Unsolicited
Chapter Two
-Notice-
"Kazekage-sama." A messenger spoke warily as he stepped into the office of his leader. Jade eyes shifted up from the papers on the desk and zeroed in on the grim man.
"What?" the redheaded Kage replied.
With a fortifying breath, the Suna shinobi stepped forward and offered out a scroll. "It's a letter from Konoha sire. It's from your wife."
Gaara's eyes widened a fraction and he reached forward, taking the scroll from him and tearing it open. He couldn't help the panic that filled him. Had she been hurt? Had Konoha been attacked? Every bad scenario played in front of him all at once before he could even roll it out completely. Before his sanity could take a turn for the worst, he began reading.
Gaara,
Something terrible has happened. Naruto, Sasuke and I were just hanging out, and for old time's sake Tsunade-shishou gave us a mission. It was just supposed to be a simple recon mission, but there were many unexpected surprises, and things took a turn for the worst while we were on our way back to the village. I'll explain more in person, but all in all, Sasuke is dead. I need you to come to Konoha as soon as possible, not only because there are some things we need to discuss, but because a lot is about to change. I love you, and I am perfectly fine. So don't worry. Just get here as soon as you are able.
All My Love,
Sakura
Gaara stared at the paper, laying it down on his desk carefully. He felt like he'd had the wind knocked from him. Sasuke was dead? Something pinched in his gut, and he actually felt immense sorrow wash over his entire being. He couldn't believe it. It wasn't possible. It couldn't even be that simple. The redhead frowned and finally took notice of the man still in the room. "Get out." He ordered.
The shinobi did as he was told instantly and left the room, shutting the door behind him. Gaara glanced back down at the paper and reread it to make sure he hadn't imagined it. "Sasuke can't be dead." He said softly to himself, leaning back in his chair and running one of his hands through his messy locks.
Sasuke wasn't supposed to die. At least not anymore. Over the last thirteen years, he and the Uchiha had actually become pretty good friends. So this was something that filled him and his heart with grief, emotions he only began to feel for people because of his love and wife, Sakura.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath, covering his eyes as he tried to compose himself and keep reigns on his raging sand. After a while of this meditative state, he rose from his seat and took the letter, folding it and placing it in his pocket. He needed to get to Konoha as soon as possible, because he knew his wife needed him to be there, if not for Sasuke, then for her.
Straightening up his desk, he then left the room and headed down the steps of the Kage tower, stopping in front of the receptionist. "I'm going to Konoha. You don't need to know why yet, but I must retrieve Sakura. I will explain everything to the council once I return. Tell Temari she's in charge, and have Shikamaru take over in the defense head." He told her sharply, beginning to walk off once more towards the front door.
"But Kazekage-sama," the little brunette called after him. "What of your children?"
"They're coming with me." He said, letting his sand pick up and whisk him away into the warm desert air. When he formed again, he was in front of the Suna Ninja Academy. It was just about time for his two youngest to be getting out, but he didn't have time to wait. So he went into the school and to the room he knew his daughters were in, stopping in the doorway. One of the young children pointed excitedly towards the entrance, which then turned every eye in the room.
As Gaara walked in, the teacher seemed to brighten up, greeting her Kazekage with an outstretched hand. "Kazekage-sama, to what do we owe this visit?" she asked, smiling happily. After all, it was an honor for the highest ranking ninja in the village to come and visit the young ones. Unless, of course, his own young ones were in the class.
"Hi daddy!" a small, pink haired girl waved. She was about eleven years old, her hair cut short like her mother's, and her eyes shining jade orbs. There was an exact lookalike beside her, who looked interested in the situation, but her bored façade stayed the same for the most part. The only difference between the two was their expressions, demeanor, and the length of their hair.
Gaara gave his twins a small wave and shifted his gaze back to their teacher. "I've come to get my daughters. Something has come up." He explained and then looked back to his girls. "Satomi. Natsumi, come here. We have to go home."
