Chapter Two You Have No Choice!
The next morning Miko awoke to the sound of soft knocking on her door. No one should know she lived here she had made sure of that. What would the people on the council say if they knew she lived in a rundown old apartment? Miko would not accept charity; whatever she did she would do it with her own hands. Now if only she remember who taught her that? These irritating sayings and morals were always popping up in her head. Whenever she thought hard about them her mind would sink into the red haze again. The red haze scared her, every time she tried to delve further it felt like she was being pulled into a lake full of tar. Like the madness she had hidden so deep within herself would bubble above her head causing her to choke.
Miko shook the downward thoughts out of her head and answered the door in her big white tee and shorts in her big white tee and shorts. Low and behold it was the Kazekage, again.
"Are you stalking me, Gaara-chan?" Miko said using the honorific in a child-like manner.
"Gaara-chan?" Asked a cheerful voice. Miko blinked, she knew that voice. She grinned, and brushed past Gaara.
"Kankurou-onii-san?" She jumped and gave him a hug, lifting her off her feet.
"Hey, Miko-chan!" Kankuro said happily. She saw Temari glaring at her. She looked at her under her eye lashes. Miko knew what was coming.
"Miko-chan…" Temari said in a warning voice, but before she could finish Miko hastily invited them in.
They sat on the newly bought red cushions. Miko went off to brew some tea.
"You never said you knew her Kankuro-san." Gaara said indifferently.
"Well I've run into her a couple times, you know invited her out to lunch and stuff. Jealous Gaara?" Kankuro grinned at his little brother. He knew his brother was rather intent on this girl, he hadn't figured out the true reason yet, but it was fun to tease him. Not to Kankuro's surprise he got glared at. Miko returned with the tea. Her tea set seemed to be hand-made. On the tea cups along with the pot were carefully painted red and gold dragons. The red dragon had narrowed golden eyes while the golden one had crystal blue eyes. Both dragons were so realistic the sibling thought they might literally come off the china.
"You like dragons?" Gaara said slightly curious. Miko grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah, you know they change colors depending on rank. The one on my pot is the highest rank, the leader of them all. This dragon is actually considered a demon, named Dralo, one of the four female demons. Of course these were sealed into humans too, but more affectively. The females didn't mind being sealed, something about be harasses by the male demons or something."
"You know a lot about demons?" Temari asked curiously. Gaara was curious as well, how did she know so much, perhaps she was in league with the boy who tried to kill me…
"I can't say I know much about them only dragons really but I know the other three I believe are the wolf, unicorn, and ooh, I forgot the last one if I remember I'll tell." She set the filled cups in front of them.
"So why did you go through so much trouble to find me. Do you need something?" The older siblings looked at the red-head.
"Yes, it's about last night." Gaara said setting down his cup.
Hmm I wonder what he's talking about… Miko wondered
Well it's probably about the, Miko clapped her hands together in realization.
"Oh! Is this about me spitting in your ramen?" Gaara choked on his tea. The other siblings snorted tea coming out of Kankuro's nose. Miko giggled,
"Just kidding Gaara-chan! I didn't have the time." She shrugged her shoulders and winked at him,
"but seriously what are you people talking about?"
"About the boy who's hand you broke." Gaara said confused she didn't remember such an important thing. Miko's brows knitted together in thought.
"Oh no, Gaara she's goanna…!" Kankuro cried out but it was too late. Miko's blood spewed from her nose, and she lay in a puddle of her own blood. Gaara stood up immediately confused as to what to do. Kankuro, smirked at Gaara's disarray,
"Nii-san, don't worry this happens all the time when she thinks too hard. It's one of her less attractive qualities."
"So, what do we do while she's out?" Gaara asked somewhat childishly, he had never been in this situation before. Kankuro grinned, and Temari looked up somewhat more interested than angry.
"Well why don't we," Temari began,
"investigate her underwear drawer?" Kankuro had barley finished before he too was lying on the floor, nose bleeding from being punched in the face by Temari.
"As I was saying, why don't we check out her room? Maybe pack her things. She's probably not the type to come easy, even if it is an order from the Kazekage." Gaara nodded, he wanted to check out her room, for evidence if whether or not she was on league with the would-be-assassin. The siblings rose (Kankuro who was still recovering hobbled up too.)
To their left there was another western style door (made of wood not a sliding one). Temari slid it aside. The room was obviously not lived in. It was simply furnished with an old bed, night-stand, and a dresser. The walls were almost bare except a single photo, which consisted of the woman and her husband which Gaara had put in charge of the Ramen shop. He wouldn't admit it but Gaara had developed a taste for ramen after hanging around Naruto so much. The people of Suna also seemed to like it, he knew for a fact the teachers at the academy ordered some everyday.
"It's so clean, like someone did a major scrubbing; even the walls." Temari said in wonder. She also went and picked up one of the many wax candles that were already half-way burned out. Temari opened one of the drawers to the night stand. Inside was a History of Sunagakure and Icha Icha Paradise. She opened the front cover wondering where she got this they did not sell it in Suna. Scribble on the inside cover was a little note,
This book is really awesome, don't stop till you read the whole thing Miko-chan! –Kankuro.
Temari turned to glare at her brother who was all too eagerly shoving what few articles of clothing Miko had into a bag. When Temari was about to whack Kankuro upside the head with the 'novel' Miko padded in traced of blood on her big white shirt.
"What are you guys doing?" She said groggily.
"Ah," Temari said smiling "we forgot to mention something, your moving in with us." Miko instantly sobered.
