Chop. Chop. Chop. Chop.
Kana skillfully chopped her potatoes into small cubes, placing them in a water bath to be softened. The sound of whirling sand was heard behind her, but she continued to chopping onions in front of her as footsteps approached her back.
"Hey mister, you're early." Kana greeted with a laugh, pushing her chopped onions aside. She brought the carrots out.
She felt strong arms wrap around her waist, a body being pressed against her back as she peeled the bright orange carrots.
"What are you making?"
"Ever tried curry?"
"Naruto told me about it once. He said he never wanted to eat it again."
Kana laughed. "Oh, I remember that mission. That's because the one he tried was really spicy. I personally don't like spicy curries," she began slicing the carrots into skinny moons, "so, I'm making a mild one."
Gaara watched as she chopped the carrots from behind her, purposely breathing on her neck. He shifted his grip tightly, intentionally moving his hands under her apron to around her stomach.
"Hey now," the violet-haired woman started, shifting in his hold, as she reached for the garlic and beef. Gaara smirked, he knew what he was doing to her. "If you want to make this process go by faster, you can chop the garlic and ginger for me."
The redhead chuckled, grabbing a knife from a nearby drawer as if he knew his way around the kunoichi's kitchen. "How much garlic do you need?"
"Four cloves will do," she told him, butchering the meat into cubes. "And mince them, if you can."
And they worked silently, making idle conversations every now and then. Gaara did some of the basic chopping needed until Kana had began heating up oil in a pot, grabbing his chopped up garlic and ginger in the process. She threw them in along with the onions and meat, beginning to cook them. Gaara resumed his position to wrapping his arms around her waist, under the apron. She began sautéing the onions and beef in a pot until the meat began to brown and the onions were caramelizing.
When his hands slowly began to raise higher over her abdomen, Kana purposely asked him, "Can you get me the coconut milk in the cabinet?"
He grunted, having been caught as he removed himself from her body.
"Coconut milk?" The redhead inquired curiously, searching through the cabinet for the can.
"It gives the curry more flavor and a better aroma."
The redhead finally found the can, setting it on the counter, but before he can resume the position of wrapping himself around the chef, she promptly slammed a can opener next to it. Gaara chuckled again, knowing she was intentionally making him busy. Kana chortled from next to him, getting four cups of water ready. Gaara finally opened the can, handing it to her, and before she could say anything, his lips were on hers.
It wasn't long – Kana pulled away with a smirk. "I know you're waiting, but be patient."
The violet-haired woman poured the coconut milk in, waiting for the liquid to boil before pouring in the water, simmering the heat as well as adding in the potatoes. She began to stir it with her cooking spoon when she felt arms wrap around her waist again, under her trusty apron. She laughed, willingly pressing herself against Gaara's chest. "Alright, alright. I need to let this simmer for fifteen minutes, ok? So, I need to be back in ten minutes – that's when I add in the carrots."
Gaara tenderly kissed the side of Kana's neck, speaking huskily against her skin, "So, you're only allowed a ten minute distraction?"
"Maybe."
The redhead's smirk widened, his eyes flashing with a known desire, using one hand to make small circles on her stomach while using the other to lightly tug on the knot of her apron, making it loose. He saw her grab a lid from the counter, closing the pot to simmer the contents inside, and he started to remove her apron.
She smiled frivolously, hanging up the body apron on a nearby hook. When she turned around, she found Gaara staring intently at her with a craving he's longed for awhile. She noted his sand gourd was propped up against the wall behind him. Her lips formed an alluring smile as she approached him.
"Why are you still wearing your Kazekage robes?" She questioned, beginning to untie it just like he had done to her apron. "They're going to smell like curry; you know Temari has a sensitive nose."
"They know I'm with you," Gaara announced, removing his robes and placing them on the hook next to her apron, revealing him to be wearing his normal Shinobi attire.
Kana raised an eyebrow, "You told them?"
Gaara faced the girl with a smile, wrapping his arms around her waist, "I think it's time."
Knowing he meant about Matsuri and herself, her face mimicked an evil smile. "Oo, you'll have to tell me about it over dinner." Kana brought her arms around his neck, playing with the red hairs at the base of his neck. His hair has grown over the years, becoming shaggier, giving him a more sexy appeal. "Eep!" Kana yelped when her redheaded lover had unexpectedly squeezed her buttocks.
Gaara simpered. "What?"
Kana's eyes narrowed and her smirk widened, "Sabaku no Gaara, you are such a pervert. I think Kankuro's been rubbing off on you lately."
He merely chuckled in response, bringing her closer to him, pressing his forehead against hers. Kami, he loved her so much.
She only hoped she wouldn't be too late to add in the carrots – no human likes raw carrots.
"Move over, Kankuro! I can't see!" Temari grunted, pushing the puppeteer into the bush next to the window.
"Hey! He was putting the moves on her!" Kankuro complained, struggling to get back up and look through the window again.
They had just witnessed Gaara wrapping his arms around Kana, who was still chopping at her ingredients. This is the first they've ever seen their little brother affectionate with someone, not even with Matsuri. They weren't even sure if he had ever kissed the Chunin girl. But long behold, here he was with the girl everyone in the village thought would break his shell and win his heart, and he was hugging her waist! It was completely paparazzi news.
Kankuro grinned evilly, "Naruto definitely needs to hear about this."
"Sh! You idiot!" Temari shushed, wanting to see every single detail that would happen between the new found couple. "I knew a camera would come in handy someday – ugh! Why didn't you tell me to bring it!"
Kankuro grumbled under his breath, "You're yelling at me for being forgetful?"
