[fic] The Courtship of Karura
Title: The Courtship of Karura
Characters: Baki, Karura, Sunamaru (Yondaime Kazekage), Yashamaru
Pairings: Karura/Sunamaru
Genre: Humour/Romance
Rating: T
Summary: Utter crack. The future Kazekage is an idiot in something resembling love.
She stares. And stares some more. Then discreetly attempts to release the genjutsu she must be under. It doesn't work so she's forced to accept that what she's looking at is real, unfortunately.
"Sunamaru-san, what are you doing?"
He tries to seem inconspicious but even the most talented shinobi has trouble doing so when they've just been caught red-handed going through someone's cupboards.
"...Checking for spies?"
"In my cupboards?"
He shrugs.
"They get everywhere. Did you hear about the one in the Kazekage's wardrobe?"
"...Is this because I refused to marry you?"
"...Perhaps."
She sighs.
"The door's that way."
He looks like he wants to protest but she grips her fan firmly and he gets the message.
---------------------
There's a brown-haired boy outside her door in the morning. She recognises him as one of Sunamaru's students. The chuunin vest is new and he wears it proudly.
He looks embarrassed as he offers her a bunch of flowers. She takes them, struggling not to smile.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Baki-kun."
"Thank you, Karura-sama."
"And you can tell your sensei to stop hiding behind that cart."
She raises her voice slightly.
"The flowers were nice though."
The cart practically radiates smugness. She hadn't known that was possible and decides not to think about it too hard.
--------------------
"Move."
He glares at the girl in his way.
"No."
"Ah, there you are, Yashamaru."
He turns around to see Karura carrying a mission scroll.
"I got that assignment you wanted."
Sunamaru chokes. Yashamaru? He studies the girl more closely and realises she is actually a he.
"...Sunamaru-san? Did you need something?"
Karura is looking at him with vague concern.
Yashamaru decides to answer for him as he's still spluttering.
"He was trying to get into your apartment, nee-san, but I prevented him."
She breathes in deeply, trying to resist the urge to hit Sunamaru with her fan.
"Here's the scroll, Yashamaru."
Yashamaru takes it hurriedly and tries not to look like he will enjoy what's coming.
"Sunamaru. You have invited yourself into my apartment no less than five times. You have followed me everywhere from the memorial to the mission centre. You have convinced nearly everyone you know to give me gifts for you. And I still am no closer to being interested in you than before. You know why?"
Wisely, he recognises this is a rhetorical question and stays silent.
"Because you're an idiot with no sense of style!"
"Seven o'clock at the Benihana. I have a table reserved for two."
She stares at him. He really is serious.
"...I'll be there."
-------------------
"But what happened next?"
Baki glances down at the child on his lap.
"Obviously, they got married eventually and had your father otherwise you wouldn't be here."
She yawns.
"It's past your bedtime, Chiyo."
Matsuri picks her daughter up and takes her to bed.
"Was that a true story?"
Baki looks at the man standing in the doorway.
"Absolutely. You couldn't make that sort of entertainment up if you tried. What with the war going badly, well, it cheered a lot of people up. A lot of money changed hands as well."
Gaara looks surprised briefly before his features return to his usual impassiveness.
"Remember, they were human as well," Baki says gently.
"Sometimes it is hard."
There's old pain in his eyes as he stares into the distance but he doesn't forbid Baki from speaking of his parents to his daughter again. Baki's glad for this as the good should be remembered, not just the bad.
Characters: Baki, Karura, Sunamaru (Yondaime Kazekage), Yashamaru
Pairings: Karura/Sunamaru
Genre: Humour/Romance
Rating: T
Summary: Utter crack. The future Kazekage is an idiot in something resembling love.
She stares. And stares some more. Then discreetly attempts to release the genjutsu she must be under. It doesn't work so she's forced to accept that what she's looking at is real, unfortunately.
"Sunamaru-san, what are you doing?"
He tries to seem inconspicious but even the most talented shinobi has trouble doing so when they've just been caught red-handed going through someone's cupboards.
"...Checking for spies?"
"In my cupboards?"
He shrugs.
"They get everywhere. Did you hear about the one in the Kazekage's wardrobe?"
"...Is this because I refused to marry you?"
"...Perhaps."
She sighs.
"The door's that way."
He looks like he wants to protest but she grips her fan firmly and he gets the message.
---------------------
There's a brown-haired boy outside her door in the morning. She recognises him as one of Sunamaru's students. The chuunin vest is new and he wears it proudly.
He looks embarrassed as he offers her a bunch of flowers. She takes them, struggling not to smile.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Baki-kun."
"Thank you, Karura-sama."
"And you can tell your sensei to stop hiding behind that cart."
She raises her voice slightly.
"The flowers were nice though."
The cart practically radiates smugness. She hadn't known that was possible and decides not to think about it too hard.
--------------------
"Move."
He glares at the girl in his way.
"No."
"Ah, there you are, Yashamaru."
He turns around to see Karura carrying a mission scroll.
"I got that assignment you wanted."
Sunamaru chokes. Yashamaru? He studies the girl more closely and realises she is actually a he.
"...Sunamaru-san? Did you need something?"
Karura is looking at him with vague concern.
Yashamaru decides to answer for him as he's still spluttering.
"He was trying to get into your apartment, nee-san, but I prevented him."
She breathes in deeply, trying to resist the urge to hit Sunamaru with her fan.
"Here's the scroll, Yashamaru."
Yashamaru takes it hurriedly and tries not to look like he will enjoy what's coming.
"Sunamaru. You have invited yourself into my apartment no less than five times. You have followed me everywhere from the memorial to the mission centre. You have convinced nearly everyone you know to give me gifts for you. And I still am no closer to being interested in you than before. You know why?"
Wisely, he recognises this is a rhetorical question and stays silent.
"Because you're an idiot with no sense of style!"
"Seven o'clock at the Benihana. I have a table reserved for two."
She stares at him. He really is serious.
"...I'll be there."
-------------------
"But what happened next?"
Baki glances down at the child on his lap.
"Obviously, they got married eventually and had your father otherwise you wouldn't be here."
She yawns.
"It's past your bedtime, Chiyo."
Matsuri picks her daughter up and takes her to bed.
"Was that a true story?"
Baki looks at the man standing in the doorway.
"Absolutely. You couldn't make that sort of entertainment up if you tried. What with the war going badly, well, it cheered a lot of people up. A lot of money changed hands as well."
Gaara looks surprised briefly before his features return to his usual impassiveness.
"Remember, they were human as well," Baki says gently.
"Sometimes it is hard."
There's old pain in his eyes as he stares into the distance but he doesn't forbid Baki from speaking of his parents to his daughter again. Baki's glad for this as the good should be remembered, not just the bad.