A/N: It's been a while! Hopefully you guys are still eager to read on. It's been really slow, I know, but I really want to finish this. Yes, it'll take a while, but it'll get done. Promise.

Disclaimer: The oh-so wonderful world of Naruto and its characters do not belong to me. The characters however, that you do not recognize, do. :)


It had taken every ounce of his already lacking patience to escape the sand storm.

It was, without any shadow of a doubt, one of the worst ones he's ever seen in Sunagakure. Which was saying something, since he's seen just about every type of storm the village has had to offer over the past several months or so. He even trained in them. It certainly ended up being a help to his endurance.

A gust of wind here, in this village, was never just a gust of wind. It always came with a little something extra, and unfortunately, it was never anything pleasant. A drawback of course, of hiding out in a village one wasn't supposed to be in the first place.

Sasuke didn't care though, obviously. Since he was here after all, breaking the rules wasn't exactly something he was concerned about. However, he was concerned with the little detail of staying alive.

But something he was concerned about at the moment however, was Isaaru. He hadn't seen her since early that morning, and she was due for work in a hour or so. He gathered that there weren't too many places in this village she'd venture out to, for more than an hour or so. Especially taking into account the storm that had just swept through the village. Bad weather was something Isaaru couldn't and wouldn't tolerate. He was shocked she was even out there in such ghastly weather conditions.

While Sasuke had no doubt she would be fine out there on her own, he couldn't help but feel a little worried. Especially since he had no idea where she was in the first place. He figured it was the same feeling she had from time to time. He was being given a taste of his own medicine. Not intentionally, of course. Or so he'd hoped.

He walked around the room for any clues to where she went. Through a deductive process, he figured that: if her reusable bag was gone, she had gone out for groceries. If her side satchel was gone, she had left to run some errands. If her apron was missing, she was downstairs at he tea shop early prepping the kitchen.

But it was none of the above.

As Sasuke opened their closet door, he noted the objects' absence before he even knew what was missing. Every day he opened to closet to view the same things in exactly the same place. So when something was gone, it didn't go unnoticed.

It was her holster. So, she had gone training.

He felt better knowing what she was up to now. But now he was sure more than ever that she had been caught up in that storm. Assuming she picked an appropriate area, it would be completely buried right now.

He chuckled to himself, she is not going to be happy.

With a small smirk on his face he took off his weapon holster, and placed it in the closet. On the top shelf next to where Isaaru would have hung hers.

In that instant, the door opened, and he watched as an austere looking Isaaru walk in and shut the door behind her.

It didn't even look like she noticed he was there.

Sasuke looked on as she lingered at the door for a moment before she turned around and faced the floor, a blank look on her face.

He raised an eyebrow, "Looks like you barely survived."

Isaaru's head bolted up like a shot at the sound of his voice. Her whole demeanor suddenly changed. Like the somber person who walked in just seconds ago had never even existed.

She smiled brightly, "You're back."

He nodded, "Where were you just now?"

"Huh? Oh, you know, just thinking."

"About?"

"You know...thoughts."

"You were thinking about thoughts?"

Her eyes dulled, "I didn't say it had to make sense."

"No, you didn't."

Before Sasuke had the time to react, she had already made her move. Isaaru had him locked in a tight, restricting...hug. His eyes widened at the gesture, as it came out of no where. Nor did he deserve it for that matter. His arms dangled in the air for a moment as he hesitated. His eyes softened as much as an Uchihas possibly could and he willingly wrapped his arms around her back.

She toned down the vice grip she had on his body in exchange for something softer.

He felt her take a bundle of his shirt in her hands at his back. There was a sense of urgency in the gesture that made him question what all of this meant. Neither of them were the touchy feely type. Not that it wasn't enjoyed, but it wasn't something that was required with them at all times. A meaningful look from him to her sometimes, was just as effective as a hug to others. These brash motions were something that wasn't common between them.

"What's this all about?"

"I biss shu."

She looked up at him, eyes red, like she had been crying. In fact, he was sure she was.

For what reason? He didn't know. Sasuke had to admit, the tears on her face caught him completely off guard. Isaaru wasn't one to cry, and certainly not one to cry in front of him. If it had to be done, for whatever reason, she'd excuse herself and leave the apartment quietly. She had way too much pride to allow anyone to see her that had no interest in whether or not he knew what she was doing or not, as long as he didn't see it.

It was unsettling seeing her that way, and he didn't like it. Not because he saw it as a weakness, but because seeing her vulnerable and sad upset him. He'd much rather see her at her angriest and throwing things at him, than seeing her at her lowest. There was something about a woman and tears that seemed so utterly depressing. It was this state of being that seemed so completely and totally hopeless.

He gently pushed her away to get a good look of her face, and held her by her elbows, "What happened to you out there? Are you hurt? Why are you crying?"

She pulled herself away and wiped her damp eyes with her wrist, "I wasn't crying." Her voice was still hoarse from the tears.

"Then why is my shirt wet?"

