The Council's Intervention
(A/N: Just so you know, this is not the last chapter… the next one is. So, enjoy while it lasts.)
~xxx~
Hideki and Ayako spent a lot of time together over the next few months. With her eyesight restored, however, she was back on missions and hospital duty. But every month, Tsunade was gracious enough to give her a week off. There were some changes in the months that followed Ayako's return to active duty. For instants, Naruto was named the next Hokage (he started training for the position as soon as Tsunade mentioned it to him). Itachi had stopped 'stalking' Ayako and Hideki when they were around the house and Ken… well, let's just say that Ken spent a lot of time speaking with Itachi in the back office. She never asked what they were talking about; it wasn't any of her business… yet.
Of course, Hideki had an idea about what they were talking about but he didn't share it with Ayako. No, he and his father had talked about the issue extensively and decided that it would be best to talk it over with Itachi. Marriage contracts were funny like that. And Hideki wasn't sure if Itachi would agree, even though he had spoken to his father about the issue of Ayako being the heiress and him having to take her name. Whatever agreement they came to, he would follow to the fullest… anything to be with her.
When the topic came up between Ayako and Sakura… with Hideki just around the corner, Ayako said,
"It is not my intention to marry the first contract that is wafted my way. I want to choose who is best suited to be my husband." She gave a smile then, "And if it just so happens to be Hideki, then so be it." This brought a smile to his lips. She spoke the truth and he knew it. They had talked about it before and decided that it was best to just go along for the ride. She would make the final decision when it came time for it. They were ready to move forward with their lives even though they had only been together for the last ten months; only knowing each other for a year. But that was a moot point.
For now, they just wanted to spend time together and relish in the peace between them.
~xxx~
Ayako sat on the back porch with Duke by her side, watching the leaves scatter about the yard. Her eighteenth birthday had come and gone… and the marriage contracts had already started to pile up. Itachi had asked her to help him sort through them, and she did so with a frown. So many of them had asked for her hand and many other things but that also meant that the clan would be left with almost nothing. These contracts were tossed in the trash can almost immediately.
They had, however, come across a few that looked promising but the one Itachi was interested in was safely locked away in his desk; awaiting for Ken's next visit to hash out the last few details.
"If this is what I have to look forward to when I have children, then count me out." Ayako sighed as she tossed a stick into the yard. Duke dutifully ran after the stick and brought it back. She briefly thought about how big the dog had gotten –now almost fully grown.
"It's not as bad as it seems." A voice said from behind. Ayako turned to see Ken walking towards her with two cups of tea. "It only looks that way because you're a girl and a lot of men would love to have a powerful kunoichi, such as yourself, to protect them." He handed her a cup and sat down. Ayako said her thanks and took a sip from her cup.
"Well then, I guess I'll just hope to have boys." She said with a smile. Ken laughed and slapped his knee.
"They say boys are easier to raise. I don't have a daughter, so I wouldn't know for sure." He smiled at her. A comfortable silence stretched between them, each thought of something different. Ken was thinking about finally having a daughter while Ayako was debating on whether she would be a good mother or not. "Humor me, if you're first born was a boy what would you name him?"
"Gennosuke." She answered immediately with a firm nod. "He was my best friend when I was younger."
"And what happened to him?" he asked quietly.
"I killed him… it was this whole big mess that we found our selves in. Gennosuke was kidnapped and experimented on, forced to attack the village. But he never made it to the village." Ayako took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It was my first jonin mission, by then Gennosuke had been missing for a year. My team was sent to look for clues to his whereabouts. He attacked us in the middle of the night and I killed him."
Ken gave a low whistle. "I'm sorry to hear that." Now he knew why she had been upset all those months back when the others we talking about their first mission.
"It's ok. I have come to terms with what has happened and I must move forward in his memory." She said with a soft smile. He had no doubt that she would be a good mother. Watching Ayako interact with her brothers and Aki was proof enough for him.
Sakura walked out of the house with another pot of tea. She had heard everything from the kitchen and decided to speak her mind on the matter.
"I speak from experience… boys are easier to raise." She said with a grin. Ayako scowled and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Who says I'm having kids? For all you know, I could wait until I'm thirty to have a few."
"I'll almost be sixty by then! That's too old to spoil them rotten." Sakura gasped in mock fear. Scowl firmly in place, Ayako glared at her mother.
"I just don't want my daughter to go through the same aggravation I am now."
Sakura sighed and took a seat next to her daughter. "I went through the same thing, sweetie." She said with a dismissive wave of the hand. "You know, I had no idea your father was romantically interested in me until my grandfather and I found his proposal intermixed with the others." Sakura laughed at the memory of her grandfather going bug-eyed at the sight of the Uchiha clan symbol. "Of course, grandpa thought it was a joke and tossed it in the trash but I saved it. And do you know what I found out?"
