Naruto: Dreams Unraveled

See You Soon

The next morning I had gotten up, still in a bit of a haze from the previous night, and got myself ready for the day. The four of us would be heading back to Suna today, and I was not looking forward to leaving behind Takashi. But unfortunately, I would have to.

Once I was dressed and cleaned up, I 'poofed' out of the room and to the hospital. The only person I was able to scare was Kaminari as he jumped letting out a 'gah!' sound. I laughed as he caught his breath. All he did was place his hands on his hips as he sighed, "It is too early to be poofing around everywhere."

I took this moment to take in his appearance. Kaminari was very slim, tall, and did hold a feministic quality about him. His hair was a spiky white and put into a low pony tail that ended at his shoulder blades. Any girl would be able to fall for him and his hazel eyes, but he was simply too goofy, sarcastic, and dramatic once you got to know him.

Once I caught my breath from laughing, I spoke up with a smile, "Is Nanami here today?" He scrunched his face up as he thought, bringing a hand to the side of his face, "Well, I haven't heard her singing this morning, nor have I heard her running down the hall ways... for that matter I haven't even seen or heard of the girl sense yesterday." "That's alright, I'll find her eventually. If you do find her, send her to the infant wing," I walked off waving over my shoulder.

I took my time getting there as I stopped to talk to a few of my previous co-workers. But once in the infant wing, I turned to the large glass window that separated me from all the new born infants. Takashi was in the middle of the room as an older couple was looking at him, having one of the nurses talk to them to answer their questions. I couldn't help but let my heart ache...

Takashi would have a tough childhood, but I knew he would be strong... I knew both of his parents were and he would be as well. But in five short years, Takashi would find himself in my custody. I let a sigh escape my lips as I let my eyes wonder over the child I had come to love so much... It was going to be hard to say, 'see you soon'... he had already lost everything, but I would refuse to be one of them.

A hand came upon my shoulder as I stiffened. The hand then slid down to my waist as a red head of hair came to stand beside me. I relaxed as my senses finally kicked in to notice it was Gaara. "You vanished this morning," He spoke up softly. I just sighed as I held my arms, "I wasn't planning on taking too long."

Gaara was looking at the child as well, more in thought than anything as the couple, that had been there, left. "Who was his father?" Gaara asked calmly, still keeping his eyes on the baby that would one day be in his care as well. I paused before answering, "She... never said." Gaara was quiet as he let silence pass again. But before too long he whispered, "You know who he is, don't you?" The sea foam green eyes of the sand shinobi was now upon me as I went rigid... How did he know? I hated lying to Gaara, but 'what if's' filled my mind.

I made up my mind quickly as I answered him, relaxing into his touch, never taking my eyes of Takashi, "Yes... I do. I didn't want to lie to you... I'm sorry. My sensei wanted no one to know except me so I could one day give both her son and husband a message from her... It was her dying wishes that no one would know. Though, she did give me permission, when the time was right, to reveal this information... after all, nothing stays secret forever. But there are only specific people I am aloud to tell: The Hokage, the child's remaining family, Takashi himself, and my husband... you, Gaara. But if I were to say anything now, everyone would see him for his father and not as Takashi, the person he is to become. I'm sorry... I wish I could tell you now, but I can't..."

Gaara was quiet as he took this in. It seemed like hours before he pulled me to him and whispered, "I trust you, Holota. If you're protecting the child for those reasons, I will understand. And when you tell me, one day, I'll try my best to see why you and your sensei have made this agreement. I'll keep this secret for you." I looked up at him and smiled, "Thank you, Gaara."

"Holota?" A familiar voice called. Turning to the right, away from Gaara, as he let go of me, no one other than the Hokage stood before us. "What are you doing here?" She thought out loud. "Well, I was wondering if anyone has agreed to take Takashi in yet?" I voiced my concern. The blonde just gave a reassuring smile, "Not yet, but we'll make sure that someone will take good care of him until you're able to take over. I promise." I just gave a small smile back, as I gazed to Takashi once more before taking my leave with Gaara, "Thank you."

Once the four of us had everything packed up and ready to go, we were headed for the gates. Sakura and Shika were there to see us off. After short goodbyes, we turned to make our way back to Suna, but no later had we gone more than three yards that a shriek filled the air behind us, "HOOOOLOOOOTAAA!"

"What was that?" Kankuro asked as we all turned to see who on earth was calling out for me. I just laughed, knowing full well who it was, "That would be the coffee." They all gave me a confused look as if I had gone crazy, but turning their gaze to the oncoming figure, they found no one other than Nanami. We waited for her until she stopped in front of me, hands on her knees and panting as if she had run every street within the village.

"If your that out of shape, I have a bone to pick with whoever took over your training," I commented. "No, no, no! I'm just running late! I'm sorry!" She jumped up straight. "Come to say goodbye?" I asked. "NOOOO! I'm your student I have to go with you sense Lady Tsunade sent a request into Suna asking if my training could continue. But I have to be with you for that, so I have to go to Suna so I can become a better ninja and medical ninja in general!" I had barely caught it all sense she was talking so fast, but I was still under the influence that she was on a coffee high.

Once thoroughly processed though I just smirk, "Oh, really? You missed me that much?" "Yes!" She cried, "I won't be much of a burden, I promise! You took over my training when everyone else gave up on me! Please let me go with you!" By this time I was just smiling, "You realize I never said no. Besides, you said the Hokage requested you to go, so you have clearance already."

The girl blinked several times before she comprehended what I said. She squeaked loudly as we began taking our leave again, the other three following in suit, "Really?!" "Really, now come on, before we decide to leave you behind," I smirked again. Nanami just giggled, catching up to the four of us. I still had my smirk as I chuckled to myself, as Kankuro took notice, "What's so funny?" "Whatever you three do, don't kill her," I responded as I got their attention before my student had caught up. "Why would we kill her?" Temari asked, confused.

"When the mindless singing, pointless conversations, and childlike complaining sets in, keep in mind that Nanami is something far from normal," I continued to smirk. Temari and Kankuro deadpanned as Gaara already had a look of irritation plastered on his face. I just laughed, racing off toward Suna with a happy-go-lucky Nanami and irritated/unnerved sand siblings behind me.