Chapter Thirty Four: The Day and the Time
Disclaimer: I haven't put this up in a while… lol. OOPS. Anyway, I do not own Naruto but I wish I did; Believe It. I do own Sachiko Cloudishida, Katsura, Kentaro, Norihiro, and any other OCs in the story. I also own Sachiko's bloodline trait the Inazuma. Something else I'd like to say is that many of the titles are named after songs and the plot or the character's dialogue will often reveal lyrics from said songs.
A/N: (Sigh) Music…
Sachiko: (Sigh) Gaara…
Author-sama: (Sigh) Fanfic…
Sleep doesn't come to those who feel guilty. Sachiko sat up, irritated with herself. She ran her finger against her fresh scar, feeling its shape. She shouldn't be the one to feel blameworthy and yet there she was unable to sleep because of what had happened. She thought back to how Temari had Shikamaru wrapped around her pretty little finger. Shikamaru was a lazy genius of a boy but Temari was a clever girl. Sachiko wished she had the boldness and assertiveness of Temari's tongue.
"My words would flow like honey," she said with a grin as she pictured herself like Temari, "Sweet and laid on thick." She pondered the subject more, heart still wrought with guilt. Behaving like his sister wasn't the proper solution. Gaara was not like Shikamaru and Sachiko was not like Temari. She'd have to do things her own way and Gaara would have to settle for them. Sachiko let out a sigh and stood up to go search for her husband.
The door closed quietly behind Sachiko as she departed from the room. After walking for a bit she soon came across a maid and asked her if she had seen her husband. The maid had replied that she had and that she had seen him going in the direction of his office. Sachiko had politely thanked her and sped off to his office. She knocked quietly at his door, praying he was there. She needed to speak to him immediately.
"Come in," his voice said from the other side of the door. She felt her heart skip a beat as she proceeded to enter the room. He didn't look up from his paperwork, instead waiting for her to state her identity.
"It's me," she murmured, causing him to look up from the papers he held in his hand. His eyes looked her over carefully, noticing she guilt in her eyes.
Gaara set his papers down and then he folded his hands neatly, placing his chin on top of his hands. His elbows propped him up to look at her. After having studied her enough, Gaara spoke. "What is it?"
Instead of choosing words, Sachiko chose actions as she approached her husband. She placed the back of her fingers against his cheek. His flesh seemed colder than her fingers though he was a young man of the desert. She flipped her hand over, caressing his face in the gentlest of manners. A fond smile lighted her face. The both of them had taken a leap in the dark by getting married to one another but Sachiko could see the shadows turning to light. She removed her hand for a moment, but only to come to the other side of his desk. She slid her fingers under her chin, positioning her hand atop his folded ones. He looked up at her curiously, wanting more affection. It had been something he had been deprived of all his life. She leaned over and kissed Gaara on the cheek, slowly moving her lips to his ear. The deed had surprised Gaara, to say the least, but he had enjoyed it.
"Who's to say that we always have to agree," she murmured into his ear, warm breath tickling him, "I think we both can take this one mistake like some kind of amnesty." She lifted her free hand and allowed it to glide lightly across Gaara's red hair. Her hand flitted across his hair until the motion could be taken to be a gentle massage. "We are compatible… we are…" Tears began to slide down from her cheeks. She had told herself not to cry but Sachiko had had a hard time holding her emotions in lately. Sachiko had cried a thousand storms and blown away the clouds. It was now time to express to Gaara something more; a bit of her last effort to love him and his last chance to accept it.
Gaara must have opened the blinds of the windows in his office because Sachiko could feel the heat of the sun on her back. Her hair had attracted much of the heat and was adding to the warmth on her back. Sachiko took a deep breath; she could feel the heartbeat of the sun racing hers. She grinned to herself; her heart was winning. Life was ephemeral and brief. There was only a short time given to live it and life couldn't be lived in if the owner was constantly displeased with it. "This is the day and the time… I want to believe that we may still have a chance."
