Chapter 1: All thanks to Sand Flowers
When he had taken this position, he hadn't expected this much trouble. Sure, he knew it would demand a lot of responsibility and stress, but he thought he could handle all that fairly well. He had been taught to act under any sort of circumstances. He was always calm and steady (when not rash and impulsive). And he was intelligent and resourceful.
He had good qualities for a Kage. And although he wasn't very sociable or very good with children, that didn't mean that he wasn't doing a good job. It simply meant he was withdrawn which had no influence on his abilities as a ruler.
So, why then did he need a wife?
The council had reasoned that every great ruler needed someone by his side. Gaara replied that he had his brother and that wasn't enough apparently. The elders had come up with a silly explanation that the people had suffered during his father's reign, not only because he was a deranged lunatic who didn't care a iota about anyone but himself, but also because there had never been a real "queen" by his side, the mother of the country. Gaara's mother had died so early that the Sand people had no chance to truly know her.
'And you think that me taking a wife would somehow help with inflation, wars, welfare, unemployment?' he asked, irritated one day.
'You would do well to use your sarcasm on your subordinates. We are your superiors,' an elder chided him. 'All we are saying is that the people do not trust you Gaara. They do not support you. They live in fear of you.'
'But I have given them ample reasons to trust me. I have vowed to protect this country. Can't they just forget the past, for once?'
'How can a people forget its past, Kage-san? No, they will always have that fear, unless you prove to them you are a true leader. Bring a kind, gentle woman by your side whom your people can trust.'
Gaara was in two minds about this. On the one hand, he thought the council was full of raving old men who needed some time on a deserted island, but on the other hand, their words did make a point that he couldn't exactly ignore.
His sister expressed her own point of view on this.
'You're nineteen. I think it's a suitable age. And it's about time I had a friend around here that isn't this idiot,' she said pointing at her brother.
'I heard you, you little tart!' Kankuro shouted from the balcony. 'From now on you can go talk to the stones for all I care.'
'Really, Gaara, you could use some female company. She would er...civilize you.'
'What is that supposed to mean?'
'Nothing more than the truth. You need to be less selfish and more caring. Marriage is a good way to start.'
'Father didn't improve after marriage.'
'Well, thank God then you're not dad,' she replied.
But Gaara was still quite averse to the idea. He had a bad opinion of women in general, because they only brought trouble: Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, Messalina, Lady Macbeth, Anna Karenina, Marilyn Monroe and the list goes on. He only liked those who didn't act stupid or romantic, who did not act like a woman per se.
That is why, unbeknown to anyone, the Kage had a certain affinity with princess Hinata, of the Leaf Village.
She was certainly different from all the women he had ever met. She was kind and poised, quiet and resilient, wise and serious. She was never silly, never giggled, was not a romantic. She was a respectable woman, of high standards and a good warrior to boot. Gaara thought very well of her. He might have been in love with her. But his heart wasn't yet made up.
If he was obliged to take a wife, he would certainly prefer her to anyone else. She would make a tolerable companion.
Why then, had not Gaara proposed her as an eligible wife?
The answer is simple. The Hyuga Clan was a great threat to the Sand Country. It was a very powerful and united clan that owned many great lands in Leaf Village. Many of its male leaders had tried to conquer certain important strategic villages of the Sand Country. Fortunately, they hadn't succeeded, but they came very close. So close in fact that the Sand armies always had to stay alert as to intercept any attack from the borders. The Hyuga claimed that part of the Sand Country was rightfully theirs, due to some obscure ancestors that had built some cities in that country. Naturally, the government tried to fend them off as best as they could.
Gaara had no respect for this clan and despised its leader, Hinata's father. But he couldn't feel the same for the girl.
They had met when he was younger and had formed an odd friendship that had lasted well into adulthood. And his feelings for her grew from respect to affection, although he wouldn't admit that to anyone.
That is why he was having a hard time digesting this new problem. He had never thought of wedding Hinata, not now at least. But he wouldn't want to marry anyone else, at least he had no interest in any other female. Yet he couldn't reason with the council. They would never accept the marriage. They would kill the poor princess the minute she was on Sand grounds.
Three months passed and the council was still complaining about his lack of action. They insisted he should think of a suitable wife. He demanded more time. After all, he was very young.
The council was rather old-fashioned and did not accept this excuse. He was just as old as any other Kage in the past. And he needed to take a wife.
The elders suggested organizing some feasts in celebration of the Kage, where eligible young ladies from all across the land would be brought for inspection and Gaara would choose from them whomever he thought was best. But Gaara abhorred any large festivities of any kind, especially political gatherings. He could barely stand the annual Council celebration.
The elders threatened that unless he had a better idea, they would make the invitations for the guests.
