I know it's been a while but these next three chapters are the last three. Since this chapter is so short, I'll be posting Chapter 39 at the same time.
I woke up alone the next morning, or so I thought. As soon as I made a move to sit up, forgetting that I was entirely nude, someone cleared their throat by my head. Immediately, I snatched the sheets close to my chest and stared, wide-eyed, at Aiyota. "Why can't I hear your thoughts?"
"I've blocked you from reading anyone's thoughts, at the moment. It's the only way you'll effectively recover from fighting a genjutsu for two months."
"That's why my chakra is so off?"
"Yes." Aiyota's black eyes bore into me, determined to make me squirm, yet I held my ground. He knew I did the right thing, whether or not he wanted to admit it. "That's not why I'm upset," he corrected softly, obviously still in my head despite my inaccessibility to his. "I'm upset that you came here instead of assuring me you were alive and well first."
"Oh," I glanced down guiltily but then thought of Gaara and mine's night. I honestly couldn't get myself to regret it.
"Please stop with the imagery," Aiyota sighed, covering his eyes. I smirked a little. Then get out of my head. "You're one to talk," he retorted.
"I'm sorry I didn't come see you but I'm not going to feel bad about what happened last night." His eyes flashed to my hand, to the ring still secured on my finger.
"No, I imagine you won't. Nari, you do realize what that promise of yours entails, correct?"
"What, the ceremony? Temari mentioned it. I'll manage." He shook his head.
"You'll be bound to this village, and this village alone. People will expect things from you that you've never been expected to do before. If you thought sitting on the Council was bad…" He shook his head. "Every political figure that has ever had any connection with Suna will want to talk to you, will try to bribe you into their favor."
"For one, I'm bound to Gaara, not Suna. I'll do what he asks me to, but I feel no obligations to this village. The Leaf has done more for me than the Sand ever will. And, for two, you know I'm more than capable of handling politics." Aiyota rolled his eyes.
"Get dressed, Narimi Ninetails. You have a long day ahead of you." And so I did. Most of the day was spent getting me caught up with the current news. Which included confirming my suspicions that Tobi was not actually Madara Uchiha (though I had no idea how Obito's identity was significant), catching up on the new political obligations I had since I was Gaara's fiancée, and taking into account everyone that had died. A list that was longer than I liked. The members of my team among them. There was one name though that stuck out like a sore thumb.
Sadao. My Sadao. I became determined to speak with Dai. I wanted to show him that, despite his everlasting distrust of me, I did care about his brother. I always had. It hurt to know that he was dead. Nari? Gaara called, the one mind even Aiyota couldn't block me from.
I'm fine, I lied. Don't worry about me. He wasn't convinced but let it go. Afterwards, Temari finally got her hands on me. She wasn't lying when she talked about a ceremony. It was set for two weeks from the day I arrived in Suna and nearly everybody important, including the other four Kage due to the recent alliance, were expected to attend. Those two weeks couldn't have passed fast enough.
Gaara and I were constantly badgered by officials and reporters asking questions, wanting to know the itsy-bitsy details of our relationship. Thank the gods only close friends in family were allowed to attend the actual wedding ceremony. It was the after party that I was worried about.
By this time, my chakra system had itself fully sorted out so nobody's thoughts were a secret to me unless I tried really hard to block them out. With everyone pressing in on me, and me literally being the center of attention, that was impossible. Even Temari and Kankuro found the event to be exhausting. My moon and I stayed together, but we were miserable in the crowd, neither being very social. We also had something else to worry about. Something not everyone could be present for.
It had taken a while to get Gaara out of the fiasco of politics, but, finally, the Kazekage sat down with the other four Kage. I stood to his side as he sat at his desk. The Mizukage calmly began, "Lord Gaara, you know that Nari's absence has left a lot of doubt in the five villages. I've even seen evidence of suspicion here, in Suna. Not to mention, with the Daimyo. The fact that her team died in combat doesn't help." I mentally grimaced at this, remembering those I swore to protect. "She needs to regain the trust of the people especially now that you're married."
"Letters won't suffice. Nari will have to speak in person," Lady Tsunade added.
"That would require her traveling for extended periods of time," the redhead pointed out, unwilling to relinquish his time with me.
"Unless you'd rather reinstate her duties as a ninja…," Lord Tsuchikage suggested. Gaara denied that right away.
"I'm not risking Nari on active duty. She's too unpredictable." Lord Raikage knew this only too well and began an argument on how it would be less dangerous and easier on everyone's part if I went and spoke to the political leaders in person.
"I don't like it," Gaara sighed, looking around our circle. "But I agree that it's for the best." I smiled, taking my moon's hands and giving his cheek a kiss.
"I'll be alright, really. It's not like there's anybody left that can really hurt me." At this, he gave me a half-hearted smile, still wary of letting me out of the walls. I had seen it in his mind when he first got me home, he didn't want me leaving ever again.
Thank all of you so much fo your support and please review so I can improve my writing.