So here is my now monthly update of this story! *cracks open bottle of champagne* Just kidding, I can't drink, I'm only 13.
So, you are about to discover who Reina is traveling with, and it is probably one of my favorite scenes that I have written so far. So emotional and beautiful. Kinda. Sorta. I hope so.
Thank you to all of those who reviewed, loved and read my story! I love you guys!

I do not own Naruto or deserted islands or the Sand Team or anything that doesn't belong to me. Just thought that I should make that clear.
Enjoy!

...

"So, if I get this right, Jiro-san was on the ship during the accident? And Yuudai-san has left with the first group and you requested to join him?" asked the rather young jonin, his eyes never leaving the woman in front of him.
They had been traveling for a day now, and had taken time to exchange stories during their breaks.
"Yes. That is right. And you, Baki-san, how long have you been a squad leader to... Kazekage-sama's three children?" Reina avoided the topic of her brother as much as she could. She trusted her companion, but not enough to tell him about the sabotage, or the fact that the 'accident' wasn't really an accident at all.

"Only for about a year... or less. Before that, it was Kazekage-sama who... cared for them." he replied, making a face when he said the words 'Kazekage' and 'care' in the same sentence.
This didn't escape Reina's attention.

"Was the Kazekage-sama an... unfit leader for them?" she asked carefully, trying to prod further into the ninja's feelings and personal opinion, something that she was incredibly good at. No matter how many years of training a shinobi has had, she could most likely crack their mask.

The man sighed and ate a mouthful of rice, chewed slowly and swallowed before answering.
"I'm not in a position to say anything about that. But I don't think that he has any leadership problems... Kazegake-sama just isn't a flawless..." Baki seemed to forget what word he was trying to use.
"... he wasn't a really good father to his three children, was he? First, with the daemon implant. Second, letting his wife, Karura-sama die. Third, not doing anything about it when his own son was hated by the village. Fourth, letting Gaara-sama turn... dark... so young. And last but not least, letting them go on this mission, unsupervised, alone, at their rank and age, no matter what their skill level." finished Reina for him.

Baki looked at her for a long time.
"Not many people... would actually side with Gaara in this situation. I tried to get Kazekage-sama to let me go on the mission, but he was sure that they would be completely fine. He was wrong, yet again..." The jonin, blinked, realizing that he was starting to go too far. "Anyways. We should get going, if we want to make it by the end of tomorrow, at the earliest."

With that, they started to pack their camping equipment up and to eliminate all traces of their passage.
Before they could start running, however, Reina asked Baki a question that she practically knew the answer of already. She, like most of Suna, wasn't fond of their leader's off-springs, but at this moment, she hated Kazekage-sama so much more.
"Baki-san, your students... You worry about them. A lot." She nearly whispered, seeing the jonin in front of her clench his fists. She truly admired him, and considered him as one of the bravest in the village for taking his risky job of training the murderous jinchuuriki, and seeing him so angry made her heart clench.

Baki closed his eyes, opened them again, and started walking.
"Those three... Were treated as weapons by their own father. He didn't see then as his children. Even I probably consider them more like my family than he ever did. They... were my students. Even though they are different and dangerous, I was proud of them. I was proud to be their sensei. No matter what they thought of me or even if they are now dead, or maybe Gaara might have even eliminated his teammates himself, I will never forget what it was like to be the one teaching them how to improve. And to see them succeed every single time. They were truly my pride. I don't want them to leave this world. I believe in their capabilities. I believed in them."

A long silence ensured and, without a word, the Reina and Baki started their journey, thinking respectively about their brother and their students.
They were each thinking the same thing.
Please, let them be alive...

…

"Nggh... Ow... What the-...? Gaara! What the hell do you think you're doing?" moaned the older boy, peeking at his brother through his half closed lids. He felt a sharp jab to his side, and abruptly sat up.
"What the heck was that for?" he wined, brushing the spot. He probably had a bruise there now.

The redhead looked at him silently before holding up a pointy stick.
"Temari told me to wake you up. I called you, but you wouldn't budge, so she gave me this branch and said that it would work. And it did. So get up." he said flatly and walked out of the small shelter.
Kankuro blinked, slightly surprised.

