A/N: That's it, folks! This story is a wrap (sobs)! I'm deeply grateful for all your kind reviews over the years and for you all sticking with my writing journey all along, despite that the last few updates have been painfully slow. This story is so dear to my heart. From when/how it started to now, each chapter marks a specific point in my life and just brings back so many memories. It's bittersweet to see it conclude. Naturally, you might ask what's next? Well, my love for GaaSaku lives on. I still have so many story ideas in my notes that I wish I could've worked on, but life happens. While I can't promise another project any time soon, I know I'll have spurts of creativity here and there that will bring me back here either as a writer or reader... So this is not a goodbye, but until the next time. I wish you all well!
Chapter 29
"Why does he have to train with us?"
"Shut it, Boruto. Focus!"
Shouting, groaning, clanging of metal against metal—a host of noises erupted at the training ground on a cool afternoon that was a rare treat for the summer months. It'd been overcast since the day broke. The lower temperature made an ideal environment for a heated spar session. The children leapt and chased, punched and dodged, all fully immersed in a choreography of offensive and defensive moves.
Some distance before him in the wide open field, black masses of iron sand crushed down on the earth, and Sarada's team evaded the attack by a hair's breadth. In the next, hasty commands were tossed from one to another. The volume of yelling amplified, the intensity of the fight increased, all making up a spectacle that could easily beckon an audience.
But more than the lively match between the young Genin, Gaara was drawn to his company, his focus staying on the profile of his female companion. There was a shine to Sakura with her soft rosy lips curved upward, as she sat and watched the children, not yet taking notice of his observation of her. He felt serene, content.
He didn't know satisfaction in life could come in this form. The idea that he'd contemplated and considered in his head for quite some time further cemented itself in his consciousness. He could wake up to the sight of her smile, at his side, everyday.
And he's had a fair amount of thinking to turn this scenario into certainty. His plan, however, wasn't received with enthusiasm when he voiced it on one seldom occasion in his sharing mood. Opposition had flared, and it'd come from one of those dearest to him.
Temari was open and direct in her disapproval, relying on the authority vested in her as the head of the family as well as his older sister. Over two cups of tea that were never touched, she objected to his intention and argued against the potential sacrifices he'd confessed willingness to make. With little subtlety, she went on to question the character of his person of interest—the fact that she did stray from her marriage had made her untrustworthy (even though he too was a participant in the act and therefore had errors in his ways).
Gaara heaved a sigh, restrained and almost inaudible. The episode with his sister wore down on him, fueling his irritation and impatience that he tried not to lose control to. As much as he preferred harmony in his interaction with his siblings, he was his own person and had his own conviction. He was explicit with Temari, when he called for an end to their conversation on the subject matter with no more room for discussion. He took his quiet understanding of her concerns to the depth of his heart instead, knowing it was only her protective nature to blame for her strong words. He wasn't completely dismissive of her arguments, but he chose to reflect on them on his own at quiet times.
There was risk inherent to everything in life. He never claimed expertise in romance. It was a new relationship, a first, of two people both with complicated backgrounds. He'd dived into it, leaning on instincts more often than not, sometimes to his benefit, sometimes to a fault. There were instances that he'd said too little when he could've offered more and that his actions were excessive when he should've yielded, he recognized in hindsight...
It was alright. Neither of them were perfect. Give and take, push and pull—they were both learning how to balance, to be each other's support and comfort during challenges.
Again, Gaara decided to focus on that delicate smile. It was all he saw. It was beautiful. So what could he do but to take that risk?
He'd vowed to do everything in his power to protect and preserve that smile, to eliminate all elements that would contribute to the unhappiness of his partner.
To prove Temari wrong.
"Sakura," inhaling, he stated, "I have a proposal for you."
"Hmm? What is it?" Green eyes flickered over to him, bright, with curiosity.
"Come with me to Suna," he said firmly and earnestly, "you and Sarada."
It felt natural in that moment to verbalize what had been on his mind. It was a simple proposal, but the meaning behind it was no simple thing. With her by his side, Gaara selfishly wanted it for years and years to come.
And she realized that, apparent in the way she'd given him her rounded stare and parted her mouth. Long eyelashes fluttered at him once, twice. Her pink lips thinned, as she withdrew them into her teeth. Her expression changed, a different emotion taking over it. Conflict, Gaara perceived, from the slight wrinkle that formed in her forehead.
"I..." Sakura replied, her voice soft and feathery. "We can't—at least, not now." A sad-eyed smile followed, communicating a kind of dilemma.
Her response came as no surprise. He fully expected this answer, but it didn't lessen the disappointment that weighed his spirit down.
Gaara didn't blame her, for he understood her worries and concerns. He speculated it would be an uphill battle with the Konoha Council to agree on a transfer for Sarada, who was no doubt regarded as a valuable asset to the village given her special heritage. He wouldn't necessarily count on Naruto to side with him, knowing very well that in the Hokage's position certain political considerations would have to trump personal ones. But more important than this factor was the adolescent's development. There was potential detriment to uprooting a child from the home she grew up in, a close and familiar environment, during such a critical stage of her life.
