Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Loveless Suna ❯ Chapter 16 ( Chapter 16 )

This chapter isn't really very exiting. There were just some things that had to be done before they left for Suna again. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Too bad, but I don't own Naruto, so I'm still broke.

When all the Konoha ninja's found out that the blood limit of the Matshuo clan was suppressed, it didn't take long before they overpowered the attackers once more.

I was just helping Kakashi on Gai's back; the silver haired nin had overused his sharingan again, when Tsunade appeared next to me.

“Hokage-sama, still as youthful as ever.” Gai said as greeting before running towards the hospital.

“Hokage-sama?” I asked when she didn't leave.

“Where did you get that scroll from?” I could here the seriousness in her voice and wondered of that old lady stole it or something.

“From an old lady in the hospital.” I answered truthfully. `If she did steal it there's nothing I can do about that.'

“Bring me to her.” The Hokage decided. Clearly she wanted everything done before taking her well-deserved break. I nodded and accompanied her to the hospital.

Of course we took a couple of wounded with us.

-

When we arrived at the hospital, we gave the patients to the medical staff and I lead the way to the old lady's room. On our way we passed the room that was occupied by Kakashi and I heard Iruka ramble something about not being so reckless or something. But the funniest thing was that the silver haired nin was still unconscious and Gai was standing next to the bed with a stupid smile taking in all of Iruka's tantrums.

“Everyone has his own way of dealing with things.” Tsunade mumbled leading me passed the room.

“You're right, but Iruka's is certainly hearable.” I chuckled and did see the glint of smirk on the Hokage's lips.

“We're here.” I interrupted our conversation recognizing the door that held the old lady behind it. I knocked politely before opening and snuck a peek with my head.

-

I saw the old lady in bed while caressing a little boy's hand, who was sitting next to her. The boy looked up and his eyes grow wide.

“Shizuka!” Souta yelled catapulting himself towards me. I hugged him and picking him up to be able to walk in the room to make room for Tsunade. The old lady smiled friendly at me and nodded respectful to the Hokage.

“I guess you know why I'm here.” Tsunade went straight to the chase.

“Of course, I believe the jutsu worked.” The big busted woman nodded while making it herself comfortable against the wall.

“I guess that I have to start with that me mother was the illegible child of the former leader of the Matshuo clan. He had fallen in love with my grandmother and when she announced that she was pregnant; my grandfather decided that he would take care of his child. Before he died he had copied the binding's jutsu of his clan and gave the copy to us so we could use it in case of an emergency.” She explained with an innocent smile on her face.

“Oh.” I said and looked to Tsunade while tracing calming circles on Souta's back. The Hokage considered this information and seemed to come to a decision.

“I guess it isn't your fault then, but I'm keeping this with me from now on.” She said pointing with her finger to the scroll in her hand. The old lady nodded still with her smile in place.

“Then I'm going to clean up the mess.” Tsunade mumbled nodded to us and opened the door, revealing Gaara behind it. I could still see the sand around him settle down, so knew that he had just arrived.

“Wow, now even the Kazekage is here to visit me. See how important we are, Souta?” The old lady asked playfully to the little boy in my arms.

“Yeah, thanks to us, we won the war.” He cheered, making me smile.

“Yeah, yeah.” Tsunade said and walked passed Gaara mumbling something about sake.

“Gaara, are you alright?” I asked worried, but of course there wasn't a scratch on him. He nodded politely as answer, staring at the little boy in my arms, who was getting nervous. “Ohw, this is Souta. The little boy I met in the hospital last time.” I made clear and noticed a glint of recognition in the blue-green eyes. “And this old lady is the one that gave me the scroll, sorry but I still don't know your name.” I apologized, but she only smiled again.

“It's Fuki Behina, but baachan is good enough.”

“Alright, baachan it is.” I decided smiling. “And thank you so much for taking care of this little boy here.”

“Who you calling little?!” Souta yelled annoyed.

“Well, as long as I'm able to carry you around like this, you're little.” I said in a playful tone.

