Chapter Twenty Four
Gaara moved about his office, filing his last bit of paperwork in their proper places and making sure in general everything was in order. The week away from the office had built up a lot of paperwork and required a lot of late nights in order to catch up.
"Gaara," Temari leaned into the office, "The Hokage has begun her final approach."
"How far?" Gaara didn't bother to mention he'd heard the information already, "Has the entourage party been updated?"
"They should arrive within the hour," she informed, watching him carefully. "The only name we have for her entourage is still Naruto, however, it has been confirmed that there are at least three more in the party."
Gaara was silent as he contemplated the new information. It was unusual for their information to be so inconclusive but then the Hokage could be a bit . . . Unpredictable and adding Naruto to the mix . . . He really shouldn't be so surprised though he couldn't help but wonder who else was in the group.
Something stirred in his chest and he squashed the feeling quickly. He would not allow himself to . . .
"I will greet them personally," he announced, very aware of his sister's careful studying.
"All right," she nodded, "I have to find Kankuro but I'll have someone notify you when they're at the gate."
He nodded and waited for the door to close. He moved to the window and gazed out into the desert as if he could see his friend's approach and companions.
The feeling stirred again and he had a harder time suppressing it.
Naruto wouldn't bring her . . .he had no reason to since he promised not to interfere . . . Unless. . .
The feeling died as suddenly as it had appeared and was replaced with something much more familiar.
Unless, they've come to tell me the good news . . . He cut off the emotions that bubbled up, I should probably destroy the portraits of Hinata . . . Naruto won't be happy if I keep them.
He lifted a hand to touch the covered paintings. He doubted even his siblings knew they were there. He had put them in glass cases before hanging them on the wall so they wouldn't be damaged when he used sand to cover them from prying eyes. He wasn't quite sure why he had put them up . . . It wasn't like he looked at them late at night.
His sand shifted to reveal the 'Offering.'
He eyed her peaceful countenance and the absolute trust displayed as she lay limply in his arms.
He recovered the painting with a sharp gesture. It was useless to even contemplate . . . She wouldn't come-
"Lord Kazekage, they're approaching the gate."
Gaara dropped his hand to his side casually and turned to face the guard, "I will be down shortly."
**
Ino flinched as Naruto nearly bounced into her in his excitement, "Look! A desert flower!"
She glanced at the surprisingly delicate looking purple flower that was somehow tough enough to survive in the desert.
Naruto let her examine the flower before carefully placing it into her hair, "There, you can be the Lady of the Desert."
" 'Lady of the Desert'?" She touched a hand to her hair self-consciously, "Is that a real person or are you just making that up?"
"I don't know if she was real or not," his expression was somber, "The way
Gaara tells it, it seems more like a legend."
"Oh?" Ino intoned distractedly.
"Desert flowers are very rare, you know," he leaned in to catch her eyes, "Gaara says that he's only ever seen three in his entire life and he lives here."
She frowned, "Maybe you shouldn't have picked it."
Naruto gave her a wistful smile, "Well, that's part of the legend. You see, there was this lowly peasant who fell in love with a princess. He only ever saw her from her tower once a day when she leaned out of her window to gaze out into the world. He would have done anything to make her happy but she never saw him. Never even knew he existed and so he pined and waited for the chance to prove his love for her.
"Now, the peasant wasn't the only one who noticed the princess was beautiful and the suitors came from all around in hopes that they would be the one she would chose to stand by her side and she refused them all."
"Why? There had to be one she liked," Ino was caught, "And if the peasant really loved her then shouldn't he have tried to tell her somehow?"
Naruto grinned, "He knew he wasn't good enough for her, Ino, he didn't have land or money or anything to offer her. So he watched with dismay as suitor after suitor appeared and waited for the day one of them took her away.
"She refused them because she wasn't one of those naïve air headed princesses. She knew they were only interested in her wealth and beauty but she also knew she couldn't remain single for the rest of her life either so she came up with a challenge.
"Any man who could find her a flower in the desert would be the man she would marry. For any man who would be willing to brave the elements on a nearly hopeless venture surely had to feel more for her than just lust.
"The suitors were outraged and she lost half of them on the spot. She lost the other half when she announced that the only flower she would accept was the one they had picked by their own hand.
"One suitor demanded, 'Why do you make such an impossible demand?!'
" The princess looked him right in and the eye and said, 'The desert is my home. It is where I was born, it is where I have grown up, and unless someone finds me a flower, it is where I will die. I was chosen by the desert to be a princess, to be fair, and wealthy. The desert is hard on it's people and so must I be, for you seek to take me from the desert and I do not wish to go. A flower is a small price to ask for me to give up my home.'
" 'There are no flowers in the desert!' He roared, 'You are merely sending men to their deaths!'
"Without a care, she ignored his accusation said 'The desert tests the true mettle of a man. If you cannot cross the hot sands then you are not worthy.'
