Sand Blossom

Sakura x Gaara

Sakura – 24

Gaara – 24

I own nothing.

Chapter 1

(Gaara POV)

The sand was always harsh and dry, it burns you and the sun doesn't help much, but I have lived here all my life so I'm used to it. Today the Hokage from the Konohagakure, along with her apprentice, will be visiting for business proposes only. Since I am the Kazekage of Suna I am in charge of peace, and I am trying to make peace with Konoha. The Hokage has devised a plan to make peace possible, but as usual I have been left in the dark. I walked into my office, and saw that my desk was piled with papers, and scrolls. Great more paperwork.

I sat down to complete my work, and tried to keep my mind off of the visit that was to come. There was so much paperwork that I didn't really know where to begin. I picked up a pile of papers that had been on my desk for about a week, and began working on them. I had been working on paperwork for about an hour when Kankuro walked into my office.

"Hey, what are you working on?" He asked.

"What does it look like I am working on?" I replied. What a stupid question to ask, it is obvious what I am doing.

"Paperwork." He replied with a slight chuckle.

"I figured that, I just thought that I would ask to try and lighten your mood. Anyway, our guest from Konoha are here." Kankuro said.

"Joy." I said and got up from my desk and walked out the door with my brother. I would be nice to see familiar faces.

(Sakura POV)

The Hokage has asked me to accompany her to Suna, to help bring peace to the two villages. We have been at war Suna so many times in the past, that Tsunade-sama wanted to do something to ensure that peace was keep. I am not sure how she plans to do this, but she said to trust her. Tsunade brought along several scrolls, that I had never seen before, but had the word union etched into the side. The scrolls were made of wood tied together with red string, they were easily 800 years old.

I could tell that something was up, by the Tsunade was acting, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. I know that there is something that she isn't telling me, and the fact that she is hiding something from me worries me. She tells me everything, as my mentor we don't keep secrets. We are almost most to Suna, about 20 miles away, and I know that Gaara will be there to greet us. It will be good to see an old friend again. I used to have a crush on him, but I gave up, just like with Sasuke. Sasuke never cared, and he never showed me any love back. Without Gaara knowing it, he was a lot like Sasuke, cold and harsh. Gaara never showed signs of liking me either.

(Gaara POV)

I heard the gate alarm sound, as I got closer to the gate. Kankuro just keep going on about how excited he would be to see Sakura, he wanted to show her around the village and take her to get something to eat. I knew that they would be tired, so I wanted to take them straight to their sleeping quarters so that they could get some rest. I would talk to the Hokage in private, before taking her to her quarters. Once I arrived to the gate, I seen the Hokage standing there with a pink headed girl I recognized as Sakura. Now why would she bring Sakura, I thought she was bringing her other apprentice Shizune.

"Lady Hokage, I hope you trip was a safe one." I said, with a smile on my face.

"It was a safe trip, Thank you. I am sure that you have meet my apprentice, Sakura?" Tsunade asked, with a smirk on her face.

"Of course. It is nice to see her again." I replied, and gave the Hokage a warming smile. I looked over at Sakura and I couldn't help but gawk. This was not the girl that I remember, she has grown up. She has filled out in all the right spots, and has become very beautiful. She has grown into that large forehead that Ino always made fun of, and she has gotten a lot taller. I could by the way her muscles were defined that she was a lot stronger than she had been. I should not see someone who I call friend in such a manner.

"Sakura, it is good to see an old friend again." I bowed and then looked back up at her to see her smiling and I smiled back.

"It is good to see you again to Gaara. It's been a long time. How have you been?" Sakura asked, smiling brightly.

"Being the Kazekage is a lot of work, but I have been well." I replied giving her a smirk.

(Tsunade POV)

I do not know how well my plan with the elders of Suna will go, but as Hokage it is imperative that I do this. If there is going to be peace, this is what I have to do. As Hokage I have agreed to send my best female ninja to marry the Kazekage of Suna. That is why I have brought Sakura. Sakura is intended to marry Gaara. She doesn't know yet, but she will soon enough. I hate to do this to her, but she will understand, and the two will hopefully come to care for each other. I looked ahead to see Gaara and Sakura chatting about random things and laughing. There was a chance that this would work without consequences, and just maybe they would fall in love.

(Sakura POV)

"Sakura I will go ahead and escort you to your quarters, while the Hokage and I discuss matters of peace. I am sure that you need rest." Gaara said with a very nice tone, then Tsunade spoke up, and I knew something was up. I should have figured Tsunade was hiding something.

"I am sorry Gaara, but to have this discussion I will need Sakura with me. For support of course." Said Tsunade, but her voice gave her away. She was definitely hiding something.

"Very well." Replied Gaara in an annoyed voice. With no further talk Gaara led us to the Kazekage tower. Once inside he led us to the council chamber, where the elders of Suna sat and the elders of Konoha sat. Now that made me wonder what was going on.

Yeah, I would imagine meeting with the elders of Suna, but we talked with the elders of Konoha before we left the village. Why would they be here, and how did they arrive before us. Tsunade and all the elders are hiding something and I want to know what it is. There is no reason for a meeting so large, especially one that I have to attend. Unless they were planning something, but they wouldn't dare do that. I shook the unfinished thought out of my head and looked up.

"Please sit." Said Gaara. I sat down and Tsunade did as well.

"So as you know our two villages are at war and we have come to a solution to this problem." An elder from Suna said.

"Our villages have decided, to avoid future war, a marriage between the two villages would be best. So we have chosen a young woman from our village, who is strong and worthy of this contract, to marry the Kazekage of the Suna village. Sakura you will marry Gaara to help establish peace. We have chosen you, not because you are the Hokage apprentice, but because you are strong, intelligent, brave, caring, and beautiful. You are worthy of the Kazekage. There will be no objections, if you fail to comply, you will be arrested and charged as traitor to your village." Said an elder from Konoha.

"But sir you can't possibly expect me to marry him." I cried out. This was an outrage.

"I can and I will." Replied the same elder.

"Sir with all due respect, this is not fair to me, and I don't see why you can't choose someone else, I am sure there are plenty…" I never got to finish because Gaara interrupted me.

"Sakura silence yourself. You are acting foolish, and very immature. Now the elders have spoken, and you know that their rules are absolute. You were not the only one left in the dark, I was left in the dark as well. We will find a way to make to it work, but you acting this way is only going to cause problems. No silence yourself." Gaara said rather coldly. This was going to be a long day, but as instructed I went quiet and continued to listen.

"Now the wedding will take place 1 week from now and you will be expected to plan it and be happy about it. Also we expect an heir within a year. That is all, you may leave." Spoke the elder of Suna. After we left there was silence as Gaara led us to our quarters. Not even Tsunade said anything. As soon as we made it to our respective rooms, I went straight to sleep with tears in my eyes, and I am pretty sure Tsunade was drinking.

I can't believe that they are expecting me to marry him. Not to mention how calm he is about this whole situation. It's like this is a marriage that he wants. I mean granted he was a little grumpy earlier, but after that he seemed pretty calm. He didn't even say one word toward this marriage, not even a slight objection. I'm so confused right now. The more I thought about the situation, the more I stressed, and I eventually fell asleep to my own mind ranting.

End of Chapter 1

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