Unexpected
By Childhood Aspirations
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, as will be proven once you read this. Still, a girl can dream, can't she?
There were a few things in life that he thought he'd never experience. It wasn't because he was pessimistic or angst-ridden. He just knew they would never happen, and hey, he was okay with that. After all, not everyone can reach for the impossible, right?
Needless to say, hearing Gaara apologize was certainly on that list of impossibilities.
"Temari…Kankuro… I'm sorry…" the diminutive redhead whispered, head slumped forward wearily on his chest. The two older siblings both started, exchanging incredulous glances. Kankuro was fairly sure that Temari had never expected what just happened to happen either, judging from the wideness of her blue eyes. The blonde didn't seem to inclined to make any sort of response, so occupied was she with keeping her mouth from falling open.
"Uh… No problem," Kankuro said uncomfortably; what was he supposed to say? Nothing like this had ever occurred before. At least Gaara didn't seem to care if Kankuro's reply sounded unnatural. The younger boy remained silent, allowing himself to be carried over treetops.
Kankuro glanced down at the last son of the Kazekage surreptitiously as they traveled through the woods. Gaara's black-lined eyes were closed, deep set in his pale face; if it had been anyone else, one could have assumed he was sleeping.
But Gaara never slept.
…Or, if and when he did, bad things happened.
Bad things, like sand demons exploding out of gourds, growing bigger than mountains, and stampeding over forests. Those kinds of bad things.
Even with that grim reality in mind, Kankuro couldn't help noticing how young the redhead appeared, now that he wasn't in the midst of a murderous rampage. Gaara almost looked his age, the twelve years that he really wasn't.
Children who are shunned by their community, treated like monsters, and betrayed by their only family tend to grow up rather fast. Sometimes they bypassed childhood altogether.
Of course, then there's Naruto Uzumaki, but we find that he's an exception to almost every rule in existence; therefore, he doesn't count.
Kankuro shifted Gaara's arm slightly, drawing the younger boy closer to him. Feeling that small, thin body next to him aroused another feeling of shock.
On that list of things that would never happen, right next to Gaara apologizing (about anything, or for any reason), was the impossibility of normal, brotherly feelings developing between them. Kankuro had never been under any illusions about this one either. After all, Gaara wasn't exactly what you'd call a normal brother. And it's kind of hard to be related to someone who could simultaneously disembowel and bury you at any given moment.
But…
The young puppet master glanced over at his sister and saw that she felt it too; it was evident in the faintly sad, wistful smile that slightly curved her mouth.
Though it seemed that everything had gone wrong, perhaps at least one good thing would come of this.
Perhaps…perhaps all three could be brothers and sister after all.
A/N- And there you have it; my first ever Naruto fanfic. Hmm... And sorry, but I don't remember exactly what episode it was that this took place in; I know it was after Gaara and Naruto's big fight, around the time that the 3rd Hokage was killed...if anyone was wondering. Anyway, please review! You don't even have to treat me nice; just tell me what you think! Thanks! -C.A.