Content advisory: smut

Chapter 63
The Debts Fulfilled

When Gaara awoke in her bed that morning, he was surprised to meet the refreshing embrace of a long overdue sleep.

Stirring as he opened his eyes, the golden hue of her head did not greet him, nor did the vibrant shade of her violet eyes. Beside him there was only an impression left upon the mattress, its warmth from her still evident as his palm grazed it in his groggy daze. Scattered amongst the tiny specs of dried crimson where she lay were grains of dulled sand, only noticeable to him by his touch. His unrelenting defense was withdrawn for all but a moment that night, and the evidence was all around him. She was his weakness – and he would not have it any other way. Across from him he could make out the gleaming glass of his gifted flask, the sand swirling swiftly within its prison. She kept it close, he thought – it assured him. He could hear Nomasaki faintly in the distance as he rose from his slumber. While he fumbled at the buttons of his shirt as he dressed, he could not help but feel warmed as the memories of the night before flashed before his eyes – although a feeling of unease soon crept upon him as he stepped into the kitchen to find her tending to a boiling kettle and a disorganized cupboard.

Her feet silent upon the cold clay floor, Gaara watched as she stiffly took her seat at the table across from him, handing him his cup of steaming tea as the chair squeaked with her inching forward. Smiling lightly to herself, Nomasaki placed her elbows onto the table as she grasped her cup in her hands, her legs crossed as she sat. The blue fabric of her robe appeared bright from the intruding sunlight that peaked through the curtains of the nearby window, drawing his attention to the scar that painted her arm and the curve of her collarbone. In awkward silence, he kept to himself, taking scattered sips of his warm beverage in the hopes of overcoming the kind-hearted hurdle he faced before him.

"How was… the withdrawal for you?" She asked, timidly. "Were you able to slip out okay?"

He could feel himself freeze in his seat from her question, his hand flinching at his cup as his expression turned blank and flustered with red. It caused him to remember a passage he read in one of his books – the act he participated in the night before. Kankurō gave him the same advice once, as he remembered. He took it with a grain of salt. Sensing the distress in his widened ringed-eyes before her, she realized the error of her ways with her heart thumping in shy panic.

"I-I mean… since you were able to… leave work unnoticed – slip out from work."

"F-Fine," He uttered, embarrassed. "I have to return shortly, however. I don't want to fall behind on things."

"R-Right," She nodded, her gaze averted. Looking down at her lap, the shyness receded, replaced with a sense of warmth and awe. Gently, she smiled towards him. "I… do appreciate you staying the night. We should… spend more nights together, like this."

Smiling back, he gave a subtle nod. "I would like that very much."

Meeting her soft smile, his blooming happiness was soon overtaken by guilt and worry, marking its presence in his trouble turquoise eyes. His smile turning into a concerned frown, he hung his head low as he became lost in thought. The sand on the mattress, the blood, the way she rigidly moved upon the kitchen floor – he felt responsible. Bringing himself to face her directly, he met her curious glance with a heavy heart.

"You're not… hurt, are you?"

"O-Oh," She jolted, caught off guard by his quiet words. She shook her head, attempting to assure him with a familiar soft smile, forgetting about the ache that tinged her thighs that morning. "N-No, I'm alright. I'm just stiff from the way I slept is all. Really, I'm fine–,"

Closing his eyes, he pulled himself from the table and started towards the door behind him. Worried-eyed, she followed him. Pausing before the doorway, he reflected to himself on many things that bombarded his thoughts. Their shared night together, Kankurō's advice, Tenbu – all three incessantly gnawed at his mind while he searched for a reasonable answer for his abrupt departure. How should he approach such a topic? Glancing towards the tiny cacti that dotted the windowsill – its blue pedals catching his eye. He knew how she liked to keep the windows open and how often she spent her days confined to the shaded realm of her disorganized home. The purple in her eyes being a dead giveaway to their enemies, she would be easy to find – just as she was when those ninja from Ishigakure captured her seven years earlier.

