"He…wasn't scared."

Kei, who had been busy folding the clothes they had worn earlier stopped and turned to Miyuki who was sitting by the window of the small room they were sharing.

"What?" she asked, walking over to Miyuki who no longer had her blindfold on, her eyes trained on the candle by the window sill. The flames did not reflect on her eyes as Kei slowly sat across her.

"He didn't flinch when he saw…" she didn't need to finish as she glanced at Kei, who also had gotten used to seeing her without the blindfold. Miyuki gestured to her eyes and Kei's expression softened as she gave a small smile.

"I do not think he is the type to be bothered by such things," Kei suggests, nodding thoughtfully. "He is the Kazekage, and so young! You saw his face, didn't you? Not quite bad looking, right?"

Miyuki allowed herself to smile for a moment, remembering the Kazekage's face. She was not used to seeing new faces, as every village they had visited she had her blindfold on whenever she was out and around people. The girl's in their small group, the girls she had grown up with, were the only ones she saw every day aside from Eiichi. Aside from everyone she had killed.Something vile rose up her throat, remembering her recent kill. He had been too young, to die in the arms of a girl who pretended to be blind. Then she realized what she was feeling – guilt.

Kei reached out and took hold of her hands, a sympathetic smile on her face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered quietly. "I should not…say such things."

Miyuki shakes her head as someone knocks on their door. Kei glances at her briefly before handing her a new blindfold. Miyuki ties it around her eyes as Kei goes to the door to find Kankuro on the other side. Miyuki stays facing away from them, listening to them talk.

"Hey, uh, I was wondering maybe you'd like to walk around the town with me?" Kankuro was asking now. He sounded nervous, and Miyuki could not help but smile. "The sand village is quite different at night. Miyuki can come along too, if she wants."

There was a pause and Miyuki knew what Kei was about to do. Before Kei could reject the idea Miyuki had stood up, pushing her hands in front of her like she was feeling her way around.

"We'd love to," she says to the chair beside her. She knew how silly she must look, but it was all in the acting. She could see perfectly well where Kei and Kankuro were standing. Kei let out a sigh, although it sounded like relief as she walked the small room towards Miyuki.

"Great!," Kankuro called out before the two girls stepped out to follow him. Miyuki wished Kei would have this moment for herself but she knew Kei would never allow her to be left behind. As soon as they were out into the bustling village, despite the late hour, Miyuki's world had turned colourful again. She relaxed, finding comfort in the threads that surrounded her and the threads beside her. She watched Kankuro and Kei walk side by side and listened to them talking about the history of the village.

They reached what Kankuro had called, 'Gaara's play pen'. It was a huge coliseum type, as Kei had described to Miyuki. Kei had to stop a few times as sand kept getting in her shoes, but Kankuro had happily assisted her. Miyuki bit back a smile, it was the first time Kei had given a guy any time at all, and that was already saying something. Miyuki had not seen Kakuro's face, but he sounded kind enough and Miyuki chose to trust him as she feigned being tired.

"Are you sure? We should go back-"Kei had started to argue when Miyuki raised a hand. She was sitting on a bench situated near the play pen, massaging her toes and ankles for good measure.

"It is alright, Kei," she said, focusing on Kei's shoulder instead of her face. "I'll wait here, or walk back on my own. I am not entirely helpless." She continues, brandishing a walking stick from her pocket, she had to pull it open.

"I'll walk back if I need to or you can come back for me," she says kindly. "Enjoy your night. It would be rude to have Kankuro have the tour all by himself."

Miyuki could feel Kei hesitate, so she smiled, urging her on. Finally, Kei had relented telling Miyuki to stay put until she came back. Miyuki nodded and moments after she followed Kei and Kankuro's chakra, walking away from her.

When Miyuki was alone, she let out a breath. The air here was not as hot as she expected it to be, or humid. It was actually kind of cool at night. She glanced around her, and when no chakra levels were near enough, she undid the binds on her blindfold and let it drop to the ground. She kept her eyes closed, preparing for the sudden brightness.

