So here it is, yet another battle out in the sand dunes between these two. They haven't done this since.... Chapter Seventeen. I kind of liked the idea of the playback in familiarity. It gets a little sexy, but nothing to crazy in this chapter. Consider yourself warned.

Chapter Twenty Nine



The great sand dunes swirled up around them, creating a fragile scenery that was entirely unaffected by the events of the recent past. They were as they always were, tall and wild and intimidating to outsiders.

Before, they had traveled as a group to these dunes. Only to have the pair abandoned at the very last minute. This time, knowing one another better, they had consented to come alone. Not bothering with the trouble of trying to force them along.

Gaara walked swiftly, the beauty of nature's creations was – as always – lost on him. The only beauty his eyes cared to see strode alongside him, with her long legs taking graceful steps to keep pace with him.

The black fabric that she passed for clothing glistened slightly as the sunlight struck its silky being. From head to toe her skin was flawless, save for a particularly nasty scar that had formed along her neck. He shuddered as he remembered how it had come to be there.

"I suppose I should start doing something to conceal it if it makes others so unhappy," Miu mused aloud as though reading his thoughts. She gave him an apologetic look.

Unable to lie about how the scar made him feel, he decided it was wisest to stay quiet. His silence apparently spoke volumes.

"So you agree with that," she murmured. Her hand rose to her neck and she trailed her fingers along the healed injury. Her eyes glazed over in a way that suggested she too was reflecting on its existence.

He frowned as he could see in her face that she was steadily growing more self conscious about the appearance of her neck.

"This should be far enough," he told her, hoping the subject change would be effective, "Are you sure you want to do this?" It was genuine concern that had him ask. She didn't seem up for a fight with that sad look upon her attractive face.

The look she wore quickly changed though, having taken the question as a challenge.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked with a hinting tease in her voice. Her eyes were suddenly playful and she dashed a few paces across the sand from him.

He grinned, appreciative of the lightened mood, he watched her take stance. Remembering the technique she'd used last time to lower his guard, he mentally declared he would not cave so easily this time.

Of course, she did something totally different this time.

Moments after he took his position, she tore across the space between them. She jumped to dodge the surprised punch he threw her way. As she came down, she kept her legs spread wide and landed on her hands.

She used her hands to spin herself in a way that reminded Gaara of this strange dance fad that had been in just before he had become Kazekage. They had called it break dancing.

He let her take out his knees, and fell straight on top of her, knowing she hadn't anticipated it.

She was stunned as he landed on top of her, pinning to the ground.

"Damn it," she breathed as she tried to squirm out of the hold. She seemed to surrender that she was stuck and at his mercy.

He chuckled, "Looks like I win. So quickly too, but don't worry, I'll tell everyone you lasted longer."

Before he realized what she was doing, her hands were up the front of his shirt, gliding along his chest. She flashed him a mischievous smile and pushed the fabric up and over his head.

He had to release her to pull away the garment. Balanced on one hand, he was momentarily significantly vulnerable – a situation of which she took full advantage.

She flipped him onto his back and pounced on top of him. When he could see again, he recognized the familiarity of this position. He sat up on his elbows. "You really like this position, hm?" He dared to joke.

She flushed and immediately turned red.

A moment of silence before...

She slipped her arms around her neck and leaned into him. "Maybe I do," she whispered.

It was his turn to be taken aback, but he wasn't sure why he was surprised. This was what he'd wanted and after everything that had happened this sort of thing really shouldn't be a shock... but still, it was.

"Hey," he whispered and she looked up at him.

Feeling bold, he leaned in.

The last time had only been a fleeting moment, more a caress of mouths than a kiss. This time however, he was determined to try for a little better.

As their lips touched, he felt small electric vibrations roll though him. They only grew as he began to ponder his next move. Of course, all his trains of thought were derailed when they hit the 'wild sex in the middle of the desert' junction.

Almost instinctively, he rolled his tongue over her lips. She stiffened a moment, but slowly opened her mouth. Her body relaxed again and he brave to slide a hand behind her to rest in the small of her back.

The electricity that had been simple sparks in his body before grew stronger and more vivid as she slid one delicate hand up into his hair, massaging the top of his neck.

