Let's Have a Talk

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Rin tapped her finger along with the rhythm of the machine beside her. It was completely unnecessary, seeing as she could breathe fine on her own, but it made everyone feel better.

She'd come so close to death; the over-protectiveness was understandable.

Night descended on the hospital like a lonely cloud. Visiting hours ended long ago and even a Kazekage wasn't exempt from their policies.

Rin shifted her head to stare at the square of glass that served as the lone window in her room. The moon was half-full, strange how it was gone the night of the attack. She'd lost a few days of her life in the process.

Her fingers curled into fists.

No, she'd lost much more than just that.

The image of Haru's protruding bones and hollowed eyes assaulted her whenever she drifted off to sleep. It would take years, if ever, for her dreams to return to the pleasant abyss she'd trained herself to embrace each night.

And the person responsible was resting in the room right beside her.

Rin knew she was there, could feel her presence with each passing hour.

She'd promised Gaara she wouldn't try anything in his absence, but the thought still called to her.

Her head turned, so that she was staring down the empty wall separating them.

"I know you're there." Her voice sounded vacant in the darkness.

Yua didn't answer.

Rin wasn't sure what state they found her, everyone was being annoying careful about her feelings and what they should bring up.

They wouldn't tell her much, except that Yua was alive and confined to her quarters until further actions could be decided.

Her desire for revenge wasn't the priority.

Yua was an enemy of the Sand and would be put to trial for charges of terrorism, espionage, attempted murder and a list of other things, that numbed in Rin's ears, when they told her.

Though her muscles ached with the motion, Rin managed to throw her legs over the side of her bed. Her feet met the cold ground and it sent a shiver up her spine.

She'd convinced the nurses to let her walk to the bathroom on her own, stating atrophy was setting in, but she was pretty sure they just didn't want to deal with her arguing anymore.

Rin was anything, if not persistent.

However, Gaara was just as annoying perceptive as she, when he posted a guard outside her door at all times.

"It's to keep you safe, in case Yua finds a way out of her restraints." He'd offered as an explanation, but Rin knew better.

He was keeping her from doing just the thing she was set on tonight.

Enough time had passed. She didn't deserve to breathe the crisp air or to rest against a soft, cotton bed. Not when Haru would never do either again.

"Stand up." Rin told her body.

It didn't obey her.

Her lip curled into a snarl and she slammed a fist against her thigh. "Stupid body. I'm telling you to stand up!"

Still nothing.

Rin let out a long, frustrated breath.

Each time she went through this, it waned at her patience. She could have all of the kindness and compassion for her client's progress, but when it came to her own health, she was as bad as a toddler.

After the fifth time of her standing and falling back to the bed, her legs finally found their strength and she stood, shakily, but still standing, nonetheless.

"That's more like it." Rin said to herself and she used the wall to slide herself to the door.

Peeking out the entrance, she saw her posted guard and breathed a sigh of relief at the face. "Ikki! You came all this way to protect, little old me?"

Her original guard turned and smiled at her. "Yes, ma'am."

She leaned against the doorframe. "I'm not used to seeing you without Kazue. Where is Mr. Strong and Silent?"

He laughed. "Oh, he's around. Said something about going to get a coffee. Apparently, my conversation isn't stimulating enough for him."

Rin batted her eyes, trying to give off an easy, flirtatious presence. "Now I can't imagine that for one minute."

It didn't work, but then, if she could see her bruised face, she doubted she'd be easily influenced either.

Her legs trembled beneath her. "So, how long are you standing post?"

"All night."

"That sounds boring. Are you sure you wouldn't like a little break? I won't tell anyone."

Ikki's eyebrow rose. "And leave you defenseless? I think not."

Rin tried her best to stand strong, despite the wobble in her knees. "Defenseless? Who said I was defenseless?"

"Lord Kazekage, ma'am."

She scoffed. "Well, he's exaggerating. I'm perfectly fine. Look, even standing up all on my own."

Ikki glanced from the doorframe to her with a dubious look. "Uh huh, try to walk away from the door, then."

Rin bit the inside of her cheek, trying to distract herself from the pain, as she left the wall and stood up straight. It didn't matter that she suffered broken ribs on her right side or a fracture in her left tibia, she was getting to that room and no one was going to stop her.

Even if it felt like she would throw up from the pain.

"See? All by myself."

The guard looked her up and down. "I'm still not convinced."

"Oh, for the love of..." Rin bit off her swear.

"That's quite enough of that." The harsh voice sent a shiver through both their spines.

Rin winced and looked to Temari, who was standing in the hallway, arms crossed, glare cold. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"Stretching."

Ikki stood at attention. "She was trying to convince me to leave her unattended, ma'am."

Rin glared at him. "Blabbermouth."

He didn't look back, but continued to stare ahead, waiting for Temari's wrath.

"Is that so?" She said, approaching Rin, who felt the edges of her vision darkening.

Temari looked her up and down and poked a single finger on her chest, sending her spiraling backwards.

Just before she hit the ground, the capable woman dipped low and caught her. "That's what I thought. Back to bed for you."

Rin squirmed in her grasp. "I'm not a child, Temari!"

"And I have no patience for this."

"Put me down!"

"Gladly." Temari said and she dropped Rin unceremoniously onto the bed.

A wave of fresh, grinding pain spread through her muscles and it took everything she had not to scream. She wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction.

The scrap of the chair's legs against the floor seemed too loud in the quiet hospital and Temari sat herself beside the bed, the look of annoyance never leaving her face. "Let's have a talk, you and I."

Rin breathed through the throbbing in her legs. "What about?"

"Oh, I don't know. How about the weather? The migration of the northern birds? How you managed to nearly get my brother killed? Any of those would work."

The wave of nausea passed, leaving a cold sweat on Rin's forehead. "Is that why you've waited until everyone else was gone? You wanted to corner me."

Temari tilted her head. "I didn't want to be interrupted."

Rin's sigh was deep in her chest. "Say what you need to say, Temari. Games don't fit you."

The blonde captain crossed her arms, her voice low and dangerous. "Funny you mention games. I want to know exactly what kind of game you're playing at."

"I'm not following."

Her gaze narrowed. "I did some research on you, Rin Ito. Dug into your past a little. You've quite the interesting background. Laboratory experiment... concubine."

Rin's blood ran cold. "I was never a concubine."

"Oh? It's reported differently. Tell me, what exactly was your purpose for being made in the first place? It seems your original set of DNA is waiting in the room beside us and she nearly eliminated you, without so much as breaking a sweat. I've had my run-ins with Orochimaru. I know he's only interested in the superior models, so why were you created, when Yua was superior in the first place?"

"Why is this relevant to you?"

Temari's hawk-like gaze studied Rin's face. "Because my brother is in love with you."

Rin froze at the words.

The Captain nodded. "Yeah, you don't like that term, do you? Funny how he's managed to admit it, but you haven't, yet. What's the hold up, Rin? Do you actually feel for Gaara or are you one talented little escort?"

Her hands curled into fists, squeezing the blanket so hard, it felt like it would tear. Her voice matched Temari's intensity. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Enlighten me."