Notes : All right for the wait, you'll get two Gaara's, though this one is the romance. The two shots start off the same way though about three pages or so. Che, my longest one-shot yet, but Gaara's my favorite so..I don't know.
There was a strange collusion of fate and the enigmatic person that was the fourteen-year-old Usagi Tsukino vanished from her home dimension. In all actuality it would have been more correct to say she was banished from her home world by the Powers That Be as the last ripple of her past life slammed into her current one. Fate gazed upon the past that was Serenity and her selfish desire to stab her lover's sword through her ending her life. Usagi, the current living soul, would have to pay for her past sins. However, Fate was not unkind nor was she blind, no matter the core of existence of a soul, Usagi was not Serenity, but still the karmic cycle had to be set back on track. Instead all that was fated to happen because Usagi resided there, shifted and left, as the heart of the ginzuishou still resided within her buried in her soul. Beryl disappeared as if she never existed, for she had no counterbalance and the universe always needed a balance, so the senshi that was to be of the moon never awoke.
Instead when Usagi eased her sapphire eyes opened it was to a place not her own, and was entranced in an ethereal light that floated inches from her nose. "Where am I?" She stammered out in fear, subconsciously curling in on herself.
"Everywhere and nowhere at all, the void and the center, all that comprises the universes and destroys them, a mere fragment or shadow in the great divide." The light seemed to answer while glowing soothingly.
"Why am I here?" Usagi asked curious.
"For many reasons young one." It responded, flickering back and forth in a dazzling show.
"May I know the main one?" She asked politely, a well-mannered child surfacing from within her.
"What makes you think there is such a reason?" The light returned.
"A tingling or wiggling in the back of my head whispers the truth to me." Usagi answered honestly.
"Well there are actually two main reasons, however, the main one I cannot tell you, for you would not understand." It answered. "However, the other reason is a great injustice is being done and you are being sent as a counterbalance." The light added.
"Why me, why choose me?" Usagi inquired.
"You hold a great light inside." It said and spread to large proportions surrounding Usagi in a cocoon of light. She closed her eyes in response at the brightness and felt a sense of weightlessness flood through her.
When she opened her eyes once more ti was to view a great expanse of desert and a congregation of people surrounding a screaming female who was obviously in a great deal of pain. Curious and concerned Usagi scrambled to the group and peeked through arms and legs to see what was happening. She finally noticed an older woman chanting and holding a tea kettle while painting strange markings on the screaming woman's bulging stomach. Usagi recognized the signs of a distended stomach as the bulge of pregnancy, amazed she reached forward to brush the life within and screamed when she saw her translucent hands. Yet, her phantasm fingers brushed the pulsing runes and a bright yellow light flashed behind her eyes. She was tugged forward realizing even as she was sucked into the paint that it was blood and one word was chanted in unison. "Shukaku." Then she heard no more, and remembered nothing but darkness for two years.
Two years later, Usagi got the surprise of her life when a small redhead boy tumbled into her domain of bizarre mind space. Over her time within this existence she had learned many things, one was no true time passed in this place, and she was still a fourteen-year-old girl. Another thing she learned was the word shinobi and what this world actually was, and she had also met the monster that belonged to the word Shukaku. Usagi had been terribly lucky and surprised when she had met Shukaku as she stumbled into his domain with her wanderings that he was asleep and bound in glowing chains. Though she had no knowledge of such things, she eventually came to realize that both she and Shukaku had been sealed into the small baby that had been in the woman's womb, and she also knew the chains that held Shukaku looked weak at best. Now she was meeting her host, for lack of a better word, for the first time face to face.
He was a tiny thing, like most children at that age are, but he seemed smaller somehow, like he was undernourished. Usagi was not sure, as she could not remember what Shingo looked like at that age, maybe all small boys looked to be like that. His eyes were a brilliant sea foam green that occasionally shifted into a soft turquoise even though now they brimmed with the beginning of tears. A light tan brushed his skin to a promise of a warm glow when he grew older, but the shock of red hair made her blink, it was too much like the color of blood to make her comfortable. Usagi blinked again at the sight of the large shirt swallowing his form and a teddy bear grasped in his hands. Well, now she knew that it was possible to project things in the mind scape. What made her nervous for the boy's future though was neither the tears nor blood shone hair, it was the darkening shadows around his pale eyes.
