A/N: AH!! I'm SO sorry! See there was school, and tests, and all sort of EVIL things trying to keep me from updating!! PLZ FORGIVE ME!! But anyways, again, I'm sorry if you don't remember the plot, and I'm also sorry if you hate me and don't want to read this story anymore…but I'd rather you DO read it (loathe me or not)! These next couple chapters will HOPEFULLY allow you to understand the OC's I put in the last chapter, since many of you were confused! Antiways, on with the chap! ENJOY!!


Chapter 11: Back to Normal

She heard a sigh erupt form between her sister Ai's lips. "Here comes that Jiro kid again…"

Riko glanced up from her breakfast to look out the window her sister was standing at washing the dishes. She saw the dissatisfied, almost comical look on Ai's face as she stopped her cleaning mid-scrub; and Riko smiled delightfully.

Her sister's sometimes disapproved of Jiro, but thought of him as a brother, so ironically, were rather fond of him. Riko never quite understood their disapproval and snide remarks towards Jiro, but partly thought of it as a way for her sister's to have fun in their cynical ways.

Nanao walked to the sink and placed a dirty cup into the soapy water, narrowing two perfect green eyes with a smirk. "I hope he's not coming for food, I didn't make nearly enough," she chuckled as she tilted her head Riko's way, "Unless you want to share, ne, Riko-chan?"

Riko frowned slightly as she stuffed three clumps of rice into her mouth at the speed of light, shaking her head.

Nanao placed a hand on her hip, raising an onyx eyebrow, cockily. "That's what I thought…" She nudged the hazel-eyed sister. "Hey, you should go lock the door, nee-chan!"

The eldest shrugged, continuing to wash the dishes, efficiently. "Meh…It's futile; he has the damned key." She directed her playful yet stern filled glare Riko's way.

Riko couldn't help but chuckle. "You guys are so bitter!" The youngest walked to the sink, putting the empty rice bowl and chopsticks in the foamy suds.

No sooner had Jiro barged through the door, a wide grin on his sun-kissed face. "Ohayo, Masako family!" He placed his hands on his hips, tipping his face into the air as he sniffed in the scent of food rather boisterously. He eyed the three girls pleadingly.

The two eldest siblings sent a side glance at one another, a knowing smirk plastered on both of their faces.

"Nanao-dono, might I say that you and Ai-dono are glowing this fine morning?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Riko noticed how he did not include her into his I-Want-Food tactic. She tried to stifle a chuckle, as she covered her mouth and looked away, leaning on the counter so she wouldn't fall out in laughter. Thank Kami my cooking tastes like ass…

"You might," she heard Nanao giggle. "But that won't promise you any food from us."

"Yes, I'm afraid you'll have to use Riko's money just like always, ne?" finished Ai.

Riko choked on another giggle as she saw laughter wrack through her sisters' bodies, slapping Ai playfully on the arm. "Stop that!" she scolded, gesturing towards the boy's defeated look. Riko grabbed her kunai pack, wrapping it around her thigh as she walked over to the door. "Come on, Jiro," she cooed sarcastically. "I'll get you something to eat…"

Jiro pouted, with an indignant "humph". He stuffed his hands into his pockets; feeling rather offended as he stomped toward the door rather childishly and held it open for Riko. "That's why you're Masako-chan and not Masako-busu…" And with that they shut the door behind them.

The two sisters stood in silence for a while, gawking at one another with disbelief at what the immature boy had said—mouths so wide, animals could hibernate in the. And then silence, thick silence before they ran to the window with loud growls.

Nanao shook a threatening fist at the back of the retreating boy. "You had better watch where you're sleeping tonight, you bastard!"

"Yeah!" screeched Ai. "Sleeping with one eye open wouldn't be such a bad idea!"

Riko chuckled, winking at Jiro before whipping around and cupping her hands around her mouth. "Would you guys keep it down before you wake up Dad?" called Riko as she continued to back-track.

"You're one to talk!" they both shouted as they stuck their tongues out and then closed the blinds.

Riko chuckled again and gave a half-hearted wave to no one in particular before turning around and walking regularly.

