Absolved.

A Request.

      {Part Three: Happy ever after.}

[Song: King - Lauren Aquilina]

Gaara sat behind the large sandstone desk in his office, working his way slowly through the stack of papers laid out in front of him. Only his two trusted guards were in the room, standing behind him to his left and right staring blankly forwards.

Usually he'd allow them to be at ease, playing board or card games in the corner but he was expecting company today.

Icy blue eyes trailed away from the latest paper. Yet another letter from his eldest sister, pleading for any new information on the Jutsu he'd promised to discover for her. He pressed his lips softly, setting this one aside so he could read it properly later before he set back to his business.

In this room he was not Kairi's little brother, not the youngest sand sibling or the monster of Sunagakure. He was the Lord Fifth Kazekage, and he very much enjoyed that feeling from time to time.

A few short raps at the door announced the arrival of his expected visitor.

"Send him in, please." The Kazekage spoke, clearing his throat as he was still adjusting to his new, deeper voice.

Gaara straightened his shoulders and back, attempting to seem taller now. He began to write again, careful to keep his eyes away from the door as he attempted to give an air of indifference, disinterest and business.

"Honorable Lord Fifth Kazekage." The sharp voice of the older man was tinted with the cracking of nerves.

Gaara couldn't help but smirk just a little, the reason for his own nervous preparations was just as seemingly uncomfortable. "Kakashi Hatake, it is good to see you. Please have a seat and we will begin discussion in a moment."

He gestured briefly to a chair across from his desk, returning to the paperwork he was currently signing. He hoped to make the training academy field trip form look more important than it was. He was still smirking as he heard Kakashi fidgeting slightly across from him. The fact that the legendary Copy Ninja of Konoha was here in his office, older than himself yet having a difficult time containing his unease was a bit of a treat.

Just to delay the issue a little further, he took his time stacking the papers properly and setting them aside, before he laced his fingers together and finally looked up to his visitor. "Yes Kakashi, you had a request I do believe?"

"Yes." Kakashi said too quickly, "Lord Kazekage, I wanted to - -"

"Please, call me Gaara."

"Uh, Gaara.. I have come to ask for - - well, to request your permission to ask for Kairi's hand." Kakashi again spoke quickly, stumbling over his words a bit.

Gaara could not help the smile that spread over his face this time. He may be Kazekage in this office, an island of his own, but he still wished to see his siblings happy. "Do you swear on your life to honor and protect her?"

Kakashi paused for a moment, seeming to think over what he was about to say. "That is the other reason I wanted to speak with you Gaara. It makes it hard to both protect Kairi, and to love you as a brother in law when you are helping her formulate a plan to kill herself."

Gaara glanced at the letter sitting on his desk, his eyes wavering over his sister's beautiful lettering and gave a quick nod to the man in front of him. "As much as I owe Naruto, and believe in him.. You can not think that after everything I would assist my sister in this jutsu plan of hers?"

Kakashi's confusion showed on his visible face.

"You know her stubbornness, if I had told her no, she would have been back here in an instant to find the secrets herself." Gaara continued. "I'm writing to assure her I was looking into it, I bought the time I needed to be absolutely sure that Granny Chiyo never revealed that secret to anyone, nor did she keep record of it."

"You were never going to help her?"

"I've just gotten my family back, as selfish as it is, I would not lose it again for anything or anyone."

"Then I vow my fullest protection to not only Kairi, but to your family and village as well." Kakashi stood and placed a hand over his heart.

Gaara smiled a little, opening a drawer on his desk and bringing out a mess of paper that had been pieced back together. "Seems as cruel as he was, my father was wise in his choice."

Kakashi silently eyed the scroll of paper that was once to be his marriage arrangement yet had nearly lost him the girl he loved.

"You are very precious to my sister, do not hurt her again." Gaara nodded, holding the ruined paper over the flame of a nearby candle "you may ask her with my blessing, but her answer is her own to give."

"Thank you, Gaara."

The Kazekage nodded and removed his hat, placing it on the desk before he produced a bottle of sake and two glasses. "Now we celebrate.... Brother."

------------{Later}-------------

A crash and the sound of laughter stirred me from my peaceful slumber. I sat up a bit, wondering if it was some lingering bit of a dream until I heard Temari's shrill voice echoing through the house. I quickly came to my senses, fearing the worst as I tossed off the blankets and left my bedroom.

"Temari, what's wrong?" I called down the hall as I made my way to the main part of the house.

"Your boyfriend got my baby brother drunk!" My sister called back, sounding like a mother and using 'my baby brother' in such a way that made me feel as though it was my fault.

"What?" I asked as I came into the den, my eyes widening at the sight in front of me.

Kakashi and Gaara were on the floor, laughing together as Gaara mimicked Temari's angry voice. Kakashi had his mask pulled down around his neck and his face was red with an alcohol blush.

"Gaara are you drunk?" I hissed.

"No drunk, I'm not mom." He hiccups, trying to get to his feet and falling over again to Kakashi's great amusement.

I glared at them, but it was Temari who began yelling again. She was in the middle of scolding Kakashi like he was a disobedient little boy when Kankuro made it onto the scene.

"Would you two shut the hell up?" Our little-big brother hissed from the doorway of his bedroom. "Leave them alone, they would have passed out by now if you two weren't out here chirping at them."

My sister and I both turned to glare at him, causing him to duck his head back into his room and slam the door.

"Right." I growled a little. "Let's get Gaara to bed."

"Your boyfriend did this, you can stay up with Gaara." Temari nodded curtly, helping me get our baby brother to his feet.

"I wanna come to bed." Kakashi slurred, getting himself up off the floor.

"You can sleep on the couch." I said flatly before helping Temari get Gaara down the hallway to my bedroom.

Gaara let something between a hiccup and a burp escape his mouth before mumbling "I don't feel so good."

"Perfect." I sighed as Temari and I got Gaara into my bed and pulled off his shoes and the Kazekage cloak.

"Sleep tight." She nodded, before leaving me stranded there.

I rolled my eyes, grabbing a garbage can and a towel and setting Gaara up so he would hopefully find them if he needed them.

"Where's Kakashi?" He slurred as I tucked him into my bed.

"In the dog house."

He laughed, and then threw up.

When I felt he'd emptied his stomach I got him a cold glass of water, and took the can to the bathroom to clean it out before returning it to him just in case.

I climbed into my bed, and Gaara snuggled up against me like a small child before slurring out "I love you, Kai."

As cute as it was, I almost gagged. "Gaara your breath smells like dead things."

"That's why you're my favourite." He bubbled, burping almost directly into my face.