To say there first meeting was ground-breaking would be a lie, instead the boy sniffled and shoved his tears away while Usagi sat confused before the two-year-old. Perhaps it was because Usagi looked unthreatening and her aura was reassuring that the red headed boy approached. Then again it could be the false confidence that all children and shinobi have that let the child sacrifice to stepped boldly toward the kneeling girl. Whatever it was that drove, the boy forward, it led to Usagi staring eye to eye with her host. Nervousness flooded through her, as does what one say to a small child who has seen too much?
"Hello there child." Usagi greeted lamely wondering why she was having so much trouble connecting with the boy.
"You fear me too, why does everyone fear me?" The boy questioned, and yet Usagi could sense the underlying desperation in his voice.
"I am not afraid, merely nervous, I do not know how to deal with small children." Usagi admitted, bowing her head ashamed, well she was technically only fourteen, still a child herself.
"You are lying, soon you will call me monster." The boy claimed.
"No, I will not!" Usagi snapped distinctively, showing she was affronted by such a suggestion. "I see no monster here!" She added with a toss of her head, and then she blushed, she had just yelled at a two year old, admittedly an advance two year old. "Sorry, what is your name?" Usagi inquired, and for the first time in their impromptu meeting she saw reluctance in his eyes. She realized that he must have thought she would turn him away once she learned his name. "Never mind then, Chibiko." Usagi assured him, at least fate had been kind enough to drop her in a dimension that still had her tongue.
"You're not going to hurt me?" He asked still wary.
"No, I will not." Usagi promised, and that was all for their first meeting for the boy began to blur into the darkness, and Usagi figured he must be waking in the real world. She never claimed to be overly brilliant, in fact she was grudgingly average, but average was safe and it kept her happy, Usagi never focused much on things such as piteous knowledge. However, people and knowing people she excelled at because she loved people no matter what, but just because she understood them, does not mean she knew how to help them. None the less, she did look forward to future visits with her host in light that she could help him heal if only a little.
While Usagi's world was blissfully idealistic, the boy's was not. Over the course of future visits she learned of his name, heritage, and what his life was like since he was the vessel of the ichibi. Gaara had admitted that she was one of the only friendly personas he knew, even if she did reside in his head. Usagi was just thankful that there was someone else who was kind to the boy, even knowing his burden. The rest, including his family seemed distant or mean to him, and his father, and Usagi actually hissed at the mention of him in distaste had openly told the boy they were raising him to be an unrivaled weapon. Since his father was the village leader known as the Kazekage the villagers kept their killing instincts to vicious words and aimless rocks that bruised him for the fear of the father.
However, when Gaara turned four the fear of what the Kazekage would do dwindled away under the fear of what a greater demon could do with unlimited ninja skills. So the assaults turned deadly and the thoughts of assassination became a reality instead of wishful thinking, because of that, Shukaku woke up. Yashamaru, the medic ninja, his devoted uncle was a sham, and Gaara's father order Yashamaru to destroy the boy or what was said a failed experiment. Between the ages four to five Usagi tried to keep Shukaku's influence to a minimum, as she had finally regained her olden memories and unlocked the spirit of the ginzuishou. However, she was weak and untrained, so when Yashamaru betrayed Gaara that was the last barrier that keep the innocent boy alive. Shukaku's influence became stronger, and the last time Gaara visited her she understood why she would never see the boy again.
At five Gaara had the confidence of a well developed shinobi one to be awed if he wasn't so young. The new inscribed tattoo bleeding in symbolization of the fallen innocence, and the hate building underneath his solid eyes. "Usagi." Gaara greeted coldly, his arms crossed, without fear Usagi approached him and hugged him to her chest.
