Third Person POV:

It was a bright morning, the sun beating down on all the villagers as they went about their day. One in particular was beginning to feel a little odd.

Hana couldn't go five minutes without feeling an odd sensation on the back of her neck. At times it would tingle and at times it would itch. She still diligently and almost religiously finished decorating the cupcakes placing them behind the display counter. As she was heading back into the kitchen she heard the front doorbell ring. She turned and saw her close friend.

"Akihiro!" She rejoiced as she jumped at him for a hug.

"Hey Hana! Hold the fort down while I was gone?" He said with a laugh, the small baker still in his arms.

"Yup. And guess what? I'm gonna be making a wedding cake for Miss Temari!"

"That's amazing! Oh, and our mission was  a success! We got our men back safe and sound."

"That's good to hear." She said with a smile. "Now go put on your apron you're back on duty."

"But I just got back." He whined, later dragging his feet to the kitchen.

"Well if it helps, Chiharu's here." She said in a sing songy voice, causing Akihiro to stand upright and smile. 

"Well I can't keep her waiting now can I?" He said slyly before waltzing in with his apron now on. Hana could only laugh before getting back to work. It felt nice to have the gang back together.

Hana was concentrating on finishing the flowers for the wedding cake before going back to decorating and baking other treats. Even with a line of customers waiting outside, with the four of them together, they made all of their customers happy and had another good day.

"Man that was quite a rush hour." Said Daisuke as he sat down for a break.

"Yeah, My fingers hurt from typing in the orders all day." Said Chiharu as she tried to massage her hands.

"Don't worry Chiharu." Began Hana. "I'll put a hiring sign so we can get another cashier to work with you, instead of us running back and forth between there and the kitchen.

"Thanks, this place could use a couple more workers."

"Yeah, this place could use a lot of things." Added Hana as she sat down and stretched her arms. She also took a moment to scratch behind her neck, the itch not going away. 

Suddenly the bell on the door chimed signalling another customer.

"Well, time for work." Hana sighed as she got up to greet the customer.

"Welcome to 'The Lonely Rose' how can I- Kazekage-sama!" She said in surprise, the itch in the back of her neck growing. 

"Hello Hana. Temari was hoping you could help her in creating the guest list and seating arrangements today."

"Oh, I'm honored that she trusts me so, but I'm afraid-"

"Go on out Hana." Said Chiharu as she leaned on the counter.

"But I already took off early yesterday. I can't burden you guys like that."

"Look we got Akihiro today. He's your apprentice so he knows basic decorating for the desserts. We'll be fine Hana. Go have some fun for once."

"Yeah!" Daisuke added, popping his head out from the kitchen. Hana let out a laugh and said "Okay okay I'm going." She headed to her office and grabbed her raccoon backpack before facing the Kazekage.

"Are you ready Hana?" He asked.

"Yes Kazekage-sama." He scratched his back and said:

"You can.... just call me Gaara." He said as he headed out with her.

Hana POV:

"So....I don't have to use honorifics?" I asked.

"No, Gaara is enough."

"...Well alright then Gaara." I said with a smile. I'm such an idiot. My heart is beating like crazy even though I know he doesn't like me. The thing on my neck is itching more.

"Is everything alright Hana?" He asked. I guess he noticed me scratching a lot.

"Yeah, it's just this morning I felt an itch on my neck and it  hasn't gone away." I answered honestly.

"Let me see." He said, though he said indifferently I could see concern in his eyes. And my stupid self couldn't stop from blushing.

"W-what? No it's nothing to worry about Kaze-Gaara. Sorry." I said a little embarrassed. And to my surprise, he laughed. Not loud, but it was a laugh.

"Don't be embarrassed Hana. But why is your neck itching?"

"I honestly have no idea. It started when I woke up and it's still there. But thankfully the itch just lessened."

"It's funny, this morning I woke up with an itch as well." He said as we kept walking. My eyes widened in realization and I stopped walking.

"Hana? Is everything-"

"Where was the itch?"

"What?"

"Your itch. Where does it itch?"

