Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Sweet Misery

Chapter 7

Ino followed Gaara out of the building into the blaring heat and air. As per usual Gaara and everyone who lived in the village acted as though they weren't affected by the heat like she was and they probably weren't. That didn't help her feel any less envious of them though. She kept pace with him and looked around to notice that everyone was packing up as the sun started reaching it's highest point in the sky. The blonde looked over to her companion who only stared straight ahead and briefly nodding when someone bowed to him or gave acknowledgement. Ino smiled lightly.

"So where are we going?" She decided to ask as they were getting further away from all the nice restaurants including one that she had went a few times with him and his siblings. Gaara glanced at her in the corner of his eye.

"It's a small place not far from here." Ino raised an eyebrow at the short answer she got. Honestly she should have known she wouldn't be getting much from him. Over the pass days she had gotten to notice that he didn't much care to speak unless he felt his response was needed. He just seemed to enjoy watching others enjoying themselves especially his siblings. She had seen many a time his small happy smiles when Temari talked or Kankuro laughed. Ino couldn't believe that it was only a few short years ago he was a homicidal psychopath.

She tried to remember what it felt like to be around him when they were genin for the chunin exam. She remembered being afraid of him and that generally ruled her emotions for the time she knew him back then. Ino hadn't exactly seen him much during the time Naruto kicked his ass and changed him to now. She only ever seen him on the brief occasion that he came to the village for something important and even then she didn't really talk with him. It wasn't that she didn't want to either just that he wasn't on her radar per-say. Ino figured she was just too busy with her missions, the hospital, and being self-absorbed.

Being older now Ino could admit if only to herself that she was shallow, self-absorbed, and high-maintenance. Hell she still was, but she knew how to round them down and be a better person. She sort of finally grew into herself more now than back then. It was time she grew up like giving up those stupid diets and trying to stop being a pretty girl when on missions (that is unless its called for). Ino stopped being a child and that's really what it came down to. Hard to believe you can act like a child when being a ninja and possibly taking lives, but they all were at some point.

"We're here." Ino blinked in surprise not because she had gotten lost in her thoughts but because of what she was looking at. She turned over her shoulder to look around the area they stopped in. She knew every village had their slums section where poverty was at its highest. Apparently Gaara felt she needed to see his villages? The whole area was dank looking, broken down, and all together falling apart. Even the restaurant that he stopped in front of looked like a hole in the wall. The windows were circle much like all the other windows in Suna, but it didn't seem to bring in any light though. The door looked like one too many sandstorms had a whack at it and Ino thought if she even touched it with the tip of her finger it would fall apart to the ground.

"Here?" Ino couldn't help but ask in uncertainty. Not that she didn't believe him but this place looked like they served rat guts and possible horse? Aside from her gruesome thoughts her stomach still rumbled in hunger. Gaara raised an eyebrow of his own before nodding.

"Here." He said turning to the door and pushing it open. Ino took one more look around herself before following him in. She had too blink several times to adjust to the low lit room. The place looked just as bad inside as outside. There were a few tables in the center of the room and booths all along the walls. Even the inside looked like a sandstorm too many slammed into it. Gaara talked to the host before securing them a booth in the far back. 'I feel like we're doing an illegal drug trade or something.' Ino thought in mild humor.

They both sat on opposite sides Ino ended up with her back to the rest of the room and she didn't particularly like that. Being a ninja she wanted to be able to see any incoming attacks and such. But she went with it considering that she had the villages' Kazekage with her she didn't think anything bad aside from the food would happen. To say she wasn't optimistic about this place was an understatement.

"What would you both like to drink?" Ino turned her eyes to Gaara as she shrugged.

"Water?" Ino looked to the waiter who nodded as he wrote it down. Gaara said some type of drink she never heard of and the waiter left them. Ino looked over the menu not liking some of what she read. There was Kebab that was chopped lamb meat on skewers grilled over charcoal and Maḥshi ḥamām which happened to be cooked pigeon. The blonde went over a few other unsavory items before deciding to go on the safe side with a chicken salad.

"So what was that drink you ordered again?" Ino asked looking up to see Gaara sitting there with his arms crossed over his chest. 'Guess he already knows what he's getting.'

"Karakadey. It's a drink made by the Hibiscus flower found in the desert. It's mostly bitter but when mixed with certain juice its good." Ino nodded wondering what it would be like. Gaara watched her for a second before asking, "Would you like to try some of mine?" Ino blinked in surprise.

