Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Flowers in the Sand ❯ Chapter 15

Chapter 15

 

“I don't like this, Sakura,” Naruto protested, pulling at the collar of his formal clothes. A high collar black shirt, decorated with silver embroidery around the edge of the collar and down the edge of the front panel and grey pants made up his ensemble, and it was obvious he was less than comfortable in them. “You are way too close to having our baby. We shouldn't be having a party- we should be at home, where you can be resting!”

 

Sakura snorted delicately. “My due date is three weeks away. Plenty of time. And we can't just let this slip by- we have to celebrate Gaara's tenth year as Kazekage!”

 

“He's not going to come,” Naruto grumbled. “He's been secluded in Suna for the last month and a half! I told him to come, that it was some Kage business that needed taking care of, but he didn't reply.”

 

“He'll come,” Sakura announced, smoothing the emerald green satin over her very swollen belly. “Temari promised me. And when she says she'll make sure he comes, I believe her.”

 

Naruto shuddered. “Temari scares me. I don't know how Shikamaru puts up with her.”

 

His rose-haired wife patted the remaining strands of hair into her coiffure. “I'm ready- we should get going.”

 

“Don't be disappointed if he doesn't come,” he warned her as they left their house.

 

“Well, I'll simply have to go to Suna and take my irritation out on him there if he doesn't,” she replied cheerfully- too cheerfully.

 

Sakura scares me too, Naruto thought to himself.

 

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Six weeks. Six weeks since her sight had been restored. Six weeks since Gobi had been sealed away. Six weeks of learning colors, reading, and writing. Six weeks of seeing as much of Konoha as she could.

 

Six weeks without seeing or hearing from Gaara.

 

Safaia sighed as she allowed Ino to comb her hair. Ino had graciously offered to dress Safaia for the party that evening, which was “supposedly” a celebration for Naruto and Sakura's imminent new arrival. Everyone else in Konoha knew that it was really for Gaara, but knowing how the woman felt about him, mentioning him was taboo around her.

 

“Are you all right?” the blonde woman asked, pausing in her brushing.

 

“I am fine,” Safaia replied softly. “I just do not see why this is so formal. And why this could not wait until after the baby is born.”

 

“It's a… tradition,” Ino improvised. “Where the village comes together and celebrates a new life. Something to help the pregnant woman to get her mind off feeling huge, useless, and ugly.”

 

“Sakura is not any of those things,” Safaia protested. “Why would she wish to forget?”

 

“Maybe not to you,” Ino chuckled, “but to a pregnant woman? We all feel that way. Just wait until you're married and about to have a baby. You'll feel the same.”

 

“I will not marry,” Safaia murmured. “I have no… reason… to.”

 

“Reason? What about love? Family?”

 

“I know very little of these things.” She lowered her eyes. “But I am thankful that you and your friends have shown me kindness these last many weeks. I never expected to have a need for other people.”

 

“Marriage is another type of need, for another person,” Ino explained. “But a very personal one, where you simply cannot live the rest of your life without that one person by your side, always.”

 

Silence met this statement. Ino began brushing Safaia's waist-length brown and gold hair again.

 

Marriage is another type of need… where you simply cannot live your life without that one person by your side… always...

 

Is this why my heart feels so empty?

 

“Let's finish your hair,” Ino interrupted Safaia's thoughts, “and then I'll help you with makeup- although I don't think you need any.”

 

“My thanks,” Safaia replied, so quietly Ino had to strain to hear it.

 

She decided to change the subject. “How is Neji treating you? I hear he visits with you every day that he's here in the village.”

 

Safaia nodded slightly. “He has been very kind.” She paused. “He has… told me he loves me.”

 

Ino froze. “He did what?”

 

“I was unsure of what to say to him, so I didn't say anything. He has not repeated the comment.”

 

Damn! “Well, how do you feel about him?”

 

She shrugged. “He is a very polite man- never saying or doing anything objectionable. Not at all like the men who would come to kill me.” Her tone hardened slightly. “Nor like my father.”

