Kintsugi
Approaching Nightmare

She didn't like the fact Temari was leaving yet didn't say anything. Many times she took a deep breath, she wondered if voicing the fact, the nightmare – her nightmare – was ever so close. There wasn't the option of using the fan either when Temari left, yet she found herself becoming nervous during mealtimes, watching Gaara eat; his older sister did a good job of making sure he ate enough, yet her attempts...

Kankuro didn't like them. He glared at her, making her feel even more nervous, proceeded by him telling Gaara different advice which definitely made Gaara even more confused. She then found herself stuck in the home, with no way of getting to Lady Chiyo's to plan for the nightmare she knew was coming, making her think she wouldn't at all be prepared for what would come, but the visions became even more vivid.

She also wasn't blind to the fact the village wasn't pleased with her reappearance. Some never liked her in the first place, while others – her reappearance was definitely creepy, yet there was the fact the place she was this entire time was also, it seemed, well known as if one of the elders leaked the information. She didn't try pleading with Kankuro, not wanting to get on his bad side.

"I'm sorry."

Gaara's words at the breakfast table made Karura and Kankuro startle. "Why are you apologizing?"

"Because I've done something wrong."

"Gaara, we've gone over this many times." Kankuro rolled his eyes, yet seemed annoyed; Karura watched her children since she got out and discovered apologizing for things he shouldn't have to apologize for was a common practice for her youngest.

"Why do you think that?"

"Why..." Kankuro startled, looking at his mother for a few minutes. "What are you even apologizing for?"

"I told you. I did something wrong." The answer from Gaara and other interactions she'd observed said Kankuro wasn't careful in picking the words he used with his younger brother. "As for why I think I've done something wrong, things have been rather awkward since Temari left."

Karura found herself looking at her elder son, swallowing. "I think it's just because..."

She didn't know how to put that. Kankuro sighed. "I don't know how to act around mom now that Temari's not here."

"Oh. Perhaps you should have followed her advice and taken mother to see Lady Chiyo."

"You..." Kankuro pointed his finger at Gaara. "Did you purposefully manipulate the conversation on me?"

"No. It's the logical conclusion, isn't it?"

"Maybe not." Karura wondered how Temari did it, quickly concluding that Temari simply knew both of their personalities that well, yet Karura was still a stranger in the lives of her own children.

"Maybe not?"

"Well..." She took a deep breath. "It's certainly not a conclusion most people would come to. I mean, none of us know how to act around each other, right?"

"Yeah. That." Kankuro stood up. "I'm heading out. Be sure to eat something before you head to the office Gaara."

"Okay." Gaara was, of course, picking at his food until Karura decided to make him something he could take with him. She found it curious that he wondered if cooking was something Temari and Kankuro were supposed to supervise her on, in which she learned he was still supervised when cooking.

"Do they think you'll burn the place down?"

Gaara tilted his head. "That's funny."

This honestly didn't make any sense until he mentioned something regarding making unintentional messes that Temari didn't need to clean up. "I see." Knowing tonight was the night her nightmare would occur, she said, "Be safe Gaara."

He stared at her, almost as if finding what she said amusing before saying, "You're funny. Temari's a lot like you."

He left then, making her wish she'd told him more, yet remembering her promise to her two other children. "Plus, there are certain ways you can't interfere with the visions. One of them is telling a person what is going to happen to them, particularly when you don't know all of the details."

She found herself lost in thought, none of her children returning home until a knock at the door came. She didn't move, knowing full well one of the rules was not to open the door for anyone. The door opened and Baki stepped in, placing a rather long package against the wall, his eyes drilling into her. "Can I ask what this is about?"

Karura found herself standing up. "I'm not quite sure. Is that from Lady Chiyo?"

Baki let out a sigh. "Look, I don't like going behind your children's back, so I'd like an explanation of why Lady Chiyo is sending you tools a shinobi would use despite the fact you are far from being reinstated to active duty. The chances are painfully slim, you know, given the fact you were in the mental ward."

"I want to protect Gaara."

"Are you even in the..." Baki let out a sigh, glancing away. "I'm sorry, Lady Karura, but I do have to wonder if you're in the right mental state to be doing such a thing." He then looked her in the eye. "It's my job to keep him safe, to see to his wellbeing."

"How much have Kankuro and Temari told you?"

"Enough."

"Let me be more specific. Have they told you about..."?

"Are you referring to the fact you sealed Shukaku into Gaara – he told me that? Or are you referring to these visions of yours?"

"Then you do know."

"Lady Karura..."

"You said it's your job to keep him safe, right?"

The man let out a sigh. "Lady Karura, please say what you want to say."

"Tonight, please do your best to keep my son safe."

"Wait, it's tonight?" Baki stared at her, horrified. "Why didn't you..."

"I'm confined to this house Baki, I can't speak of this in front of Gaara, yet I don't think Kankuro would have listened. Plus, there is something happening tonight that needs to happen."

"What do you need?"

The question honestly surprised her. "I'm surprised you trust me like this."

"I don't, but I also would rather not have anything happen to Lord Gaara if there is anything to these visions of yours. I'd never forgiven myself. As such, I'll take responsibility for you leaving the house tonight, but if it doesn't happen, no more talk of these visions Lady Karura."

"That's a deal. As for the other question, what do I need?" Karura's mouth pushed together, remembering a later part of her dream, one which started occurring only recently which involved Kankuro. "I need a person with wind abilities and a puppet master, but I need the two of them to stick together."

"Wait? Did you see Kankuro going off on his own."

"It's complicated. Kankuro, he's going to tell you not to worry tonight, but you'll have reason to trust him then. As for where I'm headed, I'll be heading to the entrance when the fight starts, but if you can head there with Kankuro – do. Gaara will succeed in protecting the village."