Allo everyone! Sorry this chapter isn't very good. Anywho, thanks to everyone who reviews and to anyone who reads my story! It really helps me write when I know people are reading it :D. Thanks again!!

Ch. 11 Satsu's Shop

Saylin was irritated beyond anything before. As soon as they entered the market, all Saylin heard was, "Oh my god, she's alive!" and "Thank you for saving our village!" plus the common, "What's going on?". Gaara pulled Saylin through the crowd, using sand to push most of the people out of the way as they bought all their goods. People craned their necks and pushed others out of the way to see the two heroes going about their daily business.

"We have all of the fruit, grains, spices, herbs. Now we need to get the vegetables." Gaara shouted over the crowd.

"Please don't get the vegetables?" Saylin cried, struggling to be heard through the crowd. Her question was pointless- she already knew the answer.

"You promised." Gaara reminded, glaring teasingly through the corners of his eyes.

"Saylin! How did you survive the three?" Someone shouted, leaping up and down.

"Gaara saved-" Saylin started only to be interrupted by someone else.

"Which of the three fighter's survived?"

"I think-"

"What was your talk with the Kazekage about?"

"I'm not sure I'm-"

"Speak up- we can't hear you! How did your leg get injured?"

"When I was-"

"EVERYBODY QUIET!" Roared a loud voice, obviously loud because of a jutsu. The crowd immediately stopped talking, and looked around for the voice that screamed.

"Satsu?" Saylin whispered, recognizing the voice but not seeing its owner. Saylin's eyes darted around the crowd, her neck almost turning a full three hundred and sixty degrees before she found the owner.

"Saylin- come with me. My shop has everything you need without the disturbance of the crowd." The lady said, appearing in front of the crowd and eyeing the list. She then dragged Saylin through the swarming mass of people, which began to ask more questions.

"You, sand boy! Can you make some walls or something to keep them out of our way for a few minutes?" Demanded the old lady as she pulled Saylin who was dragging Gaara through the crowd.

"Gladly!" Hissed Gaara, who couldn't be heard by anyone except Saylin.

The sand behind them shifted into two, five-foot walls that lead from where Gaara stood to Satsu's shop, which was conveniently a few yards in front of them. Gaara held the spectators at bay till Saylin, Satsu and he were safely behind closed doors before retreating inside. When the crowd realized they were not welcome, their commotion died away background noise. Just to be sure no one would interrupt them, Satsu locked the door and peered out the window.

"Strange people." She murmured, then glanced down at list, "Vegetables? Saylin, you're eating vegetables?" Inquired Satsu, astonished. The old lady's eyes budged as her wrinkled jaw dropped.

"He's forcing me to eat them." Explained Saylin, pointing at Gaara, who smiled cheekily.

"You're a good influence on her, I couldn't get her to eat vegetables for my life. She'd always hide them from me when I came over to give her dinner." Satsu sighed at the memories of a ten year old Saylin glaring at her dinner with a look that could put the grim reaper to shame.

"Is there any you had in mind?" She asked Gaara eagerly, casting her hand over to the large array of boxes of fresh plant life.

"Carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, unions, tomatoes, broccoli, red peppers, and mushrooms." Gaara said, not even needing the list to see what he was reciting.

"I have them all, so you can pick them out. Do you mind if I talk to Saylin alone?" She asked her voice strangely tired and old.

Gaara nodded, and Satsu sighed, bringing Saylin into the next room.

"Can I get you anything, tea? Cookies?" She asked, not once looking into Saylin's eyes. Saylin's aged friend was weary sounding and feeble, not like the usual Satsu Saylin had always known.

"Satsu are you alright?" Saylin asked, placing her hand on Satsu's bony one. Saylin could see the veins on her crinkled skin, smell the age in her breath.

"I didn't know, Saylin. I didn't know and it almost killed you. I wish there was some way I could repay you." She whispered, tears sliding down her crankily old face.

"Gram, what's wrong?" She asked nervously. When she was younger, Saylin would call Satsu her 'Grams' or grandmother because Satsu was old, and she acted like a second mother to Saylin. With that name, Satsu seemed to find new confidence to attempt speaking.

