How I Met Your Father
Chapter 7: Human Nature
Reaching out…across the nighttime…
Temari wrapped a scarf around her shoulders, lavender with tiny golden cherry blossom petals fluttering at its tips, and then glanced back at Gaara. He had his head down, staring at a royal blue kimono with dancing gold dragons stitched into the fabric. "What do you think? It really brings out my eyes, doesn't it?"
"Uhm-Hhm."
"It's different from the color I usually wear—it's brighter."
Gaara glared at the garment, undecided.
"I was thinking about cutting off all of my hair and dying it lavender, you know, so it matches."
"You should do whatever you feel is right." He replied dryly, walking around the piece, thinking a better angle would influence him a bit more. He'd thought with only he and Temari in the boutique it would give him space to think. He was wrong.
"We should have Miharu do the same."
"I'll suggest it to her."
He felt Temari's approach, of course he did, but he didn't bother to glance up. He needed to make this decision now—this very moment—or he never would.
"You're clearly distracted." Temari said, placing a hand on his right shoulder. He blinked twice, and she smiled at him, it was like he was waking up from a daydream. "What's going on, Gaara?"
Gaara paused, picking over his words carefully before speaking, "The elders thought—"
Temari sucked her teeth (apparently he hadn't picked them well enough), "Here we go again, what did they want this time? You to sell your soul to the girl? Sign a blood pact?"
Gaara cracked a slight smile, amused. "Not this time." Finally, he picked up the dress and held it up to the light, showing it to Temari. "They wanted me to find a gift."
Temari looked the kimono over, taking in the garment's intricacies, "For Rinmaru?"
Gaara frowned, "For Miharu."
"Oh, well, in that case…" she took the garment and gently placed it back where he pulled it. "Put that away. That dress will be too much for her, the color is too bright and the patterns are way too bold. Miharu would wear something subtler, soft. This one screams 'Look at me!'. That's not Miharu…I don't think anyway."
Gaara eyed the garment like it suddenly became so much more complicated than he had originally thought. "I didn't get any of that. It's just a dress."
Temari shook her head at him, "Gaara, for a woman, nothing is ever just a dress."
"I'm beginning to learn." He replied, still staring at it. He then turned to his sister, "Why did you assume I was shopping for Rinmaru?"
Temari shot him a look which made him think that the answer was so very obvious. He, of course, still hadn't a single inkling. "Because, Gaara, look at it. Can't you see her in this?"
He looked back at the garment and quickly turned away again, marching down the aisle. Therein lied the problem. Once he'd seen it, he couldn't un-see it. "What would you suggest?"
Temari laughed, her hands on her hips as she watched him practically run away from the kimono. "Anything but that."
/
The man in front of me sputtered and coughed as a tiny, sunset orange fish flew out of his mouth and landed on the stone floor next to me. I watched it a second, two, before I started with my hand signs, creating a portal just beneath it to slip away.
He—the man, not the fish—was dripping with water from the shoulders up. His eyes are unfocused, and red, the veins straining in his eyes. He continues to cough up water and spit, hacking up the occasional string of blood. I'm only a couple feet in front of him, my right leg crossed over my left, leaning back in my surprisingly comfortable chair. Some ninja, who's name escapes me, brought it to me with shaking hands, he even blushed when I accepted it. So cute.
A single hair falls between my eyes and a blow it out of my way with a single breath. My bangs almost inch into my right eye, but not quite. I like to keep my vision unobscured.
"He looks like he's on the verge of death," Baki commented, standing on my right, his arms crossed tightly in front of him.
Kankuro swallowed thickly, a single bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. "We should quit for now…I think he's had it."
The man's breathing began to slow, coming close to its normal state. He's clothes are a disarray, dirty and stinking save for his squeaky-clean face.
It had been my aunt's idea to put me in charge of interrogation. It had taken little convincing, on her part, once she handed over my track record (which was flawless).
