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Shogi Anyone?	By : Shortcake Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 13931 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything Naruto related. I make no profit from this story.

Chapter List
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Sakura crept down the hall quietly, keenly aware of her surroundings as she approached the kitchen. She still did not understand the reasons for keeping the romance quiet, but Temari’s conduct at lunch only reinforced Gaara’s request in her mind. There was still a lot she didn’t know about Suna and its customs. Or perhaps it was just their family. Either way, she was grateful for her shinobi training as she stealthed her way to the kitchen.
Jiro had the tray ready as she slipped into the kitchen. “Sakura!” He greeted her warmly, “I see you are becoming a regular guest for tea, eh?”
Sakura blushed at his light banter. “I don’t know why you told me Gaara is difficult to get to know. He reads like an open book to me.” She sat for a moment on the kitchen stool. Jiro was the only person Gaara trusted to know about their relationship, and Sakura found him easy to confide in too. She appreciated his perspective on life.
The portly chef nearly dropped his dish towel in surprise. “Really? An open book, you say? My dear Sakura, you are the first person ever to say that about Gaara of the Sand. I’m curious, what does this ‘open book’ say to you?” He leaned his chin on his hand as he awaited her reply.
Sakura shrugged lightly, “Well, he’s brilliant. Sharp enough that most people don’t keep up with him, so he gets bored easily. He’s strong, obviously, he is the kazekage. He hates politics, but he plays the game because he has to for Suna’s sake. Which, Suna and his family are everything to him; he cares about his people deeply. And beneath that strong, calm exterior he shows the world, Gaara is actually quite sensitive. I believe the phrase, ‘still waters run deep’ applies.”
Jiro stroked his chin thoughtfully, “hmmmm, I see why he likes you so much. Sakura, my dear, you are more observant than most kunoichi.”
Sakura blushed at the compliment, “Thank you, Jiro. You are too kind. And thank you for the tea as well.” She stood, bowed lightly, then headed to Gaara’s quarters with the tea tray. Tonight, there were no sandwiches; instead he’d sent sliced apples and some sort of warm caramel sauce. The man was a magician with food.
Gaara greeted her at his door, taking the tray from her as he kissed her cheek lightly. “It’s chilly outside already, so I thought we could have tea inside this evening.” He set the tea set down on a small, low table and motioned Sakura to a cushion as he sat down on the floor himself.
Sakura joined him and poured the tea with a small smile on her face. “In other words, you don’t want anyone watching your balcony to see us out there two nights in a row?” She asked humbly.
Gaara sighed. “Nothing gets past you does it?”
Sakura shrugged, “I am a shinobi, after all.” She didn’t want to push him too hard, but she did want some answers. She wouldn’t dive into a serious situation blind.
Gaara knew his situation was… unusual. But discussing the details was awkward. He had hoped to put off this conversation and he would avoid the topic if he could. “I heard one of the genin vomited on you today.” He took a sip of his tea as he watched her adorable face carefully.
Sakura laughed. “Yes, that did happen. You’d think the young man had never heard of a trash can. I was a complete mess… But you are changing the subject, Gaara.” She paused, taking a deep breath, she considered her words thoughtfully. “You see, Gaara, you are a remarkable man and … I really like you…”
Gaara set his tea cup down, his turquoise eyes focused intently on her bright green ones. “I sense a but.”
Sakura nodded, “But I want to understand why our interactions need to be a secret. I’ve followed your instructions; I even avoided the topic entirely when I had lunch with Temari. That wasn’t easy to do; she’s a good friend. So, please, explain it to me.” She picked up her own tea, attentive to whatever Gaara might say next.
He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment in reflection, and then he began, “Sakura, in Suna the kage title is normally passed from one generation to the next within the family. So, from the day I became kazekage, there has been discussion among my council about succession and who my heir might be.”
Sakura’s eyes widened, “But, you were only 16 years old when you became kazekage. Did they really expect you to marry so young?”
Gaara was a bit tense. This topic was mortifying to him altogether, much less in conversation with the young woman he’d only just started seeing. Still, it was an important consideration, and if Sakura couldn’t handle the secrecy or the pressure that would come down the line, it would hurt less now. He knew she was wise to ask her questions, even if it was a difficult topic. “No. They did not expect me to marry at 16. However, each of them has a favorite or two – their daughters, nieces, and so on – which if I married one of them, that union would enhance their political power and influence. Naturally, the incident with the Akatsuki and then the war, all of this has only served to intensify the pressure for me to marry and produce an heir. I’m 18 now, and two close calls like that have my councilors mentioning the topic in not-so-subtle ways at every opportunity.”
