Mission Impossible: Housewife

By KawaiPanda

Chapter Three

A GaaraIno love story

I couldn't help but wonder why Shikamaru seemed a bit angry upon hearing the news after all, Shikamaru seemed as if he didn't want anything to do with me ever since Asuma died. Why would this matter be any different?

Tsunade blinked at the anger in his voice, frowning.

"Is there a problem Shikamaru?"

"... No."

"Because if you don't wish to partake in this mission, then you can be replaced." He sighed and dragged his fingers through his hair.

"No, I'll do it." Of course he would. Temari will be going home too, and they seemed to be up one anothers asses all the time. Damnit Ino, no bitterness.

"Now, if no one has any questions, I need all four of you to be ready to leave tomorrow morning. Since the Ambassador of Suna is leaving tomorrow as well, I figured you all could travel together." Of course, I knew it! No one said anything in response and Tsunade dismissed us. I was the first one out the door, wanting to get away before the lazy genius could interrogate me about this. I kind of hoped he would just, you know, be lazy and mark it off as "troublesome."

Only he didn't.

I made it out of the tower before he stopped me with his jutsu, knowing I wouldn't stop just because he called my name. Actually it probably would have caused me to break out running... but he didn't give me the chance.

"Damnit." I muttered. He guided me away, acting all natural like about the whole situation, knowing that to confront me, it would have to be in private. After all, he wouldn't want his dear Temari to get the wrong idea from gossips.

As soon as we were alone, he frowned at me, putting his hands in his pockets casually, relasing his jutsu.

He said nothing, just stood there, staring at me like he could see into the depths of my soul. After several agonizing moments of silence, I huffed and asked, "... Well? What do you want?"

"Tch."

I felt my eyebrow twitch in annoyance. "You brought me here for a reason."

"Yes. I did."

"And?" I waved my hand, urging him ton continue.

"Why are you doing this?" He demanded.

"Doing what?" I knew he knew I was playing stupid, but really, I didn't want to have this discussion. I mean, who the hell was he to butt into my business?

"Is it for attention?" He asked crossing his arms.

I snorted and lifted a brow at the very suggestion that I was doing this, giving up my damed freedom to make him notice me. "As if I want attention from you!"

He sighed. "I thought you were over it Ino." It as in, it it?

"I am!"

"So, your whole, 'going to get married to a man you hardly know,' is you moving on?" He asked, with a cocked brow.

Glaring back, I replied, "I moved on months ago Shikamaru. Just because I decide to do something doesn't mean it's because of you."

"Prove it." He took a step towards me, and I moved away from his outstretched hand. Dropping his hand, he asked, "Why are you doing this? Why are you marrying Gaara?"

"Have you ever thought that maybe I want and deserve happiness too?"

"Ino-" I shook my head viciously.

"No Shikamaru! When I see you and Temari, I feel so... lonely. You can't understand what it's like to feel as if your best friend is pulling away from you, like you no longer matter." Tears sprang up, and I took a moment to wipe them away before continuing, "After Asuma, you didn't turn to me and Choji. You went to her." I spat it like it was a curse. I crossed my arms. "We grew up together Shikamaru. I've been by your side since our births! And you just threw it away like it was garbage."

"... Ino, I'm sorry..."

I shook my head. "No, you're not. Why? Because after we found out that our parents wanted us to get married, it only pushed you further into her grasp. I didn't know that marrying me would be that bad." I found myself clenching my fists. It did hurt to be rejected outright, but I was over it. I refused to look back on "what ifs." He didn't want me, he'd made that perfectly clear.

"Ino..."

"You made your choice Shika." I turned my back on him, and looked at him over my shoulder with sad eyes. "Allow me to make mine." I turned and walked away. I didn't look back. I refused to allow him to see anymore of the tears his rejection caused. I wasn't in love with him, but he didn't have to act like I was scum of the earth because our parents wanted us to end up together. I had thought, maybe we could have been together, but I had realized right away that it wasn't going to happen. I was over it... somewhat.

When I reached my apartment, I threw myself onto my bed, screaming my frustrations into my pillow. Tenten wasn't there, thankfully. I didn't want to talk to her about Shikamaru right now. No one knew, as it was between me and him, and I planned on keeping it that way.

Once I wasn't upset anymore, I prepared for the journey ahead of me.

XxXxX

I allowed myself to indulge in a few more restful moments in bed, before lazily getting ready for the long trip. I had already packed last night, and said most of my goodbyes to my friends and family, though they didn't know that I was going to be moving permanently. Rather, they thought I was going on a long mission and acted accordingly... though, I guess it would be the mission of a lifetime, since it would last that long from this moment on.