It was my ability to read people. People like me with narcissistic tendencies were either really good or really bad at torture. I've never met one who was in-between. I was willing to bet that if I had a nobler heart…I would fall into the latter category. I guess we'll never know.
"No," I said, looking over the insurgent impassively, "I think he could last another hour…or twenty minutes tops."
At this the man's head jerked up, his nails digging into the stone, "WAIT—"
I flicked my wrist and a portal covered him from head to shoulders, leaving us only with a view of his neck and body. His lower body began to squirm, to writhe, but there was no point in it. I had him restrained, there was no getting away from it.
I bit my lip to hold in my giggle. Looking from Baki to Kankuro, I could tell…they didn't find it all that funny. And to think, Sand ninja used to ruthless…I blame Gaara.
/
Gaara listened intently as Baki spoke, "Thanks to Lady Rinmaru, we finally have what we need."
At that Gaara's eyes drifted over to me, looking over his clasped hands. "I see. What did you learn?"
Everyone's eyes locked on to me as I sat on the edge of the long table, three seats away from the Kazekage. Everyone else except for Baki sat with grim faces on. It didn't necessarily surprise me that they looked so serious, but…it was a little annoying.
Great. Time to be serious.
I straightened up and slid to my feet, looking from face to face. "They call themselves The Divide. They are a group comprised of rouge ninja originally from the Mist as well as lesser known villages throughout the world. From what the insurgent told us, their numbers are meager but they have a variety of means to infiltrate the village."
"Yeah," Kankuro seemed to speak mostly to himself and so I continued. "we know."
"As we speak, they have several spies situated within the village. Only a few of them came out of hiding the night of the festival. They seem to bear no ill will towards the Mist Village; however, they do intend to disrupt the peace between our villages. And their end goal is the destruction of the Sand, which, of course, makes them a danger to the Mist." I took my seat. Mic drop.
After a pause, Gaara addressed me, "Lady Rinmaru, did the insurgent happen to reveal the identities of the others?"
"No." I said, "he wasn't important enough to know. In fact, I suspect even if he did know it wouldn't be very helpful. A transformation jutsu would be sufficient enough to hide them. Even a genin could manage that."
"I figured." Gaara replied in his low monotone, clearly thinking about something. Then why ask? I swear he did it just to piss me off. "Anything else?"
"That's all, Lord Kazekage." I replied, dipping my head respectfully. My manners were impeccable.
He nodded, "Report this information to the Mizukage—" Gaara paused, blinking, "it would be faster if you did it your usual way."
Temari frowned at that, giving me a weird look from Gaara's left.
I smiled, "As you wish. Would my Lord Kazekage be assisting me?"
He smirked, "Unfortunately, I have to something else to prepare. Send my respects."
I nodded in confirmation, smirking back at him. It was funny, this secret between us. "It would be my pleasure."
/
We were dismissed shortly afterwards, Temari signaled for me to wait for her while Gaara gave her final instructions. I waited outside the door as they spoke in hushed tones.
"…meeting with her tonight." Gaara said. "Could you bring the gift to me?"
"Of course. Are you changing?" Temari asked now talking in her big sister tone she often took when she was delivering very obvious information to her brothers.
A pause from Gaara, "No. My clothes aren't dirty."
"For goodness sakes, Gaara, you're going on a date not discussing war tactics." Temari huffed with a laugh, "I'll bring you by a change of clothes…and a mirror too. Maybe if you saw the difference I wouldn't have to remind you every second to make more of an effort. Boys."
I had to hold in my laugh, rolling my eyes with a smile. Gaara was so…
I pursed my lips, Ichigo popping into my head suddenly. I needed a drink.
Not a moment too soon (right before I'd forgotten who I was waiting for) Temari exited into the hallway and began to walk with me.
"So," I began, "What was all that?"
She rolled her eyes, "My brother being a boy. You know I really thought he'd be a little better at this than Kankuro with him being a genius and all."
"Ah, there's the beauty of it. You assume that because he's a genius in one category that he's a genius in the others, but that's usually never true. For someone to be so blessed, he'd hardly even be considered human anymore, don't you agree?"
