AN: Just FYI, everything from the first paragraph of chapter 7 to the second section of this chapter is what I'd lost and had to rewrite. Just to put into perspective how much had been written. I wasn't paying attention to number count then like I am now. But it's roughly the same, give or take 1,000 words. Totaling in a 27,600 word loss. Imagine my despair. Thank God I'm able to get back to my original posting schedule now. I'm currently in Chapter 16, and things are starting to boil.

Also, keep the reviews and positive thoughts coming. My daughter is home sick, so I'm trying to post this, and work, and watch her and her fever. It's a lot. You know what they say. Life doesn't happen in a trickle, it's everything all at once.

Chapter 13

"Thanks to the payout from Princess Emika's holdings, we've been able to retain almost every program in the schools previously being cut," Gaara stated, setting aside the final sheet of his list of subjects. The tension in the room could be cut with a kunai, even though they still went through the motions of this being a normal Council meeting. It reminded Gaara of the time they dropped the marriage demand on him. The tension was similar. However, he was certain the dynamics were shifted. It had been Gaara who had done the blindsiding this time. "Before I bring the other sectors out of skeletal funding, I have a meeting with Emika's financial secretary about further payments."

One of the older Councilmen, Fuka, smirked. "If you're the Daimyo, do we even have to consult her in regards to payment? I mean, can't you just pull the funds yourself?"

Gaara smiled back softly. "Actually, no. First, I'm not the Daimyo until the House grants me the crown. Even then, Emika asked I sign a prenup to protect our interests."

"A prenup!?" another Councilman, Reo, howled. "Why on Earth would you agree to sign a prenup!?" There was chatter of descent from that news casting a din through the Council Chambers.

"I signed it because it benefitted Suna," Gaara said, raising his voice just enough to be heard over the din. "If I hadn't signed it, we wouldn't have gotten the payout from Emika, covering her uncle's debt."

"We would if you had just made things right with Ginmaru," another Councilmember, Fuka grumbled.

Before Gaara could comment on that, another Councilmember, Toska asked, "What do we do if they decide against backing your claim? If they decide Ginmaru retains his power?" Toska was one of the Council members his father appointed, so his utilitarian ideals were expected. He cleared his throat before adding, "Surely marrying his niece will be seen as an attempt to usurp his authority, and permanently damage our relations."

"Emika is the sovereign," Gaara argued. "And Ginmaru has been abusing his position."

Ebizo leaned forward curiously, his eyebrows raising a little humorously. "Abusing his position how?" he asked, lacing his fingers together in front of his mouth.

Gaara pressed his lips together, and admitted, "The princess asked me to marry her because she believes her uncle has been killing her fiances. And after Ryuki's death, I believe there is some merit to that." This caused several council members to talk amongst themselves in a nervous murmur. "Doing that has put the sovereign at risk, whom I swore to protect when I became Kazekage."

Ebizo hit his gavel to calm the room, then asked, "You have proof of this?"

"I've opened an investigation with our Anbu. Emika already cleared the funding for it," Gaara stated. "A team was sent to Tsumi Shi to investigate Ryuki's death, and retrieve his body from their morgue for our investigation. They should be back today."

"Good," Ebizo muttered. "We can't make such a public accusation without evidence backing it up."

"What about heirs?" another old Councilman, Bunta, asked. "You've hitched your wagon the princess, meaning your children will be royalty. They can't be ninja."

Gaara pressed his lips in a thin line, shooting a furtive glance at Kankuro, who looked back at him nervously. "The topic of children hasn't exactly come up," Gaara lied. Kankuro's gaze hardened a bit, but it was only perceptible to someone who knew him as well as Gaara.

"It wouldn't be an issue if you had a lot of children," Ebizo commented. The comment perked Gaara's interest. "The royal line only needs two. As nobility say, 'the Heir and the Spare.' Boys, that is. Royal girls are always married for political treatise. So, if you had three boys, that wouldn't be too much of an issue."