 

“Well, Neji is a wonderful guy,” Ino said, almost nervously. “He's good-looking, he's powerful, and he's intelligent. Can't really ask for more in a man.”

 

Safaia didn't reply. He is handsome, isn't he… powerful, intelligent… just what every woman would dream of having.

 

“All right- let's get your dress on. We'll have to hurry- Chouji's getting impatient.” Ino chuckled. “Never should've told him there was a buffet at the party.”

 

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“Man, this is troublesome.”

 

“Will you stop already? It gives us a night away to ourselves and it gives Akina a chance to play with Grandma and Grandpa.”

 

Shikamaru snorted. “I guarantee my mother will have her completely spoiled by tomorrow morning.”

 

Kankuro nodded. “It'll do you good to get away from her for a bit. Akina's way too much like her mother. Anyone would want a break.”

 

Temari bonked her brother over the head with her fan- a smaller, less deadly version which matched her dark plum-colored dress. “Baka… I should've buried you in the sand at birth and let the insects have you.”

 

“I still do not understand why you dragged me along to this,” Gaara murmured, his tone bored. “I am here to consult with Naruto about some important topic that simply could not wait- not attend a baby shower for him and Sakura as well.”

 

“Quit complaining,” Temari told him good-naturedly. “A little fun will do you good. And you look rather handsome in those clothes.”

 

He scowled. “I do not want to look handsome. I want to go back and finish my work.”

 

“If you continue to be locked away in your study working like you have been, you're going to end up like your sand- lifeless and empty.” Temari shook her head at her youngest brother.

 

“I… simply have a lot of work to do,” Gaara explained to her, albeit rather lamely.

 

“Well, too bad,” she replied, in a tone that brooked no backtalk. “You're taking this evening off and you're going to enjoy yourself. Got it?”

 

Gaara gave her a look that plainly declared he knew otherwise. “Are you giving me orders, big sister?”

 

“Darn right. Stop with the Kazekage act and just be normal for once!”

 

Shikamaru leaned closer to Gaara as they walked behind Temari and Niira. “Might as well do as you're told. I've learned firsthand not to just brush her off. As her brother, you'd get it just as badly as I do, if not worse.”

 

Gaara actually released a small sigh. “Ah, for the days when I simply didn't acknowledge my siblings…”

 

“Too late for that, bro,” Kankuro chuckled. “I can't wait for you to get leg-shackled- then you'll know what `troublesome' really means.”

 

Niira and Temari both whirled around, identical death-glares on their faces. “Did you say something??” they yelled, each brandishing a fist at the puppet master, a vein throbbing in each forehead.

 

Gaara watched this transformation with wide, slightly amused eyes. From commanding to deadly in the blink of an eye… and all from what?

 

“I said that you are the loveliest woman in Suna,” Kankuro replied to his wife, sporting an innocent smile on his non-make-upped-for-once face. “And that Gaara needs to find someone just as wonderful as you.”

 

Niira blushed furiously and immediately snuggled into Kankuro's side, where she was enveloped in a one-arm squeeze. “Oh, stop,” she giggled softly.

 

Now Gaara looked completely and utterly perplexed. How is it that the female species can change emotions that fast?

 

Temari huffed and turned around. “Smooth talk from you doesn't work on me,” she grumped. Shikamaru sighed.

 

“Woman, you may be beyond troublesome, but you're still mine. Can't you behave for one night?” he muttered.

 

She softened slightly. “That's right- I'm yours,” she murmured back. “And I'll never let you forget it.”

 

“How could I?”

 

Gaara fought the urge to slap himself in the forehead. This was starting to get creepy. “Do you mind? That's my sister you are flirting with.”

 

“She's my wife now, sand-boy,” Shikamaru grinned. “You'd think after all these years you'd have gotten used to it by now.” He leaned over and kissed Temari on the cheek. She blushed.

 

Okay, that's just wrong. I am leaving. Gaara pivoted and began walking back the way they had come down the streets of Konoha.

 

“Oh, no you don't!” Shikamaru and Kankuro both grabbed Gaara by his arms and began pulling him back the way they were originally going. “You're putting up with this just like us!”

