A/N: So, this is what happens when you get snowed in and your power and internet doesn't go down. You write 6000+ words of fun and fluff for your friends!
I want to thank slimreaper for being a very good sounding board about the fun of writing and for giving me some inspiration on this chapter. If you haven't read her stories, you are missing something very good.
Once again, as always, I do not own Naruto.
Oh, yes, there is a section that is more adult in content than heretofore. You have been warned.
Chapter Ten: Dancing in the Dark
Kiba checked his appearance one last time in the mirror. He ran his fingers through his shaggy dark brown hair again, giving it a more rumpled look.
Chicks dug wild hair.
And he dug chicks.
There should be some possibilities for hooking up with someone tonight. Hinata had told him that she had invited some civilians to the dance party. Civilians just loved the ruggedly handsome type like him.
Or so he'd been told.
Maybe he didn't have all the fangirls that followed Neji and Sasuke, but he had his fair share of ladies hoping to run their hands up and down his rock-hard abs. And other things, if he got lucky.
It was kind of funny, though.
Must be all those sentimental emotions scenting the air, but, for a long moment he'd wished he'd been sitting in Naruto's place next to his own bride-to-be.
Heel, there, pup.
Not good thinking like that.
His ma had been yapping a lot, lately, about him starting a family and giving her grand-kids.
He wasn't even close to ready for that!
If she even caught a whiff of a more permanent vibe from him, she'd worry at him like Akamaru at a raw-hide bone.
Nope, better to keep it easy-breezy. Just a young hound out for a run. Nothing to see here, folks.
A pounding on the bathroom door interrupted his reverie.
"Yo, Kiba," shouted Naruto, "quit primping and get out here. I gotta look good for my bride and you're standing in my way."
"Keep your shirt on, numbnuts," growled Kiba, sliding the door open and stepping out into Neji's bedroom. "You afraid someone else is gonna take your beloved? Some hot stud muffin like me, perhaps?"
Naruto snorted and stepped past the Inuzuka to peer at himself in the mirror.
"As if," he said, running his fingers through his wild blonde locks, "I finally got her and I'm keeping her, believe it."
Kiba shook his head, watching his friend frantically try to tame his hair.
"I don't know how you did it," he said, "You've been after Sakura for years. What finally changed her mind?"
Naruto looked at him in the mirror, his blue eyes wide.
"I honestly don't know," he said, quietly, "I can hardly believe it myself." His glance sharpened and the familiar look of determination hardened his features. "But I'm gonna make that woman so happy every day of her life she'll never regret marrying me. Believe it." He turned and stepped out of the bathroom, grabbing Kiba's arm.
"Come on," he shouted, "I've got a bride to dance with!"
Kiba allowed himself to get towed along through the bedroom out into the small living room to join the other men. They quickly formed groups and headed up the path towards the main house, a laughing jostling crowd.
Kiba paused at the doorway, watching as Naruto and the others spilled onto the dance floor. Several of the girls were already there and he watched as Naruto found Sakura and pulled her into a hard embrace followed by a blistering kiss.
For a moment, Kiba almost felt jealous.
Time to find someone to dance with, preferably someone who was not caught up in all this romantic nonsense. Someone who would enjoy some quality time with a dog-nin. Someone who -.
He realized that someone was hovering by the doorway near him.
From the back, she looked like a very pretty girl, with long shiny black hair and she smelled great, like lavender and roses and -.
Holy shit!
Was that Hinata?
In a dress?
He'd seen her in a dress before. Wait, come to think of it, whenever he saw Hinata out of her shinobi gear and into something less military and more feminine, she'd been wearing traditional kimonos or something baggy and dull. She had always looked pretty, but this – well, this-.
Holy shit!
He didn't know much about dresses, but this one had to be the greatest dress ever.
It had a tight thingy around her waist and a swirly skirt that skimmed around a great set of legs. Damn, Hinata's got fine legs! The color was pretty, sort of blue and violet mixed together. Akamaru will love this! But what really made this a dress to remember was the top part. It kind of wrapped around her shoulders and opened in the front like a stiff shawl.
