Chapter 30: Open Ocean of Sand

Before the sun came up and the village became busy with people, the Kazekage family sat outside the walls to travel on a beautiful vacation. Gaara stood beside Sakura, awaiting the Kazekage Litter to take him across the desert while Kankuro and Temari discussed specific Shinobi from the Bingo book.

Sakura turned to Gaara and asked, "What's going on?" 

"An incident happened in the village earlier, and they are trying to figure out if one of the Bingo books," Gaara replied. 

Sakura whined, "Why didn't you tell me about this before?"

"Kankuro asked me not to tell you," Gaara said. "We're on vacation now, after all."

Sakura sighed, "Of course he did. Where are we going anyway?"

"I can't tell you that either," Gaara replied

Sakura glared at Kankuro and said, "Why must everything be so secretive?" 

Four men hauled a couch covered with curtains and held up with solid bamboo wood. They placed it beside Gaara and waited for him to settle inside. Kankuro crossed his arms and rolled his eyes at the stupid Litter contraption. The thought of his younger brother getting special treatment didn't feel right to him. 

Kankuro joined Sakura on the left of the Litter, walking as protection for the Kazekage and attending a family vacation. On the other side, Temari walked to Gaara's right with her massive fan tied to her back. She occasionally talked to him to keep him company on the long journey. 

On the first stretch of traveling through the desert, Sakura stared at Kankuro, noticing he wasn't in a good mood. She poked his cheek and giggled.

Kankuro blushed and looked up at her. He asked, "What?"

"Why do you look so mad?" Sakura asked.

Kankuro sighed and replied, "I'm not mad; I have to focus on protecting you right now and Gaara, too. We're in the open ocean of sand; It's dangerous."

"Sometimes I think you forget I'm a Shinobi, too," Sakura said.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I admit some of me wanted you to be a regular civilian, but I realize that would make me more worried, considering how vulnerable you'd be," Kankuro sighed. 

"You're so sweet," Sakura said, kissing him on the cheek.

He blushed uncontrollably, thinking about how much he loved her. They've been together since childhood, and the relationship was more than love. The couple were, in fact, soulmates. 

The family arrived at a Ryokan in the Land of Wind a few days later. The building was more expansive than it was tall. It was made with traditional Japanese tatami mats, wood, and paper walls. Some sliding doors had intriguing designs of cranes and flowers, like on a Yukata or a Kimono. Sakura had never seen the inside of a Ryokan before, but she loved being pampered on occasion.

The attendants carefully lowered the Litter to the ground upon their arrival at the Ryokan. With precision, a few men opened the Litter doors, allowing Lord Kazekage outside. In a synchronized gesture, the family left their shoes at the entrance and entered the establishment.

Inside, an Okami and her attentive staff greeted the family with a graceful bow, extending a warm welcome. "It's an honor to host you tonight, Lord Kazekage. We welcome you and your family into our care," the Okami expressed with genuine respect.

"We're happy to be here," Gaara responded.

"Please take a seat in our lobby while we ensure your rooms are ready for you," the Okami continued, offering another bow. Her loyal attendants moved with haste. 

Sakura snuggled beside Kankuro, finding comfort in leaning on his shoulder. A delicate yawn escaped her lips as she flickered her eyes closed. The gentle strains of the Koto music in the background added to the soothing ambiance, gradually lulling her into a restful state. The adrenaline rush that had accompanied her earlier activities now dissipated.

A young woman wearing a soft pink Yukata gracefully entered their seating area, presenting them with green tea and sweets. She bowed courteously before leaving them to delve into discussions about village politics.

"You must be exhausted," Temari remarked, sipping her tea. "We've had so much drama in the village; it's mentally draining."

With her eyes closed, Sakura responded, "I wish that wasn't the case. Our new Shinobi school has seen more students entering than in the past few years. I've been on the hunt to hire new teachers."

