Chapter Twenty Nine: The Future Freaks Me Out

Japanese lesson: Sama is like Lord or Lady. Dono is like Lord/Master. Heika or Denka is Your Majesty.

A/N: In this chapter you meet Gaara for the first time… sort of.

Sachiko: I like new friends.

Author-sama: Well let's see how well you'll like this one.

PS. Don't forget that Sachiko doesn't look the same anymore! XD

An unsettled stomach wasn't the only thing plaguing Sachiko as she arrived in Suna late that night. She had gotten a terrible migraine as soon as she had set foot in the desert. In Konoha, the weather had been very cold and then the desert was hot. The temperature change was a bit much for her. Sachiko could feel her body begin to sweat more once they entered the Sand Village.

"Sachiko-chan, are you okay," asked Naruto worriedly.

Sachiko formed a queasy smile. "Of course I'm okay… Naruto-kun." Sachiko passed right out into Naruto's arms.

"She's probably nervous," commented Kakashi as he lifted her from Naruto's arms to take her into his.

"You sure she didn't faint because of my studliness," asked Jiraiya in a joking manner as he began to strike many poses.

"Ero-sennin," shouted Naruto, "Do not talk about Sachiko-chan that way!"

Kakashi rolled his eyes. "We'll check into Suna's Inn for now and then go see the council in the morning. We can stay with her until she meets the council but then we have specific orders to return home until the wedding."

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Sachiko woke up feeling much better than she had last night. She sat up and found Naruto in her face. "Great," she groaned as she stared back into her best friend's face.

"Good news Kakashi-sensei," said Naruto, "She's alive."

Kakashi strolled over to see what Naruto was making such a fuss about. "Of course she's alive, Naruto. She only fainted."

"Where's Jiraiya-sama," asked Sachiko as she placed a hand to her aching head.

"Where do you think Ero-sennin is," cried Naruto, "Every time we go to a new place he goes somewhere to be a pervert and then he ends up causing trouble so we have to leave. Believe it!"

Sachiko gave Kakashi a warning glance. "Don't worry," Kakashi said to ease Sachiko's troubles, "I'll go get him and make sure he doesn't make the people of Sand angry… Can't have Jiraiya screwing up the wedding."

"If that's the case," Sachiko said with a grin, "Leave him be… He's a grown man. He can take care of himself."

"Ha, ha," said Kakashi, "Nice try." Kakashi thought for a moment before speaking, "I guess we should go see the council… I can get Jiraiya on our way out of Suna."

"You guys can't stay with me," whined Sachiko as she threw her hands against the bed.

"We have specific orders to leave Suna and not return until the wedding," replied Kakashi, "I'm sure they have their reasons… They probably don't want anybody talking you out of the marriage."

"I think they're just worried that if Sachiko-chan doesn't like the Kazekage we'll just take her away," said Naruto as he scratched the back of his head. Kakashi whacked him on the top of his head with his Itcha Itcha Paradise book. Naruto looked up at Kakashi and scowled.

"Ahh," Sachiko screeched, "Is he that awful Naruto-kun? Don't leave me!"

"Sachiko," Kakashi said firmly, "You're a big girl and you can take care of yourself." He grinned, knowing she got the joke because she had just finished saying the same thing about Jiraiya.

"Ha, ha," Sachiko said, "You're so funny Kakashi-sensei!"

"Ready to go meet the council and then your future husband," asked Kakashi, offering her a comforting smile.

"I'm on fire and now I think I'm ready," Sachiko replied with a grin, "The future freaks me out."

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Suna was even warmer now that it was day time but Sachiko's body had adjusted accordingly. Naruto was excitedly looking around Suna meanwhile Kakashi had his nose stuck in his Itcha Itcha Paradise book. Kakashi had led the two shinobi to a place named Suna Bastion. It had previously been named Sand Castle but the new Kazekage changed the name. "He probably has bitter memories when it was named Sand Castle." Compared to this place, Konoha's Hokage's Office was like a house for ants. Suna Bastion was definitely something else.

