I woke up late the next morning and stretched happily at being back in my bed. I got up and dressed before going out and finding Kakashi and Iruka making out on the couch. I rolled my eyes and grabbed a bowl of cereal before they saw me and snapped out of it. I said as I munched, "I'm going off for a bit. Carry on."
I finished and put the bowl in the sink and went out. Getting on my bike, I took off the sidecar for more speed and sped out of the parking lot. Getting onto the street I headed for the cemetary again. On the way I stopped by my families old flower shop and got a huge bundle of different flowers and had them put in a huge bag and tied them to the back of my bike.
Driving up to the cemetary I took the flowers and split them evenly between the Uchiha's and my parents. I sat in front of my parents headstone and said softly, "I did it Mom. Their safe once again."
I stared at the stone and felt myself choke up. I coughed to clear my throat and said to it, "You know, it's over and I still feel like my hearts in pieces."
Silence and I whispered, "I wish you guys were here. Dad, you would sit me on your lap and have me tell you the entire story with Mom next to you. Then you'd turn to Mom, unsure what to say and she'd tell me exactly what I needed to hear. Then you'd tickle me until I was breathless and encourage me to do what I thought was right."
I chuckled at the fond memory and leaned back onto my hands, "Remember that summer when we had Uncle Jiraiya come with us to the lake? And I fell right out of the boat? Heh"
I looked up at the sky, "Mom was frantic when I didn't pop up right away and I popped up on the other side of the boat and yelled, "I saw a fish! Why didn't you catch it?"
I grinned widely, "Mom was scowling, trying not to laugh and both you and Uncle Jiraiya was laughing so hard, until Mom pushed you in."
I sighed happily and straightened, "Then Uncle Jiraiya got seaweed in his nose. We never figured out how though. He'll be here in a couple days to say hello. He's a busy man nowadays. Thanks to yours truly."
I looked at the stone fondly and then called, "Come on out Sasuke, I know you followed me."
I didn't turn around as Sasuke came up softly and stood next to me. I dug into my pocket and held up his necklace, "Here, you get this back."
He took it and slowly sat next to me. He asked softly, "Why did you come back? We did, said, some aweful things to you. Why do you even care anymore?"
I looked at him and said softly, "I never stopped caring. I knew that you two were dead set on the whole idea that Madara was good and helping. When he told you two that I was only around you two for the company, that you had to give up on your friends to get ahead and you believed him, I knew I had to have proof. You wouldn't open your eyes and see otherwise."
I leaned back once more and said, "You were so wrapped up in his words, and yes he made sense. He seemed like the father you never really got to know. And Itachi found a father for you. Someone who could care for you if something happened to him."
I shrugged and said, "I understand all that and I still care. But I'm still angry that you two were so swept up by him, and didn't even give a second thought that I might be telling the truth."
I looked back at Itachi and he came up slowly. I looked back at the headstone and said, "It hurt you know. I've always thought of you two as family, and you tossed me aside like yesterdays garbage."
I saw both of them wince and I slowly stood, "I'll forgive you, someday. But right now, I'm not going to pretend that it was ok."
I held out Itachi's necklace and he took it gently and I turned and headed for my bike. Deciding I needed sugar I headed for the café Sasuke, Naruto and I went to a lot, next to the arcade. I passed the Uchiha building and saw a truck had swerved to miss a kid and hit the building. It had a huge ramp on the back.
I drove carefully by it and got to the café. Sitting down I ordered some cake and started to relax. Sighing, I decided to go bug Fumiko so I finished my cake and paid. I got on my bike just as a vision hit.
I felt myself zoom down the street to come to the Uchiha building, Naruko was by the truck, talking to the driver and my vision lifted me to look into Itachi's office and I saw him, Sasuke and Naruto at gun point by Madara's hit man and some goons.
The vision ended and I grabbed a bat from a sports store, throwing money at the guy, and stuffed it under my jacket on my back. I slammed my foot into the throttle, the bike roaring to life and I called Naruko as I drove one handed. She answered and I barked, "Naruto, Itachi and Sasuke are in trouble! I need your help!"
I hit the gas as Naruko asked, "What do you want me to do?"
I said as I skid around the corner, "That truck that hit the Uchiha building. Put down the tailgate and stay back!"
I heard a bang on her end as I stuffed the phone into my pocket. I turned another corner and thought to myself, "If it wasn't for the guns they wouldn't need my help."
I saw the company building in front of me and the huge ramp on the back of the trailer with it's tail gate on the ground, poised and ready. Naruko was looking from a few feet away.
I couldn't help the excited look on my face as I hit the throttle on full and the bike flew forward and then I hit the ramp and was suddenly flying. I leaned and the bike turned sideways and I barely caught a glimpse of Itachi, Sasuke and Naruto glaring at the guns before I hit the glass.
I moved my leg just in time as the bike hit the floor and I jumped clear. The bike took out two of the goons and I straightened with a wild grin on my face, "Guess who!"
I grabbed the bat off my back as the hit man shouted, "kill her!"
I ducked a bullet and swung. It connected with the man on the left's chin and sent him flying up and his head disappeared into the ceiling. Before the guy on the right could fire, Itachi slammed his fist into his cheek and then grabbed his wrist that held the gun. The mans wrist gave a sickening snap and then Itachi's fist broke his nose. He fell unconcious and the hit man growled and aimed at Itachi, just like in my vision.
I dashed in between and threw my bat as he fired. The bullet nicked my shoulder and hit Itachi's shoulder as my bat hit the hit man's throat. Before I could step forward Sasuke kneed him in the gut and as he gagged, Naruto slammed his fist into his nose, grabbed his shirt and slammed him into the ground. Grinning I went over to one of the goons with the shotgun, aimed and the guy gasped as I pull his finger. The gun shot right into his boss's crotch. Then I slammed his face into the floor.
