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Chapter Twenty-three
Sakura was met with loud cries erupting in front of her. Opening the door had surprised the occupants opposite of her, and by the time Sakura could look out the hallway to examine who they were, Kankuro had already stumbled backwards to his bottom while Temari cried from down the hall and scurried in a flash back down the stairs.
'What the…?' Sakura thought while seeing their panic states.
She knelt before Kankuro who looked to have been listening in through the door.
"Calm down!" she told him, reaching for his shoulders.
To her voice, her reassurance, the boy did slowly stifle his cry. Still, anxiety was in him, and he kept glancing from Sakura to the room behind her. It wasn't a complicated puzzle to the young woman as to why they were suddenly afraid. Sakura shook her head at Kankuro, grimacing while wondering what possessed the two children to come up here if they were frightened to be near Gaara this much. She glanced behind her, hoping to decipher Gaara's feelings on this revelation. Last he saw his siblings, he had wasted no time following suit to their running figures. Yet, the bed Gaara had sat on was now empty.
'Where did he go?' Sakura wondered.
"Sakura..."
Kankuro had murmured her name, earning back her attention. Down the hall, Temari had returned, but only peering her eyes over the wall; she was not willing to draw near.
"We're hungry."
Sakura looked back down at the boy, surprised. Though the cook of the house was gone, did their caretakers not have the means to prepare them food, she wondered. It was already late into the afternoon.
"You haven't had your lunch yet?" Sakura asked.
Kankuro grimaced to her question, head falling some before he replied.
"We haven't eaten all day. Annaisha isn't here."
The young woman's eyes widened. They had no clue what had happened to the cook, and yet while that thought bothered Sakura, another issue presented itself. Why were these children cared for so diligently by others daily, but neglected to the point of starving today? A small anger began to build in Sakura. Whoever was in charge today for Temari and Kankuro were going to get an earful from her.
"Whose watching you today?" Sakura snapped lightly, causing the small boy to jump lightly from his spot.
Yet, despite her loud voice, Kankuro brought his eyes back up to Sakura.
"Baki-sensei has been watching us," Kankuro mumbled.
Sakura blinked.
'Baki and Annaisha were...' her mind began to rattle. 'Is it possible he isn't here now because of what happened last night.'
They were lovers, Baki and Annaisha. The feelings Sakura had picked up looked to be deep. Had grief stricken the disciplined ninja to ignore his duties? Sakura swallowed hard at the thought, it pained her to think how overwhelmingly depressed Baki now was. They were taught to cast away such emotions for reasons like this, but it was much harder said than done.
Love could be a wonderful thing, but also a cruel, heart-breaking lesson.
"Sakura?"
It was Kankuro's concerned voice that shook off the woman's thoughts. Looking back down at the brunette, she could see the suspicion in his eyes. Yet, Kankuro had just asked the rosette not long ago when it was he and his brother could play together. She couldn't shatter that hope by telling him why Baki was not here, or why Annaisha would never be back again.
"Where is Shiori-san?" she instead asked.
Kankuro opened his mouth, but it was Temari who beat him to the answer as she called from down the hall.
"Baki-sensei told us she got sick and died."
Sakura eyes nearly bulged to Temari's nonchalant answer.
'When had this all happened?!' Sakura wondered in her mind.
Why had she not been informed of this sickness? She was a medic damn it! Even Rasa was aware of her place. At the very least she could have evaluated the older woman and determined what the outcome would be. She may have possibly been able to save her. Why had Baki not mentioned this before? Why had Annaisha kept this information secret?
Sakura blinked again in thought.
'Unless...' Sakura wondered, once again turning her eyes back and scanning for Gaara. 'Maybe they're keeping something from me.'
She couldn't spot the redheaded still, yet her senses still picked him up somewhere in the room. Not that she imagined him to run away anyway; he simply hid himself from sight.
"Is he in there?"
Kankuro again drew back her attention, and she was surprised to see his eyes light up more curiously than falter from fear; unlike his sister, who stood still far towards the stairs. They both waited for Sakura's answer, and as the rosette nodded softly, she was again surprised to see that it was Temari's face who was the only one to fall and give a small whimper. Sakura focused her eyes on Kankuro then, studying him as his eyes slid past her shoulder and towards the room behind her.