"Gaara-kun, I'm so sorry." She whispered in his ear even as the first tendrils of sand surrounded them. "I can not keep him back anymore, but remember I will always be here if you need me." She added and then softly brushed the healing tattoo with her lips and let him go. "The only advice I can give you is to grow and survive, some day we will see each other again." Usagi offered and then a barrier of sand flared up between the two separating them indefinitely. Usagi cringed as she heard the insane laughter of a the demon, and the whispered mantra of the five year old boy she had come to know.
"I shall love none but myself, for none love me and I will find the reason for my existence." Gaara swore and Usagi shivered in fright at his dark future. However, Gaara's mind frame changed because of this and for the first time in five years she could see the outside world even if it was through Gaara's tainted eyes or the flashes of memories she could see. All of Gaara's senses became open to her and she could almost touch the real world like she could do once upon a time. While amazed at the change, she was saddened as well as she settled down to watch her charge fight for his life.
Overtime Gaara grew to be unrivaled shinobi of Suna untouched by all enemies and Usagi was pleased he was safe even if his method of safety made her sick. Then Gaara turned twelve the Kazekage decided it was time for Gaara's first true assignment as the village's weapon, the invasion of Konoha during the chunin exams. When Usagi heard that she was extremely angry at the village for using Gaara as a mere puppet, and at the same time she could feel the hidden happiness that Gaara had, for he, even though he sought to kill he actually wanted to increase in shinobi ranks.
The chunin exams was like nothing Usagi ever knew even though the first test of the exam was a written exam she was completely floored. They were actually encouraging these children to cheat, it was unthinkable! Well only in her world, as the rules of shinobi were different and Usagi needed to remember that. None the less she cheered quietly when Gaara figured out and easily passed the first exam without a single blink. Though she did wonder and perhaps worried for the young boy Gaara had set his eyes on for a blood spilling target. The second exam was a joke, as far as Usagi was concerned in Gaara, as he was a well protected vessel. She still cringed every time Gaara killed someone, but she could never hate the boy she knew why he was the way he was. Though he did surprise her sometimes, like instead of his skin becoming a warm bronze it settled into a soft pale, and he was growing up to look like such a heartbreaker. Usagi found herself disturbed at times whenever some female looked to long at Gaara, she would feel a twist in her gut and the need to claw and shout. However, it seemed to Usagi that Gaara had forgotten all about her, for he never did call for her, and Shukaku had manage to convince the boy that it was his mother. The third exam filled her with underlying grief as this would strip away all chances of the boy ever being accepted even out of the village that he was born from.
However, the third exam was different then she thought, and several of Gaara's targets, because they could never be opponents, managed to change his views little by little. Instead of just killing anyone he came across to define his existence, the boy, Rock Lee, managed to make Gaara only want to kill those who had defeated him. Well, if nothing else it was an improvement, at least the ones weaker would have a chance at life now. Then the chunin examiners explained that there would be a one month break until the finals. Usagi almost cried when she saw through Gaara whom he had gotten, for Shukaku only got stronger at the prospect. Gaara had drawn Uchiha Sasuke, his original target to be slain, and knew the boy had power much like him.
While during the one month Usagi tried to make contact with Gaara, as he no longer slept for Shukaku would eat at his personality she could not reach him. Yet, she continued valiantly, and at one time almost succeeded, for her name fell from his lips in a forgotten tone, but then she was hastily push back by a raging wall of sand. Shukaku did not appreciate her interference with his vessel, but neither could Shukaku completely eradicate her due to her crystal and the brand of fate on her soul aura. This small success brought back her long dead determination, and into the finals of the chunin exam she managed a break through.
Things were looking grim for Konoha as the two demon vessels battled out their individual ideas. The Jinchuuriki fought and bled, until the battle turned into its final leg. Amazingly Gaara was losing, and to one he had thought a mere annoyance at best! Usagi noted though Gaara was hurt, close to death, and actually losing he was having fun, then he did his false sleep jutsu allowing Shukaku to rise. Usagi nearly shrieked when she saw a figure form that she had not seen in over seven years.