Since when did Gaara take orders? Or stupid ones that his freak of a sister gave him? Oh no, his little bro was starting to become like her. Or maybe not so much after all.
The puppet-nin groaned and slowly stood up, then followed his brother into the bright sunlight.

He sat in the circle whilst Temari worked on an edible meal. When he joined them, she chuckled loudly.
"Wow. I didn't think that you would do it literally Gaara. Nice to see you Kankuro! Eat up! Then we can go to the waterfall and do something peaceful and fun for the first time since we have arrived here."
With that said, all three of them hurried to finish breakfast, packed some of their very few items and set off behind Gaara, who was their appointed tour guide. He had spent entire nights conscious on this island, which automatically made him the one with the most trustworthy sense of direction. And he had a natural sense of authority anyway.

After about five minutes of slow walking, their shinobi urge for speed and adventure caught on, and they all decided to run through the trees instead.
"Hey Gaara! How are you feeling today? You seem to be in a good mood!" shouted Kankuro through the trees.

The jinchuuriki suddenly came to a halt, making his two siblings abruptly stop and land beside him, confused and worried.
f"What did you just say?" he asked blankly, making his brother panic. Did he say something wrong?
"Um... How are you feeling?" repeated the puppet-nin, slowly scratching the back of his head, glancing nervously at his sister, who just shrugged and stared at the redhead.

"Why?" asked Gaara, looking very confused, still staring at his brother, who still had no idea what was going on.
"Um... I just wanted to know how you were feeling. And why you seemed so happy. Um, sorry, I guess that I should just mind-..."

"No. I... feel fine. We are all safe, healthy and about to do something... fun, together... That is why... I am not unhappy." The edges of the redhead's lips curled into an almost invisible smile, but both of his siblings saw it before it disappeared as fast as it came and got replaced by his signature blank face. "This is the first time that anyone directly asked me that... actually wanting to hear the answer."

Temari and Kankuro both grinned and all three of them continued running, each of them in a relatively peaceful and satisfied state of mind. After what had just happened, they were each more hopeful and determined to become a family than before.

After about half an hour of traveling silently they saw light ahead, followed it, and ended up in a place that not even their imagination could have summoned.
They couldn't even have thought of something this beautiful, for story books were for civilians.
But Temari and Kankuro both gasped in aw at the scene in front of them, whilst Gaara was observing his siblings' reactions.

A huge waterfall was in the middle of this clearing, and was surround by a crystal clear pond of water, surrounded by shiny rocks and a few flowers and patches of grass dotted the area.
It seemed surreal. How could have this idyllic place have been hidden on this lonely island all along, without any one them, apart from Gaara, knowing of it's existence?
"Am I dead?" came Kankuro's voice, immediately breaking the enchantment. His sister growled and punched him in the arm.
"Of course not you moron! We're alive! And this is real!" she laughed and dragged her two brothers closer to the rock pool. "Thank you so much Gaara! You are awesome!"

All three teenagers slowly entered the cool, clean, shiny pond, enjoying the peace and the complete silence of place apart from the rhythmic splashing of the waterfall. After about ten minutes of quiet, Temari stood up and carefully climbed onto some of the rocks that were right under the cascade, stood on them and let the stream of water spray over her head.
She sighed. It felt like taking a shower, which was something that she had really missed. Wading around in a river just wasn't the same thing.

The kunoichi took a minute to soak in the feeling of freshness before walking back to her siblings.
"Hey, you know... This place is the perfect training area. Calm. Isolated. No stress. And the water to cool off. Do you two want to continue our training on this island?" she asked, wringing the her hair out.
Kankuro and Gaara both suddenly looked extremely excited. Well, Gaara looked as excited as he could.
"Sure! I think that we are all probably a little rusty because of that... break we had, so getting back on track will help us a lot!" yelled the puppet-nin, running over to the bag that he had dumped onto the floor, retrieving a couple kunai.