The three approached the castle's gates and checked in with the guard shinobis. Kakashi was to do all the talking. He said that he would handle Sand's advising council because they could be pushy. Pushy was an understatement when it came to Suna's council members. Kakashi had told Sachiko to have no worries but somehow, that didn't ease any of her qualms.

Once let into Suna Bastion, they were instructed to proceed down the main corridor and take a left. The council members' room was the only door there. The main corridor was a bit eerie. Portraits of all the Kazekages were lined up on the walls. Sachiko felt like she was having déjà vu as she gazed to all the portraits. They all looked so familiar and the weird tingles they gave her she must have felt those sensations before. She saw a portrait that set her off. The portrait itself wasn't familiar but the person it depicted certainly seemed recognizable.

"Why'd you stop Sachiko-chan," asked Naruto as he turned back to stand by her. Kakashi waited patiently at the end of the hall. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Cat got my tongue," Sachiko repeated knowing someone else had told her that exact phrase but she just couldn't figure out whom.

Naruto looked up to see what Sachiko had been gawking at. He looked up to see the portrait of the current Kazekage and recognized him immediately. "That's Gaara," said Naruto, "He's not as good looking as me but I guess he's okay 'ttebayo." Sachiko didn't really notice the rest of the portrait. All she saw of the painting was the dark rimmed teal eyes. They seemed be gazing directly into her eyes, into her soul.

"Sachiko, are you okay," asked Kakashi. He had been patient but she was beginning to worry him.

"I'm just getting déjà vu like mad," she said, still awestruck by the painting.

"Well that's good," Kakashi said to her, "Hopefully something here can jog your memory."

"Yeah," she said in a distant voice as Naruto pulled her away from the hall.

"You're getting too nervous Sachiko-chan," Naruto said as he practically dragged her down the hall, "Inter… vention…" He finally managed to pull her to the end of the hall only for her to snap out of it.

"You can let go Naruto-kun," Sachiko told him, "I'm fine now."

They walked to the left of the corridor, only one door there was on the right. Kakashi stared at the door for a moment as if he wasn't sure if he should knock or not. He placed his hand on the door knob and opened it saying, "Here we go."

Naruto, not really into manners, walked in first. The council gasped, thinking he was the future bride until they heard him open his mouth. "This place is huge! Believe it!" Sachiko smacked herself in the forehead and made a mental note to smack her best friend later. She walked in second, putting the council members' worries to ease. Kakashi walked in after her, closing the door behind him.

"Hey," he said to the council members with a short wave of the hand.

"Hello Kakashi," said one of the men, "The great copy ninja…" Sachiko realized all the council members had name plates. The man that had spoken was named Momiji.

"In the flesh," said Kakashi with a smile.

"What are you doing here," asked another member of the council, a female. Sachiko looked at her name plate and saw that her name was Washuu.

"Your Kazekage is marrying my daughter," said Kakashi cheerily, sending the council members into heavy chatter.

The man began to speak again, "What an honor to have our Kazekage marrying the daughter of the great copy ninja Hatake Kakashi!" The council seemed to be ranting and raving until the woman that had spoken earlier cleared her throat. The other council members quieted down to hear her.

"Hatake Sachiko," she said, "Please step forward." Sachiko was nervous but she did as she was told. "Turn to the side… good. Turn to the other side… good. About-face… good. Forward now… excellent." The councilwoman certainly looked pleased. "Now please answer the following questions to the best of your abilities." She cleared her throat before asking the questions. "Have you ever had any previous relationships such as boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"No, I have not," she answered honestly. Kiba hadn't truly been her boyfriend and so she didn't feel guilty in answering no.

"Here in Suna we take great pride in belly dancing," said the old woman, "Do you know how to or are you willing to learn?"

