1

Gaara assessed the footsteps coming down the hall; quick and light, a woman. If she didn't slow down they would collide, but the steps hurried right around the corner and then Gaara saw her. The woman looked at him wide eyed and tried to stop. Who is she? He reacted almost on instinct tripping the already stumbling woman. Gaara pivoted and caught her in his arms. Behind him Kankuro gasped, but Gaara wasn't paying attention. He was studying the woman in his arms; her long sun kissed hair tickled at his wrists as Gaara stared down into the bluest eyes he had ever seen. She's beautiful. "Are you alright miss?"

Raine blinked up at the man that had caught her. He had the most stunning crop of red hair; he was looking at her with painted eyes. "I…uh…" He was kind of cute and it made the situation all the more awkward.

"Gaara!" Kankuro huffed.

Gaara straightened setting the woman back on her feet. She was shorter then him by a few inches. He held her small frame a moment longer until she regained her footing. Kankuro's shouting had made her wince some. He cut his eyes over to his older brother. "It's alright Kankuro."

"Aren't you supposed to be in a hurry?" Kankuro shoved the kazekage's hat at Gaara.

He sighed dejectedly and took his hat. "God forbid we miss five minutes of the pissing and moaning." He slipped his hat on and looked back to the pretty woman. "Please forgive my rudeness."

"Gaara!" Kankuro snapped again. "She ran into you!"

The cute guy that had caught her when she tripped was, "You're the kazekage?" her mouth fell open. He's so young and…

"I'm Gaara and you are," he fished. He wanted to know her name.

"I'm Raine." She bowed a little.

Gaara smiled a little and took one of her hands. "It's a pleasure Raine." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her. Raine blushed. It made him smile some.

What the hell is he doing dinking around with some broad at a time like this? Kankuro had no patience left. "Gaara!"

"Alright Kankuro we'll go." He let go of Raine's hand. "It was nice meeting you." He favored her with a smile as he stepped around Raine with Kankuro at his heels.

Kankuro shot Raine with a stern look as they passed by. She stood where she was for a moment watching the kazekage go. Lord Hotohori had said the kage was young, barely twenty, but Raine had not expected the ninja to be so wow…he's really handsome. She smiled a little thinking she would like to draw a picture of him. After a moments reflection Raine turned and went back to running her errands for Lord Hotohori. Maybe later when the lords were adjourned she would see kazekage Gaara again.

Usually Gaara regarded these four day negotiations as boring and the stuff headaches are made of. This time was just a little different though. When Gaara grew weary of staring at bickering old men all he had to do was look behind Hotohori. Raine sat behind him out of his way but close enough at hand to be ordered around. She spent most of the time writing or sketching in a fold up notebook she carried around.

Gaara wondered what she was writing, what she was sketching. Sometimes he could tell who she might be sketching. The second day of negotiations she spent much of the morning stealing peeks at Kankuro. A few times on the third day Gaara noticed her eyes on him. Sometimes he would look up at her and smile a little. Raine tended to blush when he smiled at her. Gaara found it a most endearing trait.

He was almost sad to see the long weekend come to an end. In another month the lords would return and it would be repeat process. Gaara hoped that Raine would be back too. He stood with Temari and Kankuro watching their guests ride out of Sand. "That wasn't too terrible," Gaara sighed.

Temari shook her head. "Stubborn old men can't agree on anything."

Kankuro looked at Gaara sidelong. He had noticed little brother checking out the little miss that had run into them in the hall a few times. He seemed more interested in her then in the lords, not that Kankuro could blame him. "Better luck next time," he offered and strolled away. Gaara nodded and followed.

2

To the kazekage's delight a month later Raine accompanied Hotohori back to Sand for the negations. Through the first day of arguments Raine sat back writing something in her notebook. Gaara wondered what it was that she was working on that filled up page after page. The meeting finally broke up after dinner and Raine followed Hotohori out. Gara tended to the few things he had to do before the rest of the night could be his.

It was well after dark and getting late when Gaara stepped out for some air. As he came out the garden entrance he saw Raine sitting on the big rock he often claimed as his own seat. She was writing and hadn't noticed him yet. He had been curious for a while now what Raine was writing in that book of hers. He manipulated some sand and an eye appeared behind her. Gaara started reading over her shoulder.

It was a story. The setting was someplace very green and very wet. The characters were traveling through the forest in the rain. Her use of descriptive narration brought an image of the place into Gaara's mind. He was so into concentrating to read the story he didn't notice her move until it was too late.

Raine straightened a little and stretched to her right. Just inches from her face was an eyeball, a disembodied eyeball. She shrieked startled and sprang to her feet. Her notebook hit the ground and her papers scattered. Her right hand went to her chest and rested over her fluttering heart. The eyeball dissipated and turned into sand.

"Sorry," Gaara said hurriedly stepping forward. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

Raine was still trying to catch her breath. Frighten hell I almost had a heart attack. "Kazekage sama? That eyeball thing was you?"

Gaara came to the edge of Raine's scattered papers. He stirred some sand in his hand. "I use the sand." His cheeks felt sort of warm. He felt bad for scaring her but she seemed to be calming now that she saw it was him and his jutsu.

"I see." She supposed it made sense for a sand ninja to know such a trick.

He smiled sheepishly at her. "It was rude of me to read over your shoulder like that it's just that you're always writing," he looked down. There were drawings scattered about.

Raine got to her knees to pick up her stuff. He was reading over my shoulder? That was a little embarrassing. She started gathering up the pages of her story. "It's alright kazekage sama. I'm sure you were just making sure I wasn't writing anything I shouldn't be."

Gaara got to his knees at his end of the mess and started picking up her drawings. On top was Kankuro; a good likeness of him. He was seated and had one eye squint shut in aggravation. Gaara laughed quietly. "This is pretty good. It's Kankuro right on."

Raine straightened some papers. She couldn't help but smile at the complement. "Do you really think so?"

He nodded and flipped to the next drawing, Temari. She was standing with her fan. "You're quite the talented artist Raine." He looked at Temari once more and went to the next page. It was a picture of him. He was seated and resting his chin on his fist. He looked bored. Gaara chuckled.

"Uh…" Raine reached for the sketch pad. "Sorry, it was presumptuous of me to sketch you without asking."

He smiled at her handing over her drawings. "They're good, but I have to ask; why do I look so bored?"

Raine was trying to organize her mess. "Well it's just that," her voice was small. "You always look so bored at the meetings, like you'd rather be anywhere but there."

Gaara laughed out loud. Truer words were never spoken. "You're right, I can't stand it."

Temari and Baki sensei had heard a startled cry come from the garden and made their way there. Baki gasped to see Gaara on his knees with the servant woman, but that wasn't what caught Temari's attention. He's laughing. Gaara was laughing with this woman. The two of them were giggling at each other. "Gaara, is everything alright?"

Gaara turned and saw his sister and his sensei. He stood. "Yes, I just startled Raine is all." He extended his hand to Raine and she took it. Gaara helped her to her feet.

"Kazekage sama," Baki wanted to beg Gaara not to act so friendly with a common waif. He certainly shouldn't be on his knees with a lowly servant girl.

He smiled pleasantly at sensei and nodded. "Everything is alright. You can go," he dismissed his subordinates and turned his attention back to Raine. She had a blush in her cheeks that Gaara found quite pretty.

"Good night Gaara," Temari took the lead and her frowning sensei followed her back inside. Clearly he didn't approve of kage rubbing elbows with the common folk, but Temari thought a little socializing would do baby brother some good.

Gaara swept a hand at the big rock. "Would you sit with me Raine?"

She could use a seat to finish organizing her papers. She nodded. "If you would like me to kazekage sama." Raine took her seat on the rock again.

He sat down beside her watching her in the bright moonlight. "Please, just call me Gaara." She opened her mouth to protest but before she could Gaara lifted a hand. "I insist that all lovely young ladies I nearly scare to death call me Gaara."

There was something flirty in his smile. "Alright, Gaara."

She rolled her r some when she spoke his name. He liked the way it sounded when she said it. "May I see some more of your pictures Raine?" he was curious to see what else she had and looking at pictures gave him the opportunity to sit close without it looking too much like flirting. Gaara had never sat alone with such an interesting and unafraid woman before. And she's very pretty in the moonlight.

"It's a lot of still life's. Things I drew on the way here." Raine opened to her pictures. "They won't bore you?"

Gaara shook his head and Raine handed over her sketch book. There were pictures of forest, one of a lonely looking piece of road. Near the back was a picture drawn looking out of a second story window facing the alley. "What is this place?"

Raine shrugged a little embarrassed. "The view from my room back home."

He closed the sketchbook and handed it back to her. "You really are a talented artist. Perhaps you'll draw something for me sometime."

"What would you like me to draw for you?"

A picture of you. "Whatever you want." Gaara smiled looking down into Raine's deep blue eyes. "I'm sure anything you do will turn out fantastic."

"You can at least give me a hint."

He couldn't bring himself to tell her what he really wanted so he opted for the next best thing. "How about a picture of that place I was reading about in your story? The place where it was raining and everything smelled green."

She was flattered. "You want me to draw that?"

