A Monke's New Bond

The red-haired boy noticed me, but didn't seem scared. Which was weird, since the last time I approached a kid it cried its lungs out. 

He wasn't scared, but was still crying; his eyes showing no sign of making the flow of tears stop. 

"Kid…What are you doing, crying all alone on the streets? What happened to the people who take care of you?" 

"I-I don't know. I was about to sleep but I found myself here, with everyone running away, and dad won't come to find me, I know it..." said the kid with a shaky voice. 

Now that I think about it, the street we are talking on was ruined, with pieces here and there, and filled with craters. I must have been too focused on the kid to notice… 

"First of all, calm down and stop crying, alright? And come out of that hole or you might get hurt" I tried to be as gentle as I could, but… I'm not that experienced when it comes to kids. 

The kid struggled to come out, so I gave him a hand. In doing so, he took advantage of the moment to hug me, as tight as he could. Wasn't sure how I should react, but I just let him cry on my shoulder. Truly, kids are too cute. 

"Kid, what's your name?"

"My name is Gaara…" 

"Well Gaara, how about we go somewhere? I'll take you anywhere you want." I didn't mention his house, because by the looks of it little Gaara doesn't like his dad… And I'm not ready to let this matter go anytime soon. 

"The villagers are going to come out soon… um, Mr. Kind Animal, I know of a cave outside the wall. I stumbled on it while playing, can we go there?"

"Hahaha! Of course, we can, kid. Sit tight, we'll be there in a jiffy! Also call me Ras, that's my name." Gaara is too adorable.

Without giving him the time to reply, I ran back to where the stairs are, and then got back outside the city thanks to the holes I made. Of course, I did all of this while holding Gaara with my right hand, after making sure he wouldn't fly off to the ground. 

"Where to, kid?" 

"On the right…!" oops, seems he has problems talking with the wind hitting his face, which got cuter ever since he stopped crying.

I sped up, and soon we were in front of a large rock that had the entrance to the cave mentioned by the kid. By the time we arrived, it was already sunset.

The cave was big enough for the two of us to sleep and live comfortably, which is a first ever since I've been captured.

Night was approaching, and I didn't have the time nor the intention to go running around trying to find leaves and do a makeshift bed, so I just laid down on the soft and warm sand while wrapping Gaara with my arms, in the hope my fur would provide him enough warmth to sleep comfortably.

"Good night, kid."

"Mr. Ras, please call me by my name!"

"Only if you drop the whole "Mr." thing"

"Alright…Ras. Good night."

"G'night, Gaara." 

And like that, we both fell asleep. It has been an eventful day, punching walls, exploring an abandoned city that may not be that abandoned after all.

If my intuition's right, the lights I felt and still feel from little Gaara symbolizes a living being. Meaning that the villagers, if that could be considered a village, were hiding. Probably from the same thing that trashed the street I found Gaara on… 

I put away that thought. There is no way a kid as cute as him could do that, right…? He said it himself, he woke up without remembering how he got there. I'll have to get to the bottom of this, and maybe the dad knows something… 

Well, now it's time to sleep. Gaara is already fast asleep in my arms, and his sleeping face is enough to melt the coldest of hearts. Poor kid must be tired after everything that happened today. 

......… 

I opened my eyes to the cave's ceiling. 

I couldn't feel Gaara in my arms, so he probably woke up before me and went to play. Nevertheless, I searched around for him before finding him deeper in the tunnel, playing with water coming from a relatively large pond, of which the water was crystal clear.

I reached the pond and tried drinking from it. I don't know if water could taste good, but if it could, this is the best water I've had in life. 

Since yesterday I couldn't drink or eat anything, I felt like I could drink the whole pond dry, but after drinking all I could, the water level didn't even seem to have lowered at all… 

"Gaara! You haven't drunk anything since yesterday, have you? Come on, come on, drink all you want! Hahaha!" alright, maybe I was a tad bit excited to drink but whatever, I let myself go and just had fun with Gaara, taking a bath while playing with the water… It was pure bliss, and it was a moment I wouldn't forget anytime soon. 

However, it was soon time for Gaara to go; because even if his dad wouldn't care if his son sleeps on the street one night, he would get suspicious anymore than that. Or at least that's what he told me. 

"Gaara, do you know the way back, or do you want me to take you back?" 

"I know the way! I'm all grown up, Ras!" 

"Hahaha, of course, you're a grown-up. Well then, how about you come here to play with me again every once in a while?"

"Of course I'll come again, and we'll play lots then. I'll even get you some food," he said while tearing up a little. Well, I myself am a little sad he has to go his own way… just a little. But something is for sure, we'll meet again. I'll make sure of that. 

"Stop crying and go kid! Your dad might already ask himself where you went. See you, Gaara."

"S-See you Ras!" 

And just like that, he ran off to his house, wherever it is. 

It sure was fun, but now is the time to train. I must get stronger and carry on my revenge… watch well over me, Ancestors, for I will avenge my kin.