Author's Note: Chapter titles for this fic will all be colors that I feel encapsulate the chapter in one way or another.
I give you the first installment of Sandcastles.
Chapter One - Bondi Blue
When she returned, the Kazekage was wearing black. She delivered her mission report in detail, staring respectfully off into the middle distance and standing at attention but unable to ignore that blotch of darkness. She kept her hands folded behind her back, her feet spaced evenly apart, and her shoulders squared. When she finished, she set the black-tagged corpse scroll on the desk and stepped back with a bow.
"Well done, Himura," Rasa said, marking down a note. "You are dismissed."
Kasumi hesitated, taking a step to leave and then pausing. Rasa looked up and she jerked her gaze away from him, dropping it to the ground. "I said you are dismissed," he repeated, voice firm.
"Kazekage-sama." She cleared her throat and straightened. "Permission to speak, sir?"
He sighed and set down his pen. "Granted. Make it quick."
"May I be allowed to know who is . . . being mourned?" she asked softly. "I would like to pay my respects."
"Ah." The air abruptly became unbearably thick with his chakra. "I had forgotten that this was something I would need to speak with you about. Himura, as of now, I would suggest that you pack up and leave the premises you have been living at. Yashamaru is no longer with us and because of that, the property will soon be return to its landlord. The jinchuuriki is being moved to the Kazekage Manor. I extend the invitation for you to live at the manor, but I must warn you about the jinchuuriki's unstable situation."
"Unstable— Kazekage-sama? What happened?"
"Dismissed, Himura." He picked up his pen and returned to his papers, corpse scroll still untouched.
"But—"
"Dismissed!" The word was accompanied by a heavy flare of hot chakra. Kasumi flinched back and then bowed, muttering an apology before backing out of the room. The guards closed the door behind her and she stood in the hallway, shaking her head in an attempt to clear the angry ringing in her ears.
No, that wasn't right.
She dropped all plans of stopping by the medical wing to get her injuries checked over, turning in the opposite direction and speeding her way to the outside. She ducked through the archway, tugging aside the heavy curtain. The sun beat down on her, burning the Kazekage's words into her mind even as she ducked her head to protect against the light. There were too many people wearing black—the color of mourning, the color that meant Yashamaru was . . . gone? Kasumi steeled her nerved and activated a shunshin to avoid looking at that color too much longer. She landed in front of her home and frowned at the slightly ajar door.
Kasumi pushed the door aside and peered into the darkness inside the house, cut only by the harsh brightness falling through the doorway and illuminating the shifting sand covering the tatami mat floor. With a frown, Kasumi toed off her sandals. She unwound the walls around her chakra. She set the shoes inside the door and the sand flinched back. Then she stepped inside.
The sand writhed around her feet, curling between her toes and up her ankles. She slid the door closed behind her and then sent a gentle pulse of warm chakra to the floor. "Gaara-kun?" she called softly. At her voice, the entire floor around her shuddered.
"Go away!" a hoarse, pale voice yelled, muffled and distant.
Kasumi turned towards the voice and stepped through the darkness, reaching out. She only stopped when her knuckles bumped against something hard. "Gaara-kun," she called again.
"Go away!" Something banged against the door and the sand around her feet hissed angrily. "Leave me alone!"
Kasumi frowned and pressed her hand against the door. "Can I come in?"
"No!"
"Okay, okay." She turned and leaned against the door before sliding to the ground. "I'm going to talk and you can just listen, 'kay, kiddo?" She pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her arms across them. "My mission took me to Tsuchi no Kuni. You would like it there. There's a lot of rock there and it's gorgeous. I'd like to see what your sand could do to some of that rock. You probably could make it sand. You remember how I've talked about that theory before? I'm sure you could do it."
"Go away." This time the words were sobbed and not screamed.
"I brought back a stone for you, by the way. To add to your collection. It's pretty."
"Please," he begged.
"You're probably running out of room in that little box, huh? I should get you something new."
The door slid aside with a slam and Kasumi fell backward, hitting the floor. "Oof!" she gasped out. Then she stared up at the dark ceiling and the dancing candlelight dimly illuminating it. She curled her fingers in the sand at her sides and twisted just a bit to look behind her. "Gaara-kun?"
"Why are you here?" he rasped out. "I told you to go away."
Kasumi turned over and climbed to her feet, shaking the sand from her hair. She pouted and then pulled out her braid. "Well, lucky for you, I don't tend to take orders from five-year-olds." She began carding her fingers through her hair. The dark, unfamiliar mark on his forehead—shadily enlightened by the candles lit around the room—caught her attention and she frowned, pausing. "Baby, what happened?" she whispered.