I left a brief note on the counter for Tenten as well as several stacks of money for my half of the rent. The note explained I was going on a long mission and that if she wanted to, she could look for another apartment, something smaller or whatever should she not be able to keep up the rent.

Shouldering my bags, I locked up the apartment, silently saying goodbye before heading to the village gates. It was a short walk for me because I didn't want to be the last one to arrive, and took to the roofs.

Upon reaching the gates, I saw that Shino, Shikamaru, Temari and her entourage were already there... meaning we still had to wait for Neji. He was most likely still with Tenten, and might be a bit late knowing her. She hated when they were apart, but he would only be gone for about a week this time. I wondered briefly if he told her the truth of this mission.

They watched me walk towards them silently, the sand nin eyeballing me. Especially Temari. After all, I was going to become her sister in law should everything go according to plan, but I wondered if they knew the details of my mission, that I would be the bride of their Kazekage.

"Good morning," I greeted.

"Good morning Ino-san," Shino replied, Shikamaru just looked at the ground and Temari "hmphed" me as a response. She really didn't like me, though I did nothing to her. I knew she didn't know of mine and Shikamaru's ex-engagement, because she would have had a hissy fit and probably would have left Shikamaru, because it had happened early on in their relationship, so we kept it from her and everyone else.

We all fell into an uneasy silence, waiting for the last member of the team to show up, and when he did, we immediately set out for Suna.

The journey was a blur, the sun was setting before we reached a stopping point for the night. The day had passed by very uneventfully, with only us stopping two other times to take a short break.

Everyone went about the mundane task of setting up their tents, making a fire and catching some food, working together automatically, and when it was all set up, and those who had first watch settled in for the next few hours, we all sat around the fire, eating our portion of the meal. Neji had caught a couple of rabbits and skinned them quickly before roasting them over the fire. It was delicious, though a little bland without seasoning.

It was when everyone was heading off to sleep when Temari sought me out, cornering me before I could escape to my tent.

"Yamanaka." I eyed her weerily, wondering what she wanted.

"Yes?"

"You better not hurt him." I knew immediately to whom she she was referring to. Gaara. My soon to be husband, and the youngest brother of the irate blond in front of me. I wondered, while she turned her back on me and headed off to the tent she shared with my former teammate, and brief fiance, who really needed protecting from being hurt from this...?

XxXxX

The rest of the trip had been pretty uneventful. Just before we reached no man's land, we were advised to stock up on water, and to change into more fitting clothing for the desert. Robes... very ill fitted robes. Temari had given me an extra set of hers to wear until we got to Suna, where I would be given my own sets. After all, I was going to become their leaders wife, and it wouldn't do for me to die of a heat stroke, now would it? Our current garments were not fit for the desert heat. After all, we had all four seasons, and Suna had three temperatures. Hot, Scalding, and once the sun had set, freezing.

I asked Temari about the robes and she informed me that they were good for keeping you cool during the day and traping warmth during the night. It also shielded one from sand, but it still managed to find a way in, though not as much as it would have in my purple ninja garb.

The boys recieved some from Temari's escorts, and they looked strange but I suppose that's because normally they wouldn't wear something like these robes, though Shino... well, Shino and his clan did wear oversized jackets and sunglasses, so he seemed at ease with the outfits.

While in the last half of our treck through the desert, there were a few storms, but thankfully we were prepaired for them, but were delayed a couple of hours waiting for the sandstorm to pass. It was a long two hours of boredom, and though our shelters had been made by the prepared natives, sand still found its way inside. By the time we made it to Sunagakure, I was in a piss poor mood because I had sand in places where it should never, ever venture.

My skin was dried out so bad I could just feel cracks forming. And my hair... I don't even want to talk about my hair.

I realized these things were superficial of me, but damnit, I'd been a girly-girl for so long, it was like a second nature to act this way. Especially when I think of the damage being done.

I supposed it could be worse... and clothing could only do so much.

We were greeted by the guards who immediately let us in upon seeing their Kazekage's sister, though they did take our bags to look through. Temari instructed them to take our things to the Kazekage's mannor once the inspection was complete and led us to the tower.

I had a chance to take in the scenery... or rather lack of on our way, noticing how smooth everything was, though it was most likely that way from being constantly sanded down. And it was all very... bland. There was very little color, and there were no plants at all, except for a few cactuses that loitered around on porches. For a moment I felt sad for myself because I was going from luscious forests, trees, flowers, streams, animals for Kami's sake to a barren waste land.

I forced any regret away to keep tears from forming in order to keep hydrated. Water was very sparse here, and most likely expensive too.