Temari glanced over at me, "That seems a little extreme."
I waved her off, with a grin, "Trust me, sweet Temari, I know exactly what I'm talking about."
"I bet you do," She laughed, "Whatever happened to those men who were in love with you?"
"Men? What men?"
Temari just looked at me.
I gasped, clasping my hands together, "Right! My targets…I have no idea. I'm fairly certain Asa scared them away, but I can't be sure."
"Forgotten already, huh? It's almost sad."
I shrugged, "They weren't that interesting. I find that most men, once you've figured them out, usually aren't." I sighed, "But what else are we going to look at?"
Another laugh from Temari, "I suppose that's true but you're telling me there hasn't been one single guy to catch your eye? Not one?"
I thought for a moment as we made it outside, the warm sun making me blink before my eyes adjusted. "Well…there was this nobleman."
"A nobleman?" Temari snorted, "I forgot you liked your men to be beautiful above all else."
I hooked my right arm into her left, "Oh yes, and he was beautiful…deliciously so…"
"Go on." Temari elbowed me as I paused for dramatics.
"He was tall, dark of hair with dark, dark eyes. His hair was collar length, and it felt like silk running through my fingers—a lot like my own gorgeous locks—"
"Rinmaru."
"Anyway," I continued with a laugh, "I thought we were the same and we were…until he cracked just like an egg." I licked my lips, remembering the taste of his, "It was sad really."
"What do you mean?"
"He was of the same mind as me, save for the amazing ninjutsu. We were twins, played the same games, broke similar hearts. A match pair. Exact. Except, one day he just started to be weird. He started becoming clingy…and jealous." I laughed, shaking my head.
"And you've never been jealous before?"
I looked at her like she'd forgotten who she was speaking to, maybe she had, Temari had been working awfully hard lately, "Why would I be? Have you?"
Temari just blinked, "Fair point."
"Long story short, I broke things off. He threw a tantrum. I avoided a crazy." I clapped my hands together. "Rinmaru lives to fight again."
"And he's 'a crazy' for what, exactly? Falling in love with you?"
"Of course not, Temari. Have you not been listening?" I rolled my eyes, only half meaning it, "He's 'a crazy' for breaking one hard and fast rule."
"Which is?"
"He forgot who he was and most importantly…he forgot who I was."
"A fatal mistake."
I swear Temari was the only upside to this godforsaken hellhole.
Finally, I released a sigh of relief, "Now you're getting it."
I stopped suddenly, as I realized something. Temari stopped too, looking back at me with concern written all over her face, "Rinmaru, are you alright?"
I looked at her, and then looked back behind us at Gaara's office, towering above the other buildings. I ground my teeth together, frowning.
"It's nothing," I said. I was spending too much time here, talking way too much.
/
"What was all that between you and Rinmaru?" Temari asked leaning into the door of his office. "Is there something you're not telling me, Gaara?"
Gaara had accepted the clothes his sister had given him, a three piece suit. The only thing he had left now was the tie. A useless accessory. "What brought this on?"
"Your weird exchange at the meeting today."
Gaara knew that Rinmaru liked Temari very much, so much so, that whenever she was stuck with either him or Kankuro, she complained about their sister's absence. Still, he didn't know if he should speak on it. He felt a weird pressure suddenly, one he needed to alleviate. "Did you ask Rinmaru?"
"That was the plan…until she sidetracked me."
"She's good at that," Gaara remarked with a chuckle, "What did she say?"
Gaara was also pretty good at avoiding topics.
"Well, she told me about this nobleman who—" Temari stopped, and looked away a little guiltily. "Sorry, Gaara. Girl talk."
Well, that ended better than he expected. He didn't have to give up anything. "Temari," he began, looking quizzically down at his tie, "Can you…?
She laughed, "Of course, Gaara." She immediately began to fix it, adjusting it as needed, "Are you nervous?"
