I just realized that i accidently deleated the last chapter from this story...yeah and i wrote over it on my computer sooo i can't get it back. The chapter was called an Eskimo kiss, and basically to sum it up Gaara said goodbye to Zaki, Yamato found out she wasn't dead, Kaida and Keiji felt responsible for her almost dying, and Max was there when she got back from konoha, I'm so stupid and sorry! I deleted it to fix one spelling mistake, and i forgot to put it back in the story and then i decided to go on one of those cleaning sprees on my profile, right before i wrote over it, and then i wrote over it with this chapter...

i know i'm an idiot, you can tell me that i'm so sorry! I feel so stupid, i hope this chapter makes up for it XS

Sara rolled her eyes, "Can I talk to my daughter now?!" She nagged. Max tried not to look at where she was standing, but concentrated on what Zaki was saying.

"You defiantly need to meet Gaara, he is such a great guy. You guys are going to get along great!" She told him before telling him some other stuff. Max couldn't pay attention Sara was still whining.

"I want to talk to her!"

"I don't know how, your dead woman you can't talk to her!" Max screamed silently. Zaki smiled at him he smiled back.

"At least tell her I'm dead!" Sara scolded and slapped his head, Max ducked.

"Max are you ok?" Zaki asked him looking at him weird.

"Yeah I'm fine, I just um there's something I need to tell you." Max said trying to swat at Sara's hands.

Zaki backed away, her eyes where wide with skepticism, "What? Are you ok, seriously? Cause you seem to be I don't know distracted." Sara kicked his shin.

Max winced a little, "No I'm fine I just, it's not easy to tell you this." Sara finally let Max alone. "Sara, she's, she's dead. I uh she killed herself with a bottle of morphine. I know this…isn't what you want to hear when you get back, but she just couldn't take the prospect of you…not being there. It hurt everybody I know I should have gone to comfort her, but I just I couldn't I'm so sorry." Max finished. Zaki blinked a couple of times and swallowed a huge lump in her throat.

"Thanks for telling me, I mean did I miss the funeral?" Zaki asked.

"No, its tomorrow, Allie delayed it so you could be there. She's taking care of all the expenses."

"oh, ok. How are the rest of them?"

"I think they are happier on the fact that you're not dead, and then they're sad about Sara's death. I know Allie she took the news hard. The Zoo's been closed for a couple days now, but she's better. I think your team mates and uhh sensei? Are waiting for you at the Ice cream parlor, so I can drop you off there if you want to meet them." Max new that Zaki didn't like him talking to any of his shinobi friends.

"I can always meet them later; I'd rather just….walk around town with you." Zaki whispered. Max nodded and wrapped his arms around her as they started towards anywhere.

---- - - - - -=- - -

Yamato waited with Keiji and Kaida in the Ice cream Parlor, he didn't know when Zaki would get into town. But that max guy told him she would be getting here today. It was odd, that max had walked up to him telling him that Zaki would be coming today even before the hokage new. She probably would take longer so she could see her godmother first. Max had told Yamato about Zaki's mother.

As a sensei he hated himself, he should have been the one to inform Zaki's mother about her being missing. Not some random desk shinobi, they probably made it seem that Zaki would never come back. It was all his fault that her mother was push to such…an extreme. Yamato should have known, but he was to self conceded to do anything about anybody else.

Yamato didn't know how to tell Keiji and Kaida. What was he supposed to say? Zaki might not be that happy to be back because her mother killed her self when she was away. That Zaki had lived all her life with a drug addicted mother that she was in a cheep rehab facility when she died? Yamato shook his head; he had tried to get into contact with her step father Milton, but he wasn't at home then. Yamato will keep trying though; he wasn't going to give up. From now on he will try to be more involved in his student's lives.

He wondered if it would be inapropriete for him to show up at the funeral. He didn't actually know the woman, but still he needed to show Zaki some support. Not a thing to be thinking about right now, he should just be happy Zaki was alive. A nock came from the glass, he looked up, there was Adara waving frantically, they all waved back.

---- -- -- - - -

Adara skipped into the restaurant and scooted Keiji in more. She knew it was better for her to sit next to Yamato because there was nobody else on his side of the booth. But Adara liked being close to Keiji. She smiled at Keiji, he smiled back, her heart skipped a few beats. How could he be so un affected by her? It made her angry, he could do anything and she would have to force down a blush, and he didn't even notice!!

"Zaki not here yet?" She asked with a frown, Temari had stopped by there house to yell at her brother for not being there to pick her up. Adara swore her brother was a masochist, he seemed to like it with Temari hit him, and he was such a closet pervert.

