"Are you ready girls? Time to shop!" Temari's musical voice chimed excitedly.
Yuki gave a huge smile. Naoko just rolled her eyes, standing casually with her hands in her pockets. She'd never been particularly girly, so this 'girlfriends bonding through shopping' thing was fairly new to her. She shrugged and followed the other two down the street.
It was a warm morning and the sand beneath their feet radiated the heat of the sun. Naoko found the desert village to be charming, with a character all of its own. Delicious and exotic fragrances floated on the air. Naoko smiled happily. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad.
Temari led the girls through the winding streets, engaged in incessant chatter with Yuki. Naoko was only half listening. They were talking about shoes, she deduced. She was too busy soaking up the aura of the village to concentrate on what they were saying. Naoko noticed the smell of fresh bread, and she was enticed by the aroma. She turned to see a small baker's shop. The baker and his wife were arranging some kind of sweet bread on the stall outside. The wife turned and saw Naoko as she passed. The woman smiled kindly. Naoko found herself smiling back. She turned and looked in the opposite direction, hearing the sound of children. They were engaged in some kind of ball game, erupting in excited squeals. Naoko saw a little girl with violet hair and dark eyes staring at her. The sweet little girl was clutching a doll and was waving at Naoko shyly. Naoko waggled her fingers in reply. The girl gave a cheeky grin before scampering off. Naoko chuckled to herself, suddenly realising that this was one of the kids who'd harassed her on the second day of her stay in Suna while she worked in the technical room of the Council building. She remembered that it was Gaara who scared them off. She chuckled again. Naoko was enchanted by this village. Even though it was nothing like Kumogakure, she felt at home here in Suna.
"We'll try this place first" Temari announced, stopping in front of a small but classy looking boutique. She pushed open the door and the three girls stepped inside.
"Oooh" exclaimed Yuki, open mouthed, her eyes darting around the shop. Beautiful garments were everywhere, some hung on rails or were arranged neatly on shelves, and others were proudly displayed on mannequins. There were all kinds of materials; lace, silk, taffeta. Yuki picked up a striking ruby red kimono, exquisitely embroidered with silk. The obi was a pearlescent cream colour.
"Why don't you try it on?" said Temari, pointing to the fitting rooms.
Naoko brushed her hands across the delicate neckline of a lace dress. It was her usual colour: black.
"It's a festival, not a funeral" Temari said, watching her. "Don't worry, we'll find you something really cute."
Temari and Yuki walked over to the fitting rooms and began fussing over the kimono, trying to work out the obi. Naoko drifted around the shop before noticing voices. It was the two shop assistants stood behind the counter. Naoko listened in to their conversation.
"He's so strong and handsome" said one of the shop assistants, a dreamy eyed girl. "And those eyes…oh I could just drown in them"
"Yeah, that guy just oozes sex" replied the other girl.
Naoko's eyes widened. They were talking about Gaara.
"The Kazekage once spoke to a friend of mine! Can you believe it? She's so lucky. She said she nearly passed out. Just imagine… sleeping with him!" the first girl said, sounding like she may very well pass out herself.
"Tell me about it! I'd give anything to get fucked by that guy!" said the second girl.
Naoko smiled. She hadn't realised how desired Gaara was. From what she'd just heard, it sounded like he was the heart throb of the whole village. She gave a smug smirk, remembering how he'd kissed her so passionately.
"Hi, can we help you?" said one of the shop assistants, having noticed Naoko staring at them. Naoko snapped out of her thoughts.
"Uh… no… I'm fine thanks" she said, swiftly turning away and snatching up a garment from a rail, pretending to admire it.
Temari and Yuki emerged from the fitting room looking pleased. Yuki had decided to buy the kimono. They went to the till to pay for it.
"Still not found anything you like, honey?" Temari asked. Naoko shook her head.
"Hmm" Temari said, sounding disappointed. She liked Naoko, and Gaara had seemed so much happier since she'd been here, and Temari wanted to keep it that way. She'd had enough of seeing her little brother miserable and alone. She was determined to get Gaara and Naoko together. Temari was desperate to find Naoko the perfect outfit for the festival… Gaara wouldn't be able to keep his eyes off her. Temari smiled at the cunning plan.
"Don't worry. I know another place down the street!" she announced, dragging a beaming Yuki and a disillusioned Naoko out the door.
The next shop was a little bigger. Naoko glanced around, her eyes settling on a flash of blue at the back of the shop. She walked over and picked it up.
