Desert Snow

Gaara: Finally! You're updating!

LightBender: I didn't forget about this story…ok, maybe just a little. I've got a lot of stuff going on!

Gaara: Get a life because you have none.

LightBender: Temmy-chan! Gaa-kun's being mean to me!

Temari: ((looks from LightBender to Gaara)) Good job, Gaara.

LightBender: ((outraged)) You're supposed to be on my side!

Temari: He's my little brother.

Gaara: ((sticks tongue out at LightBender))

LightBender: I can't even control my own characters! Well, they're not my characters, since I don't own anything, but you know what I mean…

Temari: No I don't. You only make sense when Kankuro lets you have sugar.

Gaara: ((dreamy look)) Sugar…

Temari: ((alarmed)) No sugar, Gaara! Sugar bad!

Gaara: R&R so I can get sugar…

"The papers have been signed. Hinata Hyuga is my wife," Takeo said, anger glinting in his eyes.

"Once again, papers not signed in Suna or with a Suna representative are not valid in Suna and since you are having the wedding in Suna, none of this is valid!" Temari shouted.

"But, we are merely having the wedding here because it is scenic!" yelled a Sound woman. "Therefore, it's valid!"

"I am the Kazekage of Suna and deem that this document is not valid," Gaara said. "By having the wedding here, you were assuming that it would be valid and legal. But, the document is neither valid nor legal."

"You just don't want me to marry her!" Takeo said with venom in his voice.

Gaara matched his venom. "No I don't."

The two started glaring at each. Dead silence fell in the church—chapel.

"Fine. I challenge you to a duel." Takeo crossed his arms over his chest. "Hand to hand combat including ninjutsu and genjutsu."

"What does the winner get?" Gaara asked.

"You win, I forsake all claims to Hinata's hand and leave. I let the peace treaty between Konoha and Sound stand. I win, I get to marry Hinata here and you will watch. Fair enough?"

"When?"

"Noon tomorrow. Take it or leave it."

Gaara glanced to Hinata's scared face. "I accept."

-

"Gaara no Sabaku! You are an idiot!" Temari yelled, hitting her head against the kitchen counter. "A goddamn stupid little—"

"Temmy-chan, that was my ear," Shikamaru said, rubbing his ear. Temari gave him a look that was both oh-my-I'm-sorry-honey and can't-you-see-that-we-have-a-bigger-problem-on-our-hands?

Temari, Shikamaru, Gaara, Kankuro, and Yoshino were in the no Sabaku's kitchen. The scene at the church—chapel had taken place a little over an hour ago.

"Temari, I do agree that Gaara was being an idiot," Kankuro said, calmly drinking a cup of water, "but, I think it was the best decision."

"If he had only asked her two weeks ago!" Temari moaned. She grabbed Gaara by the shoulders. "Why didn't you ask her to marry you?"

Gaara stared blankly at his sister. That was the question that he couldn't answer. He didn't know. He had been planning to marry Hinata, but he hadn't been sure about when. He had thought that they would have all the time in the world. Look at how off he was.

"It's pointless to ask 'why,' Temari," Yoshino said matter-of-factly. "We can only plan out what we are going to do next."

"You're right." Temari sighed. "So, what are we going to do?"

"I'm going to fight that man tomorrow and beat him," Gaara answered.

Temari groaned as she sunk into a chair. "Gaara! The guy might be strong…"

"Temari, you're talking to Gaara. You know, your little brother who murders people for fun? No offense, Gaara," Kankuro said meekly.

Gaara shook his head. He honestly didn't mind when Kankuro or Temari called him a murderer. He knew they meant it, but it was what he was. He used to kill people for fun. Now, he talked to Hinata and hung out with Hinata—he broke off that train of thought.

The back door swung open and in spilled the rest of Konoha's rookies. Or, at least what had been the rookies. They said that they couldn't talk very long; they'd only come to wish Gaara good luck. When they left, Gaara sat slumped at the table, angry and sad and torn about not seeing Hinata. He really, really wanted to see her.

He was doing all of this for her. He knew it was worth it, but he wanted confirmation.

As the sun began to sink, the back door opened again. Nobody moved, Temari and Yoshino still wrapped up in a conversation. Shikamaru and Kankuro had actually fallen asleep.

Gaara closed his eyes and leaned back, knowing it had to be Naruto. He was very surprised when he felt someone's lips on his. Opening his eyes, he was met by the lavender eyes he had come to adore. It was then that he realized one simple thing.

He loved her.

-

The day dawned hot and early. Gaara showed up at the designated spot fifteen minutes early. Temari had insisted he wear his Kazekage robes, but he wore fighting clothes underneath. His trusting gourd accompanied him also.

