Fire

"What was Gaara's mother like?"

The question was so simple, but carried the weight of the world behind it.

Kaba's mouth felt like cotton, the sting of memories clinging to her words and rendering them useless.

This girl, this impudent, feisty, unmannered girl stood before her with eyes that demanded answers no one else would ask.

She'd seen such eyes before.

~~

"Kaba!" the voice echoed through the halls of the library, releasing a sharp crack of shushing from the occupants.

"Hush, child, think of where you are." Kaba scolded, as the young girl bounded up to her, sliding to a stop on the stone floor.

"Oops! Sorry!"

Shhh!

"Sorry..." She whispered.

Disturbed readers turned back to their work and the councilwoman sighed. "Lady Kurura, what brings you and your unnecessarily loud voice here? Weren't you supposed to be in training today?"

Kurura laced her hands behind her back. "The training is going on now."

"And you're not in it, why?"

She gave an impish smile. "Who says I'm not?"

Kaba closed the history book and gave her charge a hard look. "Sand clones are not meant to be used for such things, Lady Kurura. You're being disrespectful to your tutor."

The young teen rolled her eyes. "She won't even know I'm gone and it's not like I haven't memorized the lesson. How many times do I need to go over tea etiquette before they teach me anything important to my future role?"

"When you realize how even tea is vitally important for negotiations."

"Say what now?"

Kaba slid the book she was previously reading back on the shelf and pulled another out, setting it on the desk with more exasperation than necessary. "Lady Kurura, why can't you understand the position you're in? You have been selected, amongst three other young ladies, to volley for the position of the Kazekage's bride. The single greatest honor a woman of our village can accomplish, but you treat it as if the entire thing is a bore to you."

Kurura shrugged. "I don't think it's the greatest honor a woman can have, though."

"What could be greater?"

Her smile went from impish to sweet. "Councilwoman."

Kaba's breath caught in her chest. "Flattery won't save you from this lecture, my Lady."

"I'm not trying to flatter you. I think what you're doing is far more impressive than being a wife of some stuffy Kazekage. Look at what you're doing now!"

The older woman looked at the book in her hands. "Reading."

"Yes! Reading! You're reading about the history of the Sand's exports, correct?"

"Indeed."

"Shouldn't I know about that, if I'm going to be standing by his side? How is tea more important than the knowledge of how our village survives?"

Kaba settled herself down in the waiting chair, Kurura hovering over her shoulder. "Because there is more than what meets the eye. Stop lingering about like that, it's unladylike."

Kurura sat on the other side of the table, arms crossed and pouting. "If I'm that important, shouldn't you hesitate to scold me all the time?"

Despite herself, Kaba cracked a smile at her tone. "No one escapes my scolding, not even my niece."

Kurura's eyes brightened, it wasn't often she acknowledged their connection outside of family gatherings.

The one time she tried to call her "auntie" in public, was met by a punishment of wall sits for two hours, as a reminder of where she sat in society by blood, whereas her aunt sat by marriage.

She didn't care about positions or powers, Kurura admired the tenacity of her working family and a few moments with Kaba felt more real than the hours spent in her studies at home.

Her chin rested in her hand. "Alright then, educate me on why tea is important over exports?"

Kaba licked her fingers and opened the frayed pages of the book, seeming to read while talking at the same time. "Tell me, Kurura, how have your tutors told you to hold your cup?"

"One hand grasping the body, the other holding the bottom."

"Do you know why?"

Kurura looked at her hands and made a sipping motion. "So, I don't spill?"

"That's right. Why is it important for you not to spill your tea?"

"Because death before dishonor and spilt tea leaves?"

Kaba bit back her laugh. Kurara's tutor must be beside herself. "Because, even in that small gesture, you prove your strength."

"My strength?"

The Councilwoman's eyes met her niece. "When you become the bride of the Kazekage, you will be expected to save face with each and every interaction you meet. No conversation will be passing. Everyone will look to you to gauge how the village is thriving. The clothes you wear, the way you hold your head, your tone of voice, even the way you drink your tea, will be direct correlation with the royal family. The Kazekage may be the rock of this village, but you are the stream."

"The stream?"

"You will cool his anger, soothe his harsh decisions made from emotion over logic, become that refreshing spot in the midst of his thirst. In the history of mankind, it is women who run nations. Don't you ever forget that Kurura."

The young woman's jaw dropped, her eyes sinking down to her hands, which shook beneath the weight of her aunt's words. "Will I be worthy of that responsibility?"

Kaba looked behind her shoulder, before reaching a hand forward to rest on her niece's trembling grasp. "Don't fret, my dear. You will not only surpass your competition at the Cleansing, you will lead this village to an even stronger place with your head held high. Calm yourself, Kurura, you are made of fire and nothing can make fire feel afraid."