"I'd like to read some more of your story too if you'll let me Raine."

No one ever much paid attention to her drawings let alone her stories. Raine really had no one to show them to. "Really?"

He thought he made her happy and Gaara laughed a little. "Yes if you'll let me."

"Uh…sure." Raine tried to piece together the story Gaara had been reading over her shoulder. "Shall I get you to where you left off?"

"May I read it from the beginning?"

Her cheeks darkened. "If you want to."

The longer the story, the longer Gaara could sit with her. "Yes please."

With some quick rearranging Raine got the story together. She handed it over to Gaara. "You sure? It's kind of long. I'm nearly done with it."

Gaara took the stack of papers. "It's alright I want to read it." He looked down at the first page. It was just as he had feared. While reading over her shoulder Gaara had noticed how strange her writing was. It looked like a sloppy mix of two languages. He smiled and shook his head. "There's just one problem."

"You probably don't have the time…"

"No I have the time. My evenings are my own." Gaara looked back into her eyes. "It's your handwriting. It's a unique script."

She could feel her cheeks heating up. "I'm sorry. Standard is my second language." She reached for the pages but Gaara still held on to them. She looked up at him confused.

"Will you read it to me?" he didn't want to surrender her story without being able to at least hear it. He thought he would like hearing Raine tell him her tale. He could just relax and listen to her voice. It sounded like a good way to spend an evening.

"Read it…" read one of my stories to the kazekage!

Gaara couldn't resist leaning a little closer to her as he offered her the pages. "Please?"

Her face was likely red as a rose but Raine couldn't refuse. "Okay," she took the pages back from Gaara and adjusted them in her hands. "It was the first day of true spring and the ocean breeze mingled with the smell of new green in Bar Harbor," she began.

Gaara relaxed listening to Raine read him her story. He found himself caught up in it, mesmerized by her storytelling. It was well past midnight when Raine insisted she had to stop for the night. They both needed their rest and she had a few chores yet to do. Gaara didn't want to see her go. "You'll read me some more of the story wont you? Tomorrow night? I can meet you here."

The handsome kage had been an attentive listener. Raine suspected he liked the tale. "If you'd like." She smiled shyly at him and got to her feet.

Gaara stood up beside her. "Tomorrow night then?" he was already looking forward to meeting her in the moonlight again.

"As you wish kazekage sama."

Gaara stepped closer to her. "Gaara."

"As you wish, Gaara. Goodnight." She favored him with one last smile and headed off to her room. It was late and she still had to lay out Lord Hotohori's clothes.

He stood where he was watching her go. Gaara felt lighter then he had in a long time. Not once had Raine shied away from him or looked at him with fear in her eyes. He thought of her smile, the pretty blush in her cheeks when he flattered her. It made him feel warm just thinking about it. Raine…Gaara thought he had made a new friend.

Over the next few nights Raine met with Gaara in the garden after she was dismissed by Lord Hotohori in the evenings. They sat on the rock together making small talk and Raine read Gaara her story. He seemed to enjoy it, to look forward to the next night's installment. It was late her last night in Sand when she finished up all she had written.

Gaara was leaning back watching the sky when she finished. He looked over at her. "Is that all?"

She smiled humbly. "Sorry, I haven't finished it yet Gaara."

He sat up and faced her. "Then you'll just have to have it finished it for me when you come back."

Raine laughed. "That interested are you?"

"Sure I am. I want to know what happens to Gattsu." It was the truth, Gaara had found himself pretty into Raine's tale, but he wanted to sit with her alone again too.

"Then next time I come I'll be sure to have it finished for you, with pictures."

Gaara smiled. Raine certainly was accommodating. He hoped that it was because they had become friends and not just because he was kage. "That would be great."

She had enjoyed these past few evenings with Gaara. He was surprisingly kind and soft spoken. She thought Gaara was incredibly handsome too. Her eyes had drifted from the page more then once. Raine laughed a little. "If you say so."

Gaara was wondering if they were friendly enough for her to honor him another request. "There is something I would like for you to draw for me Raine. A picture of you back in your homeland so I can see what it's like."

It was a little flustering to hear the handsome kage wanted her picture. "I'll make some sketches of my village for you."

That pretty blush was back in Raine's cheeks. "Can I have a picture of you? I'd like to be able to look at your picture when the real you isn't around."

Look at my picture…? He was smiling at her, begging for her favor and understanding with his eyes. "Gaara," she wasn't quite sure what to say to the kazekage.

She's so pretty when she blushes like that. His hand got ahead of him and before he was consciously aware that he was doing it Gaara was holding her blushing cheek. Her eyes were fixed on his. He could see the moon reflected in their depths. "Raine," he began but never finished. Gaara couldn't resist the temptation to kiss her; he pressed his lips to hers.

The handsome kazekage kissed her softly on the lips. Gaara… Raine felt her heart beating hard in her chest; she could hear it in her ears. His lips lingered against hers just a little too long to make it a completely innocent kiss. After a seemingly long and exciting moment Gaara pulled away enough to look down into her eyes. Gaara…He's the kazekage! I shouldn't be messing around with him like this I…

He hadn't known he was going to kiss her until he was doing it and once he had kissed her he wanted to kiss her again. Her eyes were wide; confused yet trusting. "Raine," Gaara wanted to tell her what he was feeling.

This can't be… Raine stood up tearing her eyes away from Gaara. "It's late. I really have to go."

She's leaving me… "Raine, wait."

She looked at Gaara one last time. This was the last time they would be alone like this for a while. Maybe it's for the best. "Get some sleep Gaara. Goodnight." Before he could further argue Raine hurried away.

He lifted a hand to stop her, but she was already gone. Gaara watched her disappear back inside and he sagged back into his seat on the rock. "Shit." She didn't even give me the chance to explaine myself. He frowned a little. Women were still largely a mystery to Gaara. She had made a quick exit but she let me kiss her. I didn't mean to I just… He had found himself unable to resist.

He wondered if this feeling was what Kankuro often referred to as being hung up on a dame. Gaara wanted to see her again. He didn't want to spend a month wondering if Raine would come back. I don't really have much choice though do I? It was depressing to think about but come morning Gaara's muse would be leaving him. All he could do was hope that she would return with Hotohori next conference.

With no other decent option left to him; he wasn't about to kidnap Raine and busting into a ladies room so late at night was unacceptable especially after so boldly kissing her, Gaara headed off to bed. If he couldn't sleep then he could at least rest and relax. He lay awake for a while wondering if he should have apologized to Raine for kissing her. It appeared to have flustered her. Gaara had heard her heartbeat. It had almost been as loud as his own. He thought about the feel of Raine's soft warm lips against his. It was enough to send him drifting off to sleep with a smile on his face.

After breakfast the next morning Lord Hotohori's party was ready to ride out. Raine sat on her horse behind her master watching the handsome Gaara say his goodbye's to the lords. Hotohori said his farewells and started out. Raine took one more look at Gaara; he was staring at her smiling a little. Raine returned his smile with a big one of her own. Happy to leave on friendly terms, Raine turned and gigged her horse to catch up to her master.

Kankuro stood beside Gaara watching his little brother's eyes follow Hotohori's servant girl out of the village. He wasn't so sure he wanted his brother's mind on troublesome dames right now. There was work to do. "Gaara, you're needed in your office."

He kept his eyes on Raine until she was just a shape in the distance. See you soon. Gaara sighed and turned to go do his duty as kazekage.

3

It had been a week since Raine had left Sand again and Gaara found himself just a little melancholy without his story teller. His evenings had become rather boring. He tried to be lively at dinner with his family, but it was as if the wind had been stolen from his sails. Gaara poked at his spinach salad uninterested in eating it.

Temari had noticed Gaara's sagging mood. Finally she couldn't take his longsuffering sighs and dismal expression anymore. "Alright Gaara, what's wrong?"

Gaara looked from his spinach leaves to his sister across the table. "I don't much care for spinach."

She didn't think it was spinach that was stuck in baby brother's crawl. "That's not what I mean. I mean what's with you lately? You're bummin' hard little bro."

Kankuro had his suspicions that Gaara's mood had something to do with that servant girl. "Leave him alone Temari," Kankuro grumbled and sipped his sake.

Temari frowned at Kankuro. "Like you haven't noticed."

Kankuro returned his sisters scowl. "So what? Gaara has a lot to think about. He is kazekage you know. It's a difficult job."

Gaara didn't want his siblings squabbling at the dinner table again. Temari had a habit of hitting or throwing things. "I'm fine you two really. I've just had a lot on my mind." He pushed his salad away and reached for his own cup of sake. Gaara sipped it thinking about Raine's warm smile. I miss her.

"What's bugging you Gaara?" Temari pressed. "Anything we can help with?"

Gaara started at his siblings. Temari looked eager to help but Kankuro looked disgruntled. The kage was still confused about Raine running away from him after he kissed her. He wondered if his sister could explaine a woman's reasoning to him. "Temari, could I ask you something?"

She didn't know why the hell he was asking her permission to speak. Is it something serious or… she remembered Gaara on his knees with the servant girl in the garden. Temari brightened a little. "This is about that girl isn't it? Hotohori's servant."