"Can he hear us?" Kankuro eventually asked.
Sakura turned her head back towards the room, still sensing the boy who hid himself. Yet, before she could confirm to Kankuro that he probably could, Kankuro asked another surprising question.
"Can I say hi?"
Sakura's head whipped fast to Kankuro then in bewilderment, but the brunette held her gaze with determined eyes. He was serious with his question, and with the fear from earlier washed away, Sakura actually took his words into consideration. Despite the protesting whimpers his sister had behind him, Sakura took in the confidence the young boy was sending her now.
This was what Sakura had been hoping for Gaara for such a long time now. Someone to give Gaara the benefit of the doubt; that all he needed was kindness to learn and grow. Here, Kankuro was willing, willing to give his brother a chance. Willing to start a bond now. Willing to forgive. Willing to love.
Despite what Annaisha had done to Gaara the night before, what Gaara had told Sakura before about not having siblings, Sakura was hopeful still. That hope made her stand back tall, offering her hand to help the brunette boy up to her feet. Sakura eyed him once more, determining whether he was sincere with his question. She could see no falter in his eyes, just curiosity and a bit of apprehension, and that alone was enough for Sakura to step back and allow Kankuro an open invitation into the room.
Kankuro stood frozen at this revelation, head quickly going back and forth between Sakura and the bedroom. He poked his head in the room after some time, scanning the area before grimacing and looking back up at Sakura.
"He's not in there," Kankuro murmured.
Sakura stared into the room. Again, though she could not see Gaara, she felt his small presence lingering. A presence that felt non-threatening.
"Oh, he's in there," Sakura murmured before turning a small smile towards the brunette. "Shall we go in together?"
The boy again gazed up in her in surprise. Of course there was apprehension on his part, yet Sakura's presence and reassuring smile spoke and encouraged him more than the fear he had developed for his brother held him back. Sakura spent night and day with Gaara, yet she lived, and with smiles nonetheless. Even her words of wisdom sang to him in his mind then.
"He will love you, someday."
'Today?' he wondered.
Even his sister's quiet hiss behind him went ignored.
"Don't," Temari begged Kankuro. "You know what he is. You know what he does."
Sakura shot Temari a glare, and the girl's eyes fell and lips pursed. Still, the offer she made to Kankuro was also an invitation for Temari.
"Would you like to come in and say hello too?" Sakura asked the blonde.
Temari quickly shook her head, pressing her body further behind the wall. So, Sakura instead turned her smile back towards Kankuro.
"I'll come in with you," Sakura said, trying to convince him still. "I promise I won't let anything bad happen to you."
Though she spoke that, the rosette liked to think that Gaara had taken her teachings more to heart today than any other day. She held on to a belief that no harm would come simply because Gaara would not perceive his own brother as one. She wanted to believe he would be anticipating, just as much as Kankuro was, for this meeting. He had no reason to lash out. Though, as Kankuro took a step into the room, Sakura striding next to him, she did begin to have her doubts.
'Perhaps I should have consulted Gaara first,' Sakura thought. 'Even if Kankuro is ready, Gaara may not be.'
The two walked slowly into the middle of the room. The air around them was so silent, that Sakura could pick up Kankuro's accelerated breaths with ease. She could see him tremble lightly in his spot as he peered around the room. To his anxious form, Sakura settled a hand on his shoulder. He turned to look at her comforting smile.
"Don't be afraid," Sakura said. "Gaara is quiet, but he likes when people try to talk to him. He will be happy knowing you wanted to speak to him."
Sakura sent Kankuro a wink then.
"He couldn't ask for better big brother," she finished.
Kankuro's eyes widened some, and even a light pink tinted his cheeks. Perhaps he had become slightly flustered at the term of big brother, and her compliment. Her words seemed to scare away any anxiety left in him, for he nodded at Sakura with a set gaze before turning his head away from her. Again, he peered around the room, looking for the person Sakura claimed could see and hear them. Slightly behind him, Sakura stared up towards the ceiling, watching the boy on their minds hanging upside down.
