All You Need

Rin watched the tiny spots of light rise into the sky, like sparks from an open flame.

How such beautiful things could exist all the way out here, was beyond her.

She closed her eyes and listened to the melody of crickets, felt the soft grass beneath her bare feet, breathed deep the scent of salt and night breezes.

These were the moments she held onto when life seemed to crumble around her; precious, fleeting moments of happiness.

This moment was given as a gift and she was grateful. She turned to thank the one who thought of it and found him looking down.

He was always looking down.

Rin watched how the fireflies floated around him, as if they too, were drawn to his presence. One brave little light dared to land on his shoulder and remained, blinking on and off.

In an odd way, it seemed to belong there, as if his shoulders were the safest place in all the world.

She stepped closer to him and raised her finger for the firefly to release its perch. "You're popular with creatures of the night, aren't you?"

Gaara looked up, surprised she was in front of him. "I suppose so."

"What's wrong? You seemed fine a minute ago and you've changed."

The Kazekage stayed still, until the bug left him and was safely in Rin's grasp.

"I have a lot on my mind."

She raised her hands to the dark sky and released the firefly to join its brothers.

Afterwards, she slipped her arm into Gaara's, as easily as if it were out of place before. "Well, I think that's my cue. Let's go inside."

"Are you sure? We can stay out here as long as you like."

She shook her head and led him through the door. "I have a job to do, my mission to complete and you need a good night's sleep, for once. This was a happy break, though. Thank you for letting me experience it."

He didn't say much, but allowed her to take him where ever she wanted.

Gaara had the feeling that would be the case for as long as he knew her.

They walked past the discarded table and shelves of books, away from the Ember Roses she loved so much and into the bedroom, where Kankuro left her bag.

Rin scanned the room, judging with a critical eye, if it were set up for her purposes.

She found a large bed, with soft, cotton sheets and plush pillows.

It held a few more house plants in the corners, but not too many to be crowded.

She found no unnecessary distractions and mentally signed off on it.

"All right, go ahead and lay down."

He complied, resting on the unfamiliar bed.

While he sometimes used the Oasis as a retreat, he rarely stayed there. If he were to walk lonely hallways all night, they might as well be around his people, in case he was needed.

Rin set to work, lighting candles around the bedroom, spreading out her supplies and making herself at home.

He wondered if there was a place she couldn't make feel like her own?

He doubted it.

"Would you care for the jasmine, again?"

He nodded. "Yes, please."

She removed her dragon incense holder and placed it carefully on the dresser. The small trail of smoke rose through the room, filling it with its sweet scent.

Rin picked up her blue glass bottle and red ribbon, who felt like old friends in her hands.

"Massage tonight?"

The question rattled around in Gaara's mind, in an unsettling need. He wanted her hands on him again, but sincerely doubted it would be the relaxing endeavor she was hoping.

He didn't feel drowsy that night, he felt alive.

The combined images of her rising out of the clear waters, sitting at the table saying she respected him, her lovely face when it lit up as bright as the fireflies, none of these things made him feel relaxed; they made him feel excited, electric.

"No, I think I'm fine."

She seemed surprised by that, but continued to set up, humming to herself.

He was acting like an idiot and he knew it.

If Temari were there, she would scold him, for sure.

Rin Ito was a professional, all of his foolish thoughts were his own. It wasn't fair to try and read something from her, that clearly wasn't there.

That determination made his heart ache.

Rin sat beside him on the bed, instead of across where she usually was.

She propped her back on the headboard and smiled at him. "I'm ready, if you are?"

"Ready for what, exactly?"

She reached a hand to touch his and was pleased when he didn't pull away. "I have a confession to make."

"A confession?!" He thought to himself, heart pounding.

She squeezed his hand gently. "I've had a lot of fun at this paradise of yours. It was a wonderful change of scenery and I'm so glad you thought of it. While, I was enjoying myself, I haven't been in full-fun mode for no reason."

"What do you mean?"

"I've been studying you this entire time."

"That's unnerving."

She laughed, her eyes lighting up at his response. "I'm here on a job, Gaara. I'm always trying to see what changes around my clients. What I can do to make them feel more at home or relaxed."

"Right, your mission. The whole reason I asked for you in the first place."

"Correct. I've discovered something very interesting about you, Lord Kazekage."

His heart thundered in his chest at her words. "And that is?"

Her fingers brushed along his hand. "You have a craving for touch. I'd venture to say, it's your greatest desire in this world."

He nodded, thinking to himself. "So, that's why she's crossed the physical barrier between us. She was testing me this entire time to see if I would push her away and I didn't. It makes perfect sense."

"I see."

Rin's sharp eyes caught the expression on his face. "What's this now? My revelation seems to make you sad."