"Keh," Kankuro scoffed. "Gaara's got no time for dames."

"Shut up Kankuro," Temari argued. "Of course he has time."

Kankuro finished his sake and slammed his cup down. "Maybe for the ones in a position of authority, but not for a little serving girl."

"What's wrong with serving girls ne?" Temari was getting indignant.

"That girl is common," Kankuro grunted pouring himself more sake. "And she's tiny. No bigger then a little mouse."

"So what?" her big brother was frustrating her so she turned her attention back to Gaara. "You like her don't you? What was her name again?"

He was glad Temari had turned her attention back to him. "Raine," he replied and smiled a little. "She's a very talented artist and storyteller."

Temari smiled crookedly at Gaara. He does, Gaara likes Raine. "Talented you say? Well then perhaps kazekage should have a muse in his court."

Gaara brightened at the idea. Have Raine stay here? "You think?"

It was Kankuro who answered. "No. Stop filling his head with foolish ideas Temari. Kazekage doesn't need a muse. How stupid." He punctuated his distain with a swallow of sake. One eye squint shut in aggravation.

She whirled around on her big brother. "It's not stupid! Kage's have kept scribes before, why can't Gaara? It's not a bad idea."

"Please, there is no need to argue," Gaara tried to stop their argument now. He concentrated on Temari first. "I never thought of having a scribe around."

She focused on little brother. "You said Raine can write. Why not ask her to write something about you as kage or Hidden Sand ne?"

Gaara felt his mood brightening. It sounded like Temari was really on to something. "Do you think I should?"

"I don't," Kankuro finished his sake and got up. "Who needs some strange broad poking her nose around? Not me brother. Watch yourself Gaara. It's always those cute little quiet ones that are nothing but trouble."

"Would you shut up already you big jerk!" Temari lost her patience. "What the hell do you know about women anyway? It's not like you've ever even had a date."

He was insulted and hurled one right back at her. "At least I'm not floozing it up with a Konoha shinobi, sister."

"I am not floozing it up! Naara Shikamaru happens to be a friend."

"Sure he is."

Their fighting was giving him a headache. There was only one way to deal with it. "That's enough!" Gaara shouted over them. "Must you fight at the dinner table?"

"I was just looking out for you and the Sand. How do you know that little mouse isn't a spy huh? Maybe she's in Akatsuki's back pocket."

Temari rolled her eyes and Gaara sighed quietly. "Thank you for your concern Kankuro but I don't think Raine is any threat to me or to the security of Sand."

Kankuro stared his younger brother down. "You sure her pictures and stories aint clouding your judgment Gaara?" He thought it had more to do with little mouse's shapely figure and dark eyes then her drawings.

Gaara chuckled. "I'm quite sure. Raine is harmless." He smiled at big brothers concern. "As harmless as a little mouse ne?"

Shrugging Kankuro conceded, "If you say so."
Kankuro could be the most stubborn and suspicious man his sister had ever met, but Temari also knew that he didn't assign pet names to just anyone. He must suspect Gaara likes Raine too. Maybe he knows Gaara will invite her to stay in Sand? "If Gaara thinks mouse is okay then she must be." She grinned a little at Kankuro.

Gaara smiled a little. His siblings seemed to have found their own nickname for his muse. He supposed it had something to do with Raine's short stature and small frame. Kankuro, what a poet.

"Humph. Women are trouble. Even the little ones," Kankuro threw in his last two cents and headed out.

Temari poured her and Gaara another cup of sake. "Don't mind him he's just jealous he doesn't have a cute girl telling him stories."

Gaara stared down into his sake as a blush crept into his cheeks. There was still something he wanted to ask his sister about. "Say Temari, why would a woman run away from a man after he kissed her?"

Her eyebrows shot up. What's this? "Gaara…did you kiss her?"

His cheeks felt warm. Gaara sipped his sake. "Uh…"

Holy shit he did? "Well what happened?"

"We were just talking and," he thought back to Raine's pink cheeks and wide trusting eyes. "I didn't mean to be so forward."

"Wait a minute, are you saying you kissed mouse without asking her permission first?"

Gaara looked up at Temari. His sister was giving him the hard eyeball. Uh oh. "Uh, it was kind of spontaneous."

"So you kissed her and then she ran away from you, ne?"

"Well, yeah." Gaara sagged in his seat guiltily.

Temari was stunned. "You letch! Don't you have any self control? No wonder mouse ran away from you. She probably thought you were a dangerous pervert!"

Gaara blinked at Temari mortified. "P-pervert? Me?"

She finished the sake in her cup reminding herself it wasn't Gaara's fault he was so ignorant when it came to women. "Baka, you can't just go around kissing whoever you feel like whenever you feel like it. It's rude."

"Rude." He felt his heart dive into his stomach. Oh no. Does Raine think I'm a rude pervert? Gaara swallowed hard. "I didn't mean to…"

"Did you apologize to mouse for attacking her?" Temari was a little irked that baby brother was so uncouth.

"I didn't attack her," Gaara felt his nervousness rising. Perhaps asking Temari about this hadn't been such a great idea after all. "She didn't give me the chance to apologize. After I kissed her she ran away."

Temari sighed and shook her head. "Was she upset?"

Gaara didn't think Raine was upset with him. "She smiled at me before she left."

Temari hadn't noticed any unpleasant emotions coming from mouse. "She likes you too then. Though I don't suggest slobbering all over the poor thing, you could apologize for being so bold." Temari set her cup down. "Never put a move on a chick without her consent little bro. You might end up getting smacked."

Gaara knew some women were quite violent, like Temari is but Raine didn't strike him as the violent type. "I'll keep that in mind." Gaara finished his sake.

Temari poured them each one more drink. She smiled a little at Gaara. Baby brother's first kiss. How cute. "So how was it?" she teased grinning.

"How was what?" he lifted up his refreshed cup.

"Your first kiss dummy. Did she kiss you back? Was it nice or was it slobbery?"

His cheeks felt even hotter. "There wasn't any slobbering."

She couldn't resist picking on him just a little more. "Didn't you slip her the tongue?"

His jaw dropped. "Temari!" Temari just laughed and sipped her sake. When her hysterics had passed Gaara quietly told her, "Raine let me kiss her. It was nice."

"Then I guess you better talk to her next time she visits Sand. Maybe invite her to stay with us for a while and see what happens."

Invite her to stay. Gaara smiled. He thought it was a great idea.

Gaara gave Kankuro a few days to forget about the dinner argument before he sought big brother out for his opinion. It was late afternoon when Gaara tracked his brother down. Kankuro was watching some of the genin run drills. "Kankuro," Gaara called in greeting. His brother turned his attention away from the genin.

"Oi Gaara. You already done for the day?"

"Finished up about an hour ago; thought I'd come find you."

Kankuro watched his younger brother shuffle his feet in the sand. "Everything alright Gaara?" he thought kazekage looked edgy.

"Sure. Business as usual."

"You want something?" It was a perfectly good question. Gaara had come looking for him. His younger brother smiled a little. What's with him?

Here goes. "I was wondering Kankuro, what do you suppose it means when a woman runs away from you after she lets you kiss her?"

His eye squinted instinctively. Oh boy… "This about little mouse?"

It was hard to keep his smile away when Gaara thought about Raine. "Temari says a man should ask a woman for her consent before kissing her."

Kankuro almost smiled himself. "Of course a mean chick like her would say that. I've seen Shikamaru leave here with her handprint on his face a few times." Kankuro adjusted his stance and eyed his younger brother. Time to educate him about women ne? "So what? You kissed mouse and she ran away from you?"

Gaara nodded. He was moving past his embarrassment at disclosing such a personal thing. He had to if he wanted advice. "Yes."

"Well," Kankuro took a deep long breath and let it out slowly. "You see Gaara, chicks are attracted to strong men but sometimes their power is intimidating. Little mouse probably got all flustered and scared. You are the kazekage after all. You're a very powerful man and she's… Well she's just a little mouse. It's either that or she's just playing hard to get."

He didn't think Raine was afraid of him. She might be a little intimidated by his title, but it hadn't kept them from becoming friends or spending time alone. "Hard to get?"

"It's a woman's way of getting a man to chase her around. They pretend they don't like you and stuff."

It was perplexing. "Why?"

Kankuro shrugged his shoulders. "Aint no man got an answer to that question little brother. Some girls you just gotta chase."

Gaara found this new information interesting even though he didn't think that Raine had run off because she wanted to be chased. "Do you? Have you chased women Kankuro?"

"Every chance I get." Kankuro smiled and dropped Gaara a wink. His younger sibling looked a little confused and Kankuro laughed. "Don't worry brother." He threw an arm around Gaara's shoulders and pointed them back toward the center of the village. "With the feudal lords at each others throats all the time I'm sure you'll get to chase your little mouse around plenty."

He wasn't sure he wanted to chase Raine. Gaara preferred to sit and talk with her instead. The advice given to him by Temari and Kankuro left Gaara just felt even more confused and unsure. He let Kankuro turn them back toward home. "Yeah I guess."