He shuddered at the mere thought.

"Something wrong?" Nomasaki asked, walking towards him. "Did you forget something?"

"No," He replied, brushing off his thoughts. "Everything's fine. It's just…" Noticing her curious glance towards him, he turned to face her directly. Towering over her petite stature, he looked down at the cold floor, his ringed-eyes closed halfway in concerned thought. "I know that we've only been together for a few months, but… I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it? You sound serious."

"Maybe you should… move in, with me?"

Surprised, her lilac eyes widened. "M-Move in?"

Meeting her eyes at last, hiding his fluster from her was indeed proving to be a challenge. His stoic nature nowhere to be found as he searched for the right phrasing. "I know it's a big step, but Temari is in Konoha now, and Kankurō lives closer to the puppet corps… Tenbu is after both of us, but… you would be safer… with me…–,"

Still stunned by his words, she remained silent and wide-eyed. Noticing her silence, he kept explaining, scratching his head of crimson that was ruffled with bedhead with his glance adverted to the floor between them. He could feel the nervousness he swallowed rise back up into his chest, catching him off guard.

"I'm living by myself in the Kazekage's residence, so I'd be more than willing to…–,"

"Y-Yes," She nodded timidly. "I-I will live with you."

Surprised, he rose his widened eyes towards her. "You will?"

She nodded, her eyes appearing excited yet serious, their violet gleam soft in the sun's rays. "Yes," She replied. "I will live with you as long as you'll have me, no matter if Tenbu is after us or not. To be blunt, this is a… surprise, but a pleasant one." While she started pondering to herself, she placed her fingers at her lips as she became lost in thought, thinking about all the sudden changes that were to occur in her life. "First things first, I'll have to sign-off my lease… I need to pack… But once we get settled, we'll be able to start our lives together and…–!?" Flinching, she jolted from the words she uttered from her rambling mouth. Nervously, she shook as she stood before him, shyness entering her flustered expression. "D-Did I really just say that?"

"…Yes."

He was just as surprised and flustered as she was, judging by his stunned exterior. Cowering away, she averted his glance from his. "I probably sound so foolish… We've been together for not even three months and here I am making these plans, and…–,"

Suddenly, she felt his strong arms hold her close. Comfortingly and with gentle hands, he embraced her. "You sound like 'home'…" He spoke, warmly. As she started to blush from his words, she smiled, holding him back. Once their embrace came to an end, he gave a soft smile her way. "I have to go now. The council will be looking for me."

"Alright," "She nodded, smiling back. "You should probably get going. You slept in."

"I did, didn't I?" As the door creaked when he turned the doorknob, the blinding light of the sun shone through, breaking apart the soft shadows that painted her cramped apartment. Before leaving, he gave her a final glance, his expression smooth and calm in the daylight. "I'll see you later." With a slight creak of the closing door, his pleasant expression disappeared into the bright sunlight as the shadows returned once more to her apartment.

Standing with her arms crossed against the blue fabric that covered her chest, she could not help but feel worried. Although her heart felt full of a fluttering warmth from their closeness, an irk at the back of her mind gnawed at her thoughts – her wolfish instincts voicing their discontent with the silence of the village. Something was off, and she knew it.

Starting towards the desk at the far corner of her living room, she decided it was time to write a letter to her father.

The day dragged on as if it would never end.

