A/N: Yes! I can finish it in time! Maaan, I didn't sleep last night to finish this chapter! And now I'm almost late to go to college! So, no need to wait! Please ENJOY this new chapter!!
Disclaimer: I don't want to make it long this time, I NEVER OWN NARUTO OR ITS CHARACTERS. I'm just borrowing them for my story without permission.
Warning: foul language (I love cursing words), oOC-ness...you won't believe me bore reading this, shounen ai (Gaara/Naru and Ita/Naru), no; there hasn't been Sasu/Naru yet here, sorry (ToT)
The Night after Heavy Rain
Chapter 9: Family Love
Gaara made his way to Itachi's room in complete anger after he had leaped out of Naruto's room. He weren't bothered to knock the sexy-long-raven-haired man's room door and barged in right away noisily. "Uchiha Itachi!!" he called, not; he yelled Itachi's name while gritting his teeth.
Itachi was in his bathroom when suddenly he heard something noisy in his bedroom. He turned off his shower, and then covered his bottom with towel. He got out of his bath room with the water was still dripping from his long-black hair. "What's wrong, Gaara?" he asked expressionless.
Gaara glared at him. "What have you done to Naruto!?" he yelled angrily.
"What have I done…what do you mean?" he asked again, having no clue.
"Don't fool me, bastard! Naruto wouldn't forget about his friends and his home village! You must have done something to him, mustn't you!?" he demanded Itachi's explanation. "You…it can't be that you…, you 'brainwashed' him!?"
"I didn't brainwash him," Itachi said calmly. "I just changed his memory for a little and lost his doubt to give his loyalty to Akatsuki," he continued.
"Don't be stupid! Change his memory…, have you lost your mind!?" Gaara yelled impatiently. "Naruto can be himself who is bright like that because of his memory! He learns many things from his pain and his happiness in his memory! If you changed it as you like, he could lose his true self!! Naruto-who doesn't have his heart and his determination, is not Naruto at all!!" he yelled angrily.
Itachi widened his eyes when he heard the yells, but he quickly changed his expression to expressionless like always. "It's not a problem," Itachi said still calmly. "He will not change. His heart and determination are as strong as before. I just changed his purpose for a little. From Konoha to Akatsuki and from his friends to Akatsuki's member…," he explained.
-and from Sasuke…to me….
"Naruto is still naruto. Nothing's worth to be your concern…Gaara," Itachi said arrogantly; and then he turned his body.
Yeah…, Naruto is Naruto; and his heart…is mine only!
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Tsunade sighed heavily in her office. She couldn't concentrate in her works-which were piled on her desk. Her thought was flown to Naruto and Akatsuki. "What do I do…?" she asked warily.
"Tsunade-sama, are you concerning about Naruto again?" Shizune asked with concern face.
"Not only him, Shizune, I also worry about Iruka, Sakura, and Neji," she said with darkening mood. "I have given them an impossible mission. To find any information about Akatsuki main base…even Our Jiraya can't do it that far. Without any clue at all, it's the same as looking a leaf in the piles of leaves in the forest," she continued while banging her head to her desk. "Aaah, I wish I could go there myself!" Tsunade shouted in frustration.
"It can't be helped…you're the Hokage. What will happen to the village if the Hokage leaves it at a time like this?" Shizune tried to cheer Tsunade up.
"Exactly, because I'm the Hokage…, what will I do to protect this village if I can't even protect one mere Genin myself?" she asked more depressed.
"Tsunade-sama…." Shizune looked at her in sympathy.
"He…became that greedy because of my fault," Tsunade admitted. "Because I couldn't understand his feelings…. I never tried to understand how much important an Uchiha Sasuke for Naruto. Because I thought he was only obsessed by the rivalry he cared for the Uchiha, I never concerned about his seriousness when he asked me to give him a mission to seek Sasuke. Even-…even he tried to be patient for almost three years…but then, I-…I never gave him even single information about Sasuke. That's why…when he obtains the information, and Akatsuki lures him with that information, he bites the bait! I'm a reaaaaly useless Hokage! If-…if something happened to Naruto…," Tsunade was trembling and her face paled when she remembered about Dan, her beloved boyfriend, and Nawaki, her beloved little brother. She was scared, really-really scared. "If…he became like them…."
"Tsunade-sama!!" Shizune shouted loudly while gripping Tsunade's shoulders tightly. She made Tsunade snap with realization from the horrible memory.
"Sizune…." Tsunade looked at Sizune, a little confused.
"Naruto-kun will not die! I believe in him! He will never break his promise. He said that he went to take Sasuke-kun back, he'd not lie. He will come back for sure, safe and sound with Sasuke-kun!" Shizune said with certainty in her face.
Tsunade felt relieved for a bit when she saw Sizune's certain-eyes and heard her words. Tsunade smiled. "Yeah…, he will come back safe and sound…," she said slowly. "I can't be weak too. I surely will give a proper-hard-and nice punishment for him when he comes back, so I will prepare it now!" she yelled in full spirit.