Kankuro laughed again. Little mouse was common, but Gaara really seemed to like her. Enough to get her in a lip lock ne? Nothing like a crush on a girl to make a sane man go nuts. "Eh don't worry so much about it Gaara. It will work itself out one way or another."

His sibling's advice didn't help him much but Gaara still had one other person he could ask. Shikamaru was visiting Sand to make the final arrangements for the upcoming chunin exams. For a while Gaara just sat back and observed the Konoha ninja interacting with Temari. Their relationship was slightly confusing. Sometimes Temari let Shikamaru get close and sometimes when he got too close she shoved or smacked him. Gaara waited until he and Shikamaru were alone before he spoke up.

"Oi Shikamaru," Gaara began. "You and Temari are close aren't you?"

Shikamaru chuckled. "I guess you can say that. Your sister is a troublesome woman."

"Do you chase her?" Gaara wondered if Shikamaru was like Kankuro.

"Only when she makes me," he shrugged. "Which is about half of the time."

Interesting. "What about the other half of the time?"

"She lets me catch her." Shikamaru winked at Gaara. The kazekage looked confused and Shikamaru laughed. "Alright Gaara, what's this all about? You worried about your sister ne?"

He shook his head negative. Gaara was pretty sure Temari could kick the shit out of Shikamaru if she so desired, but the worst Gaara had seen her do was slap the chunin. "Well to be honest, this isn't about Temari."

"Oh?" Shikamaru lifted a curious eyebrow. "Then what is it about?"

Gaara took a deep breath and hoped that the third time really was the charm. "Why would a girl run away from you after she let you kiss her?"

The hell? Shikamaru was stumped. "You're kissing girls now Gaara?"

"Just one; Raine." Saying her name made him smile a little.

Gaara's got himself a girlfriend ne? "Raine ne?"

"I know it was forward of me to kiss her without her consent and I don't think she ran away because she wanted me to run after her but," Gaara frowned a little. "I don't think I upset her, but I don't understand why she ran off after she let me kiss her."

Shikamaru chuckled. Boy do you have a lot to learn brother. "You were probably pushing her buttons. Ya know, getting her all hot and bothered. Girls get all flustered when they get horny. She probably ran off so you couldn't see how worked up that smooch you gave her got her."

This explanation was new but moderately indecent. "Worked up?"

"Oi, at least she ran away instead of hitting you." A huge grin spread across the chunin's face. "Temari just hits me."

I so did not need to hear that. Kazekage sighed."I see." Gaara thought about how loud their heartbeats had been when he kissed Raine, the pretty blush she had in her cheeks.

"Keh women just love to watch a man squirm. It's okay for them to get you all worked up but if you do the same thing to them you're liable to end up with a handprint on your face." Shikamaru sighed thoughtfully. Temari smacked him two out of three times he grabbed her butt. "Love is a troublesome thing."

Love… Gaara watched the chunin roll his eyes. He thought about Raine. Gaara didn't think she was afraid of him and he certainly hoped that she didn't think he was a pervert. Maybe there was something to what Shikamaru said, just not so sleazy. Maybe their kiss had made Raine feel something too. Gaara smiled hopeful. "I guess so."

4

To Gaara's delight when the next round of negotiations were set to begin, Raine again accompanied Hotohori to Hidden Sand. Gaara stood with Kankuro to one side and Temari on the other greeting the feudal lords. As the old men stood on ceremony the kazakage played with a small amount of sand. He stirred the sand at Raine's feet into a small thin tendril. With a slight wave of his hand Gaara sent the sand string up and around Raine's pinky finger. He gave it a gentle tug and snuck a peek at her.

Raine felt something tickling her hand and pulling at her finger. She looked down and saw the sand. Raine looked up from the sand playing at her fingers up to the handsome kage. He smiled at her a little and Raine smiled back at him. It's good to see you too my handsome Gaara.

After the greeting the party moved into the conference room and the day's conference began. About half way through the meeting Gaara performed another trick with his sand. He guided a little to Raine's notebook and in sand he wrote out a message: Meet me in the garden later? Gaara pretended to be focused on Hotohori, but his eyes met the woman's behind the lord. Raine was smiling at him with that pretty blush in her cheeks. She nodded affirmatively at him. Gaara hid a smile in his hand. He was looking forward to spending the late evening hours with Raine alone in the garden.

They made no progress at the meeting, but it didn't matter much to Gaara. He hurried through dinner with his family willing the night to move on quickly. He was eager to see Raine, to talk to her and sit with her again. After dinner Gaara finished taking care of everything he would need for the meeting the next day. With his duties attended to Gaara went to the garden to wait for his friend.

It felt like he was waiting forever as it grew later. He thought about the advice his siblings and the Konoha chunin had given to him about the fairer sex. After seeing her smile today Gaara was sure that Raine wasn't afraid of him or angry at him either. She had readily agreed to meet him too without Gaara having to do any chasing. Perhaps the somewhat sleazy Shikamaru had been the most right of all of them. He was mulling Shikamaru's words of wisdom over when he heard something behind him. Gaara turned and saw Raine come out into the garden with her notebook in hand.

Raine smiled at the handsome kage. "Hello Gaara," she greeted.

Gaara left his seat on the big rock and hurried to meet Raine. "Hello Raine," he said with a smile. He took her free hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "How are you?"

Her smile grew. "I'm good. How are you?"

"Much better now that you're here." His flattery got her blushing again and Gaara felt his heart soar. "Won't you come and sit with me?"

Raine nodded and let Gaara lead them to the big rock. "I finished the story and I've drawn some pictures for you."

Gaara sat with Raine. "Really? Pictures of you?"

She laughed a little slightly embarrassed. "Well…" Raine removed a stack of drawings from her notebook and offered them to Gaara. "I'll show you."

He took the papers from her and looked down at the one on top. It was a drawing of the town she came from. The focal point of the picture was an old man standing behind a produce cart. "This is your village?"

Raine nodded. "That's Ray. He's been there forever. A very nice man. He always gives me an apple; for my health he says."

Gaara smiled at her thinking he'd give Raine the world just to see her smile at him. "He's an old friend then?"
"I've known him since I was small, since my mother was alive."

"Your mother?" It seemed Gaara and Raine had something in common. "She passed away?"

Raine nodded. "Yes, when I was five." It wasn't exactly a treasured memory and her smile faltered.

"My mother died when I was a baby. I never knew her."

"I'm sorry Gaara." She knew what it was like to grow up without a mother.

He smiled wistfully at her. "Are you an orphan too?"

She knew the previous kazekage, Gaara's father, had been murdered. It had been quite the buzz in her village a few years ago. "I don't know what happened to my real father but my step father succumbed to tuberculosis a few years ago." She looked away from Gaara not wanting him to see the hate in her eyes. "I wasn't there for him when he died. He had already given me to Lord Hotohori."

Given? He didn't quite understand. "What do you mean?"

Raine sighed as quietly as she could. "My step father ran a laundry. When I was ten I accidentally ruined one of Lord Hotohori's more elegant kimonos. It was expensive and we had no money to pay for it so my father gave me to my lord as payment for his suit."

His mouth fell open a little. She's not just Hotohori's servant she's his property? "You don't mean slavery?" Gaara tried to hide how appalled he was.

"My lord prefers to call me an indentured servant, for political reasons, but …" She hated to admit such an ignoble thing.

"Slavery is illegal," Gaara couldn't suppress his frown.

Raine laughed a little and looked back at Gaara. "You really should get out more."

Gaara didn't like the idea of Raine being owned by that stuffy old man. "Haven't you worked for Hotohori long enough to pay for a stupid garment?"

The blush in her cheeks darkened. "It wasn't quite that kind of a deal. My step father didn't want me. Turning me over to Lord Hotohori made them both happy."

"What about you? What about your happiness Raine?"

She was flattered he sounded so concerned. "It's alright Gaara, I'm content. I have a roof over my head and three meals a day. It's not so bad really. Besides," her smile became more genuine. "When I travel with my lord I get to come and see you."

It felt like there were butterflies in his stomach. He wanted to tell her to leave the old man, but he could tell that Raine would rather just see the subject dropped. He smiled at her and reached for her hand. Gaara gave it a squeeze. "And I'm glad to see you."

The hand resting over hers was warm and gentle. Gaara seemed to soften some. "Thank you Gaara. It's good to have such a friend."

"We are friends aren't we Rain?"

She nodded again. "I like to think so." She smiled at him again.

Gaara didn't want to take his eyes off of her, but he wanted to see the rest of her pictures. He tucked the picture of Ray the produce salesman in the back and looked at the next picture. Raine had drawn the shrine, several pictures of Hotohori's estate and gardens and finally the last picture in the pile was the one Gaara had been waiting for. It was a picture of Raine. She sat on her bed with her sketch pad on her lap drawing herself by way of looking in a mirror. A small laugh escaped. "Raine it's wonderful."

Her cheeks felt warm as she watched Gaara marveling over her picture. "I never realized it would be so hard to draw myself. I'm not much for staring at my own reflection." She giggled a little. "Silly isn't it?"

Gaara looked back up into her eyes. "No it's…" Gaara laughed too. "May I keep it?"