Gaara nodded to her, taking her hands in his. They were so small compared to his own he had noticed as he stared at them awkwardly. He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them lightly. He looked up from the hands and into her eyes; she was contented by his action. He released her hands and stood up from his desk, and then turned to shuffle his paperwork into a neat stack, placing it in the top right drawer of the desk. "We are to attend the Hearts Grow Festival tonight. Be ready in an hour and meet me at Suna Bastion's entrance. We must be there early because I have to give a small speech." He looked her over for a moment and then added softly, "I'd like to take you out to dinner after."
Sachiko gave him a nod as she began to make her way to the door. "Will we be going with your siblings," she asked him as she leaned her dainty outline against the door frame.
He nodded, "We will be going with Kankuro and his date, Temari and her date." Sachiko smiled as her confirmation as she slipped out through the door, heading to her chambers to get herself ready.
NARUTARDNARUTARDNARUTARDNARUTARD
Sachiko stepped lightly downstairs, heading to meet her husband and his siblings. She walked gracefully down until she found herself at Suna Bastion's entrance. A brilliant smile surfaced on her face as soon as she a look of jealousy on Tenten's face. Inwardly, Sachiko was smirking. It had been a bit of a shock to hear Kankuro was dating Tenten a few days ago but the shock had worn off in a day.
The moment his wife had began her descent down the stairs; Gaara's eyes had flickered up to gaze at her. She was adorned in a vibrant red kimono, touched by cranes and flowers. It was tied together by a golden obi. Her hair was half way pulled up into a bun as other tendrils of hair lingered down. The bun was held together by a single golden comb with a crane as its centerpiece. Her dark blue hair and hazy purple eyes contrasted wonderfully with the red colors of her outfit. Her eyes were bright with the amusement that played within in them. She had light makeup on, but her natural face was by far a prettier entity in itself. Her small lips had been painted red, the corners pulled up evenly into a dazzling smile. Gaara blinked a few times. Surely this wasn't the woman he had married; such a dainty fragility. Her delicate fingers rose up in a motion, waving to her company.
"That is an outstanding kimono," commented Temari, who was dressed in a light teal kimono. It almost had a metallic look to it as she moved around. Bonsai trees decorated the fabric in a lovely manner and it was all pulled together by a black obi. Temari's hair was tugged into a neat bun ornamented with a flower comb. Shikamaru was at her side dressed in a green yukata. He had an annoyed yet bored look on his face; his usual face setting. "You look beautiful Sachiko-chan… don't you think Gaara?" Temari smiled at her own cleverness. She had seen her brother giving her a long gaze as she walked down. He had been enticed by his wife, and Temari knew justice wouldn't be brought unless Gaara gave her a compliment.
Sachiko looked to her husband. He had nodded in reply to Temari's proposal. He rose from his seat to stand. Sachiko's eyes fell on her husband's for a moment and then trailed onward to examine the rest of him. He was dressed in a black and burgundy yukata. Sachiko smiled fondly, thinking that her husband looked best in those two colors. It was the first time she had seen him dressed so nicely since their wedding. Sachiko bit her lip a bit and then released it, thinking that her husband looked unbelievably handsome. He began to approach her, placing a hand on the small of her back to guide her toward the rest of the company. Sachiko blushed at the small touch but breathed out to calm herself.
Sachiko's eyes wandered to Tenten. Tenten's kimono was her trademark pink color with white flowers as the design. Her hair had maintained her usual hairstyle; two buns on each side. Festooned on both of Tenten's hair buns were delicate hairpins with flowered jewels. Sachiko's eyes then looked to Tenten's date, her husband's older brother Kankuro. He wore a black yukata and had removed his face paint. He looked nicer without all the war paint. Sachiko smiled at the both of the, nodding as her greeting. Kankuro and Tenten nodded back.
"Let's go," Gaara said finally after everyone greeted one another and have given their share of compliments to all. His hand still rested on his wife's back he had noticed. He had pondered in his head if he should remove it. He looked to her out of the corner of his eye so she wouldn't notice. She looked divine the way she had readied herself for the festival. A small smile tugged at Gaara's lips but he forced it into its usual straight line. He allowed his hand to fall from her back and to his side, shaking the strange emotions from his body.
