Nights in the village of Sungakure held onto heat until cold stars twinkled in the sky; it was in these moments before the chill set in, that Love found herself in a horse-drawn carriage, traveling back to her village. The evening was warm and fragrant; temples were burning incense in the distance, lamps were lighting the way to the village like a trail of fireflies, calling Ai home. Beneath the wheels of the cart, the dirt road looked like cracked gold as the horses hooves pounded down on the earth, dragging the cart along the bumpy path. Inside the cart sat Ai and Kankuro, neither saying a word to the other, just waiting, wondering what the night had in store for them.
Only two people at Koto knew of Ai's whereabouts this evening; Jiraiya had planned with Kankuro her route there and back, offered her protection in the form of a blessed ring that she now fiddled with to calm her nerves and Ruby, who had gifted her new clothes and jewellery for good luck. They had both looked at her with sad, round eyes, wondering if she could be the one to save him, fearing she may lose herself on the way.
Ai was dressed in a thick black silk in a bid to remain as invisible as possible in the night. With a trim of real gold thread and small strings of gold around her wrists, ankles and neck, the metal weighed down on her heavier than usual; it was as if her entire being was anxious, nervous to see him again. She bit her deep red lips in apprehension; what could she possibly say to the Kazekage? How unwell was he? Her heart was pounding hard in her chest until she could feel it in her throat; in rhythm to the horses' steps, hard against the ground, her heart wanted to break free. So desperate she was, to lay her eyes on his handsome face, so fearful she was, to see him fallen from grace. She bowed her head gently, her veil sitting heavy on her head, being weighed down by the weight of the gold thread. She sighed before taking a deep breath, as she did a small smile fell across her face; she could smell the jasmine blossoms of the palace gardens, the burnt tea from the kitchens, the gentle burning of the wick in the palace lamps.
"Ai," Kankuro whispered her name and she looked across to catch a glimpse of his worn and worried face, "it's time." She nodded slowly and picked up her skirt as the carriage began to slow down. When it came to a complete stop, Kankuro left the carriage first before holding out a hand to her. With trembling fingers, Ai reached out a hand and grasped the puppet master's with slowly increasing sense of fear. She was back in her village, a place where she was banished from, asked never to return to, all to see a man she was trying so desperately to forget.
Looking around her, Ai found that she was at the steps, inside the palace, that lead up to the Kazekage's quarters. They were the same steps she had ascended on their first night together; the carriage had come all the way into the courtyard where she had danced. Looking around at all the greenery, the white stone of the palace, the inky blue of the sky; the night felt the same as it did then; divine, important, waiting and watching to see what Love could do for the two start-crossed lovers.
Kankuro bid her farewell and good luck as Ai ascended that stone staircase, her skirt falling heaving against the marble, her gaze kept down for fear of her eyes glittering, alerting a guard of her presence. Up the windowing staircase, her heart fluttered like a baby bird about to take flight; unsure of itself, willing to see the world beyond. Along a dark, deserted corridor, Ai found herself in front of the door to the Kazekage's bedroom. She stopped to take rbeath; the last time she had been here, she had said goodbye to Gaara and left her heart with him. Behind this door, what would she find? With a gentle push, the door swung open.
The Kazekage's room was in half-lit darkness, a lantern she recognised sat proudly on the mantlepiece above a fireplace which now was filled with only burning embers. The heat of the room was filled with the scent of sandalwood; a woody and spicy perfume drifted up to the drapes on the balcony which licked the floor as they moved with a desert breeze. In front of the balcony, at his desk, sat Gaara. Her eyes softened, disbelieving almost, that she was seeing him. But he seemed to take no notice of her; at his desk, he rolled an empty bottle on it's side with his fingertips absentmindedly. He sat in his red cloak, hunched over, barely breathing, mesmerised by the movement of the liquid in the glass bottle. On his desk sat beautiful crystal vials and carafes, filled with honey-coloured liquid, glittering in the lamplight. Ai took a step forwards, alerting Gaara to her presence.
"Ah!" Ai gasped softly as his eyes found hers; they were unfocussed, the line of black around them darker than usual. Neither spoke for a moment; they were taking in the sight of each other. How long had it been? Suddenly, Gaara stood on unsteady legs, causing Ai to take an alarmed step towards him as though fearful he would fall. He pointed at her with a trembling hand.
