Disclaimer: Still not the owner of much of these characters. C'mon, read and review. You know you want to… Oh! I became randomly bored and figured out Aya means silk cloth in Japanese. I didn't know that… I want to thank creativeblogger444 for their amazing review and darkaquarian96 for her opinion! On with the story! For this chapter, I suggest listening to Safetysuit's Stay and Maroon 5's She Will Be Loved. Because that's what I listened to while writing this chapter.
All throughout first period Gaara wouldn't say a thing to me. He had something like guilt or pain written all over his face and wouldn't tell me what was wrong. That caused a lot of stares and a huge lack of Christmas cheer from before from me. I just lay my head down, occasionally talking to Mori or Naru, who just looked worried all period. When the bell rang, the silent boy just stood, apparently waiting for me to get up as well. I did, and he moved so I could go before him.
When I reached my locker, with Gaara close behind, Temari was waiting for me.
"Can I talk to you, Aya?" she said in a low voice. For some reason, I glanced at Gaara. He had the guilt/pain look again. I only nodded at the girl. It was then Gaara left, and I grabbed my backpack.
"I'll walk you to class and explain," his sister offered.
"What's up with Gaara?" My question was immediate and to the point. She sighed.
"I have no clue… Well, I guess I do. This morning, after you left, he did something I have never seen him do before. Of all the things… I never expected this." She shook her head slowly.
"What?"
"He did this." She flipped her cell open and pulled up a picture. It was Kankuro. Instead of the cocky, arrogant boy I usually saw, it was a picture of a hurt, scared boy. And the hurt boy had a black eye. It was as if someone had decked him with almost all of their force. The 'someone' who had done it, was my silent boy. Gaara had punched Kankuro. Realizing this, I stopped dead in my tracks. I knew the redhead had a temper, but I never actually found him physically violent. With the image of Kankuro stuck in my head, I swayed a bit, actually feeling faint.
Leaning against a locker, I looked to my newest blonde friend with near-pleading eyes. "Are you serious?"
She nodded, and said she'd talk to me later.
I entered class, seeing the redhead already at his computer. I sighed and sat down after greeting Shizune. During out assignment his sleep-deprived eyes never once flicked my way. He knew that I knew what he had done though. After we were finished Shizune granted us the rare pleasure of talking above a whisper. Gaara played solitaire.
When there was about two minutes left of class, I finally decided to say something to the redhead. I'd been chatting with Kiba the whole free time, and he kept hitting on me. It was kind of annoying, but I never said that. "Hey, Gaara?" The boy never answered me, but I knew I had his attention. "I need you to meet me by my locker before lunch. There are some things I have to tell you."
I thought he nodded slightly, but the bell rang and he was leaving.
As usual, I went to the class that Naru never actually stayed in: Careers. Naruto had to be pried off Hinata, who blushed more than a virgin at a sex addicts' convention. When I saw them together, my heart strings twanged a bit. I ignored it, completely used to a sort-of lonely feeling in my chest. Dating wasn't my favorite sport lately.
Lunch came slowly, but Gaara was at my locker when I reached it. I smiled; glad to see he'd listened. Without greeting, we stood as everyone cleared out the hallway. Still waiting, I grabbed a purse for the use of holding everyone's Christmas gifts and put it over my shoulder. Mori didn't even have to ask if I was coming to lunch. I'd already texted her.
As the last of the students entered the lunch room, I grabbed his wrist and led him to a little turnoff towards the high school. Obediently, he followed me.
I sat, sliding down the wall next to his legs. My hand still gripped his wrist gently, and he crouched beside me. With a sigh, I looked at the boy. Gaara was one of my favorite people. I loved spending time with him, and helping him open up. Even if he hadn't explained why he was as he is, I was sure I had been helping him. But hearing about him hauling off and punching Kankuro in the face, it didn't really feel as if I was doing that. I was beginning to be confused.
"Gaara, why did you hit Kankuro?" My voice was soft and low, with a hint of pleading that I wish hadn't slipped. I ignored it and awaited his answer with sad eyes.
For around seven minutes – I got bored and began counting – he said not a thing. When he did speak, I jumped at the sound of his voice, so close and yet so distant. The voice that had graced me with its sound more often than any other had become low and serious. It was much more like the one I had first heard than the one I was used to hearing. "He… Kankuro laughed when…you cried." The struggle within his voice rang out clear as a bell and loud enough to shatter my eardrum.