Secluding himself in his shaded office, Gaara sat silently at his worn desk, his head hung low. Held on his lap was an open book – one of the many books he took upon himself to read in recent weeks, its detail of affections continuously puzzling the young Kazekage as his narrowed eyes scanned its contents in vast detail. It was hours since he left the realm of her apartment, yet he felt nothing else mattered. The texture of her soft skin was still fresh in his memory, its cool feel enticing him to give in to a side he never thought he had. The way her soft breath felt upon him, her quiet winces, the way she grabbed hold of him with her delicate fingers – a feeling stirred inside of him that made him want more. Begging. He would drop everything to return to her right then and there. Being apart from her was proving to be more difficult as the days passed, and he knew he could not quell what his heart wanted. As he read the end of the chapter, he grasped his messy auburn strands, wracking his brain to understand what the book was trying to convey. The longing he felt was unlike anything he understood. The unease he felt inside rose within him as if a burning urge. Intimacy continued to puzzle him, despite giving in to his fear only hours before.

Strange, he thought.

"I figured I'd find you here,"

Slamming the book shut, he whisked it into his desk drawer as Kankurō entered, his casual smirk painted across his expression. Brushing off his startled expression, the Kazekage coughed into his balled fist, positioning himself before his brother as he attempted to appear calm and collected – but forgetting the rousing and puzzling topics of the chapter was unachievable.

"I take it you've finished your assignment early," Gaara spoke. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"Nothing much, really," Kankurō sighed, stepping closer towards his desk. "I just wanted to brief you on the mission and…–? What's that?"

"What do you mean?"

Glancing over his desk, Kankurō could see the words of the book's cover clear in the afternoon sun – 'Romantic Intimacy'. Irking him, he grimaced to himself, adverting his eyes from his younger brother's confused expression. "N-Never mind… forget it. So… you didn't come home last night. Where were you? Fooling around with your botany?"

Gaara could feel himself flinch at his chair.

My Sand Clone must have failed me, he thought – And at the worst possible time.

"I was… with Nomasaki."

"All night?"

He was being intrusive.

Growing flustered, he narrowed his ringed-eyes towards him, nodding once. With an acknowledging sigh, Kankurō crossed his arms across his chest, closing his eyes. His curiosity getting the better of him, his older-brother-senses creeped into his foray, a mischievous smirk etching his lips as he opened his eyes to Gaara's guarded expression. "Ah... so you two have finally done it, then."

"...I can't confirm nor deny. It's none of your business."

"Please tell me you used protection…"

"Kankurō–!"

"Who am I kidding?" Kankurō sighed, jokingly. "You have the Ultimate Defense, so… –,"

"This isn't the time or place for this," Gaara interrupted, his eyes narrowed – clearly embarrassed. "Can we change the subject?"

"Right," Kankurō chuckled, adverting his glance as he brushed the back of his head. "Well… I actually came here to let you know the move was made today. I was also assigned your main bodyguard by the council – for when you depart from Suna, at least. So, although my place is mainly with the puppet corps, I will be primarily assigned to suit your schedule."

"It's done, then," Gaara sighed, closing his eyes. "Things will definitely be different from here on out." Opening his eyes calmly, he gave a light smile. "Hard to believe, but I'll actually miss not living with you."

"Same here," Kankurō nodded, smiling back. "You should really think of hiring a housekeeper if you're going to be staying there in our family's old residence. You could never really grasp the whole 'cleaning-up-after-yourself' thing… your sand literally gets everywhere."

"I can't really help it," Gaara said, adverting his gaze. "Also…–," His words paused from his lips, realizing what he was about to say. Intrigued, Kankurō raised a brow, examining his frozen expression before him. "I… asked Nomasaki to move in with me. She… said yes."

"Ah, that's a relief," Kankurō sighed to himself, smirking. "I was worried you'd be stuck all by yourself… not that you'd mind that too much." Pondering to himself, his smug smirk disappeared, transforming into an expression tinted in sternness. "You're worried about her, aren't you? From that intel you gathered from that heiress?"

"Yes," Gaara nodded, looking down at the desk's surface with saddened eyes. "I am." Bringing himself to meet his brother's eyes, his tanuki-like eyes appeared as if pleading. "I must protect her, at all costs… having her close to me is the only way. I won't let them have her… not ever."

