I don't own any of the Naruto characters or their story but little Raiko is all mine. 

Chapter 8 "The Unheard"

Suna (just after Kankuro and Temari arrive)

"It's really nice to be home." Temari said as they walked through the gates. When she didn't hear a peep from her brother she looked over to see him slouched looking a bit sad. With a large sigh she reached out and smacked Kankuro on the back. "Don't worry so much."

Looking over at the blond Kankuro stood up a little straighter.

"It's not that I'm worried so much as…Well It just won't be the same here without her. You know?" He said to his sister with sad eyes.

Smiling lightly looking across the sand village, taking a deep breath before speaking quietly to her younger brother. "Kankuro, I know what you mean, but it's not like you won't see her again. I'm sure you'll go there to visit soon anyway. You'll get used to it." After that she simply took off and headed to the Kazekage building.

Looking on as his sister runs ahead he just thinks 'I know I'll get used to it, but it still doesn't change that I miss her.' After which he follows behind her.

Kazekage Office

Finishing off several documents the redheaded Kage turns in his chair to look out the small round window. He received word from some of his Anbu that Kankuro would be returning today, but also that Temari was with him. As he's staring out the window the door behind him opens. Turning around he finds the two people he was just thinking about.

"Kankuro. Temari." He says as standing up just in time to be hugged by his sister.

"I missed you Gaara." She said into his shoulder as she hugged him tightly.

For years they had gotten closer and the family bonds had grown stronger, but they still rarely hugged one another. Narrowing his eyes slightly in thought before looking to his brother, he noticed the slightly sad look in the puppeteer's eyes.

"I missed you too Temari, so tell me, what do you want?" He asks knowing that the strong show of affection was her way of getting something from him.

Looking up startled, Temari starts to stammer. "Ga..Gaara what… what do you mean?" All the while thoughts are rushing though her head trying to figure out how he knew.

Smiling lightly at his sister he quietly tells her that they will talk about it later before brushing past her to speak with his brother.

"Is she alright Kankuro?"

"Well. She was a little upset that I was leaving but I think she is settling in alright there. I know she missed you and I think Kakashi might have been a little jealous over how close she was to me, but I think things will work out fine." Kankuro said his painted lips turning up a little at the corners remembering the picture that she had given him.

The Next Day

Squeezing his eyes shut in annoyance while pinching the brim of his nose, Gaara turns back around to look at woman standing in front of his desk. "So what you're asking for is permission to live in leaf permanently so you can be with …"

"Marry" Kankuro says quietly, voice filled with mirth as his sister sends him an icy glare.

Looking quickly towards his elder brother Gaara thinks for a moment before looking back towards his sister, eyes narrowing slightly before sighing. "Temari?"

Looking into her youngest brothers eyes a pleading look within her own she answers. "Gaara, I want to marry Shikamaru, you met him…

A muttering of "Twice" was heard from the other side of the room.

"Look Gaara, you're my baby brother and my Kazekage, I'm asking you as both. Will you allow me to become a permanent resident of the Leaf village and also give me permission to marry Shikamaru Nara? Please?" Temari asked her voice cracking over the last word.

Closing his eyes again the redhead let a low sigh out. "I will think on this Temari and call you when I have my answer. Until that time you are not to leave the village. You're dismissed." He said before turning towards the window.

Eyes downcast and worry creeping into her heart the blond left the room.

After the door shut, Gaara turned to look at his brother. "Kankuro?"

"Yes?"

"I'll be leaving you in charge of the village, in three days, Temari and I will be traveling to the Leaf Village, where I will be speaking with Tsunade giving my permission for Temari to take up permanent residency. I will also be speaking with Nara about these plans to marry that I have only heard of now." The last he said with a sound of menace that only a sibling would have.

"I understand. Just go easy on Shikamaru, he is a good guy after all and he also makes her happy Gaara." Kankuro said looking at the man in front of him. "Though I'm sure part of the reason you're going is just because you want to make Temari worry a little and scare Shikamaru some as well.

"Hn."

"But the main reason is that you want to see Rai isn't it?" the puppet master said with a sly grin on his face.