"Are you moonlight or the moon itself?" He asked the girl before him, whose glowing skin and sweet red lips, nestled in a black dress, gave him the impression that the night sky had taken human form. Amidst the flickering candlelight, Ai watched in grief as her first love swayed on his feet. She looked at him with hurt-filled, angry eyes.
"Gaara-"
"Gods!" Gaara stopped her as he raised his voice, the drapes behind him catching onto a breeze and twirling around him. "Don't lecture me again!" He warned her, but Ai, the delicate thing, straight-backed and gentle, raised an eyebrow.
"Again?"
"Why do you wish to torture me, goddess?" As the Kazekage asked this, her eyes widened; what was happening here? "Why do you appear in her form?" With a sigh of misery, Gaara sat back down, watching as Ai approached him, clearly unaware of who she was. A mixture of alcohol and grief had settled itself in his mind, distracting his attention. "Why do you walk on the earth with that same melody to your footsteps and that pout, tempting me to overlook you?" He smiled a little at this thought. "I would never overlook her. My world stops when I see her face," he gestured to her, "I am intoxicated by the sight of you." Ai shook her head, ashamed of what he was saying, heart broken that Kankuro had been right. She nodded to the bottles littering the table in front of him.
"Your desk would disagree." She said, taking a few steps forwards, her skirt dragging on the floor, until she was in front of his desk.
"Oh, this?" The man gestured to the bottles in front of him. "This is merely escape." Ai's fingertips brushed over the cold glass of the bottles, feeling the grooves of the crystal, the weight of the liquid.
"Escape?"
"From the pain of longing for Love." She closed her eyes as he spoke; this was not how it was meant to be. She looked at him in earnest.
"You have love here, Kazekage." But Ai could not console him.
"No." He shook his head violently. "Not like her. Nothing is ever like her." Walking around his desk, Gaara followed her with misty eyes, until she stood next to him. He turned his chair to face her as she knelt before him. Her face looked up at him sincerely, her velvet lips pouting.
"You have a family." She reminded him. "You have a village to run, a palace to maintain, pride, honour."
"All lost."
"Nothing is lost without carelessness."
"What carelessness am I guilty of when it comes to, Love, Renai?" Ai jumped as he spoke and called her a name only Jiraiya had ever called her; how did Gaara know it? What was happening here? "Did I not worship her?" As he spoke again, he captured her attention. "Did I not sacrifice every piece of my being to her?"
"There is carelessness in the love for yourself." A moment's silence as Gaara contemplated her wise words. To Ai's surprise, Gaara reached out a hand and put it against her face; she closed her eyes as the feel of his touch came rushing back with memories of their nights spent together. But Gaara, a malicious smirk on his face, peered down at her as though curious.
"What would a goddess know about Earthly matters?" Ai looked down and shook her head.
"I am not a goddess." She replied slowly.
"Then?" His hand dropped from her face as Ai looked at him with sorrow; did he really not know her? "You bare an uncanny resemblance to someone I once knew." Her heart broke a little.
"Have you so easily forgotten me?" She asked him. "When did you forsake yourself?" That smirk was driving her mad; was he not taking her seriously? Was he that inebriated? She stood with a huff. "You hold the title of Kazekage with all the honour of a coward!" Gaara stood, fuming.
"A coward?!"
"Love gave herself up to the unfairness of your elders in the hopes you would succeed! In the hopes you would stay true to your word and become a respected Kage! Your fate hangs in an uneven balance because of your own actions, because of your selfishness, your self-pity, your shamelessness!" Ai walked away from him as his eyes became round; shocked by her words.
"Goddess-"
"I am not a goddess!" Ai turned, picked up a glass bottle and smashed it against the desk. Gaara jumped as the shards of crystal flew out into the air, as the liquid sprayed the oak of his desk. Picking up a shard as the night breeze thundered into the room, Ai cut her ring finger on her left hand. She held it up to him. "See, I bleed. I am human." Gaara's eyes attempted to focus on the blood that trickled down the finger of her outstretched hand. But memories were flooding his brain; Yashamaru holding his hand out to him, telling him something important, his uncle's last breath on the roof, Ai the night she rescued him from Shuka…the image of that girl filled up his mind; her terrified eyes, soft lips, delicate white robe. The Kazekage's eyes focussed on the face behind the hand. Was it her? How could it be? Those eyes were not terrified, they were strong, full of confidence, beckoning him into her. She stood in dark silk, the kind a lady of a manor would wear; gold bands around her wrists like an aristocrat. But still, her face was so familiar. Pushing aside her hand, Gaara moved close to her.