"Sure, I did draw it for you." Her cheeks weren't just warm, they were flaming.

Gaara held onto his picture of Raine and handed her back the others. "I'll treasure it always," he promised the blushing woman. He looked at the drawing smiling again. I finally have a picture of my beautiful Raine.

His flattery was somewhat flustering. Raine tucked her pictures back into place. "Shall I continue the story for you Gaara?"

"Yes please," he returned his attention to his pretty guest.

Raine spent the next few hours reading to Gaara. He seemed to get quite excited as the story came to a close. When she finished it was late and she had to go. He didn't want their time together to come to an end and asked her to meet him again tomorrow night. She said she would; Raine had started a new story that she thought he might like. Gaara thanked her for sharing her story with him and for the picture of her. When she left him for the evening she was smiling and her cheeks were pink. Gaara felt happy and warm inside. He was glad he could make her smile.

The next afternoon Temari had joined the meeting to support her brother. She knew such squabbling annoyed Gaara, but he was surprisingly relaxed. It didn't take her long to figure out why. Baby brother was stealing glances at mouse whenever he could. Temari saw little mouse eyeing Gaara as well. So there is something between them ne? At dinner that night she couldn't resist teasing Gaara a little. "Going to see mouse tonight?"

Gaara smiled. "She's going to meet me later in the garden. Raine has a new story she's been working on to show me."

"Have you invited her to stay in Sand yet Gaara?" big sister grilled.

"No not yet. I don't want to seem too forward."

Temari laughed. "You're a little late for that bub. You didn't attack her again did you?"

"Of course not," Gaara blushed.

Kankuro sighed. "So is your would be girlfriend playing hard to get brother?"

Girlfriend? Gaara blinked at his brother. "It isn't like that Kankuro."

He saw the blush creeping into Gaara's cheeks. Oh man does he got it bad. "You should put a move on her."

"He should not!" Temari argued.

Kankuro scowled at Temari. "Why the hell not?"

"Gaara should treat mouse like a lady not a tramp you big jerk."

"I didn't say throw her down and fuck her! Jeez Temari, why do you always gotta be such a miserable bitch?"

"Please you two," Gaara's face felt hot. Their argument was embarrassing him.

"Gaara wouldn't do that you slob," Temari went on.

Kankuro squint one eye shut. "I didn't say he would!"

Temari was getting pissed. "You said throw her down and fuck her!"

"I said put a move on her," Kankuro corrected indignantly. "Stop twisting my words."

It felt a lot warmer in here then it had just a moment ago. His sibling's argument brought a new and rather exciting image to Gaara's mind; Raine sharing his bed with him. His mouth hung open a little. Me and Raine…?

"You have no class when it comes to women Kankuro." She turned back to Gaara. He looked flushed. "Gaara? You alright?"

Gaara looked up at Temari trying to push the guilty thoughts from his mind. "I wish you two wouldn't fight so much that's all."

"Humph!" Kankuro finished his cup of sake. "If you got a thing for little mouse you should show her." He wiggled his eyebrows at his little brother.

"Not in a sleazy way," Temari added pointedly.

Gaara smiled a little. "Really?" he directed at no one in particular.

Temari smiled a little. "You should give her flowers."

"Bah! Just get her drunk and her true feelings will come out." Kankuro saw the smack coming and he braced for it. Temari smacked his arm half a dozen times as Kankuro laughed at her fury. "Knock it off Temari."

"Stop trying to turn Gaara into a letch!" She turned her frown back to Gaara. "You better be a gentleman little brother you hear me?"

Gaara nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Gaara went out to the garden and waited for Raine. It was a nice night and the moon was near full. It hung low in the sky and for a while Gaara sat on the big rock watching the orb climb higher into the night. Such a beautiful night. Gaara heard movement behind him and turned around. Such a beautiful woman. He smiled getting to his feet. "Good evening Raine," Gaara steeped over to meet her.

Raine smiled up at Gaara. "Good evening Gaara."

He smiled at her and offered her his arm. "Would you like to walk with me Raine? It's a beautiful night and the moonflowers are in bloom."

She thought a walk beneath the bright moon with him sounded nice. "Moonflowers?"

Gaara took her notebook and set it on their sitting rock. He offered her his hand and Raine took it. "I'll show you." He led her down the garden path enjoying the feel of her hand in his own. Raine walked closely at his side; Gaara liked that too. "Moonflowers only open at night," he explained as they made their way toward the trellis that was loaded with the sweet smelling blooms.

Raine saw the nighttime flowers and stepped away from Gaara letting go of his hand for the moment. "Oh Gaara, they're beautiful!"

Gaara watched her lean in to smell the pale flower. Not as beautiful as you. "I suffered from insomnia most of my life." Gaara reached for a flower. "Often times when I couldn't sleep I would come out here and look at these flowers. It was almost as if they were blooming just for me."

She smiled at Gaara. "Maybe they are."

He picked a flower and smelled it. "Maybe tonight they're blooming for you." He reached over and tucked the flower behind Raine's ear. Her cheeks darkened some.

She giggled a little nervously. "How does it look?"

"Beautiful," Gaara wanted to touch her soft rosy cheek but he let his hand fall to his side. "You're beautiful Raine."

"Gaara," she dropped her eyes. His flattery was a bit embarrassing.

He was wondering if he was making her nervous, he thought he was. "I'm not a dangerous pervert," he tried to sooth.

Raine looked up at the kage stunned. A surprised laugh bubbled up and out. "What?"

He felt his cheeks heating up. "I'm sorry about before. You know, kissing you without asking you if it was alright first. I didn't mean to attack you I just…"

Her whole face felt like it was on fire. Raine took a step back. "It's alright Gaara. You don't have to apologize to me."

Gaara couldn't stop himself from closing the gap between them. He stepped forward and stared down into her dark eyes. "You don't think I'm a letch do you?"

"No of course not," Raine smiled and shook her head trying not to fret over how close Gaara stood.

He smiled relived to hear the good news. "It's just that… I really like you Raine. I like having you around. I hope that's alright."

Raine was starting to get flustered. "I really like you too Gaara."

He felt his heartbeat kick up a notch. She likes me too! He took both of her hands in his own. "Would you like to stay here in Sand Raine? Stay here with me?"

Her mouth fell open. Stay with Gaara… "I…" she stared at him stunned.

"You could write stories and draw pictures for me. You could be my muse." Gaara found himself hopefully excited as soon as the invitation was out.

Be the kage's muse? Her palms started to sweat. "I… couldn't possibly…"

"Why not? Don't you like it here, with me?" Gaara didn't want her to say no. Now that he had asked her to stay with him he wanted her to agree to make Sand her home.

His eyes were pleading. "Of course I like it here with you it's just that," she was more then just remotely flattered by Gaara's tempting offer, but sadly there was no way she could accept. "Such a decision isn't mine to make."

"Then I'll decide. You'll stay." Gaara smiled thinking that was easy!

Raine pulled her hands free and took two big steps away from Gaara. "You don't understand. It isn't up to me or to you," she took another step back.

Gaara's smile faltered. For every step Raine took away from him Gaara felt his heart sink a little. "Raine?"

She thought she was making him sad and it made her heart feel heavy. "I'm sorry Gaara. I…" but she didn't know what to say to make him feel better. Raine turned and started back up the path. "I should go."

"Raine wait please." She shook her head and kept walking and Gaara started to panic some. "Wait a minute damnit!" he waved his hand and a wall of sand impeded her progress. Raine startled and froze in her tracks. Gaara hurried up behind her feeling a little guilty that he had frightened her. "Raine please wait." He let the sand wall crumble.

Raine turned and looked at Gaara. "Gaara." He looked miserable.

"I didn't mean to scare you. I just want you to stay. Please Raine," he reached for her hands again. She didn't pull away when he took them. "Tell me what I've done wrong. Tell me what I did to take away your smile."

Her heart went out to him. "You haven't done anything wrong Gaara."

"Then why are you running away from me? Do you want me to chase you?"

"Chase me?" what an odd thing to say.

She seemed to be calming some. "I'm not quite sure how to chase women but I'll learn if it will make you happy. If it will make you stay with me."

She blinked at him and then she laughed. "Gaara what are you…" Raine shook her head. Her laugh had brought a sad smile to his lips. She freed one of her hands and brushed the hair away from his eyes. "You really don't understand do you?"

What Gaara understood was that he liked the feel of her warm fingers on his face. He reached up and pressed her hand to his cheek. "Raine." With her hand so close to his nose he could smell the little dab of perfume on her wrist. She even smells pretty.

"Gaara," she hated to admit such a humiliating thing. "It's up to Lord Hotohori whether I may stay here in Sand. I belong to him."

He didn't want to hear that. "Then I will make him give you your freedom."

She smiled at him. Gaara made everything sound so simple. If anyone could convince my lord to release me it's Gaara. "You'll make him."

"If the choice was yours would you stay here with me?"

"I," she felt her face heating up again. Gaara still held her hand against his face. He was staring down into her eyes. "I would stay with you Gaara. I'd write you as many stories as you want." She smiled at him. Raine had never had such a captivated or captivating audience as the handsome kazekage.