"Well, there's no guarantee of that," another Councilman, Kiyoshi spoke up. Kiyoshi was Gaara's father's age, at least what he would have been if he'd been alive. Kiyoshi was on his father's genin team as children. Toska had also been in their Academy graduating class. Of the three, Kiyoshi was the most understanding. "Even if he could get her to agree to say, six kids, they could end up with one boy and five girls, meaning none of them would be free to become ninja. Meaning none of them could take up the clan." He shrugged noncommittally before stating, "Since Temari is off the table, apparently, the only sure way to know the clan is secure is if Lord Kankuro gets married."

Kankuro's eyes went wide, clearly not having thought of that. He looked at Gaara expectantly, but Gaara only smiled a little at his discomfort. "Not immediately," Kankuro said quickly. "Gaara just got married. I'd hate for my wedding to steal his thunder."

That garnered some laughter from the councilmembers. "With the publicity going on around Gaara's wedding, it's more likely your wedding would be the one overshadowed," Councilwoman Mai stated.

"All the more reason to wait," Kankuro tried. "It would hardly be fair to my bride to be overshadowed on her own wedding." Gaara tongued his cheek smugly at his brother's obvious overtures to convince the Council not to arrange his marriage.

"Methinks thou dost protest too much," Mai chuckled.

"There is no reason to fret, Lord Kankuro," Ebizo stated. "It is merely a suggestion. No plans have been made … yet." He looked around the Council Room, then declared, "We'll give it six months, then revisit the issue."

Gaara glanced at his brother, taking in his grimace, knowing his brother was only hearing an imaginary ticking clock in the back of his mind. Gaara had known it well. He'd heard it both when the Council told him to take a wife, and when Emika propositioned him two weeks ago. It only took once to know the sound of that clock intimately. But Gaara hadn't been aware of the sweet schadenfreude of seeing someone else experience that clock. Especially when that someone else was the reason he'd experienced that clock the first time.

Ebizo cleared his throat before adding, "We will also need to make sure your successor is set to take over when the House grants you the crown." He smiled to the Council as he said, "You'll be the first, and youngest Kazekage to retire from duty." He turned to Kankuro as he added, "Surely you plan to promote your brother."

"Actually, Emika and I are still discussing that," Gaara stated.

That earned a lot of chatter amongst the Council until Ebizo clanged his gavel for order. "Are you saying that you won't be stepping down as Kazekage when you become Daimyo?"

"For the time being, we are approaching the situation as Emika being the Daimyo and I'm remaining as Kazekage." Even as he said it, it sounded ludicrous. It went over the Council about as well as a lead balloon too.

Immediately, the Council Room was in uproar. The general consensus was against this, saying it jeopardized the way the shinobi world was run. A lot of the comments were also somewhat misogynistic, saying a woman couldn't rule the Wind. Gaara tried to cut in several times, but his voice was not as booming as Ebiso's gavel. The room quieted while Reo added in a final barb, "Was this part of your wife's prenup? Robbing you of sovereignty when she chose you as her husband!?"

"Quiet!" Ebizo demanded as his gavel pounded.

Gaara leveled a cool gaze on Reo, then stated, "The prenup has a time limit, in a sense. When the limit is up, how we will handle the position will be much clearer."

"A time limit!?" Fuka scoffed. "What kind of time limit?"

"More like a finish line," Kankuro clarified for his brother.

Gaara nodded. "She wants a law passed, and won't be ready to give up control until it is."

"What kind of law?" Toska asked, clearly worried it was a law that would impede how shinobis functioned in the Wind.

"A law pertaining to the succession of the crown," Gaara answered. "That is all." This seemed to calm the Council members from outrage to wary thoughtfulness. He continued so they understood, "Once the law is passed, Suna will get another payout, plus a ten-year contract that the crown will only employ Suna for all missions."

"Ten years!?" Toska and Fuka balked, while the other Councilmembers murmured amongst themselves. Gaara understood. A ten-year guarantee of all services and missions was unheard of. Even the Fire Daimyo hired the Wind ninja if it was more beneficial to do so.

"Well, clearly, that is a deal worth a temporary prenup," Ebizo stated clearly. Several Council members nodded their agreements, but a few still looked confused or worried about it. Ebizo smiled, folding his hands in front of him as he said, "Since Lord Gaara and Princess Emika were not given a proper reception befitting his station, we will go ahead and set one up. Soon." He turned to Mai, as if giving her the directive.

