The sun barely began to set.
In practicality, she should have taken the time she had to sleep and recover, but there was no way she’d be resting that day.
The shock of seeing Gaara in the flesh, her scene in the courtroom...
“Then tales of the Kazekage’s strength, must be wildly exaggerated, indeed.”
Rin hid her face in her hands. I can’t believe I said that in an official meeting! But they just made me so mad. Who the hell do they think they are?
She checked over her materials for the fifth time. Not a single one could be out of place. This was all too important to afford a stupid slip up.
His tired, listless eyes flashed in her mind. It was too important to him, for her not to slip up.
She grabbed one of her incense sticks and gave a small sniff. More than anything in this world of politics and danger, the people she served were her priority. Just because he was the Kazekage, didn’t make him any more important than the wife of the miller she’d helped last week or their son the month before.
His mind deserved to be calm, just like everyone else.
Knock, knock.
“Ms. Ito? Are you prepared to leave?”
She took a final look at herself, adjusting the tie on her kimono. “Yes, if you’ll give me a hand?”
The door opened and the captain, she’d come to know as Kankuro, stepped in. His reaction was exactly what she’d hoped for.
“Oh, I didn’t expect to see you so dressed up for this.”
Rin stood in the kimono passed down to her from her mother. Its black silk, with purple trimmings, cascaded to the floor, just past her ankles, which were elevated by her slightly too large shoes. Her wild hair managed to be tamed into an easy bun, the hairpiece, she was certain snapped on the journey, intact and dangling down past her face.
“Relaxation has as much to do with eyes as it does with the mind, Captain. It’s customary to present oneself this way for appointments of this magnitude.”
She glided towards the door, but tripped on the edge of her robe, sending her stumbling forward.
He quickly caught her, righting her steps. “Whoa there! You, good?”
The perfectly made-up face she’d worked on, did nothing to hide the red forming in her cheeks. “Ahem, though I suppose it doesn’t mean I’m used to walking in it. Most of my clients are farmers, not Kages.”
Kankuro laughed, taking her bag and securing his arm around hers. “You'll find we aren’t all that different. Kage is just a title, nothing more. I don’t know anything about formal wear either. If you’ll permit me, I’ll escort you to his private quarters.”
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The thought of Tamari’s fierce strides filled her mind.
“Slow steps, please.”
He patted her hand a few times and let her set the pace.
They made light conversation on the way and Rin found the Sand Village to be rather beautiful under the night sky.
The lack of prying eyes helped. Though, she wished they’d seen her in her present state versus the mess she was earlier. She shuttered to think of the sweaty, haggard form she’d shown as a representative of the Sound. Her father would probably yell at her when she came home.
However, with the knowledge she would have fallen on her face without Kanuro’s assistance, she was glad she chose function over fashion. Tripping in front of the council would have been an embarrassment no amount of success could save her from.
She nodded absently as the captain filled her in on the shops they passed. “That one is old man Jiro’s store. He sells pottery and such. Anything you can think of, he can make.”
“Interesting.”
“And over there is Lady Airi’s bakery. I’ve gotten a smack or two for hanging around there.”
Rin smiled. “Smacked? Why is that?”
“Oh, Airi’s daughter is a fiery one. All that bread kneading has given her wicked upper body strength.”
All at once, Rin found herself legitimately enjoying the walk. The Sand Village had a charm she hadn’t seen at first glance. It seemed like a big family and she wondered how Gaara fit into that mix.
“Has Gaara found the end of her rolling pin before?”
To her suprise, Kankuro’s face fell. “Well, no.”
“No? Not one for mischief in his youth?”
He looked down one of the alleyways and sighed. “Let’s just say, Gaara’s past with the villagers isn’t as happy as mine.”
“I see.”
They continued on in silence, the shift in the atmosphere clear. She’d have to remember this piece of information for later. Something unresolved hung in the air here.
When the royal family’s home came into view, Kankuro’s easy demeanor returned and he continued to chat about light things, as they made their way up the stone staircase. “We’re almost there, just a few more.”
Gaara’s room was located at the top of the giant stairs and then four hallways in. It made sense he’d be hidden away from the rest of the inhabitants, but this seemed a bit excessive.
Rin passed pair-after-pair of armed guards and felt the eyes of each follow her. She was sure she looked more like an escort, than a professional. Whatever they were imagining the Kazekage hired her for couldn’t have been proper.
When they reached the ornate door at the end of the final hallway, Rin suddenly felt the anxiety she’d bitten back, bubble in her chest. Kankuro’s company was a lovely distraction, but now her mission would begin for real and there was no room for error.
He passed off her bag, gently removing her arm from his own and assessing her one last time. “I know it’s intimidating, but I promise, Gaara is much more than what others say about him.”
She glanced up, studying his eyes as he worried the bottom of his lip.
“You’ve had to say that before, I feel.”
“Well...”
She slid a hand on his forearm and smiled. “What a good brother, you are. He’s lucky to have an older soul to look up to.”
“I never said I was his older brother.”
Rin took hold of her bag and gave him a look. “It’s incredibly obvious, trust me.”
Kankuro thought about her words, before raising a hand to knock.
“Enter.”
The guards pushed open the heavy doors and Rin took a final breath to steel herself, before entering the private quarters of Gaara, Kazekage of the Village Hidden in the Sand.