Rabbit Princess [Gaara] [3]

☾ 8 ☽

Tsukiko shared a furtive smile with Gaara as the two of them followed Tsunade, Shizune, Temari, Kankuro and the two Suna Council members out of the Hokage Office. Gaara smiled back at the girl, reaching out to take her hand into his, giving it a squeeze. Tsukiko moved closer to him, wishing to be with him the solitude of a private room already.

An agreement had finally been reached, and Tsukiko and Gaara were finally free to marry each other without any interjection by either village. Tsunade had made sure them to sign on their agreement, and it gave the two teenagers free will to announce and arrange marriage whenever they wanted.

Seemingly thinking the same thing, both Tsukiko and Gaara proposed the idea of having the marriage on the first day of the upcoming spring, and the pact was made.

It was coming up to Tsukiko slowly, the more she saw her boyfriend – no, her fiancé – that the two of them were really going to become husband and wife within a few months. It sent a warm feeling rushing through Tsukiko, and she wished to seal this feeling with a kiss.

While Shizune took the Suna Council members off to the guesthouse, the rest of them went back to the main house where they were to be staying for the night.

"I still can't believe you two are getting married," Kankuro muttered, shaking his head in disbelief when Tsunade left them on their own before dinner.

"You better start believing it after all that foolishness," Temari responded. She turned to look at Tsukiko and Gaara. "Of course, congratulations to the two of you. It's a bit early but welcome to the family, Tsukiko. To be honest, I considered you so when you started dating Gaara,"

"Thank you," Tsukiko replied, bowing deeply, genuinely grateful having someone like Temari around. "Thank you, Temari-San, and you as well, Kankuro-San,"

"I can't believe my baby brother is getting married already," Temari said, smiling at Gaara as well, feeling a bit emotional at how far he had come. "Of course, it's all thanks to you, Tsukiko,"

"Oh, no, that's not quite true," Tsukiko said, waving her hands quickly. "Gaara's here because of his own efforts and desire to be a better person. Rather than myself, I'm thankful for the way you two have supported him for the past few years now,"

"A desire that was sown by you," Temari pointed out, and Tsukiko blushed. "Gaara, you look a bit tired, as I expect after such a long day. Tsukiko, will you show him the room?"

"Usa, of course," Tsukiko replied, looking to Gaara. "There's so much that happened today – I'll show you to your room. There's about twenty minutes until dinner so you can freshen up,"

"I've been hoping to stretch myself, too," Kankuro agreed, moving to come with the two of them but Temari dragged him back from his collar. "What? I'm tired, too!"

"You and I are going to check on the council members," Temari told him and before he could continue, she was taking him away. "Tsukiko, we'll find our way to our rooms, and I'll come talk to you and Gaara in a bit, alright?"

It was clear to Tsukiko what Temari was meaning – she had taken Kankuro away to give Tsukiko some time with Gaara. The white-haired girl turned to look at Gaara shyly. She took his took his hand and the two of them headed to the same room Gaara usually took when he was visiting. It was in the other side of the house, and everything was quiet.

Gaara reached forward to slid open the door to his usual room, and he allowed Tsukiko to go inside first before he followed her, closing it behind them. It was dark in the room but the faint light of the setting sun was enough to let them see around without turning the lanterns on.