.x. Hi everyone, I'm back!! My parents are way more lenient with the techno ban, so Spongey Ninja and I are using it to our advantage. I think this chapter is longer than normal, but I'm not sure. PLEASE ENJOY!! .x.
As time passed, Toph grew more comfortable with her new life in Domino. It gradually grew into a daily pattern of eating, sleeping, school, homework, training, and spending her free time with Gaara, whether it was at home alone or with her other friends.
"TOPH!! COME TO THE LIVING ROOM NOW!!" Temari called from the living room one Saturday afternoon. Gaara had been out since morning on "confidential Kazekage business", so Toph went to occupy herself with homework, which was what she was doing at that moment. She turned off the radio, put down her homework, and went to the living room. Temari was there.
"We have orders to go meet Lady Tsunade in an hour, which means we have to leave now." Temari informed Toph. Toph looked puzzled.
"Why? Does this have anything to do with Mom and Dad?" she asked. Temari shook her head.
"I'm not sure what this is about, but I am positive that it has nothing to do with your parents." she assured Toph, giving her a reassuring smile. Toph automatically felt calmer.
"Ok then. Let's go!" she said. Temari nodded.
"How exactly ARE we going to get there?" Kankuro cut in, holding a bottle of peach flavored Ramune1 in his one hand and a magazine in the other (a child appropriate one this time). Temari glared at him.
"We'll hire a taxi, how else?" she spoke through gritted teeth. Kankuro rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her, similarly to the way a five year old would, causing Temari to get out of her seat and stomp menacingly towards Kankuro, who cowered into a corner. Toph giggled. She had grown quite fond of the childish quarrels Temari and Kankuro got into, which never ceased to irritate Gaara.
"Well, we'd better get going." she finally interjected. Temari and Kankuro looked, in mid-headlock.
"Ok then." Temari said and detangled herself. They all walked out of the door and into the elevator, where they went all the way down and left the building and into the sparkling sunlight. Temari immediately hailed a taxi, and they entered.
"Where to, miss?" the taxi driver asked lazily.
"Hokage's office, Downtown Konaha village." Temari replied briskly. The taxi driver looked surprised, but said nothing. They sped off, each of the occupants quiet in anxiety and suspense. Finally, they reached their destination. They all got out and Temari paid their sum. The taxi driver looked shocked and as they left, Toph swore she could hear him say, "Damned rich kids." They entered the building and began climbing the long winding staircase, Toph climbing extra carefully so as not to fall off. Finally, they reached the top and approached the lone door that led to the office of the Hokage. Kankuro approached the door tentatively and knocked.
"Come in." Tsunade-sama's voice said calmly on the other side. Kankuro pushed the door open and ushered Toph and Temari in before entering himself. As Toph, entered, she could hear the voices of many people in the room, chattering idly. She could make out the voices of Zuko, Rin, Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, Shino, Aang, Shikamaru, Azula, Mai and Marik, as well as her sensei and the sensei's of everyone else. There were also the three proctors; Morino, Anko, and Genma, standing near the front. In front of everyone were Lady Tsunade and Gaara. Both were standing calmly in front of everyone in the official uniforms of the Kazekage and the Hokage. Although Toph couldn't see Gaara, she could feel his piercing gaze on only her and she blushed, swearing she could hear a low, quiet chuckle. Soon the room became quiet and the eleven genin lined up when ordered by their sensei's, facing the Hokage and Kazekage. Soon, Gaara stepped forward.
"Attention, please. Hokage-sama and I have some announcements to make." he said louder than usual. Toph felt Tsunade get out of her seat and walk towards the crowd.
"As you all know, the Chunnin exams were never finished due to the invasion of Konaha village. However, based on the notes that were left by the former Hokage, we have made a decision on the promotion of the following individuals. Will Toph Beifong, Rin Ishtar, Shikamaru Nara, Aang Kazetsukuru2, and Zuko Kajioo3 please step forward?" Toph and the others stepped forward. Toph felt puzzled.
"What does Hokage-sama want with us? Have we done something wrong?" she thought to herself as she stepped forward. When all of the requested people had stepped forward, Tsunade-sama smiled.
"All of those who I asked to step forward were the most highly praised by Sandaime-sensei and your proctors during the entire Chunnin Exams. Therefore it is with honor that you are promoted to the rank of Chunnin." she said. There was a slight moment of silence, and then everyone in the room burst into enthusiastic applause. Toph stood there in a daze, almost afraid to move in case this was just a strange dream. Gaara noticed this and stepped towards her carefully. When he reached her, he touched her cheek softly and moved his hand lower, to her shoulder, which he gripped softly, then pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Congratulations, Toph-chan." he murmured softly into her ear. Toph finally snapped out of her daze and hugged him back, tears glistening in her pale green eyes, then cascaded down her pale face.
"Domo arigato gozaimasu4." she whispered to Gaara, who smiled happily. He then let her go and held her hands tightly and cleared his throat. The room then became quiet. Everyone, including Hokage-sama, Temari, and Kankuro, looked puzzled. Gaara took a deep breath and kneeled down on one knee.
