Desert Stars

Sunset

Y/n's POV

I'm so nervous that I'm pacing around my room, thinking of every way that tonight could go horribly wrong. Obviously, the Kazekage doesn't want me here. What if he kills me? What if he casts me out into the desert to see how long it takes me to die? What if he sends me back to the Leaf Village? Honestly, I wouldn't mind being home. But I don't think I could handle my parent's disappointment, and I definitely couldn't face Naruto.

Someone knocks on my door, and they don't even wait for me to tell them to come in before opening the door. It's a young woman, with blonde hair and blazing dark eyes. I recognize her from the chunin exams. She fought Shikamaru in the second round.

Temari. Gaara's sister.

"So you're the one," Temari says, glowering at me.

"Hi, I'm Y/n," I say, even though I know there isn't really a point. She obviously hates me already.

"Let me guess," says Temari, crossing her arms. "Your parents paid Dezato off so that he would volunteer you to do this? Are you hoping that you're somehow going to rule the Sand Village behind the scenes? Or do you just want the glory?"

"Uh, none of that, actually," I reply, and it's the truth.

Temari sniffs. "I don't believe you. You're not going to get your way, you know. The council's going to meet again tomorrow, and they'll vote to get rid of you. I'd bet money on it."

I shrug, trying hard to maintain my cool and act like I don't care, even though this girl kind of terrifies me. "Okay."

Temari studies my face, as if she's trying to solve a difficult puzzle. "Hm. Come on. I'm supposed to take you to dinner."

She doesn't wait for me to follow her before charging out of my room, starting down the hallway. Even though I'm inhumanly fast, I still somehow find it hard to keep up with her. She's obviously trying to get rid of me.

I'm determined not to let that happen. I'm going to prove this girl wrong.

After a long few minutes of speed walking and tight turns, Temari finally stops in a massive room. There's a big table, but only half the seats are filled. I spot Baki towards the head, talking to a man with red hair.

Gaara. I'd recognize those pale eyes anywhere. And that symbol on his forehead. He hasn't changed at all, appearance-wise. Maybe a little taller.

"...defend the city." I catch the butt end of whatever Baki was arguing to the Kazekage, but he shuts up as soon as he sees me and Temari. "We'll continue this conversation at the council meeting tomorrow."

"Yes," Gaara replies. Both him and Baki are looking at me. Gaara's strange eyes are boring into my soul, and I have to look away.

"I brought her," Temari says curtly, sitting down next to a guy with purple lines painted on his face. I recognize him from the chunin exams too. Kankuro, the puppeteer. Gaara's brother.

"Please, have a seat," Gaara says, gesturing to one of the many open chairs around the table. His voice is strange. It's kind of gravelly, like someone who has a cough. But it's not really creepy like you'd think it'd be, not like it was back during the chunin exams. It's strangely gentle, almost comforting. His eyes are a different story, though. He's looking at me like he's waiting for me to pull out a kunai and try to stab him.

Honestly, I kind of want to. It would make him stop staring at me.

I sit down in one of the chairs, far away from anyone else.

"I guess now we can begin," Gaara says. He gestures towards a ninja stationed against the wall, and they open a pair of doors, letting in an army of servants who set out countless steaming trays of food.