The Next Morning

The hours drifted by, each special in their own way.

Rin was content to let Gaara rest beside her for as long as he'd like, but from the way her fingertips were pruning and the chill of the desert night around them, it was time to bring this wonderful encounter to a close.

Her eyes turned down to his sleeping face; so gentle and relaxed, it made her heart warm.

It felt like a crime to wake him, especially when he'd just started allowing himself to rest properly.

She ran her pinky down the bridge of his nose and kissed the space between his eyes. "Gaara?"

He didn't respond.

"He's out cold." Rin thought to herself, giggling.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer to herself and kissed his ear. "Gaara?"

He stirred at the sensation of her whisper, but still didn't open his eyes. "Hm?"

"Wake up."

It looked like it took effort, but eventually, those cool eyes opened, blinking against the shine of the hot spring. They traveled up to the dark sky and over to the face that made him feel stronger than he'd ever been.

"Rin."

"Welcome back."

"Did I go somewhere?"

She giggled. "I'd say so. You've been asleep for three hours."

An adorable blush came to his cheeks and he held up his water-wrinkled hands. "That long? I can't believe I fell asleep! Especially after...well... I'm sorry. That's bad isn't it? Kankuro told me that once. That's..."

Rin silenced his thoughts with a kiss, inhaling his scent and locking it away in her memory. "A huge compliment."

He exhaled his relief and stroked a hand down Rin's face. "Did you use your jutsu when I was asleep?"

"No. Why?"

"You were there."

She smiled. "I was? What did you see?"

He looked into the water, shuffling through the images. "We were in the Leaf, actually. I was visiting and took you with me. Naruto told me about a place he liked. We were having a picnic with he and some of the other shinobi. You held my hand."

If he said another sweet thing, Rin would die.

Her hand slid into his, pulling it out of the water and kissing his knuckles. "Like this?"

He nodded. "Was that a dream?"

"Yes. You had a dream."

Gaara smiled like warm sunshine. "I had a dream."

Rin stood up in the hot spring, her legs shaking a bit from staying in one position for so long.

She stretched her arms up towards the night sky, muscles flexing and relaxing all the tension out of her body. This was definitely her favorite place in the Sand so far, and she made plans to visit regularly.

The combination of heat and natural minerals from the mountains, made her skin soft and the bioluminescent algae stayed, giving her a slight glow.

When she finished her great stretch, Rin turned around to face Gaara, only to find him staring at her body.

"Gaara?"

He flinched when she said his name and looked away. "Sorry."

"For what?"

His throat cleared. "For staring."

She placed her hands on her hips, her smile mischievous. "I don't mind if you stare, but after what happened tonight, you're still shy about looking at me?"

The blush on his face reddened even as she said that. "Forgive me, I'm not used to looking at something so beautiful. It will take some getting used to."

Rin's eyes warmed and she bent down to grab hold of his hand, pulling him to his feet in the water.

Her lips found his flustered cheek and she chuckled. "I hope you never do. Let's head back, okay?"

They climbed carefully out of the hot spring and found their clothes, though Rin would have been happy to stare at his form a little longer. Gaara wasn't a large man, by any means, but his built reminded her of a jungle cat; sinewy instead of broad.

She liked that.

He held out a hand to her, leading her to the side of the cliff and she took it readily.

Something in her was different now. A piece that let her know she'd be reaching for his hand for the rest of her life and it was wonderful to be there.

By the time they made it back to the main house, the sun was just peeking over the horizon. The early shift staff set about cooking breakfast and preparing for the day, paying no heed to the Kazekage sneaking in the back with his lover.

Or at least, not opening paying heed.

Gaara took Rin to her room and held the door for her. "You must be exhausted. I'll see you later this evening, for dinner?"

She looked into the empty room and back into his cool gaze. "You're not going to rest up as well?"

He shook his head. "Sadly, no. My duties as Kazekage won't allow it and I'm not tired at all."

"No?"

His eyes shone with memories of the night prior. "Not at all. I've never felt more alive."

It was her turn to feel flattered and she dipped her chin, trying to hide the red rising on her cheeks. "So, shall we discuss what it is I'm supposed to do now?"

"Do?"

Rin fiddled with the edges of her hair. "Since I'm not going back to the Sound and my mission has been completed here, I need something to do. I can't keep living as the guest of the Kazekage, it wouldn't feel right. I need to work to earn my keep."

"You do more than enough to earn it with me." He said with a sexy chuckle.

Rin playfully smacked his shoulder. "I mean it. I can't sit around doing nothing. It's not in my personality."

"I understand. Why don't you rest and we'll discuss it further at dinner tonight? I'll find a place in the Sand for your talents, you have my word."

"Thank you. Well... goodnight then." She said turning into her room.

Suddenly, Gaara's hand took her waist and pulled her into himself, seizing a kiss that made her toes curl and her heart thunder in her chest.

When they parted, he smiled. "Goodnight, my desert rose. I'll be thinking of you all day."

He left and Rin closed the door, sliding down it to sit on the cool floor, her hands pressed to her face. "If he keeps kissing me like that, I'm not going to be able to catch my breath again."

She slid one of her hands down to rest on her heart and smiled at the racing within.

So, this is what it felt like to be in love.

~

Gaara changed clothes and made his way to his office, where his secretary and piles of paperwork waited.

"Good morning, Lord Kazekage."

"Good morning, Kai. Which meetings has Temari scheduled for me today?"

"According to the Captain, you have a meeting with..." She trailed on, her voice dimming in the background.