She nodded, replying, "We've already started making preparations for the Saturday after next. That gives everyone time to receive their invitations and make preparations to come here. I've tasked Tsuno to prepare the invites to send out two days from now."

"Good," Ebizo chirped, with the rest of the Council nodding agreeably behind them.

"I'm sorry," Gaara chimed in. "Exactly who is being invited?"

"Your sister, for a start," Mai huffed at him. "Don't think we didn't notice she wasn't in your wedding photos." Gaara pressed his lips together tightly at the accusation.

"Plus the other four Kage. We have received several calls from their secretaries inquiring about your wedding, since it's thrown the relations with their own Daimyos off kilter," Reo added. He tilted his head, scratching his small goatee as he grumbled, "I wonder, did that even factor into your decision?"

"Now, Reo," Ebizo chided. "One can hardly control the desires of the heart." Reo rolled his eyes, but didn't disagree. Ebizo frowned curiously, turning to Gaara as he asked, "This was a matter of the heart, right? It wasn't an arranged marriage. So, I assume it was a marriage based on love."

Gaara wasn't sure how to answer that. He and Emika loved each other, even though they were trying to fight it, to save each other the pain of heartbreak when they went their separate ways. Gaara didn't want to, but she was determined. So, their feelings didn't exactly play into how their marriage was going to work. But still, he found himself saying, "Yes. Love, as well as many other things, were a factor."

Ebizo nodded happily. "We are proud of you, Gaara," he stated. "Marriage is a big step."

"Thank you," he replied.

Ebizo banged his gavel one more time, then said, "Meeting is adjourned."

As the Councilmembers exited with their own social groups, Kankuro made his way to Gaara and hissed, "I noticed you neglected to inform them the princess very clearly doesn't want kids."

Gaara blinked at him, then asked, "You want them thinking they need to marry you off immediately?"

"It's just a little misleading," Kankuro stated. "Also that the marriage is over when the prenup goes, not just the prenup's stipulations."

Gaara sighed, then stated, "If I told them that, they'd be preparing an arrangement for immediately after, and you know that."

Kankuro shook his head frustratedly. "It's just all so fucked up. I don't want to get married! I'd make a horrible husband."

Gaara forced a smiled as he finished collecting his things, then said, "We'll have to reminisce on that later. I'm late for my taijutsu," before drifting off with the sand, leaving Kankuro staring frustratedly where Gaara was just standing.

Akira knocked on Emika's office door, holding a large gift basket as he walked in, placing it on her desk as he said, "The gift store just delivered this basket."

Emika stood, spinning the basket towards her as she said, "Thank you." She looked it over, seeing the wine, fruit, and cheeses.

Akira was an older man. Not as old as Kyuurou's butler, as he was previously his underling at the Kin Village palace. He still had brown in his hair, except for the sides, which had begun to gray with a thick but well-groomed moustache and beard. Since she only required him to run the office, which was steadily becoming more populated with workers, he wore a more normal business suit, than the butler uniform he was used to. Although, the suit framed his stout frame quite differently. He was a good worker. She could see he was eager to become the butler to the royal family. It would be a great honor running a palace of that size. "Is this for you? It doesn't have a card," he asked, trying not to sound too worried.

"I ordered it for Lord Kyuurou as a thank you," Emika stated as she reached in her desk to grab some stationary. "His loyalty and assistance through this has been greatly appreciated."

Akira straightened with an understanding smile. "Would you like me to request some genin to deliver it?"

"No," Emika stated. "For all he's done, this requires a personal touch."

"Then should I prepare your guards to depart?" he asked. "I believe Rinri and Baki are in the middle their shift change, but Shijima is out front, and Chie is at his desk."

"I'll only need Chie for this," she stated, her pen hovering over the stationary. "If you can run things while I'm out, that will be all."

"Yes, Ma'am," he said with a small bow before leaving.

She quickly wrote a heartfelt thank you letter, and tied it to the ribbon of the basket. Then she changed her shoes from her usual peep-toe pumps to comfortable, but appealing, ninja sandals. They at least went with her skinny denim pants and long-sleeve outfit. It was Friday, so she was wearing a more casual outfit compared to usual.

