Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its plot or characters. I own any OC, my plot, and anything else you don't recognize unless otherwise stated.
bunnyguest (Guest): What do you mean obviously he wants him in isolation. He just wants to be able to use the demon inside Gaara for future gain. The point of Yashamaru attacking him wasn't to make Gaara isolated but to test him emotionally and psychologically. The Kazakage needed to be sure Gaara could control Shukaku. He sent assassins after Gaara until he learned control which, in the show, was because of his 'love only myself and become a sociopath' ideology. Rin has replaced that. She's how he maintains control of himself, his emotions and Shukaku
LordGhostStriker: XD
Posting so soon after that long chapter to reply to bunnyguest (Guest).
We lose faith in things unseen,
Unsure of what to believe,
Just dying to be loved when love's right in front of us.
We give up on our hopes and dreams, and let doubt take everything.
The door will open when we realize we don't hold the key.
No Ordinary Love - Memphis May Fire
A week before Rin's eleventh birthday, Gaara walked towards her house with a cardboard box. He knocked on her door and her mom answered. He nodded to her silently but politely and she smiled before letting him in.
"You're here early." Mrs. Hayashi said. "Rin's still asleep. Though I'm sure she'll jump right up when she sees you." Gaara's face almost went pink but he quickly made his way down the hall to Rin's room. He knocked on her door just in case she was up and changing. When he heard the muffled reply he knew it was safe and opened the door. He bit back a smile at the mess of blue hair sticking out from under the blankets. He walked around and leaned over her before he shook her shoulder gently.
"Five more minutes mom." Rin whined.
"Rin." Gaara said. Rin shot up with a surprised yelp. The sand from his gourd shot out to cover Gaara's forehead and Rin smacked hers right into it. She rolled off her bed clutching her forehead. Gaara's eyes widened slightly.
"Ow." Rin moaned. Gaara put the box he was holding on Rin's bed before he pulled Rin's hands away from her forehead to see the damage.
"You're fine." He said.
"But it hurts." Rin whined. "Kiss it better." Gaara stared at her with wide eyes. Rin pouted and looked up at him with puppy dog eyes. Gaara looked away for a moment and swallowed before quickly pecking her forehead which caused his cheeks to go pink. Rin smiled and his face became redder. Gaara stood and picked up the box he'd brought before he held it out to her. "You got me a present? What for? It's not my birthday yet." She blinked. "Is it?" Gaara rolled his eyes.
"Just open it." he said pushing it into her hands. Rin opened the box and her face immediately lit up as she let out a happy squeak. She quickly put the box down on the bed and wrapped her arms around Gaara's neck in a hug. She caught him by surprise and he fell back, his sand making a cushion for him to land on, as his arms went around her out of reflex.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Rin said kissing his cheeks multiple times. Gaara was frozen and his face, neck and ears had gone red. The box tipped over as the kitten inside leaned on the edge and meowed. Rin got off of Gaara and picked up the black kitten to cradle it. Gaara remained on the ground with wide eyes. He blinked and slowly looked up at Rin who was gently rocking the kitten that was purring in her arms. He swallowed again and put a hand over his heart. "What should I name her?"
"I-It's a boy." Gaara said before clearing his throat wishing she hadn't heard it crack.
"Hmm… what do you think I should name him?"
"I don't care." Gaara said with a shrug as he crossed his arms and legs, still sitting on the floor.
"How about Gaara Jr?" Rin suggested with a giggle. Gaara gave her a look and Rin rolled her eyes. "Well help me think while I change." She said putting the kitten on the bed. Gaara eyes widened and he turned around. "Are you okay?" she asked. He nodded. She giggled and he glared at the wall. "I don't know what you're embarrassed about. We used to take baths together all the time." Gaara found himself smiling thinking back to the number of times they'd come back to her house covered in sand and dirt or Mrs. Hayashi found them covered in paint or flour. He hated to admit it but he didn't mind when Mrs. Hayashi was nice to him. Though it was probably because she thought he would hurt her if she didn't let him see Rin.
"That was before." Gaara said.
"Before what?" Rin asked.
"Before you hit puberty." The two turned to Rin's open door to see Kankurō leaning in the doorway.
"What are you doing here?" Gaara almost growled.
He knows I won't threaten him in front of Rin but he's really pushing it, Gaara thought.
"He slept over." Kenta said coming into view. Rin threw a pillow at them.
"Hey, get out!" She squeaked.
"What he can stay and we can't?" Kankurō asked gesturing to his brother. Gaara glared at the door and his sand closed it on them.
