I don't own Naruto. I do own a pie...
-One week until the wedding-
Rae was constantly at the bakery finishing up Temari's cake. She felt like she never left the darn place. She went home only to feed Kuro and very very rarely went home to sleep. Temari was in the shop almost every day now, in between her othre errands, hovering over the ragged baker. Rae considered Temari her friend, and while all she wanted to do was tell the woman to piss off she managed to hold her tongue and smile through it. Temari burst in on the Saturday that marked the one week deadline.
"Rae! i need your help!" She demanded. Rae looked up from my batch of icing, glaring coldly at her. What more help could i possibly give her than the mental help she so desperately needed, Rae thought. Rae sighed.
"What is it now?" She asked, going back to mixing the batch of icing.
"I need you to be one of my bridesmaids! I was going to ask Sakura, but she bailed, saying she'd be on a mission!" Temari sat on a stool, dejected. Rae grimaced at the thought. She hated formal events, and dresses and pretty much anything social, but one look at Temari had her saying,
"Ok, I'll do it." Temari lit up at the young woman's answer.
"Great! i brought someone along to take your measurements for your dress." A man stepped in a Temari's command and in a flurry of measuring tape and rustling cloth the man did his job and left. Rae looked around, flustered.
"Thanks." Temari pulled the small woman into a tight hug and left as well. To say that Rae was somewhat stunned was an understatement. The only other person to hug her was Kadar, and he had actually stopped when she turned 12. That was the age when her temper started getting out of control; so most people gave up trying to get close to her after that. Rae shook her head and went back to work. She was on schedule, but that didn't mean she could slack off.
-Morning of the wedding-
Rae was frantically running around the kitchen, searching for the small figurines that needed to go on top of the cake. It was the last thing to do and she couldn't find them. The wedding didn't start until later in the evening, when the sun was setting and it would be cool enough outside for everyone to wander around, but Rae was still panicking. She decided to have Kadar look for the figurines while she started on sculpting a new set.
It was several hours before Kadar would need to take the cake to the designated spot for the wedding and Rae was tired beyond belief. Kadar ended up forcefully shoving her out of the shop so she could go home to change.
Rae made it very clear that if the cake did not make it safetly to the wedding that Kadar and Suto who volunteered to help would be missing several limbs.
Rae managed to make it to her apartment before collapsing from exhaustion.
Kankuro and Baki arrived at the cake shop an hour before the start of the wedding. Baki was helping to escort the cake and as they were loading it onto a cart Kankuro noticed a certain wild haired woman was no where to be seen.
"Where's Rae?" He asked casually. Suto immediately stiffened and glared at the puppet master.
"Why do you care?" Suto snarled. Kankuro immediately picked up on the younger mans hostility.
"Suto, that is enough!" Kadar yelled, situating the cake carefully on the cart. Kadar jumped down.
"I made her go home to get changed and some rest." Kankuro nodded at the mans comment and disappeared, hoping over the roof tops to the womans apartment.
He entered through the bedroom window and saw her laying sprawled out on her stomach on her bed. Kuro was curled up in the small of her back. Kuro shifted and looked at the ninja that had just entered and let out a meow. He hopped off of the bed to greet the intruder.
"Kuro... don't eat the furniture..." The young woman sighed and shifted. Kankuro approached her.
"Hey, you need to get up. The wedding starts in and hour." Kankuro said loudly.
Rae rolled over to glare at the man.
"I forgot to lock my windows again huh?" She stared at the handsome man in front of her. She hadn't seen him without his hood or makeup before. He was like a whole other person. His chocolate hair spiked on top of his head and framed his strong jaw line, his onyx eyes held some sort of emotion that Rae was too drowsy to place.
"I don't want to go. Too tired." Kankuro huffed at her statement.
"Temari will kill you if you don't show up." Kankuro stated, pulling on the womans arm to get her out of bed. Rae grunted and stood up. She pointed to the door.
"Out. I can change on my own." She stated, her eys still half closed.
"Fine, but if you're not out in 20 minutes I'm coming in to make sure you didn't go back to sleep." The woman mumbled and Kankuro exited the room. Rae stepped out a few minutes later and Kankuro nearly fainted. The dress was skin tight on the woman and was light lavender that made her eyes look even brighter than normal and it cut just above the knee, showing off some of her legs that he never knew were so sexy. Her hands were on her hips.
"What?" She asked impatiently. Kankuro shook his head.
"Nothing. You just look really good is all." Rae sighed.
