Distance
Sonnie
"Well, I can't say I've been to many parties like that," Kankurou said breezily, cracking his knuckles. His siblings had decided that it would be good to keep a low profile and just head back to Jou's house instead of attempting to sneak into their expensive hotel at three in the morning after what happened. They were currently seated in her living room up their necks in free food.
"I can't believe you punched him," Temari said in disbelief, picking up a pack of granola bars and reading the ingredients before grimacing and putting it down.
"I can't believe you actually hit him," Gaara muttered, looking for a bag of popcorn.
"Hey, I'm not a total lost cause in taijutsu," Kankurou said indignantly.
"That may be true, but you still suck," Temari snapped. Her expression softened as she took in the contents of the mug handed to her. "What is this stuff?"
"White hot chocolate," Izari answered, setting down a tray beside them containing two more mugs of the liquid. "Jou made it, so you know it's good."
This seemed to placate Temari, whose tentative sips were soon forgotten. "I can't believe Lee's running laps around Konoha at this hour."
"I can; you saw what he drank, right?" Izari shuddered. "Energy drinks are disgusting."
"Yet you drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes," Kankurou pointed out. He burnt his tongue on the hot chocolate and swore.
Izari shrugged sheepishly. "Honestly, smoking and drinking are only very occasional vices, though in some circumstances nothing beats a good old-fashioned cigarette." She was about to continue further when the phone rang. She sighed. "Honestly, who calls at two thirty in the morning?"
Kankurou watched her purple fingernails glint as she leaned over and picked up the phone. Her irritability vanished when she heard the voice on the other end. All emotion left her face and she called rather curtly for Jou to come and get the phone. Jou had an armful of pillows and blankets in her hand, no doubt for her bandmates downstairs.
"Hello?" A flurry of bedding hit the ground as she picked up the phone.
Gaara watched her emotional state change very rapidly and suddenly over the next thirty seconds. Cheer, surprise, concern, shock, and resignation all flitted across her face. He wasn't an expert when it came to emotions, but very rarely had he encountered someone so easy and willing to be read. Jou nodded numbly, muttering a quick goodbye and tossing the phone over to Izari, who hung it up.
"I need to go downstairs and finish setting things up for the girls," Jou told her guests softly. "Don't worry, they won't bother you. They're probably all asleep already. Towels are in the bathroom if you want to freshen up, there's food in the fridge, and linens in the closet." Gathering up the items she dropped, she headed downstairs without another word.
"Is she okay?" Temari asked after a moment.
Izari glanced up from where she was still eyeing the phone blankly. "Just some news from Snow Country," she said stiffly, rummaging in her pockets. "I'll be in the kitchen."
"I'm taking a shower," Temari announced, eyeing the open bathroom door.
"Taking advantage of being in Fire Country?" Gaara gave her a look.
Temari shrugged. "Why not?"
"Don't drown in there," Kankurou advised her gravely.
"Twit."
Kankurou threw a pillow at her as she got up. He half expected her catch it, but it caught her in the back. She turned to pick it up, her movements really sluggish.
"Hey Temari, are you okay?" Kankurou got up, hoping she wasn't faking him out so she could smack him.
"I feel really sick all of the sudden," Temari groaned, bolting to the bathroom. She slammed the door shut behind her.
"What's going on out here?" Izari demanded, rounding the corner. Her yellow-rubber glove-clad hands were on her hips and she held a sponge and scrub brush.
"Temari got really sick all of the sudden," Kankurou told her. "It sounds like she's hugging a toilet."
Izari blinked. "Did she eat anything at the party?" she asked after a moment.
"I'm not sure," Kankurou admitted.
Izari was downstairs and back in the living room with Jou in under thirty seconds.
"Did she eat anything at the party?"
"Umm…I gave her a shrimp."
"That was over two hours ago," Gaara pointed out. "Any poison would have—"
"Poison?" Izari asked archly. "You think Jou tried to poison your sister?"
Gaara was about to justify his statement automatically when he remembered the girl in question. He glanced over to where Jou was attempting to will open the locked bathroom door and conceded that perhaps poison was the wrong conclusion to jump to. "I suppose not."
Izari sighed. She walked over to the bathroom door (Jou hurried away, Gaara thought perhaps she knew her friend well enough to predict what was going to happen) and the blonde gave the door a hefty rap. The slab of wood shook in its hinges.
"Are you alright in there?" Izari bellowed. "I think I know what's wrong, just let me in." When she didn't hear a response, she sighed. "Please. I can help you."
The door creaked open and permitted Izari to slide inside. She closed the door behind her.
"Did you just kill my sister?" Kankurou threw a look at Jou, who paled. Her mouth hung open and she was about to sputter in protest when his heavy hand clapped her on the shoulder. It nearly knocked her off her feet.
