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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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46. New Guardian
I managed to find her – Nagataka, Michiko as I now know her. She had moved all of her belongings into a tiny one-room apartment in one of the more dangerous parts of town. I haven’t approached her yet. I am too angry, and I don’t even know how to explain to her who I am – or how my life has changed. I have decided to talk to Gaara about this. I cannot stay in that apartment knowing she was forced to leave it. Shikamaru has gone to tell Tsunade of my distress and my plan. Kakashi and Naruto shadow me but know better than to try and stop me. Gaara would not allow them to prevent me from getting to him.
I storm into the tower, proceeding straight through into his office without bothering to knock. There are 3 council men in his office and they jump to their feet in surprise at my entrance. Two of them accompanied us on our trip. One of them I have not met before. Gaara’s mind is shocked and I can feel him pressing against its walls – listening for me to tell him what’s wrong.
He narrows his eyes in mock aggravation at my entrance, rising to his feet. “Mizuke,” he states in a flat tone. “Why have you returned? You should knock before entering.” What is wrong?? his thoughts are worried at my mental silence.
“Who is Council member Takeshi?” I demand in an angry voice.
The man I have not met before stiffens at my question and I turn to face him pointedly.
“This is he,” Gaara states, gesturing towards him. “Why do you ask?”
“Did you know about his plan to reduce the stipends paid to your shinobi widows?” I ask, not hiding the anger in my voice.
“We have discussed it in the past,” Gaara continues, “He knows I do not agree. Now, what is this about, and why does it concern you?”
“It concerns me because I will soon be a shinobi wife,” I glare at the man before me. His thoughts are terrified that I am going to reveal his meddling to Gaara. He believed that the change would be overlooked because of the wedding plans and that he could pad his pockets with the extra funds while padding the budget. “The needs of the women in this village concern me. Tell me Council Member Takeshi… when were you planning to tell my intended that you enacted your plan while he was away?”
Now the man has Gaara’s full attention and his sand rises in threat. The other two men also look at Takeshi in shock. “What did you do?” one of them asks with disapproval.
“We need to balance the budget for the upcoming year,” Takeshi tries to defend himself with a lie in his thoughts. “That money can help. Those women need to find ways to provide for themselves.” He turns to glare at me, his hatred roiling within him at my revelation of his plot. “A woman should know her place.”
How did you know of this? Gaara asks me.
The apartment I was given belonged to someone very precious to me. My thoughts radiate with pain as well as anger. She was forced out of her home a couple of days ago, after this man reduced her income to nothing overnight! I cannot live there while she is forced to live somewhere else. This man plans to steal some of the money for himself too!
I can feel Gaara’s anger seethe at the man’s obvious attempt to get around his authority.
“Takeshi,” Gaara’s voice cuts in as a deadly note. “I do not believe you have met my bride. Do you remember the gifts she brings to our village?”
Takeshi’s eyes widen, only now remembering my telepathy. He has no idea how strong I am. “Yes,” he mumbles through a choked voice. “Lord Kazekage, I intended no harm. I simply was continuing the affairs of state in your absence.” He knows he is lying, but wonders if he can hide it somehow.
Liar!! I screech to Gaara. He hoped you would overlook it because of the wedding! I feel like tearing the man’s head from his shoulders.
“Those women have given everything!” I shout at Takeshi. “Their husbands gave their lives for this village. You…”
“Mizuke,” Gaara interrupts me with a cold tone, “This affair concerns me. I will deal with the problem but I thank you for making me aware of the issue.” He turns his intention towards Takeshi again. “You would be wise to remember her gifts, Takeshi. Her place will soon be as the Honorable Wife to the Kazekage. I’m sure she will remember you.” Gaara smiles so evilly at him, I can feel my own spine shudder at the malice in it.
I can feel the other two council men thinking over my outburst. They are amazed at my quick interest in village affairs. One is proud of my enthusiasm for my role. The other is nervous about how hard this could make future negotiations. Takeshi glances at me again with fear in his eyes, then storms out of the room.
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As I leave the Kazekage tower, I can hear Kakashi’s thoughts behind me and their substance catches my attention. He is wondering if this Michiko woman would make a suitable new guardian for me.
Do you know if Michiko is trustworthy? He asks.
As a guardian? I question him. She took care of me while I was here before, but I only allowed her to see me once. She cannot defend herself! I would not risk her then, why would I now? Why do I need one? I have Gaara.
Gaara doesn’t know your secret, he challenges me. As soon as the wedding is over, no one in this village will. You need someone to watch over you while you sleep – you know this. Perhaps she could protect you in this small way.
