Summary: Gaara knows only of duty to his village. Shizuka knows only of duty to her people. When she is sent to Suna, both of them are forced to see that there is more to life than they had imagined. They must learn to live.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the recognizable characters or places or things that you see in this story. I do, however, own Shizuka, her kingdom, and this particular plot-line.
Chapter Two
Sand. So much sand. Shizuka had seen some of it from the windows of the carriage, but getting out and looking around, seeing the buildings up close, and making the short walk from the street to the main building had shown her that her fears had not been unfounded. Everywhere, there was sand. Even the buildings from a distance had looked like they were made of sand. Upon closer inspection, they were actually made of something akin to sandstone, though perhaps harder and stronger, but that was certainly close enough in Shizuka's mind to qualify. Her imaginings, the way she thought that this place might be when she took the time to think about it, had been essentially correct. It was hot and dry and harsh and there was not a green thing in sight. In fact, she may even have underestimated Suna: she did not see so much as a scraggly brown bush.
Now, she stood upon a balcony in the Kazekage's Residence and looked across Suna, sheltered behind its high stone walls. All she could see was a vast expanse of abrasive, tan grit wavering behind the dancing waves of heat that radiated from nearly every surface. From up here, the village looked like a giant, oddly sculpted sandcastle. Or sand-city, more accurately. And was that not exactly what it was? Would she ever get used to such alien shapes and sights? Would she be able to survive in this place? Well, she had little choice in the matter, so she had best find a way. Her people needed her to do this. She would just have to manage, somehow. Make her own way, if need be. Find someone to help her, perhaps. Hopefully. Someone to help her learn her way around would be nice. If she could manage to find someone, that is. But who? Temari? She thought of the woman she had met that morning and wondered how likely it would be for them to become friends. Their first meeting, after all, had not instilled much hope for such an alliance…
I~I~I
Luck had been on her side. Whatever Temari had been saying while Shizuka had been lost in her thoughts, it did not seem to have been too important. Or at least, it had not been pertinent at the moment. By the time Shizuka had started paying attention again, the blond was offering to take her on a tour of the Kazekage's Residence, which apparently served both as the main political and military hub of Suna, and as the home of the kazekage and his family. It was certainly large enough to do all of that and more. Of course, from experience, Shizuka knew that such buildings always seemed to have more rooms than they could possibly use, and at the same time they never seemed to have quite enough. An odd paradox, but she was willing to bet that it held as true here as it had at home.
The ensuing tour, however, had been…awkward to say the least. Temari had seemed distracted and a little brusque, even as she mentioned the highlights of the Residence and carefully avoided the kazekage's office, saying he was indisposed at the moment and would not be available for a time. Possibly not even until tomorrow. Apparently he sends his apologies.
Though Shizuka could not fault Temari's civility, neither could she really call the other woman friendly. So her behavior, combined with Shizuka's nerves, only served to make Shizuka even quieter and more reserved than ever. She played the part of the distant noblewoman and tried not to let her imagination run away with her. Instead, she did her best to focus on the twists and turns at made up the Kazekage's Residence, hoping in vain that she would not get too hopelessly lost when she tried wandering around on her own. The place was like a maze, or maybe a catacomb or a beehive. It was large and complex, and the lack of very many windows made it difficult for Shizuka to keep her bearings. She knew one thing for certain: there was no way she was going to be able to navigate this place on her own anytime soon.
By the time a servant came and informed them that Shizuka's rooms were ready, both women were relieved…not that either one of them mentioned it. They must maintain proper decorum, after all. They would not want to appear rude in front of their future ally. So, Shizuka had been deposited in her room with a promise that someone would come for her when dinner was being served. No mention was made of lunch. She did hope she was going to get some.
I~I~I
Temari was the eldest of the three siblings. She had known both of her little brothers their whole lives. She had watched them grow up. She had seen them at their highest moments, and their lowest. They had been through far too many battles together, and had saved each others' lives on more than one occasion. However emotionally distant they might have been before the Chunin exams, enough time had passed since then that by this point, Temari knew both of her brothers very well. She had no doubt that at that very moment, Gaara had locked himself in his office with the intent of burying himself in work and was trying very hard not to think about the bomb that had just been dropped on him. She also knew that he was probably failing miserably. Oh, his eyes might be scanning documents and his hands might be signing them, but the vast majority of his mind was undoubtedly on the dainty little woman who had just arrived…whose name he did not actually know yet.
Temari winced. Perhaps she should go talk to him a little more about all of this.
…Later.
Even if he let her in the office, he would just ignore her right now. Sure, she could make an issue out of it, but between her short temper and his stubbornness, it would only end in a mutually frustrating argument. No. It was better to wait for now. Let the news sink in. Let him get his head around it. There would be time for them to talk it out some more later. Probably tomorrow.