She walked out, peeking into Chie's office as she grabbed her poncho and saying, "Let's go."

He stood, asking, "Where to?"

"Kin Village. We're dropping off a gift to Kyuurou."

He nodded as he walked around, grabbing the gift basket she gestured to, and they made their way out of the Premier Hotel, then out of the village. As soon as they were past the walls, they shunshined the whole way there. Not many people knew the princess could do such a thing. Only Chie and Rinri, who had taught Emika after the Infinite Tsukiyome. Generally speaking, a noble training in any level of ninjutsu was considered undignified. But Emika had her reasons for learning. However, since only Chie and Rinri knew, she only did it in front of them, or if she was completely alone. Even around Gaara, when they were traveling the past 2 weeks, she didn't use chakra at all.

So, instead of taking almost an hour to walk there, it only took thirty minutes. She knocked on the door, and when it opened, they saw that the castle seemed to be in uproar with servants and workers bustling around busily. The butler bowed and greeted, "Princess Emika. Welcome. How can help you?"

She gestured to Chie, who held the gift basket, and said, "We got a gift for Lord Kyuurou as thanks for all his help." As another set of maids ran around the foyer behind the butler, carrying boxes of things, she felt compelled to ask, "Is something going on?"

The butler looked behind himself for a second, then nodded, stating, "The House of Daimyos has been called to session. All 34 Regional Daimyos have been called to attend all next week, meaning both the Major District and Minor District Daimyos have been in session for at least a day." He leaned in conspiratorially as he added, "I wouldn't be surprised if the Royal Daimyos weren't asked to attend soon. It seems they want to go ahead and vote."

"Already?" she asked, clearly surprised. It was way before she'd predicted in her timeline.

"Yes, Ma'am. There are rumors that Lord Ginmaru is pushing the rush on the vote," he added, "if that helps you at all."

She chewed the inside of her cheek worriedly, then said, "It does. Thank you. Here." She gestured for Chie to hand the gift basket over as she said, "We have to be getting back, so please tell Lord Kyuurou thank you for us. And that we will likely be seeing him soon."

The butler bowed, taking the gift basket. "Have a safe trip back."

"Thank you," she said before they walked away. As the palace doors shut, she turned to Chie and said, "We need to notify Gaara."

Chie frowned. "Is that imperitive now?"

"If my uncle is planning something, yes," she stated. They shunshined back, happy the weather decided to warm for today in comparison to a few days ago when it was near freezing. They reached Suna's walls and shifted to a regular, "more dignified" yet brisk, walk as they made their way to the Kazekage Tower.

"I assume you mean to tell me I'm coming along for the trip to Futen," Chie filled in when Emika had been silent for the majority of the run back, as they walked into the building.

She shot him a look as they stepped into the lobby and asked, "Are you not the head of my security?" as if that was enough of a conversation on the topic before heading towards the elevator's. He opened his mouth to say something, but Emika's eye caught Tsuno at the front desk frantically folding paper. Emika paused, walking over to her with a frown. "What are you working on?" she asked.

Tsuno looked up shocked. She was a woman around Emika's age, but a bit meeker clearly by how much she blinked and immediately bowed in Emika's presence and said, "Princess Emika! I'm so sorry I didn't see you walking in. How can I help you?"

Emika's brow furrowed as she said, "Gaara isn't overworking you, is he?"

Her eyes went wide and blurted, "NO, Ma'am! This wasn't Lord Gaara's request. The Council has decided to throw you two a reception. I am preparing the invitations."

"Then we should send Akira over to help you," Emika stated.

"Oh, no. That's not necessary," Tsuno tried, but Emika held her hand up.

"No, it is. After we talk to Gaara, I'll send him over," she stated. Then she turned back towards the elevators.

"Oh, he's not there," Tsuno blurted.

Emika turned curiously.

"Lord Gaara. He's not in his office," Tsuno clarified. "It's Friday afternoon. Council meeting is done. He's likely in the training hall. He trains every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as soon as he gets off work."

Emika pressed her lips in a thankful smiled and nodded. Then she made her way back to the training halls a couple blocks down, with Chie walking in step. "So, does that mean you want me going to Futen at the drop of a hat?" Chie asked as they made their way over.