"Oh uh that's okay." Gaara uncrossed his arms.

"You should try it, I don't mind sharing…" Ino couldn't stop herself from nodding in the end. He was being so open with her something she noticed time and again that he wasn't plus she honestly didn't want to offend him again like before. She looked around the place once more as they waited. Now that her eyes were more in tuned with the dim lighting she could see that the walls were a light red and the floor a dark brown wood. The place didn't look too bad now that she was sitting inside. At the very least the atmosphere was pleasant.

"Here you are. Are you ready to order?" Ino nodded taking a sip of her drink as she eyed over Gaara's. The drink looked murky and was a dark purple color. Not quite the most appetizing drink she had ever seen but he seemed to like it all the same.

"Uh yeah I'll take the chicken salad, dressing on the side please." The waiter nodded turning to Gaara.

"And you Lord Kazekage?" Ino couldn't help but grin at hearing the respect the waiter gave to Gaara. Knowing his past it made her happy to know that he wasn't treated like a monster anymore, at least not by everyone.

"My usual please." He nodded writing down their orders and taking their menus before bowing to Gaara and leaving them be. Ino raised an eyebrow.

"What's the usual?" Ino inquired crossing her arms on the table.

"Salted tongue and gizzards." Gaara gave a half smile at the look of total disgust on Ino's face.

"Sounds…tasty…" He only shrugged at her response. "It's an acquired taste."

'Probably was use to that type of reaction.' The blonde thought rubbing her fingers up and down her glass of water that had condensation on it. Ino then watched as Gaara lifted the murky looking drink to his lips. Though it didn't look so appetizing she did like the purple coloring to it. She took a sip from her water as he set the glass down seeming satisfied with his drink.

"Try it." Gaara offered sliding his drink over to her. Ino couldn't help but eye it over again. "It tastes better than it looks." Ino scoffed at that.

"Yeah? That's what my Dad use to say about spinach and collard greens but I still don't like them." She felt tightness in her throat as she remembered her father. Every time he tried to get her to eat something new he would say that to her.

'Come on princess, it tastes a lot better than it looks! Tch yeah that only worked half the time.' Ino pushed those memories to the back of her mind as she lifted the drink up. She looked back over to Gaara who nodded his head in wordless encouragement. He didn't seem to mind her not using a straw or anything so apparently germs and swapping spit didn't bother him. 'Swapping spit? Jeez sounds like I'm thinking about kissing…'

The blonde sighed. "Well here goes nothing." She lifted the opposite end of the cup to her lips and took the tiniest sip she could. The taste was very sweet with just a tangle of bitterness at the end and though the liquid looked thick and murky it felt like she was drinking orange juice. Not necessary pulpy but not as thin and smooth like her water.

"How do you like it?" Ino slid the glass back to him and shrugged.

"Not too bad actually. Definitely different but you were right." She smiled brightly at him as he returned her smile with a small smirk.

"I think you would trust my judgment a little more Ino. I am the Kazekage." Ino blinked slowly at the statement and was about to apologize when she noticed how bright his eyes were and also the almost laughing smirk on his lips.

"Yeah?" Ino leaned forward a little staring straight into his eyes, "Why Lord Kazekage I had no idea you would use your status so boldly." Ino let her eyes travel downward before looking through her lashes at him. After a minute of holding a staring contest with Gaara giving her the blandest stare she had ever seen. It was like he didn't know how to take her. Ino then pulled back giving a nervous laugh as a tint of red graced her cheeks. Gaara coughed slightly and started to look everywhere but at her.

'Awkward' flashed in her mind as she took a big gulp of her water. Did she come off too strong? Did he just not understand she was joking and slightly flirting? At this point Ino just wanted nothing more than to bang her head on the table though he might think she was more mental than he thought already.

In a fictional world, she thought, the waiter would pop up right now to save her from the awkward silence. 'But this isn't a fictional world and so now I have to break this silence.' Ino raked her mind trying to find anything to bring them out of this silence.

"So…ah…why here?" Gaara looked back at her and raised an eyebrow. She smiled lightly trying to get rid of the awkwardness between them.

"Why here?" He repeated. 'Duh what are you a parrot?' Ino mentally slapped herself. No need to be an irritable bitch.

