After Gaara had another talk with the council, telling them about Akina's plans, the red-head was surprised that they were actually fine with the decision. It was definitely suspicious, but it was also a relief. He was getting tired of the council tailing him about such matters. He had no private life with them around, and it was rather disturbing.

Chuunin exams were coming up again, which meant that Gaara would be going several nights without any sleep in order to keep up with all the work. During this very frustrating month, Akina would sometimes come up to his office at night to see what he was doing.

Gaara looked up when he heard a soft tap. He saw Akina enter the office and quietly shut the door behind. He looked up at the clock and then back at the girl.

"It's past midnight," he told her softly. "Shouldn't you be at home?"

"I should say the same thing to you Kazekage-sama," she said sternly, folding her arms over her chest. The red-head looked at her through tired, slightly agitated eyes. "You're starting to look terrible. You've been working for 5 days straight Gaara. I know that you used to be able to go without sleep and not have it effect you greatly, but you can't anymore. You need to take a break, or at least come home at night."

"I have to finish this work before the Chuunin exams," he sighed, picking the pen back up. Akina sighed in aggravation and stomped over to his desk. She snatched the pen out of his hand and slammed it on the desk. Gaara looked up at her with wide eyes, seeing nothing but deep concern etched on her face.

"If you don't get any rest, you're going to end up getting sick like the last time and you'll be even more far behind." Gaara thought about it for a moment, remembering all the trouble it had caused. "As a doctor, and as your wife, I'm telling you to take a day off. If its documents that need to be signed, you can have Kankurou go through some of them. I don't care, but you're coming home tonight and you're taking it easy tomorrow, am I clear?" Gaara smirked at the glare she gave him and nodded.

"I guess I don't really have a choice," he sighed. He got up from his seat and started heading towards the door, Akina following close behind him. She shut his lights off and locked his door, putting the key in her pocket. She then hurried back to Gaara's side and walked with him at his pace. She smiled when she felt him slip his hand into hers.

"I'm sorry if I overreacted back there," she apologized softly. Gaara gave her hand a gentle squeeze and nodded.

"It's alright Akina," he assured her. "I appreciate your concern for me, seeing as not very many people do."

"They do," she whispered. The red-head looked at her in slight confusion. "A lot of the people in the village care about your well-being, but there's just not really anything they can do about it."

"I suppose…."

"I'm meeting with the council tomorrow," she interrupted abruptly. The Kazekage looked at her in surprise.

"What for?" Akina sighed and shook her head.

"I don't really know. They sent me notice earlier today that they wanted to talk to me tomorrow morning."

"Then I'll go..."

"I can do this on my own," she told him sternly, stopping in front of their home. "Besides, I told you that you were to take it easy tomorrow. That means no meetings." Gaara looked at her with blank eyes before nodding.

"I want you to let me know what they say," he told her. She smiled weakly and nodded. The two of them walked into the house and into their room. Gaara quickly stripped himself of his kage robes and his day clothes that were underneath that. He then got into a pair of dark gray sweatpants and a crimson red t-shirt. Akina was already crawling into bed, wearing a pair of black pajama shorts and a matching black camisole top.

Gaara turned out the light and got under the covers with Akina. He scooted in close to her, wrapping a strong arm around her torso and pulling her closer to him. Akina looked over her shoulder and was greeted with a soft kiss from her husband.

"Goodnight," he whispered. She smiled and gave him one last kiss.

"Goodnight Gaara."

XOOOOOOOOOOOX

Akina woke up early the next morning with Gaara's arm still around her torso. She smiled to herself and carefully slipped out from beneath his arm, laying it gently on the bed. She looked at his peaceful face, making sure that she hadn't disturbed him. Gaara was sleeping deeply. She could tell by the way he was breathing.

Akina slowly got out of bed and changed into her day clothes. She wore a pair of tan knee-length khakis and a pale sea-green Chinese styled top (kind of like TenTen's) that had pale red straps in the front. It wasn't her favorite outfit, but it would at least make her look more presentable in front of the council members.

After she was done getting ready, she quietly went back over to Gaara and leaned in close, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. The red-head didn't even stir, which told her how exhausted he really was.

"I'll be back soon," she whispered, not expecting him to hear her. She got back up and walked out of the room and then out of the house.

XxooooooooxX

Akina stood in front of the council bowing respectfully and remaining bowed until they said her name. She slowly straightened up and made eye contact with the head councilman.

"I'm guessing that Kazekage-sama has discussed the possibilities with children," he began. Akina sighed and nodded.

"And I'm sure that he has spoke to you on behalf of us both," she responded. The councilman nodded.

"We just wanted to hear it from you."

"I guess that's understandable," she sighed. "Gaara and I both turn 18 this January, and it would make the both of us feel much more comfortable."

"That is why we have decided to let that go for now. We just wanted to be sure that you were at last planning on it." Akina nodded in understanding.

"Is that all?" she asked. The council nodded. "Then I'd like to talk to you about Gaara for a moment." The councilman looked at her in slight confusion.

"What is it?" he asked.

"You're going to need to schedule fewer meetings for Gaara or give him less paperwork or something. Last night was the first night he had slept in 5 days."

"Fine, we'll cancel some of the meetings for this week." Akina couldn't help but feel that he sounded like he didn't care in the least. She decided that it was best that she just left though. She didn't want to get herself into any trouble, or to cause Gaara any trouble.

