Takes place immediately after the ordeal with the three tails and the Crystal Style user.
Gaara's POV
I worried every day for a week. I hadn't heard a word.
"I'm sure she's fine. Mariko's not one to be trifled with." Konkuro said.
"She's my wife, I'm allowed to worry."
"Still can't believe you were the first to get married."
Temari came in.
"She's back."
I jumped up from my desk and ran to the small window in my office. I could see her walking swiftly forward. I was terrified that she'd been hurt so I ran out.
"Mariko!"
She dropped her things and ran into my arms with a bright smile.
"I'm home."
I was so relieved that she was safe and back in my arms.
"Are you hurt?"
"No. I'm alright." She leaned back.
"That's my girl."
She smiled and I took her inside. I'd missed her so much.
"The three tails?" I asked.
She sighed sadly.
"The Akatski got it. I did everything I could to stop them. I was lucky his partner ran off."
That bit of information made me stop. I looked at her in confusion.
"An Akatski member ran away?"
She nodded.
"I'm pretty sure he was a new recruit. He wore a mask that covered his whole face. Only thing it had was an eyes hole."
I didn't like this. I had a terrible feeling. I shook my head.
"You're home. We're not going to worry about that right now. All I care about is that you're safe."
She smiled and kissed me.
"Should we go home?" she asked.
I smirked and pulled her into my office.
"I can't wait that long."
Her eyes widened and I flipped the lock on the door. She arched her brow and smiled seductively.
"Lord Kazekage, how naughty."
I chuckled and used my sand to clear my desk as I picked her up. She laughed and I set her on top of the desk. I smiled at her as I ran my fingers through her soft hair and laid my hands on her shoulders.
"There's something I've been wanting to ask you."
She took my hands in hers with a smile.
"Tell me."
"It's more something I've been thinking about. It's doesn't have to be anytime soon... but maybe one day..."
She suddenly pulled me into her arms.
"I'll give you children whenever you're ready for them."
She always understood me. I smiled and held onto her.
"One day." I told her.
She kissed beneath my ear.
"Now, Lord Kazekage, there's an important matter on your desk that needs tending to." she whispered.
She nibbled my lobe and I shivered. I laid her back and then traced her soft lips before kissing them.
Mariko's POV
Gaara was always so gentle with me. I loved his gentle side, but I wanted to see what he could really do. I looked over at his chair and smirked.
"Gaara, sit in the chair."
He seemed surprised but did as I said. I straddled him with a smile and he moved his hands up my thighs to my hips.
"Has taking down an Akatski member made you feisty?" he teased.
I smiled and opened his robes so I could run my hands over his smooth, well sculpted chest. He closed his eyes as I leaned down and kissed his lips. He pulled my shirt off and leaned forward to kiss my neck.
"Gaara... stop being so gentle. I promise I won't break."
I nibbled his ear and he shivered.
"If you want me to be rough I will be, but not here on a hard desk. Of course, who says we can't finish up here, go home and do it again?"
I laughed a bit and looked into his eyes. I stroked his cheek and he gently kissed my wrist.
"I'm curious. You're the only person who has never feared me. From the very moment we met, you were always kind. Even after all these years I never asked you why."
"It's because I know how much you struggled all your life. The first time we met I could see it in your eyes. Then when Temari told me everything else, I could never be afraid of you. Naruto was much like you, but he always managed to get people's attention. You were different. I could tell how lonely you were and I understood. Do you remember that mission?"
He smiled a bit.
"It was the first mission we went on together."
"I'm sorry if we were late."
I knew that voice and smiled.
"Gaara!"
Everyone else looked frightened or nervous. I ran to him with a smile. He smiled back at me.
"Mariko."
He took me in his arms as I reached him. His sand suddenly flew up around us.
"Gaara?"
Turned out Naruto had thrown a rock at Gaara. His sand had shielded us both.
"Thanks."
He walked with me back to shore. I turned to Naruto and slapped him.
"Leave Gaara alone! Next time I'll give you a real reason to be scared."
Sakura yanked his ear and I turned to Gaara.
"I'm sorry."
He gave me a very small smile.
"You haven't changed. At least your kind heart hasn't."
I smiled and so did he.