"I was kidding," Kankurou told her. "You're really high-strung tonight."
"Well, it has been eventful, don't you think?" Jou said quietly. "I'm kind of glad you hit my manager."
"I'd be too – I've got diplomatic immunity," Kankurou smirked. Gaara rolled his eyes.
"Um, that's not really why, but I guess you're right."
"I figure anyone wishing evil upon Neji is worth sticking up for," Kankurou said gamely.
"I don't wish evil upon him. Maybe I've wished that all of his pretty, long, shiny hair falls out, possibly in front of his uncle and the entire village of Hidden Leaf, but nothing worse than that."
Kankurou smiled. "You hit him, that's good enough for me."
"Tenten told me he knocked out three of your teeth and broke your nose." Gaara gave her a pointed look, the kind a teacher gives a student when they make a stupid mistake.
Jou shuffled her feet and looked down. "It's not the smartest thing I've done…but I don't abandon my friends and family. Ever," Jou finished, looking him in the eye.
"That's probably why you got stabbed when you were with Izari," Kankurou muttered.
"Perseverance and the will to protect those important to you make a person strong," Jou told him. "I'd do anything for the people I love."
"That's the honest truth."
Jou glanced up to where Izari's head was poking out of the bathroom.
"I was right; the shrimp was the culprit."
"But I had some too…" Kankurou was looking vaguely ill.
"But in this case it doesn't mean you'll be similarly infected. It's a food allergy, albeit a very mild case."
"It didn't feel mild to me," Temari's voice grumbled. Izari ducked back inside the bathroom and shut the door.
"One of my former students was allergic to shellfish. During his outbreak his skin broke out into hives, his face was so puffy his eyes swelled shut, and his airways seized up and he couldn't breathe. We were in a fancy restaurant and I had to perform an emergency tracheotomy with a drinking straw. Another thirty seconds and he would have suffocated."
"Mild it is," Temari muttered blankly as the mental images of the various symptoms danced through her head.
"Since your reaction wasn't that severe you'll probably be alright, but I can take you to the hospital if you'd like."
Temari frowned; she was more than capable of taking care of herself. "I'm fine, thanks."
"You'll probably feel like shit when you wake up, but it could be a lot worse," Izari reassured her. "I recommend that you take a shower and hit the sack."
"Doctor's orders?" Temari asked wryly.
"Well, I'm not a med nin anymore, but yeah, you could say that," Izari shrugged.
"You used to be a med nin?" Temari asked skeptically.
"Yeah, but that was ages ago during the war," Izari told her.
Temari did some quick math. "You were only eight years old then. At least if you're talking about the war between Hidden Cloud and Hidden Leaf"
Izari nodded. "The fighting was intense. My brother was made a chuunin when he was six."
Like Hatake Kakashi, Temari thought. "Impressive."
"Your village doesn't draft ninjas during times of war?"
"Not to the extent that I heard Lightning Country does," Temari said carefully.
Izari snorted. "The majority of my classmates, the ones that survived, were trained by their families before they could walk in various chakra exercises. By the time they were five, most were eligible to become genin. There is no academy in Hidden Cloud and a ninja's parents serve as instructors. During the war, there were no genins beyond the age of eight; we were either promoted or dead. Everyone was a chuunin before they were thirteen; I was a jounin by then."
"But the war was over by then." Temari pointed out. She was very attentive; since the war with Hidden Leaf, Lightning Country was living behind an iron curtain. There was barely any information that made it out, save whispers of civil war and brazen assassinations.
"No. There was a new war by this time," Izari said quietly. "We're always fighting. There's no time for grandiose examinations; the arrangements are simply too draining on our resources. All we do is train. I doubt we're much different, even after eight years."
"And you've been A.W.O.L. all this time?"
"I faced either death or exile, and chose the latter," Izari said. "Granted, the story is rather fantastic and long-winded, so I'll spare you the details and just say that if you're ever extremely bored and have a few hours to kill, I can tell you the tale."
Temari smiled wryly at the offer. "I think I'll pass tonight. A shower and a good eight hours sound great. Sign me up for a raincheck, though."
Izari smiled. "No problem."
Temari took a deep breath and got up, selecting a pair of towels from the shelf.
"You're not mad at Jou-chan, are you?"
"Why would I be mad at her?"
"She feels bad for making you try a shrimp."
Temari shrugged. "I don't think I can hold it against her," Temari admitted. "She's still a better cook than I am."
"Just don't try and kid her when she tries to apologize to her," Izari advised. "She'll think you're serious."
Temari smirked. "I kind of got that impression, but thanks for the tip."
-O-
Temari wasn't mad in the slightest, but figured she could milk the situation and at least sleep on a nice bed instead of a futon. Jou was more than happy to oblige, and an hour later, Temari was sound asleep in her room. Jou had settled on an armchair, letting Kankurou and Gaara sit on her couch. Izari was back in the kitchen, scrubbing at the burn marks and mentally keeping track of Lee's laps around Konoha when he passed by the house.
