Temari, a kunoichi living in Konoha, was hunched over a suitcase, packing away for a week long journey. It would be easier if they were meeting in Suna. A far shorter journey, for one thing,and the shorter the journey, the less Shikadai would complain. He didn't even like his cousins, but next week he would have to spend time with them anyway. It was his uncle's birthday soon, and it was a bit of a tradition for them to meet up together in the home town of whoever's birthday it was. Downstairs, Shikamaru was hunting for his adolescent son. He was hiding somewhere, annoyingly. He always did this when it was time to go out. He just wanted to stay home, by himself. He didn't want to go on some tedious journey just to spend time with his annoying younger cousins...at least he didn't mind his uncles, and there was always the chance Uncle Gaara wouldn't show at all. If that happened, he only had to deal with one younger kid and his favourite uncle.
-----
Meanwhile, in Iwa, the Tsuchikage lay still in her bed, pale and weak, her husband holding her hand. In his other arm was a newborn child, premature but healthy enough to survive. Kankurou had never really liked children that much, but of course things changed when it was your own. He had to like her. He had to love her. The only problem here was his daughter had to come into the world in an emergency, as his wife fell so ill. It was late, the world outside shut down to sleep, but Kankurou remained awake. Tired, but wide awake. These were Kurotsuchi's last moments, and she wasn't going to live through them alone. They had a son, but he was at home, being looked after by a friend. He was too young still to be in this place this late.
But there Kankurou sat, running his thumb over her hand. Kurotsuchi was unable to speak now, just watching her husband with a weak smile on her face, letting him know she really did love him in her own little way. He smiled back, offering sweet words of comfort, promises to care for the family, promises that everything would be alright. Promises that he would be strong, even though he knew the moment she slipped away, he would lose all supports.
-----
Gaara was awoken by a gentle shuffling beside him. Curious, he opened an eye, glancing down to the covers to find another blue-green eye staring back at him. He quickly reached over to ruffle the child's hair, letting his expression do the asking.
"Bad dreams." The three-year-old explained, thumb stuck in his mouth to garble his words. He let the boy cuddle close and glanced at the clock. Two in the morning, still dark and icy over Suna. His son started explaining what the dream had been about, but with his thumb in the way, Gaara couldn't make out a word of it. He just held his son close and told him it would be okay, because his father would always be there to protect him. As long as his father was there, little Genkaku would be safe. His father was the Kazekage, the most powerful ninja in Suna. Nothing could hurt him while his parents were around. In a few hours they would be leaving to go see Uncle Kankurou. It would be his birthday in 10 days or so. The children were excited. They loved going to see their uncles and aunts. They loved the travelling alone as well.
It didn't take long for Genkaku to fall back to sleep. Gaara, however, still found rest hard to come by when disturbed. Instead, he lay still a while, watching his wife and younger child sleep. A peaceful sight to put the soul at ease. After a fair while, he disentangled himself from the child beside him and padded barefoot through the halls, to the third door on the left, opening the door a crack to see inside. As usual, his daughter was fast asleep, mouth wide open, head and most of her limbs hanging over the edge of the bed. How she always ended up in that sort of position was beyond him. He stepped in, moving to pick the child off of the floor and put her back to bed. Matsuri would probably end up scolding him for staying up at such an unholy time, but he didn't mind. At the very least he could be active instead of staying in the same place for an age.
-----
The fifteenth of May. Two families arrived in Iwa from two separate directions. With the Kamizuru clan household standing as their point of meeting, they tried to walk at an even pace, keeping the children under control. It was early yet.
Within the house, things were a little chaotic. The newest addition to the family, Kichona, was distressed. Despite her father's numerous attempts to calm her, she kept displaying the raw power of her lungs. The elder child, Tanto, was at the table, eating breakfast. His cheeks were stained with tears, but when his father came over to try comfort him, he pulled away, saying he wanted peace and quiet, nothing more. One week since the death of Tanto's mother. Things were pretty tense between the family, especially with the new baby to care for. Bereavement did not go well with all this stress and deprivation. Kankurou had lost track of the date. Somewhere in May. He hadn't eaten or slept properly since Kurotsuchi died. He'd had to organise so much and inform people and look after the kids, and Kichona was crying every five minutes and he could never figure out why...
Placing his daughter in a carrier on the floor and rocking it gently with his foot while he waited for the bottle warmer, resting his head in his arms, upon the table. He was tired, and almost managed to drift off to sleep when someone knocked on the door. Slowly, he lifted himself up and picked up the carrier, hooking his arm around it as he made his way to the door.
