Cub and Coon
Gaara smirked as he weaved through the crowds. He easily spotted his white-haired Princess among the many dark-haired people. He started getting closer to her, until he was only simply at the booth next to her.
Sarrina skipped about with the bags of ramen. Her shadows protected the bags, but Sin was having fun getting the semi-happy girl wet. Sarrina didn't mind though because she was focusing on what the 'adult talk' was about. As Sarrina glanced over the booth filled with vegetables, she mentally battled Sin.
'Can't you just do what I asked just this once? I just need help carrying this stuff.'
'No, it's too much fun seeing how you screw things up.'
'Jerk!'
'You know I kinda missed it when you were too young to even think I was being mean.'
Sarrina pouted as she put the items she wanted into a basket she used to carry vegetables and fruits in. "Arigatou," she murmured as she paid for the food. She stepped out from under the small umbrella the shop owner set up for customers. She pouted a bit as she was soaked even more, and the food remained dry. With the basket tucked under her arm, Sarrina staggered forward, not noticing the familiar scent behind her.
Gaara chuckled and followed after her, hiding his marking with his bangs. When she stumbled and was about to drop her load, he reached forward and caught it. Pushing lightly so she could stand straight he smiled, "Are you alright?" he asked gently, "I see you're having trouble, would you like me to help you?"
Sarrina blinked at the stranger, "I'm...fine, and yes if you could help I would be eternally grateful." she answered slowing in an unsure way.
Those eyes. She knew that those eyes. Where did she see him at? And that voice. It too hinted at something in the back of her mind. His hair also drew her attention because she knew only a few that had that hair. One of them, in fact, was her friend from Suna...
Akira gasped and grinned widely. "Little Coon!" she cried out, dropping the bags and hugging her friend close to her. "Why didn't you tell me it was you?"
Gaara was shocked at her hug, but made sure his sand caught the food. He gingerly hugged her back, unsure of the affection he was receiving and the feelings coursing through him. The wind blew but did nothing to calm the burn of his marking. His hand glided to her shoulder and lightly tugged on the cloth, revealing the same mark that had appeared on her that day they first met. He placed the cloth back in its proper place and returned the hug with more enthusiasm, "I thought it would be fun if you could guess it was me," he answered, "Little Cub…I had wondered if I would see you again."
"I never doubted it, but I was starting to wonder where you were." Sarrina joked, "Any who, why are you here? Are you the new Kazekage's assistant?"
Gaara laughed and took out his ticket, handing it to her. It easily read 'The Kazekage, Gaara of the Sand, is to stay with Mayoke Sarrina.' He smiled at her surprised expression, "Sarrina, I'd quite enjoy meeting your family."
"You're the new Kazekage! Wow!" Sarrina laughed and studied the ticket more. "Well, Gaara, if you would help me with these bags, we can go. I'm sure you will like them."
Gaara smiled and took the load with his sand, leaving his arm free to wrap around her shoulders, "Tell me a bit about them?" he requested.
"Well Dad is the same as he was when he took me to Suna. Mom is a motherly type of woman who loves to bake cookies. Kimi, my older sister, is a great dancer, and likes, as in like likes, Sasuke Uchiha from Konoha. Kei is the best big brother in the world, he's normally the one to lighten the mood with a joke or prank." Sarrina stated with a giggled, a light blush on her cheeks from his arm around her shoulders
Gaara nodded, "Sasuke…is no longer in Konoha. Orochimaru cursed him and, in a way, persuaded him to follow him. Sasuke is now a Rogue Ninja," he sighed, "Several… he smiled a bit, "Several friends of mine got hurt trying to get him back, but in the end he left."
Sarrina frowned in thought, "That must have been what the 'adult talk' was about. Poor Kimi…"
Gaara blinked his aqua eyes, "Adult talk?" it was clear he was confused by such a statement.
"Oh I call the times where people make me leave because I'm 'too young' to listen, 'Adult talk'. Kei and Kimi do that all the time to me and they're not adults!" Sarrina pouted at the last of her explanation.
Gaara chuckled, "Is that so? Well, perhaps…perhaps what they have been through has made them grow up. Being a ninja tends to do that to a person," he sighed, speaking well from experience, "The things they talk about might also be between just them. Has anything happened in the past where it just involved them? A trip somewhere or a mission, and they'd changed a lot?"
Sarrina went silent for a moment, thinking back on Kimi's...incident. "Yeah, you're probably right. Well we should hurry, it might start to rain harder."
Gaara nodded and they continued on, quickly reaching her home. He let her open the door and once inside he took off his shoes and allowed his sand back in the gourd, dropping the bags in his arms as Sarrina bounced forward to the living room, "Ooi, where's the kitchen?" he asked before she could turn the corner.
Sarrina skidded to a stop, nearly falling. "Oh! Gomen, I'm not used to bringing guest home. I was actually head to the kitchen. So, um, just follow me!"
Gaara shook his head in amusement but did as told and followed Sarrina. As they passed through the living room he noticed the surprise of nearly everyone's face except Hiroki who grinned.
