Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Flowers in the Sand ❯ Chapter 22

Chapter 22

 

“Tsunade, why won't she wake up? It's been a week!”

 

Tsunade sighed as she gave the frantic man a level look. “When Orochimaru released the first level of the seal, it completely overwhelmed her senses. Remember, she's never been trained as a shinobi- her exposure to pain has probably been minimal, thanks to Gobi taking over and protecting her from any harm. The double attack on her body and mind was more than she could handle, so she simply retreated from both.”

 

Neji gritted his teeth. “When she wakes up, I'm going to make sure she begins training as a shinobi, then. So nothing like this could ever happen again.”

 

Then his expression softened as he looked out the window, his mind on other, happier things. “As the wife of the head of the Hyuuga clan, she would need to know how to protect herself and our children anyway. Without knowing even the basics, she would be a prime target for more malicious intent.”

 

Tsunade shook her head slightly but didn't respond to his declaration. “You've been here every day this week. Why don't you go home and check on your cousin? I'm sure Hinata is worried about you.”

 

Neji sighed. “You are right.” He glanced at the still form on the hospital bed nearby. “Please… let me know as soon as she awakens.”

 

The former Hokage merely nodded and watched as the white-eyed man left the room. She waited several minutes before sitting down in a chair.

 

“You can't keep this up for much longer, Safaia,” she sighed.

 

Sapphire eyes opened up and looked over at the older woman. “I realize this,” she murmured, “but you heard him. As soon as he knows I'm awake, he'll want to marry me and make me into a shinobi!” She turned her gaze away. “I am not fit for a life like that. I only want to grow my flowers… tend my garden… provide food for my family. Neji is not likely to accept that.”

 

“So what will you do?”

 

Safaia sat up and looked down at her hands. “I had thought… that when everything was over, that… that Gaara and I…”

 

Tsunade raised a blonde eyebrow. “But Gaara has not been here to see you even once since the others brought you back.”

 

Safaia shook her head. “No one will tell me where he is. He probably forgot all about me and went back to Suna.”

 

The older woman shrugged. “That is possible. After all, he is the Kazekage. He is in charge of all of the Country of Wind, not just Suna.”

 

Safaia's head fell forward, her now-unbound brown and gold hair falling over her eyes. “I suppose...” she whispered, fighting against the ache in her heart, “that I should give up on hoping he'll come for me. And I cannot hide from Neji forever.”

 

Tsunade didn't want to influence the poor girl's dilemma, so she merely crossed her arms and looked as neutral as possible. “Neji means well. And I believe he truly cares for you. He is quite honest in his emotions.”

 

Droplets fell onto the linen between Safaia's clenched hands. Tsunade realized that they were tears- the girl was crying. “Very well,” Safaia said in a voice so soft Tsunade had to strain to hear her. “I won't deceive him any longer.”

 

Tsunade stood up. “I will have a nurse come and help you dress. If you do have any more complications, let me know.”

 

Safaia didn't respond at first, but then nodded slightly. “Thank you, Tsunade, ma'am… for releasing the rest of the seal. It is good to have Gobi back.”

 

“If Orochimaru hadn't released the first part, I'm uncertain as to whether or not we'd have been able to unseal it at all. So I guess that snake had his uses.” The older woman gave her a fraction of a smile as she left the room.

 

Welcome back, dear friend. I have missed you terribly.

 

I, too, Safaia. I had not realized how important you had become to me until I was sealed away in darkness without you. You have truly become part of my soul.

 

We are really sisters then.

 

We are.

 

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“Oooooo! He's so cuuuuute!” Tenten cooed at the orange-haired infant gurgling happily in her arms. She looked up at Sakura, who was resting comfortably in a cushy rocking chair. “What did Naruto think of the name you gave him?”

 

Sakura grinned. “He wanted something more tough-sounding, but I told him that since it took him three days to come back from fighting Orochimaru I got to name him.”

 

Ino snorted, wiping drool off her son's chin with a cloth. “I don't know what he's complaining about. I think it's a very fitting name.”

 

Kohaku Uzumaki blinked his bright blue eyes at the chubby blonde baby in Ino's lap. He stared in fascinated awe as Chouichi stuck a little ham fist inside his own mouth and proceeded to chew on it.

 

“Ugh… don't tell me you're hungry again,” Ino whined good-naturedly to her son.

 

Tenten sighed as she snuggled Kohaku in her arms. “I wish I could have a baby,” she muttered.

 

Ino and Sakura both looked at her in surprise. “You do?”

 

The brown-haired woman blinked. “Of course. Does that seem weird?”

 

“Not at all!” Sakura smiled. “You just always seemed more interested in becoming a shinobi than anything romantic. Do you have… ehhh… a prospect? For a husband?”

 

Tenten blushed furiously and turned her attention to the adorable baby in her arms. “It doesn't matter,” she said nonchalantly. “It won't happen, so why dwell on it?” She lifted Kohaku up and rubbed her nose against his, which made the infant's eyes go wide. “So I'll just spoil your guys' kids instead.”

 

After a silent glance between Ino and Sakura, Tenten changed the subject. “Did you guys get invited to Neji and S-Safaia's wedding in two weeks?”

 

Silence. Then, “Yeah… we got ours yesterday,” Ino replied. “I still think he's rushing this. Safaia's only been out of the hospital for a week. She should be resting, not planning a wedding.”

 

Sakura shook her head. “Neji is the one doing the planning, but he's not thinking this through. Not only that- Safaia doesn't love him.”

 

Tenten looked stunned. “She… she doesn't? Then why did she agree to marry him?”