"You hate me."
"I— Excuse me, kiddo? I definitely don't hate you." She crossed her arms. "What gave you that idea?"
He scowled deeply. "You hate me," he said again.
"That's ridiculous." She reached for him and he flinched back. Kasumi paused and then gently reached out again. This time, Gaara stood stock still but didn't pull away. She ran her hand through his hair and then dropped it down to cup his chin. "I could never, ever hate you. I don't know where you could have possibly gotten that absurd idea. I don't know what happened in the past week while I was gone, okay? But that doesn't change anything. You're the only family I've got left, baby. With Yashamaru gone, I only—"
His chakra built up angrily and screamed and his face twisted. "He hated me!" he growled, slapping her hand away. The sand around her feet grew agitated.
Kasumi let her hand drop and she blinked. "He— Sorry?"
"That's what he said! He hated me! My kaasan hated me! You hate me! That's what he told me before I killed him!"
"Before— Gaara-kun, do you wanna tell me what happened while I was gone?"
"No! You hate me! You hate me!" he shrieked, eyes widening and sand swirling up around him. A tendril lashed for her and she put up an arm to block it, not even flinching. The sand whipped against her forearm, leaving the skin red, stinging, and cracked.
Kasumi lowered her arm, studying the blood welling up. "You don't have to tell me," she whispered. "But I love you, sweetie. And fuck Yashamaru for saying that. Do you understand? Forget about him! What he said doesn't matter, okay?" She reached out again and, ignoring the way he jerked back, she pushed through his sand and grabbed his shoulders. "Look me in the eyes and tell me I'm lying."
He stared at her, eyes wide and shining. "What?" he whispered.
She smiled sadly and lifted her hand to brush her fingers against the angry scar on his forehead. "I love you, otouto. Believe me, please."
"A-aneue," he choked out amidst tears, throwing himself forward. She caught him, dropping to her knees, and he curled into her arms with a sob. "H-he hated me," he whimpered.
She cradled him to her chest and sat back. "Forget about him," she said again, carding her fingers through his hair. "You don't need to listen to shit like that, okay, sweetheart? Listen to me, okay? I love you and I'm never going to say anything like that to you. Do you believe me?"
He shivered in her arms and gasped out, "Hai."
She struggled to her feet, still holding him close, and flicked on the switch. Light spilled over the room, illuminating the sand that covered every inch of it. Kasumi set him down on the bed carefully, watching as the sand automatically cleared the way for him. She brushed his hair back from his forehead and began studying the kanji etched into his skin. "Did you do this?" she whispered.
"Yes," he whispered.
"Does it hurt?"
"Yes."
Kasumi leaned forward and kissed the scar. "Do you want to use my salve? The scar will stay, but it should help with the pain." When he nodded, she slipped a small scroll out of her kunai pouch and unrolled it. A flare of chakra released a small jar into her hands. She unscrewed the lid, exposing the blue-shining salve inside. "Your father is moving you back to the manor." She dipped her fingers into the salve and then gently smoothed it over his scar.
Gaara sniffled. "Are you . . . are you coming?"
"Of course. I wouldn't leave you." She finished rubbing the salve into his skin and then sat back with a smile.
His already pale skin washed white. "Aneue?"
Kasumi frowned. "What's wrong?"
He reached out and took the jar of salve from her with shaking hands. "I hurt you. I, I'm sorry." He dipped his fingers into the jar. "Can I help?"
She looked down at her arm. "Of course. Here. Nice and gentle." She took his hand and guided him in spreading the salve over her injury. "There you go. I know you didn't mean to do it. I'm gonna be fine. Here's the plan, okay? We'll stay here tonight and then tomorrow morning we'll pack up and move. How does that sound?"
"Fine," he mumbled.
"Good. Do you want Naoki to stay with you tonight?" She took the jar from him and stored it away before slipping the scroll back into her kunai pouch.
"Please."
She nodded and bit her thumb. "Kuchiyose no jutsu," she murmured before touching her hand down against the bed. In a puff of smoke, a black cat appeared. "Naoki-kun," Kasumi said, scratching him behind the ears. "Could you stay with Gaara-kun for me?" When her summon's tail twitched, she smiled. "I'll get you chicken."
"Deal," Naoki said. Then, purring, he stepped over to Gaara and rubbed up against his arm. "Konichiwa, kitten."
Kasumi brushed away Gaara's tears gently. "It's going to be okay, sweetheart. I'm here."
"Himura-san? You're moving here too?"
