Angel: I'm so glad that this story is a hit. Yes there will be drama and I will take a different route in the story than in the movie of Aladdin. Aladdin was just an inspiration and a starting point. There is no magic carpet, the genie is a goddess instead, and the Kazekage is a jerk so they play different parts into the actual story. I sure hope this is a wonderful romance put on a different level of my normal writing. Here's chapter 3.
Gaara stood alone in his room, letting his sand form shapes in front of him depending on what his mind portrayed. Sometimes he saw nothing but a nameless confusing blob, other times he actually formed people. He saw Naruto a few times, Hinata once…but his father, angry and strict, appeared often in the sand. Gaara glowered at the sand figure of his rotten father. It wasn't fair to Sayuri that he was being forced to marry her when they didn't know each other. He tried to get to know her, but every time he met those chocolate brown eyes of hers, he would see Matsuri. He would see the peasant girl that he really wanted in the Duchess. He was afraid that one day he would accidentally call her Matsuri.
He sighed, "Why me?"
Just then there was a knock at his door. He looked over to it. "Enter."
Matsuri entered hesitantly. She wore a light green silk dress with see through arms. Her sandy brown hair was let down into windswept waves. Gaara's sand instantly made her against his will and she blushed brightly, giggling. He chuckled lightly.
She crossed her arms behind her back. "Um, I was wondering if you wanted to go out for a walk in the garden with me." She smiled sweetly at him.
Gaara couldn't resist the feeling of a smile creeping up on his lips. "Of course, Duchess." Even though it's been about two weeks, he still respected her position.
She blushed. "Please, call me M…Sayuri." She bit her tongue. She really wanted to tell Gaara who she really was so that she didn't have to see the sadness in his eyes anymore. But he had to find out himself. So little at a time, she revealed her true self. Letting her hair down was today's revelation. When she noticed that Gaara had thought about how beautiful she was by unknowingly making a figure of her with his sand, she knew that she was getting through to him.
He called his sand back into him and it swirled into the tattoo on his forehead. She smiled. He was wearing just a pair of red, silk, loose pants. His bare chest was exposed to her sight and honestly…he was very handsome. His muscles were hard and well chiseled, but lean. He wasn't too bulky or too scrawny…he was just right. She wanted to touch him so bad, to feel him under her fingertips. She shook her head lightly to banish the thoughts that could lead to trouble.
Walking outside, she smiled at seeing how much more relaxed he was around her. He held his head up high and his shoulders were held back strongly. She blushed imagining her hands on his shoulders during… 'No No!! Stop this! Stop before something terrible happens.'
Gaara smiled at her. "Sayuri, I'm sorry that I've been avoiding you lately."
Matsuri looked over at him.
"It's just that, before you came here, my father told me that the next princess I see, she will be my bride. I feel bad for what I'm doing to you." He stood in front of her, stopping their walk. He met her eyes, his green eyes intense. She blushed lightly. "Sayuri, I will make it up to you. I promise, I will take my time and get to know you and hopefully…learn to love you."
Matsuri smiled brightly. "I'm glad you've chosen that path." She really really wanted to tell him that she was the Matsuri he was looking for. But he had to learn for himself who she was.
Gaara took her hands into his. Her hands were…wait…course and calloused? He met her eyes for a long moment. She was smiling kindly to him, as if encouraging him. It felt like he met her before during this life, but not as a Duchess. "Who are you for real?"
Matsuri smiled brighter. "You know who I am, you just have to say it."
His eyes couldn't leave hers. "You're not Sayuri." It wasn't a question.
She didn't make any motion to answer him or respond to his observation. Kira had told her to let him find out on his own and don't give him any help. She intended on doing just that very thing.
Gaara's eyes widened. "Matsuri?" His whisper was very quiet, she almost didn't hear it. She smiled though and Gaara's eyes lit up like a fire was reborn inside of him. Matsuri almost squeaked when Gaara scooped her up into his arms and held her tightly into his chest. His heart was racing strongly at the knowledge that the one person he always wanted had been here all along. "I can't believe you're risking your life to be with me," he exclaimed quietly.
Matsuri smiled. "I'm in love with you, Gaara-kun. I will risk everything to be with you." He smiled brightly, hugging her to him again. His arms were so strong around her, she felt safer than ever in his arms. "I'm so happy that you finally figured this out. Naruto and Hinata knew but they couldn't risk telling you."
Gaara sighed happily, never letting go of her. She was in his arms again and that was all that mattered. This time, he was going to keep her in his arms forever…hopefully.
