*semi-filler

Temari

- Mommy? - I heard Gaara call

-Gaara, sweetheart - I saw fear in her eyes, she was shaking - You need to be quiet, we're going to get out of here now

- Hurry up, get in the car - Dad called and pushed us one at a time into the car - Temari, no matter what - he stopped me before pushing me in - You need to protect your brothers

- Alright - I replied

- Remember the training - he spoke with his hands on my shoulders looking deep into my eyes - You know where there's money and the place, don't forget that, take care of your brothers, now let's go

We got into the car and Dad started driving. I train since I was six years old. My parents said that this moment would come. I just didn't know what I was waiting for. I don't know why these things are happening. We were on vacation until a while ago. Now we are in this city in the interior of the wind country. My mom was scared and I hugged my brothers. Gaara had no idea what was going on and I was glad they didn't go through the same thing as me.

The car accelerated more and more. I didn't know where we were going. But I would have to find a way to get home. Home. If we ever had a place to call home... We started to hear a strange noise. Several cars appeared out of nowhere and my parents got scared. Gaara wanted to cry. I started talking to him that everything would be fine. Kankuro just stared at me.

We were running away. I wish I had a better explanation of this. But I had to be content. I never knew about my father's work and my mother was always at home with us. She always coached me while Dad was gone. Sometimes I didn't like being the firstborn. And sometimes I liked it. I felt important. I felt protective.

- What are we going to do now? - my mother asked - The children need to stay in a safe place

- We need to get out of this part of town, I know where to leave them - he replied

- Leave us? - I asked - But what about dad? Mom?

- This is not the time to be insolent, young lady - my mother replied - Listen to what your father is saying

- Mrs. Chiyo's house is not far from here - he replied - We'll leave them there

The car accelerated. The tire screamed on the asphalt that was hot. It was hot. It was the only sensation I could feel right now. I was already making up several plans in my head. As Mom taught me.

- Temari - Gaara called me - Where are we going? - he asked

- Let's continue our vacation somewhere else - I replied with a half smile, he was still only nine years old

- I'm hungry - Kankuro grumbled

- We'll eat when we get there - I said.

While talking quietly with my brothers another noise came. Thunderous. My ear was ringing. Gaara screamed. There was glass in our bodies. They were shooting at the car. There was blood on our clothes. I just asked for this to end.

- KIDS! - my mother yelled - Are you all right?

- We're fine - I said, that was for sure a lie

- RASA GET US OUT OF HERE - she yelled

- That's what I'm trying to do - he replied

Motorbikes appeared around the car. They were men in black helmets, they broke the window and tried to pull Gaara away from me. I held him and Dad braked the car. Causing the biker to fall. My mother looked at us with despair. Gaara had an injured arm. Would we die? I didn't want to die. I didn't want my family to die. The gunshot noises returned. We were in a deserted part of town. Few cars and little movement.

With the noise you could see the few people running and hiding. Cars opening the way. A cherry tree. The pink flowers blooming. Falling to the ground. It was the last thing I saw. My dad spun the car around and for a moment the world went in slow motion for me. The car spun, we were going to be upside down. The only thing I thought was that I needed to protect my brothers. Before I even thought, I buckled them up. And after that everything went black.

My brothers were hanging by their belt and I was on the ground. I glanced at my parents and there was blood. A lot of blood. It was dripping. Damn, I couldn't breathe right. My brothers seemed to be sleeping. They had some bruises but nothing much. I felt intense pain in my back and leg. Plus a generous cut on my belly. How I wanted to scream. My foot had twisted, I could see it. Can't do it, can't scream. The tear ran down my cheek. I started to shake

- They're dead - I heard someone say - Just a few shots were enough

- And the kids? - another voice spoke

- They must be dead, there's a lot of blood - he said and it looks like he was going to bend down to check, before he did that I caught the blood on me and spread it on my brothers

He crouched. I closed my eyes and held my breath. How my chest hurt. It was so hard to keep this up. I felt his gaze on us, checking, checking. I heard him get up and get on the motorbike.

- They're dead - he repeated - Everything went as planned

- That's great, go back to base right now - the other man said

- Yes sir - he replied and walked away

I needed to call 911. Anything. I needed to do something before I passed out. I needed to save my brothers. I had to protect them. I took the cell phone Dad gave me and called it. I didn't know if the ambulance would arrive. I had no idea if I was going to survive. Maybe just a miracle and a lot of luck. I texted Chiyo, I knew who she was. My father had already contacted me.

"Temari. We are close to your house. Car accident. Dead..."