He couldn't help himself. What had originally been intended as a deep kiss became an overwhelming need for more. The cloth of her shirt that he now danced his fingers across reminded him that he had once been curious as to find out how it might be removed.

He found out quickly and was impressed by its convenient simplicity.

Her free hand had now worked back up into the fabric of his shirt, tracing her delicate fingers all about his chest in the most provocative of ways.

Groaning, he noticed his arm was becoming numb from the position they were in and he rolled over, her on her back beneath him. She gasped as the heated sand touched against her completely bare back, warming her flesh.

(A/N: This scene stops here for – hopefully – obvious reasons...)

It was lunch by the time they made it back to their friends, who were all curious about the record long spar the two had just been gone for.

"So who won?" Kankuro asked.

"I did," they both answered in unison.

The others stared at them curiously.

"He doesn't take losing very well, does he?" Miu said before he could think of anything to say.

"No he doesn't," laughed Temari.

"I didn't think so," she smiled as she looked at him, "If it makes you feel better, I suppose you can tell people you won. I wouldn't want you to look bad in the eyes of the villagers."

"I did win," Gaara argued in spite of himself.

"There's sand in your hair," Aiko pointed to Miu's hair as she spoke.

"They were fighting in the desert," Kankuro deadpanned.

"Koibito! You should be taking my side here!"

Finally, they all began to separate. Miu smiled warmly at him, before following her new leaders to the temple. "I'll be back tomorrow, but I should go back for tonight," she promised.

Gaara nodded, not sure why they were being so secretive about anything aside from specifics, after all, everyone would be supportive of their relationship.

Sighing he watched her leave and then returned to his own siblings, who were apparently not the least bit fooled even though they had pretended to be.

They stood there, both with arms crossed – mind you for entirely different reasons – and staring at him with expectant looks.

"Please tell me you did not actually do what I think you just did in the desert," Temari said.

"Please tell me you did and give the details!" His brother exclaimed.

Gaara ignored both of them and headed for home.

"Gaara," his sister warned.

"Come on," Kankuro plead.

He continued to ignore them, only smiling in response, a hint big enough to tell them what they needed to know.

"I knew it," Temari sighed.

"Damn, you better tell me everything as soon as miss buzz-kill is out of earshot."

Adrift on the winds of joy, he couldn't be bothered to deal with them. He meandered through the hallways until he found his room. He admired the bed for having had Miu sleep in it for a week and a day.

Feeling youthful and even a little giddy, he allowed himself to collapse onto backwards. It was only than that he realized he was tired.

Well, it had been a tiring morning...

He was awakened by the gentle knock of someone at his door. Opening his eyes, the sun prodded him suggesting he hadn't slept the day away.

"Who is it?" he called when the knocking came again.

"It's Shino," replied the knocker.

He stood and walked over to open the door. Shino was on the other side and pushed through, closing the door behind him. Behaving rather out of character for the usually calm Aburame.

"What's going on?" Gaara demanded, suddenly feeling paranoid.

"Temari doesn't know I'm here. My family is in the village shopping. I know its short notice, but I think tonight is the night. I want to propose tonight," he rambled as he ran a hand through his own hair.

It took Gaara a groggy moment to process the request. "Yeah," he said finally, "She definitely won't be expecting it. What do you need me to do?"

"Well, nothing really, I guess I just wanted to warn you. I've already asked Isamu to be sure there's a huge dinner prepared."

"Have you told Kankuro?"

"No."

There was a pause.

"I'll tell him," the red-head said.

"I can tell him myself. I just thought I would tell the more rational sibling first."

They both laughed. Another bought of silence settled over them comfortably.

"Gaara? Are you awake yet?" Temari's voice came from behind the door.

"Uh, yeah," he answered, trying to sound as though he was really just waking. He looked to his future brother in law, before quickly gesturing to the window.

When he opened the door for Temari, he stifled a fake yawn for good measure. She rolled her eyes.

"Come on," she said, "I want to show you the room we picked for Miu to have." She gave him a smile. "She needs to have her own room for when she realizes you sprawl across the bed like a drunken prostitute."

