Business first. I forgot this when I started chapter one: I DON'T OWN NARUTO (just for those of you who didn't already know that).

AND: This is a shout-out to KalliopeStarmist whose story "XxpuppetmasterxX and LilMzSunshine who inspired the Kankuro x Hinata pairing. THANKS! (I wanted to get her permission first before putting in the shout out). :O

o.O.o.O.o.O

"Whoa!" Kankuro called time out. "Slow down and tell me that again?"

Gaara shook his head. "What word didn't you understand? 'Emergency', 'meeting', 'in', 'the', 'Leaf', 'village', 'we're', 'leaving', 'in', 'two', 'hours'?"

"Hold up, Gaara." Kankuro asked, sensing something wasn't quite right. "What's wrong? The Akatsuki are gone, kaput, toast."

"Oh, and they're the only enemies we've ever had?" The Kazekage said. "I need you with me on this, and no I'm not going to explain further. Just get your puppeteer ass in gear and get packed. You have two hours." Gaara told his brother, hoping that he could fix things in the Leaf village and Kankuro would never find out what their father had done.

Baki watched his former student take his leave. "He senses something's amiss."

Gaara nodded. "He knows me better than most." He sighed, running one hand wearily through his red hair. "Baki, seriously, what are our chances of getting out of this?"

The wind master shrugged. "I honestly don't know. If it were merely a betrothal, it would have been easier to negate. But your father actually married Kankuro to the Hyuuga girl."

"But he was only three!" Gaara said sullenly. "Surely it can't be legal?"

Baki sighed. "It's legal and binding and overseen by the main shrines both here and in the Leaf village. Marriage by proxy at such a young age is more common in noble families, rather than ninja clans. Still, it's not unheard of."

There came a sharp knock on the door and Temari peeked inside. "What's going on? Suddenly I'm on sentry duty and Kankuro's packing up his puppets like a man on fire. New mission?"

Baki eyed Gaara, who eyed him back. Did they tell Temari what was going on or not?

Temari, picking up on the subtleties, got tense as she looked back and forth between the two men. "How bad is it?"

Gaara sighed. "It's not a mission and we're not under a threat or anything. But …it is bad, Temari."

"Don't kill me with suspense, just tell me." Temari ordered, then watched as Gaara used his sand to close the door of his office behind her. She raised a brow at that.

"This is important, and I know you'll keep it to yourself. But I have to ask you to keep it from Kankuro most of all." Gaara said, his fingers fidgeting with a scroll on his desk.

Temari caught her breath. The siblings didn't keep secrets from each other. Not for a long time, at least not since that fight five years ago between Gaara and Naruto that had changed all their lives.

"Baki remembered something about a casual remark father made some years ago."

Temari nodded, knowing Baki's memory for details to be both meticulous and almost uncanny.

Gaara continued without pause. "He tore my library to shreds looking for more information on whatever it was that was bothering him."

"Is that it?" Temari asked, pointing at the scroll her brother couldn't seem to stop touching.

Gaara nodded, his face glum. "Right before I was born, the Suna council got worried that those of the Leaf would get suspicious. They needed a way to keep the Leaf village thinking we were willing allies, and not plotting behind their backs."

Baki coughed to get their attention. "Neither of you are old enough to remember the Great War, but even after it ended, there were still hostilities. We constantly worried about spies, I was very young but I still remember."

"We wouldn't have had to worry so much if we hadn't been plotting against them." Temari said quietly. "Never mind, just go on and tell me the worst."

Gaara sighed, wishing his father to perdition as he continued. "Father decided to arrange a marriage, as part of the peace movement. All in order to solidify us as allies with the Leaf village. He met with the Hyuugas and arranged a marriage between Kankuro and the Lady Hinata."

Temari sucked in a breath and blew it out again slowly. "Okay, let me think. Hinata was which one? Wasn't she the girl who nearly died at her cousin's hands? The really timid one?"

Baki nodded sharply. "She put up a brave fight against an opponent who hopelessly outclassed her, family or not. But yes, that's the one."

Temari's mind was racing faster than a desert storm. "If it was a simple matter of breaking off an engagement, then you wouldn't see the need to rush around like this. Nor would you keep it from Kankuro."

Gaara nodded, his sister had a sharp mind. "Father didn't betroth them, he had them married. By proxy."

Temari swayed a moment, catching herself as she blinked hard at her brother. "Wait. Kankuro's married? And he doesn't know about it?"

