Gaara returned home just as Xin was finishing up with cooking. She smiled brightly at the sight of Ryuu and Riku and cheered when they happily went to her. "Hello, lights of my life." Pretty soon they would get too big for her to hold them at the same time. She tried not to think too hard about that and focused on cuddling them close to her. Gaara eyed her, jaw set tightly as if he was debating on something. She noticed with a quirked brow. "Oh, I nearly forgot." With a crooked smile, she leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "Welcome home."

He still had that strange look on his face. "What? What's with that look? I was good today, what did Sachi tell you?"

Gaara's hard look finally faltered, replaced with amusement. "Were you?"

"Of course I was."

Xin's idea of her being good differed greatly from what he considered but he decided to ignore it. He sighed heavily, having the insistent feeling that he was going to regret telling her what he was about to tell her. But if he didn't tell her, she'd have a fit and rant about them being a united front. "Promise you won't say anything."

"That's a vague ass demand."

Gaara eyed her for several more minutes. "Don't make a big deal but Kankuro may ask Asuna out on a date."

Her eyes gradually brightened as the kitchen became silent and her lips pulled into a grin. "You're not fucking with me, are you?"

The taller redhead rolled his eyes and reached for Ryuu, opting to sit down at the kitchen table. He could hear Kankuro shuffling around in the living room and he hoped and prayed Xin would keep her fat mouth shut. She was still grinning when she joined him at the table, Riku cradled comfortably on her lap. If she said anything too soon, Kankuro would probably never tell him shit again.

By the time Kankuro joined them, her grin was gone but her eyes were bright. "Hey, Kankuro, welcome home. Come on before the food gets cold," she shifted Riku, leaning him against her arm. They had a small window to eat dinner before the wonder twins got fussy.

"Hey, Xin. Smells good." Kankuro sank down with them, sighing heavily. He smelled of the blazing sun and hot sand and looked exhausted.

"Long day?" Xin prompted after some time lapsed. She was eyeing both Ryuu and Riku, timing their moods.

"Mostly just training with Hideki, Ukyo and Hatsune. I don't know what's going on with those Mikawas but they've been butting heads recently," Kankuro sighed and rotated his shoulder irritably. "Hatsune got so fed up with Hideki, she physically threw her puppet at him."

Gaara was sure that was the perfect opportunity for Xin to bring up Asuna but she didn't. "Well, you know, siblings fight. Hideki is getting to that age of teenage rebellion." Xin's face remained neutral. "Shoulder bothering you?"

"I think I pulled something trying to separate them. I'm getting too old for this shit."

"You are not."

Gaara made a noise. "We didn't fight much growing up."

"Because your siblings were literally terrified of you until you were twelve."

"Ah."

"Can you do something about my shoulder, Xin?"

"Sure, after bath time."

Kankuro grunted his thanks, relieved that Xin wasn't giving him a hard time. He felt a little bad, seeing as how she'd been busy herself all day just to come home to cook dinner, take care of her kids and then have to help him out. It was a wonder the woman didn't drop dead from exhaustion. He needed to do something to show his appreciation for her. "What about you two? Long day?" he prompted, glancing between them.

Gaara only shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing out of the ordinary. Although the Chūnin Exams are coming up soon and the other Kages want to discuss where it'll take place this year." He wasn't really looking forward to that sort of meeting but there was no getting around it. They had to make a final decision soon. He was a bit biased but if they didn't settle on Suna, he hoped it would be in Konoha.

"Oh, good. I love a good beat-down," Xin grinned. "My day was fine. The morning was a little busy so I sent the wonder twins to Gaara. I checked on the mental facility with Sasori and—"

"Did you harass him about Chiyo?" Gaara interrupted. Ryuu began gurgling quietly but Gaara comforted him with a gentle shush.

"Only a little bit. I asked him to join us for dinner but he declined. He's such a stick in the mud."

"You are unbelievably dense," Kankuro rolled his eyes. Xin only shot him a look but decided to drop it. Sasori was a bit of a touchy subject. They finished dinner before the twins could start their fussing. Kankuro volunteered to do the dishes, opting out of helping Xin with bathing the twins. It wasn't that he didn't like it, it just made him nervous. He was afraid he was going to drown one by accident and then he'd have to die because Xin would drown him in retaliation.

It didn't him take long to finish the dishes and he evetually made his way upstairs. The door to their main bathroom was open and he could hear the sounds of chaotic bathtime. He peeked in, a grin pulling at his mouth.

Gaara had rolled his sleeves up but it didn't make a difference since the front of his shirt was soaked. Xin's tank top was in the same state. Her hair was piled messily on her head but even that couldn't save it from being wet. The culprits, Ryuu and Riku, were having a ball despite their soaked parents less than impressed moods. They squealed and screamed with laughter, slapping errantly at the water.

"Riku, how many times do I have to tell you? Don't put that in your mouth."

"Honey, please stop splashing mommy. The soap and water will blind me."

"Don't splash mom, Ryuu."

"You two are doing this on purpose, aren't you? I certainly didn't need a bath."

They carried on like that for several minutes until Kankuro stepped in and helpfully handed them their towels. Bath time ended mercifully and they wrapped their squirming babies up, careful in handling them while they were wet. Xin left Gaara to get them ready for bed so she could deal with Kankuro's shoulder. "Okay, tiger, let me at that shoulder," Xin knocked on Kankuro's opened door with a smile.

"Please don't talk like I'm one of your spawn," Kankuro rolled his eyes. She only laughed and approached him. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, rolling his shoulder in annoyance. "The hell am I going to do with those two?"

Xin's hand began glowing as she began prodding at his shoulder. "What do you expect? Hatsune's not pleasant to begin with and Hideki probably wants to be treated like an adult."

"It's been awhile since you two have met. When are you and Hatsune going to call a truce?" Kankuro asked, tensing when she pinpointed the problem in his shoulder.

"When Hell freezes."

"You're too old to be this petty."

"Oh? So I guess throwing her entire puppet at Hideki was reasonable?" She pressed a little hard at his shoulder, causing him to cringe and groan. Her fingers glowed brighter as she tried to soothe the tenderness away.

Kankuro only shook his head. "Of course not. I would expect something like that from you, not from her."

"Now why the hell—"

"You've literally thrown a lamp at me before. You even threatened to throw Ume at me."