Kaida smirked, "Nope she just learned a jutsu that makes her invisible." That little kid had gotten really sarcastic, it was probably Zaki's doing. Adara rolled her eyes, sometimes sarcasm was just too much.

Keiji scrunched up his face, "why are you lying Kaida, she hasn't shown up yet, don't believe her Adara, she lies." OH HE WAS SO ADORABLE WHEN HE DIDN'T GET SARCASIM! Kaida made puffed some air out.

"I was being sarcastic." The little one replied.

"She's probably talking to her family right now; she'll come before the day is out." Yamato said.

-- -- - --- -------- -- -

Max and Zaki came up to the Zoo, it was open. "I thought you said she had closed the Zoo?" Zaki asked.

Max shrugged, "Probably needed something to do besides wait, Allie's a very impatient woman." He explained as if Zaki didn't already know, in response she rolled her eyes and laughed. Almost on Cue the short big busted woman hustled out. Zaki untangled herself from Max's arms to stand before the woman.

Allies eyes were pure steel as she looked at Zaki, and out of no where a slap landed on her face, Allie was breathing hard. "Don't ever worry me like that again young lady." Allie said her tone ice, and then right after her arms flung around her god daughter like she was the only thing substantial in the world. "I've missed you," she whispered.

Zaki was like a stick at first but then she molded into the hug happily. Allie then let go of the hug, "You have a lot of work to do miss, you better get your ass in there." She scolded pointing at the bar. Zaki smiled and was about to go in, but Max stopped her with an arm around her shoulder.

"Sorry Al but Zaki's got to go say Hi to some other people first." Max told her. Zaki looked to her god mother for permission. Allie didn't move, but her eyes softened giving silent approval.

"I want you here by 10:00 to handle the rush." She ordered Zaki chuckled.

As they turned to leave Zaki told something to Max, "That woman will never change." Max had his arm around Zaki's shoulder again as they started towards the ice cream shop.

---- -- - - - -

Keiji spotted Zaki coming up the side walk, he squinted his eyes, and there was a man with his arm around her. It was that man who had been there distraction; Max that was what his name was. Max the hippy with long hair and a bad smell. Keiji's protective instincts took over Max was way too old to be romantically involved with Zaki. He would talk to her later about it though tonight was a cause for celebration. Right before they reached the door Max kissed Zaki on the head and left her there, she entered.

"Hey guys!" She said.

There was a chorus of heys in return Adara ran up to Zaki and gave her a big hug. Which the grey haired girl didn't return. "Hey Adara."

"ZAKI I'M SO GLAD YOU ARE NOT DEAD!" Adara squealed, Keiji noted that Adara looked kind of cute when she squealed, Keiji then shook his head at that, Adara was his best friend he shouldn't be calling her cute. He liked Hinabi that way, he always had, right? Again not something he should be thinking about right now. He could like one girl and think that another was cute…even if that other was his best friend. And there relationship would never develop anything beyond being platonic.

Keiji looked over towards Kaida; she was all white and was glued to her spot. She seemed like she saw a ghost. Zaki sat down by Yamato who smiled at her. "Hey Keiji."

"Hey Zaki," He smiled at her, giving her the biggest one he could find.

Zaki looked over to Kaida "Hey there sprout."

Kaida didn't say anything back, her small hands grabbed at the table until they were white. Her breathing was becoming harsh. "I…uh I, I have to go to bathroom." She squeaked getting up and leaving the table as fast as possible. Zaki followed her right away, it being obvious something was wrong.

---- - - -- ---- -- -

Kaida couldn't believe she was doing this! She had promised her self to be tough, that she wouldn't care what Zaki thought anymore. But Zaki was being NICE! Zaki was pretending to like her and that hurt her more then she had suspected it would. Kaida didn't want any pity love; she didn't want Zaki to see her as week. Kaida wanted Zaki to look at her as an equal but no she looked at her like a defenseless little kid!

Kaida barged into the bathroom breathing hard, she leaned on the sink. This was ridiculous. "Kaida?" Zaki's voice asked from behind her. COME ON GIRL SNAP OUT OF IT!

"Y-yes?" She sniffled.

Zaki put her hands on Kaida's shoulder, "Come on kiddo, what's wrong?"

"You don't have to pretend to be nice to me you know! I know you hate me." Kaida snapped at Zaki tearing herself away from the other girl, eyes finally meeting hers. Kaida couldn't believe the unique Hazel Zaki's eyes where. To her utter horror there was no sorrow in those eyes not even anger, Kaida could handle those feelings. There was humor in those brown eyes, and the grey haired girl began to laugh.