"Aw, Mari-chan, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Kasumi?" Kasumi asked, grinning and tugging on one of the girl's pigtails. When Temari wrinkled her nose and ducked away, the woman laughed. "Kankuro-kun! How are you, cutie?" Before he could escape, she swept him up in her arms and squeezed him tightly.
"K-kasumi-san!" he gasped out, struggling. "C-can't breathe!"
With a laugh, she dropped him. "Okay, okay. How's your puppetry coming?"
He wrinkled he nose, looking to the side. "Fine."
"Have you started on those plans for that puppet you wanted to build?"
"A little, but not much."
"Well, let me know if you want my help." She ruffled his hair and then glanced over her shoulder. She held out her hand. "Let's get you set up, Gaara-kun." He put his hand in hers and she smiled. "I already moved into my room, so you can take the one next to mine and—"
"Himura."
She straightened, instantly standing at attention and turning towards the voice, though she was careful not to look him in the eye. "Kazekage-sama."
"I believe I made my feelings on this subject clear when I said it would be ideal for you to choose somewhere else to live," Rasa said, staring darkly at her from behind the veil of his hat.
"Of course, Kazekage-sama. However, I chose to take you up on your kind offer to stay here. Close to Gaara-kun."
"And I emphasized how unstable the jinchuuriki is."
Gaara whined behind her and she tightened her hand around his. "Hai, Kazekage-sama. I heard."
"And?"
"And I respectfully disagree."
Rasa's familiar, harsh chakra rose to the surface again, making her suppress a shudder. "Himura," he said darkly. "A word." He turned and stepped into the house.
Kasumi swallowed thickly. She bent down. "Go find my room and stay there, okay, Gaara-kun?" she murmured. "I'll be there in a little."
"Promise?" he asked, voice small.
"I promise, baby." She kissed his forehead and then pushed him towards the door. Kasumi stood and took a deep breath to brace herself. Then she stepped in through the door and followed the feel of Rasa's hot chakra. She stopped at the door of his home office and bowed. "Kazekage-sama."
"Himura. Take a seat." Then, before she could even do so, he said, "I ordered Yashamaru to eliminate the jinchuuriki."
Kasumi practically fell the rest of the way into her chair at his words. "You— I'm sorry, sir?"
"The jinchuuriki is wasted and not able to be used. So I ordered his elimination. When that failed, he killed Yashamaru. He is a liability, but unfortunately one that I have been unable to remove. Further useless coddling is not encouraged."
"Coddling, sir? He's a child!"
"Silence!" The loud word was accompanied by the rustle of gold dust along the floor behind him. Kasumi stiffened and dropped her gaze. Rasa took a deep breath. "You are first and foremost a shinobi of Sunagakure. I will not accept such disrespect. If you choose to remain at the manor, then so be it. But understand that I cannot tolerate you spoiling the jinchuuriki in the way you have. In order for you to remain at the manor, I will be forced to take initiative to do what I can to keep you from him."
She licked her cracked lips. "Can I ask how you . . . intend to do that, Kazekage-sama?"
"From this day forward, you will receive a higher number of missions. I will do my best to keep you out of the village, because your indulgence is clouding the jinchuuriki's true purpose. This is my condition for you to remain here. Is that understood?"
She took a deep breath. "Understood, Kazekage-sama."
"Good. I want you to report in to me in an half hour for a mission." He got to his feet and Kasumi shot up as well, bowing deeply in respect. She didn't move, still bowing as he left. Kasumi stayed still until his chakra left the building, then she released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Shoulders slumping, Kasumi turned and left the room. A smile pulled at her face when she saw the tendrils of sand that were rustling in the doorway of her room, playing about the half-open door. She pushed her way inside and stooped down to trace her fingers across some of the sand. "Gaara-kun—"
"My dad hates you, doesn't he?" he asked, sitting on her bed and turning over the smooth stone in his hands—the one she'd brought back for him the day before.
Kasumi chuckled weakly. "A little, I think," she admitted."I need to get ready to go, okay? Kazekage-sama has another mission for me today."
He looked up with wide eyes. "You're leaving? Again? But you just got back!"
"I know, I'm sorry. I'll bring you back a souvenir, okay?" She began going through her things and storing together her supplies for a mission, some in her kunai pouches and plenty of other supplies in her scrolls. "Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?"
"I guess."
She heaved a sigh. "Alright. I've got a half hour before I need to head out, so why don't we get you all set up?"
Two years later:
"Aneue, are you sure you should be leaving?"