"Look, Gaara is my dearest friend. If you don't trust him then trust me."
Kakashi seemed to be smiling.
To even out the teams, I went with Gaara and his men. I brought up the rear and for a while everything was fine. Then Gaara stopped and turned.
"Mariko move!"
I saw the kunai and my eyes went wide. Once more Gaara saved me with his sand. I landed on a branch beside Gaara and he immediately looked at me.
"Are you alright?!"
My eyes widened and I pushed Gaara away. The kunai meant for him hit my arm instead. I cried out in pain.
"MARIKO!"
I turned.
"Crystal prison!"
I heard a shout and then the crystal fell to the ground and shattered. Killing our attacker. Gaara picked me up.
'I swear I'll protect you."
I smiled softly.
"Why do you defend a monster?"
I glared in the direction of the voice.
"He;s not a monster! You are! He;s a person! He's my friend!"
"Mariko you have to get out of here."
I shook my head and his sand surrounded us. It was a trap. I looked at Gaara and saw sadness in his eyes. He pulled me close.
"Why didn't you leave?"
"I'd rather die here with you. You're my friend."
His face began to crack and tears filled my eyes.
"It's alright." he told me.
I laid my head against his chest and he held me tightly. Despite the situation, I felt safe in his arms.
"I won't let them hurt you, I promise." he said.
"This water is infused with our chakra. It's wetting down your sand, making it plyable. Your jutsu is sealed!" one of them said.
Gaara's POV
I didn't care what happened to me, as long as Mariko was safe. She had given me hope and friendship when no one else had. She was the most precious person in the world to me.
"No matter what happens next," she looked up at me. "I want you to remember that you are the most precious person in the world to me, Mariko of the Hidden Leaf."
Her eyes widened and I gave her what I hoped was an encouraging smile. She smiled through her tears and I held her close.
"We'll be alright. I promise. I'll never let anyone hurt you."
The chakra strings were suddenly severed.
"Gaara! We're here to rescue you!"
The wet sand fell away and I picked up Mariko before getting away.
"Naruto Uzumaki."
Mariko's POV
I smiled and had Gaara set me down.
"Us too!"
His two comrades had returned. This seemed to surprise Gaara. They had sticks.
"We're not gonna run!"
"Lord Gaara is our friend and we won't leave him!"
Garra got in front of me. Never let anything touch me. I covered him from behind and soon we won. Gaara turned to me and I smiled.
"I'm sorry, because of me you were hurt."
He looked at my arm and gently took it in his hands.
"This shouldn't have happened." He whispered.
He bandaged my arm and then looked into my eyes.
"But I meant everything I said to you. You truly are the most precious person in the world to me."
I smiled and took his hands.
"You should know then, I feel the same way about you. You're my most treasured friend."
Once again he seemed surprised.
"Gaara! Riko! You guys okay?"
Gaara lifted me into his arms and then jumped down to join the others.
"Mariko your arm."
"I'm alright, Sakura. Gaara took care of me."
They all looked at him.
"As I thought I've caused you trouble. I am sorry." he said.
I put my hand on his shoulder.
"They;re the ones who caused the trouble. Not you!"Naruto said.
"You saved my life so many times. I think that's the day I started falling in love with you." I told him.
He touched the small scar on my arm.
"This never should have happened. Sometimes I have nightmares.. where the kunai killed you. I have to wake myself up and make sure you're alright."
He kissed the scar gently and then kissed up my arm to my lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gently rocked against him. He groaned and leaned back to free his now rigid cock. I couldn't wait and took him inside me. I moaned his name as he stretched and filled me.
"Yes!"
He stood up and laid me on the desk without leaving me. He hooked my legs over his arms and started to thrust. I ran my hands over his chiseled chest. He leaned down and took my breast in his mouth. I arched my back and cried out in pleasure.
"Gaara!"
It was too much for me and I came hard. He pulled me up and kissed my lips. I felt his body shudder as he came deep inside me. I smiled at the warm feeling and held onto him.
"I love you." I told him.
"And I love you. You were the only one who saw me as a person, not some monstrous weapon."
I smiled and kissed his shoulder.
Gaara's POV
She was so warm. She shivered slightly and I held her closer.
