Kaji

Weeks went by in a flash. Seems Gaara wasn't to worried about getting back to being the Kazekage, because every time I mentioned Suna and his job, he would either wave it off or change the subject. The Chunin exams had gone by long ago, but something was holding Gaara here. Today was a normal day and like most normal days I was given a 'day off' as he liked to call it. Even though really I never had a 'day on'. I was starting to think coming here was more of a vacation than a mission. Since the day Deamona and Niwa had shown up, things had been a bit odd, especially with Sai. The oddness wasn't between Sai and them though, they loved him and even gave him a whole hearted greeting the day they met him. The oddness had been with me. I would act like I always did, well maybe with a bit more emotion than normal, and I assume Sai was acting normally... when I wasn't around him, that is. The oddest things would happen when I was near him. At first it as just his face would go red and his heart would beat so hard I could hear it across the room. Then he started spacing out randomly. Now he still spaced out sometimes but on top of that if I walked by him and he happened to be in motion he'd walk into something, or if he was holding something he'd drop it. It was so confusing! Why had his actions changed like that? I even asked Deamona if she knew anything about it. She wasn't much help, seeing as all she would really do was grin evilly and look over at Saiyo, who would do the same. Speaking of those two they seemed to hit it off on the first greeting and ever since had been 'best buds'. Strange. But anyways I after failing to get anything out of those two I tried the two who shared a gender with him. Gaara gave nothing up, but seemed to get angry and sulk for about an hour until Saiyo gave him a look. Niwa... now Niwa was the most help, even though he didn't help a lot either. All he said was

"He seems to have gained back an emotion"

then he'd shoo me away and continue his nap. It was almost infuriating. Anyways back to the day. As I said it was a normal day, well until Sai came back from talking to the Hokage. I had stayed at the apartment half napping in the bright sun that hit the couch from the window. When he came in he didn't notice me so rather than walking into the other couch he went around it, he had a troubled expression and headed straight for our room. Oh did I mention that since Deamona and Niwa took my room I shared with Sai? Anyways curious as to what was bugging him I got off the couch lazily and followed him. I then sat down on the bed as I watched him pack up his clothing and anything else he had brought with him. A little confused I ask

"Going some were?"

Apparently my presence had gone unnoticed till this time, because he jumped lightly at my question, then turned to look at me. His expression had remained troubled but now he looked worried as well. This concerned me, so asked again

"Going some were?"

In response he stops packing, gets up, and sits beside me on the bed. He then looks off in to the distance as he says

"The Hokage took me off the job of helping protect Gaara. She said I was needed by Naruto's team more than you guys cause Gaara has three of his ANBU here, more than enough to watch him. In other words I'm moving back to my house."

I was genuinely shocked. Over the weeks I had been here it had become pretty much the normal thing for me, to be around him for most of the day and all of the night, but I guess if the Hokage ordered it, then he'd have to fallow the orders. I sigh then look over at him with a small pout and say

"Aww... Hokage-sama is taking away my snuggle buddy!"

This seemed to amuse him cause the worried look left his face, replaced by a smile and a small laugh. That's when an idea hit me.

"I know! We or rather I have two options. One requires you to give the ok, but the other doesn't really. The first is I go with you! hehe... and the other is I talk to Hokage-sama or get Gaara to talk to her about it!"

Sai's face had gone red again, but he didn't protest against the idea of me going with him, so I stood up with my hand on my hips and with purpose I say

" I'm gonna go ask Gaara!"

I then run out of the room, not even letting him respond.

It was easy to find Gaara. He had gone to the roof or 'Gaara's thinking place' as I called it. I sit down beside him and look over the city. The view was beautiful, but I had other things on my mind, so I speak up... or go to, but he cuts me off

"No you can't go stay with Sai, but your more than welcome to try Tsunade yourself"

Shocked that he knew exactly what I was going to ask I nod then stagger off.

After I stopped being shocked I think over what I'm going to say to her. I had never really talked to her before so I had no idea how she would react to me doing this, but my sleep was on the line so I had to try. Making up my mind to just wing it, like I always did, I start running in the direction to the Hokage's office. Once there I casually walk in ignoring the secretary's protests. When I enter the first thing I see is papers, and they're every were. Seems a lot of paper work comes out of a Chunin exam and having almost every Kage to watch. Presently Tsunade, is signing a large pile of papers, without even looking up she says to me

"Just put them over in the corner some were I'll get to it once I'm done this pile."

A little confused I ask

"Put what in the corner? I don't have anything to put in the corner."

"huh? don't have any new papers?"

she looks up at me

"Oh! sorry about that. I thought you were my secretary with another pile for me to sign."

she gestures to a chair on the other side of her desk then continues

"Take a seat. Kaji right?"

I nod

" So what can I help you with?"

This was it. Time to wing it.

" You took Sai off the job of helping me protect Gaara-sama. I'm here to ask you not to."

