Sorry this took so long, I lost internet like five months ago and lost all will to write. The last month though I got it together, but since I still have no internet I had to go back in forth editing my awesome editor Kiravu from school and my boyfriend's house… ^-^U Enjoy

Chapter Three: Stage One

"So, what's this I hear about you and the Kazekage?"

"That's a good question, just what have you heard about me and the Kazekage?"

The late Hizashi's oldest child looked through the mirror, taking a pause in his shaving. "Hiashi told me that he called on you last night. He wanted me to ask you how it went."

He resumed gliding the razor across his cheek. "I thought you were supposed to be going on a date with Yuugato yesterday?"

"I did, to lunch, and I went with Gaara to dinner. Free meals all over the place, I'm almost tempted to skip breakfast." Emiko replied, grimacing when she noticed a baby pimple appearing on her chin in her own mirror. She knew she shouldn't have had all that soda yesterday.

"How did that happened?" Neji asked, wiping his razor free of cream on a towel.

"Well, I was ditching Yuugato, and then Gaara finds me in the ally and starts talking about this crazy scheme of me being his pretend girlfriend. So I went with it." She replied, contemplating on whether or not to pop the blemish.

Neji turned around to face his sister's back, "Why?"

"Because," Emiko sighed. "He has fangirls he needed to get rid of, and I have an uncle who wants to pimp me out. Now we both win. No more blind dates for me, and hopefully Gaara's fangirls will keep away, or else face the wrath of the all scary Hyuuga Emiko."

Neji shook his head, turning back to the mirror to finish ridding himself of stubble. "This is a bad idea."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it is. This can only last for his duration here, Hiashi probably knows that, which is why he allowed it."

"Yeah but, Gaara and I could always fall in love, and he could propose to me, and then I would have to move to Suna. Hiashi knows that could possibly happen within eight weeks, and he wouldn't pass up the chance to have me marry away to a Kage. So he'll let us be."

It's common for siblings to hate sharing a bathroom and in the morning it might become a battle for the right to use it first. Emiko and Neji didn't have that problem though, they didn't spend much time together considering they were on separate teams and if they were both weren't currently on missions they had their own lives.

It was nice to spend this little time in the morning and see what the other was up to.

"But there are other risks here. While I'm no romantic, and I know you're not either, you do realize the possibility of you falling in love is real, right?" Neji asked, wiping his face clean of any lingering cream.

Emiko chuckled, "Don't be ridiculous Neji, I know the difference between pretend and reality. Gaara and I can barely stand each other, no matter how much he 'whoos' me, I'll know it's all fake, and I can pretend to fall all I want, but it's not going to change that fact that none of its real."

Neji sighed, "You're overlooking the chances. It could happen. You might get hurt."

"And you're looking too much into it. Sure it could happen, but it wont. I know how to protect myself."

Neji shrugged and left the bathroom the two shared, "Maybe. And I told you to stay away from that glucose." He added with a pointed glance to the reflection of her face.

Emiko rolled her pale eyes and decided to leave the pimple alone. It would go away eventually.

Even though she loved sugar, Emiko knew why most Hyuugas stayed away from the stuff. It made them break out. Not horribly, but the zit on her chin was proof of her indulgence, and everyone with white eyes would know it. She sighed and gave the pink head an inch below her even lighter pink lips one last glare before leaving the double-sink bathroom while flicking out the light.

After grabbing a blueberry bagel from the kitchen, which only belonged to herself and Neji; Emiko left the one story house and walked down the road, passing the early birds who shared her last name. She waved politely when they waved at her, wishing them a good morning and for those who asked, told them her date with Gaara was wonderful while she finished her bagel.

Which then reminded her, she needed to have a word with him later.

Emiko left the clan gates and walked into the streets of Konoha, heading towards the Jonin headquarters to finish some of her mission reports and maybe look for a new one.

~Finding her way into the break-room, she snatched the last cookie from the plate that lay waiting for her and bit into it, not even bothering to read the sign because she could already smell it.

Oatmeal raisin, yum. Her favorite.

There was some part of her that swore she only came here for the complementary cookies some mystery person baked, because she could honestly do her work anywhere she liked. Emiko felt no remorse for eating the last one either, she couldn't count all the times she'd come in this room to find the plate sporting nothing but crumbs.

