Rules and Regulations

Gaara rarely felt anything.

In his adolescence, he'd experienced anger, hatred, betrayal, but up until recently, most of his feelings were confined to a box.

Anything that could distract him from leading his village or furthering his reach, was smashed down into his constant battle for control.

It felt safer that way.

Now, with the person who came into his world like a bolt of lightning, he felt things completely anew- emotions denied to him from childhood. Because of her, he knew happiness, desire and kind of serenity, he thought impossible.

Seeing Rin bow in front of the elders, her face haughty and fierce, he felt something entirely new:

Pride.

She turned on her heel, giving her hair a flip for good measure and strode out of his council room, as if she hadn't a care in the world.

He believed Rin was a warm light, something soft and comforting against his darkness.

He was mistaken.

She wasn't just a tender force or someone who held him at night, making him feel brave.

She was a raging fire.

Watching her leave, the elders gaping after her, he knew it would be pointless to contain that flame; she'd burn anyone who tried.

Kaba's face looked as if it might explode, her outrage fuming. "Ms. Ito? Ms. Ito! You haven't been dismissed! This is a very poor display of the Sound!"

Rin came to the door and stopped. "I believe you need to stop and figure out which side of my village you want to focus on. Either we are vicious assassins or the peak of cooperation, you let me know which you decide. I have better things to do."

And with that, she left.

All the members of the council turned to Gaara, their faces helpless against her dismissal.

He offered a polite bow. "Well, I think we have our answer to whether or not she'll lend assistance. I'll see to the prisoner myself and continue investigations."

The older councilwoman sputtered. "Lord Fifth! What do you intend to do about this vulgar display of insolence against your council?"

"I'm not sure."

"She can't speak to us like that. She needs some kind of punishment!"

Gaara felt the edges of his mouth stitch into a smirk. "I'll see to that as well. I assure you, there will be strict discipline given for this display. Thank you, council-members, goodnight."

Temari's jaw dropped.

"Of all the meetings for Kankuro to miss," She thought to herself.

She didn't even try to keep eye contact with him as he passed, but she didn't miss how he moved with an ease, previously unseen.

Whatever Rin Ito did to her brother, she had a distinct feeling it would change how their village was run in the future; she couldn't predict whether that was a good thing or not.

~

Rin practically sashayed out of the council-room, feeling the weight of their expectations falling off of her with each step.

"Screw them, screw Orochimaru, screw all of this. Gaara's right, I'm not just a thing to be used for their purpose. I'm my own person."

She stood in the middle of the hallway, stretching her arms above her head. "I'm never going to let anyone else speak for me again. They can all shove it!"

"Ms. Ito."

Rin turned, taking in the stern face of the Kazekage.

He stood, arms crossed, eyes unreadable in the dim light.

Rin lowered her arms, lacing them behind her back. "Yes?"

"Will you join me in private quarters? I feel we need to have a discussion about etiquette and respect."

Her heart quickened half a beat. "Are you angry with me?"

His eyebrow rose. "The Kazekage doesn't feel petty things like anger. Come, let's further this lesson in private."

She wanted to protest, but caught his gaze, as it flicked to the side.

The door to the council room was propped open, shadows of listening ears trailing onto the floor.

She tried to keep her smile off her face. "I see. Yes, I'll join you. Perhaps I've not been properly taught on the Sand's customs? Who knows what my upbringing in the Sound has done to my propriety?"

Gaara's mouth twitched. "Indeed. Shall we?"

Two of the guards leapt to escort them, but were waved off by their head. "No need, I'll handle this matter myself."

Rin waited for him to pass, her head lowered and remorseful.

The fact that either of them were able to contain their laughter through the quiet hallways, was astounding.

They hadn't even made it to the room, before any resemblance of control left and both parties shook with the raw joy that bubbled within.

Gaara held open the door for her and locked it behind them. "Well, that was a sight."

"I'm sorry! I got a little carried away."

"A little?"

Making his face just visible, she peered at him between her finger and thumb "This much?"

Gaara shook his head, spreading her fingers out that she could see the whole room now. "Try again."