Sensing his inner strife, Kankurō gave him a glance in empathy. Just from the tone of his seafoam eyes, he could that Gaara loved her more than he would ever know, he thought – it was quite remarkable, especially in his case. Many years ago, when he was known as Gaara of the Sand Waterfall, he would not have given second thought to those around him. He killed on sight, left comrades for dead, and was certain that the thing known as 'love' never existed. Witnessing his journey of growth over the years made him proud to call him his brother. He became the Kazekage that Sunagakure desperately needed – and the kind-hearted young man who fought to protect those around him. He was deserving of love, just as everyone else – leaving the broken child behind in his memories. Although Naruto was largely to blame for Gaara's change of heart those many years ago, credit had to be given to Nomasaki for teaching him to have the strength to love another – and to receive the same love from another person.

In a way, Kankurō was in debt to her for the love she gave his brother – and he knew that the debt was clearly fulfilled.

"Gaara," He spoke. Pausing his words for a moment, he looked down. Meeting his ringed-eyes, he gave a stern nod. "Remember, you can always count on your siblings. I may be at the puppet corps for now on, but I will always be there for you… as both the Kazekage and as my brother. I give you my oath as your older brother."

Touched, Gaara nodded back, a pained yet saddened glint to his expression.

"Thank you… really, I mean it."

"I should get going," Kankurō said, turning towards the doorway. "I leave for the Demon Desert in an hour. We're going to investigate the prison."

"The prison?" Gaara asked. "Haven't the council heard back by now? They sent another hawk only days ago."

"Not a single word," Kankurō shrugged. "It's quite odd. The prison is guarded by some one hundred shinobi. The ANBU is dispatching a team of their ranks with the puppet corps."

"Alright. Be careful, then."

Watching his elder brother's back as he left the room left Gaara feeling the unease return. As the sound of the door creaking to a close filled the room with a faint echo, he was once again lost in his inner turmoil of thoughts. He had a few more hours to complete his growing stack of paperwork – the thorn in his side – which meant a few more hours of contemplating his next move against the hidden terrorists who threatened his home and his family.

The evening could not come fast enough.

The box made a loud clang as she dropped it onto the floor.

Over the next coming days, cardboard boxes packed with all her things soon littered themselves upon the clay floor of her apartment. Her room was no longer the cave where she dwelled to do her readings, daydreaming, or boundless sleep, but a husk of its former self. The shelf of books was bare, her cacti gone from her windowsill, and all traces of her discarded laundry vanished from their scattered places along the floor. Her kitchen of empty bottles and dishes was vacant and clean, and the couch in her living room was removed from its spot upon the rag-covered floor. It appeared as though no one even lived there to begin with, despite it being her home for over the last seven years.

As Nomasaki stacked the boxes in the center of the room, she paused for a moment to take in the sight. With the last of her rations from her home in the far northern mountains, she managed to convince her landlord to allow her to stay. That tiny apartment in the silent alleyway was her bastion – on good and bad days, it was always her home. That day, it was time to leave it all behind. The Kazekage estate was her new home - and her future with it.

Bittersweet, she left her apartment for the final time that morning.

"This is the last one," She exclaimed, placing the final box in the center of their now-shared living room. "It's just books."

As Gaara watched her stand on her feet, he closed the door of their porch and started towards her. "I know you've been here a few times with Temari," He spoke. "But I'd like to show you around."

Curiously, she followed him down the winding hall of the residence. It was surprisingly bigger than she remembered – a home within the confines of the mansion away from the clatter and noise from his office and the council chambers, safe from any who sought it out. The living room had a large wine-colored couch, numerous shelves filled to the brim with books, and an ornate rug that painted the center of the floor. Across from the porch was a wide kitchen with a dining area, with a balcony overlooking the village nestled at its edge. As she followed close to him, they passed the recently renovated bathroom, the vacant rooms where Temari and Kankurō once made their home – and his bedroom, the door faintly open to reveal a bed and overflowing shelves of books and cacti.