Jiro slung a friendly arm around Riko's shoulder with a sigh. Riko followed suit, and placed an arm around his waist. "So where we gonna eat?" he inquired. "Dongo?"

She lifted a reddish-brown eyebrow. "Are you serious—this early in the morning?" She shook her head as they finally entered the market place. "You've gotta be kidding me!"

Jiro whimpered letting go of her and scampering in front of her, stopping the girl from going any further. He grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eyes, gaining an 'I befriended a creep' look from his partner. "Riko, please; I'm starving!" he complained dramatically.

The green-eyed girl crossed her arms with a smirk. "Come on, Jiro, is that place even open this time in the morning?" Riko grabbed his wrists making him release his death grip on her. "Besides, I have a few stops I have to make first." She deadpanned as she walked past him.

His eyes widened as he looked over his shoulder at the girl walking away from him. "No…not there…" he whispered as if she were leading him to his death. He ran to catch up with the girl, and stared at her through his perfect aqua gaze. "Anywhere but there!" he spat the word like it was poison.

Riko eyed the overly-dramatic boy suspiciously. "Jiro, what the hell are you talking about? You sound like an idiot…" the green-eyed girl trailed off with a slight tisk.

He drawled out a long sigh, his head facing the sky as if his world was going to end. "As if I don't see Miyoko-busu and that damn bread stand enough…"

Riko frowned. "You should really stop calling women that, Jiro, it's rude," she scolded sharply. "And bread is a necessary food in the Masako household; we eat it every night for dinner," recited Riko. "You know that, Jiro, don't be a baby about it. If you do not wish to come, you may find your own food for all I care…" Riko then placed her hands on her hips and walked away from the gawking boy.

He pouted. "Damn! Now my own friend is against me!" Jiro once again ran to catch up with his green-eyed partner.

Said partner giggled slightly and turned to the black haired ex-sand-nin with a giant beautiful smile. The boy stopped in his tracks and stared into her joyous eyes. She was exceptionally beautiful when she smiled, and though Jiro had seen her smile many a time, he had never witnessed one like this before.

That ghost of a most gorgeous smile that Jiro had been so accustomed to, was now replaced with one that he had unfortunately never been able to see before this, and it was stunning; the most unbelievable grin he had ever seen. So this what her father had been talking of…

But Riko's smile began to fade as she sent a worried look her partner's way. She cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side cutely, raising a hand to her cheek and rubbing. "What—is there something on my face?" she questioned mostly to herself as her petite fingers roamed her countenance.

Jiro snapped out of his daze, blinking animatedly. "N-n-no!" he stammered as he rubbed the back of his head, sheepishly. "I was just…" The aqua-eyed boy trailed off as he looked to the side and gathered his wits—or lack thereof. It was not that the boy wasn't bright, he was just subjected to distraction (and failed most of the time at saying no to it) and was easily swayed from concentration at times.

Riko squinted her eyes perceptively with a slight smirk. "Why are you so overdramatic today?" She put her hands on her hips and continued to walk to their destination.

Her partner frowned slightly. "Aww, what are you talking about?!" The boy couldn't help but smile soon after, though; and laced his hands behind his head, following in tow with his teammate. It's because of you, Riko; you've changed for the better…He looked at the confident and grinning girl before him, his smile only continuing. …Thank-you, Gaara-sama…

Riko exhaled as she finally walked up to the bread stand. She heard a sweet "thank-you, and come again!" before she approached her friend. "Good morning, Miyoko-san!"

"Riko-chan!" She gave her friend a quick but warm hug over the stand. "Hello, how are you doing?" she asked excitedly.

Riko grinned, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm fine, thank-you. And how are you?"

Jiro's sister shrugged. "I'm doing well—more or less. You know I've been—" the 30 year old woman paused mid-sentence as she shifted to the side, smirking evilly behind her. "I see you found something for me…"

Riko's eyebrows rose for the second time that day as she glanced over her shoulder to see Miyoko's brother digging in his ear rather harshly.

"Yeah," Riko answered coolly with a smirk of her own. "He came to my house asking for food this morning."

Miyoko was fuming as she pulled two boxes from under the stall. "After I made him these two bento this morning, ne?" she hissed through gritted teeth. The blue-eyed girl growled as her pretty face contorted into a scowl most unearthly. "Jiro!" She called in a warming tone.