"I'm willing to learn anything you want to teach me," she replied. Kakashi smiled at her. She had answered perfectly to that.

"Would you be willing to have a child from the Kazekage?"

"After a year or so of marriage, yes."

"Your power is lightning based, correct?"

"Correct."

"Can you show us a jutsu without bringing damage to this room or any of the council members?" Sachiko loved how they left out herself and her two escorts.

"I can," she said, up for the challenge.

"Then please do."

Sachiko could see that Kakashi was a bit nervous. He wasn't sure if Sachiko had practiced her lightning based moves while he was away. He thought perhaps she had replaced what he had taught her with Tsunade's teaching but he was very wrong. Sachiko had avidly practiced her lightning jutsus and had invented some herself. Chakra was something that ninja had always used but Sachiko believed in calling upon another force especially when it came to lightning; Chi or inner self. She performed various hand seals and a tiny ball of lightning appeared at the tip of her finger. Some of the council members scoffed at this, but she only thrived off of their negativity. She wasn't through yet. The tiny ball of electricity began to crackle with power and expanded into a greater ball. "Let's kick it up a notch," she thought as she began to bounce the ball on her feet and legs. She gave the ball a hard kick and sent it flying to the opposite side of the room. She'd then reappear in front of the ball and repeat the process. All the council members had to agree, her stamina was amazing and her she managed her chakra very well for a genin.

"Thank you," said Washuu when Sachiko finished, "That was a treat."

"Are you ready to meet your future husband," asked Momiji suddenly.

"I am," replied Sachiko bravely, "I am ready."

"He and his siblings are in the garden. Washuu will guide you there," said Momiji, "As for you two gentlemen…" He looked to Kakashi and Naruto. "We are honored that you have come to visit and appreciate your escorting duties but since they are now fulfilled we must ask you to leave. You may return on the day of the wedding."

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Gaara and his brother and sister sat in the garden talking. Kankuro and Temari did most of the talking but Gaara would say a sentence or two when he felt the need. As Temari and Kankuro debated over whether Gaara would like his soon-to-be-wife or not, he gazed to two figures, staring at them listlessly. One figure, he had recognized as the councilwoman Washuu and he had guessed the other was his future wife. For some reason, the young girl that was his wife-to-be looked familiar to him. She had long dark blue hair pulled into two low pigtails. Her shape was curvaceous yet trim of fat. Her midriff was exposed and looked quite toned from where he was sitting.

"She looks like that Cloud girl," Temari remarked as she focused her attention on her.

"She does," agreed Kankuro, "But there's no way… Look at her face… They look similar but she can't be the same person."

"You're right… Her face is much different," said Temari finally, after having thought it over in her mind.

Washuu and the girl approached the Sand Siblings. Washuu allowed the girl to step forward, hoping Gaara would actually be a male about it and check her out. "This is Hatake Sachiko, daughter of Hatake Kakashi, the copy ninja."

Gaara stared at her face for a long time and ignored her body. He was just curious to see if it was the same girl as the one from Cloud. The color of her hair and eyes had been equal to that of Sachiko of Cloud's but they were diverse at the same time. This Sachiko of Konoha had innocent eyes that lacked any trace of a dark rim to encase them. She had a single brown freckle underneath her right eye. He looked to the upper left corner of her forehead. At the moment it was not covered by her hair yet Gaara found that the flesh there was unscathed. The first Sachiko had a red scar that said 'Hate.' This girl was poles apart from Sachiko of Cloud yet they could have been sisters.

"Shukaku… is she the same girl?"

"She doesn't have a demon… She must be a different girl… She had no bloodlust either."

"She can't be then…"

Gaara finally stared at the rest of her body. He had never found a woman pleasing but he was slightly enticed by this one. Slightly. "I am Sabaku no Gaara, Kazekage of Suna."

"I am Hatake Sachiko of Konoha," she replied with a small bow, "Nice to meet you." The last part of her sentence was awkward in her mouth but she had no clue of what else to say.