Yes. Temari knew her little brother well. She had taken the liberty of telling the little princess that Gaara would be unavailable for a time. She had made his excuses and done a little more social damage control. After averting one massive political nightmare, what was one more? Temari had a suspicion that she might have to get used to playing the peacemaking diplomat for the foreseeable future, or at least until Gaara loosened up a little and started acting like a good little fiancée…which could take a while.
She sighed gustily. Such was the life of an ambassador. She ought to be used to it by now, but somehow, she always ended up with headaches. She doubted that this would be any different. Though, since Shizuka was in large part Gaara's personal problem, it did not strike Temari as entirely fair that she would be the one stuck dealing with her. Sure, there were a lot of politics involved, but that was hardly the point. Gaara was going to have to deal with this, one way or another. So, why was she helping just now? Well, she was Suna's primary ambassador. It only made sense that she would be the first one to greet a foreign dignitary, especially one so unique as this. But mostly, it was probably guilt. She should have known the elders would do something like this. So what if she hadn't thought about Gaara's engagement since she was a little girl, herself? This was her baby brother. She should have done better by himt. What did it matter that he was the kazekage? He was still Gaara and he still needed looking after. Honestly, he might be better than he used to be, but he was still pretty hopeless in the emotional and social departments. It might take a while for him to get his head on straight, and until then, she knew what she was going to be stuck doing. Oh, well. She was committed now. No going back.
As she made her way to the dining room, she turned her thoughts to the little princess she had greeted today, whom she would be seeing again momentarily. Temari really did not know what to think of her, yet. She had been pretty…quiet during the tour. Not rude, just…distant. In other words, she had acted like a noblewoman. Not that she should expect any different, Temari mused. After all, that is exactly what she was. Nobility. It was not the most promising first impression. She could only pray that there was more to the woman than that. Something a little deeper. If they could not find another way around this mess, Temari did not want to condemn her brother to marriage with a woman who was superficial at best and a selfish snob at worst. No. If it came to that, she would rather break the treaty herself than allow Gaara to go through with it, no matter what arguments she had made in the office that morning. Whatever he ultimately decided he felt about it, Temari knew that her little brother would go through with it if he felt it would be best for Suna, and the truth was that Suna could really use this treaty.
After she had deposited the princess in her rooms, Temari had done a little digging so she could get up to speed with the situation. What she had discovered was that this little princess came from the Morikami bloodline, the ruling family of the Mountain Country. A small land situated north of Wind and south of Earth, it might not appear very impressive at first glance; however, what it lacked in size and military power, it more than made up for with medical expertise. The people of the Mountain Country were rumored to have techniques that not even Tsunade had known. Techniques that they would be more than willing to share with Suna in return for some protection when needed. Techniques that Suna was very much in need of.
Despite the peace that had descended between the five great shinobi villages after the war, and despite the close bonds between Suna and Konoha even before the war, Suna had never managed to get hold of any foreign medics for long enough to make a big enough of a difference in their medical system. Konoha had spared Sakura Haruno for as long as they could, and the pink-haired kunoichi had done a lot for them, but it was not enough. Sure, they had managed so far, just like they had managed for so many years before that, but facts were facts. Suna's medical facilities and even the techniques that their medics used were in need of some serious updating. This treaty could secure that. There was no way Gaara would pass up this opportunity, even if it cost him any chance at happiness.
Temari scowled.
There was no way that she would allow him to do it. Not even if the Mountain Country promised them a whole new hospital complete with staff. She had no choice, really. She would keep an eye on this princess. If she did not deem Shizuka worthy of her little brother, she would see to it that there would be no marriage, even if no alternative to marriage could be worked out and the treaty fell through because of it. Even if Gaara never forgave her for it. Some things were worth such sacrifices. Her little brother's happiness was one of those things. He had had more than enough pain in his life already. He did not need any more.
To be continued...
Author's Note: I apologize for the horrid delay. I will not bore you with the details. Instead, I bring you joyous tidings. First, I have completed the skeleton for the rest of the plot, though there is still some flexibility. There are two potential main I paths, really. I suppose it depends on whether you prefer espionage or kunai-flying battles. ;) Of course, there would be both in either path. The difference is where the focus lies. Let me know if you have a preference.
Second, I plan to get a chapter to you every week, starting today. I am even beginning to stockpile chapters in the event that a nasty case of writer's block strikes, or some other unforeseeable disaster of life occurs. I already have next week's chapter written, if not completely edited yet. :) I promise that there will be real, live dialogue and a healthy dose of Gaara.
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