"I hate dresses... and formal events. My hair is so wild that I can never get it to look nice for these kinds of things." Rae ran a hand through her tresses. They were soft but they looked unruly. She walked back into her room and found a white bandana to help tame her locks. She pulled her hair back but a pair of hands stopped her from putting on the bandana. She looked up. Kankuro was standing very close to her and it made her uncomfortable.
"Don't" He whispered, his deep vioce sending shivers down her spine. She lowered her hands and set the bandana on the table, finally getting her personal space back. She glared at the smiling man.
"Don't invade my personal space again." She pointed a finger at him and walked out of the apartment, waiting for him to follow suit so she could lock the door. He did and waited, leaning against the balcony as she locked the door. They were walking next to each other silently. Kankuro felt the need to break the awkward silence.
"So whats up with you and that Suto guy?" He asked, watching her reaction carefully. She twitched and her fists balled up tightly.
"That prick just wants to get into my pants. End of story." Kankuro watched her grind her teeth as she spoke. There was more to the story, but he didn't want her to fly off the handle so he didn't press the matter.
The two arrived at the wedding just in time. Rae immediately took over directing Kadar and Suto on where to put the cake and which way it should face. Many people from the village were in attendance and Kankuro quickly noted that a large crowd of young men had ensnared the violet eyed woman.
"Rae, Gaara would like to speak with you." Kankuro cut through the crowd and locked arms with the flustered girl. As soon as they were out of the crowd she unhooked her arm from his.
"You really don't like people touching you huh?" He asked as they walked through a fairly deserted building. Rae blushed slightly.
"I don't like YOU touching me." Rae said. And it was partially the truth. The small brush of his hand several weeks ago had actually felt good, and when he grasped her hands in her apartment they felt like they had caught on fire. She didn't want those strange, unwelcome feelings, and especially not from the likes of him. Kankuro didn't say anything to her comment, but his face said it all. He looked a little angry and disappointed. Kankuro ushered the young woman into Gaara's office. Rae bowed.
"It is an honor Kazekage-sama." The young leader held up a hand.
"Call me Gaara. Temari practically considers you family." He said, his deep voice sending chills all over her skin.
"It is still an honor. I hope that everything about the cake is satisfactory." Rae nodded slightly, instead of bowing.
"Are you kidding me? From the way she's been going on about it, you'd think she was marrying the cake!" Kankuro said, throwing his hands up in exasperation. Rae giggled.
"Well thank you." She smiled up at Kankuro and he smiled back. Rae enjoyed this happy Kankuro to the angry one in the hall.
The wedding went off without a hitch. Even though Rae was highly uncomfortable with standing up front, it was still very fun. Rae was assisting her father in passing out cake when she stumbled upon a rowdy table.
"Good evening!" She said, a smile playing on her lips. A blonde man with bright blue eyes smiled up at her.
"Hey! You're the one that made the cake right? Temari's been talking about you!" He all but yelled. Rae nodded.
"I'm Naruto! This is Neji, Choji, Shino and Kiba! We're from Konoha!" Again with the loud voice. Rae was getting a horrible headache, but managed through it.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. If you'll excuse me." Rae bowed and made her way back to the cake to serve more slices.
A slow song began to play and the dance floor emptied for Temari and Shikamaru to take their dance. Kankuro appeared behind Rae.
"Temari said she wants Gaara and myself to dance the next song with her. I am without a partner and was wondering if you'd dance with me." Kankuro purred smoothly into her ear, once again invading her personal space. She turned and gave him a huge smile.
"Nope!" She said, and turned back to her cutting.
"Please?" He asked.
"No. I don't know how to dance and I'm sure you can find a much prettier girl to dance with." She huffed and walked away, handing out more cake. Kankuro stood there stunned. How could he find anyone more beautiful than she was? Didn't she realize how gorgeous she was? Kankuro thought. He was almost angry at her for her ignorance.
Kankuro knew of only one way to get her dance with him. After Temari finished her dance, he approached her and murmured something into her ear. She stormed off of the now crowded dance floor and over to Rae. She roughly pulled the young woman to the side.
"Dance with Kankuro." She said in a low, threatening tone.
"What?" Rae whispered back.
"Kankuro will not dance unless its with you, and Gaara won't dance unless Kankuro is dancing." She crossed her arms and glared at the woman. Rae looked around in a panic, trying to find a way out of this.
