Gaara was tired. Physically, mentally, he was tired. Not that he wasn't used to it. But this last mission had worn him out. He didn't normally sleep, but during this mission, they hadn't even had a chance to rest and relax. They were always on the move, for two whole weeks. And due to some clever planning on the enemy's part, they had had to use all of their mental capacity just to succeed. Staying alive wasn't the problem- but this enemy had been tricky, and managed to escape them a few times before they were finally able to trap and kill him.
Gaara knew he wouldn't be able to lie down alone tonight. He abandoned all pretense of even going into his own room, instead going to Temari's door. Normally he would wait a few hours, until Kankurou was asleep, but tonight he needed the company, and the relaxing presence of his older sister and lover. Opening her door silently, he stepped into the room and froze.
The sight that greeted his eyes stopped him dead in his tracks. Kankurou, on top of Temari, kissing her passionately… it was too much. Shukaku had already been battling for control against Gaara's weakened state, but this… Was Kankurou like their father now, taking away those Gaara had come to trust and love? It had taken years for him to feel any emotion at all for his sister, and now that he had come to love her, truly love her…
The rage consumed the boy's body, and his sand began to swirl around the room. It covered every inch of Kankurou except his face… he wanted to be able to see the pain and blood erupting from his brother's features. His hand began to close, and Kankurou screamed. Popping sounds signaled the breakage of his legs and arms. Closing his hand just a little bit more, Gaara smiled, and Kankurou screamed anew. But then… a tug on his leg, and Gaara looked down.
"Gaara, please… please don't do this." Temari lie there, arms wrapped around Gaara's thigh and knee, begging him, pleading with him to stop. The tears began to flow down her cheeks as she begged one brother for another's life. "Don't you see? It can be all three of us now… you can have both of us for companionship…"
Amazingly, his sister's tears allowed Gaara to regain control of himself. The sand fell away from Kankurou, leaving him broken and bleeding on the ground. The bloodlust subsided, and Gaara fell to his knees by his sister. He held her as she cried out her guilt, her shame at cheating on one brother for another.
"Gaara… please forgive me…" she sobbed into his shoulder. "I love you, Gaara…"
Gaara's words caught in his throat. He nodded silently, fighting back tears of pain and relief. Finally, he let go of Temari and walked over to Kankurou.
"Kankurou… why?" he asked his eldest sibling.
"Because I love her too…" blood poured from Kankurou's mouth as he talked. A rib must have punctured a lung. He would need help, and soon.
"Temari, I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere," Gaara commanded. He knew he'd be obeyed. He returned five minutes later with two men and a stretcher. They took Kankurou to the hospital, and let everyone believe that his wounds were a result of their mission. But everyone would forever wonder why this particular mission had improved their teamwork so drastically…