. I knew she had forgiven me, but it was still hard for her to be around me. "At this rate, I'll be an old woman before she truly forgives me."

"It won't take that long, trust me."

"I hope."

"So, are you ready to do some teaching?" He asked when we were at the halfway mark between the tower and home.

I grinned. "More than ready. I like cooking, but it'd be nice to have a night or two off."

"Prepare to have your socks blown off by my genius."

I snorted. "Yeah. Right."

When we reached the mansion, we immediately set to work. Kankuro had informed me that he wanted to learn how to cook and who was I to deny him the knowledge? Still, I couldn't help but be curious as to why. His answer was not what I expected but it fit him.

He was learning so he could impress women. The horny idiot.

While I was preparing some ingredients, Kankuro copying my movements, I looked at him from the corner of my eye, shaking my head in disappointment. He was too much of a man whore. He'd never settle down.

After I finished chopping and dicing the vegetables, I turned to speak to my pupil and the sight beholden to me was not what I was expecting. Instead of swearing and him struggling to cut things properly, I am greeted to the sight of him using his chakra strings to crack open eggs into a mixing bowl, preheat the oven, and bring out multiple items from both the pantry and refridgerator.

I tapped him on the shoulder, my hands on settling on my hips. "First of all, what the hell are you doing? And second, that is so cheating!"

He smirked, not even faltering in his movements when he turned to me. "Nu-uh!"

"Is so!"

"Nope." He stuck his tongue out at me and I had an overwhelming urge to giggle. He wiggled his brow at me. "You're just jealous."

"Well, of course I am! It took me fifteen years to get that fast. Not all of us are able to use chakra strings!" I griped, waving my hand at his chakra strings as they flew through the preparation work.

"I'm just gifted," he replied with an arrogant smirk.

"Gifted my ass," I scowled with my hands fisted on my hips.

"And what a lovely ass, if I might add." I shook my head at him with a giggle.

"Your ass?" At the inquiring voice that broke into our conversation, Kankuro and I both turned to the doorway, twin looks of horror etched onto our faces. The chakra strings that had been a blur of activity halted the moment his monotoned voice broke through the room.

"Gaara!" I took a step forward, but he wasn't even looking at me. Kankuro took the brunt of his unwavering stare.

"Why are you having a conversation with my fiancee that involves her ass?" He inquired.

"..." Kankuro pulled at the collar of his shirt, and I could see bullets of sweat beginning to appear.

Gaara lifted a nonexistant brow at his older brother, an expectant look on his face. "..."

Kankuro slowly backed out of the room rather than answer him, leaving me and Gaara alone.

When it became clear that he wasn't coming back, Gaara turned to me.

I cleared my throat and looked away. "You're back early Gaara."

"Is that a problem?" He asked.

"No. I was just stating." I glanced quizically at the concotion Kankuro had been making and dipped my finger in to taste it. "Anywho, how was work?" After tasting the mixture and glancing at everything else he had out on the counter, I concluded he was wanting to bake a cake?

"It was fine."

"That's good." I picked up where he left off and finished mixing all of the ingredients before spreading it out on the baking pan before placing it in the heated oven. After all, it would be a waste to throw it away.

We made a little small talk as I finished making dinner, though the subject of Kankuro and the conversation Gaara had walked into never came up. Slowly, as both the cake and supper finished up, Temari and Kankuro wandered into the kitchen, taking their places at the table. Gaara had taken it upon himself to set it as we talked. After dinner with a bonus of cake, Gaara excused himself and headed back to the tower for more work and I headed for my room.

I hadn't even closed my door and there was a knock.

"Ino?" Temari pushed it open a bit further and stuck her head in.

I blinked at her. "T-Temari?"

"Yeah. Can I come in?"

"Sure." I turned to her. "So, what do you need?"

"Advice."

"Advice on?"

"I think I..." The rest of her answer was mumbled.

I cleared my throat. "Can you repeat that?"

She cleared her throat. "Sorry. I think... I think I'm pregnant."

".. oh." I wasn't sure how to feel about that news. I wasn't going to let it bother me though. I couldn't. After all, Shikamaru wasn't mine. And what right did I have to hurt from this? My future was bascially concrete with Gaara.

Her shifting on her feet drew back my attention. "I haven't had my period since before... you know. And I was just playing off my missed periods as stress." She sighed and scratched the back of her neck. "And then this morning... I got sick."