"I don't think so." He responded staring down at her hands, "I haven't thought about it. It's not like we've never spoken before." Except this time, they'd be alone, no Temari and no Kankuro to run interference. Still…
"Good. There's nothing to be nervous about. Just talk to her like you'd talk to me and you'll be just fine."
/
"Lady Miharu." Gaara dipped his head and she bowed low in response.
"Lord Gaara," Miharu replied covering her face slightly with a fan. "You look handsome tonight, that grey brings out your eyes."
He wasn't sure what she meant by that, seeing his eyes weren't exactly grey but…
"Thank you, M'lady." Gaara quickly looked her over, her clothes were immaculate but modest. She wore a purplish color with layers of different fabric over a single color. He had no idea what to call it. "Your dress compliments you as well."
She nodded her thanks, walking closer toward him with a gentle smile, "So, where are we going? Your brother, Kankuro, didn't tell me anything as he escorted me downstairs." She paused and then gave him a slightly excited look, her eyes widening innocently. "Is it a secret?"
Gaara couldn't think of a single reason it would be. "No. We're going to this restaurant near here. It's a short walk—"
The excitement flickered for a moment as she looked down at her feet, "I'm afraid I didn't wear the right shoes for walking."
He looked down at her shoes. They weren't that high. He'd seen the fifth Hokage fight in higher shoes. He looked back up at her, "It's a short walk."
"Still…" she began, "I'd rather not, if you don't mind. We can take my carriage."
That solved that problem. "Sure."
/
"You're very stoic, Lord Gaara." Miharu commented as she slowly ate her food. Gaara had finished his quickly, for whatever reason it gave him something to do. He wasn't even that hungry. He should've ordered seconds.
"Lord Gaara?"
"I've been told." He replied honestly. In fact, someone had commented on his silence before, although, not so kindly. He allowed himself a smile.
Miharu giggled, her tone warm. "You have a sweet smile, Lord Gaara."
He looked up at her at that, slightly startled. He didn't respond, he wasn't really sure how.
"Tell me," she leaned forward slightly, smiling too, "What's so funny?"
That he could deal with, "What you said before…Rinmaru had said the same thing to me…only she wasn't so polite."
A line appeared between her eyebrows, "The Lady Rinmaru?"
"Yes. Lady Rinmaru is very straightforward, a lot like Temari."
"Oh," Miharu replied, "Lady Rinmaru seems like she can be a little too much at times, like she loves attention."
Gaara smirked to himself, "She can be. And she does, she lives for it. And for making me uncomfortable."
Miharu's voice filled with soft concern. "She sounds awful."
"She isn't." Gaara said immediately, definitively. "I'm just not doing her justice. If you spent time with her, you'd see what I mean."
"I see." Miharu replied.
"She forces you to like her," he explained, frowning down at his empty plate, "it's like you don't have a choice even if she's practically handing you reasons to dislike her. She buries her kindness within insult and hands it to you reluctantly…like you asked for it. She's…" he searched for more words, finding none, only phrases. None of them quite capturing what he meant. "She's a puzzle."
Gaara stopped talking as a pregnant silence filled the space between them. He looked away from his plate and up at Miharu who wore a weird expression on her face, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Is something wrong?"
Her response was dry, "No. I'm just feeling a little tired. We should go back, I think."
Gaara stood to his feet having the distinct feeling that he'd done something wrong, "Of course."
/
He'd barely been with Miharu an entire hour, and already he was back at home. After Miharu left to her room, Temari and Kankuro immediately pounced on him.
"So?" Kankuro asked with a crooked smile. "When's the wedding?"
Gaara only shrugged.
"Gaara." Temari had said, sternly, "What happened?"
He looked from Temari to Kankuro, finding sympathy in both of their faces, "I have no idea."
Temari immediately crossed her arms, "What a little troll," she said, "I knew this was going to happen! I don't know who she thinks she is but—"
"Temari, she wasn't rude to me. It was quite the opposite actually." Gaara explained with a frown, trying to wrap his head around it himself. "I thought it was fine…she was excited…"
"That's good." Kankuro nodded, "That's a good sign."
