Yo, that Valentine Kid is back with the sequel to Romancing the Kazekage.

Everyone remember what happened last time?

Good. Let's begin.

-a year has passed since the tale you last read-

Ai sat at her dressing table, sunlight poured in through an open window as she brushed her hair. Golden light illuminated the dark waves of her hair and made her blue eyes sparkle. She sighed, waiting his arrival that day. He'd been gone for seven months and had sent one letter; one! As if that were enough. She enjoyed life at the Kazekage's palace; the company she kept with Temari and the Konoha ninja when they came, the work she did at the orphanage when asked, she loved every moment of her life with him…but some nights she longed for those dancing neon lights she remembered, for the sound of music once more, for the excitement of performance. She had none of that here; that was a different life, one she thought would be easy to forget but it seemed such memories would not leave her. There was a family-like air about the place, with everyone looking out for the other, every dance known by everyone, the same music beating in everyone's hearts. She supposed it was just like missing her family. She sighed once more and put her hair brush down, she glanced outside of the window; the sun had fully risen now, this was when he should be coming back. She opened her dresser draw and noted that the letter was still in there; how many times had she read it in those seven months? There was a knock at the door.

"Yes?" She called and a small servant boy popped his head around the door.

"Ai-sama?" She still wasn't used to being called that but nodded at the boy's reflection in her mirror. "The Kazekage has returned; he wishes to retire in your room for a while, " for a while? Surely he owed her a little more than that. "Shall I send him in now?"

"Yes." The boy left, Ai stood quickly, took a glance at the mirror and shrugged. She went to her four-poster bed and drew the curtains around it before placing herself inside. She saw his shadow creep across the room as he entered; she grinned and hid her face in her hands even though he could not see her.

"I haven't seen you in so long, and you hide yourself from me?" His whisper reached her and she smiled; she had forgotten the elegance of his voice. She suddenly remembered she was angry with him.

"I fear, like seeing the moon after a long time, I may leave you breathless." She heard him growl slightly, impatient with her now and saw his shadow move as he went to sit down at her table.

"Even the moon is not that vain." He whispered.

"But the moon is hurt-"

"Who hurt you?"

"You do not know?" There was anger in her voice that made Gaara think twice before replying.

"When will I see you?" Ai was glad to hear a note of pleading in his voice.

"By moonlight-"

"That's a whole day I have to get through first!" He protested and she rolled her eyes.

"You should have thought about that before you left." She snapped.

"Fine," she saw him stand up, "'til moonrise." He stalked to the door and stopped. "We'll see which leaves me breathless; the moon's radiance, or your vanity." He said scathingly and left.

"And then what did you say?" Temari asked, still laughing.

"That he would see me when he sees the moon." Ai replied, finding it difficult not to laugh as well.

"Poor thing," Temari took a sip of tea, "probably pining-"

"Let him pine." Ai replied, "He deserves it." But Temari shook her head. They were sat in Temari's quarters of the palace, less extravagant gardens were here than in the main building, but they were still beautiful. Temari sat on a chair drinking her tea while Ai sat on the floor; a baby's dress draped across her lap.

"Don't torment him like that…if he gets angry with you-"

"You think he would hurt me?" Temari shook her head confidently.

"I would have loved to have seen his face…Ai you torture him too much." They both laughed and Ai held up the dress in her lap.

"Do you think this will fit?" She asked, eyeing Temari's stomach. The blonde looked at the dress with such happiness as she took it from her, that Ai felt equal happiness for Temari.

"I don't know…" Temari spread the dress against her stomach and pouted, "I'm gigantic."

"Hardly so," Kankuro said as he walked into the garden and sat down next to Ai. "Thought of any names for my niece?" He asked and as he did another, much smaller figure, ran into the garden and threw itself on top of Kankuro who smiled as Noriko held onto him as though he were giving her a piggyback.

"I'm thinking of Noriko!" She shouted in earnest and everyone laughed; Kankuro cast his eyes up to her.

"That'll be confusing; having two Noriko's running around the place." He said and pulled her into his lap.

"Noriko," Ai began and the little girl looked at her, "what are you doing here?" Ai asked and the girl removed a letter from her pocket and handed it to her.

"Here, a lady asked me to give this to you." Ai was surprised; she had no one outside the palace, no one who would send her a letter. She opened the yellowing parchment and recognised the writing immediately.

"Haru-sama!" She gasped and scanned the letter quickly. For those of you observant readers and with good memories will remember that Ai described to Gaara in their second meeting that Haru was the woman that Ai mentions taught her the art of conversation.