XxooooooooxX

Akina returned home about an hour later, close to noon. She quietly entered her room, amused to find Gaara still sound asleep. She softly giggled to herself and approached the bed. She knelt down on the edge and ran her fingers through Gaara's blood-red locks. He let out a soft sigh, flexing his fingers on the pillow.

"You wouldn't be so sleepy if you had been coming home more often," she told him playfully. Gaara just lay there silently, not opening his eyes. She giggled and shook her head at the Kazekage in mock disappointment. Using her index finger, she placed it in the center of Gaara's back and quickly and lightly ran it up his spine. The red-head's body cringed involuntarily and he took in a sharp deep breath through his nose. He slowly opened his eyes and rolled over onto his back, wearily looking up at Akina.

"Good morning," she whispered sweetly to him. He blinked at her a couple times.

"What time is it?" he asked weakly. Akina's eyes softened.

"It's' almost noon," she told him. "Are you feeling okay Gaara? You don't sound too good." Gaara looked up at her blankly as she began to caress his cheek.

"I'm fine," he assured her. "I'm just tired." Gaara slowly sat up and sighed to himself. "What did the council say?"

"I don't know why they could of just told you, but they said that they would let us wait until we're 18 to hear about plans for a child.

"They don't trust me. They never have and they probably never will." Akina looked at him with sad eyes

"I guess that's their problem then." Gaara nodded and took hold of Akina's hand, squeezing it gently. She could see the pain that was in her lover's eyes. She knew how hard he had been working to get people to change their opinion about him. The youth of the village seemed to be more ready to trust Gaara than the elders, but that wasn't really surprising. After all, it was the elder people that had a more personal type of conflict with him. They knew him while he was growing up and couldn't forget the person that used to roam the village. Some of the people had been affected by his cruelty, most of them losing a loved one at the palms of the blood thirsty child.

Akina wasn't around to see his more sinister side, and Gaara was thankful that she hadn't been. She might not be there with him now. She might not even be alive at the moment.

Gaara was jerked from his thoughts by a soft kiss on the cheek. He turned his head toward her and was greeted by a gentle kiss on the lips, in which he returned.

"Don't look so sad," she told him sweetly, "Or you'll end up making me sad and there won't be anyone left to make the other feel better." He smiled slightly and pulled her in for another kiss before pulling away.

"Akina," he began, "I'll tell you about what happened after you left all those years ago." The white-haired girl gave him a weird look.

"Gaara, you don't have…"

"I want to!" he interrupted. He looked down at the ground with sad eyes. Akina frowned at him.

"Alright Gaara," she said calmly. "I'm listening."

Gaara let everything out. He told her what had happened between him and his uncle; about what he lived for; about all the people he had hurt or killed. He told her how there were times when he was afraid of himself, afraid that he was going to disappear forever. He talked about how he had hated everyone but himself and how everyone only hated him. He told her of the nightmares he had when he had accidentally fallen asleep while he still had shuukaku inside of him. Anything that came to his mind, he told her.

When Gaara had finished, the room was absolutely silent. Gaara sat there, suddenly feeling sick. He had never talked that much in his entire life. His throat felt sore and dry. His heart felt heavy with grief that had been sealed away there for as long as he could remember. Gaara was now being haunted by the thoughts that Akina would hate him. She now knew what he truly was, or at least what he had been.

Any negative thoughts that were running through his head were immediately driven away as a pair of arms wrapped around him and pulled him in close. Gaara laid his head against her chest, sighing in relief.

"You have come so far Gaara," she whispered into his ear. "I know it would have saved you a lot of trouble to have not gone through any of that stuff, but I'm kind of glad you did. You might not be the same person as you are today, and the Gaara right here is who I have come to love." Gaara couldn't help but smile. He sat up and wrapped his arms around Akina, hugging her tightly. Akina grinned and hugged him back.

"Thank you Akina," he whispered.

Finally, chapter 15 is up. I'm really sorry to all my loyal readers for taking so long to update. I've been working on another story as well and kind of got caught up in it. I was also trying to think of what I wanted to do next and that took me longer than I though it would. Again, I'm really sorry. I typed this up as quickly as I could and posted it not long after. I hope that you all enjoy.

I'd like to thank all my loyal readers. I'd also like to give a special thanks to the following people, who reviewed last chapter.

Christina Angel, Yume Ninja, Kita Kudai, NeferNeferi, and AddictedtoBleach.

Thanks a bunch!

Okay, for a special treat, because I owe a lot too all you reviewers, I'd like to ask for your help on a matter that I think you will all enjoy! Below I will list some baby names, boys and girls, along with their meanings. I'd love for you all to vote for one girl name and one boy name. I'm not sure which one I will do yet. I'm letting my one of my school friends decide, but she wants to see what names you guys like best. Here's what I have.

Boys: Daichi-great wisdom -- Haru-sunshine -- Hiro-generous -- Seiji-truthful rule -- Masa-true sand

Girls: Eri-my protector -- Misa-beautiful sand -- Kaede-maple -- Mitsuki-beautiful moon -- Yuri-earth worker

Please review quickly and let me know which names you like best. I want to get the next chapter up soon and I won't be able to do that unless I know which names you prefer. Choose one girl name and one guy name.

Vote and Review!!