"So kings, princes, and many a high lord started off proudly only to crack, crumble, and wither away back to whence they came.
"The Princess despaired and the peasant seeing her despair could stand it no more.
" 'I might be only a humble man with no riches, lofty name, and great wealth but I, too, was born in the desert and I only wish for it's princess to be happy.'
"So he set off into the desert with no thought on his mind but a flower for his princess. He searched and searched and found nothing. He walked every inch of the desert and still no flowers. He ran out of food and water and, yet, still he searched and finally when all hope was lost and he was inches away from death a spirit appeared.
" 'I've been watching you,' it quipped, 'You have to be the most stubborn human to ever walk these sands. What is it that you were looking for?'
" 'I seek a flower that blooms in the desert,' he rasped, 'My princess wanted one but I failed.'
" 'You didn't fail,' it replied, 'You cannot find what is not there.'
" Stunned, the peasant blinked back tears before he let out a half-mad laugh, 'She never intended to leave us! I am a fool!"
"The spirit watched curiously as the man sobbed, wasting what precious water his body still held. 'Why did you throw your life away for a flower?'
" 'I loved her my whole life but she does not see me,' he didn't more but whisper, 'I thought if I brought back the flower then she would be grateful enough to at least touch my hand as she took it from me.'
"The spirit shook it's head, 'You are a fool but your heart is surprisingly pure so I will grant you what you seek.'
"The peasant smiled bitterly, 'What good is a flower now when I have not the strength to return home.'
"The spirit frowned, 'It will come with a price. You have but to say yes and I will give you the flower and the strength to give it to her."
" 'The price?' He rasped as hope filled his breast.
" 'You will only have one night with her before you return to the desert where you belong,' the spirit leaned down to face the man, 'What say you?'
" 'Yes.'
"Suddenly, full of strength the man stood and watched with awe as the first cactus flower bloomed. He picked the flower careful not to damage a single petal before starting home.
"He made it home with only an hour to spare and made his way to the princess's chambers. No guard stopped him and no door was locked against him until he stood before the princess as proud as any King.
" 'Princess, I have done what you asked,' he dropped to his knee and presented the flower, 'though, I have paid a terrible price.'
" 'How is this possible?' She took the bloom with awe.
" 'I wandered the desert until I was near death and a spirit took pity on me,' he replied, 'My love for you inspired it's creation and so it is yours.'
" 'We'll marry in the morning-' The princess began only to be interrupted.
" 'No,' the peasant smiled sadly, 'The spirit only gave me enough time to deliver the flower and then I must return.'
" 'No,' she shook her head in denial, 'You were the man I was meant to marry. The one I was always meant to marry. I used to watch you from my window everyday but I - You've fulfilled the conditions and we can be together-'
"He placed a finger on her lips and touched his forehead to hers, 'I have only until the sun rises.'
"Determination filled her eyes and she kissed him, 'Then you will be my husband until the dawn breaks.'
Naruto blushed a bit, "And, they, well, you know until the sun rose and he crumbled into sand."
"That's so sad," Hinata spoke softly.
"That can't be the end," Ino protested.
Naruto blinked as he realized he had everyone's attention, "Uh, no, there's more, anyway, she got pregnant and refused to tell anyone who the father was which got her disowned and isolated."
"Typical," Tsunade snorted.
Neji said nothing as he noted the thirty-sixth cactus flower they had passed and how he seemed to be the only one who wasn't distracted enough by Naruto's story to notice it.
"She was banished into the desert," Naruto scratched his head nervously, "though, wherever she settled down an oasis seemed to spring up around her as well as cactus flowers.
"She became known as the Lady of the Desert.
"Her father regretted his hasty decision to banish his only heir and went into the desert to find her. He found her in the midst of labor and, though he really had no idea what to do, managed to deliver the baby.
"She grasped his hand weakly, 'He will be strong. He is the son of the people of the desert as well as the spirits. Tell him, every time he sees a cactus flower that it means I love him.'
"The king let out a startled yelp as his daughter crumbled to sand before his eyes and realized the story she had told him was true. He had been wrong to cast her out into the desert and could only hoped she had rejoined her lover in the sands.
"The king took his grandson back to the village and proclaimed the infant his heir and they say he grew up to become the father of the strongest bloodline in the village and his descendents live to this day," Naruto finished.
Neji let out an amused snort, "Of course."
Tsunade smirked and shook her head.
"Really?" Ino touched her flower in her hair.
"Yeah, you know them," Naruto smiled, "You know, Gaara . . .of the Desert."
"Oh," Ino flushed and was patted sympathetically by Hinata.
"Anyway, the rumor is if a guy gives a cactus flower to a girl then they will share a love that lasts forever," Naruto tapped the flower, "Just like the peasant's love for the princess and then her love for their son."
Ino's heart thudded in her chest, "And you gave it to me?"