"Do you need me to go with you to the doctor?" I asked.

"I was actually wondering if you could check." When I blinked at her, she frowned. "You had some medical training, didn't you?" And then it clicked.

"Duh, Ino." I hit my forehead. "I can do it. Sorry, it's just been forever since I've done anything ninja wise. Tsunade-sama wouldn't let me and I don't think I can ask Gaara to let me do anything ninja wise." I looked around the room, and waved her to my bed. "Lay down and I'll examine you."

"Alright." I waited until she laid back before moving to tower over her.

"Okay. Let me know if things get uncomfortable." Taking a deep breath, I gathered my chakra and sent a steady stream into her abdomen, searching. And then I found what I was looking for. "Well, Temari. You are around... five weeks along."

She sat up. "S-so I am?"

"Yes."

"Kami."

I was alarmed at her tone. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I... I don't know." I saw the tears, and frowned. But when she started sobbing, I felt a surge of panic.

"Please don't cry." I can barely handle myself when I cry. Another woman was out of the question.

She shook her head but the tears didn't stop. "I'm sorry."

"Temari..."

She started breathing fast. "Sorry, I just don't know what to do!"

"Well, for starters, you need to stop crying. It won't help the situation." I sighed, trying to not come across as mean or snippy, but I needed to figure out a way to keep her from crying. "And second, you need to tell Shikamaru."

"Tell Shikamaru?"

Anger was a good way. "He is the father, isn't he?"

"Well, of course he is!" Pissed off—much better. Anger I could handle. She huffed and crossed her arms in iritation as I moved away.

"And you both need to decide what you are going to do," I replied.

"Do? About what?"

"If you want to keep it, give it up for adoption or terminate the pregnancy."

She nodded. "Right."

When she moved to leave, I found myself touching her shoulder and offering friendship. "Temari, you know you can talk to me if you want."

She nodded again. "T-thanks." And then she was gone, the door shut behind her. I collapsed to my knees, tears blinding me.

XxXxXxXxX

A couple of days later, I found myself leaving for Konoha, along with Temari and several guards in tow. The entire journey, I found myself giving her odd looks. She was carrying the child of my... well, ex-best friend. And because I knew the kind of man Shikamaru was, he would marry her and in a way, we would be come in-laws. Well, he was wanting to marry her regardless, but the pregnancy was going to set their nuptials in stone for him.

Temari and I talked a little during the journey, though it was more her trying to reasure herself I hadn't informed her brothers of the child in her belly. I'm sure from all of the whispered conversation we shared, they would have gotten suspicious of something, but pregnancy probably never would have their minds. Thankfully, they were both coming in a few more days, so she had time to inform Shikamaru before telling them about the baby.

When we reached Konoha, Temari head straight for the Nara Compound and I informed Tsunade-sama of my arrival.

Then I headed home.

Upon walking in our family store, my mother looked up from the magazine she was looking in and a look of delight took over.

"Ino!" She came around the counter, arms wide.

I couldn't help feel the swell of emotions, and I greeted her in kind. "Mom!"

"Oh, I miss you."

"I missed you too momma," I mumbled against her neck. After a minute or so, she pulled back and led me to the counter where various papers were spread out haphazardly across it.

"So, I've been working on the guest list for the wedding and reception. Is three okay?"

"Three people?" I wasn't expecting many people, but I had more friends than that! She picked one list up and handed it to me. It was full of names, countries, ect.

She smiled at me. "No, silly. Three thousand."

I blanched. "Thousand?"

"Yes. Three thousand." She looked through the scattered papers and found another list of names, though there were less on this one.

"I-I..."

"Good." I felt overwhelmed but before I could voice anything, mother went on. "Moving on, I know that no venue here is large enough, so only five hundred will be able to attend the reception."

"O-oh..."

"Oh! And did you get the seal from Kazekage-sama?" She looked at me expectantly. Thankfully I had remembered to ask him for it before we left.

"Yeah. Give me a second." I dug through my pouch and grasped the envelope, producing it immediately for my mothers waiting hands. Upon seeing it, she smiled.

"Great! Now we don't have to worry about how we're going to pay for all of this." "Your father and I can pay for some things, but it's nice to have help."

"I guess."