"Temari, look you brother is just trying to get into my pants and I don't want to give him the wrong impression and…" Temari sushed the girl with her fingers.
"I don't know what you've done to my brother but he hasn't brought some slutty ass girl home since you two met and honestly I find that a miracle. Just dance with him." Temari crossed her arms and gave her that don't-argue-with-me look. Rae sighed in defeat.
"Fine." Temari looked over joyed and dragged her to the dance floor. She motion for Gaara to come over. Gaara had Matsuri in tow, and Kankuro followed behind them, a sly look on his face. Rae glared at the brown haired borther. A slow song started playing and the two just stood there looking at each other, earning Rae a sharp jab in the ribs from the glaring blond. Rae sighed and took Kankuro's hand. He wrapped an arm around her waist and started to pull her closer.
"Arms length, pervert." She growled at him, a smile plastered on her face.
"Prude." He smiled down at her. The slow music and repetitive steps of the dance began to lull the wild woman into the sleep she desperately needed. Her eyes started closing, and she was having a hard time focusing on her steps. As she pressed up against something soft yet firm, she thought herself in bed and fell deeper into dream land. Her bed rumbled and her eyes flew open. It took her a minute to realize she was still dancing, but was pressed tightly against Kankuro, her cheek resting on his firm chest.
"Don't worry, nobody noticed that you fell asleep. I moved your feet with my chakra strings." Rae looked up at him and he winked. The song stopped and Kankuro stopped as well. We continued to stay pressed together, my mind jumbled by the warmth radiating from his chest, it was beginning to lull me back to sleep.
"Stay awake long enough to let me get you out of here and I'll take you home, ok?" Kankuro started leading her off of the dance floor by her hand. It took a little longer to get away from the wedding as they were held up by well-wishers and questions about the cake.
"Kankur…o." Just as they left the crowded area Rae was about to say something but ended up passing out.
"Woah, holy crap." Kankuro caught the small woman just before she hit the ground. He swept her up bridal style and leapt onto the rooftops, taking her home swiftly, not wanting her to wake up and start screaming her head off. He entered in through the bedroom window once again and set her gently on her bed, covering her with the thin sheets. Kuro jumped onto the bed and rubbed against Kankuro, purring lightly.
"Hey Kuro." He pet the cat and looked down on the woman sleeping peacefully. Kankuro walked around house and locked the windows, wondering why she didn't ever lock them in the first place. He had assumed that after his first break in, she'd start locking them, but she did seem a little flighty sometimes. He climbed back out of her bedroom window and using his chakra strings locked that one as well. He arrived back at the wedding and continued along as if nothing had happened. Temari approached him.
"Where have you been and where is Rae?" She glared at him accusingly.
"She was tired. I took her home." He said, not appreciating her glare.
"Is that ALL you did?" She snarled at him.
"Yes! I wouldn't take advantage of her like that!" Kankuro said, now thoroughly pissed off. Temari's face relaxed into a knowing gaze.
"Kankuro, what is that girl to you?" Kankuro nearly spit out his drink.
"Look, Temari, just because you're all in love doesn't mean you need start butting it to everyone else's business. If anything, you should be helping Gaara." Kankuro said, not looking at his older sister.
"At least Gaara hasn't slept with almost every woman in Suna. It's self destructive behavior and it's about time you stop!" She huffed and walked back to her husband, grinning happily. Kankuro thought about her comments. He hadn't slept with EVERYONE… at least not the ugly ones. He started at his own thoughts. God, he really was shallow and arrogant. But at the same time, when he looked at Rae he didn't just think about how hot her body was. He just wanted to stare into her eyes and try to define that look in her eyes. He wanted to take her pain into himself and never let her feel it again.
Kankuro sighed and left the thinning wedding party.
"Hey Kankuro!" Kiba ran over, followed by Naruto and his friends.
"I can't believe you and Shikamaru are brothers now!" Kiba laughed, giving the puppet user a hard pat on the back.
"Hey and did you see that hot waitress? Temari was right! She's awesome!" Naruto said.
"Hey, maybe I can be the next person in Konoha to get married to a Suna lady! I wouldn't mind travelling three days for that wild looking beauty." Kiba and Naruto laughed at Kiba's comment.
Kankuro balled his fists tightly, angered that they were talking about her like an object, even though he had done so himself about many women he met.
"I'm feeling really tired you guys. I'll see ya tomorrow." He excused himself.
"Yeah, we'll be in town for like a week so we'll catch ya later!" Naruto said.