"None of us did." Baki said, his voice stoic. "Your father informed the council, of course, but he never intended for this marriage to go anywhere. It was his plan, even then, of attacking and destroying the Leaf village. To him, according to his notations, it was just a ploy. The council didn't remember it, since it took place seventeen years ago. The business with the betrayal, and then later with the Akatsuki, well, it ...the council simply forgot about it all, since it was never meant to be a real marriage anyway."

Gaara continued when Baki trailed off. "Kankuro was three and this Hyuuga girl was only one. But it's a legal marriage and they have until Kankuro turns twenty to consummate the marriage, or everything is forfeited."

"Forfeited?" Temari asked, her stomach dropping as she didn't like the sound of where this was heading.

Gaara held up the scroll for a moment. "Apparently there is a huge dowry settled on the girl. It's being held 'in trust' in the Leaf treasury. On the day after the marriage is consummated, a third of the money goes to the couple and the rest comes to Suna."

Temari sucked in a breath, nausea making her stomach roll. "Father sold Kankuro to them?"

Baki shook his head sadly. "Remember, the Fourth had no intention of carrying through with the marriage. But yes, in essence, he did. The Leaf council wanted to get a hold of the puppeteer bloodline and that's why they agreed to the whole thing."

The blond kunoichi held up a hand as she thought it all through. "What happens if we don't honor the marriage?"

Gaara looked disgusted as he fought not to crumple the scroll in his hand. "Father agreed to double the dowry payable to the Leaf village and the Hyuugas if we negated the marriage for any reason other than death."

Baki took up the story from there. "If the Hyuuga's pull out of it before the marriage is consummated, then the whole amount comes here. But if both parties decided to negate the wedding, then we match the dowry and the whole amount is divided in half and paid to the two shrines involved. One here and one in the Leaf village."

Temari chewed her bottom lip, not wanting to give voice to her next thought. "Can we kill her? Make it look like an accident?"

Baki shook his head, he too had thought of that. "The Leaf village is famous for their medical ninja. Our deadline is in two weeks. That's not enough time to come up with anything plausible that would fool their medics into thinking her death was anything other than natural."

Gaara nodded morosely. "We're taking Kankuro to the Leaf village. Since this agreement is seventeen years old, we're hoping that between there being a new Kazekage and a new Hokage that we can come up with an alternative."

"At least the girl is pretty." Baki said, with gallows humor.

Gaara frowned. "She's hardly his type."

Temari choked. "Our brother has a type? I thought they just had to be breathing. Kankuro's nothing but a walking, talking hormone after all."

Gaara shook his head. "I remember this girl as being incredibly shy and soft spoken. She'd drive him insane within a week. He only likes women who actually have …experience."

"So you're not going to tell him about it at all, are you?" Temari asked, worry written all over her face.

Gaara shook his head. "I …I just can't. Not unless I have too."

o.O.o.O.o.O

Shizune looked around the empty room at the back of the restaurant in confusion. Then looked down to check out the note she'd gotten earlier.

'Important that I speak with you right away. Please join me for lunch at noon, at Suzu's.'

Well, it was five til noon now, and this was Suzu's, only one of the best restaurants in the village. But then, it was a Hyuuga she was meeting. Shizune wondered if this had anything to do with the revelation of Hinata's marriage?

The wait staff were attentive as they sat her, bringing her some lovely chrysanthemum tea as she waited.

Hyuuga Hiashi showed up right on time, punctual as ever. He bowed formally and was quite gracious in his manners.

The two made small talk for a few moments. There were general comments on the weather and the new graduating Academy class. They even touched on the recent flare up between the town merchants and the harbor master from the nearby port town.

For his part, Hiashi found her company to be a pleasant diversion, though he did wonder why she'd invited him out to eat today. Especially without Tsunade with her. He never really recalled seeing her anywhere, except at the Hokage's side or on a mission for her. Was this something the Hokage didn't know about yet? Or was Shizune here as a representative of the Hokage?

Despite his wandering thoughts, he found to his surprise, that not only was Shizune smart but that she had a witty sense of humor with a dry edge to it. Yet, he was a busy man and he hoped she'd get to the point soon.

Shizune found Hiashi to be a pleasant dining companion. He knew how to keep a conversation flowing without overpowering the other person. She wished Tsunade had more of his tact as well. Lunch was almost over and he had yet to bring up the point of this meeting. Tsunade would have gotten to the point first and foremost, ruining a pleasant meal before it had even begun.

They both waited as the lunch plates were removed by the wait staff and more tea was brought out.

The waiter walked into the back where three eager young Hyuugas hung on his every word.

"They're finishing up. I wouldn't term it a romantic lunch, but they were chatting most pleasantly. Both were smiling." The older man told them.