"Gaara?" She called softly drawing the boy's attention to her.
"You." Well it was not a tragically warm greeting but at least he acknowledged her. "I bet you hate me now don't you?" Gaara simpered while imaginary sand whirled around him.
"You've changed, but I could never hate you." Usagi admitted quietly messing with a bit of hair that fell to her side. Anything else that was to be said or done was stunted when Gaara gripped his head and groaned. "Gaara!" She called out worriedly even as he faded from her eyesight. Worried she turned her attention to his senses to see him to get head butted by the blond shinobi. Gaara had lost utterly and completely leaving him confused and scared.
Usagi felt his emotions run through her even as the blond shinobi crawled over to the immobile Gaara. Angry at her inability to do nothing she called on her ginzuishou and flooded it with her emotions. The ginzuishou reacted once more just like in tales gone past and her care for Gaara finally enveloped the boy.
Gaara felt the familiar warmth of a phantom embrace from long ago as Naruto finished explaining his strength. He wanted to change and now he understood that it was possible for him to be some one else, and have the purpose to protect. "I'm sorry." He croaked out to his siblings as his eyes slid close. 'I am sorry Usagi.' Gaara whispered in his mind as he fell into a blissful darkness awaiting the familiar face. He found her but not as he had left her for now she was beyond his reach enclosed in a beautiful and flawless crystal prison. Gaara laid a hand upon it and felt a cold wind shutter through him, he promised to the silent figure that he would break her prison some day.
Three years later Gaara struggled to fight against the pull on his soul as the Akatsuki tugged out Shukaku. Normally he would find this a blessing to be rid of his demon, but he had no wish for death and even less to bring the world with him. His promise rung through him once more and he grasped at his fading energy, he would not die here, not before he freed her. Gaara was aware of friendly voices, voices he recognized from the famed Konoha, and one he hoped to never hear again. Through blurry eyes Gaara looked on to the see the one woman he effectively ruined his life. Death begin to tugged at his resistant soul, finally he let go at least they would go together and with these odd optimistic thoughts he drew his last breath as Godaime Kazekage.
While this was happening the sealed reborn princess was thrust from her peaceful prison with a crash. Kneeling on the mind scape she realized she was fading as was the area around her. Desperately she floundered for the core of the ginzuishou and pushed the energy out, consciously she felt something tug at it. Hazardously she flailed out at it, and saw through Gaara's eyes the woman who had sealed her within him. Her power latched around something and the world went blinding white.
Gaara awoke, surprised at the action and found himself staring into eyes of sapphire. They blinked at one another, the smaller form curled against him in shock or comfort he couldn't tell. What he could tell is that he had kept his promise and she was free, and amazingly enough they were both alive.
"Gaara?" Usagi asked her voice as soft as the gentle wind's caresses.
"Hn?" He grunted in the universal language of I am far too cool to speak, but I do acknowledge the fact that you are trying to have a conversation so continue on.
"Hi, and nice to formally meet you at last." She said with a quick smile, Gaara felt a twitch in his lips and wondered if laughter would have been more appropriate.
Weeks later after the full story had been pried from the pair of them, Usagi was the newest resident of Suna and the Sabaku Siblings home. Kankuro had no object to it as it was nice to actually have a non violent female around, Temari was just glad to have another female around and Gaara would not have her anywhere but where he was, so whatever arguments the bunny may have put up they were settled before she could.
It was a normal morning in the Sabaku household with Usagi waking up before everyone, how this started no one is quite sure, and putting water on to boil. Now, before Usagi had been ripped from her home world and sealed into Gaara, Usagi possess no culinary skills, but before Sakura had left back to Konoha she figured someone in the household better know how to cook. Kankuro was an able cook at least everything turned out edible if not a little burnt, but he did not know to many dishes. Temari is legendary for her poisons that actually start out as meals, and Gaara, well no one bothered to teach him and do you think he would bother to do something people do for him. So that left Usagi picking up skills for the shinobi siblings, she figured it was a fair trade for she had nothing to offer in the way of dangerous techniques or stealth. Besides it made her feel homey when she did cook for them, like a family, and she could always greet her partner in the morning. Speaking of which the rice needed to go into the pot and heavy footsteps sounded upstairs, the Kazekage had woke up.