NARUTARDNARUTARDNARUTARDNARUTARD
Gaara stood up to the podium of the stage. He cleared his throat and waited for the crowd to settle down. The crowd quieted and looked up to their Kazekage. He had small index cards in his hands in which he kept sneaking glances at. The council had written this particular speech for him because Gaara had demanded them to. He was the last person that should be speaking of the annual Hearts Grow Festival because as a boy, he had avoided it. In fact, he had remembered a year in which he destroyed it. He sighed into the index cards, worried that the villagers would remember that moment. He frowned, thinking they probably had. It wasn't something to forget.
"I would like to welcome you all to the annual Hearts Grow Festival," he murmured only loudly enough for the front row of the crowd to catch. He heard someone say, 'Speak louder Gaara 'ttebayo!" He had followed the voice only to find Konoha's number one knucklehead chatting away vigorously with Sachiko. Gaara glared at the blonde boy thinking, "You think it's so easy don't you? Wait until you become Hokage like you want…"
Gaara cleared his throat again and snuck another peak at his index cards, thinking it was about the most ridiculous speech the council had written for him. He tossed the cards aside. He could wing it. "Welcome to the annual Hearts Grow Festival," Gaara stated in a loud and clear voice. He made up a few things here and there, the council a bit displeased that he hadn't used the speech they had made for him. He closed the speech with, "I hope you all enjoy the festivities…" The council looked up at him keenly, waiting for one more thing to finish his speech. "Happy Hearts Grow Day everyone," the Kazekage grumbled as the crowd awarded him with applause. He stepped down from the podium, a bit frustrated with the council for making him say the last part.
"Speeches are a drag," said Temari's date Shikamaru in an irritatingly whiny voice. Gaara glowered at the lazy shinobi.
Temari gave Shikamaru an elbow to the gut. "You did great," she commented with a warm smile. "Don't worry about it."
Kankuro nodded in agreement, "Yeah good speech. Way better than what the council made up… they always make up sappy speeches."
"I liked it! Believe it," chimed Naruto with a grin. He had been dressed up in a dark blue yukata. His date, Gaara had recognized to be of the Hyuuga clan. "Don't you think Hinata-chan?" She nodded quietly but didn't look up from her twiddling fingers.
Gaara's eyes fell on his wife. She had remained silent that time. She gave him an encouraging smile but said nothing, leaving Gaara slightly disappointed. He had wanted her praise for some reason. The crowd had dispersed from the stage area, taking off to go participate in the various activities the festival had to offer. Kankuro and Tenten had taken off to go play a couple of games offered at the stands. Temari had gotten into an argument but Gaara suspected she had hidden motives for doing so. She trudged off, heading toward the couples dancing area, Shikamaru hot on her tail. Temari had thrown a glance at Naruto, sending him some weird signal with her eyes but he remained oblivious to it.
"It's nice to see you again Naruto-kun," Sachiko said to her best friend, "And you too, of course, Hinata-chan… When did you two start dating?"
"Dating," Naruto asked in a questioning tone, not understanding. Hinata began to twiddle her fingers some more, blushing furiously. "Hinata-chan and I came here as friends." Sachiko nearly smacked her forehead.
"Friends huh," she said in an annoyed voice before changing her tone. It was often said that bees are attracted more to honey than vinegar. "Well it is Hearts Grow Day after all… Perhaps you two will end up as more." She smiled positively at Hinata, who had turned fully red at her comment.
"Sachiko-chan," Naruto grunted, "You sure have gotten weird since I last saw you… Even at the wedding you were being weird 'ttebayo… making me catch the garter and all… to prove our friendship 'ttebayo."
Sachiko, wanting very badly to either give her best friend a smack in the head or a dirty look, refrained from both. Instead she placed a positive smile on her face. "You sure have become more dense I'm afraid, Naruto-kun…"
"Nani," piped Naruto, "Speak up Sachiko-chan."
"Nothing," she lied as she turned to her husband. He had been very quiet that entire time but it wasn't as if it were unusual. Sachiko just felt awkward that he hadn't spoke. He seemed lost in his own thoughts at the moment. "What are you thinking," Sachiko asked him in a small murmur. His eyes looked at her suddenly as if he was processing her question. He shook his head slightly, telling her it was nothing. Sachiko frowned a bit as she turned back to Naruto and Hinata. Just as she was about to speak she felt two hands on her shoulder. Turning swiftly, Sachiko found her other two good friends behind her. An enormous grin replaced her frown the moment she saw it was Ino and Sakura. "What are you two doing here?"