"SH!" Temari cried, her eyes widening in shock when she saw Kana begin to remove Gaara's robes. She began to whisper harshly, "How long have they been together!"
"Is she undressing him?" Kankuro asked in disbelief. Another moment later and his eyes widened to saucers, "Did he just grab her ass!"
Temari whacked his brother in the head, "What the hell have you been teaching him on those brother bonding times?"
"Ow! Nothing! I swear!" Kankuro cried, rubbing his head to soothe the bump starting to form at the back of his head.
They continued watching as Kana and Gaara shared a laugh, pressing foreheads together. They could practically see the love that Gaara's wanted all his life. The love that has been there, that has developed over time.
It wasn't a fake love or obsession that most girls in the village suddenly felt for him in the past few years. People could tell in a blink of an eye that Gaara and Kana were close friends, constantly together, working together. She wasn't his friend because he was the Kazekage, but because they saw each other as equal Shinobi from different villages. He wasn't fascinated with her nor was she obsessed with him. They wouldn't go out of there way just to be with each other, but they would risk their lives to protect each other.
It wasn't an affection that started off based on looks like Matsuri's had been. In Kana's eyes, Gaara was cute, but in his own way; the girl had never known the difference between an overweight man and a handsome photogenic face, finding both equally appealing if they had something to back it up. Same with Gaara; Kana wasn't drop dead gorgeous, but she was strong skillfully and strategically. They never touched upon each other's appearances, always looking directly into each other's eyes and seeing only the person they cared for.
They knew from the start of Kana's friendship with their brother that it would change him, change him for the better. And now their friendship had deepened over the years to something that they only dreamed of Gaara having.
Teal and cerulean eyes flashed in the direction of the Sand sibling duo. Kankuro and Temari froze like statues under the two's vicious narrowed gaze. Temari began to sweat while Kankuro took a gulp.
"We're dead."
With Kana's threatening wink, Gaara had controlled his sand to close the blinds of the kitchen window, shielding the world from him and his Konoha kunoichi.
"Dang it! And it was just getting to the steamy bits!" Kankuro whined, backing away from the window.
"Wait, there's another window!"
Matsuri laid in bed next to a naked Kanji. Though he had been snoring peacefully after their rendezvous, the brunette had stayed awake, feeling a bit uneasy throughout the day. It started when she was with her friends and the Kazekage's good friend, Kana. The feeling intensified when she had lied to Gaara earlier the day. But, she's lied to him before; why was she suddenly feeling nervous?
The girl stared out the window at the full moon, her eyes portraying the true feelings she felt underneath the layers of love and lust.
She bit her lip, gripping the bed sheets closer to her bare body.
The guilt was eating at her heart.
Taking a deep breath before turning to Kanji to lay her head on his bare chest, she made a decision.
She would be honest with him.
He was the Kazekage after all; he would forgive her, right?
After five minutes of putting in the carrots, Kana put in the curry blocks filled with the correct amount of spices and whatnot, letting it melt into the steaming liquid. Both her and Gaara, who had resumed his position of arms wrapped around her torso under her apron, watched as the blocks caused the liquid to thicken and change into a yellowish-brownish color, the aroma encircling the kitchen.
Gaara kissed the side of her neck once more, "Smells delicious."
Grabbing a few plates and serving spoons, Kana set up the table with a serving of rice, curry, and four plates with a set of utensils. Making Gaara take a seat at the small dining table, he noticed the extra plates, raising his eyebrow.
As she retrieved the napkins, the girl noticed his confused expression. She laughed, "We're just going to have a few guests; I hope you don't mind."
The two turned their gazes to the other window in the room, finding Gaara's older siblings pressing their faces to the glass, trying to hear every bit of the conversation. When they noticed they had been caught, they disappeared.
"Gaara, I think you should let them in."
With a slightly irritated expression, the Kazekage got up and went to the door. No one was at the doorway, but when he called out for his siblings, they came out of the darkness nervously.
"H-hey, little brother…"
"N-now Gaara, we were simply curious-"
Kana began washing her hands at the sink, "Come on everybody, to the table! There's plenty of curry for the four of us."
Temari raised her eyes in surprise, "Wait, what? Us, too?"
Kankuro was instantly in a seat, "Awesome! Itadakimasu!"
Kana was at his side in a second, whacking him in the head with a serving spoon, "Wait for everyone to join the table, Kankuro!"
That's how the rest of the dinner went. Laughs, jokes, and funny stories were told, Gaara being the only one to have the less input.
"What happened to yakisoba?" Kana asked.
"I forgot to buy the noodles," Temari admitted embarrassingly.
"That and the fact we were curious that Gaara was having a date with a certain Konoha kunoichi," Kankuro revealed with a smirk, turning all his attention to Gaara and Kana who had been sitting next to each other on the other side of the table.
"Oh." Kana responded, dabbing a napkin to her mouth, "Who?"
Kankuro and Temari anime fell. "Kana!"
The girl sweatdropped, raising a hand in defense, "I was only kidding. Joke, joke."
"Ack! I can't take it anymore!" Temari suddenly cried out, pointing her chopsticks at Kana. Everyone at the table looked at her, startled, "How long have you been dating my brother!"
Kana blinked.
Gaara blinked.
Kankuro drank his tea quietly.
"I'm not dating Kankuro."
Temari gritted her teeth.
Kankuro spit out his tea.
Gaara blinked once more.
"You know darn well who I'm talking about, Kana!"
Kankuro wiped his mouth.
Gaara sighed.
Temari glared.
Kana leaned back in her seat, moving her hands to behind her head. "Ask Gaara."
Three pairs of eyes turned to the redhead next to the purple-haired kunoichi. He leaned on one hand in boredom.
This was going to take awhile.
