When Gaara woke up Aki and Sakura were both sitting nearby, Aki hovering nervously, Sakura working on a medical report. Aki jumped to her feet as Gaara opened his eyes. Sakura looked up and nodded.

"Good, you're awake." She stood and stretched before walking to the door. "I'll leave you two to talk." She said and went to finish her report in the living room.

Gaara was still groggy, and wasn't really sure what was going on. He remembered being in great pain, and thinking he was going to die. He wasn't going to die again was he? He looked up at the girl hovering over him and frowned. She looked very familiar, a girl he knew from Suna. Ah yes, Aki.

"What happened?" He asked.

Aki looked ready to burst into tears, but she held them back admirably. Why she would be crying, he had no idea, but after all, she was an emotional girl, strange for a shinobi.

"Please Kazekage, please return to Suna!" She pleaded. "I know I hurt you just now, but there's still no need for you to stay here, with only that woman to take care of you. You can come home now, now that she's figured out what's wrong; you should return to us."

Gaara shook his head slowly. "No, this is best." He told her. "Until I am completely recovered it is better that I stay here, hidden. If I returned to Suna then I would need protecting, and in my weakened state it is likely I would be attacked and someone would be injured. Temari and the others realize this as well as I do. No, I will stay here."

He realized he wanted to stay. He looked around the room, but Sakura was absent. "Where is 'that woman' anyway?" He asked.

Aki stood up straight, returning to her business manner now that she had pleaded her case and been turned down. "She's in the living room sir."

"Alright." Gaara felt soothed for some reason, just knowing that she was nearby and he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "Aki, the bulk of our work is done. If you wouldn't mind bringing me the last two reports, I will sign them and you can bring them back to Suna with you."

Aki nodded and went to the next room to do as he said.