The top part was simply amazing.
Hinata in the top part was more than amazing.
She was – well –
Holy shit!
"K-kiba?" said Hinata, anxiously, "Is anything wrong?"
Kiba checked his nose to make sure he wasn't bleeding all over the place.
Nope, a couple of drops, but those were quickly taken care of and the evidence pushed into his pocket along with his telltale handkerchief.
"K-kiba?" said Hinata, again, her hands flying up to that amazing top and her index fingers poking together right in front of her-.
Kiba quickly pulled out his handkerchief again and applied it to his nose.
"Fine, Hinata, fine," he said, his voice muffled by the cloth. "You look -," like someone I'd like to take home tonight, "really nice. That's a pretty dress."
She looked down and smoothed one hand over her skirt nervously.
"Really?" she said, "Ino picked it out for me."
Oh, Ino, you naughty girl.
"I'm n-not sure if I really should wear it."
Kiba was sure she should wear it. Very, very sure.
"It's a little reavealing."
Oh, yeah.
It was revealing alright. Revealing what she'd kept hidden under those tightly zipped big-ass jackets for years.
If he stepped a little bit closer, yep, right there, he was able to see not only the deep cleft between her breasts but the generous curve on either side. He pressed the handkerchief harder against his nostrils.
"After all, m-my father's here and v-visiting dignitaries."
Wait a minute. This was Hinata. Hinata, his teammate. One of his best friends. The only girl besides his mother and sister that he trusted completely. Who trusted him completely.
Down, boy!
"I told Ino that I wanted something that would be appropriate for a p-party."
She was worried about her dress and he was acting like he was about to hump her leg.
"I think I b-better change," Hinata said, a little sadly, and turned away.
"Wait, Hinata," said Kiba, returning to his usual role, best friend and teammate. "Don't change. You look awesome."
"Kiba-kun," said Hinata, "you haven't stopped looking at m-my – uh, my chest - since we started talking."
A slow blush started up and flowed across her throat and bosom.
Don't look! Don't look!
Too late.
Time to reassure her. He and Shino had been after her for years to dress more normally, like other girls. And honestly, the dress she was wearing tonight wasn't all that revealing.
Like hell!
It probably was practically matronly compared to what Ino no doubt had on. That girl usually wore clothes that needed to be glued in place just to maintain a tiny bit of modesty.
"Hinata," said Kiba, knocking his libido over the head. He had long recognized that he and Hinata would never be a couple. Her shy ways just didn't work for him. They'd even talked about it once, back in the days when she was ga-ga over Naruto. It was time for him to be the good teammate. "I ain't gonna lie, I'd have to be dead and buried not to check out your-," boobs? ta-tas? melons? jahoobies? "figure. You look beautiful. Totally appropriate for a party."
He was rewarded by the look of relief that filled her face. She smiled up at him shyly.
"R-really?"
"Really," he said, holding out his arm for her, "you are totally gonna catch some dignitary's eye."
He frowned at the sudden sparkle of excitement that shone in her pale face.
"Oh, I hope so," said his teammate and best friend and the hottest chick in the room. She accepted his arm and they stepped out onto the dance floor.
Baki watched Gaara closely from his place in the shadows at one edge of the room.
Something had happened to get his student so worked up.
And he had a pretty good idea what – or who – it was.
Ever since the betrothal ceremony Gaara had been acting like a cat on hot sand, wary and tense. Hyuuga Hiashi was acting suspiciously as well, keeping close to the Kazekage and making sure that his daughter didn't.
Baki felt a moment of indignation at the thought that the Hyuuga didn't think Gaara was good enough for his precious daughter.
In the past, Baki had never thought that Gaara would have a normal or even a very long life. No, he had expected the boy to die either at the hands of his father or through the machinations of the monster tanuki. Now that both threats had been removed, he'd begun to hope for something good for his student.
Kami knew he deserved it.