~~

"Councilwoman?" The voices to her right pulled Kaba from her memory.

When her eyes focused on the expecting gaze before her, it took every ounce of her strength to hold back the tears that threatened to spill her vision.

"Lady Kurura was exceptional. She carried the weight of this village and its people until her dying moment. Even then...she still showed strength."

Rin nodded, turning to give a small smile to Gaara. "I have no doubt of that. Exceptional people pass along their strength to others."

Kaba remained fixed to her spot. "Quite."

There were a few murmurs when the Sound girl addressed the council once more. "I know you feel as though we're at a crossroads and for all intents and purposes, we are. Your Kazekage is attempting to change what has always been done. That's going to feel uncomfortable. I understand that feeling, but, haven't all great things come from discomfort? Isn't that how progress happens?"

One of the braver men cleared his throat. "If you understand this, what is your solution, then?"

Rin smiled. "I'm not the one who makes decisions here, am I?"

All eyes went to Kaba, who remained fixed to her spot. "No, you're not."

She bowed her head and waited. "Then, what will we do, Councilwoman?"

Gaara watched the deliberation on the old woman's face with keen interest. This wasn't how he expected the conversation to go, but then again, when did Rin ever do anything he expected?

He took the silence to step forward and place his hand on his lover's shoulder. "My council, you have advised me well..."

His eyes turned to Kaba. "All of my life. I'm grateful for your help and just because I make this decision on my own, does not mean I won't find need for further assistance or wisdom."

Gaara's words faded into the background as both Rin and Kaba stared each other down, their eyes saying what the others couldn't hear.

"I don't want to let him go."

"Neither do I."

"I'm afraid you'll hurt him."

"I won't."

"Prove it."

"Try me."

Through the inputs exchanged back and forth between Gaara and the councilmembers, everyone went still when Kaba stood from her seat and addressed them. "Lord Fifth, it's clear you mean to give up everything for this woman. I'd venture to say, you would give up your seat if we pushed you to do it, is that true?"

Gaara's hand squeezed Rin's shoulder. "It is."

There were audible gasps from the men surrounding her, but Kaba remained calm. "This council does not recognize Ms. Ito's eligibility."

He opened his mouth to protest until Rin tapped his side her other hand. "Wait."

The Councilwoman took a breath. "We don't acknowledge it... yet."

No one said a word, everyone remained glued to their seats, waiting to see what the clever old woman came up with.

She straightened her back, her faded grey eyes assessing Rin as she spoke. "As with any noble woman selected to be the bride of the Kazekage, you will undergo tests to prove your worthiness. If Ms. Ito is able to prove to this council that she is qualified to stand beside Lord Fifth in his duties, we will give our permission for the two of them to be married."

"Permission?" Rin asked with an upturned eyebrow.

Kaba bit her inner cheek. "Blessing, then."

Rin smiled and nodded. "What test will I have to perform?"

It was Kaba's turn to smile. "The annual Cleansing is approaching. You will attend."

Gaara stiffened and the councilmembers whispered to each other.

Rin studied their faces, uncertain of what the upset was. "I have to attend an event? Doesn't seem so difficult."

Gaara's hand pulled her closer. "It's not just an event, Rin. It's a meeting of all the noble families from the villages in the Land of Wind. We come together to bring forth rain once a year for the desert. It's tradition to have the families decide which daughters will be chosen for the village heads at the ceremony based upon various tasks they've completed during the day, including knowledge of history, etiquette, debate and grace."

"Well that last part just sounds sexist."

His voice was harsh in her ear. "It is, but that's not the point. You will have to perform all these qualities in front of the village heads and have them acknowledge your proficiency as my mate."

"How long do I have to do this?"

His whisper turned into a growl. "The Cleansing is in three weeks."

Her eyes turned to Kaba, who stood like a cat with a mouse in her sights. "Do you accept this challenge, Ms. Ito? No one would blame you if you were to wait another year, though, the noble families may not hold the Kazekage to such a timeline."

"I accept."

Kaba scoffed. "You do realize, the other contestants have been studying for this day, their entire lives, don't you?"

"I accept."

"You can't possibly expect to learn our entire way of life in three weeks. That's just..."

Rin's mouth set into a hard line, her hands coming to the table so that she was staring the old woman down. "I. Accept."

"Done."

The girl from the Sound turned on her heel, dragging the Kazekage of the Sand out with her and Kaba fell into her seat.

The man to her side let out a big breath. "These meetings are going to take the life from me! Just what are you playing with here, Kaba?"

Despite herself and the shred of calm she clung to; the old woman cracked a smile. "Fire, Councilman. Pure fire."