Gaara's eyes met with Sakura's own. She was thankful to see no animosity in his orbs, he simply stared at her apathetically. Though, with time, he tilted his head some curiously towards her. It was his silent way of asking her what was happening. She kept quiet however, as Gaara did the same and remained hidden. Perhaps he thought Kankuro was simply passing by. Maybe just requiring something from Sakura before he would take his leave without a care or concern for the redhead.
Sakura squeezed Kankuro's shoulder again before leaning her head down to whisper to the brunette.
"Did you not want to say anything after all?" she asked him
Kankuro grimaced.
"I don't see him though," Kankuro whispered back, tilting his head some to meet with Sakura's eyes.
"Just say hello," Sakura said, straightening herself back up. "We may not be able to see him, but he can see and hear us."
Her eyes went back to Gaara, catching his narrowing eyes. Though he did claim, and have, trust in Sakura, her whisper figure over Kankuro put him a little on edge. The brunette boy below hadn't earned anything, except maybe a warrant for death, from him. In Gaara's eyes, the boy under him was nothing like Sakura, and would probably never be. He trusted no one else.
"H-Hello, Gaara."
Sakura looked back up at Gaara, smiling when his attention on her was now stolen by Kankuro's call. The redheaded boy had widened his eyes some, and he blinked rapidly while studying the boy under him more closely. In his mind, the familiarity of this child finally surfaced. He was aware this child lingered in the home like him, and while he knew there was some relationship between him and the brunette that called to him, Gaara had long forgotten what is was.
'Brother, right?' Gaara's mind began to pull up, remembering all that Sakura had told him. 'That's right, there was a blonde haired girl too. A sister'
Gaara's eyes narrowed. Why were they there now? Did they wish too harm him? To that thought, Gaara's eyes widened towards Sakura. Did they wish to harm her as well, he wondered. Yet, as he looked towards Sakura, he could see her smile. A readable expression for him now, as something in his mind told him that everything was going to be alright the longer he stared at her soft expression. So, whilst a part of him urged him to strike Kankuro down now before any harm came, he held back, kneeling himself instead onto the ceiling floor before glancing back towards the boy.
At this point, Kankuro looked back up towards Sakura. Her eyes met with him in a wide smile. The boy, however, looked disappointed
"He's not saying anything," Kankuro murmured.
Sakura just nodded.
"Don't worry," she whispered. "He heard you. He's just shy. Maybe try saying something else."
Kankuro wrinkled his nose while he thought deeply before looking back up towards the rosette.
"Like what?"
Sakura shrugged lightly.
"Anything you like. Maybe you could introduce yourself."
As Sakura spoke, her eyes slid behind her as another small presence came forward. Temari had dared to venture close, but like the wall, she hugged the door in a means to shield herself. Though curiosity had drawn her close enough to watch her brother reach out to Gaara.
Kankuro meanwhile turned around and spoke to the room once more. Taking the young woman's words to heart.
"I'm Kankuro, and I'm your..." the brunette paused for a moment, swallowing hard before finishing his sentence in a whisper. "...brother."
He waited, hoping the silence would break. Yet, he was left disappointed once again. It would be Sakura's squeeze on his shoulder that would make him speak again.
"Keep going," she also encouraged him.
"Oh, uh-" Kankuro murmured to the ground, thinking deep again before lifting his eyes back up. "Sakura says we can play together one day. I mean-when you want to that is. I have some really cool toys!"
She watched Kankuro glance around the room slowly.
"You have some neat toys too," he continued. "We could kick the ball outside together, or play ninja… or train together. I could teach you how to move puppets."
To Kankuro's murmurs, Sakura could feel her chest tighten once more. As encouraging as the brunette's words were, his tone held a deep pain. While Kankuro had his sister, she could understand then that there was some emptiness in him that had yet to be filled. If it ever could be. Perhaps he thought Gaara to help fill that void, for he spoke desperately now to encourage the redhead to accept him.
"We can do whatever you think is fun," he continued to speak.