That was all I managed to type and send before dizziness followed by darkness. The only thing I felt was my heart. And his desire to keep hitting.

Ino

Dinner was over. I ate almost nothing, again. I'm not hungry these last few days. I feel like crap. I believe even worse than that. It was just me and my dad at the table. Now it would be like this forever. Both of us. He was down, I needed to stay strong for him but I didn't know how to do this. His gaze had no color. My mother died only a week ago. A cancer, terminal stage. There was no treatment that would cure her. There was nothing to be done and maybe that was what hurt the most.

I think that's why my dad feels so helpless. Even with all that money, the best hospital, the best treatments. He didn't "save" her. I don't even know what this is. I don't really know what love is, I don't think I feel as deeply as my parents felt for each other. And I sure don't know what it would be like to lose the love of your life. I think it's a wound that never heals. It only lessens the pain a little over time. Time... I just wish my mom had had more time with us.

I believe it is even worse to live with me. I am her copy. Her whole way. The way of speaking, acting, thinking. My dad always said I just pulled his appearance. The rest is all hers. I don't want him to blame himself and it pains me to see him like this. But I have to go through the grieving my way before I help him.

- I think I'll rest a bit - I said getting up - I have class tomorrow - I smile

- Okay... - he replied quietly, stirring his plate of food

- It's going to be okay, Dad - I said hugging him from behind - I'm here with you

- I know so, dear - he said - You are everything in my life, my princess and it was for your mother too, you are our greatest pride

I started crying and hugged him. We stayed like that for a while and I saw that he shed some tears too. We were going through the same process but I was handling it better than he was. I can't even imagine it. Feeling the pain he is feeling and having to continue living normally, working, living with other people. Sometimes being that important is a pain in the ass.

- It's okay, dear - he said - Go ahead, I have some things to do before I sleep too

- Good night, Dad - I said

- Good night, dear - and he smiled

I went upstairs and went to the bathroom. I threw up what little food I ate. Almost every day I went through this, I lost too much weight. How I wanted to cry. I took a shower, brushed my teeth, and changed into my pajamas. I needed sleep, rest. I took some medicine, my head hurt a little. I went to the bedroom and when I opened the door I was startled.

- What are you doing here? - I screamed

- I came to see you, you don't answer my calls, much less answer my messages - he replied

- Kiba, I already told you to stop coming into my room like that - I said angrily - We have class tomorrow, it's late, go away

- Not until you talk to me, why are you ignoring me? - he asked

- My mother died, Kiba! Think about it, I need some time to myself! - I was furious - I don't have time to make sex with you!

- Is that what you think of me? That I just want to have sex with you? - he interrogated

- And what else would I think? - I replied

- I want to know how you are, Ino! I don't want you to push me away like you've been doing for the past few weeks, I care about you - he moved closer - Your well being is everything to me

- Now do you want how I look? - I said laughing - Why don't you go looking for any girl to talk to? They are much more interesting than me - I replied

- I want to be here with you - he said - Why don't you believe me?

- But I don't want you here, I never asked for you here - I said that but surely he knew it was a lie - And yes, I don't believe you, not after that

- We have to talk about this - he said quietly

- About what? - I crossed my arms - You are a selfish asshole who only thinks about yourself! I don't have anything to talk to you about - all I needed was to growl at him - My mother is dead, Kiba! I have bigger problems than you

- I love you Ino - he said - I just don't know how to deal with it or what to do with it - I saw tears in his eyes - Don't push me away...

- But I don't love you! - I was crying - You broke my fucking heart, Kiba - I screamed - You preferred to be with someone else at that moment

- But Ino...

- I don't deserve to be anyone's indecision, Kiba - I completed - Be everything or go away

And so he did. He walked to my balcony and disappeared. I fell to the ground and shed tears. I lost two people. In a week my life turned to hell. I couldn't stay like this. No, I couldn't afford to be like this. I needed to study. I needed to help my father. Kiba made his choice and he decided to go. It must be easier to deal with people with no personality traits, one-night stands.

I felt an emptiness. One so big it felt like I couldn't fill it. I held my chest but it felt like no air would come in. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see. A waterfall of tears welled up in my eyes. Everything was blurry. Mom. How I wanted you here with me, telling my problems with boys, listening to your advice, snuggling me in your embrace. It was everything I wanted most.

One day we will meet in the afterlife and I'm sure this day will be the happiest of my life.

author here!

Just to clarify. Temari was 13 at the time of these events and Ino was 17 years old. See you tomorrow. All this will make sense later