Glaring at his brother slightly before dismissing him as the doors shut he leans back in his chair looking down at the drawing that Temari had given him from Rai the day they got back, his features soften and a smile touches his face. 'Yes Kankuro I want to see that she is ok for myself.' He thinks before turning to gaze out his window and look up at the sky.

With Team Kakashi

Their mission had gone seamlessly until the end, but just as they were leaving to head home the group had been ambushed by a group of rouge ninja, and even though they were all mostly of low rank there were still a couple of higher level ninja.

Everyone was in their own fights; Yamato was dealing with a small group of the weaker ninjas using his wood jutsu's. Naruto was dealing one of the higher ranked ones as well as a couple of low ranks with no real problem.

Just finishing with his own group Kakashi looked around to see how his teammates were doing. After looking over the two men he looked up to check on the female of his team. She was holding her own against one of the higher level ninjas, Jonin level if he had to guess, there were also the bodies of three fallen ninja on the ground around her. But then he saw it while she was fighting with chakra filled punches and kicks she didn't seem to notice the enemy coming up behind her from the tree line.

Smashing the face of her opponent and sending him across the clearing and into a tree, Sakura looks up too see Kakashi not too far from her with a startled look on his face staring right at her. Smiling at him and sending a little wave, she was suddenly surprised when he disappeared in a flurry of leaves. Turning quickly as she felt the air behind her shift, pulling one of her kunai out. She was surprised to find herself looking at the broad back of her silver haired teammate and hearing a body drop to the ground.

"Kakashi?" Sakura whispers

Turning around he looks down with a small eye crinkle. "I told you I would watch your back."

Smiling she put her arms around him to give him a quick hug when she feels him stiffen slightly as she puts her arm around his. Then she feels it, something warm sliding over her bare arm. Looking up at his face and then to his arm, seeing his blood slowly saturating his long sleeved shirt. Going into medic mode she reaches into her medic pouch at her waist pulling out a few wraps she ties them off around his arm to slow the bleeding until she can heal it properly. Looking back up at the man that she has found herself caring more and more about she says a quiet little "thank you" knowing that he had been injured protecting her.

After that the team moved out until they were at a safe place to stop for the night. Yamato and Naruto went about setting traps and checking their perimeter. When Kakashi started to walk out of camp to help Sakura caught his hand, pulling him back and making him sit down.

"Ok, Kakashi, we need to heal that wound now. You know the drill; take your shirt off so I can see the damage." Sakura said in a voice that meant all business. While he was taking his vest and shirt off, Sakura was gathering what she would need from her pouch. Turning back to him just as he had the shirt raised and pulling it off over his head, her eyes couldn't help but be dragged to his abs.

Even though she had seen the many times before when she healed him, she couldn't help but think about running her hand across them.

"Sakura if you keep staring at me like that I think I might just blush." Kakashi said with an eye crinkle

Snapping out of the haze that she had been in she felt her face heat slightly at the thought of being caught staring. Walking back over to where he was sitting she knelt next to him looking over the wound. It was about five or six inches long and wrapped around his arm and over to his clavicle, it wasn't too deep though.

She cleaned it with some of her supplies before bringing her hand up to the side of his arm and letting some of her chakra flow into his arm. As she started healing closer to his clavicle she had to readjust herself, without thinking she moved in front of him straddling one of his legs sitting back slightly against his knee, she was so concentrated she didn't even notice his small intake of breath or the slight rise in color on his face.

Kakashi sat there watching her sit on his leg as she healed the wound that he had gotten earlier in the day. Her lips were pursed slightly in concentration and there were small glimmers of perspiration on face, one small bead rolled down her temple, down her cheek, down her neck and past the collar of her shirt. Following its path he licked his lips under his mask. Just as the chakra in her hands faded, she looked up and met his eyes. He watched her eyes flicker down to his masked lips before looking back into his, thinking for only a second he moved forward pulling her into a masked kiss.

Sakura's eyes widened slightly before slipping shut, she pressed herself closer to him before reaching up in an attempt to pull his mask down but her hand was caught.

"Close your eyes Sakura." Kakashi whispered. As she did as she was told he pulled back just slightly reached up and pulled his mask down just a past his lips before moving back in and covering hers with his own.