She didn't have a comeback, opting to instead smile. Maybe their relationship was violent at times but they had fun with each other. Xin often liked to think that their petty and childish relationship stemmed from the fact that their relationships with their respective siblings growing up weren't so normal. Siblings bickered and picked with each other and that's not something they experienced growing up. Now that their relationships were healthier, they were far too old and mature for senseless bickering. But when it came to Kankuro and Xin, they managed to bring out the immaturity in one another.

"You should help me talk to them." Kankuro was glad he was facing away from Xin because he could just feel her glaring holes into the back of his head. "C'mon, aren't you always going on about mental health bullshit? You're the expert."

"You're bullshit," Xin snorted while rolling her eyes. "Hatsune doesn't like me so I doubt she'd even listen to me."

"Wouldn't hurt to try."

"Please. You just don't want to deal with it."

Kankuro didn't bother to reply, knowing that even if she protested, she would still help. The seed was planted and Xin couldn't help herself. The woman was a goddamn busybody. Besides, if she kept having to straighten his arm out, she was going to attack one of the Mikawas. "So, um," he shifted almost nervously. Xin huffed as he moved his shoulder around, disrupting her healing. "I...was thinking of asking Asuna…."

She raised her eyebrows and grinned but quickly wiped it away just in case. "Asking her what? Out on a date?"

Kankuro squirmed. "I don't know if we'd call it that. She just got divorced, Xin."

"So, just hanging out then? Just you two?" Xin nudged helpfully. It was a fair argument, she supposed. "Their relationship has been over for so long though, for about two years now."

He grunted but nodded slowly. "Yeah, uh, just us."

"Kankuro, do you actually like Asuna? Like in a romantic sense? I don't want you to ask her out on a date just because I think it's a good idea."

"Ah...I had a crush on her when we were kids and into our teens but she's older than me so I just chalked it off. Then she ended up marrying Genji."

"She's only three years older than you. Temari is older than Shikamaru, so it doesn't make a difference," she spoke in a soothing tone. "Doesn't hurt to try."

He didn't have a comeback, slouching somewhat. Asuna was a nice girl but he wasn't sure how she even felt about him. They were friends, had been friends for years and got along just fine. He didn't want to ruin that.

"You guys could just go for food. That's always safe, you know."

"You think she'd go for that?"

"Sure," she shrugged casually. "If it doesn't work, you guys can just stay friends. No harm, no foul."

He made a tight face but she couldn't see it. He wasn't sure if it was that easy but he supposed he could blame that on Xin's nonchalant attitude. She was still friends with Jura and Sasori even though it was clear she wouldn't date either of them. Then again, she wasn't the one with unrequited feelings. This was why he avoided dating. It made things far too complicated.

"Whatever you do, don't wear your purple makeup."

"It's not makeup."

"Is too."

"Is not."

He almost turned around just so she could see him scowling at her. But she was in the perfect position to break his arm if he pissed her off too much. Besides, this was an argument that would never cease. Xin finished healing and patted gently at his back. "Try not to fuck your shoulder up so soon, yeah?" She took a careful step away, smiling down at him. "If I have to keep doing this, they won't have to worry about fighting one another."

"Yeah, they'll be too busy trying to fight you off."

"You're damn skippy."

Kankuro let out a laugh. "Uh, thanks, Xin. You know, for the shoulder and all."

She nodded, still smiling. "Right. The shoulder. Anytime. Good night," she bounced out of his bedroom and headed straight for the nursery. She grinned as Gaara leaned over the changing table, buttoning Ryuu up for bedtime. She swept up Riku and laid him beside Ryuu to get him ready for bed as well.

"Everything okay?" Gaara murmured, wiping gently at Ryuu's still wet face. He squirmed excitably, grinning his gummy grin up at him. Gaara couldn't help returning the smile.

She took a deep breath and helped Riku into his clothes for bed. "I suppose," she grabbed at his feet as he kicked them in the air, smiling as she did so. "He wants me to talk to Hideki and Hatsune."

"He probably wants you to threaten them into playing nice."

She laughed and scooped Riku up. For once, he wasn't fighting her as she bounced and rocked him, dropping kisses against his forehead every so often. She figured he was being so agreeable because of Gaara's presence. He was rocking Ryuu just like Xin taught him, gentle and soothing. She turned to him, swaying her hips as sleep readily overtook Riku for once. Gaara noticed that she looked a little troubled.

"What's wrong?"

"Moriya-sensei's position…"

"Mm."

"I want to take it."

Gaara grunted and continued to watch her. Clearly she was trying to work out something in her head. "I do, I want to..I want to help and I think I'm pretty good at bossing people around—"

"Understatement of the fuckin' year, Xin. You're a pro."

"Shut up," she could feel Riku's weight growing heavier against her shoulder. He was sleeping and she nearly cheered. "I just don't want to be too busy. They won't be this small forever, you know," she confessed in a quiet voice. Gaara looked down at Ryuu. He hadn't thought of that but it was true. Ryuu and Riku would eventually grow up and it was obvious that Xin didn't want to miss that. He didn't want to either.

"You could always cut back on your workload. Becoming Director, you wouldn't necessarily be doing the same thing you're doing now as a medic. You'd be bossing others around and dealing more with paperwork."

"Ah, like you."

"I don't boss people around."

She snorted and swayed her way over to the crib. She was careful in leaning over to deposit the slumbering baby in the crib. Years of her training really did something for her stealth, she often joked. Gaara joined her, easing Ryuu down as well. The two let out a relieved sigh at the same time when neither twin stirred or twitched. Win for them.

"Talk to Moriya, I'm sure he'd understand."

She grunted quietly, opting to stare down into the crib. "Sometimes I wonder what our parents thought when we were this small."

"Well, my mother was already dead at that point."

"Wow, that got really dark really fast."

Gaara snorted and nudged at her hip. "Rasa...I'm not so sure. He probably didn't think much of me. Just Shukaku and the death of my mother."

Xin tutted softly and reached for him, using the back of her knuckles to caress his cheek. "You turned out good, all things considered. I think your mother's proud." She didn't say much about Rasa. It was known what Xin thought of the former Kage.

He leaned into her touch. "Think so?"

She snorted. "You're the goddamn Kazekage and a good one at that. You probably would have married someone better if I didn't crash land into your life."

