Just a short, sweet little birthday story for Gaara. May he always be loved.
Kiba: No comment...
Shikamaru: He's kinda evil, isn't he?
Kiba: Shh!
Three of a Kind
A light breeze swept across the cooling, dark sand, catching loose grains and sweeping them along, before they came to rest in a new place, only to be swept up again, moving, never resting. Midst the gentle wind, a certain red headed Kazekage looked out over the wide expanse of sea. He wondered what was just beyond this never-ending dark expanse. But these were wonderings he wouldn't share with anyone.
Gaara turned his attention to the little dust-devils flitting about in the dark, never getting bigger than a human might. Behind him, the sleepy village of Suna was winking out its lights, the guards barely noticeable in the dark. No one seemed to notice the dark and lonely figure on the hill. Even when a guard passed right by the steep hill, Gaara went on unnoticed.
Despite this though, Gaara still felt strange. Even before, at least people had noticed him, even though they had been unkind in their administrations to him. Painful memories flitted through Gaara's mind, making him wonder if life was truly worth it.
He didn't notice as two shapes detached themselves from the shadows of a building, approaching him slowly, silently. Gaara didn't realize his stalkers till they were standing next to him.
"What'cha doing, bro?" The familiar deep voice of his brother, Kankurou, blew away the thoughts of assassins. Gaara didn't looked to Kankurou, or his sister, Temari.
Temari sat down by him. "Hey Gaara, why are you out here all by yourself?" She smiled at him as he turned his head. He didn't reply.
Kankurou sat on his other side. "Wow, nice view of the ocean up here." He commented. "You come here often, Gaara?"
"Yeah." Gaara replied, looking at the ocean again.
"I wonder what's out there. Beyond the limit of the fishing boats. I wonder if there's more ninja countries." Temari pondered aloud. Gaara looked to her, his face carefully blank.
"That would be interesting." Kankurou commented. "What if there isn't? Maybe like… some totally foreign new thing. Maybe a world that doesn't depend on ninjas."
"Maybe…" Gaara spoke suddenly, causing the two to look at their brother. Temari smiled.
"Come on Gaara, its your birthday. Let's go celebrate. We'll leave this pondering for another night.
Kankurou stood. "I think I'll have to come here more often. Just the sight itself is calming." He offered his hands to his sister and brother. Both took his hands, and he pulled them up, grinning at them like a little kid who had just discovered a secret stash of candy.
Temari dusted the sand off her skirt, and looked to the sky. "Hey, look!" She pointed.
Gaara and Kankurou also craned their necks skyward, and the three enjoyed a group of stars shooting across the sky, silently, yet magnificently. Gaara grinned, and began down the hill.
"Race you." He called back. "But don't go easy just because its my birthday."
Kankurou and Temari turned with cries of mock anger, and the three raced home. They were truely three of a kind.
Ah, how siblings are so loving to one another!
Shikamaru: Sometimes, anyways.
Kiba: Read and review!