"And because it's the Kazekage, things will probably be at a discounted price." That was true. "After all, who wouldn't want to brag that they helped with the wedding of the century?"

I shook my head at my mothers rambling.

"OH! Your dress is here Ino."

"Dress?" I frowned.

"Yeah. I ordered it."

I shook my head. "I didn't pick a dress."

"Yes you did. You circled it in that magazine." She turned and looked through that pile again. "Let me see... Ah, here it is!" She handed me the open book, and my eyes went wide upon recognition.

I looked at her, annoyed. "Mom! We can't afford that!"

"With this, we can." She held up the envelope.

"B-"

"No. My daughter deserves the best. And this dress, regardless of price, is perfect."

"Mom..."

"So, since it's already been ordered, and custom made to fit, why don't you go try it on to make sure everything is in order?" She had a smug smile on, because she knew she had won.

Damnit.

She flipped the sign to closed, and I found myself following her to the apartment above the shop. While it wasn't as big as the family compound, it was close to the shop and center of town. And it was where I lived before I moved in with Tenten, where I got used to living on my own and becoming an adult. I even paid rent. And after I moved out, mother made it into her own little... home away from home.

She led me to the bedroom, and indicated where the dress was, closing the door shut behind me. I opened the closet door and drank in the sight of the dress. It was encased in clear plastic for some protection.

My wedding dress was western style, the top a corset. Strapless, and above the small bow just under the breasts, the fabric was pleated. And a strategic gap was placed in the very middle of the pleats, though lace would cover any cleavage. It also had a full, asymmetrical layered skirt. The effect was very beautiful.

I carefully unzipped the bag and took the dress out of the plastic. Quickly I shed my outer clothing and wiggled in.

"Mom?"

She walked in seconds later and proceeded to help me get situated by lacing me up. And when it was done, she took a step back and drank in the sight of me. Tears sprang up in her eyes, and I felt my own appear in response.

"Oh! My baby girl is getting married."

I hugged her. "Momma, don't cry."

"Sorry sweetheart. I can't help it." And for a good while, we stood there, holding one another crying. Both of us for different reasons. Once we were back under control, she smiled.

"Well, let me help you get out of it." I nodded, and stood there as she tugged and pulled at ribbon that was used to lace the dress together. It took a lot less time than it did to put it together, and I was out of the dress, putting my clothing back on as my mother hung it back up and stuffed it carefully back into the plastic.

"So, have you you decided how many bridesmaids you want?" And then we were back to the planning.

"Um..." I trailed off. Thinking about it now... I realized I should have asked the girls when I was here for that month.

"You need to hop on that, Ino," she scowled.

I nodded, pulling on my ninja sandals. "I know, I know. I'll speak to my friends."

"Good." We walked back down to the store. And she flipped the sign back to open.

"I'll be home for dinner."

She nodded. "Okay."

"Bye!" I called as I left the flower shop.

XxXxXxXxX

And then it was the day of the wedding.

Due to some help, I was able to coordinate with Gaara on the wedding party. Sakura was my maid of honor of course. Naruto was Gaara's best man. And then it went, Hinata and Kankuro, Tenten and Neji, and Temari and Shikamaru.

Over the two weeks, I spent the days planning for my wedding, and the nights with my mother and father reminising. The girls and I had gone dress shopping with my mother for their bridemaid dresses. I didn't want to force them into the same dress, so my mother and I agreed on grey for the color, and it had to be to the knees in length.

I'd decided that the hairstyles would be similar as well. Loose buns. Thankfully Sakura's hair had grown out a bit and she was able to put hers in the style. Tenten's would be in two, like always.

I found myself getting ready with the help of the girls. Mom was rounding everyone up and consulting with daddy.

They all complimented my dress and I felt myself at home among them. Tenten was the first one done, ever the practical Kunoichi so she was already in the hall. And then Hinata was done, watching us finish up.

My nerves were on and off all day, but I was ready. I had already spoken to Gaara and he set me straight earlier.

It was hard to slip away with all of my friends around. And mom. Especially mom. But I was able to slip away and sent a note to Gaara. It didn't take too long for him to slip in the room. He headed straight for me, eyes full of concern. "I got your note. You needed to ask me something?"

I took a deep breath and got straight to the point. "A-are you sure you want to do this?"

He didn't even blink. "I'm positive."

"One hundred percent?"