Gaara was standing with Kankuro near the refreshment table.
They both looked very well, as befitted the Kazekage and his sibling. Baki felt a swell of pride as he looked with satisfaction at their handsome forms. Both were tall and broad-shouldered, although Gaara was slender where Kankuro was wide. Both were dressed impeccably, Kankuro in black and Gaara in steel grey. Their hair picked up the reflections of the fairy lights and candles that decorated the room and shone, chestnut and burgundy.
My students. My boys.
There was a disturbance at the doorway and Baki could see the Hyuuga girl come in with the Inuzuka heir. She was immediately surrounded by other of her friends and he lost sight of her.
He remembered her from the chuunin preliminaries, and, although he'd been impressed with her spirit, he had dismissed her abilities as a shinobi. She was shy and retiring. She was a member of a prominent clan, to be sure, but rumor had it that she had been replaced as the heir because of doubts about her strength as a leader. She was certainly pretty, but there were other pretty girls. There had been quite a parade of them lately.
But none of them had piqued the interest of his youngest student.
He saw Gaara straighten up at the sight of her.
The group around the girl had grown to include the Uzumaki and his fiancée. They surged forward, gathering momentum until they surrounded Gaara and Kankuro.
Baki took a step forward in alarm.
A hand pressed lightly against his chest, stopping him in his tracks.
"They're fine," said a quiet feminine voice.
Baki's palm itched to search out the kunai he had under his suit coat, but he restrained himself. He angled his body so he could continue to watch the crowd of young people and see who had dared accost him.
The young woman he had sat next to at dinner stood beside him, smiling faintly.
"Excuse me, Yuuhi-san?" he said, politely, but with an edge to his voice. People did not stop Baki. Ever.
"I said, they were fine," Yuuhi Kurenei repeated, nodding her head towards the laughing crowd. "You were wondering about your students, the Kazekage and his brother."
Baki frowned. They had talked about their student teams during dinner. She was Hyuuga Hinata's sensei. Was she aware of Gaara's interest in the girl?
He realized that she had not dropped her hand and that it was still pressed against his chest.
He stepped back and her hand fell.
"I was wondering about my student, Hyuuga Hinata," Kurenei continued, "she seems – interested in the Kazekage."
She turned to face him and her dark red eyes seemed to glow.
Baki tensed and prepared for her attack. She was a jonin level shinobi with a genjutsu talent that he had heard about but never seen. His hands were already beginning to sign 'genjutsu kai' to release the spell.
"What is he planning for my girl?" said the woman, frowning.
Baki relaxed a little.
She looked as worried as he undoubtedly did.
"I don't know," he said, a little ruefully. Seeing her look of alarm, he frowned. How much to tell her without betraying Gaara?
They watched the young people, noting how Gaara and Hinata seemed to be ignoring each other as the members of the group shifted around.
"Do you think," said Kurenai flatly, "Do you think he is a danger to her?"
"No!" said Baki, "Never."
Kurenai turned fully to him and cocked her head.
"He would have been in the past," she said, watching him carefully.
"Yes," there was no doubting that. He would not betray Gaara by agreeing.
Kurenai turned back to watch the group.
Pairs were beginning to form and drift onto the dance floor. The Inuzuka and a young teacher from the Academy, the Aburame heir with a girl that had the distinct look of an Akimichi, Uzumaki and his bride, of course. Uchiha Sasuke was dancing with the youngest Hyuuga daughter, his face hard and still as she chattered at him.
Hinata and Gaara stood awkwardly together.
They watched as Gaara bent his head down slightly and say something to Hinata. She looked up and nodded and they moved to join the others. There was something oddly touching about the careful way his arm circled her waist and her hand lightly rested on his shoulder. They danced gingerly, almost a foot apart.
Kurenai smiled slightly.
"Well," she said, her voice warming, "We either don't have anything to worry about or they need our help desperately."
"Hunh," said Baki.
Kankuro kept an eagle eye out for Hiashi. There was no way that he was going to let the old fart cut in and spoil Gaara's time with Hinata.