"Toph Beifong, I ask you here before all of these witnesses one of the most biggest desires of my life. When you turn eighteen, will you give me the greatest honor of my life, and marry me and become the Kazehime5 of Suna?" he asked. Everyone was silent in shock and Toph began crying even more.
"Y-yes, I will." she said breathlessly, then kneeled down and hugged him tightly. Everyone was silent, then Hokage-sama began clapping loudly, and soon everyone was clapping and whooping and congratulating the new couple. Gaara and Toph then separated and smiled at each other. Gaara then pulled out a small box and opened it. Inside was a ring. It was encrusted with tiny diamonds that sparkled. They surrounded a dark green emerald in the center that set off Toph's pale skin. Gaara slipped it onto the 4th finger of Toph's left hand, then lifted her up. Toph felt Temari and Kankuro walk up towards her and she turned around. Temari smiled.
"Well then, future sister-in-law, shall we go out to eat to celebrate?" Temari asked. Toph nodded.
"Is Fuzion6 ok?" Toph asked. Kankuro smirked.
"You read my mind, sis." he replied.
"What do you kids want to today?" asked the waitress in a bored voice.
"Four specials please." Gaara replied. The waitress wrote it all down, then left. Toph looked surprised.
"Aren't the specials really expensive?" she asked curiously. Gaara shrugged.
"It's a special occasion. Cost means nothing to me at the moment, especially for you." he replied, then winked at Toph. She blushed.
"T-Toph? Is that you?" a female and a male voice said through the crowd. Toph groaned
"Katara is here AGAIN?" she thought and turned around. Her mouth flew open.
"O-Okaasan? Otoosan?" Toph whispered, horrified. Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari turned around and gaped.
"Those are your parents?" they whispered. Toph nodded, paralyzed. Toph's parents walked towards her, in shock.
"Toph-chan? Is that you? What are you doing here in public, you could hurt yourself!" Toph's mother whimpered in a whiny voice. Gaara rolled his eyes.
"Man, your parents are so lame." he whispered. Toph nodded subtly.
"Ya, that's true. Why else do you think I left, other than the fact that I could train?" she whispered. Gaara raised his eyebrows, then turned to Toph's parents, who looked amazed at who Toph was with. He stood up and bowed.
"Hello. You must be Toph's parents." he said politely, hiding his distain. Toph's father looked curious.
"Who are you?" he asked, skipping all sign of formality. Gaara looked surprised.
"I'm Gaara, currently the 5th Kazekage of Suna as well as Toph's fiancé." he replied. Toph's parents looked shocked.
"Fiancé?!" they both yelled. Everyone in the restaurant turned towards them in curiosity. Gaara waved casually.
"There's nothing interesting here. Please go ahead and enjoy your meal." he said charismatically. The populace of the restaurant returned to their meals, while Toph's parents looked around in shock. Toph's father turned to Toph.
"You have no idea how long we have been searching for you! Now, leave your fiancé and come back home." he ordered. Toph shook her head.
"No. This is my home now. There is no way that I am going back to that hellhole you call home." she said, narrowing her eyes at her parents. She turned to Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.
"Shall we go?" she asked. Gaara nodded, his eyes still on Toph's parents. Kankuro groaned.
"What about our food? We haven't even gotten it yet!" he complained. Temari smacked him on the head.
"We'll pack it up." she scolded. Almost by magic, their food appeared. Gaara turned to the waitress and smiled.
"Is it ok if we can have some boxes? Here's the payment for the food." he said smoothly. The waitress nodded and left, coming back a couple minutes later with some boxes. Temari and Kankuro began packing everything up quickly. Finally, when they finished, they all stood up. Gaara turned to Mr. and Mrs. Beifong.
"It's been a pleasure to meet you, but we really need to go." he said sweetly, then they all left quickly. Mr. Beifong looked at his wife.
"We need to do whatever it takes to get Toph away from those hooligans." he said. Mrs. Beifong nodded.
"I agree."
.x. That's right. Toph's parents are now in the picture! That means ANGST! DRAMA! ROMANCE!! Trust me, things are gonna get JUICY!! Oh ya, did I mention they are ENGAGED!! Ya, I was gonna do it when they are both 16, but COME ON? That's much later, and I wanted to get some juicy romance in, so why not get them engaged now? Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! .x.
1 Ramune-a popular Japanese brand of soda. Flavors are: lemon-lime, pineapple, raspberry, kiwifruit, melon, strawberry, orange, lychee, Blue Hawaii, peach, and wasabi (only available at Tokyu Hands department stores) (ya I know. Wasabi flavored soda? YUCK)
2Kaze-wind
Tsukuru-To create
3 Kaji-fire
oo-king (refers to the fact that Zuko is from a royal family)
4 Domo arigato gozaimasu-Thank you very much.
5 Kazehime-Wife of Kazekage. I don't know the real term, so I made it up.
6 Fuzion-see chapter 15: First Day with Gaara/Starting as a Disaster