"A man reserves his true and deepest love not for the species of woman in whose company he finds himself electrified and enkindled, but for that one in whose company he may feel tenderly drowsy." - Thomas Moore

Sunagakure falls through periods of random rainstorms which, according to Temari, happen only once every five years or so. And when they do happen, it really comes down.

"D-Darn," Kyan muttered, staring out the rain-splattered window. "It had to r-rain on the day we set to go look at the b-building for the restaurant."

I stood not far behind her, watching with only a small amount of amusement as adults and children (who seemed to be having more fun in the weather) ran to the shelter of their homes. The sky, although it was a little after noon, was darkened to the point of giving a sense of midnight. Evanescent streaks of lightening randomly lit up the sky.

"We can always go tomorrow, if it isn't raining," I suggested. It probably would still be raining, though. It had been ever since the day I had my emotional fit. That was two days ago.

"Hopefully," my sister replied, grabbing one of Gaara's study books and plopping herself down in his chair.

I took my own seat on the couch, wrapping my body up in the heavy blanket I'd rummaged out of Kankuro's closet, trying to beat the cold air that filled the house ever since the power had been knocked out. My eyes began to droop slowly as I thought back to what I remembered from the day I lost control of myself.

Kankuro had taken me back to the house and ignored Temari, Kyan, and Kasaji, who all stared at my crying mess, as he led me to his bedroom. I'd been unable to stop the tears the entire time.

I was seated on the bed and he'd disappeared for only a few seconds. Before I could realize it, a wad of tissue was placed against my nose. It wasn't until then that I realized my nose had started bleeding profusely, but luckily none had gotten on my clothes or his bed.

He didn't say anything at all. Once my nose had finally stopped bleeding and I'd calmed down enough to quit crying, we laid in bed for hours, my head on his chest and his fingers smoothing through my hair.

I don't remember what went through my head during that moment, but it had sent my stomach into fits of spasms. I wanted to burst out in laughter, but it seemed inappropriate at a time like this.

I don't think I even could have laughed if I tried, though. My body had been too relaxed to the point of paralysis.

A quick rapping at the door had made Kankuro's body jolt. I hadn't realized his hand had stopped on the back of my head and he had dozed off hours before.

"What?" he'd called in annoyance.

"New mission stats," Temari replied through the door. "Let's go!"

That's when the rain had started.

I yawned, rolling over on the couch to glance at my sister. Kyan was curled up in the chair, the book lying open on her chest. I must've fallen asleep for a bit.

I unraveled myself from the blanket and glanced out the window. Still raining. Of course. There was no way it would stop before tomorrow, and we'd be stuck inside for another day with nothing to do.

Sighing, I dragged a chair to the window, sitting down to stare out at the dark clouds. Without the siblings, the house felt especially huge and lonely, even though Kyan was there with me. Even Kasaji wouldn't brave the rain (probably because it would mess up his hair) to come visit.

My mind wandered to my mother back home. How was she holding up without Kyan and me? I missed her terribly and if it weren't raining so hard, I would've sent a messenger pigeon to her with letters from her daughters. But as it was now, there was no way I could do that to a poor bird. They weren't as sturdy as Courier Nin.

I raised a fist to my mouth, covering a long yawn. There was nothing going on inside the house and nothing going on outside the house, except the flood falling from the sky.

I finally allowed myself to admit I missed Kankuro. Being away from him felt so wrong after being reunited after six months. My mouth formed into a frown at the odd feeling of a knot in my stomach.

"I miss you…"

()()()

"This is so fucking ridiculous," Kankuro hissed under his breath for possibly the thirtieth time that day, bouncing his leg nervously under the table.

"Stop it, Kankuro," Temari scolded, leaning forward to glare at the puppeteer from around her youngest brother, who unhappily sat in the middle of the two. "You need to at least act like you want to be here."

"But I don't!"

"I said act."

The mission was extremely ridiculous. That was something the three of them instantly agreed on upon arriving. However, Kankuro was the only one voicing the shared opinion.

Meeting the man who would possibly sign over the building for the Chikaku family business at a tea house ten miles away from Sunagakure wasn't exactly what they had in mind of an important mission. But as the children of the late Kazekage, they were the only ones who were really qualified for it. Besides, they were also doing it for friends.

This was the only reason why Kankuro decided to stick it out.

"It'd be nice if the guy had enough common courtesy to show up on time," he muttered, propping his elbow up on the table surface. "Ridiculous."

"Like you're one to talk about common courtesy. And will you stop saying that word?"

"Temari, you're being ridiculous."

A forfeiting sigh came from the other side of Gaara and Kankuro knew he'd won. It was a bittersweet feeling. Temari would now finally shut up, but he was still stuck here for who knows how much longer.

As if the three hour trek wasn't enough, having to stay in a rundown hotel, being kept awake by the loud splatters of rain, and now waiting for the stupid building owner was the straw the broke the camel's back. Where was the guy anyway?

Kankuro's bored eyes scanned the people relaxing in the tea house. Off in the far corner, a man surrounded by three nearly naked ladies greedily sipped his drink, telling things that weren't all that funny, but the girls laughed anyway. It was the fake, high-pitched laugh that almost sounded sarcastic.

At a lone table, a girl who looked a few years older than him sat by herself, looking downcast as she peered into her cup. Two black braids sat against her back, the color sending a chill of homesickness though his body. When the black eyes flashed up from the liquid to meet his, he hurriedly glanced away.

She was an attractive girl, no doubt. And if something wasn't restricting him, Kankuro would've made his way over there and thought of small talk to get her going. Maybe some idiotic joke or a question that could lead into a full-blown conversation. But he just felt no desire to do such a thing.

His eyes fell on the terribly ugly bracelet around his wrist. With his free hand, he petted over the beads, finally admitting to himself the one thing he'd been forcing away the whole trip away from home.

"I miss you…

Hey, everyone! Just wanted to take a quick second to thank everyone who has been reading since day one. :) It really means a lot to me.

Anyway, I hope you all continue to enjoy the story!