Author's Note: It's here~! XD I'm sorry for the wait, guys! I just crammed this chapter in my busy schedule.
-.-" Aaanyway! I hope you like it and tell me what you think, okay?

Enjoy and Review! :DDD

Destiny of the Cursed

Chapter 38: Marriage Proposal

Awkward muteness stretched out inside the Hokage's Quarters as the two people inside the room stared at one another, nervousness and uncertainty radiating off the younger of the duo. After another minute or two, honey-colored orbs closed in deliberation, the blonde woman smiling as she asked, "So that's your plan, eh?"

Tsunade's voice rang out amidst the silence that dawned between her and the Kazekage, effectively easing the tension out of the latter's expression. Aquamarine eyes lowered themselves to her desk, feigning interest at the stack of folders that lie there. "Yes." Gaara droned out after what seemed to be a long moment of contemplation, his deep voice quiet and low.

"I know this idea of mine is hasty, but this is the best I can formulate with what little time I had." He admitted, sighing and leaning forward in his seat, placing his elbows down on his knees with his shoulders hunched. Hesitation crossed his features before he shook his head, looking up at Tsunade with a stubborn resolve. "It's not like…I've wanted to take advantage of her title…I didn't want to force this onto her, but she's the only one who can help my village. I just hope she doesn't take it the wrong way."

A sympathetic graced Tsunade's face as she turned to look at the younger Kage in front of her, her golden-rimmed eyes glistening with understanding. "Well, if you're really serious about doing this, then I have no objection at all. I just hope you know well what you're doing. I don't usually like any office-related crap…" The woman trailed off with an overly heavy sigh, shaking her head in mock sadness, "but I'll make an exception for the two of you. Leave the paperwork to me, brat."

"Thank you." Gaara said with a grateful nod, letting out an inaudible breath of relief. His pale hand reached up to brush away the crimson locks that fell on his forehead, the red tattoo peeking slightly from behind the hair strands. The Hokage's gaze softened as she caught the exhaustion lying beneath his orbs, the rings around his eyes seemingly thicker than it was before.

"Relax. She'll understand your actions completely. She's put up with you for how many years now. She's bound to tolerate this one too." A half-hearted grunt answered her, the redhead burying his face on his hands. "I hope so." He muttered in defeat, guilt and shame evident in his tone.

An idea struck Tsunade suddenly and she grinned in mischief before reaching down to open her last desk drawer and pulling out a hidden bottle and two glass shots. "Know what this momentous happening calls for, Kazekage?" She asked him as she silently pulled off the cork that sealed the bottle, pouring the clear liquid down onto the two short glasses.

"No. What?" Gaara inquired with disinterest, merely peeking from behind his fingers and raising a non-existent eyebrow at her.

"Sake." Tsunade answered simply, snickering when she noticed the boy's disapproving grimace. "Live a little, will you? It's not like you'll get wasted with just one mouthful of this stuff." She remarked reassuringly as she handed him the glass shot, raising hers in a silent congratulations before downing it immediately. "Besides, you could use a little alcohol-induced confidence. You look ready to pass out on me right now."

"I'm underage, Hokage-sama."

"You're the Kazekage. That makes some sort of exception to the rule, doesn't it?"

Sighing in resignation once more, Gaara relented, raising the glass to his lips and stopping short of sipping the fluid, "I've already had a word with her father. He took it surprisingly easy." He stated and frowned mildly, his eyes narrowing at his drink, "Actually, he sounded rather thrilled at the thought. Do you have any idea as to why that is?" The redhead asked the blonde woman before him, confusion and curiosity flickering through his sea foam gaze.

With a snort of laughter, Tsunade shook her head at him, her twin pigtails falling back over her shoulders. "As much as we hate to admit it, we are not getting any younger, Kazekage. I assume that since her father seems to be attached to children, there's only one thing he wants from you."

"And what's that?" Gaara questioned, taking the opportunity to drink the bitter-tasting alcohol.

"Hoards of grandkids."

The sake left an acidic burn down the length of his throat as Gaara coughed out the liquid in shock, his eyes watering at the scalding sting. "Grandchildren?" he repeated in a rasp when his hacking fit died down, lightly applying pressure to his neck and swallowing.

"It's a little too early for that, don't you think?" He remarked hoarsely, mortification etched on his face as he considered the thought. "I suppose." Tsunade mused after a whole-hearted chuckle, earning an embarrassed glare from the redhead. "Oh, please." She snorted, taking a huge swig of sake directly from the bottle, "Don't tell me you haven't considered it? After all, she's one hot babe—"

"Stop it." Gaara snapped in a warning tone, setting the glass shot down on the desk and glaring at the amused woman. He fought down the heat that took over his pale face, telltale redness reaching down to his neck already. "I will not tolerate you describing her in such a crude manner."Throwing her hands up in front in surrender, Tsunade gave one last smirk before saying, "Fine, fine. Have it your way then." The Kazekage let out a sigh and turned away to look out of the window, his thoughts drifting away to a certain brunette when a thoughtful hum suddenly escaped Tsunade, earning his attention again. "What is it?"

