Chapter 4

"Gaara Sabaku! What the hell is this!" Temari's voice ripped through his head and forced him awake. He glared at her with sleepy, red eyes, and growled. Temari's face was fill with rage. She was standing over Shizuko's sleeping body.

How the hell is she still asleep?

"What?" He growled.

"What? What do you mean, what? You have a girl in your fucking bed! You aren't even out of high school yet!" She snapped.

"The hell are you talking about?" He sat up and ran a hand through his hair, scratching his scalp.

"Ugh! I have to draw it in crayon now? Jesus! Girl! In your bed, you're both sleeping. In the same bed! Do you understand! You aren't even eighteen yet!" Gaara sighed roughly.

"I didn't fuck her, Temari."

"Bullshit! Just a lie! I can't believe such crap! God dammit, Gaara! Don't be defiled like your brother! You aren't even out of high school and you're fucking!"

"First off, I'm a virgin. Second off, you aren't out of high school yet and you fuck your boyfriend every night," He snapped back. He stood up and turned away from her, scratching his back.

"Get out of my room."

"Don't tell your older sister what to do!"

"I said get-!"

"Shaddap!" Shizuko said loudly in a slur. She pulled the pillow over her head and groaned. Gaara peered over his shoulder and gave Temari a creepy grin.

"Yes, Temari, shaddap." Temari's face flushed red in anger.

"I'm telling father this!" She hissed. Shizuko threw a foot out and kicked Temari's thigh.

"Ow!" She snapped. Shizuko waved her hand, as if trying to slap her without looking. Temari growled and walked away and climbed back down the ladder. Gaara chuckled and stretched.

"Iv vhe on?"

"Yes, she's gone." Shizuko threw the pillow to the floor and groaned, throwing an arm over her eyes as she turned to lay on her back. Gaara opened a drawer and pulled out a fresh shirt.

"I should probably walk you home."

"What day is it?" She groaned.

"I believe it's Thursday." He slipped off his old one and tossed it in a basket, he missed. Gaara walked over and picked it up. Shizuko sat up and rubbed her eyes. They sleepily wandered around the room and fell on Gaara's pale and scarred back. She blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes again. He tossed the old shirt in the basket, successful this time, and slipped on his new one. He saw her staring at him.

"What?"

"Are you albino with dyed hair?" He froze.

"What...?" She shook her head.

"Sorry... never mind..." She rubbed her temples. The scars on his body obviously weren't self-inflicted. Not unless he owned some type of whip. Gaara dug through his shirt drawn and pulled out a small one from the bottom.

"Uh... I don't think any of my shirts fit you... this is an older one. Might be small enough." He tossed it on the bed. Shizuko looked at the shirt and tilted her head.

"It says 'I'm a faggot. Fuck me', on it." Gaara froze and quickly whipped the shirt off of the bed.

"The hell?"

"Was that in blood?" Shizuko casted her eyes to the side.

"Uh..." Gaara fumbled for words.

"It's alright. It was probably from a past experience... you were bullied and I suppose they used your blood for that. Did they cut you or break your nose?"

"Both." Shizuko nodded.

"Hmm. Have you ever been sodomized?" Gaara's eyes widened a bit.

"Excuse me?"

"I thought not... Don't know why I asked..." He sighed.

"Are you curious or something?" She scratched her head.

"Well... you let me sleep here... you snapped at your sister when she barged in and yelled at you, claiming you fucked me... and you offered to replace this shirt covered in filth with one of your old ones. In all honesty, this is the nicest treatment I've had in a long time. I'm just... well... whenever someone treats me nicely... I guess I always have the urge to question them," She explained. Gaara sighed.

"I suppose that's... understandable. How is your head?" He took out another shirt and examined it, making sure it was clean.

"It's fine. I don't feel dizzy or anything."

"Here's a... clean shirt." He tossed it on the bed and closed the drawer. Shizuko picked it up and looked at it.

"Gaara?"

"Hmm?" He was staring at the wall. Her head peeked over the shirt.

"Why are you staring at the wall?"