"Oh, um, Gaara this is my family, if you hadn't guessed already." Sarrina said with a sheepish grin.
"He's the new Kazekage?" Kei murmured, "Ow!"
Kimi, whom had settled down after hearing the news, had slapped the back of Kei's head, "Hi! Ignore my idiot older brother. He's always like that."
"Well who would have guess you grew up to be Kazekage, Little Coon." Hiroki chuckled.
Rosemary smiled at the boy, and stood up. "Ah! It is good to finally meet my daughter's friend from Suna. She wouldn't stop talking about you for weeks after she came home. She still does, by the way,"
"Mom!" Sarrina whined bowing her red face.
Kei blinked as he watched the two. A smile split across his face, "Soooo, Gaara, I'm sure you'll be most comfortable here, specially with Sarrina!"
"Kei! I'm going to kill you!" Sarrina threatened, setting the bags that she carried down and took off after her brother whom was already disappearing outside.
Gaara chuckled softly, "It's a pleasure to meet all of you, and I'm glad to know I was not forgotten, though it's been a long time." He watched Sarrina chase after Kei. He used his sand to pick up the bags and he blinked, seeing two furry heads pop out, one with white fur and a black stripe, the other with black fur and a white stripe, "Well, hello there," he smiled, "Cubs for Little Cub?" he asked Sarrina's family.
"Hai, my ANBU team gave them to her the night we left for Suna. The black with the white stripe is Yin and the white with the black stripe is Yang. They seem to grew a bit slower than most wolves, but they are a healthy bunch. Sarrina takes them just about everywhere." Hiroki stated as the two pups looked at another and leap form the bags.
Gaara smiled, "I remember them. Perhaps they grow as Sarrina does. They are bigger than the last time at least," he offered and then looked at the women of the household, "Would either of you help me? I'd rather not look foolish aimlessly roaming your kitchen."
"Of course, this way," Rose said as she lead Gaara to the kitchen.
"Sarrina and Gaara, sittin' in a tre-Ow" Kei yelped and dodged rocks Sarrina was throwing.
"Dad tell them to stop please!" Kimi requested.
"Ooi! Kei if you're going to tease Sarrina at least come up with something new!" Hiroki laughed, causing Kimi pout.
"Are Mom and I the only mature ones in this family?"
Gaara chuckled, "Everyone's immature in some way," he said gently as he was shooed away from the kitchen by Rosemary. He looked out at Sarrina, "My friend, Kiba Inuzuka, went and stayed with Kerica Mikadzuki. Do you know her?" he asked.
Sarrina, whom had Kei pinned on the ground, blinked at Gaara. "Kerica! She's my best friend here!"
Gaara looked at her curiously, "Could you tell me a little about her? I want to try and guess if she's the type of girl Kiba would go for. He's quite the charmer," he shrugged and took a seat across from Kei and Hiroki. He saw Kei was working on metal carvings of dragons, "I like how they're hooking around each other," he commented.
Kei grinned proudly, "Thanks! I've been working on them for quite a while now!"
"Yeah, and you have yet to tell me why." Sarrina said, taking a seat next to Gaara, "To be honest, I don't know much about her. I haven't met her in person. We send messages to each other and that's about it. I do know she is kind and she even looked after me. Kei and Kimi help at her house all the time and they says she's even sweeter and kinder in person."
Gaara smirked and nodded, "Kiba is a sap for girls like that. He's been after Hinata for years, but knows she belongs with Naruto so gave her up for him." He looked at Kimi and Kei, "What's she look like? Anything else about her I should know about?"
"Are you playing matchmaker by any change, Gaara?" Hiroki smirked.
Gaara chuckled, "I suppose you could say that. I really just want to know if I'm in store for a love-sick puppy on the way home."
"To be honest Little Coon, I do not know what she looks like. Kei and Kimi do thought!" Sarrina grinned turning to her brother and sister. Hey she wanted to know more than Gaara, and this was the perfect time!
Kei and Kimi exchanged glances before the female Uchiha spoke up, "Hey 'Rina, I think Mother needs help in the kitchen."
Sarrina's face fell as she got up and went to the kitchen. Kei chuckled at this as Kimi turned to Gaara.
"Kerica is a gorgeous girl with dark navy hair, and sapphire eyes. It's hard to miss her, but still we agreed not to tell Sarrina."
Gaara nodded, "is she tiny and wall flower?" he asked curiously.
Hiroki responded, "She can be shy around males her age, or just oblivious around them all together, but she'd rather laugh and have fun then be stuck in a corner. Though, she is rather petite."
"Oblivious works, Kiba'll have to try harder to get her attention," Gaara snickered, "He needs the challenge. Hinata Hyuuga back in Konoha I've barely met but know enough about her through Kiba. She's very petite and is extremely shy. Quite the wall flower, and he likes her a lot but she is obsessed with Naruto Uzumaki."
Gaara tapped his chin, "Well...Kei, Kimi, what are your opinions?" he asked.