"I forgot to tell you that Katana's on a mission right now with Hinata. You won't be seeing her until 5'o clock."

The Kazekage shook his head dismissively, waving away the concern in the older woman's voice. "That's alright. I'll just wait for her. Is she out of the village right now?"

"No. She's in Konoha, touring Iwahashi Yuuna around."

Gaara froze in his seat at the mention of the name, his breath hitching in his throat and his heart stopping dead in its tracks. With large aquamarine eyes, he stared at Tsunade, shock written well in his normally stoic expression. "Yuuna…" Without a warning, he stood up abruptly, causing the blonde woman to lean back on her chair in reflex. Anger and panic replaced his surprise as Gaara glared accusingly at the Hokage, deep lines carved in between his non-existent eyebrows. "You assigned her with Yuuna?" He repeated incredulously, leaning down on Tsunade and grabbing hold of the edge of the wooden desk. "Why on earth would you do that?"

Disbelief passed quickly into Tsunade's face before she glowered at the Kazekage in offense, pushing back her chair at standing up to meet him eye to eye. "Yes, I did." She said as a matter-of-factly, spitting out the words in infuriation at the younger leader's sudden mood swing. "Why? Got a problem with how I do my job, Kazekage-sama?" She growled out frustratingly, the intensity of her glare rivaling Gaara's defiantly.

The two narrowed their eyes at one another, both pigheadedly refusing to back down. "Do you know how stupid that decision is?" Gaara seethed under his breath as he tightening his death grip on the table, the wood creaking in protest of the merciless treatment.

"Are you calling me a fool, brat?" Tsunade roared as she reached out and yanked a handful of his red vest, fisting his collar angrily. "Go ahead. I dare you to say it once again and risk getting thrown back to Suna in no time." The blonde challenged, angry veins appearing on her smooth hands. Sea foam eyes bore into her golden orbs without fear, one of the redhead's hands coiling around her wrist.

"Try me, foolish woman." Gaara stated in a monotone, remaining passive despite the fact that the grip on his clothes stiffened alarmingly. "Katana doesn't know the real reason why the Daimyo and his daughter have come here. And yet, because of your doing, I now have to worry about the possibility of her discover—"

A sudden explosion outside disrupted the heated argument and both Kages jerked their heads to the direction of the glass window, Tsunade's rage diminishing into worry when she caught sight of smoke and dust rising from one of the buildings.

Panic screams of civilians rang in her ears, distracting her from her stupefaction. "What the hell was that?" She exclaimed, her hand falling from Gaara's collar and her attention turning to the redhead. Eyeing the grimace on the boy's face cautiously, she watched as he nodded once, immediately whirling back and reaching for the door. "Let's go, Hokage-sama."

With a jerky down motion of her head, she frowned, following right behind him. "Hai."

"I'm the Kazekage's girlfriend…And I won't let you break the two of us apart."

The thick haze of intense fury and disbelief surrounded Yuuna as the words slipped out of the older girl's mouth, frustrated tears springing up in the corners of her eyes. "Y-You…" she choked out as delicate palms coiled into shaky fists by her sides, her hands disappearing underneath her kimono sleeves. A disgruntled sigh escaped Katana as regarded the fuming girl and she closed her eyes; brushed back her hair with her mouth set in a firm frown.

"Look", she ground out slowly, her own hands clenching and unclenching in an attempt to release some of the pent-up irritation. "I know that this is unprofessional, me confronting you about such personal things—especially since you're the Wind daimyo's daughter."

Taking a deep breath, Katana faced Yuuna again, her eyebrows furrowed deeply as she spoke. "I don't normally let my feelings get in the way of the mission, Yuuna-sama, nor am I bothered by the fact that you've called me almost every insult you can think of and degraded my whole dignity with your words. But…" The kunoichi trailed off, grimacing as the earlier statement of the blonde echoed in her mind. That's why I was so happy when Otou-sama agreed to arrange this marriage for us…

"But I can't just let you take away a person I love right before my very eyes. It's too hard—I-I can't…accept that." Grey eyes looked up to meet venomous green, the latter glaring at her with hate coursing through every fiber of her being. "…So I'm sorry, Yuuna-sama, Hinata", glancing apologetically at the Hyuuga, she bowed slightly at the indigo-haired girl and faced the blonde again, "but I'm abandoning this mission. Please excuse me."

