Part 30 Old Habits Die Hard

I dragged her off and over to a mercifully open pub so that we could have a good natter about wedding preparations. After we'd placed orders for high percentage alcohol and received them we sat down in a secluded corner.
"Old habits die hard Keitii-chan."
"You're right of course," I said taking a swig of umeshu but then I saw two people making there way over after spotting me. "Oh fuck! Erm Kankuro, Temari hi." I grinned at them hoping they wouldn't notice Makaiko.
"Hey Keitii-chan, who's that..." Temari let her voice trail off as realisation dawned on her, of course Makaiko was under no threat as she was much more advanced than they were. "You!" Temari hissed.
"Eh? Oh you have some nerve showing up here," Kankuro said coldly.
"I have a right to come and give my best friend a congratulations if I want to I am not here to make trouble which I know is an extremely rare occasion although attack me and that won't be the case." She smirked at them resting back in her chair totally at ease.
"Temari-chan, Kankuro-san please."
"Gaara is not going to like this, I would hate to be you when he finds out."
"Well tough shit I am Keitii's head bridesmaid and by the way lay one finger on me and I'll have the whole of Akatsuki after you."
"People please, look just sit down, please..." They sat down I thought quickly. "Erm so wedding plans?" I successfully diverted them all off of tearing each other to pieces. It also turned out that we were all staying in the same hotel. So after a lot of bitching, wedding plans, honeymoon plans, dress plans, taking over the world plans cough sorry got a tiny bit carried away there. Makaiko and I decided for old time's sakes to go and get pissed for my last minutes of freedom.
"So which one shall we drink till we get chucked out of first then?" I grinned at her and she rolled her eyes.
"How about that one it looks the least dodgiest one mind you then again so does my brother, that proves the saying never judge a book by its cover."

"Two bottles of umeshu please!"
"Coming up loves." She placed them down on the counter and I over course paid. We sat at the bar and drank... A half a dozen bottles later, way over the limit and off our rockers.
"Screw men I am marrying this, hic, bottle of umeshu!" I slurred out the room was starting to sway like the deck of a ship.
"Yup and with you it's most likely to be my god for, hic, saken brother doing the screwing."
"I love you, you love me," Makaiko joined in our slurred song, "Barney gave me HIV, it started with a kiss but Barney wanted more I got raped by a purple dinosaur!" I promptly fell of my stool in the neatest style possible.
"Nooo, hic, you do it like this." She attempted to demonstrate falling off the stool to me and she smacked her head on the floor. Needless to say my sides almost split with laughter.
"Hey Makaiko you hic idiot look I swear am seeing an illusion hic 'cause I swear that there's a person looking down at me exactly like Gaara." I sat back up on my stool and Makaiko likewise. "What can I do for you my fine young man?" I asked swaying and clinging on to him.
"You can get yourself back to the hotel and I look like Gaara because I am." He lifted me in to his arms and carried me down the street, Makaiko traipsed behind us singing a drunken song about little naked goblins. Then she turned it to her lovely Christmas carol.
"Deck the halls with heads of people hahahahahahaha. Tis the season to be deadly hahahahahahaha. Blood and guts flying everywhere hahahahahahaha..." she carried on in this vein when we got to the hotel she started banging in to walls. Gaara set me down outside my door,
"Hang on a sec I want to make sure that Makaiko gets in to her bed okay, knowing her she'll accidentally fall off the balcony."
"Fine I'll wait here then." He seemed angry, I led Makaiko in to her room, she'd had more to drink than me which I was surprised at.
"Lets cross the bridge Charlie, Charlie, Charlieeeee." She was definitely pissed off her head she'd had at least 4 more to drink than I had. I made her lay down on her bed and she just laid sprawled out like a star muttering about Charlie the magical unicorn. "Magical leoplurodon Charlie, candy mountain can cave Charlie."
"Night to you too Makaiko." I weaved back down the corridor to my room.

When I got in Gaara chucked a bucket over water over me. "What the fucking hell did you bloody do that for?!" I yelled at him.
"To sober you up, it always seemed to work for Kankuro."
"But now I'm more sober, wet and cold!"
"Well go change then!"
"Fine I will!" I pouted and marched in to the bathroom. In a short while I came out hair dried, make-up repaired and in a dressing gown. He smiled at me.
"Better?"
"Much better." I sighed and flopped down on the bed. "Don't think I'm not mad with you for throwing water over me because I am."
"Well lets see if I can change that shall we," he whispered in my ear. He was laid on top of me and he slid his hand down my arm to my hand making me shiver. He planted little kisses all the way up my neck, I put my free arm around his neck as he touched my lips he smirked in to this kiss. I wound my fingers in to his soft hair and caressed his cheek with my thumb this time it was his turn to shiver. He licked my bottom lip lightly and I let him in, he ran his tongue over the roof of my mouth lightly. Then he broke away but instead started kissing from my lips moving down. His hand was stroking my leg, his kisses were going down the neck showing no sign of stopping but just before he went to my chest there was a massive bang and yells from Makaiko's room. I tried to get up but Gaara was heavier than me,
"Gaara let me get up." He moaned. "I just have to check if everything's okay with Makaiko-san." He got up pulling me with him.

