A/N: Hello all of my readers! I've decided to make a Fanfic of Gaara and my OC. I will finish Hot Ice, Cold Burn, but right now I need to take a little break from that. This story isn't as romance-ish as Hot Ice, Cold Burn. It's just about how Gaara figures out love and friendship and all of that. (Sorry to those who already had this idea! D:)Reiko is her name, she is currently a Jounin. She is unfortunately Gaara's accountant, so she comes in everyday to do this and that for him. Well I hope all of you will enjoy this story as well as my other story Hot Ice, Cold Burn! Oh and one more thing! This is a few years later, so that means everyone is about two or three years older so that makes Gaara about eighteen and Reiko eighteen too I guess. Rated for mild cursing, blood, and some kissing scenes. ONE MORE THING! Sometimes in the story, it'll be through Gaara's POV. And so you know I'll put a little something there. You'll know when you see it. R&R!

Tea

Black hair feathered across a white pillow, sunlight peeked through the thin wood blinds. The bright sunlight painted across a pale face, an eye opened. The center crystal blue, an outline of sea green laid on the outside. The other eye open, the center as well blue but another color mixed with it. Sunny yellow played with the centered blue. The young Jounin stared at the sunlight, it was beginning to sting her eyes. Reiko. Said a voice in the back of her head, it spoke again. It's time to get up. The young girl, sat up slowly. Her dark black hair was tangled, her skin pale as snow. She yawned, her long thin fingers sprawling into her mesh of hair. She wanted to take a shower, but she felt to lazy and weak. She groaned and sluggishly made her way to the bathroom. She stripped down to her skin, a deep porcelain color. Her hair, her skin, her lips, all contrasted with each other. One being darker than the other. This girl, had no bruises, no cuts, not a imperfection in sight. Her skin was as smooth as a new born child's, and as delicate. Her feet began to move by themselves. They stepped into the stoned shower, she raised her arm. Her long thin fingers landed on the crystal knob, it twisted to the left. Hot water poured from the pipage, leaking down onto her perfect skin. Steam arose, then a yell filled the air.

"Holy hell!" Was what escaped through this young girl's lips. She was finally awake, Reiko was finally awake. Her pale skin was turning a bit pink from the hot water, the hot liquid leaked into her dark hair. Her thin fingers danced with the dark strands. She spent no time in the shower, she wanted to make it on time to her job. She worked for the highest order in the village, Kazekage. She was supposedly his "secretary", but she only hung out in the office. Reiko was about the same age as Gaara, who was the Kazekage. People were terrified of him, but Reiko found him an interesting person to be with. He didn't talk much, and he didn't do much either. Reiko woke early, earlier than anyone else. She expected her superior to still be sleeping, but once she stepped into the office she saw him there leaning against a desk or sitting his chair.

He was such a different person unlike the others she had met. He was quiet and didn't seem to care much about what the others did. He was also so different from his siblings. They were full of personality, always willing to do this and that. But he, he was a blank board waiting to be painted with color. Greens, yellows, purples and especially reds. Temari, his eldest sibling, had told Reiko that the red marking on his left temple was his marking. He marked himself with love, because he hadn't felt love. He wanted to, but he felt that if he did it would ruin him. Ruin the monster inside of him. He felt he was a monster among the living people, he didn't fit in. Yet he became the biggest of the big, he was Kazekage of the Village of Sand. He ruled properly and fairly, making sure everyone got what they needed and wanted except for him. He needed many things in life, many things normal people like Reiko had.

Although she had known Gaara for less than two years, she felt his pain. Like he was leaking the pain, a loose bolt was needed to be fixed. Even though Reiko had friends, had parents, had color in her blank life, she was missing something. Something she still needed to find deep beneath her heart. Reiko still felt the sharp pain that struck her stomach. It churned. Was this the feeling Gaara feels? The feeling of not being loved?

Reiko slipped the thought into an imaginary cabinet. She hurried out of the bathroom, her hair almost dry when she stepped into the room. Her hair was short and feathery, stopping below her chin. Being a resident in the sand village meant that you had to deal with the heat. Reiko was still getting a bit used to the heat since she had just moved the Village of Mist. It was a huge change in climate, but Reiko learned to adjust.

The young girl waltzed in the lighten room, a towel wrapped around her what seemed to be perfect body. Her wet porcelain skin glisten in the light, the towel dropped. Reiko opened one drawer and pulled out a pair of fishnet stockings, a black strapless bra and matching underwear. She slipped into her undergarments, and pulled each fishnet stocking up her slender leg. Each stocking had an identical hole on the outer side. She didn't know how they got there, but she found it a nice touch. She pulled on a tight shirt that fell off her shoulder, a strap held its place. Reiko pulled on a pair of leggings and then a black skirt that stopped above her knees. She slid a small pouch onto her left thigh, tightening the belt buckle. Reiko took her headband and slid it around her waist. Reiko tied a tight bow at her hip, she danced around in front of the body-sized mirror. She scuffed her dry hair, they twirled a bit. She sighed happily, then slipped on her shoes.

