"You'll live with Sakura." Tsunade announced, after thinking on the matter for some time.
"What?" Sakura asked, jumping to her feet. Gaara simply raised his eyebrows, but it was obvious from even that little gesture that he didn't think much of the idea either.
"Maybe you should think about it a bit longer." Sakura suggested. She turned to Gaara and held up her hands. "No offence."
"None taken." Gaara said quietly.
Tsunade shook her head. "No. I've thought about it enough; this is the best way to do it."
"How's that?" Sakura asked.
"We still have to figure out exactly what has been done to Gaara, and even then, he will probably require extended therapy before he regains full use of his chakra again."
Sakura nodded. All that made sense but... "Where exactly did I get involved in that equation?"
"Well, it's something I can do, or Shizune even, but I certainly don't have time, as much as I would like to help you myself," Tsunade said, turning to Gaara, "and I want Shizune free to take on other missions. Sakura, you're the best one to do it – the only one I would trust to do it, other then Shizune."
It was a little scary having so much trust placed in you, but Sakura appreciated Tsunade's feelings. She was always happy to know Tsunade believed in her. "Fine. That's all fine. I'd be happy to help the Kazekage." Sakura said. "But I don't see why he has to live with me."
"I can't be myself, as I am now." Gaara said. Sakura turned to stare at him; did he expect her to understand what he meant by that? He sighed and explained, "If my chakra is sealed then I'm a sitting duck. It's pointless and annoying to have bodyguards hovering around me all the time; it's much easier if I can blend in here."
"Oh, so basically you're hiding." Sakura said.
"Sakura!" Tsunade scolded.
Sakura bit her lip. "I didn't mean to sound offensive." She tried to explain. "But that is how it is, isn't it?"
Gaara nodded reluctantly. "Basically."
Tsunade shook her head at Sakura and went on. "You're in charge of that as well. You could use a genjutsu maybe to change his appearance, since he can't do it for himself."
Out of the corner of her eye, Sakura could see Gaara twitch as Tsunade said that, effectively calling him useless. For the first time she thought of how this might be affecting Gaara himself. She tried to imagine how she would feel, cut off from the flow of her chakra... She shuddered, feeling infinitely more sympathy for Gaara.
"I'll do what I can." Sakura said.
"As I would expect from you." Tsunade said. She tapped her chin. "Now, we just have to figure out in what respect he will stay with you..."
"As a relative." Gaara said immediately.
"No. We can't do that." Sakura said, shaking her head. "I have family here. There's no way my mom would fall for that."
"Well what then?"
"A student maybe?"
"But I can't use chakra – who would believe that?"
"Well, I don't see you coming up with any better ideas."
Tsunade interrupted their talk, suddenly snapping her fingers. "He's your boyfriend – better yet, your fiancé!"
Gaara and Sakura both stared at her, shocked into silence.
Tsunade grinned and elaborated. "You met while Sakura was away on a mission in Suna, and fell madly in love. So much so that you couldn't bear to be parted. He proposed right away, you said yes and brought him home with you." Tsunade laughed. "It's so romantic, I can hardly believe it!"
"I can't believe it." Sakura said. "You're crazy."
"I don't see you coming up with anything better." Tsunade answered, looking at Sakura seriously now. "That's your story – you're a professional; work with it."