The scene before her was blurry at first as she blinked for focus. Her eyes finally registered the tall open arcs, and the sand beneath her feet. It was a surprise that Kankuro had not even noticed how there were only two foot prints on the ground coming inside here. She ran her feet across the resisting sand, hardly feeling anything but the swift air that passed beneath. She sighed, turning her head upward towards the moon.

She loved looking at the moon. So bright and big in the dark sky. The stars were beautiful, but the moon was something else. It didn't make her feel so alone. She glanced to the side, where Kankuro had pointed out earlier as their house. The Kazekage's office was at the topmost, with a balcony where he can watch over the village.

The lights were on, and Miyuki was reminded of the Kazekage's face. It was not a face she could forget, even if she saw a hundred other faces. His face was…different from the people she had met before. She remembered the word written on the side of his head, she had only a second to glimpse it and remember only a blurry symbol. What had it been? She glanced down at the blindfold on her lap, wishing she did not need to wear it. But she had to, for no one else in the world had eyes like hers. No one would consider her eyes…normal.

Yet, he didn't flinch when he saw.

Someone like that- Miyuki shook her head as she gripped the blindfold. Someone like that had obviously witnessed something worse. When she glanced back up again she quickly looked away, pretending to have heard something behind her. He was there.

Miyuki swallowed, nervousness easing their way through her. She was never nervous and now she was, because one mistake could cost her this mission. Could cost her all the girl's lives. She let out a breath, touching the walking stick she had placed beside her. She could not very well stand and walk away now, for what if he saw she did not have foot prints? So she closed her eyes, and wished he didn't look this way.

"I don't trust her," Matsuri had her hands on her hips, standing by the glass door to the balcony. Temari sat on a couch, her legs propped up on one arm of the couch as she played with the Kunai in her hand. Matsuri had barged in here after the performance when Gaara had excused himself. It didn't skip Temari's notice though, how distracted Gaara had been after Miyuki had pushed him out of range. It also did not skip her notice the way Gaara kept touching his chest as if it had been burned.

"We don't trust her either," Temari answers, when it was obvious Gaara would not speak. "But Gaara knows what he is doing, Matsuri. Stop doubting him," she continues, an edge in her voice. Matsuri glares back at her before sighing, her anger still not subsiding.

"I am only worried," she tries again, staring at Gaara who seemed to be preoccupied staring at something outside.

"We all are," Temari stands now, staring at Gaara outside. "But I think you should concern yourself on something else for now, Matsuri." Her tone was not unkind, but it was hinting her to leave.

Matsuri rolled her eyes. She knew why Temari was being super protective of Gaara around her. She pursed her lips, shaking her head before she left Temari to stare at her younger brother.

"You don't have to completely ignore her," Temari said when Matsuri was gone. Gaara made no movement. Temari ran a hand over her face. "Seriously, Gaara. She is still a shinobi of this village bent on protecting it- and you. You're giving her a specially hard time-"

"She gave me the hardest time," he had answered quietly, Temari almost missed it. Something inside her twisted, hearing him sound like this reminded her of how he was as a kid. The real story of what happened between him and Matsuri never reached her ears as both parties refused to talk about it. What she did know was Gaara had hoped for something Matsuri could not see happening. But perhaps now is the time Gaara would open up. Temari had to try.

"Gaara," she began but stopped short when Gaara placed his Kazekage hat on and glanced at her briefly. Before she could ask him anything he had gone, simply skipped off the roof. Temari let out a groan before walking over to the balcony where she spotted Gaara going towards his old 'play pen'. She sighed, he only ever went there when he needed time alone to think. She leaned on the metal bars of the balcony before spotting another person in the play pen. She blinked and squinted, almost dangling herself off the bars to see. White hair. It was definitely Miyuki.

Temari stilled, her heart was racing. But she wasn't sure if it was from excitement or worry.

Authors note: Hey everyone! I never expected how much positive views this story would get (is getting). It makes me really happy! It is my first fan fic on this site, so I'm kind of nervous. Anyway, I'd also like to thank those who left reviews, greatly appreciate them. I'd message you guys personally but I'm kind of shy like that but please, don't ever hesitate to message me. I'm friendly, I promise. I'd really like to make friends here. So, hey? :)