A/N ahem... sorry for being so late? I didn't get to this fic till like 4 days after i posted the other..which is sad.. so i'll just get on with it.... read on!

Chapter 26 – Home of the Death Children

Although Maliko and Tazze had not been in the village for eight years., they were still able to navigate perfectly to their old home. They headed towards the Zetsumeikage tower in the center of the village, the bright light of the moon showing them the way. Despite how much Gaara hated people, he found it quite eerie that there was absolutely no one here. No lights flickered in the buildings, and no one roamed the street but the four companions.

Maliko and Tazze stopped very abruptly, almost causing Itachi to run into Tazze's back before he stopped himself. Gaara on the other hand walked right into Maliko and making her stumble a bit before Gaara reached out and caught her, stabilizing her on her feet.

"What was that for!" yelled the orange haired girl as she pushed Gaara away.

"You're the one who stopped so suddenly." Gaara retorted, keeping his cool a bit better than Maliko.

"I stopped because we're here. And I didn't stop 'suddenly'.. you're just blind and clumsy." Maliko laughed inwardly as Gaara's eye twitched. She loved annoying him.

"Oi, you two stop." Itachi's stern voice cut in. "Let's get as much rest as we can and continue with what we need to do in the morning." Tazze nodded along.

"....Hai, hai." huffed Maliko showing as much exasperation as humanly possible. Leading the way into the small one story building, Maliko was thoroughly surprised that Aysen wasn't lying. Their home was exactly the same as it was that day.

An old doll of Tazze's was stationed on the couch beside Maliko's old toy sickle and chain. The twins small child sized cloaks hung off of hooks on the walls in between two doors. One leading to Maliko's and Tazze's room, and the other to their mother's.

No one said anything for a long time while Tazze and Maliko surveyed all of the old memories.

Tazze unconsciously grazed passed Itachi and Gaara and headed toward four photo frames situated on a table. One of a smiling woman with long vibrant orange hair and bright turquoise eyes with a black line marking over the left one. This picture wasn't taken long before the Zetsumeikage's demise, but Tazze was glad her mother was so happy in her last days.

On the right of her mother's picture there was a picture of her father. He wore no smile on his face, but one could easily see that there was happiness in his white eyes. His Konoha headband was placed on his forehead, hiding the seal and his long dark hair ran down past his shoulders, tied in the back. The picture was taken before Rychii had run from the Main House.

Some people might have thought Rychii's decision to come to the Zetsumeikage in his time of need was totally random. It wasn't though. Every chance their mother had, she would tell her daughters about how Rychii and herself had became friends a long time ago and the fun they had with the little time they would see each other.

Beside Rychii's picture was a very similar looking girl, Tazze of course, with her long dark hair and shining white eyes. A smile was plastered on the chubby face that could rival her mothers.

On the left of the Zetsumeikage's picture was an eight year old Maliko, looking identical to her mother, despite her short hair and arrogant look. Albeit Maliko looked a lot like her mother, her personality and maturity was much like Rychii's back then. After the Akatsuki Terror though, Maliko had become less mature and more like a raging, cocky, and stubborn female... Leaving Tazze to become the more mature sibling.

Tazze was taken from her stupor as a hand was placed on her shoulder. Tearing her gaze from the family of pictures, she turned her head to look at Maliko. Although Tazze was somewhat depressed, missing the old days, Maliko wore a huge smile, just happy enough that she could be in her old home and be where she was today. Maliko's cheeriness was enough to make Tazze a little bit more happy.

"I know you would love to look forever Tazze, but you should sleep. Me and you can sleep in Mother's room and i'll make some beds for Itachi and Gaara on the floor out here. Go on and i'll come in after i'm done." Tazze nodded and started walking towards the master bedroom.

Gaara meanwhile only just processed what Maliko had just said, and began to mutter reproachfully.

"You sure are an arrogant woman." he growled, side glancing a glare towards Maliko. "Why do you get a bed while we have to sleep on the floor?"

"Dogs do not sleep on beds." she said bluntly, trying to keep her laughter in check and keep a serious face. Itachi and Gaara simply stared, unable to believe her cockiness.

"..."

"..."

"If I were you, I wouldn't sleep tonight." muttered Gaara, giving Maliko a murderous glare, while she stuck out her tongue and ran off towards the room Tazze had not long disappeared into.

Sighing, Gaara sat down on the couch and watched Itachi find some blankets and pillows for himself. Despite how Maliko had said she would do it, she just said it to get a rise out of them.

Gaara lazily dropped to his back, and folded his arms behind his head for a pillow on the couch. Unexpectedly though, he was shoved to the floor. Looking up with a shocked face he watched Itachi calmly put the blankets on the couch and strip off his robe and shirt.

"What the hell! I was laying there!" yelled Gaara, pushing himself to stand next to the couch, which Itachi currently occupied now.

"Why do you care, its not like you sleep anyways." said Itachi while closing his eyes.

"....I still like to rest- .. Awe screw you." groaned Gaara, as he made his way to the door leading outside. "I'm going to check the village out.. I'll be back before dawn."

"Hm..." Itachi grunted, letting Gaara know that he heard him.

Morning came all too soon for the twins and when Gaara went around the house waking everyone up, it seemed that only Itachi got up without complaint. Gaara tried every method possible to get them out, from poring water on their faces to stealing all their blankets and pillows.

Tazze eventually got fed up with being cold and rose out of the bed, earning an annoyed glare from Gaara. Maliko, meanwhile, still layed, half asleep in the bed, curled up in a ball.

"Get up Maliko..." ordered Gaara, crossing his arms across his chest in an impatient manner.

"Mmm-no.. just 15 more minutes.." she replied groggily, snuggling into the mattress seeking warmth.

Gaara rolled his eyes and walked over to the bed. Without warning, Maliko felt a cold hand grip around her ankle and pull. She lazily clawed at the mattress, trying to keep herself on the bed, but her struggle was futile. There was a dull thump as she hit the wooden floor.

"Itai.." muttered Maliko, rubbing her sore side that she fell on. Grabbing a pillow from beside her, she hucked it as hard as she could at Gaara. With the reflexes of a ninja, he caught it easily and just as soon as he caught it, he chucked it right back at her. Despite how Gaara was wide awake and much more stealthy than her, she was sluggish and really.. not all that great with her reflexes in the first place. The pillow connected with her face and made her jolt back.

As she rubbed her face trying to get feeling back into it, she started giggling. She felt quite energetic for having just woken up.

Gaara walked over to the giggling girl on the floor and hauled her up by her wrists and proceeded to drag her out of the room.

"Cmon moron, we got things to do today.."

"heheheh Hai hai!"

A/N i didn't feel like spoiling yall haha.. i'm way to lazy to write more at the moment and i thought i better put something up before i start getting death threats... ---ya right..

so here it is.. review!! even tho its a lame little chapter and not worth much! Give me the motivation to do more!

Abayo

Malitia