"Yeah, why have lunch here? I mean," Ino glanced around for a second, "It's an interesting place but it's…" She didn't know what word to use that wouldn't offend and/or piss him off.

"Lower classed." Gaara offered. He didn't appear offended or annoyed just finishing her sentence for her. A sense of relief came over her upon seeing that. The last thing she wanted to do was offend him again.

"Uh yeah." She finished lamely. Gaara stared down at his drink with a thoughtful look on his face. His eyes also had a faraway, dazed look to them like he was pulling out an old memory from his mind.

"This is where my parents first met." Ino couldn't contain the surprise on her face. As far as she remembered Gaara didn't particularly like his parents, or really his father to be exact.

"Really? That's so sweet. How did they meet?" The blonde leaned forward like before though this time eager to hear his story. Gaara looked up almost startled at her enthusiasm.

"My mother had been working here since she was a teenager and my father before he became the Kazekage happened to come here after a long mission." Ino nodded encouraging him to go on. "I only know this from Temari but she told me that my father had been out of money and that my mother had offered to make him a meal. They started dating soon after and then they got married and had Temari and so on..." Ino smiled leaning back to her seat. Even though she could tell Gaara didn't much care for his father he told his story with such passion and a bit of happiness.

"So I guess this place means a lot to you huh." He merely shrugged his shoulders acting as though he didn't much care but she could tell otherwise. She noticed at times that he liked to seem as though he was emotionless and indifferent to everything around them, but really he cared, it was the little things though that give it away. Nobody would be able to pick up on it but probably herself or a Hyuuga, she was trained to be very observant by her father and seeing the passion in his eyes or the slight upward tug at the corners of his lips gave him away to her. Even when he would cross his arms or shrug there wasn't that 'I don't care' feeling to them. Or maybe she was just looking way into it. "Hard to believe that the 4th Kazekage would come here though."

Gaara shrugged again turning to look at the paint peeling off the wall beside them. Ino glanced around once more as the place showed more age than it did before.

"Back then this area was much more prosperous and this particular restaurant had been the highlight of the village." Ino turned back to face him with a frown.

"If it was so prosperous then why isn't it now?" Gaara sighed connecting his eyes to hers.

"You should already know this being basic history for all villages but during the third war when the Wind Daimyo started outsourcing to Konoha instead of Suna we lost a lot of funding for our village. After the third war our economy went down further. Suna use to be a big hot spot for travelers and with the war going on we lost many of them considering it was dangerous being out there. And after we just never recovered from it." Ino noticed Gaara clinching his hands tightly into fists. "It's one of the reasons why the 4th Kazekage…my father wanted a jinchūriki in our village. Why he wanted his son to be a jinchūriki. Before I was born Suna was considered the lowest grade village out of the five. Like we are right now."

Ino looked down to the table in deep thought. She felt so sorry for Gaara. Sure she felt bad for Naruto because he is a jinchūriki but at least the 4th had done it to save the village. In Gaara's case his father only did it to empower the village. Though some could argue that it was also to save their village but really did it change anything? Temari had told Shikamaru and her horror stories of Shukaku wrecking havoc in the village on the rare occasion Gaara fell asleep or lost control. The way Temari could talk about the incidents in such a haunted voice it gave her goosebumps. Gaara was also right about Suna's economy crashing being basic history. She knew all about the wind daimyo funding Konoha over Suna (history was her favorite class) but she didn't realize how much it affected them. For a moment she felt sort of stupid for not thinking ahead.

Ino jumped out of her thoughts when her chicken salad was set in front of her. She looked over to her auburn haired companion who started on his food quickly. She looked back down to her food.

"Though it doesn't really mean much now…I'm sorry…" Ino then began to eat not realizing till now how truly hungry she was. They both ate in silence but unlike before it wasn't awkward in the least. Evidently Gaara finished first as Ino ate slower than him. Her mind lost in her thoughts. She couldn't even begin to imagine what Gaara had been through. Temari had told her the only time he ever felt good about himself after the incident with Naruto was when he was protecting his village or his family. Naruto was quite something wasn't he?

"It…does mean something…Thank you…" Ino felt her eyes widen as she heard the small words almost whispered in the silence between them. She looked up from her food but his eyes were staring at his half empty drink. A smile graced her lips as she returned to her food.

"Can I ask you something?" The blonde looked up from her food to see Gaara with a slight frown on his lips. She chewed slowly wondering what exactly he wanted to ask.