The younger twin, Natsumi, got up in an instant, hopping over the desk and running to her father, standing in front of him proudly. Satomi was much more collective in her advance, but made it over to him nonetheless. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"We'll talk about it when we get home. Come on." He told them, gesturing for them to go ahead.
Their teacher waved and continued class as they left the room. Satomi and Natsumi walked on either side of their father until they reached their enormous house. When they walked in, Gaara stopped, making his daughter do the same and look back at him in waiting. "I want you to go upstairs and pack." He said, frowning. "We're going to Konoha."
"Like on vacation?" Natsumi gasped, jumping up and down. "It was so pretty there!"
Satomi glared at her sister, making her stop, since obviously, by the look on Gaara's face, it was not a vacation. Natsumi stopped and looked up at her dad, frowning as well, her good mood gone. "Did something bad happen?" she asked.
"Is it mom?" Satomi looked slightly alarmed.
"No." He nodded. "Something bad happened, and mom needs us to go and be there for her, because one of our friends died. So I need you to go pack and hurry." Gaara sighed and walked past them and into the living room. He looked around and sensed for his son, and once he felt the sand, he disappeared and formed in the backyard, where the young redhead was training. "Toshiro." Gaara said loudly, to make sure he had his son's attention.
The younger male stopped in what he was doing and looked back to see his father, smiling his winning smile. "Hey Dad, you're home early. Want to train?" he asked, running over and slowing when he saw his father's expression. "Is everything ok?"
"No. We're going to Konoha, so I need you to go and pack. Your mom needs us there as soon as possible, so once you are done make sure your sister's are completely packed and ready downstairs, and then we'll leave." Gaara said, only growing more wary. The more his travel plans progressed the more final this entire situation felt, and he didn't want it to feel like this. Because in all honesty, he wouldn't be able to believe Sasuke was dead until he saw the body himself. And after all, he'd come back, so there was a chance…right?
Toshiro nodded obediently and headed into the house, with Gaara close behind. The young boy headed up the steps and disappeared, and so Gaara went into his own shared bedroom and into the closet, where he threw together the bare essentials, making sure he had everything he needed. He packed some things for Sakura as well, just in case.
Once all that was done, he readied himself for the journey and headed out to the front entryway, seeing his three children ready. "Alright. Are you ready?" he asked them. They nodded wordlessly, looking between one another. Gaara took Satomi's hand and then Toshiro's in the other, while the eldest son grabbed his youngest sister's hand before they all disappeared in a swirl of sand.
Sakura sighed softly to herself as she began to put together some sandwiches for lunch. Since returning to the village with Sasuke's body, she had barely slept a wink. First she and Naruto had had to take his body to the morgue to be cleaned and prepared, and then they'd had to explain everything to Tsunade. Once all that was done, Naruto had gone home to tell his family about the news, while Sakura went back to her hotel room to shower. It had been late at night, and so she and Naruto had taken a bit of time before heading over to the elder Uchiha's house and waking Sasuke's twelve year old son to tell him the news.
That was about three days ago, and since then she had moved her things into the Uchiha house in order to watch over Akito. It was pretty awkward, because she didn't know the boy that well, and no matter what she tried, he pushed her away. It was slightly ironic though, because his behavior was so similar to that of his father, despite the fact that she knew they didn't have that great of a relationship. It made her sad, but she knew that Sasuke had loved his son, even if Akito didn't know it himself.
Sasuke's words flashed through her head then, and a sad look came to her face as she finished the sandwiches, putting all of the ingredients away. She hadn't heard from Gaara, but she knew that he was close, she could feel it. That thought alone was enough to keep her from breaking down and crying, something she hadn't allowed herself to do since returning to the village.
She got out two glasses and filled them with water, adding a few ice cubes to them before setting everything on the small table that was in the kitchen. Then she left the kitchen and walked towards the back of the house, where Sasuke had installed a training room. She opened the door, revealing a young boy who looked scarily similar to his deceased father, save the deep forest green of his eyes. He was working on some katas, training vigorously as he had ever since hearing the news of his sire's death.