I straightened and snarled, "No one messes with my family."
Turning to Itachi, Sasuke and Naruto who stared in disbelief, I grinned and said sadly, "Really, do I always have to save your butts?"
Shaking my head I noticed one of the goons was starting to come too and slammed my heel into his jewels and he screamed before collapsing once again. Snorting, I walked up to Itachi and said, "Let me see."
I studied his shoulder and saw the bullet had passed right through and took off my hoody and wrapped it around it before checking to make sure Sasuke and Naruto were ok. A minute later Naruko stormed in with Gai and the police and the men were bandaged and arrested.
My bike was extracted from the wall to get the other two men and then we were loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. Going to different rooms, Tsunade waited for me, tapping her foot. She stomped up and yelled, "ARIANA! You drove your motorcycle into your boss's office? You could have been killed!"
I set my chin stubbornly, "It seemed like a good idea at the time. And I only hit the bad guys! It was a great stress reliever! "
Tsunade dragged me to a room and set me on a bed before she looked up and said, "Gods help me."
She glared at me and I glared back fearcly. I finally broke eye contact and sighed, "Yeah, I am so fired for this."
Her expression softened and I chuckled weakly, "Well technically I was already fired, but you know what I mean." I sat on the bed and sighed, "He probally hates me for real now."
She shook her head and cut off my sleeve to get at the wound, "I'm sure that's not true. You saved their lives Ariana." She paused and said, "Again."
I winced as she cleaned it and said, "I don't even have a job and I just made a bigger idiot out of myself."
The door suddenly burst open and Naruto ran up, nearly in tears, "Ariana! Naruko's going to kill me!"
I blinked and a murderous looking Naruko came in, "NARUTO! You went to pay off a debt that didn't exist and didn't tell me! Your such a dimwit!"
Naruto jumped on the bed behind me, shivering in fear. I said softly, "Naruko, he was only trying to help. You shouldn't yell at him or call him names."
She turned her glare to me and I gave her a look. She slowly thought about it and sagged, "Your right. Naruto, I'm sorry."
Naruto crept out from behind me and sat next to me staring at the ground, "Me too. I'm sorry sis."
She came up and hugged him. I smiled as she then whacked him, "But don't ever do that again!"
He groaned and Naruko grinned, "Now lets go see how Sasuke is doing."
Naruto nodded and followed her out. Tsunade chuckled, "I see why you worry so much."
I chuckled with her and she finished wrapping my arm and said, "All done."
"Thanks."
I stood and she asked, "What are you going to do now?"
I looked at her determinly, "Go kick his ass." Tsunade chuckled, "Just don't have him bleeding all over my hospital."
I nodded and went to find Itachi. I didn't go far when someone called me. I turned and saw Jiraiya. I smiled happily and hugged him, "You must have left right after I did."
He nodded, letting me go and grinned, "So it ended well?"
I nodded and we walked down the hall as I told him everything and I heard Tsunade say, "Itachi's in room 203."
Jiraiya and I turned and Jiraiya leapt back in shock, "TSUNADE!"
She blinked and raised an eyebrow, "Jiraiya?"
She looked at me, as I looked between them and I looked at her and said, "Uncle Jiraiya, you know Tsunade? She's my doctor."
Tsunade crossed her arms over her impressive chest and smiled slightly, "That explains so much. It's been a while Jiraiya."
Jiraiya blinked and I tugged his sleeve, "How do you two know each other?"
Jiraiya seemed unable to speak and Tsunade explained, "We grew up next door to each other and went to the same High School and college. It's been about 20 years since the last time we've seen each other tho. I hear your company is doing well."
I glanced between the two and smiled slyly, "Well I'm going to go see Itachi. Carry on."
Jiraiya looked at me, begging with his eyes for me to stay but I just waved and grinned widely as I left. I giggled quietly to myself as I went around the corner and smacked into someone. I quickly apologised as I stumbled back, "I'm so sorry!"
I looked and blinked when I realized it was Itachi, whose arm was in a sling. We stared at each other, both of us not sure what to say. I was the first to snap out of it and grinned, "Guess what! Tsunade and Jiraiya know each other! They went to school together and lived next door as kids! Irony no?"
He blinked and shook his head, "Very ironic. Who would have thought?"
I shrugged, "Not me."
He was quiet for a minute and then said softly, "Ariana I want to apologise. And thank you. You saved our lives again, and I know I don't deserve your forgivness but..."
I smiled, relief flowing into me, "I forgive you."
He stopped what he was saying and stared at me, "You do?"
I nodded and said mock serious, "Only if you rehire me. At the moment I don't have a job. Eep!"
Itachi grabbed me in a tight one arm hug and said happily, "Of course your hired!"
I hugged him back, a bit more gently so that I didn't hurt him, "Good. And if you ever do this again."
He pulled away and grinned, "Just whack me."
I grinned brightly, "Took the words right out of my mouth. Now what do you say we grab everyone and go out to dinner. We should explain things."
He nodded and before we could split up he dove down and captured my lips with his. At first I was too shocked to react but then I melted. He pulled away, gazing into my eyes and asked, "Will you please go on a date with me?"
Blushing I smiled happily and said, "Since i've been waited forever to hear you say that, yes. Tomorrow."
He pecked me on the lips, "It's a date."
Grinning like a goof I pulled away and said, "We best find the others before they worry themselves sick."
Winking at his dissapointed look I reassured him, "Don't worry, tomorrow i'll be all yours."
His grin turned lecherous and I laughed, waving as we split up. I was to get Tsunade and Jiraiya and he was to get his brother and the Uzamaki's. I smiled happily the whole time, feeling like things were once again right in the world.
