The evenings the two spent together was no secret. The guards watching from various places on the barrier of the Suna have already caught on. Villagers who roamed the streets late at night would see two silhouettes leaning against the rail. It wasn't an every day occurrence. Sometimes she did not budge from her store, and neither would he from the building. The reasons are left to the viewers' interpretation. However, never did they assume a disagreement was the cause. From afar the two appeared as the awkward teenagers they were. Sometimes they would forget how young the Kazekage really is, and that he is the Kazekage. Of course there will be nights where he wouldn't appear. Their discussions were left to their gossip as well.
Little by little Gaara put the answers to his questions together after she would part from him. A shinobi from the Land of Grass, a Chuunin. Although it hardly looked like it. She didn't seem to have an authoritative presence, or make any indication of her rank. It would mean she is at the same position as his sister, but her personality was not as headstrong. He's seen nothing of her fighting technique, her jutsus, anything to showcase herself as a Chuunin, but he still could not imagine her having the mental strength to face an opponent head on.
"The hell? Gaara isn't in his office," groaned Kankuro. Not that there was anything important to pass on, he knew his brother was up to date about meetings, his paperwork, more diligent than usual. The second is the roof, to his dismay, it's empty as well. He peered down the rail seeing Gaara, undressed from his robe, waiting coolly outside of [Name]'s shop.
Two sky guards watch from the buildings. Even the Elders secretly watched from the windows, having daily bets on whether they would meet or not.
"Good luck, Lord Gaara," one guard cheered silently.
"You can do it."
Kankuro suddenly appeared beside Gaara, casually inviting himself in his plans. [Name] nearly bolted seeing Kankuro, but reluctantly let him join. Their peers are also disappointed by the sudden twist, and then resuming their work.
Kankuro stood between them from the shop to the restaurant, but when it came to seating, Gaara chose the same booth as [Name]. With him around, another side of [Name] is brought out where she is more rash, blunt, and teasing. A side she would never put to the test against Gaara. Well, maybe in time, it's only been two weeks. Her jeers with Kankuro are interrupted when a trio of girls enter, one Gaara knew to be Matsuri.
The girl wedged herself in Gaara's booth while her friends sat with Kankuro. Gaara's gourd used to occupy the empty space, now it perched next to Kankuro and his puppet. [Name] shifted to the wall stiffly, her shoulders pressed against his, and her legs squeezing together to avoid more contact. She immediately became the topic among the girls.
"Hey [Name]-chan, I heard that you're from Kusagakure, right?"
"Uh huh," she reached for the matcha powder mix provided by the restaurant.
"And you're a chuunin?"
"Mmhm," these are questions Gaara knew the answer to. He found himself consciously nodding, and then played it off by reaching for his drink.
Matsuri chimed in, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Her other friends cooed, gazing at her with wide eyes. Kankuro let out an amused chuckle, seeing his brother side glancing at [Name] as they all wait for her answer. She found herself peeking at him, meeting his gaze, her cheeks flushed. An expression differing from embarrassment, "...no."
Kankuro decided to give his brother a break, and clicked his tongue at [Name], "The position is open here."
Her face made a sudden change as she answered without hesitance, "No."
He even turned to the girls next to him who were already, but politely, rejecting his offer while Matsuri laughed. [Name] settles back down, peering up at Gaara, deciding to use the noise around them to cover up her question. "Do you have a girlfriend?" His monotone face answered it, and she giggles, knowing well from their time spent together.
He couldn't help but smile at her enjoyment and the atmosphere. Back in his office, he is aware of the papers he left unattended, but to spend an evening different from the balcony, with her, along with the other additions, he doesn't feel guilty. Being an insomniac now came in use. Everyone hushed as the food arrived. When the boys left to pay, all eyes glimmered deviously at her. Matsuri grabbed a hold of her arm affectionately, but to [Name] it felt threatening, although she really meant no harm. Then, poured the questions:
"Are you two dating?"
"Are the rumors true?"
"Did you kiss?"
"What do you guys talk about on the balcony?"
"Did you kiss?!"
"Ladies, please," she whispers, eyeing Gaara, making sure he isn't an earshot away. She addresses the questions in order, "No we're not. What rumors? No. Stuff. No."
"That tells us nothing!" whined Matsuri. The way she clung on reminded [Name] of how she saw couples interact with each other. If she had Matsuri's personality, would she be able to do something like, hold arms with Gaara? The thought switched off into another direction. It switched off completely.
"Hey, you three, what are you doing?" asked Kankuro, returning to the girls interviewing [Name]. "That girl is hands off, ya know?"
"Ew, we're not handing her to you," Matsuri jokingly said, [Name]'s arm still in her grasp.
