A/N: Oh my, it's been months since I've last updated! You all must be so angry, sorry! But here it is now. I would like to thank everyone for the reviews and alerts, and to everyone who sent me PMs reminding me I have a story to update (BeauDisaster especially!), and people who actually read it! But let's get to it shall we? Enjoy. :)

The day had been a hot and tiring one.

It seemed as if everyone in Suna had dropped by the tea shop. I had never seen it so busy before. I guess it was just one of those days that everyone wanted a cup of tea? That, apparently, was one of the only valid explanations as to why traffic was so high. Midori, Kenta and I had been occupied all day. Tending to both our regulars and the new faces of the village. I honestly don't know what Midori and I would have done if Kenta wasn't there. I probably would have already passed out in a heap on the floor out of exhaustion. I'm already battling high levels of stress and dehydration - and we all know where that had got me.

Kenta had been there serving customers, flashing smiles and stopping to make small talk with the villagers throughout the day. I don't know how he did it. It was hard enough taking orders from five people at a time, never mind stopping and asking them how their day went. He's a freak of nature, case closed.

The day was coming to a close, and slowly the traffic was coming to a slow halt. Still busier than usual, but far more manageable than earlier in the day. As I was cleaning off the counter tops, I realized that I had not seen Sasuke since my day had begun. He wasn't home when I awoke - and he most certainly would not be present during the work day. As kind as Midori was being to us, allowing us to live in the apartment above the tea shop, Sasuke had absolutely no interest in working tables and serving tea. Understandably so. It would be both unfit and an unnecessary risk for all of us. Sasuke's face is much too recognizable to be amongst the public in that way. As an S-Rank criminal on the top of many wanted lists, putting him out there would be...careless. Not to mention, we were already living risky lifestyles as it was, never mind actually being on the run - again.

And please, even if Sasuke wasn't such a wanted criminal, who really saw him serving tea to people he probably thought were bottom feeders in comparison to him? The bastard probably still fashioned himself royalty. That would be an insult to both his person and his ego. Sasuke serving tea, the thought alone made me chuckle.

"Oh dear! Look who just walked in." Midori said in a hushed tone.

"Huh?" I looked up from cleaning my counter top to glance at the entryway, "oh boy."

Well, this was turning out to be a very interesting day indeed. Unfortunately for our new customer, I was no longer in the mood for cordial niceties. Even for the Kazekage.

For a split second, I thought of making a run for it, and going upstairs. But I thought that might be too abrupt and obvious. Did the Kages keep lists of Missing-Nin? And if so, would he recognize me? Would he do anything about it? How quickly would I be disposed of? The amount of questions that circulated through my mind in the span of a second was really quite astonishing. I was suddenly thankful that Sasuke didn't come down here too often, because he for sure would be recognized by the quiet Kazekage. I'd put money on it.

Despite my worry, I decided to stand my ground and act as normal as I usually did. As the niece of Midori.

The people who still occupied the shop all bowed their heads (and their mouths agape) in respect to their Kage. It lead me to deduce that the Kazekage didn't make too many outings like these on a daily basis. I've been here for the last four years of my life and I still know virtually nothing of this land or its politics. Being dubbed a criminal and hiding out in a country that isn't my own doesn't really propel me to get involved with its society. Quite the contrary.

The Kazekage, in turn gave a slight nod of acknowledgment without making eye contact with anyone but the ground. 'Sabaku no Gaara' is what they dubbed him. He was so young, probably around my age, and his hair color was akin to my own. He walked with this air of quiet importance and was relatively slight in stature, shorter than Sasuke, but you could tell he was formidable. That was unmistakable. I had never met the man before - albeit he was closer to a boy - and I was actually hoping for it to stay that way. But we're all quite well versed in my luck, aren't we?

It wasn't until he made direct eye contact with me that I noticed I was staring.

Let's be honest, there really isn't anything more embarrassing and awkward than being caught staring.

My eyes quickly darted back to the table I was cleaning, and I heard Midori greet our important customer.

"Kazekage-sama! What an honor, how nice it is to see you! What brings you here today? What can I get for you?" Midori nearly yelled it at him, "To be honest, we're getting ready for close, but name anything and we'll get it for you!"

From my peripherals, I could tell that he sat in the stool directly to my right. He was still staring at me, refusing to let go of his gaze. It was unnerving, not to mention creepy.

"I will have a cup of Gyokuro, if you have it."

Of course he'd order our highest quality green tea.

"Absolutely!"

He continued his gaze even after the older woman took his order. If he wasn't who he was and didn't potentially hold my fate in his hands, I would've already vocalized my feelings towards his impolite staring. But there was too much at stake here, and if there was one thing life has taught me, it was to hold my tongue. My mouth has gotten me into far too much trouble in the past.

It was not until Midori served the Kazekage his tea, that he had finally ceased his staring.