"Thanks." Rin said. Gaara nodded. "I forgot he was here."
"Does he come here often?" Gaara asked glaring at the door. Rin shrugged.
"They're friends so I would assume so. Kenta never comes over your house, does he?" Gaara shook his head. "I think Kankurō likes me." Gaara turned around with wide eyes. His face went red when he saw she was still changing and he turned back.
"What?" he asked. Rin shrugged.
"I dunno. He always teases me and when I told my mom she said that boys tease and pick on the girls they like."
"I don't tease or pick on you." Gaara said shaking his head with a frown.
"That's cause you love me." Gaara's eyes widened and he swallowed hard. Rin suddenly hugged him from behind and put her chin on his shoulder. "You'd never let anything hurt me and you'd never hurt me yourself." Gaara turned his head to look at her and his eyes landed on the scar on her upper arm.
"R-Right." He said. His voice came out in a whispered. Rin kissed his cheek before she got her things for school.
"How about Kuro?" Gaara gave her a 'really?' look. "Shiro?"
"A black cat named White?" he asked. Rin sighed and put her hands on her hips.
"You're not exactly helping." she said. "Ai."
"Love?" Gaara asked. The word felt weird in his mouth.
"Mhm." Rin hummed. "Cause you gave him to me." Gaara turned his head away as he felt his cheeks heat up. Rin giggled and leaned down to kiss his kanji, giggling more when his ears went red. "Come on. We gotta get to class." Rin grabbed Gaara's hand to pull him up off the floor before letting go. "Come on, Ai." Rin picked up the kitten and put him on her shoulder. He mewed and rubbed his face against hers making her giggle. Gaara watched her with a slight smile.
"You've been quiet all day, are you okay?" Rin asked leaning over to look at Gaara as she walked next to him. Ai rubbed his face against Gaara's leg with a soft meow. Gaara looked down at the feline before looking at Rin and nodded. "Why aren't you talking? Does your throat hurt?" Rin reached over and touched his neck gently. He shook his head. Rin frowned. She noticed Kankurō and Temari walking about 20 feet in front of them. "Kankurō!" Rin called. Gaara looked at her confused. Kankurō and Temari stopped and waited for Gaara and Rin to catch up.
"Yo." Kankurō said with a nod. The two looked a bit nervous but more at easy since Rin was there.
"Gaara won't talk." Rin said with a pout. Kankurō tried not to smile. Gaara sent an intense glare at both his siblings. "Do you guys know why?" Rin asked. Kankurō shook his head and Temari shrugged. Rin sighed. "Fine, then I won't talk either." Rin said crossing her arms.
"I doubt you'll last." Kankurō said. Rin opened her mouth to respond but quickly closed it and shook her head.
"Good luck." Temari said. Rin nodded in thanks.
"Now we just have to see who lasts longer." Kankurō said. "My money's on Gaara."
"Fine, I think Rin can do it." Temari said patting Rin's back.
Gaara watched Rin who sat beside him on the roof. She'd started making him lunches so he had his own to eat. Neither had said a word in almost a week. He missed the sound of her voice and her laugh. She was determined to remain silent as long as he did. She even stopped writing him notes every morning. He couldn't take it any longer.
"Rin." He whispered.
"I won!" She squeaked with a smile but soon frowned. "My throat feels funny." Gaara handed Rin her water bottle. "Thanks." She said before taking a drink. "So are you gunna start talking now?" Gaara shook his head. Rin sighed and didn't say anything. They looked at each other in silence for a few moments.
"Fine." He whispered.
"Why are you whispering?" Rin whispered back. Gaara shrugged. "Nu-uh, there's a reason." Gaara shook his head. "Oh! I know! Your voice is doing that thing Kankurō's did last year!"
"N-O!" Gaara's hands slapped over his mouth. Rin giggled. "It's not fu-UNy!" He squeaked. Rin kept giggling.
"So that's why you weren't talking!" Gaara rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Were you just gunna not talk until it stopped?" Gaara nodded. "I wonder if your voice will be as deep as Kankurō's." Gaara frowned. "I guess we'll find out." Rin said with a smile.
"Will you keep talking?" Gaara asked in a whisper.
"Only if you talk when we're alone." Rin said. Gaara sighed but nodded. "Pinkie promise?" Rin asked holding up her pinky. A small smile appeared on his face and he hooked his pinkie with hers.
"Pr-O-mis." He said smiling when Rin started giggling.