Gaara was filled with joy. "You mean it? You'll stay with me Raine?"

She laughed lightly at the way he brightened. "Yes Gaara. I'd love to stay with you," Raine said and she meant it.

He couldn't recall a time when he had been happier. He laughed a little himself and then Gaara wrapped Raine up into his arms. He hugged her tight. "It will be wonderful Raine I promise. You'll love it here in Sand." He pulled away enough to look at her blushing face. It dawned on him all at once that he was holding his beautiful muse in his arms.

Raine blinked at Gaara. His warm smile was just inches from her own. She rested her hands on his shoulders meaning to push him back a little. Gaara held the length of their bodies together as he embraced her. Raine blushed wildly up at him. "I'm sure I will."

Gaara had never hugged any woman beside his sister and holding Raine was nothing like hugging Temari. Raine was small and delicate. Her long hair tickled at the arms he had wrapped around her. He could feel her breasts pushing against him and when Gaara looked down he saw the cleavage he was feeling. She was looking at him with shy eyes and pink cheeks. Gaara felt his heart skipping in his chest and he swallowed hard. "Raine," Gaara knew what he wanted, but yet again he forgot to ask. Unable to resist Gaara pressed his lips to hers and kissed her.

Gaara…His kiss was warm and exciting. He hugged her tighter and Raine felt herself melting into him. She wrapped her arms around him and tickled at the back of his neck with her fingers. She wanted to bury her hands in his wild red hair. A moment later he parted her lips with his own and she surrendered herself to Gaara's kiss.

He couldn't believe how amazing it felt to hold her and kiss her like this. It excited his senses. Her fingers brushed against his ear setting his blood on fire. Raine… Their kiss was heating up, Gaara was heating up. He now understood for the first time in his life what it meant to want a woman. His tongue met hers and Gaara felt his resolve to remain a gentleman weaken. She's so…

Raine had never shared a kiss like the one she shared with Gaara now. She wanted to hold him to her and go on kissing him forever but…should we even be doing this? He's the kazekage and I'm… She broke her mouth away from his and Raine tried to catch her breath. "Gaara," she sighed.

Their kiss left him breathless too. He liked to hear her say his name like that. "Raine I…" he lifted a hand to her face and stroked her flush cheek. He smiled at her. "I guess I am a dangerous pervert after all."

Gaara was blushing too. He looked a little flustered and Raine giggled at his silly comment. "Not at all." She smoothed the hair out of his face again and stared up into his eyes. "I think you're wonderful Gaara."

His heart soared. "You do?"

She nodded a little smiling up at him. "I do."

A huge grin spread across his face. "Stay with me Raine. Be at my side always." He was dieing to kiss her again so he did. Holding his beautiful muse in the moonlight Gaara knew. I've fallen in love with her. I'm in love with Raine.

The next morning Gaara was all smiles at breakfast. Kankuro had heard little brother go to his room late last night. "So Gaara," Kankuro tested. "You were out pretty late. You were with the little mouse all night ne?"

Gaara thought about the kissing Raine and he smiled. "Yes. We were talking well into the wee hours of the morning." It was mostly the truth. Gaara and Raine had done a lot of talking last night before he kissed her goodnight. He had already decided to speak to Hotohori today. He didn't want his muse my love leaving him again.

"Just talking? Then what's with that shit eating grin little brother?" Kankuro teased.

Temari lifted a curious brow and looked at baby brother. "Gaara?"

Gaara laughed a little. "Last night I asked Raine to stay here in Sand, with me."

"Did you now?"

"Well, what did she say?" Temari was excited to see Gaara so happy. She must have said yes! Yosh!

Gaara softened up the facts a bit. "She said that she would stay if Hotohori would give his consent. I mean to speak with him before I see Raine again this evening."

Temari clapped her hands together. There's no way that stuffed shirt would refuse the kazekage! "Alright! Another female at the table!" She was looking forward to it.

"Little mouse will be staying with us ne?" Kankuro kept his eyes on Gaara. "Gonna move her right into your room Gaara?" he winked at his little brother.

"Slob. Not even nine a.m. and you're being a pig," Temari criticized

Gaara laughed a little. "I was thinking Raine could take the empty room across the hall from mine, slob," he added playfully and Kankuro busted up laughing.

"It will be nice to have another woman around," Temari sighed dreamily.

"Yeah just great," Kankuro was on a roll. "Double the pms. You sure about this Gaara?"

Temari smacked Kankuro in the arm. "I'll give you pms you fat bastard!"

Kankuro laughed and Temari hit him some more. Gaara just smiled and shook his head. He had never been more sure about anything. Gaara wanted Raine with him.

The day's conference seemed to drag by slowly. Since it was the last day of negotiations for another month both Kankuro and Temari sat in on the proceedings with Gaara. They both noticed how often Gaara and little mouse stole glances at each other. Temari wondered if they were falling in love; Kankuro wondered what Gaara had really been up to with mouse last night. Sometimes mouse blushed at Gaara's smile. When the meeting finally came to a close Gaara asked Hotohori, "A word with you."

Hotohori nodded at kazakage and turned to his servant. "Go on and start packing my things. We'll be leaving this hell hole first thing in the morning," he informed her quietly. Raine exited with the other lords and their servants and Hotohori turned back to kazekage. "How may I be of service to you kazekage sama?"

Gaara put on a calm face. "I'd like a word with you about Raine."

Hotohori frowned. "What's that girl done now? I swear I'll fetch her up good if she's misbehaved herself here."

Kankuro straightened. He had been fetched up plenty by his sensei in the past. So he beats her ass ne? What an asshole.

He managed to keep his frown away but Gaara noticed the way his brother tensed up some. His sister was watching the old man with penetrating eyes. "Raine has not misbehaved in fact she's been quite polite and accommodating. She has shown me some of her writing; she's quite a talented scribe."

Hotohori blinked at the kage surprised. She what! "You can actually read her writing? It's worse then my five year old grandson's," he scoffed.

"She knows how to weave words together," Gaara defended. He wasn't about to tell the old man that Raine had read to him. Hotohori didn't need all the details. "I would like for Raine to stay here in Sand for a while and do some writing for me."

What the bloody hell? "Kazekage sama?" the lord was bewildered.

Temari didn't like the old bastard dissin Gaara's girl. "Kages sometimes keep scribes to record their greatness. I'm sure that you agree that Gaara is the greatest kazekage that Sand has ever had."

"Of course," Hotohori bowed at Temari and turned back to Gaara. If the kage was interested in Hotohori's slave then perhaps there was a way to give him a little leverage at the next conference. "My lord Gaara, please consider Raine my gift to you. She's an excellent servant with an eye for detail."

Gaara already knew that. He had seen her drawings. Beside him his sister tensed up. Clearly she didn't like the idea of the woman being offered to him as a gift. Gaara didn't like it either but he stayed perfectly calm. "That's very generous of you."

Hotohori smiled at the young kage. He suspected Gaara wanted more then just a scribe. "Perhaps you can find uses for such a sinfully pretty girl that this old man could not."

Temari hissed through her teeth and Gaara put a hand up in front of her to keep her from going off on the old bastard. He was getting pretty good at all of this diplomatic crap. "I accept your offer Lord Hotohori. I will keep Raine."

Hotohori bowed to the kage. "I am happy to serve you my lord."

He nodded approvingly at the lord. "Thank you Lord Hotohori. That is all; you are dismissed." Gaara kept a straight face until the old man bowed out of the room and slid the door shut behind him. As soon as the lord was gone Gaara frowned.

"What a creep," Kankuro grunted.

Temari's hand balled into a fist. "The nerve of that guy. Just who the hell does he think he is offering women as gifts? What a scum."

Gaara sighed. He didn't like what the old bastard had been implying either. "Forget about him. He is of no consequence. What is important is that Raine can stay."

Kankuro looked at Gaara. Little brother looked a little ruffled and Kankuro grinned evilly. "You want that old fuck to have an accident Gaara? I wouldn't mind bumping him off for you."

For once Temari agreed with Kankuro. "I'll help."

Gaara shook his head negative. "Don't go killing Hotohori. Granted he's an asshole but he does have a family to take care of." Gaara stood and his siblings stood with him. He turned to more pleasant thoughts. "Well then, I guess we better make sure Raine's room is all ready for her." Come morning, Raine would move into Gaara's home. The thought made him smile.

Raine was nearly finished packing Hotohori's things for the trip home when he came into his room. She immediately abandoned his luggage and straightened to face her master. "Lord Hotohori, shall I make you some tea?"

Hotohori wasted no time lighting into his servant. "You've been speaking to kazekage behind my back Raine."

She froze in place. Her master was frowning. "My lord?"

"You're lucky that you've caught his eye. It means no flogging for you for your deceit. I wouldn't want to leave a mark on Gaara's new toy."

Her mouth fell open. Hotohori was bitter. "Lord Hotohori…"

The old man reached up and took the young woman's chin in his hand. "I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all. Your mother was a whore. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you following in her footsteps."

Rain took a big step back pulling away from Hotohori with large angry eyes. Raine didn't remember much about her mother but all of her memories of the woman were good ones. She had been gentle, loving and kind hearted. "My mother was…!"

