Rin couldn't sleep all night, her body ached and minded raced. Eventually the sun rose and Rin decided not to rest any longer and begun making breakfast. She made her father's favorite meal in hopes that it would raise her spirit and bring her good luck throughout the day and ate it in front of a picture of her father and herself two years back.

"I'm hanging in there dad; I'm becoming my own person now. I got a job…"She smiled and took a bite of her meal, chewing and finishing before speaking again.

"And I have this guy helping me train. I'm going to become a medical ninja. Like you. I hope you would be proud. Okay time's up. I have to get going now. First day of work and all. Wish me luck." She cleaned her dishes and ran down the steps wanting to be early and give a good impression. The only reason she got the job was because Nila felt bad for her and because she agreed to be there only part time. That meant she only needed to be there three days out of the week. That was good enough for the small rent payment she was on and small cheap meals.

Speed walking Rin managed to make it in 15 minutes and was greeted with a smile by the owner.

"Good morning Rin, your early. Ready to begin?

"Yes sir, just point me in the right direction."

Rin's job was to clean, stock, and organize; and although she thought it was going to be boring and a slow day time seemed to slip by. Nila was closing up his shop and going to reopen it as a bakery. There wasn't that many in town so everybody was excited. Before she knew it the clock read noon and her tummy rumbled.

"Rin dear, it's time for your lunch; Nila is giving you half an hour. Don't be late."

"Yes thank you ma'am" Nila left the shop and only Rin and the wife was there to take care of everything. Rin finished the last of what she started and heard a familiar voice talking to the shop keep.

"Yes Mai I will have her back, don't worry." Rin walked to the front and smiled as Kankuro talked up the shop keepers wife – Mai-.

"Oh hey, ready for a lunch?" Kankuro's smile reached his eyes, causing his face paint to wrinkle.

"Yes, coming." She grabbed her bag and run to the front, waiting for Kankuro to finish. When he finally joined her Rin asked her question she been holding in since she saw him.

"How did you know I worked here?" The only person she told was Gaara, and she didn't think he was the one to gossip.

"I actually found out from Gaara. I was asking about your training but he wouldn't tell me anything. But he mentioned that you both were going to continue today after your job. Ha! I didn't know you managed to even get a job so fast. So I played along and asked where you were working today since your jobs switch up. Pretty sneaky huh?" He raised his hands behind his back and bellowed a deep laugh. She should of felt thrilled but felt stalked instead. Why did he need to know where she was?

"Oh yea, why were you looking for me?"

"Oh, Just to hang out, I had nothing to do today, also I wanted to know if you wanted to still have me help train you." Kankuro ducked under some beads covering a door and held them aside for Rin to step inside. Instantly the scent of food hit her food causing her stomach roar in a response.

"Seems like your hungry come on. I also wanted to see how your training went yesterday. Gaara was a last minute replacement. He doesn't really hang out with people that often."

Rin noticed Kankuro looked aside when he spoke of his brother but didn't want to bring it to his attention just yet. They both sat down and Kankuro ordered for them both a lunch special. Minutes later Rin was served steamed rice, a boiled egg and a sweet cake on the side which she gladly ate into.

"Training went well. I didn't learn anything really about what I wanted but I now have something to look forward too." She stopped talking and took a bite of food.

"Oh? What did he actually have you do?" Kankuro's eyes searched for any answer they could and Rin felt a little wrong talking about her time with Gaara.

"I told him I want to train to be a medi ninja and he told him I need to learn to fight first before I can even learn to heal people. So I ended up picking two weapons and now I have to master them or at lease manage to use them a lot better before we can move on." She again took a minute to eat another bite, trying to pace herself before she had to return back to work.

"So which ones did you pick up? Maybe we can spar and your training could be a lot better. If you want I can come over after work with Gaara and help out."

"I picked up a dart gun and a shoge, but I'm not very good yet. And I don't mind your helping but maybe we should ask Gaara? He has me on a plan already. I go and train at least four to six hours four times a week. I think it would be better to practice with a real person instead of the dummy." Rin finished her meal and grabbed the cake in one hand, tossing her half of the bill on the table.

"Sorry Kan, I have to run before I'm late. Maybe I will see you later?" Rin had two minutes and didn't want Mai to give her any problems.

"Sure, I'll ask Gaara if I can tag along when I see him later."

Rin manage to make it back with a minute to spear but still got a dirty look from Mai.

"Cutting it close Rin."

