(A/N) The first chapter of my new Naruto fic! *dances* This actually started out as a one-shot about how unappreciated Kankuro was… It all started when I saw that he landed 30th in the popularity pole… Kankuro does need more love, don't you agree?
Takes place early time-skip.
Major ShikaTema later, so beware if you don't like. :D No other pairings.
I do not own any of the characters or Naruto.
I fingered the sand shinobi headband on my forehead absently as I watched Temari spar in the rink and Gaara watch coldly from beside me. My eyes flicked between them and I adjusted the ears atop my head.
"Kankuro!" Baki snapped. "Stop fidgeting!"
I lowered my head. "Sorry, Baki-sensei," I grumbled.
Baki turned away, not paying me another moment. In the clearing, Temari had just dispatched her opponent. She stood over the elder shinobi looking smug, as always.
"Who next?" she asked with a smirk.
Baki shook his head. "Very good, Temari. Step down, now, I want Gaara to take a turn."
Temari rolled her eyes. "Really? We all know what he can do."
"Everyone knows what he can do," I agreed. "Can I train a little?"
But Baki seemed not to hear me. "Alright, alright, fine Temari. You can have one more round. Then we need to move on."
"But-"
"Kankuro!" Baki snapped, cutting me off. "Stop your mumbling and watch your sister! You may learn a few things!"
"You could stand to be quiet once in a while," Gaara hissed beside me. "Your drivel is giving me a headache."
I almost screamed. "But I wanna fight, too!"
"Why waste the time?" Baki asked. "You should learn. Watch your siblings and practice in private, as opposed to in public where you can embarrass yourself and your mentor, me."
I fumed for a moment, hardly able to contain myself. Karasu twitched on my back, responding to the surge of my fury. "I'm every bit as capable a fighter as Temari," I sniffed, leaving Gaara out of the equation.
Baki narrowed his eyes. His next words startled me. "Even if you are, no one cares."
I stiffened. "Plenty of people care about me…!"
Baki tossed his head. "Like who? Your puppets are your only friends, and you know it."
"It's true," Gaara murmured. "I'd just as soon kill you as put up with your pointless existence."
Temari glanced over from her bout. "Hehe, is little Kanky getting bullied?" she asked in an older-sisterly way. "I'm sure he deserves it."
"Your sister is a protégé," Baki continued. "Your brother is the host of Shukaku. But you? Who are you again?" He snorted derisively. "You're their brother. That's all you are. So just watch and appreciate the show."
Gaara huffed. "He shouldn't even be allowed to do that." The young sand shinobi made a shooing motion. "Go home, Kankuro. Fix up some diner."
My jaw dropped. "Temari's the girl! Why doesn't she cook?"
"Temari will be here training late," Baki said. "I think that's a splendid idea. Make yourself useful and do some of the housework while you're at it; last time I was over at your house, the place stank."
I fumed silently, glancing from Gaara to Baki and back. Neither of them bothered to even glare back, simply turning back to Temari's match. Furious, I turned on my heal and stalked away.
Arriving back at our shared house, I opened the door with a loud bang. Slinging Karasu down next to the door and stomping my feet as I went inside, I ripped open the cabinet and pulled out some rice and dried meat. Yanking out a large metal pot, I let the rest of the pots and pans crash out, bouncing over the hard stone floor. Filling the pot with water, I slammed it down on the stove and cranked up the heat.
"A protégé…" I grumbled angrily, stirring the water so fast that it sloshed out and spilt onto the stove, sizzling on the hot metal. "Host of Shukaku…" I threw the rice into the pot, watching as it bounced out and skittered across the stove and floor. "And who the hell am I? Compared to that, nothing!"
Scowling, I turned away and ripped the mop out of the broom closet, letting the broom and other tools tumble out and land on the floor. "Clean the house… a woman's chores…!" I dunked the mop into the sink and slapped it onto the floor again. Whipping it this way and that, I spread the soapy water around. "I wonder if they would even notice if I…" An idea dawned in my mind. "… left…"
…if I left…
That was it.
Tossing the mop onto the ground, I walked quickly to my room, picking up Karasu again. I pulled the puppet onto my back and then knelt to reach under my bed. I pulled out my black backpack and Kuroari out from under it, and then hurried to my bathroom. Stuffing my purple face paint into the backpack, I went back to the kitchen. Baki had always lectured that water was the most important thing in the desert… but I did the exact opposite. I packed only a few bottles of water, but as many packets of dry rations and ramen as I could. With a quick nod, I went out to the shed to retrieve Sanshouuo. If I was going to make a clean break, I couldn't afford to keep the puppets here and only summon them when I needed them.
