It had been years since the Suna Team were given the title as Chunins. Gaara had been given the title as Kazekage after four long years of trying to prove to the Sunagakure elders that he was good enough to be named Kazekage. He worked so hard, taking on missions that were near suicidal, always giving to the village and gaining trust from so many people. Temari became the ambassador for Suna and frequently visited Konoha whenever she could. Kankurou became Gaara's personal body guard and became so much closer to Gaara over the years. There was only one other person who didn't get a title, only a mere Jonin who took on mission after mission in order to compensate for her lack of entitlement.

Ura had just returned from a long mission. Who knew tracking a damn gang leader would take her a full three months! Then again, they turned out to be a rouge shinobi on the run from several other countries, even the Fire Country. She entered her village by passing the Watch Tower and went throug the entrance gap to her village. It was passed the noon time when people hid inside a building to escape the heat. Which was nice for Ura because she was too tired to be greeted by people she barely knew.

Over the years as well, Ura had tried to hint to Gaara her feelings. She kept to her promise as well, keeping him safe from so many hardships and attacks. There were a few shinobi who tried to harm Gaara when he first started as a Kage, but Ura took care of them. They were either dead or imprisoned, if Kankurou stopped her from killing them. Even with Ura swearing her protection to Gaara, he didn't allow her to be his body guard. Ura took it as an act of safety on her part, there were very few female body guards anyways. In the last year, Ura had decided that Gaara wouldn't ever see her feelings for him. Instead, she had became one of Kankurou's illicit lovers in hopes of burying her feelings for his younger brother in hopes of finding love elsewhere, even if it wasn't what she wanted.

When she opened the door to her small home and saw Kankurou was on the couch. He had gotten her last letter saying she was returning soon and must've guessed it would be that day. The years of maturity chisled him nicely, he really looked like a grown man with his muscles. His dark, brown hair was always messy, but it looked cute on him. He looked up to see him staring at him and smiled, "Well hey there, it's about time you came home."

"I had to stop at the mansion of the Mizukage to recieve my payment there," Ura answered as she just placed her pack on the other couch, "Anything new here?"

"Nope," Kankurou walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist to draw her closer, "Just the same as if you never left."

He leaned down and kissed her softly. Again, Ura thought of Gaara to kiss him back. She didn't want to see the Kazekage on her first day back, it would just get her even more tired from having to hide her heartache. Kankurou could sense Ura trying to hold back from him, and respected her wishes. He took a step back, still holding her hand and gave it a light tug, "Do you want to head upstairs?"

Ura gave it some thought, but shook her head, "Not today, i'm really exhausted. All I want to do is go to bed and sleep."

"I can help you relax," Kankurou softly pinned Ura against her front door, running a hand down her waist to the warm area of her womanhood, "You'll be sleeping for hours afterwards..."

His hand on her tight, black mini shorts gave her an urgent feeling to fulfill her desire. She gently pressed her hands against his chest as he leaned in again and nipped at her neck. A blush formed on Ura's face as she closed her eyes tightly, if only it could be Gaara... The feeling of a finger entering her made Ura gasp lightly, she hadn't slept with a man since before her mission. Her gasp must've excited Kankurou because he lifted one of her legs to his waist in hopes of getting closer to her.

"Please... Kankurou...not now," Ura pleaded as she felt her body warm beneath his touch.

Kankurou slowly pulled his fingers out of her, but remained to pin against her door. He trailed his lips from her neck to his mouth, kissing her slightly as he pulled her from the door to his embrace. If only she could love Kankurou, then that heartbreak would be heaven compared to the heartbreak of not being seen. Kankurou slowly pulled away, gently moving a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead, "I'll come by later to check on you."

"I'll have a plate of dinner ready for you," Ura smiled up at him.

If only she loved him... Kankurou thought to himself as he looked down at her smile, if only she loved him instead of Gaara. He nodded and silently took his leave. Ura went to her kitchen and made some tea, boiling the water and watched the steam spin and twirl through the air. Her heart still ached... It was always then same after Kankurou would leave her alone after a night of love making with him. Well, not making love, because they didn't leave each other. She would feel that empty feeling when she was alone in her home. It was that alone feeling that made her want to run from her village, but she wouldn't go back on her word that easily. She had to protect Gaara from anything and anyone that meant him harm. Ura knew it was that same promise she had hoped to keep in hopes of an early grave sometimes.

The water was boiling over when she took the small pot off the burner, adding different spices until she found the right flavor she wanted. Ura poured some of the tea into a small cup and sat at her kitchen table, finding the spices rushing down her throat. The tea was to simulate sake since she didn't want to buy it because all she would do was drink until she was drunk everyday. Instead, she'd rather drink the tea that tasted like sake.

A familiar chakra was nearby, but she couldn't mistake that chakra for the rest of the world. Then, a loud, angry pounding on her door made Ura hold her breath. Why was he mad this time? Ura grudgingly got up from her chair and went over to the door to see Gaara with his arms crossed, "Lord Kazekage, what a pleasant surprise."