"I know these eyes." He whispered softly, bringing his face closed to her as though to inspect her. "I know these lips." He put a hand to her forehead and brushed a scar beneath her hairline, watching as her eyes gloss over, filling with tears. "This mark is mine." he muttered and smoothed his fingertips over her scar, underneath her veil, up to her hair, there, he tugged a little. "This hair, is mine," she gasped as he pulled her hair and the Kazekage, his opal eyes narrowing on her lips, had a sudden wave of recollection. "Each breath you take is mine to give." Their eyes met. "Ai?" A tear fell from her eyelashes.
"Have you so easily forgotten me?" Hearing her voice, Gaara's face fell as he realised he had been in her presence this evening and had not taken notice of who she really was. He pulled her into fierce embrace.
"Ai!" They pulled apart as he kissed her forehead, her veil falling from her head.
"Gaara." She smiled gently. He moved down to kiss her but Ai caught that sickly sweet smell of alcohol and turned her face away from him. Gaara, ashamed of himself, released her from his grip.
"Am I that repulsive?" He asked.
"Only your habits." She moved away from him as he went to sit at his desk again. Ai moved to be in front of his desk so they could talk properly. They could not have a relationship like before; they could not be so close for fear of censure if anyone found them. Their relationship had to remain distant and hidden.
"Where have you been, Ai?" He asked as she took a seat in front of his desk as though she were a politician, ready to discuss the goings on of the village.
"In a Hachinosu that neighbours the Village of Rain." She answered. Gaara, who was experiencing more of the world and the people in it of late, knew what this meant. But he took in her clothes, her make up, her gold jewellery and raised an eyebrow.
"You don't dress like a House girl." He commented.
"I stay there." Ai whispered to the floor for the two were trying to make as little eye contact as possible; to look at each other was painful. "I work as a private tutor in a Kingdom not far from here." Gaara smiled; that was a good life for a girl like her. Safe, steady, it would keep her out of anyone's eye.
"A tutor?" He asked, his smile broadening as Ai nodded with a small laugh; both could not quite believe where she had ended up. "Where they call you Madam and serve you tea?" Ai grinned.
"Yes."
"You've moved up in the world." Gaara reached over his desk to take her hand but Ai simply shot his a look; what good would holding hands do now? Gaara noticed her stare and withdrew his hand. "Do you like it?" Ai sighed.
"What's not to like? This life is a different life. Big palaces of which I am an esteemed member, I do not hide, I do not fear, grand lectures, great debates-"
"Lectures and debates?" Gaara stood and walked around his desk. "You don't sound like the village girl who danced for a living." Ai nodded.
"Because I am no longer her." Ai's smile faded as Gaara leant down to her; her heart began to beat a little faster. His eyes were looking at her so intently, studying her, the same look he would give her when he would beg her to be the first to give in. That devilish smirk played on his face again.
"I see the pain in your eyes, beautiful one." He whispered to her, "I see the cracks of your heart along your collarbone." He watched as those deep rose-red lips parted to speak, "I see your want of me. You are exactly the girl who left here." Standing straight, he leant against the desk next to her and smiled as she looked indignant.
"You do not-!"
"See?" He grinned at her teasingly as she raised her voice; "always eager to argue with me." They laughed as they realised they had somehow fallen into the same pattern of bickering they had when they were together months ago. As Ai's smile faded, her face became serious, she put a hand on Gaara's thigh.
"Give up alcohol, Gaara." He looked down at her; those big blue eyes full of sadness. Standing, he pushed away her hand and walked away.
"No." Ai stood too and followed him to the middle of the room. A cold breeze flew in past the drapes and sweet up around them as the lamplights flickered.
"Give it up," Ai encouraged him, "for my sake." He turned to her.
"I will, " he nodded. "On one condition."
"Yes?"
"Elope with me." Ai turned away suddenly.
"What are you saying?" She whispered, not wanting to hear it. Gaara stepped in front of her and held out his hand.
"Take my hand and run away with me!"
"Have you lost your mind-?" But Gaara was relentless, he did not care for the tears rolling down her face.