Hanabi made a 'victory' sign, but Neji pulled her arm back down. "It's too early for that."

Hinata chewed her bottom lip, nodding. "A..at least th…they're not arguing o…or anything."

Hanabi gave her sister a scornful look. "Your stammering was getting better, except when you're nervous. Stop it!"

Neji put his fist on Hanabi's head, pushing down gently. "You stop. We have more important things to worry about."

"Like what?" Hanabi asked, her thirteen year old face scrunched up in thought as she knocked Neji's hand away.

"L…like whether or not they f…find out what we've d..done." Hinata blushed as she fought to control her nerves.

Neji looked up at the waiter and handed him a note. "Remember, just hand this to Lord Hiashi and bow. Don't say anything. Get out of there before he can ask you about it."

The waiter nodded, and like the expert he was, he put the note on a small tray and carried it back out to the couple who were just finishing their tea.

"It's been a lovely afternoon, Lord Hiashi." Shizune said quietly. "Now, I believe we have some things to discuss?" She wondered what he needed to meet with her privately for, although she had enjoyed the meal.

Hiashi nodded, glad she was getting to the point. Although he lauded her for waiting until after they'd finished eating. He didn't like to discuss political matters while dining.

It was then that the waiter approached them, and begged forgiveness for the interruption. He bowed and extended the tray with the note upon it to Hiashi.

The Hyuuga took the note and opened it with an apologetic look to Shizune, who nodded her understanding. He held up one hand to stop the waiter from leaving, the man looked a bit nervous, but complied.

Hiashi's expression didn't change as he read the note, a missive from his councilor Misyu to return to the Hyuuga compound right away.

"I'm afraid I must cut this short, unless there is anything urgent?" He said smoothly.

Shizune shook her head. "Perhaps we can speak at another time?" She offered, still in the dark about what he wanted to talk with her about.

Hiashi nodded. "Indeed. You've been a most pleasant companion." He turned to the waiter. "Send the bill to me." He instructed. Since he had been called away and hadn't gotten to address whatever it was Shizune needed, he felt the need to pay for the meal as a gentleman should.

Shizune didn't think anything of it, having assumed that since he'd set up the meeting time and place then he would be paying for the meal anyway.

Hiashi bid her a pleasant day and made his leave. Shizune also stood, needing to get back to the Hokage tower.

The waiter made his way back to the eager Hyuugas. "He took the message and made his leave. Oh, and you're off the hook for the bill, he picked it up."

Neji gave a relieved smile at the news. Suzu's wasn't cheap after all!

Hanabi was grinning ear to ear as the three left the restaurant. "Success!"

Hinata smiled benignly at her baby sister. "Not qu..quite yet. This is j…just the first step."

"Hinata's right." Neji told his youngest cousin. "This was just to get the two of them alone together so that they can see each other in a different light. Outside of business and politics."

Hanabi wouldn't be deterred as she babbled cheerfully all the way back home.

Neji and Hinata shared a conspiritorial look. They had more work to do.

o.O.o.O.o.O

Elder Misyu was hard at work as he wrote his weekly letter, frowning studiously as he copied the flowing script from the sample parchment.

Hiashi opened his door and walked inside, startling the elder. Misyu didn't bother hiding his letter, that would only call attention to it after all. Instead he rose to greet the clan leader with a smile, walking toward him in order to keep him from seeing what was on his desk.

"Just the man I needed to see." Misyu said, wondering what piece of business he could use to distract Hiashi with.

"So I gather." Hiashi said dryly, referring to the note he'd received while at lunch with the Hokage's assistant. "Is this about Hinata's marriage?"

Misyu grabbed the topic with both hands. He sighed dramatically. "I wasn't sure you remembered the deadline was approaching. I know that we both decided long ago not to ever mention the subject to the young lady. But as the deadline approaches, I'm starting to wonder if that is the best approach."

"Why?" Hiashi said thoughtfully. Misyu had been his right hand man, and closest advisor for years. Ever since his wife's death. He flinched away from that memory to focus on the conversation at hand.

"Well, truth to tell." Misyu pretended to ponder, going so far as to tap thoughtfully at his chin. "The Lady Hinata is …biddable, but high strung. She'll do what she's told, but to find out all of a sudden, with no warning, that she's already married. It might be too much for her."

Hiashi shook his head regretfully. "I do wish she were made of stronger stuff. Still, I see no reason to burden her with this information unless it becomes necessary. The Hokage is making noises about contacting Suna about this, maybe there's still a way out of the whole situation. I can't see the new Kazekage being happy about it anymore than we are."