"One of them even requested a field trip outside the village," Gaara added. "Thankfully, they respected my decision when I denied the request."

Kankuro leaned back, crossing his arms. "It's too dangerous for anyone to leave the village. The Akatsuki are targeting only the Jinchuriki, but who knows what else they're up to."

"We lost so many Shinobi during Deidara's attack that we have to be careful," Temari noted.

"Sakura will have to do more fieldwork with us now," Kankuro added.

Gaara frowned, turning his gaze to the garden. "I'll think about it."

Temari sighed, "We care about her as much as you do, Gaara. She won't ever go on a mission without either of us."

"I mentioned that I'll consider it," Gaara retorted sharply.

Kankuro clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and averted his gaze from Gaara. "Seriously, what a tool."

"What was that?" Gaara challenged.

"You heard what I said," Kankuro replied.

"Enough, both of you. We're in public," Temari interjected.

Both brothers maintained their heated gazes, resembling two stubborn adolescents. In the middle of the tension, Sakura sat in silence. She harbored concerns that expressing her opinion might ignite a dispute between her soulmate and best friend, a conflict she had no desire to engage in.

The Okami approached the table gracefully, her presence not felt until she spoke, "Pardon my intrusion; one of our esteemed Nakai-san will assist you to your rooms." 

A Nakai-San donned in a soft pink Yukata with long brown hair tied in a bun bowed elegantly to the Kazekage family. They silently followed her, walking in measured steps. The path unfolded through a corridor made of stone, exposed to the elements, and the Ryokan seemed to hold its breath, cloaked in an eerie silence.

Curiosity overcoming her, Temari asked, "Excuse me, where are the other guests?"

"When we learned of your arrival, we reserved the entire Ryokan for you, for safety reasons, of course," came the reply.

"That's very kind of you," Sakura said gratefully.

As they ventured deeper into the interior corridors, the Nakai-San led them to a family room known as the Washitsu, featuring three bedrooms. The master bedroom was on the left, while the smaller ones were on the right. The room offered a stunning view of a massive garden, a beautiful contrast to the stone exterior. The Nakai-San executed a bow and left the room, tactfully avoiding any involvement in their potential sibling arguments.

Kankuro seized Sakura's hand, pulling her towards the master bedroom with him. A crimson hue crept onto Sakura's face as their audience observed the unfolding spectacle. Feeling compelled to assert himself, Gaara argued, "That's my room, Kankuro."

With a smirk, Kankuro retorted, "Those rooms are meant for single people. This room is for couples, like Sakura and me. Sorry, little brother."

Before Gaara could contest his older brother, Temari intervened, placing a reassuring hand on Gaara's shoulder. She reasoned, "It's only for a few days, Gaara. Don't beat yourself up about it."

Gaara, choosing to bite his tongue, moved on from the childish argument. He walked to his room, glancing back at the master bedroom to catch snippets of their conversation.

Upon inspecting the room, the couple noticed neatly folded futon bedding in the corner. Aside from that, the room housed a modest dresser and decorated its walls with paintings depicting the landscapes of the Land of Wind.

"Not bad for a couple of nights," Kankuro remarked.

Sakura kissed Kankuro's lips and said, "Thank you for bringing me here. I thought we'd end up at the hotel close to the village."

"No, too many tourists," Kankuro chuckled. "It's more peaceful all the way out here. Besides, the Onsen is good for healing your wounds."

"I'm sorry you couldn't be there when I killed Sasori," Sakura confessed.

Kankuro, rubbing her back, embraced her gently and reassured, "I don't give a shit about that old fuck anymore. I'm just grateful you're safe now."

"I want to see the garden!" Sakura cheered.

She gracefully dropped her slippers at the massive doorway and scampered through the stone paths. She was free as she twirled around, savoring the warm summer breeze. It was a moment of pure joy; she couldn't recall the last time she felt this optimistic. The garden, similar to an oasis in the desert, intrigued her. The pond boasted an array of Koi fish in various hues—black, orange, white, or a blend of all three. The space felt like magic, with blossoms gently cascading onto her clothes.