Hotohori laughed. "You better treat Gaara right or he may kill you. He's killed hundreds you know. The sand in that gourd he carries around is soaked with the blood of his victims. Sabaku no Gaara, he's a very dangerous man."

She couldn't believe all of the horrible things coming from her master's mouth. "He is not!" she defended instinctively.

Hotohori was old, not dead. He stepped forward and slapped his mouthy ward across the face. "Don't you take that tone with me!"

Raine recoiled bringing a hand up to her stinging cheek. She was a little surprised herself that she had snapped at her master. "My lord I…"

"You better keep kazekage happy," he warned. "Don't you dare do anything to make me regret giving you to him." She blinked at him surprised and Hotohori straightened. "That's right Raine. I've given you to Gaara as a gift. He's your master now. You'll be staying here."

Raine was torn between two emotions. She was happy that she could stay here in Sand with her handsome kage, but at the same time she was horrified to hear that she had been given away to Gaara like a cheap trinket. "Gave me?"

"From now on you'll serve your homeland in the kazekage's bed." Hotohori smiled wickedly at his servant.

He gave me to Gaara as his whore! She couldn't believe such a disgusting thing was true. His cruel words were too much to bear. Raine ran past her lord and threw the door open. She ran out into the hall and kept running. She didn't even know where she was going. The first miserable tears stung her eyes as she ran out into the village.

Temari went with Gaara to make sure that the room Gaara was going to keep his little mouse in was all ready for her. Kankuro wasn't much for dusting and making beds so he ducked out on his siblings. He snuck out the back door and wandered out into town. He was making his way back toward the training area when he saw mouse. She had ducked into an alley between two closed shops. Her hands covered her face and Kankuro saw her shoulders shaking. What the hell? Is she crying? Kankuro decided to find out.

Kankuro went to the mouth of the alley. He could hear her sobbing. "Oi, little mouse you alright?" he asked stepping closer to her.

Raine quickly wiped her tears away. She recognized Kankuro's voice and looked up at him with red rimmed eyes. "Master Kankuro," she sniffled.

He saw a mean looking hand print on her cheek and he frowned. He wondered if Hotohori had decided to fetch her up one more time before he left her with Gaara. "Oi, who the hell hit you?"

Raine cringed and flattened herself against the wall. Her cheek still hurt a little but she didn't realize there was a mark on her face. "What do you mean?"

Kankuro sighed as one eye squint shut. He took her chin in his hand and turned her head to look at the imprint on her face. "Hotohori hit you didn't he?"

She dropped her eyes. "I mouthed off to my master. I got what I deserved."

He let go of her and folded his arms across his chest. "That why you're crying?"

"I'm not crying."

Maybe not right this second but… "What's the matter with you? Don't tell me you're one of those girls that cry all the time."

Raine frowned a little. "I'm not a cry baby."

That was good to hear. At least Kankuro wouldn't have to put up with a weepy woman. "So then what's got your panties in a twist?"

Her mouth fell open in surprise. "Wh…what!"

Crap, real smooth. "I mean what's got you all upset? Didn't that old fart tell you that you could stay in Sand, with Gaara? That's what you want aint it?"

Gaara… of course she wanted to stay with Gaara. Raine was fairly certain she was losing her heart to him. "It's humiliating to be given to Gaara as his whore."

"Huh?" it was Kankuro's turn to be surprised. "What the hell are you talking about little mouse? What did that fossil fuck say about Gaara?"

Kankuro's colorful language almost made her smile. She might have if she wasn't so miserable. "My lord told me I was a gift for a murderer. He told me to serve my homeland in Gaara's bed."

"He what?" Gaara was going to be furious. Kankuro was getting there himself. "Oi mouse, I don't think Gaara asked you to stay here just because he needs some ass. He really likes you, I can tell. I am his big brother you know. Why, right this very minute he and Temari are getting your room ready for you."

Raine brightened a little. "My room?"

"Look mouse, I aint gonna feed you no bullshit. Yes, Gaara has killed some mother fuckers. Our father sent an assassin after him about once a week for a while there, but things are different now. Gaara is not who he once was. He's really mellowed out and since you've been coming around Gaara smiles a lot more. Believe me when I tell you, that's one hell of an accomplishment."

"Your father wanted him dead? Why?" she was thunderstruck.

"He had a demon inside of him. Ichibi no Shaukaku. Shaukaku isn't inside of Gaara anymore. Akatsuki attacked Sand and after a struggle they removed the monster from inside of him. It killed him."

Raine gasped. "What are you saying? That's crazy. Gaara is alive!"

Kankuro nodded. "Old lady Chiyo was able to save Gaara with her life restoring jutsu."

"Gaara was…resurrected?"

"He was given a second chance at making a life for himself; just like you're being given a chance to start over here in Sand with him. With all of us. Any friend of Gaara's," Kankuro waved his hand not deeming it necessary to finish.

Start over…with Gaara… "But…he must think…"

"Keh, Gaara's never invited anyone to stay with him before. He must think you're pretty special little mouse."

Raine let what Kankuro said sink in for a minute. Gaara, I think you're pretty special too. It doesn't matter what happened in the past, we can have a future…together. She was calming down and couldn't help but ask, "Why do you keep calling me little mouse? My name is Raine."

Kankuro chuckled. Maybe this woman of Gaara's wasn't so bad. "You are a little mouse." He loomed over her and dropped a hand down on top of her head. "See, you're just an itty bitty thing."

Raine rolled her eyes up to Kankuro's. There was a kindness in his eyes. She smiled a little guessing that swearing and teasing were just his way. Gaara had mentioned that his brother really seemed to enjoy getting their sister three shades of pissed off. He must tease Temari all the time. She reached up and swatted his hand away. "I'm not that itty bitty," she poked back at him.

"If you say so little one." Kankuro laughed again and turned away. "So you coming or what? I'll give ya the grand tour of your new home ne?"

My new home. Gaara's there. She stepped in line behind Kankuro. "That would be very nice master Kankuro."

"Bah, just call me Kankuro. You don't wanna see me with a swollen ego."

Giggling a little and feeling much better Raine followed Kankuro out of the alley and into a new life with the people of the Sand.

When Gaara and Temari came down for dinner they heard laughing in the dining room before they even got there. Kankuro was all but howling; a softer more feminine laugh underlined his. Gaara recognized that laugh. "Raine?" he hurried into the dining room with his sister at his heels. Kankuro and Raine were sitting at the table next to each other drinking sake. Gaara's mouth fell open.

Temari was more shocked then Gaara to see her brother yucking it up with Gaara's would be girlfriend. "Kankuro? What's going on here?"

Kankuro and Raine turned towards the door. "Just havin a drink and shooting the shit. That alright with you?"

Raine got to her feet smiling at Gaara. "Gaara and Miss Temari."

Gaara noticed a mark under Raine's left eye right away. He hurried to her and took her face in his hands. "Raine what happened to you?"

"She's a closet street fighter Gaara, better watch your step," Kankuro teased.

Temari stepped into the fray lifting an eyebrow at little brother. Awfully touchy feely with mouse aint he? "What's the deal?"

Raine reached up and took the hand on her sore cheek. "It's alright Gaara."

Kankuro didn't want his brother getting pissed so he changed the subject quick. "I ran into mouse and I thought why not bring her home."

"You turning mouse into a lush?" Temari shot at Kankuro.

Big brother just laughed and Gaara eased some. He realized that he was making quite a fuss over Raine, touching her in front of his siblings. He backed off but still held onto one of her hands. "I spoke to Hotohori," he told her quietly.

"I know. He has already told me that I'll be staying in Sand."

Gaara's eyes went back to the mark under her eye. Did that miserable old bastard hit her? What did he say? Whatever had transpired both Raine and Kankuro seemed to be covering it up. Gaara decided that he would let it go for now. He would talk to Raine about it later when they were alone, but for now he could assure her with a few simple words. "You are my honored guest."

Temari smiled and rolled her eyes. She went and sat down beside Kankuro. He poured her a cup of sake and slid it over to her. Temari lifted her cup. "Well are you two going to join us or are you just gonna stand there gazing into each others eyes all night?"

Gaara saw Raine's cheeks darken and he smiled. He looked over her shoulder to his siblings sitting at the table. They were both grinning at him. "Right." Gaara led Raine to the table and she sat beside him. Kankuro slid her drink over to her while Temari poured one out for Gaara. She slid it his way.

"So what were you guys laughing about ne?" Temari looked from Gaara's blushing girlfriend to Kankuro.

"Some of the idiot shinobi from Konoha," Kankuro chuckled again.

"You better not have been talking shit about Shikamaru," Temari warned her brother.

Kankuro smiled at his sister. "Actually I was telling her about that thousand years of pain jutsu Naruto showed me."

"Idiot," Temari scoffed. "Like mouse needs to hear about that. Naruto is so gross."

His siblings went off on what a fool Naruto could be. Raine listened giggling. After a while Gaara reached under the table for Raine's hand and took it. He gave it a gentle squeeze and she squeezed his hand back. Gaara knew then that having Raine around was going to be wonderful.