Shizune sweat dropped.
You don't need to do it now…it's a different case, Tsuande-sama….
Sizune wanted to say those words, but she only laughed while sweat dropping when she looked at her Hokage in that state.
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Meanwhile…Sasuke arrived at the Forest of Death. It'd sunset already, so he decided that he would camp outside the forest. He would go inside at the morning. It's too dangerous to enter the forest-which was only filled with monsters and strange creatures-at night. He built his camp on the first tree at the Death Forest and slept there after setting many traps for predators and his enemy.
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"Hey, Deidara-nee, let me accompany you shopping, please?" Naruto begged to Deidara.
"But, I don't need a companion only to go shopping," Deidara tried to object.
"Oh, come on…I just want to help you, and it's been boring lately, I want to take a walk outside Akatsuki. Pleaaaase, pretty pleaaase?" Naruto begged again with his puppy eyes.
"Ugh…," Deidara couldn't resist if Naruto set his face like that. "Fine…," he sighed heavily.
"Yaaaaay!" Naruto shouted in joy while jumping and hugging Deidara excitedly. "I love you, Deidara-nee!"
Deidara smiled and sweat dropped to see Naruto's childish act. "Like a brat…," he whispered. Then he looked at Naruto sadly. He remembered Itachi's words few days ago.
He is your 'little brother' now. Please act to be a good elder brother or sister, whatever you want, Deidara….
Deidara scowled in irritation.
That bastard Itachi…how could he decide someone's role as he like? Does he think it's easy?
Deidara sighed again. "Naruto-kun, don't walk too far from me!" he ordered, but it seemed Naruto didn't hear that.
They went to Suna in Wind Country for shopping. They preferred to go there than Fire Country because it's nearer, and the center town was more completed. Deidara disguised himself as a foreign woman with a glide-kind of dress. He no needed to change his hair color and eyes because it matched enough.
"Wow, which countries dress it is?" Naruto asked in wonder and admiration with Deidara's appearance.
"Huh? Oh, do you mean this?" Deidara asked while showing his dress, "This is western dress. With my blonde hair and my blue eyes, people often mistake me as foreign woman," he said proudly while grinning. "Does it suit me?" he asked happily.
"Yeah, it matches you perfectly! You're so beautiful!" Naruto said while smiling, admiring Deidara's beauty. "Then, I will disguise myself too…," he said, tried to perform his Henge no Jutsu.
"Ah, Naruto-kun is ok like that," Deidara stopped him. "Your face is not too familiar there, so it's fine if you go as your self," he explained.
"My face…isn't too familiar? Huh…that's strange, even if it's my home country…no, home village, but my face isn't too familiar?" Naruto asked in wonder.
Deidara snapped in surprise. He forgot that Naruto was supposed to be his brother; of course Suna would be his home village. "Eh…err…, well, see, when I ran away from Suna, I brought you-who still a baby back then-along, so…you see, they can't tell if it's you even when they see you now. You have grown up," he made excuse in half panicky.
Naruto stared at Deidara-who was sweat dropping-, and then he smiled. "Yeah, of course it will be like that," he said, buying Deidara's excuse. Deidara sighed in relief.
Thank God, he buys my excuse….
Deidara thought while his tears were flowing from his eyes. "Ok, let's go shopping!" Deidara shouted in spirit.
"Ou!" Naruto responded in full spirit too.
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Naruto and Deidara entered Suna after passing the borderline of Wind Country without any problem. They bought many kinds of things such foods, drinks, scrolls, weapons, and many more. When they were walking in crowd, Naruto was separated from Deidara. It's because he was bringing too many things, that's why he couldn't see straightly.
"Oh, no…Deidara-nee is gone!" he said in panicky. When he tried to find Deidara, he didn't see his surrounding and hit a girl with blonde hair and she was bringing a big fan on her back.
"Ouch!" The girl collapsed, while Naruto's things were scattered on the ground.
"Ah…I'm sorry!!" Naruto said guiltily while trying to help the girl to stand. "I'm so sorry; I didn't look around and hit you."
"It's alright. I'm fine anyway. Besides, I'm the one who was daydreaming," the girl said a bit weakly. She tried to see the boy who helped her, and then she was surprised. "Naruto?" she called him not surely.
Naruto looked down a bit to see the girl clearly, and then he was surprised too. "Ah, Temari!" he knew her. "Long times no see!" he shouted in happy voice.
"What are you doing here? Are you on mission?" Temari asked curiously.
Mission…?
Naruto thought in wonder. "Well, short of," he agreed right away while sweat dropping.
The mission to buy foods and souvenirs, I think….
"I see…," Temari said while sighing in gloomy face.
Naruto was concerned when he saw Temari like that. "Are you alright, Temari? Your face is pale. Are you ill?" he asked.
