Hey all! I'm kinds new to this, and not sure how to go about it, but I hope you like it. And hopefully none of the characters are out of character!

I don't own naruto or the character, just the plot, sadly.

Growing into Love

Chapter one

By AlphaWolfGirl

The beginning of a new year, and here I am, Ino Yamanaka, wearing a creamy silk wedding gown. The lace creeps up farther than the actual bodice of the dress, and makes nearly transparent, shoulder-less sleeves on my arms that reach my wrists. The lace at the bottom of the gown pools beautifully around the material of my dress, a six foot long train graces the ground behind me. Three inch heels, make up that took hours to put on, and a sheer veil to cover my face and is placed daintily on top of my loosely curled blond pony tail. Bangs frame my face, and the look is complete.

I, Yamanaka Ino, age twenty, am to be married. The lucky man, Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure, Sabaku no Gaara.

The man and I don't really know one another, so no, it isn't a love match. This was the idea of the two groups of meddling elders who decided upon themselves that Suna's leader needed a bride and she had to be of its allied nation, Konahagakure. She couldn't be attached, had to be in the same age range as the Kazekage, and a kunoichi from a respectable clan or of great skill. Naturally, that narrowed it down greatly, since in most cases, kunoichi end up with one of the guys on their team. That narrowed it down to me, Sakura, and Tenten. Hinata could not be chosen because of her clan, and neither could have Hanabi, Hinata's younger sister. They dropped Tenten, because all know of the relationship between her and the Hyuga on her team, Neji.

Naruto, being the Hokage, chose me to be the one, since Sakura is like a sister to him and he didn't want her to have to move out of the village just to make the elders happy.

I sigh.

"Eveything okay, Ino-chan?" The pinkette inquires, leaning closer to me, absently scanning my health for any signs of sickness or anything of the like. We became good friends once again over the years when we realized how stupid it was to be in love with that a traitor Sasuke.

"No, I'm fine." I shake my head, and smile lightly at the girl. Good thing it was me being trained by Ibiki to become an interrogator and not her, because then she'd know I was lying. Years of practice has taught me to conceal my true emotions from those who could once read me like a book.

She smiles and a giggle escapes her. "I am so excited for you! The first of us to marry!"

"Yeah. Lovely huh?"

"You are so lucky! You get one of the hottest guys alive! And you didn't even have to work for it."

"Nope." I turn and saunter towards the door, turning the knob to open it. Instantly the other girls are there, rushing inside, and I am forced to retreat. Their babbling and gushing annoying me to no end. All look beautiful in their own rights. Hinata's long flowing blue black hair twisted into an elaborate bun, her skin glowing, and her lavender dress clinging to her in all the right places. Sakura's hair was pulled back, bangs framing her face like mine, only shorter, and her dress was a pastel pink. Tenten's hair was in twin messy buns instead of it's normally severe ones, and she wore a modest green dress. Temari wore a baby blue dress, and her hair was in the same four pony tails no matter what the others said about it. She hung back, unable to really accept the fact that I was marrying her baby brother because of force.

"Here." Temari handed me the bridal bouquet and stood off to the side, waiting for the others to finish their cooing.

"Ready for this?" Tenten asked when there was a knock at the door. I turned to it, dread filling me.

"I... I-I... yes." I gathered my strength and watched as Sakura opened the door to the best man. Kankuro.

"Ya'll ready?" He drawled, hands in his pockets. A unified yes rang thorough the room from the others, Temari's slightly delayed. "Then I'll go tell them that we can start."

He turned and walked away, down the hall.

"Come on girls! Time to get this party started!" Sakura beamed at me and she and the others head out of the room, Temari hanging back.

Once we are alone and the others are out of hearing distance, she speaks. "I do not approve of this farce of a marriage. And if you hurt my brother in any way, or cheat on him, I will make sure you regret the day your mother brought you into this world. We clear?"

I harden my eyes and nod. I place my veil over my face.

"Good." She turns and leaves, me following minutes later.

The girls are ready and waiting, standing next to the grooms men, Sakura and Kankuro, Hinata and Kiba, Tenten and Neji, and Temari and Shikamaru. All look a lovely sight, and I take my place in the back of them, awaiting the music and their signal to begin.

It doesn't take long.

Too soon are they walking down the isle, me just behind them, the music for my arrival beginning and everyone in attendance stands in respect, turning to me as soon as I step past the threshold. Father takes hold of my arm and we begin my descent into hell.

The man I am to marry, I cannot take my eyes off. He stands there, cold, immobile, and bored from awaiting my arrival. His jade colored eyes are unreadable, just like his body language. His arms are crossed as he stands in his normal position, wearing his normal Kazekage clothing, the gourd strapped to his back.

When I reach him, I stand off to the side of him, like a normal bride, only... I'm not one. Normal, that is. The bright eyes blond Hokage, Naruto, says speaks and it is a blur to me. I have to be tapped by Sakura to know I had to say "I Do". Naruto the pronounces us married and instead of saying you may kiss the bride, Gaara and I intertwine our arms together and we walk down the isle together, silent.

