Mate of the Sand (Gaara's Neko sequel)

Mate of the Sand Chapter 16

I think this is pretty short, but I say that every time and I never seem to fix it.  Sigh.  Well, I had even less time than usual to write, with thanksgiving and all.  I spent probably two days at home all week, but ya know... family.  And thanks to SusieMeep for the snake idea, I wasn't actually planning on going anywhere with it!

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Today we get to go over the wedding.

Again.

And dress fittings.

Yay.

This whole 'wedding' thing is kinda annoying now.

It hasn't been that long, but it's just so... tiring.

Of course, the fact that I don't like shopping may or may not have anything to do with it.

Temari and On'na wake me up extra early to go over the plans.

"And Ino and Chouji's families will handle the flowers and food and..."

And I still have no idea what's going on for anything.

Temari is enjoying this all too much.

She's drawn up plans and more plans and seating charts and floorplans.

She made me practice walking in a straight line for two hours.

Two hours.

She even had the brilliant idea to explain our wedding night to me.

Every.

Little.

Detail.

And then, she made sure I knew every variable of what might happen.

I think it's safe to say that I will never look at another human the same way again.

Or just about anything else, for that matter.

I think I'm still in a state of shock.

My poor virgin ears.

It's not that what I heard surprized me, it's more that I heard it.

Off topic.

Anywho, we're going for dress fittings now.

The streets are surprizingly busy, but it's not very hard to get through.

It's very quiet though, and a lot of them seem to be looking at me.

"Fuck..."

It's whispered under my breath, but Temari glances at me worriedly.

"I'd say a few people really don't want the Kazekage to marry a Neko..."

On'na's eye's flash once in shock, but then revert back to her normal calm self.

"Stop shrinking. If you act like a target you'll be a target."

It's hissed so quietly I can barely hear it, I twitch my ears in response.

Quickly, it occurs that bringing attention to my different parts is not a good idea.

On'na glares at me, while Temari's busy guiding us to the shop.

I mouth a 'sorry' just as Temari pulls us in the door.

At the flurry of colors and patterns, misery sets in.

I almost want to be out there with the bad guys.

Scratch that, I do want to be out there with the bad guys.

XXX

That night, Temari takes me to the hospital.

When I ask why, she just grins.

"Don't want to have you sick on your wedding day!"

So naturally, she has a hidden motive.

The doctor takes a blood test and asks us to wait for a few mintues.

I glance at Temari doubtfully.

"So what's the real reason we're here?"

She smirks.

That's the Temari I know.

"I want to know how long it's going to be until you're pregnant, of course."

My mouth drops open dumbly.

Then I sweep to my feet, grinning scaredly.

"I don't wanna know! I'm leaving!"

She looks at me curiously as I step out the door and go back home.

XXX

When she gets back, she's frowning sadly.

"Uh... I need to talk to you."

So naturally, the entire household is going to be listening in.

We step into the living room and she shuts the door softly.

"You may want to sit down."

My eyes narrow.

"I'll stand."

She shrugs.

"Suit yourself."

Then she sighs.

"You've been poisoned. A lot. The doctor says you'll have about a month to live."

I hear a lot of sound coming from the hallway, but I just laugh softly.

"I know. For a normal human, yeah, dead. But it takes a ritual to kill me, the poison'll just... hurt."

She frowns again, confused this time.

"Is that why you're acting so strangely? The poison is... messing with you?"

I nod.

She looks shocked for a moment.

"Oh... well... you might wanna tell Gaara that..."

My eyes widen as I push open the door.

Sand is everywhere, Nai, Ichiji and On'na knocked out, Kankuro and Ko almost completely hidden.

"This is just like when Kankuro fell asleep on the couch."

Lots of people for me to lift up the sandy-sand stairs.