Closing the door behind her, Reiko looked up. The sun beamed down on the early birds that walked the streets. She smiled. The sun was one thing she liked, but it was also something she hated. Reiko wasn't afraid of getting dark, since she was pale enough, but she was afraid of heat. She was more of a cooler person, but she didn't have the choice to stay in the Village of Mist. Her parents feared her being hurt, since a lot of murderers lived in the Village of Mist. It was natural for men to go after young woman there, but here it wasn't. Reiko liked the change, it got her to meet new people. She has a nice job, and she has her own house. But one thing she needed was...well she couldn't think of anything. It was sitting on her tongue, it stuck to her tongue. It didn't want to leave. Finding out what else she needed was difficult. Reiko would sometimes think and think but only one thing came to mind..-

Then she heard a bang, a crisp pain struck had ran in the wall again. She grabbed her forehead and yelped in pain.

"Dammit!" She muttered under her breath. She pulled her porcelain hand away from her forehead, she closed her eyes and sucked up a breath. Reiko opened one golden blue eye, she saw nothing. She let out a gust of air. She saw nothing but her own skin. Reiko sighed and hurried along.

The bright like danced with the wind, a heavy sigh came from the earth. Reiko made her way swiftly, stopping in front two doors. Her thin pale hand landed on the golden knob, she paused. Everyday the same thing happened, she had already memorized the routine.

'Good morning Kazekage-sama!" I say. No reply. I sit down in the leather couch, my legs hang off the arm. I stare at the wall for two minutes, then look at him. He sighs and I smile, I open my mouth to speak.

'So how was your morn-" I get cut of and he growls the only word he uses frequently towards me: "Tea." My smile widens, I hop off the couch and walk into the small room filled with dead tea leaves.

Reiko turned the knob, the door clicked. There he was, his back pressed against the burgundy-stained table, his white cloak draped over his shoulders, the large hat settled on the large table. He didn't move an inch, he didn't even shift positions. One thing he did though, was he coughed. That was something new.

"Good morning Kazekage-sama!" Reiko said cheerfully. No reply. Reiko sat down in the leather couch, lifting her legs so they would hang off the end of the couch. Her eyes shifted to the red wall. Most of everything in here was red. Reiko wondered why. Was it his favorite color? Did he even like the color red? Well he probably did because his hair was red, he usually dressed in red and he always writes with red ink. She thought of so many possibilities, a small grunt broke the silence.

"So Kazekage-sama? How was your day so-"

"Tea." One word could've been filled with so many emotions, but it came out blank. One blank word rolled into Reiko's ears. 'Tea.' Was what she heard everyday. It wasn't the only word she heard, but it was the most frequent. Reiko smiled though, she didn't care. She would rather make tea than be living on the streets. 'No lunch is free.' She said the saying to herself.

Reiko hopped off the small couch, skipping to the small closet door. She pulled the door open, an array of bitters and sweets pushed pass her face. She ducked her head a bit and entered the narrow room. Reiko turned here body so she could fit into the small room, she slide down making her way to her destination.

Reiko found it thrilling to find out that Gaara had kept some of the best secrets hidden behind his favorite teas. Reiko sometimes wondered if he kept his own secrets back there, but there was no hope. She made her way to the end of the small room, she pulled don cupboard open. It wept running past the other side of old wood. The sweet, burning smell emanated from the dry cabinet. Reiko pulled one of the already made bags of tea out, it was quite a big bag. She slammed the door shut with her hip and strolled out from the small room.

Reiko left the room, closing the door behind her. She strolled into another room next to her. Reiko pulled a small pot from a cupboard, slipping it near the sink. She twisted the knob slightly, a burst of cool water bounced off the hot metal. Once the water made its way to the near top, Reiko flicked the knob thus making the water aromatic. She dumped the bunches of tea leaves into the cool water and strolled over to the stove. Reiko set the almost full pot on a small rack keeping the pot from melting. She turned another knob, fire erupted from a small hole.

The steam that came from the small pot burst with aromatic and sharp smells. It was a good blend. Truthfully, Reiko couldn't think of anything like that. Reiko was a very smart and witty girl, but she wasn't the brightest candle in the room. She would sometimes forget to turn the water off, other times she would bring in blank pages because she was caught up with something else, and she would sometimes even not come in.

But Gaara didn't mind. He didn't care at all. He would just do his paperwork by himself, but he did struggle with the tea. That's basically why he had Reiko come in anyways.

Reiko skipped out of the heated room, a small smile sat on her lips. When she came out she saw Gaara sitting in his desk, head down scribbling words onto a piece of paper. When she stepped into the quiet room, the words stopped his head lifted. Reiko turned her head to look at him, her smile widen a bit more. Reiko hadn't noticed how green his eyes were. Come to think of it, she hadn't notice the dark circles under his eyes as well. Did he ever sleep? If he didn't, then what was motivating him for not going to sleep? Reiko had so many questions to ask, but she knew the answer to all of them.

"It's nothing important enough to discuss." 'That was his excuse for everything. It's not important! Bah! Not important my ass. If he's going to be my boss he should at least let me get to know him a bit better.' Reiko hissed in her mind. Her eyes focused on his face again, his lips began to move.

"Reiko." He said. She watched the bitter agony roll of his lips. He didn't seem sad, but he wasn't happy either. In fact, he was never happy. Just a blank face everyday. If something hurt him that much to make him stop giving emotions, it was Reiko's job to find out.