"Then she almost looked angry, but I didn't do anything."
"Oh." Temari's hands dropped from her hips, and her irked expression eased away. "Then what happened?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." He replied turning away from them, "I think I'll go get some work done."
"Okay." Temari said softly, as he walked down the hall towards his home office.
Gaara sat with his fingers steepled against his desk. The moon was throwing light against his desk and into the room, displaying his shadow stretching in front of him. He'd probably go all of his life without understanding the intricacies of a woman's mind—the do's and don't's. Maybe he just needed time, or maybe it was hopeless.
He glanced around the room, his eyes falling on the clock that read two minutes to two. He'd been sitting for hours now. Almost immediately, a smile crept unto his lips as a memory began to surface reminding him that somethings did need a little time….
()()()
"I doubt I need to answer that." He'd said, careful to avoid looking directly in her eyes. Everything she said to him now sounded like a trap—a challenge—a game. And Gaara, being who he was, was much too inexperienced to get involved in either. That didn't seem to stop the Mist kunoichi in the slightest, no matter how many times he fumbled or stuttered.
She just smiled, and waved her hand, dismissing the subject—saving him from herself. He'd give her a little credit however, she did seem to realize his limit even when he didn't have the energy to voice it.
"My Mizukage wishes to speak to you." She said finally after a moment or two of pause, some of that decorum from before returning suddenly.
"I sent her a detailed report about what happened. I doubt she'll get it until much later." Gaara eyed her carefully, she still hadn't moved from beside him.
Rinmaru scoffed, falling back onto the desk, her elbows holding her up. "Yeah, well, she's in a bit of a hurry."
"Are you proposing a faster means of communication?"
"It's two minutes to two." Rinmaru glanced at the grandfather clock to the left of his desk. "We should begin soon."
Gaara narrowed his eyes at her, imploring her to explain further.
"I locked the door when we came in," she said, gesturing for him to take a seat at his desk while she drew the blinds. He hesitated only briefly before following her commands. She noticed—her lips curling into a smile briefly before straightening out again. "We shouldn't be disturbed."
Rinmaru took one last look at the clock before beginning to slowly and meticulously draw hand signs. Water began to pull from the air around her, as well as from the pouch Rinmaru kept around her waist. The changes were slow but perfect. There were twenty signs in all, each utilized at least twice in various patterns. Gaara narrowed his gaze, leaning forward slightly as she worked. He knew, obviously, what she was doing—he'd seen it—but…never quite like this. The process never seemed to take so much time.
Finally, Rinmaru reached out into the air, her arm ramrod straight and said, "Open."
One of her portals formed in front of her, long and oval in shape, glowing like a river reflecting the moon's razes. She turned her head and grinned back at Gaara. Through the portal he could just make out an office and a woman with long rust colored hair waiting patiently against her desk. The scene appeared to have fractured glass in front of it.
"So," Rinmaru began, "Do you want to meet here…or over there?"
Gaara frowned but did not fail to respond. Her power was…when you considered her character…deeply unsettling, but…he supposed the same could be said for most shinobi. The same could definitely be said for both Naruto and Sasuke but now he trusted them. Despite all, he trusted them, so when the Mizukage stepped forward through the portal and Rinmaru flashed him that devilish grin he replied simply, "I had no idea your jutsu was so strong."
Rinmaru blinked rapidly, seemingly disappointed with his reaction, "My aunt's powers are far more impressive I think. Right, My lady?"
Rinmaru held out a hand and helped the Mizukage through the portal and into his office. She turned to him with a warm smile, "Hello, Kazekage."
Surprise registered only briefly on his face before it was replaced with his usual expression of mild indifference mixed with a touch of interest, "Mizukage."
Rinmaru guided her superior into a seat in front of Gaara's desk and stood just behind the woman.
