Priceless

Rin slept a dreamless sleep, which was a strange phenomenon for her.

Sometimes she'd have her own memories displayed, but she never liked to dwell on them. Most nights, she dreamt other people's memories; things shown to her in their distress.

Those images were so clear to them and held onto the dream walker, long after the host dismissed them.

She wondered if Mr. Akiko still dreamt of giant gophers in his kitchen... because she did.

But this time, this wonderful day, she just closed her eyes, disappeared for a while and opened them again, nothing more.

She stretched out long in the bed, burring her face in the pillows.

It felt good.

The sun dipping on the far wall, let her know she'd only been out for a few hours and that was fine, she didn't need to sleep the day away.

Rin pulled her knees up to her chest, thinking about the prior night.

Gaara's expressions, the pleasant sensations rippling up and down her body, how even now, she could still smell him on her skin and it made her heart warm.

She inhaled the scent of afternoon heat and musk.

Gaara.

Her arms longed for him long after he left her side.

Her feet found the cool floor, leading to the window, where white curtains drifted in the warm breeze.

Rin pulled back the cloth to reveal the bustling village below.

She rested her chin in her hand, watching them go about their lives, like a heavenly spectator.

"Bread! Fresh baked bread! Grab some for your table!"

"Finest cloth in Suna! Silk worm tapestries!"

The cry of merchant living was a melody she could get used to.

Of course, there were shops in the Sound, but not like these. They were only just discovering what it meant to be a village and what would be in demand to be self-sustaining.

No one sang out their product; instead, the buyer was expected to walk into backrooms, where deals were made and products were exchanged under the table.

It's why she preferred to keep her business outside the village barriers. It seemed far more peaceful that way.

Between the sound of dancing river, the rustle of tree branches and the scent of her crackling fireplace, Rin was convinced there would never be a better place for her craft; especially here.

She watched a mother peruse a stand that sold dates, while her young son tried to coax a puppy out from one of the alleys.

Her heart dipped.

She missed her cute little shop.

Now that her mother was dead and she made her decision to stay in the Sand, no one would be around to man it.

She wondered how long it would take before her things were carted away and her building was either demolished or transformed into something else?

Hopefully nothing too nefarious.

Rin rose up from her melancholy stance, fixing her hands to her hips "Enough. You aren't going to stay up here and sulk, Ito. There's a job you can do in this village and damn it, you will find it!"

A whisper of doubt came to the back of her mind. "If they'll have you."

She let a determined breath out her nose and turned to walk out the door, nearly tripping over the tray of food left there.

"Oh."

Rin bent down to retrieve it, twisting her body back inside and setting it on the table.

When she removed the covering, she found a light assemblage of fruits and meats, but what drew her attention most, was the small flower resting to the side of the place and a note written in elegant script.

"For my desert rose."

Her smile was pleased, the fluttering feeling in her chest making it seem like the room was spinning.

How he could do that when he wasn't even in the room, was a wonderful mystery.

She lifted the tiny rose bud to her lips and kissed it.

"He'll have me. That's all that matters."

After finishing her late lunch, Rin tip-toed her way through the mansion, uncertain what the rules were, now that she'd decided to stay in the Sand.

A part of her actually missed the constant presence of her faithful guards, at least they knew the crazy layout of this place.

She wondered if they missed escorting her as well or if wall duty really did call them?

By the expression on their face when it was mentioned, she sincerely doubted it.

It would take her years to figure out all the twists and turns of the Kazekage's home and by the time she found her way to the main doors, half the afternoon was already lost.

If she were going to maintain her dinner plans with Gaara, she'd have to explore quickly. Though, knowing her tendency to find trouble, that may have been for the best.

The two guards standing at the entrance, assessed her when she stepped forward.

"Hello?"

They nodded.

"Um, I was planning on going out for a bit."

Another nod.

"So... I'll just do that."

Her eyes drifted from one face to the other and, tentatively, stepped through them and into the waiting village.

She let out a relieved breath. "Well, first hurdle crossed. Now, let's see what I can do in this village."

Rin's steps were light and careful, as she traveled down the stairway, choosing a direction at random.

The Sand wasn't a gigantic village and the circular pattern always led back to the Kazekage at the middle, so she shouldn't have been too concerned with getting lost.

However, she decided to keep the top of the home in her line of sight... just in case.

Rin stood in the middle of the street, the world going on around her. "Where do I even start?"

The cold, dark prison waited to her right.

Left it was.

If she could go the rest of her life without being reminded of the horrors that happened there, she'd consider it a blessing.

She assumed Orochimaru took Haru's body back with him to the Sound. He was a product of theirs after all, it would be poor manners to leave him there.

The thought was foul in the back of her throat.

No, she wasn't going to dwell on that right now.

She had a new mission to accomplish and the sun was setting soon.

"Hello, lovely lady."

Rin stopped in her tracks at the calling voice and looked around to find the source. "Me?"

It led to an older woman, who rested in the shade of her booth, fanning herself against the afternoon sun. "Yes. Please, come closer, my dear."

She complied, grateful to escape the heat herself. "What can I do for you?"

"No, no, my sweet, it's what can I do for you? Surely, a pretty thing like you takes care of her skin well?"

