...........
Her second night fared just as badly as the first. Ino had spent the majority of it tossing and turning as the relentless wind howled against the building.
In the morning she had greeted the sun with raccoon eyes and the distinct feeling of becoming a zombie. It was quiet now, and the soundlessness irked her as much as the earlier racket had. Thoughts of playing hooky were vanished though.
She had a job to do, dammit.
And a certain sexist doctor to irritate.
Grinning at the thought, Ino hopped out of bed and padded her way to the bathroom; wondering if Suna even had a public hot spring. If they did, it'd most likely be indoor and fake.
Blah sand, she missed Konoha's leafiness.
Ignoring the darkening bags beneath her eyes, she began a quick refresher with a wet cloth. Not daring to tempt the shower, she doubted she'd leave once she got under the hot spray. Instead, Ino settled for sadly eyeing it while she popped the toothbrush into her mouth.
It was whilst this time that the blonde became aware of the faint knocking at her door.
Do any of these sand lizards sleep in?
Not bothering to take the time to change or take the brush out, she went to the door. If these people insisted on interrupting her morning routine then they would just have to deal with seeing her in all her morning- mess glory.
With that in mind Ino frown grumpily as she opened the door.
The Kazekage got his second eyeful of the Yamanaka in only her underwear.
"You've got a bad habit to break."
Purposefully keeping his eyes at the level of her face, Gaara watched as she spoke around the bright purple toothbrush before answering himself.
"Everyone sleeps in."
Shaking her head and muttering "not everyone sleeps' she once again left the door open as she walked to the bathroom. She was not running late, and be damned if she was going to rush just because of an insomniac red head.
Sensing her sedate speed, Gaara cautiously stepped into the room.
"You've got a habit of answering the door in barely anything."
Rinsing her mouth, Ino shrugged absently before her sleep deprived mind caught up with the fact that he couldn't see it. Pausing to wipe her face, she raised her voice.
"Yeah well, kunoichi get over body consciousness quickly."
Changing into her stiff new outfit, Ino didn't think she needed to explain that the reasons for that were the dirtier missions' women were assigned. They didn't get sent often but enough for girls to be aware of.
Gaara hadn't thought of that, but didn't voice his ignorance.
"So are you like my permanent escort?"
Feeling fresh and ready to go, Ino stepped out of the room to see Gaara studiously staring at the wall in front of him. Watching his impassive face, the blonde briefly wondered if he has ever seen a woman fully naked before forcing the thought out her mind.
Pushing her feet into the sandals by the door, she smiled when he finally met her gaze and answered.
"No, I just happened to be up."
He took the moment to take in her form fitting (purple no less) outfit. It was different than the one he vaguely remembered from her first appearance in the village.
Instead of showing off a sleek bare stomach, it was now covered by a lavender mesh shirt that was overlapped by a cropped shirt with long sleeves (it still managed to conceal yet emphasize her bust). The dark mini skirt was replaced with a replicate that had several inches added and longer slits; letting it flutter around her knees and showing off tone thighs. Black shin protectors completely the informal girl ninja look.
The long hair was once again up in a high ponytail with a section of bang covering her left eye.
"What?"
He took his eyes off the material around her mid thigh and look up to see a bemused expression on her face as she watched him.
"You're outfit is different, but still….purple."
He hadn't meant for the last part to be spoken out loud but didn't bother apologizing. Her outfit was purple; he had a feeling that if it had been on anyone else it would have appeared obnoxious.
Even with it being Ino it was still slightly obnoxious.
His thoughts narrowed in suspicion when the woman in question simply threw her head back and laughed loudly before fixing him with an impish grin.
But when he opened his mouth to ask he was cut off by her vigorous shake of head, her hair whip cording around. He blinked at the index finger wagging in front of his face.
"Ah ah, ask no questions and I won't tell no lies."
Ino grinned as the Suna leader looked at her with the barest hint of puzzlement on his face. So close, so very close. When had it become a goal to get this stoic guy to show his emotions?
She shrugged it off, knowing it was most likely because she needed something to stave off the boredom of being in a country that was completely hard and bare. Did they even have a good boutique?
Ino sighed at the thought of shopping in a town like this, but maybe Temari knew of somewhere good?