Misyu frowned. "When did the Hokage find out about this?" He'd taken great pains to remove all mention of the agreement from the Hokage's things after the Third's demise and before Tsunade had stepped into the role. Had he missed a scroll?

"She came to me about it yesterday." Hiashi admitted. "I feel better now that she knows. More minds working on a solution and all that. Still, I can't believe how foolish I was to agree to this in the first place."

Misyu fought not to frown. He wondered if Hiashi realized how strongly Misyu had fought FOR this alliance so many years ago, although he'd kept his part in it as secret as possible. He'd been ambivalent about the agreement until Kioshi came out dead set against it. Misyu cursed the woman deep inside where Hiashi couldn't hear him. Kioshi had not been a good wife for Hiashi, too sentimental in his opinion. Hardly the stuff of Hyuugas, seriously, just look at the daughters the woman had produced! Neither was fit to lead the Hyuuga clan.

There was a short knock on the door. Hiashi sighed as he received yet another note from a servant. This made the third today. His brow creased in concern as he read the message.

"Bad news?" Misyu asked softly.

"Depends." Hiashi sighed and shrugged. "It's from the Hokage. Seems that a Suna delegation is on its way here. They want to meet with the Hokage, with the Hyuugas in attendance."

"About the marriage?"

Hiashi blew out a breath, tapping the note against his palm in agitation. "What else? We have nothing to do with Suna, except for this marriage."

Misyu waited while Hiashi thought, his own mind looking at the situation from every angle.

"Call the Shrine priests to me. I need to speak with them as soon as possible. Before the Kazekage arrives with his brother."

Misyu nodded and bowed "I'll send my son, he can be trusted." He waited for Hiashi to leave first, then went back to his desk. He looked down at the letter he'd been writing. He gathered up everything and put it back in his safe. Then he sat down to pen a request to the Shrine priests before calling for his son.

o.O.o.O.o.O

With the use of his Byakugan, Neji ascertained that Hiashi was in his study. With last minute instructions, he and Hinata sent the young girl in to greet her father.

"Dad?" Hanabi asked, rocking back and forth before his desk with her hands behind her back. "Can I ask you a question?"

Hiashi barely glanced up, still preoccupied with going over the marriage contracts. If worse came to worse, he'd just have to honor the damn things. He didn't look forward to telling Hinata though. Misyu was right, she wouldn't take it well.

"What?" He asked absently.

"Are you dating Shizune?" Hanabi asked in an ultra-innocent voice. "I heard you two were dining alone today."

Hiashi grunted. "Hardly. It was business." Except he'd never found out what she'd wanted to discuss.

Hanabi quirked her head to the side. "Funny place for business. Suzu's is a nice place. How come you didn't discuss business here? Or at the Hokage tower?"

Hiashi shrugged, although come to think of it, why had they met there? The note he'd gotten had spelled out the time and place, he hadn't thought too much about it. Suzu's was one of his favorite places to eat. Had Shizune somehow known that?

"I like Shizune." Hanabi announced, after waiting a few moments. "She's very organized."

"Yes she is." Hiashi finally looked over at his youngest daughter. "What's this all about?"

Hanabi shrugged. "I just wanted you to know that if you WERE dating Shizune, I wouldn't mind."

"It wasn't a date." He said automatically.

"I'm just saying IF it was." Hanabi said, then quickly added. "I'm late to meet my team for training. I'll see you at supper!"

Hiashi watched his youngest run out of the room in something akin to shock. What was that all about, he wondered?

o.O.o.O.o.O

"Why did you have me do that?" Hanabi was asking Neji as the three walked over toward the genin training grounds.

Neji gave her a superior look. "It wasn't enough to have them out together, if they both think it's business and not personal. We need him to look at her as a potential wife. You're the youngest, you can get away with saying stuff like that."

Hinata nodded. "Now, when he meets Shizune again. He'll wonder."

"And that's a good thing?" Hanabi asked.

Both Neji and Hinata nodded.

o.O.o.O.o.O

"What the fuck is eating you?" Kankuro groused. "Why are we in such a rush to get to the Leaf village?"

Gaara gave him a stony glare, but didn't answer.

Kankuro was in a foul mood. Not only was he in the dark about this sudden trip to Konoha, but he'd had to break a date with Aomi, only one of the hottest girls at the local tea house.

"Give me a hint?"

Gaara shook his head and speeded up, making Kankuro curse as he too sped up in order to stay in formation.

o.O.o.O.o.O

Wheee! And away we go …..

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