Gaara followed me down the corridor to Makaiko's room where I could hear yells and objects being thrown. I opened the door tentatively still clutching Gaara's hand.
"You bastard don't throw friggin massive buckets of ice cold water over me!" She lobbed a lamp the intruders head which missed by a few inches.
"You were off your rocker sis anyone could've taken advantage!"
"No that's only sick perverts like you who do that!" She launched herself at him attempting to rip his face out. Gaara's sand caught her mid flight and set her back down as we entered the room. I turned around to see who Makaiko had been yelling at.
"Oh no not you!"
"Aww Keitii you know you love me really." He grinned and sidled over to me oblivious to Gaara standing right next to me.
"Hiroaki I'm taken now get away you bastard before I neutralise your gender and disembowel you!"
"I don't mind if you're taken it just makes it more of a challenge to get the sexy Keitii." He grinned at me advancing backing me in to the wall but a wall of sand flew up in front of me.
"Touch her and die," Gaara snarled.
"My, my aren't you defensive."
"Actually Hiroaki they'd probably both grind you in to a fine powder do you never learn?!" Makaiko yelled at him. The sand dropped and Gaara grabbed me pulling me in close as if he were scared Hiroaki would harm me. Makaiko and Hiroaki started grappling again, Gaara whispered in my ear.
"Why do you associate with these people or creatures whatever they are?"
"Makaiko's been my best friend ever since I was little and Hiroaki can go burn in hell for all I care."
"But Makaiko betrayed you."
"Yes but I have to forgive her now or it'll be too late." We walked out of the room to leave the two demons to work things out between themselves.

My fingers were entwined with Gaara's and he stopped pulling me down a deserted corridor, we stopped then he pushed me up against the wall.
"Now then where were we exactly?" I smiled and he likewise he put little kisses on my neck then started to climb back up and kissed me letting me melt in to his arms.
"Hey!" Said a voice, Gaara scowled and I looked up thoroughly put out to see Kankuro and Temari.
"What?" I asked angrily.
"I don't want to find you two snogging in public."
"This was a deserted corridor till you came down here," Gaara said coolly still with me against the wall.
"Do you think I want the future Kazekage's wife of Suna being thought of as a-"
"A what!" I said flaring up at once. "A what?!"
"He doesn't mean anything Keitii-chan, Kankuro lets go. NOW!" He turned away reluctantly with him and Gaara still looking daggers at each other.
"Come on lets go back to the room," Gaara said grudgingly and sounded thoroughly put out. We got back to the room where finally we couldn't be disturbed but that particular moment of passion had gone. So I snuggled up to him under the duvet. "Keitii-han?"
"What is it?" I asked as he rolled over to look at me propping himself up on one arm.
"What did Kankuro mean by the future Kazekage's wife?" I sighed hoping that I wouldn't have to explain this in excruciating detail.
"Well Temari and Kankuro think that as soon as a potential partner for the Kazekage arrives he will marry them as soon as possible."
"Ah," he seemed to understand.
"Is it true?" I asked tentatively.
"Yes, the council, the elders and I had a meeting about your suitability." They had a meeting about me being suitable?! What were they trying to fucking say?! Well it must've been that bitchy one who I threw a paperweight at.
"And?"
"They want to talk to you as soon as we get back, an interview if you will."
"Oh great that's gonna be a barrel of laughs and I get to meet all of my best buddies off of the council wupee." I turned away from Gaara, that was this relationship down the drain I knew it. Authority figures + interview + me one recipe for disaster! I really did love Gaara and yet I might have to keep my feelings in check if I failed this interview for Kazekage's wife material. He seemed to know what I was thinking and touched my shoulder gently.
"Don't worry you'll do fine," I turned around and shook my head, "I'll be there as well."
"What you can be there with me?"
"Of course let them try and stop me, so don't worry." He gave me a reassuring kiss then I snuggled up to him glad that he'd made the best out of the situation.