"No way, I'm not moving in with you people!" She snapped
"You have no choice," Gaara said in his deep voice. Kankuro pulled out a scroll and summoned his Salamander. Miko tried to make a break for it, but Gaara's sand caught her. The sand pushed he gently into the belly of the puppet. Miko beated on it,
"You a$$ hole! When I get out of here I'm goanna #$#$%^ beat you to a #$$%#$%$^%#$%%#!" The siblings were somewhat curious where the blonde had learned such colorful language. However they ignored the threats and went on their merry way to the Kazekage's residence.
Once there they popped Miko out, who immediately made a bee-line for the door. Gaara immediately blocked her escape.
"Miko-san, if you insist on leaving I will have to prevent you through means that should be unnecessary. I will also have you know I have alerted all the inn keepers that they are not allowed to rent you a room." Gaara said with an indifference that made Miko's blood boil.
"I would rather sleep in the rain than stay here with you!" Unnoticeable to the other siblings Gaara flinched at those words, which brought up unpleasant memories. Before she could even make an attempt to leave again, Gaara formed a few hand signs- Control jutsu! He said with more icy calmness that his earlier words. He slapped his palm on Miko's visible chest, right beneath her neck. Miko gasped out and stumbled back, gripping her neck.
"It only hurts because my chakra is entering your system." Gaara said coolly.
What the HELL did that black eyed bastard do to me? Miko hissed internally.
I believed he infused a mark on you. I've seen it done before. You do anything bad you receive pain ten times worse than your already feeling. Kind of like the curse mark on the Hyuuga's lesser branch. Quite clever, oh look I can see the mark it's the same as the kanji on his forehead.
I'll kill him! Miko snarled glaring at the boy. She hadn't felt this angry since she woke up, she felt herself being swallowed by the pool of darkness.
Child snap out of it! This guy has the Shukaku who is really irritating; let's not alert him of my existence. Miko snarled but managed to come out, barley above the tar.
"I'm sorry Miko-chan, but you under-stand right? We can't let you go running around since we don't know who you are, and you don't know who you are!" Temari said jittery, she had only seen that look on her little brother before, that look of pure hatred, the look that said "I'll kill you."
I had hoped I would never see that look again especially from a friend. Temari thought chilled. It was not only her that thought this, but Kankuro as well. Gaara however was not as startled as the first time he got this look, however he had not expected the higher level of bloodlust radiating for her. After a moment she calmed down.
"Ok, so if I have this mark I don't have to stay her, right?" Gaara shook his head.
"If we let you live alone you could be out of Suna before we even knew it. Besides we brought all your things it won't be any different from where you were." Gaara said proving what he said by handing her two full stuffed bags. Temari smiled suddenly,
"Besides I won't have to live alone with two guys anymore! We can go out and party all night long, flirt with guys, and train! It'll be bucket loads of fun! Come on I'll show you you're room!" There was no stopping Temari who was still happily rambling about all the fun they could have, dragging Miko up the stairs.
Her room was by Gaara's on the left side of the hall, and across from Temari, and Kankuro's rooms who were on the right. Temari opened the door. Miko's jaw dropped, the room was huge the bed was the biggest Miko had ever seen. Although the imported wood night-stand, bed-frame, dresser, and walk-in-closet; were slightly dusty but it was presentable. Miko dropped the bags on the bed, pulling out the cleaning supplies she bought. Temari looked at her curiously,
"Do you have an obsession with cleaning or something? I noticed in your room was scrubbed clean."
Miko shrugged, "It's kind of like a habit I guess. If I'm ever bored or upset I just, clean. Besides I like to know where things are." Temari's eyes glittered.
"Miko-chan I'll pay you if you clean and cook for us." Miko tapped her chin liking what she was hearing; getting paid for something she would have already done anyways.
"Welllll, I would need some funds for groceries, and cleaning supplies. Want me to do laundry too?" Miko was already thinking about what to cook. Temari smiled at the girl, this would make sure she didn't try to leave. Cleaning (for some odd reason) she seemed to like, and if she had to cook she would come home early. Besides may be they could start having family dinner again. They had stopped ever since Gaara and Kankuro had gotten food poisoning from Temari's cooking. Temari waved for Miko to follow. In Miko's arms was the bag filled mainly with cleaning supplies.
The moment Miko saw the kitchen she nearly puked.
"Di-d-d-d-d-d-disgusting!" Miko chocked out "We burn it!" The 'kitchen' was filled with pots and pans which were built up with grease and other things which are to disgusting to describe. The floor was sticky and greasy, piled high with garbage bags and towels. Did Miko even dare look in the fridge. Miko turned to Temari which had an equally disgusted face.
"Get me a piece of paper and do the shopping; I'll take care of this." Both girls began to move. After Temari set off for the grocers Miko's actions could be described in a number of verbs: burning (with a jutsu she presently learned from Dralo), hacking, wiping, scrubbing, shoving, and destroying. When Temari returned she found the kitchen completely scrubbed down from floor to ceiling, and a sleeping Miko propped up on her broom.
The boys walked in. They had wondered what the noise was about, but Temari had told them not to enter before she came home. Kankuro looked shell shocked.
"I can actually see the floor…" Gaara mused aloud.
"Temari" Kankuro said seriously "did you know we had a stove?" Temari gave him a bemused glare.
"What happened to all the garbage? She didn't put it outside." Gaara noted.
"Said she was going to burn it." Temari said jutting her chin towards the sleeping blonde. The siblings all turned to the mouse-ish girl, they all though in unison
I hope she stays forever.