Flower Among Deserts

'Sup people! So, this is my second fanfic, first one is called "The Truth" it was a SakuIta this one is SasoSakuGaa. Please enjoy!

PROLOGUE

Suna, 10 years ago

"I'm telling you, Sasori, your puppets stand no chance against my sand," a six-year-old Gaara growled at his older brother, seven-year-old Sasori.

"And I'm telling you, Gaara, that my puppets are better than your sand," answered the other boy in an impatient huff.

"We'll see about that," growled the other boy, and attacked.

Gaara's sand shot out and caught Sasori's wrist, pinning them beside his head against a wall. Gaara smirked victoriously. "You can't control your puppets without using hand seals." He crossed his arms and smirked at his fuming brother. "I win."

"Actually, Gaara," Sasori responded, a slow, wicked smile easing into his face. Gaara's smirked vanished and was replaced with a frown. When Sasori smiled like that it was never good.

Sure enough, a miniature puppet, just a little bigger than the hand span of Sasori's hand, fell from the sky and aimed a sharp, glinting claw at Gaara's throat. The sand around Gaara's feet divided in two, one part making a protective barrier between the boy and the puppet and the other part lashing at the threat to destroy it.

The sand caught the miniature puppet easily, surrounding it in a hard, spinning ball. Gaara smiled again, held out his hand at the ball of sand and looked at Sasori, who was glaring daggers at him. "Sand is better," he said before turning back to the task at hand and clenching his fist. "SAND COFFIN!"

The ball of sand wavered and contracted violently, crushing the defenseless little puppet inside it to smithereens.

"You'll pay for that, Gaara," growled Sasori. "That was a prototype."

"What's a proto-whatever?"

"Tell you after I kill you." And Sasori vanished in a puff of smoke, making the surprised little brother realize it was a shadow clone. "Up here, Gaara!" Gaara looked up at a shadow that launched itself at him and he prepared for a counter attack.

And they were at it again.

"Father, Gaara and Sasori are fighting again," a ten-year-old Temari said as she calmly walked into her father's office.

The Kazekage sighed. When weren't they? "Thank you, Temari. You may take this case if you like." Temari smiled at her father and rushed outside to stop the fight. She was going to surprise her idiot brothers with her new wind jutsu. A nine-year-old Kankuro, upon seeing Temari run towards the patio where the two red-headed boys were fighting, grinned and followed her out. He was going to enjoy this.

The Kazekage wasn't sure what to make out of his kids. Temari, his only girl and the eldest of his kids was a potential sadist, or a tyrant; Kankuro was her sidekick and a terrible prankster, Sasori only seemed to care about proving to Gaara that puppets were superior to sand and Gaara only cared about proving Sasori wrong. Talk about a mixed-up family.

And a ninja family with jutsus to boot.

The Kazekage chuckled lightly as he heard Temari yell out her new wind jutsu and the surprised shrieks of his two youngest sons. He could also hear Kankuro roaring of laughter somewhere in the mess, too. Yes, his kids were quite a handful, but they were also good kids.

Well, most of the time they were.

Before he could think any more about his four children, a messenger hawk flew through his window and perched itself on the Kazekage's desk, patiently waiting for the man to take the message tied to his leg. The Kazekage couldn't help but compare the bird to a soldier, with it's stiff stance and fierce face.

He walked to the bird and took the message from its leg. He then reached for a pill-like treat from a cup on his desk, fed it to the bird, and walked away, opening the miniature scroll. It was a letter from some old friends of his who had moved to Konoha five years ago, when Gaara was only a few months old. He hadn't heard from them in a few years, so he was pleased to receive news about them.

Dear Kazekage,

How have you been, my friend? And Kazekage too, I hear. That is great, my friend, I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart. I must apologize for not being there for your ceremony, but upon our arrival to Konoha we were given three months to move in before we were sent out on a mission.

The mission wasn't difficult, but it was long. It took us a few weeks to finish it, then another week or so before we got back to Konoha. After that, we had to spend some time in the village, get accustomed to the people, blah, blah, blah. You know how it is.

Anyhow, we are all healthy, my wife sends her regards, and now I must tell you a piece of news that has brightened up my life and a proposition. Listen – or rather, read – well, my friend.

A couple years back, my wife came with child and she gave birth to the joy of my days, my daughter Sakura. She has just recently turned four a few days back.

Now, here is my proposition: our families have been very good and very close friends for years, long before we all got married, and me and my wife wish to assure that our families stay that way. Our friendship shall be the our legacy to our children. But, an idea struck me the other day. What if our families married into each other? My daughter with one of your sons. We can remain connected that way.

Besides, your sons are the only boys I can respect and see worthy to be called my sons-in-law. However, I do not wish to take the choice away from my daughter. So how about she decides between your sons when she's older? We understand if you refuse, but please consider our offer. It would so much to us.

We await your answer eagerly.

Your friends,

The Harunos

The Kazekage was astounded. Their daughter with one of his sons? He looked out his window, which overlooked his home's garden and saw his children playing tag, blissfully ignorant to the world. Hmm, why not? He shared his sentiments with the Harunos, he simply hadn't reached the same conclusion as them.

But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense to him. Why not? If in the end their children didn't want to be married, they wouldn't force them into it, but it was worth a shot. He smiled. The Harunos were always one step ahead. He was sure that it wouldn't have been too long before he came to the same conclusion as soon as he found out they had a daughter.

He walked to his desk and took out a small roll of parchment paper, in which he quickly scribbled his answer. He rolled it up, secured it to the bird's leg, and sent it on his way.

As he gazed out his window, following the powerful bird until it was no more than a speck in the distance, his mind worked out how both families' life would look in the future. After all, he had given the perfect answer; only five words:

Yes.

I accept your offer.

That was all it was needed to be said.