"Let's go."
Practically skipping behind the Kazekage, Ino smiled at her good mood. She was determined to make this extended trip good no matter what; besides it seemed that she had at least two – possible three- friends to count on.
Slowing the bounce in her step, she took a good accessing look at the man in front of her. He wasn't necessarily cold anymore but there was still a distance between him and the rest of the village. She was sure.
Having been a part of her family's flower shop she had slowly developed the 'art' of knowing what occupation the customers had by the state of their hands.
Having a family jutsu based on the mind, she had developed a sense of a person's relationship with things that are constantly in that person's life.
Gaara was still distant, even though the Shukaku was gone. Was it because of what happened with the Suna kunoichi Chiyo resurrecting him, or was it because some past pains cannot be forgotten?
Musing over this, Ino let her eyes linger on the surprisingly soft looking hair. It kind of had a personality of its own, as if its movement made up for its owner's lack of expression.
She almost laughed at the ridiculous thought.
Ino wanted to touch it.
The unbidden thought had her smile melting away and eyes moving to look elsewhere. Urges like that were not allowed, were not suppose to pop up with the leader of Suna. And anyway, where the hell had it come from! He won't even smile!
'Hmphing' out loud, her periwinkle eyes glared at the circular windows as she forced her mind onto where they were heading.
Gaara acted as if he didn't feel her gaze at all, or the disparaging sound she made minutes later. He was used to having eyes follow him wherever he went. They use to be glares of fear and hatred before, now they were a mixture of friendliness and fear.
Fear, fear, fear.
It was always part of his existence.
As they reached the outside of the building, he heard a low grumble coming from behind him. Before he could speak a snappy voice spoke very close behind him.
"Well what am I suppose to do! I haven't gone shopping for food yet!"
Ino huffed as Gaara looked at her as he held open the door again. She had only recently stopped severely dieting, after Tsunade had spent three hours screaming at her and Sakura for losing too much weight. The old bat had gone on and on about how fat is just stored when the body is starved and how their chakra would become disruptive if not properly taken care for.
The volume alone had done enough to put a little damper on the two younger kunoichi.
The result was her eating a healthy breakfast and skipping lunch.
Still, she felt bashful after her short outburst towards Gaara, and the feeling only intensified when he didn't respond but continued walking.
Ino hoped it wouldn't mean she had to skip breakfast; it wasn't good for her energy levels and today was going to be her big debut to the hospital staff.
"Gaara! Ino!"
Immersed in her self-wallowing about starving, Ino caught herself from bumping into Gaara with only centimeters between them. Blinking at the up-and-personal distance between her face and his, Ino instinctively swallowed but couldn't bring herself to move.
It felt as if she were a mouse caught in an owl's stare. Prey. Predator. Hunter and unexpected hunted.
Ino shivered as light emerald eyes stared into hers unblinkingly.
"Uuuhh."
She swallowed twice before trying to speak again.
"E-excuse me, Kazekage."
It was almost a relief when he slowly blinked.
A bigger relief when Temari's loud voice broke over them with ear flinching clarity.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Feeling as if she were staring down a dog in a silent dominance contest, Ino carefully lowered her eyes and stepped back. His voice sounded like a whisper in her ear.
"Gaara."
Catching herself nodding a bit fanatically, Ino stopped herself and whirled around to meet the older siblings curious gaze.
The darker blonde eyebrows were raised high as she grinned wickedly at the pair's closeness.
"What's up little brother, getting all cozy with the am-bass-a-dor?"
Gaara frowned as his sister's grin only widened further, as if his response was confirming something humorous.
Then he paused and examined his response. It was a slightly frustrated feeling, and he wondered if it was because she had interrupted them?
That couldn't be right; they weren't doing anything to be interrupted by. She probably hadn't noticed him stop and almost knocked into him; thus the reason for their close proximity. Of course that didn't explain the prolonged lingering of the intimate closeness, he simply hadn't wanted to move and therefore didn't.
He had enjoyed the widening of her bright blue eyes and the way her cheeks became tinted with pink as she took in their position.
Enjoyed?
"Don't be so foul, you're the reason why I almost ran into him. Don't be so loud in the morning."