I hid my chakra.

Using the skills I've acquired that gave me my place as a spy nin, I hid from everyone and their happiness.

I currently sat on a bench in a well hidden alcove.

I forced back my depressing thoughts and tried to look on the better side of things, but it seemed to me as if there wasn't any possible way this could be a good thing. I'd be leaving my father and mother, my friends, I'd lose my job, apprenticeship with Ibiki, and lose my status as a Konaha nin. All for a desolate, harsh desert, trapped in a marriage that will be completely loveless, to a cold man with a horrific past, his siblings almost as bad.

Tears sting my eyes, making me shake my head to try and clear my mind.

"Stop being so weak, damn it." I murmur to myself. It was then that I noticed his presence. Turning my head lightning fast as soon as I felt him unmask his chakra, I looked upon my husband. "Kazekage-sama..."

He is silent for a moment, taking in everything. "Gaara." His voice is so deep and harsh in a way, from not being used as often as a normal one would be.

"Nani?"

"Call me Gaara. After all, you are my wife, and it wouldn't do for you to call me by such a title." A small smile graces his face, but doesn't reach his eyes. Never the less, it is something. I smile back, tears slowly dissipating. He moves to stand a few feet away from me, and holds out a hand. Hesitant, I take it, his large hand engulfing my own, his long narrow fingers curls around my own, and he helps me stand. "Come. We must return to the party before they notice our absence."

"Yes, Kaze -" I catch myself, and fix the mistake, experimenting with his name and how it rolls off of the tongue. "Gaara."

He nods and we walk hand in hand back to the reception held in the Hokage's mansion.

When we get there, several joke about our absence, and how we were rushing to get on with the honeymoon activities. No one knew how our marriage was forced upon us. I got the mission for it half a year ago, and when I accepted it, under the pressure and threats of the elders, he and I began "courting". Not really though, just a few letter back and forth, and whenever he or I was in the others' village, we spent time together, though we said very little to one another and the meetings were awkward.

The only ones who know of the circumstances were the Kages themselves, me, the elders, and his siblings. And it was to stay that way, because it could anger a lot of people, and the civilians and ninja that reside in Suna would take it bad if their beloved Kazekage was to put up with a "stupid, weak, and useless leaf kunoichi", is what Kankuro told me.

I smile a fake one at them all. Naruto, as goofy as always, takes both Gaara and I onto the dance floor and pushes us together. "The first dance between husband and wife, ladies and gent's!" There are cheers all around and they circle around us, leaving no way of escape. I look into Gaara's eyes and after a moment, he takes me into his arms.

The music begins and we start to waltz.

I am surprised at how well he knows how to dance, but I mask it quickly, and allow myself to relax in his arms.

After a long while, others begin to join in, and we are surrounded by love struck couples. His hands on my waist tighten their grip, and I am pulled closer as to not bump into others as we dance. I feel my face flush under his scrutiny, and make sure to keep some distance between our bodies.

When the music finishes, we separate, his hands lingering on my sides, but eventually we go our own rest of the night, I am whisked around by the males of the Rookie Nine, as well as Neji and Lee. I also dance with several of the sensei, and Jounin. At ten, Gaara and I cut the cake, and feed each other, but we don't smash it in one anothers', like I've seen happen at several weddings. At almost eleven, it is time for the throwing of the bouquet, and as the girls gather behind me, I smile at my husband, and smirk at his confusion. When I toss it, I aim for Temari, whom I know likes Shikamaru.

She catches it in surprise and the other girls congratulate her. When she turns to look at the boy whom she'd been spending so much time with these past few weeks of being here in Konaha, he scowls knowing what I was up to. His brother makes a face as well, and I giggle.

I walk to them and give them a silly smile, and speak in a sing-song like voice. "She'll be next."

Kankuro growls under his breath and stalks away towards the girl and her date. "Over my dead body..."

Gaara shakes his head. I shrug. And we stand there in a comfortable silence for a good thirty minutes before I yawn.

"You're tired." It wasn't a question.

"Yeah." He nods and walks to Naruto, whispering in his ear. I watch the conversation with growing interest as Naruto gets hold of a mic and announces that it's "time for the Bride and Groom to go and make him a niece and or nephew". My face burns red, and I cannot look at Gaara when he comes back to my side. He shakes his head, and takes my hand, leading me through the crowd and out of Naruto's home, Sakura's yelling and Naruto's cries of pain and everyone's laughter behind us.

We walk through the desolate streets, hand in hand, towards his residence, in the foreign visitors' area of the village.

When we reach the apartments, he nods at his guards, and they let us through, smiling at us. The door shutting behind us is like a cold splash of water hitting me harder than the force of Kakashi's water dragon jutsu.

Oh Kami.

So, I hope that you like my story! Please review and tell me what you think? Reviews makes me motivated!

~AlphaWolfGirl~