Konoha's cemetery was located in the outskirts of the village. After Pein's assault many years ago, they had rebuilt the grounds as it had been from the founding of the Leaf. The squat, rectangular marble grave stones for their fallen shone under the afternoon sun by the time Ino had found him. He was not hard to spot; he was the only one there, sitting on the grass with his legs crossed in front of a grave stone Ino knew all too well. She hadn't been aware that Gaara actually knew Sarutobi Asuma well enough to find him here of all places, visiting his grave.

Ino approached him from behind, patting him on the shoulder lightly before kneeling down beside him. "I've been looking all over for you."

Gaara did not move from his place. He had his chin resting on the palm of his hand, his teal eyes trained on the epitaph on the marble stone plaque as if it held the answers to all the questions in the universe. His posture had always been very stiff ever since Ino had started noticing him, but right now, his shoulders were slightly slumped forward and it was as if whatever vigor he had shown her for the past days they had been together had… disappeared. Instead here he sat, looking tired and… well, just tired.

"Gaara?" Ino tried again, peering up at his face cautiously.

"I lied," Gaara suddenly said, making Ino jump slightly.

"Lied about what?" Ino asked, sitting back on her haunches warily and thinking about whatever possible lie he could have told her.

"Those flowers weren't for your grave. They were for his," Gaara replied, nodding at the grave stone in front of him.

Ino followed his gaze slowly and bit her lower lip uncertainly. "I didn't know you were… acquainted."

"Not personally. But the Sarutobi are a great and proud clan, and Asuma was no different. Naruto spoke highly of him. He was your sensei, right?"

And it was at that moment did Ino suddenly feel a huge gap in the pit of her stomach that appeared only when she remembered her teacher. How many years had that been since she felt it last? Six, seven years? She sighed. "Yeah. He died… He was killed when I was sixteen."

"I know. I heard." Gaara glanced at her when she gave him a surprised look. "I was with Chouji earlier. For some weird reason, we ended up talking about Asuma-san. He's been a very important entity in your life."

Ino's brow furrowed, unsure of what to say. The day her sensei died had been one of the most reality-shattering moments of her life. She knew that perhaps if she had been stronger, then maybe Asuma-sensei wouldn't have died. After the war, right before her father had introduced her to Ibiki's squad, she had spent almost every night crying herself to sleep, thinking that if she hadn't wasted so much time making googley-eyes at Uchiha Sasuke and spent more effort in being a better kunoichi, then maybe… maybe things could have turned out differently. If she had paid more attention to Sakura more… If she had better chakra control…

But no, she had spent more time in growing her hair and battling it out with Sakura over a little crush.

Ino rubbed her eyes tiredly. "He had smoked like there was no tomorrow, and we've tried hard to make him quit. He never listened, of course. And before we knew it, Shikamaru's taken up the habit."

"His death must have been… devastating to you."

"There was no time to mourn. We were too busy fighting."

"Fighting who?"

"The men who killed sensei. Akatsuki. You should know the rest." Ino allowed herself to fall back on her behind on the grass, stretching her legs in front of her, her toes touching one corner of Asuma-sensei's grave stone.

"Revenge?" Gaara asked after a moment of silence.

Ino nodded. Yeah. That was all that mattered then. In fact, she wouldn't have had it any other way. They had won. And it had been oh so bittersweet.

Gaara's eyes lowered to his lap. "Naruto doesn't believe in revenge."

"It didn't take long before we stopped believing in it, either."

"Naruto has that effect on people."

Ino laughed. "Yes, he does. Don't you just hate that?"

Gaara paused, thought for a second, then nodded. "In some cases, yes. But it grows on you."

"Like molds on bread."

"Or mushrooms in underground trees?"

Ino caught onto him, and she swatted his shoulder gently. "Don't ever try eating anything remotely poisonous in front of me again."

Gaara looked down at the spot she had hit him, then said, "I think I finally understand where you're coming from."

