Disclaimers are in previous chapters.

Sen jumped through a window of the Kazekage's office, landing in a cat-like crouch near the desk. "You're slipping Gaara-kun," she said, panting slightly.

"No," he replied as he continued his work as if she hadn't just leaped through the window of the office. Not that that particular action was any different from her using Body Flicker. "I'd figured you would be back around dusk and here you are. Although, under normal circumstances, you would have come through the door or used Body Flicker. Something wrong?"

Sen didn't answer as she wrapped her arms around his neck , burying her nose in his hair.

"Sen." He pulled her arms from around him and made her look him in the eye. "What happened?"

Sen pushed some papers out of the way and pulled herself up onto the desk. She told him about leaving Suna, and summoning Elder Sage Owl, with every intention of visiting Mizuki.

Through all of it, Gaara processed the information and nodded, urging her to continue.

Sen proceeded to tell him that, not long after entering Fire Country, she heard a noise that struck her as odd. It had sounded human, but if it had been a shinobi, or even a group, it would have been muted. This wasn't; it wasn't loud, either. Somewhere in between, almost as if the one who had made the noise had tried to stifle it as it was uttered.

"Gaara-kun, Akasuna no Sasori and Deidara, of Akatsuki, are gay," Sen said.

"Hn. Wouldn't surprise me," he replied. "They are partners after all, are they not? Now, I'm finished here. Let's go home."

Sen nodded and followed him out the office. She walked beside Gaara as they went through the streets. "Ne, Gaara," she said. "I told Chiyo-sama, is that all right?"

"I don't see why not," he replied as a young child ran up and shoved a small toy into his hands before running back inside their home. "He is her grandson."

Sen nodded and they continued the rest of the way in silence.

Later that night, Gaara was sitting on his bed, reading through his siblings' most recent mission report, that they had so kindly decided to drop on him that night. When Sen snuggled up against him, he put his arm around her waist gently. After a while, he said quietly, "Something wrong?"

Sen sighed. "Sort of."

"Hmm?"

"Well, it wasn't exactly like I was hiding my chakra signature, and when I'm traveling alone, or with one that knows of Nanabi, I don't bother to keep his chakra signature hidden. They're Akatsuki. S-rank criminals, Gaara-kun. I guess I just get the feeling that Sasori knew I was there," she replied.

Gaara set the mission report on the floor; it could wait, there were more important matters to deal with. He pulled Sen against his chest and set his chin on top of her head. "It's all right, I'm here," he murmured.

"But that's what I'm worried about," Sen said, pushing away from him. "I don't want to lose you."

Gaara sighed. Everyone knew that he was a jinchuuriki, even if they didn't know him personally. Very few knew she was. Only her immediate family, Raikage-sama (who would probably be succeeded soon, along with Sen's father), Mizuki, and himself.

"Ne, Gaara-kun?" Sen's voice snapped him from his thoughts.

"What?"

"You need to relax. Okay, before you say anything, hear me out. I think, with Nanabi's help, I could keep Shukaku locked up so you could rest. Will you give it a try?"

Sleep? Considering that very tempting thought, Gaara allowed Sen to run her fingers through his hair gently. But would she be able to keep the Ichibi locked away? It was a dangerous gamble, but he trusted her. "Meet me on the roof," he said, touching her cheek gently with his fingertips, before disappearing in a small cloud of sand.

Sen followed in a cloud of mist.

Hmm, a way for Gaara to sleep without losing what little is left of his precious sanity? Find out, in Chapter 15.