Still, he was met with silence in the room. Sakura expected him to turn once more to her for an explanation, or for guidance on what to do next. Yet, surprisingly, he continued to speak on his own. As he did, Sakura peeked an eye back up to Gaara. He had not moved from his spot, his eyes still narrow and set on the boy under him.
"I think if you give her time, Temari would want to play with you too. She's really smart, she stands up for me and helps me out all the time. I bet she'd do the same for you too if you wanted."
Sakura expected to hear a protest from the door of some kind, but was again surprised to hear Temari keep her lips pursed. The young woman wasn't sure if the little girl did so out of fear, or genuine curiosity.
"Father always said we should stay away from you…"
Sakura flinched to those words. The thought of Kankuro bringing up their distant father hadn't crossed her mind, and her eyes steadily watched Gaara. She was unsure how the boy would react to the mention of the one he feared. Gaara had not moved, but his eyes had narrowed all the more to slits.
"And Uncle Yashamaru always sent us away if we came too close to your room."
The grip Sakura had on the brunette's shoulder tightened. These names, these people, the boy spoke of now were like taboo to Gaara, and it made Sakura grow slightly nervous. Though, she did her best to hide that feeling.
"Alright," Sakura whispered to Kankuro, eyes still on Gaara."I think we should leave Gaara alone now."
Yet, despite her warning, Kankuro ignored her and even pulled himself out of her tight hold.
"Father says Mother didn't love you like she loved us," Kankuro explained.
"Enough," Sakura whispered harshly towards Kankuro, still trying to hold back the rising panic in her voice.
A small noise caught Kankuro, as well as the others, attention and all heads turned up towards the ceiling watching the small boy rise from his position. They were all silent, save for Temari's small whimpering, as they saw Gaara's eyes widen and nose flare dangerously towards his brother. Sakura was certain that look Gaara now sent Kankuro would stifle the boy's voice. Instead though, the brunette looked up in small awe at his little brother before whispering once more to him.
"Everyone says your a monster. That you kill for fun. That your dangerous and crazy. That you should just go away. Forever."
In a flash, Sakura was able to determine Gaara's next move. He released his chakra from his footing then, falling towards the floor in front of Kankuro. Before he had even landed though, Sakura had pulled, and tossed, Kankuro to his bottom behind her. She stood between Gaara and Kankuro now in a means to protect the brunette. No doubt his words had lit a fire in the redhead that boiled into a rage within him. Kankuro behind her had lifted himself up to his elbows, watching Gaara in front of him while Temari gave a silent gasp before rushing to her brother's side.
"Kankuro!" Temari cried, reaching down to help him.
At the same time, Sakura was watching the boy in front of her pick himself up from the floor. As he did, his eyes did not fall onto her but instead past her to his brother behind her. Narrow, angry eyes did not falter as they stared deep towards Kankuro.
"Gaara," Sakura whispered.
But she got no response. The room went silent, waiting on anything. The children this time remembered not to run.
"Your my brother."
Sakura's eyes widened, shocked the young boy behind her had spoken, let alone still have the courage to keep his voice so steady. She was also surprised to hear him make such a declaration even after all he had just said. It was if behind his words he was secretly telling Gaara that regardless of the past, of what their father had told them, and Gaara's evil-doings, he saw himself still connected to the redhead by blood. As Sakura looked back at Gaara, she could also see his narrow eyes ease up some. Where there was anger, he was now staring down at Kankuro with an apathetic stare.
"Your my brother," Kankuro repeated in a whisper. "We're suppose to play with each other, and I'm suppose to teach you things. I can't be afraid of you anymore because I have to be someone who watches over you. Brothers are suppose to be the best of friends, right?"