"...on my back. Do you know something about it?" He asked innocently. These itches....They're the start to forming a bond. Since I found my 'other rose' as mom puts it, my animalistic side from the Aozora clan has a symbol form on our bodies. Like a tattoo it's in black and stays on forever. It's to show we belong to one another. 

"Yeah, yeah I know why you're itching." I said. "But it's nothing to worry about!" I added with a fake smile. I can't just flat out say 'yeah so we're soulmates and those tattoos mean we'll be together forever'. I'd be thrown in an asylum! 

"...Are you hungry Hana?" He said, I guess to change the subject.

"....Yes, we had a lot of customers today. So many that the line was outside of the bakery. So I skipped my lunch break." I said sheepishly.

"I see. We'll stop for lunch then."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want Temari to wait-"

"It's fine. Come on." He said, wrapping his arm on my shoulders while leading me to a small shop that was mostly empty except for a couple of customers. We sat down and ordered our food, some shrimp dumplings and a bowl of ramen. And we talked. And my heart was beating quickly, yet I felt so comfortable and at peace. He talked about his work and how boring it was, while I laughed and talked about Daisuke goofing off in the kitchen. For a moment I thought he was upset, but he went back to talking about some of his past as if nothing happened. It was incredible; we talked as if we've been friends for years. I couldn't even feel the itch on my neck anymore. When we got our food we still shared a laugh as we ate, even sharing food, and I don't like to share my food. It's a pet peeve honestly, but it felt nice to do that for him.

When the meal was over Gaara didn't even give me a chance to pull out my wallet. He just put the money on the table and told me to start heading out. 

 "Such a gentleman." I say playfully as I get my bag. I can't help but hide my blush though. Really Hana? 'Such a gentleman'? Obviously he would do that. Aaaaand now you're still blushing. Okay breathe, calm down. I turn around to head out when I hear Gaara say:

"I didn't know you had a tattoo." Oh shit. Even with my hair down he saw it.

"Um yeah, I got it a while back." I said with a smile.

"Not that far back. I didn't see it yesterday." He said with his arms crossed.

"O-oh. W-well, It's kind of hard to explain..."

"It's very beautiful." He said as he leaned down to get a better look at it. Oh geez oh geez oh geez.

"Th-thank you Gaara." I'm glad he's not in front of me or else he would have seen my face. Yup, red as a tomato.

"We should head out now. Temari is probably waiting for us." He said before grabbing my arm and walking out.

Gaara POV:

What am I doing? The whole time we were talking I was lost in her smile I don't even remember what we talked about. And I don't even like to share my food but there I was, giving her some of the broth of the ramen to taste. It was so bizarre, we just, connected. It's as if we became one and our conversation just flowed. I can't even remember the last time I smiled so much in front of people, let alone laugh. 

It's only been two days and I'm already in love.

And I noticed her tattoo. It's a rose surrounded by much smaller flowers and for some reason it drew my attention so much I had to touch it. Her skin was soft and I traced my finger around the rose, making her shiver. I realized what I was doing and blushed, ashamed. My cheeks heated up as I just said we should head out. 

Eventually we made it to the building and walked up the stairs to the fourth floor where Temari and Shikamaru were.

"Better late than never." Said Shikamaru as we entered. Temari quickly however elbowed him to be quiet. She smiled at us and said "How was your day Hana?"

"It was good thank you. A lot of customers and later Gaara and I talked for a while." She said with her signature smile. Oh what that smile does to me.

"'Gaara'? So you two are close now?" Said Kankuro from the door. I feel my shoulders tense at seeing him here.

"Well yes. He invited me to lunch where we talked and soon became friends, so there was no longer a use for honorifics." Said Hana as she looked to Kankuro. I noticed she scratched her tattoo before looking at me.

"Are you okay Gaara?" She asked sweetly. 

"Yes I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, just wondering."

"Okay then! Let's get the guest list done!" Said Temari as she put a pile of names on index cards in the middle, along with two index cards on opposite sides that read 'going' and 'not going'.