The village treated its Jonin very well. Which was why there was always freshly made coffee brewing in the room, and usually, if you got here early enough, a cookie waiting to be eaten. Most missions began at dawn, which was when many of the Jonin swung in here to grab a fresh cookie, so by nine (the time she usually arrived), you were usually out of luck. Until the twelve o'clock batch came in, that is. But then that wouldn't be replaced until six PM and so on and so forth.

Emiko sipped her coffee happily while checking over her work, looking for any mistakes she'd made in her report. Though her skim was brought to a halt when she sensed another presence coming in the room. She turned her head to see none other than Hateke Kakashi strolling in with a half eaten cookie.

"Yo," he greeted and began pouring some of his own coffee.

"Where did you get that cookie from? There's not supposed to be anymore for another two hours." Emiko almost whined.

"Oh, I've got connections." His eye crinkled as he sipped his black coffee. Emiko scowled at the man. She needed some of those connections. If anything, he probably just had the receptionist swipe one early in the morning and hold it for him.

Emiko wondered if Tsunade had talked to him yet, and if that was the reason why he was here. The Godaime had said that he would come to her, so Emiko wasn't going to ask him. She very rarely talked to the masked figure anyway, and if she did it was here, in this room at rare moments. Or it was when Naruto dragged her off for ramen and Kakashi was with him. Throughout her carrier as a Jonin she'd only been on one mission with him, and that was with five other Jonin. So it's not like they had been forced to talk to one another.

"Training ground seven, eight am-sharp. Don't be late." Then he was out as soon as he was in.

It took Emiko a second to register what just happened, but when it clicked, she smiled and drained the rest of her coffee before tidying up her work. She was going to begin her ANBU training tomorrow, the sooner, the better. All the more reason to speak with Gaara.

"So I took your advice." Gaara spoke as he slouched down on the living room sofa next to his brother.

"What, about the garbage bags? I told you-"

"Not that, about the girlfriend. I got one."

Kankuro gasped, throwing up his hands in the air, "Score! Anyone I know?"

Gaara shook his head, "No, I just met her yesterday."

"And you're already calling her girlfriend? Damn, that was fast. Must have been a pretty good date."

"What are you two going on about?"

Both brothers turned their heads to watch their elder sister walk in the room, cereal in hand and grabbing the remote.

"Gaara has himself a new girlfriend." Kankuro smirked proudly.

Temari paused in channel surfing to glace at her youngest brother to wait for denial. It didn't come. "I thought you swore off dating?"

Gaara shrugged, "She's different than the others."

Which was the absolute truth. Emiko was nothing like the other girls he's dated... Granted, he wasn't actually dating her, but even if he were he knew she would be set apart from the rest of them.

She backed talked, argued, disobeyed, and was already in the process of giving him migraines. And while in the past he has dated girls-more like a girl-who wouldn't kiss on the first date(most wanted to skip straight to the sex and brag about it to all their friends), they at least gave the cheek.

"I want to meet this girl."

"Me too."

"I don't need you two's approval."

"Yes, you do," Temari begged to differ. "The last one got around faster then the flu."

"Yeah, and the one before that was cross eyed." Kankuro added unnecessarily.

"You were imagining that." They did this often, complain about Gaara's girlfriends.

He found it quite hypocritical of them to complain about his girlfriends when they were the ones pushing him to start a relationship in the first place, saying that he would be happier if he found a nice, pretty girl at his side. But it seemed that no one was ever nice or pretty enough for them.

"Stare at her longer enough and tell me her right eye doesn't drift!"

"It's called a stigmatism."

"It's called you have terrible taste in women."

"First off," Temari interjected, "That is not what a stigmatism is, Gaara. She was cross eyed, even I noticed. Second off, Kankuro shut up and stop insulting Gaara's ex-girlfriends. And third off, we are meeting her. Tonight at eight, if possible. End of discussion."

Sometimes Gaara wondered who on earth Temari thought ran things around here.

"Is it true?"

Ino ran over to Emiko, smiling her face off in a way that could only mean one thing. Emiko cringed inwardly.

She knew. Already.

Well, that was certainly quick. Emiko and Gaara only just started going out last night. Though this was Ino. Maybe she shouldn't be all that surprised.

