Yay, Chapter 4! I was about to give up this story, but then I thought it'd be really irresponsible of me to do that XD
Besides, I'm getting positive feedback, so I should do an effort. Thanks again for all the positivity it really encourages me to write more! :D
Chapter 4: Gaara's Siblings
Since I have no clothes of my own, Gaara gives me some of his to change into. We both go get cleaned up and, somehow, I know how to bandage up my head and his forehead, even though it's the first time I do it. It's like… I know how.
"Akia, you're really good at it. Almost as good as… Yashamaru…"
"Yashamaru?"
So that's it… I must've absorbed that knowledge from him too. Is that how people learn jutsu? That's weird.
"Hey Gaara, how do you learn jutsu?"
"Jutsu? Well… It takes training, mostly. Other ways is when you have a Kekkei Genkai."
"A Kekkei Genkai? I feel like I've heard of it before…"
"A Kekkei Genkai is an inherited skill, a bloodline limit."
"Is your control over sand a Kekkei Genkai?"
"Not really… I have that control because of the Shukaku."
"…Is it normal for someone to learn jutsu by absorbing it from a dead body?"
"What…? I've never heard of something like that before. Why do you ask?"
"I think… that's what happened to me when… I got closer to Yashamaru's dead body…"
Even though I still didn't try the flying kunai technique, I just feel like I know how. I also know how to treat wounds almost at professional level when it's my first time ever treating it.
"Do you think that maybe it's your clan's Kekkei Genkai?"
"Yeah, maybe…"
It could be my clan's Kekkei Genkai. I don't really remember anything about them, so… It is a possibility. Does that mean if I'm close to a really strong ninja's dead body, then I'll become a really strong ninja too? That would be awesome! But then again, I don't like seeing people die…
"Kiu… I have a feeling that a lot of assassination attempts are going to come my way… It'll be dangerous for you to stay with me…"
"What are you trying to say? You want me to leave?"
"…It'd be safer for you."
"No it won't. You're the only person I have in this world… I only trust you… Besides, if anything happens, I know you'll protect me, right?"
"Of course! I'll do anything to keep you safe!"
"I know you will."
"You know, it's getting late. You should go to sleep. You can have my bed."
"You don't want to try to sleep too?"
"It's better if I don't…"
"At least sit next to me on the bed. I… don't want to be alone after all that's happened tonight."
Gaara pats my head and smiles.
"Alright, I won't leave you alone."
Good! I'm really scared after all that's happened. I mean, I saw a man die in front of me after trying to assassinate my best friend! I'm just happy that that friend is safe and sound… and that he's smiling again. I get up on Gaara's bed and he lies down next to me.
"I thought you said you weren't going to sleep."
"Lying down doesn't mean that I'll sleep."
"You got a point there."
We're both lying on our sides, facing each other. We take each other's hands into our own, finding safety and comfort in each other. I feel my eyelids becoming heavy. After a while, I finally end up falling asleep.
I open my eyes… My head feels groggy from hitting it last night… Where am I again? Oh, yeah… Gaara's room… Gaara… I look around. Where's Gaara? Gaara? Did something happen to him while I was asleep? No way! Gaara! I feel my panic rising. I have to find him!
I run towards his room's door and rush outside. I bump into something or someone and fall on my butt.
"Ow…"
"Who are you?"
I look up and see a boy that looks older than both Gaara and me. He has similar hair to Gaara but his is brown.
"I… I'm… sorry… I…"
I'm being shy again… I need to go find Gaara, but I don't know how to tell this guy. I don't even know who he is! And he asked me about who I was… Should I tell him? I should… I mean he probably lives here, right? Or maybe… he's the one who took Gaara away! No… Gaara is probably much stronger than him…
"Hey! I asked you who you were, don't just space out like that!"
He flicks my forehead.
"Ow! That hurts!"
"What's going on here?"
A girl voice?
"Temari, there's a little brat here who came out from Gaara's bedroom and she won't say who she is."