"Those people… who tried to kill you… that poison they made you take… they got it from me." She paused to look at Saylin's frightened and stunned face from her chair but refused to meet Saylin's penetrating gaze. "I didn't know that they were bad. They said they needed the herb so they could make a healing potion- Ralaki boiled with Lotus flowers makes a healing potion that can cure headaches, but boiled alone and Ralaki releases powerful poisons that can kill a man in less than a day." Satsu sighed and stood up upon seeing Saylin lost for words. "It's inexcusable to ask for forgiveness in such a situation."

"It's alright," Saylin said before Satsu hobbled out of the room, "you didn't know; how would you? No more apologies, I've heard enough of them for one day. I'm still alive am I not?"

"You've cried before, during this day." Satsu noted with a wise frown.

"It was nothing, just an old argument that needed to be settled." Saylin whispered.

"Some wounds take time to heal, some can't be healed at all." Satsu whispered as she sat back down, "I think I know the problem you are referring to, it has to do with that boy, am I right?" Satsu asked, and upon seeing Saylin nod, she continued. "A conflict left unsettled turns into a wound that can't be healed, but a conflict solved has a chance of being healed. Do you understand?"

"Yes, we resolved it before it escalated." Saylin grumbled, tucking her knees into her chest.

"So who is that boy you are with?" Asked Satsu, a gleam of mystery in her eyes. "I believe I've seen him before, but from where I do not know."

"Gaara. His name is Gaara." Saylin replied quickly, blushing quietly as she said his name, letting the letters of his name roll over her tongue.

"Is he anyone special?" Satsu prodded, not satisfied with Saylin's answer.

"Saylin? Mrs. Satsu? Are you in there?" Gaara called from the main room.

"Join us, and it's Ms. Satsu, the Mr. died a long time ago, rest his soul." Satsu informed as Gaara entered the room.

"As I was saying before, is this young man anyone special?" Satsu asked, never missing an opportunity to embarrass Saylin.

"Well, erm," Saylin started, fumbling with the words.

"Oh, and by the way; since you are with Saylin, those items are free of charge." Satsu interrupted as Gaara took out some coins, waving his money away.

"He's, erm, well, er, he's um, heh heh, actually, he's my boyfriend." Saylin sputtered, cringing into the fetal position. "Uh oh."

"WHAT?!" Satsu roared, standing up. She knocked over her chair in the process and stormed over to a frightened Gaara, who shrunk back in the sight of the fuming lady.

"Satsu! Calm down!" Saylin cried, in an attempt to stop her bewildered friend.

"Double price, plus tax! Cough it up!" Satsu said, opening her bony hand over to Gaara, demanding pay for the food.

"Ok!" Gaara complied instantly, handing Satsu the money. His eyes widened as Satsu loomed over him. This old lady had more fight in her than she appeared to.

Satsu laughed suddenly, fingering the money happily. Her grin turned solemn as she thought about 'stealing' money from Gaara and reluctantly released the money handing it back. "Upon second thought… I you're a nice kid- I like you… but if…" She said, her voice suddenly low and malicious, "If you break Saylin's heart, I will hunt you down and-"

"Satsu, it's alright, don't worry. Gaara won't hurt me." Saylin said with confidence.

"I promise." Gaara said sincerely, "I love Saylin with my life."

Satsu sighed and rubbed her temples, "There's more than one way to break a girl's heart." Satsu grumbled, staring at Gaara strangely for a minute.

Gaara nodded in comprehension and Saylin understood as well.

"All a girl wants is someone to grow old with. Most don't want a fancy hero." She said knowledgably, "I know all too well. But enough of me rambling, you two should get going."

"Yes Ms. Satsu." Gaara replied, beginning to like Satsu's spastically, over protective reactions to everything.

"Call me Satsu." Satsu smiled at Gaara, "And I'm sure those strange people will be gone by now- you two better be off."

"Bye, Grams!" Saylin said with a hug.

"Good bye, Satsu." Gaara ended with a wave.

Satsu watched the two leave, whistling to herself. She'd never seen a bond so strong between two so young.