The boy was at this moment turned the opposite way and oblivious to anything that wasn't the earwax on his finger.

"Jiro!" she shouted once again, this time more harshly.

The boy still did not respond. Miyoko shook a threatening fist her brother's way. "You ass!" she snarled, and once again, through gritted teeth, growled. Swiftly, the woman grabbed the closest thing, which happened to be a hard loaf of French bread and chucked it as hard as she could at the boy. "LISTEN TO ME, DAMMIT!!"

The boy's head cocked forward, the loaf hitting him upside the back of it as he turned around swiftly, he too, shaking a fist at his sister, eye twitching. "You bitch!" he hissed.

It so happened that all the siblings in Suna were crazy—young or old. Even the first time she met Chiyo-sama and her brother she found them a little off. And her sister's, Gaara's siblings, and Jiro and Miyoko weren't far behind.

Riko couldn't help but stifle a giggle at all the villager's worrisome gazes upon hearing the quarreling siblings, and then their sighing and shaking of the head once they noticed that it was Miyoko and Jiro at it again. And it was not even midday yet…

"Your shift started over an hour ago, Jiro!"

"You think I care?! Why would I wanna be in some boring stand all day?!"

"Look, as long as you live under me and my husband's roof, you will abide by our rules. And one of them happens to be helping with the stand!"

"You and your husband don't own me!"

"We might as well; we only pay for your everything! Now get your ass over here, right now, Jiro, or I swear…"

Riko tuned the bickering siblings out as she gazed over into the distance. There she saw numerous high buildings, surrounding the tallest one: the Kazekage tower. She stared over at it longingly. Gaara…

The emerald-eyed girl snapped out of her daydreaming by a surprisingly sweet voice from Miyoko. By now the woman had hopped over the stall and was holding a whimpering Jiro by the ear, directing her once stern gaze towards Jiro, to Riko, and softening it considerably. You had to be strong when you had an annoying-baby-shinobi brother. "I'm sorry, dear; let me get you some bread." She stalked over to the stall still holding her brother who begrudgingly followed; a small pout on his face. "One wheat, one white, and five croissants, right?" she asked, already bagging the food up.

Riko's eyes traveled from the ground back to the Kazekage tower, same look from before plastered on her face. "Y-yeah…" she answered softly.

Miyoko rose as eyebrow as she and her brother shared a quick glance. She looked up at the distracted young girl's gaze and smiled. You're in love, Riko…

"Riko-chan," called the blue-eyed woman. She waited until her young friends emerald orbs were on her. "Go; you have more important errands to run." She winked slyly at the girl before shooing her off.

Reddish-brown eyebrows furrowed. "But, the bread…"

Miyoko clapped her hands together as her smile only widened. "Don't worry about it, ne? Jiro will personally drop it off at your house before tonight!" she said a little too ecstatically.

The boy, finally getting his sister to let go of his ear, rubbed the reddening spot with a frown. "Like hel—" Jiro was cut off and doubled over with a grunt as Miyoko threw the bag of bread at his stomach to shut him up.

Riko began to retreat cautiously, before Miyoko caught her attention by handing her the other bento. Riko took it and looked at her questioningly.

"A way to man's heart is through his stomach…" She winked once again.

The younger girl nodded and once again, began to retreat before she was pulled into another one of their arguments. "Arigato, Miyoko-san, Jiro-kun!"

Miyoko grinned and waved enthusiastically with a "Bye-bye, now," before giving her full attention to her next customer, a bruised and woeful Jiro behind her.

Riko turned with a smile, and sighed happily before making her way to the Kazekage tower.

After reaching her destination, Riko took a deep breath and smiled. Before she could continue on into the doors a good three meters away from her, she heard a voice behind her.

"My Kami-sama…" The boy whistled. She knew that voice anywhere. "Riko-chan's showing skin?!"

Riko turned around with un-Godly speed and clamped the loud boy's mouth shut with her small hands before he could say anymore on the subject, bento dropping to the ground. A rosy blush spread from her neck to the edge of her forehead where her hair-line started.