'I think you should take their suggestion. When was the last time you had any fun? This place needs something to celebrate,' Temari reasoned.
'They celebrate something every bloody month!' he protested.
'Yes, but it's religious and there's no fun in that.'
'I don't want to make a fool of myself and invite a bunch of women I will probably ignore anyway.'
'See, I told you he's floating the other boat,' Kankuro said, smirking. 'Maybe we should just bring some princes, that'll cheer him up.'
Gaara punched Kankuro in the rib painfully.
'One more comment like that and I will see your limbs down town.'
'You know, little brother, denial only tells me one thing...'
'I'm not the one wearing purple stripes on my face all the time,' Gaara bit back, smirking.
'But really now Gaara, what are you going to do about this?' Temari asked.
He had to find a good idea. And he pondered on this for almost two nights. And finally,the answer came to him.
'So, let us see if we understood you Kake-san. You want to marry the first woman that comes into your path?' the elders asked, all in an uproar.
'That is correct.'
'Are you jesting, boy? Do you realize what this means? What if a beggar girl runs into you?'
'Then I will wed her. I believe I must let the Gods choose in my stead. That is why I will walk up north and let the God of Wind decide who shall be my bride. I do not think they will fail me. Unless you think that the Gods would pick wrong.'
The elders all looked at each other in amazement. Gaara, who had always taken the Gods in derision, was now offering to put his destiny in their hands. Could it be that he had finally come to his senses and had understood that this is a big decision?
No, he was too shrewd for that. Most likely, he had something up his sleeve, everyone thought.
'What if in your journey you will meet no one?'
'Then I will go the following day, until I find her.'
'What if she is a very old woman?'
'Then I will wait for a younger one to come,' he replied calmly, although inside he was boiling. 'Take it as my late gift to the Gods, my late proof of adulation.'
The elders had to consult for half an hour. They all suspected this was a trick.
'We shall make him sign a scroll to abide by his word,' one proposed. 'And then, we will bring princess Sama and make her run into him first in his path.'
Princess Sama, of the Rain Country, was the most favoured by the council and she was the most eligible.
'If he is a man of his word, he will marry her. If not, that means he had planned on marrying someone else. And we will find out who it is.'
They all agreed they should act accordingly and catch Gaara in their own trap.
Therefore, they agreed to his plan.
Gaara had received a letter the day before from Hinata Hyuga confirming the elders' suspicions.
Dear Gaara-san,
I was at first shocked and then alarmed by your news. But I confess after a day, I felt happy. I knew that this day would come, I simply never imagined it would be so difficult to become your wife. I know our families will never make truce. But perhaps our union may bring some peace to both of our countries. And happiness to the both of us.
I accept your proposal. I wish you had come to ask me in person, but I know you will come and visit me soon as you always do. I cannot say your plan is perfect, but it is perhaps a viable solution.
I promise you, I will make sure I will be the first to come in your path. Do not worry. I have some influence in my village. I will make sure no one walks those roads. I will be with you very soon. Only inform me of the day and time.
Awaiting your reply,
with sincere affection,
Hinata, her Royal Highness.
Ino Yamanaka was one of the first who was called to the Hyuga residence by Hinata's first maid, Ira. She took care of her garments and her appearance. Also, she was a dress-maker.
Ino had barely managed to find something more handsome to put on for the Hyuga residence. They were very fine people and the mere sight of a bedraggled, petty little flower-girl would mark their disapproval. She put on a yellow kimono, taken from her mother's and rushed to her mistress.
Ira welcomed her in Hinata's private chambers.
'Sit down and listen well, girl,' Ira told her crisply as Ino timidly approached a large cushion and placed herself on it. The chamber was a waiting room. It was decorated with paper storks and red ribbons. There were also blue skies painted on the ceiling.
'My mistress, princess Hyuga, is going to need your services. She will need a bridal arrangement.'
Ino held her breath. Her eyes widened.
'The princess is getting married?'
'No one asked you to speak, child. Now, she will require the usual arrangement: fresh anemones and lilies, but she has also instructed me to tell you to find Sand flowers. She demands you find them tonight or at the very least tomorrow. But no later than tomorrow. If you are late, she will not pay you at all for your services.'
'I will not be, I promise,' Ino said heartily.
'If you are, do not bother to look for them anymore. And you are forbidden to walk the Southern path the day after tomorrow. Do you understand? My mistress will make sure you shall be dead.'
Ino's eyes sparkled in fear. Sand flowers? The South path was forbidden? She wasn't at all daft. She could add two plus two. Was the princess marrying a noble man from the Sand Country?
'Perfectly, Ira-sama,' she whispered pensively.
As fate would have it, the following day it rained without cease. Ino tried very hard to find the flowers but she was out of luck, because even though she travelled very close to the Sand borders, the flowers were safely hidden in the ground during rain time. She came back home, out of luck,and prepared the bridal arrangement without the Sand flowers. She delivered it on the dot that afternoon.