Even if it meant that he didn't get to dance.
Kankuro loved to dance.
He had learned all sorts of dance styles as a way to study human motion and apply it to his puppets. The importance of teamwork and the ability to use space in the way a dancer did had helped him reach a mastery of both arts that very few could boast. He knew exactly how far a joint could stretch and where to add the most chakra for a burst of power in a leap.
The added bonus was that he found that he absolutely loved to dance.
Ballroom, ballet, modern, tap, he loved it all.
It wasn't something that was widely known.
Didn't really go with the whole Evil Puppet Master thing he had going on. Temari, Baki and Gaara and his dance instructor were the only people who knew. Temari because he'd made her partner him, Baki because, well, he was Baki, and Gaara because he'd discovered him doing a modern number he'd choreographed himself once.
He had to give the kid a lot of credit for his discretion back then. Gaara had never said anything about his dancing to anyone. He would just come and watch Kankuro practice whenever he could.
And he had never used it as the basis for his trash-talk.
Another reason to want to help the kid.
He scanned the room to see if he needed to run interference, but couldn't see the Hyuuga clan head.
Good.
He turned and watched Gaara and Hinata critically.
Little brother must have picked up some tips while he was watching Kankuro. He wasn't half bad. No spaghetti arms, a good frame. Perhaps a little too stiff, but not bad at all.
It didn't look like they were enjoying themselves, though.
They both gazed with stony concentration over each other's shoulders.
Damn.
At the rate they were going, the song would end and Gaara would probably walk off.
This was a disaster.
Something needed to be done.
Looking around, Kankuro saw a young woman standing alone at the edge of the dance floor.
With a quick, 'Let's dance' he snatched the girl by the right hand and pulled her onto the dance floor.
Slow, slow, quick, quick.
"Hey!" said the girl, trying to pull away.
Kankuro added chakra to his grip on the girl's hand and waist.
"Listen," he said urgently, "I need your help."
Slow, slow, quick, quick.
"What?" said the girl, indignantly. She tried harder to pull away.
Okay, it's like using a puppet. A reluctant, angry puppet that was gonna belt him when she got loose from all the chakra strings he was binding around her.
Slow, slow, quick, quick.
"I need your help," he hissed, "You see those two?"
"Let me go, you ass!" the girl wriggled in his grasp and almost managed to free herself, "Who do you think you are? Let me go this minute before -."
"I'm begging you, please," said Kankuro, taking his eyes off his brother and Hinata to stare earnestly at the girl. "Really, I need your help. I'll let you go in a minute, I promise."
The girl frowned and stopped struggling, which was a good thing, because people were starting to look at them funny.
Slow, slow, quick, quick.
"You have one minute to tell me what this is all about," she said, sharply, "If I don't like what I hear, I'm screaming bloody murder and you are going to be very sorry you messed with me."
"Yeah, yeah," said Kankuro. It was hard to keep the girl dancing, but not too much different from manipulating Crow, one of his favorite puppets. He glanced over at Gaara and Hinata.
Slow, slow, quick, quick.
Shit, they were staring woodenly, not talking at all.
This was bad.
"Your time is almost up," said the girl in his arms, "tell me or I start screaming."
"Hunh? Oh!" Kankuro looked down at the girl. "See those two over there? The guy with the red hair and -."
Promenade, side sway, sway.
"The Kazekage and Hyuuga Hinata?" said the girl, her eyes widening.
"Yeah," said Kankuro, "See, I want to dance over to them and get them talking or something."
Hesitation, right turn.
"What?" said the girl, huffily, "That's ridiculous!"
"No, no, see," said Kankuro, "this is the first real dance Gaara's gone to, and he really likes this girl, and-."
Dip and pose.
"You're his brother," said the girl, a little breathlessly.
"Yeah, that's right," said Kankuro, "and I want to help him with this girl, see-."
Slow, slow, quick, quick.
The girl looked over at Gaara and Hinata.