"If you're referring to the Kazekage and I, then yes. It's true."

Ino squealed in a rather irritating fashion, "Wow, Emiko, honestly I didn't think you had it in you. I mean, snagging up the hottest Kage to date, who knew it would be Hyuuga Emiko. I'm surprised. But pleasantly surprised."

"Thanks... I think. Let's get on with training."

Emiko took Asuma's place in leading Team ten shortly after the man died. When she was promoted to Jonin she had the option of being a team leader, placed permanently on another Jonin team, or sensei. Emiko didn't feel like baby-sitting three little brats, nor did she feel like seeing the same people on every mission. At least this way she could lead this team of Chunin and still go on high ranked missions with other Jonin when she wished.

The team didn't seem to mind her much as an addition. Of course they missed their old sensei, he could never be replaced, but they didn't shun Emiko. After awhile they even began inviting her to their weekly barbeque lunches. And despite the wise cracks about her age and size, Emiko didn't mind them much either.

Shikamaru, while lazy and a smart aleck, was pretty laid back and always the genius. And even though Emiko could never beat him in a game of Shogi, they thought in sink a lot, even if he was just a tad bit smarter then her... She would also never admit to that.

Ino, while boisterous, nosy and bosy, continued to be most delighted about having another girl on the team. Even if she and Emiko disagree on most things, they found some common ground between them... Though Emiko would never admit Ino came second in her girl friends.

Chouji, who still tends to have a chip addiction, usually tended to not say much and when he did, it was usually to ask a question. Or a comment usually directed to Shikamaru or Ino. He didn't speak to Emiko much, but he didn't seem to have problem with her either. Especially when she picked up the bill when they went out to eat.

They were a pretty decent group of people, and the fact that they were taking orders from someone a year or two younger than their selves and not bitter about it, was nice. Emiko found them quite tolerable.

She actually picked them for those very reasons.

There were only a few teams in need of captains after Emiko was promoted, and the ones she considered the most were Team InoShikaCho and Team Eight. After Kurenai retired to mother her daughter, they were open, but Emiko felt it unnecessary to have two Byakugan users on the same team when there was a team she could choose who was lacking one. And also at the time, Shino was already Jonin, so he was more then capable to lead, even if it was only a three man team.

Emiko actually saw little Sarutobi Asuka quite often. Shikamaru helped Kurenai a lot so he would often bring her with him to barbecue day, or she was saying goodbye to him before he was leaving on a mission. The two year old had her mother's crimson eyes and her father's tan complexion with curly jet black hair. She was the cutest thing on the playground.

After training, they went out to lunch and of course the only thing Ino wanted to talk about was Emiko's date with Gaara.

"So, how was it? Where'd he'd take you? Was it some place expensive? Is he a good kisser? I bet he is, did he use tongue-"

"Ino!" Emiko cut in, "It was only the first date! I was not about to let him kiss me."

Ino pouted, "You're no fun."

Emiko sighed and rolled her eyes. "He took me to Gochizen. It was nice. He was a perfect gentlemen. We'll probably go out again."

"They have great Tempura fried ice cream." Chuoji spoke between bites. Emiko nodded in agreement.

"Are you sure you should be pursuing this relationship with him?" Shikamaru asked, "You two are from two different countries. He's only going to be here for a few weeks."

"Oh hush, Shikamaru." Ino scoffed "Just 'cause they go out on a few dates doesn't mean they're getting married. Emiko's just tired of Leaf boys. I understand, and those Suna accents are just so cute!"

"I'm not going out with him because of his accent, Ino. I went out with him because he asked and I knew Hiashi would be furious if I turned down the Kazekage."

"I heard he came to the Hyuuga estate and begged Hiashi to call on you! How old school, that's so cute!" the blonde gushed.

Emiko shook her head, "It was hardly begging. And to answer your question Shikamaru, Ino has a point, just because we go out on a few dates doesn't mean we're going to be serious. He'll probably have ten other girlfriends before he leaves."

"Emiko's right, I mean, look at him. He's already gathered a fan club that's almost the size Sasuke's was in one day."

"And you're okay with that?" Shikamaru questioned.

Emiko shrugged, "What am I supposed to do about it?"