Wow not even late and I still get in trouble…this women is impossible

"Yes, but I'm not late, I'll get back to work now." Work seemed to move slowly after lunch, and Mai's attitude didn't get any better. In fact it got worst and Mai seemed to give Rin a dirty look every time she thought she wasn't looking. Two and a half hours later Rin hear the bell chimed and saw Mai's head peep inside to make sure Rin was working, she pretended not to notice. Only when Rin heard her footfalls leave did she creep to the door and see what the problem was.

"-No, I heard she was with him all day yesterday. We can only guess what she was doing with that monster."

"Does your husband know that she hangs out with him, surly he wouldn't-"

"No, he does know! That's the problem. He doesn't think of the boy like that. Its mad! He believes with time he will be good for the village."

Rin backed away from the door, she didn't want to listen to them back talk Gaara anymore. She had forgot her first few nights living in her aunt place that people had referred to Gaara as a monster. She saw nothing wrong with him, in fact she liked him. He was one of the only people willing to help her; along with their teacher and Kankuro. She decided to get back to work and wait till the day was over; working always tended to keep her mind busy. Not even half an hour later Mai returned to the back room and cleared her throat.

"You can leave early today Rin. Nila won't be in till after closing. I will see you tomorrow; and finish closing the shop." She smiled but her eyes still held a look Rin couldn't place.

"Yes Miss." She didn't question her words. Rin finished the last of what she was doing and grabbed her bag. Heading out she called out to Mai she was leaving.

"Yes, yes. Run along now."

She walked down the street and no sooner Ran into Nila.

"Rin? Is it closing time already?" HE chuckled and looked to the sun still sitting in the sky.

"I was sure we had at least another 45 minutes of work." Again his eyes meant Rin's his smile bent with worry.

"Oh, your wife said I may go home early. That she would close up shop since you wouldn't be coming back in today." She knew something was off. She shouldn't have left, but what was she going to say to Mai? 'no you can't make me?'

"hmm…I see. I think I know what's happening. Please follow me; and make sure Mai doesn't see you. Stand outside the shop." She placed his arms behind his back and slowly walked back to the shop, Rin following behind him like a lost puppy.

"Hello dear. How was your dad." Nila removed his shoes and walked up to kiss his wife from the sound of it.

"It was fine my love, although I don't think Rin is doing very good, in fact she already left. I think this job is to much for her." Rin's heart fell. She had a feeling Mai didn't like her but to lie like that in front of her husband…it brought tears to her eyes.

"Is that so? What was the problem?" Again she heard him move around.

"Wow this room is spotless. Everything is in order…did you finish doing this?"

"Yes of course. That girl was completely useless, left soon after you did in fact. I been slaving away ever since." She let out a breath like she was truly tired.

"While that is a different story then she told me?"

"W-what?" she stuttered.

"I ran into Rin not that long ago, and she told me you told her to leave. Mai I already explain to you that her relationship outside this shop is none of our business." His voice was a little high but you still wouldn't be able to heard unless you were trying.

"Nila you don't understand. If people see her talking to that thing we could lose everything! What happens if he begins coming around? You think this is okay?"

"You have no say in this. She is clearly a good worker! You interfere again and make me lose this worker you can begin staying home." The shop got quite and although Nila told her to stay there she felt like she was listening to something she shouldn't have.

"I told her to wait near the other shops, She will come and finish her work. You will respect her and treat her like any other person. I don't want to have this talk again Mai."

His feet made their way to the door and His face came out first. "Follow me." He whispered and begun walking away.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that. It's nothing personal really, things are just not easy with the transition of the shop. Please come back and work and I promise nothing like this will happen again." He stopped and looked back to the shop where Mai was making her way out. It would of seemed like Rin was feet away and not able to hear anything they said.

"Yes…thank you Nila for helping me out…I'm sorry I am causing you problems; but I am thankful you are giving me another chance to prove I am a hard worker."

The shop owner smiled and begun walking back towards the shop.

"Rin from the things I seen so far, you are a great worker. Please lets finish this day with ease." They walked back to the shop and Mai ignored Rin the rest of the day, she didn't apologize nor speak to her and Rin was fine with that. Finally when it really was closing time Nila walked inside and announced 'her friend' was waiting for her outside.

"Please just finished and I'll see you the same time tomorrow."

"Yes thank you Nila." Rin was excited, again grabbed her things and rush outside to see Gaara and Kankuro both waiting for her.

"So it's going to be the three of us huh?"

"Yup didn't I tell you I was going to help?" Kankuro grabbed Rin into a hug and messed up her hair.

"let's hurry this up; maybe with Kankuro's help you can better learn how to control the shoge and we can move onto something else" Gaara didn't make eye contact but Rin was to happy to care, happy that she still had a job, had two great friends and teachers.

Thank you everyone for the follows and reading my story! 3