"Hey, is she asleep?" Kankurou asked, rising a bit from the couch and peering over his brother at Jou.
"She's been asleep for a few minutes, why?" Gaara asked.
"I'm hungry."
"It's nearly four in the morning."
"Your point?"
"I—" Gaara glanced askew at his brother. "Never mind."
"Eh, Izari's in the kitchen, I'll just tell her to get me something."
"She's not your servant."
Kankurou grinned. "That'd be pretty freaking sweet. It's the hot maid fantasy most guys have at some point."
"I thought you two were fighting with each other."
"I don't really think we stopped," Kankurou shrugged. Leaning back, he caught a glimpse of Izari bent over the oven.
Gaara followed his gaze and his head swiveled back to face his brother. "Didn't you and Tenten just break up?"
"Yeah, but it's been like a month," Kankurou said absently, craning his neck.
Gaara rolled his eyes. "Something tells me this Izari woman is not the type to entertain your type of…attentions."
"She seems exactly the type."
"Don't you think she tries a little too hard to give that impression?"
Kankurou narrowed his eyes. "That's awful sharp of you, noticing something subtle like that," he said suspiciously.
"It's a common tactic amongst spies to play down the threat they pose," Gaara said calmly. "Pretending to be loud and careless makes their targets lower our guard."
"And you think she's a spy?"
"Not necessarily, but it's obvious she was raised as a ninja, though she's got to be out of practice. I overheard her speaking to Temari in the bathroom. It's likely she hasn't practiced any ninja arts for over eight years."
Kankurou whistled. "That's probably about a third of her life. Unless she's got some magical bloodline she probably can't fight worth beans. Even after that move she pulled at the teahouse…I think she was winded. One move and she's feelin' the pain?"
"What you choose to pursue with her is your business, but watch yourself around her," Gaara advised gravely. "She's dangerous."
Kankurou rolled his eyes. "I think I can take her. At any rate, she's more interesting than anything on television," he told his brother. "And from talking with her tonight, I found out she's really not as bad as she pretends to be."
Did he listen to anything I just said? Gaara thought dismally as his brother walked into the kitchen.
-O-
"Nice view."
From her position bent nearly double, Izari glared at him upside down and gave him the finger.
"It's a nicer view than anything you have to offer," she said sweetly.
"You should be careful or you'll hurt my feelings," Kankurou told her with mock seriousness.
"Gosh, we can't have that," Izari deadpanned, glancing past him at the flash of green that shot by. "Seventy-four."
"Huh?"
"Lee's seventy fourth lap. No wonder Kiba left the party so quickly after arriving; he knew I'd kick his ass for giving something so volatile to Lee. Aside from the fact energy drinks are incredibly bad for you, Lee's not going to be able to sleep for days."
"Glad we're leaving tomorrow, then. Well, at least Gaara and I are. Food allergy aside, Temari was going to stick around for a few days."
"Lucky you."
"I think so, yeah," Kankurou grinned. Izari did the same. He was struck again by how pretty she was. She wore a lot of makeup; not too much but enough to make him realize that she spent a great deal of time on her physical appearance. His scrutiny made her uncomfortable, which was fairly obvious when he heard her next question.
"Did you come all the way over here to stare at me, you halfwit?"
"I came over here for food," he said somewhat truthfully.
"Food? At this hour? You realize it's just going to sit in your stomach and eventually be stored as fat."
Kankurou blinked. "Actually, I can't say I really knew that, but thanks for sharing that comforting fact."
"I can tell just by looking at you that late-night snacking isn't really something you should be indulging in." With that, she turned on her heel and stepped out of the kitchen.
Burn. Kankurou was about to follow when he noticed Jou walking into the kitchen.
"Thank God, you'll feed me, won't you?"
Kankurou stared after her as she walked right past him, completely ignoring him. He'd be a little pissed off at most people, but in her case it was just plain weird. His next two attempts to attract her attention were similarly unsuccessful.
"Um, what's up with you?" Kankurou asked, staring at Jou as she pulled a whole pineapple out of the refrigerator.
"Move," Jou commanded, eyes fixed on the cutting board on the counter behind Kankurou. Seeing the huge knife in her hand, he complied automatically, watching as she very methodically, very slowly started to cut the fruit.
"You should say please next time," Kankurou joked, head tilting to the side in an effort to catch her expression.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jou mumbled, not even looking up.
"Are you messing with me?" Kankurou demanded.
"Sure."
Kankurou's eyes narrowed. "Well cut it out. It's not funny."
"Yeah."
"What is your problem?" Kankurou was starting to get irritated. Is she laughing at me because she just saw me get shut down by Izari?
