Suna's Ninja (Gaara Love Story)

44: Mission Complete

Gaara couldn't believe it.

He stared at battlefield.

It had to be an illusion.

A dream his mind thought of.

Whack!

Temari's light smack on his shoulder snapped him back into reality. "Gaara," Temari called out to him, tears in her eyes, a smile on her lips. "We've won."

Gaara looked unresponsively at her for a moment, the elder taking the time to wrap her arms around him.

"It's over, isn't it?" He shut his eyes and sank into her embrace. It was a little too overwhelming, but sisterly nonetheless. Everyday, he faced horror after horror, bowed his head for the dead, and took on a new challenge for his people, his comrades, for his future family. "We can all go home, right?" His soft voice cracked at the end, his throat dry and his energy exhausted.

"Yeah. The war's over. We can finally, finally smile, knowing that tomorrow, there will be peace about the land."

"I'm glad," Gaara muttered, emotionally tired as well.

"He also got his friend back," Temari remarked, looking at Naruto and Sasuke. "What a difference it all makes."

"Naruto is a very willful person. What he wants happens."

"Shall we go? I'm so tired."

"Yeah."

The two siblings turn to see Kankuro with many Suna comrades waiting for them several meters away. "Lord Gaara!"

"We've won!"

"The war is over!"

"We finally have peace!"

"The five great nations won the war!"

"It's a miracle!"

"It truly has been, a battle won, a war finished," Gaara murmured, looking at the cheering people. "Once more, we will move forward towards the light. We will hold our loved ones close to our hearts and fight back, having faith in our comrades and family."

The war was over, a major mission complete on Gaara's agenda.

But he had no time to waste.

Akimi was still missing, and he couldn't rest easy until he had her tucked safely in his arms. Preferably with their newborn children with them as well.

"So where're here right now."

"Captain" Levi and Armin were in a meeting session with Akimi. Currently, they were trying to find a way to help take Akimi home.

"So here are the walls--you know, Sina, Rose, and Maria--and this where we are heading for the summer," Armin explained, while Akimi and Levi looked on. "We've been traveling rather steadily for several months now. We couldn't take you back because of your condition, but now that you're slowly recovering, we've decided that it would be better for you to head back as soon as humanly possible."

"Or else it will take forever to get me home," Akimi agreed, chin resting on her open palm.

"Right. We can't let Eren take you home, because he's a our head doctor, and one of our protectors," Armin continued, nodding. "In fact, ever since last August, we've had a major increase in population. It's far to risky for us to let go any of our guards or Titans, especially since we don't know what dangers lie ahead."

"I know."

"However, there's the argument that we need to get you back home efficiently and quickly. So we've decided it's either going to be one Titan shifter, or several guards."

"The consensus is one Titan," Levi interjected. "So long it's not Eren, Reiner, Annie, or Ymir."

Akimi raised an eyebrow." Guess it's Bertholdt then?"

"Yes," Armin continued. "The Colossal Titan is the biggest, as you know, and he's not as fast as the other four. Letting go any of the other four will weaken the Corps, and we'd rather avoid that situation."

"Oh, I understand. It's fine."

"Great, we'll send you on your way in minutes. Hanji is getting the twins, and Bertholdt was already informed," Armin said, beaming at her. "Good luck, Aki."

"Thanks so much, Armin," Akimi exclaimed, throwing arms around him.

"I've got the children," Eren announced, coming into the tent with two small babies in both arms. "Hanji was called to do a check up on our patients."

"They're so adorable," Armin gushed, leaning closer to the pudgy faces. Captain Levi grunted, picking up one of the babies from Eren with ease.

"Aki, I promised I'd show you how to carry two children in one long blanket," Eren said, handing the second baby to his best friend.

"Oh, right! How does this work?" Eventually, Armin dumped the second child in Levi's arms and promptly left in order to resume teaching the Corps children. Levi ended up staring at both children who had discovered how fascinating his cravat was.

"Great, now you put one baby here--Captain, give me the boy," Eren said holding the blanket over and around Akimi's shoulders. Levi relinquished his burden and watched the two secure the blanket over the child's back and make a space on the mother's back. After several knots and wraps of the cloth, Levi slotted the second child in the makeshift pocket of the blanket with Eren's directing.

"There! That's how you can carry two children at once," Eren exclaimed, stepping back. "I've gotten your medication and extra clothing together in a spare back, and Bertholdt is waiting for you outside."

"Thanks again, so much for everything," Akimi sighed, giving the doctor an awkward side-hug.

"No problem. Make sure you get home safely, and don't forget to take you meds until you can get a new prescription."

"Right!"