9 Welcome to Paradise

The afternoon sun beat down on the pair, its radiant beams sucking the energy out of Rin with each step she took.

How she loathed the desert.

Kankuro insisted on carrying her bag, which made the trek infinitely easier than when she first arrived, but it was clear this wasn't her forte.

He slowed his steps so she wouldn't fall too far behind him, but continued his frustrating game of not telling her where they were going.

"Can I get a hint?"

"Nope."

"A clue?"

"No."

"A smidge in the right direction?"

"Good try, but no."

Rin pouted to herself.

What was it Gaara needed to show her that brought her so far away from the village?

A dangerous thought flashed through her mind.

What if it wasn't Gaara's order at all? What if she was being led straight into a trap and she didn't realize it?

She eyed Kankuro, trying to account for any weapons he had.

She was certain that puppet, forever strapped to his back, would make quick work of her.

Rin was trained in combat from a young age, as all ninja were, but she'd left those days far behind her.

Her talents lied in healing people, not damaging them, and if the Puppet Master of the Sand were as dangerous as she heard, it was far too late for her to try and run from him.

She stopped walking, her hands trembling into fists by her sides. "Kankuro."

He turned. "Yeah?"

She took a deep gulp and made her voice sound firm. "Where are you taking me? Why am I being escorted away from the village like this?"

His brow furled. "I told you, Gaara wanted a change of scenery."

Rin raised her hands up and gestured at the vast ocean of sand surrounding them. "What change would that be? Everywhere you look it's the same. Sand over here, sand over there and oh, look, even more sand! I demand to know what's going on, right now."

Kankuro stared her down, studying the change in her tone, the fixed state of her posture.

He stepped closer to her and she stepped back. "Interesting that you think you can make demands of anything."

Rin wavered. "Am I not still a guest of the Sand Village?"

"Are we in the village?"

She wanted to run.

Her feet begged her to move, to rush away from the man she thought was a friendly presence.

But where could she go?

She wasn't even sure if she'd make it to the village on her own or that there wouldn't be reinforcements waiting to seize her.

"Is it because I'm a member of the Sound? Is that why?"

"Why what, exactly?"

Rin closed her eyes, waiting. "Why you're going to kill me out here, where they won't find my body?"

There was a moment of heated silence, followed instantly by laughter.

Rin peeked open one eye and found her guide doubled over, gripping his sides.

"What's so funny?"

He laughed hard, snorting occasionally and had to try more than once to gather himself to speak. "You! Oh, man Rin, you're a riot!"

His voice took on a feminine tone. "You're going to hide my body somewhere out here! Please, no, Kankuro!"

Rin rolled her eyes, hands coming to her hips. "It's not funny."

"It is!" He fell to one knee, "Your face! I almost couldn't hold it together."

"You've led me into the middle of nowhere, taking my belongings with you, no further escort and not a sight of anyone in miles! What else should I think?"

Kankuro stood from his perch, wiping away the tears that streamed down his face. "I see your point, I do, but you have to admit, it's a little funny."

Rin crossed her arms. "I'm glad you think so."

He came closer and put an arm around her shoulders. "We're nearly there. The only reason I haven't said anything about where we're going, is because I don't want to spoil the surprise for you. Trust me, if we were going to kill you, we wouldn't need to come all the way out here to do it."

"Well... I suppose that's good to know."

Kankuro winked at her. "You'll be pleased. Come on, it's just over that last dune."

They climbed the steep hill together, Rin holding onto Kankuro's arm and refusing to look down.

It wasn't as if she were afraid of heights, but something about the idea of rolling down sand and getting lost in the middle of the wave, made her uneasy.

When they finally reached the top, her legs ached and her face was raw from the heat and the wind.

It didn't seem like any surprise would be worth it, until her eyes fell on a sight that took her breath away.

She rose a hand to her mouth and gasped. "Oh..."

"Ms. Ito, welcome to Paradise."

The oasis wasn't like anything she'd seen in her life.

Protected from the wind by walls of sand on either side, the blindingly white building reflected off the crystal blue water surrounding it. Green palm trees circled the water, as if they'd been strategically planted to provide the perfect amount of shade.

There was a wooden bridge stretching out over the water, with candles lining the walkway.

She imagined what the already spectacular place would look like under nightfall and the thought made her want to swoon.

Rin took a step to start climbing down the dune, when a wave of sand met her foot and circled up her legs, holding her in place.

Kankuro smiled. "Looks like someone knows you've arrived."

The sand felt pleasantly warm, not at all like the vicious beating she'd taken on her trip there.

It wrapped up her body and gently lifted her off the ground, floating her to the bottom like she was a feather on the wind.

Rin felt a rush from the descent and was sure if she closed her eyes, it was the closest to flying she'd ever experience.

