Walk of Shame

Rin slept a dreamless sleep, her muscles worn and sore from the loss of her chakra.

Gaara was a case she couldn't have been ready for, no matter what preparation she tried.

There was something feral in him, buried deep behind layers of self-control and, even worse, self-hatred.

It was going to take a while to tear those walls down and she wasn't even sure if she could, but she wasn't going to give up.

Her mind was awake, but her eyes felt heavy and she decided to leave them closed for a while longer.

"Did I write down what I saw last night? No, I don't think I did. I don't remember taking my journal out. Wait... did I even go home, last night?"

Suddenly, her eyes shot open and the memories came rushing back.

She sat up in bed, scanning the room and finding it empty in the dim light.

Rin looked down at her hands, flexing them open and closed a few times. "I must have really overdone it last night. What a rookie mistake."

Her legs were shaky, as she stood up and nearly fell back down. "Okay, take it slow, Ito. Let's get back home before anyone notices you spent the night in the Kazekage's room."

She stumbled to the window, brushing open the curtain and instantly closed it again, when the barrage of sunlight hit her eyes.

It had to be at least noon, she'd slept through the night and there was no way she'd escape without everyone noticing.

"Well, if people didn't think I was an escort before..." Rin groaned, rubbing her temples.

She returned to her supplies, packing them up one by one, muttering to herself. "Of all the unprofessional, lazy, ridiculous things you've ever done, Rin, this has got to be the worst. Stupid, stupid girl. What are people going to say? What about all the training you've done working up to this case? You might as well turn in your headband and demote yourself back to genin."

"Good afternoon, Ms. Ito."

Rin leapt out of her skin, her bag flying from her hands. "Oh! Captain Temari! You scared me."

The stern woman raised an eyebrow at her.

Rin cleared her throat. "Ma'am."

Temari sighed and closed the door behind her.

Bending to retrieve the scattered supplies, she handed the bag back to the smaller girl, forcing it roughly into her hands. "Sounds like you had quite the night."

"It's not what you think."

"And you presume to know what I think?"

"Well, I can imagine."

Temari's stare didn't waver. "Did you not sleep beside my brother, last night?"

Rin felt her cheeks getting hot. "Yes, but..."

"And did you not remain there the entire night?"

"I did, but you don't know..."

"It's none of my business what goes on in Gaara's personal life. My job is to protect him from any threats within and without these walls."

Rin crossed her arms, wary of the tone. "And does that suddenly include me?"

Temari stepped closer to her, at least four inches taller and stared her down. "Should it?"

Neither kunochi faltered in their stance.

Even though it was in Rin's nature to be a peacekeeper, she didn't appreciate the hostility the Sand seemed to thrive on.

She wanted to look away from Temari's intense stare, but felt if she did, she'd be failing some kind of test.

After an intense moment, the door behind them opened and Kankuro entered, carrying a tray of food. "Hey there, hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

Temari squinted and stepped away, brushing past her brother. "Idiot."

When she left, Rin let out her breath in one long exhale, heart pounding in her chest. "Good afternoon, sir."

He set the tray on the table. "Yikes, drop the sir, please. It makes me feel old. Kankuro is just fine."

Rin bowed her head and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. "Your sister seems to feel I've outstayed my welcome."

Kankuro rolled his eyes. "Oh, that's just Temari. She's always been like that. Come over here and get some breakfast. Gaara ordered what he'd thought you'd like from the dinner you guys shared last night."

She inched closer to the table, feeling awkward about eating alone. "She seemed to like me just fine when I arrived."

The Captain popped a grape into his mouth. "She does like you."

"How do you figure?"

He shrugged. "You're alive, aren't you?"

"What?!"

Kankuro laughed at her expression. "Kidding, kidding. Temari thinks you're good for Gaara. She's just hesitant to change and you being here, so close to the Kazekage, is a big change. Actually, she's been the one pushing the others to accept you staying here for a while."

"Has there been push-back?"

"The council seemed to think your jutsu would cure his problem in one night and have been calling for your removal, ever since."

"Well, isn't that lovely?" Rin said with a bitter taste in her mouth. "I apologize if my work isn't fitted to their timeline. I'm only walking around in a human brain every night."

Kankuro slid into the chair across from her and watched her carefully. "Between you and I, what's it like in there?"

Rin looked up. "Excuse me?"

"In Gaara's mind. I can't begin to imagine what that must be like. If I could know what he's thinking, I'd be able to be a better captain for him, not to mention, a better brother."

Rin poured herself some tea and avoided his gaze. "It's not in my policy to reveal the mind of my clients to others, no matter how good their intentions may be."

Kankuro leaned back in his chair and sighed. "I guess that makes sense. Eat something, will you? Don't let it go to waste."

The silence between them was thick and uncomfortable.

She enjoyed his presence, but the knowledge that her movements were being watched and her methods questioned, more than she believed when she came, weighed on her.

She suddenly felt pressured to provide results by some impossible deadline and there was no telling how long the process could take with a mind like Gaara's.

"So... you slept with my brother last night?"

Rin spit out her tea, coughing into her hand.

Kankuro smiled a wicked smile and leaned his head on his laced fingers. "Why the reaction? It's good for him. We're all very pleased."

The painful heaving of her chest almost made the words coming out of her mouth impossible to say. "It's not what you think! I went deeper into his mind and had to use up a lot of chakra. End of story. Nothing sordid or unprofessional happened."

"Of course, not. What else do you think I was implying?" He looked like a cat with a fresh canary in his teeth.

Rin dabbed a napkin over her mouth. "Good. I'm glad we have at least that straightened out."

Kankuro stood and offered her a hand. "Come on, I'm here to sneak you out the back way. Gaara had a feeling you'd be worried about prying eyes in the front and he wants to see you again before your session tonight."

"See me where?"

He swung her bag over his shoulder. "A little change in scenery."