Wind of Truth & Sands of Change
The Kazekage's Death
046. Never Had a Father
"Your father's dead."
The three siblings stared at Baki impassively.
Temari had been cooking something in the kitchen; she paused, spatula mid-air and directed her attention to Baki. Kankuro had been sitting on an inclined chair, also in the kitchen explaining something to his younger brother; he halted mid-sentence and sat up straight to look at their sensei. Gaara had been sitting on the floor, legs-crossed listening adeptly to Kankuro's explanation; he frowned and craned his head in Baki's direction at the statement.
Kankuro as usual, spoke first, "'Father'?"
"The Kazekage."
All three siblings blinked. Temari shrugged and continued cooking. "Would you like to stay for dinner, Baki?"
Kankuro grunted and went on with his explanation. "As I was saying…"
Gaara showed no reaction to the news and returned to listening to Kankuro's explanation as if nothing had happened.
They felt no remorse, or pity, or despair; after all, they'd never really had a father to begin with.
047. Good Riddance
It felt ridiculous standing in the front of the crowd, a desert lily in his hands, wearing full black. It felt stupid standing there without Karasu strapped to his back. It felt hypocritical to even think of approaching the casket and placing his flower before the picture.
It felt downright annoying to be at this funeral. So what if the man was Kazekage? Why did he have to attend? So what if the man was his biological father? What did that matter?
As Kankuro stared at the casket, he could've laughed. Here he was, at a funeral: a place people went to mourn the loss of a loved one.
He'd seriously considered wearing a full-on yellow outfit.
As far as he was concerned, this was a happy day.
He dropped the flower on the sand below and crushed it to powder with his foot. "Good riddance." He said clearly.
048. Picture-Perfect Appearance
Temari was all about appearances. She had always wanted to appear tough, appear strong, appear capable, appear decisive, and appear feminine. This appearance was more important than any regular day. She wore black. A black kimono, a black obi, and black fingerless gloves. She'd forgone the fishnets. It wouldn't be good idea to wear those at such an occasion. Informal and all that rot. Temari eyed her fan.
It would be disrespectful…
She strapped the fan to her back. She couldn't very well leave that behind.
She looked in the mirror. Temari looked the part of a dutiful, mourning daughter, if not slightly disrespectful because of the fan. She just needed one more thing…
Temari clipped a smiley face button on the front of her kimono. It was a happy day, after all. The Kazekage was dead.
Temari smiled.
She was all about appearances.
049. The One Good Thing
Gaara marveled at the proceedings before him.
Temari wore a smiley-face button on her chest and was grinning like mad. Kankuro had dropped the lovely desert lily and crushed it to the ground wishing good riddance. They were the Kazekage's flesh and blood and yet, his two siblings seemed the happiest, the least mournful, the least apologetic.
Gaara looked on at the casket, his eyes devoid of emotion.
This man had spoiled him as a toddler, tried to murder him soon after, then tried to use him as a pawn. This man never cared for him. He'd never cared for anyone.
Gaara glanced at his siblings then stared back at the casket rather coldly.
"Goodbye, father…" He whispered.
The man may not have been a good anything. The man may not have been worth a cry. But that man did make one good decision.
He had a family now.
He was more than just a monster.
And his siblings could see that.
For the first time, he could see that.
He did owe the Kazekage.
Just a little.
A/N: This is my favorite 'set' so far!
As you can see, I'm not too fond of the previous Kazekage…