With that, the trio started by choosing their targets. At first, they started with tree trunks, then, realizing that it was still too easy, they started aiming for branches, then single and multiple falling leaves to impale before they could hit the ground.
That feeling they got when they hit a tiny leaf in it's center, when the blade pieced it and planted itself into a tree... They felt as if they were back in the training grounds in Suna, with their sensei.

They could all remember his strict words, urging them to better themselves. Unlike most people, he wasn't afraid of telling the Kazekage's three children what he thought of them, and was one of the rare people to be still alive after criticizing Gaara. But he was there for a reason other than to whisper about them behind their backs, and for that the three young shinobi thought about him.

Temari's thoughts then traveled to their father, who had sometimes, but rarely, stopped by to watch them train. He mostly came, observed, told Baki something, then left, just like that. No compliments for their hard work. No helpful advice or demonstrations.
Not that they needed any. Ninja from Suna learned from experience and hard training, not from others help. That was just the way things were.

The kunoichi smirked to herself when she managed to get four tiny leaves with a single shot. Her aim wasn't perfect, but it was still impressive. She looked over at her brothers.

Kankuro was combining his chakra strings to his projectiles, so that he could launch and control them easily, especially with his experience and talent. She watched, grinning to herself, when the puppet-nin started running up and down trees like a maniac, launching and twisting his weapons around him, looking completely absorbed and had a small smirk lingering on his lips.

The girl then turned her attention to her other, younger brother.

Gaara was a little further off to the side, training on his own. He launched kunais into the air and then used sand to move around and retrieve them, after they had reached their target.
Temari noticed that, whilst Gaara wasn't the most powerful thrower, he glided quickly, gracefully and sand would react and obey to him, even if it wasn't the chakra infused one he used to carry in his gourd. That proved that he had amazing control over his unique ability. She felt that he truly deserved his title: Gaara of the Desert.

Gaara of the Desert, who was no longer in the desert but on an island somewhere in the middle of the ocean, but still managed to live up to his name, even here, with no one but his siblings around.
He was definitely strong. And only getting stronger.

After observing her two brothers, Temari couldn't help but feel extremely proud. Sure, they weren't what people would ideally want in a younger sibling. They weren't small, cute, obedient, adorable, quiet or lovable little boys. They were just so much better.

"Hey! I feel like sparring... Who wants to join?" shouted Temari, knowing the second that the words left her lips that sparring was something that they had all missed.
Kankuro immediately ran over to her, excitement clear on his face, but Gaara hesitated and didn't move from his spot.
"Gaara! Come on! We're waiting for you!" yelled the brunet, standing next to his sister.

Temari happily smiled to herself, and even more widely when the redhead slowly walked over to them with another nearly invisible twitch in his lips.
He didn't even have to speak to let his siblings know that he was glad that he wasn't the odd one out anymore.

The three teenagers sparred for hours, enjoying the adrenaline and physical strain this activity had on them, and by the time they were tired out, they were covered in scratches and bruises. Except for Gaara, because even though his team had noticed the fact that he hadn't used his usual layer of sand on his body, his shield and his natural defensive instinct kept him well away from harm.
"Gaara... I'm just wondering, why didn't you use your Sand Armor when Kankuro attacked you? He got past your Sand Shield that time and nearly touched you." asked Temari curiously, thinking that something was a little off. When she glanced over at the puppet-nin, however, he didn't seem to be asking Gaara those questions at all. She must be missing something.

The jinchuuriki looked up at her and nodded to himself. After a minute, he decided that there wasn't anything wrong with answering his sister's question.
"Shukaku might have stirred when he saw the shipwreck, but even before that, he seemed to refuse cooperating. He doesn't give me as much sand protection as he used to. I think that he is angry at me for refusing to murder you." he said flatly.
Temari blinked and gulped unconsciously.
"Oh... But you can still control sand, right?" She dusted off her clothes and removed leaves from her hair.
"Yes. I learned to control it so that Shukaku's power could be mastered, but now that I know how to infuse chakra with it, the knowledge can't be lost. Like Kankuro. Even if his puppets are lost, he can still use chakra strings and manipulate weapons." he answered, hoping that his reference to another ninja art would help his teammate understand.