Sakura couldn't help herself. Even if she was still on guard, her frown turned into a quick smile then. How had Kankuro learned to be so selfless and caring? His sweet words made the rosette choke for a moment, and she even lifted her head up to hide the tears that were building up. She batted them away with her eyelashes before looking back down towards Gaara. The young boy's eyes were on her this time, and he only stared at her curiously while the two other children behind her waited in silence. In Gaara's eyes, Sakura could see the wonderment that lit up his gaze. How could the small boy turn away such a wonderful offer? Despite the pain in the past, despite what Annaisha had done the night before, he was willing to try again with someone new, and it was all thanks to the rosette in front of him. She promised to stick by his side, called herself his friend, and had been keeping her word since the very start that made Gaara hold on to a hope from her actions. A hope that the rosette claimed would come for him.
"Everyone will look up to you someday."
He took small steps forward, coming next to Sakura before pressing his body next to her and wrapping his hands around her leg. He used her as protection, a shield, and also as steady reassurance that those behind her did actually want to be part of his life. He hid his head partially behind her, but kept one eye still on Kankuro, studying him. Silence still filled the room, and minutes past by. Yet, to Gaara's small step forward, the small way he clung onto her now, Sakura was more than confident knowing Gaara sought out Kankuro's invitation more than he heed it. Perhaps, if the Gaara of Sakura's time was aware a situation like this could have occurred in his childhood, he would have given away a myriad of things to the person who could make it happen.
It wasn't until Sakura brushed Gaara's red locks thoroughly did the small boy look back up at her.
"Kankuro said hello, you should say hi back," Sakura spoke, trying to guide the boy away from his antisocial behavior.
However, Gaara remained quiet still. Looking back and forth between Kankuro and the floor as his head moved lightly to Sakura's strokes. After a moment, Gaara looked back up at Sakura.
"He's my brother?" Gaara asked in a whisper.
Sakura nodded with a smile, knocking down whatever walls of lies Rasa and the Ichibi had built in Gaara's mind. It was a sick thought, to convince such a small one that he had no family.
"If you're kind to him, he will be kind to you. It's just like he says, brothers are suppose to watch over one another," Sakura continued. "Your sister too. Show her the kindness you have shown me."
Despite her reassuring words, his eyes and frown grew pessimistic. It wasn't that he didn't know how to be kind, but that the anxiety in him made his sand lash out. It made his mind rattle at the thought of becoming close to his siblings, just to have them run away like everyone else before; or worse, they could possibly turn against him as easily as his uncle had. It was just easier for him to scare them. To put a fear into them so they would leave him be in what he concluded was isolated peace. However, the older woman he held on to wouldn't accept that answer. She gave him hope.
"Don't worry," Sakura murmured. "I'll be right here. I promise nothing bad will happen."
And he believed her. Told himself he would after yesterday. He promised to be good, to be the better person she somehow could see in him. He took another step forward, placing himself in front of his brother. He did all this, because he didn't want to disappoint the rosette yet again. He pushed himself so Sakura wouldn't push him away.
"H-Hi," Gaara whispered so softly, twiddling his fingers lightly as he stared at Kankuro and Temari.
To his gesture, both Temari and Kankuro's eyes widened in shock as both their jaws hung. Six years they had been told the boy in front of them was the cause of all their fears and nightmares within the home. Nobody defended their brother's name when they had asked why Gaara was so distant, so cold, so bloodthirsty. They were being convinced Gaara was nothing more to them than a hindrance, and a monster. He was the main cause of innocence stolen. He was brought into this world with the sacrifice of their mother's life. They had been taught, told, and convinced so many things against Gaara.
And yet.
And yet…
Here was a young woman with pink hair tossed almost humorously into all three of their lives. It was thought of a joke to the three of them thinking she would survive with Gaara. Even the redheaded boy in the beginning too was just waiting for the perfect moment to be rid of her. She was a joke. Yet, she had told all three otherwise, repeating when she could,
"You will all love one another someday."
Sakura had told Temari without a doubt that her brother would one day care for her, and that she would return the feeling. Sakura had whispered to Kankuro not to hate his brother, for she was certain at the time that his mother would have been in despair at the sight. Right now, the two older children stared silently at the their shy, younger brother, it was Sakura's words ringing in their mind. Not their teachers, not their caretakers, not the villagers, and not their father's.
