I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Still own nothing but the oc. This chapter is dedicated to rulerofwind. :)

Suna Night Festival

Suna – Gaara

The last few weeks were chaos. Kakashi's team ended up staying longer than originally planned. Apparently nighttime is the best time to take care of the spirits. The night guards have been more scared to take watch and we've been filling in. Kakashi and his team are planning to leave the day after Suna's festival. I've visited with Yoruichi's and Kakashi's groups to go over what their plan was about the spirits and to give them insight about the area. It took a little bit of brainstorming to come up with a good plan. I brought a collar for Risa and it had a charm with Suna's symbol on it. I thought it would humor Momo, but she was speechless.

I caught up with Yoruichi after lunch with an idea.

"Hey, Yoruichi, I thought your team would like a break and do something tonight."

"What do you have in mind, Gaara?"

"It's the village's annual festival. I thought your team would like to join my siblings and I at the festival. Besides, it's supposed to be a clear night to see stars and fireworks."

"Sounds great. It will be a nice treat for everyone. We'll meet you around dinner time then." she smiled and headed off to tell everyone.

Later on

My siblings and I headed off to the apartments to get our guests. As we got closer, we saw people coming out of the building. I almost didn't recognize them at first. I was dressed in my nicer Kazekage outfit, Kankurō in his usual black and Temari in a white ankle length cheongsam with red roses on it.

I realized that leading the group was Kakashi. He was dressed in blue, accompanied by Yoruichi in a purple ankle length cheongsam. Right behind them was Shūhei, in gray, and Tenten linked arms with him. She was wearing a white knee length qipao with green vines and pink and purple flowers all over it. Hanatarō came out next dressed in light green. Sakura accompanied him, wearing a light pink knee length qipao with silver cherry blossom petals. Hinata came out in a light purple ankle length cheongsam and joined Kankurō. Everyone started off when I noticed that Momo didn't come out.

"Where is Momo?" I inquired.

"Oh, she'll be out in a moment. She's trying to figure out what to do with Risa." Tenten yelled over her shoulder.

I sighed. "Don't worry, I'm right here" came a voice behind me.

I turned around to look and my jaw almost hit the ground. Momo came out in a knee length qipao. It was dark red at the bottom and got lighter as it went up. I noticed that she had a purse with her and Risa peaking out from it. I smiled as she approached me and I offered her my arm. She linked arms with me and we started to walk.

"You look amazing," I smiled, "I see you brought a friend with."

"I couldn't leave her alone."

I turned to look at her, "It's alright. Risa is more than welcomed to come."

I held out my hand to Risa and she climbed on. I proceeded to put her on my shoulder and turned back to Momo and smiled.

"Let's go and enjoy the night."

I'm sure it was an odd sight to see a cat sitting on my shoulder, but I was amused to see the looks we were getting. I don't know if it was my presence or of the beautiful woman walking next to me. Soon we met up with the rest of the group.

"Well, well, look at the handsome couple," teased Temari. Everyone smiled as the saw us approach the group.

"Well, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one who has to dress up," I joked "enjoy the evening."

We all split up and took in the sights, sounds, and smells of the festival. Risa was purring in my ear as we got close to some food vendors.

"I think that either she likes being up there or she's trying to tell you that something smells really good." Momo noted.

"I'm hoping for both. Lets try some food and see what she likes." I grinned.

The one vendor we went to had sweet chicken pieces on a stick. We got two, one for Momo and one for me. I took apiece off and offered it to Risa and she took it happily. As we kept walking, we received greetings from people we were passing. A couple of people stopped and wanted to know whom I was escorting around. Momo's cheeks turned pink every time someone inquired about her. Some noticed Risa and gave her a friendly pat on the head.

"So, are you enjoying yourself," I asked "everyone seems to have taken a liking to you."

Momo turned to face me with pink cheeks.

"Of course I am. I have wonderful company." she stated as she took my hand. "I just wasn't expecting so much attention."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of electricity go through me when she took my hand. 'Maybe I'm falling for her.'

"Well, when you're with the Kazekage, you're going to get a lot of attention drawn to you. Besides, I think my siblings like you too." I grinned. I noticed that she blushed more. As we were walking around the festival, we heard some music playing. We got closer and saw four people dancing. I smiled as the words drifted to our ears.

'I can laugh in the face of all of my insecurities'

I got an idea and pulled Momo to the dance floor. She looked nervous and confused. I took one of her hands, placed it on my shoulder and her other in my hand as I wrapped my other arm around her waist.