"Why…, how gentle you are for concerning me like that," Temari teased while giggling.
"What is it? I'm just concerned, you don't have to tease me like that, jeez…," Naruto said a bit in irritation.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm just…well a bit stressed lately, so I need some cheering things," she said, actually it seemed she was making excuse. Then she sighed again.
After Naruto collected his things again, he took the initiative to ask her to drop by tea house near them. They sat together on the chair, side by side. "Something happened, right? What's wrong?" Naruto continued to ask.
"It's…about Gaara," she answered.
"Gaara?" Naruto lifted his eyebrows.
"He's…gone from village," Temari said in miserable face. Naruto was more surprised when he remembered that Temari was actually Gaara's elder sister. "He was kidnapped by the stranger from a certain suspicious organization…what the hell is the name? Err…ah, it's Akatsuki!" she continued. "Even if I and Kankuro tried our best to stop them, it seemed that we were the ones whom were rescued. He gave himself as barter for Suna's safety. They promised him not to lay their finger on Suna if he agreed to join them. Even if he is our Kaze Kage…I couldn't protect him again! Even I don't want it if he was taken from me…my beloved little brother…!" Temari whimpered miserably with glassing eyes. It seemed she was about crying.
"Temari…," Naruto sighed sadly when he saw her like that. Even he could remember that Temari barely came closer to Gaara when they were together, and it's the same for Kankuro; he always looks so scared to Gaara. However…?
Wait…, how the hell can I remember that? Where on earth does this memory come from? I was taken away from this village when I was still a baby by Deidara-nee. I even barely remembered where Suna was if Deidara-nee didn't show me the way. However…why do I know Temari and Kankuro? Where did I meet them before?
When Naruto tried to remember that, again, his head seemed was being struck by something so hard. It felt so hurt, he almost cried. "O-ouch…!" Naruto moaned slowly in pain. He tried to recover his headache.
"What's wrong, Naruto?" Temari asked in wonder.
"Ah…no, it's nothing. My head just… a bit hurts…," Naruto said while forcing his self to smile. Then he decided that he would not try to remember anything. He looked Temari again after regaining his normal state. She seemed still not very well. "Temari…do you want to get Gaara back?" Naruto asked suddenly.
"Of course I do! Whoever or whatever he is, he's still my little brother! If something happened to him, I…!" Temari couldn't continue her words. She covered her mouth and couldn't suppress the emotion in her anxious heart. She really wanted to cry.
"I see…Temari actually really loves Gaara, eh…? I thought you kept your distance to him back then." Naruto said while putting his hands on the back of his neck. He glanced at Temari-who was still sad.
"I kept my distance, indeed, but it was an order from the Yondaime Kaze Kage, our father. He kept me and Kankuro far away from Gaara. He forbade us to come near him for him not to be disturbed. Although we were not together, I'm used to watching him from afar. His pains, his suffers, his loneliness…I know everything. However, I don't have any courage to disobey our father. I couldn't be beside him when he was vulnerable; and I couldn't give him the love and passion he needed. I'm really shame and useless! When our father died, I thought I could be his true sister, but then…I was too naïve. When I realized, there's a gap, a very wide gap between us. He locks his entire feelings and his heart. I and Kankurou can not come closer to him anymore. He considered us as strangers and we are dangerous for him. Gaara…thinks he lives only to kill people except himself. I have failed to be his sister…. Even in the end…I can not protect him! He gave himself to Akatsuki might be because he was so sick to be in this village. Maybe…he hates us…he must be…!"
"That's not true. It can't be like that," Naruto cut. Temari looked at him in surprise. Naruto smiled warmly at her. "You see, Gaara…is a difficult person, indeed, but he still has human's heart and feelings. Even though he can't express his feelings well, Gaara must have been so worried and concerned about Temari and Kankuro. As prove he gave himself to Akatsuki to save you and Kankurou, and even Suna's Hidden Village. Don't you think that means all of you are important to him?" Naruto asked while smiling sweetly. "I'm sure…your feeling will reach him."
"Naruto…," Temari sighed in relief. She was cheered up a bit with Naruto's words. "I wished Kankuro was here," she said suddenly while closing her eyes and smiling.
"He concerns too about Gaara, eh?" Naruto asked, not really asking actually.
"Yeah, even he's stubborn; he will not admit it even if he really does concern about Gaara. He's so stupid and you know? He always trains night and day only to match to be Gaara's older brother," she said while giggling again, but there was a sad kind of sound produced from her.
Naruto smiled again. "So…that's it." Naruto sighed while looking at the sky.
Gaara…there are people who concern and love you… You must return to them, to your place between them; and you…no need again to be an observer.
"Hey, Temari, you no need to worry about him. He will return home soon!" Naruto said while standing up and stretched his body. He lifted his belongings, and then he continued, "Because…I'll free him!" he smiled with certainty displayed on his face.
"Huh?" Temari stared at him in confusion.