"Uh sure, ask away." He nodded placing his elbows on the table and lacing his fingers together in front of his face as he peered over them at her. Ino felt just a bit uneasy.

"Why are you here Ino?" She blinked slowly raising an eyebrow as she processed the question.

"What do you mean exactly?" She had the feeling he wasn't trying to be metaphorically about it like why she existed and such.

"Lady Tsunade had sent me a letter saying you were to be a liaison between our villages, but she also mentioned you were 'emotionally compromised' and needed to be away from the village for some time. But as far as I've seen you don't seem as though anything is wrong." Ino felt her eyes widen in disbelief she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She clenched her jaw shut to keep it from dropping down. She had no idea Lady Tsunade had said anything about her to Gaara or that he knew anything about her life, then again he was only told she was emotionally compromised. Ino frowned deeply at repeating that annoying word combination in her head.

"To be honest she had no right to tell you anything about me, but I can understand why she said it." Ino sighed wondering if she should tell him anything at all. He had no idea why she was here only that something was up and in most cases he shouldn't have allowed her to come at all, but he did so she had to have a little faith in him. She wouldn't tell him everything, just want needed to be known. "You see only a few short weeks earlier my father was murdered." Her throat felt dry saying that and her eyes stung from tears watering them. She blinked them back and kept on going. "Well technically he committed suicide, but I don't believe that." Gaara stayed silent watching her carefully as she tried to keep her emotions in control.

"You don't think he killed himself." He stated as she nodded her head.

"No I don't. My father had too much to live for to kill himself, I know for a fact that would be the last thing to ever cross his mind. But whoever killed him made him do it himself that of course makes it look like a suicide." Ino finished letting her tense shoulders relax as she leaned heavily on the stiff padding of the booth seat. Gaara bore his eyes to the table for a minute or so before looking back at her.

"Doesn't your family's jutsu do exactly that?" She leaned her head back staring up at the ceiling as she responded back.

"Yes, and no. Our jutsu allows us to enter the mind and control another person's body, but our soul and chakra enters their body leaving ours vacate and if we kill the ninja we invaded we would be killing ourselves too. I've already looked through all my family's jutsus and there's not one kind that allows you complete control over another person without entering their body through the transfer jutsu."

"But someone does know it's the only logical explanation for your father's death." Ino sighed rolling her eyes to stare further up the ceiling in an attempt to keep from crying. Still a tear escaped sliding down from the corner of her eye and around her ear. She wiped it away quickly pulling her head forward to see Gaara staring at her with concern written all over his face. Her heart picked up in beats as she felt her face heat up.

"Well it doesn't really matter now; they've already considered the case closed." His forehead creased in a frown as his lips turned downward.

"You shouldn't give up just because others say so. If you believe your father didn't kill himself then you shouldn't give up, you should keep going, keep fighting." Ino smiled lightly though it didn't reach her eyes. She flicked at the chipping paint on their table. Maybe she could really trust him; maybe she should tell him what she already knows and what she plans on doing. She felt her mouth open about to tell him otherwise but stopped herself.

'No I shouldn't. I already have too many people in on this; I don't need any more especially someone who has too many things to worry about than me and my life.'

"You make it sound so easy, I would but that's one of the reasons I got sent here. I just…argh! I just want to scream! I mean they didn't even check the area out completely! It was sloppy work and my father's murderer got away because of it! I just wish I could…could have been able to do something…I feel so useless…" Ino ran a hand through her long bang and over her ponytail. She didn't mean to get so emotional but it was just so hard for her to not want to scream, shout, and rant. Gaara seemed to understand that though, he only waited for her to go on like he knew she needed this. Hell she didn't even know she needed this.

"It's so unfair, they wouldn't let me help with the investigation because I'm too close to the victim but I could have been able to help far more than the idiots they did have! I did fight Gaara, I fought them every step of the way. Lady Tsunade did the autopsy but…the evidence outweighed what we believe. Now my family's name is shamed because of it." During her rant Ino had covered her eyes with her left hand as her right hand laid on the table clenching tightly between them. She jumped a little when she felt warmth come upon her hand. She lifted her hand off her face just a little to see a much paler and covering her own. Her heart raced just a little more and another batch of heat came to her face. Finally she her hand came down from her eyes to cover her mouth.