"Well, you're going to change aren't you?" She was silent for a bit.

"Are you afraid of looking at me?" She asked. He flushed a bit.

"I just have respect for women, that's all. I'm not going to watched you dress." She looked at the shirt again and got up from the bed, holding it in one hand. Shizuko pulled off her dirty shirt and dropped the clean one on the floor. She twirled it tightly between her hands and smiled a little. She whipped it out and smacked Gaara's back.

"Ow! God dammit, what was that for?" He turned around and froze. His face flushed. Shizuko hadn't put on her shirt. He put a hand over his eyes and turned back around.

"Sorry... sorry..." He muttered. Shizuko frowned.

"Gaara, just imagine you're at the beach or pool. I might as well be in a bikini," She calmly. Gaara shook his head. She whipped his back again. He grunted.

"Quit it!"

"I'll keep doing it if you don't grow a pair," She said lowly. Gaara growled. He took in a breath and turned around.

"Fine. If you're so keen on it." She sat down on the bed and picked the clean shirt up with her toes, lifting it up into her hand. Gaara could see scars on her body. Even the sort of fresh one from Kakuzu. He felt a bit bad.

"Shizuko, how the hell could you let so many scars ruin your skin?" She perked a bit and tilted her head to the side while playing with his shirt.

"Well... some are self-inflicted... some were... 'gifts'. But... don't worry about that. They all healed."

"Didn't they hurt?"

"At first... but after a while... after the numbers grew, the pain just turned into a pinch. Then it turned into numbness. I got used to it." Gaara crossed his arms and walked to the window. He pulled the shade back a bit and peered out the window.

"Huh... It's well past noon now." He peered over his shoulder a saw a huge, jagged scar across her back. He closed the shade.

"Shizuko..."

"Hmmm?"

"How... where did the big one on your back come from?" She was silent. She balled the shirt up in her hands. Her head bowed low, and her eyes closed. Gaara could tell it was a bad question. He turned away and stared through the dark shades.

"The accident," She said in a soft voice. He closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry I asked." Shizuko slipped his shirt on and stood. She put her hands behind her back and stared at her feet.

"Don't be. I trust you... only you, Pein, and a few others that he trusts know I have it." Thumping of feet were heard below, along with yelling. Temari's voice rang above them all.

"What the fuck are you doing, storming in our house?"

"Move it Temari!"

"Konkuro, don't yell at me!"

"Konkuro, where's Gaara?" Pein's voice?

"In his room. It's up there." Gaara heard scratching and a sharp creak as the ladder was jerked down. It bounced as Pein quickly climbed up it. His eyes scanned the room and found Shizuko.

"Pein? Are you worried or something?" Gaara said, facing him.

"Shizuko! Come with me, you need to get to the hospital!"

"I'm fine Pein-"

"No, it's not about that. Your brother, he woke up!" Shizuko's eyes widened. Gaara walked from behind his bed and towards Pein.

"Are you sure?"

"They called me last night, he wasn't awake for long, but he pulled out of the coma." Shizuko gave a cry and put her hand over her face. She let out a loud wail and went to her knees. Gaara went to her, Pein leapt up and ran to her side.

"He's alive! Oh!" She wailed. Her body trembled with over-joyous tears. Konkuro's head popped up.

"Pein, Konan is here. She says she's getting impatient." Pein glared at him.

"Right, I'll tell her to fuck off then..." He muttered. Temari's voice piped up.

"What's going on?" Konkuro went back down.

"Shizuko's brother just got out of his coma." She was silenced.

"Her brother was in a coma?" She put a hand to her lips. Konkuro nodded and went past her.

"Shizuko, we need to hurry up. When he was awake, he was muttering, he wanted to see you." Pein pulled her to her feet and guided her to the ladder. Shizuko was blinded by tears and couldn't see ahead of her.

"Oh god! He's awake! He's awake!" Pein started down the ladder.

"Help her down, Gaara." They helped her down and quickly went to the door. Konan was dressed in scrubs, her foot was tapping impatiently.