After lunch was over Emiko found her way back to the training ground to get in some solo training. She'd told Gaara she'd be here until five and it's not like she knew where to find him. It wasn't long after half past four that he showed up. She jumped down from the tree she was perched on and wiped the sweat off her brow walking up to him.

Normally a girl might be embarrassed about her Kazekage boyfriend seeing her all sweaty and flushed after a hard day of training, but there would be three things wrong with Emiko caring.

One: Gaara was not her real boyfriend, she didn't care what he thought.

Two: They were ninja, they were sweaty and flushed after a hard day of training 75% of the time.

And three: She told him where to find her, if he thought she wouldn't be sweaty and flushed at a training ground, he's an idiot.

"Hey," she greeted unenthusiastically.

"Hey," he greeted just as enthusiastically. "Think you'll be free tonight at eight?"

"Sure. But since we're alone right now I need to let you know that my ANBU training begins tomorrow and right now that's my first priority."

Gaara nodded, "That's understandable. What time's your training?"

"It starts at eight am. Not sure when it ends. ...If it ends." She paused, "Is this going to be an everyday thing?"

"What? Us dating? Yeah, kind of." He rolled his eyes.

"Not that, idiot." Emiko mocked his eye rolling. "The dates. Are you going to ask me out every night?"

"Why?" Gaara narrowed his eyes. "You have something better to do then be the Kazekage's girlfriend?"

Emiko glared. "As a matter of fact, I do. It's called 'A Life.' And I kinda don't want to spend the next eight weeks of it spending every night with you."

"You think I want to spend every night with you?" Gaara scoffed.

"Well it sure seems like it," Emiko argued.

"I didn't even want to go out with you tonight, I was going to ask about tomorrow, but my sister wanted to meet you so she planned tonight. Or is that asking too much of you?"

"Didn't I already tell you tonight was fine? I just don't feel like doing this everyday"

"Well deal with it. Ill pick you up a quarter to eight. And try to look nice." With those parting words he turned around and took his leave. Emiko continued to glare at his back until he disappeared.

That arrogant, little...!

She growled in frustration and took out some of her anger on the fence.

Gaara arrived at the Hyuuga compound the precise time he planned and waited at the gates until a woman called out to him from inside.

"Kazekage-sama? Are you here for Emiko-san?" He nodded to the Hyuuga woman, deciding not to mention that she was late by two minutes already. "Come, I'll show you to her stay." Gaara nodded once again and walked in, following her through the gates.

The Hyuga estate was very traditional. It appeared that everything seemed to be made of concrete on the outside of the houses, and from what he'd from the inside yesterday, wood floors and paper doors and dividers from room to room. It seemed like people lived according to how closely related they were to the main house, and seeing as though Emiko was Hiashi's first niece, it made sense that every step brought him closer and to the main house.

Though there was a very distinct difference between the main house and the branch houses, size being one of them.

The compound was so large, there must've been hundreds of Hyuga living here. It was no wonder it was so easy for relationships to stay within the clan. One member could have dozens upon dozens of cousins to choose from. There were probably quite a bit of arranged marriage. It made sense. And Gaara could understand perfectly well why Emiko's uncle would want her to marry a strong Hyuuga and make even stronger Hyuuga babies.

He was the clan leader, it was his job to strengthen the clan.

While Gaara was looking around and enjoying the scenery he noticed a little boy by the woman starting at him. He looked to be about five, the average Hyuga traits, pale eyes and brown hair, despite his mother's black hair. The boy kept staring at him, quite shamelessly too.

"How come you wanna see Emiko?" He asked, getting the courage to speak now that Gaara had noticed him. "She's mean." The little boy added, scrunching up his face like he smelled something bad.

"Hiro," his mother scolded, "Don't be rude, your cousin watches you for me all the time."

"I just wanted to know momma..." He whined back.

"Don't pester the Kazekage."

Gaara held back a chuckle, "It's alright. I don't mind, I find her to be rather charming." He was a brilliant liar.

"Yuck. I thought charming was for boys."

Gaara and Hiro's mother shared a quiet laugh.

"This is it," she spoke as they came to a stop. "I saw her come home earlier so I'm positive she's in there."

Gaara nodded, "Thank you." She bowed and pulled off her son who wanted to stay and watch the show.