Gaara gently squeezed her hand in a comforting sort of way. His face was once more full of concern as he took in everything she said. Maybe she is really 'emotionally compromised' she just didn't know it because she spent so much time pushing away these terrible, painful thoughts. Her nerves seemed to come to life, flaring in pleasant tingles from her hand up her arm.

"Thanks Gaara, I didn't know I needed this till now…" Ino tried her best to smile though it probably came off a little weird seeing how she really just wanted to curl up into a ball and cry her eyes out. She held it in though trying to stay in control and not become a blubbering mess especially in front of another village's Kage. He squeezed her hand again sending another tingle throughout her arm before pulling away.

"You shouldn't thank me, I should have never asked." Gaara stated crossing his arms over his chest as a scowl took over his face. The blonde sighed feeling a weight come off her shoulders, even if he thought he didn't help he really did.

"Well too bad I'm thanking you anyway." This time her smile felt more real rather than fake and forced, she laughed a little when Gaara's scowl only grew darker.

"I made you feel bad over something that wasn't for me to ask." She leaned forward invading his space much like earlier though this time it wasn't for a story or to flirt.

"Now listen to me Mr. Kazekage! I feel ten times better getting this off my chest so don't sit there with a sour look on your face. You didn't know and I don't blame you okay." Gaara's frown lighten up but still keep the corners of his lips tugged down. It was the best she was going to get she assumed leaning back to start back on her food. After a good minute or so he relaxed more and drank more of his murky drink.

Just as she was finishing her meal she heard a bell sound off indicating that someone was entering the establishment. Ino watched as Gaara looked over her shoulder to the entrance and a lightness come to his face. He wasn't smiling exactly but there was something akin to heaving out a sigh of relief that came to his face. Seeing that look Ino looked over her own shoulder to see who could get that reaction out of him.

She didn't have to look far to see a girl in her mid teens younger than they were talking to a waiter. She had shoulder length brown hair, with dark eyes and wearing her headband around her neck much like Hinata with Suna's version flak jacket and a dark shirt and skirt underneath. She laughed loudly before turning to catch Ino's eye and then Gaara's, upon seeing him she smiled brightly and started their way. Ino turned back to face Gaara who kept watch over her shoulder as the younger girl headed their way. She was the vague feeling she should know who this girl was, but for the life of her Ino just couldn't remember who.

"Gaara!" The girl was suddenly beside their table still wearing her bright grin as she looked at Gaara. Ino could see the admiration in her eyes but also a hint of something more. 'Aw she has a crush on him, how cute.' She knew that look all too way, it was the same look she had when around Sasuke when she was younger and the same look Temari would give Shikamaru before they started dating.

"Matsuri how was your mission?" Gaara greeted the younger girl and as he said her name Ino felt her eyes widen. Matsuri!? 'As in the girl he had to train for a short time when we were genin? The girl that got kidnapped by the guy who wanted Gaara? Wow suddenly I feel extremely old now.' Matsuri only smiled wider from the question and launched into a rapid speed recollection of her mission.

"Oh it was great! Everything went according to plan, though we did get off track. You see the ninja we were suppose to steal the scroll from knew we were coming and set up a whole bunch of traps! Luckily I noticed in time and we were able to savage what was left of him and the scroll intact! Then! We encountered three bandits on our way back but it was nothing, we totally kicked ass!" Ino glanced between Gaara and Matsuri during her one-sided conversation trying not to laugh. She hoped that the girl wasn't the one who had to write down the report of the mission.

"Good, I'm glad you came back unharmed. Did you deliver the scroll to my office?" Matsuri nodded finally glancing over to Ino with a look of inquiry her eyebrow rose up her forehead. She got the feeling the girl didn't really seem to care for her much. Obviously it wasn't common for the Kazekage to be out and about with another person much less a female ninja. Ino smiled politely either way hoping she wouldn't have an issue with her the last thing she needed was a rapid fangirl nipping at her heels.

"Uh, yeah. I asked where you were and they told me you went out to lunch so I knew exactly where." She gave an impish smile with this sparkle in her eyes. Ino raised an eyebrow at the look. Girl was laying it on a bit thick wasn't she? Gaara nodded oblivious to the feelings Matsuri had for him. He turned his head to the blonde though finally introducing her.