Ino blinked, surprised at his sudden change of tone. Then, it was as if nature was reading his mood, because there was a sudden strong breeze and the afternoon sun hid behind a clump of clouds above them. She pushed away her bangs from her eyes. "There's nothing to understand. I'm a very simple creature."

"Yes, you are. I don't even know why I was convinced you were more complicated than what you really appear to be." Gaara leaned back on his hands, looking up at the sky with hazy teal eyes. That unruly mop of blood-red hair ruffling in the wind, brushing at the collar of his tunic.

Ino could only watch him, somewhat fascinated by the way those red spikes swayed in the breeze. It was once again that moment when she started to wonder why a man so beautiful could waste his precious time away on a kunoichi that wasn't even showing the least bit of interest in him. Well, given she was interested. She was definitely interested; she wasn't going to deny that. But she did not understand why Gaara would exert this much effort just to win her over when he could practically get anyone he wanted.

Ino lowered her gaze as she fiddled with the grass beneath her. "Whatever do you see in me, anyway?"

She jumped when Gaara gently placed his own hand over hers. "Not very much; I feel like you're hiding so many things from me. But what I see is enough." He paused, squeezed her hand lightly. "Chouji told me about how you've always tried to mother everyone around you. Perhaps it comes naturally to you, because it was your sensei's dying wish. But you don't have to worry about me. I can hold my own in pretty much all occasions."

Ino felt her face heating up when his fingers intertwined with hers, and he raised it to his lips slowly. She watched him, almost close to being tantalized as he pressed his lips to her knuckles. She tried to pull away. He held on firmly, eyes meeting hers. She averted her gaze quickly. "I don't even know why you're trying too hard. You practically have every single kunoichi of the Sand falling at your feet and yet – "

"I want you."

"Why?" Ino asked, sincerely curious.

Gaara lowered her hand, pressing it to his cheek gently, almost lovingly, making Ino blush even more. "Why shouldn't it be you?"

Ino pursed her lips, searching for a good enough reason to turn him down one final time. She watched him worriedly, a part of her wondering where he was planning to take this conversation.

Gaara gave her hand another squeeze. "I'm not asking you to change, because I can never change my own ideals if someone suddenly asked me to. I know how hard you've worked to be where you are right now, and I admire your dedication when it comes to your Village."

Ino gave him a pained smile. She knew personally from Naruto how Gaara had worked very hard to reach where he was right now, probably even more than she did. Kazekage at sixteen was a feat not many could accomplish. She frowned, wondering why Gaara and Naruto, who had undoubtedly worked even harder than she did, could actually make a smooth transition between then and now.

Perhaps that was what made them so much more special than she.

"Is it so wrong to like you this much?" Gaara asked.

Ino let out a small laugh. How stubborn can this man get? "Honestly? I'd have recommended someone else."

And the next thing Gaara did caught her off-guard. One moment he was looking at her with those stoic eyes, holding her hand gently, the next he was grabbing her on both shoulders, pushing her down forcefully on the grass and was on top of her in a heartbeat.

"What do I have to say to you to make you realize that you are good enough – already too good – for me?" Gaara snarled, his fingers digging into her shoulders painfully.

Ino, out of instinct, tried to grab his arms to throw him off of her, but he was just too fast. He had his hands gripping her wrists, holding them on either side of her head, keeping her from freeing herself.

"W-what do you think you're doing?" Ino stammered, for a second frightened at the strength she almost forgot he had. She tried to raise her knee. Gaara shifted his lower body, pinning her knees down with his. The wide open space of the memorial suddenly seemed even wider than it really was. She hoped to the gods that no one suddenly decided to walk in on them. But then again, she was already uncomfortable as it was; Gaara was flush on top of her right in front of Sarutobi Asuma's grave. Her sensei would be scandalized if he were watching from heaven.