"Akito," she said, getting his attention. He stopped his movements and looked at her, remaining silent. "Lunch is ready, so come into the kitchen." She told him, turning around and leaving, knowing that he would be there shortly.
He was very quiet for a child, and very obedient. Ever since she had arrived at his home, the young Uchiha had been coldly distant to her. He never spoke to her unless she asked him a question, and he never asked her for anything. In fact, every morning when she had gotten up, he was in the kitchen making the both of them breakfast. And it was actually pretty good.
She had told him that he didn't have too, for she was more than capable of cooking for him, but he told her that it wasn't as a kindness to her. It was because he was hungry, and he didn't have time to wait for her to 'dawdle and do other stupid stuff that women do'. That had made her angry, but she hadn't said anything, figuring that he was just taking his upset over Sasuke's death out on her. She also had to remind herself that he had grown up without a mom, and so the only things he had to go on about women were the things that Sasuke had said, and that wasn't very promising.
Entering the kitchen, she sat down and began to eat, and a few minutes later Akito joined her. They ate in silence for a while, until Sakura spoke up. "So, you've been training a lot lately. Anything in particular you've been working on?"
"Hn." Was all the boy said as he took another bite of his sandwich.
Sakura decided to try again. "Well, what do you want to do the rest of the day? We could go to the park, or the marketplace. I heard that-"
"That's stupid." He interrupted her, not even bothering to look up from his plate. "I am not a child, and so have more important things to do than walk around the village being coddled by someone who feels nothing but pity for me."
The pink haired woman simply blinked, shocked. Not only were his words extremely rude and disrespectful, but that was the most he had said to her the entire time she had been here. The best thing to do in this situation would be to act as if she weren't affected, that way he wouldn't get the reaction from her that he expected. "Then what are you going to do for the rest of the day?"
"That's my business, not yours." He said.
The awkward silence resumed, Akito not wanting to speak, and Sakura not sure what to say. It was almost like her first few times with Gaara, before they had started seeing each other. Only this was a child with an attitude that was far too big for his body. When the ebony haired boy stood and made his way to the sink, she spoke up once more.
"Was your sandwich good?" she asked.
"I ate it didn't I?" was all he said in reply, rinsing it off and putting it in the dishwasher before leaving the room.
When she was alone, Sakura sighed and put her head in her hands. She was really close to snapping and just hitting this boy across Konoha. Maybe that would smack some manners into him. Once more she thought of Sasuke's words, and some of her anger died away. If he had enough faith in her to ask her to look after his child, then she knew she would be able to make it through this. She just needed Gaara to get here. He was her rock, her foundation. Naruto was being helpful, visiting every day when he had the time, since it was being spent planning Sasuke's funeral, but he wasn't Gaara. In fact, Naruto was even more screwed up over this than she was.
She rose from her seat and washed her plate, running the dishwasher, since it was full. Then she did what she always did when she was upset. She cleaned. This would be the third time she'd cleaned Sasuke's house, but she didn't care. It gave her something to do, and she didn't have to think a whole lot in order to do it.
After a few hours of doing this, she stopped to wash up before beginning dinner. She hadn't seen nor heard from Akito since lunch, but she could sense his chakra signature back in the training room. She put away the cleaning supplies and got out everything for supper, though it wasn't much. She would need to go to the marketplace tomorrow, because all there was in the house was enough to make a simple salad and some chicken Alfredo.
Once the salad was put together, she set the noodles on the stove to boil and put the chicken in the oven to cook. As she did this, she heard the water start up in another part of the house, and knew that Akito was finished training and was getting a shower, as he always did before dinner. Suddenly she froze, feeling something familiar. Before she could put her finger on it, there was a knock at the front door, and she quickly wiped her hands off on a towel before walking over to the front.