"Okay, maybe more than a little."

He laughed, taking her hand in his and holding it to his chest. "So, in less than a week, you've successfully told off distinguished members of my council, not once, but twice, and have received no punishment for it."

"Well, if they wouldn't say such outlandish things, I wouldn't have to tell them off, now would I?"

"Rin."

She rolled her eyes. "I know. I know. Protocol is very important to the Sand."

He slipped an arm around her waist. "And?"

"And I should respect the members you placed in charge of advising you."

His firm chest pressed against her, locking her in his embrace. "What else?"

"I'm a guest here. I should..."

His lips trailed along her forehead. "Yes?"

"Mmm."

"I'm listening."

"I can't think when you do that."

His voice was a low chuckle. "Oh? How about when I do this?"

He tilted her chin up and met her desire with his own.

Hot, electric bolts tingled through her body, curling her toes. A throbbing took her lower stomach, pulsating in time with his heart, whose beat she could feel in her own chest.

He pulled back for a second and she gasped. "Nope. Still can't think."

"Good. Regardless, I hope you've learned something from this talk?"

Rin shook her head, biting her lower lip against her smile. "I don't think so. I may need another lesson."

"Bad girl."

She giggled, raising up on her toes to kiss him again.

These were the moments when Gaara felt the strongest.

His desire for control, outmatched by his desire for her hands on him, her lips against his. Rin Ito was a dangerous sensation and if he weren't careful, he was halfway sure, she'd be the ruin of him.

She broke their kiss and rested her head on his shoulder. "On a realistic note, what do you intend to do about the spy from my village?"

He sighed. "I'm not sure."

Rin pulled away from him, so she could read his expression. "If it's all right, may I speak with them?"

"The prisoner?"

She nodded. "If it's indeed someone from my village, I can at least let you know who and what kind of person they are."

"He has his tongue cut out, Rin. I don't know how much you're going to get out of him. Are you sure the sight won't upset you?"

"Since when am I a greenhouse orchid?"

He looked towards the setting sun. "I don't think of you that way at all. I'm just worried it will do more harm than good."

She placed a hand to his face and turned his eyes back to her. "I'll be fine. I may not be willing to invade another's mind, but I will help the Sand in any way I can. Take me to him."

Gaara held her hand tighter to his face, kissing her palm. "Very well."

~

The walk to the prison wasn't far. Rin was surprised they'd built it so close to the home where the Kazekage stayed. It seemed like a wild security risk to her.

"It's designed that way on purpose."

She looked up to him. "Why is that?"

"The Kazekage is the strongest member of the Sand Village. If someone dangerous were to escape, I'd rather put my life at risk, than any of my people."

Rin smiled.

She felt such a staunch difference walking through the village now, then she did this morning. No one stopped to question them or sling verbal barbs at her, there wasn't even more than a whispered threat her way.

Everyone kept to themselves, offering little more than an inquisitive stare.

Her heart quieted at the sense of safety she felt beside him. If she could, by some miracle, stay in the Sand, being with Gaara would make it livable.

The rusty door of the prison opened with a squeak, but the sound barely registered with Rin, over the screaming that echoed up the dark staircase.

She knew nightmares; faced off against monsters great and small, but the sounds coming out of the prisoner's cell, were enough to give her chills.

Whomever they had locked away down there, wasn't human anymore. Nothing human could hold that kind of malevolence in its voice alone.

Gaara helped her down the last stair and took a torch from one of the posted guards, whose faces looked like they would break from all the screaming they heard that day.

He put a hand on Rin's shoulder. "Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Okay, approach slowly."

She nodded, taking the torch from him. Her voice came out stronger than she felt and she steeled herself to face whatever madness waited in the cell. "Hello, I'm Rin Ito from the Sound. Let's see who you are."

The face that greeted her made her stop short, dropping the torch to the ground and slamming her hands over her mouth.

Gaara bent to retrieve it. "Rin? What's wrong? Who is it?"

Tears spilled down her face, her voice a small, shaking whisper. "H... Haru?"