~Morning~

The day was a chilly one. Lee knew this because when the royals came to and fro the entry, cool air filtered into the major hall. Breathing, Lee could see small puffs of white fog escape his lips. Yes…even the servant quarters had been cold last night. When the nights were full with winter breeze, Lee and Kimimaro would share a bed to keep heat. It was nothing unnatural, many servants did this, in fact, Lee was most certain that no one slept alone these days. Some nights, Kimimaro would tell Lee stories, very ambitious stories. Ones of horror and leadership like The Lord of the Flies, or the political scandalous ones like Animal Farm, or even tales of individualism like Anthem. But Kimimaro hadn't told him such stories in a while. The boy was always overworked these days. His only words to Lee being, 'Good night', before he was fast asleep.

The day Kimimaro had cried, he hadn't spoken to Lee. He didn't even bid him 'Sweet dreams.' Lee didn't even think Kimimaro had slept, for his breathing never fell into an even rhythm. His breathing was that of a calculating man's.

Worried, Lee shook his head pitifully. Dusting the curtains in the Drawing Room, he sighed. He didn't know if he should say something to his friend. An 'Are you alright?' or 'You do not look well. Is it fever?' would suffice. Yes, he would say something the next time he saw the boy.

"Lee, I presume?" said a low voice.

Turning to the speaker, Lee smiled. It wasn't a warm smile or anything, it was an automatic one.

Dressed in purple silk with black trimmings, Kiba stood in the archway of the Drawing Room. His amber hair was not its usual wild mat of curls, but fresh and combed locks. Even his skin was washed clean of its tan. Today, he looked quite extravagant. Was Sir Kankuro going somewhere, a ball or dinner presumably?

Bowing, Lee gave his courtesies.

"Yes, Kiba?"

Despite Kiba's fancy appearance, he looked uncomfortable. His brows were knotted in thought, and his nose was in an upward scrunch, and his mouth was a frozen snarl. Pulling at his fine robes, Kiba coughed.

"Lady Temari has requested your presence in the Library."He all but murmured, not at all paying Lee attention, or at least, not the same kind of attention he was giving his tall collar.

Kiba left the Drawing Room, cursing that his purple garb was too tight and was choking him like a dog. With Kiba gone, Lee was left with silent worry.

Temari? Goodness…that woman never wanted Lee. He couldn't imagine what favor she needed of him. Temari was very bitter when she dealt with servants, well, not the trained ones. The trained ones were those prepped by their poor families to do the duties of royals all their life, and then, depending on their good name and family history, they were allowed to wait, hands and knees, on the royal that adopted them into a mansion for life.

Yes. Lee was not a trained servant. He was an orphan that Gaara had taken in. Even though his master wasn't a very sympathetic man today, once upon a time during those frigid days of winter, he had been. But then again, Gaara had only been a boy at the time, why, he wasn't even two digits old! Even if Gaara's pity had been on account of foolishness, Lee was grateful for it. But that didn't change the fact that most royals spat at Lee. And Temari was the queen of cruelty.

Even so.

Lee could never hate her. She was beautiful…very much so, with her golden tresses curled up in four plats, snow skin, and deep squinted eyes…but her beauty wasn't what kept his anger at bay. No, it was more than that. Even though her words were poison, and her glare daggers, the way in which her shoulders sloped and her eyelids fluttered betrayed her dramatic nature. She was a strong, level-headed woman, but her blank reserve made her seem hollow.

It could be his foolishness-or maybe even his ignorance-but a small thought crossed his mind.

Perhaps

Lady Temari was sick at heart.

Lee pinched the bridge of his nose and huffed out a sigh.

He was over thinking things again.

Placing his duster down, he closed the french doors of the Drawing Room. Quiet as air.

The Library was grand with its many shelves and books. The ebony wood of the shelves were tall and wide, housing more books than Lee could read in his lifetime. The space was neatly separated: books to the left and a sitting area to the right. Three rose colored loveseats were situated around an antique coffee table and plush ottoman. Two rocking chairs made of fine mahogany sat on the opposite sides of the loveseats. The setup was to bring about comfortable conversation, but the atmosphere at the moment was anything but comfortable. Despite the daylight slipping through the Library's grand windows and onto the furniture, the room felt gray.

Walking into the Library, one would be surrounded from left and right with ebony and books. The two shelves on either side had shelves upon shelves of books filtering behind them, and passing through them was like parting the Red Sea. Exiting the books was the sitting area, and in the sitting area was a violet figure. Lee frowned.

Finally getting past the book jungle, he was a good three feet away from the woman he feared.

Fluffing a pigtail, she huffed, "Lee…" and then sat herself down in a loveseat. She looked at him a moment and scoffed.

"Well? Don't just stand about. Take a seat."

Hesitantly, Lee did as he was told, yet, he knew better than to sit on the royal's expenses, but seeing how Temari was eyeing him like the hawk she was, he knew sitting on the floor or requesting to stand up would get him scolded. Carefully, he took a seat on the edge of the round ottoman beside the coffee table. Folding his hands in his lap and drawing his feet under him, he readied himself for Temari's words…but…oddly enough, she only glared at him.

Lee did his best not to stir under her attention. To avoid flinching or shivering, he concentrated on her beauty. The pale of her skin seemed like that of pearls against the deep violet of her dress. It was laced up at the torso with white ribbons, and the neck handkerchief was lacey with violet accents. Even though her dress bloomed out under her torso, it didn't drown out her pearly heels. The thinness of her ankles suggested a fine woman under the flowering garb. She was more stunning than usual. Even Kiba had been a sight. Was purple the theme for the royal event he had no name for?