"Ino, if I didn't want to marry you, I wouldn't. But I do. And I'm going to." He cupped my cheek in his palm, my own hands coming up to craddle his as I leaned into the warm flesh.

"And you won't change your mind?" I asked, looking into his eyes searching for even a bit of hesitation.

"No. I won't."

"Promise?"

"I promise." He gave me a small smile.

"And you-"

He cut me off with a kiss. It sent my heart into a fluttering frenze, and when he pulled back, I found myself leaning in for more. Another brief kiss and he was stepping back, eyes serious.

"I'll meet you at the alter." And with that he left before anyone noticed him missing.

"Hurry up in there!" Came the voice of my almost brother in law, Kankuro.

"Shut up Kankuro! We're moving as fast as we can! Sheesh," Temari retorted. I giggled.

I saw Hinata stand up in the mirror while I was finishing up my make-up. "I'll be out in the hall, girls."

"See you in a few Hina," Sakura acknowledged from her spot in the mirror, finishing up her own makeup. With a brief squeeze on my shoulder, she was gone, joining the others in the hall.

And then I was done, veil in place, hair done up.

"You ready for this, sis?" At the endearment, my heart swelled.

Blinking back tears, I nodded. "I think so."

Temari squeezed my hand and lead me out of the room before hurrying to meet up with the others. Just outside of the door, I could hear Sakura lead everyone down the hall. When I was sure no one would see me, I followed them out, reaching the doors just as the music began playing.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart, but that didn't really work. I had to keep moving, so I turned into the isle.

My father was already waiting for me, and I took his offered arm. As we walked down the isle together, all eyes were on me. And there were a lot of them. But I refused to think of them. Instead, I was drawn to the sea-green eyes belonging to a red-headed man waiting for me to join him at the end of the isle.

When I reached him, dad gave Gaara my hand and moved to stand beside mom. And then everyone was seated and Tsunade-sama began.

The older blonde smiled at the two of us. "We are gathered here today to join not only this man and this woman, but two nations in union. Gaara, do you take Ino Yamanaka as your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"Ino, do you take Gaara no Sabaku as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

"The two have decided to write their own vows and will now speak them. Gaara."

He softly cleared his throat and turned to me. "Ino, I find myself drawn to you. No other woman has seen past the demon I used to contain or they are drawn by my status. You have not allowed either to matter. I thank you for being the woman that you are and I hope to live a long, joyful life with you by my side."

Tsunade turned to me. "Ino."

"I-I..." I took a much needed deep breath, and restarted. "As a little girl, I used to dream about today. The flowers, my dress, my friends and family... and most importantly, who. Who was going to be the man who captured my heart and gave me his name." I looked him in the eye, holding strong. "I'm not going to lie. I never expected that it would be you Gaara. But because of unforseen circumstances, we are about to join our lives together in matrimony. And I'm grateful because I wouldn't have it any other way."

I smiled softly at him. "You are so sweet. While I can't declaire my undying love for you, I can say this—I look forward to getting to know you. The real you. And I can't wait to fall madly in love with you."

Discreetly wipping a couple of tears away, Tsunade called out, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. Gaara, you may now kiss your bride."

He gave me a small smile and leaned in hesitantly brushing his lips against mine. With a smile, I returned the gesture with enthusiasm.

XxXxXxXxX

The reception went by in a flash. I don't really remember much of it, because all I could really think about was what was going to happen after. The wedding night. Brief moments captured my attention, I remember our first dance, my father blubbering like a baby as he made a speech, Kankuro trying to embarrass me and Gaara in another speech, and Naruto dancing with Hinata.

It was fun, but lurking in the cornor of my mind was the question of what was going to happen next, and when was it going to happen.

And when it was time to go, I found myself being led to the complex for foreign diplomats with Gaara, though we weren't alone. His guards led the way. When we reached our rooms, they checked it and then let us inside. I watched them shut the door behind them, and then I was alone with Gaara.

My husband.

Kami

.

I found myself staring at him, drinking in the sight of my husband. The Kazekage. I felt my breath catch, and I had to force myself to push down the panic.

"So," I bit my lip, eyeballing him.

"Hm?" He lifted a brow.

"We're marrried."

He gave me a look of amusement. "Yes. We are." And then he took a step toward me. "Ino."

"Yes?"

"Come here." I felt my cheeks heat up but I complied.

No more words were spoken.