"He likes Hinata-san?" she said, her voice strained.
"Yeah," Kankuro beamed down on his reluctant partner, "and I think she likes him, too-."
Hesitation, left turn, dip and pose.
"You're kidding," said the girl. She looked sharply at Kankuro. "You're not kidding."
She looked speculatively at the couple in question.
Backward, slow, slow, quick, quick.
"So, let me get this straight," she said, musingly, "you want them to dance and you want them to talk, too, and you're plan is for us to waltz up-."
"Fox trot," corrected Kankuro.
Side sway, sway.
She looked at him like she was listing the order of torture she would use on him when she got free.
"Fox trot up to them and make them talk," she finished, biting off the words and spitting them out.
Promenade, slow, slow, quick, quick.
"Right!" said Kankuro, glad she was getting the picture.
"You're insane," said the girl, "Why don't you just walk up to them? What do you need me for?"
"You're my cover," said Kankuro, "I don't want Hinata to see me. I just want to get Gaara to relax."
Glide, glide, backward, slow, slow.
"Oh, kami," said the girl, panting a little, "you are insane. Why did you have to pick me? Why couldn't you pick someone like Anko? She would have put you in your place."
"You're doing great," said Kankuro, the light of victory in his eyes. He and his partner were right behind Gaara.
"Psst, Gaara," hissed Kankuro.
Side sway, sway.
Gaara gave a start and almost tripped Hinata.
"Insane," muttered the girl.
"What-!" Gaara started, glaring over his shoulder at his brother.
"Relax, bro," whispered Kankuro, "Enjoy yourself. Like this."
Forward, slow, slow, quick, quick, glide, glide, dip and pose.
"Come on, dude," he said, encouragingly, ignoring his partner's rolling eyes, "Enjoy yourself. You can do it."
"Certifiably insane," the girl said.
"Is – is that your brother?" Hinata asked hesitantly, peering around Gaara's shoulder.
"Shit!" said Kankuro, "what are they doing now?"
Forward, promenade.
"You want me to spy on them?" said the girl indignantly. She leaned a little to his left and watched Gaara and Hinata. "They look a little more relaxed."
"Really?" said Kankuro, surprised, "I didn't think this was gonna work."
Side sway, sway.
"You really are insane, aren't you?" said the girl, shaking her head.
Kankuro noticed that he wasn't using nearly as much chakra to keep the girl in place. In fact, she was pretty much dancing on her own. And she was good.
Backward, slow, slow, quick, quick.
He grinned down at her.
"Sorry about that," he said, "I'm just worried about him, that's all."
The girl looked thoughtfully at him and then at the other couple.
The music slowed to the end.
Roll out and curtsy, bow.
They both were surprised at the burst of applause from the watching crowd.
Hiashi was not happy.
Things were getting out of control.
Somehow, all his plans to limit Hinata's contact with the Kazekage had fallen into ruins.
Every time he tried to get near them, the older brother and his dance partner, the Inuzuka daughter, would get in the way.
He probably should have enlisted the aid of his nephew, Neji, but he hadn't wanted to explain himself. Not that he needed explanations.
Absolutely, not.
As clan head, he merely gave an order and it would be obeyed.
It was not a power he abused, and he wasn't about to start now.
Especially not now.
Even if he had asked Neji to help him, he couldn't imagine how he would have done it.
'I don't like the way he looks at her' would have worked but seemed crude. 'I don't like the way she looks at him' sounded a little too – jealous? At any rate, not the impression he wanted to give Neji.
He wasn't sure what was bothering him, anyway.
The Godaime Kazekage was a fine catch for any girl. A marriage contract between the two would be very beneficial to the clan and would also cement relations between the Lands of Wind and Fire.
There was the boy's history as a psychopathic murderer, but that seemed to have resolved itself once the one-tailed beast had been extracted.
And, strangely enough, Hiashi liked the young man.
He was reserved, intelligent, and a strong jounin-level shinobi. He had brought Sunagakure back to prosperity after a long period of depression. His family was one of the leading clans in his country.
