I slept in late and then woke up to train a little bit more on my dancing. Temari appeared on the roof next to Gaara and me. We broke out of our dip and Temari grabbed me.
“It’s time to get you ready.” Temari said as Kankuro appeared on the roof.
“Gaara, let’s get you ready.” He said.
Temari disappeared with me as Kankuro and Gaara disappeared off the roof. I sighed as I was brought to a large dressing room. I was fitted into an elegant blue dress that was strapless and flowed down to my knees. It was cut at one side so it showed off my legs a bit. Temari threw a pair of silver pumps at me and I put them on. She then brought me to a hair dresser who did my hair up into an elegant bun. She then put some glitter in my hair and on my chest. I sighed and then looked at myself in the mirror. Temari smiled at my shocked expression.
“You look stunning. I think even Gaara will stop in his tracks and maybe even forget to breathe.” Temari said.
“But Sensei can’t stop breathing over me!” I said and blushed.
“Let’s go.”
“But aren’t you getting dressed?”
“I have the first half of watch duty so I’ll be watching the village.”
“That sucks.”
“Kind of.”
“Who will be there?”
“Most of the villages.”
“Oh.”
“We’re here.”
“Where do I go?”
“Just follow the main hallway and the ballroom will be right there.”
“Thanks Temari.”
“No problem. If there’s even a slight chance that you can open Gaara’s heart, I’ll help in any way possible.”
“I’ll see you later then.”
“Until then.”
We waved goodbye as I entered the building. I could hear elegant music flowing out from a huge room. I walked forward, my pumps clicking against the floor. I opened the huge oak doors to be greeted by mild chatter. As the doors creaked open, most of the hall turned to face me. There was a stunned silence as they took me in. I spotted Gaara’s flame of red hair in the middle of the crowd. He was talking to someone that looked official when he noticed that everyone except him was turned towards the doors. I blushed and looked around as Gaara turned. I looked at him and watched carefully as his expression changed from shocked to alarmed to shocked and then to admiring. I blushed a deep scarlet and headed over to him. Everyone’s eyes followed me as I made my way over to Gaara.
“Sensei.” I said and curtsied.
Gaara did nothing except for stare at me as everyone else was.
“Way to clean up Leslie! I knew you had it in you girl!” I heard someone shout.
I turned in time to see Sakura punch Naruto in the arm. I giggled and then turned back to Gaara.
“It is time to dance! The tango will be first. Please move off the dance floor. The kazekage and his apprentice shall lead us in the dance.” A voice called.
I walked with Gaara to the middle of the dance floor. He grabbed me close to him as the music started. One hand was very low on my back and the other gripped my hand. My other hand was on his shoulder.
Gaara’s face was a deep scarlet as we began to twirl and sway. Slowly people began to twirl onto the dance floor. This dance seemed more official and more magical than all the rest. Our feet barely touched the ground and our hair was blowing with the wind of our turns. By the end of the dance, I thought Gaara had only breathed once and he was careful not to dip me too far because of my dress.
Everyone clapped when the dance had ended, but Gaara and I stayed in our position. Naruto almost called out, but Sakura stopped him.
“Sensei, the dance is over.” I whispered.
Gaara seemed to snap out of it and he pulled me upright. I giggled as he blushed a deeper scarlet and the next dance ensued. We danced for most of the night before going to make conversation. Gaara allowed me to wander on my own. I made my way over to Naruto and Sakura.
They smiled when they saw me approach. I curtsied and smiled back at them. Naruto grabbed me into a hug and twirled me around. He put me down and then Sakura punched him in the arm again.
“You big idiot! You’ll mess up her dress!” She hissed.
“Sorry.” Naruto said.
“I’m so glad you two are here!” I said smiling.
“Chibi-chan, we would never miss a chance to see you.” Sakura said.
“Yeah. We care about you girl.” Naruto said.
“You’ve grown up so much. You make me so proud.” Sakura said.
“Onee-chan, I’m so happy!” I said.
“Um….Leslie……We miss you at the leaf village.” A quiet voice behind me said.
I turned to see Hinata standing a few feet back.
“Hinata!” I said.
I grabbed her hands and smiled at her.
“I miss you too!” I said.
“Well, by the looks of it, they’re treating you pretty well.” A voice said.
“Neiji?” I asked.
Neiji walked out from behind Hinata and looked me up and down.
“You’re doing good kid.” He said.
I giggled just as Gaara came over. For the first time, I noticed that he was wearing a very nice looking tuxedo. I smiled as he approached.
“I need my apprentice back if you don’t mind.” He said.
“But Sensei! I wanted to catch up with everyone!” I said.
“We’ll have to invite them to a dinner party then.”
“And the girls can sleep over in my apartment!” I giggled.
“Will you have room?” Sakura asked.
“I can get extra mats.” I said.
“Then its official. Next week, we all come over for a dinner party.” Naruto said.
“And then a slumber party with Chibi-chan.” Sakura said.
“See you next week!” I called as Gaara and I walked away.
Everyone waved and then began a discussion of what sounded like me.