"Come Temari, Kankuro," nagged Washuu as she chased them away with her walking cane, "You can meet her later… Let your brother speak with her." The two reluctantly left the scene with Washuu poking them in the back with her stick.

Sachiko took a good look at the man she was going to marry. She couldn't lie to herself, she did find him dreadfully handsome but in an odd way. Perhaps she could call him tragically good-looking for his tendrils of hair were as red as blood. He bore a hypocritical symbol of love just above his furrowing brow yet he was indeed a brow-less creature. Sea foam existed in the blood lustful eyes of this handsome young man. Dark circle crested upon dark circle rested around the area surrounding his teal pools like stubborn soot balls refusing to be gotten rid of. His skin was borrowed pale flesh of a vampire's and it glowed so brightly at the sun's gentle touch. Lips were slightly parted, not yet forming an 'o' but forming an essence of sculpted perfection, placed just above a nicely shaped chin. His entire countenance bore a serene alertness to it; a contradictory expression but he was the only one who could pull such a look off.

He had a strong neck attached to a strong body. Indeed this young man would be classified as toned but not bulky. His chest and built yet sleek torso had sinful arms and hands that were quite often murder weapons or the commanding trigger of an even greater murder weapon. Attached to such a fearsome upper half were his long legs, muscular most likely if anyone had ever encountered such a chance to examine them without his pants, but this was a naughty thought. All naughty thoughts of Gaara should be quickly disposed of because they were despairingly hopeless to achieve with this young man born of the desert.

A gourd was fixed firmly upon his back; forever a burden to him. She had tried to picture him without the gourd for a moment but then came to the conclusion that he simply would not be the same without it. Besides, the gourd itself was an intimidating adornment that only he could do justice by using it.

This was Sabaku no Gaara, Gaara of the Desert, feared shinobi of the wind country, Demon of Sand, and Protector of Suna. To trifle with him would be a death wish only a foolish man would bestow upon himself. This young man was her husband-to-be.

"Sit," he said to her as he gestured toward a bench. She obediently sat, him sitting next to her hair. "Have we ever met? You look… familiar."

She shook her head no. "This is my first time in Suna."

"I see," he replied to her as the sun hit his hair, making it appear even redder. "The wedding will be in three weeks. You may invite whomever though I ask that you limit who you ask to only immediate family and close friends. You will have maids that will take care of you before the wedding. I will show you to the room you will stay in."

"Stay in? He makes it sound like I'm a prisoner… Hah! I might as well be… I'm here against my will!" Sachiko put a fake smile on her face and followed the Kazekage. He wasn't very friendly at all and had practically zero people skills. His social abilities could use some major work. He had taken her down to the opposite end of the garden in which she came. He led her down multiple halls until finally arriving at what he said was her room. He opened the door and she saw that her things were already in there along with a couple of maids.

"They can answer your questions and they will handle all the wedding details… Pick whatever… You will have dinner with my siblings and me tonight at eight. Dress appropriately," he said to Sachiko and then left her there lonely.

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Sachiko was miserably bored at dinner. The food had been delicious, the table settings were lovely, but the conversation was dull and boring. Sachiko felt oddly irritable yet sleepy at the same time though she tried hard to maintain her conscious state. Sachiko felt like stabbing at her food with her chopsticks but knew they would probably deem her 'Insane' and send her sorry self back to Konoha. Tsunade would be furious with her and accuse her of doing it purposely. Sachiko plastered the fakest looking smile on her face as she nibbled on her food.

"Are you okay Sachiko-san," asked Temari, Gaara's older sister. She was a tall blonde girl. At first glance, Temari appeared rather tomboy but closer up she was girly when it came to certain things.