"Oh I like that!" cried Temari, looking at the garment in Naoko's hands. It was a delicate dress, in a stunning shade of deep blue.
"Try it on!" cried Yuki, pulling a reluctant Naoko to the fitting rooms.
After a lot of rustling and some unsure murmurs, Naoko shyly emerged from behind the curtain.
"Wow!" gasped Yuki.
"Don't you think it's a little too short?" Naoko mumbled, tugging at the mid-thigh length hem.
"No. It's perfect" Temari smiled slyly.
The indigo material shone a deep royal blue where the sunlight fell upon it. Naoko adjusted a delicate dress strap.
"Well, ok. If you guys say so" she murmured. Naoko secretly adored the dress, but she wasn't used to looking so feminine.
They purchased the dress and left, stopping off somewhere for lunch before heading back to the Council building, bags in hand.
As they made their way through the building back to their rooms, they passed a congregation of people in the hall. They were emerging from a room. Naoko guessed they'd just had a meeting of some sort. In the midst of the commotion she spotted a flash of red hair. Gaara was stood with two Jonin, a stern look on his face. It looked like they were discussing something of great importance. The two Jonin were completely focused on the Kazekage's words, their respect for him was almost tangible. He briefly glanced to the side and saw Naoko. His oceanic eyes settled on her and he gave her a small, almost undetectable smile before returning his attention to the discussion. Naoko's heart jumped and she felt herself heat up. She headed to her room.
She puzzled over the look in Gaara's eyes. There was something different in the way he had just looked at her. At least, that's what she wanted to believe. She wanted to believe that it meant something. But Gaara was so enigmatic, so unreadable, that she had no idea how he felt. Did he feel the same way? Her mind silently begged, '… Please… please let him feel the same way about me…' Her thoughts wandered back to that precious, previous night. She'd been thinking about it all day. Never in her life had she felt so connected to someone. To need someone so much, and be needed in return. He wanted to protect her, to look after her, and in spite of her pride and fiery 'I don't need anyone' attitude, she wanted to let him. Now, she felt she ached for him when he wasn't close by. The question remained: was she falling for him? The answer was a resounding no- she was not falling for him. She had already fallen.
Kumogakure, in the Land of Lightning.
A man made his way through the dark corridors of his clan headquarters. He'd just returned from Suna. A smirk rested harshly on his lips. He pushed open a door and entered a room.
"Lord Tokugawa" he greeted a figure sat behind the desk.
Tokugawa roused slightly. He was a large man with small eyes and a bald patch on his head. A perpetual film of perspiration was splotched thickly on his head and nose. He looked up at the visitor, grunting.
"Do you have any news for me?" he asked in a heavy voice.
"The Imamura girl has been found"
There were gasps from the other people around the room. Tokugawa smiled widely, exposing his yellowing teeth. The visitor continued.
"She's in Sunagakure… But… there's something you should know, Lord Tokugawa…" the man shifted uneasily.
"What is it?" Tokugawa asked roughly.
"It seems… she's gained the favour of the Kazekage, Sabaku no Gaara."
Tokugawa flinched when he heard the name. Everyone had heard of Sabaku no Gaara. He was greatly feared and respected in every land.
"What do you mean she's 'gained his favour'?" Tokugawa pressed.
"Um… well…" he shuffled, unsure how to explain what he'd seen. "They've… become acquaintances, sir"
Tokugawa hushed the shocked whispers from around the room. He sat silently, deep in thought for a couple of minutes.
"So, the little snake has charmed him" he growled. "With Sabaku no Gaara involved it seems I have no choice but to deal with the matter myself. I'll take a small squad of three other ninja with me to Suna. The smaller the squad, the less likely we are to arouse suspicion. We wouldn't want the whole of Suna's shinobi intruding."
"Danna…" a soft voice called. A plump, kind looking woman approached. She was Tokugawa's wife.
"Please let it go" she began. "So many of our ninja have already died in the war against the Imamura clan. This girl is the last of the clan. Let her live. She has done us no wrong." She gently rested a hand on Tokugawa's shoulder. "Please, Danna. Just let it go"
He struck out at her, knocking her back violently against the wall. She let her body slide down the wall and rest on the ground as she tried to cope with the pain of the impact.
"Our son died at the hands of those bastards!" he boomed. "They dared to challenge the Saito clan. I will not rest until every one of them is dead! The Kekkei Genkai of the Imamura clan will be extinguished!"
The woman flinched at his obsessive, murderous intent. Tokugawa's eyes widened madly.
"I will have her head."