“I had to steal you for my own.” Gaara whispered.
“But the party is almost over. You couldn’t wait?” I asked.
“No. You’re too beautiful to share tonight.”
“Then why did you let me go over there?”
“Only because I needed to catch my breath.”
“Sensei! It’s not good to hold your breath for that long!”
“You took it all away.”
As we began to head out the doors, a voice rang through the ballroom and hall.
“The ball is over! Please return to your hotel or your village!” A voice said.
Gaara grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him. We disappeared just as the crowd started to pour out of the ballroom. We appeared right into Gaara’s room. This time, there was a candle lit and it filled the room with a soft glow. Gaara grabbed me and pulled me very close to him. His hand slid up my dress while the other guided a leg up. I blushed.
“Sensei.” I whispered.
“Leslie. You’re training will be done in two months time. I have to get as much of you as I can before that time ends.” He said feverishly.
“But Sensei, you already have all of me. You have my heart and everything connected to it.”
“I love you more than anything.”
“You’re people come first.”
“You are part of the people.”
“I love you too Sensei.”
We kissed and made love like it was the last time we were to be together. Afterwards, I fell asleep on his chest with his arms around me.
***
Leslie’s breathing evened and I could tell she was asleep. I watched her face relax and it seemed so young and loving. It seemed so peaceful. Her soft pink lips trembled slightly with a shuddered sigh. My lips ached for hers, but I decided against kissing her. I held her tightly to me and then began to whisper softly to her.
My life has been miserable for as long as I can remember. Everyone feared me. But then I met Naruto. He taught me that I don’t have to let fear rule my life. Then, I began to change. I began to want to have the people love me instead of fear me. That’s why I became kazekage. And now my people don’t fear me. They respect me and look up to me. And now I have a wonderful, beautiful, amazing girl sleeping in my arms that truly loves me.” I whispered.
Leslie murmured something and then sighed.
“You’re the luckiest man alive.” A voice called.
“Who’s there?” I asked.
Serena jumped onto the bed and sat down.
“Gaara of the Sand, you should consider yourself lucky.” She said.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because she loves you. From the moment she heard your voice in that desert.”
“And how does that make me lucky?”
“Because all the boys in the Leaf Village loved her. They would send her flowers and take her out for ramen, but she turned down all of them. She said that her studies were more important than a relationship. Many boys would do anything to be in your place.”
“Then I truly am lucky. She’s amazing in so many ways. Her personality, her grace, her words, her thoughts, the way she trains, and herself. She’s full of spirit and passion.”
“Then you better show her your passion.”
“I thought I have been.”
“Something very major is going on in that tiny body of hers. You better be prepared.”
“What is happening to her?”
“Would you do anything for her?”
“Don’t avoid my question!”
“Answer mine!”
“Yes! I would give my life for her!”
“What would you do if she became pregnant?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Answer the question!”
“I would make sure that she gets the best medical attention and stay by her.”
“Then I have no more to say. Rest peacefully.”
Serena jumped off the bed and disappeared into the darkness.
“Wait! What do you mean?” I called.
Leslie stirred and I hushed her. She mumbled and I caught the words.
“He loves me. Gaara…..loves me. Gaara……love.” She mumbled.
I kissed her forehead and held her close to me. I could feel her heart beating behind her delicate skin. Her breath softly brushed the skin on my chest. I sighed and then waited for her to wake. I thought of what Serena had said and processed it in my mind. After awhile, Leslie began to stir.
***
The rest of the week was amazing. Gaara acted like I was the only person in the world. He wanted to do everything for me. He even tried to stop training early a few times, but I wouldn’t let him. Then, it was suddenly the night that everyone was coming over for dinner. It was casual and everyone was laughing by the time dinner was served.
"So, what are you doing to this girl Gaara? She looks healthier than normal.” Neiji asked.
“He has me on a strict diet and exercise routine. He makes me eat all the healthy foods and makes me work out for three hours before dinner.” I said.
Everyone starred at Gaara.
“Have a secret to tell us Gaara?” Naruto asked.
Sakura and I, who sat on either side of him, punched his arms and he stopped talking.
“No. I just don’t want her to become lazy and unfit, unless you had other plans?” Gaara asked.
Everyone laughed.
We caught up for the rest of the time until the guys had to leave.
“Alright. Let’s go to my place now.” I said to the girls.
“Um….Alright.” Hinata said.
“Yeah. I’m beat and I want to see how Chibi-chan is living.” Sakura said stretching.
Gaara pulled me aside and told the girls that he had to tell me about tomorrow’s activities.
“I had your apartment set up for you so it looks like you have been living there. I’m going to miss you.” He said.
“It’s just one night.”I said.
“Meet me on the roof at noon.”
“Will do.”
I walked off with the girls and snuck a quick glance at Gaara. His expression was kind of sad. I smiled and then we disappeared from view. Sakura, Hinata, and I stayed up gossiping for awhile before we all fell asleep. It took me a little longer than normal to fall asleep because I didn’t have a heartbeat to listen to. Then we all went to sleep.