She shrugged, "maybe I drooled on you."

"It wouldn't be the first time. Besides," he made a show of sniffing his shirt, "sure doesn't smell like your drool."

She made a show of rolling her eyes, "Good one."

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong, or am I going to have to fight you for it?"

She glared, "I said I missed you, gosh," She turned away, "I'm sorry if the sight of you m-moves me to t-tears s-sometimes." She started cracking up with laughter before she could finish her sentence.

Sasuke chuckled, but he still didn't believe her. He'd leave the issue be, for now.


It was true, I had been crying - and not for the reason that I had disclosed to Sasuke.

He didn't believe me, and I hadn't expected him to. It was the lamest of excuses, a jest, more meant to break the mood than to get him off my back. And it was going to take more than flippant flattery to accomplish that. If there was one thing Uchiha's were known for besides strength, it was determination.

I can't say that it was something I was worried about at the moment. I had much bigger issues that I had to deal with now. More issues than I had signed up for. And as if I didn't already have enough on my plate, I had to deal with this. The crying hadn't come from sadness or any form of despair, but of the feeling of being overcome. I was overwhelmed. Too much was happening too fast. Between pregnancy scares, living life as a criminal and being picked on by the Kazekage, it proved too much for me to handle. It was the part of my humanity that I didn't appreciate succumbing to. We all have our limits.

The meeting with Gaara, the Kazekage had not resulted in eviction of the village, I couldn't say the alternate was any better.

"I have other plans now."

I sat there for a moment, trying to compute exactly what was what going on, what his new 'plans' could possibly be.

"Considering that you have not caused havoc in this village since your arrival four years ago...I think that's cause for some leniency."

"If you want me to be your maid in exchange for letting me live, you can forget it - we'll just leave." I made a motion to rise from my chair before he spoke.

He closed his eyes, "Not quite."

I raised my eyebrow in question, "Okay then, what's the catch?"

He looked at me for a few seconds before he continued, as if he was deliberating whether or not to tell me. Whether it was a good idea.

"I wish to take advantage of your strength."

"And that would consist of what exactly?"

"I would like for you to join the village forces."

I said nothing for a moment, processing exactly what he had just asked of me.

I raised a finger in question, and squinted my eyes in confusion, "Wait, village forces? As in military forces?"

"That is correct."

"That's a joke, you're joking right? This is the alternative? I think we'd be better off leaving."

A small smile tugged at the corners of the Kazekage's mouth, "I think you are being a little...over dramatic."

"You think I'm being over dramatic? Please do explain to me how this is any better than exile."

"I am giving you an opportunity to both stay in this village, and train in a more organized environment. Do explain to me how that is akin to me signing your death warrant."

"Seriously? What happens when my fellow militants find out I'm a rogue?"

"They will not; and if they should, I will instruct them to look the other way for the good of the village."

I chuckled humorlessly, "I think you overestimate the loyalty of your soldiers Kazekage."

If my memory served me correctly, Suna aided Otogakure in the infiltration of Konoha several years ago, and even after that, I personally remember going on missions and receiving insider information from the Suna soldiers to deliver back to Sound. Of course, this was back when I acted as one of Orochimaru's 'henchmen' - years ago. The atmosphere here could possibly be different now, and Gaara could very well now have loyal soldiers at his helm. However, something told me that rot that deep in your village, isn't quick to just go away. It tends to only get worse, and ruin the whole bunch. Even the seemingly omnipotent Gaara had to know that, he seemed much too calculating and careful not to.

He looked away from me, "The past is the past. If they value their lives and positions, they will follow my orders - absolutely."

Despite my skepticism, Gaara seemed oddly confident in the idea that his soldiers were going to follow his orders. Yes, he is their superior and they have a military obligation to accept his word, but considering their history...Well, I wasn't completely sold. With good reason too. He expected me to hand myself over to them, to walk among them, to trust them as you would your comrade - it wasn't going to happen that way.

I kept quiet and Gaara continued talking, "The incident seven years ago only occurred because Orochimaru killed my father, impersonated him and convinced the military to attack Konoha - if that is what you are worried about."

Well I had to admit, that certainly cleared things up. I was under the impression that they were allied with Orochimaru willingly. But that still didn't solve the problem of the Suna soldiers that I received information from to give to Orochimaru all those years ago.

"Back...when I was trapped in Sound, Orochimaru sent me on a mission to rendezvous with a couple of Suna sold-"

"-Weeded out. Not everyone is going to agree with your regime. You have nothing to worry about."

He certainly did cover all the bases. If there was one thing that I could be sure of, he was thorough.

"Fine."

"Good.

I sat there in silence for a few seconds expecting him to add to my new occupation further, "Okay, what now?"

Gaara reached for a sheet of paper from his thick pile of files, and began writing, "Now, you go home. You will know when you are needed."

I couldn't help rolling my eyes at his words, but I said no more and exited his office.

Goddamn, I had way too much on my plate.