I do not own Naruto…

THE WINDING DUNES OF SAND

Uncertainties

The profound sound of traditional musical accompaniments of drums and flutes below didn't seem to distract the red-haired leader from his thoughts. Standing at the roomy terrace above the Kazekage tower, Gaara looked ahead. He wasn't exactly paying attention to the village before him. Although his stance was as normal as always, his mind was in turmoil.

"Gaara!" Temari's obviously aggravated voice preceded the blonde-haired lady as she stormed into the terrace. "What are you doing here?"

The Kazekage closed his eyes... He knew what was coming.

"The ceremony starts in half an hour!" His sister's angry tone rang across. "You should get to the shrine now!"

Inhaling deeply, the Suna leader slowly opened his eyes. "Temari," he called in his usual calm tone, his eyes trained at the village before him. "Do you think this is the right thing to do?"

"What?... Gaara… are you having second thoughts?"

"Second thoughts…?" The words sounded foreign even as he spoke. "My opinion about this matter was never relevant in the first place, Temari."

The lady sighed aloud before walking towards her younger brother. While she wore a colourful kimono and had replaced her normal four short ponytails with an intricate bun, Gaara's ensemble was simple for a groom. He was only wearing a white montsuki kimono over a pair of black pleated hakama pants. The sand gourd that was normally strapped to his back was no where in sight.

Standing beside him at the terrace, Temari could sense that Gaara was upset.

They had arranged for the marriage to take place – Kankuro and her. The seniors had deliberated that the people of Sunagakure would love to see their Kazekage as a normal human being rather than the lonely sociopath they remembered him as. Even though it had been seven years since he became leader to the village, there were still some who were skeptical about his behavior. His dark past had haunted those who had chanced upon his brutal activities when he was much younger - the sadistic and uncaring part of him. Therefore, the committees have decided that they had to change the mindset of the people once and for all in order to bring profound peace to the village.

In the attempt, Baki had suggested that Gaara fell into normal practice. Getting married... was normal practice. His proposal was also fully supported by the fact that the Kazekage had already touched twenty-one – a fitting age for their leader to be married. Being a member of Sunagakure's advisory council, the jounin had also suggested that they find a girl from another village. Konohagakure was best in line. Since the two villages were of closest alliance, it would only be right to choose a wife for their leader from the leaf village. In addition, it was Konoha's shinobi, along with Suna's renowned puppet master, Chiyo-baasama, who had saved the young Kazekage from his death many years ago. Hence, it was only right to choose a bride from Konoha.

The task was consequently passed to the leader's own siblings, Temari and Kankuro. Without much consideration, the two came up with a name – Hyuga. The clan was still one of the oldest and most powerful in the leaf village. It would only be proper to find someone from a revered clan to be the wife to the leader of Suna. With prior information that the Hyuga heiress was of the same age as the Kazekage, the sand siblings knew they had pinned down the exact person to the role – Hyuga Hinata.

Finally heaving a sigh, the red-haired male turned to face his sister. It was only at that moment that Temari realized she had never really paid attention to her younger brother's features. With wind-swept, red hair over dark-rimmed, light green eyes, high-bridged nose and thin lips, the lady had to admit that her brother looked almost picture-perfect. Gaara… was handsome. Temari couldn't control the smile that followed. They had chosen a most suitable bride for their brother. Hyuga Hinata... was equally attractive in every way.

"Gaara," the lady slowly emitted. "I know this is a totally new experience for you…"

"You don't know anything…" the red-haired male breathed softly. "I don't need a wife, Temari… I don't know… how to love."

"Do you mean the physical part? If it's that, I'm sure Baki would be more than pleased to tea…" her words faltered when she caught Gaara's eyes piercing into hers.

She knew what he had meant from the start. She was starting to feel skeptical about the whole affair too. What if Gaara was right? …And then she realized that she had been a fool to have even allowed such a thought passed through her mind. Her brother was more capable of loving than anyone she knew. He had, in the attempt to save the people of their village, even put his life in total danger when Suna was badly attacked by the Akatsuki, years ago. That act alone was proof enough of how much love the Kazekage could generate... Gaara was more than capable of loving. She should never have doubted that.