It went from small closed mouthed kisses, but as soon as she opened her lips in a sigh his tongue slipped in, tangling with her own. Neither knew how long this went on, Kakashi had pulled her even tighter to his bare chest feeling her breast press up against him, her arms wrapped up and around his neck as she ground herself into his thigh.

But just as Kakashi was reaching up to cover one of her breast with his hands they heard rustling in the brush several feet away. They sprang apart, Sakura blushing brightly with her fingers touching her swollen lips, Kakashi pulling his mask back into place and bending his knees slightly to hide the evidence of his arousal, just then the brush parted and Yamato and Naruto stepped back into camp.

Kakashi looked up at the two men trying to look as calm as ever, Naruto didn't seem to notice anything but when he saw Yamato's face, he saw a slight blush on the wood users cheeks, and he had to wonder just how long the man had been watching.

With Shikamaru (Right after Nightmare)

Looking down at the small fragile girl laying next to him, her breath calm again, he laid his head against the wall behind him and let his thoughts drift.

'She's so scared that everyone is going to leave her.' He thought sadly.

As the night dragged on and into dawn, Shikamaru still found himself staring blankly at the opposite wall. Just as the sun peaked over the horizon he decided to go see about making breakfast, figuring if this was like any other day she would be up in about an hour or so. Creeping out of the room and down the stairs, he makes his way towards the kitchen. As he starts to get things out he hears a faint tapping on the front door.

Opening the front door he sees his best friend standing in front of him.

"Figured you'd be here Shika, Can I come in?" Choji asked.

"Yeah." He says moving aside before heading back to the kitchen with his friend following behind him. Both of them sitting down at the table breakfast forgotten for now, Shikamaru started to talk to his friend about the previous night's occurrence.

"Well Shika, all kids have nightmares, its normal." Choji said to his worried looking friend

"I know that, it's just…, grr…she just lost her mom, so sadness and nightmares are expected but then Kankuro and Temari headed to Suna. And then only shortly after that Kakashi got called away on a mission, and now she scared that they are all leaving her. I know it's not their faults but it still makes me angry. I mean I was so upset by it all I couldn't stop thinking about it all night." Shikamaru growled out.

Choji looked at his normally calm friend a little worried. "It can't be that bad Shikamaru."

"But it is Choji; I didn't get any sleep last night after she woke me up…" Shikamaru said anger at the whole situation flowing out of him. All he could think was why did so many things have to happen all at once that upsets her, It made him just want to hug her and protect her from everything, and lash out at the ones causing her upset.

"Yeah, But Shikamaru…" Choji said a little nervously.

Slamming his hand against the table he looks up at his best friend, anger lighting his normally calm lazy eyes. "Don't Choji; I can't wait till Kakashi gets back!" He growls out just thinking of all things he was going to say to the man. Raiko hadn't been that long yet, not long enough to feel secure with him running off on missions without being upset and confused. Yes she was a smart little girl, but even smart kids could have insecurities.

Sighing slightly while looking at his best friend all Choji could think was what a good dad Shika would make one day. "Just don't take too much of this out on Kakashi, he's new to this roll, and bound to make a few mistakes, it will take time. As long as one of us is around Raiko will be ok, because all of us will soothe her fears. Don't worry so much Shika."

Smiling at Choji, Shikamaru decided he was right. "Alright Choji, want to help me with breakfast before I go wake the squirt up?"

"Sure Shika."

Neither of them heard the sound of soft footsteps on the stairs, nor the sound of quite sobs, not even the sound of a window being slid open as a small little girl ran outside into the early morning light.

About an hour later…

"Hey Choji, will you go upstairs and wake up Rai for breakfast?" Shikamaru asked as he flipped a pancake.

Having just finished his own first helping of breakfast Choji slid out of his chair with quiet "Sure" before heading up the stairs.

Placing the last pancake on the plate Shikamaru turned to sit it on the table for the little girl when he heard Choji running back down the stairs and sliding into the kitchen with a panicked look on his face. What Shikamaru heard next made him drop the plate of pancakes on the floor the plate shattering and pieces skidding all over the floor, before dashing out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

"Shikamaru, she's not there, she's gone."

A.N. More to come soon. : )