He snatched her hand. "Is that the argument we're going to have tonight?" He wasn't at all impressed but Xin only grinned sheepishly. "You know, before we began to be civil with another, you once said we were meant to be."

"Did I?"

"Mm, you were being an asshole about it." Gaara ignored her glare. "Anyway, you were right. If we hadn't met this way, I'm sure we would've met eventually."

"Doesn't mean we'd be together."

"Also doesn't mean we wouldn't."

She had no immediate comeback, somewhat baffled that Gaara felt so strongly on the matter. She knew that if she'd continued down her original path of self-destruction, she would never have met Gaara. She'd be too busy dying in a ditch somewhere. It was depressing to think but it was the truth. "We won't know for sure what my parents think of where I ended up but we know what yours think. They're proud of you, Xin. You're a good woman." He drew her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm.

He watched as a blush crept up her neck. She still had a hard time accepting praise, often deflecting when she could. Sometimes he found it endearing. "I'm going to go shower and go to bed," she decided. He let her go, watching in amusement as she beat a hasty retreat.

He turned back to his slumbering sons. "Your mom's a bit odd but she means well. Remember that when you're older, boys."

Xin was irritated when she was summoned for a meeting with Gaara and his council. She scowled irritably the entire way there and kept her sour disposition up when she arrived. The council weren't at all amused with her lateness but Gaara wasn't annoyed. "You're late, milady," Amane scowled at her. Xin was pretty sure that he was now the leader of the pack, having taken over after Mai was tossed out. He, unlike Mai, didn't bother to hide his obvious dislike for Xin. They often butt heads, especially when it came to Xin's role in building the mental health ward.

Not in the mood for their usual back and forth, she scowled at Amane. "And you're still alive."

Asuna, standing behind Gaara, tried her best to mask her laughter with a cough. "Ahem, ah, milady, let me take one of the twins for you," she stepped away from Gaara and reached for Ryuu tied to Xin's back. Her eyes were lit up in mirth but she said nothing more. She wasn't much of a fan of the council either but she was more quiet with her dislike.

Another councilmember, Fuku, eyed the babies with a critical eye. "This isn't a daycare, milady," she commented coolly. Xin was positive that they were just fucking with her on purpose at this point.

"Why the fuck are you trying to irirate me?" Xin hissed at the council in general. "I was literally in the middle of something at the hospital when I got this urgent call to come here. Do you want me to start throwing shit in here? Do you? Because I can definitely throw a chair with one hand, don't test me."

Gaara rubbed his face. "That's quite enough, Xin. Sit down," he motioned to the chair next to him. She did so without much of a fight, slumping down next to him. Riku was secured to her front with a baby wrap but Xin still held a hand against the babe's back. Despite her very agitated mood, neither babe was bothered by it.

"We've decided to hold the Chūnin Exams here later this month," Gaara began explaining. She squinted at him, unsure of what that had to do with her presence. "The second phase of the test takes place in the Ma no Sobaku, much like Shi no Mori in Konoha." She nodded along. "There's a tower in the very center that we monitor the Exam from."

"Sounds like fun," Xin muttered out of the side of her mouth. She rubbed thoughtlessly at Riku's back and glanced at Asuna when Ryuu began babbling at the blonde. Asuna was hardly paying attention to the conversation anymore, focused on the babe instead.

"We thought it might be helpful to have you there as well because of your Byakugan."

"Ah," she nodded again, putting the pieces together. "Well, I suppose that would make sense," she took a deep breath and leaned back into her chair. "I guess I could do that but only if there's someone to look after Ryuu and Riku."

"I'm sure your assistants wouldn't mind, milady," Amane replied gruffly.

"Sachiko and Ukyo are quite fond of the twins, I'm sure it won't be a problem for them," Baki said in hopes of keeping the peace. He honestly wouldn't put it past her to throw a chair. Xin grunted in agreement.

She remained, listening quietly as Gaara explained the plans for the upcoming exams. It was similar to Konoha's Chūnin Exams but she listened anyway. Having agreed to take part, she would have to meet with Suna's Exploration Group. It was more on her plate but it's not like the second phase of the exams were a week long. It was just a day, she reminded herself. She could deal with just one day for the exams.

She remained seated when Gaara finally dismissed the council. Amane and Fuku didn't leave with the others, much to her dismay. Gaara was eyeing them warily.

"Amane? Fuku?" Baki prompted.

"We simply had some questions." Fuku often reminded Xin of a vulture, circling and waiting to swoop down and pick at the remains of some poor dead animal in the desert. While Amane was the leader of the pack, Fuku seemed to be his sinister right-hand man. Or woman. Whatever. The old fuckers were like a double thorn in her side.

"This ought to be good," Xin muttered under her breath. Gaara snorted. This would not be good.

"It's guaranteed that your Dojutsu will be passed down to your sons and any other children you plan to have, correct?" Amane asked. Gaara instantly straightened and his eyes narrowed.

Xin glanced over at him and frowned. She was positive that Gaara asked this once before. Not because he cared whether or not but because the council wouldn't shut the fuck up about it. "Yes," she answered slowly. "Unlike the Uchiha's Sharingan, the Byakugan is inherited from birth…."

Fuku smiled but it didn't offer any comfort. "And have you thought of a training regime for them to hone their Dojutsu? I'm sure they'll need guidance if they want to live up to your standards."

Xin squinted at her. "They're not even a year old yet. No one's thinking of their training and I'm not holding them to the same psychotic standard I was held to."

"And what age were you when you started your training, milady?"

"I was three."

They nodded slowly, as if Amane just proved a very important point. Xin didn't care either way. These were different times and the Hyuga clan weren't here to dictate how her kids were raised. If she decided to throw all that shit out of the window and not teach them shit when it came to her bloodline, that was her and Gaara's choice. To hell with what the council thought. They were Gaara and Xin's children to raise.

"The council were discussing your children and we thought it might be a good idea to personally train at least one child—"

"Excuse me?"

"—since you have two. Surely you won't mind if we take one of them to train for Suna's benefit. As his mother, you would still be allowed to—"

"I'm sorry. Allowed?" Xin blinked, utterly confused. She closed her eyes for one long moment before looking at them with a confused expression. "Wait, back up just a bit. Are you trying to talk me into giving you one of my kids? Have you two lost your fuckin' minds?" Even Gaara was eyeing them the same way Xin was. He was positive that he put an end to that conversation back in October when the twins were born. Why they thought asking Xin, of all people, was beyond him. She was going to lose it.