It worked, and Temari nodded.
"Oh OK, I get it. So you can still use sand, sand shields, sand armors and stuff, but Shukaku's own power you can't instinctively use right now because he is mad?"
"Yes. I can still use his power, but not with just a thought. A few days ago, when Kankuro hit my shoulder, the sand didn't automatically form an armor to protect me."

Kankuro put his hands up defensively.
"Hey! It was supposed to be a friendly clap between bros! I didn't know that you didn't have an armor..." he mumbled, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
Gaara and Temari both watched him, secretly wondering if the strong, mature Kankuro and the current dumb and idiotic one where the same person, or if they were two of him.

After a minute, Kankuro started to get uncomfortable with all the staring.
"OK. Weirdo number one and weirdo number two, if you don't mind, I am going to quickly wash up. Temari, your nails kept scratching me. Do something about those claws."
With that said, the boy walked to the rock pools (dodging his sister's punch) and slowly slid in.

The kunoichi lifted an eyebrow and held her hand out, examining her nails. She groaned, finding out that Kankuro was right. She searched her pouch and found a pair of scissors.
"Gaara, you can go ahead and join Kankuro if you want. I'm just going to give myself a quick manicure. Want to join me?" asked Temari jokingly, deciding which length she had to cut her nails.
The redheaded boy gave her a long look then quickly walked over to his older brother, leaving his sister as she entered a world that most boys his age didn't completely understand.

Soon enough, though, all three ninjas were once again peacefully lying in the pond of crystal clear water. The soothing feeling was just too addictive.

The time passed comfortably in silence, but after some time, Temari decided to start a conversation.
"Hey? Who do you two miss the most from back in Suna?"
Gaara did not look ready to respond but Kankuro thought about it. He scratched the back of his head in concentration.
"My puppets. Wait, they aren't human. Maybe sensei, just a little. No one else though... Most people I knew from Suna I could live without." he snorted. His sister's eyes widened and she moved so that she was sitting in front of him.
"You too? I mean, it's strange... I thought that I would miss them, stuck here and all, but... I don't really miss my 'so called' friends. Those guys were fun to hang with, but I'm pretty sure that they wouldn't do for me what you two did." she smiled at her two brothers.

Kankuro smiled back at her, but Gaara looked completely confused.
"What did we do?" he asked naively, looking slightly suspicious, a dark cloud settling in his eyes.
Temari sighed and smiled sadly to her little brother. He looked so innocent but she knew that he was still... Gaara. All the wounds of his past could not have healed in such a short amount of time and he still didn't know how to completely trust them. But she could see how much he had improved. The kunoichi's heart tightened. They were now... almost real siblings, friends. Almost.

"They would have abandoned me when times were hard. But you two... I know that you wouldn't. Kankuro saved me so many times, and you, Gaara, have done so much to protect us, and you saved Kankuro's life. So... I'm really happy that you're here. I really am." she said softly, making Gaara intake a sharp breath in shock, but his face remained composed. Things like this, he had never heard very often. Only from Temari.
"So am I! God, if you weren't here, I would be so screwed." mumbled the puppet-nin, looking up at the sky.

Gaara blinked and mimicked Kankuro's movement, tilting his head back and observing the clouds. After a moment, he sat up straight again, splashing the water around him.
"Does that mean that... If I were to die, you would miss me?" he said cautiously, examining his siblings reactions from the corner of his eyes.
They both raised a surprised eyebrow at him.
"Duh. Of course we would man! Are you deaf or what? Did you hear all that we just- OW!" Kankuro, who had started yelling at Gaara in his face, was silence my Temari's underwater pinch and warning look. The girl then turned to the redhead as if nothing just happened.
"What Kankuro had meant was, Gaara... You have always been someone who was very important to us, no matter how we acted before. Even if you didn't really use to care about our existence and thought of us as dead weight, we didn't think those things about you at all. Yes, we were intimidated, and sometimes scared, but you were still our brother above all of that. We worried and cared about you. What you thought was important to us. So... Yes, I you died, we would really, really miss you. So don't die. We want you to be here with us." said Temari taking in Gaara's shocked expression. The second she had finished talking, however, he put his blank mask back on. He seemed to do that whenever he needed to think, she noticed.

