AN: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, only my OC's…wait I don't have any OC's, they're all my co-authors *sigh*. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Masked Affections

A Naruto FanFiction

Chapter 3: The Council of Elders

Gaara ducks down, sand protecting him from the bird's apparent attack. Dawn chuckles at his antics, extends her arm, and the bird flies to her and lands there. "He was just going to land on your shoulder and say hello. My, you're jumpy."

"Valiant I presume?" Gaara glares at the bird, breathing heavily.

"Yes this is Valiant." The bird blinks at Gaara, then squawks again. "He asks your name."

"I am Sabaku No Gaara. You may call me Gaara." The bird squawks again, and flies to a spot in front of Gaara. He holds out a wing of soft baby feathers, as if in a handshake. He cautiously, but gently takes the bird's wing. The bird squawks again, and a small flash comes from its wing, into Gaara's hand, and then fades. Gaara jumps back, examining his hand. "What was that exactly?" Gaara looks befuddled.

"It's a spell that lets you understand what I'm saying." Valiant opens his beak, and instead of a squawk, words come out. Gaara blinks at it, stunned.

"I don't really let people meet him. When I do he knows, unless I'm in a fight, that they are a friend. So in case something happens he wants to be able to talk to you. And don't worry you won't be able to talk to other animals."

"Ah…okay. It might take some getting used to though."

"I'm sure it will. So what do you think of my friend, since he will be coming with us?"

"He's fine…pets are welcome."

"Hm…well I guess we can go to the Inn now." She says as Valiant jumps up to land on her shoulder, "You know, if you get any bigger you won't be able to get on my shoulder anymore." Valiant shrugs and Dawn rolls her eyes as Gaara leads the way back, and soon enters their room in the Inn. "So where will I be staying…I doubt you had planned on getting anyone while you were here."

"You may take my bed. I do not sleep much anyways."

She looks at him, and then shrugs, "Very well." She sits on the bed, running her hands over it. Valiant jumps off her shoulder and glides to a corner, proceeding to groom himself, leaving feathers everywhere.

"I take it you are comfortable?" Gaara blinks solemnly.

"It's just I haven't slept in a bed in five years. It feels…weird."

"I understand, sleeping is odd after a long period of not doing so. I take it you can still sleep though?"

"Well I can lightly sleep, but that's pretty much it. After being chased all the time you learn to sleep light."

"Well you will be safe. I will keep watch so no one decides my order wasn't strict enough." Gaara assures her.

"I will try Lord Kazekage." She turns to get some sleep, taking two long daggers off her back and setting them under her pillow. Gaara climbs onto the roof and Temari and Kankuro come in sometime later, noisy at first, but then they quiet when they see her small form in bed. Her eyes are only open a crack, not fully awake, but watching them.

Morning does come, and Gaara walks over to her, standing about half a foot away from Dawn's sleeping figure, "Dawn…" She wakes up with a start, and her hands are instantly to her daggers. She moves them quickly and lethally to his throat.

His sand cushions her blow and stops her from coming anywhere close to his pale neck. "…" Gaara blinks, "Good morning."

She blinks, then moves away, "Oh I'm sorry Lord Kazekage, I didn't mean to." She straps the daggers to her back and looks down, mildly ashamed.

"It's alright, reflexes are reflexes, just be more careful next time."

"I still shouldn't have…" She looks over at the window, "I can't believe it is morning already."

"It's not a big deal…and it is a bit early, I hope you don't mind, but it is a long trip to Suna." She says nothing in response and gets up, Valiant coming over and climbing over Kankuro to do so, and rubs his face against her stomach. She smiles lightly at him and pets his head.

"Gosh watch the claws bird." Kankuro complains.

"Get packing lazy." Temari says, already packed.

"I didn't notice you were there." Valiant squawks, but only Gaara and Dawn understand.

Dawn shakes her head, "I'm sorry about Valiant, he's spaced out sometimes."

"Ah just watch it next time." Kankuro grumbles.

"Don't mind him, he's a grump in the morning…heck he's always a grump." Temari rolls her eyes at Kankuro, who's wondered off to pack finally.

"I guess I should watch out for that."

"That and he'll probably flirt with you." Temari warns as Gaara and Kankuro both finish packing. They all start moving, heading to Suna as Shikamaru, Naruto and Hinata join them.