Temari merely smiled mischievously as they all continued walking. Ino might not have noticed it, but she knew her younger brother enough to have seen the slight changes in his face. And from what she saw, he had liked their little incident.
Smiling at the thought, Temari ignored Ino's scolding as they walked along.
It was amazing if Gaara showed interest in any female. He hadn't been as closed off since he had been resurrected, but he had never been interested in going out. The only way her and Kankuro had gotten him to leave that stupid office was to threaten to burn the place down. He had always been the loner in the corner, sometimes being accompanied by his student Matsuri. And the young kunoichi was like a baby sister, he felt the need to guide and protective (quite viciously too) her.
Big sister though, has decided that it's time for baby brother to get a girlfriend.
The sharp smile softened as she watched Gaara murmur a response to one of the light blonde's questions.
He deserved someone precious before anyone else she knew.
Shaking the thoughts away, Temari focused on what was being said. Time enough for courting ideas later, she'd have to scheme it over with Kankuro. If the idiot wasn't thinking of going after her himself.
"I hope that butthead doesn't give me trouble, I really want to help improve Suna's medics."
Ino watched the unfocused gaze on the taller woman's face before dark emerald eyes met hers. She had noted how the razor smile had gone soft when Temari looked at her brother, and felt warmth fill her at the tender expression.
Painful past or not, they had become a real family since those hard times.
Shikamaru would be happy to see the tough four ponytail girl smile like that. Not that he'd admit it without bodily threats.
"Oh with us at your back you don't have to worry."
Feeling as if the feeling was bubbling over, Ino smiled at them both while laughing lightly.
"I'm so glad!"
She only smiled as they both gave her varying looks of confusion but didn't feel like revealing her thoughts. Gut instinct told her that mentioning her teammate would cause trouble for herself from the blonde and trouble for the blonde from her brother.
Tempting but not quite, it was too early for suicidal remarks.
Luckily she was saved by her own stomach growling loudly.
"Whoa, Gaara you were supposed to feed her."
Ino flushed indignantly and was only stopped from responding with another tirade about starving by Gaara's quiet response.
"We were going now."
He watched from the corner of his eye as the Konoha kunoichi perked up instantly with a wide smile. She was so forward with her emotions; it would have been tiring if he hadn't been intrigued by it so much. Were all Konoha's ninja like that, or was it only blondes?
"Really? Yay!"
At that moment Ino caught a glimpse of a tall rough looking shinobi waving at them through the beginning of the morning crowd. She easily made her way through the sluggishly moving people and grinned as she reached up to poke at the purple face paint.
"Thought I told you this face was better without the make-up."
She laughed again as he half-heartedly swiped at her hand, dancing out of his reach with a few quick steps.
"It's war paint, not make-up. How the hell can you be so fucking chipper in the morning?"
Ino shrugged happily while bouncing around him in girlish abandon. Not bothering to mention she did not start off so chipper – a fact she hoped Gaara would intentionally forget.
"Oh 'cause Gaara Kazekage is going to feed me!"
The sand siblings all raised their brows at the name combination and sentence. Kankuro watched as the attractive blonde smiled at Gaara, and how his brother studiously avoided his two sibling's eyes.
"Oooo-ohhh really, Gaara Kazekage is going to huh?"
Temari snickered as the Suna leader in question glared at the two. Ino simply smiled widely and nodded. She knew full well what trouble she was causing but just couldn't help it. It was a relief to know that these two were at least taking kindly to her. Casting a quick check in Gaara's direction she secretly hoped for three new friends.
"Well we'll join you two, unless anyone objects?"
Gaara watched as Ino shook her head, while suspiciously thinking she knew what she was causing. He only felt it was confirmed when she gave him a sly look in his directions.
Refusing to take the bait, he shook his head and turned into the closet restaurant. The Konoha girl was almost unnerving in the way she tampered with things, it was like having a second feminine yet sneakier Temari around.
As everyone headed towards the same table, Ino caught Temari's eye as she slid in next to the girl.
"What?"
The only response was only a small perceptive shake of her head.
"What will you have?"
After everyone had placed their orders and the small serving girl had left them each with tea, Ino felt eyes on the back of her head.
