AN: Hi :) Right now the story is in a mess with chapters flying everywhere. I'm really really sorry. But the storyline has changed a little bit so please re read these two new chapters! I deleted the next two for now so that there's no confusion. Sorry. I hope you guys like the new, edited version better.
Gaara sighed in annoyance.
Then he sighed once again. Matsuri was quite puzzled. 'Gaara sensei never sighs. I think I should ask him about it. But would that be the right thing to do? Then again, was it correct to enter his office? I mean he's Kazekage and all…Just because he didn't come to the training grounds on time doesn't mean I can just waltz into his office... Is it right that I'm going from photo frame to photo frame on the wall, straightening them while I wait for him to finish his work?' she thought to herself in a euphoric state (she was after all, inside Gaara sensei's office. Yukata would never believe her luck! She could hear those jealous fan girls screaming throughout the village).
Gaara sighed once again and Matsuri finally had to ask. "Sensei… Could I ask you a question?" she began in a timid voice. Gaara looked up from the papers that littered his desk and gazed at Matsuri, his light green orbs staring intently at her.
"Yes?"
"Why are you sighing?" she asked with a newfound audacity.
"Is it bothering you?" he asked, quite mystified at the question. He didn't realize he was sighing! Matsuri vigourously shook her head.
"No! Of course not Gaara sensei! It's just… You sound anxious?" she asked with a quiver to her voice. Gaara, once again, sighed.
"The Council is pissing me off." Matsuri frowned. First of all, she didn't think she'd ever hear Gaara of all people, swear. Secondly, why would the Council be bothering Gaara? Suna was experiencing a tremendous trade surplus with other nations. The academy programme was turning out to be superb at fostering bonds and all the other brilliant things that Gaara learnt from the preppy Konoha. The war was over. What more could the Council want?
"The Council wants to strengthen the alliance with Konohagakure," he clearly stated, erasing the numerous doubts running through Matsuri's mind.
"…. Ahh. And how do they propose to that?" questioned Matsuri.
"Exactly! How do they PROPOSE to do that? What else can strengthen the alliance? Take a guess Matsuri," mumbled a perturbed Gaara. Well. Matsuri had never seen Gaara so worked up. He seemed quite vicious as he spat out the word propose, which gave Matsuri a hint as to what he was so worried about.
"Ano… Gaara sensei. They want you to get married? To a Leaf girl?" asked Matsuri softly.
"Hmph. No," Matsuri let out a sigh of relief, "They want Temari to get married," Matsuri's eyes widened in astonishment.
"W... What?" she spluttered unintelligently.
"Old bats have been bothering me for the past two weeks. If Temari finds out, she's going to murder them in cold blood. I think I'll join her in her homicidal rampage. It would be up to Kankurou to stop us both," Gaara said in a deadpanned, serious voice as Matsuri stared at him disbelievingly.
That's when the windows blew open and Temari entered the office.
"What are you and your little girlfriend talking about Gaara?" Temari said while positively beaming at both of them. Gaara looked like a deer caught in headlights while Matsuri turned different shades of red. It took a few seconds for Gaara to compose himself and sit down.
"Temari… There are doors for a reason," Gaara coolly replied.
"Otouto. I heard you talking about the Council and marriage?" Temari asked in a much to calm voice, "They want me to get married now?"
"Ano... Temari san... Gaara sensei has been trying to stop it," Matsuri started in an attempt to pacify the twenty year old.
"Temari. Calm down. I'm working on it," stated Gaara offhandedly. Both of them quietened as they sensed a killer intent radiating off Temari. She let out a low growl.
"They want me to get married? Why?" she demanded.
A deafening silence filled the air.
"Gaara. Otouto. Answer. If not I will hit you," Temari said as her hand started moving towards her fan. Matsuri was quite amused by the scene in front of her. Gaara sensei, the once feared and abhorrent 'monster' was cowering under his older sister's gaze.
"They want you to get married on your 21st birthday," answered Gaara.
"That's in less than a month!" snarled Temari.
"Come with me to the next Council meeting which is in… oh look at the time! It's right now. Let's go," said an uncharacteristic Gaara in a poor attempt to placate his sister. Matsuri stifled a giggle and exited after winking at Temari.
When Gaara entered the Council Room, all the members stood up and bowed in respect. Except Kankurou. He refused to call his little brother 'Kazekage' or bow to him. If he did, he would giggle eccentrically. Thus, Gaara had forbidden him from bowing to him.
When Temari walked in, (as if she was going for another war, mind you) the Council Members all shrank under her fierce gaze. The ground suddenly looked quite interesting with its strange little markings and patterns. A few of the Council members coughed indistinctly while the others avoided her 'if looks could kill then they'd all be slaughtered' gaze. Gaara was not the sibling to be feared at the moment, Temari was more…. troublesome.
Temari walked around the Council room glaring at every member apart from Kankurou and Baki. Finally she started, "Anyone care to tell me why you fools want me to get married?"
None of the younger council members dared to utter a word. An elder, she was sure the elders were behind this despicable plot, raised his hand and stood up at Gaara's nod.
"Ano.. Temari san. The Council wishes for you to get married," he began.
"Why?!" she spat.
".. Ano… You and your brothers are the only living members of your family. You are the only female. You must... How to say… have children," he stuttered under her piercing gaze.
"So… Correct me if I'm wrong. You want to turn me into a baby making machine?" she questioned.
"Ano... Temari san. We want you to marry a member from the Leaf Chizoku Clan. They are highly distinguished and have a renowned reputation," reasoned another Council member.
