Rabbit Princess [Gaara] [3]

☾ 6 ☽

Tsukiko had cleared her face of all signs of having cried and walked into the Senju District, waving goodbye to Naruto. She headed down the path that would lead her to the main house, the only one that was occupied at the moment. The Senju District was never as big as the Uchiha one as the Clan found it better to live assimilated within the others.

It was a quiet evening and Tsukiko knew that the Village Elders were already inside when she saw their shoes in the Genkan. She quietly made her way to her bedroom first, freshening up to not look tired and to dress down from her duty outfit. She chose to dress in her usual Kimono.

Besides, once she was finished with the elders, Tsukiko wanted to do some paperwork before she went to bed. She was about to leave the room when her eyes fell on her windowsill.

Sitting next to the Orchid Cactus was another gift that Gaara had given her on her eighteenth birthday – the Queen of the Night cactus. Tsukiko walked over to it with a smile.

The flower had bloomed that night they had shared together and, in that fragrance, Tsukiko felt like her love for Gaara had been sweeter than anything she knew.

Gaara had told her that it was the last bloom of its season, and he had hoped, and whispered in her ear the promise of sharing the night with her again when it would bloom its first flower in the following spring. Tsukiko blushed in realisation that they might get married by then.

Quietly making her way down the silent corridors, Tsukiko slid the door to the room open, bowing her head in greeting to Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. Shizune got up when Tsukiko entered the room and left to give her the privacy with the Elders and Tsunade. Tsukiko walked over to the table and sat down on with Tsunade on her left and the Elders on the right.

"I understand that you know why we're gathered here tonight," Koharu spoke up and Tsukiko nodded, looking at her. "The Hokage told us that you've been extended a request for marriage by the current Kazekage, Gaara, is that correct?"

"I'm not sure that I would call it a 'request'," Tsukiko replied. "However, it is true that Gaara, my boyfriend, asked me if I would like to marry him, and I answered him that I would,"

"Has this been discussed with anyone else but the two of you before this was decided?" Homura asked. "Given your positions in your villages, it's selfish for you two of talk about it on your own,"

"They discussed it with me, and I gave Gaara my permission," Tsunade interjected before Tsukiko could respond and she looked at the blonde in surprise. "I don't understand why you're making it out to be selfish now, when the two of them are who have to make it work,"

"Don't pretend that you don't realise the implications of this, Tsunade," Homura replied. "Her status calls for a much better match for her, not with the Sunagakure's Kazekage,"

"I'm marrying Gaara," Tsukiko responded, knowing that she was being a bit forceful. "Not the Kazekage of the Sunagakure. Status has nothing to do with this,"

"You want to marry Gaara but you will have to deal with his Kazekage status," Homura told her. "That will put a strain on you. It's a reason why no relationship between a Kage and a citizen of another country has been encouraged, much less successful,"

"There's a first for everything," Tsukiko said stiffly but they were not deterred.

"You're an adult now, Tsukiko," Koharu added. "There are far better matches for you – I'm sure you'd like to settle down after the war and not fuss around. There are so many better requests for your hand in marriage – several of the prospective Fire Daimyo are hoping to receive a positive respond. Out of them, I believe Tsukiko will get along with Madoka Ikkyu –"