"Hurry up, Pein! My shift starts soon, I'm the only one who'll get you in the intense care level right now!" She snapped. Pein waved impatiently at her.

"Yes yes! Just start the car up!" He said. He opened the door and let Shizuko walk out with Gaara holding her arms, still guiding her. Konan ran past them and jumped into her mini-van. Her cries rang outside as they neared the car. Konan was in the drivers seat, starting the car. Pein opened the passenger door and let Shizuko climb in. Gaara went in with her and sat beside her. Pein slammed the door shut and quickly got in shot gun. Konan pulled out. She screeched into moving traffic and expertedly weaved in between cars.

"You idiot, you made me late!"

"Again, you bitch. Look, this sort of thing is emotional, you of all people should know that." Konan glared at him.

"Is this because I'm a woman? Is that why you're saying I should understand it!"

"No! It's because you're a nurse! God damn, I'm not sexist, you idiot."

"Don't insult me!" Konan snapped. She was barely even paying attention to the road as she weaved and turned through all the cars. Pein let out a rough sigh.

"Always like this with you... bitch bitch bitch! You can't even shut up during a time like this!" Konan growled.

"All you ever use me for is for this sort of thing! That and to stitch up your fucking troupe!" She gave a sharp lurch to the right and swerved into the parking lot. She screeched to a halt and opened her door. Pein came back out. Gaara opened the door for Shizuko and lead her out slowly.

"Dammit, Konan, don't focus this all on you, like you always try to! And I don't use you for stitching!"

"Oh shut up! Don't try to cover your ass with this speech again! I don't even know why I'm still dating you," She growled. They went inside. Konan showed her badge and quickly motioned the three of them through. She went to the elevator and made sure they were the only ones in it.

"Thank you Konan," Pein said.

"You can repay with a dinner to a nice resturant, and not a fucking fast food place, like you usually do. That is, if you even bother to remember!" The doors opened, Konan lead them down a hallway. It was filled with nurses, who all said hello to Konan.

"Yes! Hello, Mari!" She said sweetly. Shizuko cried into her hands, still overcome with the news. Konan unlocked a steel door and waved them in.

"Hurry up." Gaara and Mizuki filed in. Pein gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"I'll buy you something nice..." He murmured.

"You'd better," She said as she shut the door behind him. Shizuko fell to her knees next to her brother's bed. She held his hand in hers and weapt into the blanket that covered him. His eyes were barely open, as if he was struggling against sleep.

"Brother!" She cried. His head fell to the side to see her. He smiled a bit.

"Mizuki..." He said weakly. She let out a sob at his voice and gripped his hand tightly.

"I thought you weren't going to wake up!" She sobbed. Gaara stood back with Pein, letting them be together. Weakly, he put a shaking hand on her sobbing back. With his touch, she moved closer to him and buried her face into his chest. He winced a bit and petted her hair.

"Shizuko, would your brother fall so easily?" She clung to him. Her tears soaked his robe. His eyes drifted up to Pein. He nodded at him.

"I see you've changed, Pein." He blinked.

"You're surprised I can tell it's you? I won't forget someone like you. Even if you covered your face with metal and dyed your hair." Pein's hand flew to his hair. A small blush ran on his cheeks. He smirked.

"Smartass little twit," Pein said with a smile. His eyes drifted to Gaara.

"Who's this?" Gaara blinked.

"Uh... I'm Gaara Sabaku."

"He's my new suboordinate. I left him in charge of Shizuko when the new school year began." Shizuko started to calm, she could sense that the atmosphere was changing quickly. Her brother held out his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Gaara Sabaku. I'm Shizuko's brother, Kabuto. Your brother used to be one of my tormentors when I was in grade school." He shook Kabuto's hand and made a puzzled look.

"Aren't you older than him...?"

"Yes, but usually those with Pein's group pick on anyone who's nerdy. And I mean anyone." Pein laughed.

"Well you taught him a lesson by breaking his nose a few times." Kabuto laughed.