"What are you doing?"
Kankurou registered his brother's voice at the doorway.
"She's acting all weird."
"As opposed to…?"
"Come here and try talking to her."
Gaara gave him a skeptical look and approached Jou, narrowly avoiding her knife as she turned suddenly, the cutting implement raised level with her chest. She stepped past him (almost right into him) and placed the knife very deliberately in the sink and proceeded to wash it as if there were no one in the room attempting to draw her attention.
"Jou."
The girl didn't acknowledge him at all, continuing to rinse the knife and wipe it dry. When she was done, she placed it back in the empty knife slot where it belonged. She pulled a fork out from the drawer and deposited the fruit in a bowl, taking it out to the living room and placing it on the table next to the sofa where Gaara had been sitting. She returned and began to rinse her cutting board.
"Jou, what are you doing?" Kankurou was starting to get unsettled. It was more than a little creepy, the way she moved and talked.
"Dishes."
"Yeah, I can see that, but why?"
"Dirty."
"Jou, what the hell—"
"What's up with you two?" Izari's eyes were darting back and forth to where Gaara and Kankurou were eyeing Jou suspiciously. "You haven't seen a sleepwalker before?"
"Wait, you mean she's asleep?" Kankurou asked in disbelief.
"If she wasn't than she wouldn't be a sleepwalker."
"But she's talking and walking and…cooking, sort of," Kankurou trailed off weakly.
"The first time I saw her do this Jou was talking to me for over fifteen minutes before I figured it out," Izari told him. "She can hold a poor excuse for a conversation but she's fairly unresponsive, I'd say. Somnambulism's funny like that." Izari waved her hand in front of Jou's eyes, which didn't blink involuntarily though they were half open.
"That's really creepy," Kankurou said finally.
"Oh, you should see some of the stuff she's done on tour," Izari waved off his discomfort. "She's prepared a five-course meal, started to repaint a bathroom, wandered out of the hotel and down the street half a mile away…It's a stress-triggered occurrence that I doubt will ever really go away. All that stuff that happened tonight…"
"How long has she been doing it?"
"Well, it really started to act up once Lee became a genin," Izari sighed. "It happened every night around Lee's chuunin prelim exams. She even had night terrors for a straight week after that fight with Gaara," Izari eyed the redhead pointedly before continuing. "Since then it's been on and off. It's been awhile since I saw her do it and I was honestly hoping she outgrew it, but I doubt she ever will if it's been going on this long." She paused before adding, "At least as long as Lee's a ninja on active duty."
"And you're sure she's asleep," Kankurou said flatly, waving his hand in front of her face just like Jou did, morbidly fascinated by her lack of response. He was about to poke her when Gaara grabbed his wrist.
"I heard you're not supposed to wake sleepwalkers."
Izari chuckled. "That's total bollocks. I say wake her ass up so she doesn't accidentally hurt herself or something. Once you wake her she'll go back to sleep normally after a bit. Unfortunately, she'll toss and turn until morning, talk in her sleep, et cetera. It's all very unpleasant business but I'd rather see that than wake up and find her outside on a cold night like this."
Izari positioned herself in front of Jou, grabbed her shoulders, and shook her firmly as she yelled her name. Jou's eyes widened and she gasped, her knees giving out.
"Izari?"
"You were sleepwalking again," Izari said calmly. "You should go crash in the living room. I'll check on the girls downstairs for you."
Jou nodded blankly as if still very distracted and wandered out of the kitchen. Her footing wasn't too steady. Izari followed her out; Kankurou's suspicions as to why were confirmed when Izari stood over her, making sure she settled herself on the chair and was actually going to attempt to sleep.
"Thanks, 'Zari," Jou mumbled sleepily.
"You're welcome, Jou-chan."
"'m sorry too, 'Zari."
"For what?"
"Sorry about your sensei."
Izari blinked in surprise. "Don't mention it," she managed finally. She took a deep breath. "Besides, he always had a soft spot for you; I know you loved him too."
"But you knew him longer," Jou said insistently, starting to become more alert. Izari stopped her shoulders before she got up.
"Let's talk about this some other time," Izari suggested, glancing at Kankurou. Gaara had returned to the couch and she didn't dare spare a look at him. "We've got company. I'll take care of them, but you should go to sleep."
Jou yawned. "M'kay. G'night, 'Zari."
"Goodnight, Jou-chan."
As if by magic, Jou was asleep in an instant. Izari tucked her in and began to clear the mugs and food away from the living room. Kankurou sat down next to his brother and sighed.
"Huh. I guess, technically speaking, you're responsible for her sleepwalking."
Gaara's green eyes slid to the side and glanced at his brother askew. "That was a long time ago. She'd be the first to say it."