What was wrong then?
Perhaps it was the hunger Hiashi saw. Hunger for his daughter.
Hunger that could take his daughter away and consume her forever.
Even now, Gaara stood next to his daughter with some other young people, gazing down at her with an intensity that made warning bells ring in his head.
He started towards them when he was stopped by a low alto chuckle.
"My, my," said Tsunade, "Isn't this an interesting development."
Hiashi stopped and straightened his back. He looked down his nose at the woman.
"I don't know what you mean," he said, haughtily.
"Really?" Tsunade lifted a delicate honey-colored brow, "You don't think that it is interesting to see the Kazekage buzzing around your delicate flower?"
Several retorts ran through his head but he opted on lifting his own eyebrow in return.
"I must say," continued Tsunade, smiling at him, roguishly, "it's been quite entertaining watching you try to keep them apart."
Hiashi turned away. A slight blush crept up his pale cheeks.
"You do know, don't you, that trying to keep them apart will only bring them closer?"
Hiashi was glad that she couldn't see the faint look of chagrin that crossed his face.
"But of course you do," said Tsunade. She laced her arm companionably with his, "expert negotiator that you are."
Hiashi considered withdrawing his arm but decided against it. There were rules of etiquette that prohibited pulling away from a lady. He stood stoically, refusing to relax his arm. Maybe she would get the hint and go bother someone else.
"The thing that surprises me, is your attitude," said Tsunade, leaning closer to him.
He frowned slightly.
"There was a time, not so long ago when you were ready to disown Hinata-san. I thought you couldn't wait to get rid of her."
Stung, he turned on her, pulling his arm away.
"I never wanted to get rid of her," he said before he could stop himself.
Tsunade stood, unflustered, smiling at him warmly with her head tilted to the side.
"I know," she said. She picked up his right hand and settled it at her waist. "Come on, Papa, let's dance. Your little chick is growing up and there is nothing you can do about it. Might as well enjoy yourself."
Hiashi automatically took his left hand and picked up her right. His feet, however, refused to move.
"As your Hokage, I'm ordering you to dance with me," said Tsunade, narrowing her golden eyes dangerously, "so dance!"
He stepped out onto the floor with her and joined the other gliding couples.
He kept Gaara and Hinata in his sight as much as possible, ignoring Tsunade's obvious amusement.
The Hokage was right. His little chick was growing up. And he didn't like it one little bit.
"So?"
"So, what?"
"You know what!" she huffed, angrily, "what do you think?"
"I think you should mind your own business," he said, with a sigh. He liked the fox trot. It could be danced without too much thought as long as you didn't want to put in all the fancy stuff.
"Gaara is my business," she said, shoving him a little with the palm of her hand on his shoulder.
Unfortunately, Temari liked the fancy stuff. Apparently, and if he'd known it before he never would have asked her to dance, she'd been taking dance lessons with Kankuro for years. He obliged her with a hesitation turn into a pose.
"Gaara's a big boy now," he drawled, "leave him alone."
"Look, now" she said, frowning, "They're dancing again. Take me over there. You switch partners and I'll find out how things are going-."
"No," he said, flatly.
Temari stared at him in surprise.
"We are not going over there, we are not interrupting them, or coaching them, or interfering in anyway," Shikamaru said, firmly.
"But-."
"Temari, I know you love your brother and you don't want to see him hurt," said Shikamaru, pulling her closely and swaying to the rhythm of the music, "but you can't help him with this, sweetheart."
She looked up at him mutely, her lovely turquoise eyes filling with tears.
Oh, she was troublesome, his woman.
And he loved her troublesomeness, and her strength, and her boundless love for her brothers. He loved the whole prickly package, right down to her pretty toes.
Loved her enough to add another dip to the fox trot.
It was getting late, almost time for the party to end.
They had danced together the whole night.
Fast dances and slow ones, awkward at first. As they got used to each other, they danced without thought, enjoying the music and the closeness. They barely spoke, content to hold each other lightly and spin under the muted lights.