Sakura tilted her head to the side as she thought. He wondered if she knew that was a habit which he found positively adorable. “I see. So, that explains a few things. But why the secrecy from Kankuro and Temari?”
Gaara took a deep breath, “They are as bad or worse than the council. If I should die with no heir, one of them would be made kazekage. Neither of them wants the job. Not to mention, the heir producing pressure would then shift to them. They’d be pressured to marry the politically correct person and produce the next set of power shinobi for Suna.”
Sakura quickly thought through the implications of Gaara’s words. “Then I’m a problem for you since I’m not one of the politically correct choices.” A small frown crossed her face as she wondered if Gaara simply thought of her as a fling. A flight of fancy for a season and nothing more.
Gaara took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. He had to speak carefully. He did not want to frighten her. “Not necessarily, Sakura. Granted, none of the council members would gain political power or prestige in the event you and I eventually married, but none of their rivals would gain either. From my perspective, I would need to present them with a marriage candidate that was somehow a viable alternative to the ones they recommend.” This was a terrible way to date! He despised needing to have this conversation with Sakura. He simply wanted to spend time with her and touch her and… he took another deep breath to stop his carnal thoughts.
Sakura appreciated his reassuring touch, but she raised her eyebrow at his last phrase. “What does ‘viable alternative’ mean?”
Gaara smiled slightly at her question, “It means, my dear, that I would have to present them with a beautiful and powerful kunoichi. A woman who would be considered as adding value to the gene pool of my family. And it happens that you are such a woman. Furthermore, all of Suna knows this already. You saved Kankuro’s life when he was poisoned. You and Chiyo eliminated the Sasori threat. Your role in the war is well known. And you are here now, helping us rebuild our medical system.”
Her heart fluttered as he called her ‘dear’. His words were flattering, but… “So, I’m your girlfriend because I have a solid resume?”
Gaara shook his head. “No. You are my girlfriend because I find you irresistible. The fact that you have an excellent resume just means if we wanted to, there would be no obstacles to our marriage from Suna.”
Sakura paused. She hadn’t thought about that particular issue before. Her eyes widened at that thought. “I would have to have Tsunade’s permission to marry you. I’m not free to live outside Konoha without the hokage’s consent. Not that she’d say no, but… I’m sorry I never thought about it.”
Gaara gave her hand another small squeeze, “My dear, we will cross that bridge if we come to it. The Hokage loves you and wants you happy. I’m sure we could negotiate her consent. But, now do you see why I want our courtship to be private?”
Sakura nodded as she squeezed his hand in return. “Yes. Thank you for thinking ahead.”
Gaara relaxed some. “I’m glad we’ve cleared that elephant from the room.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly, grateful for her understanding.
The feel of his lips on the back of her hand sent tiny waves of electricity running up her spine. She felt her face redden and her heart raced as her desire swelled. “Speaking of elephants in the room, I take birth control pills. Just so you know.”
“Thank you for sharing, Sakura.” His voice dropped lower at her thinly veiled invitation. He kissed her hand again, but this time he continued on, planting small kisses along the porcelain skin of her arm, leaning forward as he went until he found himself sucking at the base of her neck. He breathed in deeply, her scent flooding him with passion. “Sakura…” he whispered her name in her ear as he paused the kiss, carefully avoiding the mark he longed to make on her.
Sakura finally remembered to breathe as the feel of his lip traversing her arm captivated her senses. Her opposite arm reached around him, her hand finding purchase in short locks of red hair at the back of his head. She moaned softly at the sound of her name spoken ardently in her ear as goosebumps raced up her spine. She tilted her head around towards the source of his voice as he captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. She gasped softly, her lips parting of their own accord as the kazekage’s tongue made its way into her wanting mouth. Her tongue danced with his, eventually finding its way into his mouth tasting the fruit and something mysteriously sensual as they explored each other. Arms wrapped around her waist and shoulders as his eager torso lowered her gently to the floor. Finally, she broke the kiss to catch her breath. “Gaara…” The name was only a whisper, but the passion and desire evident in her voice was a drug to his ears.
His hands swept over her torso, exploring her curves through the fabric of her shirt as he kissed her neck again, tasting her essence as he went. “Sakura… I want you.”
The strength in his voice drove her wild with hunger. Her hands roamed his torso, eagerly learning the shape of him by touch. She licked his ear lobe lightly then whispered, her sultry voice resonating through his skull, “Then take me Gaara.”
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Shogi Anyone?