Most of these characters from this story are from the Manga and Anime series of Naruto. i do not own them.

Although i rated it "M"...right now it is not, it will in later on chapters.

-Thanks

ydy

Pick A Bride

Strangely the sun was up; shining through the window as Gaara's eyes was open looking at the ceiling. Ever since the chunin exams, Gaara has tried to control the Jinchuuriki within him and so far Shukaku never took over him when Gaara slept. It has been years since he was in Konoha; however he trained every waking moment to be just like him…the one that taught him how to live. Ever since that day, he has tried to live with the prejudice that everyone felt for him and everyday he tried to convince them that he has changed and that he will protect their country and everything precious to him. He knew Kankurou was coming to wake him up to train with him by the vibration of the floor before Kankurou knocked on the door.

"Excuse me, Gaara," Kankurou said through the door, "but it is time to wake up."

Gaara just grunted, "Ammm."

Gaara turned his head towards the window to look at the rays of light hitting his floor when he noticed that Kankurou was still at the other side of the door.

"Is there something else?" Gaara asked.

"Yes, Baki wanted me to tell you that today you and I would not be training. The elders had decided that it is time for you to carry on the lineage and they have chosen some girls for you to choose from. He said you knew about this for sometime now and that the time to choose is today."

Gaara just lay there not knowing how to take the news Kankurou just gave him. He just thought that it would not have happened that fast. He thought they at least of gave him a couple more years.

"AhhHemm" Kankurou cleared his throat, "Gaara the ceremony will be in three hours. Baki wanted me to help you get ready."

Gaara looked back out the window, it seemed as if the years went by so fast since Konoha and he wonders what Naruto was doing right now.

"No Kankurou, I would not be needing your help right now, however when I do I will call for you, thank you." Gaara said.

Then he felt Kankurou's footstep move from his door to the hallway then right to the stairs getting farther and farther away from his room. Gaara looked back out the window wondering why today was sunny when it was the season of night. Next to his bed, Gaara keeps a picture of his mother and her bother as a reminder of who he is everyday. On the opposite wall of the closet sits a desk with books and books about the sand country and the laws of sand country. Gaara got up from his bed and opened his closet. There were always fresh, new clothes the elders provided for him, but he always wore his dirty old clothes so the elders decided to make the same outfit for him to wear everyday. After Gaara was done dressing, he walked out of his room towards the stairs leading him to the roof of the mansion. There he knew he would find Kankurou.

Kankurou turned his head as he heard Gaara opened the door.

"I knew this would have been the first place you would be when you have finally decided to leave that room of yours." Kankurou said as Gaara walked toward him stretching his arms towards the sky.

"I can't help it, I like the view."

They stood next to each other looking towards the sun rising up. From there they could see every roof top of every building and house. From there they could see the outskirts of the city and how far their country of sand spreads. Even if he tried looking far towards the edge of their country, all he could see are sand mounds surrounding them.

"How come you didn't tell me about the elder's decision for you?" Kankurou said and they stood there just looking, taking the scenery in.

"I didn't know they wanted me to do this so suddenly. I thought I had a couple more years." Gaara said as he looked at Kankurou.

"Still, I am your brother; I think I had a right to know what is happening with you."

"I understand you, but there isn't anything you or I could have done to persuade the elders to change their minds. They think they need an heir for this country to survive and I'm that person. Once I am married, I would be Kazekage of the Sand and protect those who I love and this country."

Gaara looked at his brother and patted him on the shoulder comforting him.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. I will choose who my wife will be and if I wished I could decline to marry her and be Kazekage with out a wife." Gaara said as he looked at Kankurou smiling.

Kankurou smiled back, relieved that Gaara has thought things through. He did not want Gaara to live life by the elder's decision his whole life. He wanted Gaara to think for himself and what he wanted for himself.

"C'mon, Kankurou," Gaara said walking toward the door, "lets go get something to eat, I'm starving."

As they started walking towards the door, Gaara looked up towards the sky seeing no clouds thinking what a day today would be. Then suddenly from the corner of his eye a shadow of a flash move from the ground to the sky caught his eye. He turned his head toward the sun where he saw the flash, but when he did, he did not see anything. When he looked back up, he thought that it was weird to see that there was a cloud in the sky and that it was moving pretty fast. Gaara did not give it another thought and began walking towards the door.

"Gaara what is it? Is there something wrong?" Kankurou said, "Why did you stop?"

"Oh it was nothing, I just thought I saw something from the east, but it was nothing," Gaara smiled, "lets go, huh?"

Kankurou smiled back and answered.

"So you finally saw "it", huh?"

Gaara turned around to look back at Kankurou.

"It?"

"Yeah, there's this myth that's spreading about the "Fire Angel" that protects this country."

"Fire angel?" Gaara said sarcastically.

"Haven't you heard it?" answered Kankurou.

Gaara shook his head from side to side.

"Well, the story supposedly goes that the "Fire Angel" started showing when we got back from Konoha. The angel watches over everyone, making sure that everyone is not sad or lonely. It came here because you were lonely and full or anger. They say it came here to save you and save this country. So every morning and evening when the sun rises and sets, there has been a sighting of the "Fire Angel" to let everyone know that she is here protecting us."

"Why is it that I haven't been notified of this "Fire Angel"?" Gaara asked Kankurou.

"Well, it's just a myth…no one really sees her, it has only been a flash of a shadow from the corner of every witness's eyes. It's not a reliable source." Kankurou answered back.

"Has anyone investigated this "Fire Angel"?"

"Well, no…it's just that if this "Fire Angel" was true then she's not harming anyone and it's been years since the first sighting and she hasn't tried to hurt anyone yet…and well, if it's fake then we would be wasting time looking for her. Anyways, I think the people like the idea of the angel and what it represents."

"Why do you keep calling the "Fire Angel" "she"?" Gaara asked.

"I don't know, everyone said that the angel is a girl so I just thought I was a girl too. And wouldn't it be nice that the "Fire Angel" was a girl? I mean, just think, it's a girl...that's an angel...that takes away everyone's sorrow and pain. I think it's kind of sexy." Kankurou said as he started chuckling.

When they finally walked into the kitchen Temari was already eating breakfast. She looked up at them frowning.

"What took you guys so long?" Temari complained, "I waited as long as I could for you guys to come down and when I finally lost my will to hunger I decide to eat then to find that you guys finally came down! It makes me look so inconsiderate!"

Gaara laughed at the sight that Temari was in.

"It's okay, if you're hungry, go ahead and eat, we don't mind eating after you."

Kankurou and Gaara grabbed some fruit and sat on the table. When they were almost done eating Baki walked into the dining room in a hurry. He stopped beside Gaara and bowed down to him.

"I'm sorry to disturbed you while you're eating," he said, "however, the time of meeting your future bride has been changed. Everyone is waiting for you down stairs."

Gaara looked at Baki and said. "What do you mean by "everyone"?"

"Well, the elder's have chosen girls from respectable families in the city…"

"Also known as prudish, spoiled, quiet, obedient, rich girls." Kankurou whispered into Gaara's ears.

"…you then meet each one and you get a chance to talk with them. After that you will have to choose your bride…"

"I feel sorry for you man!" Kankurou whispered, "they might not even answer your question, they'll just laugh at everything you say. And when they do say something, it would be like, 'Oh, Gaara you're so strong', then after hours of meeting the girls saying the same thing, you'll have to choose the spoiled, prudish, rich girl or the quiet, prudish, obedient, bookworm, rich girl."

"…after all, it is your decision." Baki said.

Gaara finished his last fruit in his bowl and stood up.

"I'm ready." Gaara said.

All of them got up and walked toward the stairs.