Rai was reluctant to open her eyes. When she woke up, almost a week later, she wasn't ready to have to explain herself. She wasn't ready to face all the strange people who were definitely going to bombard her with questions. She'd love to answer them, well not love but she wouldn't mind, but Rai couldn't really remember anything about that day, It took all she had not to leap out of this bed and demand to know how she got here. Nope, she wasn't going to do that. She was going to lay her, eyes firmly closed, and listen to the medic talk to… someone. As far as Rai could tell (she'd been listening all day, you know) this person had been here the whole time she was out. He never said his name, and didn't talk much. He was always interested in how she was doing. It was unnerving.

"Do you really need to change her bandages again? I thought you did that an hour ago." The stranger asked.

Rai could almost feel the medic wince. "It's bleeding quite badly still. It's already soaked through. See?"

She wasn't sure what happened next, but she guess it had something to do with her bandages.

"I see."

There was another lengthy silence while the medic changed Rai's bandage, quite forcefully, and then left. Rai almost clapped in relief but didn't. It would probably hurt too much anyways. Another few minutes went by, only the swirling gusts on sandy wind outside making any sort of noise.

"I know you're awake."

Rai's muscles tensed and she didn't move. She hadn't moved for the past… day. How in the world did he know she was awake.

"When the medic was changing your bandages, I noticed you peeked. You have green eyes, right?"

Rai gulped and opened her eyes, staring determinedly at the ceiling. "Yeah, that's right."

"See, I knew you were awake."

She didn't move, she wasn't going to give whoever it was the satisfaction of knowing she was even the least bit curious as to who they were, but she didn't have to. They came to her. She heard him push back a chair, then his footsteps on the floor, getting closer. They stopped nearer to her bed, and she looked around.

"I'm Kankuro." He said, neither politely or in a gruff manner. "I've been here for a few days."

Rai nodded her head slowly, but even that little bit of movement caused her to wince in pain. "How long have I been out?"

He chuckled. "A little over a week."

Oh, that's funny is it? Rai could just tell she wasn't going to like that silly little chuckle of his at any point in time. It was idiotic, stupid, degrading, condescending, and patronizing all at the same time. "Does a few days count for a whole week?"

"More or less, I did leave to eat and go to the restroom."

"Ahhh."

"Someone had to watch you though." Kankuro sighed. "I wasn't excited for the job, but I can't argue with the Kazekage. Don't take it personally."

Rai snorted. "I won't. No ninja, assuming you are, would want to sit around and watch some stranger for a complete week when they could be out on some mission. I wouldn't, anyways."

He laughed and nodded. "So you're a ninja?"

"Well, I was. Am I well enough to continue being one?"

"Yeah."

"Then I am."

"Hmm."

Kankuro didn't much of anything else after that, he didn't seem like much of a talker. Rai wasn't sure whether to talk to him or not. He could be just spying on her, trying to get information, which would be probable but also stupid. Rai didn't keep many secrets, if she did at all, and if you wanted to know something about her all you had to do was ask. She wasn't going to hide her name, her age, her rank or anything of the sort. It wasn't like it was classified information or anything. You could ask for her records if you really wanted to know.

"The Kazekage wants to meet you." Kankuro mumbled after a while. He looked up and locked his gaze with Rai's. There was some sort of expression in his eyes, something Rai couldn't place. "He's surprisingly interested in how you're doing. He's been down her quite a few times."

The way Kankuro said it, it made it seem like a bad thing. Or something she should be worried about. "No offence or anything, but I plan to leave before I make too many acquaintances."

"None taken. I'm sure you'll meet him eventually though."

There was an awkward silence after this, Kankuro standing at the edge of her bed, a lopsided smile on his face. She didn't know much about this kid, but he seemed alright. So much for not making acquaintances.

- x - x -

"She's awake, Gaara."

"I heard."

Kankuro gave his younger brother's back a questioning look but didn't say anything. He was after all, the Kazekage, and every bit of information seemed to pass quickly through the town. "You still want to meet her?"

Gaara thought about it. "Yes, I do."

"She's planning to leave, you know. So you might make it quick."

Gaara almost laughed, if he did laugh that is. "Leave? From what I've heard she can barely move without writhing over in pain, and she thinks she can leave?"

"She's one determined shinobi." Kankuro said, a chuckle escaping his lips.

"Hm."

A gust of wind blew past them, making the only noise on the rooftop for a while. Gaara turned around to face his brother, deep red hair contrasting the white colour of his skin. Kankuro's smile faded from his face, and he took a step sideways, moving away from the stairway downwards. "I'll see her eventually."

Gaara then took slow steps toward the stairs, and then down them, stopping everyone once in a while to peer out the windows and onto the village. Kankuro waited a good ten minute before walking down the steps after his brother. He wasn't sure what was going on in Gaara's head, he was sure it was nothing bad, but he was afraid to find out.

A/N - I'm trying to stay as IC as I possibly can. If you see some OOC action, I apologize. If it's like major WTF THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'D SAY/DO/THINK then say something to me and I'll attempt to fix it. If it's something minor, then it's really pointless to say anything, because either A I've already noticed it myself and I'm trying to change it / I'm not particularly bothered. Or B It's part of the story and you have to get over it. XD 3