It was true, though; Riko had decided to wear a different outfit. And it was way more comfortable and reasonable for the heat there in Suna. She wore regular black biking shorts and the black ninja sandals she wore pretty much every day. On her top she wore a short-sleeved, Chinese style shirt with black buttons down the middle and darker green patterns engraved into the shirt itself. The shirt stopped right above her bellybutton which made the Suna sun a bit easier to live in since the top was silk.

Riko glanced around slyly to see people's inquiring gazes on her for the second time that day. "Don't be so loud, Kankouro-san; people are staring…"she tisked through a whisper.

Gaara's sibling removed her hands from his mouth, revealing a purple smirk. "It's you they're staring at, Riko." He bent down and picked up her forgotten bento box, handing it to her. "You're simply radiant, today!" He smiled softly.

Her blush only darkened as she rolled her eyes. "Oh God, where's the hidden camera?" she scoffed. After all, it was unlike Kankouro to do anything but annoy her and make fun. And even though it was in a friendly, brotherly way, she had never expected to hear anything like this from the sand sib's mouth.

He pointed to his head. "Hopefully here." And he turned towards the tower. "Come on, you're here to see Gaara, right?" He questioned as he gestured her to follow.

Riko gasped slightly; now this was very much unexpected. No snide remark to her own? Riko soon concealed her surprise with a smirk. "Yeah."

They walked through the door as two ANBU nodded at them slightly.

Kankouro exhaled deeply as he was hit with probably the best air conditioning in all of Suna. "Man, you would think after all my life of living here I would get used to that heat, but a desert is a desert—morning, afternoon, and night, ya know?" he inquired as he turned so she could see his tired eyes.

She nodded just to humor him.

He sighed once again, hands on hips. "Well Ima' go catch some 'Z's before they send me on another long mission…" The brown haired boy pulled a scroll from his pocket. "Hey, can you give this to Gaara for me?" He handed it to her, not even waiting for the answer.

Riko took it calmly, looking at the gold scroll that was sealed shut with the Konoha seal. Her eyebrows furrowed. "I-is this important? I mean, should I be doing this?"

"Meh, it's probably just something about the Chuunin Exams being held in Konoha again," he said, waving it off. "Besides, Gaara will be too happy to see you to even care."

The green-eyed girl looked down at the scroll again. "Well, I suppose, but—"

"See ya later, Riko-chan." And he was gone.

Riko sweat dropped. The sand-sibs always had a way of blowing her off so easily. And how could the boy be so nonchalant about a mission? I mean sure the Kazekage was his brother, but lives could always be at stake in the shinobi world. You would think the brother of the Kazekage would know of his touchy temper.

She shrugged, and soon found herself at the young Kazekage's door. Knocking slightly she heard a mellow voice allow her to come in. Riko let herself in and smiled at the red-head before her. "Hey, Gaara."

Gaara gazed up from his paperwork with his icy, blue eyes, the sexiest smirk in the world playing on his face, and Riko's knees almost buckled beneath her. "Good morning, Riko." His eyes traced up every inch of her body until they came to her stomach, and he paused.

The young green-eyed girl felt uneasy under his thoughtful stare.

"You are revealing your torso…" he said with lack of better words to really say. And even though it was stated in his regular monotone voice, she could hear the slight question hiding beneath.

She nodded warily. "Yeah…" she walked over to his desk, letting her digits glide along the cleanly cut wood, and avoiding his eyes. Riko made it all the way across the front of the desk and onto the side until she was right next to him. "Do I look…bad?" she asked as cerulean finally met emerald.

The young red-head looked from her back down to his paperwork as he continued to sign and read a few papers. He did this for about a minute, before he answered her question. "You always look beautiful, Riko. It is just different," he stated as he signed another paper.

Riko's insides fluttered as she smirked and leaned on the desk with one hand. "And is different…good?"

Gaara looked up at the short girl, sensing her playful attitude with a smirk of his own. He stood so that he was only a few mere centimeters away from her. He lifted a hand to her chin and pulled it up so she was looking at him. Her breath was caught in her throat as she looked at his handsome features.