"So why did you leave last night, you missed the fireworks?" Naruto questions, going on and on about the festival last night.

"I had an issue to attend to. I'm sure you enjoyed them after you were done fainting." Gaara blinks at the blonde haired boy.

"I did not faint!" Naruto protests.

Shikamaru winces, "Could you keep it down please?" Kankuro chuckles at their antics, and turns to Dawn, just staring at her for the moment.

"What's your problem pineapple head?" Temari teases.

Shikamaru just shakes his head, "Nothing." His eyes say otherwise, bags under them from a lack of sleep.

"Didn't sleep well?" Temari looks mildly worried.

"So nice day huh?" Kankuro begins and Temari rolls her eyes, focusing her attention back to Shikamaru.

"I'm fine." Shika replies, his face a mild pink.

"Um…yes it is." Dawn replies, a little surprised.

"Oh…you say I'm troublesome you…argh!" Temari looks annoyed at Shikamaru as Kankuro continues his pursuit.

"So your names Dawn right?"

"Yes it is." Dawn answers as Shikamaru moves to the other side of Gaara, to avoid Temari's probable beating of him to get her answer.

"You chicken, get over here!" Temari brandishes her fan at Shikamaru.

"You'll just hit me." Shikamaru replies, stepping further away.

"I'm Kankuro, that's a real nice bird you got there." He nods to Valiant.

"Thank you. I got Valiant six months ago, and he is still growing."

"Still? Wow…that's pretty impressive. You must have trained him huh?" Kankuro dodges as Temari launches forward.

"Argh!" She shouts as Shikamaru runs, dodging her fan.

"Yes I have trained him, he is really responsive." She pets his wing and he turns towards her and puts his head on hers.

"Wow. I've never had any pets. He's pretty cool."

"You stupid pineapple head, tell me what's wrong!" Temari yells after Shikamaru, and Gaara just sighs, moving as they pass.

"Thank you Kankuro. Maybe when he is older and has chicks, you can have one."

"Nothing's wrong troublesome woman!" He shouts back and Naruto grins, enjoying the show.

"Really? Gee thanks!" Kankuro grins as Temari slows down.

"I'll get you later pineapple head." She sighs.

"You're welcome Kankuro." Dawn replies and Shikamaru wonders over to Naruto, staring at the clouds as he walks. After a lot of traveling non-stop, they reach Suna.

It's early morning and Kankuro lets out a long sigh, "Finally I'm bushed."

Dawn rolls her eyes, and looks at the city, the sky still full of stars, "Wow…" Her eyes wide are as dinner plates as she takes it all in.

"Welcome to Suna." Gaara announces.

"The land of a bunch of sand." Temari mumbles.

"I think it is a lot more than just that. You have plenty of nature all around you. You just have to look." Dawn replies, still caught up in the beauty of Suna.

"Yes there is." Gaara answers, surprised at her retort to Temari.

"Hmph." Temari scoffs, and continues ahead.

"She's a grump too." Kankuro sticks his tongue out at his sister and she returns it. As they near the gate, Dawn stiffens, seemingly getting more and more nervous as she walks.

"Are you okay Dawn?" Gaara inquires.

"I'm fine." Her voice is soft, light, but her posture is unchanged.

"You are safe here." He assures her, but she continues. Within minutes they reach the main gate and enter, as Gaara reaches the place of the meeting, he turns to Shikamaru, "I need you to stay here and help Temari with Dawn."

"What a drag…" Shikamaru complains.

"Oh shush pineapple head." Temari pushes him lightly and Naruto quickly grabs Hinata's hands.

"Come on; let's get back to the Hidden Leaf." He whispers as he pulls her along, blushing as red as a tomato.

Gaara enters the building and faces the elders. He tells them of Dawn, and her predicament. They talk amongst each other, and soon turn to Gaara, sly grins plastered on their faces.

"We have the perfect job for her."

"And what is that?" Gaara wishing he hadn't asked, dreads the upcoming answer from the mischievous and very devious village elders.

AN: I know, no action, but hey, its humor this time. Sorry for getting Gaara into, seemingly, trouble, only to pull him back out. It was more suspenseful. I'd have to say the whole scene with Temari and the fan made me crack up when I wrote it, I could actually see it happening.

AN: What will the council decide? What job could they possibly have picked out? And why are they smiling like that, when it's creeping even me out? What will happen next? Stay tuned for the next installment of Masked Affections!