Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Flowers in the Sand ❯ Chapter 25

Grrrrr… still didn't like the last chapter, but my wonderful readers seem to approve (with the exception of my adorable Magby… -wince- Corny… one adjective I wasn't aiming for with this story… but I suppose it could've been worse) so ON I WRITE! MUAHAHAHA! Anyways, I won't have much time to update next week- FULL TIME HOURS. Yikes. So read and enjoy- I doubt I'll be able to update for a while!

 

However… if you're nice and I get lots of reviews… I might just update this weekend… -evil grin-

 

Chapter 25

 

Safaia regarded Gaara as neutrally as possible. “You are aware… that I am to be married?”

 

Gaara nodded slowly, never taking his eyes off hers. “I heard.”

 

“You do not care?” I knew it…

 

“I am here, am I not?”

 

Yeah… but why? She raised an eyebrow. “You came to attend the wedding?”

 

“You might say that.”

 

Infuriating man! Now she scowled. “I do not remember Neji adding you to the guest list.” Although, in truth, I never saw the guest list…

 

“I doubt I am on it.”

 

“Then why come?”

 

He gave her a level look as he stepped toward her, closing the distance between them to mere inches. “I do not intend to attend Neji's wedding,” he informed her.

 

Okay, he's confused me even more than I already am. She fought against the hard, fast beating of her heart to no avail. Surely he could hear it, it was so loud… “Then why did you say…!”

 

Gaara didn't move but the sand lying dormant on the ground swept around her and gave her a gentle nudge, interrupting her interrogation and causing her to stumble forward- and into Gaara's chest. His arms quickly came around her and enfolded her in an embrace neither dreamed they'd ever experience.

 

A blush spread across her cheeks and quickly enveloped her whole face. She blinked in amazement at the slight pink staining Gaara's cheeks- she was pretty sure he'd never blushed before.

 

“I am certainly in Konoha to attend a wedding,” he murmured, his face achingly close to hers. “Mine.”

 

Her heart broke- shattered and fell on the ground. She almost looked down, expecting to see shards. Instead, she blinked up at him and tried to speak normally- with no success. “Y-y-yours?” she squeaked.

 

“That is correct. My wedding. To you, if you accept.”

 

Say WHAT?

 

Yes! Tell him yes, girl! Isn't this what I've been drilling into your human brain?

 

Safaia dropped her gaze. I… I can't.

 

WHAT??? You were just lamenting the fact that you were not marrying Gaara and the man is in front of you asking you to be his mate! What in the name of Inu is WRONG with you?

 

I made a promise to Neji. I cannot go back on it, even if it means losing Gaara.

 

She could almost see Gobi baring her fangs in irritation, all five tails lashing around her. Baka humans…

 

The dog calmed down a bit, seeming to sit down inside Safaia's mind. But I understand where you are coming from. Honoring a promise is one of the most important traits in a friend- if you were to just abandon Neji without discussing it with him, it would be a mark against your integrity. Perhaps we should find your betrothed and ask him to release you?

 

Then he will be without a bride- without a female to bear his children and continue the Hyuuga line. How can I desert him like that?

 

Nice choice of words there…

 

This is serious, Gobi! I can't leave Neji- I promised. And I will keep my promise, even though it means I must live without Gaara.

 

“Safaia?” Gaara looked rather uncomfortable with her prolonged silence (not to mention his uncharacteristic behavior a few moments earlier). “Did I say something wrong?”

 

“I cannot.”

 

He blinked in obvious surprise. “You… cannot…?”

 

“I cannot marry you.”

 

Gaara stared at her for a long time. The wind blew gentle gusts across their faces, stirring the brown and gold strands that had escaped from her upswept hair.

 

“You… cannot…” he repeated quietly. Too quietly.

 

She shook her head, refusing to look at him. “I made a promise.”

 

“To Hyuuga.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Sasuke snorted as he walked away. Well, I tried… Sorry, Naruto…

 

Gaara had completely forgotten the man was there. His attention was wholly on the lovely woman in front of him that had just turned down the first (and last) marriage proposal he would ever make.

 

“You love him, then,” he murmured, more of a statement than a question, all delivered in an extremely neutral tone.

 

She shook her head slightly. “I… I…” Her voice broke and she pushed away from him, tears streaming from her eyes as she turned away from him. “It's a matter of honor,” she whispered brokenly. “I keep my promises.”

 

“Loyalty,” Gaara said tonelessly. “As expected from you.” He turned away as well, his face a mask of detachment. “Then I wish you luck and… many years of happiness with your new… husband.”

 

Without another word, he lifted a hand in a familiar seal and vanished into a swirl of sand. Safaia didn't even turn around to watch him go. It wouldn't have mattered anyway because the flood of tears in her eyes obscured all vision at this point.