"Are you still on that?" she asked, casting an odd glance at him. "You're my head of security. I want you there."

He licked his lips, then said, "I'll have to talk to Rinri about it." Given his length of service with Emika, he and his wife were the only ones who could talk to her so informally.

"Rinri will understand," Emika stated.

"My sudden absence would throw off the détente in my household," Chie stated as they reached the Training Hall doors. "Hira's at an age when he needs almost constant supervision."

She stopped to look at him carefully, her hand on the handle. "You say that like I don't know how old he is."

"I'm saying it like I'm trying to preserve the peace in my household," Chie stated more pointedly as he opened the door for her, letting out a ninja on their way out. She pressed her lips in a fine line, not wanting to press him on his wording in public. "Speaking of households," he started curiously, "how is marriage to the Kazekage treating you? It's been two weeks now."

She licked her lips, then said, "It's fine. Generally uneventful. We're little more than roommates, which makes things easier."

Chie tilted his head, his brows furrowed in a curious way that clearly didn't believe what she'd just said. "Bullshit."

"Excuse me?"

"You two are way more than roommates," Chie scoffed as they walking in. "There's too much history."

"Five days in the desert six years ago hardly constitutes history," Emika countered unfeelingly.

Chia let out a bark of a laugh. "Have you forgotten who you're talking to? I know what happened. Whether it took long or not, it still happened."

She opened her mouth to contradict him but saw through the windows into one of the rooms where Gaara was training. Emika paused to watch him through the window. He wore a mesh t-shirt, which showed off his surprisingly toned physique as he fought against a training machine that swung back when hit with four spinning bars stacked along its body. He moved so fluidly. Dodging with ease and striking back with force. Sweat had gathered on his brow, and dripped down his neck, where veins and tendons strained with each maneuver. She felt her mouth dry a little as she watched him, especially with the surprising guttural appreciation she felt at seeing how taut his butt looked when he jumped to dodge a low sweep.

She had to admit, it had been oddly comforting to see Gaara in his element this past week. Back at work as Kazekage, going around the village and helping his people. Even now, training. There was a warm, shiny quality to him. Whether it was something about his smile, his eyes, or the way he moved, she wasn't sure. It was just seeing him in his truest self.

Chie leaned against the window, smirking at her knowingly as he grumbled, "Mhm."

"What?" she asked, her gaze cutting back to her security guard.

"Nothing," he chuckled, his smirk telling her it was anything but. "Just it's not often people have a second chance with the one who got away. And they almost always fall in love again despite themselves."

Emika puckered her lips thoughtfully, then said, "Regardless of Gaara's feelings, he knows the objective, and won't jeopardize it."

Chie's smirk broadened to a crooked smile, creasing the slight crows-feet around his eyes as he moved to open the door, sucking on his teeth before said, "I was talking about you."

She blanched at him, blushing wildly at his implication. She opened her mouth to argue, but she had no words to counter with.

He chuckled again, and threw his head towards the training room Gaara was in, holding the door open. Gaara had stopped to turn, seeing her and Chie standing in the doorway. "Go on, talk to your husband. I'll wait out here."

Her whole face turned red as she glowered at Chie, only stopping when she heard Gaara ask, "Is there something wrong?"

She sighed, stepping into the training room, Chie closing the door behind her. She scowled at her security guard that he would call her out like that, casting her conscience off balance by declaring her weakness and then throwing her into a room with said weakness.

"Emika?" Gaara asked, running a towel over his face as he took a sip of water.

She turned to him, taking in his form again appreciatively before catching herself and forcing a smile. "I didn't know you trained in taijutsu," she mustered.

He blinked at her curiously, then smiled as if the observation she'd made was odd. "Any Kage worth his salt has trained a bit in all three basic ninja arts."

"Yes, but your ninjutsu is so strong," she stated. "I didn't think you needed it."

He nodded, leaning down to grab his water canteen as he said, "In my experience, taijutsu is the most imperative of the three arts to learn. Any ninja can counter or subvert a strong ninjutsu, but it's near impossible to counter strong taijutsu without a basic understanding of it. Unlike ninjutsu, there's no tricks. Only skill. Which requires constant practice and fine tuning."

