"Yashamaru-ojiisama," she tugged on the hem of her uncle's clothing for the nth time, looking up at him with turquoise eyes not unlike those of her mother's. "When will Okaa-sama be back?"
There she goes again… The blonde, young man looked down at his eldest niece, smiling grimly, and picked her up, sitting her on his lap. "Your mother would be back soon, Temari-hime," he replied gently, masking his sudden sadness with a smile. "Just you wait."
"But, Yashamaru-ojiisama," she said, frowning. "It's been…" How was it called again? She had forgotten, so instead she spread out her fingers, and held up three of them. "Otou-sama and Okaa-sama had been gone for this many days…"
He patted her short, straw-colored hair. "Don't worry, Temari-hime," he said, still in that gentle tone. "She'll be back. I promise." The girl hugged him, and jumped off his lap. He watched her as she approached her little brother, Kankuro, who was sleeping snugly in his crib. She murmured something, but it was too quiet to understand. Temari, a young girl of three, then bowed at him and went, quickly yet silently, out of the room. Yashamaru sighed.
What would she do if she found out what happened to her mother? He brought his trembling hands together. Temari… she was young, a cheerful spirit that lit up the Fourth Kazekage's household. Most of all, the girl resembled her mother, Karura, the best.
The wind blew fiercely outside. A sandstorm was coming. A tired sigh escaped his lips. Karura-neesama… forgive me. At that moment, the front door creaked open, and closed just as quietly. Everything became eerily silent, save for the wind howling outside. His whole body trembled slightly, as a familiar voice called out his name, and the sobs of a baby were heard.
"Yashamaru?" It was the Fourth Kazekage's voice. That was it, then. Karura was dead by now. "Yashamaru!" The Kazekage called out again. Hastily wiping away the tears that threatened to form in his eyes, he went to greet the Hidden Village of Sand's leader. He bowed deeply before the red-haired man in blue Kage robes, followed by two Sand nins. ANBUs, by the looks of them.
"Kazekage-sama," he said, and straightened up. "How did… things… go?"
The Kazekage gave a cruelly triumphant smile, as a hand gestured over to a bundle carried by one of the nins. The bundle gave a sob. His sister's third child, and second son. "He shall be called… Gaara, as your sister had wanted." He swept past Yashamaru, and the ANBU handed over the bundle to him. "He will be your charge, Yashamaru. Take good care of him."
Yashamaru looked at the boy. His eyes were like his mother's, yet, strangely, without pupils. His sister was gone forever. He knew it, even if Kazekage-sama didn't tell him directly. Because of this child, this Gaara…
The boy cried, and the sand around him reacted. It was a sudden movement, but Yashamaru didn't miss it. He was, too, one of the Sand's ninjas. This boy was no ordinary child. He was the host of Shukaku. Already, he could hear hurried footsteps approaching him…
Temari… Kankuro… forgive me…