They had danced with others occasionally. He was the Kazekage, after all, and she was a dutiful Hyuuga and the hostess of the party. He had partnered the Hokage, Shizune and Sakura, while she had danced with Moroni Ibiki, Hatake Kakashi and an exuberant Naruto.
She could hardly remember dancing with anyone else.
"I have something for you," he'd said, quietly.
She'd nodded and was waiting for him now, standing on the arched bridge over the koi pond.
The early spring night was chilly but she found the cool air pleasant on her heated skin. The scent of damp earth and water and the sharp tang of sap beginning to flow was carried on the air and she inhaled deeply. She leaned over the smooth wooden railing and gazed down into the dark depths of the pond, not seeing the slim shapes of the fish moving sluggishly through the water. Seeing instead his face, solemn and beautiful, floating before her. Imagining his arms around her, tighter than during the dance, closer.
She heard the scrape of his shoe on the slate stone of the path leading to the bridge. She turned away from the pond, her hand resting on the rail for support. She watched him walk up the bridge slowly, his eyes fastened on her.
Her heart leapt.
He carried a long slim bundle wrapped in sky blue silk. He stopped a few paces away and held it out to her, an offering, moonlight shimmering in the folds of cloth.
She couldn't move.
He took a step, his eyes unwavering.
He took another. And another.
Until he stood before her with only the gift between them.
"May I open it for you?" he asked, his voice husky and low.
She nodded mutely and watched as elegant pale hands untied the corners of cloth wrapping the package. The fabric fell away, draping his hands. He held a folded fan, furled and tightly enclosed by the lacquered wood guard sticks.
He pulled the cloth away and stuffed it into his pocket, holding the fan tightly. He unfurled it slowly, watching her face anxiously.
"You can't really see it in this light," his voice cracking a little, "There is a craftsman in our village who is very skilled at painting these."
Stretched across the ribs was a painted scene of the desert. A twisted saksaul tree with tiny yellow flowers was in the foreground. One of the odd striated sandstone towers that dotted the deserts in the Land of Wind was in the background. The scene was bathed in the warm colors of the sunset. Even in the dim light she could see that the painting was extraordinarily detailed and beautiful.
She looked up at him in wonder.
"Thank you," she said, softly, "It's beautiful."
His face brightened.
"I should have given it to you where you could really see it. This light isn't right…I hope you don't mind that-."
"It's beautiful," she said, again, smiling.
He took a breath and held it.
"Hinata," he whispered. He took the fan from her lax fingers and wrapped it hastily in the silk, slipping the package into his pocket.
Shivers ran up her spine.
His face sharpened with purpose and he stepped forward as she stepped back to lean against the railing.
He put one hand over hers on the smooth wood, holding it in place and slipped the other around her waist.
She looked up at him, running her free hand up the solid curve of his chest, hesitating at his throat, then settling to rest lightly on his face, the texture of his skin slightly rough under her fingers.
She could hardly breathe. Her heart pounded and she felt faint.
He seemed to grow around her, encompassing her, until all she could see was his face, and feel his hands on her and the warmth of his body pressing against hers.
The sand armor shifted under her hand and fell from him, whispering softly, the grains glittering as they drifted through the slats of the bridge to fall in the water below.
His face, uncovered, the same but somehow different, more open, softer.
He leaned his head down asking mutely for permission and she tipped her head back, closing her eyes as his lips brushed hers.
His lips were cool and dry, harder than she expected.
He pressed his lips against hers again, firmly, pulling her against him.
Her lips parted in a small gasp and the kiss deepened.
Her hand slipped up to his neck, her fingers curling in the straight fall of hair.
His mouth was hot, demanding, his tongue sweeping against hers.
He let go of her other hand and pushed her against the railing wrapping both arms around her to hold her in place as he explored every inch of her mouth.
She pressed herself shamelessly against him, crushing her burning breasts against his, her own tongue bold.