Coming to her senses, Temari quietly laughed. "Gaara, you are going to be fine. Nothing can go wrong… I know you don't show too much emotion outwardly but, you are more capable of loving than you know."

The male had to look away. He wasn't used to accepting positive reception, especially when it concerned his sentiments.

"Anyway, your future wife is a really nice lady. She's kind, beautiful…"

"Temari…" Gaara intercepted. He didn't want to hear anymore. Temari and Kankuro have been repeating the same lines for weeks. It was the last of the Kazekage's concern. He was only worried about one thing - what he couldn't offer… love.

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Hanabi watched as the two elderly ladies placed the tsuno kakushi over the bride's elaborate hairstyle. For a moment, the younger sister wondered if the white hood was a rightful accessory. In all actuality, it was supposed to portray the bride's willingness to enter into a marriage and take on her role as a wife. The young lady wondered if her sister was all-willing…

As the elderly women meddled with the hood, Hinata's two kunoichi friends, Ino and Ten Ten slipped white socks onto the bride's feet before donning them with a pair of thong-like clogs. Then, they helped Hinata to her feet as one of the older ladies slid a fan into her obi belt. Quietly, the bride thanked both the older women for their help. They bowed deeply before exiting the room.

Ino and Ten Ten then took a step back each to scan the bride. It had been a most difficult task trying to dress a lady in traditional wedding attire, more so the Kazekage's bride. They had to make sure they overdid most things. Hinata had to look respectably presentable not only for the groom and his family, but also for all the honored guests that will be attending the ceremony.

"It's almost time," Neji called as he walked into the spacious room. He was wearing his formal Hyuga robe, with his hair tied in a loose ponytail. The male stood pinned to the floor when he caught sight of his cousin in the mirror. Words failed to leave his mouth.

Dressed in an intricate white wedding kimono made purely of silk, Hinata emanated beauty and purity. Her fair and smooth complexion had rendered it unnecessary for her to be painted white. Bright red lipstick highlighted her beautifully formed lips. It was almost like looking at a traditional wedding doll. The young bride was dramatically beautiful.

"Isn't she the most beautiful bride, Neji?" Ten Ten giggled when she noticed Neji speechlessly staring at the bride.

The Hyuga male nodded and smiled at the same time.

Nonetheless, as she struggled with the sophisticated wedding kimono, Hinata couldn't help feeling extremely uncomfortable being so heavily clothed. Even though she was used to wearing a jacket over her clothes ever since young, under the shiro-maku, she could feel her body burning up. Sunagakure's sweltering heat wasn't doing anything to help either. They had only arrived at the sand village a day before. Apart from the traveling, all the preparations for the oncoming ceremony and reception since the night before had only served to make her feel light-headed.

"I think we all did a great job, Ten Ten," Ino claimed, as she expertly twisted her long blonde hair into a beautiful bun.

"No doubt about that," the weapons expert smiled, her brown eyes gleamed in admiration for the bride.

"She looks fit for a king, actually," Hinata's younger sister related.

Hinata laughed softly. "Hanabi, I'm not marrying a king."

"Well, a Kazekage is close enough, I guess," Hanabi replied. Inevitably, the younger sister had chosen to tie her long black hair up for the occasion.

Hinata turned solemn at her sister's words before quickly forcing a smile. How she had ended up in Suna, waiting to be married to the leader of the village, was still unfathomable to her. Even though she knew she would be caught in an arranged marriage, she had never envisioned herself being married to a village leader and definitely never thought her husband to be the one she had always feared – Sabaku no Gaara… Gaara of the Desert.

Finally inhaling deeply, Hinata turned around to leave. If fate had brought her to the place, then she would have to carve her life accordingly, she thought. Furthermore, Konoha's present Hokage had vouched that Suna's Kazekage was a changed man – physically as well as mentally. Undoubtedly, she had been most worried about the mental part. Then again, she felt that she had to believe what Naruto had expressed.

Even so, as they started to leave the room, Hinata couldn't help the thoughts that came to her mind... Could she actually learn to love the man?

shiro-maku - a traditional white wedding kimono