She peeked through the hole in the door, gasping at the sight that greeted her. Throwing the door open, she didn't wait to exchange pleasantries, simply wrapping her arms around her husband's waist and burying her face in his shirt, taking in his familiar scent. "You're finally here." She said softly.
Gaara's strong arms wrapped around her and brought her closer, resting his forehead on the top of her head. "Sorry it took so long. I came as fast as I could."
"Mommy!" all three of their children cried out, surrounding their parents in a tight embrace. "We missed you!" they said together.
Sakura pulled away from Gaara a bit, looking down at her children. "Hello my sweethearts." She smiled slightly, reaching out and bringing each child closer to her and kissing them on the tops of their heads. "I missed you too." She looked up at Gaara and kissed him then, not wanting him to feel left out. "And I missed you."
"I missed you as well my love. Though, I wish it had been me saying that after you returned home safely." He sighed, stroking her cheek tenderly with his fingers. And by her reaction and lean, he knew she was slowly crumbling beneath her tough façade. "It's alright. I'm here now, so you don't have to be strong anymore."
She sniffed, her unshed tears coming to her eyes. "It's been so hard." She breathed out, sounding a bit strained, her tears beginning to spill over her eyelashes and slide down her cheeks. "I keep trying to make some headway with Akito, help him through all this, but he doesn't want it." She sighed. "And Sasuke's funeral is tomorrow."
Gaara gave her a small smile and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry. I will handle everything from here." He told her.
Natsumi shot her hand in the air and looked between her parents. They glanced down at their youngest, who smiled. "I have to pee." She announced, running into the abode before anyone could stop her. She ran down the hallway in search of a bathroom, opening every door until she finally found it and rushed in, slamming the door, and as she turned around she ran into someone. Natsumi blinked, as did Akito, both confused as to what was happening. Finally, Natsumi peeled herself off the slick body and stared up into surprised green eyes.
Her face turned an unhealthy red as her gaze lowered. "I'm so sorry! I should have knocked!" she slapped her hands over her eyes, rambling on. "But I had to pee so bad!"
"Polite protocol dictates that when in someone else's house, you do not enter without permission, and you certainly do not just barge into the bathroom when the door is closed. You knock." Was all he said, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist. Then he walked past her, grabbing the door knob and opening it. "You may use the bathroom." He told her before leaving, closing the door behind him.
She stared after him, looking at the door but then hurrying to use the restroom. After she finished and washed her hands, she went out into the hall and looked around, hearing her parents in the living room she'd passed. She started towards the room, but then heard something down the other hall. Her curiosity piqued, she walked down the hard wood floor and peeked into an open room. It was large and designed like a training room, and the boy from before was in there, already dressed and sharpening some kunai. She remembered him from the last time she'd gotten to come to Konoha, but he wasn't very talkative. But of course that didn't stop her. She walked in and smiled, waving at him. "You're…Akito right? I remember you from the last time I came here." She voiced her thoughts.
He paused in his task and looked up at her. "Yes." He said simply, before resuming what he was doing.
Natsumi blinked, her smile faltering for only a moment. "How old are you?"
"Twelve."
"I'm eleven!" she beamed, stopping once she was in front of him. "We're only a year apart." To this he didn't say a thing, not even giving her statement a look in acknowledgement.
She frowned, leaning closer to him and pushing his hands down from their previous task. "Are you ok?"
He glared up at her, the intensity of it startling. "Why would I be okay? My father is dead, and now there's bunch of people in my house, bothering me, when all I want is to be left alone!"
She looked wounded, but instead of shying away like he anticipated, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "I'm sorry."
He stiffened at the contact, having only ever been touched like this a few times by his friend Minako. But at least he knew her well, when all he could remember about this strange girl was that she talked a lot, and was always happy. "I don't want your pity." He said softly, making no move to return her embrace, or to push her away.
Her grip only tightened. "This isn't pity. I want to stop your hurting." She explained, looking up at him with watery eyes.
