A/N:OMG my peeps! Im in SO, SO, SO sorry it took so long! Plz forgive! I was having some HUGE writers block on pretty much all my stories! And when that happens I always start to put a new story up…well anyways I'm srry! Plz forgive!!!?
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Chapter 5: Jiro-kun
She opened her eyes as she glanced around herself. Riko could smell the deep scent of dew mixed with sweat, but for some reason, she didn't mind.
Looking at the tree stump, she closed her eyes as a satisfied smile spread across her face.
She…did that?
A giggle escaped her lips and she unexpectedly got on her feet and begun cheering for herself. She laughed and she screamed and she danced around the tree. Something she hadn't done since she was little. A bright faced, young girl who would skip about as her father chuckled and chased her from behind.
Riko finally rolled to the ground as she giggled one last time, her arms akimbo and her hair framing her round face.
"Wow…did you do that, Masako-chan?"
She opened her eyes to see a man standing above her. He had ocean blue eyes and dark black hair (like Sasuke's…like being the key word). His features were handsome and he had his hands in his back pockets.
"Jiro-kun!" she exclaimed as she sat up in a kneeling position. "Yes, I did!"
"Becoming stronger everyday, are we?" he asked with a bright smile.
He knelt down in front of her. "Well, I just came to check up on you. Masako no gii-san was wondering where you were after all…" he picked a piece of grass off her face and then caressed it sweetly.
Riko's eyes widened as a gasp escaped her lips.
Gaara bent down to her level as his free hand caressed Riko's face gently.
"Never…ever cry in front of me again, Riko-chan."
Riko eyes lowered to the ground. "Gaara-kun…" she whispered to herself as she grabbed the hand he had placed on her face.
Jiro's eyes became worried. "Masako-chan…is something the matter?"
Her hand softly rubbed his own as she shook her head slowly. "Mm-mm…I'm just tired."
They sat there in silence for what seemed like hours before Jiro hugged her.
He buried his face into her soft, brown locks. "I know it's more than that, Riko," he whispered.
Jiro picked her up bridal style and then placed her on his back. "But we don't have to speak of it now."
Riko snuggled her face into Jiro's neck and inhaled his familiar scent. Jiro was one of Riko's really good friends, Miyoko's little brother. When Riko was 14, her father hired him to escort Riko around the shin obi world. But Riko's father had his own selfish reasons for doing so. Jiro was a handsome boy, strong too. It was only fair that he would want somebody like him to court his daughter. But he didn't talk of it. For her father, too, knew that there was pain in Riko's heart for losing Gaara and the only way to cure her was to get him out of her mind.
Her father wasn't quite sure if her relationship with Gaara had reached romance yet. But surely he didn't want his daughter more sad than she already was. So she traveled. And she saw new places, new things, new people.
Jiro, of course, was sympathetic for Riko because of this. He had never experienced such a thing, but seeing a girl that her father described as joyous and light-hearted like this was even hard for him to bear.
Riko sighed. "Jiro-kun…how did you find me out here?"
He smiled and looked back at her. "Nanao-dono told me you were training. And where else to look for you then here in the oasis?" asked Jiro with a laugh.
A stifled giggle escaped her lips also. "You know me well, Jiro-kun…"
Riko noticed the line that separated the oasis from the desert; a thin line of bright green grass and small grains of sand that shined in the sunlight.
"Good thing it's not too windy today. It should only take a good 15 minutes to get back to the village, ne?"
Riko only nodded as she held tighter to Jiro. "Jiro-kun…"
The young boy looked back at her, knowing she wanted to say something to him.
"…thank-you…"
Jiro's eyes widened as a small sound came from him. Thank-you? For what?
Surprised, Jiro turned forward and said softly, "You're welcome…"
Riko moaned and closed her eyes, satisfaction running through her veins, calming her nerves, making them want to sleep, and forget for just one moment about life and it's stressful ways. Thank-you. An easy phrase she had been saying lately.
She knew Jiro was questioning her right now about her choice of words, but he didn't need to know why; nobody did.
Strangely, even her physical, earth-bound self knowing why was a bit too much so she kept it locked up inside. Hence, she was even a bit confused at this moment in time.
Every time she thought about it, it always came to one solution. One main reason why she said this phrase so often…
Gaara…
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A/N: You guys are so lucky I'm nice… since I haven't updated since forever, I'm going to keep on going!So here we go!!!
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Jiro took a bite of his dango hungrily and grinned cheekily at Riko.
A small smile graced Riko's features, but that was it.
"It's good, isn't it, Masako-chan?" He was probably on his fourth for the platter only came with six. She had only nibbled a little off her own.
Riko nodded, answering his question and then frowned. "Say, Jiro-kun, why do you always call me Masako-chan?"
Jiro paused and then laughed. "Oh, that's an easy one! It's because you Masako's all look a lot a like, but you have to be THE cutest by far!" complimented the boy as he ate more of his dongo.
Riko giggled slightly and then looked down at her food. "That's sweet…"
There was a long silence between the two as Jiro tried to swallow the big lump of food in his throat.
Riko twiddled the stick between her fingers. "When are we…" she paused. "When are we going back…?"
The smacking sounds instantly ceased. "Well…that's up to you, Masako-chan," answered Jiro.
Riko looked up at him with questioning eyes.
"What did sensei say?" he asked as he gazed up at her.
She looked as if she was thinking. "I'm pretty sure she said the end of the summer," replied Riko slowly.
He smiled. "Then that's when we leave." Jiro placed his hand on the counter, palm facing upward.
Riko slapped her hand on his as they interlaced fingers.
She glanced down at their hands and then looked up at him, flashing a real Riko smile. "Then that's when we leave."
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"Bring me Masako Riko-san immediately."
"Masako Riko? She has come back?" inquired a young man. "For how long has she been in the village?"
The red-head shook his head. "That is still unknown, but I do know she has returned."
The young man looked at the Kazekage with worry. "And you want her for this, Gaara-sama?"
The Kazekage glared. "Are you questioning me?" he asked, his voice low.
"N-n-no, Kazekage-sama!" the fearful assistant stuttered out. "It's j-just that…Riko-san retired from being a shin obi of Suna a long time ago. Sh-she now works for…"
"I know that," stated Gaara impatiently. "But my order is final…"
The assistant looked troubled but bowed nonetheless. "Hai, Kazekage-sama."
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Riko walked in her house as she waved to her friend and then closed the door.
She was just about to remove her shoes when her sister, Ai, came rushing down the stairs.
"Riko-chan ! The Kazekage has requested to see you!" she shouted hurriedly.
Riko's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
"Go to the tower, he has chosen you for a mission!"
"But I-"
"NOW!" her sister rushed as she practically pushed her out the door.
Riko scampered off to the tower and was soon led up to the Kazekage's room by his assistant.
She was pushed into the room as she glanced straight forward at the chair at the desk.
She looked at him, her face flushed from the sun and breathing hard. Her face was questioning why he had summoned her there and his emotionless eyes didn't help a thing.
"Riko…" She shook her head slowly. "we need to talk…"
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A/N: okay I hoped u liked! I hope it was longer than the others cuz it took me 4eva!oh yes and don't get any ideas; Jiro and Riko are just friends and nothing else!!!So review!luv u and laterz!!!