Kankurou nodded numbly as Gaara frowned. It certainly explained why she was so afraid of me when she first recognized me.
"I didn't know I terrified Lee so much during that match." Gaara's expression was as stony as ever, but Kankurou could tell, after a few years of really paying attention, that he was thinking. Kankurou wasn't the type to offer sympathy and his brother wasn't the type to accept it, but Gaara wasn't going to turn down objective input.
"Well…towards the end of the match Lee was in unimaginable pain. He had no way of knowing his sensei was going to save him, so his last thought before he lost consciousness was probably that he was going to die. If she can feel his emotions over distance as strongly as he says he can feel hers, she was probably overwhelmed by panic. And all of that fear and chaos one minute and the next, nothing, that's gotta scare you shitless. She probably thought you killed him. And when your life flashes before your eyes, you never do forget that."
Gaara knew what those kind of moments were like, when defeat was inevitable and imminent. He had been clinically dead; he'd experienced this incredible sense of emptiness and loneliness, a type of loneliness even more striking because not even the tanuki was with him. He knew what it was like to be invested in someone else so intimately, because he was similarly entrapped.
I don't think we view the relationship in the same way, Gaara thought darkly, and the nature of it is much different, but I wonder how much different my life would be if I had never crossed paths with the One-Tail. I took him back so I could be strong again, strong enough to defend Wind Country; I don't want him but I need him.
Gaara looked over at Jou's face, troubled even in deep sleep. I didn't know that I had such an influence over you. No wonder you're always trying to promote peace between me and your brother…if he is well than you are well.
"Do you think she does it out of self-preservation?" Gaara asked Kankurou suddenly.
"What?"
"She's always trying to protect the people she cares about," Gaara said impatiently. "Is it to prevent the guilt of failure? Or does she do it because if they feel bad then she'll feel bad?"
Kankurou looked at his brother intently. "You act like there's something wrong with that."
"It means that her desire to help them is motivated by personal gain. She's only helping them to ensure that they're well enough to keep her happy."
"Do you honestly believe that?"
"…No, but it's a logical assumption. I do think she might try a little too hard to find affirmation, though."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it seems like standing up for her friends and family is kind of like her way of validating her worth in their lives. As someone who can't fight or offer useful abilities in that area, it's difficult to be useful to shinobi. Granted, there are plenty of things she can do that we can't, but they're not practical skills by any means."
"Except cooking," Kankurou noted seriously.
"She tries to fight and fails. An ninja she were to take on, even a genin, would easily defeat her."
"But she tries. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with finding validation in helping others. You can't, either, or you wouldn't admire that idiot Naruto so much for risking his neck for the people of this village so much, even when some of them hate him. Wasn't that how it was for you when you first became Kazekage? You had to prove yourself and you eventually won them over. But it was as much the effort as the act that did it."
"I still haven't won everyone over."
"And you're never going to," Kankurou said softly. "But you're definitely improving. I mean, when you were twelve, you viewed people's deaths as affirmation of your worth. Now it's your ability to help others that makes you valuable. You and Jou aren't that different." Kankurou blinked before hastily adding, "Well, you know."
If Gaara had a reply, it was cut off by Lee's dramatic entry through Jou's home. Chest heaving and sweat dripping, he gestured vaguely in Gaara's direction before collapsing on the sofa next to him. Kankurou scooted away as far as he could.
"Man, you're all wet."
"It started to rain half an hour ago."
"And you still ran?"
"A true shinobi doesn't let a little rain deter him!"
"Uh…you'll wake up your sister," Kankurou told him lamely in an attempt to cut the volume of his voice.
"But this is urgent!" Lee rasped. "Tsunade-sama requests that Gaara meet with her right away."
"At this hour?"
"She said as soon as possible."
"And she just happened to plant herself in your running path?" Kankurou's sarcasm had no effect on Lee.
"No, but one of her ANBU did."
Kankurou straightened up a bit. ANBU meant serious business. No wonder they didn't care about the hour: now meant now.
"I see." He got up and grabbed his gourd. Without even a backward glance he was out the door.
"Hey, wait up!" Kankurou rose to follow, but Lee shook his head. "Tsunade-sama said she wanted to meet with him alone, though she wants to meet with you tomorrow night."
Kankurou nodded. Even as a foreign shinobi that owed Konoha no direct compliance, they were still allies and if she requested a formal audience, he would oblige. What Lee said next did surprise him, though.
"Tsunade-sama also asked that you meet with her tomorrow afternoon," Lee told Izari quietly. She stood in the doorway, hands busy drying a plate. The blonde nodded numbly before turning around and disappearing back into the kitchen.
"Anyway, I delivered my message so I guess it's time to go," Lee sighed, rising from the sofa and heading towards the door.
"You're leaving?"