"Take my hand!" He urged her but Ai put a hand to his face as her lips trembled, shaking her head.
"I only want to see you safe, Gaara! I only want to help!"
"MARRY ME!" She turned away from him and fell to her knees.
"Only you could be this cruel!" With her face in her hands, Ai began to cry. With a shake of his head, wondering how he let his emotions get the better of him, Gaara knelt beside her.
"Cruel?" Ai moved her hands from her face and looked at him. His wonderful face, full of naivety and incomprehension, softened as he looked at her.
"I am a fallen woman." She said, "I am a traitor, a whore, the servant to a teenage girl! I am no longer allowed the luxury of dreams. Why put them in my head?" Her lips trembled as she asked him and watched him bow his head in shame. "I only worship you. I only breathe for the chance I may live to catch a glimpse of your shadow, Gaara. Why do you insist on making my life more unbearable than it already is? Why do you ask for the impossible?" Putting an arm around her, Gaara brought her into embrace and kissed her head.
"I know it is impossible." He said, feeling her figure tremble beneath him. "I know we cannot be together. I'm sorry." Ai pulled away from him and looked up at him in earnest.
"Give up alcohol." She instructed. Gaara sighed as he looked down at her.
"Those eyes, " he whispered, "they can make me do anything.
"Then?
"I will give it up. For your sake." Leaning forwards, Gaara kissed the scar on her forehead.
"For the sake of the village." She reminded him as he pulled away from her. "We all have parts to play, Gaara. You have yours as Kazekage, I have mine." Gaara put his arms around her and, slowly, raised her to her feet, watching as she closed her eyes and breathed in. She was breathing in his scent, her head was filled with it, with the feel of his skin brushing hers, the strength of his grip on her shoulder, the feel of his breath against her cheek. "I must go." She whispered.
"So soon?" He asked. But he could tell from how she refused to open her eyes, refused to look at him, that she was fighting that familiar ache they both had been feeling for months.
"Yes." She opened her eyes and looked to the wall opposite them. There, a full length mirror was hung, she could see his hungry, loving stare in the darkness behind her.
"Stay a while."
"I mustn't."
"I wish to speak with you."
"About what?"
"Since your departure I have found myself lost amidst a thousand questions." He said, pulling her veil from her shoulder, revealing bare skin. The candles flickered around the room, the scent of sandalwood and rose lifting up around them.
"Questions?" She breathed, feeling his heroic figure against the fabric of her dress.
"Does moonlight bend?" Gaara asked, bringing his hand around her and stoking her collarbone slowly. Her head turned to him so his lips were brushing her ear. "Does it break? And what would become of me if I tried to discover its secrets?" He whispered, watching her intently as her breath deepened, her skin began to blush pink. "Would it use me up until I am nothingness? Would it beg for me?" Ai pushed away his hand.
"Gaara, stop this." She said, taking a step away but Gaara was too fast; he turned her around and pulled her in by the shoulders.
"You once said you belong to me," he growled. "Can I not take what is mine?" Ai did not want to look at him; his handsome face, those beautiful features she fell in love with, it would draw her back in to the darkness with him.
"Stop." She breathed.
"Doesn't it make you curious, Ai," he whispered to her, "our love? How is it you are body and I am soul?" She winced, hating herself for the shivers that ran along her spine as Gaara's delicate touch ran from her face to her waist. "How is it with just a glance from you I am suddenly near heaven? My Ai," he smiled softly, "how is it our love will never fade?" Finally, that girl with the moonlike fare looked up at him Gaara was shocked to see anger, lust, love, recklessness, hope, all twinkling in her gaze.
"Don't do this." She begged him but Gaara simply smiled that roguish smile.
"Stop me." He dared her.
But Ai could not longer hold on to her senses; she could feel her body unfurling for him, her skin beginning to burn for his touch. So she allowed Gaara to remove her veil and unwrap it from her body, revealing the black dress beneath. She was dressed in the fashion of koto; the cropped blouse and long skirt. At the sight of her bare torso, Gaara smiled and ran his hand along her skin. She fought so hard to deny what was happening, bit her lip to cause herself pain as though that would make the pleasure of him obsolete. Tried not to look at him, to picture something else but it was so hard once those opal eyes locked onto hers, to see anything but him. In the golden light of the room, Gaara led her to his bed.