Akito blinked. "But you don't know me."
"I don't like it when people hurt. And I kinda know you. I met you once, and I don't want you to hurt." She gave him a smile. "I know everything isn't going to be okay, but that doesn't mean you can't let others try to help. So we can be friends! And I'll make here stop aching." She told him, touching her hand over his heart.
He sighed. "Yeah, good luck with that." Then his gaze moved to the doorway, where Sakura was standing.
"Kids, dinner is ready." She said. "Come eat."
Natsumi took Akito's hand and dragged him with her and out the door. "Food!" she cheered, running down the hall.
He followed, his eyes somewhat wide at her antics. When they reached the kitchen where the food was set out, he instantly took in the other intruders that were in his home. Two redheads and another little pink girl. Not good. He recognized them all of course, especially the man, because in his visits to the leaf village he'd visited with his father often. This man was someone the elder Uchiha could actually relax with, and that fact alone earned him a bit of respect in Akito's book. Though, he would never admit it aloud.
He retrained his gaze on Natsumi when she released his hand. Then he saw which chair she was headed for, and he glared, running over and pushing her out of the way slightly before blocking the chair from her.
"No!" he yelled, getting everyone's attention, and startling the young girl. "You can't sit here. It's my father's seat."
Gaara walked over and picked Akito up, sitting him in the seat he had designated as Sasuke's. "Then you sit there. There aren't enough seats to leave one empty and have everyone sitting. And next time don't be so rude." He told the dark haired boy, not giving him time to respond as he comforted his alarmed daughter.
Toshiro took the seat beside Akito and gave him the nod. "Sup." Akito looked sideways at the redheaded boy and then stared forward once more. His entire body was stiff, and he looked like he was having a small freak out session inside his head.
Sakura began to serve the food to everyone, glancing at the quiet dark haired boy every once in a while, until everyone's plates were full. She sat down then, and everyone began to eat. Well, everyone but Akito. He was still tense, just staring at his plate. But, not wanting to look weak, or have Gaara speak to him again, he slowly picked up his fork and began to eat a bit hesitantly.
"So Akito." Gaara began, eating some of the noodles. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"Why wouldn't I be? It's just another day." The boy replied, not looking up.
Gaara paused in his eating, clearing his throat. "Akito, it is disrespectful not to look at someone when you speak to them. And I mean the fact that tomorrow is your father's funeral."
This time Akito did look up, but his gaze was far from friendly. "Of course I know that tomorrow is his funeral. I'm not stupid. All I have to do is show up, stand at the front as everyone looks at me pityingly, and then wait for everyone else to leave after being forced to listen to their fake condolences. Big deal."
Sakura's eyes widened and she looked from Akito to Gaara. Already the boy had spoken more to her husband than he had to her in the three days she'd been staying with him. This could be good. This was progress. In fact, it was beginning to make a lot more sense as to why Sasuke had asked that Akito come and stay with them.
"Don't you use that tone of voice with me you little punk." The Kazekage warned. "I know your father taught you better manners than that, especially when speaking to your elders. And I can assure you, that tomorrow will not be a traditional Konoha funeral." He scolded the boy. "Like hell Sasuke would want a bunch of strangers placing queer flowers over his body."
Toshiro snickered and nodded, agreeing with his father. "Whatever." Akito muttered, returning his gaze to his food.
"Whatever is not a proper response." Gaara said, continuing to eat.
"Do your eyes turn red?" Satomi blurted out, looking at Akito curiously. He looked up at her after glancing at Gaara, since he didn't want to be berated about his manners again.
"Yes." He replied.
"Can I see?"
He sighed, and suddenly the greens depths of his eyes swirled to red, one black tomoe visible in each eye.
Satomi stared in awe, as did all of the Sabaku children. "Wow." Natsumi said.
Akito sat like that for a few seconds, before changing them back to their original shade of green. "That's cool." Toshiro nodded. They finished up dinner pretty fast, and as Sakura began to do the dishes, Akito got up to go back to the room he normally inhabited.