Rin glanced down to the wares she was selling and found a variety of lotions.

"I try to keep up basic conditioning. What are you selling?"

The woman smiled, showing a few missing teeth in the back, but the thin veil she wore, blocked most of them.

"The widest arrangement you've seen! I've traveled all over this world and found the best mixes for any kind of need you may have. For instance, here is a rare one. This lotion is infused with Shinzadra berry, collected from the Land of Fire. For menstrual cramps and pains of childbirth. Rub it onto your face before you go to bed at night and you'll fall asleep instantly."

Wrong.

Rin's eyes went over the display. "Interesting. And, what about this one?"

"Ah, you have a good eye! That's our lavender collection. Simply sprinkle that into your tea in the morning and you'll be renewed, ready to take on the day. I call it 'pep your step purple'."

The peddler laughed at her own joke, while Rin tried to keep her eyes from rolling.

Wrong again.

She cleared her throat. "I see. I've always read lavender is used for relaxation and calming. Can't say I've ever heard it prescribed as an energizer."

Faded grey eyes scanned her up and down. "I'm well practiced in my craft, dear. It's fine if you don't know these things. That's why I'm a professional."

Don't cause trouble on your first day. Don't cause trouble on your first day. Don't cause trouble on your first day.

Rin turned the bottle around in her hand and the price made her audibly gasp. "1,500 ryo?! You can't be serious!"

"That's a rare flower, dear." The peddler smiled, her voice sharpening at the end.

"In what world is lavender rare? This is a very common flower! It grows everywhere and can survive even in this heat, if someone found a place for a garden. You're ripping these people off!"

Passing villagers stopped what they were doing, drawn to the commotion coming from the normally peaceful shop.

The woman stood up from her stool, trinkets clinking on her veil. "You come into my place of business and insult my product?!"

Rin's nostrils flared, tossing the lotion back at her. "I do indeed! Look at this nonsense! Lemongrass for raising blood pressure. Only if you wish to put someone in a coma!"

"You... you can't just..."

"And over here! How dare you charge such an exuberant amount for something as common as mint! Since when is mint used for vision? Would YOU rub a mint leaf in your eyes? In fact, I think you should."

A crowd gathered now, whispered voices rising into a buzz behind the angry Sound girl.

Rin lifted up the leaves to the peddler. "Here. You're on in years and wearing glasses, surely your eyes would benefit from the herbs you claim work this way. Show these people you stand by your product. Go on, show them!"

"Rin?"

The voice made her freeze mid-toss, fragrant leaves falling from her hand.

"Lord Kazekage." The peddler sighed her relief.

Rin winced at the confirmation.

He stepped through the crowd of observing villagers and dipped beneath the covering of the booth. "What seems to be the trouble, here?"

"Um..."

The peddler sat back in her stool with a dramatic flair, fanning herself wildly. "Thank goodness, you're here. This rude young woman stepped into my shop and started besmirching my products. All with no provocation!"

"No provocation, my ass." Rin mumbled under her breath.

Gaara gave her a look that silenced any further comments she wanted to make.

He glanced over the display of lotions and oils. "I see. My apologies for the disruption of your business. I assure you, no such thing will occur in the future, by Ms. Ito."

The woman's smile was wicked and satisfied. "Thank you, Lord Fifth. It's clear your Sound guest hasn't learned how to conduct herself with civilized people yet."

Rin's hands curled into fists, but Gaara subtly stood in front of her, hiding her fuming cheeks away.

"It may appear that way, but I promise you, Ms. Ito is quite skilled in her craft, as well."

"Her craft?"

Rin's eyes focused on the back of Gaara's head and her voice rang in her mind. "That's right! No knows why I'm here, still. My purpose was hidden from the Sand. This woman has no idea who I am or what my practice is."

The Kazekage's smile was gentile. "Why yes, Ms. Ito is the leading expert in relaxation and sleep methodology. I can verify her skill personally. Perhaps the two of you can come together in the future and exchange your bountiful knowledge?"

She looked from Gaara, to the fuming woman standing behind him, her voice softening. "Lord Kazekage, you could have always called upon me to assist you. I can guarantee one of your own people would have sufficed far more than a member of the Sound."

He reached out to take hold of the lavender bottle, which set Rin off in the first place, weighing it in his hand. "Perhaps, however, I don't think even a Kage could easily afford these prices. You must be very certain of your talents, indeed."

Her eyes went to the outrageous price. "An expensive sum for a rare flower, my Lord."

Gaara turned back to Rin, who wanted to crawl in a hole and die. "I couldn't agree more. Ms. Ito?"

"Yes?" She nearly jumped out of her skin.

His smile softened at the edges when he looked at her, his voice raising so the rest of the villagers heard him plain. "How much would you charge for such a flower, in conjunction with your services?"

Rin shook her head. "I would do that for free, my Lord. You shouldn't put such a price on compassion, especially not for something that grows so freely."

Gaara nodded and set the bottle back down, his eyes taking in the peddler, who's face had turned red even through her silly veil. "There you have it. Ms. Ito and her services are a special cost, indeed."

He gently pressed his hand to the small of her back and led her out of the booth, speaking behind himself, so everyone would hear. "Priceless."