"This is your bedroom, right?" She asked, confused as to why they continued past it.

"It was," He replied, his voice quiet. "It's more of a... study. For botany, that is."

Opening the door at the end of the hall, he flicked on the lights. Surprised by the sight as she stepped inside, she saw a king-sized bed accompanied by an end-table at each side – the faint glow of their lamps visible from across the room. Above the bed was a window adorned by cacti, the scattered sunlight of the outside world beaming onto the carpeted floor at their feet. As she marveled at the room, she paused before the exquisitely carved wardrobe that towered before her, admiring its craftsmanship with her timid fingers. Retracting her hand, she stepped towards him, her eyes glistening.

"Is this our room?"

Softly, he smiled. "Yes." Glancing at the room before him, his expression gave a subtle hint of sadness. "This is where the Kazekage rests. It hasn't been used in many years, so I decided to make it our bedroom after making some adjustments."

"It's perfect," She nodded up at him, gently smiling. "I love it." Turning back towards the bed, she smiled to herself with a faint chuckle on her lips. "I know I can be messy at times… but I'll try my best to keep things tidy… for a time, at least."

Seeing how happy she was near moved him. A slight tinge of guilt coated his ringed-eyes as he watched her marvel at the room. "Nomasaki... I just want to tell you that... being with a Kage for a partner isn't going to be easy. I'll be away a lot, working after-hours, and vacation time will be scarce. Is that something you can accept?"

"Of course it is." She answered, the lack of hesitation comforting him. "I have my duties as well. We're both shinobi, so we understand things better." A snicker passed her lips. "After all, I'm your partner - not your consort." Looking up at him, she noticed an air of unease in his expression. "Gaara, is there something on your mind?"

Startling her slightly, she timidly flinched as he stepped closer towards her.

Carefully, he held her close in his arms, resting his head upon her shoulder. His embrace was as soft as it was protective, rendering her comforted by his heartfelt gesture. She could feel the warmth that emanated from his chest, filling her senses with the memory of their shared night only a week before – reminding her of how she longed for him while they were apart.

"I… would like to try... that again," He answered, his voice nearly a whisper. "The council is occupied with the guardsmen… so we have all the time we want."

Since their night together at her apartment, it appeared as though he had become increasingly playful with her behind closed doors – something she never would have seen coming, but it excited her to no end. Still, as she was held softly in his arms, she could sense his nervousness of asking the question. With a timid and blushing nod, she gave him a warm smile.

"With you," She replied, gently. "Always."

Swiftly, a stream of sand closed the door at their backs as his lips met hers.

Adoringly, she cradled his face in her palms, kissing him in return as she could feel her growing canines begin to make an excited appearance. Embracing him and catching him by surprise, she kissed him with a passionate force that her wolf-side craved, with him grasping her in return. Carefully and in excited urgency, she undid the buttons to his shirt while he proceeded to untie her white obi as his shirt fell to the floor. Opening up the smooth fabric of her blue kimono, he grazed the soft porcelain skin of her breasts while he did so, his tender and careful touch making her gasp lightly between where their lips met. As they made it closer to their shared bed, he lifted her in his arms and laid her down gently, with him slowly moving on top of her. Passionately, their lips met as they felt the shape of each other – yearning to make the beast with two backs as they have done a few nights before.

Briefly, he leaned away from her, eyeing her with an intent and unwavering gaze as his hands trailed to the pants around his hips. Surprising him, she used her feather-like weight to flip him underneath her before he even had a chance to undo his belt. Her smooth thighs holding his waist down onto the bed, she opened the leather belt and slid his pants off beneath her. She could feel his hardened want for her below, his expression stunned and silent as he realized what was happening. With a loving gaze, she sat on top of him as her kimono rested like a veil on her elbows.

He's easy to surprise sometimes - even for a Kage, she thought, Just like that time when we were genin.