The Mizukage looked over her shoulder at her subordinate with a slight frown, "Rinmaru, dear, you shouldn't be so formal." She then directed Rinmaru to take the seat beside her.
Rinmaru, with an irked expression responded with a deceptively sweet voice, "You could do with a bit of formality every once in a while, My Lady."
Gaara almost chuckled. She was one to talk
The Mizukage just waved her off with a slight smile. "You're much too serious."
Gaara was absolutely shocked.
Rinmaru only shrugged, "I am my mother's daughter. She's had people killed for less."
After a pause, the Mizukage returned her attention to Gaara as if their conversation hadn't happened. "Now, what is this about?"
Gaara quickly explained the situation, including the part where the insurgent spouted his apparent loyalties to the Mist.
"Hmm. We still have several missing-nin at large. I can provide you with their names and faces but something tells me it will be more difficult than that." The Mizukage said, "Rinmaru, if you'll have her, will stay here for as long as this threat exists. Please contact me if you need Mist shinobi for any reason."
"Understood, thank you. Lady Rinmaru has already proved herself to be very helpful."
"I'm glad. And the intruder?"
"We haven't interrogated him yet."
"when you do, I suggest that you utilize Rinmaru. Out of all my interrogators…she's been known to get the best results."
Gaara glanced over to the Mist Kunoichi in question, she raised an eye brow at him playfully. He believed it.
"Good," the Mizukage glanced over to Rinmaru and back to Gaara, "If you need me at a moment's notice please contact me through Rinmaru, this is our safest means of communication."
"I agree. If you're able, try to find out more about this group. Someone knows something…even if they think they don't…an innocent bystander perhaps. I'd like to avoid casualties."
"I'll do my best. I'll have my most trusted shinobi working on that as soon as we're done here. We're allies, Kazekage, I want to avoid spilling blood as much as you do." With that, she stood to her feet and an extended her hand to him, "Until then."
Gaara returned the gesture also rising to his feet. Rinmaru was slower to rise, surprisingly silent throughout their entire exchange. The Mizukage noticed this too because after she dropped Gaara's hand she winked at him and tilted her head in her niece's direction. Rinmaru's expression was impassive, but obviously very aware of the two of them. Her arms were hidden behind her back.
"Look at her," the Mizukage giggled, curling her finger beneath Rinmaru's chin, making the girl roll her eyes, "She's so formal."
Rinmaru's smile appeared slowly and she chuckled, "And you wonder why my mother never liked you."
"Ha! She likes me. She just hates to admit it." The Mizukage threw her hair over her shoulder. "She married my brother didn't she? We're practically twins."
Rinmaru scoffed, but her tone was gentle, "Yes, my Lady, you're as similar as a lion and a lamb."
The Mizukage laughed, her eyes shiny. "You're so mean, Rinmaru."
Gaara didn't interrupt them as they went on, he figured this was how they said their goodbyes.
"I'll send you my report soon," Rinmaru told the Mizukage, a look passing between them. "Don't miss me too much until then."
And suddenly, the Mizukage rushed forward and pulled her into an embrace. Rinmaru didn't look shocked at all but was clearly not completely prepared for the onslaught of affection. Gaara missed what happened next because he returned to his desk and began to busy himself with its tidiness, even if he did keep everything spotless.
After a while he looked up, after hearing a snap, and the Mizukage was gone.
Rinmaru stood there still though, gazing after it as if willing it to return. She clutched a piece of royal blue paper in her hands held together by a red seal. After a short pause, she turned to him, animated again.
"Did you enjoy the show?" she asked, bouncing to sit on his desk. He leaned back in his chair, careful to keep his eyes just above hers. She moved her head, so she could catch his gaze fully. "I usually charge admission, but for you I made an exception…do you know why?"
She waited, one eyebrow raised as he searched for his response. He looked down at his hands and then up, his cheeks burning only slightly, "Because we're friends?"
"Yes." She rolled her eyes before leaning towards him and flicking his ear so it turned red as his hair, "But also because I trust you."