However, Gaara began to mistake their silent gaze, and slowly began to backtrack his way to Sakura. It was his brother who jumped to his feet to stop him. His big smile, and small laugh had caught Gaara by such surprise that Gaara froze instantly, a little wary, to his approaching figure. Kankuro, to say the least, was overjoyed seeing Sakura's promise now suddenly coming to life. He promised himself then he would try to be the best, big brother that he could. He offered his hand to Gaara without any hesitance, still chuckling behind his smile. Meanwhile, Gaara leaned back away from his hand, still skeptical at the gesture and his brother's smile.
Sakura turned to watch the ordeal, not surprised to see Gaara turn up to look at her for an explanation. She smiled while lifting her own hand and used her other to point at it.
"It's a handshake," she explained with a grin. "Watch."
She knelt down then, taking Kankuro's hand into hers and shaking it gently before pulling back.
"Just like that," she smiled at Gaara who watched curiously.
"It means we agree to be the best of brothers!" Kankuro beamed with a grin, offering still his hand.
Gaara just stared at his brother in slight awe. So rare was a smile sent his way, so rare was he offered such a promise and gesture, so rare was he met with something else than hostility that his mind still shook with uncertainty. All of this was something he had been hoping for his whole life. It had been so many long, lonely years that it was still so hard to fathom that things were changing so fast in front of him. This was all he had wanted out of life, for people to accept him for who he was and acknowledge his place in this world. In a way, his excitement was also morphing fear into his mind. This was all too good to be true, right?
"It means you also have to promise not to hurt us."
It was Temari's voice this time that caught the little boy's attention. He watched her with eyes he was more accustom to seeing. They were narrowed in his direction, a warning to him, and her tone as well matched her forbidding words. However, as she spoke, she quickly paced herself next to Sakura, shielding some of her small body behind the older woman. Her bravado was only strong against Gaara with Sakura nearby. Still, there was no dickering in her words, and Gaara was reminded again how much his easy slip-ups cost him.
This was going to be hard.
Possibly too hard.
Especially for him and his violent mind.
Maybe it's just better he refuses.
Yet, before he can do just that, Sakura knelt once more to his level. The boy didn't flinch as she tucked some stands of his red locks behind his ear before whispering secretly into it.
"Don't worry. I know you can do this. I'll be here to help you when you need it."
He crooked his head towards her, whispering so quiet so as to not let his brother hear of his uncertainty.
"What if I make them mad?"
As he speaks, his eyes fall toward Temari. Her hostile demeanor is a reminder to him that Gaara can't have nice things in his life. That even this gesture now is asking, and hoping, for too much. Sakura pauses for a moment, and Gaara begins to feel foolish. He is growing more and more certain that this is a bad idea. At least he still has some decency in his mind to think that way. However, Sakura rebuttals those thoughts.
"This is what you want," she whispers.
And she is right. It is what he wants.
"Don't let anyone, or anybody, stop you from getting the things you want," Sakura continued to tell him. "If this is what you want I know you will do your best, and work hard, to not break this bond."
And she is right. He doesn't want to scare his siblings away now, not after the courage they built up just to come in and say hello.
"You are Gaara," she reminds him. "I keep telling you everyone will look up to you one day. You will be a great leader to them."
She pauses for a moment before continuing, smiling when she hears Gaara hitch a breath like he always does to those encouraging words.
"There are no better two than your siblings to start off with. Your brother and sister will be your closest allies."
She is wrong, this time the redhead thinks.
Sakura is more than certain she needs not say more, but Gaara draws her back with more words.
"You as well."
Sakura blinked, wide-eyed. She isn't sure if is stating a fact, or asking a question, but she nodded and answered him as if he had.
"Of course," she smiles.
Gaara smiles along with her before turning the happy feature towards his waiting brother. All, save Gaara, watched in wonderment as the boy took a step forward towards Kankuro. Slowly, his hand reached for the brunette's ready one.
"Brothers?" Kankuro asks with a grin before contact is even made.
Gaara's fingers fidget lightly against Kankuro's skin, nonetheless, it doesn't take the smallest boy too long to lock hands in lax with Kankuro, and Gaara smiles gently and longingly at the contact between them.
"Brothers," he agrees.