"Why didn't you recieve your payment at the mansion?" Gaara walked in without her permitting him, a frequent action he does for his siblings and Ura.

"I thought my only payment was at the Mizukage's mansion, i'll stop by later and get it," Ura held the door open, "Is that all you came to tell me, Lord Kaze-"

"Just call me Gaara," he looked around her small home, "Why don't you just move into the mansion with Kankurou and Temari?"

"Because it isn't right for someone outside the main bloodline to live in a home," Ura shut the door, seeing how Gaara was making himself at home in her kitchen, "Is there something I can get you, Gaara?"

Gaara went through her cupbards, "Do you have any of the tea I like?"

"I'll get it, you just sit-"

He shot her a sharp stare, Ura just sighed and sat down. His visits were daily, sometimes they were brief while other times he could stay for a full day. It was torture watching him basically live in her home while she still felt the same way for him despite her not wanting to. Though Ura knew he didn't know her feelings, it still felt like he visited her daily just to show her she could never have him the way she wanted. Ura pointed to the cupboard closest to her small refridgerater, "Top shelf."

Gaara made a new pot of water and waited for the water to boil, "You are to move into the mansion by this evening."

"I can't do that, Gaara," Ura resisted as she sipped her tea, "I don't belong there.."

"You were on the same team as me and my siblings. Having you there is more of a comfort on my part than a demand on yours," Gaara commented as he added the herbs she had bought knowing they were what he liked.

Ura sat her cup on the table as she looked at the back of his head. That beautiful head of crimson hair, his porcelain skin, everything about him made Ura's heart beat faster. His voice was of a velvet or silk that rubbed against skin, and when he looked at someone with his icey, yet warm eyes... It looked as if he could see right through anyone. Ura looked away from Gaara as she poured herself another cup of her spiced tea, "I'm sorry, Gaara, but i'm not going to."

"As your Kazekage, it is your duty to heed my demands and obey me because I know what is best," Gaara stated as he sat down across from her, holding his tea.

She could argue with Gaara for hours, possibly days, but he would eventually win. The truth was...she could never say 'no' to Gaara. With an aggrivated sigh, she nodded, "Fine... How long did you say you were staying?"

Gaara looked up at Ura from his tea, "I didn't. Are you expecting company?"

"No, but is there a reason for you to stay here?" Ura asked before she sipped her tea, then thought, 'If not then get out...'

"Those meetings with the village elders are long and dull," Gaara answered as he stirred his tea slowly, "My other reason for coming here is to tell you that i'm giving you the job as my Personal Assistant."

His lackey, in other words. Doing the jobs he doesn't want to do and going to places he doesn't want to go to. Though it gave her some authority, it also meant she would be around Gaara more. It was going to be hard to deal with since she was trying to get over him, but it was a job she could not possibly refuse. Ura put on a smile to show Gaara that she appreciated the new position, "How nice..."

"With your new position, I have an errand, or a mission, that needs to be done," Gaara finished his tea and placed the cup in the sink, "I need you to go to Konoha and request that Naruto open his village up to allow free passage between our countries without a pass."

"I can do that," Ura shrugged as she did the same with her tea cup, "I'll have my stuff ready by-"

Gaara handed her the pack on the couch, "I'll take care of your belongings, your mission stars now."

Ura just gave Gaara an 'I-can't-believe-you' look and watched him leave her home. She was exhausted and in dire need of sleep. Then, he swoops him, tell her she is to move to his home and gives her a mission, then swoops out. Rage ran through Ura as she exited her home and slammed the door shut. The heat was already unbearable and she had to go on a long-ass walk to Konoha to talk to Naruto... She opened one of her umbrellas and started to leave the villag yet again. Was there ever going to be a break in her life?

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Gaara

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Once he reached his mansion, he watched as Ura left the village again. He knew she wasn't going to be pleased to have another mission as soon as she was finished the the previous one. Then again, she was the one that demanded that mission than the other one he had wanted her to take. That was just like Ura, always asking for the one the others may not take as an option. It was one of the reasons why he wanted her to move back into his home. Seeing her was something of a routine to him, he had to see her at least once a day to keep that memory of their old friendship in his mind. Though she was different now, she was more hesitant and it seemed as if she forced herself to remain a few steps behind him. He had debunked it as her becoming more of a woman than just a kunoichi under his command.

Gaara sat at his office as he thought about a few other tasks he needed to get done. He opened a few scrolls that the elders had given him earlier and read them over. But the door opened and Kankurou walked in, smelling of sweat and another substance. Gaara had learned that his elder brother was more of a ladies man than Gaara had realized. There were very few women in the village that hadn't slept with Kankurou, but Gaara never asked on who Kankurou took to his bed. Kankurou walked over to Gaara's desk and sat in front of him, slouching in the large chair, "So, you gave that mission to Ura a little early... Trying to get rid of her or something?"

