Of Leaf and Sand
Not your usual high school AU fic
Ch. 1: Bloodshed
Gaara glanced up at the halogens lighting the hallway, and listened for the target's movement. Beside him Kankuro and Temari were busy checking over their guns, making sure they were fully loaded and unlikely to jam in the middle of the firefight that was soon to happen. He tilted his head away from the hallway and one green eye lazily met those of his elder brother.
Kankuro winced, ducking down further as if to escape Gaara's gaze.
Dammit- looks like his bloodlust is beginning to take over. Hope he doesn't totally lose it this time, he thought sourly. Beside him Temari twitched in acknowledgement of Gaara's impending lapse of sanity. They sighed in unison.
Further down the unimpressive office hallway footsteps could be heard. Foolishly, they were running toward them. Kankuro didn't have much sympathy for the idiots.
Gaara smiled at the sound and stood, smoothly drawing his guns level with his shoulders and faced the echo of running feet. The rush was always the best part- heart pumping, adrenaline rushing through his system, the single-minded focus that he could rarely reach otherwise- it never failed to make Gaara feel alive. He knew his siblings hated it when he got like this, but he couldn't help it- there was just something about the blood. He licked his lips and waited.
&&&&&&&&&&&&
A nerve-wracking firefight later they ran out of the front of the office building to the long sleek limo that was waiting for them. As it pulled away from the scene the siblings roughly yanked off their head coverings. Predictably Gaara's was covered in blood.
Kankuro's nose wrinkled at the sickly sweet smell. Almost makes it pointless to have the front of these things covered with Kabuki designs he thought grumpily. Turning to the other occupant of the vehicle he received a smirk from the lanky man in the Armani suit.
He snorted in reply, passing his weapon to Temari when she tapped his knee impatiently. Leaning back he grabbed his now squashed pack of smokes and lit one, breathing in deep. He could feel his little brother's eyes on him in a silent demand.
"Ok Shukaku, target has been nullified and the files will be handed over when we see the shipment. As per our usual agreement." He couldn't help smiling darkly at Shukaku's greedy look. His manicured fingers twitched. Oh, he wants this information baaaad. Almost makes it worth the frustration.
Ten minutes later the limousine pulled up to the prearranged drop-off point at the city's industrial district. The smell of gasoline, random chemicals, smoke and grease filled the air and as they left the comfortable limo Kankuro and Temari took in a grateful breath. Gaara simply twitched, still semi-lost to his bloodlust. Temari gently took him by the shoulders and led him over to the non-descript silver SUV that was waiting for them.
Kankuro turned and gave a mock bow in Shukaku's direction, motioning him to lead.
As the bay doors of the concrete building opened Kankuro wondered to himself, not for the first time, why they kept doing this. They didn't have to- and Shukaku could easily get others to do his dirty work for him with how well he paid. He supposed it had to be habit, and the all-encompassing feeling that he couldn't live a normal life. Him or his siblings.
He glowered at himself and shoved the thought to the back of his mind instead concentrating on the task at hand.
Which just happened to be several kilos of cocaine and weed, not to mention the briefcase full of unmarked bills to the tune of $50,000. That part was just a bonus- Shukaku's way of saying: "Nice job! I love your work!" and a heavy handed "Thank you." Smiling, he reached into his jacket, pulled out the deceptively small flash drive and tossed it to the practically drooling man.
Shukaku smiled and Kankuro was eerily reminded of his brother in thrall to blood-lust.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Shukaku," he said, reaching over and testing the merchandise out of formality. He knew it was good, it always was. As underlings of the Sand gang began moving the drugs to be transported he simply stood by and watched as the limo drove away and back to the city proper, Shukaku leaving without preamble.
How long can we keep doing this?
His cigarette had no answer, not that he expected it to. Walking over to the SUV he swung open the front seat and hopped in. Baki, the man who usually took care of the drug part of their "enterprise" fixed him with a look. It was his "your brother has gotten blood all over my upholstery again dammit!" patented expression. Kankuro weakly grinned and shrugged in response.
Baki sighed in frustration and started the car, driving them home.
