Plan of Action

"Three weeks... the number after two and before four... Three." Rin muttered to herself, as she made her way down the elaborate halls of the Kazekage's mansion, with said Kazekage bringing up the rear.

"Rin." He started, but she didn't stop her relentless pace, either not hearing him or completely ignoring his interruption of her processing.

"If I make a schedule, I should be able to fit everything in at once. It will be difficult, but not impossible." Her murmuring voice continued.

"Rin, wait, please." Gaara spoke again, dipping his head to a passing maid that Rin completely brushed away in her mad stride.

His steps pulled to the front, blocking her in her tracks before she could cause any more damage to the people around her. "Rin, stop and let's talk about what just happened in there."

Her eyes darted to the side, index finger coming to her chin. "No time to talk. Need to strategize."

Gaara grunted and took hold of her hand. "We are going to talk right now."

Without waiting for her protest, the Kazekage dragged his mumbling lover through the remaining halls and up to their shared bedroom, the place where she'd assured him of their success earlier that day.

Amazing how life could throw them into complete chaos in nothing but a few hours.

The minute the door closed and he released his grip, Rin set about to pacing once again. "I already have a grasp of basic etiquette, it was required for my various interactions in the past, so that shouldn't be too grueling. History will take a good amount of focus though. Perhaps if I take my meals in the library, I can work in shifts?"

Gaara's eyes trailed along her muttering form, unsure of how he should intervene. "Rin, please."

"I study best at night, so if I can move customs to the morning, I'll probably have a better chance of retaining that information."

"Rin!"

Suddenly he was in front of her, his arms and sand enclosing her in an inescapable cage.

As if seeing him for the first time, Rin looked up to his worried expression. "What?"

"Slow down. Talk to me."

"I don't have time to talk. Didn't you hear what she said? I have three weeks to gain an entire knowledge of Sand customs or they'll never approve me to be your wife."

"Of course, I heard, I was standing right next to you, remember?"

She looked down, still assessing her options. "Mm hm."

Gaara's hands tightened on her upper arms, forcing her attention back on him. "I don't think you've fully processed what's happening."

"I don't think you've fully processed me."

"That doesn't even make any sense. You're talking crazy."

Her eyes found him then, bright and angry, leaving Gaara to regret his choice of words.

"I'm what?"

He cleared his throat. "Sorry, I mean you look a little manic right now. What is it you're always telling me to do when the world is crashing around me?"

Rin bit the inside of her cheek. "Take a breath."

"Take a breath, yes. So..."

She made a face at him, before inhaling deep the scent of earth from his sand and the musk of his coat. "I'm breathing."

"Good. Again."

Rin's rising irritation threatened to overtake her. Though she wouldn't stand a chance against the Kazekage, it might make her feel better to give him a good thrashing for taking up her precious planning time.

Her lungs expanded and exhaled the breath that, despite her annoyance, did feel better.

"Calm down."

"I am calm!" She barked and Gaara's brow furled.

Rin sighed, lowering her voice. "I am calm. Thank you, Gaara."

He nodded, resting his forehead against hers.

The sand around them blocked out the light, leaving only the faintest outline of her lover's face.

Even if it were complete darkness, Rin would know the cut of his jaw, the high tilt of his cheek bones, the way his eyes studied her.

She didn't need to look to know they were concerned and she couldn't blame him for that. Once again, her arrogance had risen up to bite them in the back, though to be fair, it was really the old bat on the council who trapped her this time.

Kaba's words flittered on the edges of her mind, twisting her stomach in anxious knots. "You will attend the Cleansing and demonstrate if you are able to support the Kazekage's duties. Only then, will the council approve of your request to be at his side."

"Three weeks." Rin said softly, her words dying in the shell of sand surrounding them.

"Three weeks." He repeated.

She clenched her fists, but kept her voice steady. "Gaara, can you lower your sand, please? I feel claustrophobic."

"Oh, right."

He closed his eyes, letting the sand fall around them and retreat back to its home, while Rin raised her hands to rest on his. "Thank you."

