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Love Me When I'm Gone	By : KittenCobra Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 1971 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (the manga or anime) or any of the characters included within it. I only own the original characters in this story including the main character Utako Mizuke. I do not make any form of profit off of this story.

Chapter List
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45. Housing
As we walk into the gates of Suna the next morning, the throng of people that greets us is amazing. This is equally as many people as had flooded the streets upon Gaara’s return from his abduction when I first arrived. I hadn’t realized until Gaara spoke with me this morning that he had made an announcement to the village before his departure – and then had sent word from Konoha informing the people of his acceptance of a bride. They have all turned out to catch a glimpse of the woman who has caught the Kazekage’s eye. The fan girls are beside themselves with disappointment.
Tsunade and Kakashi were successfully able to keep me hidden away last night, with Tsunade coming in to wake me herself. As soon as I signaled her that I had my illusion back in place, and everyone’s mind firmly in my grasp, she exited and allowed Gaara entrance. He came in with Naruto and Kankuro again, who had insisted on seeing me themselves also. They all breathed an inward sigh of relief at seeing my face free of fatigue again.
Now as we parade through the gates of Suna, the people in the streets are cheering and hollering. They’re all battling to get a glimpse of me as we pass. I hold my head high, and my spine straight and confident, to make it easier for them. We are headed for Gaara’s office. That is when we will formally go our separate ways to prepare for the upcoming ceremony. The leaf village representatives will accompany me until I am formally passed over to Gaara. In the two days between now and then, a small apartment has been reserved for me to stay in. I brought only a few outfits with me from Konoha, and these will be transferred to Gaara’s home by someone else the day of the wedding.
As we enter the Kazekage tower, I can hear the noise behind us dying down as the massive door closes. No one bothers to go all the way into Gaara’s office. The elders from Konoha nod their goodbyes to Tsunade, headed to their own reserved rooms before the ceremony. The council members from Suna bow to me each in turn, excited that so far it doesn’t seem as if I’m going to bolt and leave their hard work void. They head back to their own respective homes to continue making preparations with local vendors.
Kakashi, Sakura, Naruto, Shikamaru, Tsunade, myself, Gaara, Temari and Kankuro all remain, and continue into Gaara’s office. Kankuro brings up the rear and shuts the door firmly behind him, locking it for good measure. Everyone breathes out a sigh, and Kankuro starts laughing.
“Damn, am I glad that bullshit is over,” he says through his laughter. “This has been such a bad joke.” Everyone knows he is talking about the continued charade that Gaara and I have no pre-established relationship.
“I know!” Naruto joins in, holding his sides. “Those guys look like they think you’re gonna run for the hills, Mizuke.”
“It’s such a pain…” Shikamaru adds his perpetually bored voice to the fray, and Temari glares at him. “I can’t wait until we can just act normal.”
“Settle down everyone,” Tsunade’s voice cuts in. “This may seem like a big joke to everyone, but Gaara and Mizuke wouldn’t be putting themselves through it if it weren’t important. We have to maintain this sense of imbalance until after the papers are signed. The leaf’s support of Mizuke is important to Gaara – as it is to me. This alliance is not just some game. It will make a lasting difference for our people.”
I want to smile at her, and thank her, but Gaara is kissing me. He completely encircles us in sand, blocking everyone’s view. Within this tiny bubble, shielded from the outside world, I accept his affection hungrily. I entwine my fingers into his hair, kissing him will all my pent-up frustration and pressing myself into every inch of him. I would melt completely into him if I could. His thoughts mirror my own, and he trails kisses down my throat, pulling my top to the side slightly to kiss the kanji scar on my chest. I nip at his ear and a frustrated rumble escapes his throat.
“Gaara!” Temari shouts, banging on the outside of the sand. “We’re not just gonna stand here and wait for you to ravish her! Give her back so we can figure everything out!”
Gaara lifts his head and glares, dropping his sand to see her. I can feel the slight blush on my cheeks, and bury my face against his chest breathing in the earthy scent of him. Everyone’s thoughts are amuzed, including Temari’s. Tsunade’s are slightly apologetic with what she is about to propose.
“Gaara,” she ventures, “I know you want to spend as little time away from Mizuke as possible, but I need you to seriously think about the current situation.”
He turns a level eye to her, waiting for her to explain. She leans against his desk and meets his eyes.
“Mizuke is going to be watched very nearly constantly between now and the wedding,” she continues. “I know you have arranged for the apartment for her. I recommend we take her there as soon as possible. I also recommend that… you resist seeing her until after that time.”
“That is none of your concern,” he says in a deadly tone. His response makes her angry and she crosses her arms in front of her chest casting her own glare now.
“Take 5 minutes to think with your brain,” she spits. “There is no way to ensure no one sees you. No way to ensure the council doesn’t get word that you, or even worse someone else, are slipping into her room at night. What kinds of conditions will change if that happens? You can’t guarantee it won’t!”
I know why she is suggesting this. She is concerned that I have as much opportunity to sleep before the wedding as possible. Gaara has a full week off after the ceremony and she doesn’t expect him to let me out of his sight. She’s right. I can feel Gaara’s anger and frustration rolling off of him in waves. He wants to prove her wrong but he knows she’s right. He doesn’t even want to think about what will happen if our little secret is discovered this close to the ceremony.
“And what are you suggesting?” his voice drips with ice.
“That you do exactly as you would if the lie were true! You set her up in her apartment. Post guards to keep her safe. Don’t even think about going to see her until she is officially yours in their eyes. Try your damned hardest to act like you’ll soon be tied to an obligation instead of a lover.” The small group of shinobi is finding her proposal more and more unlikely as she continues. “And whatever you do… don’t slip up and show her affection in public!” Even I am beginning to doubt the possibility of this.