She sat down gently as Gaara put a hand to her face, his thumb brushing her bottom lip, his mouth already watering at the sight of her. "We never had a last night together," he whispered, leaning down to her, watching her close her eyes, waiting for his kiss.
"I hate you for making me want you like this." She whispered. He smiled softly.
"Isn't that the way of blood-love? Enemies from lovers, lovers from enemies?" He lowered himself onto her lips and the two lovers gasped as a spark of electricity passed between them. As though savouring the taste of each other, the two opened their mouths gently, caressing with their tongues, pushing harder with their lips, growing restless, wanting more. Gaara pulled away suddenly. "Pain," his hand moved from her face to her hair which he pulled on gently, making her gasp as her fingers found their way to the buttons of his cloak, "from pleasure?" Gaara placed a gentle kiss on the corner of her mouth.
Ai could feel the heat rising in her soul and, like an order from the divine, she was inexplicably draw to Gaara suddenly. The urge to be close to him, to feel him again, to have him love and fuck her was turning into a hunger. She removed his cloak and trousers through frenzied kisses and pulled him onto the bed beside him. Gaara, taken by surprise at Ai's sudden change in character, fell onto the bed beside her and barely had time to recover before she hoisted one leg over him to straddle him.
The Kazekage was not a vain man, he had often been complimented on his looks by many but took no heed of it. He never walked with arrogance or ill-placed confidence. But in that moment, as he lay naked under Ai, watching her eyes glide over his body, feeling her finger tips trace the outline of his abdomen, he had to smirk in vanity.
"Ah," The Kazekage gasped as she gave a delicate, tiny movement of her hips to grind against his dick which was throbbing, aching for the feel of her. Just lying there, looking at him, was increasing the heat in the room; Ai's cheeks were flushing pink, there was a moonlight-like stroke glittering above her cheekbones, her lips were pouting, wet and warm. She began to unbutton her dress, the smile on Gaara's face fading as he took in the sight of her curves; how did he let this goddess go? She removed her blouse and bra, revealing her breasts; Gaara's smirk faded completely. He went from being propped up on his elbows, to sat upright. His hand travelled around from Ai's hips, up her curves to her back where he pulled her in. Placing gentle kisses on her breasts he smiled as he heard her sigh with satisfaction; the feel of his skin on hers, the wet warmth of his kisses against her bare breasts was unbelievably good. His tongue darted down and began to explore her again, like he used to; biting and tasting and wanting to know every inch of her.
While he was busy, Ai lifted her skirt, felt for his dick underneath her and grabbed a hold of it. Gasping at its magnificent stature, Gaara took the opportunity while her mouth was open to reclaim it; pushing his tongue a little further inside of her than usual. Both groaned into each other's mouths as Ai stroked his dick and Gaara forced his tongue inside of her in such a filthy, raw manner that Ai could contain herself no longer. She lifted herself up and slid down on his dick slowly.
Ai moaned in pleasure as she felt him filling her up, hitting that spot only Gaara could ever hit; the spot that saw pain mixed with intense pleasure. He shuddered as she took all of him inside of her. His hands went back to her hips, helping her move, he watched her with those opal eyes, his red hair ruffling in the breeze as Ai began to lose her senses all because of the feel of him. He tried to watch her, to not become distracted by the pleasure and instead focus on her beautiful face screwing up in lust and pleasure. But she was moving so slowly, her hips were grinding gently against him, the pleasure of these tiny movements was unbearable. The thought that she was using him for her own pleasure stirred something primal inside of him; if she wanted it that badly, he could give it to her. Gaara could fuck her in the way he had been dreaming about; hold her down and make her scream his name. But he didn't want to just yet; he wanted her to enjoy herself. So, in an attempt to kill the desire, he placed his head against her breasts and concentrated on thoughts that did not focus on dominating her.
Placing a hand under her skirt, he felt for that sweet spot on her womanhood that usually made Ai gasp and shudder in pleasure. When he found it, he felt Ai's hips buckle and lose their gentle pace. She held onto his shoulders, her eyes shut, panting his name, begging for him. Against the curls of crimson hair around his dick, Ai felt herself being caressed by him. Her hips moved faster, her panting became deeper until finally she called out his name, her hips crashing down against him, shuddering in ecstasy. Lovers sat together, heads against each other's, feeling the heat of the other's body against them. They kissed passionately, not wanting to let the other go. Eventually they broke apart and looked sincerely into each other's eyes.