 

Oh, Gobi… I wish I could just go back to the forest.

 

Me, too, Safaia. Me, too.

 

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Tenten sniffled and wiped her moist cheeks with the back of her hand. Baka Neji… I tell the fool I love him and all he can do is stand there like a moron. Nice one, Tenten. Now how are you supposed to go on missions with him? You might as well have stood in front of him and done a strip tease for all the embarrassment…

 

Nice mental picture… I'll be sure to remember THAT in my nightmares…

 

A swoosh and a swirl of sand caught her attention. She blinked as Gaara appeared, dressed in his blue and white Kazekage robes- and managing to look both pissed and heartbroken despite the usual bored air he tried to exhibit. He seemed surprised to see her sitting there.

 

“I apologize,” he murmured, turning away. “I was not aware that anyone would be here.”

 

Tenten offered a weak smile. “Don't worry about it. You can stay if you want.” She turned her gaze back to contemplation of Konoha from their perch on top of the Hokage's official building. “Misery loves company, anyway.”

 

Gaara turned back to look at her. “Why would you be miserable?” he asked, aware that he did not know much about this girl, other than she was a fair kunoichi and rather deadly with her endless weapons hidden in those scrolls of hers. And… she was on Lee and Neji's team, wasn't she?

 

She rested her chin on her forearm, her arms propped up on her uplifted knees. She chuckled, but it was forced and humorless. “You probably would laugh at me.”

 

“Unlikely, as I rarely laugh.”

 

Tenten flicked her eyes toward him. “Basically, I'm miserable because I love someone, but he doesn't love me back.” She returned her gaze to the vista. “And he's getting married to someone who doesn't love him.”

 

Click. “Getting married…?”

 

She nodded as well as she could with her chin on her arm. “I told Neji today that I didn't want him marrying Safaia, but all I got was a blank stare.” She tried to laugh, but it only came out as a heavy breath. “Although, with his eyes, I suppose that's all I should expect.”

 

“You… love… Neji…?” Gaara repeated slowly.

 

Her brown eyes softened. “Yeah… for a long time now. Lee's been bugging me to grow a backbone and tell him, but I've been so scared of what he might say… And now, he's marrying Safaia in two days and she doesn't even love him.” She turned to Gaara, who was now staring at her intently. “Why do you look like someone ripped out your heart and stomped on it, too?”

 

“I asked Safaia to marry me,” he informed her, as if discussing it might rain.

 

Click. Tenten's eyes flew wide. “You did? But, why are you so upset? Didn't she say yes?”

 

“She informed me that she made a promise to Neji and she intends to honor that promise.”

 

Tenten mulled that over for a moment or three. “I wish Shikamaru were in the village… I could really use his brain.”

 

“My sister and that lazy creature she married are currently visiting his parents,” Gaara informed her.

 

Boom. She grinned. “Come on, Kazekage. You're coming with me.”

 

He looked visibly startled. “Why?”

 

“I have an idea, but I want to run it by Mr. Strategy first.”

 

------------------------------

 

Shikamaru took a literal step backward when Tenten presented her idea to him half an hour later. “You want to what?”

 

“You heard me, Shikamaru,” Tenten said firmly. “Now use your analytical brain and tell me if you think it will work.”

 

Temari grinned at them while Akina danced around the room with a small fan in each hand, oblivious to everything except her own delight. “Sounds like fun. It's devious to a fault.”

 

Shikamaru scowled at his wife. “And that's the reason you like it. But that's no guarantee it's going to work.”

 

Gaara shook his head. “I do not think it will. There are too many uncertainties and it would be extremely difficult for me.”

 

Temari snorted. “Baka… do you love her?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Then fight for her, dammit!” Temari was starting to get into this. She pointed at her husband, who had now moved over to sit on the floor. “You think I was going to let this bum just blow me off all those years ago?”

 

Shikamaru rolled his eyes just before he settled into his “thinking” pose. “Not this again…”

 

“No! I told him to be a man about it! And I'm telling you the same damn thing!” Temari grinned. “You're not just the Kazekage, little brother… you're a man in love! So quit being such a sand-flea and prove it to her!”

 

Akina cheered, waving her little fans. “Unka Gaara's a sand-flea!”

 

Tenten smothered a giggle and Gaara looked like he wanted to crawl inside his gourd and hide for a while.

 

Temari managed to get Akina to leave the room and pester her grandparents and the trio sat in silence as Shikamaru pondered. Long moments passed and the tension grew.

 

Shikamaru opened his eyes and let out a sigh. “I can't think of any other option,” he told them. “If it fails, though, I suppose neither of you will be worse off than you are right now.”

 

Tenten nodded. “Exactly.” She rubbed her hands together and glanced at the blonde Sand Jounin. “Temari?”

 

“Hmmm?”

 

“I need to borrow some clothes…”