The Return (Book 2 of It's Not Forever) COMPLETE

Chapter 16

    I haven't left her side since the explosion. As soon as the light and force ebbed away and the shinobi attacked again, I rushed through the fray toward her body. It was strange to say the least; she wasn't laying on the ground, but floating in the air unconscious, looking almost like an angel. Seeing her up there left me awestruck while broken. I never thought she would be this powerful. I used my sand to lift myself up toward her and took her into my arms. Her body went slack once I touched her and it was strange for me to see her so still and calm. I held her once before while she was dead, but that time I knew she would come back. There's a likely chance she will never wake up. The war ended shortly afterward, with Madara turning into Kaguya, the mother of the sage of six paths, and was sealed away by Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi. The shinobi returned to their villages to bury the dead and Tsunade allowed me to take Kaida's body with me in case she came back.
It's been two years since her death, but her body's condition has not changed. She hasn't decayed or anything like that. I'd set her up at the hospital in her own wing under constant watch, her body hooked up to a heart rate monitor running a flat line. If it ever changes, they are to summon me immediately. As much as I'd like to stay with her all day every day, I have to run my village. Naruto and I have kept contact and from what he's told me, he still wanting to take the Hokage in Kakashi's place someday. He and Hinata finally married and have two children. Sasuke left Konoha shortly after the war, but I heard he has a child with Sakura. Temari and Shikamaru married, though their relationship got very rocky after the war. Shikamaru blames himself as much as I do for Kaida's death and it's caused a strain on them, but I'm glad they worked it out, especially for my nephew Shikadai. Everyone has moved on with their lives and I've tried, but my heart won't let me. My feelings have never wavered for that brunette laying in the hospital bed and I can't and won't let her go. I've done nothing but retreat back to my emotionless shell that I'd had before I met her and she broke through it. I look up from signing paperwork at my desk and expect to see her sitting on the windowsill staring out across the village or making silly faces at me. I sigh and tear my gaze away. My hand reaches down to the bottom desk drawer and I pull out a bottle of sake. My hand lingers on the thought of taking a glass out as well, but I know there's no point and I lift it to my lips. A harsh, almost strangled laugh escapes me as the drink reminds me of her. She drank it the night she first kissed me and set Kankuro on fire. She'd tried to get me to dance with her as well and I should've done it as frivolous as it was. I should've spent more time with her while I had the chance.
A knock on the door draws my attention and my heart leaps in hope. It's only Kankuro and I slump in my seat and take another sip. He closes the door behind him and leans against the wall next to it. His look is sympathetic and I avoid his gaze. He quietly tells me that I don't need to torture myself over it all and that I should be happy that she helped save the world and that she died happily. I nod at his words though I can't convince my mind to accept it. I take another sip and he crosses the room to take it away from me.
"We don't need another person setting me on fire because of this." He jokes and a slight smile crosses my face.
"You were terrified." I mutter.
"She was a sound user, I didn't expect fire to come out of her... I'm sorry for what I did to her before the exams. I don't know what came over me, I was young and stupid. I was jealous that she was so close to that Nara kid and I wanted her but she rejected me. Then when she was able to hug you that night without being touched by the sand I was mad that I couldn't get near my own brother but she could. I never got to apologize to her, so I want to apologize to you instead."
"I understand and I'm fairly sure that she understood as well."
"Good... Come on, I've made dinner."
He puts the cork back in the bottle and puts in back in my desk.
"I'm not hungry."
"You haven't eaten in a week. Come eat. If Temari were here she'd hit you on the head and drag you back to the house."
I sigh and follow him out of the office and back to the house. Though she lived here for only a little while, it still feels strange to not have her singing and dancing around in the kitchen. I take my seat and poke at the food sullenly. Kankuro eats in silence while I try to force myself to eat. The front door opens and an out of breath shinobi rushes into the kitchen. She skids to a stop on the tile and bows to me before speaking.
"Ka-Kazekage-sama, it's... hurry... it's-"
"Spit it out Miako." Kankuro scolds, losing his patience.
I get to my feet, expecting to have to rush off to fight or something like usual.
"The girl in the East Wing! She's awake."
My heart skips a beat and I stare at the girl and ask her to repeat herself, thinking I'd heard her wrong.
"She's awake."
I rush out of the house and toward the hospital, using my sand to help me move faster. I can hear Kankuro running after me but I don't slow down. I have to see it for myself. She has to be awake. She has to be...

A/N: Picture is Miako. Finally was able to get one to work -.-