"Kaida, do you really think I'm that kind of person?" Zaki asked getting down on her knees to Kaida's level. "When was the last time I was nice to anybody I didn't want to be?" She asked. Kaida had to think, Zaki was never nice to people, not even to people she liked. Kaida could now find the humor in the situation.

She wiped the tears away, "Your right, that was pretty stupid, but, you don't ….hate me do you?" Kaida promised herself that she was not going to ask that question but she just couldn't help it.

Zaki laughed again, "Why would I hate you?"

"Because it was due to my incompetence that you almost died in the first place, if I wouldn't have looked over at Itachi, you would never have had to go through that." Kaida explained

Zaki gave her shoulder a squeeze, a sign of affection the oldest girl seemed most comfortable with. "That's a stupid reason to hate anybody. And anyway it was a really fun experience I got to meet the Kazekage, and he's a really cool dude. So I think I enjoyed the experience." Zaki explained.

Kaida sniffled, "So you wouldn't change anything even if it did happen again?"

Zaki kept her mouth open thinking about the question, "You know what, lets get you cleaned up, and your face is all red. Like a little raspberry." The grey haired girl then got up and took a paper towl from the dispenser.

--- - - - -----

Max walked towards the Zoo. Sara bopped into his line of sight. "You know there's been a woman following you for the past 5 blocks."

"Really?" Max asked looking behind him, sure enough a small blond woman waved seductively at him.

"Do you know her Max?" Sara asked him.

"I…don't recognize her, I think its ruth, maybe kay anne? Um I probably slept with her the way she is waving at me, but I don't remember." Max admitted the blond was at his side and took his arm in hers.

"Hi Max, you busy tonight?" She asked.

"Uhh, why?"

"Well, I just was wondering if you would like a repeat of a couple weeks ago, with me and my girl friends at my apartment?"

"Did she just offer you to have a three way with her and one of her friends?" Sara asked in disbelief. Max was trying to see if he ever got a hold of this woman's name. So it was only a couple weeks ago, so it was before Zaki went missing.

It hit him like a ton of bricks, that Anbu he had seduced in becoming the distraction for Zaki and her friends. It wasn't the tall girl with ruddy brown hair, it was one of her friends she had invited over to have fun with him that night. They were both amazing; he remembered the third girl had a great moan. But this one was the frisky one the one that had liked to be spanked. "I…uh…" Damm it he never got her name!

"My names not important." She smiled seductively leaning closer; Max pulled himself away from her.

"Look lady, I'm sorry but I've decided to become Celibate for a couple of years." He told her. The lady looked like she had just been slapped.

"What?" She asked her voice rising shrilly, "Celibate?! Celibate?!"

"Yes, as In I'm not going to have sex, with anyone." Max explained backing away, this woman was scary. Then out of nowhere Max got slapped in the face.

"YOU can't be celibate, for the good of the all woman kind in Konoha, you can NOT be celibate! You have to have sex; I don't care if it's with me. But Kami gave you a gift, you should use it!" She was nearly shouting those words. People stop to stare at him. Max didn't say anything; finally the blond stomped off in her anger.

Max stayed there for a while, "Wow, Max that's impressive, a woman just slapped you for not trying to have sex with her. What did you do to make her so, um upset?"

Max still didn't know how to take that encounter, should he be flattered? He didn't' think that was appropriate. An old man with white hair and a big nose come bounding up to you. "I don't know who you are young man, but let me shake your hand."

Ok today was weird, "um my names max, what's yours?"

"My names Jiriya, I write the icha Icha series." He introduced himself with an air of pride.

"Oh I've never read those books." Max told the old man. The old man winked at him.

"I can see that you live them though." He told max poking him in the side. "Let me buy you a drink and you can tell me all about it." Ew Max had to get away from this pervert.

"Sorry I have to go." He untangled himself from the old man and started running away.

--- - ----- - - - - - - =- ----

The next morning Zaki got ready at Max's place, she was wearing a pencil black skirt that went just beyond her knee's, a skirt her mother used to own. Her earrings where gold lightning shaped passed on by her father, apparently old family heirlooms. Her shirt was new, it was a blue Kimono looking top that had storm cloud design on it. It was beautiful with her hair. She looked absolutely stunning. "Where did you get that top?"

Zaki looked down and blushed slightly, "Gaara-kun told me I could keep it, it used to be his sisters but she's too big for it now."