"Naruto-kun!" suddenly, Naruto heard Deidara's voice from the crowd.
"Ah, Neechan called me," Naruto said, and then he smiled once more at Temari. "Jaa na (good bye), Temari, let's meet again someday," he greeted her while making his leaving back to the crowd towards Deidara.
"What does he mean…?" Temari asked still in confusion, not understand at all.
"Naruto-kun! I told you not to walk too far from me, didn't I? You made me worried!" Deidara scolded Naruto in irritation tone.
"Well, I'm sorry. It couldn't be helped, you know. I bring a lot of things. I couldn't see you with all of these in my arms," Naruto protested back.
"Ah, so that's why…sorry then," Deidara said while grinning sheepishly.
"Never mind," Naruto sighed, "Have we done shopping yet?" he asked.
"Yep, now our needs for few months will be sufficient." Deidara answered. "Let's go home!" He said again while smiling cheerily. Naruto nodded in agreement, and then he followed Deidara to walk, making their leaving from Suna.
"Hey, Deidara-nee, I just met Temari before," he informed.
"Temari?" Deidara asked, not familiar with the name.
"Yes, Temari…Gaara's elder sister," Naruto said in detail.
"Ah, it's her…," Deidara remembered.
"I wonder why I know her. When I tried to remember where I met her, my head felt hurt! Lately, when I try to remember something in the past, my head hurts like hell. I don't want to remember anything more." Naruto whined with irritation face.
Deidara didn't say anything to respond Naruto's whining. He seemed thought something. After several moments of silence, he asked, "Then, did Temari say something when she met you?"
"She talked about Gaara," Naruto answered. "I indeed, didn't accompany you when you picked Gaara up from Suna, but I didn't expect that actually there were some people didn't want Gaara's absent in their life," Naruto said again and glanced at Deidara with serious face. "You said that Suna didn't need him anymore, that's why you took him away to Akatsuki, but Temari said that he was kidnapped. Why did you lie to me?" Naruto asked in warning tone.
Deidara gulped but didn't stop walking. "I didn't lie," Deidara denied it. He kept his eyes away, not wanting to meet Naruto's eyes. "Gaara bartered with us, that he would join us if we didn't lay our finger at Suna, and no one objected that. It meant that Suna's Shinobi didn't need him anymore, right?"
"Well, maybe that's true, but…he was an exchange for Suna's safety, that's Akatsuki's desire, right? If Suna gave Temari as an exchange instead of Gaara, you would not accept it. It's the same as you threatened Suna to give Gaara. Indeed, it was kidnapping case." Naruto said again still seeing Deidara seriously.
"Naruto-kun…," Deidara stopped walking and turned his face to Naruto. He looked at Naruto with strange face. It seemed he was irritated with Naruto's way of talk.
"Let's return him to Suna," Naruto said suddenly, not bothered to care about Deidara's state.
"Wait a minute; you can't decide something like that as you like!" Deidara said in surprise.
"I will tell Itachi-san and the others about this!" Naruto said in determined voice. He smiled sweetly and fisted his hands in front of his chest, not, in front of the things he brought. Then he speeded his walk to return to Akatsuki's main base. Deidara followed him, still confused and surprised with a sudden decision Naruto made.
"Naruto-kun!" Deidara called him and hurriedly ran in the base. "Wait! Why are you so greedy like that!?"
"Well, Temari is so sad," Naruto said literally. "The Temari I know is a though girl and almost never whine, but…she was about crying just now. She only wants Gaara to be returned to her, to Suna," he continued with sympathy.
"But, he…!" Deidara wanted to object.
"I will not take back my decision!" Naruto cut. "I will tell Itachi-san about this!" Naruto said certainly while putting the things he brought on the table, and then he made his way to Itachi's room.
"Naruto-kun!!" Deidara shouted his name loudly in irritation but didn't follow him.
"What's wrong, Deidara? You're so loud you know," Sasori said in Irritation while entering the room. His face looked tired. It seemed he just woke up. Kisame made his way after Sasori. He was still bringing his small aquarium. It seemed he just cleaned it in bathroom.
"Sasori, Kisame…, it is Naruto-kun. He decides that he will return Gaara to Suna," Deidara informed them.
"What?" Sasori asked in surprise.
"Is he serious?" Kisame asked in disbelieve.
"Now, he is about to tell Itachi. Shall we see them?" he asked. Kisame and Sasori exchanged glance, and then they nodded in agreement. They made their way to Itachi's room.
"Itachi-san, I want to return Gaara to Suna," Naruto stated his aspiration a moment after walked in Itachi's room and saw the sexy-brunet.
Itachi-who was about tying his hair-, dropped his blood-red ribbon in shock. He turned his face to Naruto and looked at him in disbelieve. "Why do you suddenly get that insane idea?" he asked.
"Why…so rude, Itachi-san! Why do you say it's an insane idea? I just want to return Gaara back to his sister, Temari!" Naruto shouted in annoyance.