Ino shrugged, "Well since you never invite us to come visit we decided to come to the Hearts Grow Festival on our own." Sachiko bit her lip, immediately feeling guilty. Ino was right; Sachiko hadn't invited her or Sakura to come for a visit. "Don't beat yourself up about it," Ino told her with a smirk, "We know you're busy."
"Don't worry," Sakura said to her, "We know you want to spend the festival with your husband… Ino and I will be in Suna for a few days. We'll be dropping by Suna Bastion so we can hang out and catch up… that is if it's okay with Kazekage-sama." Sakura turned to Gaara to see him respond.
"That's fine," Gaara said to her with a nod. He wouldn't keep Sachiko away from her friends. Besides, it wasn't as if he had been spending every moment of their honeymoon with her. He had often left her to herself and gone to his office to file paperwork. He didn't want get so far behind on it that he'd have to spend whole days filing it after he got back from the break the council had called a honeymoon.
"Great," Sakura said with a smile. She looked to Hinata and Naruto, guessing that Naruto didn't know how to take a hint and leave people alone. "Hinata… Ino and I were just on our way to get something to snack on… Would you and Naruto like to go?"
Hinata looked up to Naruto, tugging on the sleeve of his dark blue yukata. Sachiko smiled at the two. She was glad to see them together even if they had gone as friends. By the end of Hearts Grow, they were sure to be a couple. Magical things like that happened on Hearts Grow. She almost laughed as Naruto whirled around to see Hinata tugging at his sleeve. "What is it Hinata-chan," he asked her.
"Um… C-can we go with S-Sakura and Ino to… to get something to eat," she asked him in her quiet whisper, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
"Of course we can," Naruto chirped happily, "Want to come with us Sachiko-chan, Gaara-sama?" Sakura and Ino smacked themselves in the forehead simultaneously.
"Naruto," Ino whispered into his ear as she began to pull him away, "I'm sure they would like to be alone together."
Naruto looked up at Ino with a scowl. "Stop being rude Ino… I was just inviting them," Naruto snapped at her, tugging himself away from her grasp, "That's why I'm her best friend and you and Sakura are just her good friends."
"That's it," Sakura growled as she punched Naruto in the head, "Shut up and let's go."
Sachiko waved goodbye as Sakura and Ino dragged Naruto across the floor, Hinata staring after him worriedly. Sachiko smiled warmheartedly as her friends disappeared into the crowd. Sachiko brought her attention to her husband and found one of his former students speaking with him. Sachiko's eyes narrowed once she registered it was Matsuri. Sachiko was aware that the little girl had a crush on her husband. Sachiko looked around, eyes struggling to see if Temari was nearby. Usually the blonde had handled the little problem with ease. Temari was nowhere to be found as Sachiko looked back to her husband and Matsuri. The little girl seemed to be giggling and blushing about something.
"Gaara-sensei," Matsuri said with a grin, "You delivered an excellent speech." She brushed strands of her hair out from her face and looked up to the young Kazekage.
"Arigato," he said to her impassively. He glanced back at his wife, slightly amused that she looked a bit flustered. He knew Temari wasn't nearby and was curious to see if Sachiko would take charge of the situation because he wasn't going to say anything to Matsuri. In fact, he felt like encouraging her the slightest. "How is your evening?"
"Oh it's alright," said Matsuri with a blush, "I don't have a date this evening so I'm a bit bored…"
"That's a surprise," Gaara remarked, looking out of the corner of his eye to spy on his wife. She had remained quiet during the scene. She seemed to be working out the options she had in her mind, possibly trying to figure out what course of action she needed to take to handle the situation properly. Her expression was of bafflement with a hint of testiness. "No boy asked you?"
Matsuri shook her head, "Oh I got plenty of offers… but the boy I like didn't ask… He's… tied down a bit." Gaara was shocked at Matsuri's boldness. She had indefinitely gotten bolder each time he spoke with her because of his wife's refusal to intervene. It was clear that Temari's harsh rebukes weren't enough to deter Matsuri from her goal. "Gaara-sensei would you like to go see some of the festivities with me?" Matsuri bit the inside of her cheek, hoping Gaara would send his wife away and go with her. She knew he could tell his wife to take a hike if he wanted.