Tell him this will give you an opportunity to rest, Tsunade instructs me mentally.
“Gaara,” I croon to him lifting my face, “She is right. I don’t want to risk this all blowing up in our faces. Besides, this will give me a chance to just rest until the ceremony. Temari can handle the arrangements that still need to be made. I just want to show up. I am still tired…”
I let my voice trail off and his thoughts soften in concern. He squeezes me tightly against him, kissing the top of my head.
“Very well,” he agrees to my request – ignoring Tsunade now. “If you need anything before then, come to me immediately. Do not hesitate to… demand if need be.” I understand what he is saying, to keep my charade up in front of the council if necessary.
The leaf shinobi eye him skeptically, but Temari and Kankuro know better. They know how much effort he put into staying away from me before because he believed it best for me. They are not looking forward to dealing with his mood again, however.
Gaara looks up to face Tsunade again. “Naruto has the address of her new apartment. Take her straight there. There will already be someone waiting for you.”
-----------------------------------
As we walk along the streets of Suna once again, the crowds murmur and cheer continuously as we pass. Naruto bounces alongside me, excited as always. He loves visiting Suna, but is extra buoyant awaiting the resolution of what he considers an unnecessary problem. In his mind, I am Gaara’s woman and always have been. I want to giggle at his simplistic way of viewing the world.
We start to approach a building I know all too well, and I can feel a mixture of excitement and dread begin building in my stomach. Shikamaru notes the slight shift immediately and ambles up beside me.
“Everything okay?” he asks, curious about the cause.
“Yeah,” I mumble, still watching the building. “I just have a lot of memories of this building.”
“This is where you’re staying!” Naruto shouts, pointing directly at it.
There is a sand shinobi waiting at the front door of the building to usher us inside. We make our way up the stairs and my mixed emotions grow in strength. Naruto slides up beside a door on the second story and motions towards it with a huge grin. I just stare at it in shock. Naruto’s smile waivers.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, not bothering to hide his confusion.
“This is a mistake,” I mumble through numb lips. “Read the address again.”
He looks down at the small piece of paper in his hand and then hands it to Kakashi. “No,” Kakashi states, “this is the right address according to the instructions we were given.”
I roughly push them aside and knock firmly on the door – praying it opens, praying this is all a mistake.
“Ummm… Mizuki?” Naruto questions, “No one is inside.”
I knock roughly again, willing him to be wrong. After a few frustrating moments, I push the door open and step inside. I gasp at the sight that meets me, bringing my hands to cover my mouth.
It’s empty! I shriek mentally at all of them. Why is it empty?!
“Oh, that,” Naruto straightens and smiles at me. “Don’t worry. They’re bringing in furniture and stuff in for you in about an hour. You’ll be set-up before nightfall.”
But he doesn’t understand my problem. I rush out onto the balcony and nearly collapse at the sight of the small table that used to hold my precious evening meal. The woman who provided for me is nowhere in sight. Her tiny home is stripped bare and the life has gone right out of it with her. This tiny table on the second story balcony and some brighter sections of paint on the walls where her pictures once sat are the only remaining evidence of her presence.
“Where is she?!” I shout at Naruto, who is now completely shocked by my outburst. I can feel tears springing to my eyes and one leaks down my cheek.
“Where is who, Mizuke?” Shikamaru’s hard tone cuts in. He realizes already that this must be the home of someone I met in Suna before, but had been informed that I knew no one else here.
“The woman who lived in this apartment. This was her home!” I slump to the floor and cover my face in my hands, trying to hold back a sob.
“Hey, whoa…” Naruto crouches beside me, gripping my shoulders. “You’ve been gone for a while, Mizuke. She probably moved while you were gone.”
“No,” I shake my head at him feverishly. “She wouldn’t have left here. This is where she lived with her husband before he died. She wouldn’t have moved unless someone forced her!” I remember her fond memories of him drifting through when she mentioned him during our conversation.
“Now hold on,” Kakashi says crouching down and lifting my chin to meet my teary gaze. His mind is worried about my hormones making my mood more unstable. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we can find out what happened to her. If she lived here as long as you say, the neighbors are bound to know where she went.”
This brings me back from my fit of despair. “You’re right,” I acknowledge, jumping to my feet and nearly knocking both of them over. I can hear Shikamaru mumbling his typical comments about “troublesome women” from behind me. Internally, however, he is concerned about not knowing this piece of information about me in advance. I leave the apartment, crossing the hall to knock as calmly as possible on the small door on the other side. A young man greets me, looking confused.
“I’m sorry,” I start, trying to act normal instead of mildly hysterical. “The woman who lived here across the hall from you... Do you know where she lives now?”
“Ummm…” he mumbles, “Who are you? How do you know Michiko?”
“She is a friend of mine, but I have been away from the village for many weeks now,” I plead with him. “I didn’t know she planned to move…”
He looks skeptically at me, but his eyes grow worried as he catches a glimpse of the small crowd of shinobi at my back. “She had to move out,” he finally explains, looking angry, “She couldn’t afford to live here anymore.”
I feel guilt slam into me like a tidal wave. Did I do this? She was providing for me… “Why?” I finally manage to ask in a whisper.
“One of the council members changed the provisions given to shinobi widows a few days ago. They decided to give amounts that reduced over time. The longer they have been a widow, the less money they receive. It supposedly gives them time to get jobs after their husband has passed, but they enacted it overnight. She wouldn’t be able to stay… so the landlord kicked her out.”
“What?!” My voice is filled with unbridled rage at this news. The young man’s eyes widen in surprise. Those bastards!
I can feel Kakashi gripping my shirt from behind, afraid I’m going to really lose it.
“Where is she now?” My voice drips with ice and death.
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Love Me When I'm Gone

45. Housing