I don’t want to risk exposing her to Gaara’s anger. What would she do when he discovers my secret? I am terrified of the thought of Gaara harming her because of me.
It was just a thought. You need someone. Kakashi continues to mull over the possibility. Speaking of which… here she comes.
I focus my attention in front of me, and see her headed directly towards me. She hesitates about 10 feet away, unsure of whether she should reveal her knowledge of me in public. I am also unsure but the tears in her eyes break my resolve. I hold a hand out to her in welcome and she rushes in to hug me tightly to her. I adjust the sensation in her mind quickly to cover the contradiction in shape from my visual appearance. Naruto is surprised at the display of affection from her, but pleased.
“Is this her?” he asks in a loud voice.
“Yes,” I state with a smile as she pulls back from me slightly embarrassed. “Naruto, this is Nagataka Michiko, a dear friend of mine from Suna. Michiko, this is Uzumaki Naruto and Hatake Kakashi from the Village Hidden in the Leaves. They are my honored guards and dear friends.” They nod to her in greeting and she bows slightly.
“May I speak to you in private?” she asks hesitantly.
“Yes, I think I know just the place.”
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She stares around the empty apartment, and I can feel pain radiate from her at the loss. It’s enough to bring tears to my eyes.
“Michiko,” I try to explain, “I did not bring you here to cause you pain. I intend to make sure you get your home back. The Kazekage will not deny me this.”
She glances at Naruto and Kakashi nervously. My stomach rumbles audibly and I realize it has been much too long since I’ve eaten. I need to get better about that for the baby’s sake.
“Naruto?” I ask. “Could you find me a place in Suna to get decent ramen? I need to eat something and I trust your opinion.”
“Sure thing!” he shouts excitedly. “You can count on me!” He barrels out of the door for what I hope will be a long enough trip to speak with Michiko.
“Michiko,” I speak gently to her, sitting down in one of the chairs that has been brought in for me, and gesturing for her and Kakashi to do the same. “Kakashi is my Sensei. You can speak freely in front of him. He is one of the only people I have no secrets from.” I can see her shoulders relax their tension.
“I was so afraid when you left!” she gushes. “You told me not to worry but then I heard that a young woman was abducted from our village, and the Kazekage had left to aid in her rescue. Are you the woman he plans to marry?”
“Yes,” I smile at her obvious intelligence and reasoning ability. She knows many things without my need to tell her. I remember thinking of her as a mind reader once before but she’s just like Shikamaru. “I am now a leaf shinobi and they have offered me as a bride to him in a peace treaty between the villages.”
“Right,” she snorts. “I saw him with you a couple of times in passing before you left Suna. I was surprised to see you out so openly, because you’d been so afraid before. You were always draped on his brother’s arm like a trophy. But when the Kazekage looked at you… he couldn’t hide his… interest. I could never tell whether you knew of his interest or not. When he rushed out to rescue the abducted woman, I was sure it was you! I was terrified whoever you were running from had finally found you!”
The tears are back in her eyes again, and her voice breaks softly. She gets up from her chair and kneels in front of me, cupping my face in her hands.
“When he returned without you with him… he looked like a man half-dead with grief. He was angry and short-tempered. He was calloused to any woman who got close to him. I have to admit, I was watching him carefully. I believed you to be dead. I cried and cried. I wanted to ask someone but I was afraid that if you still lived it would put you at risk. When I heard he was getting married, I had to come see if it was you!”
Kakashi is in awe of her deductive reasoning, and how she understood so much with so little actual information. I look inside her mind and find only kindness and happiness for me. She wants to help me still, but doesn’t know what she could offer me.
“You have been too kind to me,” I whisper to her, realizing that I am loosing grip of my cool composure. “I haven’t done anything to deserve your kindness.”
“You haven’t done anything not to,” she counters. “I am just glad you are finally safe.”
“Actually…” I look to Kakashi and he nods. He believes she is the best available candidate to help me as long as I believe I can trust her.
“What?” she asks with a worried tone.
“Michiko, I have no right to ask you for any more help,” I start, needing her to understand, “But I am not out of danger yet. I would accept your help, if you were willing to give it.”
“Of course!” she agrees without hesitation.
“It is not so simple…” I clarify, “This would require you to hide things for me. The danger I face now comes from the Kazekage himself. It would put you in considerable risk.”
Her enthusiasm falters. She looks at me and then her gaze shifts to Kakashi.
“I will not do anything that would harm the people of this village.” She is firm on that, but doesn’t believe I would ask such a thing of her. She is trying to understand what I am asking.