Turning away, Katana held her head high and walked out of the shop calmly, ignoring the curious stares of the other customers. Pushing up the flaps that hung on the entrance, she halted in her tracks and narrowed her eyes at the twelve guards that blocked her path, their massive bodies creating a semi-circle around her. "Move away." She stated dryly, stubbornly jutting out her chin to look up at their faces. The middle guard let out a snort as he crossed his beefy arms across his broad chest, black beady eyes fixing themselves at Katana.

"No." He answered gruffly, earning amused snickers from his comrades. "You, together with that other girl, were supposed to be the princess's tour guides."

"Not anymore." Was the stiff reply of the brunette, impatience flashing through her gaze. "Step aside. I have better things to do than to explain myself to you. Now please…move awa—"

"Guards!"

The shrill, almost frantic-sounding call cut through their conversation and in confusion, Katana knitted her eyebrows together and turned back towards the shop. Cold dread crept up her spine the minute she laid eyes on Yuuna's furiously red face, a clear sign that she was about to throw a childish tantrum again. "Kill her!" The command barely had any time to be registered properly in her brain as she dove out of the way, the burly guard that had planned to jump on her crashing against the fragile wooden wall of the dango shop and creating a crater-sized hole in it.

"Shit!" she swore out loud in incredulity as she ducked a punch from one of the men, the sound of shattering glass windows and frightened screams of customers ringing loudly inside her ears. "Stop!"

"Wait, don't!"

"Don't do this!" She called desperately as she evaded another blow, this time gritting her teeth tightly in frustration when she heard another telltale crash from the shop and quickly delivering a roundhouse kick to the head of the persistent guy. He staggered back and sneered in rage, immediately charging once again for the girl. Panic and anxiety stirred inside Katana's gut and unease lodged itself in her throat as she brought her wrath down on one of the muscular goons that had tried to restrain her, her fist colliding swiftly with the man's gut in a chakra-powered punch.

Her assailant doubled over in pain, dropping down to his knees on the ground and groaning helplessly. "Yuuna, what the hell is this? Call them off!" She yelled out in alarm as she knocked out yet another man, horror written well in her expression as she fleetingly glanced at the wreckage of the dango shop. Katana balled her fists angrily, scanning the increasing number of people around them. Finding no sign of their blonde client from over the crowd of people, she snarled in infuriation.

The brunette dropped down in a squat as another guard swung his sword sideways, the long blade nicking her forearm before she could dodge it completely. She swept her leg on the ground below him, taking him off balance and pouncing on the sprawled man with another chakra-enveloped fist. Quickly bringing her hands together while the man was still dazed from the hit, Katana wove seals with expertise, chakra taking the shape of sharp claws on top of her knuckles.

"Dendou Tsume."

Pained screams made her eardrums throb violently as she stabbed the guard's two arms, blood spraying over her face as she rendered him useless for battle. A sudden sword flick took Katana by surprise and earned her a shallow cut on her calf, crimson liquid oozing out of the wound.

Wincing as she felt the sting of the wound, Katana vanished from his line of sight in an instant and reappeared from behind him silently, striking the guy's nape with a harsh blow and exhaling a short breath of relief when he fell unconscious. "Juken!" The sudden cry called her attention and she whirled around in search of her partner, worry scribbled all over her face. "Hinata!"

A stuttering squeak sounded from her left; she turned and watched the Hyuuga closely with alarm, her distress leaving her immediately when she saw her teammate handling one of the men with ease. "I-I'm here!" Came the sure answer of Hinata as she fought with grace, her deadly movements seeming so harmless and beautiful from afar. "Don't worry about me, Katana-chan!" Hinata said as she sent the guards collapsing one by one onto the dirt, her Byakugan activated and her hands traveling in an amazing speed.

A sharp rush of cold air blew across her back and Katana stiffened, her eyes widening. "I've got you now, girl!" Roared a brawny guard behind her, his sword raised over his head and ready to be brought down. The kunoichi dodged the blade narrowly before it hit the spot inches away from where she previously stood before and Katana grunted in ire, her glare alone ripping the man into shreds if only looks could kill.

She charged head-on for him, ducking when a meaty fist came flying towards her direction and bringing her knee up in a fluid motion, ramming it against the man's groin without mercy. A choked gasp escaped the guard's slacked jaw, his face scrunched up in indescribable agony. Gradually, he sunk down on the ground with his body quivering in pain, a broken groan coming out of his throat. "Asshole." Katana spat as she delivered another kick to his thick skull, knocking him out cold.

