Hello, this is K-chan here. First of all, this is my first real attempt at fanfiction in about 3 years. So I'm out of practice, I need all the help I can get so please read and review. This is also my first Naruto fiction so suggestions truly are appreciated. Anyway enough excuses. I must trudge onward to what you came for, the fic.

Disclaimer: Goodness, I don't own Naruto or any of the characters. If so, I wouldn't be so dirt poor.

His head was throbbing with pain. Gaara sat starring up at the night sky in frustration. He could not meditate or do much of anything at the moment. This same kind of awful feeling had been with him for almost a week now. Naturally he hadn't told a soul. Even though he was supposedly a changed person since becoming Kazekage, he never quite could open up to people. However, he knew that soon people would begin to notice he was not himself. The best he could do was hope this was just some passing illness. But something in his mind told him that he was merely lying to himself.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Temari noticed a change in her brother over the past few days. As she watched him, listening to an advisor, she saw his eyes were wearier and less alert. Something was very wrong with him and she would have to approach him about it.

Gaara felt his eyes begin to droop. He cursed to himself while he struggled to listen to the elder's words. Something about a water problem… He couldn't really remember. What was wrong with him? His movements were sluggish this morning when he was training. This was not the first instance when he'd nearly dozed off. Dozing off could have fatal consequences for everyone in Suna. Why now? This was making him irritated. He did not have time for such weakness. He had a country to lead, a demon inside of him to dissuade and apparently a water problem to alleviate. Now was definitely not the time to be getting ill. He just did not have time for it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Temari watched Gaara while he practiced taijutsu in his small apartment. His movements were slower. He was not nearly as relaxed and in a word he was weakened. She knew this was all nothing he would admit to anyone else, but it had to be addressed. The elders were beginning to notice his change in temperament and many of them lusted for Gaara to be out of power. This was just the kind of thing they would use to their political advantage, to convince others that her brother was not fit to lead.

"I know you're there Temari," Gaara said, looking up to his sister who was perched on his roof. She sighed. There was no use hiding from him. She hopped down from her hiding place to him. His eyes clearly said, 'What do you want?'

"Gaara something is wrong. People are starting to notice. What do-,"

Gaara glared at her. "Nothing is wrong," he replied simply. Though he knew this was an awful lie and his sister would see through it. He just did not want her to waste her time worrying about him and bothering him. It annoyed him. He felt his sand shift in his gourd due to this upswing of emotion.

"That a lie and you know it," his sister said, interrupting his thoughts. "You're movements are slow, you can barely keep your eyes open, you're sluggish, more irritable than usual-,"

"I'm just tired," Gaara said. Temari looked confused and then again he was confused as well. Gaara could never tire. He did not need sleep. His only "rest" was when he was meditating. Shukaku would never let him rest. The entire situation was absurd.

"Maybe, we can get the girl from Konoha, Sakura, to look at you before she leaves tomorrow," Temari suggested. Gaara snorted, which was better than him refusing, which was what she had expected him to do. She could tell he was losing patience with her. Despite his attempts to become more human and more accessible to the people, he was still the same short tempered Gaara. Staying and talking to him was not worth what would probably end in a large argument and her cleaning sand off of her for several hours.

"I'll send her by in the morning," Temari stated, leaving as quietly as she came.

Gaara returned to his training, uncertain of what he should say or do in this situation.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kankuro stood idly by the door as she watched the Leaf ninja study his brother. Honestly, he was surprised Gaara even agreed to this, but then again, he had never seen his brother in such a situation before.

"I think I've come to a conclusion," Sakura announced, her voice was not very cheerful. Kankuro watched his sister sit up at attention. It was amazing how much his sister could care for Gaara, he himself still harbored quite a bit of fear. He accepted that he may be stable now, but how tight was his grasp on his stability. What kept him from going over the edge. Kankuro's thoughts were interrupted by Sakura.

"He's just suffering from fatigue," she said simply. The Sand trio all became even more confused. This was slightly in the realm of… impossible.

"B-but what are we supposed to do?" Kankuro asked, looking perplexed at Gaara whose expression was incomprehensible as usual.

"I'm not sure. He needs plenty of rest. More sleep. And-," Sakura stopped herself, realizing how foolish she sounded. She bowed her head. "Ah sorry," she apologized quickly. Gaara nodded.

"Your help is appreciated. You are now dismissed from service to the Hidden Sand. You have greatly helped out medical units. We thank you," he said, switching to his diplomatic mode. Sakura nodded and exited nervously.

"I suppose I'll see you around. Sorry I wasn't of much help to you, Kazekage-sama," Sakura apologized again before closing the door. Gaara's eyes merely rested on the door. He felt even more tired than before. He was supposed to get more sleep? That was somewhat impossible, without destroying the entire village. This situation was making him feel trapped.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sakura's news was not well received. Temari was at a loss for what to do. Her brother's position was at stake. If Gaara were a normal person, sleep would be a simple solution. But Gaara's sleep would unleash terror upon the civilians of Sand and would be counterproductive to everything they'd worked so hard for. Temari sighed wearily into her pillow. What she needed was an idea…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Well what do you think. Please R &R. I'm still getting back into the swing of things. I would greatly appreciate your input. Suggestions? Comments? Just plain awful? I NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS

Till next time, peace