And The Pain Ends

The sun was beginning to penetrate the small space between Taku’s eyelids when she heard voices. "Sssshhhhh, if your not quiet they wake up." Suddenly she heard a click and saw a flash. As she was finally able to pry her eyes open she saw two figures running out the front door. She snuggled back down into Chouji for a few minutes until he awoke also. They got up then and fixed breakfast together unaware of the two figures running out of the photo development place straight to their house. She ate a huge breakfast both took showers then got dressed in training clothes for the rough day ahead. Today was her first serious day of training here and she really had no idea what she could do or what to expect. As she opened the door she saw a hanging note that said look down for a present from the few singles left in the village. There on the ground were pictures of all the new couples that developed last night as well as a picture of Taku making Gaara smile and Ino, Sakura, and her on stage arms over shoulders. On the very bottom though was a framed picture of her sleeping on Chouji.

"I wonder how they got this picture." Chouji said as he placed it on the kitchen table beside the roses.

"Well, I woke up to a camera flash this morning and I just realized who the two figures I saw running out this morning were. I can’t believe Shino and Gaara would do this but that is definitely who I saw." Just as she said that Shino walked past her.

"Don’t blame it all on Gaara and me. Kakashi was the one who had the idea we just executed it because we knew he would end up being too late to catch you guys all asleep." Shino smiled at the two of them and continued his walk.

"Well this was definitely a nice surprise," you said, "now we have to buy a photo album for all those pictures." They both laughed and began walking to the training ground hand in hand. When they got there she saw everyone else standing around waiting and Ino ran up to them.

"It was such a sweet gesture don’t you think we all got the same pictures and notes this morning. Do you have any idea who did it?" Taku laughed smiled and pointed to Gaara who was silently standing by his sister.

"It was him, Kakashi, and Shino. They worked it all out and I saw him and Shino running out the front door this morning." At this point Taku and Ino ran to Gaara and gave him a hug for doing such a sweet thing. After that it was straight to business.

"Now, Taku we don’t really know what you are capable of so we need to find out. The Justus you have done so far, how did you know them?" Shikamaru was staring straight at her this time when he spoke. Looking in her eyes as if searching her soul for answers.

"Well, to be perfectly honest I really don’t know I have just been working on instincts." Taku looked up from the ground and the pretty butterfly whose wings she was studying while she spoke. "I guess if I had to say for sure I would call it woman’s intuition."

Shikamaru just shook his head. "How troublesome, I’m going to teach Taku some basic moves and try to help her unlock her power why don’t the rest of you walk to the other side of the clearing to train. I am so glad I have some experience as a teacher." (Shikamaru used to help out Iruka in his class) "Alright Taku now I want you to copy these hand signs exactly. This is for the high jump it strengthens your jumping power by ten." He made the hand signs and she copied them exactly committing them to memory before you both sprang off the ground. Shikamaru went about ten feet higher than the tallest tree in the forest and she reached twenty feet higher than him. When they both hit earth again he decided to try the transforming Justus. "Now while you do the hand signs get a clear picture in your head of what you want to transform into." Taku did this and when the smoke cleared she was a perfect replica of Temari in every way, shape, and form. After that she continued with clones and chakra control. By the time everyone was ready for lunch she looked exhausted but she had learned a lot. They all gathered around and agreed to go to Shikamaru’s house where Taku and he would help each other cook and Gaara and Chouji would be clean up crew.

When Taku got there she and Shikamaru made a chicken stir fry with mashed potatoes and a salad. She also whipped up a quick éclair for desert. While she was working Shikamaru began talking about her afternoon training session. "So Taku, I think you have pretty much mastered the easier Justus so I was thinking we should begin on weapon training. It might take a few days to find out what weapons you are best with even with your skills. We should probably ask Temari if she has an extra fan you can train with also." Taku agreed as she sat the food on the table and luckily enough Temari did have an extra fan. Afterwards Chouji and Gaara took the dishes to the kitchen and began to clean the rest of the people there went out to get a head start on training. Though most of them would be sorry for missing the conversation that went on in that kitchen.

"Chouji?" Chouji looked up at Gaara waiting for him to continue. "How did you fall in love with Taku? How did you know it was love?"

Chouji thought hard about this question before answering, "Well, I have always been around girls but I never had a problem talking to them before with Taku I did. When we first met I was really shy around her and it was only her kind nature that pulled me out of my shell. Even when we became close friends though, on her monthly visits I had this strange feeling around her, a feeling I hadn’t known before. It was like when she was near my whole body was filled with the warmth of her personality, and when I looked into her eyes I just knew. I still can’t understand how she likes me and from the conversations we have had I can tell she thinks the same way about me. I guess that is how you know your in love. You can’t understand why or how but you chose each other and both of you feel like you don’t deserve each other. I think its just something you have to experience for yourself though. Why do you ask?"

Gaara took a deep breath and looked nervous, Chouji could instantly tell he had it bad, "Well, something Taku said at the festival struck a cord with me. It made me think of a certain girl who isn’t very strong of body but she still has the strength to stand up for what she believes in even if it’s only through talking. She will go up to the most powerful of ninja, knowing she cant beat them in a physical fight, and practically destroy them with her words. She doesn’t need to fight because all her strength is on the inside. She would probably think someone like me who only uses brute strength is a monster."