"Matsuri this is Ino Yamanaka from Konoha. She's the new village liaison." Ino waved her hand as Matsuri bowed to her. She had to admit it felt kind of nice to have others bow to her like that. "Would you like to join us for lunch, we're almost done." The brunette nodded brightly scooting into Gaara's seat after he got up to let her in. Though she didn't quite mind the younger girl joining them Ino felt a bit disappointed. She hadn't really had a chance to be alone with Gaara during much of the week she has been here. Call her jealous but she really didn't want this little kid overshadowing her.

Matsuri got cozy in her seat before giving the blonde across from her quite the evil eye. Ino blinked as suddenly the younger girl sort of frowned at her with not only the evil eye but she stared at her like she shouldn't be there. 'What the hell? Maybe she thinks I'm moving in on her territory or something.' Ino thought taking a drink of her water to keep from frowning at the girl.

"Ino, I know you already told me what you thought was wrong with the hospital but I would like to know what you think would help it." Gaara said leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest. He didn't seem to notice Matsuri's attitude towards her or if he did he ignored it pretty well. Ino set her drink down as she composed her thoughts on the matter.

"Well for starters getting a bigger budget for the hospital is always a help and with that you can have more doctors and nurses working on a regular basis. The nurse's station looked like a war zone which is a nightmare for anyone working there. I think you should invest in computers to help regulate patients and information without the hassle of normal filing has. You already know how I feel about how outdated everything there is, but I can't really gauge what really needs to be done until I get a more formal tour of the hospital and talk with the current hospital director." Matsuri had gotten a drink and ordered something to eat while Ino spoke her thoughts.

"It might not be till tomorrow or the next day but I can get you a tour and a meeting with the hospital director soon." Ino nodded letting their waiter take up her mostly empty plate along with Gaara's.

"I always wanted to learn medical ninjutsu." Matsuri commented as she laid her head on her folded arms on the table. "I feel like I would be a better asset if I knew it." Even though the girl had been giving her the evil eye earlier Ino couldn't help but smile.

"It's not easy but it is really rewarding. Back when I was in my first year of being a genin I had felt so useless because I only knew my families basic jutsus and I couldn't exactly do much if I didn't have someone watch over my body. Being able to at least heal helped boost my confidence and as you said it really is a great asset to have." Ino smiled brightly with her eyes closed as she opened them she noticed Gaara staring at her with an emotion on his face she couldn't exactly understand.

He was gazing at her like she was so amazing but she didn't understand why. Ino just continued to smile at him connecting their eyes. Then a loud cough came from her left.

"Yeah sounds nice, thanks for sharing." The brunette said dryly picking dirt and sand from under her nails. Ino turned to the girl in surprise at the aggression in her voice. She didn't allow herself to frown though; she is older and much more mature to be pulled into something so juvenile.

"You're welcome." The blonde replied back smirking when the girl scoffed. Gaara glanced over to Matsuri probably wondering why she was acting like an uberbitch at the moment. Ino sighed shrugging her shoulders before moving to stand. "Well I need to get going anyway, I sort of left Temari behind in my irritation about the hospital…" Gaara pulled out of the booth to stand as well.

"I understand, thank you for coming to me and for having lunch with me." Ino nodded bowing to him and giving a half hearted wave to Matsuri who seemed to only glare at her more. The younger girl was really starting to get on Ino's nerves, she hadn't said barely anything to the girl but because she has her crush's attention she wants to be that way? How old were they again? Feeling quite devious she decided that if the girl wasn't going to like her than she was going to have fun pissing her off.

"No problem, we need to do it again sometime." She then just to piss the little girl off winked at him with a flirty smile and flip of her long hair before turning to leave the restaurant. She couldn't hear anything being said as she left but she was sure Matsuri didn't have much a liking for her and the feeling was mutual.

"Jeez takes me back to my academy days with Sakura…" …

A/N: I don't know why but I had the hardest time with this chapter. I knew exactly what I wanted to do but for some reason Gaara and Ino would not talk! Anyway the drink Gaara gets is actually real I looked up drinks and foods in the desert and decided to stick with Egyptian foods because I felt they it would be a similar cuisine and I cheated with Gaara and chose his fave foods. I read up on the history of Suna and the other villages that way their conversation about his parents was more accurate, his mom wasn't a ninja at least from what I've read. I also think Gaara though a silent person wouldn't have an issue speaking when need be, as a recent reviewer said he's not shy, just distant.

Anywho please take your time to review letting me know whatcha think!