Kankurou sat at a work bench, fixing Karasu. Temari came in, blushing and out of breath. She told him that Gaara had an important guest and that he was to get ready. Then she left him to his work. He sighed and stopped working. He put his tools away and went to his room to get ready.

He entered the dinning room. Gaara was talking to someone in a long cerulean veil and a white cloak. Long orange hair poked out of the veil. Temari was reading a letter. Kankurou sat down next to the guest. She turned to him.

"Hello, I am Kanna, ambassador of the village hidden in the rain."

"Kankurou."

"Gaara-sama was just explaining the ties with Konoha. He said that you have an idea for me."

"Yeah, marriage seems to work everytime. It strengthens the ties between villages when their members, not to mention the most beloved ones, are joined in marriage. It just makes sense."

"So you're saying that we should heavily encourage inter-village relationships?"

"I guess I am."

"You are the best brother ever!! I'm going to write Shika and tell him the good news!"

Temari raced from the table into her room. Gaara shook his head. Kanna merely sat there. Kankurou started to eat his dinner of chicken. Gaara just stared at his plate the whole time. Kanna ate slowly, cautious of poison. After dinner, Gaara led Kanna to his office. He sat behind his desk. Kanna leaned against the wall.

"He sure did strike a smart idea. I think that we should have a kind of mixer."

"Yeah. Have a singles month every other month. And have it in a different village each time..."

That continued for several hours. One would pitch ideas while the other either wrote them down or flat out rejected the idea. They moved from their spots after awhile and both ended up sitting together on the floor. It took a yawn for them to take a brake. Kanna's attention had started to ebb away hours ago.

At Kanna's suggestion, they went outside to the sandy twilight. She took off her cloak and veil. Skin-tight shorts, a baggy jacket, and a knee-length ponytail were revealed. She set them next to the door. She nodded her head toward the heart of the city. Gaara raised his eye. Kanna started to run. Gaara made a small wave of sand under his feet and followed her. It was clear that she could be a fierce opponent. She was the fastest person Gaara had ever seen and it took nearly all his chakra to keep up with her.

They arrived back at Gaara's as dawn begain to break. Kanna was full of energy has she put her things in her room. She beamed as Gaara sat down at his desk. She leaned against the wall again. There was a firey gleam in Kanna's frosty eyes. Gaara was reminded of Rock Lee.

"Wasn't that a fun walk?! It just stunk having to hold back, didn't it? You need to smile! If you work too much, you might die."

Gaara looked to the side as memories of his death flooded his mind.

"Yeah, I'll remember that. In the mean time-"

Kanna glared at him, "Are you only work? Don't you know fun?"

"No."

Kanna walked over to him. She stood behind his chair and bent over so her mouth was inches from his ear. She put her hands on his shoulder and gave him a hug. Gaara hugged her back to the best of his ability. A tear fell on his head.

"I know your pain. I know you are alone. I don't know why, but I know. I know your sorrow, even though it is not my own. I know your pain. I'm here now. I'm here. I'm your friend."