The brunette straightened up as her gaze left the last guard to skim through her surroundings, her stomach somersaulting with guilt when she saw the ruins of the dango shop. Smoke and dust rose up in the air, the sizes of the holes on the wall ranging from the size of a fist to the size of a boulder. The owner stood by the side, along with the other bystanders and passers-by that witnessed the whole scene, evident horror etched on his face as he stared dumbly at his destroyed shop.

Grey eyes lowered in shame before they caught sight of a red and gold-colored kimono, right then narrowing furiously instead. In swift strides, Katana closed the distance between them and seized a fistful of the girl's silk kimono aggressively, ignoring the small yelp of protest that came from the blonde and the way the delicate material wrinkled under her grip.

"You brat." She hissed in rage, flinching slightly when the sound of low murmurs and hasty whispers of 'quick, get the Hokage' circulated around the crowd. Her grey eyes flickered back to the girl in her grasp and her glare intensified tenfold, her temper at the brink of exploding. "Listen well, Yuuna-sama." She seethed sarcastically, tightening her hold on the girl's clothes.

"Just because you're the daimyo's daughter, it doesn't give you the right to order your underlings to wreck havoc in our village. Do you have any idea as to how much peril you've brought upon the villagers because of your stupidity? How much immature can you get? What if people were hurt?"

A sharp slap across her cheek sent her neck to twist roughly to the side, the stinging sensation languidly following after. Shocked gasps erupted from the nosy crowd of people, the villagers exchanging nervous whispers from one to another. "How dare you call me immature! Get your filthy hands of me, chuunin!" Yuuna exclaimed irately, her green eyes ablaze with fury.

Smaller hands pried off the other two that gripped her kimono, the blonde inching away from the older girl. "Someone as low as you are doesn't deserve to be with someone like my Gaa-chan!" She spat, narrowing her eyes at the brunette in an attempt to look defiant. Katana froze in her place as the offended part of her cheek throbbed in pain, the thin patience and self-control that she held on to snapping apart for good.

"Shut up."

Without a warning, a swift hand delved down and unsheathed the blade that lay unused by her side, the sword's narrow metal glinting in the sunlight. She roughly shoved down the self-centered girl, her mind completely ridding any guilt it contained for abandoning the mission. The high-pitched cry of protest followed by the sequence of colorful words and insults only enraged the livid brunette further and Katana knelt down in a rapid movement, pressing the cool metal against the princess's pale neck. The murmuring of the crowd died down into silence, their eyes wide with disbelief and alarm as they fixed their gazes on the usually composed kunoichi.

Yuuna halted her complaints instantly, fear entering her eyes once she felt the icy touch of the sword caress her throat. Frightened tears welled up at the corner of her large green eyes, spilling down her cheeks one by one as she stared back at Katana's narrow grey orbs with panic. "You have no right…to tell me what I deserve." Katana hissed under her breath, glowering death at the trembling girl that was sprawled on the ground beneath her.

Anger made her blood boil, any shame she felt for acting on instinct evaporating on the spot. "You don't know anything about Gaara and you most certainly don't know anything about me…You don't know what we've been through or how painful it has been for both of us since we were children." She said, pushing the blade of her sword more firmly on Yuuna's skin and earning a scared whimper from the blonde.

Grey eyes glistened with unshed tears of silent agony as Katana gritted her teeth, glaring down grudgingly at Yuuna. "You had a normal childhood. You have everything a person could ask for. Expensive clothes, wealth, fame…a whole family…Is all that not enough for you? Do you want other people's happiness to be yours as well? What more could you possibly want, brat?" Katana roared in anger as she fought back the tears hat threatened to escape the confines of her eyelids, pain searing through her heart. "G-Gaara…he's—He's the only thing that keeps me from giving up…So why? Why do you people keep trying to take away the little happiness we have? You spoiled little—"

"Don't."

The deep voice cut through her mind and the kunoichi halted in her sentence, her muscles stiffening and her eyes widening in shock. The glare she fixed on the girl vanished, disbelief replacing the anger in her eyes. She whirled back, a lump lodging in her throat when her gaze fell on a certain worried-looking redhead. "Gaara." Sand coiled around the arm that held her weapon, squeezing lightly in a warning.

"Drop the sword, Katana." The stoic Kage said cautiously, his expression easing visibly when Katana's grasp on the blade loosened. By his side, Tsunade skidded into a halt, the woman's eyes widening irately as she scanned the scene before her. "Who did this?" she demanded furiously, veins in her forehead popping out in rage. She jerked her head to the side, her gaze narrowing at Hinata.

"Hyuuga Hinata!"

