Rabbit Princess [Gaara] [2]

☾ 51 ☽

The Suna Siblings were dressed up according to the climate and seemed to returning from the Five Kage Summit. However, unlike whenever she met them together before, there was not an inch of Tsukiko that could make a light-hearted remark, and neither could the other three, all of their expressions of outmost seriousness, as she could expect.

Yet the sight of Gaara had sent a strange sensation through Tsukiko's body and she felt her limbs turn slack, all feeling escaping her. Something about his mere presence after such a long day made her want to tear up and cry incessantly in his arms, as if all burden would escape with her tears in that safe haven.

"There is something you must hear immediately," Temari spoke up as she looked at the group of them. "We will tell you everything that happened at the Five Kage Summit,"

Temari began to talk and all of them could not help but listen quietly as they revealed everything.

"I see," Yamato said once the Sunagakure Siblings were done telling them everything. "Who would have thought the meeting would become so intense. I guess with Danzo..."

"I'm not too eager about becoming the Hokage," Kakashi spoke up. "And even if the situation requires me to accept... I'll have to return to Konohagakure first, and hear what the others say,"

"Madara has declared war on us!" Temari exclaimed. "There's no time to deliberate!"

"I'm sure everyone will approve," Yamato said and Tsukiko looked at Kakashi. "We should have them proceed on the premise that you are the Hokage, Kakashi Senpai. If our response is delayed and the Akatsuki and Madara take the advantage, that would be even worse,"

"I guess you're right, thanks," Kakashi muttered, giving in.

"And Sasuke..." Yamato went on before sighing. "For him to attack the summit..."

"Tsukiko, Naruto," Gaara said as he turned to look at them, and Tsukiko found her eyes meeting directly with his. "This is a battle to protect the Reibi, Hachibi, and Kyuubi. Namely, the two of you and it's also for the Shinobi world. As the Kazekage, I would give my life to protect you both. If Uchiha Sasuke confronts the Allied Shinobi Forces as a member of the Akatsuki, I will show no mercy," Naruto looked down. "Sasuke doesn't care about either of you. All he wants is darkness. Naruto, you told me, 'I'm going to be the Hokage', I have become the Kazekage,"

Gaara walked forward walked over to Naruto and placed a hand on his shoulder, "If you are prepared to bear the burden of being a Kage, then do what is right as Sasuke's friend,"

Naruto looked at him before pushing Gaara's hand off his shoulder.

It was quiet for a while.

"May I speak with you, Tsukiko?" Gaara asked as he reached his hand out to her. Tsukiko couldn't speak so she only nodded. "It's a bit private, if you must..."

Tsukiko nodded again and went to follow him when Gaara took her hand, bringing her about a yard away from the others, keeping his back to the others so his body could shield a bit of her while they talked. Tsukiko looked up at him as he kept his hold on her hand.

"Seeing you like this, you appear as if you're sick," Gaara said, reaching out to press his free hand against her forehead. "Are you catching a cold in this land?"

It was such an unexpectedly normal concern that Tsukiko found it even harder to keep her tears at bay and she lowered her head, hiding the tears forming on her cheeks with futility. But Gaara brought her head back up, and she squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the brush of his fingers as he wiped at the warm tears freezing up against her skin.

"Tsukiko," Gaara muttered. "Look at me," His gaze met with her watery eyes. "I hope you don't take my promise to you in vain, Tsukiko, I mean it. I'm not going to hand you over to them. There is nothing that can convince me against that. Ever since I have met you, you have been my hope. And I would rather die than see that hope vanish. You have always told me about your wishes for peace in our world... I will make sure to help achieve it... but I don't want to see that day without you,"