"I love you," Ai whispered and kissed Gaara's cheek affectionately. "Ah!" Ai gasped and giggled as Gaara stood suddenly, the feel of the cold desert breeze on her bare back sending shivers down her spine. In this moment, stood against each other, looking at one another in only the way that lovers do, Ai and Gaara shared a look of complete trust.
"I love you." Gaara whispered as he lay her down on the bed and removed her skirt. At the sight of her naked body, that familiar blood-lust returned. Gaara climbed on top of her, parted her legs and entered her more forcefully than Ai had anticipated.
"Ah!" She gasped at the pain of his violent movement. He stayed there a moment, his thick col filling her up, ready to fuck her, to own her. The girl was wincing from him as he put on hand on the bed to steady himself and the other reached up to hold her hand. Her toes curled up against his back, anticipating the love only Gaara could give her. He pulled out a little, grasping her hand tightly, before pushing back inside of her. The feel of him was like anything Ai ever thought a human was capable of feeling; the first time they had slept together she had likened the moment to a divine experience. Now, amidst the love, lost in the heat, she felt it again; that moment of complete ecstasy, of being as close to the one she loved as possible. She was not sure where her body ended and his began. She could not recall her name, nor his. For all they were, was love.
As the Kazekage's movements became faster, his gasps turned to grunts showing the effort he was taking to restrain himself. His hand moved from hers which was outstretched above her, down to her hair which he tugged at, his kisses turned to bites which hurt her to the point she had to move her lips away from him and reveal her neck. Gaara's actions became wilder, his hips thrusting in and out of her, sweat began to plaster hair to his forehead, somehow he thought he could feel every inch of her at once. The bounce of her breasts as her body took his movement, her long hair that caressed her back as it peeled away from the bed when she writhed in ecstasy, the taste of her mouth, the soft warmth of her body welcoming him home.
"Ah!" Eventually Gaara climaxed inside of her, gripping onto whatever part of her he could find, biting her supple flesh, turning it red and hot with pain. He kissed her once more and withdrew, falling to his knees by the bed, exhausted from unleashing his lust on her. The two looked at each other, Ai sat on the bed, Gaara kneeling before her, knowing she should go, knowing the seconds spent here were increasing the risk of her being found. But as their eyes met, Gaara simply smirked, stood and went to kiss her again.
***
Ai woke and dressed quickly. the dawn was steadily approaching the horizon and her carriage would be waiting for her. Wrapping her scarf around her, she found she could not look back at him as he dressed, preparing for the working day. The sun was lighting up the room; the heat of the desert was reflecting off the mirrors int he room, sparkling, filling the room with warmth. She could hear the pots banging in the kitchen as servants prepared breakfast for the guards. She went to leave the room but found her veil was held taught behind her.
"Gaara!" She giggled and turned back to him. "Let me free." But her smile faded as she saw Gaara's serious look, the pain in his eyes.
"I thought last night was a dream." He said, pulling her by her veil towards him. "You're really here, aren't you?" The Kazekage pulled his first love into embrace.
"I must leave soon." Ai reminded him.
"I know." He kissed her forehead.
"I won't return again."
"Don't say that." Upon hearing him say this, Ai sighed and looked him straight in the eye.
"You know we cannot go on in secret." She kissed his cheek softly and took a step away from him.
"I know." He nodded at her. "I love you." Ai smiled at him.
"I-" the courtesan was cut off as Gaara suddenly pushed her away from him, his sand erupted from it's gourd by his desk, coming between them. Ai stumbled and regained her footing, shocked by what had happened, she looked up to Gaara who was half covered by sand.
"What was that!?" Her eyes focussed on the sand to see an arrow was caught by it; someone had fired an arrow through Gaara's window! They were under attack! "Gaar-"
"Did I even come close!?" A felt her heart stop as she heard the Kazekage's bedroom door open behind her and a familiar voice call out to them. No. It couldn't be. As though in a daze, with glassy eyes, Ai turned around, "Gaara did you see me coming…?" A face Ai knew well, grey eyes and wispy blonde hair greeted Ai from the doorway. Taki blinked a few times and looked between Gaara and Ai. "Ai-sama, w-what are you doing here?"