Kei grinned, "Kerica is the best little girl outside of my family. She can be a goofball when she wants to be, but acts like Kimi sometimes."
"She's a great dancer and trains hard. She cooks very well and has a heart of pure gold." Kimi stated, ignoring the last comment by her older brother.
Rosemary poked her head out from the kitchen, "Diner is almost ready."
Sarrina's face lit up as she scrambled to her feet, "So what did you make?"
The Uchiha female winked at her youngest, "You'll have to wait to see! Gaara-san, if you need to wash up, the bathroom is down the hall and to the right."
Gaara chuckled before nodding and standing up, taking the directions given to him so he could clean off the dust and grime from traveling. Once he finished his hands he did the same to his face, raising a brow at how the soap the family used made his skin seem smoother. He just shrugged and dried off before heading back out so the rest of the family could wash.
"I'm all set, and I'm eager to try whatever you've made, Rosemary-dono. It smells wonderful," he complimented.
Rosemary grinned, "Well thank you, Gaara-san. It's nice to see that someone is eager to eat."
Kei snickered as he walked up beside the sand ninja. "I'd stay away from her Three Bean Soup if I were you, though. It's like eating dirt." he whispered to Gaara.
"I heard that, young man." Rosemary said lowly, an ink mark on her head. (you know the marks they get when they're mad).
"Oops, hehe." Kei grinned sheepishly.
Gaara chuckled, "I'll gladly eat anything you've made," he bowed politely to her. He looked around for Sarrina, feeling a strange need to be near her.
"Now I see why Sarrina has taken a liking to you! You're just so sweet!" Rosemary stated with a giggle.
Kimi giggled as she walked around the corner. "M-mom, we need your help, hehehe."
Rosemary blinked, and followed her oldest daughter back around the corner. A minute or two later, the Uchiha woman returned with a smile playing on her lips, along with her two daughters. Kimi was a little giggle box while Sarrina kept her head bowed.
Kei raised an eyebrow at this and asked, "What happened?"
"Nothing! Nothing happened!" Sarrina snapped before Kimi, who was about to tell, could say anything.
Gaara didn't ask questions, just smiled and went over to Sarrina, "I was wondering where you went off to. You're the one supposed to stick with while I'm here, I'd be sorely disappointed if you don't want the position," he smiled playfully at her.
Sarrina softened up and smiled in return. "Well, I guess if I have to." she teasingly sighed.
"Not with your make-up skills..." Kimi quietly teased with another giggle.
"Okay, now you have to tell me!" Kei stated looking at the females of the house.
Rosemary coughed to cover up her chuckles and crossed her arms, "Kimi that's enough. If I recall, you did the very same thing before one of your trips to Konoha."
Kimi's face went red as Kei blinked, "Wha…?"
Gaara laughed as he did notice the slight tint of red on Sarrina's lips and the bits of blue eye-shadow that brought out her eyes, "You look just fine, Sarrina," he told her and tucked a stay piece of hair behind her ear.
Sarrina blushed at this, but smiled at Gaara. "Thank you."
"Alright diner is ready!" Rosemary called from the kitchen.
"Right!" Kei grinned and raced into the kitchen with Kimi following closely behind.
Gaara laughed before turning to Sarrina once they were alone. Deciding to risk it since she'd tried so hard to make herself look even more beautiful that she already was, he rewarded her with a gentle kiss, not sure how she would react to it.
Sarrina blushed more and touched her lips with her fingers. "Gaara-kun..."
However before anything else could be said or done, a cough came from be hide both ninjas. Haroki raised an eyebrow in amusement as they both whipped around to face him.
"H-hey d-dad!" Sarrina stuttered.
"I believe it's time to eat," Haroki stated, crossing his arms.
Gaara blushed and bowed in apology, "Sorry…" He solemnly went into the kitchen, a place already set for him…right between the parents. He internally groaned and felt extremely disappointed he wouldn't be able to sit next to Sarrina. He sat down next to Rosemary silently, but when he looked up he was surprised to see Hiroki sat where he thought Sarrina would be. That meant…He smiled brightly as Sarrina plopped down next to him. Immediately he felt relaxed, "So, what's for dinner?"
Hiroki smirked as he watched how more relaxed Gaara became. Rosemary raised an eyebrow at her husband, but brushed it off, "Well I thought you might like some Uchiha specialties. They are traditional foods, but I'm sure you'll like them."
Sarrina grinned at the food before looking over at the sand ninja. "These are mom's best foods!"
"Are you saying that I have bad foods, Sarrina?" Rosemary teased causing the youngest to shake her head fiercely.
"You're cooking must be great but there are dishes she enjoys more," Gaara put together and smiled at them before taking a bite one of the items served, "I've never had something like this before, it's amazing," he said after swallowing.
Rosemary smiled at the demon child, "That one is one of my favorites to prepare. Really all it is, is Eel and rice, but the sauce that goes on it adds just the right amount of flavor."
Sarrina giggled at how her mother went into a ramble about the food. She lend closer to Gaara to whisper, "Thank you."
"Of course," Gaara grinned and enjoyed his food.