And The Pain Ends

Thanks to anon for pointing out my double post i fixed it.
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The scene was different this time, an endless dirt path stretched out before Taku. Yondaime and Hitomi appeared beside her along with two other figures, it was her step father and the woman who raised her, the one she knew as mommy for the first years of her life. One couple stood on Taku’s right while the other stood on her left. Taku’s step father turned to you. "Lorraine, well I guess it's Taku now. I just wanted to say thank you. I can only be here because you forgave me. I know later on in my life I became a horrible person and I should never have treated you the way I did. I'm so sorry."

Yondaime then took over, "This my dear is the path of you life. It may seem simple to you right now but soon you will be faced with rough terrain, twists and turns, mountains and valley's, and forks that lead you down different ways. I have faith that you will always chose the right path but unfortunately we won't be around to help you any longer. My baby girl saying goodbye is always hard especially for your mother and I who have known you for such a short time but we have helped you as much as we can."
Hitomi spoke up for the first time. "My darling Takumari, I want you to know a few things before you start down this path." Suddenly a scene showed up before you. It was from that very night. Chouji was holding her close to him and he began to speak to the empty air around himself.

"Taku has seen so much pain in her life. Why her? She is so kind and so sensitive she still loved the bastard who spent years hurting her when he should have loved her. Why can't something good happen to her? Why can't she find something to ease her pain?" He let out a single tear and kissed Taku on the forehead before going to sleep.

The mother who raised her spoke up. "He doesn't know sweetheart that he is the good thing that has happened in your life. He doesn't realize he brings the sunshine in and makes you smile. You should really let him know."

With that they all vanished. This was the last time you would see them before going through the gateway of life and death. Taku took a step on the dirt road and started walking but she could feel a presence beside her. Suddenly she looked at the ground and she saw the shadow (transparent images) of all her friends walking beside her, hand in hand. Chouji was right there on her right, and Naruto was on her left and their shadows were holding her hands she smiled and began to run down the path. With such good people walking beside her how could she ever chose the wrong path. Slowly Taku woke up. She saw her angel still holding her in his arms. That is definitely what Chouji was. He was her own personal angel. Her angel who had pulled her from the depths of despair and the love of her life.

She got up and took and changed into a clean training outfit. Taku then picked up all the dirty clothes around the room and took them to the laundry room. Luckily they all fit into one load so she ran down to the kitchen to begin preparing breakfast. Taku made eggs, waffles, hot coca, and sausage. As she was setting the table you began to sing Angel of mine. Soon Chouji came down stairs. He took her hand and began to twirl her around the kitchen while she sang the song. Hiding on the stairs looking around the corner was Kenshin and Shizuko. When the song was finished Chouji pulled her closer. "I guess you feel better today, huh Taku?"

"How can I not when I have an angel like you watching over me. You brought the light back into my life Chouji, I love you." Taku pulled herself up to her tip toes and kissed him. The kiss lasted a full minute before they heard an awwwww come out of the audience. They all laughed and then sat down to breakfast.

"You know, it's really easy to tell how much you two love each other. I am happy to be staying with such caring people and I am sure Shizuko feels the same." She nodded and then there was a knock on the door. Everyone from the mission was there and waiting. They all headed to Tsundae's office. Their team went in first to give their mission report. Tsundae then told the entire group about their promotion from Chunin to Jonin. They all thanked her and handed her the scrolls given to them by Naomi and her father as well as turning in the reward for the three criminals so she could take the village share and divide the rest between the group. When their mission business was concluded Taku stood up.
"Tsundae, while we were in the woods we found a couple of strays and they asked their Kage if they could come here. They are out in the hall waiting to come in."

She sighed, "Alright send the little brats in." Kenshin and Shizuko were told to come in. They did some paperwork got their headbands and then Shizuko had a somewhat special request. She wrote something down on her notebook and then Tsundae read it aloud. "If at all possible I would like to train with the three girls I saw on the mission that retrieved us. They have certain skills and a style I am dying to learn." Tsundae got a confused look on her face but then she touched Shizuko's forehead. "Hmmm, I see." She said as all of Shizuko's memory of the last few days. Tsundae now understood why she wanted to train with them so badly, not only because of their style, but because Taku could understand her even though she couldn't speak right now.

"Alright sweetheart, let's just see what we can do for those vocal cords of yours." She shooed the boyfriend out then put her hands on Shizuko's throat. She could see the damaged muscles that Hinata missed. It was very true that Hinata was a very accomplished healer but this was also very delicate work that only the best understood. Hinata knew better than to try something this advanced without someone else around. Thread by thread she began connecting the muscles back together. It was a long and grueling process but after about two hours she had finished.