"No." Ayako answered, leaning forward and listened intently.
"Your father wrote the whole thing himself." Sakura smiled at her daughter, brushing the hair from her face with her fingertips. "He explained that he was quite serious and that I was the only person he would ever want to share his life with. Naturally, I had to say yes."
Ayako held up her hands. "I get the picture mom. There's no need to delve into your love life." She said with a light frown on her lips. That was the last thing she wanted to hear about.
"I'm just saying; look over all of your options before you make your decision."
Ayako's frown deepened as she looked at the ground. "Besides, there's only one person I want to marry anyway." She whispered before gulping the last of her tea. Sakura and Ken raised an eyebrow at her soft confession, glancing at each other with a knowing look.
"I think it's about time I started dinner." Sakura said as she stood.
"Oh, no you don't." Ayako protested while standing. "You've been at the hospital all day; sit down and relax while I make dinner." Sakura couldn't argue with her, so she sat back down. Ayako walked into the house and headed for the kitchen.
~xxx~
"Well, the stack certainly has dwindled since we last looked through it." Ayako commented as she pulled out her chair from the desk and sat down. Itachi was thinking the same thing while trying to sooth his growing headache.
"I'm going to lay down for a bit, take over for me." He said as he stood from the desk and patted Ayako's shoulder. "We have some new ones you may be interested in." Ayako was already pulling the stack in front of her, eyes locked on the top pages of the first contract. Itachi stood by the door for a moment, a small smile on his lips. He watched as Ayako's eyes widened in shock while picking up the top contract and reading it thoroughly.
"This isn't a trick, is it?" she asked, turning to her father. Itachi shook his head and walked out of the room. Ayako sat there for a moment, contract in hand, and smiled. Now she knew what Ken and Itachi were talking about during his visits. She picked up the other contracts and placed them on the end of the desk, her mind was already made up.
~xxx~
"Let's move on to a more important matter." One of the council members suggested as the meeting dragged on. Itachi sat up straight and set the contract on the table for everyone to see.
"Ayako has chosen Fujimura Hideki." He stated plainly, pushing the contract forward for review.
"The noble son?" one member asked with a frown. "But he's not a shinobi, how can he protect her?" Ayako was sitting in the corner, waiting patiently for the meeting to end when that topic came up.
"You forget Kei-sama, Hideki saved my life during the rescue mission." She pointed out while moving closer to the table, taking her rightful seat on Itachi's right side.
"Hideki died to protect her; thankfully, he was revived to be here with us today." Sasuke defended, training his eyes to the boy next to him. Hideki sat a little taller in his chair; he had been called into the room not five minutes ago with Ayako to review the contract.
"That still does not change the fact that he is not a shinobi!" another member spoke up. She was a pompous, old woman that regularly disagreed with most everything. "My grandson is better suited to be her husband than this boy." The woman said as she pointed a wrinkled finger in Hideki's direction.
"Your son is also in a relationship with a civilian." Ayako pointed out with a smirk on her lips. The older woman bristled.
"That can be remedied." She snapped training her dark eyes on the heiress.
"Please, honorable councilmen, I am willing to do whatever you ask to be the proper husband you wish." Hideki said scanning the room. It seemed that only four of the eight council members agreed on the marriage; Itachi, Sasuke, Gansu and Shisui (whom he had met that morning) were pushing for the marriage.
"The Heritage Law states that the spouse of the heir/heiress must be of jonin status or higher for the marriage to valid and accepted in the village." Kei said with a smug smile.
"I can't believe you would hang something like that over our heads." Ayako said with a scowl. "Hideki and I have sparred on numerous occasions; he is more than capable of protecting me and bringing honor to our clan." The room was divided, half wanted the marriage and the other half wanted nothing more than to proclaim their own selfish desires.
"It is the law and you must obey it as we do." The old woman, Chiaki, shouted while pounding her chubby fist on the table.
"Tell me, does the law include following a maniac to overthrow the Hokage?" Ayako said as she crossed her arms. She hit the nail on the head as none of the opposing members met her gaze. Ayako stood then with her arms at her sides. "I have done all that was asked of me without question and this is how my loyalty is repaid?"
"This is something we cannot bend on, Ayako-sama." Chiaki responded the other three were nodding in agreement.
"I have sacrificed much for the safety of the village and all of you. I never asked for anything in return… but now I'm going to be selfish. You want Hideki to be a jonin before you even consider this marriage, fine! I'll train him myself." She said while slamming her hands on the table, the force of which cracked the mahogany furniture. "And it will be done far from your prying eyes. This meeting is over!" with that said she stormed out of the room with Itachi, Sasuke, Shisui, Hideki, Ken and Gansu hot on her heels.