"I've tried everything. I've tried being passive. I've tried being a gentleman. At one point I tried being perverted, and I even tried getting mad at you. Nothing seems to work on you, Yamanaka Ino," Gaara hissed, his eyes roaming on her face, searching for something only he could know. He looked… wilder than usual.

Ino's breath hitched as he narrowed his eyes at her. "Ga-Gaara..?"

"You work with flowers and make anything beautiful with your hands, and that was what drew me to you from the beginning. At a stroke of luck – which you insist to be an unlucky streak – we got together for a few hours in a dark, cold cave, and in that short period of time, I knew I had to get to know you better. I try to get closer, and for some reason you try your best to distance yourself from me by giving excuses like I deserve someone better. But I don't need anyone better. I need you," Gaara said. Ino shuddered when Gaara suddenly smiled down at her coldly. "I am Kazekage. And while I have done everything, even lowered my pride for you, showed you faces so embarrassing I wouldn't have normally let live down, nothing seems to reach you. But because I am what I am, I will show you that the Kazekage gets what he wants."

Ino swallowed hard, squirmed beneath him and suddenly started to panic. The look in Gaara's eyes reminded her of a predator closing in on his prey. She let out a strangled squeak when Gaara suddenly lowered his face so close to hers that the tips of their noses touched. "What are you planning to do?"

Gaara sneered. "What else is there for me to do? Take you by force, of course."

Ino's eyes widened and she felt her face burst into flames. "W-what?!"

Gaara ignored her, and he lowered his head, nuzzling his face against the crook of her neck. Ino gasped when she felt warm lips on her skin make its way up to her jaw, nipping sharply at her earlobe. She shivered, in horror or in pleasure, she couldn't quite tell. But one thing was for sure: she did not entirely hate the sensation. And she knew this because she felt every single muscle in her body turn to mush.

She did not know what it was. It could have been the gentle breeze playing with the grass under them and the clouds above them, causing the strong scent of sage to fill her senses enough to drown all logic that they were, in fact, in a cemetery where anyone could just walk in on them.

Or perhaps it was just the mere thought that Gaara was having his way with her.

And she was liking it.

"Oooh! What are you doing?" said a voice from somewhere to her left.

Ino's eyes, which she didn't even know she had closed, popped open at the sound. At the same time, Gaara raised his face from her neck.

Right beside them, a mere foot away, squatted three little kids carrying pails, shovels and flowers in their tiny hands. It was all so sudden that they couldn't even move from their place.

The girl positioned in the middle of the two boys shyly batted her eyes at Gaara. "You're the Kazekage, aren't you?"

Gaara cast Ino a quick, uncertain look. "Yes," he answered slowly.

Ino felt his grip on her wrists slacken, and she did not know what made her reach for his hands, twining her fingers with his.

At the confirmation that Gaara really was the Kazekage, the two boys' eyes brightened and they burst into happy chatter.

"My momma told me the Kazekage was in the Village! Can you teach me how to do that thing you do with your sand? The thing when you crush your enemies mercilessly into a bloody pulp until they die a painful death?"

Gaara blinked, instantly paling.

The little girl wrinkled her nose. "Don't be an idiot. The Kazekage wouldn't do that in front of girls. Mama told me Gaara-sama is cool and collected and is a gentleman, so he wouldn't do anything gross like that. Right, Gaara-sama?"

Gaara's face turned from white to a pale blue. In a parallel universe, she could have found the humor in this. But given their positions right now, with Gaara's knee still pressed comfortably between her legs, she could not help but feel like the joke was partly on her.

The other boy looked from Gaara to Ino, then back again. "What are you two doing?" he asked innocently.

Ino felt her own face turn pale. She let out a small laugh, gave Gaara a hasty glance before they both said in unison, "Training."

The three kids let out an excited 'Oooh!'

The girl clapped her hands together happily. "Can we watch?"

"No," Gaara and Ino snapped at the same time.

The kids' faces fell. "Why not?"