"Hold on a second there young Uchiha." Gaara said, crossing his arms and looking him over. "I need you to go get me some strawberries. I see you're all out."
His answer was a small glare. "Why?"
"Because I said so, that's why." The redhead replied sharply, tossing the small money pouch at him. He caught it with ease and only one hand, than stared down at it. "So go on. And take Natsumi. She likes the cherry blossoms. And try and not be such an emo freak. No one liked your dad when he was like that, and the same goes here." Then he gestured for him to leave with his hand. "Now go."
"Fine." The young boy said, turning and heading for the door, not even waiting for Natsumi. She followed after him anyways, already bubbling about the thought of getting to see the cherry blossoms.
Sakura finished the dishes quickly, loading them in the dishwasher. She turned to Toshiro and Satomi then, smiling slightly. "Why don't the two of you go and settle into the guest rooms? They're right down that way, the first hallway on your left." She instructed, pointing so that they knew where she was talking about. "And then you can just go play in the backyard or something. Your father and I have some things we need to discuss."
"Ok." They said together, leaving the room then and heading off into the halls. Gaara shifted his gaze to his wife, curiosity coursing through him.
"What are we discussing?"
She sighed, looking up at him. "Sasuke's…last request. For us." She said softly.
He fully faced her then. "His last request?"
"Yes." At his silence she figured he wanted her to continue. "He wants us to take Akito to Suna. To live with our family."
Gaara's eye visibly widened. "What." He said, his voice dead.
"He said that you are the only one who would be able to understand Akito, and keep him from the darkness." She explained. "That you would help him grow into a fine young man."
"Sakura," Gaara warned. "We have three kids. Or did you forget that?"
"No, I didn't forget that." She replied. "But it's what Sasuke wanted. And I think it's a good idea. Already you've gotten Akito to speak more to you than he has to me since I got here three days ago."
"Of course I have Sakura. Because everyone's treating him like Sasuke died! You have to treat him like a kid. Sakura, I don't want to take care of another child. He's not mine, and we've already got one disturbed one."
"So you're saying that you refuse to take Akito into our home because you don't want another psychotic child? You?" she asked, pointing at him in exasperation. "And we don't even really have to take care of him. He's already self-sufficient. He never asks for anything, nor does he expect people to do things for him. All we have to do is make sure he stays out of trouble, and that he doesn't momentarily destroy his life the way Sasuke did."
Gaara shook his head and focused his glare back on his wife. "No, no, no. Sakura I know that's how it works in happy go lucky town with a population of you. Out here in the real world, that's not what happens. Psychopaths don't just 'take care of themselves' they watch and wait and simmer and froth until BOOM!" he yelled, throwing his hands in the air. "About forty people are dead, a bunny is boiling in a pot on the stove, and our daughters have been raped and mutilated."
She gave him a blank stare and crossed her arms. "I highly doubt Akito is going to rape and mutilate our daughters." She said. "Besides, I already promised we would take Akito with us."
"No you halved a promise." He pointed accusingly at her. "We are one now Sakura, and you agreed. I said nothing. Leave the kid here with Naruto! I'm sure he'll be…fine…" Gaara frowned as he thought about his recent words. Then he sighed. "Alright."
She smiled and walked over to him, hugging him around the waist and kissing the corner of his chin. "It won't be so bad. We'll just have to make a few adjustments, and get used to it. And look on the bright side, Toshiro will have a brother, and there will be another male in the house."
Gaara just sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah. Yeah. You're just lucky we have a really big house, two really annoying daughters, and a boy who can keep him occupied. But Konoha's going to be pissed that the sharingan is leaving them. This won't be an easy debate."
"I know." She rested her chin on his chest, looking up at him through her lashes. "But you know we'll win. Naruto thinks it's a good idea, and so does Tsunade-shishou. We just have to get through the elders, and there are only two of them. It'll be a cinch. And I doubt the council will complain much when we get back to Suna and tell them."