"Aw, Otouto, are you worried about me?" Kasumi asked, grinning and ruffling his hair. "It's just a quick little mission to Nendo no Kuni. Kazekage-sama says that it should take just a week. Any idea what you want me to bring back?"
"Yourself," he mumbled, hunching his shoulders and leaning into her touch. "Temari said that you're going to kill yourself doing this."
"Don't think so lowly of me, sweetheart." She ducked down and swept his hair from his forehead before placing a kiss. "I can take care of myself." But despite her words, she could feel the exhaustion pulling down on her. "And what about you? You're gonna be okay while I'm gone, baby?" Kasumi dragged him into a hug.
"I'll be fine. Will you be?"
"Such a worry-wart." She sighed and straightened, adjusting the tanto strapped to her back. "I'll just be a week. Seven days." She gestured towards the passage out of the Village. "You gonna be here for me when I get back?"
"Hai."
"That's my boy." She pecked another kiss against his cheek and then turned. "Sayonara, Gaara-kun." Kasumi nodded to the guard and started down the passage. Once she was beyond the walls and out into sand, she finally let her shoulders slump and she heaved a groan of exhaustion. "Kazekage-sama's trying to fucking kill me," she mumbled. It was only made worse by the fact that she knew that was true. With a groan, she sped up and pushed chakra to her legs, hoping to get a good distance before the forecasted sandstorm hit.
She wasn't that lucky.
Kasumi gasped awake, each breath burning her throat and skin alike. She dug her way to her feet and every single movement ached down to her bones. Sand crusted itself over her angry red skin and her lips stuck together. When she stretched her jaw, her lips tore and iron painted her tongue. Kasumi gagged, spitting and fumbling for a scroll. She unsealed a water bottle and gulped at the water desperately. It cooled against her hot throat.
The entire world swam in front of her and she tumbled to the side, stomach heaving. Kasumi fell to her knees, hot air rasping in between her ribs. "Fuck," she mumbled. "Fuck, fuck, fuck." Her left arm screamed angrily as she moved it and she snatched it close to her chest. She stretched out her right arm and concentrated. Green light flickered between her fingers and she turned her hand to her broken arm, healing it and stitching it back together. After her arm was healed, she pressed her hand to her head and tried to take care of the pounding drums there.
"A week," she muttered. "A week for an assassination." The way her body throbbed told her that wouldn't work. "Fuck that."
Her voice broke with exhaustion as she spoke, stumbling up to the guard that tensed at her approach. "Himura Kasumi," she rasped out. "Returning." She made to move past him, aching for a shower and a bed.
The guard put a hand out to stop her. "Himura-san, you're not allowed to go any farther."
Kasumi jerked her head up and narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"
"Hokage-sama has given me orders not to let you back in the Village until the week allotted for your mission is up. You have three days remaining."
"What? That can't be right. Surely there's a mis—" Hot, heavy chakra slammed into her senses and choked the next word until it died inside her. Kasumi's eyes widened. "Gaara," she breathed.
"My orders are to—"
"Let me in!"
"Hokage-sama commanded me to—"
"Let me in!" She punctuated her last word with a chakra-infused hit to his chest, sending him flying backwards and gasping brokenly for air. Kasumi wasted no time in running through the corridor to the Village. She took to the roofs, rushing towards the source of Gaara's chakra. It wasn't an angry energy. No.
It was scared.
She stumbled several times in her journey, heart pounding as she scrambled to save herself from falling, before she finally slid to a rough stop on a business's roof. Horror chilled itself in her chest when she saw the sand swirling around, protecting a sobbing Gaara from kunai and jutsu. Then that horror turned to fury.
No one hurt Gaara on her watch.
No one.
"Himura Kasumi, you have been found guilty of killing two of your fellow shinobi," Rasa boomed, standing with his hands folded behind his back. He cast his gaze across the Elders in the room and nodded. "We have come to an agreement. The punishment for your crime if clear. As the Yondaime Kazekage of Sunagakure no Sato, Sabaku no Rasa, I hereby sentence you to—"
The stone door flew open with a crash, banging into the wall, and sand spilled into the room. "No!" The redhead stood silhouetted in the doorway with dark chakra surrounding him. "Don't hurt her!"
"Gaara!" Rasa snapped out. "You are not allowed in here! This is a decision left up to the Sunagakure Council! You are to leave at—"
"Don't hurt her!" Gaara screamed, face twisting and eyes darkening. "If you hurt her, I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!"
"Gaara," Kasumi whispered, heart pounding. This wasn't good. "Please, Gaara-kun, don't—"
"I'll kill you all!"