"Now, milady. Be reasonable and think about this."

Xin practically ripped the baby sash away to deposit Riku into Gaara's arms. She leaned over the table, planting her hands firmly against it. "What part of 'Era of Peace' do you motherfuckers not understand?"

That, obviously, was a trick question.

"Rasa is dead and his shitty policies and parenting skills went with him. You're not going to fuck our kids over like he tried to fuck Gaara over, do you understand me? It'll be a cold fuckin' day in Hell before I let you goddamn sociopaths near my kids." All things considered, she hadn't physically attacked them. Usually Gaara would put an end to Xin's tirade but this was well deserved. He'd been civil but firm when he rejected that proposal but they still were dead set on it so maybe profanity might make an impression.

Besides, her passion was attractive. Of course, he kept that thought to himself.

"Let me tell you something. That woman I was before, that senseless killing machine? I've put that behind me but don't think I won't hesitate in killing anyone who wants to harm my kids. I let a lot of shit slide but this is out of the question. You want to know what standards my parents held me to? Keep fuckin' with me and find out."

Baki took a deep breath. "Perhaps it's best for you two to take your leave first. We didn't summon her here to upset her. We discussed the Chūnin Exams, end of story." Fuku's expression was stern but Amane was noticeably pale. They shuffled to the doors, muttering quietly to themselves as they did so. Xin openly glared at them as they vanished through the doors.

Baki cleared his throat and reached for Riku in Gaara's arms. "I think the twins are in need of a walk, Asuna." He gave her no room to argue. Xin had been under the impression that Baki would generally keep his distance when it came to the twins. He'd never admit it but they had him wrapped around their fingers just like the rest of them. He was still gruff and grouchy but he didn't deny Xin when she forced him into holding one of them.

Gaara watched as the two left with the twins. "Are you okay?" he asked after a silent pause. Xin was still fuming but she slowly plopped down next to him.

"Can you believe that bullshit?" Xin threw her hands up in exasperation.

"Honestly, no." It was truly one thing to try him but Xin was an entirely different subject. She was the epitome of 'I don't give one fuck'. Maybe that was partially his fault since Kankuro once pointed out that he let her get away with literal murder but Gaara just wasn't upset this time around, not when it came to his children. She'd been far more vulgar but he agreed that his children wouldn't be fucked over by the council. Sacrificing innocent children for the supposed betterment of Suna was out the window when Rasa died. There were better, safer ways to protect Suna.

"But they are a product of their time," Gaara paused, watching as her mouth twisted irritably. It was just the way they operated, the way they thought. After years of competition and decades of warring periods, warming and settling into the idea of peace among the hidden villages would be difficult. It would take some years for it to really settle in that there was peace. He knew that and that's why he tried to remain patient with the old crones. But still, Amane and Fuku were definitely crossing a line.

"Oh, please. They just want to control everything they can get their wrinkled ass hands on." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and roughly massaged at her temples. "I just...I don't want them to turn out like us."

Of course, everyone thought that Xin took to motherhood like a fish takes to water. She was rough around the edges but no one could deny that Xin had a tendency to mother those around her. She was a good mother to the twins, some would even say perfect. But that wasn't really the truth. It wasn't that she wasn't a good mother, she was. She just...she worried. She worried about her past mistakes, about her karma and whether or not she would unknowingly fuck her kids up.

The others didn't know that Gaara often found her in the nursery in the dead of the night. She always sat on the floor in front of the crib, staring between the wooden bars at Ryuu and Riku. Sometimes she told him about her thoughts, about how she worried if she was fucking up. Other times, she stayed quiet.

He understood her fears, shared them even but Xin still carried her guilt. Guilt for a past she couldn't quite remember. There was nothing anyone could really do for her and she didn't expect them to. It made her feel awful and that's why she was trying so hard in protecting not only her kids but the mental state of Shinobi around her.

Gaara reached over to grab at her wrist. "You don't want them to be like how we were. We're different people now, Xin. I think I would want them to be just as passionate as you are and helpful." He squeezed at her wrist. "Hopefully they don't get your temper though."

Xin glanced at him, both amused and annoyed. "Sure, like you've got the temperament of Buddha."

"It's better than yours."

"By like a smidge."

He chuckled dryly just as she stood up. She wordlessly settled down on his lap, slinging her arms loosely around his neck. She'd have to return to the hospital soon, grab her kids so Baki and Asuna could get back to work with Gaara. But for now she melted into Gaara's arms with a soft sigh and kissed gently at his jaw and cheeks and mouth.

And he let her.

"Milady?"

Suna was booming with energy as they worked to put the Chūnin Exams together. It would be Suna's first time hosting since installing the Era of Peace and they were eager to show harmony. Never mind the fact that Genins would be beating the shit out of each other. Xin glanced up, her spirits much better these days. The health ward was under way and Moriya was glad to know that Xin would eventually take the director's position. She spent most of her days with him though it was unnecessary. Most of the hospital staff treated her like she was in charge already.

"Asuna," she smiled at the blonde. "How are you? Gaara let you off the hook early?"

"Oh, just fine. With the Exams just a few days away, there's not a whole lot of work to do now. Kazekage-sama insisted I leave early."

Xin huffed and glanced at the clock, wondering if he'd come home in time for dinner. Asuna cleared her throat and Xin absently waved her to sit down. "Where's the twins?" Asuna asked.

"Ukyo and Sachi took them for a walk. They needed some sunlight and a change of scenery and I needed to finish these," she pointed to the thick folders on her desk.

"You're just as busy as Kazekage-sama," Asuna mused, eyeing the folders. Xin chuckled and shrugged. "Anyway, I—um…" she fumbled over her words. "Milady, I like to think we're friends and you...well...you can be brutally honest and maybe I need that…"

Xin eyed the older woman. "Something on your mind?"

Asuna bit her bottom lip. "Do you think it's too soon for me to date?"

She only tilted her head to the side. "Not if you want to date. Who's to dictate when you should and shouldn't date? The divorce is final but your marriage went to shit long ago."

"Gee, thanks."

"Brutally honest, remember?"

Asuna grinned at her, thankful for Xin's blunt ways. "I just...we talked about it for a little bit in that boutique. Do you think it's a good idea?"