"Oh they won't." he rested his head on hers. "But it's still going to wear me out." He sighed then. "Alright, come on, let's go pack Akito's things and see if he notices. Because I don't want to stay here a day after the funeral. That boy needs something other than this dreary place."
"Yeah." Sakura agreed, and they went into the hall to begin packing the last Uchiha's belongings.
"Strawberries!" Natsumi sang, plucking one of the most succulent ones from the basket. "How I love thee!"
Akito gave her a sideways glance. "You're weird." He said.
She offered it to him, smiling brightly. "Want one?" she snickered, making a kissing face at him. "They're delicious!"
"No." he continued walking, wanting to get back to his home as soon as possible.
"Oh come on." She offered it to him once more. "It's the best one. And I think you will really enjoy its amazing sweetness."
"I don't want it."
Natsumi huffed and took the basket from him, setting it down before tackling him to the ground, sitting on his chest and shoving it in his mouth as he opened it to yell at her. "Now eat!" she laughed victoriously.
He glared at her, looking like he was about to begin chewing, until he spat the strawberry out of his mouth, hitting her in the face. "No." he reiterated sternly.
She screamed out, falling back and trying to wipe off the offending back spit. "Gross! Gross! You nasty!" she flailed and fell backwards fully, hitting her head right between his legs painfully.
Akito moaned, a pained look coming to his face. "Get off me you psycho!" he said, rolling to the side as he shoved Natsumi off of him. She hit the ground and yelled out.
"Ow!" she glared at him, lifting her hand and looking at the jagged scrape that was beginning to clot. Her eyes began to water then as her flesh stung.
He sat up, holding his hands over his crotch in an attempt to ease the pain she had caused. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, looking over at her.
"I cut my hand." She sniffed, showing him the crimson red covering her palm. He blinked as he examined the wound, carefully grabbing her hand and bringing it closer to his face.
"It's not so bad." He said, before ripping part of his shirt and wrapping it around her wound, tying it off. "There, now the blood won't get everywhere, and your mother can just fix it when we get back to my house." He stood and offered his hand down to her. When she stared at it, he let out an impatient noise. "Well are you coming or not?"
Natsumi placed her good hand in his and allowed him to help her up. She smiled once they were both standing. Before he could move from her, she got up on her tip toes and kissed his lips in a quick peck. "Thanks." She bubbled, grabbing the basket and skipping off towards his house.
Once more he blinked, staring after her for a few seconds before following her. They entered his house then, and sat the basket of strawberries on the counter. Akito looked around, noticing that it was silent. "Where is everybody?" he asked, growing suspicious. He didn't like the thought of people just running around willy nilly in his house.
"Akito. Natsumi." Gaara called from the living room. The two walked forth together and stopped in the doorway, seeing Gaara and Sakura sitting on the couch, and Satomi and Toshiro on the ground. "We have something important to tell you."
Sakura nodded and pat Gaara's thigh, ready to delicately tell the young Uchiha heir about his new living arrangements. Then the small smile was wiped right off her face with her husband's words. "Your dad has entrusted you to us. So you're moving to Suna." He said bluntly.
Akito stared at him for a while, before crossing his arms. "No I'm not." He said defiantly.
"It was your Dad's dying wish." Gaara said, not at all surprised by the reaction. "It's either Suna or Naruto."
"Wait," Toshiro blinked. "So Akito's going to live with us?"
"No, I'm not going anywhere. I have a perfectly good home right here, and I can take care of myself." Akito said before anyone else could speak up.
"You're twelve. You can't take care of yourself. Now stop being a brat and go pack what you want to take with you. We've already got all your clothes. And we're leaving tomorrow after the funeral."