Glancing around, she tried to find the pair of eyes that were watching her. Coming up empty handed, Ino shrugged and turned back to half listen to the conversation between Temari and Kankuro. They had started arguing about a training method to use on the new genin. It had started off as intelligent bickering but was slowing down fallings to a simple 'yes' and 'no' shouting contest.
"Why don't you just do it the way you both want and have the brats learn both ways?"
They all turned to look at her as she blinked back. Kankuro was the first to break; raising his hand up to scratch at his head.
"Well that was diplomatic, but rather boring."
Ino grinned and stretched out her arms before shrugging.
"I was tired of you two bitching at each other."
She glanced across the table in time to see a quirk of lips from the Gaara. Oh, so close! Pausing, she mentally frowned at the young man, as if it was his fault.
"I would have pegged you for a teacher and not a medic Ino."
Gaara watched as Ino shrugged again at Temari's comment, her slender fingers fiddling with a pair of extra chopsticks on the table. Her expression had oddly gone blank for a minute before breaking into a sheepish look.
"Ah well, I'm not strong enough to teach future generations. Better stick to being useful instead."
The silence was short lived before she spoke again, as if she felt like she had to defend herself.
"I am average so I'd rather the higher up teach people who will have to defend the village later on."
Gaara looked at the crooked smile on her pretty face and felt as if it was false. Did she really think she was average? He felt it daunting to know that this above average looking woman thought she was mediocre. Were her skills that bad? He couldn't remember every seeing her fight since the exam. Even during the exam he was busy wanting to fight Sasuke.
"What, but an average ninja would not be studying serious medical procedures."
Temari's eyes widened at Kankuro's admission. Serious medical anything was important in a village that was always lacking in doctors.
"What kind of procedures?"
Now it was Ino's turn to sheepishly rub at her neck, avoiding everyone's eyes. She hadn't been fishing for reassurance or compliments.
"Well, you know, brain surgery and stuff. Tsunade Hokage believes my jutsu skills might help, but it's still in the outlining yet."
Temari's mouth was slightly opened before speaking again.
"But you'd have to know way more advance stuff before even thinking of brains, that's the most untouched area of the body for medics. It's too complicated, and a person would need perfect chakra control right?"
Gaara watched as Ino stared at the table for a few seconds before flipping her hair over her shoulder and smiling happily.
"Not too complicated. Sakura would be the one but she is too impatient and would probably squish the brains."
Everyone cringed at the thought of the bubblegum Kunoichi's strength and temper.
"Tsunade picked you for other reasons."
Ino blinked in surprise as Gaara's shadowed eyes met hers. The sincerity in his voice had her fighting back a blush as she almost timidly nodded and smiling.
"Yeah, she probably did."
Luck had it that she missed the two older siblings exchange of glances as the serving woman came with their food.
They all paused as a loud grumble could be heard. Ino clutched her stomach with a Naruto worthy groan.
"Just in time!"
She beamed at the food in front of her, muttering a quick thanks before digging in with a vengeance. Kankuro rudely stared until Ino looked up with 'what-the-hell-are-you-looking-at?' expression that was dampened only mildly by the food in her mouth.
"You eat like your name. I thought you were dieting?"
The silence was deafening as Ino swallowed slowly. Temari hissed through her teeth when he foolishly continued.
"Wasn't that what Shikamaru was complaining about last time he was here?"
Gaara felt his eyes wanting to close at his brother's idiocy. Sure he was inexperienced at girls, but even he wasn't as tactless as the puppet user was sometimes.
"Was he now?"
The friendly tone was gone, leaving behind a chilly murmur that effortless reached their ears.
"Oh, shit is going to fly. Brother, I condemn thee to your own stupidity."
Temari's whisper was unnoticed between the blonde as she unwaveringly stared at the painted face who was leaning as far back in his seat as possible. He hadn't known the beauty could look so deadly.
Gaara felt rather than saw the chopstick when it was suddenly embedded in the wooden booth an inch from his brother's head. He only blinked when Ino appeared behind the booth; her hand caressingly smearing the paint on his brother's shocked face as she whispered.
"My name huh?"
Without further ado, she was at the exit, her hair waving gently as she pushed aside the restaurant's curtains. Leaving behind a shocked silence.