Hell yeah, she thought it was a good idea but she wasn't supposed to be pushy. Xin smiled gently instead. "Sure, if you want to, that is. Do you want to?"

"I do, actually."

She leaned back in her chair. "So go on some dates. I hardly think you'd have a hard time getting a date, even with a daughter."

"Ah—well...I've already been asked out on a date…"

Xin raised her eyebrows. "And you said…?"

"That I had to think about it."

"Ah. That's fair."

"It was Kankuro," the blonde suddenly blurted. Xin eyed her, eyebrows still high on her forehead. She schooled her features and looked down towards her stack of folders instead, hiding her smug smile. "It's just—ah, I know he's your brother-in-law and you two are pretty close."

"Do you want my approval or something? Wouldn't Gaara or Baki's approval matter more than mine?" Xin leaned back in her chair lazily.

Asuna shifted nervously. "They're men, I don't know if they'd really care enough to give me that approval," she explained almost nervously. "I think you may understand a little better."

Xin shrugged a shoulder and eyed one of her desk drawers. There was a pack of cigarettes hidden away in the drawer. She rarely smoked that often anymore, especially with Ryuu and Riku around these days. It wasn't that she necessarily needed to smoke but sometimes she just had the urge. "Do you even like him enough to go on a date with him?" She tried her best to ignore the urge. "I mean, why the sudden interest now? Just because he happened to ask?"

"Well, to tell you the truth, I never really thought of him like that. He's my younger brother's friend so..and we were always so busy with our lives and then I met Genji…" she trailed off with pursed lips. "But we've been spending a lot more time together these days. I didn't think he'd be interested in someone like me."

"Someone like you? I'm sorry but have you seen yourself? Come on, Asuna, quit selling yourself short just because you're divorced and a mother. It's not like Genji cheated on you or anything, he broke the trust between the two of you differently." Xin waved her hand away as she talked, rolling her eyes as she did so.

"I know…"

"And just because you're a little bit older than him doesn't make much of a difference. You're like three years older, which is hardly a big age gap." She had to wonder why both Kankuro and Asuna were so insecure when it came to one another. "Listen, do you want to go out on a date with him or not? Yes or no?"

"Well—"

"Yes or no, Asuna."

The older blonde cringed. Sometimes it was hard to believe that Xin was four, nearly five, years younger than her. She had such an authoritative attitude, even with just her friends. She had to wonder if that's why Gaara often called her bossy. But to be fair, this was the entire reason she came to Xin for advice in the first place. "I..I do."

Xin sat back in her chair and nodded, satisfied with the answer. "Okay then so tell Kankuro that. It doesn't even have to be something serious. It can just be something you two have to yourselves. Go get some food or drinks."

"And you...you're okay with that?" Asuna pressed.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Ah, well, our family's history with yours. You know, Kyohei and everything.."

"Kyohei tried to kill me, not Kankuro. It really doesn't bother me, I doubt we'd still be friends if I had any hard feelings. Besides, I hardly remember what really went down. All I feel when you mention Kyohei is annoyance."

Asuna smiled but it was hollow and sad. "I'm still sorry for that, regardless if you can remember it or not. Kyohei…"

"Let's not, Asuna. It clearly upsets you. Now come on, tell me what you like so much about Kankuro. For example, how do you feel about his stupid face makeup?"

They spent the rest of the afternoon discussing not only Kankuro but anything and everything. Though she couldn't quite let Asuna in fully, the two turned out to be great friends as they bonded more and more. It was nice, it made Xin feel like a normal young woman to have Asuna around. Ukyo and Sachiko eventually returned with Ryuu and Riku, brightly greeting Asuna when they stepped into the office. They joined in on the nice conversation until it was time for Xin to take her kids home.

"...and then Hatsune got angry and threatened to destroy the puppet that he's been working on.." Asuna explained the latest disagreement between her younger siblings as she and Ukyo walked Xin home.

"Good grief," Xin sighed as they traveled the sandy roads. They stopped every so often to let various villagers coo over the twins. It annoyed her at first but Xin gradually got used to it and hardly minded it now. Besides, if the twins happened to be awake, they enjoyed the attention they were showered with.

"Hideki has been frustrated with Hatsune lately," Ukyo offered with a grimace. Training sessions with Kankuro, Hideki and Hatsune were difficult these days. It usually ended with the two siblings at each other's throats more often than not.

Asuna sighed as well. "Poor Jura, he's at the end of his rope. Maybe I shouldn't have moved out and left him alone with them…"

Xin rolled her eyes. "You're saying that like you left him with two toddlers. They're eighteen and sixteen, they need to get over themselves." Hatsune and Hideki were getting worse with each day, it seemed. "I'll talk to them after the exams."

"But Sensei," Ukyo blinked her big eyes at the older woman. They were about the same height but Ukyo was still growing. "You have a lot on your plate already."

"Yes, well…" she didn't have anything to say back because it was true. She had a lot going on and two babies strapped to her front and back wasn't much of a help but she somehow managed to get through each day. She didn't really notice, to be honest but now that everyone insists on pointing out the fact...well…

"You don't have to talk to them," Asuna eyed the shorter woman. "They're my siblings."

"They're stressing Kankuro out," she shrugged back. Ryuu made a noise of excitement. "Yes, uncle Kankuro is stressed out, dragon, isn't he?" Ryuu smiled seemingly at the mention of Kankuro. "Ah, don't tell me he's your favorite now too. I can stand daddy being your favorite but that's just cruel." Asuna and Ukyo laughed at Xin's perpetual plight of being the least favorite. "I don't mind talking to them, really."

"Are you just going to threaten them?" Asuna asked plainly as they came upon Asuna and Ukyo's house first. Momoka was either with Genji or Jura, depending on who was busy at the moment. She'd be returned home in time for dinner.

"I'm not going to just threaten but threats will be involved," Xin's grin was mischievous. "Anyway, I'll see you guys tomorrow, bright and early."

Ukyo and Asuna waved their goodbyes, still amused with Xin's brash sort of caring attitude. They were glad for it. A lot of things had changed for them in the past couple years and even if she made great strides, the Konoha native still was quite the same.

And they were grateful for it.

"You know, this job isn't all that fun."