"Are you saying that you hit your brother because you were mad at him for laughing when I cried?"
To be honest, I was in utter disbelief. Gaara hurt his own brother because of me. I really couldn't get it to stick in my mind. I mean, I knew Gaara had become more protective of me over the weeks, but I never would have imagined him punching someone for anything involving me. I never actually imagined Gaara decking anyone for any reason… This was all very shocking and unknown to me.
A nod came from the boy. I stood, and that same look of pain and guilt crossed the silent boy's face. To his surprise I didn't leave him there alone to sulk. I held out my hand to him with a face covered in determination. He hesitantly took my hand. I knew he was wondering what I was up to, and I didn't really blame him. Thankfully, he just stood without a word. I stepped back and looked at the boy before me. No longer was he someone who I was just interested in learning about. No longer was he only someone who needed to feel loved. Gaara was now someone I couldn't help but think of, someone who helped me as much as I helped him. This red-headed, sadistic, lonely boy had come to mean more to me than much of my immediate family, and even just as much as my best friend of around three years. All in the course of about seven weeks this had happened. I had fallen for a boy that barely knew friendship – yet alone love – and made all new friends. Somehow, I had even managed to recover slightly from the pain of heartbreak. Sure, I was still lonely and upset, but now I could cope. The silent boy before had helped me perhaps more than I him. And in the end, I ended up loving him. Although I would never act on that love without great reason.
"Gaara-kun, I'm not that upset with you. You did it to protect me. Yes, I know you shouldn't have handled it by punching your brother, but I'd like to thank you anyway." I looked into his breath-taking eyes. "So, thank you Gaara. But please, don't do it again."
Something like relief passed through his eyes and he nodded simply. A sigh of gratitude escaped my lips and I pulled Gaara around the corner and through the twin doors leading to the lunch room. Quite a few people stopped to stare at us, but I never released his wrist. It seemed we always had an audience, from day one, so it shouldn't matter now.
If only I knew why it was affecting me so much then.
Gaara and I made our way to Mori, who had – by my instruction – trays of food waiting for both of us. With a smile, I sat down, awaiting the silent boy to do the same. Before I could make him apologize, gifts were practically thrown at me. A book I needed to finish a series from Neji, a silk fan from Tenten (who had found out my obsession with them on accident, after someone, okay Mori, I was an anime geek with a love for all Japanese), an adorable beanie with wolf ears attached to it from Naruto, a gift card for HT from Shika, some weird but cute jean patch with a panda from Sakura, and two CDs from Hinata: Vanessa Carlton's Be Not Nobody and Cascada's Every Time We Touch.
I thanked everyone for the amazing gifts and began passing out their own Christmas presents. For the blonde boy everyone loved to laugh at (I mean, with) a beanie of his own, but with fox ears. He grinned happily and hugged me tightly. Next, I got his blushing girlfriend a twenty dollar gift card to Build-A-Bear (as a joke) and a D.H.T. CD. The still famously lazy Shikamaru received a very comfortable, blue, round pillow with a smiley face on it. A bit uncertain about it, I handed Tenten a very old throwing star I picked up in a small shop near where I shop for groceries. Thankfully, she adored it. Next I passed around Sakura's gift. She squealed happily upon only the site of her favorite store's logo: Rue 21. Once she looked inside though, she practically attacked me. I guess she really liked those tee shirts… Finally, I got to Neji. I just handed him his little present: a book called Life's Little Instruction Book. Everyone laughed at the little joke. Well, Neji didn't laugh so much as roll his eyes and look amused, but still…
The three siblings at the table knew I would just give them their Christmas presents later because I lived so close to them and everyone else was leaving wither tonight or tomorrow. Still, Kankuro teased me about not having a gift for him. I picked up a fish stick and threw it at the boy. Everyone burst into laughed at the sight of it sticking to his face for a moment or two before sliding off.
"Would that be considered a fish slap?" Mori asked. Everyone burst into another round of giggles at the question.
Finally it was silent.
I looked towards the silent boy and waited for him to return the gaze.
Once he did, I gave him a stern look. Sure, I was grateful he protected me, but he still had to apologize to Kankuro.
A sigh escaped the red-head's lips and I frowned. He scowled at me in return but looked to his brother who sported a solid shiner.
Not a sigh, but a deep intake of breathe came from him. Kankuro looked up, not what sure to expect. "I apologize, Kankuro."
