Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I own this plot, but other than that, neh.

"Sen, be my hero. Save me from this monster."

Sen blinked. He wasn't mad at her? But she'd lied to him and...

Gaara knelt down in front of Sen. "This...is hard for me to say," Gaara started. "Not because I don't want to...because I do want to, it's just..."

"Just say what's on your heart, Gaara-kun," Sen said quietly.

Gaara took her hand in his and said, "I want you to be my hero. You're the only one that can save me. You're the one that..." He shook his head and brought his hand up to touch her cheek gently, before embracing her, pulling her tight against him. "Sen, I love you, but only your love can save me," he whispered in her ear.

Sen wrapped her arms around Gaara's neck and whispered, "Gaara, I love you. I've told you that so many times I've lost count, but-" She broke off when she realized he was staring at her with an odd look in his eyes.

Gaara leaned forward and kissed Sen. After several minutes, he moved back to allow her some air. "I never knew why I couldn't kill you that night. Now I know why."

"Hmm?" Sen tilted her head curiously. "Why's that?"

"Because, to kill the only one that can save you is very counter productive," Gaara said. He stopped and then added, "But that only partially explains it. That's only half of it."

"So what's the other half?" Sen said curiously, kissing him gently on the lips.

Gaara stood up, helping Sen to her feet as well. "Well, I don't want to push you away, but..."

Oh, shut up already! Shukaku snapped irritably. She hasn't left yet, what the fuck makes you think she will? Damn, I've been trying to get rid of her for the past four months. It hasn't worked yet. I doubt anything you could do would change that.

But what if she's not ready to go that far?

Well, you won't know unless you try, now will you? Damn, stupid bastard...

"Gaara?" Sen said. "What is it?"

Gaara ran his fingers through Sen's hair and said, "Come on, let's go home." He started to walk back towards Suna.

"But Gaara-kun," Sen whined. "You never told me the other half of the reason!" She groaned in exasperation as she ran after him.

Hehe, what do you know? The kid's playing hard to get, Nanabi chuckled.

Huh? What do you mean?

You want him, and he obviously wants you. He's only trying to see how long you can last, Nanabi said. That, and he's trying not to push you away.

Away? What's that supposed to mean? Sen said.

You mean a lot to him, little one. For him, it's more than love, and, more than lust. He wants you for you, but, it seems, he also wants what you have, if you catch my drift. He's scared that he'll push you too far, by letting out every feeling he has for you. I think, Nanabi said, musingly, that while you've shown him friendship as well as love, he, well...

What are you talking about, Nanabi? Sen said curiously.

Oh, the two of you are so naive...

Gaara opened the door and let Sen in, before shutting it behind her and locking it. He glanced around, listening. "Good. We're all alone."

"Gaara, what's going on?" Sen asked, her voice bordering a whine once more as she began to grow impatient.

Gaara shook his head, refusing to answer as a small smirk appeared on his lips. Instead, he pushed her back against the door and pressed his lips against hers.

Sen moaned as she let Gaara slide his tongue into her mouth. She felt his hands under her shirt, wrapping around her waist and pulling her against him. Was this what you meant, Nanabi? she thought. Cause we've been here before...

Sure. You've been this far before, but have you been farther? was his cryptic response.

Farther? Bu- "Oh!" Sen felt something press against her thigh. "Gaara..." she whispered. This was where they'd stopped every time before, but...Gaara didn't seem to want to. And while this was different, new even, Sen had to admit, she kind of didn't want to either.

"Let's go to bed," Gaara whispered in Sen's ear as he nipped at her neck. He then pulled back, oddly satisfied by the pitiful moan that came from Sen with that action. He started up the stairs, smirk still plain on his face.

"Nnn," she managed, before following him up the stairs.

Heh, well I guess the Kazekage gets what he wants...