"Yeah. What Temari said." added Kankuro, sitting back against the rocks.
Gaara nodded slowly, then looked up at his siblings.
"I did use to think of you as just as two people who were stuck with me and slowed me down but... If it weren't for you, I probably would not be here... alive," Judging by the face the jinchuuriki made, it wasn't easy for him to admit that out loud. "I am glad that you are here. And that you... care for me. I... I would miss you too. Maybe." he added hastily, crossing his arms.

But his siblings knew that Gaara meant it anyway when he said that he would miss them. He just wasn't the type of person to easily admit that he had any feeling at all, let alone positive, loving feelings. He just couldn't, not after what had happened to him years ago when he had loved a person who had so cruelly betrayed him.

But still, he tried. For the only two people in this world to tell him how much they cared for him.

Some time passed in silence before Gaara suddenly had an idea that he thought that his companions might take interest to.
"Temari. Kankuro. Do you want to go into the waterfall?" he asked.
When their jaws dropped but remained silent for a few seconds, the redhead braced himself for the exclamation that he was certain was going to happen. It did.
"What! Inside the waterfall? Seriously? Are you kidding? That's freaking awesome dude! Show us! Show us! Show us!" hollered his two teammates, instantly up on their feet, practically dragging their brother to the cascade.

Only slightly shocked at their enthusiasm, Gaara climbed out of the rock pools and started walking into the forest.
"You have to go around the clearing and scale the side of the hill. There is a hole in it, and if you go into the small cave, then you find yourself inside the waterfall." he explained quickly.
Both of his siblings nodded vigorously, excited. There really weren't any waterfalls in Suna.

They walked until they reached a huge slope, which was actually a small mountain. They guessed that higher up was probably the source of the water, but they didn't need to go to the top. Gaara started cautiously climbing the steep slope, closely followed by his team. After a few minutes, they found an opening which they heaved themselves into.
A few seconds later, the small, hollow cavern opened to reveal what was indeed the inside of the waterfall.

It resembled to a thick, silver curtain of water covering the opening. Kankuro slowly peeked over the edge, making sure to not get crushed by the heavy water pouring down.

He whistled.
"Wow. That's a long way down." he said, stepping back and leaning against the humid rocky inside of the cave. Gaara nodded and made no move to approach the waterfall. It reminded him too much of the dangerous waves that he had had to deal with in the ocean during the shipwreck, but he had still come here because he knew that Temari and Kankuro would have found it interesting.
His sister seemed indeed awestruck.
"This is so cool. An area behind a waterfall!" she laughed, taking a step towards the opening.

Suddenly, many things happened at the same time.

Temari's foot landed on a slippery stone and she fell, towards the opening of the cavern, straight into the waterfall.

Kankuro launched himself at her, throwing her back roughly into the rock wall, into safety.

Gaara's eyes widened, panicked, and he stretch his hand to grab his brother's, but his palm closed around thin air.

All the sand in the clearing jumped up and sped toward the waterfall, but it all immediately melted when it came in contact with the liquid.

Temari's cry echoed endlessly as she watched as Kankuro disappeared behind the silver curtain of water.

…

Yeah, sorry. A cliffy. I am just to evil to be true. I'll try to update earlier so that you don't have to wait too long to find out what happens next.
So... I hope that you enjoyed that! One of the most eventful chapters yet! Tututudum! Poor Kankuro...

Merry Christmas and early Happy New Year to all of you wonderful readers out there all over the world!
Oh and in the beginning of January, I will be absent for about ten days. I am going on a school trip to India with my class. I am looking forward to that, but it also means that electronic devices will be banned. No more writing. Unless I used a pen and paper, but I never really tried that.

Do not review. Do not click that button. And whatever you do, do not listen to my lame attempt at reverse psychology. So yeah... Please review! Or just read this story, and I am pretty happy already!

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Merry Christmas my wonderful, kind readers!
XOXO ~ HimekoUchia (authoress, finally on holiday)