Gaara didn't speak, only watched as she turned away from him.
Rinmaru slipped off his desk and waltzed toward the door, "Don't fuck it up."
Yes. He decided. He just needed time…and a little help.
/
Gaara was not too easy to read, but, sometimes, I felt like I was the Kazekage whisperer. Not world class—mind you—but I'd have to do.
Gaara tried to punch me, but I dodged it easily. And when he kicked at me, I jumped and landed on top of his leg. It came down like a rock thrown into a lake, but then I round house kicked him and sent him to the cold floor. I landed lightly on my feet before walking over to him.
He attempted to stand but I plopped down next to him. "Okay, Panda, what's your problem?"
"Was I so obvious?"
"You're distracted. Your taijutsu, since we've been working together, has vastly improved. That fight lasted all of a minute."
"I've been thinking," He began with the obvious. I rolled my eyes, but I crossed my legs and straigtened up to give him my full attention. You had to be careful with the hopeless, they were fragile beings in need of extra care. " I—"
"Let me cut you off right there." I said, "There are two types of badasses in this world…"
Gaara narrowed his gaze at me, but didn't protest like he used to do. He figured I was going somewhere, I guess.
"There are your kind and my kind. My kind of badass has no problem with either sex…we're practically gods."
Gaara looked blankly at me, disapprovingly. See? And these people didn't think I knew them.
"Your kind of badass, while cool, have it bad because they have immense trouble with the opposite sex. And the sad part is that they don't know that they'll have trouble until they get older and are forced into situations with their opposites. Then they are left sad, alone and very confused. And this, of course, affects their mental stability and awareness." I gestured toward his erect person, "Exhibit A."
His expression didn't change. "How astute."
"Don't be mean, Gaara. I haven't yet finished." I slid to my knees and caught his eye. "You're having troubles with Miharu because you don't understand women. A blind animal can see that. You understand your sister, which isn't the same…and thinking otherwise will only hurt you."
I seemed to have struck a cord because his shoulders immediately relaxed and he waited for me to continue. "I told you that Ichigo would help you with this, but seeing as she isn't here—"
"And that didn't actually happen." Gaara supplied dryly, making me giggle.
I stood to my feet and offered him my hand, "I'll be giving you lessons."
He glanced at it, hesitating, only briefly before accepting it. "You are confident."
"I'm Rinmaru." I flung my hair over my shoulder, "I am nothing if not confident."
/
Asa held her father's hand as they walked through the village. The sun was setting, but it was still quite bright out. They were having dinner at her favorite restaurant. She didn't want to let it show, but she'd been looking forward to this outing all week.
"How was your lesson today?" His father asked, with an amused smile on his face. He had kind eyes her father, sweet and teasing. And his laugh, his laugh was like music. Her mother didn't think so. "Are you the most dangerous lady in the Sand Village yet?"
Asa held her head up higher, "Not yet." She said, "I'd have to surpass my Big Sister first."
"The Lady Rinmaru, right?" he asked, his voice taking on this curious tone. "I'm afraid I haven't met her yet."
"I thought you saw her the night of the festival—"Asa stopped and whirled around. She…she thought she saw a shadow.
"I did but…she was so busy." He shrugged, a little embarrassed, "I guess I didn't have the courage to speak. She's very stunning…your Big Sister."
Asa glanced over to their left and right. The building next to them buzzed with people, in fact all the buildings on this side were alive. She heard the ding of doors and waves goodbye. There was constant motion, but still…
"Honey?" came her father's concerned tone.
"I just saw something. A flash. A shadow or…something." Asa responded, not moving from her spot.
Her father looked around, seeing nothing, "It's probably the anbu. The Kazekage has them looking after us."
"Right." She paused, spared another glance to the building on her right and kept walking. "Of course."
/
"Do it already."
"I don't know about this."
"Oh, come on. It'll help me prove my point."
