One week later…
As his eyes scanned the area, he found himself leaping to the top of a tree when they came again. Over a sequence that had started three days after he'd been put under Kakashi's care (and after he'd been released from the hospital), he'd identified the people who might try to get the better of him. Too late. One of the boys spotted him sitting on a tree branch and yelled menacingly,
"You scared of facing us, Raccoon-Face?" The others laughed mockingly, but Gaara kept his face completely devoid of emotion.
"You don't want to mess with me right now," Gaara said quietly, "because I would happily perform the courtesy of breaking a few bones." They froze at the scary glare sent in their way. Some of them backed off and ran, but the leader stood his ground.
"Why not come down and fight me fairly, monster!" he taunted. "You're not scared, are you?" Gaara nearly smiled. How wrong he was.
In the next few seconds, Gaara had jumped down the tree, given a worthy injury to the bully, and left the boy crying.
"You should be glad that I have self-control…for now." As he walked away, Gaara thought about his life. Who was his mother? Did he belong in this village? He remembered faint memories of long blond hair and weird face paint, but they didn't trigger much. Wanting to brood about his family a little longer, Gaara went to sit down on the bench. Kakashi was a nice guy, but he didn't tell him much about what had happened before he met them. His father just said, 'When you grow up, I'll tell you.' From that day on, when he'd first asked, Gaara had waited to grow up. His thoughts were interrupted as a sharp object tore across his arm, leaving a long, deep gash on his right shoulder. The first thing he registered was pain. The injury burned like the furnace. He tried not to cry, but it didn't work very well, and the tears came down silently. They had never given him such an injury before! The last time he had told Kakashi about it, his father had come back with the news that they needed evidence. Otou-san, I'll have evidence now, Gaara thought triumphantly, but still in pain. So the red-haired boy retrieved the item used to slash his arm and walked back to the place Kakashi had given him on the day he'd arrived. At least, this time he had proof.
Kakashi was mulling around in the apartment waiting for Gaara to come back, but when the door opened and the carpet was being stained red, Kakashi immediately pulled his adopted son into the bathroom. Once there, he started cleaning the wound up.
"What happened this time?" Kakashi asked, his fingers reaching for the bandage box.
"Them." Gaara replied, his emotionless tone indicating that Kakashi should have known. "But this time, I have evidence." Gaara held up the strange thing he had found, making sure not to touch the keen edge. Where did they get that? Kakashi thought. I don't think their parents would allow their children to touch a kunai. "What is it?" Gaara asked coldly. Deep inside, he was nearly jumping with curiosity.
"I don't think I should tell you now, but since you probably need the knowledge, I'll tell you. Gaara, this is a kunai. A ninja tool." At that, his adopted son's invisible brow furrowed. "We use it often, but children should not touch or handle these. It's very easy to cut yourself, so I don't even know how they threw it unless they hurt themselves too." Kakashi took the bloodstained knife and tucked it in his bag. "I guess this is proof, but it's not enough. The Hokage would believe you, but that boy's parents will not. They'll accuse you of injuring their child and stabbing yourself to create false proof." Gaara sighed, defeated. Then he summoned up his willpower. I have to ask him.
" Otou-san, can you teach me the ways of the ninja?"
Kakashi was so surprised he nearly dropped the alcohol, but he managed not to look like a fool.
"Sure, but I'm warning you. If I teach you that, you'll most likely die." Gaara stared back, not amused.
"Kakashi, you know. You know I cannot be injured unless the attack happens when I'm distracted." he answered.
"Fine. Since I can tell that you're serious, we'll start at six at night until nine. Be sure not to eat anything before the practice! Another thing, be right on time or else you'll get chores." And with that happy thought in Gaara's head, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.
A/N Sorry, I know this was a really short chapter. But I just thought that this would be a great stopping point, and it would (maybe) prevent people from hurling themselves off the cliff. R&R!