Naruto smiled slowly, "You know I did, Ino, you were there. Remember?"
Hinata blinked at his expression, she hadn't seen him make that face since the academy. It was his 'I know something you don't' face that usually preceded a prank. When he was young it, it had scrunched his faces up but now it just pulled his face into a mischievous yet charming grin.
"We're here," Neji remarked sardonically, turning everyone's attention to the gates.
"Finally," Tsunade rolled her shoulders.
They were let in quickly and suddenly the Kazekage stood before them in all his glory.
"Lady Hokage," Gaara met his fellow kage's eyes, "Welcome to the Village Hidden in the Sand."
Ino watched the kages go through their formalities before leaning into the other girl, "Are you ready?"
Hinata swallowed, "Yes, I am."
Neji eyed his cousin and shrugged as he noticed two more girls with flowers in their hair. He had a feeling this wasn't going to end well for Ino.
Naruto bound forward, unable to restrain himself anymore, "Gaara!"
Gaara's eyes shifted, "Naruto." The blond leaned in only for the Kazekage to quickly step away, "We will have plenty of time to discuss . . . things . . ."
Everything stopped as the Kazekage seemed to stop. The guards tensed, the Leaf ninjas stiffened, the villagers froze as even the paltry wind seemed to die as Gaara's eyes landed on Hinata.
She blushed and edged forward, "L-Lord K-Kaze-"
"Gaara," he corrected sharply, unable to tear his gaze away from her and unable to ask the obvious.
"Gaara," she bobbed her head nervously in greeting, "I missed you."
A breath escaped his mouth and then his eyes flicked to the side in question.
She shook her head a little, bit her lip, and took a small shy step closer to him.
He shuddered a little and swallowed as a bear materialized in his hands.
Naruto cringed a bit but didn't otherwise move.
The Sand ninja who had been watching with boredom, curiosity, apprehension, and now alarm as they blatantly stared at the object in their leaders hands. Since when did. . . Where . . . ?
Gaara lifted the bear slowly and offered it to her, his eyed burned with intensity.
Panic filled the Sand shinobi as they watched with bated breath.
Hinata beamed and accepted the bear with a smile.
Gaara blinked at his outstretched hand before slowly and deliberately lowering it to his side.
"Lord Kazekage," Tsunade's voice was wry as everyone seemed to breath again.
"You must be tired from your trip," he voice was his usual monotone as he turned sharply to face her, "Please feel free to retire to the Ambassador suites. We'll continue our talk later."
"Yes, we're quite tired," the Hokage hooked Hinata's arm, "Let's go freshen up."
Gaara took half a step after her as she determinedly dragged Hinata away with Yamanaka on their heels.
Naruto laughed and pounded his hand on his friend's back.
"You promised not to interfere," Gaara couldn't manage to scrape up enough emotion to glare at the blond.
"I didn't do anything," Naruto protested and turned to Neji, "Right? We're just here to support our precious people."
Both turned to Naruto at that though Gaara was more confused and suspicious while Neji was more startled by the word choice.
"I told Neji what precious means," Naruto spoke softly.
Gaara eyed the other boy, "Why?"
"He asked," Naruto shrugged, "Besides, you're dating his cousin and he has a right to know what she's getting into since he's her unofficial bodyguard right?"
Neji studied the redhead in front of him and noticed for the first time how lost the redhead seemed.
"What is she doing here?" Kankuro sauntered up with Temari by his side.
"Be nice," she whacked him, "Gaara?"
"The Leaf representatives will be treated with all due respect," Gaara murmured vaguely, "Naruto, tell them they will join my family for dinner tonight."
"Sure," Naruto beamed.
"It's time to repay your hospitality," Gaara inclined his head in Neji's direction before disappearing in a swirl of sand.
Temari immediately latched onto Naruto, "What happened?"
"She accepted his teddy bear," Naruto let out an excited whoop.
"She did?" A smile spread as relief filled her.
Kankuro cursed on his breath and ducked away from them.
Neji narrowed his eyes and followed the puppeteer into the crowd.
"Yeah," Naruto nodded, "She's been upset ever since he left. Something about how she didn't get a chance to tell him how she really felt."
"So she's come to confess?" Temari took a careful breath and let it out slowly, "Do you really think that's wise?"
Naruto sobered, "I . . . How Gaara's doing?"
"Grumpy," she shrugged, "Doesn't want to talk about it and gets angry if we pry."
"So he has it pretty bad," he chuckled weakly, "Well, he's either going to take it really well or . . . Really bad."
"Yeah, that what I thought, too," she sighed, "I guess we'll what we can, ne?"
"Yeah," he beamed.
She smiled despite herself.
End Chapter
AN: My brother made me an AMV! It's dedicated to this story so go and check it out! Let him know if you like it. Here's the link: http: // www. youtube. com/ watch?v= Px1KpWhaGwo Just take out the spaces. Thanks for all your kind reviews! Michelle