“You'll see I'll be big soon and then I'm going to be just as strong as him.” The little boy defended himself pointing to Gaara, who raised an invisible eyebrow at that.

“Yes, someday you'll be just as strong as the Kazekage, but until then I'm still carrying you around.” I said back making him pout in frustration. I couldn't help but laugh and even noticed a small smile on Gaara's lips.

“I'm glad that he now has someone, who will take care of him.” Baachan said happily and made me look surprised at her.

“Yeah, you're never gonna leave.” Souta yelled his frustration completely forgotten, hugging me like there's no tomorrow. Not knowing what to do I search for help by Gaara, but his panic look only made me roll my eyes. `Big help he is.'

“You can't come with us, Souta.” I started gently. The boy looks shocked up and the redhead turned back to his emotionless state.

“I'm going back to Suna with the Kazekage.”

“Then I'll come with you!” Souta yelled helplessly.

“Do you want to leave everyone behind here? Don't you want to see baachan and your friends?” I asked and noticed the doubt in the young face.

“I'm never gonna see you again?” His sad voice whispered.

“Who said that? I'm going to make sure you find a good home and visit you all the time.” I comforted him and noticed him cheering up a bit.

“And I know just the perfect couple for you.” I decided staring at nothing in particular. “But we'll have to wait for a couple of days, because one of them is in the hospital.”

-

The next couple of days while we were waiting for my perfect couple, we were busy with helping to rebuild Konoha. But finally my guy got released and I invited them to Ichikaru's.

“When are they coming?” Souta asked exciding bouncing on his chair.

“Yo.” A voice beat me from answering.

“Iruka, Kakashi, I'm glad you could make it.” I greeted friendly, while Gaara just nodded to them.

“It's our pleasure.” Iruka responded just as friendly.

“Oh, and everything is alright with you, Kakashi?” I asked remembering his state when I helped him on Gai's back.

“Jep.” They both said down on the other side from Souta, who was ogling them with big eyes.

“Is there something?” Iruka asked confused with why there was a little boy present.

“Where are your manners?” I asked petting Souta's head.

“This is Souta.” I presented him to the two men.

“Oh, hi Souta, what a nice name.” The brown-head said in his mother-hen tone. He did know how to talk to little children, not like the Hatake prodigy, who just nodded. `He's just as bad as Gaara.' I couldn't help but compare.

The whole meal Iruka was busy with Souta, some times having Kakashi join the conversation.

“Don't they look like a real family?” I whispered to Gaara, who nodded sadly. He must have felt a sting of jealousy, because he's own childhood lacked the friendly family part. To take his mind of things I gave him a seductive kiss on the cheek, the lips were out of the question with Souta near and he gave me a small smile noticing what I was trying to do.

“So when are you two going back to Suna?” Iruka asked. He probably saw the kiss and knew that Gaara was dying to get back.

“After we find a suitable house for Souta.” I brought the real reason we were here.

“So you want us to take him in?” Kakashi asked bored. I nodded sheepishly, noticing that he was about to say no, but Iruka was looking with compassion at Souta, who was giving puppy-dog eyes back.

“'Kashi…” The schoolteacher started.

“'Ruka.” `Kashi whined back, showing his displeasure.

“We can't leave him outside in the cold!” The teacher yelled pulling Souta in his lap, aiming the puppy-dog eyes to his boyfriend.

“But a child… and we… ninja's…”

“Come on, a lot of ninja couples have children.” I could see Kakashi crumbling under Souta's stare.

“Maybe we could have won the war that way.” I whispered to the redhead behind me.

“If only.” He answered and I was trilled that he actually said something back. He was kind of quiet.

“Kakashi, I want a baby!” Iruka yelled all of a sudden and the only visible eye of the silver-head widened in surprise, but I could understand the brown-head. `Iruka is a schoolteacher. You can't expect him not to want one of his own, when he takes care of several every day.' Now the schoolteacher was also looking with puppy-dog eyes at his boyfriend and I noticed the defeated posture.

“Alright.”

