A/N: Okay, okay, I realize it's been at least a month since my last update. I'm sorry, I haven't any good excuses other than laziness. I love you all for reading and reviewing, and I hope to keep the updates coming more frequently!

I also didn't catch the discrepancy between the ages and the fact the Gaara still has Shukaku. Let's just pretend that Akatsuki didn't steal his demon, and that Sasuke decided not to leave, or maybe had already killed his bro. If you guys don't like that idea, let me know, I'd be glad to edit here and there. Love you all!

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"You're exhausted."

"I'm fine!" My legs were shaking and my breath came out in gasps.

"Look at you, you can't even walk." He extended a hand out to me.

"Of course I can. Watch me." I took a few slow steps forward and pain shot up my legs. I hissed in frustration and bent down. Strong hands reached under me and lifted me up, and I was lifted into the familiar arms and chest of my husband.

This was the fourth time this week I had to be carried home from the training ring by my husband. It's not that I was ungrateful for his help; I was just embarrassed by the little amount I had improved in my past few weeks in the Wind. Sure, I could wield a kunai and throw shuriken with decent aim, but I was far from being able to protect myself if I was attacked for real.

Finally, after weeks of anxious waiting, I received a letter from Kakashi.

Seluni,

How is the marriage going? I hope things are running smoothly over there. As for here, in Konoha, the weather is perfect, and I think anyone could find what they're looking for here . . . (More pointless chatting) . . . I've heard that Temari will be visiting Konoha again soon to review our exams, maybe this is your chance to travel the country! You'll know where to find me,

Kakashi.

I carefully folded the paper and hid it in one of my books. The letter seemed innocent enough. He obviously wanted me to meet him in the Fire, yet another country I had never been to.

"Hell, anything to get out of the Wind," I mumbled to myself, and I began searching for Temari to ask her about the trip, which I knew she was leaving for that day. As I turned to shut my door behind me, I could swear I saw movement outside my window. My head shot back into the room, but I saw nothing. I left feeling a bit more concerned about my privacy, and whether the letter was safely hidden.

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I found Temari in the training ring, practicing her attacks with her favorite weapon, that large white fan with purple dots. It was always amazing to watch her train; she didn't attack, but rather danced around the field of sand, with a rhythm and movements that kept in time with the blowing of the harsh breeze. She could turn so swiftly while adjusting the fan just a bit, so that her body lifted off the ground. I watched her for a minute before calling out to her. I already knew never to startle a ninja in training. At least, not within attack range. As I stepped into the training area I got that familiar dread that came before my practices with Gaara.

Temari was ecstatic with the idea of me going with her to the Fire Country. She raved about the beautiful plants and the cute boys and all the stores and the cute boys again. Thankfully, just as she began listing all the ninjas I should know, or whatever, Gaara interrupted our conversation. He had appeared out of nowhere, as I was getting used to. Apparently the rule to not sneak up on ninjas didn't apply to him.

"You're planning on going to the Leaf Village." It wasn't a question.

"How did you know?"

"We haven't finished your training yet."

I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling like a child not allowed to go outside. "I'll have Temari with me, I'll be fine."

Temari smirked. "Aww, is Kazekage gonna miss his wife? I'll take care of her, little brother, don't worry!"

"That's not enough!" He threw her a look that killed both our spirits. "Kankuro is to go with you and you are to report to me daily until your return."

Temari looked hurt. "I- Gaara, I'm more than enough to protect her-"

"Obviously you are not, seeing as you put her life in danger the first week she was here." Damn, that was low, I thought miserably. Why does he keep bringing that up?

"Gaara, I trust in Temari's power completely. But, Temari, I'm as useful in battle as a wet towel. We'd better let Kankuro come along."

Gaara nodded, and turned to meet my gaze. I saw a glimpse of emotion in them, was it worry? That might explain his protectiveness. But as he nodded to me and disappeared without a word, a kiss, a hug goodbye, I realized he likely was just trying to protect his investment, the peace, that I represented.

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It was still early afternoon when we set off, the three of us silent as we passed through the outer gates of the Sand. I got the uncomfortable feeling that Kankuro wasn't happy about his last minute plans to travel. Either that, or he just wasn't looking forward to carrying me another long distance.

As we stopped outside the gates, I discretely pulled out a kunai from my robes so only he could see it. I leaned in to his ear and smiled sweetly, adding, "If you touch me any way I don't like, Kankuro, I might just slice your fingers off." He gulped noticeably and nodded. I laughed inwardly. I was finally getting used to the way things were done around here. If you wanted something, or in this case, didn't want something, you had to use threats or force.

I hopped onto his back and felt a rush of wind in my face as the ninjas took off in their fantastic sprints. As the blur of vast desert transformed into dry grass, then soft brush, and finally the lush forest of the Fire Country, the long journey came to an end. The Leaf Village was only an hour or so from its border with the Wind, and so just as my legs were beginning to cramp in Kankuro's hold (I thankfully went through the trip unmolested), we were there. Our group stopped just outside a tall orange wall, with large gates to welcome us in. I was placed down rather roughly, and I got the impression that Kankuro was regretting his agreement to have carried me there.