When our entourage reached our destination, we headed up several sets of stairs, Temari in the lead. We, the Konoha nin, recieved lots of curious glances, but our nations were allies. Only one person stopped us before we reached Gaara's office. A brown haired, average looking girl whose eyes glared daggers at our little entourage.

"Temari-san. Kazekage-sama is busy at the moment."

"Tch. He's expecting me."

"He is, but I doubt he's expecting them." She said, looking at us pointedly. I was still irritated from the sand, and I was about to say something, but Temari beat me to it.

"Matsuri, move out of the way." Temari's tone was bone chilling and the girl hesitantly moved from in front of the big doors, blushing at the reprimand.

"Gaara!" Temari called out cheerily, doing a totally one-eighty as she opened the doors and we streamed inside. "Ive brought you a present little brother!"

The man in question was sitting behind the wooden desk, paperwork stacked all over the room, including the desk itself, and was bent over one of the various papers, reading it quite diligently. At his sisters interruption, he sighed heavily and looked up, not surprised at all to see our large group. He blinked his dark seagreen eyes at us, his eyes roaming over us unblinkingly when they came to a stop on me. A blush stained my cheeks as he gave me a one over.

"Temari," though he had addressed his sister, his eyes never left mine, "I see everything went well."

"Yes, and I even brought you back your present!" She said, wrapping her arms around my shoulder before she shoved me forward. I glared at the blond, but I couldn't think of anything to say.

"So I see. You all are dismissed." Temari nodded and as I turned to leave as well, his voice stopped me. "Miss Yamanaka, would you please stay? I would like to have a word with my... future wife."

I gulped, watching as everyone left the room and I was left alone with the man who I was going to be tied to. When the door was firmly shut behind them, I turned back to Gaara.

His sea-green eyes were unreadable as he took in ever detail he could see about me. The robes covered almost everything, so all that was visable was my neck and up. My hair was in its standard ponytail, though during the trip I had clipped my bangs out of my face. I probably looked a mess.

He said nothing for a long while, just taking me in, and I felt awkward standing there while he was hidden away behind the safety of his desk. I wondered what he was thinking about as I shifted my weight around from on foot to another, uneasiness settling in my stomach.

I had refrained from staring him down, because even though I was a trained interrogator, something about him had me unable to stare him down. So, instead, I peeked at him from the corner of my eyes. From what little I could see, he also wore clothing similar to our robes, his hair was dark red, similar to the color of blood, and tousled in an very unrully manner but it suited him.

"Ino." I stood to attention immediately.

"... Kazekage-sama?" I didn't know what else to call him... It would be disrespectful to address him as anything other than his title without his permission.

"If you would rather not go through with this, I understand." I blinked, surprised at him. I hadn't expected that at all. And while I was grateful to be given a way out, I decided to stick with my original decision.

I bowed my head, replying, "I-I... I am fine with this Kazekage-sama. It is my honor to-" He sighed and stood up, the movement causing me to look up as he walked around the desk to stand in front of me.

"Since you are going to marry me, I would rather you call me by my name. Gaara."

I nodded. "Yes, Kaze- I mean Gaara-sama..."

"I suppose you would like to hear the terms of the marriage?" Terms? Probable what the elders wanted from us. I nodded again, and he continued, "We are expected to have at least one child before our third year of marriage, and before the sixth month, we are to at least start trying to concieve. If you are barren, the marriage will be annuled."

My mouth fell open. "Excuse me?" So this could all be for nothing?

He nodded, "I apologize, but the counsel set the terms."

"I understand." Assholes. I crossed my arms. "Kaze- Gaara-sama, I understand their wish for you to have heirs..." I shifted my eyes from his, and I whispered, "I don't suppose we could... take it slow?"

"Slow?"

"Yes..." I swallowed, and continued, "I mean, I don't know you, and surely they cannot expect... you know."

"I understand Ino-san. However, the counsel will not."

"Oh." I nodded, defeat heavy on my shoulders. He frowned, and looked thoughtful a moment.

"If you would like, I could change that."

A little hope fluttered in my heart, as I asked,"You would?"

"Yes."

"Thank you." He nodded and started walked towards the door, past me. When he reached it, he glanced back, as if waiting. Blushing I walked close behind him as we left the office, his secretary no where in sight.

"Um, Gaara-sama, where are we going?" I asked as he lead me through the maze that was this Kazekage's Tower.

"I have a meeting with the counsel, and I will inform them of our decision."

"Right now?" Anxiety was beginning to creep upon me. I mean, what if they refused? What power did the Kazekage really have in this situation when they were the ones calling the shots about this marriage?

"Now." We reached a set of double doors, and without hesitation, Gaara threw them open, the various men and women glancing at the two of us as we walked inside.

All hell was about to break loose.