"Different…" he whispered against her lips, sending tingles down her spine. He began to inch his beautiful pink lips close to hers as her eyes closed. "Is just fine…" And then he proceeded to give her the greeting she had been hoping for the whole morning.

Gaara's lips instantly met hers and he brought his hands from her chin down to the small of her back. Riko's arms slung around his neck as he nipped at her lip and she whimpered softly.

The Kazekage smiled against her lips as he continued to nip at those plump lips relentlessly, this time receiving a throaty moan from the girl.

Her fingers had begun to twist in his soft, red locks, and as he licked her lips sensually and entered the warmth of her mouth, she knotted her fingers through his tresses, pulling with ferocity. He grunted in pleasure at her antics and let his tongue roam her mouth, teasing, and flicking from side to side, tasting her sweet cavern.

But then the young Kazekage groaned as he remembered the piles of papers on his desk, and decided to stop their little greeting before he was tempted to take her right then and there—and in the back of his mind, he was still considering it, but…

He then let his hands traced up the side of her hips, arms, and neck till they rested on her cheeks, and he ended the kiss, not being able to help the fact that he went in for one more soft, chaste kiss.

The young adults stared at each other, breathing hard against one another's faces. The boy's eyes practically devoured Riko's erotic laden face, with love and lust filled eyes, her lips parted and swollen…just like the time before. Gaara looked just the same, though—with cold, amused eyes and a stone-set face. The only difference was his swollen lips, and his disheveled hair which most of the time, had that unruly look, naturally.

As soon as the friends' breathing slowed Gaara brought the girl into a hug, and Riko nuzzled into his toned chest, wrapping her arms around his waist.

The Kazekage let his head rest on top of her's as he hungrily sniffed in and memorized the scent of her hair for what felt like hundredth time to Riko.

She rubbed small circles in his lower back as a peaceful silence ensued.

"…That should shut you up for awhile…"stated Gaara bluntly.

Riko giggled from inside the safety of his embrace. The chuunin gazed up, and Gaara knew by the playful look in her eyes, she was smirking. "You of all people know you won't get rid of me that easily…"

In amusement, the boy raised a non-existent eyebrow. "Oh?"

She smiled softly before reaching behind the boy and grabbing the scroll she had left on his desk. "Here." She brought it forward, pushing it against his chest, and reluctantly freeing herself from his embrace. "Kankouro-kun gave me that—he says it's from his mission to Konoha." She went to sit in the chair about two yards away from Gaara's desk (probably put there for Temari or Kankuoro), and laid in it so her legs were propped over one arm, and was using the other arm to prop the rest of herself up so she was looking at the boy.

The jinchuuriki's face turned solemn at once as he was presented with the new letter that was presumably from the Hokage, herself. He did a few hand signs, scroll still in hand, and then placed two chakra glowing fingers against the seal, as it too lit up, and then seemed to disintegrate into the paper. His eyes scanned over the letter quickly.

"He says he thinks it has something to do with the chuunin exams, or something or other…" stated Riko as she tried to remember exactly what the puppets master had said. "Oh, yeah! And I brought you breakfast!" She pointed at the bento on the boy's desk.

Gaara smirked. "Arigato." Then he closed his eyes. "And he is correct…" he sighed. Setting the scroll on his desk, the Kazekage sat himself down before interlacing his fingers, propping his elbows on the desk, and resting his head on his hands. "The Hokage wishes to push back the Chuunin Exams this year."

Riko bit her lip; the only reason he was telling her this was because of his suspicions of the reason she was going to Konoha. Gaara always trusted her, but he had a village to keep safe now, and it was top priority. She gazed over at him out the corner of her eye to see him staring at her as well.

"Riko, does this have to do with your teachings there?" The girl couldn't help but frown at him. Didn't he know her at all?

"If I knew I would tell you," she assured the boy.

His heavy stare left her and she knew she was the hook.

"Where is Kankouro?" asked Gaara as he turned his attention back to the other stack of papers on his desk. "I need him to brief me on his mission."

Riko smiled at her friend. "Well, it's going to have to wait; he is resting right now," she replied softly.

Gaara continued with his work, his face anything but expressive. "I see…"

And then the silence ensued as Gaara found his paperwork more interesting than his girl at that moment. The only sounds were the soft rustling of papers and the squeak every time Riko moved in her chair.