“Yes, thank you honey!” The brown-head yelled kissing him lightly on the lips before hugging Souta like crazy.

“So can we go now?” The silver haired whined, but clearly glad with such a happy boyfriend. `Someone is going to get some tonight.' He chuckled inside. `Oh, but wait if we have a kid then every time something good happens… A good test, proud, happy `Ruka, when he's sick, I comfort him and get a very clingy `Ruka…' His smile was even visible under his mask, making Souta look odd at him, but his `Ruka just ignored him, clearly used to it.

“Don't you two have to go and…” He stopped to cover Souta's ears. “…identify the deceased.” He whispered the end.

“Oh, Shori…” I remembered all of a sudden and turned to the Kazekage.

“He kidnapped you.” The redhead said blunt.

“But today he rescued me. He gave his own life to rescue me.” I said making my own puppy-dog eyes. I just had to know if it worked on him.

“We do have to bring him back home.” He said emotionless.

`It didn't work.' I pouted, making an invisible eyebrow rise. “Let's go.” I decided, recovering myself. `One day I'll find something that can penetrate his iron will.' I thought pulling the Kazekage with me, waving at the new found family.

-

“Did we lose a lot of people?” I asked breaking the silence.

“No.”

“That's great news. Have you heard from Temari and Kankuro yet?” I continued my interrogation. The siblings had been sent back to Suna to keep an eye on things while Gaara was staying to help the Hokage and maybe because I wasn't ready to leave just yet.

“Yes, they've arrived safely.” I released a relieved sigh and cuddled Gaara's arm. He glanced in my direction, but said nothing about my behavior.

“Don't you think it's great that Iruka and Kakashi are going to adopt Souta?” I released his arm a little, just enough to be able to talk.

“Yes.” We arrived at the secluded tent that had been set up for the deceased.

“Finally, there you are!” Tsunade sighed annoyed when she saw us. “The most are already done. So you don't have much work left.” She continued clearly talking to Gaara, who nodded and walked passed her. He held the canvas open for me, but the Hokage stopped me.

“You're not really going let her enter, are you?” She asked concerned.

“The most are done, aren't they?” He asked as confirmation and Tsunade could do nothing but nod. She let go of me and a little scared I entered the tent.

“What did you two mean with the most are done?” I asked watching the white sheets that were hiding the corpses. It wasn't a pleasant view, but there weren't many, thank Kami.

“The most are already identified and taking back to their clans.” He explained with a gentle voice while laying one arm around my waist to put me at ease. He laid me quickly towards a corner and stopped in front of one body.

“Are you ready?” He asked concerned. I took a big breath, nodded and watched Gaara's sand raise the sheet to reveal the head. The moment I saw the pale skin of Shori's face I felt a pang of hurt in my heart and the first tears were already treating to fall. I almost hoped that he would open his eyes and glare at Gaara for toughing me.

“It's sad.” I mumbled and felt the blue-green eyes stare at me. “He wasn't really a bad person. He just lost it when he lost his first fiancé.” I explained. I didn't want Gaara to hate him. “I guess he was just someone, who had lost his goal in life and had retreated himself in his own world to hide from the pain.” I ended and felt another arm wrap around me.

“He shouldn't have taking something that was mine.” Gaara mumbled in my ear and I felt my heart miss a beat.

“So you love me?” I asked with narrowed eyes. This was the perfect time to end that stupid challenge, but clearly the kazekage got my intention because he looked teasingly back at me.

“I didn't say that.” He said, releasing me and walk back to the canvas. I watched him stop and turn back to see if I was following him. I pouted and turned back to Shori.

“Rest in peace, Shori. I hope you find love wherever you are. Oh, and I'll get your sister out of prison. I know you don't really like her, so I'm only going to tell Gaara about her innocent when we arrive in Suna.” With a forced smile I turned back to the waiting redhead. `That's the least I can do, right?' I asked in my head walking towards the Kazekage.

Stephke23: And Gaara still isn't admitting he's in love. Shizuka is going to have to be cunning to get him to admit it, I think.