 

Where's my gourd when I really need it? Gaara sighed again, somewhat amused that his normal sand-defenses ignored the fact that he was being dragged by two guys down the street. My ability to control sand is slipping… From the loss of Shukaku so long ago, I suppose. I will have to work harder to make sure Suna is protected.

 

But for tonight… I suppose it won't hurt to take a break.

 

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“Oi! Ino! Chouji!”

 

The couple turned to see Naruto and Sakura making their way over to them from across the rather crowded room.

 

The party was being held in a gym-like room in the main building, where the Hokage conducted all his business. Almost all of Konoha was there, dressed to the nines and waiting eagerly for the guest of honor to finally arrive.

 

Ino blinked her pale blue eyes. “Sakura? You look like you're about to pop any minute! I still don't understand why you insisted we have the party anyway!”

 

Sakura waved her off. “Don't worry about me- I'm fine! Baby's not due for a while yet. Besides- we needed to do something to get Gaara out of this funk he's in.”

 

Naruto agreed with Ino's opinion, but he nodded at his wife's observation. “He's been acting more like he used to back when we were still kids. He's moody, brooding, and downright anti-social. He worked so hard to get to where he is now that we just can't sit back and watch him fall back down that hole again.”

 

Ino and Chouji nodded agreement. Sakura looked around. “Where's Chouichi?”

 

The blonde woman chuckled. “We left him with our dads. We figured-“

 

“Hoped,” Chouji put in.

 

“Hoped,” Ino amended, “that between the two of them, they wouldn't mess up too badly. Chouichi's actually a very good baby.”

 

Naruto chortled. “One would think that seasoned Jounin like those two would be able to handle one seven-month-old baby.”

 

“Hey, Naruto! Sakura!” The four friends turned to see Kiba and Hinata, walking hand-in-hand, over to their little group. “We thought we'd never find you!”

 

“Sakura!” Hinata exclaimed (which for her was simply a slightly louder whisper than usual). “Are you sure this is going to be okay? When is the baby due?”

 

The pink-haired woman sighed. “I am fine!” she assured everyone. “I've got a ways to go yet, so no one needs to worry!”

 

“Except me,” Naruto sniffed, crossing his arms stubbornly.

 

“Except you,” Sakura agreed with a smile. She turned to Hinata. “And I hear that you two have another on the way! That's wonderful!” Hinata blushed as Kiba looked rather smug.

 

Naruto blinked rather stupidly. “Whaaaat? Hinata? And Kiba? They're having…?”

 

“That's right,” Kiba announced proudly. “We're having another baby.”

 

“Yes,” Hinata confirmed softly. “In about six months.”

 

Of course, after that, there was much squealing and hugging amongst the females of the group and cocky grins and handshakes between the men.

 

“Okay, I get the feeling I really missed something here,” a new voice added. Six heads turned to see Sasuke, dressed quite dashingly all in black, observing the group with a single raised eyebrow.

 

“You already know, Uchiha,” Kiba interrupted. He smiled good-naturedly at the black-haired man. “Just letting a certain blonde baka the good news.”

 

“Oi!” Naruto grumped. “I'm not a baka!”

 

“Says you,” Sasuke smirked. The group laughed, sharing in the warmth of everyone's close-knit bonds.

 

A sharp whistle sounded above their heads and everyone looked up. Naruto grinned at the specially-made shuriken lodged in the wall nearby. “That's Temari's signal. They're here.” He turned to everyone. “It's time, people!”

 

Those of Konoha that had gathered turned toward the entrance and waited silently. Excitement was almost tangible in the air.

 

“Ten dollars says he leaves without saying a word,” Kiba whispered to Chouji.

 

“Twenty says he kills us all with his Ryuusa Bakuruu,” Chouji whispered back.

 

“Fifty says he threatens to kill Naruto,” Sasuke added. “Several times throughout the evening.”

 

“You're on!”

 

-oOo-oOo-oOo-

 

A/N: Ryuusa Bakuryuu- “Quicksand in the Style of a Waterfall”