"Huh?" Itachi asked in confusion.
"Itachi-san, I have known about the truth. Deidara-nee didn't pick Gaara up from Suna, but he kidnapped him. You lied to me about that!" Naruto said in annoyed voice. Itachi snapped in surprise and gulped. "You said to me that Suna didn't need Gaara anymore, but Temari, his sister was crying over him not to be taken away. You…how cruel of you!" Naruto scolded him.
"That's…!" Itachi tried to make any excuse, but Naruto cut him immediately.
"I know Itachi-san and the others did it for me, right?" Naruto said. "You didn't want me to be lonely, so you looked for someone at my age for us to be friend. I really appreciate it, really."
Itachi looked at Naruto in wonder gaze, but Naruto only smiled at him sweetly. "I'm really happy enough now, so…we should return Gaara back to Suna, please?" Naruto asked.
Itachi looked away from Naruto to prevent the impact of Naruto's smile pheromone. "But, Naruto-kun…we need Gaara. Shukaku's chakra inside his body is really useful for us." Itachi made an excuse to object Naruto's request.
"What is it? If it's only chakra, I have too." Naruto protested. "There's her inside my body, right? It's the chakra from Kyuubi no Kitsune," he continued.
"But…," Itachi still minded it.
Naruto narrowed his eyes in irritation. "Itachi-san..., are you doubting me?" Naruto asked suddenly surprising Itachi. He stared at Naruto's eyes in disbelieve and wanted to protest, but Naruto continued his words immediately, not giving him an opportunity. "Do you have any intention to make me and Gaara compete each other as candidates of Akatsuki's leader?" he asked Itachi seriously.
"No!" Itachi countered directly. "You're the only candidate for Akatsuki leader position!" he added sincerely.
"If it's like that then…we don't need Gaara anymore, right?" Naruto asked more relaxed. "Kyuubi's chakra is more powerful than Shukaku's; about controlling those monsters too I am more skilled than Gaara. Akatsuki has me, so…we can return Gaara to Suna, ok?" Naruto asked again while smiling so sweetly.
"Ugh…," Itachi couldn't say anything anymore. Seeing Naruto like that, he could only sigh while closing his eyes. "Fine," finally, he said in defeat.
"Yaaaay!! I love Itachi-san!" Naruto shouted happily while jumping in joy.
"He's been defeated…that Itachi," Deidara whispered while eavesdropping behind the door of Itachi's room, together with Sasori and Kisame.
"Itachi-san…is weak if it's about that kid…." Kisame said while sweat dropping.
"Well, it can't be helped, he likes kids anyway…." Sasori added while trying his best not to laugh.
Itachi glanced at his door. He had been patient all this times not to yell, but his patience flew away just now. "The three of you there!! Don't eavesdrop!!" Itachi yelled in irritation while throwing his shuriken to the door.
"Whoaaa!!" Deidara, Kisame, and Sasori shouted in surprise in unison. They snapped and in the end they fell down to Itachi's room.
"Jeez…what are you doing?" Naruto asked in wonder and sweat drop.
"Ah, no…, it's nothing," Sasori said while scratching his head sheepishly. Deidara and Kisame did the same thing. "Oh yeah, Naruto-kun, about your idea for returning Gaara to Suna, I think it's impossible to do," Sasori said suddenly changed the subject.
"-and why is that?" Naruto protested, demanding the explanation.
"Well, you see, Akatsuki's members are forbidden to retire from organization to keep all secrets in our organization. In short, it's to keep our secrets from the world outside. That's why we hunt down Orochimaru for running away from us," Sasori explained the main point.
"Oh, so…that's it. It works like the others Hidden Villages Ninja. They hunt down the missing-Nins," Naruto nodded in understanding. "Well, I think it's no problem," he said.
"What?" The others asked in unison, dumfounded.
"We only have to erase Gaara's memory about Akatsuki. Erase his memory when Deidara-nee kidnapped him, that way, Akatsuki's secrets will be safe," Naruto said in easy tone.
Sasori's, Deidara's, Kisame's, and Itachi's jaws dropped in amazement.
Bri-…brilliant…!
They thought in unison.
"That's right! There is a way like that! Why did we never think about that before?" Sasori said in enthusiasm.
"That means…we never thought further to decide something or do something?" Deidara laughed weirdly.
"It's embarrassing…!" Itachi covered his flushed face in shame. He was really ashamed for his own foolishness. Kisame didn't say anything; he just looked at the other way with a bit of shame while sighing.
"Well, so it's decided! Gaara will be returned to Suna the day after tomorrow!" Naruto said cheerily.
"What!? The day after tomorrow!?" the others asked in surprise.
"Yeah, Itachi-san, yoroshiku, ne!" Naruto asked Itachi while squeezed his hands and smiling happily, not bothered to care about their shock face.
"Eh!?" Itachi shocked even more when Naruto asked him personally.