They pulled apart, gasping wildly.
He groaned and fastened his mouth on hers again, angling his head to get deeper. He reached up with one hand to pull the neck of her dress away, kissing his way down her white throat to the collar bone. He licked her, nipping the tender flesh and she shivered, moving her head to give him better access.
He growled and pulled on the dress, pressing his hot lips into the swell of her breast. His hand reached around to fumble with the zipper at the back, pulling it open. The cloth slipped down, uncovering the lacy cup of her bra. He slipped his hand under her breast and cupped it, his thumb rubbing roughly over her nipple.
She melted inside. Burst into flame. Her blood seemed to reverse in her veins, filling her with hot desire. She pushed her breast into his hand, pulling his head up by tugging his hair to kiss him wildly.
She tasted sweeter than any honey. Her mouth was delicious. He couldn't get enough.
Her breast filled his hand, heavy and firm. Her nipple was hard against his thumb. He rolled it between his fingers and felt her tremble.
"Hinata!"
He gripped her tightly against him, lifting her so that he could settle his body in the cradle of her hips.
"Hinata! Where are you?"
His hand left her breast and slid down her hip to cup her bottom, the flesh resilient in his hand, rocking himself against her.
"Hinata! Father wants you!"
Hinata froze as if the koi pond had just spouted a geyser and doused them with it.
What had been a burning, writhing flame turned into a cold hard stone in his arms.
"Hanabi!" she hissed, pushing Gaara away with surprising strength.
"Wha-," he looked at her, his aqua eyes confused.
"Hanabi. My sister!" she turned her back to him and looked at him fiercely over her shoulder. "Quick. Zip me up!"
Gaara complied, his usually nimble fingers clumsy. The zipper caught in the fabric and he cursed.
"Quick! Quick!" she said, her voice high and panicky. She flapped her hands at him and he wanted to tell her that she was not helping but couldn't get his voice to work.
He backed the zipper down a little, ignoring her squeaks, and then pulled the zipper up neatly.
She ripped herself out of his hands and turned to face him, smoothing her dress down with frantic hands.
"How do I look?" she said, anxiously.
"Fine, good," he said, not exactly sure what she wanted him to say. Her lips were swollen and there was a tiny bite mark on her collar bone. He thought about mentioning that, but decided against it. She was already upset. He somehow knew that that piece of information wouldn't help.
Her eyes softened and she smiled ruefully at him.
"I'm sorry. I better go," she looked over shoulder towards the house. Hanabi's form could be seen silhouetted by the light from the dance floor.
"Yes," he said, suddenly bereft. He pulled the fan out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Your gift."
"Thank you," she said, warmly, clasping it to her bosom. She hurried forward and pressed a hasty kiss on his mouth. She paused, one hand on his shoulder. "Thank you," she said, her voice husky.
He shivered. He grabbed her and fastened his mouth onto hers.
He was not letting her get away without one more kiss.
The kiss was deep and hungry and finished too soon.
He loosened his grip on her and she slid down his body.
"I'd b-better go," she said, dazedly, she turned and slowly walked away, one hand pressed to her mouth.
"Hinata!" called Hanabi.
Hinata threw one more burning glance at him and then ran down the path towards her sister.
He thought he liked Hinata's little sister.
Now, he was not so sure.
A/N: So, what did you think? What did you think? No, I mean it, I really want to know! Please review and make my snowy day brighter.
A few odd points:
Although dogs are color blind, they can see some colors. Blues and lavenders register the highest on whatever meter is used to test dog eye-sight. Somehow, I don't think it's the visual eye chart we use. I hope it's not painful.
The dance part is based on my very limited knowledge of ballroom dance. I was going for the feel of the dance, so I apologize profusely if I upset any experts. I love ballroom and would hate to disparage the art.
Black and white saksauls are the most prevalent vegetation in the Asian deserts. They hold a lot of water and have been used to replenish the Chinese deserts. They are also endangered. Look them up. There are some pretty cool pictures of them available online.