Gaara tried to focus on her words, nod his head at the appropriate times, but images of last night flittered through his mind.

Rin's soft skin, the curve of her lips, the sounds she made...

"Lord Fifth? Sir?"

His eyes shot up to the mousy woman and he cleared his throat. "Yes, that all sounds perfect. I'll set to work now, thank you."

"Would you like your breakfast delivered here, sir? Your siblings say you didn't eat with them this morning."

The rumbling in his stomach surprised him. Had he really not even noticed he hadn't eaten yet?

"Yes please, oh and ensure that a tray of food is delivered to Ms. Ito's room in a few hours. Something light as she will be joining me for dinner tonight."

"Yes sir."

Kai leapt to his requests and Gaara leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face.

"Get it together. You have a job to do. Time to focus."

He reached for one of many papers on his desk, when the door opened and his concentration was disturbed again.

"There you are. We've been looking for you all morning." Temari scolded.

Kankuro came in behind her. "I had to eat your share of breakfast this morning. Hope you didn't mind?"

"You didn't need to do that. You wanted to do that." His sister glared.

Kankuro shrugged. "Waste not."

Gaara acknowledged them. "My apologies for making you worry. I was away from the home last night."

Temari leaned against the wall, scanning through the schedule she passed on to his secretary. "Doing what?"

His heart quickened, but his voice didn't waver. "I felt like visiting the hot spring. Had some tension to work out."

She nodded. "Ah, I'm glad you're taking advantage of that. Lord Orochimaru departed early this morning, with his escorts."

"Good."

Kankuro studied his brother's face. "I'm assuming Ms. Ito didn't join him, then?"

Gaara picked up a document and scanned it. "She did not."

"So, she's staying here?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

He glanced up from the paper and back down. "Indefinitely."

Kankuro crossed his arms with a smile. "Well, how about that? Looks like she's made quite the impression on you, Gaara."

"You could say that."

Temari looked between her two brothers and the realization dawned on her. "Wait a second. I didn't see Ms. Ito at the breakfast table either. Did she eat today?"

"I'm having a tray of food delivered to her later. She'll be asleep for the next few hours."

"Did she have a late night?"

Gaara tried to keep his face calm. "Yes."

"Helping you sleep, was she?"

It felt like his entire body was on fire. "Well... I did sleep afterwards."

There was silence; utter, consuming silence as the realization of his words settled into the room.

Temari's face looked so uncomfortable, but was over-shadowed by Kankuro rushing to the desk and pulling the document straight out of his brother's hand. "Are you saying you did what I think you did?!"

Gaara avoided his gaze.

"Well?! Spit it out!"

He gave the smallest nod and it was enough to set the Puppet Master into a frenzy. "Hot damn! It happened! We need to celebrate! We need food and music and alcohol. Oh, so much alcohol! I'm so proud of you!"

His hand found its way to Gaara's shoulder with a sharp smack. "Tell me everything!"

"No, he will not!" Temari barked and she rushed to retrieve her brother.

"Come on Temari! This is amazing! Don't you want to know?"

"I don't and you shouldn't. This is Gaara's private business and if you have enough time to waste prying into it, then you're not busy enough. Get out of this room, right now!"

"But..."

"Now!"

She pushed him outside, slamming the door behind them and Gaara slid down in his chair, trying to hide his red face away from the world.

Temari's hand found her brother's ear, much like when they were children, and led him down the hallway.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Let go, will ya?" He whined.

She released him and crossed her arms. "Leave him alone about this. I mean it, Kankuro."

He rubbed his throbbing ear. "I don't get it. This is great! Why shouldn't we show him our support?"

"Is it great?"

Kankuro lowered his hand. "Why not? Our brother is in love. Gaara found someone he loves and she loves him back. Ask yourself, Temari, in your heart of hearts, did you ever think that would happen for him?"

Her eyes came to the floor, ashamed at the thought she had. "No."

"So, why can't we be happy for him? Don't you like Rin? I thought she was getting on your good side, lately?"

"It's not that I don't like her."

"You still don't trust her? I think she's proven herself loyal to Gaara enough. We don't need to suspect her anymore."

"It's not that either."

Kankuro scratched his head. "Then what's the problem?"

Temari's breath was a long sigh, the sadness uncommon on her cold face. "I'm so happy Gaara's in love. From the bottom of my heart, I am, and someone like Rin is perfect for him. She's feisty, but kind and incredibly patient. I think she's a wonderful fit emotionally, but... Kankuro... you know they can't be together."

"Why not?"

She looked at him like he was incredibly stupid. "Think with your mind for a moment. Whether we like it or not, Rin Ito is from the Sound. The village is already buzzing with rumors of their courtship and they aren't pleased. Every Kazekage in the past, has married a woman of the Sand and those women all had stature of some kind. Noble families have already been sending requests for him to meet their daughters and arrange a marriage."

Kankuro made a face. "I haven't seen any of these letters and Gaara never mentioned them."

She nodded. "I've been intercepting them. So far, none of the women brought up would have been a beneficial match, regardless. Also, I didn't feel Gaara was at a place in his life to consider marriage, so I didn't want to bother him with it. Now, it seems, I was wrong."

The two started to walk down the hall together, their voices hushed with the discussion.

Kankuro looked around to make sure they weren't followed. "So, what does this mean for them? Are you saying there's no way they can be together?"

Temari shook her head. "I'm afraid not. The council would never allow it. There is no benefit from the match."

"But he loves her."

The silence between them was heavy and Temari felt like she was sinking into the floor. "I know and that makes everything far more complicated."