Hinata showed great disappointment in her failure to bring some Sand flowers. Ino was a very ambitious girl and she promised herself she would look one more time this evening and bring back some before midnight.
She approached the borders again and this time, she was lucky to spot a whole bunch, fully grown, just inside the first wires of the borders.
She snuck in skillfully and picked them quickly, stashing them in her bag.
Unfortunately for her, the Sand flowers could glow in the dark and as the sun was setting, a guard spotted her among the bushes. Seeing as she was trespassing the borders and was armed with a knife (with which she cut the roots) he shot a paralyzing arrow her way.
Ino barely had time to register the attack and jump out of the borders.
Her arrow was well stuck in her left leg. She limped close to a clump of trees and fainted at the foot of one of them.
The following morning, Gaara walked out of the village, followed by two elders and six guards. His sister and brother were watching from the tall posts.
Princess Sama was already waiting for them half-way. She was standing at the entrance to a tall forest.
Princess Hinata, followed by her faithful Ira, was also walking towards Suma. On her way, however, she inevitably met with Princess Sama.
They both understood immediately that the other was a danger for them. Princess Sama was there for political interests, princess Hinata for personal ones.
They attacked each other and matched each other pretty well. Sama was overpowered however, thanks to faithful Ira, who had brought a pair of poisoning needles with her.
Now that Hinata had prevented princess Sama from taking her place, she walked peacefully towards Suma.
Ino, in the mean time, was just waking up from a very troubled sleep. She could barely move. Her throat felt very dry. She extricated the bloody arrow from her foot. She took out an ointment she always kept with her for any occasional wound and applied it. She had the Sand flowers now but they would be to no use for the princess.
She felt very bitter.
'Oh well, you win some, you lose some...' she told herself.
She walked peacefully back towards her village. The road diverged to two paths further on and she picked the left one. When she reached the high road she saw a crowd of people coming towards her.
Gaara could see a figure from afar. She was standing in the sun so he couldn't see her face. But she was holding Sand flowers. And Hinata had promised to have some.
He smiled to himself relieved.
But as they came closer and closer, he realized in horror that it was someone else. A lanky, scruffy blonde girl with pale eyes and a shoddy looking dress.
The men stopped in front of her and bowed. The elders looked at each other in worry. Where was Princess Sama? Who was this girl?
'Oh, excuse me,' she bowed letting them pass. But one of the elders took her hand.
'My dear, fate would have it that you be a queen. The Gods have spoken, I suppose... What do you say, Kage-san?'
Gaara glared at her in irritation. The girl looked at everyone confused.
'You must have me mistaken, although some people have told me that I resemble the Wind Queen, but that's just my family,' she blabbered.
'No, my dear, you are the chosen bride for Gaara-san, our Kazekage.'
Ino stared at them in shock.
'Chosen bride? Wait, I know nothing of this!'
'Pray, who are you?' another elder asked.
'I'm Ino Yamanaka and I just have a flower shop,' she said in honesty. 'And I'm certainly no one's bride.'
'But fortunately for you, today you are. Our Kazekage has taken this voyage to find a bride. You are the first woman to cross his path.'
'Isn't that a very bad way of picking a wife!' she asked boldly, not believing her ears.
'I'm afraid it was our ruler's wish by which you as well,must abide.'
'You mean marry him? I will do no such thing, I do not know him at all and I think he has never heard of me.'
'It is alright, let the girl go, we might as well give up on this silly thing,' Gaara muttered, completely irritated by the results of his plans. Where was Hinata? Hadn't she promised? Had she let him down at the last minute?
'Oh, no, Kage-san, we have found you a bride and you shall marry her! We have spent enough time on your tantrums. You have signed a sacred scroll. You shall humor us,' the elders spoke, more angry that Princess Sama had failed them, than anything else.
But this couth, silly girl would have to do...
It was a good thing she was a simple sort of girl. That would mean that she would be docile and servile. She would also be modest and not have any expectations in the way of privileges. Which would be quite favourable.
Oh, to think it could have been Princess Sama, they thought.
To think it could have been Princess Hinata, Gaara thought bitterly.
Ino Yamanaka, the poor girl, still flatly refuse to commit to any sort of engagement, but before she could protest, the elders and guards demanded to see her family. Gaara had to oblige.
As he walked towards the Leaf Village, he felt his heart was full of lead. His mind was cloudy. His every thought was torture. To think Hinata had disappointed him. Where could she have been?
This odd girl that had crossed his path was a petty, ugly little thing that had a foul mouth on her. She had no manners, no breeding, no higher intelligence from what he could tell and no standing in society.
It was a tragedy.