I swear, everyone in the cafeteria stopped breathing, moving, and talking. Every single soul was looking at us and gaping. Kakashi and my geometry teacher Iruka froze and looked at Gaara oddly. The boy everyone was staring at just closed his eyes, as if wishing he were invisible. To help him, I patted his arm and said softly, "Thank you, Gaara-kun." My low voice and soft tone caught Mori and Temari's attention. They exchanged a look and shrugged. I didn't know or really care.
Snapping out of it, a boy I recognized from my history class (Sai, I think it was) blurted out, "Holy shit."
People started mumbling and sharing their point of view immediately. I snickered at the idiots and turned back to my in-shock friends.
"Did you just get Gaara to apologize to Kankuro?" Naru asked dumbly. Sakura slapped her forehead while Neji and Tenten sniggered at him. Hinata laughed a bit, but quickly covered her mouth when she saw he was completely serious. No one answered his question, so Naruto continued. "Finally someone gets him to do something good. No offense Gaara, but I know how it is. We're alike, but handle our problems in different ways. I found someone to open me up to the world earlier than you." The blonde turned to me. "I'm glad you could love him that much."
This was heard by no one outside of out table, but I heard nothing for a couple minutes. When my mind registered and processed what he had said, I gave him a look of shock. In fact, everyone was staring at the hyper-active boy.
"Naru-kun?" Hinata questioned quietly.
"Uh-hum?" he managed while chewing a forkful of ramen.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. Completely, actually. I was waiting for someone to come along and steal our emo boy's heart."
"What the hell are you talking about???" Sakura demanded.
"Oh, nothing much."
The bell rang and he dragged Hinata out the lunchroom without another word.
Still in a bit of shock, I emptied my tray and walked to my locker, grabbing everything I would need over the break. At least we were getting out early. That was a definite plus for everyone. That, and the fact that we went to our last period instead of fifth for the next thirty minutes, lifted my spirits a bit.
I walked to Kakashi-sensei's class in silence, finding no need to talk. Once more I was mumbling to myself about my Christmas plans. Finding that I still had nothing to do, I tossed it from my mind for now. For the first time in a while, I let my mind wander to my older brother…
Hishiro Ichiro Akio is his complete birth name. He just turned seventeen as of October thirtieth. The last time I saw him, about six months ago, he had just put ice blue streaks in his hair – to match his eyes, he'd joked. Really, they'd matched his eyes perfectly. My brother was tall and muscular. His hair swung in his eyes, and he hated to trim it. Akio has always worn band tees and ripped jeans, claiming anything else just wasn't him. I agreed, but never told my mother so or she would've gotten upset with both of us. Since he graduated high school a year early, my brother went on to travel around with the money he'd saved. I can still remember the night he 'ran away' as my parents like to put it.
Akio had snuck into my room, waking my then-twelve-year-old self with a gentle shake. I had looked up at hi, with wide grey eyes. As soon as I saw the piercing blue orbs glowing back at me, I relaxed. "Kio-sama, what are you doing?" I mumbled tiredly, using my nickname for him. Then I sniffled, hating the cold I had caught from my cousin across town. That was the reason I'd been asleep before eleven and hadn't heard the yelling.
"I just had a blow-out with the family. I'm leaving, Aya-chan." His voice was low and held regret, but his eyes danced with hope.
"Akio! You can't leave me here!" I pleaded.
Then his face and eyes saddened, a serious look overwhelming them. "If I take you, they'll charge me with kid-napping, Aya. I can't do that. I know you can get yourself out of here. If you continue to hate this place, find a way out. I'm sure you can do it before I did. Don't waste any time though. I love you Aya-chan, but I have to go… Your cell number is programmed in mine and I have your email. If you get out, send me the new address. And if I don't reply, don't be surprised."
"Where are you going?"
"Kane and I are going to travel all across the countries." Of course he was leaving with Kane, his best friend since first grade. "He just inherited a huge sum of money from his great-grandfather and wanted to see the other places our world held. The first stop is the Wind Country." My brother grinned wildly, the fire back in his ice eyes.
My heart sank. I would miss Akio so much. He was pretty much what kept me sane while at home…
"I love you too, Kio-sama."
"Aya, once you get out, I will come to visit. I swear. But I can't come back here. You know this." His strong face softened and he continued. "Here, take my necklace." That was when he gave me the necklace with our initials on it. Akio kissed my forehead, hugged me, and turned to leave.