A knock disturbed her inner musings as she finished the breakfast meal, and laid the fish stock out for choice. Sighing, she walked over to the door for Gaara must certainly be in the shower by now, and she beat the crazy images away that followed that thought. Opening she greeted whomever with a large and friendly smile along with a loud good morning. Her eyes locked with the only other female that was close to Gaara besides herself and Temari. Matsuri stood there, Gaara's apprentice, with a handful of basket that held fresh fruit. While Usagi was not quite sure yet where she stood with this girl, and where this girl stood with Gaara, she led the girl in and got her a plate. Matsuri thanked her and asked when Gaara would be down so that she could give him her fruit.
"He is in the shower at the moment Matsuri." Usagi explained while laying dishes out for the rest of the house mates.
"How do you know Gaara-sensei is taking a shower?" Matsuri asked. Now it could be a number of reasons the girl asked, and in such a way, but of course Usagi still being fourteen took it only one way. She blushed while bowing her head and coughing before answering the girl.
"He takes one every morning as he is the first Sabaku up, and the water is running." She answered and fished in the refrigerator for something to drink.
"Usagi, Matsuri." Gaara's voice was heard from behind them, and both whirled to face him. While Usagi was not normally a jealous or mean spirited girl, she was pleased when Gaara greeted her first. Perhaps it is because they had been together so long in spirit that Usagi still focused on his attention, even if another should deserve it.
"Good morning Gaara." Usagi returned, and was a bit put out that their normal quiet morning time was being disrupted by another, especially one so close.
"Gaara-sensei." Matsuri returned as well, and in a direct mimicry of Gaara.
"Come on, have some breakfast, and Matsuri brought you fruit." Usagi cajoled trying to alleviate some guilt by pointing out Matsuri's kind gesture. Gaara said nothing as he normally does, but did sit down and began picking at his dish of food. Temari and Kankuro sprinted down about five minutes later as was their schedule. Usagi finished the same time Gaara did and took their dishes to be cleaned before sighing against the sink.
"What's the matter buns?" Temari asked even as Usagi felt the familiar weight of Gaara's stare on her back.
"Anxious, a bit restless I guess." Usagi answered while placing away the clean dishes. "Do not worry about it, and if you don't hurry you are going to be late you four." Usagi added and watched as they all stood as one, she really had no place here. For once since she had been brought here, she wondered if she would ever return home. Preoccupied by her thoughts she did not notice Gaara standing behind her until a bit of sand curled warmly around her hand. She turned to him in surprise and bumped against his taller chest, a bit red in the cheeks she backed up a little a gave him a small smile. "It would not be good for the Kazekage to be late, eh Gaara." She mocked and Gaara nodded with a studying expression. Then he walked out heading for the tower and where Matsuri surely waited for him.
While Usagi was far more patient nowadays, she still got bored when she had a whole day of nothing to do. So without much thought she returned back to her room and fell into the dreamworld where things happened to her liking. She did not awaken when several shadows descended upon her and spirited her away.
Gaara found paperwork annoying, as did most kages, especially after his training with Matsuri. Speaking of the girl she had been quite friendly lately and a bit more 'huggy' he supposed. Knowing next to nothing about females he shrugged it off, and thought of the other female that was now separate from him. It irked him a little as they were not as close as they once were, and Usagi seem to distance her self more and more. He wondered with a bit of pain if she was repulsed by all the blood that stained his hands, if she was disappointed by the way he had chosen to live his life in those dark years. His musings were cut short when his sand stopped a kunai coming toward him, and his siblings immediately surrounded him. Catching the kunai in his hand he gazed down at it and notice a note around it. Swiftly he gestured for his siblings to move closer so they all could read the note.
'Hey Demon!' It greeted, and Gaara wished the writer had a little more creativity.