Walking towards the vast gates, our small party was stopped by two Leaf ninjas, both with sloppy brown hair and excited faces.

"Welcome to the Leaf, Temari, Kankuro, and, who is this pretty thing?" Both men stared at me keenly, and my gaze dropped to my feet. What, weren't they used to new faces around here?

Temari spoke. "Izumo, Kotetsu, this is the new wife of the Kazekage. Show some respect."

Two pairs of eyes widened and they burst out in apology. I smirked a bit, feeling a bit too proud of myself, when we were greeted by another group of Leaf ninjas, coming up the street to meet us.

I got a good look at the group of four, one older man with silver hair and a mask, and three teens about my age. (A/N: do I really have to describe them?)

The blonde boy ran ahead of the rest and stopped alarmingly close to us.

"Kankuro, Temari! It's so great to see you guys again! How's the Sand doing? How's the Kazekage? Is ev-" he glanced at me and threw me the biggest grin I'd ever seen. It was the type of smile that made you feel like smiling, too. "Yo. . . who're you? Are you from the Sand, too? Where's your hitae-ate? Why haven't I seen you here before? Are you friends with Temari? Wh-" He stopped abruptly as he caught a glimpse of his team, who finally reached us.

"Hey, Kakashi-Sensei, look who I found! Temari and Kankuro and, um, a girl!" The pink haired girl smacked him upside the head as soon as she was within hitting distance.

"Saaakura, what was that for?" he whined.

"Have some manners, teme, why can't you be more respectful around the Kazekage's family, like Sasuke?" She glanced shyly over at the black haired boy, who was looking off into the distance, hands in his pockets.

Their sensei stepped around them and bowed his head to me. "I apologize for their rudeness, Kazekage no Seluni." My breath hitched as all three teens' eyes, blue, green, and black, shot up to mine.

Temari thankfully saved me. "It's fine, Kakashi," she said sweetly, "Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, it's great to see you all, too. As I mentioned, this is Gaara's new wife, Seluni."

"Dammit!" Naruto moaned, "Gaara got to be Kage first, and now he's married first too! I have to catch up with him!"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Just don't go proposing to the next girl you see, Naruto. You're only twenty-one, that's way too early to get married." My face fell as I recalled how I had wanted to wait to marry, before all this began . . .

"Sakura, be quiet." The boy's voice was soft, but it pierced through Sakura's shouts and Naruto's whines. Sakura was humbled and there was an awkward moment of silence among us.

"Um, you can all go into the village," called a voice loudly from behind us. Izumo waved to us and it was suddenly obvious we were all still under the front gates of Konoha.

"Oh, where are my manners?" Kakashi spoke up lazily, "My team will escort you all to the Hokage's tower, where you will be staying. Temari, tell me about the Sand's exam progress while we walk."

Temari gave a grin to rival Naruto's and stepped quickly to meet Kakashi's pace. The rest of us followed behind, and Sakura looped her arm around mine.

"So tell me, Seluni," she purred, "What's it like being married to a demon? Were you afraid of him? Is he still mean?"

What a jerk, I thought, but I plastered a smile on and told her how he was kind enough and how his demon didn't come out unless he was upset or excited, which wasn't often.

"But what about-" she lowered her voice, "What is it like to uh, be with a demon? I mean, he must be excited while, you know."

I sighed loudly. The trip had made me grumpy and I was tired of this girl's bold questions.

"I don't sleep with the demon, Sakura, I sleep with him. And he can usually control it."

"And when he can't . . .?" she pried.

"Well," I pulled up the side of my shirt to reveal a long pink scar that began at my abs and ran around my side to my back. Sakura's bright green eyes grew wide and her mouth fell.

"Shit!" Naruto's voice came from right behind me. I whirled around. Both he and Sasuke had obviously been listening to our conversation from right behind us. Their faces matched Sakura's, but Sasuke's mouth formed a small smirk and Naruto's face held a bit of fear.

Kankuro had been lazily walking behind the group, but as he caught up he smiled at my flaunted scar. "Yea, I remember the morning after you got that one. Damn near scared us to death, how he carried you into the infirmary dripping blood and all. We thought he had killed you."

I shrugged. "He stopped when he realized what he did."

Naruto stepped closer and touched the scar lightly.

"Don't worry, it doesn't hurt," I said.

He continued looking at it, but his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere. "How can you let him do that to you? How can he live knowing he hurts you with his demon?"

I was about to answer when Kakashi called to us from up ahead. He and Temari were waving at up to hurry up.

"I don't mind too much," I assured Naruto, whose face didn't look right without that big smile. "What matters is that it's Gaara I'm married to, and it's Gaara I . . I love." I didn't care whether it was a lie or not- what mattered now was cheering this boy up. And his face did light up again, his wide grin making the day seem a bit brighter.

Sasuke waited next to me to start walking again. "Kazekage no Seluni . . ." he said softly, "Where were you from again?"