He followed her into the hall, down to a room about four doors away and on the opposite side. It overlooked the village. There was an assortment of paint chips in a variety of colours strewn over the standard guest bed the room contained.

"I still haven't picked colours..." Temari trailed off as she connected – with her strong, sisterly instincts – where he was looking with what she figured he'd be thinking.

Gaara tried to distract her from the fact that he himself was so distracted. He could not possibly tell her why he was, after all, it was supposed to be a surprise.

"Could you stop smiling like that? One wild romp in the desert with a woman of the cloth and you won't stop grinning," she grumbled.

He almost told her that the smile he wore had very little to do with the happenings between he and Miu – though the images conjured were very pleasant – but again, couldn't for fear of ruining everything.

In spite of himself, he smiled even more.

"God, you've spent too much time with Kankuro. You're such a pervert."

The day passed without much further incident. The two brothers and the staff managed to keep the secret of the proposal very well. They let only one hint slip that something was up. That was, asking Temari to eat as a family, and not the other way around.

It was thanks to Miu that she was not suspicious.

Upon arrival, Miu informed Gaara through a kiss to his cheek that she was already well aware of the plan for she had met Shino in the village while shopping.

"Good, than you can call her for dinner. It won't look as strange if you ask," he told her before kissing her as desperately as he desired.

"I should go now than. So it doesn't seem too sudden." She smiled at him and slipped away, giggling.

When the three siblings and their guests sat to the table, Gaara noticed the way his brother kept looking at Miu and grinning. She looked at him, a flash of annoyance in her eyes.

'He knows nothing. I said nothing,' he mouthed.

She sighed and looked Kankuro dead in the eye. "Just say whatever you're thinking already before dinner is served and you somehow ruin it with something inappropriately timed..."

Kankuro opened his mouth, than shut it again. He apparently had no interest in what the consequence might be for saying what he thought, which for the record, was absolutely perverse and involved sand stuck to your naughty bits.

The food was not yet out, when Isamu came to inform them that Temari had surprise visitors.

They stood respectfully as Shino and his parents arrived. The eldest Subaku hugged them all excitedly and thanked them for coming. Everyone else shook hands and the like.

"What brings everyone here?" she asked with delighted shock.

Gaara could barely contain himself. His sister was so blissfully unaware of the upcoming events.

"Well," Shino said reaching for her hand, "I thought that it was only right that everyone was together..." Her eyes grew wide as she slowly dared to hope. "... when I asked you..." She looked around and back at him. "... to..." He swallowed. "...marry me."

She squealed. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Of course! I can't believe this! Oh thank the Great! YES!"

Gaara watched as his sister latched her arms around her now fiancé's neck, joyful tears trickling over her cheeks.

When she finally let go of him, she hugged his parents, particularly his mother, very tightly. After, she turned her eyes on her brothers and pulled them into a family hug.

"Congratulations," Gaara managed to choke out through the death grip she had locked them in.

"Yeah, we're glad you're happy," Kankuro added.

She released them and looked back at Shino, pulling him into a kiss this time, making the Aburame blush.

When she finally calmed herself enough to stop attacking people with affection, Shino actually took out a small box and flipped it open.

As the ring slid onto her finger, Gaara thought he'd never seen his sister so happy. She was so unbelievably overjoyed.

Beside him Miu grasped his hand. They smiled at one another before everyone seated themselves.

Isamu quickly offered his congratulations and made to leave.

"Wait," Shino said to the young man, "Mom, do you have it?"

"Yes, of course, right here," she replied, revealing a package. A basket wrapped in clear plastic full of teas and other Konoha specialties. She handed it to the confused Isamu.

"For your mother," Shino told him.

"You remembered!" Temari cheered her beloved. She turned her eyes to Isamu. "That should tie her over until she actually gets to go herself. I mean, our next trip, your family has to come."

"Thank you," he managed to say.


Here you have it, the second last chapter. I wanted to kind of give everyone a happy ending before I actually ended the fic. I really grew to love Isamu and his family in spite of myself – he was originally going to be a spy, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Expect the new and final chapter very soon.

DLH