Xin gathered with Suna's exploration and Gaara for the second stage of the Chūnin Exams. She'd been glad to see several Konoha teams before the examination began and silently cheered them on in her head. She was leaning on the railing, Byakugan activated as she lazily kept an eye on everything below Suna's central tower. She questioned the idea of letting loose a bunch of semi-skilled Genin into an area known as the 'demon desert' but kept quiet. Konoha had the Forest of Death and all and she'd hate to sound like a hypocrite.

Sen, a kunoichi freshly assigned to the team, smiled at Xin. She was a couple of years younger than Xin but she was friendly enough. "Well, milady, hopefully it remains calm."

Xin snorted in humor. "Doubt it. I bet any amount of yen that someone's going to get their shit nearly bitten off by a giant scorpion." Despite the severity of her words, her tone remained dull. She glanced at the other kunoichi and took notice of two white fans tucked into her belt.

"How good are you with those fans?"

Sen blinked and looked down at the aforementioned fans. "Good enough, I'd like to think. Have you taken interest in fans, milady?"

Xin held one of her arms up to show the bladed fan strapped to the underside of her arm. "More than just an interest, I'd say. We should have a friendly spar sometime."

Gaara approached, clearing his throat. "I wouldn't, Sen. Xin's idea of a 'friendly' spar is more brutal than you think."

Sen chuckled but greeted him politely. "Kazekage-sama."

"Brutal?" Xin huffed. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm sure Sen can handle anything I can dish out."

"Didn't you almost break Ukyo's nose with your palm last time?"

"Who's side are you on?"

Sen was sure that this was against some rule to see the Kazekage behave so casually in front of several of his Shinobi. But it was nice, Suna spent a lot of time fearing the young Kazekage. With the arrival of not only his wife but his two sons, they were shown a side of him that they were too unwilling to see at first.

"I don't need you breaking perfectly good Shinobi."

"Oh, nonsense. I'm pretty good at putting them back together."

Sen chuckled softly. She couldn't wait to see Shira and Yome just so she could tell them about the banter between the 's eyes remained on the demon desert for some time before her eyebrows quirked. "Oh, looks like there's trouble. A team stumbled on a colony of giant ants."

Gaara looked in the direction but he couldn't see whatever she was saying. "How many kilometers away?"

"About ten kilometers."

Three of the Shinobi vanished in swirls of sand after Xin accurately pinpointed the distressed team. Their morning was slow going with a large chunk of the Genin having to be rescued from giant murderous insects, quicksands and poisonous cacti plants. "I know you aren't particularly from these parts but you do realize that cacti are a dangerous plant species, yes?" Xin leaned over the blushing Genin. He and his team had been dragged to safety when they unknowingly approached poisonous cacti. One had been unlucky enough to fall on top of the plant when the poison knocked them out.

"Of course we know that!" The kunoichi of the team hissed at Xin. She scowled at the older woman, arms folded petulantly across her chest. Xin tutted, more so amused as she used her Chakra to pull the sharp spines out of the Genin. She didn't take the attitude to heart, a lot of the teams were disappointed with themselves when their failure set in. Thankfully no one died, so win for Suna, Xin joked. Gaara was hardly amused. To their surprise, more teams passed than originally planned for, thus, a preliminary round was put into play.

"I'm having flashbacks to our own Chūnin Exams. Wasn't this the same situation that happened with our exams?" Xin asked as she followed Gaara to where the fights would take place. Once upon a time, when she first came to Suna, she stood on this same platform and sparred with Hatsune for the first time. She could barely remember it but it did feel familiar to her.

"That would be correct," Gaara nodded and dismissed Suna's Exploration team. Xin waved cheerfully to Sen, hopefully she would get that sparring session with her soon. It wasn't mandatory that she stayed but she did anyway. A medic was always handy during situations like this.

None of the Genin stood out to her in a particular way. She noted that they didn't have the same sort of desperation in their eyes like her fellow Genin had at that moment in time. She wondered what was different. There were some Konoha teams and they eyed her in particular. Some of them probably recognized her as being Hinata's sister or maybe they remembered seeing her around the village when they were young. They were far too young to even know that she was the Kazekage's wife.

"Are your eyes okay?" Gaara asked. He was watching the group Genin but he allowed a quick glance towards Xin. She seemed fine but using a Dojutsu for too long could be fatal.

She offered him a smile, hoping to reassure him without a fuss. "I'm fine."

It wasn't until the third fight in that she realized that these Genin simply weren't as brutal as her generation. It wasn't really their fault. Back then, more was on the line than just a promotion to Chunin. But now, things were different. Softer. Weaker. Xin's brows twitched and wondered where a thought like that came from. The thing about 'Era of Peace' meant not everything was do or die. That was the point.

These kids didn't have to worry about the Sand Siblings or Naruto and Sasuke running around with untapped and dangerous abilities. There was no bad blood shared between the Hyuga siblings, no crushed limbs or imploded arms via bug infestation. There were no little girls throwing rubble casually but powerfully enough to potentially kill someone.

It was startling to realize just how different her generation was from the next, with only some odd years separating them. These kids lived completely different lives from her and her age group.

She always lived with a threat hanging over her, with tension poisoning her childhood. Even the carefree ones weren't truly carefree. It was maybe dumb luck that Konoha hadn't launched an immediate counter-attack on Suna and Oto for their invasion. Sometimes she could see herself dressed in her ANBU uniform. Arm tattooed and face hidden behind a mask, armed with a katana that was covered in blood more often than not.

Sometimes she….

Xin blinked out of her thoughts when Gaara tapped discreetly at her waist. No one was really watching them, too focused on the fights taking place but he was still careful. "Are you sure you're alright?" He asked immediately.

"Of course, just some flashbacks," she waved his concern off with a soft smile. "You know how they come and go."

"What did you see?" Gaara asked, arms crossed in his usual fashion. It was almost comical to see the Kazekage standing next to his wife. They were opposites in every way, mostly due to Xin's sunny disposition and Gaara's intimidating disposition. She stood next to him with her hands folded neatly in front of him, her smile becoming more bright.

"Our original exams. We were pretty brutal, weren't we?" Xin asked, keeping her eyes on the fight. They didn't share the same desperation but some of these Genin were talented. "Especially a certain team from Suna."

Gaara snorted and ignored the jab. "You bashed a Genin's head in with rubble. Did we ever figure out if that kid lived or died?"

Xin smiled innocently. "I don't remember."

"They're awfully late, aren't they?" Asuna shifted nervously. She joined both Gaara and Xin as they waited for their last guests to arrive. Gaara only seemed somewhat agitated but Xin wasn't that surprised.