'We have your sister.' Gaara glanced absently at this as he could plainly see Temari two inches from him and had been with him all day.
'If you do not come to the oasis on the western part of the town by noon, will we have to spill her pretty little blood, and maybe have some fun with her.' Well while the note was unoriginal, all three siblings uttered a single phase together.
"Usagi." Though Gaara's had a bit more venom in it, and his sand crawled animatedly down his arms. While there would normally be some sort of conference with the Elder Council, Gaara acted rashly, but not stupidly. He left Temari in charge of the village while he and his brother headed toward the abandon oasis in the west. Suffice to say when the pair reached the numerous amount of bandits, that reached far into the thousands, it was a bloodbath with Kankuro only killing six in total.
Usagi awoke as the last bandit fell under the onslaught of sand to see Gaara crushing the life from him. She had no idea what was going on, but something had drastically changed while she was sleeping, a weak gasp escaped her catching the sharp ears of the red head. Usagi recoiled a little at the fierce expression on Gaara's face, she had never seen that one before and his eyes were dark, a terrible hunter green that swallowed all light. Gaara stalked, because it could be called no other to the prone girl who blinked innocently at him.
"Did they touch you?" He asked, his voice strained and Usagi focused on the blood dripping from his hand.
"You're hurt." She responded, immediately leaping up and ripping some cloth from her shirt. He stopped her with a bit of sand, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Did they touch you?" He growled and Usagi felt it best to comply though she knew not why.
"No, no they did not." She responded, and the sand retreated from her feet allowing her to bandage his hand with care. "You have to be more careful." Usagi chided, pushing away the feeling of sickness crawling up her throat. Gaara was only protecting her, rescuing her, to return to a dark part of his life for her, though they deserved it on some scale, Usagi should not have felt so elated that he had come for her. "Thank you." She whispered quietly in his ear as she leaned against him in a hug.
"What am I chopped liver?" Kankuro whined lightly from behind Gaara. Usagi giggled, unwrapped herself from Gaara and bounded over to the older boy. "Thank you too!" Usagi chirped and though she wanted to hug the other boy in thanks, something bound her arms to her side. She glance down to see a tendril of sand binding her arms to her waist, if Kankuro noticed he opted to say nothing. Usagi glanced backward at the redhead with confusion, though Gaara offered nothing in the way of explanation. Instead he came to her side, one hand resting on her arm and gazed at her with his still dark eyes.
"You'll accompany me from now on." He said, and Usagi complied without fuss because in a small part of her heart that is what she wanted anyway.
"Gaara, you are the Kazekage, it's dangerous for her, she is untrained." Kankuro tried to argue but Gaara ended it with a glare, one that reminisce to a time when his siblings feared him.
"I'll keep her safe." Gaara stated and that was the end of it, though Kankuro just shook his head.
"All right Gaara, all right." Kankuro agreed, hoping that whatever was between the two of them worked out for them.
Temari greeted them anxiously when they returned fluttering nervously between them checking for injuries. When Gaara told Temari what he had told Kankuro, she just laughed softly and nodded her head, but not without giving a parting shot.
"It is about time ototo-san." She giggled before slipping out the door singing some child's nursery rhyme about a pair and a tree.
"So, what am I suppose to do and where do you want me to be?" Usagi inquired as Kankuro went outside to guard the door, as the leader's office wasn't much for space or comfort. Gaara craned his head to motion for her to come to him, he then gently pushed her down beside him and let his sand amuse her while filling out paperwork, he was a lot more relax now then he had been in awhile. In fact when one of the councilors dare interrupt him, he actually glared as he was pleased to do his paperwork instead of normally leaving it in a flash.
"Kazekage-sama, the Elder Council has called a meeting as has the Daimyo." He muttered lowly while bowing.
"We will be right there." Gaara responded.
"Uh we?" The councilor responded weakly back. Gaara just glared him out of the office while lifting Usagi up by her hand. "Uh, Kazekage-sama..." He stuttered out.
"What?" Gaara hissed out and the councilor recoiled.
"Uh...no...nothing." The councilor bit out.