'Say the word and tonight I will follow you anywhere'

"Shall we?" I grinned as we started to waltz around the floor.

I noticed that there was a crowd starting to gather to see who was dancing. I could tell that she wasn't sure about the attention. She looked at me and smiled.

'When you're holding me like this, I carelessly lost in your touch, I'm completely defenseless, baby it's almost too much'

I pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, they're looking at me, because they're not use to seeing me dance and especially dancing with a beautiful woman."

'I'm helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly falling in love'

When the song ended, we smiled and gave a small bow to the crowd, who were applauding us. We left as the next song started.

"Hey Gaara! Momo!" called Kankurō, with Hinata following him. "Do you want to go and watch fireworks?"

"Sure, where would you like to watch from?" I asked, squeezing Momo's hand. "How about up on the balcony of the apartment?"

"I was thinking about from the top of your office?"

"Only as long as the girls don't mind."

"Well, Temari went ahead to get something for us to sit on while we're up there."

I looked to Momo, then to Hinata. They both nodded in agreement.

"All right, lets go then." I took Risa off of my shoulder and put her back in the bag Momo had for her. I took Momo's hand, "shall we?" I got a big grin in return.

Moments later

We joined the rest of the group on top of my office, just in time for the fireworks. Temari, Shūhei, and Tenten were sitting on some blankets. Everyone else was standing around. I wrapped my arms around Momo, pulling her close to me and rested my chin on her shoulder. I could feel her tense at first, then relaxing. She smell liked peaches. I couldn't help grinning. We were completely oblivious to everyone in our group taking notice to the two of us.

The reds, blues, whites, greens, oranges and purples of the fireworks lit the sky. 'I wished this could last.'

Then we heard it: a hollow's cry.

'Great timing.' I thought.

We heard the beeping from a soul pager and before we could move to look, Momo was attacked and injured by one. It ripped the side of her qipao and she started to bleed. I grabbed her as she start to fall. Everyone else scattered.

I did a couple of quick hand signs: "Shield of Sand!" I cried. We were enclosed in sand right before the hollow struck again. I almost started to panic as I held her close; 'I have to get her to the hospital, without having the Hollow following us.'

"Go Gaara!" yelled Kankurō, "Sakura and Hanatarō went on ahead, get Momo to the hospital. We'll take care of these!"

I noticed that Kankurō had his puppets out, trying to distract the Hollow from us. I used my sand to get us moving towards the hospital. Yoruichi and Kakashi were engaged with other Hollows. Shūhei just took down one and went to help Kankurō. I looked down at Momo, she had her eyes closed and Risa was crying.

When we entered the hospital, I saw that Sakura and Hanatarō were waiting for us.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of her." promised Hanatarō.

He and Sakura took off with Momo. I ran back out to see if I could help the others, but they had finished by the time I got back to them.

"How's Momo?" asked Yoruichi.

"I think that she'll be fine. Sakura and Hanatarō are with her."

"She's in good hands. Maybe we should head over to check on her."

With that we head to the hospital. 'I didn't sense the Hollow's presence, that is very odd.'

"Shūhei, Yoruichi, did either one of you sense that Hollow?" I asked.

They stopped to think.

"No, I didn't, but that's not uncommon." Shūhei replied.

Yoruichi nodded in agreement. When we reached the room Momo was in, we heard some yelling and moved faster.

"Sakura! It's not like that!" Momo yelled.

"Sakura, what's going on?" Inquired Kakashi as we entered the room.

"Oh, nothing. Just 'girl' talk." she smirked.

I noticed that Momo was leaning against the bed that was reclined. She was beet red in the face. I'm guessing they were talking about earlier.

"Don't worry, she'll be fine by tomorrow, but should stay here for the night." Sakura grinned as she patted my shoulder and left.

With that everyone left to get some rest, but I decided to stay behind to keep Momo company.

"Don't worry, I'll stay. Besides as my guest, you're my responsibility." I said when I saw the confused look on her face. "Just try to get some rest."

She nodded and Risa crawled out of the purse and curled up next to Momo. I couldn't help but to smile at the site. I went to lie down on the couch in the room. Sleep was swift.

Cheongsam is a ankle length form fitting dress.

Qipao is a shorter version of the cheongsam.

The song is called: Helplessly, Hopelessly, Recklessly by Jessica Andrews.

When I heard this song, is when I got the idea to pair Momo and Gaara together. This chapter is one of my favorites.

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