Chouji smiled, "You should talk to her. I have a feeling this girl wouldn’t see you as a monster, I have a feeling and a little bit of a clue from the look in your eyes when you speak of her that she just might be the girl for you. Also if you get nervous just remember even I, someone who thought no one would ever chose him because of his weight, got a strong, intelligent, and beautiful girl like Taku. No case is hopeless and love is blind my friend." With that they both headed out to the training grounds where the others were basically adding insult to injury with their harsh training techniques.

Shikamaru was making Taku throw kunai knifes at a tree and calling her names every time she missed the mark which happened a few times because she was still a little tired from the morning session and all he was doing was sitting there and watching her throw. Temari and Ino were sparing, without weapons, Temari trying to help Ino on her speed and senses so she could beat Taku next time. Both girls were blind folded and trying to hit without sight. Needless to say Temari was doing much better than Ino. Chouji and Gaara decided to work on their own special Justus together. (With no death or blood of course) They all trained themselves very hard pushing the limits of their bodies. (Well except Shikamaru) As the bottom of the sun hit the mountains in the distance Shikamaru had fallen fast asleep so Taku called everyone in. She then had Temari kick Shikamaru in the side and ask, "Hey hunny, have we done enough training? Can we please go home now?" He agreed and they all walked to Ino’s house for diner. Her cousin, Mitsumi, had been living with her for the last year. She was a year younger than all of them and had never passed the test to get out of the ninja academy. She just wasn’t physically strong enough. All of them loved her though because her lack of physical strength didn’t stop her from speaking her mind. (Sound familiar?)

Mitsumi was in the middle of cooking when they all walked in and Gaara asked if he could help her in the kitchen to expand the meal for all those Ino had invited. With a slight almost unnoticeable, except to those with an amazing eye for detail, blush Mitsumi agreed and they headed to the kitchen to work as the rest of them plopped down on the couch chairs and the floor to rest their bodies. Taku smiled and spoke up when they were all seated, "It seems like Gaara has found someone to protect and it seems the feelings are shared on the other side." Everyone had a confused look on their faces then snuck to the kitchen door cracking it just enough to see in. The sight before them shocked some and made others think finally. The two teens were standing there laughing and talking. All the others all quietly snuck back to the living room and Temari spoke up first.

"For someone so feared in our village for a moment there Gaara just looked like a normal teenager in love." Everyone but Taku and Chouji just looked dumbfounded.

"Well Temari, he may be feared but that is exactly what it is. He is just a normal teen in love with a girl with a strong enough spirit to speak her mind. That monster inside him really has no control over Gaara unless he allows it to and I think from now on we will be seeing less of the monster and more of the sweet teenager that has been hidden from the world because of pain." Taku smiled thinking up a plan to help this relationship along a little.

At this Mitsumi popped her head in, "dinner is ready everyone." They all piled around the table and began with normal conversations of small talk and training. Half way through the meal though Taku began your plan, "Chouji I was thinking it would be a good idea to go on a double date, what do you think?" He caught on to her plan instantly but pretended to think about it for a moment.

"I agree, so Gaara, is there anyone you’d like to bring for a double date with me and Taku?" Gaara blushed madly and Temari held in a laugh. She knew that would be a very bad idea right now. Taku looked him in the eyes with a look on her face that said I know what you want just take a leap of faith.

This gave him the little push he needed. "Umm... Well...... Mitsumi, would you like to accompany me on a double date with Chouji and Taku?" He looked over to see Mitsumi smiling brightly enough to make the sun seem dim in comparison.

"I would love to go with you Gaara." So after that the four of them finalized their plans before everyone started to leave for home. Taku held Chouji’s hand while walking home. Taku knew she had just sped up things a lot it might have taken a very long time for Gaara to ask Mitsumi on his own.

"You know, what you just did for them was really nice. I’m just glad I caught on to your plan. If it wasn’t for the conversation me and Gaara had at lunch I would have been completely lost." Chouji then told Taku about what he and Gaara had discussed while cleaning up the kitchen.

"I just thought after all the two of them had been through they deserved the chance to be happy sooner rather than later. If I hadn’t sped things up they would have gotten there eventually but I am happy I could help. So do you want to take a shower first?" Taku had just came through the door and Chouji looked extremely tired. (Training with Gaara can do that to a guy.)

"No, you go ahead and before you ask yes I am sure." Taku smiled gave him a swift kiss on the lips then ran up the stairs to the bathroom. The steaming water cascading down her body gave your muscles much needed relief. She quickly scrubbed up knowing that Chouji would fall asleep again if she didn’t hurry. As Taku stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel she realized on her rush to get to the bathroom she had forgot to grab her night clothes. So she wrapped the towel around her and walked out as she passed by Chouji’s room she stood in the doorway to tell him the bathroom was open. She had the satisfaction of seeing his jaw drop straight to the floor. Taku continued to walk to her room as Chouji walked to the bathroom with a stunned look still on his face.

Taku giggled a bit as she slipped into her pajamas. She had just finished braiding your hair in two pig tail braids when she heard the water from the shower running. As Taku grabbed the stuffed tiger off the desk she thought of how she would work the double date tomorrow. Since there were no missions at this time they were only training every other day, to give their muscles a break. Taku slipped under the covers and hugged the tiger Chouji had won for her close to her chest. With one final sigh she fell asleep to the soothing sounds of water droplets hitting the bottom of the tub.