"That I did! It's nice to wake up to such people. And my sister. I trust you've taken care of her well?" He eyed Pein. His smile fell as Pein's turned into one of discomfort. Shizuko rose from her scene of weeping and took Kabuto's hand.

"Don't hold it against him, brother." His eyes went down to look into Shizuko's. She wiped her eyes.

"I... I couldn't... I blamed myself for everything. I did everything behind Pein's back. Don't be angry at him for what I did to myself."

"Shizuko, what are you talking about?" His voice was grave as he questioned his sister's comment. She showed him her arms and kept her eyes on his face. He kept his eyes level with hers then let them drift down to them. His breath froze.

"Shizuko... why are there scars on your arm?" He said softly.

"I'm sorry brother, but... I couldn't just hold it all in. It's what first came to mind." He lightly grasped her wrists.

"Shizuko, when I knew you, you hated this sort of thing. And now you're making excuses as of why you did it." She opened her mouth to speak; Kabuto stopped her.

"Of course, I know you were... destroyed after the accident. I know this, but how could you let yourself stoop so low? Shizuko, is this all you've done? By the look of your eyes, there's more. Tell me." She hesitated and stammered to started her sentence.

"Brother, not now, you've just woken up." He pressed his forehead against hers.

"Your brother is strong enough now as it is. Tell me, Shizuko. Or I'll have Pein tell me himself." She closed her eyes. Shizuko turned her head a bit and looked to Pein and Gaara. Then she cupped a hand over her brother's ear and whispered. His eyes slowly widened. A look of terror and anger went across his face. When she was done, she leaned back and let Kabuto gather himself to speak. His eyes searched her face, looking for a sign that she was lying. But, he found none. She fiddled with his hand in hers nervously as he took long, silent minutes to come up with something to say. Slowly, the hand Shizuko fiddled with tightened around hers.

"I can't hide the fact that I am... shocked, and disappointed Shizuko. You've done all of this... while I was asleep? What... what is wrong with you!" He yelled. She stared into her brother's eyes and then lowered them slowly.

"I... I'm sorry brother..."

"Don't apologize! It's too late to apologize! Shizuko, couldn't you hold back from doing such horrible things to yourself? You knew I was still here! If you need some way to escape, why didn't you just come to my bedside!" He snapped. She tried to pull away from him. Even though he was fresh out of a coma, Kabuto had a strong grip; he didn't let go. She let out a cry.

"I visited you every day!" She screamed. She stopped struggling and slumped against the bed. Gaara took a step forward; Pein stopped him and shook his head.

"This is between them..." He whispered. Kabuto bowed his head. His arms trembled with pent up emotion.

"I visited you every damn day, brother! Why do you think your hair is cut? Why do you think your glasses are still clean and unscathed? Who do you think took the time to bring in your clothes and put them in the closet to dress you for that day when you woke up? Every time the doctor told me you had grown out of a wardrobe, I bought new clothes! Just for you! I never abandoned you, brother...! Even... even if you don't believe me, can't you still feel my presence on your hand? The hand I held for hours every single day...?" She sobbed. Pein made a puzzled look. He leaned into Gaara's ear.

"Did she ever come to the hospital?"

"No. Not while I was with her. Did she when she was...?"

"Only for a few months. After that she refused to go with me." Shizuko's head whipped up to face them.

"I hear what you're whispering! I snuck in at night! I didn't spend all my time at those parties, Pein! Most of those were coverups." Her face cringed with tears; she hid them by looking at the floor.

"I didn't want anyone else around when I was with brother. I wanted to spend so much time with him... but there were too many people around." Kabuto's hand trailed down her cheek and pulled her face up to look at his. He had a small smile on his face.

"I'm happy, Shizuko... you're still like your old self. On the inside. I'm sorry for yelling," He said softly. Shizuko wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He held her close and closed his eyes. His smile got wider.

"Ah... Shizuko... I've missed your embrace. It takes me back." Gaara felt a small bit of jealousy in his heart. He ignored it and focused on the scene in front of him. He had never seen a brother and sister, long seperated, be so loving towards each other.