When she made it to the bottom, she was surprised to find Gaara waiting on the other side of the walkway.

He bowed his head, walking to meet her in the middle. "Thank you for coming, Rin. I hope the trip here wasn't too taxing?"

She glared back at Kankuro, who looked like he may have another attack of laughter at her expense. "No, it was fine, thank you."

"Good, I'm glad to hear that."

They smiled awkwardly at each other, Rin feeling out of place in the beautiful vista. This certainly wasn't what she expected when she woke up this morning and found him gone.

"So, what now? Why did you want me to meet you out here?"

Gaara looked down. "Well, if I'm perfectly honest, I felt guilty about what happened last night."

Kankuro took a step closer, clearly listening to the conversation.

Rin noticed him and Gaara's face reddened. "Kankuro, thank you for the escort. You're free to return to your duties."

"Oh, come on! I just got here and you never know if there are enemies waiting. I should stay close and protect the two of you."

The Kazekage sighed. "Fine, help yourself to some refreshments and then assume post."

"Yes sir." He saluted and took the hint, leaving them to their talks.

Gaara held up an arm for her to take. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to talk about what happened and why I left."

Rin thought about it, looking from his arm, up to his face. He seemed cut off in some way, despondent. "All right."

She accepted his arm and he escorted her inside the resort without a word.

Rin gasped under her breath at the expansive room. It was the same shade of brilliant white as the outside, reflecting the light off the water, painting the walls with its natural beauty.

There was a dark blue couch in the middle of the room and a few reclining chairs to the side.

Plants filled each corner and a vine of twisting flowers circled the windows.

Rin left her escort and stepped up to inspect them. "These are beautiful. What are they?"

"Ember roses. They only grow in this desert."

She gently took one into her hand, rising on her toes to smell it. The scent wasn't what she expected. It wasn't sweet or even floral for that matter, the rose smelt warm, spicy, like a living flame caught in her hand.

Gaara stood beside her, appraising the flowers. "They were my mother's favorite, or so I'm told."

Rin glanced up at his face and memorized the expression. He looked longing at the blossom and then turned away from it, settling himself on the couch.

"Can you please join me?"

She took one last sniff of the roses and sat beside him. "Is everything all right? This is quite a display just for a simple conversation."

He sat forward, elbows on his knees and sighed. "It's more than a simple conversation. I want to apologize for what happened in my mind last night. I never wanted you to see that side of me."

"But you're in control of your mind, Gaara. Your subconscious shows me exactly what you want. I can't pull memories out of you."

"I know logically, that's how it works, but it doesn't change the fact that I was out of control. I knew it would happen sooner or later. I knew that if we continued to go deeper into my mind, that ugly side of me would surface. I'm just sorry it did and I am sorry I hurt you in the process."

Rin shifted in her seat. "I wouldn't say you hurt me, per se."

He gave her a scornful look. "We both know that's not true."

She sighed and scooched closer to her client. "Well, maybe not, but it's not as bad as you're making it seem. I'm fine. I just needed some sleep to recover, that's all."

Gaara placed his head in his hands. "It could have been worse. I said some terrible things to you. Questioned your intentions for helping me and I'm sorry."

Rin's hand went to his knee, squeezing it softly. "I have a feeling you say those words a lot."

"Which?"

"I'm sorry."

Gaara still refused to look at her. "I have a lot to be sorry for."

Rin searched through her memories of last night, the foul creature which tossed her around like a rag doll and told her she was only there to gain his secrets. "Do you think I'm your friend, Gaara?"

He flinched under the words, but didn't say anything in return.

Rin slid her arm around his shoulders, her voice softening. "Well?"

"I think so."

"So, if you believe I am your friend and I'm here to help you work through whatever block is keeping you from sleep, why won't you look me in the eye and tell me what you need to say?"

He took a breath, raised his head and caught her eyes in his.

The pale green, she'd noticed the first day, shone in the reflected light off the waters outside.

His gaze bore into her and his voice came out soft. "I'm afraid if we go any further, I'll say things to you I'll regret."

"But you..."

"I know. I know. I'm in control of what you see and don't see. But, there's something about you, Rin. Something that makes me want to reveal myself to you, unfiltered, uncontrolled and that scares me. You scare me."

That was a first. She honestly didn't know how to respond to such a statement. Never in her history of using her jutsu, was someone afraid of her help.

She broke his gaze and looked down. "I see. If you want to cancel our contract, I understand. The process won't work if you're afraid to be honest with me. I'll go get my things from Kankuro."

She rose off the couch, her heart sinking into her stomach, until his hand grasped her wrist. "No. Please, please don't go. Stay with me, Rin."

She looked back at him and felt her sinking heart flutter at the expression in his eyes.

He rose to meet her, her wrist still clasped securely in his hands.

His voice was a heated whisper. "Stay the night with me."