Desert Flower

Kage Summit

  "Found you!" I jumped down with my arms outstretched to tackle the boy below. A grin grew on my face when I landed on a wall of sand instead and swung my legs to plant my feet onto it. "Come on. Hug!"

  "Sayuri?" Gaara's eyes widened just before the wall collapsed, and the redhead caught me in his arms. "What are you doing here?" Despite his words of shock, he fully accepted the hug, holding me tightly as I knew he craved the contact just as much as I did, if not more.

  "You've surely heard about our Hokage going into a coma, right?" The redhead nodded. "Some jerk weaseled his way into being named Sixth. Kakashi-sensei advised me to leave Konoha until things settle because the Sixth is someone who wants me in prison. Naruto, too."

  "Because of the beasts?"

  "Yeah. The first place I could think of going was here." Nuzzling into the side of Gaara's neck, I relished in the feeling of the hug. Just like his smile, Gaara was pleasantly warm. It felt as if it had been too long since I'd last smelled his scent, and I found it so relaxing.

  "....I have to leave for a summit soon." Gaara's voice was quiet as he leaned into me.

  "Not tonight, though, right?"

  "No."

  "Then just let me have this moment." I sighed, and Gaara scoffed. We just stood there on the roof, holding each other as the moon shone brightly above. Tilting my head to the side, I looked at the side of Gaara's face. "Can I kiss you?"

  "Yes." I leaned back, and I could see Gaara was blushing as I cupped his cheeks in my hands. Gently pulling him down, I planted my lips on his. The kiss started sweet and slow but slowly gained intensity after I draped my arms over the back of his neck.

  "I love you." My voice was barely over a whisper as my lips were only centimeters from his. Gaara's eyes widened as he looked down at me, and I could see so many emotions swirling in his eyes. I found myself with my back against a wall, and the redhead's voice was low as he spoke.

  "Could....Could you say that again?"

  "I love you." My expression softened while my thumb brushed over his cheek. Gaara leaned into my touch with his eyes half-open and his brows furrowed.

  "Again?"

  "I love you." The redhead looked so fragile as he placed his hand on the back of mine. I could only assume it'd been a very long time since he'd heard those words directed towards him, or this was the first time. "I'll tell you however many times you want me to. I love you, Gaara."

  "Do you....mean it?"

  "Of course, I do." Using my other hand, I swept Gaara's bangs off his forehead and placed a kiss there. "I'll always mean it."

~

  "Sayuri?! What are you doing here?" Temari slowly grinned at me as I stood at the wall surrounding Sunagakure.

  "Got some free time. Thought I'd bug you guys." I chuckled before Kankuro waved his hand.

  "Sorry to break it to you, but we're leaving for a Kage summit."

  "She's coming with us." Gaara said flatly without even pausing as he walked.

  "What?"

  "You heard him. I'm coming with."

  "I mean, I don't personally have a problem with it, but don't you think it might be strange for the Kazekage to show up with a Konoha shinobi?"

  "Just think of it as I'm on loan from Konoha. Shit's kinda....everywhere over there right now."