Rabbit Princess [Gaara] [3]

☾ 34 ☽

Night had fallen by the time that Tsukiko and Gaara returned home to Sunagakure. Kankuro had accompanied them but Temari had stayed behind, mentioning that she had some work left over, which brought some in-depth conversation between Tsukiko, Gaara and Kankuro on their way back – each of them was sure that Temari would be bringing home some interesting news very soon.

Tsukiko was relieved to be back and made a beeline to get herself changed out of the dress, pulling on her night-time Yukata as she walked out of the bathroom. She looked up, finding that Gaara had undressed from his suit as well and was standing near the alcohol cabinet, looking for the honey wine.

"You're on it already, hm?" Tsukiko asked, amused as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It feels so nice to be back with you again, Gaara,"

"I missed you just as much," Gaara replied. "Allow me to pour some for you, it'll be nice to unwind,"

"Oh, we're on the same wavelength," Tsukiko said, laughing as she spun around to sit down on the bed, looking up at him as he poured some wine for both of them. "This is what I missed the most – knowing that I have someone special who understands me without words,"

"You've allowed me to get to know you so intimately," Gaara told her with a smile. "I can only be thankful toward you for being this kind,"

"Gaara, thank you," Tsukiko said, flattered by his words and reaching to receive the glass of wine as he sat down next to her. "All of this... it feels so wonderful to be back home,"

It took Gaara a second as he lowered his glass and turned to look right at Tsukiko when he heard those words, on the word 'home'. He had not expected Tsukiko to say that, he had never heard her say that before as she had never been away from Sunagakure by herself after their marriage.

"Home," Gaara repeated and Tsukiko looked toward him. "You have returned back to your home now," She seemed to now understand what he meant. "Your home..."

"... is in Sunagakure," Tsukiko replied. "In Sunagakure, with you, Gaara," She smiled softly as she looked down at her hands. "It is my home where I will live my life with you, raise our children and to spend the last of my days in your arms,"

Those words seemed to have done it for Gaara because he let go of the wine and instead moved to indulge in her lips instead. Tsukiko was surprised for a moment but then eagerly responded to it, blindly putting aside the glass of wine as she brought her arms back to embrace her husband.

"Careful!" Tsukiko said with a laugh as the two of them fell back on the bed, grinning at Gaara as he pressed his lips all over her face. "You must've missed me so much, huh?" She laughed.

"This bed has felt so empty without you here," Gaara confessed truthfully. "But now that you are here... I don't want to think about it... allow me to hold you for a long time..."

"I would love that more than anything," Tsukiko replied, smiling at him in the candlelight.

Spring Sunagakure sun spread across the length of Tsukiko's skin the following morning, the warmth of it a pleasant surprise after the cold night of yesterday. She felt the weight of her husband wrapped around her and she turned her head around to look at his face.

Gaara was still asleep, his face pressed against the soft pillow, expression relaxed and his hair messy. Tsukiko felt her chest flutter with love for him, moving forward to gently kiss him on the forehead.

Those lovely green eyes opened to look at Tsukiko, causing a smile to spread across her lips.

"... good morning, my love," Tsukiko greeted him. "Did you have a good sleep? You slept in,"