The comment made her chuckle a little at a random thought, then she said, "Fear not the man who's practiced a thousand kicks, but the man who's practiced one kick a thousand times, for he has truly mastered it."

He raised his brows at the quote. "Something like that," he murmured, sipping some water. He cleared his throat, gesturing behind him as he said, "Since my taijutsu trainer has moved on with his career, I train with a spinning wing-chun dummy."

She rambled a little, "It's just something Chie told me. He'd heard it from a taijutsu specialist in Konoha from one of his chunin missions before becoming a guard." She was blushing now realizing how stupid she probably sounded. "I think his name was Gai?"

"Might Gai?" Gaara asked, his smile broadening. He then nodded knowingly as he added, "That sounds like something he would say."

She blanched, horrified. "You know him?"

"I'm close friends with his student," Gaara clarified. "In fact, it was his student that made me rethink how I viewed taijutsu. And Gai himself, during the war. Not to mention they were also part of the Konoha team that saved my life from the Akatsuki."

She blushed harder, hiding her face behind her hands embarrassedly as she grumbled, "I can't believe I just quoted your friend to you."

He laughed as he took a sip of his water. "Clearly, you've hunted me down for something," Gaara said with a swallow, "and I doubt it was to talk taijutsu."

She cleared her throat, trying to brush over her embarrassment. "I just dropped off a gift basket to Lord Kyuurou's castle as thanks for his assistance in our wedding," she stated.

"And what was in the gift basket?" Gaara asked blankly, feeling he should ask. Temari did say when women mentioned things like that, it was important to listen to the details.

Emika frowned oddly. "Ehrm, wine and cheeses. A few cookies. Candies. You know, turtles."

"Turtles?" Gaara asked, a little confused.

"It's unimportant," Emika huffed. Gaara's brow furrowed, but he nodded along, knowing that wasn't all the news she had to share. "When we got there, the palace was in uproar."

"Had something happened?" Gaara asked, suddenly worriedly.

"Yes," Emika said oddly. "Apparently, the House of Daimyos has been called to convene. That means District Daimyos and Elected Daimyos have already been in session if they're now bringing in the Regional Daimyos. That's usually just before they invite the Royal Houses for a final debate and vote. So, Kyuurou's house was preparing to leave for Futen."

He was silent for a moment, his lips pressed in a pensive and concerned line. "Then who will feed the turtles?" Gaara asked worriedly.

Emika blinked at him incredulously, clearly surprised by the question before breaking out in a peal of laughter. She was laughing so hard it hurt, and she let out an undignified snort.

Gaara only blinked at her, then asked, "Are we keeping the turtles? What do they need?" Which only brought on another peal of shrieking laughter. He only blinked at her, then murmured, "I don't understand what's so funny. Where are we keeping the turtles?"

"You thought I meant -," she cackled. He only looked at her blankly as she laughed harder. "Stop. Stop. I'm gonna' pee," she wheezed at his dumb expression.

He chuckled a little oddly, clearly finding some humor in the princess's state as she shrieked. "I still don't understand what's so funny," he chuckled.

"I meant Turtles, the candy," she wheezed, wiping rogue tears off her face as she clarified, "I didn't give him actual turtles!" She said it as if the idea were ridiculous, which it was. Who would gift a Lord a bunch of baby turtles.

His expression fell, and he blushed at his error. "Oh," he chuckled softly.

"Your face. You were so worried about them," she howled.

"Yes," he half grumbled, half laughed, "I was worried about a few fake animals. Peak comedy. Very funny." His tone was dead-panned, and his blushing increased as she continued to laugh. He waited on her to calm down, only for her to throw her head back as she continued to cackle. He closed his eyes, then asked, "Are you done?"

She let out a couple calming hums. "I'm done," she tried, failing to suppress another chuckle, before humming again, and nodding, "I'm done. I'm done."

He straightened, his eyes narrowing on her a little as he asked, "So, the Daimyos have been called. What does that mean?"

"It means we must prepare to leave for Futen at a moment's notice," she stated, still clearly struggling not to look at him and laugh. "As soon as the call comes in, we must leave."