That wasn't just Gaara's voice anymore. Kasumi stumbled up from her knees. "Sweetie, please, don't let him do this to you! Don't—"
"Silence!" The Kazekage boomed out. "Stand down, Gaara! I have reached my decision." He turned his gaze to address the Elders. "In light of this, I understand the chaos that would be laid upon our Village at Himura's death. Therefore, my mind is made."
He stepped forward and, shaking, Kasumi dropped to her knees again and bowed. A hand toughed against the back of her head and something tugged on her hitai-ate until it gave way. Rasa took a step back, the headband in his hand.
"I, the Yondaime Kazekage of Sunagakure no Sato, Sabaku no Rasa, hereby strip you of your standing as a shinobi of this Village. You have until the setting of the sun tonight to gather your things and leave the Village."
Kasumi jerked her head up. "K-kazekage-sama?"
"Leave the Village," he repeated, meeting her stare for the first time with a look of absolute finality. "And never return."
"And don't forget to always be careful when building up your poison immunities. It's a dangerous practice. Did I tell you about my mistake the first time I tried to build up an immunity? I—"
"Ended up in the hospital for two weeks. I know, I know, Kasumi," Kankuro mumbled. "You've told that one a thousand times." He rubbed his eyes with the back of his wrist. When he looked up at her, his tear-soaked face paint was smudged. "Are you gonna be okay?"
Kasumi pushed back the no that was rising up in her chest and smiled instead. "Of course I'm gonna be okay." She knocked off his cap and ruffled his hair. "Now, listen, just like I told Temari. Gaara is your brother and you—"
"Need to remember that. I know. You tell us all the time." He shoved his hands in his pockets and kicked the sand at his feet. "You repeat yourself a lot."
She sighed heavily. "I know I do," she murmured.
"Aneue."
She turned and softened her smile for the small boy that was standing there, head bowed. "Otouto," she murmured. Kasumi held out her arms. "C'mere."
He practically fell into her arms and she lowered herself to her knees. Gaara rested his head on her shoulder and let out a quiet whine. "Please don't leave me," he begged. "Please."
"I have to, baby. I'm sorry. I'll see you again someday. I promise."
"But I don't want you to leave now."
"I know, I know." She gripped his shoulders and pushed him out as arm's length. "I have something for you." Her hands went to her necklace and Gaara's eyes widened. "I got this during a trip to Nami no Kuni and it's very special to me because it's from the sea." She lifted it over her head. "And you know how much I love the sea. I was hoping to take you to see it someday." Kasumi slipped the necklace over his head and smiled as the blue pendant settled against his collarbone.
"Aneue," he breathed.
"Do you know why I love sea glass so much, Gaara-kun?" she asked, taking his hands in hers.
He shook his head, staring up at her.
"I love it because it started out rough and sharp and it would have cut anyone that tried to pick it up. But with time," —she folded his hands over the sea glass— "the water smoothed over those rough edges so we could see how beautiful it really is." She smiled sadly and brought her hand up to cup his chin. "Never forget that, okay?"
"O-okay," he rasped out.
"That's my boy," she whispered. Kasumi leaned forward and kissed the kanji on his forehead.
"Himura-san. It's time."
She looked up at the shinobi that had been sent to ensure her departure and smiled. "Himura-san? Are we really back to such formal terms, Baki-kun?"
His jaw tightened. "It's time."
Kasumi sighed and got to her feet. "Alright." She turned to the passage. "This is it, then?"
"This is it," Baki said. He gestured her ahead of him and, once she'd started walking, he followed after her. She watched her shadow lengthen ahead of her as she got farther and farther from the heart of the Village that had once been her home, and as the sun sank closer and closer to the horizon. When they reached the end of the passage, she took a shaky breath.
Baki stepped up next to her and bowed his head. "It's been an honor serving with you, Kasumi. I am sorry that things had to end this way."
"I'm sorry too," she whispered.
"Despite all this . . . I do think your brother would be proud of you."
She managed a teary smile. "That means a lot." She held out her hand.
Baki took her hand firmly and gave it a shake. "Good luck."
"Thank you."
"I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do this."
The walls were so intimidating—worn and cold brick and nothing like the warm sandstone surround Suna. Kasumi took in a shaky breath and couldn't help but shudder at the unfamiliar air—wet dirt and leaves instead of sun-warmed sand.
But she had to do this. There was nowhere else she could even fathom going. With that in mind, she stepped towards the gates. The guards looked up as she approached and one rose to his feet, taking in her clear shinobi attire and lack of hitai-ate. "State your name and business," he ordered.
"My name is Himura Kasumi. And I'd like to speak with the Hokage."