Makes my family look like the WWE... They stood in silence for minutes that seemed to go on forever. Slowly, Shizuko and Kabuto's embrace slacked. She stood and wiped the tears from her eyes. A smile was on her face; it seemed odd. Kabuto turned in his bed.

"Well, the doctors finally took out all those cords and stuff from my body. All that's left is this fluid thing," He said as he tapped a long, thin tube running to his arm. He placed his feet on the tile and pushed himself to his feet. Shizuko helped him and took his arm over her shoulder as he struggled to balance.

"Oh! Haven't felt this cold ground in a while." His eyes went to Gaara. Shizuko followed him as he walked. He stopped in front of Gaara's face.

"Gaara. Konan has filled me in on some things between you and Shizuko. I want to wish you the best of luck," He said with a smile. Under his arm, Shizuko's face flushed red. Gaara's cheeks tinted a light pink.

"Um... wh-what?" Pein elbowed him. He grinned.

"It's so obvious." Gaara froze.

"Wh... what the hell are you talking about?" Kabuto leaned in, forcing him to go against the wall.

"You'd better take care of my sister. Although I'm in such a state, believe me, I can still kick your ass," He said darkly.

"Brother!" Shizuko jerked him back.

"What? I'm being your brother! Lay off, Shizuko!" He said, laughing. Shizuko helped him back to the bed. He sat down and let out a sigh. Shizuko looked up at Gaara with a blush.

"I'm sorry, Gaara-san, he's just... he's just kidding around! Right?" She said the last word with a low note. Kabuto laughed.

"No I'm not!" Gaara felt his feet moving him towards the door.

"Gaara!" Pein said. He grabbed his arm. Gaara wretched his arm free. He could feel his face getting hot the closer he got to the door. Kabuto watched with a slightly guilty face.

"Gaara-san! He was kidding!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him around. He was face to face with Shizuko. He looked down at her with a red face. Her lips were so close to his own. His heart pounded in his ears. Her deep eyes were staring straight into his. For once, he felt frozen with just looking at her.

"Um... He... He was joking... Gaara-san..." She said meekly. As her lips moved, Gaara felt the impulse to touch them. He fought it and kept his hands down at his side. She seemed to have nearly regained a beauty that was hidden underneath the white carving of her skin. Kabuto peered in from the side at his bed and smirked.

"Hmmm..." He looked to Pein. Pein looked from Gaara to Kabuto. He saw Kabuto's smirk and frowned. Gaara blinked several times and turned away.

"I have to go."

"Gaara!" He forced the door to unlocked and opened it.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He slammed the door shut behind him. Shizuko stared at the closed door with sorry eyes. Kabuto crossed his arms.

"Your brother's intuition was completely right, as usual." She glared at him from over her shoulder.

"When did you become such an asshole?" She said in a growl. Kabuto's smirk disappeared. She went through the door and left it open. Pein sighed.

"Damn, Kabuto, you wake up, make the whole place seem so lovely dovey, and now look! You chased out your sister and her protector."

"You mean boyfriend." Pein groaned.

"What the hell is with that?"

"What?"

"You know, I thought that after a coma, you'd be more understanding. You've recovered that way too blunt characteristic pretty damn fast."

"What? I'm a brother! It's my job. Besides, it's pretty obvious." Pein tapped his head.

"You have yet to go through the stage of being in love."

"Oh god, not this..."

"Shut the hell up. Yes it's obvious they love each other. But they have yet to say anything to each other about it. They're in the stage right now of admitting it. You saw Gaara's face. He didn't openly say anything, but his body reacted. Shizuko gave clear signs. She knew what you were saying. God damn, Kabuto... sometimes your famous 'intuition' can get you into so much trouble. Careful, it may make Shizuko really pissed. And believe me, Kabuto, you don't want to make her pissed..." His face turned completely serious as he said it. Kabuto's eyes narrowed.

"You sound so concerned about it. Did something happen while I was out?" Pein nodded. He sat on the edge of Kabuto's bed and bowed his head.

"It's going to take a good long time to tell you. Get comfortable..."