He sat there at the stool, sipping his tea with his eyes closed. Dark circles surrounded his eyes in a way that was quite startling, did he not sleep? Or perhaps it was too much make-up, that was a thing now right? Either way, he appeared to be days away from his death bed. For someone so obviously young, strangely, he appeared so obviously older too. And it was not just in his sickly appearance, it was the way he moved as well. He walked like an experienced adult, one who was well-versed and experienced in the world. He looked like he had lived - and he couldn't even more than a year older than I was.

"This is very good."

I was now arranging all the washed tea cups back onto the shelf and I was a little startled when I heard the boy leader speak. It was so quiet, that I didn't think it had happened at all.

I turned my head sideways, "Pardon me?"

He opened his eyes once more, the most shocking color of cerulean, "The tea. It is very good."

Okay? "Oh well...thank you, it is our best green tea."

He didn't respond; nor did I expect him too. I heard he wasn't much of a talker.

It wasn't long after that before the boy Kazekage left the shop, at exactly the time the store closed. He had pushed his tea cup in front of me for me to take, placed his money on the counter, nodded his thanks, and left.

I let out a huge sigh of relief when he had left, and Kenta locked the door behind him. Everyone became less tense, because they knew that I had been feeling weary. After he had left, we all realized that there was no point in worry. I was safe, and my cover had not been blown. Yet.

Never until about 15 minutes ago had I seen the Kazekage up close - let alone in this very tea shop. And in all my four years in Suna had I ever made an attempt to get involved with its system. Then all of a sudden, the Kazekage waltzes into our shop - unescorted - for some tea? There was something so unsettling and peculiar about this whole situation, I didn't even know what to make of it. Or maybe I was just being over-dramatic? Perhaps I was over thinking all of this, when really there was nothing fishy about it? Maybe all of these questions were just the products from years of being deceived - paranoia does tend leave its mark. Especially when it has time to permeate; as it has over the years.

I was too tired to come to any logical explanation for any of this. But there was one thing I could deduce about the young leaders visit: that it was no coincidence.

Sasuke decided he didn't like Kenta.

It was like inviting someone you didn't know into your house. Scratch that, he wasn't invited. It was like watching someone you didn't know walk into your house and watch them act as if they owned the place. It was both obnoxious and unappreciated.

Of course it wasn't really his house; and thus he had absolutely no say or business as to who went in or out of Midori's tea shop. But not surprisingly, it didn't matter to him. He was an Uchiha and he had to right to dislike anything and anyone he wanted to for whatever reason he saw fit. No matter how petty or irrational it may be.

Sasuke did not consider Kenta as one on his favorite people. He reminded him of a little too much of someone in his past. Someone who was just about as cheerful and laid back as Kenta seemed to be on a daily basis. He didn't need another one of those types in his life again, holding him back and bringing him down. No matter how backward that thinking was.

It didn't seem to compute for him. That even now, when he wasn't nearly as bitter as he was when he was a misguided boy - that someone could be that happy and free spirited. Though he would never admit it, he realized that in some respects he envied him. Both for his optimistic attitude, and the fact that he and Isaaru seemed to get along so well. It irritated him that he and Isaaru didn't have that sort of relationship. Easy and thoughtless, like the type of camaraderie she seemed to have with Kenta. But in a way, he supposed that was what kept it interesting.

The Hagihara girl was erratic and bore easily. Simple and routine, was not something that would appeal to her in the least. Yes, the unforeseeable was best for them.

The door opened; speak of the devil.

He faced her, and he had to admit, she looked exhausted and a little anxious.

Seemingly catching the concern in his eyes, she responded, "Long day."

He nodded, and took her bag from her so he could set it in the closet.

"Speaking of, I didn't see you this morning," she crossed her arms, "where were you?"

He smirked, "Exactly where you'd think I would be at dawn."

She promptly rolled her eyes, "You're a damn machine, you know that? You should give it a rest sometimes."

He had in fact been overworking himself. Training whenever he could, which was virtually all the time. Unlike Isaaru, he didn't have any obligations or responsibilities he had to attend to, so it was very simple for him to lose the whole day in the sandy training areas. He was exhausted more than ever, but he also never felt stronger.

He couldn't resist, "You on the other hand, could benefit from a few hours out there."

It was meant to simple jest, just to get her riled up the way it amused him. He knew he was in for it.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

He tried to hold back his smile, "Whatever you want it to."

"You think this is funny?" She pointed a finger at him, "I'll tell you what's funny, me thinking that I nearly had my, no sorry, our cover blown today - because ultimately my being found out, would inevitably lead to you."

Now it was time to be serious, he narrowed his brow, "What? What are you talking about?"

"Oh nothing asshole, I'm just talking about the Kazekage stopping by for a spot of tea downstairs."

"Gaara." He whispered to himself.

"Huh? Yeah, that's his name. What do you know him or something?"

He knew him alright, "I do."

Isaaru looked up at him swiftly clearly not expecting that answer, "You what?"

That's it for now folks, I'm gonna get the next one out to you as soon as I can. :)