 

The other two women shrugged. “She won't talk to us. She's hidden away at Kiba and Hinata's house and refuses to see anyone. We're as baffled as you.”

 

The twin-bunned woman sighed and held Kohaku a little tighter. “I guess all any of us can do is wait… and watch.”

 

“SHIKAMARU!!” an irate voice echoed from outside in the street. “I swear to God, when I find you I'm going hit you so hard with my fan that you'll land in Suna!!”

 

The three women and two babies poked their heads outside to see a seething Temari stalking down the street- and sure enough, her fan was in her hands. Three sets of eyeballs blinked simultaneously.

 

“Um, Temari?” Sakura called out to the blonde woman. Temari turned around and all three women briefly went into “stupefied”-mode at the furious look on her lovely face.

 

“What did that lazy bum do now?” Ino managed to ask, chuckling weakly.

 

“Where is he?” Temari growled, flames dancing in her eyes.

 

“We… we haven't seen him,” Tenten offered hesitantly.

 

“Oi, woman,” Shikamaru's voice muttered from up on the roof of the building across from Ino and Chouji's house. “Keep your voice down. You don't need to annoy all of Konoha.”

 

Temari whirled and glared daggers up at her blasé husband. “When I catch you, you rutting bastard…” she snarled, making ready to jump up to the roof where he was.

 

“Wait!” Shikamaru stood up and gave her a stern look. “I don't want you doing anything dangerous anymore. You've got to watch out for yourself and the baby.”

 

“Whaaaaaat??” Three heads turned to Temari, who flushed but continued to look irate.

 

“You… you're pregnant?” Ino asked, shocked.

 

“And that's why you want to kill Shikamaru?” Tenten added.

 

“This is becoming an epidemic,” Sakura muttered.

 

Temari huffed and stalked away down the street toward their house. “I'm going home,” she said under her breath, still blushing furiously.

 

They silently watched her leave, and then all three turned their attention to the man standing on the roof. He jumped down and landed in front of them. “Sorry about that. Whole thing kinda took us by surprise and… well, she's not too happy.”

 

“So we gathered,” Ino replied, glaring at her teammate. “If she wasn't ready to have another baby, why didn't you use protection or something?”

 

Shikamaru blushed but shrugged. “She told me she did want another one. I don't know why she's so upset.”

 

“Wow,” Sakura murmured. “First Hinata finds out she's pregnant, then Ino, now Temari…”

 

“Wait- what?” Tenten looked at Ino. “You're pregnant again too? But Chouichi's not even a year old yet!”

 

“Yeah…” Ino grinned. “But Chouji wants a daughter. After seeing how cute Akina and Teiru are, he wants one of his own.”

 

“Good God,” Tenten grumbled, holding her head. “Now I feel really left out.”

 

“Don't worry about it,” Sakura told her, taking Kohaku from the poor girl. “I have a feeling you'll find a husband and have a whole herd of children.”

 

Tenten managed a weak smile as Ino, Shikamaru, and Sakura all laughed good-naturedly. If only, my friend… if only…

 

----------------------------

 

“You. Are. A. Baka.”

 

Neji looked up from perusing his many lists of wedding preparations to give Lee a perplexed look. “Why in the world would you say something so infantile?”

 

Lee frowned. “You are planning to marry a woman who barely knows you- and one who, I am sure, does not love you as you claim to love her! This clearly indicates a baka mentality.”

 

Neji regarded his friend for a moment. “Lee, there's something on you mind, so cough it up. I have other matters I need to see to before the wedding. It's less than two weeks away.”

 

“That is part of it too!” Lee exploded. “This entire affair is rushed way too quickly! Everyone is concerned because Safaia has hidden herself in Hinata's house, refusing to see anyone- including you-“

 

“It is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding anyway,” Neji interrupted.

 

Lee sighed heavily. “Neji, you are a genius. Everyone has acknowledged this. You have proven it time and time again over the years. Yet right now it seems as if you are thinking with the wrong head!”

 

Neji's eyes went wide in surprise. “Wow, Lee… that's probably the first time I've heard you ever say something like that.”

 

Lee blushed but continued his argument. “I am not the only one who thinks this! All of us can see that Safaia is not happy about this marriage- why are you forcing it?”

 

Neji was quiet for a moment. “I need to marry and sire an heir,” he replied softly. “It is my responsibility as the head of the Hyuuga clan. And Safaia is beautiful, smart, talented, and courageous. Once she begins training as a shinobi, she'll be able to protect herself and our children. It would be very easy to love her.”

 

Lee paused. “You… you don't love her?”

 

“I am very attracted to her,” Neji explained. “And I find many of her qualities endearing. I like her very, very much- but love must grow. That's what this marriage will be about.”

 

“But- but you told her you loved her!”

 

Neji shook his head slightly. “I wanted her to marry me. I told her what I thought would help convince her to say yes.” He looked up at Lee grimly. “But I do believe I could love her. There is no doubt about that.”

 

Lee sighed. “You are a fool, Neji. It is not my place to say why, so I will not. But just remember that love plots its own course. Your plans will not gainsay it.”

 

“This coming from a guy who has never been in love?”

 

The black-haired Chuunin scowled. “I have been in love, Neji. It was a one-sided love, much like your attraction to Safaia. My love married another and I can honestly say I am happy for her. She never would have been happy with me- her soul already belonged to someone else. Now I can see her and rejoice that her heart prospers.” With those final words, he turned and left Neji's study.

 

“She never would have been happy with me- her soul already belonged to someone else…”

 

Neji frowned as he turned back to his paperwork. I won't have that problem, Lee. Safaia's soul does not belong to anyone yet. And I will work hard to earn her love. The Hyuuga bloodline will continue.