"So I don't even get to choose my husband?!" cried Temari.
"It's for the better of the village Temari san," stated a more audacious Council member. Temari hissed at him. Yes, she hissed.
"You all pretend that the reign of the old patriarchal Kages is over, but it really isn't. You expect me to marry someone I'm not even acquainted with? Do you think I'm going to agree to that?" she fought back.
"It is the duty of a shinobi to do whatever is asked of them for the betterment of their village. If you have to marry another man, then so be it," said the oldest member of the Council. Temari let out a cry in irritation. Gaara thought it would be the right time to intervene.
"All missions must be approved by me first. This one is rejected. If Temari is not comfortable with marrying a man from the Chizoku Clan then she shall not," stated Gaara. Temari threw him a thankful gaze.
"Bah! All you youngsters; imprudent and naïve. She's already twenty! In my days, the women were married at the age of thirteen!" mentioned the same Council member. A vein appeared on Gaara's forehead, right beside his tattoo.
"We're living in a new era now you old bat!" shouted Kankurou.
"ENOUGH!" Gaara yelled. Everyone quietened down. Gaara never yelled. You didn't want him to yell.
"Of the fifteen members in this Council, excluding me, thirteen of you have agreed to Temari's arranged marriage. Of that thirteen, only two of you have agreed to her marrying into the Chizoku Clan. By the power vested in me, I have decided that due to the almost unanimous vote, Temari will have to get married to someone in the Leaf. But, she can choose her own husband. Or rather, I will choose for her. Council dismissed," stated Gaara.
Temari looked at him disbelievingly as the Council members got up and left. Only Baki and the Sand Saiblings stayed behind. Temari was quiet.
'It's my mission. I have to do it. I have no choice. Those idiotic Council members. I wonder if I could kill them…'
"Temari, I want you to choose your husband. If you don't go through with this then the elders may do something irrational. They may strip you of your rank," began Gaara. Temari held up a hand to silence him.
"I don't want you to get married off to some random guy in Konoha, Mm kay? You should at least choose someone who you know, someone who you're friends with," stated Kankurou.
Temari didn't have to think about her choice for long. Only one name kept popping up in her head. Inner Temari wouldn't shut up. When she got home, she was going to have a long talk with her.
"Shikamaru," whispered Temari. Gaara and Kankurou grinned. "Wipe those grins of your faces! Why are you grinning like that?"
"Fess up Kankurou. I told you she liked him," Gaara said to Kankurou.
"Fine fine. Damn that smartass," replied Kankurou unwillingly, still smiling.
Temari's right eye twitched and her hand moved towards her fan. "You both bet on me? Gaara, you think I like Shikamaru?" she asked menacingly.
"Actually Temari, all three of us find it quite the conversational topic. Both you and Nara san have rushed to each other's rescue, both of you were in the Fourth Division and as Gaara told us, both of you were inseparable. Also, when he was sent to Darui's division you wouldn't sit still and said that you were bothered that he may do something stupid," stated Baki in a matter of a fact tone.
Temari shot Gaara a look which made him wince. Betrayal. How could he have told both Kankurou and Baki all of this? Temari stalked off towards their home. She was the strongest kunoichi in the whole Sand Village and now she was being forced to marry! At least it was to someone whom she knew. She'd have to ask Shikamaru about this Chizoku Clan.
She smiled to herself. It had been a year since she saw him. She wondered what had changed in Konoha and if he was still as lazy as ever. She had wanted to go to Konoha after hearing about his father's death but her village needed her help. Gaara had forbidden her from leaving for a while. After that, it was one mission after the other. It really had been a long time.
She assumed that they'd be leaving in a few days tops, so she started to pack the essentials.
The three men remained in the Council room.
"Something doesn't seem right. By any chance, did you plan all of this Gaara?" asked the older brother.
"Plan? What plan? I didn't plan anything," Gaara said innocently.
"Gaara. It's blatantly obvious to Kankurou and I. You had your reply ready the minute the Council member stopped speaking. It's almost as if you knew Temari would react that way," stated Baki.
Well. Obviously Gaara had planned it all out meticulously. He could sense his sister's chakra when she was eavesdropping at the window. He knew that she would burst at the Council members and she would obviously agree to a mission for her nation. But Gaara had to give in. He sighed.
"Fine. I knew Temari would yell at the Council members so I told her about the Council's proposal," said Gaara.
"But why are you doing all this? Is it simply to strengthen the alliance between the two villages?" asked Kankurou inquisitively.
"Fool. Do you know why Temari wanted to go to Konoha so badly?" questioned Gaara.
"To meet her friends," came the pathetic reply from Kankurou.
"I understand. She wanted to see Shikamaru. After hearing about Nara san's loss she wanted to go comfort him. Yes?" stated Baki.
"Absolutely correct. Even if she doesn't know it, she is in love with him. She's too stubborn to succumb to her obvious feelings and Shikamaru, as we know, is a slacker, so they're not going to get together anytime soon. Temari's already twenty and I want nieces and nephews. I refuse to let them play a fool's game any longer," said Gaara.
"But then, oh great matchmaker, why didn't you let her go to Konoha?" asked Kankurou.
"Simple. Distance. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Pack up both of you. I'll go and deliver the message to Matsuri myself. I think she would be pleased to come on this 'mission' with us. We'll leave tomorrow at 6.a.m."
As Gaara left the Council room, Baki and Kankurou only had one thing on their minds. When did Gaara start caring whether Matsuri would be pleased to go on a mission?