"Yes, well, that's Lord Sixth for you…" she muttered quietly. "How about this? You guys go on ahead and get the meeting started with the other Kages and I'll wait for Lord Sixth here. I'm sure it won't be too long." She was lying her ass off and he knew it. Gaara sighed heavily, knowing that that was their best option for the moment. While the Mizukage was a patient woman, the same couldn't be said for the Raikage or Tsuchikage. They were getting on in age and they were turning out to be quite the cranky duo. Hopefully the Raikage hadn't broken anything yet.

"If you're sure.." he trailed off, glancing out towards the desert.

Xin clapped her hands together with a sweet smile. "Positive. I'll hustle his ass over there as soon as he steps foot past our gates."

"Milady, he's still a Kage.." Asuna trailed off with a nervous smile but she only waved the notion off. Gaara and Asuna quickly left, readying themselves for their impatient guests waiting back at the meeting hall. The final exams were just days away and surprisingly all of the Kages had made it a point to show up.

Era of Peace, and all, Xin reminded them with a grin.

Thankfully it was only about fifteen minutes in when she noticed a trio approaching the gates. Veins strained at her temples to verify if it were the missing trio and when she confirmed that it was them, she smiled. Raising a hand to the gatekeepers, she quickly left Suna's fortified walls to meet them. "You're late," Xin said way by greeting, arms folded tightly across her chest and hip cocked to the side. She wasn't all that bothered but she put on a show anyway.

Kakashi offered a sheepish smile from under the rim of his Hokage's hat. She could only tell he was smiling by the telltale crinkle of his visible eye. "Well, if it isn't Xin. I'm honored you decided to meet us here. Sorry for the lateness, I got—"

"Oh, no you don't. Don't you try that tired excuse on me, Lord Sixth. I'm not a child anymore and Lena-sensei always said you were full of it."

Kakashi chuckled at the mention of the hot-headed woman long dead. "You're turning out to be quite like her, Xin."

"We got caught up in a sandstorm," Naruto grinned from behind Kakashi.

"Which I warned them about," Shikamaru grumbled from beside him.

Xin grinned and dropped her annoyed stance, elated with seeing not just one but both of her brothers-in-law. "I suppose that can't be helped, right? In any case," she held a hand up towards Suna behind her. "Welcome to Suna, we're pleased that you made it safely. Now, follow me and hurry the hell up. I promised Gaara I would hustle your asses over there."

Playing her part as the hostess, Xin was sure to point out all the new and shiny advancements Suna developed since the last time any of them had been there. She wished she could have been a little bit more relaxed but she had to put on a good show in front of Suna when dealing with Konoha's Kage. Hopefully once business was out of the way and things were less cordial, they'd like to see Ryuu and Riku.

"I hope we aren't too late," Kakashi hummed, though he really didn't care.

"Not only are you late," Xin stopped at the doors, she could hear the Raikage ranting and raving in his usual fashion. It took her quite awhile to realize that just because the man shouted didn't necessarily mean he was angry. He was just...loud. She pushed the doors open. "You're the last ones to arrive!" She ushered the trio into the room, grinning almost sadistically when everything came to an abrupt halt. "Rokudaime-sama has arrived!" Xin was cheerful. Discreet to the others, she patted Kakashi's back. "Go get em', Champ."

She fled with a cackle, fully aware that she was being a little shit. Shikamaru glared after her and nearly groaned. He had a feeling when he first saw Xin waiting for them at the gates that she would cause them grief. Typical of his sister-in-law, he grumbled under his breath.

Xin was summoned only an hour later, not that she was surprised. The Kages didn't need to conjugate for too long. Someone was bound to make some sort of comment and then there would be bickering and threats. Too much testosterone, Xin often thought. She didn't blame the Mizukage for being disappointed when Tsunade gracefully stepped down from her position.

She was redirected by Asuna to the roof of the Kage's tower, not that she was surprised. Gaara and Kakashi were often found on the rooftop overlooking Suna when these sort of visits occurred. She was sure that it was supposed to be symbolic but she had the sneaking suspicion that they just hid up there.

"Babies!" Naruto exclaimed when she stepped out onto the roof. She retrieved Ryuu and Riku from Ukyo and Sachicko the moment she got a chance, somewhat guilty that she was dumping them on her assistants often these days. As soon as the Exams were over with, she'd cut that habit.

The blond bounded forward and quickly snatched Ryuu away from her. She let him go with an amused smile and handed Riku over to Shikamaru. "You boys are happy to see your uncles, aren't you? Too bad they didn't bring your aunts. Next time, yes?"

"Sure, Temari's been missing Suna and the twins," Shikamaru said distractedly. She was glad to see he was more comfortable with holding her children. She hoped he wouldn't be wary of holding his own children, whenever that would be.

"I miss her too, there's no one to stop the bickering between me and Kankuro. Sometimes I think we argued for the sake of just getting on her damn nerves."

"Not that that's hard.." Shikamaru grumbled.

"Gaara and Kankuro said you can't give her back once she starts beating you up."

"Does Gaara not stop the bickering?" Naruto asked as he shifted Ryuu closer to his face. The babe wriggled and writhed before he pressed his tiny hands against Naruto's face. He poked and prodded at the blond's mouth and nose before smiling brightly. He remembered his uncle, Naruto realized with a grin.

"Not all the time. I know everyone thinks he's this wise and mature man but he can be pretty petty and immature when he wants to be," Xin answered. Gaara, hearing this, turned to shoot her a glare. She only smiled back at him. "Anyway, how was the meeting?"

"Thanks for throwing us to the wolves," Shikamaru complained. Riku was much more gentle with his handling. This annoyed Xin and she wondered for the umpteenth time why Riku always attempted to only rip her goddamn hair out. "It went as one would expect."

"Did A throw anything?"

"Not this time around."

"So small miracles do exist."

Naruto laughed, missing her sense of humor. The meetings with the Kage could sometimes be so stressful. They were way too serious for their own good, he often found himself thinking. He hoped he wouldn't become like that someday. But, Kakashi did a good job at maintaining a cool disposition. Gaara did too. "Ōnoki was pretty cranky though," he pointed out, frowning. That man wasn't serious, he was just crabby.