We spent three hours in the room talking over who would and wouldn't go and eventually reached the number of fifty-seven as our guest list total. Later Hana and Temari began to talk over what flowers would work well for the decorations as well as her bouquet. [A.N: I'm doing a Christian/Catholic type wedding because I don't know the Japanese traditions for a wedding there.] Hana took the lead in the conversation as she began to name off a few types of flowers that were cheaper and easier to find, yet beautiful. She was smiling as she began to draw some of the flowers she mentioned to get a better idea of what would work. This type of conversation would usually bore me, but to see Hana so excited makes it worth it. She eventually drew what would be Temari's bouquet: calla lilies, tea roses, and lilies of the valley.

Temari was ecstatic and I was in awe. Hana is so pure and perfect. I saw her smile as she gently rubbed the back of her neck. Is it still itching her?

"Kazekage-sama!" Yelled a shinobi as he burst through the doors.

"What it's my day off." I say irritated.

"Forgive me Lord Kazekage, but I received an invitation for you from Amegakure. They request you see them as soon as possible."

"Let me see the invitation." He hands me the scroll and when I look at how it was written, it seemed almost desperate. I sigh in frustration. I guess it can't be helped.

"Kankuro, bring another jounin as well as yourself. I guess we're going to Amegakure." Kankuro only nodded before leaving with the other shinobi.

"I have to leave soon. But congratulations on getting the guest list done and thank you Hana for helping us."

"No problem Gaara." she said with a closed eye smile. I feel my back start to itch again. Weird. I say my goodbyes before heading home. Before I leave the gates I feel the itch grow stronger. What is going on with it? I just shake my head and start off on the mission.

Hana POV:

"I'm home!" I say as I walk in my house. Dad is napping on the floor as a bear while mom is making dinner.

"Home early again? Maybe the kazekage should ask you out more." She said with a small laugh.

"He didn't ask me out! We just had lunch then went to help Temari."

"Sounds like a date Hana. The village is already starting to hear rumors of a baker who stole his heart." 

"I didn't steal anything, it was... fate?" My mom dropped the spoon and looked straight at me.

"Are you and him...soulmates?" I looked to the floor embarrassed as I quietly said:

"Yes."

"My baby girl is being taken away from me!" Said my dad in his human form. He hugged me from behind and said "So young and she already found her mate."

"Ew dad don't say it like that. And put some clothes on!" I yelled. When one morphs into an animal, they lose their clothes, so naturally when we change back we're naked. I'm used to seeing him naked but it's still weird getting hugged by your naked dad. 

"Alright alright. Sheesh." He said as he walked to his room to put on sweatpants.

"So you're saying the Kazekage is your soul mate?" Mom asked.

"Yeah."

"Does he know?"

"No, but we already got our marks."

"You did?! Let me see let me see!" She said like a little girl as she turned me around to look at it.

"Oh it's beautiful! It's as pretty as mine!" She squealed as she showed me her mark. Hers is a bear paw print surrounded by three sakura flowers.

"Really?!" I run upstairs to my room and check in the mirror. Sure enough it's a rose surrounded by much smaller flowers. It's so beautiful. But I can't help but feel a little sad that I won't see Gaara for a few days. It shouldn't affect me so much but I can't help it. I slump to the ground as a red panda and climb up one of the bars around my room to look through the window. It's gonna be a little chilly tonight. I hope Gaara's okay.

"Hana?" Asked my mom as she peeked into my room. I just squeaked to signal where I am. She moved over  to the window and carried me in her arms.

"Did Gaara leave somewhere?" she asked. I only nodded in response.

"Will he be gone for long?" I whimpered, more sensitive in my animal state and crawled up to my moms shoulders before burying my face under her chin.

"Aw, don't worry Hana, he'll be back soon." She said while rubbing my furry back. "But you have to stay positive okay?" I just nod before climbing up to sit on her shoulders.

"Let's get ready for dinner okay?" She said with a smile as we headed downstairs. She pulled a shirt and shorts for me before heading downstairs.