Rabbit Princess [Gaara] [3]

☾ 29 ☽

Yuinou: Senju Residence

The date for their wedding day was decided during the Yuinou during a special visit by Gaara and his siblings during a mid-February evening. Along with the three Suna Siblings, a Suna Council member had accompanied them on the journey due to the status of the affair.

Yuinou was, in essence, a betrothal ceremony where the exchange of symbolic gifts between the to-be-wed couples' families was very much common. It was held over a dinner.

Tsukiko had respected the tradition and worn a pretty red furisode just to please Gaara's eyes, although she felt like there was no need to exchange gifts.

Gaara had gifted the traditional Yuinou kin, which included the special envelope called Shugi-Bukuro, containing money and tied with gold and silver strings tied with intricate knots.

Other symbolic gifts included the dried sepia called Kobu, referring to happiness, and a folding fan which spread open to represent the future growth between them. Lastly, there was the Tomoshiraga, where the 'Tomo' referred to being 'together' and 'Shiraga' meaning 'white hair', a symbolic wish to live a life together until they grew old.

Finally, the day had been selected on a date that would make it easy for all of them to attend the wedding. And afterward, Tsukiko and Gaara had gotten some time for themselves. The two of them had headed out to take a walk in the gardens behind her wing.

"We can't meet after this, you know," Tsukiko said as she looked up at him, wrapping her arms around his. "Well... not until it is our wedding day,"

"Wedding traditions are... strange," Gaara muttered, looking rather disappointed and Tsukiko chuckled at how cute he looked. "I will miss you,"

"We can't meet but we can still send letters to each other," Tsukiko said, smiling. "We have to respect traditions for the sake of our ancestors... it's just we feel it a bit more because both Konoha and Suna have their respective traditions to follow,"

"I'll guide you through those from Suna's side," Gaara said and Tsukiko looked at him happily. "I just want us to be together... I miss you all the time,"

"I understand," Tsukiko assured him. "Just two more weeks, and then we'll be together," Gaara nodded, and the two of them looked up at the sound of – "Children, looks like they're in the park,"

"Why are they playing out so late?" Gaara asked, confused at the sound of children playing in the adjacent Senju Park. Surprisingly, Tsukiko chuckled. "What is it?"

"You look so worried," Tsukiko said. "They often come around here in the evening because they like to have a 'courage test'. They spook each other out on purpose,"

"Courage test?" Gaara repeated, having never heard of it but he let it go as Tsukiko peered over the wooden fence to look at the children. "Do you know them?"

"Usa, they're all really sweet," Tsukiko replied. "I have started to love spending time with children whether they're having fun or I'm trying to teach them..."

Gaara was quiet as he watched his fiancée peer at the children – she was beaming at the sight of them, with a slight concern, and her eyes were bright. He looked back at the children, who were starting with their courage tests with hand-held lanterns.

"Do you like children?" Gaara spoke up, and Tsukiko nodded in reply. His cheeks turned red as he continued. "Would you... want to have children after we have married?"

"W-What?" Tsukiko asked, equally bashful as she looked at him. "Um... Usa, I would like to have children," She tried to cool her blush. "... would you?"