The talented nin-jutsu user couldn't help but discreetly look at Gaara. She had never notced how peaceful he had become since that incident those years ago. It was so different from the happy look of the boy she knew so well, and the look of rage that exploded from him that one day. He was so serene, so handsome. And for the next hour, she smiled and stared, and he let her, and they were both filled with bliss.

Suddenly the soft 'tick' of Gaara's writing utensil being set on the table echoed through the room. Riko snapped out of her daze and waited for Gaara to excuse himself to the next pile of work. Her heart quickened and matched the sound of the clock across the room from her.

Tick-tock…

Tick-tock…

Tick-tock…

The jinchuuriki picked up his utensil and began to write again, and the brunette's eyes fell, as well as her heart.

"I was wondering, Riko…"

She looked up so fast, she almost gave herself whiplash.

"…if you would like to join me to dinner tonight."


She rolled over in the bed as she met the warm back that was now in front of her face. Moaning groggily, she wrapped her arms around the person's waist, letting her onyx eyelashes tickle his bare back as she felt him tense at her notions. "Good morning," she whispered.

The person she was hugging seemed to let his muscles relax at the sound of her voice as a silver gaze peered over the well-toned back. A smirk. "Hey, gorgeous."

But then his contented face faded away. He knew it was too good to be true; his secret lover was never happy so early in the morning, and that was a fact. He noticed the small twinkle in her eyes that wasn't joy, but sadness, and a tear started down her beautiful face, soft smile still in place.

"Hey…"she murmured, tears still caught in her throat. One of her arms snaked slowly—trembling like a leaf—to her tender stomach and stayed there.

He turned fully around so he was facing her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head into her flowing black and orange locks. "I won't let you give up that child; it's mine too."

She gazed up at him, tears now spilling rapid fire from her eyes. "But, Hisashi, my father—"

"Fuck your father!" up roared the chocolate-haired boy. He turned his head to the side with a glare and sucked his teeth. Hisashi pulled the weeping girl uwards and then laid her on his chest, sitting up with her in his lap. The red-head only pulled the sheets over her cold, naked form. "Your father is a sick bastard if he thinks he's going to keep us from doing what we want to do…"

Kazumi's eyes were half-lidded as she twisted her fingers in the white sheets around her.

"I mean, you're the only one I have ever shared this intense feeling with…don't you feel the same way about me?" He looked at her awaiting her answer.

The onyx-eyed girl's plump lips thinned into a line, as she glanced down at her hands, fingers still dancing in the sheets.

"Kazumi?" he prodded.

Silence reigned as she gazed over to the side, eyes hardening, her mouth opening; but not a word coming out.

Silver eyes scanned the girl as he reached out capturing her chin in his hand and turning her face towards him. "Kazumi…don't you?"

She looked at him eyes saddened, mouth ajar once again trying to capture words, before she finally shook her head, warily.

Hisashi's eyes widened as he gaped at the girl's answer before he growled, frowning, and pushing her off of him roughly.

He stood as she gasped, bringing the sheets up to her chest again, tears threatening to fall. "Hisashi, I still need time!" she finally cried.

His scowl only deepened, his eyes piercing into hers. "Time?! I've giving you my whole, fucking life! How much more time could you possibly need?!" he bellowed, waving his hands around him violently.

Kazumi winced at his tone, shaking her head, again at a loss of words as tears trailed down her face.

He stared at her, breathing hard and quick, before growling and slamming his fist into the wall behind him as he made his way to the door, grabbing his slacks and a shirt on the way.

The red-head panicked before she hopped out of bed, sheets forgotten. "Wait!" she called. He paused. "Can't you see that I'm here for you? Why else do you think I would be jeopardizing the blessings of my father, his trust, my life, if I had not been feeling something for you, Hisashi?" she spat as she took a step forward.

The brown-haired boy made a snide chuckle and turned around swiftly. "Well, thank-you for doing one thing for me, Kazumi, when everything I've done has been to get closer to you," he shouted harshly, as he pointed an accusing finger at the woman holding his child.