"Gaara-kun, be nice." Usagi scolded playfully, missing the fact she had added an endearment to his name, Gaara however did not, but felt no need to draw attention to it.
The council room was built to impressive and inspire respect, Usagi found that it reminded her of peacocks strutting around while showing off their tail feathers. She giggled quietly in her hand while leaning up, as Gaara had grown taller then her, and whispering her thought in his ear, she thought she saw him smirk in amusement. The Elder Council was not pleased by the new guest and sought to speak out when the noticed how docile she kept the Kazekage. Instead they stayed quiet as her influence might be needed for this meetings announcement.
"The Council of Konoha has agreed to give us more land and resources." The Daimyo spoke up.
"That is good." Gaara returned.
"On one condition, a very small, reasonable request." One of the council members informed him.
"Oh, and what is this reasonable request?" Gaara inquired.
"A political marriage, between the ruling family of Sabaku's, and either the Hyuuga..." The council member trailed off at the spike of killer intent.
"I will not let Temari be used as a bartering chip for those upstarts, I will not tie her into a loveless marriage like my parents." He hissed out, and Usagi ran soothing fingers across his knuckles calming him.
"No, Temari is the Sand's Ambassador, that would give to much power to Konoha." An Elder Councilman agreed.
"Then who, Kankuro?" Usagi asked quietly from Gaara's side, she would hate to see one of her friend's unhappy. This time it was Gaara who rubbed her palm in comfort.
"No, the council has decided that Gaara Sabaku shall either marry Hinata Hyuuga or Tsunade's apprentice Sakura Haruno." The Head Councilman stated. Usagi felt cold at that statement, dropping Gaara's hand in shock and wrapping her arms around her shoulders in a self hug.
"Oh." Usagi offered weakly at the revelation, keeping her eyes glued to the fancy carved table. She knew that Gaara would do anything for his village now, he loved his home more than himself.
"No." Gaara's voice rung out and his declaration shocked everyone including the small bunny by his side. "While I disagree with the whole idea, handing over to much power to Kohona because they wished to wed the only strong family in Suna." Gaara started. "This is not the reason I am objecting." He admitted. "I will not allow this council to use me or my position as a puppet anymore." Gaara declared, stood from his chair and glared the council down. "I will contact the Godaime Hokage Tsunade for a better resolution, do not attempt to go behind Suna's back again." Gaara warned, he grabbed Usagi and stormed from the room. He was just close enough to hear his sibling's parting shots.
"I told you Gaara would never agree to this." Temari chimed haughtily.
"He has a kanojo now, and I think he is quite happy to be her kareshi." Kankuro informed them.
"His happiness is all that matters to us now." Temari said.
"Also we will do anything to keep him happy, so do not make us want to hurt you over this foolishness." Kankuro agreed.
Gaara felt a brilliant warmth within him when he heard his family tell off the council for him, he felt loved. Although he was a bit confused by a few words. "Usagi?" He prodded, and she tilted her head toward him. "What does kanojo mean?" Gaara inquired, and observed as she turned a marvelous shade of red.
"It means girlfriend Gaara." Usagi explained.
"Hmm, and what does kareshi mean?" He pushed though he had a inkling as to what it might imply.
"It means boyfriend." She responded softly dropping her head a little, obviously someone has said those words to him before she could, probably Matsuri. Gaara tilted her head up to him and study her for a moment before leaning closer.
"Good, then you are my kanojo." Gaara claimed though a small part feared her reaction.
"Hmm, a kareshi, I never had one of those." She admitted softly. Gaara was immensely pleased, she was his and his alone, just like he would only belong to her, but that was much further in the future. "However, since I'm your kanojo, I'm going to have a lot to teach you." Usagi said with reddening cheeks, she knew how little Gaara knew of relationships and such things of that nature.
"Oh?" Gaara intoned enthused with a raised eyebrow, Usagi couldn't be sure but she could swear he was teasing her. She nodded, stood on her toes and pecked him quickly on the lips, his shocked face would keep her amused for many days to come.