^_^ I don't own Naruto. If I did, several select characters would be dead from my awesome hugs of doom. -End disclaimer-
One night was all it took to break open the scars she had been healing for so long. It only took one night to break him.
The rumor that the Fourth Kazekage's youngest beast-like son was tamed spread through Suna like wildfire. It was the usual hot day that permeated through all the seasons, no matter what. The citizens were used to such heat though as they hurried through the markets into their stucco homes to hurriedly take off their head wraps, and cool off.
More than even the heat Kaida was used to the stares, and snide whispers that accompanied her walk towards her home. They were whispers that held little truth, but even half-truths still caused the doubt that burned in her heart. 'Demon tamer' and 'irresponsible little brat' was tossed her way several times before she reached the gate to the Tatsumaru clan house.
She entered the house quietly, trying to desperately cause as little noise as possible. It was too late however to stop herself as she stepped on a kunai that one of her siblings left on the stairs. Stupid, careless, fat worms.
"Gonna kill 'em all...", she muttered.
"Kaida! You come here right this instant!"
Dang it, her father heard her. Definitely going to kill them now.
Trodding down the stairs. she paused to toss her satchel along with her barrettes and ribbon onto the end table in the living room. Finally, she was free of that horrible braid that gave her a headache. Shaking her long hair out, she tentatively pushed open the door to her fathers study.
"I hear you've been starting fights during your lunch break again."
Her eyes downcast, Kaida grumbled, "He was a stupid, itchy idiot."
Pushing himself up from his desk, Taigen Tatsumaru approached his youngest daughter. He had been blessed with eight children, but none of them quite matched the mischief that Kaida caused.
"I also heard that you caused quite the ruckus after wandering off today at school." Taigen stated cooly.
Kaida continued to stare at the ground with apparent fascination before her father grasped her small hands. "Speak for your actions!"
"He was lonely. That's what makes him so confused, and angry dad. He's just lonely." She finally raised up her head. "I will not stay away from him, even if you take away my kunais for a whole month."
Taigen looked at his daughter. Rare was the occasion that she shocked him. Usually, she was a selfish, and spoiled brat. Her mother had always been too soft with her he feared, along with the general spark of defiance that ran in all of the Tatsumaru clan. In all of his years, he did not expect to hear his little girl defend another person. It just had to be the Kazekage's child, the one they called a monster.
"Is it true? Did you actually run up to him and hug him? He didn't hurt you?" He had to know. Even if the child was only his daughter's six years, he still had ties that could cripple the Kazekage. They were after all the most powerful clan in Suna.
His daughter laughed at this. "Well if you call it that. I don't even think he knew what a hug was, he was so surprised."
The Tatsumaru clan leader paused to give thought. His daughters observations were probably truth. He after all, had firsthand experience with the Kazekage's emotions or lack thereof. He also knew that he viewed his son as nothing more than an experiment, a test to push the bounds of the sands shinobi.
"I'll let you see him."
Those simple words were all it took for Kaida to be infinitely happy. She had never cared for rules, or regulations forced on her, but winning her fathers approval was a rare event indeed, meant to be celebrated with the loudest of whoops along with a victory dance. Of course, she would have still gone to see him either way.
Before she left her fathers office, she heard her fathers voice behind her, calling her back from cloud nine. "Kaida, you will always be my most troublesome child."
Turning around to face him, she smiled a rueful smile. "I will also be the most exciting."
She took off before her could question her. Perplexed, he stared out the small window that adorned the western wall of his office. It was coated in dust, and had been there for the generations to witness. It was starting to grow thin at the top, the way old glass does, and as he pondered, he realized that his age was also not too far from that pane of glass. He probably needed to get it replaced before it broke. Kami only knows what might happen if he let a sandstorm in.