Temari and Kankuro had been giving him advice the whole morning, forgetting that this was their brother they were talking to. He was the Kazekage and he'd been fighting circles around them for years.

Takeo showed up, a number of Sound representatives following him. Konoha's people arrived shortly after, Hinata among them. She met Gaara's eye and smiled. He didn't return the smile, but he knew she'd understand.

Gaara and Takeo were told the rules of duel again by Kakashi, Konoha being thought to be the neutral nation. (It was quite obvious that all of the Konoha people were cheering for Gaara, but let's not mention that.)

"Ready to lose?" Takeo asked as he pulled off his jacket.

"I don't lose," Gaara replied, slipping off his Kazekage robes. He adjusted his gourd. "Are you ready to lose?"

"Heck no. You'll lose. There hasn't been a person who's been able to beat me in two years," Takeo said, smiling.

Gaara rolled his eyes and took an offensive stance. Takeo mirrored his offensive stance.

"Ready? Begin!" Kakashi cried.

Takeo formed the hand signs for Kage Bunshin (Shadow clones). In the blink of an eye, Gaara was surrounded by the clones. Everyone heard Naruto screaming that that was his technique.

Gaara's sand flew out of his gourd. Following his dictates, it spun out, hitting all of the clones. All of them disappeared in smoke. Except for one. That one tried to escape the sand. But, Gaara already was closing his fist, the deadly Sand Coffin.

And then, it was over. No one moved at first. It hadn't taken that long. Gaara turned on his heel to leave, but he stopped suddenly. Something wasn't right…

Just as he thought that, the earth under him shook and Takeo emerged from the ground. He plunged his kunai into Gaara's chest. Takeo tried to pull it back, but he couldn't move the kunai. Looking at his hand, he saw sand creeping up his arm, holding him there. More sand was pooling on the ground at his feet. Takeo screamed.

"Do you admit defeat?" Kakashi asked, trying to decide if he wanted to interfere or not.

"Yeah!" Takeo screamed, watching the sand snake up to his waist.

"You have to say it…" Kakashi said, still wondering if he should just stop Gaara from killing the man.

"I, Takeo of Sound, hereby admit defeat!"

"Ok…Gaara wins. Gaara, you can let him go."

The sand slipped gracefully off of Takeo's body and returned to the gourd. Takeo ran over to his people. It was heard that they let the treaty stand as it was with no further demands and they disappeared later that night.

Gaara slumped to the ground, pulling the kunai out of his chest. Pieces of sand armor fell to the desert floor, red blood following shortly. The kunai had been chakra protected and had made it to his chest.

Gentle hands pulled his shirt off and examined the wound. He sat back and let her do her work. He felt the spark of chakra and then warmth flooded his body. He closed his eyes. The sound of ripping cloth met his ears.

Next thing he knew, he was in the room that Hinata had been staying in. The sun was shining through the open window, casting a gentle golden glow. Gaara looked to the right and saw Hinata sitting there, reading a large book.

"Hey," he said, reaching out a hand to brush against her cheek.

"You're awake!" Hinata cried, smiling. She leaned over to hug him, the large book falling to the floor. She didn't move to pick it up.

"How long have I been out?" Gaara asked as they broke apart from a long kiss.

"The fight ended about four hours ago."

"I didn't think the wound was that bad." Gaara rubbed his chest lightly.

"Sakura insisted I sedate you a little." Hinata nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck. "And it was that b-bad. It hit a major artery. I-If you hadn't h-had your sand armor…it w-would have been f-fatal."

"Don't stutter." Gaara twined his fingers in her hair. "Besides, I don't like to die right after I win a fight."

Hinata laughed, stroking the back of his neck in a way that was so gentle and seductive at the same time.

"So…where is that Sound guy?"

Still laughing, Hinata answered, "You should have seen him high tail it out of here. He's gone, along with most of Sound."

"Anything else happen while I was out?"

Hinata sat bolt upright. "I forgot! Temari and Shikamaru's wedding is happening in tomorrow!"

Gaara wasn't sure what to feel. Hinata's abrupt movement had left him cold and surprised, but not nearly surprised as the news that she had just given him.

After a moment, Gaara managed to choke out a sentence. "A wedding…Temari…and Shikamaru…tomorrow?"

Gaara: Way to make me sound like an idiot.

LightBender: You're still tired and starstruck. It works.

Gaara: No it doesn't.

LightBender: ((sighs)) Deal with it!

Gaara: Never. Absolutely horrible fight scene by the way.

LightBender: I know…I'm sorry that I can't write a fight scene!

Gaara: ((glares)) Review. Next chapter's going to be the last.

LightBender: ((sobs)) Why'd you have to remind me?! The last chapter of DS!!