"Wait!" I hissed to the darkness. He stopped and looked towards me again. "Take this; I don't want to receive a gift without giving one."
Through the dark I saw his hand reach out and open, awaiting whatever I was about to hand him. Opening my own hand, I gently placed a tiny heart locket on a long silver chain in his hand. I saw his darkened face break out into a smile. It was the locket he gave me when I was seven and we moved away from a small town in the Fire Country.
"Thank you, Aya," came his soft voice. "Good luck, Aya-love."
I smiled at the nickname he had given me in return. "Just go, Kio-sama. I know you won't get caught, but I may if I have to sneak after you."
He chuckled, hugged me once again, and was on his way to Kane's awaiting car two blocks away.
That night, I slept peacefully.
Akio was my role model for a long time. I loved him dearly and hoped to see him soon. I didn't think of him often however, because not seeing him saddened me. I knew he would show up some day. I was just waiting for him.
Bringing myself back to the present, I greeted my gray-haired teacher and took my seat by Gaara and Mori. No one said a word about what Naruto said, not even when the blonde himself sat down behind us. Tired of the silence, Mori asked me what I was planning for the upcoming holiday.
"I'll probably just hang out and hope for snow."
The blonde and my fire-truck-red headed best friend turned to me in shock. "You're not going to see your family?" Mori exclaimed.
"Nah."
"Why not?!" Naruto asked.
I shrugged. "I don't feel like it. They probably wouldn't care too much anyways. So I'll just hang around town."
"We're all leaving though!" Mori frowned deeply. "I can't just leave you here for Christmas all alone!!"
"It's no problem, Mori-san."
"The holidays are for family."
"Well I don't like my family."
The two gave up, shaking their heads at me. "Are you sure you'll be okay all alone?" Mori asked me.
"I have Bast and a cell phone. No problems here."
Mori was clearly upset that I would be alone, but changed the subject to otherwise. We talked about how we couldn't believe the year had gone by so fast and how much we would miss our friends over the break. I tried – but failed epically – to convince Gaara to join in the conversation. He just wouldn't talk. This upset me, but I'd fix it later.
When the bell rang, we hugged and said goodbyes, not really wanting to see anyone go. I hugged everyone. Even the smart-ass Neji gave me a shoulder-hug. I smiled and waved at Mori when her mother came, the same for Sakura and even while Kiba was being picked up. Naruto and Hinata kissed goodbye; they were planning a visit to each other in a couple days. Shikamaru gave a lazy salute as a man looking identical to him drove up in a very tough-looking truck. Tenten attacked I mean hugged me before bouncing off to a blue car.
Finally, only I and the siblings were left. "So what are you guys doing over the break?"
Temari was the one to answer my question: "We're hanging out here with Baki. Our dad was busy." She didn't seem to care much, but I knew everyone cared a little about not seeing their parents. It bothered even me a bit.
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
Kankuro nodded.
"Geez Kankuro. You're so loud. Shut the hell up already!" I exclaimed. He rolled his eyes, but looked a little amused.
The red head just walked by my side without saying anything. I sighed and entered their home while shaking my head. Temari and I tossed our coats on the couch and she asked about my plans.
"I'm just gonna stay at home."
Blinking, the blonde standing before me asked if I was serious. I nodded in reply. "Are you going to be all alone?"
"Nope, I have Bast." A silly grin was plastered on my face and I was trying to make my eyes portray the same happiness. I think I failed…
"You can't be serious! Don't your parents even want you home for the holidays? I mean, my dad at least made an attempt to be normal, but c'mon! Your aunt's leaving too isn't she?"
I merely nodded, not sure why she cared so much.
She was practically boiling. "Why do people have children if they don't even care where they are or what they're doing?" she said with a very tight voice. I didn't answer her and she shook her head. "You're coming over here. Hell, I'm making you stay the night here Christmas Eve. I won't let you be alone on the holidays."
"Oh, no, Temari." I shook my head ferociously at this. "I can't stay here!"
Sadly, the older girl dismissed my distress. "You are, end of story." Then she went off to her room.
"Ugh." I plopped onto the couch, next to Mori's beau. Gaara was no where to be found.
Kankuro flipped the channels mindlessly.
"I'm sorry about this morning, by the way," I said in a sad tone.
