The limousine came to stop outside of a large compound in Sao Paolo suburb. It is nearly midnight and his clients waste no time exiting the vehicle. It does not take the driver to long remove the baggage from the truck, but it is not long enough for his passengers to find the keys to the massive home. The driver also noted that the home was alive and festively lite despite the late hour. However, he did not have time to reflect on the state of this client's home, as the petite brunette assistant hands him an envelope and sends him on his way.
Just as the car pulls off the front door bursts open bathing the patio in fluorescent light. Accommodating that light a leggy blonde with spiky hair encompassed the shoulders of the man "Gaara, you left your keys again! Do I need to pin them on like when we were kids?"
The blonde took a moment to spare the assistant a word. "Matsuri you can get the bags right?"
Gaara pushed his sister off, "Be nice Leticia, I can get the bags".
He solemnly gathered all four bags and toted them into the foray. To his dismay there are dozens of boxes already stacked in the way. The Leticia strolls in behind him, pulling the door. Matsuri is scraped by the door as she squeezes in after them.
Leticia grumbles behind Gaara, "I told you not to call me that. I want nothing to do with our Father, not even the name he gave me."
Gaara was always mindful of family's temperament. Not that they were a moody bunch, but when his sister was happiest, she was also vulnerable to being quickly deflated. And the fastest way to burst her bubble is to remind her of the she wanted nothing to remind her of their life before their father's death. He was a domineering manipulative man that the world was much better without out. At least his three children were better off without him. The Areia siblings immediately dropped their Portuguese first names in exchange for their Japanese names. Sometimes they did not want to be called that. The two elder siblings Leticia and Thiago Areia preferred to be called Temari and Kankuro Sands, their now famous monikers in the fashion world. Meanwhile Gaara could not care less as long his name was spelled right on his jersey and contracts.
Falling into his favorite arm chair, half listening Gaara tries to push the exhaustion away just long enough for him to feel sleepy again. But this is just a part of his normal bi weekly schedule, of the last five years: traveling to make appointments, guest appearances, training sessions and filming endorsements. As much as he loved all the things he was able to achieve as star soccer player of Sao Paulo FC it did not make the obligations any less taxing. Although he had to admit to himself have of his strain came from the demands of his own private ventures as a sponsor and trainer of other up and coming national athletes. He could just retire but it is not like he needs more than four hours sleep.
Temari has been breathlessly telling him about her new plans. "Kankuro and I are going to New York. Some wealth brat has caught your brother's eyes and agreed to design for her charity birthday party whatever. Does that make any sense having a charity event for your birthday, I tell you rich people are a mess." She concluded with a huff.
"Temari, we are rich," he deadpanned with some annoyance.
"Yeah but we have never been extra. Anyway you should come with us. I am sure Rock Lee would be glad to see you early. You could train with him at the Dojo."
Gaara ran a lazy hand over his red locks. The need for sleep had come back to he and he realized that Matsuri had posted up at foray secretary. He let an audible "Hn" in her direction before leaving his chair and descending into the house. Temari in turned leaned back into the couch with a grin spread against her face. She knew her little brother and had as good as sold him on the idea. Not a hard sell considering he had agreed to do the new you marathon with Lee. Despite that she could not resist the opportunity to goad his assistant.
"Matsuri, you got that right? I hope you are clearing his schedule so he can come to New York."
"Of course, he said as much." The brunette did not say anything else to Temari. She answered to Gaara, even when he did not utter more than a syllable.