Gaara blinked a few times. He stalled as much as he could, waiting for Sachiko to do something about the situation. He said nothing for about a minute and Matsuri had been waiting patiently for his answer. He parted his lips to say something and then suddenly felt lips press firmly against his. She had slid her hand into his, intertwining her fingers with his. She stood on the tips of her toes to reach his lips for he was taller than she was. She pulled away from her husband and turned to Matsuri, the girl's jaw hanging open slightly in obvious surprise. Sachiko had been the one to press her lips against his. The way Sachiko saw it was whether she truly loved her husband or not wasn't the point. The point had been that he was hers and no one else's.
"Excuse us Matsuri but my husband and I would like some privacy tonight…" Matsuri, astounded and completely bowled over, nodded and stepped away from the couple. She stared at the two for a moment longer before finally deciding to leave.
"Finally decided to do something," Gaara remarked, looking very much amused with the scene. Sachiko shot him an upset glance. Her expression softened as she realized her fingers were still laced with his. A small blush spread across her cheeks as she nodded. Gaara had noticed that she was still holding his hand as well. He was curious as to what she would do next but she seemed temporarily stunned and so he took charge. "Let's sit somewhere," he murmured to her as he began to guide her to a less crowded path.
She nodded in return, feeling bashful suddenly. It was the way she had felt the first time her and Kiba had held hands but this time she felt completely vulnerable to her husband. Her heart was pumping more blood than needed as she took a seat on the bench next to her spouse. Gaara had released her hand from his, wondering if she would try and take it again. Finally gaining her voice back, Sachiko spoke. "Matsuri is a persistent little thing." Her brow furrowed as she pictured the brat in her head.
"You are just as persistent," Gaara replied as his eyes looked her over. Sachiko said nothing in reply to this. She was unable to come up with a response because she knew she couldn't deny this.
She lifted her eyes to meet his gaze, finally coming up with something to say to him. "You aren't very persistent…" He began to part his lips to speak but she interrupted. "Wait a minute; I have more to say and I care if you're listening to me." He gave her nod, permitting her to go on speaking. "I need you… more than you'll ever know… I've been trying to let it show," she whispered to him, "It's just that every time I feel like I might be getting through… you shut me out or push me away… It's like you put up your sand wall or something… I just can't seem to get through." To this, Gaara said nothing. What could he say? She had been correct. She was putting forth all the effort still. "Silence means everything," she murmured to him, looking out to the festival. Couples were laughing, flirting, and just being happy with one another. She sighed, wanting it for herself; happiness.
"I know I don't behave the way you'd like me to," Gaara said to her in his soft voice, causing her to redirect her gaze to his eyes, "But I want to try." She saw sincerity in his teal orbs and so she nodded in reply, trusting his words. Sachiko took his hand and placed it behind her back, wanting him to hold her. Her actions had startled him a bit at first as his arm awkwardly wrapped around her small waist. She gave him a warm smile, and it comforted him to see her do so. Sachiko turned to face forward and bit her lip, wanting to take her chance with something. Sachiko leaned her head on his shoulder and snuggled closer to him.
Gaara's body had stiffened in reaction as she placed her warm head on his shoulder and scooted closer to him. She had wrapped her arms around his torso, hugging him in an embrace. A surge of emotions ran through him like children playing with scissors. These emotions were dangerous yet exhilarating; he had finally experienced his first hug. He felt his heart skip a beat as he leaned his atop hers, smelling the lovely scent of her hair. His eyes looked out to the Hearts Grow festival and he laughed inwardly, finally realizing why the day was named Hearts Grow Day. It hadn't started out as some commercialized holiday or some tacky way to express love or care for someone. It had started out as a day where two hearts could grow together and become one.
A/N: (Sigh) That was a sweet chapter…
Sachiko: (Sigh) Yes it was…
Author-sama: (Sigh) Time to write the next one…
Sachiko: (Sigh) Readers… Review…