"Whoa, didn't think she had that in her."
Temari eyed the chopstick as Kankuro sat unmoving, staring at a spot on the table.
Gaara closed his eyes and sighed before opening them and standing up. He cast his barely touched meal a sad glance before fixing his brother a grim look.
"Uncalled for."
Temari cut him off, her irritation growing as her voice did.
"Kankuro, seriously learn to control that mouth of yours. Jokes should go only so far. Despite her being a friend, she's always Konoha's ambassador."
Gaara mentally gave in to his sister taking his lecture, but didn't bother stopping her. Instead he caught his sibling's eyes and pointed to the other side of Kankuro's head before turning to follow the blonde.
As he left, they stared at the second chopstick that was still quivering half an inch from his ear.
"Holy shit."
…………………………………………..
All happy thoughts of conquering the day gone, Ino walked towards the hospital without bothering to hide her stomp.
She angrily rubbed her neglected stomach, cursing the punk puppeteer.
What a jerk!
Slowing her step down, Ino felt low as she thought over his words. Was she still fat? Passerby's sidestepped her as her expression darkened ominously as she thought of his words.
"You eat like your name, huh, what a prick!"
Muttering loudly, Ino paused as she took in her surroundings. The hospital had been towards the right, right? Turning around on the spot, she pushed back the feeling of panic as she gazed at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Urg, why does every building look exactly the same!"
Fighting the urge to shove her hands through her hair, she jumped at the voice behind her.
"They were built for convenience first."
Gaara watched as Ino turned to glare at him.
"Oh yeah, very convenient."
He shrugged and turned to lead her away from the Kazekage tower. The sound of stomping confirmed that she was following.
It was several minutes until Gaara, spoke again, this time they had been walking eveningly to each other. Allowing him to be quiet.
"I apologize for Kankuro, he has a rather –"
The Kazekage was interrupted for the second time that day, by another angry blonde no less.
"He's rather stupid and tactless, but generally a nice guy. Which is why I didn't gut him with those chopsticks."
He watched as she frowned at the ground before continuing.
"It was bad form of me to react like that, I know he probably didn't mean it rudely or maybe he did but that doesn't give me cause for doing that. I'm sorry Kazekage."
Gaara waited a while longer just in case she wasn't finished, but when it was clear by her pursed brooding expression that she wasn't going to speak again only then did he open his mouth.
"Very good for a Konoha diplomat, but not needed for a..friend. Impressive with the eating utensils though."
He watched as she visibly perked up at that, though he didn't know it was because he had said friend and not because of his offhand compliment.
Was that all it took to make her happy? He had somewhat expected it to be more difficult. For all appearances of looking high maintenance, Ino was doing a good job of shattering that illusion.
"Thanks Gaara!"
He nodded briefly as they were covered by the hospital's shadow. It was relieving to be out from under the scorching sun, and he took a minute to let Ino soak in the coolness.
"Ah, that feels nice after being in the sun, especially since I didn't really get to eat much."
She frowned momentarily at the thought but pushed it away; as Gaara held the door open for her. Stepping through, she paused to look back at him and smile.
"Thank you."
He blinked as if surprised but nodded gamely back before following her.
She smiled again as she took in the deep smell of antiseptic, blood, and illness. Familiar scents that brought her back to Konoha's medic ward as she had first started working on humans and not animals.
The grin widened when she spotted Hanako Hikaru impatiently waiting at the secretary desk.
Gaara caught the malicious expressions exchanged by the two and started turning around. He saw the unconcealed look of glee on the woman's face as she honed in on her victim, and wanted no part in seeing her make the head doctor exhausted. He had paperwork to do.
"I'll be back to take you to lunch."
He watched as she turned her head to look at him for a minute, her expression gone peculiarly soft before a friendly grin appeared.
"Alright, see you later."
With a nod, he turned towards the door, sighing inwardly when he heard the two started in without even so much as a greeting.
Yup, he would hear about it later.
.................
A/N: bbbbllllaeeeeerrrrggggggg breaking up is ...a.....ddddddrrraaaaaaagggggggg! *complains to strange audience*
Aroo, I posted this three days early since I'm in such a Stench mood.
*peaks out*...reviews... might cheer me up T_T