The poor girl stumbled back down on the dirt in shock, her lavender eyes blinking rapidly in fear. "H-Hokage-sama?" The girl inquired weakly as she pushed herself up on her feet, her arms in front of her body defensively. "Who did this, Hinata?" Asked Tsunade once more as she approached the dark-haired female, her livid strides rapidly closing the gap between them. Trembling with nervousness, Hinata swallowed hard and took a safe step back from the enraged woman wisely, blinking twice before stammering feebly, "U-Um, a-anou…y-you see, K-Katana-chan, she—Y-Yuuna-sama's guards t-they—and w-well—"

"Spit it out."

"It's my fault, Tsunade-sama." Answered Katana from her place as she gave the girl beneath her a last glance and startled the two Kages and Hinata, the kunoichi standing up and slowly whirling around to face the Hokage.

Bowing lowly, she clenched her teeth as she fixed her eyes on the ground, "I've…I was reckless, Tsunade-sama. I've let my feelings get in the way of this mission. When I found out that Yuuna-sama here was supposed to be engaged with Kazekage-sama…I…I attacked her. Her bodyguards merely did their job of protecting her from me." Spitefulness seeped in her tone as she sounded out the painful lie in order to maintain the harmonious relationship between Suna and Konoha, her throat constricting tightly against her will. "So please…forgive me."

Amazed silence was the only response she got from the trio as she remained in her bow, her chest erratically heaving up and down as she released a ragged breath. Finally, Tsunade's voice broke the quietness, her tone stern and deceivingly calm. "Very well, I'll have to talk to you inside my office later, Hatake Katana." Outraged murmurs and scandalized whispers echoed from the crowd of people, numerous statements of 'that's not true at all!' and 'she's innocent!' passing around the villagers. Her heart wrenching inside her ribcage, she hid a grateful smile at the people's support, swallowing as she answered back, "Hai, Tsunade-sama."

From the ground behind her, the blonde princess remained sprawled on the dirt, her green eyes wide with incredulity as she stared at Katana's back. Her gaze shifted towards the redhead from afar and immediately, her shock morphed into feigned sadness.

"G-Gaa-chan…" Yuuna whimpered through the tears, sniffing in exaggerated fear. Pushing Katana off to the side, she scrambled to her feet and gathered her kimono in her hands, running towards the Kazekage and flinging her arms around him, causing Gaara to stagger back slightly.

"Waahh! Gaa-chan! T-That girl over t-there threatened t-to kill me!"

The sight of the girl hugging Gaara as she bawled her 'traumatizing' experience to him was enough to bring back the livid frown in Katana's face, pain stabbing her heart the more she stared at the sickly sweet image of them. "G-Gaara…" She breathed out, her hand reaching up to gesture at him but dropped back down by her side immediately when she met his eyes, disappointment flashing through them. Her heart clenching painfully, she swallowed back the lump in her throat and kept staring at him, hoping that he would understand the silent apology she was trying to convey.

Aquamarine orbs lowered before averting their gaze on her, shifting down on the girl hugging his torso. "Yuuna, come on. I'll escort you back to your father." The silent statement reached Katana's ears faintly and her remaining hope inside crumbled away, realization of what Gaara's clear decision was hitting her like a punch in the gut.

Clicking her tongue against her teeth sharply as she got to her tired feet, she sheathed her sword, wiping blood away from the corner of her mouth and storming away angrily. Hinata and Tsunade's call of her name fell on deaf ears as she kept on striding away further, her heavy footsteps increasing in speed as she felt wetness sting her eyes. So this is how it'll be, after all…

Audible cracks and thumps echoed all over the grassy expanse as the girl in the middle delivered violent hits mercilessly to the wooden post that stood erect on the ground. Sweat drenched her face as she clenched her jaw together in unconcealed grief, her feet numb from repeatedly smacking the pillar. With heavy breath, she inwardly counted.

480…

481…

482…

483…

Bloodshot and half-lidded grey eyes were dull and blank as they stared at the chipped wooden post, narrowing absentmindedly as bandaged feet hit it again and again. Her face was fixed in a tight grimace, her orbs flaring with unconscious dismay and hurt. 484…485…486…487…Whispered Katana mentally, beads of sweat trailing down the sides of her face.

Dark clouds rolled around above her as she kept on kicking the post, the cool breeze that blew by sending goose bumps down her limbs. The brunette stopped in the middle of her 490th kick, her right foot dropping down as she balled her fists in agony. After standing up for him, he…he chooses her over me?