"Well, you're the one who know how to do!" Naruto said again, still smiled pleasantly.
"Even if you say that…?" Itachi glanced at Sasori and the others who sneaked out the room secretly. "Wait, all of you!!" Itachi yelled while chasing after them. "Don't make me the one to face this problem alone, bastards!!"
Naruto laughed hard when he saw the cheerfulness in that place. Then he followed them out of he room. He wanted to seek Gaara and told him about the idea to him.
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"What?" Gaara asked incredulously. "Returning me to Suna?"
"Yep!" Naruto answered while grinning widely.
"Why the hell am I being returned?" he asked oddly.
"Well…I think it's because your role has ended in Akatsuki. We really appreciate your help for Akatsuki, thank you very much. That's why we will return you as a reward and we won't hold you any longer," Naruto explained.
"Hold me…aren't you misunderstood something? I joint Akatsuki on my own will. It will be ridiculous if I return to Suna," Gaara objected with bored face.
"Actually, Itachi and friends disagree either, but I force them until they agree with my idea," Naruto said while remembering and laughing again.
"It's your idea? Why do you do that?" Gaara asked still confused.
"Well, actually there is someone asking me to return you to Suna," Naruto said hesitantly. He scratched his cheek with his forefinger.
"-and who is this someone?" Gaara asked again curiously.
"Temari," Naruto answered. Gaara was surprised to hear that. "I just met her when Deidara-nee and I went shopping in Suna. She looked so tired and lacked of sleep. It seemed she has been looking for you since you're suddenly missing. She worked so hard to obtain information about Akatsuki and your being," Naruto explained. "Even though she never shows it, Temari really…."
"-loves me…," Gaara cut Naruto and continued the words. Naruto turned his face to Gaara in surprised look. "I know about it…. Temari and Kankurou actually…always love me and care about me," he said again in soft voice while closing his eyes.
"Gaara…you…?" Naruto tried to guess what was in Gaara's head now.
"Well, I don't know either. Maybe I…just don't want to recognize it," Gaara said. "Even if I know about it, but I don't want to accept it," he continued in miserable face.
"Gaara…." Naruto looked at him sadly. "Hey, when Akatsuki dragged you here, did Deidara-nee threat you or something like that?" Naruto asked, suddenly became serious.
"If I said no then I have lied," Gaara answered once again expressionless.
"So he really did threat you! Stupid Deidara-nee!" Naruto yelled in annoyance.
"Calm down…I even haven't finished yet," Gaara said in bored face. "Well, actually he asked me politely to go with him. If I was not a Kaze Kage, maybe I would go willingly, but…Temari and Kankuro objected the idea right away. I was amazed to see them defended me like that, so I thought I would not go for them. However, when we started fighting, I soon became aware that we would not match Deidara. Temari and Kankuro would die right away if we continued it. So…here I am. I agreed to joint Akatsuki if they didn't touch my family," Gaara explained in sleepy form.
'You really do love your brother and sister.' Shukaku snickered inside Gaara's head.
Shut up, tanuki!
Gaara yelled at Shukaku in his head while scowling at him outside.
"Like I predicted, you actually really love your brother and sister!" Naruto said happily.
"Not you too," Gaara said in irritation. "It's not like that, you know," Gaara denied it. "I just don't want to trouble them anymore."
"You've ever bothered them?" Naruto asked in disbelieve while lifting his eyebrows.
"Well, only once…but it's painful…," Gaara whispered while looking away. "-and it's not your business, so leave it alone," Gaara said again tried to drop the subject.
"Eeeh, tell me, Gaara!" Naruto protested.
"You are persistent, you know!" Gaara said in annoyance.
"Oh, come on…! Please? Pretty please?" Naruto asked him persistently with his sparkling-puppy eyes. Gaara sighed, having no room to object.
"It was…long time ago, before Yashamaru died, about…eight years ago," Gaara began his story. "When I was kid, I loved to see the children playing. Of course I only watched them, they're afraid of me anyway," Gaara said in easy, but Naruto knew the pain which he hid. He looked at him miserably. "Even if I looked like having no interest at anything like that…I actually was envious. I knew I was different from them, but still…I didn't want to be alone," he continued. "One day, there a blonde haired girl greeted me. She was wearing mask and she asked me to play with her. I didn't know why, but she was familiar to me. I could see her smiling for me, and well, she was older than me. I could feel it. She was strong and kind. She wasn't afraid of me. She even called me 'Gaara-chan' as she liked."
Ga-…Gaara-chan…?
Naruto thought while sweat dropping.
"But…I didn't hate her for that. I was happy that she greeted me and smiled to me. She wasn't afraid of me and often held my hand. In instant…I liked her," Gaara said again in soft expression. Naruto's heart was beating so fast when he listened to the story. "Even if I wanted to know who she was, she couldn't tell me. When I asked her if we could meet again, she only smiled and didn't say anything, and before she went home, she had said that she was always beside me. I was so glad. She even told me that it would be fun if we could play together again. She was the first person after Yashamaru who wanted to be with me and gave me love," Gaara smiled faintly.