"I have more messengers to deliver," Lee said, flashing a thumbs up. Kankurou narrowly avoided the full power of the smile, but a faint glow could still be viewed around the black shadow his arm cast. Kankurou didn't, however, miss the very brief look Lee shot his sister before he was out the door.
-O-
"What does Tsunade-sama want at this hour?"
Lee didn't wilt under Neji's very deadly glare, rather he stood even taller and straighter, smile shining bigger and more brilliant.
"I'm not going to talk about it here," Lee said, wide eyes glancing left and right suspiciously.
"I'll be right out."
"Actually, I've got to run."
Neji was relieved; he'd been sure Lee was going to accompany him and knew if that was the case there was no way he'd get the other nin to shut up.
"I need to deliver another message."
Neji's jaw tightened. Whatever this was about, it had to be big.
"I thought Shikamaru might have gone over to Ino or Chouji's apartment after the party, but I guess he's back at his own apartment with Tenten."
Neji felt a swift rush of irritation at the mention of both their names as Lee rushed off. He was suddenly almost sorry that Lee wouldn't be with him. The incessant talking would get his mind off of everything that had happened that night. He glanced at the point where he last saw Lee, the green afterimage long since gone.
-O-
Tsunade studied the man in front of her silently. It was how they started every meeting between them. His body language was very closed, a strange juxtaposition of tension and casualness. He wasn't comfortable, but he wasn't afraid. She had a lot more experience than him, not only as a leader, but as a politician. He was only beginning to learn the difference.
"I'll get right to the point."
Tsunade's first statement came as a welcome surprise to Gaara, she was sure, even though he didn't visibly react.
"For all intents and purposes, you're the Kazekage of Wind Country again."
Sharp green eyes shot up and met hers. There was no question of her source; the rumor had been more than a whisper for a long time and that did not bother him.
"It is to be made official on the first of December."
"Luckily, that's just in time for a diplomatic meeting in Snow Country."
"Lighting Country has discussed reopening their country for Chuunin exams. It appears that many official announcements will be made next month."
"These exams would be held in February," Tsunade said, knowing full well he had access to this information as well. "If Lighting Country were to participate, attendance and interest would be high."
"It would be more than high."
Tsunade nodded. "It would be a security nightmare, but the opportunity to gather information…"
Gaara nodded. "Since Lighting Country is the one seeking permission, it would fall on them to host the exam."
"We'd be able to learn so much," Tsunade agreed. "We'd learn their testing standards, teaching methods, and—"
"—Child protégés. Yes, I know."
I was one.
"They've been quiet far too long. There's a woman currently living here from Lighting Country. I believe you're aware of her."
"Zan Izari."
"She told me that there was a civil war going on when she left eight years ago," Tsunade revealed. "And if the decision was made to reopen the country after all of this time…"
"You're wondering who won."
"Bingo."
"They know we'll take the bait and go there. They'll learn just as much from us." He paused, eyes locking with Tsunade's.
"But this is a chance worth taking. I doubt they'd be bold enough to attempt an assassination. Konoha has the Nine-Tail and Suna has the One-Tail; Lightning Country abandoned their only jinchuriki and she was murdered, her spirit never recovered."
"We are not invincible. Though there aren't many shinobi powerful enough to seal our powers, it can be done. You and Jiraiya-sama possess the ability, as did Orochimaru. And given the Hyuuga clan's…use…of seals, I'm sure Hiashi-sama can." Gaara paused. "…Though he does not have the current knowledge, Hyuuga Neji would also have the potential, I'm sure."
"We don't know the kinds of things taught in Lightning Country," Tsunade said. "Izari told me that the most talented genin there receive specialized instruction from the jounin."
"Similar to how Naruto sought help?"
"Naruto had to ask, but these ninja are matched up with their abilities specifically in mind. I think she used the phrase 'molded from birth.' "
But not beforehand, Gaara thought harshly.
"Izari must be very forthcoming with information," Gaara said after a moment.
"Don't think I grant asylum to a Level S Missing Nin on a whim," Tsunade said lowly.
Of course, you're not to be underestimated, Gaara thought wryly. I'm sure it was quite a price you asked for.
"It's clear to me she means no danger to Fire Country," Tsunade snorted. "Locking her up or deporting her would have deprived me of intelligence. Aside from the occasional civilian complaint, she hasn't caused any security problems. She's not loyal to Lighting Country, not anymore."
Gaara's eyes demanded an answer, but Tsunade shook her head.
"The point is that these negotiations might be…tenuous."
"Might be?"
"I called in a few favors and got some info on one of the shinobi attending. He's dangerous."
Gaara's ironic expression wasn't lost on her.
"Izari is your source for this?"
"I've got it from several reliable sources that this man is someone to watch out for. He's the main reason I've called this meeting. I have key information on a key player. His father is the Raikage and his uncle is one of the richest men in Snow Country."