The one he called Temari approaches us and looks at me, surprised to find me there probably… I feel tears welling up in my eyes. From the pain in my forehead, to the embarrassment of being in front of two strangers, and… to the fact that Gaara's not here. I then see a hand extend in front of me. I look up and realize that it's Temari's.
"Come on, get up."
I take her hand and she helps me get up.
"Wait, is she wearing Gaara's clothes?"
The guy comments while pointing at me.
"I… I didn't have any… clothes to change… so he gave me some…"
"Change? Why?"
Temari asks me while dusting off some dust that stuck to me from falling down.
"The real question should be how? I mean Gaara? Lending clothes to someone? Since when did he ever get that close to anybody without killing them?"
"Gaara's not like that!"
They both look at me, surprised that I actually had an audible voice. That guy made me angry! How could he talk like that about Gaara? I look down before continuing what I have to say.
"Gaara is… a very nice person…"
"Are we talking about the same person…?"
"Shut it, Kankuro."
Temari punches Kankuro in the back of his head. That must hurt…
"So, are you Gaara's friend?"
She asks me after looking back at me.
"Yeah… He's my best and only friend…"
They both look even more surprised than when they found me on the floor.
"Do you want to tell me about what happened yesterday, and why your head is bandaged?"
"Well… Someone… tried to assassinate Gaara yesterday… So…"
"Wait what? Why would someone want to assassinate Gaara?"
"All I understood was that Gaara's dad wanted him dead… because he was dangerous… But that's not true!"
I feel tears roll down my cheeks as I remembered the things that happened last night, and how Gaara was really hurt by it.
"It's alright, don't cry…"
Temari wipes away my tears.
"We still don't know who that kid is…"
I hear Kankuro mumbling under his breath. I should really answer them, I guess…
"I'm Kiu…"
"Where are your parents? Do they know that you're here?"
Temari asks me while brushing my hair with her fingers.
"I don't know… I don't remember… if I even have any parents…"
"Is this brat in her right mind?"
"Kankuro, I told you to shut up."
"Kiu…?"
That voice… Gaara! I look to my right and I find him standing a little further away from us. He's looking at us with a very confused face.
"G… Gaara…"
Temari stutters.
"Gaara!"
I cry out his voice as I run towards him and hug him. I sob as he pats my back to comfort me.
"What's wrong? What happened? Kiu? Why are you crying?"
"I… I thought you were gone! I thought someone hurt you!"
I sob harder.
"Don't worry, I was just trying to get some food for you, but then I heard you talking to… them."
I finally stop crying and I pull away from Gaara. I look at the two people who were talking to me before. They look really shocked… and scared.
"You mean Temari and Kankuro? They tried to help me… They were just confused seeing me in your room. Who are they though?"
"I'm his… older sister. Kankuro here is my little brother and Gaara's older brother…"
Temari stutters. That's why she's so nice. She's like Gaara. But Gaara is nicer… I don't get how Kankuro is Gaara's older brother though… He's nothing like him! He's so mean… But wait… Are his siblings also afraid of him? How could they be like that? They're family!
"How long is this brat- I mean, your friend is staying here?"
"I don't know."
Gaara answers his brother with a little hostility in his voice. I guess they really aren't on really good terms with each other.
"I think it's fine for her to stay as much as she likes… If you two are hungry, I'll go bring you something to eat."
"No-"
"Thanks, Temari! I was getting hungry."
I cut Gaara off since I am really hungry… Now that I think about it, last time I ate was yesterday at Mari's house… which seems like a really long time ago. Gaara looks down to the floor in front of his feet and starts fidgeting a little.
"Fine… Thank… you…"
He said that so quietly that I doubt if Temari actually heard him. I look up at Temari and I see a little surprise on her face. She then heads downstairs and I spot a little smile on her face. So she did hear it. Maybe deep down, she wants to be closer to her brother, but their dad probably keeps filling their heads with lies about Gaara. Gaara then takes my hand and brings me back to his room. Kankuro's eyes follow us as if we're from a different planet or something. I still can't believe him and Gaara are related.
I've always seen Temari as a caring sister, even when she was afraid of Gaara. Don't you guys think so?
Review and all that stuff :D Thanks for reading see you next week!~
