A Fool for Love

The days went by almost as if a dream. Though Gaara had very little experience with such things, he could imagine the time spent as one long, wonderful vision.

All through the day, his mind drew back to images of Rin and blissful questions that followed.

What was she doing?

Was she having luck on her job search?

Was she thinking of him too?

That last one was always his favorite.

His mind turned back to their encounter this morning. Waking up in her arms, the feeling of her fingertips brushing his hair away from his face, the gentle, sweeping tones of the lullaby she always hummed to herself, all of it made his heart warm and long for the day to end, so he could be back in that heavenly place with her.

"Lord Fifth?"

"Yes, Tamari?"

"You're humming, sir."

Gaara looked up, surprised at such a statement. "Am I?"

"Yes."

"Oh... that's interesting."

The cool eyes of his captain swept over him with a critical air. "It's been happening on and off, lately."

"What's wrong with that, Temari? He's in a good mood. That's all." Kankuro interjected, quick to defend his bother's new found happiness.

The siblings stared each other down from across the room, their silent conversation harsh and biting.

Gaara held up a paper to block his face, but his voice rang with soft authority. "Something is bothering the two of you."

They didn't say a word; Kankuro looking down, Temari biting the inside of her cheek.

The Kazekage sighed, dropping his new found document and leaning back in his chair. "I can't hope for maximum productivity in the village, if my top captains are at war. What's going on?"

Neither said anything, but both crossed their arms in an almost spooky display of familiarity.

Gaara's eyes swept over one and then the other. "Come on, now. Out with it. What? Did Kankuro flirt with one of your soldiers, Tamari?"

"No." She grumbled, still not wanting to meet his attention.

"Alright, did our sister critique you too harshly, then? Kankuro, you know she's head of security for a reason, you should listen to her."

"You're right, Gaara, he should." Her last word was harsh and biting.

Kankuro scoffed. "I'd be happy to listen to her, if I felt like what she said would benefit everyone in this room."

"It does."

"Bull shit!"

The two captains were glaring at each other now and the intensity between them let Gaara know this wasn't some average spat.

He rose from his chairs, hands up and calming. "Let's keep things civil. What's the issue? Maybe I can help solve it?"

The silence returned and with it, the knowledge that whatever the problem was, involved more than they were saying.

His brow furrowed. "Is it something to do with me?"

Temari flinched and Kankuro looked away from her sharp expression.

Gaara leaned against his desk. "It is. Did I do something to offend you both?"

"No, you haven't done a single thing wrong! In fact, I think you should continue exactly how you're going, Gaara. Keep working well, keep humming, keep going on dates with Rin..."

Temari crossed the distance of the room and smacked her brother upside the head. "Idiot."

"Ouch! You know what, Temari, enough of this. We should just tell him what's upsetting you and save us all a lot of pain."

She wanted to throttle him. This inability to look towards the future and see past his emotions was enough to warrant an attack from her fan, but the voice that spoke, drew her out of her rage. It was so soft, it almost sounded like the voice that called out to her years ago, when he needed her help and she couldn't give it.

"Temari? What's wrong?"

She sighed, bracing herself for the news that would fall upon her brother like knives and that, once again, she would have to be the one to deliver it. Why couldn't she be happy and bright for once? Why couldn't she be the good guy, instead of the one who had to break him?

"There's a problem, Gaara."

"With what?"

"With Rin."

His muscles tightened. "What kind of problem? Is she safe? Have you heard something that I haven't?"

Temari's heart hurt at the look of worry on his face. He cared so much for this woman. "She's quite safe, as far as I know."

"Oh, well, that's good then. So, what's the problem, exactly?"

Her eyes turned to Kankuro, who gave her the face to say what she needed, quick and precise.

"You've grown quite attached to Ms. Ito, have you not? That goes without saying really."

The edges of Gaara's mouth curved up slightly. "You could say that."

"I do. It's become quite clear to everyone around you. The villagers have been buzzing about nothing else for days. Especially after you've been seen escorting her through the marketplace each night."

"And what are the villagers saying?"

Kankuro leaned against the wall, shrugging. "What they always do. They're afraid of change, but a few people are in favor of it."

"What's the percentage of that favor?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding his brother's gaze. "Um... it's rising steadily."

Gaara's expression sunk. "Rising from what and to what, exactly?"

"From zero to ten percent in favor."

He fell back into his chair and rubbed a hand over his eyes. "Great. That's a wonderful display of support. Poor Rin."

Temari's head tilted to the side. "Poor Rin? Why is she your concern with this news?"

"She's been out trying to find a job in the village, something that will make her one of us and is already finding a lot of hostility. No one seems to be willing to look past her background. She must be feeling down. I should do something special for her tonight."

Kankuro's hand came to his chest and he looked at Temari with an expression that said. "Look! Isn't that the sweetest thing you've heard him say?!"

She met his face with a disheartened expression, her words turning to Gaara. "The villagers represent a realistic problem. Gaara... do you love this woman?"

"I do."

He said it with no hesitation, not even a scrap of doubt and that made his sister's heart bleed.

"Are you having... relations with her?"

The Kazekage's face flushed, his gaze turning any direction beyond the line of questioning meeting him. "I don't see how that's any of your business."

Temari's expression was calm and dethatched. "Normally, it wouldn't be and if you were any other man, I wouldn't dream of asking, but you're not. So, I repeat my question. Are you having relations with Ms. Ito."

"Yes."

"Then we need to have this conversation because you're clearly not thinking straight."

Kankuro squirmed under the weight of his upset. "This is weird, Temari. Don't you think he's already learned about the birds and the bees? I'm sure experience has been a much better teacher than you."

"It's not that."

"Then what is it?!"

"Accidents happen!" She snapped.

Gaara's eyes widened and Kankuro was left, uncommonly speechless.

Temari composed herself and leaned against the wide desk. "Accidents happen... Gaara. Even if you're careful. Even if everything goes the way you want, it can happen. Think of the ramifications with eyes not blinded by love. What will happen if you produce an heir that isn't Sand-born? How will it affect the nations? How will it affect your seat as Kazekage? What is Rin to you? If she was just a passing infatuation, then I would hold my tongue, but she clearly isn't. You love her and I'd wager you've even had intentions of asking for her hand, haven't you?"

The silence fell thick in the room, all three siblings feeling the weight of the conversation.

Gaara broke it first and the vulnerability in his voice was enough to shake the last bit of her composure. "Am I not allowed to love, Temari?"

"Not when you are a fool for it."