Gaara woke up and realized he was still in his suit. He stripped down quickly and grabbed a towel and ran off to the bath. He plunged in and began to scrub. He was freaking out. There wasn’t any time! Wait… what time was it? He looked at the clock above him and grimaced, it was three o’clock.

He sunk deeper into the water and blew out bubbles. He had freaked out over nothing, nothing at all. Gaara decided to take this as a time for reflection. Well, he had told Sakura how he felt. It took a lot, but he did it. He also did it plainly and nicely. He was honest, and she had kissed him. He loved her. He remembered how it felt. Her lips were so soft. He wanted to melt.

Gaara felt better now. He considered what to do that night. He heard a sound outside the window. It sounded like the earth was cracking. Gaara ran to the window and stared out at the courtyard. Four large cherry trees stood below him. Good.

Gaara’s master plan was on its way now. He sat back into the tub and relaxed. It was a large and pretty tub. He smelled cedar around him. He began to wash himself and to get the little bits of sand in his hair out. Gaara looked down; all of his sand covering had fallen to the bottom. Gaara motioned for the sand to sit in a pile beside him. He soaked for a while and stretched out.

He thought about what Kankuro had said. Of course, Kankuro said that all the time now. But Kankuro meant it. “So,” he asked, “Sakura and I were meant to be?” He looked at the sand. The made the sand into a little castle and smiled.

“Well,” he said partly to himself, “At least she’ll have trees now.” He wondered if she would go back and live in Konoha. His heart hurt at the thought. He wanted her to stay; he couldn’t go because he was the Kazekage. Gaara wondered for a second. Maybe if…

He put the thought out of his mind. First, tonight; tomorrow the world. He stood up and wrapped the towel around his waist. He looked at his sand castle and left it there.

He walked to his room. He sat down on the bed and towel dried his hair. He went to his dresser and pulled out his brush and toothbrush. He squirted some toothpaste onto his toothbrush and put it in his mouth. He began to absentmindedly brush his hair. He brushed his teeth when he was done.

Gaara sprayed his coat with his cologne and set it on a hanger to relax. He puller on his boxer briefs and a pair of pants and he sat down. It was past four and he laid back down to collect himself. He looked at the clock again, six o’clock. He sat up and changed.

Gaara wondered if Sakura was ready. He walked to her room and knocked, “Just a minute!” called Temari. Temari opened the door. She smiled at Gaara.

“She’ll be done soon,” then Temari closed the door. Gaara heard some sort of ruckus go on in Sakura’s room. Kankuro appeared at Gaara’s side, “Scary isn’t it?” Gaara agreed silently. Temari opened the door. Gaara stared at her as she opened the door all the way to reveal Sakura. She was made-up and perfumed to perfection. She closed her window and turned to Gaara. She smiled with her glossy lips and extended her perfectly manicured hand to him. He took it. She smelled like Sakura even more than usual.

Temari and Kankuro stayed behind. The couple walked arm-in-arm to the courtyard. She gasped as she looked out. The cherry trees were alive and the blossoms were full and bathed in the light of the sunset. Gaara smiled at her. “Did you do this?”

He nodded, “I wanted you to have your own sanctuary here.” Her tears began to well and he put his sleeve to her eyes. Gaara kissed her on the mouth and she reciprocated. Kankuro or Temari had placed a white gazebo in the middle of the courtyard. Underneath that was a table with a white table cloth with a candle in a glass bowl in the center.

Gaara took Sakura’s arm and she cuddled into the crook of his arm. Gaara pulled out her chair and then pushed her in. There were lights like fireflies all around them. Gaara quietly thanked a higher power and sat himself down. Sakura was clearly moved by all of this. Gaara was too. Kankuro, dressed as a waiter, came out, “What would you like to start out with, Sir? Madam?” Gaara smiled, “What would you recommend?”

Kankuro kept straight-faced, “I recommend out Sakura Sake and our sweet mochi before the main course.” Gaara looked over to Sakura. She nodded.  “Then that’s what we’ll have.”

Kankuro walked off. He made his way to Temari in the kitchen. He grabbed a tray and set four mochi on a white plate with sakura blossoms. He took two matching sake cups and the bottle out. Temari smiled, “Recommend Quail in Rose Petal Sauce on your way out.” Kankuro nodded. “I’d rather have them here than at that cheesy restaurant.”

He walked out and someone opened the door for him. Kankuro thanked the young maid and walked out to his brother. He set the food and drink down carefully and smiled. “I also recommend the Quail in Rose Petal Sauce.” Sakura smiled, “That sounds delicious.” Gaara chuckled, “It does.”

Kankuro took a bow and was on his way. Gaara poured Sakura a cup of sake. She drank it slowly and he drank his too. Gaara looked at her bathed in the light. “You look beautiful,” he said.

Sakura thanked him. “You look very handsome.” She twirled her long hair and smiled. He looked at how she shined. “So, Sakura, would you do me the pleasure of your company like this from now on?”

Sakura looked at a loss. He was too vague. “Would you like to stay here with me, in Sunagakure?” She smiled sweetly. “Well, what are you asking?” Gaara smiled. He held her hand, “I only want to be with you, Sakura, so, I want to be your, you know, boyfriend.” Sakura smiled, “You’re so cute, Gaara.” She squeezed his hand, “Of course I’ll stay here with you, I love you and I love Suna.”

Gaara felt his heart leap. He smiled. “So, will you be mine?” She nodded. It was moving fast, she thought, but this had been in the makings for goodness knew how long. She held his hand closer. “You’re so shy Gaara.”

Gaara leaned over, careful not to knock anything over, and he kissed her. Kankuro waited until the kiss was over to as if they needed anything. They both replied no. Kankuro went back into the kitchen. The two each had one of the mochi as they talked about silly things. Gaara took a second as she reached for hers as well. They laughed.

Kankuro appeared out of nowhere to gather their dishes and he returned promptly with their main course. Both quails were garnished beautifully with rose petals. Both began to cut into their quail. It was a heavenly taste. Gaara poured another cup of sake for Sakura then himself. They just enjoyed the atmosphere and each other’s company.

Kankuro and Temari sat in the kitchen and watched form relative safety. They each dined on quail and complemented one another on their handiwork. They saw Gaara and Sakura come closer together and the two kissed. Shikamaru was on his way to Suna, and had sent roses-somehow intact- to Suna for her. She had used them tonight rather than let them go to waste. She considered having a small rose garden. Maybe she could ask for one for her upcoming birthday.

The couple was now kissing and drinking and eating happily. Sakura looked beautiful tonight. Gaara looked so handsome with his happy face on. Gaara held Sakura’s chin in his hand. The couple was so relaxed now. “Hey, Kankuro, I bet you they’ll be married before the year is out.” Kankuro grinned, “I can’t bet against you.” Temari looked at her plate, “The main course will be the same as tonight, with mochi as a favor.”

Kankuro nodded, “I’ll leave it all up to you and Sakura and Gaara. Just ask me if you need help.”