Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and Kudozaki Lucine. The rest belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
A/N: You've probably forgotten what this entire story was about so I'm just going to give a quick summary of the plot so you won't have to reread the entire thing again:
Lucine, a very stoic 12 year-old girl that rarely expresses strong emotions, has lived with Sasuke for years, and over time he had developed an unhealthy obsession on her. She has had to live with his rather possessive and affectionate ways, things seemingly only worsening after graduation. They are both placed in Team 7, and Sasuke finds it challenging to protect his Lucine that is several times placed in dangerous situations, and he believes he does not possess the power to protect her, this only furthering his descend into insanity.
In the Chunin Exams they encountered, among other things, Sabaku no Gaara who seemingly also developed a liking for our heroine Lucine. Yet nothing happened out of this, as he is from another village, but it was still enough to shake up Sasuke's and Lucine's relationship. Sasuke left the village in pursuit for power with the goal to protect his love Lucine and also to kill his brother Itachi, despite Lucine's attempt to stop his departure. It is then revealed that Lucine has a past with Itachi, where they've been engaged (Sasuke is not aware of this fact). Lucine asked Itachi to retrieve Sasuke, but as this would be pointless since he would most likely leave again, they decided instead that Itachi keep watch on Sasuke, to keep herself updated on what he does. Itachi wouldn't do this for free though, in return Lucine had to be with him.
A timeskip later, Lucine is now 16, and over time she has grown closer to Naruto, and also Itachi. Itachi regularly visits her and updates her with news on Sasuke, and they are currently engaged in a romantic relationship. Not a soul knows of this relationship, as they both could be executed for treason by their respective leaders (Akatsuki and Konoha).
Recently in the story, Lucine has been assigned a solo mission by the Kazekage, Gaara, himself. She has to travel to Suna, for reasons unknown. However, on the trip to Suna she is abducted by Sasuke. She learns that his sanity had only worsened by the time spent away from her, and he fully intended to have Lucine's virginity, whether she liked it or not. He didn't get to do this though, since Itachi (and his partner Kisame) came to the rescue, thus revealing that Lucine and Itachi are connected somehow. However, Lucine and Itachi are worried Sasuke will come after her again, and so it continues.
For now though, Lucine has to continue her mission, she has to go to Suna and meet with the Kazekage.
Kudozaki Lucine
We were fifty miles away from Suna, I could make it there in an hour or less. The intention was for me to leave alone, but Itachi insisted on accompanying me me all the way here, in case Sasuke caught me. I didn't argue with him, knowing no would see us. No one is more cautious than Itachi.
"Now leave." I said in a dismissive tone, ignoring the annoyed look he gave me. "I am late as it is, and I don't plan of telling them the truth to my tardiness."
He grasped my wrist tightly before I could get away, his dark eyes smoldering me with their intensity. His arms wrapped around me, so that I was pressed up against him, "When you return from Suna, we're getting married." he said with a completely straight face.
The sudden outburst took me longer than necessary to process, simply due to the absurdity. "I think you might have to repeat that." I replied monotonously, giving him a chance to take back his words.
"Don't worry about the Akatsuki or your village, I've got it all figured out. I'll tell you later." he explained smoothly, as if he expected my reaction. The hands on my hips were now drawing circles on my lower back.
Itachi looked way too calm after spluttering that nonsense. I genuinely believed that he had really lost his mind now. Marriage? Just what is Itachi thinking? "I refuse. That's insane. I'll be shunned by own villa-"
"I already told you." he sighed, patting my lower lip with his finger. "I got this under control." Before I could open my mouth to explain the many reasons why we can't get married, he pressed his lips against mine. He tugged on my hair to get me to respond to the kiss, but I didn't, in spite. When he pulled away there was a small smile on his lips, "I want to make you my wife."
The look on his face made my heart flutter with joy, but no matter what, I knew it could never happen, "Itachi, you know we cannot. This isn't like you-" He responded by biting my lower lip harshly, which hurt. "Ow." I hissed, glaring at him through narrowed eyes. My fingers went up to my lips to see if there was any blood, fortunately there wasn't.
"You don't have a choice, Lucine." His eyes had darkened dangerously now. "Marrying me will also protect you. Sasuke wouldn't be able to touch you if you were married to me, it's a basic Uchiha law and he knows it." his tone left to no room for argument. I really had no choice in the matter, he's serious about all this. It's not like they're ever going to let me decide for myself, so why bother.
Knowing that dealing with Itachi when he was like was pointless, I decided to go with it for now. "Whatever. Just leave."
With a nod, he turned around and disappearing into the shadows. This left me alone again, at last. Fastening the backpack around my shoulders, I started running towards Suna, expecting to arrive in less than an hour.