~xxx~
Tsunade and Naruto sat at the desk listening to Itachi's account of the resent meeting. He was requesting time off for Ayako who was so pissed at the council, she and Hideki went for a long walk.
"The next exam is in six months, where will she train him to keep the council at bay?" Naruto asked while flipping through his calendar.
"She will be at the palace until he is ready. Ayako will also send me word of his progress through Ken-sama." Itachi responded flatly, he wasn't happy about her choice but it had to be done to avoid interference.
"I can't say that I blame her." Tsunade sighed placing her chin atop her laced fingers. "Very well, permission for six months leave is granted for Ayako and another of her choosing. If Hideki must learn to be a true ninja, Ayako may need some help."
Itachi stood and bowed, nodding his thanks to them and left.
~xxx~
She would have asked Hinato for help but he was busy helping his father prepare for his acceptance speech, Hattori was out of the question… he was all the way in Suna and wouldn't have the free time to drop what he was doing to help. So, Shisui was her only option. It wasn't as bad as it sounded… but then again, the man was a helpless flirt and incredibly obnoxious.
"I've never been to the palace." He said, about as excited as a child at a carnival.
"This is important to me, cousin. Don't do anything stupid, ok." She glared at him while they waited at the gates for Ken and Hideki.
"I know, Aya-chan." He said with a smile, one that spoke of understanding. Scary that he could be so nice and sincere.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Ken spoke as he and Hideki approached the pair by the carriage. Both men were smiling at her as they moved to the open door.
"It's no problem, Ken-sama. I'm just a little anxious to shove this in the faces of the council." Ayako grinned at him. Ken laughed and put his arm around her shoulders.
"I can't wait to see it myself." Without further delay, the group left and headed for the palace.
~xxx~
As he predicted, Hideki's training began the morning after their arrival. Ayako and Shisui had worked out a training schedule for him and it was up to Hideki to keep up. They were working on the basics today, chakra control, and then they would step up his training… which was quite brutal actually.
She had warned him the night before that she wouldn't go easy on him… and he found out the hard way not to take her words lightly. Tree climbing was an exhausting task for someone who only used his body, not his chakra, before today. Of course, Hideki was physically fit and he had an enormous amount of chakra but no idea how to strengthen his reserves and use it. Thus the harsh training regiment he found himself in.
He didn't know how many times he fell, loosing count after fifteen, but Hideki was sure he was getting somewhere. Ayako was always there to tell him he almost had it, and he never gave up; keeping in mind what she had said the night before.
~Flashback~
Ayako sighed softly as she sat down on the sofa with her feet propped up on the table of her private room. Hideki sat on the adjacent armchair in a similar manner both tired from his mother's incessant – nagging - questions about the training and fifty million other things. Neither one could really distinguish what she was saying due to her chocked sobs of joy and bone-crushing hugs that left them breathless. Let's not forget the fact that Haruka was talking at about a million words a minute.
Peace and quiet at last.
"Ayako, what happens if I fail the exams? I mean…what if I'm not good enough?" Hideki asked looking fixedly at the ground.
"Then it would be our fault." She said in a flat tone. He looked up at her with questioning eyes, begging for an explanation. "It would be my fault for not training you properly and your fault for not working hard enough."
Hideki's gaze hardened suddenly, turning his topaz irises into the deepest of sapphires that rivaled Naruto's. "I understand. I'll do my best."
Ayako smiled then, her heart melting at his determination. "Think of it this way, you'll be learning and mastering skills in six months that normally take years to obtain and perfect." Her words struck a cord with him as he gave a tight nod.
"I'm sure my mother tired you out, I'll let you rest." Hideki said as he stood and walked to the door.
"Hideki," she called out, standing from the sofa. "Remember, nothing that's worth having ever comes easy." Ayako said and there was the strangest glint in her eyes. But Hideki understood; she was making a promise, a promise to work him to the bone for the sake of their future. With a slight nod, he left her room and went to bed. She would not fail him and he would not fail her.
~End flashback~
It was her words that kept him going. Attempt after attempt until, finally, Hideki stood at the top of the tree only a week after starting his training. Walking back down the tree, Hideki smiled at his accomplishment… and stopped when he caught the shared look between Ayako and Shisui.
"You did great Hideki." She smiled as she stepped forward with a water bottle. "I think that's enough for today. Let's head back and get some rest, ok?"
"What will we be doing tomorrow?" Hideki asked, still weary from the look he saw them share.
"We're going to see how good your taijutsu is," Shisui answered with a grin, "on water."
Oh god…