"He's in his eighties, isn't he? When is that old fart gonna hang it up already?" Xin rolled her eyes. Out of the Kage, she tended to butt heads with the Tsuchikage the most. If anyone was stuck in the old ways, it was him. She often criticized him for it and it often led to her arguing with his granddaughter, who held a mutual dislike for her. Kakashi once commented that the two women were far too stubborn and that's why neither were willing to back down once they started.

It was mostly for that reason why she didn't attend any of the Kage's meetings. She only attended when it was strictly necessary and when it had something to do with the advancement of the medical field. Luckily for her, Sakura was often in attendance as well.

"Soon, if I had to guess. He's starting to slow down. I think Kurotsuchi will be named his successor," Shikamaru eyed Xin, all too aware of his dislike for the Iwa kunoichi.

Xin's face went cross. "Oh, if you think I'm going to call that woman Tsuchikage-sama, you've got another thing coming."

"Mind your manners, Xin," Gaara called out dryly, keeping track of both their conversation and the one he was currently having with Kakashi. He knew Xin would be irritated with the thought of Kurotsuchi becoming a Kage.

"Fuck those manners!"

"For the boys, Xin, the boys."

"Goddammit," Xin scowled under her breath. She was going to have to set a good example for Ryuu and Riku when they got older. She didn't want them disrespecting anyone but how the hell was she going to bite her tongue when it came to that irritating ass woman? If she weren't all about peace, love and happiness and all that bullshit, she would've already knocked the teeth out of that woman's mouth.

"Mommy's got a potty mouth, doesn't she?" Naruto grinned. He didn't care, Xin's swearing sounded like home to him. A home that no longer existed but he was nostalgic about it. Appreciated it.

Definitely felt like home.

While Gaara busied with the Kages and their Kage duties (which, she commented with a snort, was probably a lot of nothing), Xin often found herself playing hostess to their bodyguards and advisors. It was smooth for the most part, with only a few violent hiccups here or there. Luckily, Naruto or Shikamaru diffused those sorts of situations.

The last round of the exams would be starting soon and the bodyguards and advisors happily placed bets on their Genins against one another, unknowingly of course. Xin hadn't participated at all, deciding to be neutral since she hailed from Konoha but was now a Suna kunoichi. She helpfully kept track of the bettings and the amount thrown into the pot.

"No hard feelings?" Kakashi prompted cheerfully as he sat with the other Kages above the excited crowd. Shikamaru shook his head, not finding that to be so funny. Naruto tried hard to mask his snort of laughter. Had Xin been present, she would've laughed loudly. Gaara waved the statement off with a half amused chuckle. His eyes searched the crown carefully before he found who he was looking for. Kankuro and Xin were together, searching for seats in the crowded dome. He sat back in his chair, glad that he wouldn't have to worry about his wife causing mayhem somehow.

"Oi, Xin," Kankuro elbowed at Xin's side. She wasn't having much luck with finding some empty seats but he could see much easier than her, towering over her and all. She looked in the direction he was pointing to and grinned. Jura was waving excitedly at them, Hideki and Sasori sitting next to him. Their friendship was baffling but Jura could make friends with anyone, she often reminded herself. Besides, they all had their love for puppetry. She mused, as Kankuro led the way to them, that she was surrounded by puppet-masters.

"Hello there," she greeted cheerfully as they scooted away to give her and Kankuro enough room to join them. "What a lovely day to watch some Genin beat the shit out of each other, yeah?"

"Your sense of humor is strange, Sensei," Hideki grinned at her.

"I'm strange, kiddo."

"Aw, Sensei, come on. I'm sixteen. When am I going to stop being 'kiddo' to you?" Hideki griped about the older woman's nickname for him. He hadn't minded it much when he was younger but she tended to call him that in front of Ukyo and that did not make him look cool.

"Well, now that I know it bothers you," Xin tapped her chin innocently. "Never!"

"I can't wait until Ryuu and Riku get old enough and you start embarrassing them like that," Kankuro laughed, boxing her in between him and Jura.

"Those boys don't stand a chance," Sasori commented, causing all of them to laugh.

"Speaking of which, who's on babysitting duty if you two are here and Kazekage-sama is up there with Asuna and Baki?" Jura asked.

"Ukyo and Sachi. Ukyo wasn't up for today, far too many people and Sachi turns her nose up at the thought of children duking it out. A pacifist or whatever."

"The thought of child violence tends to disturb more people than you know," Sasori pointed out with a casual shrug of his shoulder. Xin only grinned.

"Apparently it doesn't disturb any of us. Says a lot about us, don't you think?" Her comment earned her a bunch of laughter and friendly jeering.

Unbeknown to them, sitting just a few rows away were two men. They eyed the group, specifically the woman with different expressions. The older man had a calm spirit about him, looking her over like she was a problem to be figured out. The younger of the two sat with hidden rage, his hands balled up into tight fists.

"She's right there, now is the perfect time," the younger hissed angrily. His face was hidden under a mask but by the sound of his voice, he appeared to be seventeen or eighteen. His hair was dark and wavy, tousled stylishly, and his eyes were a vibrant green.

"I can see her just fine," the older man hummed casually. There was nothing about his features that stood out. He seemed, oddly enough, too plain looking. But that was exactly what he wanted. He was just an unassuming face in the crowd, easy to forget. "Now is not the right time. She may seem relaxed but she still has her wits about her. We must wait."

"We've waited this long, how much longer?"

The older man grinned and folded his arms across his chest. "Now, now, Yuma. Try to be more patient, haste makes waste, you know. That woman is not one to laugh at. We must wait."

"For how long?"

"As long as necessary. Maybe even a couple more years. Like I said, she still has her wits about her, her paranoia. She's someone we'll have to completely catch off guard otherwise, we will die. You want her to suffer, don't you?"

"Yes, it's all I've wanted for years."

His grin widened. "So you'll wait."

TeeBeMe: I mean, with all this happiness and peace going on, something's gotta give, right? I think there were some fillers when the Exams took place in Suna so that's where I got this shit from, I'm pretty sure that's how things went down and to be honest, I was too lazy to look it up so we're just gonna pretend that's how things work for now. Sen was a filler character too but it's not like there's any Suna shinobi that stand out aside from Gaara, Kankuro and Temari so there ya go. Expect some filler characters every now and then.

And be honest yall, how did yall feel about Kankuro and Asuna? Do we like it? Do we hate it? Is it meh?