Kankuro joined her by the pond. The Koi fish gathered eagerly at the surface, their excitement noticeable as they jostled for food.

Sakura knelt before the pond and softly remarked, "Aww, the poor Koi are hungry."

"Here," Kankuro said, sitting beside her. He reached for her hand and presented a handful of green pellets, each about the size of a quarter but much thicker. Sakura giggled and hugged him before tossing the algae pellets into the water. The fish joyously devoured the food but remained perpetually greedy for more.

Kankuro observed her caring for the Koi fish, grateful to witness her radiant smile after their challenging experiences. The Ryokan was the perfect haven for them to mend emotionally and physically.

A sudden chill traced a delicate path down Sakura's spine, prompting her to rise from the ground swiftly. Her eyes scanned the garden, an uneasy sensation lingering within her, the source eluding verbal expression.

Kankuro's brows furrowed, and he inquired, "What's wrong? Is someone here?" He swiftly rose, preparing for a potential threat.

Sakura sighed, settling back on the rocks. "No, sorry about that. I felt something strange, and I thought it might be Shukaku trying to convey a message."

Kankuro, on alert, asked, "Why is he talking to you, anyway? It's not like you're a Jinchuriki."

Sakura forced a laugh, attempting to ease the tension with a lie. "Yeah, no. That would be impossible. The Akatsuki took him, and now we have no clue where he is."

Kankuro, still skeptical, squinted at her. "Why do I have a feeling you know more than you're letting on?"

Thinking quickly, Sakura replied, "I have no idea where the Akatsuki took him, but I vaguely remember him mentioning being confined in an unfamiliar place. Not in human form, but within an object designed to contain the tailed beast."

Acknowledging the grim reality, Kankuro said, "Well, there's nothing we can do for the other villages now. They'll have to figure out how to protect themselves."

Perched on the rocks, she observed the siblings conversing at the Zataku table in the center of the room; she calmly replied, "Yeah, I know." 

Temari gestured for Kankuro and Sakura to come back inside, her movements inviting them to return to the room's warmth. The Nakai-San gracefully entered, carrying a tray laden with exquisite delicacies. The couple re-entered the spacious room, with Sakura seated between Gaara and Kankuro, unable to suppress a noticeable blush. Though she attempted to conceal it, Temari, perceptive as ever, couldn't be fooled.

The Nakai-San delicately placed ceramic cups filled with green tea and miniature steam bean jam buns in front of each person, ensuring no drop spilled in the room.

Curious, Temari inquired, "So, what services do you provide here?"

The Nakai-San replied, "We offer various Onsen options, including standard indoor and open-air hot springs. Additionally, there's a private open-air hot springs bath. Yukatas are available in your rooms, and we also offer massages and other aesthetic treatments."

"Fancy," Temari chuckled. "We'll take a private open-air bath."

Kankuro, scratching the back of his head, chimed in, "I do love family baths."

Temari aggressively pulled on his ear, prompting a yelp from him. "Make that two private onsen rooms."

The Nakai-San nodded, sensing the discomfort in the conversation, and excused herself, leaving the trio to their banter.

Temari released Kankuro's ear, and he protested, "What was that for?"

"I'm not walking into an Onsen naked with either of you two babies. Sakura and I need peace and quiet for once," Temari declared.

Tapping her fingers nervously, Sakura blushed as she added, "Actually, I don't mind."

Kankuro grinned, "See, she's cool with it."

Temari sighed heavily, resting her elbow on the table and her palm on her hand. Smirking, she replied, "Now, why doesn't that surprise me?"

Sakura's face turned an even brighter red as she discreetly waved to Temari to drop the subject. Leave it to Temari to enjoy embarrassing her younger siblings and her friend.