"I… I'm going to use the restroom," Sachiko murmured, sounding very much like Hinata, "Excuse me." She pushed her chair out and slowly walked to the restroom. Once in the bathroom, she splashed some water on her face. "Get a hold of yourself Sachiko-san," she told herself angrily. She sighed loudly. She began to think of Kiba and how easy it was to talk to him and flirt with him. She smiled dreamily and exited the bathroom. Sachiko, clearly in Lala Land, had not seen the waiter in her path. She was far too busy dreaming about Kiba and how he would cuddle with her. His body was so warm and welcoming.

"Watch out," cried the waiter. He began to collide into Sachiko, allowing her to finally snap out of her reveries. She let out a yelp and braced herself for a hard landing but it never came. She had shut her eyes tightly but began to slowly open them when the impact didn't come. She looked around herself and realized that she was floating back to her seat at the table. Gaara's sand was gently gliding her back to her seat. Sachiko began to blush furiously, having had her most embarrassing moment in her life. When she was seated back into her place she stared down at her food. "Arigato," she said to it but she really meant it for Gaara.

Kankuro and Temari had given each other a giddy look. Both of the siblings were holding in their laughter and trying terribly hard to restrain themselves. Gaara himself even looked slightly amused. Sachiko kept staring at her food, at least it was laughing at her.

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After dinner Gaara walked Sachiko to her room, not because he wanted to but the council had told him to be as gentlemanly as possible to his new wife. She stopped in front of the door and looked at him shyly. Gaara grimaced, hoping she wasn't expecting some sort of kiss. She began to mumble something and so he strained himself to hear her but only caught the last part.

"I understand if you don't want to marry me… I'm not very pretty or sophisticated and I don't know proper etiquette that well," she grumbled quietly as she raveled her fingers in her pigtail, entangling them.

Gaara sighed. He found himself quite irritated with her for the evening. She had been doing a good job of not making herself known during dinner until she came out from the bathroom and tripped. He probably should have let her fall on her ass. "Know this," he said in a soft but intimidating voice, "I do not care about this marriage. The only reason I am getting married is because the council has issued it as my top priority. As long as you don't bother me, we'll get along fine." He gave her one last dirty look and took off down the hall.

Sachiko threw open the door violently. "Get the hell out," Sachiko hissed at the maids, "Now!" Some of the maids looked at each other as if to ask one another if they should listen. "I said NOW," Sachiko roared as she began to shove some of them out of her room. She slammed the door closed when the last had gone through and locked it. She flung herself on her bed and buried her face in it. She almost considered killing herself but forced herself to calm down. She hugged her pillow tightly to her body, sobbing uncontrollably as she held it. After using up all her energy crying, she slowly fell asleep into a pleasant dream.

Sachiko sat on a swing as Kiba pushed her gently. She had coaxed him to join her on the other swing and so he did. Both competed to swing higher than the other. They both had said that they were pretty equal and so they would have a second contest.

"Let's see who can jump off and land the farthest," offered Sachiko as she swung.

"Well let me jump first," said Kiba as he launched from the swing and landed several feet away. He breathed slowly as he looked back up to Sachiko. "Alright jump!" Sachiko launched off the swing and Kiba positioned himself to catch her. She fell into his arms and they toppled to the ground together, forgetting all about the contests. The two rolled down hill after hill, laughing as Akamaru chased after them. They finally landed themselves in a meadow.

"Thank you for catching me Kiba-kun," Sachiko said as she played with his hair.

"I'll always catch you," he replied gently. He took hold of her hand and kissed her fingertips gently and slowly.

"Kiba-kun," Sachiko said worriedly.

"Sorry," he said quickly, "I… I just wanted to kiss them… that's all."