"Logistically, yes. But I meant in regards to the plan," Gaara clarified, crossing his arms bracingly.

That point sobered her. She gulped nervously. "It means things are moving faster than I planned," she confessed. "Power might be given to us sooner, and without a fight. And while that's not a bad thing, Kyuurou's butler did say that there were rumors that this rush is my Uncle's doing, which could spell trouble."

Gaara nodded pensively. "Yes. It could," he muttered, rubbing his knuckle and thumb along his lower lip. The innocuous movement caught her by surprise, feeling like a punch in the gut. He saw her intense look and frowned. "What?"

"Did you suck your thumb as a kid?" she blurted.

His eyes flew wide and his hand dropped a little, not expecting such a question at all. "Huh?" he grunted, his voice breaking a little in surprised, which he cleared with a cough and a furrowed brow. "I'm sorry… Why?"

She blushed again. Why did she ask that!? She knew why, but she also knew better than doing so. "I didn't mean … I'm sorry," she grumbled, scratching her brow. She cleared her throat, then said, "I'm going to send Akira to Futen on Sunday to make preparations. Get us a hotel. Et cetera. Of course, that will be after he helps Tsuno with her project from the Council. Which, by the way, what's going on there?"

She rambled it off so fast, Gaara clearly had difficulty keeping up. "I have a flat in Futen along the river. So, a hotel isn't necessary," Gaara clarified. "And the Council is setting us up a reception. I'm guessing to save face. You might get to meet Lee, or Naruto. Why would you ask if I sucked my thumb as a kid?" Clearly the confused curiosity was getting the better of him.

She sighed, then mimicked his knuckle rubbing over his lip. He frowned, not clueing in, until Emika said, "Oral fixation. It's a self-soothing habit believed to be linked to childhood coping habits, like sucking thumbs." He looked at his hand as if it had betrayed him, and she scoffed. "I didn't mean anything by it. Just it struck me."

He blinked at a far-off point, then muttered, "And is asking oddly personal questions a habit you get from your mother?" Clearly he'd had enough scrutinizing from the princess today.

"I'm sorry," Emika repeated. "Forget I asked."

"No, you asked it. So," Gaara grumbled, clearly saying the question was out there between them, and had to be answered now. "Yes. As a child I sucked my thumb. I stopped when I was five, but picked it up again after the incident with my uncle. But never in public, and it was a hard habit to break, but I did by eight." His answer made her both feel sympathetic, sad, and hopeful. He added slightly barbed, "I also liked turtles … and bears," before he looked at her oddly, a little challengingly, as he asked, "Did you?"

She pursed her lips awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck. "I had a satin blanket I'd rub between my fingers and on my cheeks. I don't really remember sucking my thumb, though," she stated, shrugging as she added, "And I always liked horses. And dogs."

"No wonder Unagi isn't a fan," Gaara muttered under his breath.

She cleared her throat, trying to clear away the awkward tension of the conversation and ignoring his comment as she said, "Anyway, if my Uncle was going to pull something, it would be then. We'd be in his territory, and he's pushing us to get to Futen, clearly, if he's pushing for the vote. We'll have to be careful."

"Who's going with us? I'm assuming Kankuro on my end," Gaara filled in.

"Chie. And I think Shijima," Emika stated. She chewed her lip on stating the kunoichi would be joining them. Gaara had recommended her, but some of the things Shijima said made Emika think she and Gaara had been more than just friends. Although she wasn't sure, and didn't want to accuse her, or act jealous. But a part of her did pick her to see how she and Gaara were together. Either to assuage her feelings or solidify them.

Gaara nodded, licking his lips before stating, "I'll have Kankuro get with them and formulate a plan," before taking another sip of water.

She bobbed her head awkwardly, doing her best not to look too hard at his chest and abs. She blinked hard, realizing she was doing just that, and muttered, "I have to get back to work."

Gaara gave her a pursed smile. "I'll see you tonight."

She spun on her heel and stormed out. As she passed Chie who was chuckling at her, clearly having heard everything, she held up a finger and hissed, "Not a word."

AN: I partially wish I could put an image of Michael Scott from the gift basket episode at the end here. But alas, I cannot.

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