"We should go home. Even after a year you still haven't gotten used to the cold desert nights." I said.
She nodded and we got dressed. I wrapped my coat around her and we went home. She cooked and after eating we curled up together in front of the fire.
"You're right. I'm not used to these cold nights yet."
I wrapped a blanket around her and she moved onto my lap. I held her in my arms as I watched the flames. I smiled when I realized she'd fallen asleep in my arms.
"I hope our child will have your heart, your kindness. The same love that you have for everything around you." I told her. "Your beauty and bravery... and I will love you both until the end of time. You gave me everything, Mariko. I love you and I will love our children. They won't grow up the way I did."
I kissed her forehead softly. After a few more minutes I picked her up and took her to bed. I slid in next to her and she rolled into my arms. I smiled and held her close.
I woke up earlier than usual. The sun wasn't even close to coming up. I sat up and looked out the window.
"Gaara?"
I turned to Mariko.
"Did I wake you?"
"No, but what are you doing up so early? Was it a nightmare?"
"No, no. I just woke up. Go back to sleep."
She took my hand.
"And if I don't want to?"
I smiled a bit.
"I seem to recall you telling me once we got home that you'd be rough."
I turned and pinned her body to the bed with my own.
"If I hurt you I need you to promise you'll tell me. I don't ever want to hurt you."
"You could never hurt me."
"Promise me, Mariko. Otherwise I can't do what you want."
"I promise." She said.
I nodded and kissed her. I pinned her hands above her and pulled up the shirt she wore. Apparently, when she'd brought up rough sex she also intended to be rough with me. She took me completely by surprise and I ended up on my back. She kissed me roughly and slid her tongue into my mouth. I moaned deeply and grabbed her hips. She took off the shirt and rolled her hips once more making me moan. She moved down so she could pull off my pants. I took that opportunity to switch our positions and used my body to hold her down. I started kissing her neck before lightly biting her.
"Ah! Oh Gaara!" she cried.
Her cries of ecstasy only spurred me on and made my desire grow. I was harder than I'd ever been and I was throbbing. I moved down further and kissed beneath her breasts before rolling her nipple between my teeth. She was trembling beneath me and I moved my hand between her legs. She was soaking wet and it was driving me insane. I desperately wanted to sink my cock inside her but I'd promised her. I used my fingers instead and immediately pushed three inside her. She cried out in pleasure and I started moving my fingers. Her body spasmed beneath me as she came screaming my name. I pulled her up and kissed her lips hard. I wasn't even inside her yet and I could feel the precum oozing out. I pulled her onto my lap and then impaled her on my pulsing manhood.
"Gah!"
I watched her carefully for any signs of pain but there were none. I started moving her along my shaft. I knotted my fingers in her hair and lightly pulled so that he neck was exposed to me. I kissed her neck and then started to thrust as I moved her.
"More! More Gaara!" she begged.
Her nails scraped my back as she clung to me. I stood up and brought her to a wall and pressed her against it. I went even faster, desperately wanting to come. To fill her up and hear her scream my name.
"Mariko!" I growled.
She tightened around me and screamed my name. The pleasure in her voice triggered my own orgasm. I roared her name and buried my face in her neck as I filled her with my seed. She went limp in my arms and I carried her back to bed before collapsing beside her.
Mariko's POV
Rough sex was amazing. Gaara laid beside me panting, eyes closed and chest rapidly rising and falling. I managed to move closer and lightly peppered his magnificent chest with kisses. I ran my fingers through his damp hair and then stroked his cheek.
"That was incredible." I breathed.
"I agree."
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I laid my head on his chest and listened to his heart beating rapidly.
"You're always incredible." I told him.
I placed another kiss on his chest and rested my hand on his abdomen.
"Did I-"
"No, you didn't hurt me. I've never felt such pleasure. You're amazing."
He started to gently rub my back and I took a deep breath. After my heart calmed I started to shiver so Gaara pulled the blankets over us and cradled me in his arms. I loved it when Gaara held me.
"Hold me tighter." I whispered.
I knew he was smiling as he did so.
"I love you."
We'd spoken at the same time and I laughed a bit. He kissed my forehead.
"Go to sleep, Mariko."
I didn't even respond, I just fell asleep.