Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Wish I owned Gaara, but I don't. I own Sen as well as her summoning. After all, when do you see an owl as a summoning in the anime or manga?

"I told you what was most important to me," Sen said softly as she leaned against him. "You."

Gaara blinked. He was what was most important to her? But, her family, her best friend...

"I know what you're thinking," Sen said quietly without looking at him. "You mean more to me than life itself Gaara-kun."

Gaara sighed and lifted his hands to pull Sen against him and then pushed her chin up so that they were staring into each other's eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her gently, breaking the kiss a few moments later. "Sen, I love you more than life itself," he said quietly. "If I were to lose you, I don't know what I would do."

You'd probably try to take your life. I won't let you though. I'm already weak enough as it is, I'd prefer not to be any weaker, thanks.

Gaara ignored the Shukaku and instead stared intently into Sen's eyes, stroking her cheek with his finger tips, willing her to accept what he'd just spoken.

Sen felt herself starting to cry. "Gaara, I-"

"Don't cry," Gaara said as he wiped her tears away.

Sen pushed his hand away and wiped the tears away herself. "Gaara, if you ever do lose me, you have to move on. For your sake. You can't be stuck in the past." She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled against him. "I'm not saying not to love though," she whispered.

Later, after she fell asleep, Gaara tucked Sen under the covers and sat beside her, reading.

A knock broke the silence.

"Yes, what is it?" Gaara said without looking up from his reading.

"I was wondering if you'd like to, well, come down and play a game with us or something," Temari said through the door.

"Sen's asleep and I'm reading. We'll pass tonight Temari," Gaara said. Then as an afterthought, he added, "I apologize."

"Oh. You don't need to apologize," Temari said. "We'll just...we'll just do it another time. Yes. Another time." Then she was gone.

The next morning, Sen woke up with Gaara right beside her. She rolled over and snuggled against him. "Morning, Gaara-kun," she said sleepily.

"Oh, you're awake, are you?" Gaara said as he set the book aside.

Sen nodded and said, "What's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing," Gaara replied as he got up. "Temari just wanted us to play a game with them last night, but I told her you'd fallen asleep already."

"Oh," Sen said quietly as she got up and brushed past Gaara as he was organizing papers on his desk.

"Where're you going?" Gaara said curiously, looking up at her.

"I'm going to change," Sen said. "It's not like it'd be proper to change in front of you, now would it?" She bustled out of the room, the door snapping shut behind her.

You wouldn't be able to keep your hands off of her if she did,Shukaku taunted.

Gaara clenched his fists on top of the desk. He hated to admit it, but Shukaku was probably correct. All he could think about sometimes was holding Sen to him and running his fingers through her hair and down her cheeks and- "No. Stop, Gaara. Stop. You've got to stop thinking about that," he snapped. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He wanted her so badly, but he couldn't force her. He had to wait for her to come to him. When she was ready, he'd be waiting.

I doubt you can...

Sen walked downstairs a few minutes later and settled herself down on the couch by Temari. "Sorry about last night," she said quietly.

Temari looked over at Sen. "Why are you apologizing?" she said increduously. "You were asleep. Neither I nor Kankurou hold it against you. And it's not like we were holding it against Gaara either. After all, he wouldn't have wanted to leave you alone and..." She trailed off as Kankurou walked in.

"You know, I have a bone to pick with you," Sen said.

"Me?" Kankurou said. "What the hell did I do?"

Sen stood up and whirled on Kankurou. "What did you do? What did you do? You sent Takamaru to Kiri!"

"Why are you so mad?" Kankurou said, getting ready to protect his face. His nose was still tender from where it had been shattered by Gaara just the day before.

"Because," Sen spat. "My mother got ahold of him. I'm surprised she's not here right now trying to drag me back. Damn, Kankurou. Why'd you have to find your manners now?"

"I just thought your father would-"

"He knew I was here!" Sen screamed. "He was the one that allowed me to come. Without my mother's consent. And then you go and-UAGGGH!" She finished her sentence in a frustrated scream and swung her fist at Kankurou.

Temari jumped in, catching Sen's arm before the girl's fist connected with Kankurou's face. "Sen, calm down," she said gently.

"Why should I calm the fuck down?" Sen screamed as she jerked her arm out of Temari's grasp before she charged out of the door, slamming it behind her.

Sen ran out of the village and into the middle of the dunes before she collapsed to her knees, panting. I need to talk to Mizuki, she thought. Pulling a kunai from her pocket, she cut her right palm, before pressing it to the ground and summoning a small, pygmy owl.

The owl blinked and turned to Sen. "What is it little fledgling?"

"Saida," Sen said gratefully. "Just the one I was looking for. I need you to get Mizuki."

"Why do you need that, little fledgling?" Saida said.

"I need to talk to her," Sen panted. She had a stitch in her side that hurt like hell.

"Any particular message, little fledgling?" Saida said as the pygmy owl readied herself for flight.

"Yeah," Sen said. "Tell her I'm going to murder Kankurou soon."

Fourth chapter, wow I'm on a roll. Reviews are appreciated. Any ideas you have, pm me. I wouldn't mind getting ideas, after all my muse comes and goes as it chooses. Thanks!