Naruto was pleased to hear the story. He was glad that actually Gaara had that kind of memory with him.
"However…I could only hold my happiness for an instant. When I went to my father's home for practicing Shukaku's control, I saw it…." Gaara's expression went blank and he used a very cold voice.
"S-saw what?" Naruto was shivered when he heard Gaara's voice.
"My father…he beat Temari like hell," Gaara said in stoic expression.
"Eh!?" Naruto was in shock to hear that.
"That time…."
Flash Back
"How many times do I tell you not to come near him!?" the Yondaime Kaze Kage yelled at Temari fiercely and beat her with his stick so hard many times. Temari could only whimper and bit her bottom lip. She didn't dare screaming in pain even though it hurt so badly. She even tried not to cry until her bottom lip was bleeding because she bit it to hard.
"Stop it! Please stop, father!!" Kankuro screamed in fear while crying. "Stop it! Stop it, father! Temari can die!!" Kankuro shouted loudly while grabbing his father waist from behind to stop him for beating Temari further.
"Shut your mouth up, Kankuro!!" the Kaze Kage yelled at him while shoving him hard until he flied and hit the dojo's wall. "Get out of my way and be quiet in the corner if you don't want to be punished!!" he warned Kankuro dangerously.
"Father, Kankuro has nothing to do with what I did, please leave him alone," Temari asked her father without fear.
The Kaze Kage gave his attention back to Temari and beat her again for her rudeness. "You dare to talk back to me, eh…Temari!"
"Stop…, please, stop it…." Kankuro couldn't stand it any longer. "Stooooooooooop!!" Kankuro screamed hysterically. The Kaze Kage stopped his actions. He looked at his son a bit concerned.
"It is fine, father. You can continue," Temari said hoarsely. But there was no fear in her face or voice. "I'm the one who was guilty for violating your order," she said again not minded it. "It is fine, you can punish me as you like." Her breath was heavy and she wanted to faint.
The Kaze Kage narrowed his eyes and threw the stick away. He walked closer to Temari with serious face. He glared at Temari fiercely and smacked her cheek so hard until she was sent fly and collapsed at the floor. "You didn't show your regret at all! Listen, this time I will let you go, but there's no next time. If you dared to disobey me again, I would not forgive you!!" he yelled angrily. "Understood!?"
Temari tried to sit down again in polite way. "Yes…father," she said faintly with all of her leftover strength.
"Temari!!" Kankurou shouted warily while still crying. Temari looked at him, and gave him a small warm smile. It's as if she told him that she was alright.
"Back to your room and introspect your self!" the Kaze Kage ordered her coldly.
Temari bowed her head to her father in respect. "Yes, please excuse me," Temari said slowly in polite manner. She barely could stand up. After she stood right, she tried to walk slowly with shaking body, making her way to get out of dojo.
"Temari…." Kankuro was trembling to see his sister was in the state like that. He gritted his teeth then glared at his father. "Why…why do you have to torment her like that!? You're so cruel!! What's wrong with playing with her own little brother, for God sake!!" Kankuro yelled at his father angrily.
At that time Gaara was startled when he heard that.
What…?
"Shut up Kankurou!! You'll be punished too if you dared to go near that monster!!" his father countered him coldly.
No…, Impossible….
"He's your own Goddamn-child!!" Kankuro yelled again angrier than before.
It's….
Gaara covered his mouth in disbelieve when he realized whom the girl he played with before.
Kaze Kage narrowed his eyes dangerously. "If you dared to violate my orders like Temari did, Kankurou, your punishment would be heavier than her," he threatened.
Kankuro was shaking badly, not because he was scared, but because he was so angry. He was so angry and couldn't stand it anymore. "You're so stupid!! I hate you!!" Kankuro yelled while running away from his father.
Meanwhile, Temari-who was injured so badly and was walking in difficulty, was trying her best not to cry from the pain on her all parts of body. She was about passing the yard when she caught a glimpse of someone staring at her behind the tree. She turned her face at the boy, and then she smiled so warmly. "Gaara-chan…," she called him in whisper.
Gaara was trembling horribly. He couldn't say anything. He even couldn't think anything. He was so scared if he said something it would hurt Temari even more.
"I'm…so sorry…," Temari whispered those words with really sad face. She wanted to cry, not because of the bruises, but because of the look on Gaara's face. She turned her face away from Gaara, and then she walked away from him. Gaara wanted to chase after her, but Kankuro's presence stopped him.
"Temari, wait!!" he called. Kankuro was chasing after Temari when he saw Gaara in the yard. He looked at him miserably, and then he gritted his teeth and turned his face away from him. He was so angry at himself. "I'm sorry…!" He whispered those words with regret. Then he continued to chase his sister to help her.