She inhaled sharply. "I'm sorry…but my father is only trying to help," she choked out.

"Your father is wrong!" shot back the boy.

"Is he?" questioned the onyx-eyed girl. "Is he wrong for trying to give me the best?" She placed one hand on her hip and pointed the other at herself, glaring at her secret lover.

"Your father is trying to find the best for himself, Kazumi!" he bit out coldly.

The daughter of the Ame councilman was taken aback, his answer silencing her as her eyes widened.

"Don't you get it?! I'm the best for you! I love you! I would do anything for you!" he yelled pointing to himself. "And after we kill Riko, you, Kunio, Chiharu, and I will return to Amegakure as heroes, and you shall be my bride…" he murmured longingly.

Kazumi's breath caught as she hesitated, before she ran into lover's arms, wrapping her arms around his waist and drenching his bare shoulder with her tears.

He wrapped one arm around her waist and brought the other to her head where he patted her soft orange and black locks soothingly. The brown-haired boy brought his teeth to Kazumi's neck, scraping and nipping it hard enough to almost draw blood, and she whimpered.

"You are mine…" he groaned into her skin as he licked at the sore he made, sucking at her baby-soft skin.

Small, pale hands made their way up to his neck, pulling him closer, as the girl closed her eyes, "Hai…I am yours…"she whispered calmly. Kazumi opened her eyes, dulling them as she met her resolve. "And you are mine? If I am to choose you over my father's wishes, you are to swear yourself to me…" she stated coolly.

Silver eyes fluttered open thoughtfully. He was always the one to be dominant, and though she was his, he never thought of being hers. But she would never leave him, and he had in his heart sworn himself to her long ago, never wanting any other woman.

"Hai, I swear myself to you, Ootori Kazumi…"

"And I to you…" She closed her eyes once again melting into his embrace, as he once again planted sweet butterfly kisses up and down her neck, claiming his woman. "…my sweet Hisashi…"


Riko lips quivered trying to form around words, anxiety getting the best of her and wracking through her body. "Gaara…"she whispered.

He looked up from his work and spared her a quick glance before returning his aqua gaze to the paper, jutting something down quickly. "Hai?"

"Are you…"she murmured, and then coughed, clearing her throat so her voice could be heard. "Are you asking me on a date?"

The Kazekage smirked slightly, not letting his concentration leave his work. "Do not ask such foolish questions," he stated dryly.

Riko's heart quickened, her face lighting up, and then she mellowed down a little bit, a playful and knowing smile dancing across her features. "Well, since you asked so kindly, I guess I can't say no to the Kazekage…"

His smirk did not disperse as he shook his head back in forth. "Hn." That was his laugh.

The short girl stood, stretching boisterously, hands reaching towards the sky. "I'll see if I can squeeze you into my busy schedule…"she giggled sarcastically as she noticed the roll of the Kazekage's eyes. She began to walk towards the door. "Say 7:30ish?" she questioned looking over her shoulder, hand on the knob.

The red-headed Kazekage nodded.

She smiled again, opening the door. "Cool!" She pointed at the forgotten bento on the desk. "Eat that. I know you're hungry." And with that she closed the door behind her.

As soon as she made it out, she bit her lip, holding in the squeal that wanted to burst through her lips any moment now. She had a reputation to uphold, anyway, and squealing like some annoying fangirl was not like her at all. She had already received enough awkward stares today, as is.

Riko closed her eyes taking a deep breath, and proceeding to walk away.

The young Kazekage let a thoughtful frown settle onto his face as the girl left his office. Riko…I still do not understand the reason you must leave me…why, when we have come so far…


A/N: Whew! So there you go! Hope you liked! It was long, rite? And if you don't really understand Kazumi and Hisashi's relationship, it's that Kazumi is of higher status than Hisashi, and she loves him, but her father does not approve! But you guys are smart, and I'm sure you all understood it perfectly! And this chapter was really fun, because I was finally able to write Riko in her true personality, instead of all gloomy and angsty…Sorry if you thought this chapter was fillerish as well, again, I understand!! So plz review! Luv u and laterz!!

Ah, yes, and busu means ugly woman and it is VERY rude, just if any of you were wondering...

--SAYURI--