I felt something stroking my face. "Keitii." My eyelids flickered open revealing a sun that had just risen, I turned and saw Gaara's face. "Sorry but I had to wake you because you have to be at the Hokage manor in about half an hour.
"It's okay thanks I didn't want to be late wouldn't make a good impression seeing as I'm working with the ANBU." I pushed myself up and slid out of bed and walked in to the bathroom, Gaara of course was already fully dressed in the Kazekage robes and his hat lay on the desk in the room. I figured that my usual attire would have to wait as I knew I'd have to wear a uniform of some sort. I showered and dressed in a black top with netted sleeves and grey short trousers that tied around my knee, I fastened my Suna headband around my arm. I walked out of the bathroom 15 minutes later. "Do I look okay?" I asked checking my appearance in the mirror.
"Perfect." He kissed me on the forehead. "Now then lets go, I need to talk to Tsunade, she probably already knows I'm here." I grinned and we walked down the corridor hand in hand, people gawped when we walked passed (it's not every day you see the pimp and his bitch issit?) We got more stares than ever out on the streets and people bowing to us.
"There staring at me because I'm with you." He looked down at me and I tried to match his strides even though he wasn't nearly as tall as Deidara.
"It's because we're together most likely and they'll show respect to you if we're future husband and wife." People showing moi respect? I haven't had that since I was in Hoshigakure. We approached the gates outside and two guards stared in amazement and bowed. Gaara and I carried on up to Tsunade's office. We were 5 minutes early, which was perfect! I knocked on the door and stepped back and it was opened.
By magical lepricorns! Ha betcha weren't expecting that were ya? And for the rather dim ones among you it was Tsunade's assistant who opened the door.
"Good morning Kazekage-sama!" She bowed deeply to him and he inclined his head and he let me enter first still holding on to my hand. Tsunade walked over and bowed then shook Gaara by the hand.
"Welcome Gaara you're a bit early aren't you?" She looked at us two then to our hands and she smiled.
"I missed her too much."
"Well I wish you both happiness and that sounds like the ANBU you'll be working with Keitii." Someone appeared at my side but I had noticed them slip through the open window. "Keitii this is Norio and Norio this is Yanagi Keitii from Sunagakure." Norio removed his mask. He was a tall man of just under 6ft he had mid-length jet black hair with startlingly pale blue eyes, I bowed and he did so as well. "This is a mask and uniform piece." I slipped the grey body protector on and put the mask on. The mask was white shaped like a cats face with four blue triangles across the face. "Station yourselves as usual and arrive early at the detonation." I did not know what she meant but assumed that Norio would. Gaara grabbed my hand.

"Be careful, I'll see you later." I gave him a quick peck then I leapt out of the window as free as a nudist on a beach. I hadn't been on a mission in ages and it felt good to feel this alive and free, Norio landed on a roof top and so I swooped down beside him.
"We'll stay here for the time being."
"Do you reckon there will be anyone coming in the first stages?" I asked.
"Highly unlikely but we must be prepared especially for the Akatsuki seeing as Uzamaki Naruto is currently here as well."
"Have they ever been here before?"
"Well Orochimaru is one of the three legendry sanin but he left the Akatsuki and Uchiha Itachi is Uchiha Sasuke's brother who killed all his clan and Uzamaki Naruto is going to find him. Also Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame entered the village to go after Uzamaki Naruto and Sasuke went after Uchiha Itachi but came off a lot worse." He was extremely knowledgeable but then you had to be if you lived in one of the main hidden villages and were an ANBU. I sighed and crouched down at the same time Norio did. The wind blew my hair about, I could see the whole of Konoha from here which is probably why he chose up here. We waited there for an hour but we did move from place to place just in case someone noticed us. We dropped down next to the academy where the chunin exam entrants would go for the first stage of the chunins. They were from all over, the mist, the star my heart gave a slight twang, water and rock (Iwagakure) my stomach back flipped but no muscles moved as my training came in to action of a total emotionless state. They ranged from young to late teens by the looks of them, my brain analysed every single one of them looking for any suspicious characters. I watched Gaara enter but resisted the urge to shout after him but I knew he'd sensed me because he stopped for a split second then carried on walking with Tsunade.

I was getting seriously bored after an hour but they all came out and moved towards the forest so we followed. They all stopped to let Gaara and Tsunade talk to them for a while then proceeded through some chained gates.
"Do we follow them?" I inquired.
"Yes as they are much less advanced than us they won't notice us, we're there to check for any trouble." I nodded and we sped in to the forest. We whizzed passed the entrants who were starting to split up, but not far off I pulled Norio's shirt. He turned around and I pointed down to two men who were arguing in a clearing. I concentrated the chakra to my eyes which confirmed my suspicions about the pair. They were indeed both Akatsuki members and I could see their cloaks, not to mention they had an extraordinary amount of chakra and expert control. Norio and I were stock still, I slowed my breathing so it was quieter and watched the pair.
"That's the 7th time in a month! You should start paying every time you sacrifice!" This man had a grey hood, a black triangular headband and a piece of black material that covered the bottom half of his face.
"Oh shut the fuck up Kakuzu and stop being such a fucking twat you fucking bastard!" Was this me in male form or something? This man wore the Akatsuki cloak half undone, he carried a giant scythe with him and he also had grey hair from what I could see. I turned my head towards Norio and he signalled to me that we should confront them when he gave me the signal. Norio raised his hand up to his face then drew it back down as we fell down in to the clearing.