Gaara tried to shake his head and act casual. "No, not at all. That's very interesting. It's probably because I'm not used to a lot of touching in my life. It wasn't a high priority to give a living weapon affection. Well done figuring it out. I'm glad your test worked."

Her breath caught in her throat. She made him sad because he thought it was an all an act.

Rin scooted closer to him. "Oh, oh I see. I'm sorry, Gaara, I think I've misled you."

"Misled me?"

She smiled, her heart pounding at his expression. "I wasn't pretending today at all. Just because I notice changes in you, doesn't mean I'm not engaged, as well."

Her hand trailed up his arm and rested on his face, turning it to look at her. "I had a wonderful time today, with you."

He studied her face; the way her eyes held him, the tender feeling of her hand caressing him, it felt different than anything he'd known in his life.

His eyes trailed down to the perfect rose-colored lips which called to him. He wanted to know if they were as sweet as everything else about her?

But before he could move to find out, Rin pulled him closer, wrapping her arm around the back of his neck and holding him to her.

He stayed frozen to his spot, unsure of what to do next.

Rin waited for him to figure it out.

She'd never met someone who didn't even understand a hug before.

She stayed holding him there, feeling all his muscles tense and then, suddenly release, as his arms came around her back and held her to him.

"Rin...I."

"Shh."

His chest rose and fell, feelings coursing through him with each heartbeat.

This was new, this was a new emotion and he didn't know what to do with it.

Had it really been so long since he was hugged like this? When was the last time? Could he even remember?

Rin gave him a quick one outside, but not like this. Nothing like this.

His forehead rested against her shoulder and he allowed himself to cling to her, hiding from the world, from its cruelties. Feeling like he'd somehow done something to deserve them.

She winced at how strong he was, but didn't let him know.

Sometimes, answers were so incredibly simple, they brushed right past her.

Gaara of the Sand, seemed like such a terrifying case; legendary weapon, highborn Kazekage, known all throughout the world, for having one of the most terrifying demons inside of him, but at the end of the day, he just needed to lose himself in someone else.

She felt like an idiot for not knowing it sooner.

They stayed like that for a long time, Gaara treasuring her warmth, Rin trying not to react from his response to her affection.

It made her angry to think of the little boy she saw, never having this, never having someone take the time to make him feel protected or cared for.

He didn't deserve any of the hardships he'd endured.

If there was anything they were to accomplish from her time in the Sand, she would make him know that. Nothing he did warranted the kind of cruelty he'd been through.

His great sin was being born into the Kazekage's family, nothing more.

After a moment, she gently pulled back from his embrace and laid down on her back.

Taking hold of his shoulders, she brought him with her, so that his head was resting on her chest, over her heart.

She wrapped her arms around him and felt him exhale in one long breath.

Rin didn't need any of the fancy oils or herbs she brought. Nor did she require her vast studies in energy and muscle manipulation.

All he needed, was for her to love him and that was something she could do extremely well.

Her fingers brushed through his red hair, smoothing down the fly-aways and she placed her other arm across his shoulders, so he could feel her protective grasp.

Gaara laid draped across her, wrapping his arms under her back and looking across the room, in a trance-like state.

Repressed memories flooded through his mind, that never seemed at peace.

He felt like he was floating above his body, not quite in the room.

Whatever Rin did to him, he wasn't prepared for it.

She'd already awakened moments in his psyche that he wished weren't there, but this was something different.

In this moment, she called to a part of him, he thought long dead.

He cried it out when his uncle was sent to kill him at the tender age of six and never gained it back.

Even though his life was getting better and his village finally started to see him as one of them and not the monster he was led to believe, he wasn't healed.

With Shukaku gone, everyone just assumed he would recover and left him at that.

No one stopped to think of the ramifications.

He wasn't sure how to feel; angry? Hurt? Grateful? What was he supposed to do? What did they expect him to do?

A sound caught his ear, pulling him down deeper into her.

The steady beating of her heart was a metronome, drawing his eyes closed, drifting him away with its rhythm.

She ran her fingers through his hair, brushing divine tingles down his back and though it was so soft, he could barely hear it, her voice resonated through her chest; sweet and warm.

The tender melody sank into the edges of his mind, lulling him with an expert grace.

She didn't bother wrapping her hand with his in the red ribbon, they were beyond that now.

Her fingers slid down his forehead and trailed along his closed eyes, massaging the tension that always remained there.

The dark circles provided the perfect path for her gentle touch and he moaned softly.

A warmth rose up within him, starting from his feet and trailing up to his head, which fell heavily into her soft chest.

He was so relaxed; he barely comprehended her whisper. "Somnam Jutsu."

Her deepest journey into his mind, had only just begun.