"Now Shizuko, it is true that I have healed your voice but you need to let the muscles rest for about a week or you could rip them again. So for an entire week I want you to keep that notebook with you and don't try to use your voice too soon. If you do you might damage it beyond repair. Okay?"

The young girl nodded at Tsundae. She smiled and shooed the girl out of the office. It was amazing, no matter how many times she helped someone it always gave her that warm feeling inside, to see them walk away knowing they will get better. She sighed as she sat back down and got back to the worst part of being Hokage, the paperwork.

When Kenshin had gotten shooed out of the room he got worried. Taku put a hand on his shoulder to stop him from pacing. "Tsundae is the best healer here if she can help this might take a while so let's head into town and get some comfort food. We will leave a message here for Shizuko that when it's done she can meet us at the ramen stand. Okay?" He agreed and they headed down the street. "Kenshin, I have a question for you. If you found out that Shizuko could never speak again, would it change the way you feel about her?"

"No of course not. I love her and nothing can change that. I'm more worried about how this is going to effect her. You know how she will react if that happens. I mean she is so used to talking when something needs to be said. How will she handle it if she can't anymore?" He looked down at the bowl of ramen just placed before him.

"If that happens we will learn to read her body language and expressions so we can tell what she wants to say. If there ever comes a time when we can't read that though she can always write it. Not being able to speak will be a minor adjustment. I'm just glad to know if that happens you won't leave her in her time of need."

Kenshin looked down again. Then he took his first bite of the Ramen. They were all on your third bowl by the time Shizuko walked in. She wrote something on the notebook and handed it to Kenshin. He read aloud. "She fixed it but I still have to rest my voice for the next week. Plus she said I could train with the girls."

All of a sudden Taku had an idea, you know one of those little light bulb moments when something just springs on you. Since this was their day off it was time for another party and that way they could introduce Kenshin and Shizuko to the rest of Konaha. Well at least all the people who mattered. Taku turned to Chouji and whispered to him. He smiled and nodded so she ran home to begin to make dinner. Taku went through and threw together some pizza's just like the first time, but this time used different toppings on each. Soon Shizuko and Kenshin came home. They said Chouji had told them he had something to do to and they needed to head back. "Well then you guys can help me make the pizzas."

While Taku employed Kenshin and Shizuko making the food Chouji was out gathering people up. On his way though the hokage stopped him and asked him to deliver a scroll to Hinata, Ino, and Taku. Taku also made an ice ream cake by making a small cake and then putting ice cream in piles over it before spreading on the icing. She put it in the freezer to wait for later. Soon the others had arrived and the party began. Everyone was waiting patiently for Taku, Ino, and Hinata to read the scroll Tsundae had sent to them. Taku stood up in front of everyone and read it aloud. "To Ino, Hinata, and Taku. It has come to my attention that the three of you have developed a new technique. We would like for you to teach this technique to the following people in the next week. Sakura, Shizuko, Ten Ten, Temari, and Mitsumi. I know she is not currently a ninja but as the future wife of the Kazakage she will need to learn to protect herself."

Every girl in the room whooped it up and said go Mitsumi. Gaara had just escorted her back that day so she didn't have any time to tell anyone at all about her engagement. Soon though Taku calmed everyone down. "Wait guys, that's not it. After the week is up you will perform this style for the Kazakage and Hokage and if they are impressed with the progress you will begin to have one week with every female genin coming out of the academy. And we will make sure this style is taught in both countries." Taku jumped up screaming the word yes over and over again pumping her fist in the air.

Lee jumps up onto the table. It's time for celebration, Sake for everyone. And as everyone knows Lee plus handing out sake makes for a lot of very drunk teenage ninjas. Now I am sure you are all wondering what happened to the group well, Nenji passed out on top of Ten Ten on the couch. Sasuke and Sakura ended up holding each other on the floor after a very drunk Sasuke had asked her to help him revive his clan one baby at a time. Shikamaru and Temari were still stumbling around holding each other up. Mitsumi the lucky girl decided not to drink. Naruto and Hinata ended up in the middle of the hallway both had their shirts off. Only when drunk would Hinata ever show her bra.

Kenshin ended up bowing to the porcelain queen (he got sick well not just sick very sick) while a not so steady Shizuko took care of him. Ino and Kiba were under a blanket in the back yard, it's better not to ask on that one, trust me the image still scars my poor mind. Shino decided to take Lee to Gai after Taku had blurted out that Mitsumi wasn't the only person engaged, Shino really wanted to get away from the gossip about himself and princess Naomi. You of course ended up in your bed with Chouji, of course this night you weren't wearing pajamas just your bra and undies while he was in his boxers. To her relief or chagrin she couldn’t decide which (in the morning that is) they passed out before it could go any farther.