My life is a mess because of these Uchiha brothers, are they really worth all this trouble? I wondered to myself, feeling the low patience I had running out. Then a flashback image of a little Sasuke begging me to play games with him entered my mind, and the image of a young Itachi holding me as I cried. I guess they are, a little.
For some reason, I hadn't thought this through at all. Gaara invited me over to Suna, for a reason that I didn't know, and I just went with it. This could be a murder attempt for all I know. He had tried to kill me before back in the past after all. But then again, it would be swifter to just send someone after me, more than one person knows about this mission, which would make it suspicious if I suddenly died. Maybe he intended to keep me as a hostage to declare war on Konoha. Then again, why me, of all people?
Yet here I was waiting in the lounging room for the Kazekage to invite me into his office. It took me less than an hour to arrive in Suna. The guards at the gate questioned me for a bit, but when I told them my name their faces seemed to light up with recognition, as if they had been expecting me. They told me that the Kazekage would be waiting for me in his office, which was in the large, round sandy-colored building in the middle of the village. I noticed that the kanji for "Wind" was painted on the side of the building. All the buildings were different to those in Konoha, because they were round and had a row of windows on the sides. That, and there was sand everywhere.
At last a Suna shinobi walked out of the door, probably the one the Kazekage was meeting with, and I took that as my cue to enter. I knocked thrice before entering. I was at first met with nothing, but when I looked around, I saw the redhead himself looking out of a window with his back turned to me. For some reason, a weird, childish part of me pondered on jumpscaring him with a scream, wondering what his reaction would be. Would he scream, attack, or just not react?
Ignoring the uncharacteristic urge, I stepped further into the office and bowed politely, "Kazekage-sama, it is a pleasure." I said stiffly, but still smirked in amusement. I hate formalities, but decided to humor it for now, as he is above her in status after all.
I heard him turn around, and when I stood upright again he was looking at me with an emotion I couldn't quite place. Nostalgia? Or affection, maybe? There was a moment of silence, where we looked into each others eyes. He had grown much taller, much like Naruto. Everything about him was the same as I remembered, except for the eyes. Years ago, they were cold and calculating, but now they were matured and much more welcoming. Yet he kept his face neutral and overall expressionless, much like myself.
My lips formed into a lopsided smirk, "Missed me?"
Gaara let out a breath and stepped forward, so he now stood at arm's length away from me. "Lucine." he said breathily, each syllable sounding smooth and flowing, he then looked uncomfortable as he uttered his next words, "You look... good."
I raised an eyebrow in amusement, but didn't comment on his awkward compliment. My mind then trailed to the moments we had shared in the Chunin Exams. I have shared kisses with this man before me, while he was seemingly much more unstable. How much have things changed, exactly? Slowly, I brushed my bangs behind my ear and looked up at him blankly, I noticed how his eyes followed the movement of my hand, "So, why did you summon me here?" I asked instead, going straight to the point.
He hesitated at that, his eyes diverting to the floor before meeting mine again, "I have a very unusual request for you, Lucine."
"That so?" I asked in disinterest, blinking up at him. I stepped closer, leaning a hand on his chest, and I noted how he stiffened as his breath caught in his throat. "What is it now that you want? Last time it was, as you worded it, 'to see the walls stained by my blood'. but I imagine you've switched hobbies, judging your position as Kazekage."
Gaara furrowed his eyebrows at that, his hand moving up to wrap around the hand that was leaning on his chest casually. "First of all, I want to apologize for my improper behavior in the Chunin Exams." There was honesty in his eyes, which made me tilt my head to the side, now intrigued. I didn't expect this. He continued, "I am truly sorry, back then I... I saw you, and I didn't know what to make of what I felt when I saw you. I have never been interested in... well, girls." he blushed as he talked and shifted awkwardly, his hand tightening around mine, "But believe me when I say this, despite expressing it inappropriately, I was genuine. I still am."
"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion, not getting the last bit.
His eyes darkened with an emotion I knew too well, as I had seen it too many times in my short lifetime. The air around us suddenly shifted to something much more intimate, and a shiver ran down my spine as I felt him move closer, one hand on my shoulder while the other had intertwined with my fingers. Without any other warning, his lips were now on mine, and he was kissing me gently and lovingly. Not much has changed then. I was going to push him away, but he had already pulled away, although his face remained inches from mine, looking at me with heated teal eyes.
"I'd like it if you were mine, Lucine." he said lowly, moving my hand up to his lips to kiss it softly. I swallowed at his smoldering look, knowing he was serious, and now understanding why he asked for me here. "I'm asking you to marry me."
A/N: I have no excuse for the late update, other than that I've lost motivation to write this, and I'm sorry. I will finish it though, I want to finish what I started. On a more cheerful note, both Itachi and Gaara has asked for Lucine's hand in marriage. I believe someone won't be happy too happy when he learns of this...