"A thug, no doubt."
"Actually, he's an artist."
Wonderful. "What's this shinobi's name?"
"Samura Shikami. His uncle's name is Samura Yoshida. He might know Lee's sister."
"How do you figure that?"
"Yoshida's also a famous musician. He plays the violin in Snow Country's orchestra. He's first chair."
Gaara was unimpressed. "So you're guessing at a musical connection between the two? It's not that far-fetched, as my sister overheard Izari speaking to Lee about her wanting to visit Snow Country soon."
"If she is going, it would give you the opportunity to observe them in a social setting before you meet politically. You can drop in on Jou when her guests are conveniently there."
"How would I be able to pull that off without it making my intentions blatantly clear? She and I have a very loose social connection at best."
"You were staying at her house this evening."
"…With my brother and sister after a party she threw." Gaara's eyes narrowed. "Anyone who knows Jou would be aware that she would offer up her home to anyone."
Tsunade's face was unreadable as she studied him intently. "She's a lot like her brother, but she has no formal ties to Fire Country. She could be in league with them."
"Lee is the formal tie. More to the point, he means more to her than any formal tie itself. She would never put Fire Country at risk."
Tsunade felt a smile creep up on hrt. "No, I don't believe she would. However, I'm fairly certain she wouldn't spy on her friends for us."
"I don't know her very well but I'd have to agree."
"It's too bad the two of you aren't closer or you'd have a great excuse to be around when she meets up with her Lightning Country friends."
"The closest connection we have is my brother's fondness for her cooking."
"I don't care if you like her or not, I'm just pointing out the possibilities of just…being in the right place at the right time."
"No ninja with any useful information to us would disclose it to a civilian, especially one from a different country whose foreign shinobi acquaintances are sitting nearby."
"I'm not saying it's a guarantee, but most shinobi lower their guard around civilians. And I mean no disrespect to her, but it's fairly obvious that Jou is a civilian."
Gaara was reminded of Jou tripping over the curb of the sidewalk. Gee, I would have never guessed.
"I'm curious if there's a connection between her and this jounin," Tsunade motioned with the folder in her hand, dropping it on the table. He picked it up, opening the cover idly and skimming the meager contents. "But more importantly, just what they're up to. By sheer accident, she could end up being the key."
Gaara gave her a skeptical look. "This is an awful lot of opportunity presenting itself."
"It was a suggestion; I wouldn't dare tell the Kazekage how to run his affairs."
"That's what this whole meeting is about."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "This was a sharing of information between allies."
"What a great way to start off my tenure as Kazekage, in the debt of Hidden Leaf." Gaara tossed the folder back onto her desk carelessly.
Tsunade bristled. "I won't go as far as to say that this was a mistake, but your reaction has made me reconsider a lot of things."
"If you're asking for Suna's support if your village is attacked, you have it. But this is different – you want us to help you spy on another nation, one whose business has never concerned us in one way or another in the past. I'm grateful for what you've done, but I'm not responsible for outlining my reaction to it, least of all to you. I'm not sure what you're expecting from me. What you propose is almost reckless. I'm not sure the gains justify the risk for us; Suna was not at war with Lighting, Konoha was."
Gaara's hand grabbed the gourd and slung it over his shoulder and left without another word. The ghost of the thin folder was tucked under his arm, the papers within still whispered to be read, even as it sat on the desk behind him. Whether or not he was going to help her gather information, he knew he would be attending the conference in Snow Country. Whether he liked it or not (and he most decidedly hated it), he owed Fire Country and perhaps more dangerously, Tsunade-sama herself.
-O-
Shikamaru's body was fighting to stay awake, but his mind was as alert as ever. Neji suspected it was his strong sense of self-preservation that made Nara stay as far away as politeness permitted as they both took a seat in Hokage's office. Both men sensed agitation on the part of their Hokage, which they knew did not bode well for whatever it was she was going to tell them next.
"I apologize for the hour, but this couldn't wait."
It could apparently wait until your meeting with Gaara. I just saw him leave, Shikamaru thought, by said nothing. Though he was silent, he shot her a not-quite-buying-it look. Tsunade frowned at Shikamaru's impertinence.
He may be lazy, but he's definitely not a coward, Neji thought.
Neji stared hard at Shikamaru, who was gazing levelly at the Hokage. Shikamaru was just trying to concentrate on something so his mind would temporarily forget how drunk his body still was. But he wasn't going to pull any punches, not when it was four in the morning and the Hokage was calling a secret meeting, off-the-record.
"Do you have something you want to tell me?" Tsunade asked him icily.
"Nope." Shikamaru uncrossed his arms and leaned back nonchalantly. Tsunade could only guess what he was thinking; he wasn't going to be defiant outright – it wasn't his nature – but he knew something was up and wanted her to spill the beans.