"She wanted to be the Kazekage, so getting on the spot missions should be what she's used to," Gaara commented as he signed one scroll, placing it to the right of his desk, "It's not like has a partner to come back to anyways."

"I guess you're right," Kankurou grumbled as he glanced to what Gaara was doing, "You know, you really should get out more. Make some more friends, get a girlfriend, something at least."

"I can't," Gaara grumbled as he glanced up at Kankurou, "I don't have time for that, this village is in desperate need of water and there are people who don't have a water supply right now."

"You already solved that problem," Kankurou walked over to Gaara and closed a scroll, "Look, you've been working for three weeks straight. Live while you're young enough to."

"Just do that for me," Gaara re-opened the scroll, "If anything, you should be looking for someone to spend the rest of your life with. It's not good to be a bachelor forever."

"I think i'll worry about that later," Kankurou sighed, seeing how Gaara wasn't going to listen to him, "You know, there are plenty of girls out there who want to be with you, Gaara."

Gaara looked back at Kankurou with a curious gaze, then turned to a serious one, "Those females are only looking for the title I can give, none of them are able to truly see who and what I am besides the title I have."

"Except one..." Kankurou grumbled, ready to leave the room.

"What?" Gaara stopped writing something on a parchment, "What are you talking about?"

"Uhm... Nothing, Gaara, don't listen to me," Kankurou swallowed his tongue and quickly left the office.

Kankurou left hastily, he didn't want to spoil Ura's feelings for Gaara. It was too late... Ura wanted to move on from Gaara, but his brother was unwilling to let Ura go that easily. Kankurou went to the study while it remained unoccupied by Gaara for a bit and sat at the desk. He looked at the pictures of them together as older shinobi. Ura had changed her outfit to the black mini shorts and a loose red top that started around her shoulders and ended two inches below her chest. The sleeves were bell shaped that hid the hari holsters on her upper arms. Her headband was sewn into the front and the metal rested on her chest. Kankurou had watched Ura try again and again to win the approval of the elders to be the next Kazekage. Each time...they would say she had been away for far too long to know the village as well as Gaara did. In the end, Gaara had worked harder and took the title without knowing how badly she wanted it.

It wasn't Gaara's fault, and Kankurou knew Ura was not mad at him. Her dreams were gone. Gaara didn't know how she felt after years of subtle hinting and she couldn't be a Kazekage. Kankurou had tried to help Ura cope, but it wasn't enough. Being her lover for only two years couldn't give her enough relief to make her want him back. He shifted in his seat as he turned his attention to the window, Ura wasn't going to be pleased about the mission Gaara had given her. From what Temari had told Kankurou, there was a certain shinobi that had arrived back in Leaf that hadn't seen Ura since the final day they were there. Ura was one to harbor grudges... Kankurou smiled to himself, she'll be so mad when she realizes the one person she hated the most in Leaf was back.

He left the study to go back outside as the cooler winds were beginning to blow. Kankurou glanced around at the posts, everyone was where they should be according to direction. There were a few people he had wanted to see that day, but there was a certain young lady wearing barely anything gazing at him not too far away from him. With a smirk, Kankurou's day just became booked...

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Ura

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She had just arrived at Leaf after a few hours of running, her legs were tired and all she wanted to do was collapse into a bathtub. Naruto was going to have to wait until tomorrow, she was just so damn tired. Damn Gaara...well, nevermind, he can just be mean sometimes without having to say any words. Ura walked over to a hotel and got a room for a few nights.

Unpacking her clothes and other weapons, Ura went to the bathroom and turned on the hot water to the bathtub. She watched as the water filled up near the top, took off her clothes, then slipped in to turn the water off. Her muscles ached from traveling so much over the last few hours. So much has happened and there was still more things to do that couldn't go undone. Gaara would have to get mad, she needed to take the rest of the night off in order to give her body a rest. She held her breath as she went beneath the surface of the hot water. Why did she still only think about Gaara? As much as she had wanted to give up on him, she could never turn her back on him fully.

What if he had a secret girlfriend? Ura felt her rage rush through her again even at the thought of another woman in Gaara's arms. Maybe Gaara had found a girl he had wanted to be with, sought her out, and made her his mistress in total secrecy without anyone knowing? Ura instantly stood up in the bathtub with her fists clenched tightly, "Who the hell does he think his is? A damn magician!"

Embaressment waved through Ura as she realized that it probably wasn't true. Most likely Gaara didn't give himself enough time to have a personal life of his own. Ura sank back into the tub with an annoyed face on her. She was probably over-thinking it anways...

After her bath, Ura pulled on a large shirt and shorts. She was looking forward to going to bed, but then there was a knock at the door. At that hour of the night? Ura glanced at the clock, it was almost midnight! With a low sigh, she hid a single hari down her shorts as she answered the door, but held her breath. There was no way...it was him... After all these years...he dared to show his face at her door that night...