The boy turned to me. "What?" I went to say it again, but he stopped me. "No, I meant it as in why are you sorry? You're not the one gave me a black eye."
"Yes, but Gaara did it because he was protecting me."
At this, Kankuro laughed. I stared confused until he spoke again. "I don't care honestly. Laughing isn't what I should have done in the first place. I should be the sorry one."
"Shut up."
"Huh?!"
"You shouldn't be sorry; you were the one that got hit."
"I was hit for a good reason."
"Don't you listen to me? I told you to shut up."
"What the hell???"
"Shush!"
Finally, he caught on with the fact I was trying to confuse him. Kankuro mumbled something about me being a baka and went back to flipping the channels. The door bell sounded and I skipped towards the door, ignoring the older boy's eye roll at my hyper self.
Humming an Evanescence song, I swung the door open. My eyes, I swear, practically fell out my head. I blinked. Still unsure, I closed the door. I counted to four and opened it again. The same reaction came. "Holy hell!" I practically screamed. Not sure if I was alive anymore, I reached a hand out towards the person in the doorway. My hand hit his chest with a solid feel. "Holy hell!" I repeated.
"Are you going to stop cussing me and let me inside?" he demanded.
"Are you real?"
"Are you stupid?"
"Are you a hologram?
"Are you going to let me in?"
"Are you my brother?"
"Are you Aya-love?"
Finally convinced Akio stood in front of me, I let out a sound very much like a 'squee' and pounced on the taller boy. He fell onto the ground with an almost-silent 'Oomph' but no protest. I hugged him and laughed joyfully.
"Who's that?" I heard.
Getting up, I was still laughing manically and clutching my brother. "Kankuro, this is my brother, Akio. Akio, this is Kankuro. He's dating Mori and is one of my friends."
Blinking, Kankuro reached a hand out to shake my brother's. They shook hands strongly, trying to size each other up by a single grip. I rolled my eyes and pulled him inside to meet Gaara and Temari.
Pushing Kio-sama on the couch, I told him to stay and dashed upstairs. I banged on Temari's door with a crazy smile. She answered, confused. I told her my brother was here and she responded with mild surprise, saying she'd go meet him. I nodded and continued to Gaara's door.
"Gaara-kun?" I called, knocking lightly on his door. He opened the wooden door and looked at me expectantly.
Not wasting time, I pulled him by the arm down the stairs as a kid would do to someone with money outside a candy shop. "C'mon, my brother's here and you have to meet him. "Hurry Gaara-kun!"
Akio was greeting Temari as I stepped into the living room with the silent boy in tow. I bounced over to my brother's side with the same smile.
"This is my anti-social, red-headed friend Gaara. Gaara-kun, this is my brother Kio-sama. Don't be afraid of him. He's only strong in video games where he has a tank or machine gun." I giggled and Akio playfully hit my arm.
"Shut up, Aya-love," he mumbled with a grin.
"So how did you know I'd be here?"
"A certain aunt who loves to keep me updated on my little sister's friends." Akio looked at Gaara as he said this, trying to figure out just how close we were. I hit his arm and glared at the older boy.
"That could be considered stalking."
"So could saying you're hiding in my bushes when you're actually following me home," Kankuro muttered. I laughed loudly, remembering how Gaara just thought we were crazy that day. It was a great day.
Kio-sama looked at me funnily, but continued to tell us tales of his traveling. His favorite place had been the Land of Snow. Kane and Akio had just come back from there, and Kio said he planned to return one day. I asked where Kane was, and Kio-sama told me he was at my house sleeping on the couch. I sighed and mumbled about how my brother never should've been taught how to pick a lock. We had a lot of laughs and questions. Akio got along well with Temari and Kankuro. I could tell he respected Gaara's silence. But I thought it was weird how every time I moved or shifted near the silent boy, Akio would furrow his brow. I guess was thinking about something.
Around six, I said that I had to go. Kane was probably awake and Akio was tired. Bast most likely wasn't too happy that I'd been gone long either. I hugged Temari and stuck my tongue out at the older of the brothers. Kankuro responded with an eye roll and a cocky grin. I told Gaara I'd see him tonight, which earned me a disapproving look from Akio. Even with my brother and Kane, Temari made me promise I'd be here for the holidays. I did, crossing my heart for effect. She rolled her eyes as her brother had and bid us farewell.
Hope you enjoyed it. Akio means dawn and Ichiro means first son.