It's because of me….
Gaara thought sadly while crying in silence.
It's all my faults that they suffer like that….
End of Flash Back
Gaara rested for awhile to take a breath. His face still expressionless, but Naruto knew how much pain he felt. Naruto was crying in silence, not wanting Gaara to know about it.
"Since then…I haven't let anyone except Yashamaru come closer to me. Knowing that Temari and Kankuro suffered terrible disaster because of me was enough. I didn't want anyone suffer like them or me. I could hold myself with Yashamaru's love only and I had known that actually Temari and Kankuro loved me. I wanted to live to cherish those feelings," Gaara said while resting his jaw on his palm. He dozed off for awhile, and then looked at Naruto. He sweat dropped right away. "What's wrong with your face?" he asked.
"Sorry…," Naruto sniffed while dried his tears with tissue. "Your story is so sweet and beautiful! Gaara, you…indeed, you…!"
"Stop that stupid overworked reaction!!" Gaara yelled in flushed face. "Besides, the story hasn't finished yet! The main reason for me not to be close to anyone isn't that," he continued.
"EH?" Nartuto asked in wonder.
"After the incident, about a week later, Yashamaru tried to kill me," he said slowly.
"What!?" Naruto shouted in disbelieve. He widened his eyes in shock when he heard that.
"Yashamaru is my own uncle. He's my mother's younger brother. He was so kind to me. He's the only person whom I believed and loved from the bottom of my heart. My father ordered him to kill me…of course he used a mask when he tried to kill me. I didn't realize it was him until I made him dying over my sand. In the end…he was still smiling at me and saying how much he loved me…."
You are my everything….
Gaara recalled Yashamaru's words when he was dying.
Love yourself…. Don't let anyone distract your heart…. Live for yourself…more than anyone else…. Don't ever be weak…. Live for me…because…I love you….
"His words are like spell. I closed my heart perfectly after Yashamaru's death. There's no one except Yashamaru in my heart. I never let anyone to touch or distract my heart. For me…my life is only to kill anyone except me. My life is more important than anything like he said. I will keep his love in my heart forever and I won't let anyone replace him, not Temari or Kankuro either…because…I can't love anyone else anymore. I have loved myself more than anyone else. I…don't want to lose anything more, that's why…." Gaara didn't continue his words. He was silent with miserable face.
Naruto smiled. "It's not like you can't love again-," Naruto responded after he was sure Gaara had stopped his story at all. "-Gaara is just afraid to love again. It's because you have been hurt and lost so many; you even have been betrayed by a lot of people, so you are afraid to believe," Naruto continued, "-but…you know, Temari and kankuro won't hurt or betray you. I know and I guarantee that! See, they were the ones who defended you so hard, trying to stop Akatsuki for taking you away, weren't they?" Naruto said surely with determined voice. "Even if Gaara only loves his self and Yashamaru, there's nothing wrong for liking Temari and Kankuro, is it? It's because they love you so much too, Gaara…."
Naruto smiled again, so softly and so warmly. Gaara didn't know why, he was flown by the warm in Naruto's smile. It's so warm until his eyes felt hot. Gaara covered his mouth and bowed his head a little when suddenly there are many odd feelings gathered in his heart. They climbed up to his eyes-which was felt hot-, and then…tears were falling down from Gaara's emerald eyes to his pale cheeks.
Naruto saw him while smiling sadly. "Gaara…must love them very much too. You just didn't realize it. See, you are standoffish like that," Naruto said again. He didn't know why but, part of him was glad that Gaara was actually crying. "You want to go home, to their place, don't you?" Naruto cared Gaara's cheeks and dried his tears with his thumbs. He looked at Gaara's face gently. "Go home, where you can be one of the parts in family love as a main character, not as an observer. Temari and Kankuro will surely teach you directly…!" Naruto grinned cheerily at Gaara.
Gaara-who couldn't think rationally anymore because of his overflow feelings- closed his eyes slowly and answered with shaky voice, "Yeah…," he embraced Naruto tightly and dug his face to Naruto's chest. "I want to go home…I want to go home to their place…!" he continued while sniffing.
Naruto smiled gently and hugged Gaara back. "Of course…you will go home to their place. I promise you," Naruto said surely.
I want you to live happier than before, Gaara…!
End of Chapter 9
Tbc…
A/N: Dekitaaaaaaaaa!! Chapter 9 is done! Aaah, it's longer than before. I'm glad I can finish it in two days. Jeez, sorry for the delay. I've been so busy with college's works! Anyway, thank you for waiting it. I don't know how to express it. This chapter is full of family-kind-of love, so I meant it when I used the chapter's title. Gaara was crying…OMG! A lot of oOC-ness is here. Sorry for humiliating their characters. Oh yeah, next chapter Sasuke will appear a lot, I promise. Ok, I think it's enough. Don't forget to review me and critique-compliment me! Thank you. I love you all!
With Love,
Lunaryu