A movement of blond locks made him blink.

"There has been a request for you outside the Sabaku Manor." Her words were flat as she spoke them. Carefully, she looked at her nails, flipping her hands over and checking the coloration of her skin.

"For a period of time you will serve a new Master, hence forth, until my brother's wedding day. You're too big of a distraction for him right now." She crossed her legs, a movement Lee almost didn't catch since her figure from the waist down was fat with purple.

"You are to be gone next evening. No need to speak word of it to anyone since your departure is already known to the staff. Oh. And Lee? Do take that disgusting robe with you. No need to retire it traditionally in our hands." Temari lifted herself, standing upright and looking down at a pitiful Lee with deep eyes.

"What is that look for? You will be back before long, so no need to worry your head." She patted her dress as if to knock off dust despite the fact that she was lint-free. "Now then…have you any words, a question perhaps?"

Of course he did. But he knew better than to say anything too demanding or too nosy when dealing with Temari. He knew her sympathies were all play, but despite the questions in his throat, he bowed his head at her.

"No, Lady Temari."

As if relieved, a sigh escaped her.

"Ah. Good then. Off to your duties and what-have-you." Shooing him away with a hand, Lee stood, bowed quickly, and left the Library as quickly as he had came.

Finally having escaped her stare, Lee leaned a hand against a pillar in the hallway, exhaling a breath he hadn't known he was holding. The hallway was empty, and Lee was grateful for that, because what he did next would have disgusted a royal, or made a Select frown at him with distaste.

Blinking back blurry vision, Lee sniffed hard. He could feel his face crumbling, but he couldn't break. He didn't want to be like Kimimaro.

Walking in the direction of the Drawing Room, he quickly wiped the wetness from his cheeks. He would be back before long. It was only two months. That wasn't so bad. Still, that wasn't to say he wouldn't miss his servant friends…Tenten, Kimimaro, and even Kiba.

And then there was Gaara-but…well…who would he talk to? Who would handle his master's madness when he was away? Then again…Lee wasn't the only servant that was fond of Gaara. There were servants that Gaara was fond of other than Lee. There was a chambermaid by the name of Enri, and also a Kitchens boy named Yuuya…

Lee nodded to himself at those notions.

Yes. Gaara will be okay. It is as Temari has said-everyone knows of my departure-so of course he knows. And…he will be alright about it.

Deep inside of Lee, there was a black pit that slipped words from time to time, and at the moment-it was yelling at him. I hope Gaara gets mad-wants me to stay-he will yell at Temari-the witch-and why? Why must I be made to leave? I have never been asked of by another Manor. What is this? What is happening?

Lee shook his head. Those thoughts were evil...oh! Not him. He was not dark. He was a positive and productive servant. And just as he had been taught too, he would serve his Master-be them familiar or a stranger. There were bright things to look forwards too-things like…well-he'd be back in two months hence!

His walk to the Drawing Room had never been so noisy. The thoughts in his head were so loud that he willed them away.

Back inside the Drawing Room he went about his chores. He dusted, ironed, folded, organized, fixed, scrubbed, wiped, and pleated. With a hollow mind, he worked himself to weariness. With his duties over-earlier than he had expected-he retired to his servant quarters.

~Night~

The dark was heavy with cold. The comforter's thick and woolly fabric was course to the touch, but the texture was not felt. The sheets were over Lee's head, but it didn't keep cold out. Sighing, he smacked his lips despite the fact that he couldn't feel them. His blankets were as solid as air.

Winter was among Sunakgure, and the numbness of Lee's body was proof of said weather. For a moment, he thought of Kiba and his dwellings. Select's were allowed to sleep within the manor…they had their own room-no doubt small-but their own. If it was anything as grand as the guest rooms Lee had cleaned-then it was fully furnished with a tall bed with thick sheets, high ceilings, walk-in closet, tall windows, dangling chandelier, and a fireplace and mantle…The image was enough to rekindle the dark feelings he had earlier in the day, but he tucked them away before they could mess with his mind.

A pressure beside him dented the mattress slightly, and then, breath was on his neck. Sturdy arms and legs wrapped him from behind.

Warmth.

"Is it true?" came a deep voice.

Lee broke his friend's hold to turn and face said boy. He stared into concerned jade. Without words, Lee nodded his head into Kimimaro's chest. A chin was atop his head, and arms and legs wrapped him in warmth once more.

"You'll be back soon, won't you?"

"Two months." Lee assured, but his voice wasn't as strong as he would have liked it to sound.

Kimimaro was silent a minute, and then he huffed.

"They take us in to have their wounds licked, then huddle us in these shacks, and then trade us off like livestock."

"Kimima-"

"We're not even human to them."

"That is enough…!"

Lee's voice was a harsh whisper, and Kimimaro stiffened a second before relaxing.

"I hate them, Lee."

"..."

Kimimaro's grip was tight, and Lee sat, debating on squirming free, but he decided against it. He wasn't going to see Kimimaro or any of the Sabaku servants in two whole months. Why not embrace the touch?

Lee hugged Kimimaro back, and in the silent hut of the servants, they whispered plans for the morrow. Kimimaro promised good literature he'd pick out for Lee to read while away, and Lee in turn would ask Tenten for an extra blanket from the Laundry for Kimimaro's sake.

The night was fierce with cold, and even though the two had each other for warmth, they still shivered, even in sleep.