"Calista Sensei!" Shou came running up to me and Kiyo so fast I had to catch him to get him to slow down.
Yes?
"The Kazekage's called for you. He said it was urgent." Shou leaned against Kiyo.
Urgent? I nodded me head and looked at Kiyo. He would stay there with Shou while I disappeared, moving as fast as I could towards the Kazekage's tower. I knocked hard on the door three times, opening it when I heard noise.
Gaara was sitting at his desk as if everything was normal, but the unease I had sensed on him three days prior was tenfold. His hands were intertwined. "I have a mission for you. An escort mission."
I almost sighed in relief. So that was all? No attacks. No recent Akatsuki noise. Nobody I cared about was in danger. Who am I escorting?
"Me. I am going to Iwagakure departing tomorrow. I am bringing four other Jonin with me."
Is there a threat of an attack or something? I knew it was inappropriate but I was dying to know the answer.
"No. This is a visit for peace."
Oh… like a treaty? That would be good for both villages wouldn't it? I smiled politely.
"In a way yes. It is to discuss a marriage between one of our Ninja and the Tsuchikage's granddaughter Kurotsuchi." He busied himself with his papers, but it was more shuffling and rearranging already neatly stacked ones than anything else. He was nervous.
Oh? Who are you sending to get married? If it's Kankuro you know he won't do us well. He can be pretty goofy! She'd want to run back to Iwa in a few hours! I laughed silently.
Gaara's eyes held no humor in them. "The only one who can be trusted for something like this is myself. For this village I am more than willing to marry someone I do not love. And in time feelings may develop. Right now our biggest threat is the Akatsuki and their plan. I do not need to worry about Iwa attacking our backs as well."
Marriage. It was a sacred custom. A union between two people that was never supposed to be broken. If married, you were sworn to someone else. You would have a child. And as soon as you had a child then the two would truly be together. Even in a loveless marriage that was how it went. When the vows were said any earlier suitors are wiped aside and forgotten.
I never thought that Gaara would do this. But I should have. You could see it in his eyes. He would gladly die for his village, he had done it with Deidara. It was a good idea… the marriage. It could end strife. End killings. End suffering.
It was a good plan! So why couldn't I tell him that? Why did my hand feel so heavy I couldn't think of what to write. I was making a fool of myself! Finally I managed something. That is good.
Gaara nodded "We are leaving at dawn. I expect you to be in my office by then."
I Can't go. I wrote without thinking. When he looked at it out of the corner of his eyes I knew It was too late to take it back. Instead I continued. I mean I shouldn't. You see this could just be a ploy to get you away from the village. It would be best if I stayed behind. You need some ninja left to protect the village after all.
"You speak wisely… Very well. You can stay. Temari will give orders in my absence."
I nodded.
"You are dismissed."
I bowed my head, and then I moved as fast as I could out of the door without looking suspicious. I ran to my room and there I did allow myself to collapse.
I would have thought I'd be crying my eyes out by now. Yet not a single tear came. My eyes didn't even water. This was no different than when Sasuke left or when I found out I was the only one who was in love with Asuma. And yet it was. Sakura told me once that you never forget your first love, but I didn't think too much of it. Now I understood that. I could probably fall in love with someone else who loved me. I could move on but I wouldn't forget Gaara. It wasn't being cocky, but just an understanding of how things went. There would always be someone out there for you. Maybe I'd end up with someone kind like Choji. I wouldn't mind that. Too bad I hadn't bothered to know Choji more. Or perhaps I would end up with someone silent like Neji.
My nose scrunched up. No. Neji was too much like Gaara. That silent observing type. And he was too obsessed with fate and what was meant to be. I wouldn't want to be with someone as lazy as Shikamaru. There would be no excitement! I smiled and looked up at the ceiling, walking over to my bed and lying down. In my head I went over all the guys in the leaf village and whether or not I would be happy married to them. I decided that Naruto, Choji, Kiba, and lee were the only guys I would be happy with. Of course Kakashi was secretly on the list too but he wasn't into younger girls. And it would be weird being with him. It was hypocritical considering the thing with Asuma but… still. I also knew I would never end up with Naruto. He was too dedicated with training and Sasuke to focus on girls. Besides he was hopelessly in love with Sakura. And even if he wasn't Hinata had dibs. Choji was someone I didn't really know. Perhaps I might like him but he'd be too occupied with food to bother with romance. The same went for Kiba. He was busy and I was pretty sure he liked Hinata.
Finally I had exhausted every bachelor in the leaf village. Nobody seemed to really work. I came to a conclusion. I would just stop thinking about guys. I was a ninja of the leaf village, not some maiden in distress. I didn't need a guy! I didn't need Gaara or Asuma or Sasuke!
At least that was what I would tell myself.