"What is it Ai?" Temari asked as the girl stood up quickly.

"Haru-sama has asked for my presence for one evening…tomorrow!" She said and her eyes clouded with reminisce, "it's been so long since I saw her." But that was not the only reason Ai was excited; Haru-sama lived in the white light district (A/N: like the red light district but not…everything will be explained!). It was Ai's chance to return, if only for a moment, to a world she was accustomed too, a world she missed. Kankuro smiled at her.

"And I'll be happy to escort you." He said.

"Do you think Gaara will approve of this; you know what he thinks of that place?" Temari asked and Ai looked thoughtful for a moment before smiling.

"He won't deny this to me; he owes me-"

"How so?" Kankuro shouted after Ai as she turned to leave, but Ai merely waved back at them and continued on her way.

"Not working?" Kankuro asked Gaara as he walked into the Kazekage's office and saw his brother was stood at the window; looking down at the village. It was a while before Gaara responded. He seemed angry.

"Does it look like I'm doing much work?" He retorted and Kankuro held up his hands to signify he meant no harm. Gaara sighed, brushed his hair back and threw himself into his chair. Kankuro was about to ask what was wrong but before he knew it Gaara was talking fast. "She leaves me restless…no consideration to my feelings whatsoever…such vanity!" He finished, he had not painted a clear picture but Kankuro got the general idea.

"Seven months and one letter?" Was all he said and Gaara looked at him, it was his turn to hold up his hands.

"Sorry," Gaara said quietly before rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah well apologise to her, not me. We know you're busy but c'mon Gaara, stop with this insanity and pay attention to other parts of your life." Kankuro looked down at the red headed boy in front of him, "when're you and Ai going to get married anyway? Or have kids?" He asked and again Gaara seemed to be thinking of something else before he realised what Kankuro had said and it seemed to hit him like a thunderbolt.

"marriage…kids?! As in…children?" Gaara whispered; dumbstruck. He didn't seem to be asking a question but thinking of the possibilities his brother had mentioned. "Ai isn't ready for marriage." He said nonchalantly, as if it didn't bother him even though, in a way, it did. He looked up to Kankuro as though there was nothing left to be said. But as his older brother left he couldn't help but answer the other question Kankuro had asked; it was Gaara whowas not ready for children.

-That evening-

"Ai?" Gaara whispered as he stepped into her room; he could see her through the lilac drapes that she was sat on a long reclining chair, probably reading a book by the candlelight she had lit on a table next to her. He had been restless all day, waiting to see her; he couldn't bear a whole day of her being so close but out of his reach. He walked further into her room, checked the moon was out through her window and parted the drapes. He stopped dead.

In all this time, how could he have forgotten how she looked? No wonder she is vain, he wondered; he was captured by the glow that radiated from her due to the candlelight and moonlight. She was asleep, her eyes were beautiful but there was an even gentler beauty in watching her serenity. He saw she had been reading; a book hung dangerously in her grasp. It fell to the floor but he never registered it, he merely walked forwards and sat by her side as she slept, his eyes never left her face. She moved in her quite slumber and extended her hand. He put his own hand underneath it, so when it fell it did not come into contact with the fire of the candle next to her. His hand was protecting hers from the flame and he watched her face for any recognition that they had touched. After a few minutes she moved again and withdrew her hand. When she had stopped moving Gaara looked to the candle and had to stop himself crying out. He withdrew his hand quickly from above the flame and blew on it softly; it would be burnt and sore for a few days at least. He shook his head with a smile. He leant in close to her face and blew a straying wisp of hair from her face. She rivalled even the moon, it was true. He realised she's beaten him at something again and sighed. Before leaving he checked her forehead; the scar just below her hairline was still visible. He had marked her as his own when he'd told her he loved her. And she had marked him since he was a child; perhaps she knew destiny would bring them together…she seemed right about everything else. He blew out the candle next to her and carried her to the bed. Once he'd laid her down he looked at her a little while longer, before leaving her room.

"Ah," Ai woke with a start; she was sure she hadn't fallen asleep on the bed. But looking around her now she could see she was the only occupant of the room; Gaara had been here. She could smell his scent on the cool night air, what a shame he had not stayed. But she would see him in the morning, he had to wait a day…she could wait a few more hours.

Yeah this chapter wasn't much…just re-establishing their relationship blah blah blah…all that other crap author's give about writing a chapter where nothing happens!

There will be a plan; perhaps not as extravagant as in the other story but hey…it's a plan.

You trust me right? ;D