Hissing under her breath, she closed her eyes and fought back the tears of frustration and pain, stubbornly willing herself not to cry. Thoughts of what happened earlier came to torture her mind again, Yuuna's words and the sight of the blonde hugging Gaara taunting her endlessly. Beads of moisture seeped through her lashes and trickled down her face, the kunoichi harshly wiping them away in disgust. '

"Fuck this." She spat as she resumed kicking, her movements faster and more brutal compared to earlier. She struck nonstop, ignoring the creaking protests and the flying bits of wood. Harsh snaps sounded whenever her feet would collide with the wooden post, her heart pounding in an agonizing pace inside her chest. Sweat traveled down from her forehead to her neck and down the length of her arms, leaving a burning trail along her limbs.

496…

497…

498…

499…

With one last kick delivered to the abused stake, sharp splinters of wood came flying at every direction, her fifth wooden post finally cracking into two parts. Mouth opening, she swallowed back a gasp, chest heaving forcefully as she collapsed on the ground with a thud, a startled yelp escaping her. Wheezing and panting heavily, a shudder ran through her body, the cold blow of air giving her chills. She could feel her heart thundering rapidly against her ribcage, threatening to burst.

Exhaling dejectedly with her head hanging low, Katana forced herself up in a sitting position. She pulled her knees up, undoing the bandages wrapped on her feet with a pained grunt. The white cloth fell off and revealed angry red bruises, readily turning purple.

Above her, the rumbling of the sky increased in volume and urgency, right after flashes of blinding light from beneath the clouds. The calm breezes turned into harsh gusts of wind, taking with them brown leaves that tumbled along the path. Ignoring the booming sounds from the sky, the brunette focused on releasing chakra from her palm, gently soothing her aching and abused feet.

She sighed as she felt the numbing pain ease out into a mere dull throb, the chakra she applied finally taking effect. She slipped on her sandals, grunting in discomfort when the rough leather brushed against her wounds. Without a warning, a small raindrop fell flat against the back of her hand and she blinked twice, reflexively looking up. Katana froze in her place the minute water droplets hit her forehead, the heavy downpour suddenly raining down on her pathetic form.

The roar of thunder and the rhythmic 'pitter-patter' of rain against the ground soon filled her ears, deafening her from any other noises. Numbness spread out across her chest, a hollow feeling of loneliness creating a black void inside her heart. Lost in the sea of emotions that suddenly overwhelmed her, she tilted her head back and allowed the water to run down the curve of her face, choking back a hitched breath as tears joined in unconsciously.

She sucked in an intake of breath and let it out as a ragged sigh, her tired eyes closing as she concentrated on the unsympathetic drumming of the rain on her face instead. Thought swarmed her mind and passed to and fro fleetingly, a flash of red appearing from behind her closed orbs.

Gaara…She thought as she clenched her teeth in an unsuspecting squeeze of her heart, a pain too agonizing to describe coursing through her system.

Just what am I really to you? Am I…Am I actually worth something—or have I just been a consolation prize all this time?

The crash of thunder echoed loudly inside her head and she swallowed back a sob, tears mixing themselves with the droplets of rain that traveled down her body. Lightning struck dangerously overhead but the girl could hardly care anymore, exhaustion gluing her in her place and the freezing cold making her drenched body shiver.

Why does it always have to be this way?

A sharp sensation of iciness shot through her and she jerked violently, arms instantly wrapping around her legs as she hugged her knees against her body to warm herself. Why is it that every time we're finally together, something comes by… and breaks us apart for good again? Before it was Shukaku, then came Kazumi...we've learned overcome those problems but now…I'm not so sure…if I can keep fighting for you, especially since it seems like you've already decided to let me go.

So why…? Why, Gaara?

Why is life so damn unfair to us?

A frustrated sigh escaped the confines of her mouth, her breath coming out as a fog in the cold atmosphere. Brushing back the wet locks that clung to the side of her face, Katana half-opened her tired grey orbs, looking up at the pitch black sky.

But I guess…

Darkness took over most of her surroundings, and the only things that were left emitting light were the near-by lamp posts that flickered on and off.

…It's better this way. Maybe you're better off with somebody like Yuuna…than with somebody like me who only brings you trouble and endless problems…

The forceful rain had subsided into mere drizzles, leaving Katana's aching and cold body craving for any source of warmth.

I just hope you know…

…That I really love you.

Swallowing and grimacing when her throat proved to be too dry to be comfortable, she pushed herself up on her black-and-blue feet shakily, wincing when they stung in protest at the weight brought down on them. Staggering helplessly, she made her way out of the training grounds in a matter of minutes, all the while gritting her teeth to keep in the pained groan that threatened to tear out of her mouth. She glanced sideways, looking at the lined-up broken posts with an unknown and definitely uncomfortable feeling stirring inside of her. With a soft sigh, she turned to face front again, shaking off the melancholic thoughts as she began her long way back home.