"Are you sure though?" Sakura's voice came through, a light bounce in her tone this time. Her question made a pivot for his private thoughts to turn to a new direction, and he welcomed it. Quickly, she supplied the rest, "You know I can't cook well. I have a bit of a temper. And I cry too much sometimes."
He noticed the small playful grin she now wore.
"What? I just want to make sure you know what you are getting into," she said, her airy laugh filling the quiet minute in which he studied her with a single-raised brow. She'd assured him that her initial response meant no rejection. It simply signaled a temporary difficulty that required their working together to solve.
Gaara relaxed. He recognized the humor and appreciated the refreshment of mood. He shook his head. "The first two, I can accept."
"As for the last..." Still, Sakura's question was one he wouldn't answer lightly.
"For as long as you'll have me, I won't let there be a reason for that." With a sure and steady gaze, he faced the woman he gladly chose to be part of his world. To her, he laid out his devotion.
"I want you to need, depend on me as much as I, with you."
He laid out his heart.
"I want you in my life. And I want you to want the same too," he looked directly into her green eyes, as he told her. Honest and sincere—he shared with her his innermost desire in this manner, and that was what he would be with her always.
She was the first to pull away from their eye contact. He saw the widening of her gaze, right before she turned her body. Without words, she gave him the back of her head.
From over her shoulder, he saw her arm reach up in haste. The back of her hand seemed to touch her face. There was the sound of a sniffle, then another. Sakura grumbled, "way to not give a reason to make a person cry..."
Gaara found himself smiling ruefully to that.
After a clearing of the throat, Sakura said, "Okay. I have a counter-proposal then." Her pastel tresses hid the outline of her profile from him. He blinked.
She still didn't look at him, as she picked herself up from her seat. His focus rose with her. Dusting the back of her dress, she aimed her attention to the sky, then forward. She watched the children.
"How about… you take me on a proper date first?"
He caught a view of the curled corner of her lips, as she suggested her so-called "counter-proposal." Sitting there, he could only sense the mischief that crept over her features.
She didn't wait for a verbal response from him, already collecting their belongings and stepping down from the bleacher. He watched her, as she strode toward the center of the training ground. She seemed to have complete faith in him to grasp the meaning of her words, Gaara thought. And he did.
Let's take this slow. Let's do things right this time… she'd told him, and he'd accept wholeheartedly.
Dark dense clouds had gathered overhead, and the air grew humid, all promising rain. A storm was brewing. He heard Sakura calling for Sarada and the boys, appearing ready to usher everyone home.
He stood to his feet as well.
There were talks about homemade shabu shabu for dinner and unanimous cheers over Sakura's invitation to her apartment, as Gaara closed a bit of the distance between the group ahead and himself. Slowly, a shorter figure gravitated toward him, lagging in her pace until he fell into even steps with her. It felt purposeful. His eyes drifted down to Sarada on his right.
Their walk together was in companionable silence for a moment until the kunoichi spoke up. Her sudden upfront inquiry spurred a good look of surprise from him.
"You are going to marry my mom?" From behind red frames, dark eyes were fixed on him.
"I intend to," breathing out, he admitted truthfully. There was no tiptoeing around the topic with the sharp-witted girl, so he told her straight as it was, with the same courtesy. By now, his closeness to her mother wasn't exactly a secret.
"You are not my dad..." the young one returned shortly, startling him with her remark.
Intent, he studied Sarada the way she studied him. His thoughts became serious upon a certain recognition. It was never his intention to replace Sasuke in the father and daughter bond. Still, he needed to earn her acceptance on the matter, before anyone else's.
"So don't disappear on me and Mama."
At these next words from the girl, a new recognition swept over the initial one for Gaara. He softened his eyes at her.
"Never." He was prompt to assure Sarada. To have this acknowledgment from her, he was thankful, honored.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Unlike the few instances before when his answers to her fell short of concrete promises, because of the various reasons at the time, he was unequivocal now in making his pledge. It would be his life's mission to fulfill it.
"I'm not sharing with him!" The boys' argument was heard from the front. Back against Shinki, Boruto fiddled with his umbrella.
A few droplets of rain found their way to Gaara's face. He looked heavenward. More gray clouds had advanced in.
After a few more shared steps alongside him, Sarada skipped toward the group. He was left then to observe them from behind while imagining to himself his life ahead... It wouldn't be a solitary journey anymore.
A new one instead, joined by three others whom he'd always cherish, and he eagerly looked forward to it.
"Aren't you coming?"
He tilted his face toward the source of the mellow female voice. Swinging open her umbrella, Sakura craned her head back toward him.
He looked at her questionably.
"Let's go home." It'd started to drizzle. Under the canopy of her umbrella, her smile warmed his soul. It was his anchor, his shelter.
Home…
The single word resonated deeply with him, staying with him from now and onward. It gave him the irresistible urge to smile furiously. It called for him.
He always hated the rain in Konoha. But he thought he would have plenty of time to get used to it. After all, twenty years of reign could be getting stale, and Sand and its people could benefit from a new vision. It might be time to pass on the torch...
He always hated the rain in Konoha, but something in him told him that it wouldn't be so bad after all…
With an energetic spring, Gaara drew his step toward Sakura.
Toward home.