She raises an eyebrow, suddenly interested.

" Why? Your Kazekage-sama has three of his ANBU including you to protect him. Why does he need one of mine?"

This is were it was going to get hard. I noticeably hesitate for a second. Suddenly her expression changes from hard, to a compassionate smile as she then asks

"Or is it more of you needing him?"

I feel my face get hot as the words leave her mouth. Is it just me or was she suggesting something? Not really knowing how to answer her last questions I give my reasons

" Technically yes he does have three ANBU, but two of them weren't put on the job. They are here here on a semi-vacation. So since Sai's been taken off the job I am the only ANBU on the job. Sure I am more than enough for the job, but your law states that each Kage MUST have two ANBU for their protection."

She sighs obviously thinking I didn't want to tell her, who it was that wanted him to stay, then replies

"Fine. I can see your point, but before I give my consent for him remaining on the job, you have to answer something. What exactly is your real reason for wanting him to stay?"

My face gets even hotter as I quickly think it over. Why did I want him to stay? Sure it was easier to sleep around him, and I enjoy his company, but what was my real reason? I frown slightly while looking at her desk then say quietly

"In all truthfulness I'm not exactly sure why."

I look up and meet her eyes

" I keep hearing Deamona and Saiyo talk about an emotion they call love. I'm not exactly sure what it is and what it's like to feel it, but I have strange feelings around Sai. I've asked them about them and they just say that I'll find out soon enough. Truth be told I think... I think I might... I don't know. Feelings have always been a strange and almost pointless thing to me and it confuses me to suddenly be feeling all these things for someone... someone I met only weeks ago."

I look down at my lap, my ears flattening against my head. I hear the shuffling of papers, then a hand touches my shoulder. I look up and she's smiling down at me.

"Ok you win. I'll let him stay on the mission. You think you could send your cousin here next time you see him?"

Yes! I won! she even said it! that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be... I nod, thank her then run off, only Inferno stepping once I'm out of the building.

Reappearing in a burst of fire and a smile on my face I look down at Sai who was still sitting on the bed. Though this time Deamona was sitting beside him. She looked confused at my happiness, while he had a look of relief spread across his face. He knew that it was a success, but I just had to say it

"Success! Sai is still on the team!"

Deamona continues to look confused

"he was off?"

Obviously he hadn't told her. I look at her for a second then wave it away showing that I'd explain later.

"Anyways! I think we should celebrate! I'm gonna go deliver a message to Gaara then head back into town to get some food!"

I don't give them a chance to respond as I disappear in another burst of flame.

This time when I reappear I startle Gaara to the point he actually falls off the roof. Before he can topple over the edge to far though I grab the back of his coat and hoist him back up. His eyes are wide and he's looking over the edge still as I stand him up and make sure he's stable. Once he is I snap him out of the daze almost falling to his death had put him into then tell him

"Sai gets to stay but the Hokage wishes to talk to you. Bye!"

and with that I disappear... again.

Sai

Kaji had just disappeared in her ever impressive burst of fire. I was happy to be staying and would have likely shown it if at the present time Deamona hadn't demanded my attention.

" Thank Lucifer it's noticeable when she does that...Ok as I was saying. You HAVE to tell her!We've been talking this over for a week now and your still not any closer to telling her. If anything your closer to getting yourself killed from clumsiness"

I give a look of defeat not knowing how to respond

" look we know for a fact you like her a lot. In fact I've seen first hand how you act around her. If your not moving you space out. If you are moving you walk into things, the couch for example, and if your holding something you drop it, like your arms suddenly turned to noodles. Now the question is do you think it would stop if she knew?"

This was another thing I didn't know how to respond to, mostly for the reason that I had no idea if it would help, so in response I shrug. She sighs in defeat

"Fine... hm..."

She is silent for a while as she thinks, then finally says

"I'll be right back. I'm going to go get Saiyo."

and with that she leaves the room, reentering a few minutes later with Saiyo in tow. She was another person I had been talking with. I hadn't talked to Gaara or Niwa for the simple facts that Gaara would kill me if he found out I was in love with his cousin and Niwa... well Niwa was either asleep most of the time or would fall asleep while listening. The girls seemed to be the only ones that were interested but not in killing me. Saiyo and Deamona talk for a bit. I catch bits of their conversation, but don't like what I hear. Most of the dialect consisted of

"Cherokee could work"

"he could sing THAT song"

"ooh! and what about a game of TorD?"

"Hey we could do that first! and maybe invite a bunch of friends so it's not just the six of us"

and

"hm... maybe not this time. We can invite others another time but for this I think it should just be our little group so it'll be easier for everyone."

I wasn't sure what this Cherokee thing was or TorD but it sounded like the first contained singing while the later included something that would be easier to do with less people. Once their conversation is over both girls look over at me with evil grins. Ok now I'm worried, that look was never good coming from them.