Tea Time, Kazekage-sama!

AN: This brand-new series is a spin-off to 'New Girl'. For new readers, I highly recommend reading chapters 11-16 for backstory before reading this, as it takes place as an alternative path from chapter 16 of 'New Girl'.

For those of you who followed 'New Girl' and requested this Gaara spin-off, please enjoy this small prelude chapter.

Review and critiques welcomed.

Thank you!

Prelude: Stay

The cicadas sing the melody of summer heat, a song that brings a sweat to my upper lip. Resting candidly against the railing of my rental complex, I stare off into the civilian landscape of Sunagakure. I watch with soaking interest at an older woman in the apartment across step out onto her balcony, and hang her children's clothes on a makeshift line. Beneath her, a man steps out to take a nice slow drag of his cigarette, before spotting his significant other entering the apartment and flicking it away.

"I'm asking if you would like to stay…Sho."

The Kazekage's sincere voice breaks the slice-of-life movie playing in front of me. It causes me to cast my gaze downward, viewing nothing more than the cracks between the streets below. One by one, drops of rain drip from the sky, and dampen the sandy earth. Rain is a rare sight in Sunagakure. A few children spring forth onto the streets, raising their hands and hoping to catch a few drops on their tongues. Even a stray and matted dog surfaces, wagging his tail to join the youngsters in the heavenly sprinkle. I catch myself extending my arm out in front of me, allowing the rain to prick softly against my skin.

I stare in a lull at the puddle pooling in my outstretched palm; releasing a forlorn sigh, "What would happen if I did stay…I wonder."

"Hey." The voice of a young woman interrupts my daydream. I turn to find one of my complex neighbors standing beside myself with a basket of laundry sitting on her hip. She nods in my general direction; "Just letting you know the laundry machines are free. You better get to them before the old bat from the third floor gets to 'em. first."

"Oh." I retract my outstretched hand, and wipe them dry with embarrassment on my clothes. I replace my fluster with an appreciative smile, "Thank you, Yoko-san."

A look of exasperation crosses her as she rolls her eyes, "I told you not to use '-san' after my name. You make me sound lame and boring."

"Sorry, I can't seem to help it." I giggle at her hot-to-trot attitude. finding it reminiscent to my best friend back home. "Besides, I can tell you're looking out for me. I appreciate it."

Yoko stiffens under my forthright observation. Pursing her lips, she tosses her head over her shoulder to veil the redness in her cheeks.

"Yeah, well—you're new around here so I'm just giving you a heads up." With a 'hmph' in her step she turns away and begins to unlock her apartment door behind us. Before entering she turns over her shoulder, "Just don't think I'll be doing favors like this all the time. And for the last time, drop the honorifics."

The door slams behind her and I recoil from the sound. Although she can't see me, I smile and give a small wave of good-bye.

Yoko-san, really is a caring person.

The unexpected Sunday rain had pored over into the Monday following. It remained to be a light drizzle, casting but a lazy haze across the village. Unlike most villages, the civilians of Suna paid little mind to the weather pattering at the top of their heads. One could say they quietly enjoyed the foreign sensation, similar to the children playing in the rain the day before. This was also apparent for my employer, the Kazekage himself. Rather than being interested in his paper work and thoughts, the insignificant display seemed to be of greater importance to him.

Now, as I watch him sitting peacefully in his chair and turned toward his office window, I almost feel ashamed to speak.

"Gaara-sama," I call to him with an apologetic hint in my tone. "Could I speak with you?"

"Hm," his attention continues to be fixated on the outside word, covered in a mild gray hue. "About what?"

"About yesterday," I admit with a low tone, unsure if this was an appropriate time. "More specifically, about how you had asked me to stay."

"I see," Gaara releases on an exhale, and I can feel the calmness from his breathe, much like the subtle downpour. "I'm sorry…for asking that of you. It was a selfish request, I realize that."

The Kazekage shifts from his seat to stand methodically in front of the window. Wordlessly, he opens it, and the air thickens with sweet mist. Slowly, his arm reaches outward, and with an open palm allows the silent rain slip between his pale fingers. I'm beckoned to join him at his side, regarding him with fluttering lashes. Although our shoulders are mere inches apart, he doesn't regard me with a sideways glance. His seagreen eyes, reticent and solicitous, gaze at the imagery.

"This rain…reminds me of you." The Kazekage breaks the stillness with his confession. I observe his hand open and close against the rain. "I can't ask the rain to stay. Naturally, it slips through my fingers…falls to the earth, to then return to the sky." He retakes his hand at the conclusion of his thought, "You wanting to go home at some point was something I was aware of. However, I wanted to ignore it. Not wanting the rain to leave." There's a beat in his monologue for his eyes to reflect the weather itself, "…not wanting you to leave."

The same drenched hand clenches in contempt, exposing the strike he had given himself emotionally, "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

My violet hues endure the sight of his palm constricted so tightly. His words; although deep and sincere, were the tamed and cultivated version of his expressions. For his hand portrayed a different, and more visceral story.

My own hand lifts to take it, and with the other free hand I untuck my blouse from my skirt to dry his. My unannounced movements force my employers hand to jerk backwards. The Kazekage's newphew was definitely right; Gaara didn't like to be touched…or perhaps, he had to learn not to.

"Gaara-sama," I address him in a soft yet doleful tone, attempting a second time to dry his hand. The Kazekage is hesitant but submits to the notion, keeping himself reserved as his gaze shifts away from me toward the window. Taking his hand in mine, I run my blouse over it in gentle circular motions, "To be fair, I think you're more like the rain than me."

"Why do you say that?" He asks.

I close my eyes and hum a simple tune to reflect; "Let's see. It's quiet and gentle, yet strong and unyielding when it needs to be." My violet eyes roll upwards to melt against a pair that resembles ocean tides. "And when it leaves, it doesn't take long for me to miss it."

My employer's eyes lower with subtle shynes, before holding fast when they return to meet mine, "don't stay for my sake…I could never ask that of you over those pretenses."

"I wouldn't be, Gaara-sama," I confess and catch a tingling heat in my cheeks. "I'm the one who's selfish; my life here…being with you and Yoru has been so nice. Coming here has made me so much happier," I feel my hands squeeze the Kazekage's, hoping my sincerity can be felt in ripples from my fingertips, "that's why I want to stay longer; even if it's just a little bit."

There's a gap of silence, and between the space are the raindrops keeping tempo outside. Slowly, the Kazekage's lips form into a docile smile. His sea foam hues become fuller and more malleable as they stare into me, while the complexion of his cheeks match my own.

"Then stay a little longer…" he finally breathes. "Sho."

"Yes, Gaara-sama."

A man asked the rain to stay, and so she did.