"Katana."

The breathless call made her pulsing feet stop dead in their tracks, her heart and breath dying down in shock as well. The voice was well-familiarized with her ears, from the months of constantly whispering words of endearment to her. It was deep but not rumbling, smooth and velvety, giving her goose bumps every time she hears it. Wide eyes watered as they immediately recognized its owner, the searing pain stabbing her thoroughly battered heart even more.

"…Kazekage-sama." She greeted hoarsely, disbelief still laced with her angry tone as she remained frozen in her place. "Is something wrong?" She inquired stiffly, her heart dropping low when she realized that she would have to go back into calling him by his title; there was no sense in addressing him as Gaara anymore anyway.

"Don't call me that." The redhead behind her stated with underlying dejection, an aggravated sigh ripping from his throat. The brunette flinched away at the sound, dread filling her inside when she heard heavy footsteps approach hastily. Even before she could step away, a large hand seized her wrist securely and whirled her around— in such a gentle manner still, that Katana wouldn't have took him to be angry if not for the livid glint in his aquamarine eyes, his thin lips down in a permanent-looking scowl.

Instantly, Katana averted her eyes down on the damp cement road, refusing to let him see the tears welling up in her eyes. "What is it?" She asked him, her arm dangling loosely from his grip and her tone exhausted.

"Why did you leave?" His monotone voice droned out, without a doubt, his dark-ringed orbs narrowing in sync. "I've been searching for you almost everywhere." Hearing his worried statement, Katana roughly pulled her hand out of his grasp, rage simmering inside her. She grimaced grudgingly and balled her fists, her eyebrows knitted deeply. "Why would you go and look for me?" She retorted sharply, resisting the urge to look up at him and confirm in his eyes if he was really lying.

"I was worried. You didn't—"

Her mocking scoff erupted loudly from between them, the brunette shaking her head in a mixture of fury and pained amusement. "Worried." She repeated in a disgusted tone, unable to keep herself from sneaking a glance at his pale face. "Right." She said bitingly, closing her eyes when she felt tears threatening to spill out again.

Inhaling shakily, she released it as a hiss, her teeth clenched tightly together. "Look", she began, hating the way her voice trembled desolately. "I'm not in the mood to talk to you about anything. Frankly, I just don't want to see you right now. So please…" She seethed, the moisture inside her eyes burning and stinging insistently. "…Just leave me alone."

"Why are you acting this way?" Gaara voiced out, with so much confusion that it added fuel to the girl's flaring temper even more. Grey eyes snapped open, irritation and agony burning in them as the tears that she kept back finally fell free. "I have every right to act this way!" She yelled defensively, her gaze drilling into his furiously through the tears. "Why the hell are you asking such things? Stop pretending like you have no damn idea of what you just did!"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Shot back the Kazekage stonily, further enraging the already irate female.

"Dammit, Gaara!" Katana screeched in frustration as she threw her arms up, her hands clenching and unclenching her hair. Taking in a calming breath and realizing that it doesn't help at all, she gestured accusingly at him, glowering. "It's you, okay? The problem is you! The problem is the fact that you've already decided and you decided to pick Yuuna over me! You've decided to choose your village over me! I've said it! Now are you satisfied?"

Choking back a desperate sob as tears kept trickling down her cheeks non-stop, her voice died down, all the screaming she did left her throat scratchy and aching. Shakily, she brushed back her damp hair, hiccupping slightly as she brushed away the wetness from her face, leaving red tearstain in their place.

Realization of what she said dawned to her mind and she bit back a groan of misery, shame taking its place over her expression. "Go ahead." Katana rasped out, sighing heavily. "Go ahead and call me immature. Call me weak, foolish, unreliable. Call me a disgrace because I've once again let my 'feelings' go in the way of responsibility…tell me I don't deserve the title of a kunoichi."

Silence answered her and instinctively, the girl turned to the redhead, taking in his wide-eyed stare and dumbfounded expression. She snorted ruefully, shaking her head in a slow manner and turning her back on him. "Still acting innocent, Gaara?" She called out sadly, disappointed by the fact that it was probably the last time that they would ever see each other again and it simply had to end up this way as well. "Have it your way then. I'm going home."'

Before she could even do so much as to walk away, grain-like particles formed a solid, calloused hand and wrapped around her wrist again, firmer this time, and held her in place. Stopping once more, Katana swallowed the heavy lump in her throat that blocked her airway, sighing out of pure exhaustion. "Listen to me." She heard him say and she shook her head stubbornly, frowning. "Gaara…" she trailed off, tugging her hand back from the sand and failing, "Please don't make it harder for us to let go…It's alright. I understand."