He glared at Gaara, before shifting his gaze to Sakura. Then his eyes narrowed. So she had known about this the entire time she had been staying at his house, and hadn't even bothered to tell him. Did she not have a backbone? Was she unable to do anything of importance without her husband there to hold her up? Pathetic. On top of that, ever since she had shown up to his house, she had ruined his life, bothering him all the time and changing his routine.
"I hate you." He said to the pink haired woman, making her eyes widen. Then, without another word, he turned and headed towards his room. But before he could take another step, sand slammed him against the wall and Gaara stood, glaring threateningly at the boy.
"You better suck those words right back up Akito." He ordered, crossing his arms over his chest. "Has anyone ever told you that they hated you? Do you even know how powerful that word is?"
"I'm not stupid." He glared, his eyes having turned red out of instinct. "And you can't take back words that have already been said. That concept is ludicrous."
Gaara just stared at him and then glanced over to his youngest, noting her hand. "Natsumi come here." He gestured. The young girl came over and looked up at her father and then to Akito. "Let me see your hand." She lifted her bandaged hand and Gaara un-wrapped it, seeing the scrape. "What happened."
"I tackled Akito and then he spit in my face and I fell back and hurt his little Akito. So he shoved me off and I scraped my hand, it really hurt." She frowned.
"Hm." Gaara nodded. "Well that's a mean thing to do. He hurt you, so do you hate him?" he asked, giving her a silencing look so she wouldn't answer right away.
"That's different." The young Uchiha said. "I didn't ruin her life. And if she hated me, she would have said so by now."
"How do you know?" Gaara smirked, giving him a haughty look. "It might not be now, but those little things could build and build and build, and then that once innocent relationship is tainted and tarnished. Now apologize, because I can assure you, she did not ruin your life. Now get over yourself and go pack."
"Don't worry Akito, I still like you." Natsumi said, smiling at him.
Satomi sighed and shook her head. "He wouldn't last a day in Suna anyways. Just let him stay here with that insane blonde man."
Akito glanced at Satomi, then Sakura, and lastly, Gaara. But he remained silent, not saying a thing. Natsumi walked up to the sand and touched it with her hand, making it drop Akito. "You should apologize, that was a mean thing to say." she smiled, placing her hand on his shoulder.
He looked at Natsumi, staring at her for a while before looking at Sakura. He sighed. "I'm sorry."
Sakura smiled at him. "It's okay Akito. I know you didn't mean it."
The boy nodded and looked up at Gaara. "Can I go pack now? I don't want to stay with that loser for the rest of my life. I'll just kill him."
The redhead nodded. Natsumi took Akito's hand and bounced up and down happily. "I'll help!"
"I suppose you can." He said, grabbing her good hand and leading her back to his room.
Sakura sighed, standing and walking over to her husband. "Well, that went better than I thought it would."
Gaara smirked and glanced back at her. "Well my love, you know how hard it is to defy our little Natsumi."
Toshiro looked between his parents. "Okay. So Akito is moving in with us?"
"Are you adopting him?" Satomi asked.
"Yes Akito is moving in with us. And no, we're not officially adopting him, because he's going to want to keep his last name. Technically he'll be our ward." Sakura explained.
"So he's going to be our brother?" the two asked.
"Yes. I know it will be different, but I want you to treat Akito like a family member. I don't want him to feel like an outsider, okay?" she said.
The younger redhead gave his mother a thumbs up. "No problem! I'm excited."
Satomi just shrugged. "Alright."
"Thanks kids. Now run along and get ready for bed. We have a big day tomorrow." The pink haired medic told them. "I'll be in to say goodnight in a little while."
"Yes ma'am." Toshiro saluted and got up, walking out with Satomi to their chosen bedrooms.
Gaara sighed and looked back to his wife, "Come on, let's go get Natsumi to bed before she annoys the hell out of that poor boy."
"Yeah, I'm surprised he's lasted this long with her." She said, taking his hand in hers and walking back towards the hallway to get their youngest. They needed to get as much sleep as possible, because once the funeral was over with, they were off to Suna, to start their new lives as a family of six.