Gaara walked up to the door, which was just as traditional as the rest of the compound, and knocked on a wood plank that was stretched across the upper middle part of the paper door.

He was surprised when Hyuuga Neji opened it and for a slight instance wondered if he had the right house. Emiko mentioned having a brother, but he didn't remember her mentioning a name. They belonged to a huge family, he didn't even stop to think that her and Neji were that closely related.

"Hello, Kazekage-sama, Emiko's probably running late. Come in," he stepped aside to let Gaara pass.

"You can call me Gaara. I didn't know you had a sister." Gaara had spoken to Neji on several occasions, and while he couldn't exactly say they were on friend terms, it was still slightly awkward.

Neji nodded, "Most people don't, she only started living with me recently." Gaara would have asked him to elaborate on that a bit more, but his curiosity would have to wait because he could hear Emiko's footsteps coming down the hallway. When she came into view he took in her appearance.

It seemed the only change from this afternoon was a shower, a new shirt, and a hair tie.

Emiko was wearing the same black training shorts, her same black ninja sandals, but with a new black long sleeve shirt that looked to be at least a size to too large (showing no proof that she could fit into even an A-cup), and her hair was put up into a high pony tail.

Gaara almost sighed out loud.

"Ready to go?" She asked sweetly, as if mocking him.

Gaara just nodded and let her lead him out the house he waved a goodbye to Neji and Emiko called for him not to wait up. They walked in silence till they got the edge of the compound and through the gates.

"This is what you call making an effort to look nice?" He asked once that were no longer in sight of the clan.

"You'll take what I give you and like it."

Gaara glared out of the corner of his eye, "You will not talk to me like that."

Emiko just gave a rude snort and rolled her eyes.

That does it. He was sick her attitude, and quite frankly he wasn't about to let her walk over him. He was no doormat either. He never let anyone treat him wrong or be rude to him before, he was not about to start now.

He stopped in the middle of the road and Emiko stubbornly took a few more steps before she gave up and sighed. It wasn't like she knew where she was going once she got to the edge of the trail. She looked back at him and asked, "What?"

"Listen," Gaara growled, "You will show me respect. I'm not going to tolerate this attitude-"

"Ha!" Emiko interrupted. "You won't tolerate it? Who are you? My father? No, I don't think so because my father is dead and has been a for a very long time now."

"Look, if you're going to stand here and give me a sob story about your dead father-"

"I don't tell sob stories. I wouldn't know how to if I tried. But what I do know is that I don't need another person telling me what I will and won't do. I got into this relationship to have freedom, not to have another tyrant barking out orders at me. And I can tell you right now that if expect me to look pretty and stay quiet that you're barking up the wrong tree."

The road was quiet after that. They were still relatively near the clan estate and no one really came this way unless they belonged there.

The Hyuga compound was very much separated from the rest of Konoha. There was a decent sized concrete wall that circled around it, and as if that wasn't enough, the half mile of a forest that parted for a single, narrow road leading to it did the trick.

In other words he was pretty damn generous to meet Emiko at her front door.

Gaara sighed heavily, it's not like he was asking her to look pretty and not be heard, but was it too much to ask her to look pretty while he was listening to her? Personally he didn't think so, but it seemed Emiko didn't agree. It was becoming clear to him rather quickly she was not going to make this easy for him.

"Emiko," he lowered his tone, remembering something Temari told him about catching more flies with honey than vinegar. It appeared to work, seeing as soon as he called her name her anger seemed to deflate. "I'm sorry, you look fine. I didn't mean to insult you. Perhaps next time you'll put in a little more effort?"

"...Perhaps."

Satisfied with her answer, Gaara walked up, took her hand and led her down the rest of the road. He could sense her wariness about his sudden mood change, but it didn't matter. He didn't feel like fighting the rest of the way.

There was a reason he didn't tell his siblings about him and Emiko being fake just yet. Gaara wanted to see if they could pull it off first.

If there was anyone who would be able to tell that they were faking, it was Kankuro and Temari. And while all ninja were trained to see underneath the underneath, it was more on a personal level because they were going to be automatically looking for something wrong.

If tonight went smoothly, he and Emiko could feel pretty confident in their phony relationship.