Like I said before, troublesome wasting of energy. Disclaimers are in previous chapters.

Sen shifted her glance from Gaara's to watch Kanemaru.

The paper the boy was holding ripped down the middle.

"Great!" Sen cried.

Kanemaru jumped and looked down at the paper in between his fingers. His element was wind.

"All right. Now you must learn to control it," Gaara said. He pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. Kami. Now came the hard part.

Sen sighed. This was something that took more determination over anything else.

Kanemaru nodded. He knew they couldn't help him anymore than their sensei were able to help them.

"Look on the bright side, though," Sen said helpfully. "Gaara, Temari, and myself all have wind, so we'll be able to provide tips should you need them."

Kanemaru nodded again and Sen pulled something from her supplies pouch.

"Here." She handed him a leaf. "Practice with this." She looked at Gaara. "I'll stay here and watch him, all right? So you can go back to work."

Gaara nodded almost imperceptibely, but as he passed by her, his hand brushed hers and he squeezed her hand gently before moving on.

Sen sighed and settled down, watching Kanemaru as he struggled with his element. After a few minutes, she leaped up, just as a kunai buried itself into the ground by the boy's feet.

Kanemaru jumped in shock and fell on his butt. He glanced over at Sen and noticed that even though she wasn't smiling, her eyes were dancing with laughter. "You-" he started. He shook his head, deciding not to finish his thought; he got up, dusting himself off. "I don't get it, though."

Sen frowned, the laughter dying in her eyes. "Don't get what?"

"You're so strong," Kanemaru said. "You can obviously take care of yourself; not to mention that if someone attacked you, Kiri would call a war and Suna and Konoha would follow. Why do you need a guard? Why do you need me?" He finished in a small, defeated voice.

Sen sighed and walked over to him. She pushed his chin up with her fist, so that he looked her in the eyes. "Because. Gaara worries for me. That's why he wants me to have a guard. He knows I can take care of myself, but he worries nonetheless." As do I. "Furthermore, he wants you to realize that you do have potential and he's giving you a chance to prove it to yourself and to the village."

"But I'll just let him down," Kanemaru protested.

"You never know unless you try," Sen countered forcefully as she turned away.

"All right," Kanemaru said quietly.

Gaara looked up from his work. "Pardon?"

"I'll accept the mission," Kanemaru said. "I'll protect Sen-san with my life."

Gaara nodded briefly, dismissing the boy by saying, "Very well. While she is in the village, she has general protection, therefore you may do as you wish then. However, any time she travels outside Suna's gates, you must accompany her."

Kanemaru nodded and bowed before exiting.

A few minutes of silence passed before Gaara said, almost to himself, "How do you do it?"

"Ne?" Sen said, glancing over at him. She shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe Elder Sage Owl's right when she says I have a way with people."

Gaara swallowed hard, praying she didn't hear him. Kami, was that ever true! She'd unlocked more emotions in him than even Naruto had managed.

Sen was wrapped up in her own thoughts, those that had come to mind at Gaara's indirect question. How did she manage to convince Kanemaru? She shook her head slowly, clearing the thoughts away. "Hey, Gaara-kun?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm going out, 'kay?"

"Hn."

Sen performed the hand sign and disappeared in a cloud of mist.

Gaara snorted. "Show-off."

Hmm, wonder where Sen's going? Find out in chapter 13.