&&&&&&&&&&&&
Inching their way to the apartment they called home Kankuro winced with every step he took. Damn my feet fuckin' hurt he groused. He supposed it was due to the long-ass run they'd had to do to avoid making any recognizable tire tracks near the target. Still, it sucked. He knew Temari and Gaara had gotten hit too, and he finally brought down his emotional shields that had been damming up his concern. The rush of combined fury and worry took him by surprise. He scowled.
"That is the last time we're doing that."
Temari snickered. "You always say that after a job, 'Kuro." Hefting Gaara's arm more securely over her shoulder she shot Kankuro an apologetic look. "We'll talk about it later. Promise."
"I'm keeping you to that," he snarled, not pacified in the least. Between them Gaara groaned, fists clenching weakly at their shoulders. Kankuro and Temari clutched his arms back, reassuring voicelessly their presence to him.
He's gonna have some fucked-up nightmares tonight. Dammit. We should stop this shit if only for his sake. Worry curled up in his stomach, making him nauseous. He always worried that some day, Gaara wouldn't come back to them. It had almost happened once, and Kankuro had no desire to ever have it happen again.
Reaching the slightly battered apartment door Temari shifted Gaara over to him, fished in her pocket for the keys and opened it. Taking Gaara's full weight Kankuro walked him unsteadily over to the couch as their sister turned off the alarm system. Sinking down into the cushioning Kankuro began a full body check of his little brother, looking for his injuries. When his questing fingers found nothing he blinked in surprise. He looked at his sister, confused.
"Didn't he get hit? I thought I saw him get shot earlier."
Temari shook her now unbound blond locks. "He did, but it was just a graze. I think it was his lower left side."
He nodded in thanks, then began the less-than-pleasant process of peeling Gaara's long leather jacket away from him.
"Fucking stupid leather piece of shit! I fucking hate his coat! I swear one of these days I'm just going to burn it."
His sister's laughter wasn't helping. "We both know he'd just go out and get another one."
"It would still make me feel better," he sulked, finally tearing the blood-soaked leather away from his brother's too pale skin.
Temari reached out and took the grisly garment away from him, placing it in a plastic bag for clean-up later. Or disposal, the way her brother was going on about it.
Kankuro looked at her, eyes appraising. "Fess up, sis- where did you get shot? Because I know you did- I'm the one in charge of emergency clean-up remember?"
She sighed, clearly remembering him following the two of them with the ammonia solution and his unhappy glare boring holes in the back of her neck during the job.
"Same side, bullet went straight through. It's just a deep flesh wound, nothing serious." Although it hurts like a bitch she amended in her head.
Kankuro glared and motioned her over to sit beside Gaara on his right. He took out the disinfectant and she winced, but bared her midriff anyway.
As he began working on her wound she focused on Gaara, who seemed to be coming out of his blood-induced haze. His right hand reached out, searching for hers and she grasped it warmly in her own.
"Hey little brother," she spoke quietly, running her thumb in circles on his hand. He blinked, rolling his head over to face her. Damn his eyes are still dilated, not good. She gave him a wan smile.
"Hey. We're home?" His raspy voice sounded confused.
"Yeah," Kankuro answered. "You hungry?"
A frown, then a shake of the head in the negative. His color was starting to come back and he took a deep breath, eyes closing and head resting against the couch.
"The payment go through ok?"
"Yes." Temari answered this time.
Gaara nodded, then made an anxious face.
Both siblings stiffened, worried.
Gaara groaned and fit his left hand over his forehead, oblivious to his siblings frantic expressions.
"I got blood on Baki's SUV didn't I? Dammit, I told him I wouldn't do that again!"
His siblings blinked at him. Temari burst out laughing first, and Kankuro's chuckles filled the room soon after.
Gaara glared at them, lips pursed in irritation.
"It's not that funny," he huffed.
Temari just leaned her head on his shoulder, still giggling. She kissed him on the cheek, squeezing his hand.
"Glad you're back."
He gave her a small smile in return, wincing as he felt his side. "Ow."
His brother snickered evilly. "Hurts doesn't it?"
Temari glared at him and mimed a punch to his skull.
It was good to be home.