The two stayed there until nightfall. They were snuggled up closely underneath a blanket. Sachiko had begun to tickle Kiba but he wasn't necessarily fighting her off. She finally stopped and laid on top of him, staring into his eyes. She kissed his nose affectionately. He loved it when she kissed his nose like that; they hadn't kissed on the lips yet. He brushed his fingers through her hair for a moment to feel the softness of it. "We should probably head back," suggested Kiba, "I'd like to see you tomorrow though…"

Sachiko stirred awake in her bed. She groaned loudly as she realized she wasn't reliving what had happened that day and that she was only dreaming about it. Dreams were merciless cruelties that only teased those dying to escape from reality. "If only I could go back," she murmured as she shoved herself out of bed. It was a bad idea because she lost her balance and was heading face first into the floor but something caught her. She gasped as she realized what was going on as she felt her body being straightened to a standing position. "What… What are you doing in here," she asked, in sudden shock.

"Your maids told me you threw them out," he said quietly as he took a seat on her bed. He placed the cork back on his gourd and stood up. "Get ready; we're going to breakfast… I'll wait for you outside." He stood up and left her.

Sachiko pounded the floor with her feet almost appearing to be doing some weird dance. She growled with anguish and decided that she would do what she had said she was going to do. If he was going to make her miserable she would make him miserable. Sachiko grinned as she got finished getting ready and opened the door. This would be fun.

"Oh Gaara-dono," Sachiko said sweetly, "You look handsome this morning." Without turning his face, he looked at her disgustedly out of the corner of his eye. "I hope I look presentable enough for you Gaara-heika," she chirped like a song bird, "I don't know how I'm going to keep up with your good looks once we get married… Extra makeup perhaps."

Next thing Sachiko knew was Gaara shoving her up against the wall. He growled at her fiercely and then said, "Don't make a nuisance out of yourself… things will not be happy for you… and I realize I am not attractive to you but if you don't put on a happy face for the council, you'll live to regret it." He was scowling at her and she scowled back. He gave her another push and muttered, "You're just like her…" She was staring into his back with her best death glare, wishing she could burn two holes there; one straight through the area where his heart should be and the other through his head to hit his 'Love' scar. She scowled as she walked with him wondering who 'her' was. Breakfast wasn't going to be as fun as she had thought.

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Maids were filling the room as Sachiko made more and more demands for the wedding. Just because she wasn't exactly marrying Mr. Right didn't mean that Sachiko couldn't do as she pleased when it came to the wedding details. He himself had said to 'Pick whatever'. She smiled as she tried on wedding kimono after wedding kimono, shoe after shoe and hair piece after hair piece. She had finally found the perfect wedding kimono. It was a traditional Kage garb but it was much more elegant than usual. It was made of the best silk and was made up of the colors white and pink; the design on it being sakura blossoms. She had picked out lovely shoes as well as many accessories for her hair that would match best with her wedding kimono.

Sachiko had sent the wedding invitations a week ago. She had invited Tsunade and Shizune, Gai, Iruka, and Rock Lee. Kakashi would be walking her down the aisle as her father. Sakura and Ino were her two bridesmaids and she had pulled some strings to make Naruto her Best man of Honor. Gaara had told her only family and close friends. Sachiko had considered inviting Kiba but she knew it wasn't right of her to do. She couldn't ask him to go to the wedding that she was forced to forget about him for. Tsunade probably wouldn't like the idea either. Sachiko frowned as she changed back into her regular clothes. She had truly hoped that she would somehow fall in love with the Kazekage the moment she saw him and Kiba would be long forgotten but that hadn't been the case at all. Instead, she found herself loathing the Kazekage more and more and thinking of Kiba often. She knew it wasn't going to be a happy marriage.

A/N: Credit: "I'm on fire and now I think I'm ready... the future freaks me out" song by Motion City Soundtrack.

Author-sama: Sachiko-chan isn't too happy…

Sachiko: No, I'm not! I refuse to get married to him!

Author-sama: (Sigh) Well that settles that…

Sachiko: So I'm not getting married?

Author-sama: No… I didn't say that. I'm going to take a Tylenol… I have a headache…

Sachiko: How about you take a break and let me write?

Author-sama: Nope. I know what you're up to! Now be a good hostess.

Sachiko: REVIEW because Author-sama is very demanding!