Ino felt her insides churn in disappointment when Gaara suddenly pushed himself off of her, sitting with his back to the kids and running a hand through his hair in obvious frustration.

Ino sat up slowly, straightening her skirt out as she turned to the kids. "Because you have to tend to the graves, remember? That's your mission, right?"

The girl pouted sadly, but she and two boys stood up reluctantly. "Yes, ma'am," they said in unison as they collected their things in their arms and gave Ino and Gaara a longing look.

"Hurry along now," Ino ushered them away.

And as obedient little Academy students, they did as they were told.

And Ino and Gaara were left in the broad expanse of grass and graves, the tension hanging around them so thick she could almost smell it in the air.

Ino turned to Gaara, his back still to her and his hand still in his hair.

"Gaara…?" she tried.

Gaara's fingers grabbed at his hair before sighing and pushing himself to stand. "I'm sorry. It wasn't proper of me."

Ino's eyes widened at him and she scuttled hurriedly to stand beside him. She did not know what it was in his tone that made her worry, but when she tried to reach out and touch his shoulder, he whirled around and faced her, his non-existent brows furrowing intensely as he pinned her a look that came so close to resignation.

She did not know what made her heart go out to him. Perhaps it was the guilt marring his face. She tried to smile at him. "Why don't we talk this over somewhere… private?" Ino winced. She could have easily just asked him to push her down and have his way with her again. Because she could not help but wonder what could have happened if no one had interrupted him.

It was Gaara's turn to smile. It did not suit him much; his face looked like it was about to crack. "Ino."

Ino tilted her head to the right, expectantly. "Yes."

"I give up."

Ino blinked, totally caught off guard at what he had just said. She laughed. "What?"

"I'm starting to believe you when you said that luck just isn't on our side. And the worst of me is coming out because I want you so bad that it's starting to scare even myself." Gaara lowered his eyes to his feet. "I don't want to start scaring you, which I could already have, had it not been for those children."

Ino blinked again, rapidly, several times, unable to believe what she was hearing. Just when he had started to catch her attention, was he insinuating that he was giving up? She laughed again. "Wait a minute, Gaara. I honestly didn't… I mean, you pushing me down like that… you were provoked. I have my issues, and I was being difficult and – "

Gaara frowned at her, probably trying to decipher what she was trying to say to him. He shook his head. "To think it was I who told you to treat me as an equal, and then there I was having my way with you because I am Kage. I wouldn't be surprised if you'd start hating me even more."

"I don't hate you! I never have!" Ino declared, suddenly starting to sound a little desperate.

"But you don't like me, either." His eyes were instantly on her, eagerly searching for something that could contradict what he had just proposed.

Ino was dumbstruck. She wrung her hands together nervously, a part of her wanting to throw her arms around Gaara and just tell him that she sorta-kinda liked him, too. But there was just something – some thing – that held her back.

Gaara nodded silently, and the gesture seemed so final to Ino that she couldn't find the words to tell him not to misunderstand. She extended a hand towards him again, this time to touch his face. But she was too late. In a blink of an eye, he was gone in a whirl of wind and sand, and the next thing she knew she was standing in front of Sarutobi Asuma's grave, alone.

A/N: One. More. Chapter! I'm feeling a bit better, to those who wished me well. You guys are awesome.

Anyway, with this story almost over and I've already started exploring new pairings, I've decided to challenge myself with a KibaHina one, which will probably be a two or three-shot fic. I already have the outline vaguely in my head so it's going to be a quickie. After that I'll be working on my SaiSaku fic, which I have been ignoring for almost a year now. I don't mind doing other works simultaneously, and challenges make me happy, so if you guys have a certain coupling you want to request, know that I am open to them, as thanks for cheering me up on my lowest of lows. I've had a few requests for a ShikaTema, so I thought of working on that, but there's a NejiTen brewing at the back of my mind so that might come first, whichever.