Dinner and conversation afterward with the family was the best it had ever been. Kankuro seemed to enjoy making Raine laugh and Raine disclosed a few stories from the Hotohori household that got Kankuro rolling. Temari liked having another female at the table to take the edge off the testosterone level in the room. Raine found it surprisingly easy to talk to Gaara's siblings. They all appeared to genuinely like each other. Gaara felt his heart swell with joy.

After dinner Temari stole Rain away for some girl talk and a soak in a nice hot bath. Gaara sat with Kankuro having a little more sake. He couldn't remember ever feeling so relaxed and content. The smile wouldn't leave his lips.

Kankuro was still in a fine mood himself. Little mouse was as kind hearted and fun as she was pretty. He liked her. "Mouse staying here tonight?"

Gaara eyed his brother. "She is if that asshole hit her. I can send someone to see to that miserable old fuck."

So he knew. "I don't think she wanted to tell you. She was kind of upset when I found her. Said she got mouthy with the old man and he whacked her. Mean old bastards like him are always looking for an excuse to fetch someone up."

Gaara frowned into his sake. "Did Raine tell you what he said to her?"

He didn't really want to tell Gaara and spoil his mood, but little brother was asking. "He made you sound like a killer and told her to get her ass in your bed."

"What?" Gaara hissed cutting his eyes up to his brother.

"Maybe not in those exact words, but yeah. The old bastard made it sound like he was giving you mouse to be your whore. She was pretty upset about it Gaara, probably embarrassed and humiliated. Chicks are sensitive about that kind of stuff. Maybe you shouldn't bug her about it."

Gaara felt his stomach tighten. "She's not my whore."

"I know." Kankuro sipped his sake.

"He called me a killer ne?"

"It was probably more like murdered. Don't worry about it. I had a nice long chat with mouse. Made her understand some things."

Shit. "What did you tell her Kankuro?"

"We talked about you. I told her about our father and what his ambitions put you through. She knows about the Shaukaku too." Kankuro flat eyed his startled looking brother. "Mouse understands you aint a bad guy. She knows this is her chance as well as yours to start a new and much more pleasant life. She wants to do that Gaara. With you."

She knows all of that and still… "Raine said she wants a life with me?"

Little mouse had told him a few things over sake. Kankuro smiled. "She's falling for you big time little bro. Mouse thinks you're the greatest thing since sliced bread."

His anger and anxiety disappeared all at once. Gaara felt his mood lift and his cheeks heat up. "I love her," he blurted excited.

Kankuro almost choked on his sake. "Whoa, slow down there big guy." Kankuro took another shot of sake. "There's a big difference between love and infatuation you know."

Gaara thought he shocked his brother. He laughed a little. "I know that."

"Well don't you think you ought to get to know her a little better before you start making wedding plans? Dummy." Kankuro refreshed his cup of booze.

Wedding? Gaara grinned. "Of course."

Kankuro let out a long sigh. Great, Gaara is gonna get married before us. "You're gonna make me and Temari look like a couple of old maids."

Gaara sipped his sake. Raine would be at his side and Gaara would do everything he could to make her as happy as she made him. "I hope so," he said with a smile.

After a nice long soak and an enjoyable talk with Temari Raine went to her new room and got dressed for bed. She wanted to see Gaara again, but she was exhausted and the hot bath had been very relaxing. Raine had skipped out on a lot of sleep to spend her nights with Gaara. While they had been soaking, Temari sent someone for Raine's things. She sat on her beautiful new bed looking through the pictures she had drawn of Gaara thinking he's much more handsome in person.

Temari talked to Gaara after her bath and explained to him that she had taken care of both Raine and Hotohori. She told him that she had sent the emotionally exhausted young woman to her room to rest up. She assured baby brother that his mouse was alright and he could drop by her room to say goodnight. Temari had a long day ahead of her tomorrow so she headed off to bed herself.

Gaara headed upstairs to go to his room and found himself outside of Raine's room instead. I'll just say goodnight and let her get some rest. He knocked on her door. "Raine, its Gaara. Can I come in?"

Raine had moved on to working on a new drawing when she heard Gaara at her door. "Come in Gaara," she called to him. The door opened and Gaara stepped in. She smiled at him. "Good evening."

For a minute he just stared. She was sitting on the bed with her sketchbook on her lap just like she was in the picture of her she had given him. Raine was dressed for bed and a silky pink robe covered her nightgown. Her hair was still a little wet from her bath. Gaara smiled. She's beautiful. "Are you settling in alright?"

She set aside her drawing and slid to the edge of the bed. "Yes. This room is beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it. I'm just across the hall if you need anything."

Raine nodded and pat the bed beside her. "Would you like to sit with me for a while?"

He did. Gaara went and sat next to Raine. "You were working on something? I interrupted you."

"It's alright I can finish it tomorrow. I'm glad you came to see me." She loved her new room but it was still unfamiliar. She hadn't quite got comfortable in here yet and having him here made it a little less intimidating.

It made Gaara happy to hear it. He smiled at her. "I wanted to make sure you were alright. Do you need anything Raine?"

She shook her head. "Just your company."

His eyes went to the mark under her eye. Gaara reached up and swept his fingers over her cheek. "Does it hurt?"

"No not really." Raine reached up and took Gaara's hand. She smiled at him. "Don't worry about it. It isn't the first time he's hit me."

"It's the last," he did his best to keep his frown away. He didn't like thinking about anyone hitting his girl.

Raine squeezed his hand a little. "That's what matters isn't it?"

Gaara nodded. "I won't ask you to tell me what he said to you, I have a pretty good idea. I talked to Kankuro."

"Your brother is a very nice man. He's funny and he curses a lot." Raine liked Kankuro. He looked a little scary but he was surprisingly kind and funny too. "He told me about you. I hope that's alright."

While the girls were in the bath Gaara and his brother did quite a bit of talking themselves. "I don't want you to be afraid of me Raine."

"I'm not afraid of you Gaara. I understand." She thought he looked a little sad, worried maybe. "It must have been hard."

The brink of insanity had been no picnic. "Sometimes it was, but that's all over now. I've put it behind me." He looked down at their hands. Hers was smaller then his, his hand seemed to swallow it up. These hands that have killed so many…

"They both told me that. Temari and I had a nice talk too. I really like your family. It must be nice to have a brother and sister that love you so much." Raine and Temari had talked about a lot of things, mostly Gaara.

He smiled a little. "They're a pain in my ass sometimes." Rain giggled and Gaara looked up into her eyes. "It's good to have them around though."

"I like them." She thought they were both nice people.

"They like you too, I can tell." Gaara was sure his siblings liked Raine. They had both been open and friendly to her. Everyone got along well. It made him happy.

Her smile got bigger. "I'm glad."

There was something Gaara wanted to make sure Raine understood. He took a deep breath and let it out. "Hotohori, he gave you to me but I won't own you. You are free to come and go whenever you please. If you don't like it here I won't make you stay. You're free Raine. You can do whatever you like with your life."

Freedom wasn't something she ever gave much thought. She had been stuck in a routine at the Hotohori estate, almost mesmerized by it. Gaara had freed her from that. It was a whole new world. "Thank you Gaara but if it's alright with you I think I'll stick around for a while."

Gaara returned her warm smile. "That would make me happy." He turned their hands and laced their fingers together. "You make me happy."

Raine laughed softly and her cheeks turned pink. "You make me happy too Gaara."

The butterflies were back in his stomach. It pleased him to hear her say he brought her happiness. It made his heart feel light. Gaara had a confession to make. "I don't want to own you, I want to love you." Raine straightened a little and Gaara felt his face heating up. "I've never felt like this about anyone before."

"Gaara," it was almost a whisper. Her free hand went up and swept the hair away from his eyes. Raine had never felt this way before either. So this is love. It's wonderful.

He loved it when she touched his face and for a moment he closed his eyes and just enjoyed it. His senses kicked it up a notch. Gaara could feel Raine's heartbeat in the hand he held. He could smell the shampoo in her damp hair and the bath oil on her skin. "You smell pretty." Raine giggled and Gaara opened his eyes to look at her. The pretty blush in her cheeks Gaara had become so fond of just made her more beautiful.

"You really do say the strangest things." She smiled at Gaara blushing wildly.

Gaara laughed a little. "Sorry." Raine laughed again and Gaara laughed with her.

Raine was sure she was going to love it here in Sand with Gaara and his family. "Gaara," she struggled to beat back her shy nature. "I want to love you too."

For a moment Gaara didn't even breathe as he stared into Raine's eyes. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to do Raine. I just want you at my side."

Raine felt her heart speeding up again. Gaara's flattery had that effect on her. "Then that's where I'll be."

Gaara was elated. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. He hugged her and she hugged him back. He cherished the way it felt to hold her like this. "I'll make you happy Raine, I promise."

She snuggled against him, melting into him. You already do.

The next morning the lords left Sand. Raine was not there to see her master off, but she watched Hotohori ride off from afar. Raine closed that chapter in her life and moved on. She had a new life ahead of her, one with the man she loved. She let go of Hotohori and all that she had known up until now and Raine went to finish her drawing.