Aftermath - 6

That night Gaara had once again joined his siblings in order to get reacquainted. It was going well. Much to Gaara's disappointment, Haku hadn't taken the news about his brother and sister as well as Naruto had. He almost objected to it. Gaara couldn't understand the reason why. Haku was all for rediscovering lost families, most especially his own.

It bothered him very little, at the time, but later on he began to wonder if Haku had a lack in trust in him because he was related to Temari.

"Please understand I will not hold back," Haku had said before he had went to bed, tired and annoyed, "I have no reason to. She is my opponent."

Gaara had told him that it was fine and that he understood, hoping it would help Haku invest more trust in him. He would not sacrifice his bond with Haku in order to forge one with Temari and Kankuro. Haku had won out, fair and square. He had been there for him all his life as Naruto had been, and he wasn't about to overlook that fact. Naruto had told him that Haku had his doubts about Temari and Kankuro and that was why he had refused to meet them.

Gaara had believed he was just being oversensitive, as that was his way. But Haku did tend to be very temperamental in issues involving family ties. Jealousy was not beyond him, considering that his reunion with his remaining clan was nigh impossible.

Naruto had said not to worry about it. He said he'd handle Haku if he decided to get moody.

So there he sat on the rooftop beside his family, staring at the crescent moon suspended in the sky. He had hoped that Haku would return to his senses before the final stage of the exam, but the outlook did not look very good even with Naruto's reassurance.

"Your teammates will think that you're avoiding them if you come by this much." Kankuro pointed out. He was aware that their presence had disturbed the equilibrium of his 'brotherhood,' or so Jiraiya had labeled it.

"I don't think so."

Temari had also been gazing at the sliver of the moon in the night sky. She had considered that Gaara, being a link between herself and her future opponent, may feel the pressure to prep her on Haku's abilities, "I don't want you preparing me for my match, I hope you know."

"It never crossed my mind."

She smiled genuinely in response.

Kankuro folded his arms behind his head, deep in thought. There were many questions he had been wanting to ask. They still wouldn't be sufficient enough to get answers about the time they had spent apart. It would be too much to ask of his brother.

Gaara kept watch of the moon, basking peacefully in their presence. It was calming. He still found it unbelievable they had been reunited under such conditions. After the initial shock of it, they had all felt relieved.

Temari observed him for a long moment and then hesitantly asked, "Gaara, were you...were you happier living here than back in Suna?"

It was quiet.

"Yes."

Her expression saddened, but she understood. How could he not be? Here he wasn't a monster. Here he had friends who loved him and accepted him for who he was. Here there was a future and back there was pain.

He then added, much to her surprise, "But I've dreamed of you."

The two Sand ninja were silent, taking in what Gaara had said, unsure of what he had meant.

"I wonder why Dad never came looking for you..." Kankuro speculated, unable to understand it, "You've been here all this time, never too far away."

Gaara said nothing. He didn't want to talk about their father.

The troubled looks on their faces confirmed Gaara's suspicions. They were holding back.

"There's something you're not telling me." The red haired boy's voice was low and partially offended.

Kankuro had hoped it wouldn't come to this, "What? We've been talking non-stop since we met up! What have we been hiding?"

'Besides the whole invasion of this village...' His mind supplied blandly and he was starting to hate himself for not saying anything, but neither he nor Temari could, 'Maybe we can take him back with us before it happens...maybe we can spare him.'

"Your sensei is never around," Gaara's observations were as keen as ever, "And your teammate knows much about me."

"That can't be helped. He's overheard too much, that idiot," Temari snapped, not bothering to defend Miosuke, "You've done him a service, Gaara, by breaking his arms."

"That's not what teammates should say about each other."

"Really? Well, someone should explain that to Miosuke because he just doesn't get it." Kankuro spat, equally disgusted with him.

Gaara could see his point. Why treat a teammate well if they simply disregard you? He pitied them for their rotten luck in team placement. He, however, had the best luck of anyone in his village. Or at least was lucky enough to have Iruka organize his team.

Temari's reluctance faded away and she spoke again, knowing the subject would be very delicate, "Gaara, you should really consider coming back with us to Suna."

"Father doesn't want me back. He won't want me back."

"But we do," Kankuro sided with his sister, "We can fix things, we have to try!"

Gaara shook his head, unwilling to even consider leaving, "I cannot go with you."

"You can and you should," Temari wouldn't take no for an answer, not when he was here in front of them, not when he was alive for the first time in a long time, "Ending up in Konoha has separated you from your family! You can have it back if you want!"

"I have never been without my family," He said simply, stunning them, "They have always been there for me."

There was a long, painful moment in which both Temari and Kankuro realized he was not referring to them at all.

Gaara returned his gaze to the moon, his mind made up, "And I will always be there for them."