“I would not ask that of you,” I assure her. “This is of a more delicate and… private nature. It is something that would upset the Kazekage, but which will benefit him in the end. I cannot explain more. He would be angry that I have hidden something from him – something about myself. I cannot risk showing him yet, but he will eventually find out the truth no matter what happens. I just need time. I can’t do this alone. But if you are not willing to place yourself at risk like this, I completely understand. I will not utter a word more and ask that you simply choose to forget this conversation to protect me.”
Her thoughts are jumbled as she tries to piece the puzzle together. None of her thoughts involve her own safety. She wants to help and protect me like she did before. I am startled by her train of thought. She has no children of her own. Her life was similar to my own before she met her husband. He gave her safety but could not give her children of her own. When she met me, she latched onto me as someone to care for and it seems to have been compounded by the fact that she believed me to have died despite her desire to help. She cares for me the way she would a grown child. I am stunned by the fervent desire she has to protect me, and see me experience my own joy in life. She is troubled by my description of fearing the Kazekage. She had hoped what she glimpsed in his eyes was love…
“I’ll do it,” she agrees looking into my eyes. “As long as it won’t hurt anyone else, I want to help you.”
I can’t help but hug her. Pulling back, I breathe in deeply and begin my story. I explain to her who I am, why I was on the run, who from, and about my ability. She is surprised, but not concerned about my ability to read her thoughts. I explain how I met Gaara, how I seduced him and how he discovered my ability. She shudders in fear at his reaction and how close I came to losing my life, but she warms again at my explanation of how he found and cared for me – how he took over for her when he took me in. I explain that I never told him about her and that until today he didn’t even think I knew anyone else in Suna.
Then I get into the tough stuff. I explain about my belief that I could not have children. I review the brief things I remember of my abduction and rescue. Tears stream down my face and hers as I tell her about waking up in the hospital to news that I had lost a child I didn’t even know I was carrying. I tell her the short version of Gaara leaving me in Suna, and why he did so – but explain that he eventually came back for me and worked with Tsunade to set-up the current arrangement of marriage. I stress the importance of no one else knowing he and I already have a relationship.
“Does he love you?” she asks, genuinely concerned. I gently brush her mind with my memories of his feelings for me and blush. She smiles but then feels confused.
“I don’t understand,” she looks between Kakashi and I again, “You said that he was the danger. What are you hiding from him, and why?”
With a deep steadying breath I dropped the illusion from her mind and Kakashi’s. She gasps in surprise at my sudden change in form, and brings her hand down gently to touch the small protrusion from my belly. Her eyes look up into my own, wide with amazement.
“This is another child?” she asks. “I thought he would be more careful…”
“No,” I clarify, “This is the same child, the one everyone believed I lost – including me. I didn’t know it still lived until after Gaara returned for me.”
“Good heavens…” she whispers glancing at my stomach, “It’s a miracle then. But you…” She looks back up at my face and the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. “No…” she whispers, “No, you… you’ll die!”
“I know,” I affirm solemnly, feeling the familiar stab of pain. Fresh tears wash down my face. “I don’t want to hurt him, Michiko. But I cannot harm my own child. This baby needs me. I would give anything to bring him into this world – and if that means my life… then it does. I wish…” I choke out, “I wish I could hold him in my arms just once before I die. That would be wonderful. But if his father learns of his existence too soon, he will try to destroy him to save me. I do not want to fight him. I want to love him while I still can. I have less than 6 months left to live.”
Out of the corner of my eye I can see a single tear roll down Kakashi’s cheek in silence. He remembers the memorial back home for his fallen teammates. He is so tired of seeing good people die. Michiko chokes out a sob and throws her arms around my neck.
“Then we will protect this precious little one,” she says fervently, “Thank you for trusting me with this. I know it must be easier because you can read my thoughts… but I appreciate it no less. God I wish we had more time! Who else knows?”
“Myself,” Kakashi cuts in with a rough voice. “the Hokage of the Leaf Village, and one other shinobi – one of the Sannin who detected the baby’s presence before Mizuke knew to shield it. The baby will be protected by the terms in the marriage contract – a citizen of both villages and guaranteed protection from both. Our Hokage has tried to find a way to save Mizuke from this fate, but so far the sand protecting the child is already too strong.”
To illustrate his point, I bring my hand to strike against my stomach, and instead it strikes a thin layer of sand which dissipates just as quickly. Michiko’s eyes are wide as she sees the evidence.
“The child is already strong then. This is good,” she looks up at me. “He may be able to face his father in time.”
“I hope so,” I mumble. “I won’t be there to protect him.”
“If it is within my power,” she whispers, cupping my face in her hand again, “I will watch over him.”
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Love Me When I'm Gone

46. New Guardian