"It isn't anything as grim as you might think," Tsunade assured him, glaring at him hard. "But it's of incredible importance. You'll need to share leadership responsibilities with Hyuuga Neji. This is a diplomatic assignment, as well as an information gathering one."
"Then why the hell are we here at four in the morning?" Shikamaru snapped, clearly annoyed. Neji glanced at him disapprovingly but had to admit that he had a point. "If you call us in at this hour, please make it good."
"This is a mission of vital importance," Tsunade returned, voice dangerously low. Shikamaru wisely backed off. "It's going to go down in less than two weeks and I want this mission to be the only thing you think about from now until then. Lightning Country is going to be there. There is talk of Hidden Cloud opening up their country for the next Chuunin exams."
Shikamaru sighed, the fight gone, all the crankiness evaporated. His dark eyes were studying Tsunade's face carefully. She was right – this was big news.
I got his attention, finally, Tsunade thought grimly. I know you're tired and preoccupied and drunk and that you hate politics to death but I'm counting on you, Shikamaru.
"So Neji's basically coming along to assure my credibility, seeing as how he's a member of the nobility, am I right?"
Is this the night of insubordination? Tsunade thought darkly. "I am unable to attend the conference so I need to send my brightest, most capable shinobi in my place. I know you two aren't close and I know you don't even get along sometimes, but I'm asking you to work together. I'm also sending Sakura along."
"We don't need a mediator," Neji spoke up for the first time.
"For your information, Hyuuga, I respect her abilities in this area just as much as yours. She is the one getting the final say in everything. I just happened to think she could benefit from the input of two of my best jounin."
Neji was about to retort automatically before realizing it would get him nowhere. Despite his exemplary career as a jounin, he was well aware that over the years, Tsunade-sama gave sufficient evidence to support the theory that she trusted both Shikamaru and Sakura more than she trusted him. Not surprising, given his status as a noble, but disconcerting nonetheless.
"So between the three of us, we're supposed to come up with some satisfactory plan?"
"The plan is simple: don't piss them off so they close up their country tighter than it already is. Get through the negotiations – a farce, but a necessary one - and make it back in one piece so we can make preparations for the exams. I want to know numbers, skill, trump cards, you name it. You've got a week."
-O-
"This is the first time you've seen this flick?"
"It's about a transvestite. Why the hell would I watch it?"
"It's a fantastic movie. See, this is what I'm talking about. A guy that watches mainstream over the occult misses out."
"Kind of like Come Come Paradise over Onsen Mischief?" The dry tone was impossible to miss. Kankurou gave her look.
"Yeah, kind of like that," Izari's reply was equally pointed. "But this is Rocky Horror. Everyone's seen Rocky Horror."
"Except me."
Izari laughed. "A Rocky Horror virgin, then; you've got a lot to learn." She flicked the DVD player on and navigated the menu with ease. She clicked off the commentary.
"I thought that's why people watched it," Kankurou said, confused.
"Well, I'm going to provide it."
"Riiight. I see."
"I'm deflowering someone and my best friend is in the same room," Izari said coyly, throwing him a devilish grin. Kankurou smiled at the enthusiastic ad libs she threw in after almost every line; she was obviously a Rocky Horror whore.
"Usually I'm the one with the smartass comments," Kankurou smirked
"Well, aren't you in for a surprise? Sometimes it's good for the girl to take the lead. You just might learn something."
-O-
I'm officially a rebound girl, Izari thought morosely, fingers massaging shampoo in her hair. She tilted her head back into the jet of hot water.
"This is great shampoo," Kankurou complimented, winking at her. He ran his hair through her drenched ringlets to help rinse out the suds.
"It's a special blend my friend made just for me," Izari admitted. Normally she'd actually be a little embarrassed, but he genuinely seemed to like the stuff and wasn't making fun of her.
"Well, it's pretty high end stuff," Kankurou said appreciatively, rinsing it out of his own hair.
Izari nodded blankly, mesmerized by the sight of the water droplets running down his chest. He really wasn't as out-of-shape as she had originally thought and she felt a blush creep up her face that she couldn't entirely blame on the hot water. It had been quite a night.
She wanted to feel worse about it than she already did, she wanted to feel guilty about it, but she really didn't. The only thing that concerned her was that she was starting to become emotionally attached and that was most definitely not the vibe he gave off. Izari's sigh was covered by the splash of shampoo and water hitting the tub
How could I let this happen?
Author's Notes: Some Nejiten musings in the next chapter as well as InoShikaTema interaction. Thanks for reading; if you choose to review, please be nice. I know it's not Nejiten fast enough for a lot of people, but I know firsthand that love's no walk in the park, at least not for most. Neji's about to find out that it's not just going to be a neat little Konoha triumvirate when they head up to Snow Country.