-
Gaara pulled her up to look at him, "Yes." He answered simply, "That must be what love feels like." He kissed Ino deeply. As she leaned in, she thought she felt him smile a little. But she dimissed it as her imagination again.
He lead her to his room, her feet squeaking on the floor with her every step. "Wait here, I'll get you a towel." He walked down another hallway and into the bathroom. She stood in her wet clothes, examining everything. When he walked back in, he gave the dry towel to her. "You can stay here if you want for tonight, and go back to Suna with me tomorrow. Temari is very- anxious for me to get back." He suggested, as she dried herself off.
She thought for a second. That would mean that she would have to leave her friends and family behind. Mom, dad, Choji, Sakura, Lee. And then, there was Shikamaru. "I'm- not sure." She wrapped up in the damp towel.
He went through his dresser and pulled out a dark red robe and a long white T-shirt. "Here, put this on." She took it from him and went into the bathroom to change.
When she was dressed she layed down on the bed, the big feather comforter consuming her small frame. Gaara put his arm around her, lying beside her. "Thank you." She whispered. He kissed her cheek and didn't reply. When she fell asleep, he got up and sat in the chair just across from the bed, watching over her.
-
Ino sat up, then stretched a little. Sunlight streaming through gigantic windows. 'Gaara?' She stared at the big wooden door in front of her bed, confused. She suddenly realized that she wasn't in the same apartment bedroom as before.
This room was much bigger, huge. The ceiling was at least 15 feet high and over the bed was a canopy. She had been clutching the blood red satin sheets until her knuckles were white. The low hanging chandelier was like a star glimmering as the sun shone on it.
She slowly stood up, and climbed out of the bed. It was huge too, like three queen beds put together. Her eyes wandered to a box at the foot of it, in silver wrapping. It said 'Ino' on the top. She grabbed it timidly. 'For me?' She wondered.
She opened it, and pulled out a long, flowing, white dress. It was beautiful, like nothing she had ever seen before. She put it on immediately. The chemise part clung to her figure, but the bottom swept the floor elegantly and gracefully. She admired herself in the full length mirror across the room.
"Do you like it?" A familiar voice asked. She turned her head and saw Gaara, staring at her from the door way.
"Of course!" She ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck, "I love it"
"Don't thank me. Temari picked it out. I just told her to buy it." Ino nodded.
"Wh- where are we exactly?" She was still puzzled, but she knew they couldn't be in Konoha.
"You don't know? I'm- sorry about that. We are in Suna"
"Oh." Her reply barely came out as a whisper. Then she exploded, "WHAT?! HOW CAN I JUST WAKE UP AND BE IN SUNA ALL OF A SUDDEN?" She shouted, "WHY DID YOU BRING ME HERE"
He didn't seem phased by her tantrum, "Because, I thought it would be better for you here"
"DOES MY FAMILY EVEN KNOW THAT I'M GONE? AND WHAT ABOUT MY FRIENDS?" She couldn't control herself.
"They know. I told them that you wanted to come." He answered in an emotionless voice.
Tears then started streaming from her eyes. She sank down to the cool marble floor, and cried.
"What is going on in here? Are you on your period or something? First I hear you screaming your head off and now you're crying in the middle of the floor." Temari walked in beside Garra, looking down at Ino.
"N-no. I j- just..." She sobbed, covering her face.
Gaara walked over to her calmly, and picked her up in his arms, "She'll be fine in a couple of days." He said, then put her on her feet, still holding her up with his arm around her waist. Temari rolled her eyes and left. "Calm down." He whispered in her ear, wiping her tears away with one hand.
"I- I'll stay with you." She said, kissing him.
"You'll love it." Gaara kissed back, "I promise."