Gaara squeezed her arms slightly. "Let's talk about what happened in there."

"I'm... I'm not sure. It happened so quickly."

He shook his head and started towards the door. "It's ridiculous. There's no way they can expect you to learn all of that in such limited time. I'll go back to the council and tell them you were cornered and didn't understand the severity of what they were asking."

"No!"

Gaara stopped in his tracks. "Rin?"

"You can't do that! If you do, it will destroy any progress I've made and further their case against me."

"I don't understand."

Rin brought her hands to her chest, grasping and releasing them with her words. "Every move I make from now until the Cleansing, will be judged and picked apart. They're trying to find me unsuitable, while still maintaining that they gave me a fair chance."

Gaara's brow furrowed. "But they aren't giving you a fair chance at all."

"I know! That's why it's brilliant! Either way, she wins!"

"Kaba?"

Rin's feet started moving, her arms gesturing wildly. "Yes! That clever old bat forced me into her game and I have to win or everything is for not!"

His eyes followed her animated pacing. "You could have said no. I don't understand why you accepted in the first place."

She gave him a face. "If I didn't, that would've been all the proof she needed! I'm vetting to be the bride of the Kazekage, not some baker or potter's wife. I have to show courage. Backing down from her challenge without so much as trying, would have been game over."

"I don't think that's the case here. I think you're reading too much into it."

Rin gave the chair a good kick, the sturdy wood sending an electric shock up and down her leg. "Because you don't understand how women think! This is exactly what she intended from the beginning!"

She rounded up for another kick, before feeling the familiar circling of sand around her foot.

Rin looked down at the intruder and snarled. "Damn it, Gaara! I'm throwing a fit! Let me do it!"

"Go ahead. At least this way you won't hurt yourself."

Rin looked from the sand, to Gaara's concerned face and felt the fury drain out of her like a cool waterfall.

How could she be angry when he looked at her like that?

She scratched her hands into her hair and smoothed it down, breathing as she did. "Okay....okay."

The sand receded for the second time and she turned to face the love of her life with a new, real sense of calm, despite the panic still flaring in her chest.

He waited to see what she would do next, uncertain of the mood that would strike his desert rose.

It wasn't as if he feared her rage or that he even blamed her for having it, but he worried for the harm she'd undoubtedly put herself through.

Especially since it was on his behalf and he knew, no matter how much he wished it, she wouldn't ask for his help.

Rin approached him, sliding her arms around his waist, hiding her face in his chest. "Gaara."

"Yes?"

"My foot hurts."

"I'm sure."

"Make it better."

Now this, he could do.

Gaara slid his arms under her knees, hitching her up in his arms. She rested her head against his chest, as he led her to the bed, settling her down so that she was sitting just to the side of his lap.

Careful hands took hold of the throbbing foot and lifted it for inspection. "Hm."

"Is it bad?"

"Does it feel bad?"

Her head nodded against his neck and he gently twisted the foot, letting out a hiss of pain from his lover.

"I don't think it's broken, but it's definitely going to bruise. I already see it forming."

"Great. I'm going to be the peak of grace with a jacked-up foot." Rin muttered to herself.

"I know you will."

Her eyes turned up to his face, which was soft and calm, despite her previous outburst. "How can you be so sure?"

He took a deep breath. "Because I know you. While I'd prefer you not to undergo this much stress or put yourself through the strain, I've seen you face worse. Lest we forget, you've walked through mental torture and psychological hell to save those you love. I think learning about the Sand's extended history, might be slightly less extreme."

Despite herself, Rin smiled. "I think I'd take the hell-scape. At least there, I know what I'm doing."

"If you can walk through my mind, you can walk through the Cleansing."

She was about to argue, before Gaara raised her throbbing foot to his lips and gave the top a gentle kiss.

"I think you'll walk just fine."

Rin felt her face flush at the unexpected tenderness. "I... I suppose that I'll have to do just that."

He smiled at her and brushed her hair behind her ear. "I know you will. I just hope you'll let me help along the way."