"Listen." Gaara insisted again, quiet scuffling of footsteps indicating that he closed the gap between them. Warmth radiated off his body and into hers, her frown deepening when she felt the need to inch closer to him like she always did before. "You have to do this for your village. I know that. I'm not going to force you to—"

"I'm not marrying Yuuna."

Disbelief flickered in her dejected grey orbs when the sentence rang in her ears and reflexively, she turned around again, tentatively meeting his sea foam eyes. Now that her rage had been extinguished, she could see a little bit clearer now and promptly noticed the way his wild crimson locks stuck on his forehead, soaked and tamed by the heavy shower.

His clothes were dripping, clinging onto his lean body like another layer of skin. Multiple red scratches were etched on his pale face, a darkening bruise painted on his left cheek. Even though she was disturbed by the numerous injuries, the shock that she had from hearing his statement still overcame her concern for his well-being.

"You're not…marrying her?" She repeated incredulously, relief filling her system until a thought rose up in the surface of her mind again. Worry immediately crushed her temporary happiness and instead of a smile, Katana's mouth turned down in a grimace, her eyebrows furrowing. "What about your village, Gaara?" She murmured to him, lowering her gaze. "…I don't want you to sacrifice your village because of—"

"You're the only one who can save Suna."

"I…I can't, Gaara. You know that. I'm just a chuunin." She said, her chest tightening as she used the counselor's words. "What can I possibly give Suna?" The soaked redhead leaned down and pressed his finger against her lips, silencing her. For a moment, no one spoke, their eyes speaking for themselves as they stared at one another. Finally, Gaara's mouth opened, his deep voice breaking the tense silence between them. "An alliance between Sunagakure and Kumogakure." He answered in a faint whisper, the finger on her lips trailing away to the side to caress her tearstained cheek. "You're the Raikage's daughter, after all…I hope you didn't let other people tell you otherwise."

"B-But, I—"

This time, it was his mouth that interrupted her from speaking, thin lips crushing hers in a gentle kiss. Lips moved together in sync as their bodies pressed flush against each other, their holds on one another shaky and unwilling to let go. What remained of Katana's stubborn streak faded away completely as she allowed herself to cling to him, relishing the warmth she'd been deprived of. The gentle sprinkle of rain had finally stopped, leaving the two under the glow of the moon and the teasing twinkle of stars.

Breaking the sweet contact reluctantly, Gaara rested his forehead on hers, his half-lidded aquamarine eyes fixing themselves on her grey ones. He cleared his throat awkwardly as he slid his arms around her waist, whispering lowly, "I've…I've been meaning to tell you something…" he murmured under his breath, his voice so faint that it was hard for Katana to make out the words even with their close distance.

Eyeing him with curiosity and bewilderment, the brunette blinked twice before leaning in close, tentatively offering a smile of encouragement. "Well…What is it then?" She inquired, staring at him with bewilderment.

The redhead pulled away from her and swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and back down with the motion as he averted his gaze to the side. "I've—I've never wanted you to find it out this way. And I'm sorry that—that you thought I chose Yuuna over you…" He trailed off, feeling lost for words all of a sudden. The brunette in front softened her gaze at him involuntarily, beaming lopsidedly in reassurance. "Hey, it's alright, Gaara. You don't have to worry about that—"

"But I would never do something like that…I couldn't have done it. Because somehow I feel…really weak…without you by my side. You..." Gaara said, blinking rapidly and taking a sharp breath to calm his tense nerves. "You gave me love." He stated and took a sharp intake of breath, feeling his stomach somersault uneasily at the blunt confession. "That by itself…should be more valuable than any material wealth." He peered at her through his red bangs, nervousness and hesitancy clear in his eyes. Katana's heart skipped a beat as her mind registered his words, feeling excitement slowly build up inside her for an unknown reason.

"I guess what I have been trying to say is…" Brushing away the bangs that covered his 'ai' tattoo, the Kazekage mustered a stoic façade, all his emotions reflecting in his eyes instead. "…Marry me, Katana." Gaara said in a monotone, pinning his expectant gaze on her expression and studying it closely.

Tense silence stretched on between the two of them as grey eyes widened and pink lips fell agape in shock, the question sounding unreal to Katana's ears. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, realization crossed her dazed mind as a violent blush took over her face, her eyes blinking rapidly.

With a suppressed smile taking over her features, she ran a clammy hand over her hair, brushing it back as she took a shaky breath. Her aching feet took deliberate steps forward, reclaiming the proximity that Gaara took away when he moved back. She could see his anxiety decrease as she neared, his lips forming a faint beam of happiness as hers developed into a full-blown grin.

"Yes."'

End Chapter