Slinging the backpack over Sanshouuo's back, I went back into the house momentarily. I scribbled a couple a quick words on a sheet of paper and left it on my nightstand.
"See ya, Temari," I murmured. "Later, Gaara. I'd say I'll miss you… but that would be a lie."
Without another thought, I stole into the desert.
… … …
"Gosh, it's too hot to leave the door open," Temari exclaimed when she and Gaara arrived back at the house.
"Kankuro's an idiot," the younger of the two murmured. "What else do you expect?"
Temari sniffed the air. "Aw crap… something's burning." She slid inside and closed the door behind her. "Kankuro!" she called, then said softer to Gaara, "He never was much of a cook."
When she came around the corner, she found the unattended pot overflowing with burnt rice. Letting out a little shriek of alarm, she moved quickly to the stove and yanked it off of the stove. In her haste she forgot hot pads; burning her hands, she let out a yelp of pain. "Ouch ow! Ow, ow, ow!" She dropped the pan with a tremendous clatter, and only Gaara's sand kept the scalding hot water and overcooked rice from burning both their feet.
Gaara scowled darkly. "Just like Kankuro," he growled.
Temari blinked. "Oh no… he must be mad at us." Shaking her head slowly, she called out. "Kankuro!"
"Look at this mess," Gaara grumbled, poking the mop with his foot.
"Oh, Kankuro! Where are you?" Temari made her way deeper into the house. "Kankuro, are you mad? If this is about what Baki and I were saying earlier… you're my little brother! What else am I supposed to do? Don't be angry, Kanky…"
Knocking on her younger brother's door, Temari felt her heart drop with unexplained dread. The door swung open, revealing an empty room. Glancing around, she entered cautiously.
"Kankuro… I'm sorry, okay…?"
Gaara entered behind her, looking around. "His room is messier then mine."
Temari glared at her young brother. "He's probably hiding." Then she called out again. "Kankuro! I'm sorry for what I said!" Shooting a glare at Gaara, she elbowed him in the side.
"Uh… oh… yeah," he grunted. "I'm sorry too."
When no Kankuro appeared, the pair exchanged a curious glance. Temari's eyes suddenly landed on the piece of paper resting on his nightstand.
"Oh no…" she breathed.
"What?" Gaara asked testily.
Temari picked up the note and examined it, the color draining from her face. "Oh, Kazekage-sama…" she whispered. "Gaara! Listen to this!" She proceeded to read aloud from the note. "'Dear Temari and Gaara, I feel that I've outstayed my welcome. You two should be free to pursue your ninja paths without my hindering you. I'm sorry I can't tell you this face to face, but I'm kind of scared of Gaara… no offence, Gaara. Anyway, I'm going somewhere where no one will find me, but please don't look. I'm sure you won't, because you'll be glad that I'm finally gone. I'll come back one day when I'm a ninja that I can be proud of… that you can be proud of… a ninja that doesn't have to hide in his siblings' shadows. Your brother, Kankuro.' Oh Gaara, this is terrible!"
Gaara sat down with a thunk. "This is my fault," he murmured. "This is all my fault."
Temari knelt down beside him, placing one hand awkwardly on his shoulder. "No, it's all our faults. But we'll find him, I promise."
Gaara glanced up at her. "I'm not the nicest person," he said bluntly, avoiding Temari's eyes. "I'm not a good sibling. Not a good brother." He sighed heavily. "Temari… I really do value you and Kankuro."
Temari chuckled despite the situation and ruffled her younger brother's hair. "It's nice to hear that at least once in my life." She stood, and Gaara mimicked the motion.
"Come on," the younger murmured. "If Kankuro has fled into the desert, the sand will betray him. We'll find him in no time at all."
Temari felt an uneasy clenching in the pit of her stomach. But Kankuro knows about Gaara's control of sand…
She didn't know just how far in advance Kankuro had prepared. She didn't know how impossible a mission the two remaining sand sibs had on their hands. She couldn't know.
(A/N) I hope everybody liked the first chapter! Reviewers are loved and get cookies, as well a hint for the next chapter!
Will Temari and Gaara find their runaway brother? Where is Kankuro planning to hide from Gaara's all-seeing power? And what will happen when disaster strikes Suna?
I have a special treat for the readers of this fic! Since it's already almost completely written (and typed) I'll be updating it once every three days! So please stay tuned!
For the record, Kankuro's always the Sand Sib's cook in my fics. x3