Its Gaara-kun now is it? He mentally snarled, since she's been home Zaki had named dropped that name more then once. Quite often actually 'Gaara's the kazekage' 'Gaara loves Beverly hillbillies' 'Gaara had snot pretzels' 'Gaara saved my life' Gaara this Gaara that! Max didn't' know who this Gaara was, but he didn't like that man one stinking bit.

Max shook his head he shouldn't care, Zaki loved him right? Max loved Zaki, but she never told him that she loved him. Max hadn't told her that he loved her, but she had stopped him every time he tried.

Max put on his suit. He was wearing's Zaki's fathers suit, they had snuck into her house and taken the things they had needed. They didn't know when Milton would be back and Zaki didn't want to cause a seen so she said she would take all her stuff out later. Milton fit the suit perfectly. Zaki smiled at him, "You look good."

"You too. That top…its perfect for you."

Zaki took his arm and leaned her head against it, "Lets get this over with."

-- -- - ------ - -

Gai got ready for the funeral, technically he wasn't invited, but he had to go. He owed it to Sara. He was wearing a dark brown nearly black suit, with a white shirt underneath. No tie ties were for old men.

Gai didn't go to the ceremony, he wouldn't have wanted to be called out, but he decided to go to when they buried her. Sara, he couldn't believe he didn't even go check on her when he had heard the news about Zaki. He had been so stupid.

Sneaking up on the grave yard was almost too easy; he stayed at the very back barely able to here what was being said. There were about 20 people there. His eyes automatically fell on Allie, her head was bowed and she was listening intently to the priest talking. Right to her left was Sara's daughter, Zakuro. To her right a tall young man with blond hair and blue eyes. The priest stopped and people started to leave, each going up to speak to either Allie or Zaki, maybe the young man.

Zaki was wearing a blue kimono like top with a cloud design. And gold lightning earrings. He remember Zak telling him that the Nariko's used to be a huge and powerful clan but were wiped out by the uchiha's and those earrings were the only thing left from them. Nariko meant Storm.

The crowd quickly thinned and soon enough there was only Allie, Zaki and that boy left. The boy took Zaki in his arm and the couple said goodbye to Allie and left. Gai walked up to the grave. But not before noticing that the boy was wearing Zak's suit.

Gai walked up towards the back of Allie, she was talking to the priest and he was taking money from the funeral. This wasn't right Gai should be the one paying for this not Allie. The Priest left the grieving woman alone.

Allie was like stone the stone she was looking at. No emotion showing from her face. She had a black brimmed hat on and an old vintage black dress on. A tinge of recognition pained Gai. That used to be Allie's aunts dress. The old lady had let Allie get married to him in that dress, because it was the only one she could find. Gai had told her that night that he would become as successful as a ninja that he would be able to pay for her to have as many dresses as she had ever wanted. But he never got her a new dress. And right now, even if he gave her 10 dresses for every moment he wasn't there when she needed him he still wouldn't be able to make up for any of it.

"Why are you here?" Her voice asked trying to retain itself from cracking.

"I just wanted to see the funeral."

Allie gave a small choke, "Is that so?"

"Yes its so." Gai replied he wanted to walk closer to Allie to wrap his arms around her and tell her everything was going to be all right. But in the end he couldn't do it. That was a different women then the girl he had left.

"You were right." She said holding back a sob.

"What?" Gai didn't understand what she was talking about.

" You told me that I would systematically run off every body I cared for, and its true I did. First it was you, then Zak and now Sara. But I confess I didn't think I would be able to scare you guys off so permanently. Hell two of you left life all together." Gai winced he remembered that argument where he said that to her. It hadn't been his strongest moment. Allie's voice broke into a sob, "And I don't know what hurts more, the two of them leaving life or you just leaving a living." He shoulders were shuddering from the tears falling down her face.

Gai wanted to reach up and hug her, tell her he was back never ever leaving again. His hand was almost at her shoulder, she backed away from it like it was death itself. "DON'T you touch me, you can't touch me you gave up that right to long ago Gai." She suddenly turned to him her eyes like fire, "HELL you gave up the right to be here years ago Gai! You don't belong here!"

"Allie…please."

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO LEAVE?" Allie screamed. Gai backed away.

"This will be the last time, I promise." He told her.

Allie snorted, "Cause you've kept such a good track record with your promises." Gai winced at her words.

"No this one I'll keep." Gai said, and taking a deep breath he turned around and started walking away from her. And every step he took he wanted her to scream after him to beg him to come back. He needed Allie to stop being so god dam proud, he would come running through hell and back for her. But she had to ask him. This is why they would never work out, both Allie and him were to stubborn, she was too stubborn to forgive him, and he was too stubborn to tell her he loved her.