"Just tell me your point." Gaara responded tiredly. They stood on top of a building at the edge of the main part of the village. The building faced a bar, alight with small lamps outside, brightening the red faces of the drunk and tipsy alike. A couple, or at least, what Gaara assumed to be a couple, stumbled from the entrance, holding onto each other with large smiles. Others who weren't drunk were dressed well, wearing what they thought were there best. Rinmaru assured him that those people were there for the same reason they were.
"Which is?" he asked stiffly, his arms crossed firmly beneath his chest.
"Gaara," she began, taking that tone she usually took when she was trying to convince him to do something he normally wouldn't, "I'm your teacher, am I not? Your sensei of love?"
Gaara groaned, this was starting to feel embarrassing.
She grinned then cracking up, "Don't you trust me?"
That had done it. He looked at her, weaved his hand signs and completed the transformation jutsu. "Why can you look like yourself?"
Having won, she skipped off the edge of the building her vibrant hair swinging behind her, as she smiled, "Because I am not the fucking Kazekage."
"Fair." He allowed himself a smile before catching up quickly as she entered the bar. She had a certain way she said things, mostly his name, his title, that made him feel bigger, stand taller, grander. It was as if she was transplanting her own confidence onto the words she spoke. They never sounded so impressive to him, not until she said them.
Rinmaru had maneuvered them to a table that faced much of the others. She'd gotten them sake, poured two glasses put only held hers in her hands. She brought the porcelain to her lips but she never drank. Her eyes flickered up to meet his, "Have a drink, Gaara."
"As soon as you tell me what we're doing." He replied, Rinmaru was getting a lot of stares, he'd probably be getting some too if he looked like himself. However, he had taken on a less conspicuous appearance. Earrings, hair pulled into a ponytail at the back of his head and a slightly bored expression. Everyone seemed to look through him. It was nice.
"We," she swung the contents of her cup around in a circle, "Are having our first lesson. Once you understand this concept…all the other things I show you will make more sense."
"I see." He nodded, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that he should be doing something else—work or anything.
"Not now, Gaara." She replied as if she'd read his mind, "don't make that face. We'll handle everything in due time."
He chuckled, trying to focus now on their "lesson."
"Go on."
Rinmaru sat for a moment, still as still, her eyes floating around the room. She'd brush his shoulder with her hand as she looked, all part of her show he assumed. And finally, her eyes settled, and she was all in place.
Gaara let the seconds fly by, he didn't keep his eyes glued to her. He allowed his eyes to wander too, to see what she was seeing. Suddenly, she turned her body slightly toward him. She was on his left, so close to him he could practically feel her against his skin without her even touching him.
Rinmaru whispered to him, her voice running over his ears barely above a whisper, "See that boy?" she inclined her head to a dark-haired man sitting with his friends, finding any excuse he can to dart his eyes from their faces over to Rinmaru. His eyes would go down to his cup, to his friends and back to her—always to her. "He knows I'm watching."
The man, Gaara would put him at twenty-four at the oldest and nineteen at the youngest. Gaara could see the man sit up straight, a hand went to his hair which he then ran beneath his chin, looking over to her slowly. Rinmaru's lips parted, her smile spread slow, gradually. The man's did too. He laughed a little too loudly, having more fun than he had ever seemed to be having. Gaara noticed them when he first came in, they looked like the most miserable people in the building. "He likes the way I stare."
It was automatic, Gaara could see, these changes in him. Gaara wondered if he noticed? Did anyone really notice? The man seemed alive, bursting with confidence that seemed dim a moment ago. He even seemed to be attracting the attention of other women now, all of them drawn to this person—this living being.
Gaara opened his mouth, felt it fall open as he turned to Rinmaru. This phenomenon…"But why? Why does this happen?"
Rinmaru dropped her gaze, returning it to him. Her eyes were soft emerald in this light, sober, calm as the eye of a storm. "Why?" she asked, a strand of her strawberry hair falling into her eyes, "It's just human nature."
Author's Note: So, so many pages! Hello, friends! I am back. Excuse the typos, I'll fix that up just before the last chapter.