Even though he was the Kazekage and the most feared shinobi in the desert lands, he was still overpowered by her gentle and loving touch. She was his weakness – and he knew it as well as she did. Carefully, she timidly leaned forward, kissing him softly as she placed her hands along the sides of his strong face. Smoothly, his hands strayed to her waist, holding her on top of him. A squeak escaped her soft lips as she felt him slip into the aching wetness between her thighs, the sensation surprisingly painless unlike the last time they gave into each other. She was near breathless from the feel.

"You really surprise me sometimes," He sighed, looking up at her as she smoothly locked her hips upon his waist. "You're incredible…"

Pleasure mounting inside her, she grazed his strong bare chest with her delicate fingertips. "You're the one… who's incredible. You're the… Kazekage…!"

Startling her, he sat up, lifting her upon his lap. Her palms at the back of his neck, their lips were only breaths apart – the growing pleasure becoming more intense as the two locked eyes amidst their passion. Their gazes were unwavering from another, ringed-turquoise and gentle lilac. A moth to a flame. As she could feel his strong hands caress her scarred back no longer covered by her dress and his warm breath upon her skin, she felt utterly defenceless. He was finding every live-wire on her body and hitting each one on the right spot.

Damn him, she thought.

He was becoming dangerous to her – and she loved every second of it.

"I am the Kazekage… but you're a wolf…!"

For the first time, the fear of hurting her was absent.

Forcefully, he held her tightly against his body, feeling every pulse and tingle from her emerging excitement as his hands pressed into the curve of her back. Feeling his skin on hers after so long made him want to bind himself to her with his sand. He never wanted it to stop. The thought flashed through his mind for a moment, thinking of the possibility. It felt so carnal to him, nearly irresistible. It was almost as if he were a jinchuriki once more - grasping for the very little control he had over the urges that plagued him. Fighting the desire, he focused on matching her slow and tender rhythm. Without a second thought, he pulled at the strands of gold at the back of her head, balling her long hair into his palm.

"Gaara–," She breathed with a smile. "I'll be... your wolf–,"

"You're mine, then... and I'm yours–," He breathed back into her. "Is that what you want?"

"Always," She whispered. "I'm yours... and you're mine–,"

Her words excited him nearly as much as his past bloodlust.

Hardly able to contain himself further, he kissed her with a force that startled her, exciting her feral instincts to no end. With the faint evidence of a bite, his lips smoothly trailed to her neck as they parted. Kissing her scarred porcelain skin under the shroud of her golden strands, his idle hand strayed from her waist to the skin of her smooth breast, massaging it with callused fingers. His grainy texture rubbed against her cold skin with an alluring warmth, tugging at her perked nipple as she felt his lips part from her neck at last. Lowering his messy head of crimson, he released her strands from his grasp and cupped the other breast into his free hand. His hands held them perfectly. Before she could say anything, she felt his teeth graze her and her world shattered. She felt the warmth of his tongue trace her as if he had done it a million times before, worshipping her mortal body. Her spine tingled, causing her to let out a moan laced with tickled laughter. Then, she felt him wander to the other one, her fingers digging into his red hair as she tried her best to contain herself. Her breathing grew hot and heavy in his arms, causing him to grasp her tighter. The more she gasped, the more he could feel his control slipping away.

Just as he was dangerous to her, she was becoming increasingly dangerous to him.

"We don't have to go anywhere, we can - stay here - for as long as we want,"

Rising up to meet her eyes, he placed his palm upon her flushed cheek. "For as long as we want."

As he embraced her in his strong arms, their lips crashed into each other with no sign of stopping while her hips continued to rock back and forth slowly upon his lap, grinding him smoothly as they sat on their newly shared bed. Ignoring the world around them, they got lost in each other's eyes as their lips parted once more.

A tanuki and a wolf – what a strange world, indeed.

Entranced by their blissful passion, they forgot about her boxes in the living room...