"She's too good for you," chimed her group.
Kankuro slams a piece of paper on the table and pulled [Name] from Matsuri, "Here's your part of the tab, ladies," he hustled them both out of the restaurant ignoring the jeers thrown at him.
Gaara waited outside, arms crossed, maintaining a calm, but stern face. Kankuro came out with a sly grin, still grasping [Name]'s arm, even holding her beside him. The edge of his mouth twitched, but he then allowed nothing more to reflect on his thoughts. She didn't nudge away which somewhat disappointed him, Kankuro was the one to let go. Honestly, she drifted from reality in and out, either from lack of sleep, or the bantering of the girls. Or, maybe that she had too much green tea.
"All right," sighed Kankuro. "I'll see you two later, I'm going on guard tonight," only [Name] waved him off.
Gaara unfolded his arms, peering at her arm, down to her empty hand, "I'll walk you home."
She gulped, suddenly dreading the fact that they are finally alone. Since he met her outside of her shop, to this point, they had Kankuro, the girls, and during the time she cursed their presence. And now, she missed it. She dragged her feet to his pace, wondering what sort of chitchat would keep them occupied. "You..." she lifts her head, amazed he decided to begin first. "...and Kankuro seem pretty close."
She wasn't looking for that sort of conversation. Furiously, she shook her head, "You really think so? Not at all! He doesn't know much of me, unlike you." Is it because he was more touchy with her? What if she were touchy with Gaara? Does Gaara want to be touchy with her?
"Did you kiss?"
"You two seem to get along well though," she couldn't tell if he seemed relieved in his expression or tone of voice.
"Not really..." she mumbled back.
Kissing, dating, just because they were boy and girl, doesn't mean they would have to jump to the next step. Then again, she never inquired her feelings about Gaara, she is only glad to consider someone as a friend in this new environment. She wasn't even picky, and yet landed the Kazekage as her first companion. Then again, she wondered, if she was keeping him all to herself. This is the first time they had planned a meeting ahead of time.
At night he's mine.
She shoved the thought out. She even scared herself for thinking of such a possessive statement, unknown that Gaara had the same idea. Yet, he isn't ashamed of it.
"Gaara, am I...how do you say, am I secluding you to myself?" she patted herself on the back for asking difficult questions, and then dreaded the waiting period for the answer. She fidgeted with the edge of her sleeves, nervous that she wasn't specific enough, "What I mean is that-"
"No," he pauses to meet her glance, "There's not really anyone to 'seclude' me from." She nods, blinking then facing forward once more. Her fidgeting stopped, and she looked pleased with his response, but he continued, "Besides, I like being with you."
"...as a friend," is what she expected to connect at the end, but the statement ended there, and he continued to walk.
...
The weeks dragged on to a new month, the month of the Chuunin Exams. Marking her third month in Suna.
"Huh? You want me to assist in the exams?"
"Is that a yes or a no?" pondered Temari's companion, Shikamaru Nara. He wore the vest given to chuunin, she had the exact one hidden in her closet somewhere. He seemed to have dropped formalities after introducing himself. She couldn't blame him. She and Temari gossiped for ten minutes until reaching the real reason for their visit.
"Well, what's the reason?"
"We just want to place some precautions during the second exam. When the students stray out in the Demon Desert," explained Temari. "Gaara may have his Third Eye out for most of them, but it does have it's blind spots too. And, if we do only use Sand members to be handling the exam, it's good to have extra hands." She leaned in, and [Name] pushed her ear closer, whispering, "And, I don't trust most of Suna's shinobi. There are those who still have a problem of Gaara." It's her day off, the store is closed, there is no one else but the three inside, and yet she still remains discreet and cautious.
She sighed, knowing Temari has won her over, "...okay."
Temari cups her hands, "Great! I can't wait to see you all dressed up."
"I..." they left without providing any further details, "...okay."
"Oh, come to Gaara's office in an hour," said Temari after popping her head back inside.
"I..." she's gone once more, "...fine." [Name] waits for a minute, making sure there are no more surprise announcements, locks the shop door and then heads to her room.
She sheds her present clothing off and stares at the untouched outfit she hung above her futon. Her heart beat with excitement. She tugged on her black undershirt with mesh sleeves along with matching shorts that kissed the edge of her thighs. Pulled her jacket together, wrapping it taut with an obi. Its sleeves are an imitation of a kimono's, covering her arms past her fingers, containing pockets she plans to fill. She finally slides into her boots that reached to her ankles. Her mirror reflected a familiar image. Her head protector was always the final piece of the outfit. She unwrapped it from the plastic, brand new, unscratched and shining. Her first was abandoned at home. Before, as a genin, she had it wound around her neck, now she secures it around her forehead.