Temari offered a cheerful smile when the door opened, and, taken by surprise, Kankurou forced an uncertain smile in return. He hadn't notified his siblings of Kurotsuchi's death, she didn't know. This would be awkward to explain. She offered him a long and slender box, wrapped in shiny paper. "Happy birthday!" She called. Her husband was regarding Kankurou with a concerned yet almost...suspicious air. Perhaps it was because he was completely confused as to what his sister was talking about for at least a minute.
"That's today...?" He asked dumbly before stepping back to allow the three visitors in.
"Of course that's today...Are you okay?"
"Just tired..." He followed them back up the stairs to the main room, and placed the baby carrier on the table. "Forgot what day it was." He went to feed his daughter as Shikadai gave a nod of greeting to Tanto. The younger boy did not return it, just kept stabbing at his breakfast moodily.
"Is Gaara here yet?" Temari asked after a moment.
"Not yet." Kankurou replied, nodding slightly. "He's got a longer journey, after all."
"Where's Kurotsuchi?" Shikamaru asked after a moment. The answer was, thankfully, delayed by a sudden thought.
You didn't close the door behind Temari.
"Hold that thought." He muttered before running down to close the front door, only to collide with someone coming in. Someone entering the wide open front door of the late Tsuchikage. They both ended up sprawled on the floor, and when Kankurou opened his eyes, he found himself being heaved off of his little brother, who certainly didn't look impressed. He quickly thanked Matsuri and apologised to Gaara.
"Things are a little bit chaotic around here right now, what with the new baby and Tanto and after Temari came in I remembered I left the door open and things have been slipping my mind all week. How do you deal with it all? Well, I guess you have Matsuri with you. I've never done this alone before." This time he made sure to shut the door behind his family before following them up. Gaara turned to address him while Matsuri made sure the kids didn't fight.
"Where's Kurotsuchi?"
"Hunh?"
"You said you were alone."
They entered the main room and he bit his lip. "She's been very ill...I'm sure you've heard, Gaara. She...won't be coming back..." He gestured to the fridge then. "I think she started making a cake before she got sick."
The room fell silent for a long moment. Kankurou started to clear away the table. Then everyone seemed to speak at once.
"I'm so sorry..."
"If you ever need any help..."
"Oh god! Oh, Kankurou..."
"...My condolences...she was always a very strong woman..."
He forced another smile. "Thank you...I was meaning to tell you under...different circumstances..." The smile slipped as he continued. "Things have been rather hectic...I forgot my own birthday..."
"It's all understandable." Gaara insisted, sitting beside Tanto, just for the boy to throw his drink at him. Tanto wanted to be alone. At least Kankurou still had his family to lean on, he thought as he took a few steps toward them...
And collapsed. Hands caught him as he fell and guided him to a seat, trying to keep him conscious and upright, trying to figure out what was wrong. Tanto was crying now, afraid his father was sick too. He could hear Gaara try to calm the boy. Damn it, he was exhausted. One week of parenting alone and he was already letting his body fall to pieces. Every moment free from caring for Kichona was spent trying to keep Tanto's spirits up. Stupid, stupid man, he scolded himself. He was still human. He still needed sleep and food. Right then, he needed nothing more. He rested his head against the nearest surface-unfortunately Shikamaru's shoulder-and hoped they would let him sleep.
When he awoke later, he was in bed. He could hear conversation downstairs. Children? He sat up, rubbing his head. What time was it? He went to slip out of bed when the door opened. Gaara of all people came in with a tray of food. He handed it over and Kankurou gave a slightly embarrassed nod of thanks.
"Your son noticed you haven't been eating." He explained quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"It wasn't...I exhausted myself...things have been hectic..."
"So you've said..."
"...It'll only get worse...It'll get to the point where I have to start work again...I never even liked kids, and I know I'll never be good with them..."
"You're great with them. Your nieces and nephews all love you, and Tanto's only as he is at the moment because he's just lost his mother..." He awkwardly looped an arm around Kankurou's shoulders. "Things like this will always be tough...but you have your family."
"Several villages away."
Gaara stayed silent then The only solution he could find to it was to leave Tanto and Kichona with Temari for a little while, but it would probably greatly upset the children. "Just think about what's best, that's all I can offer. Eat up..."
He got up to leave, and almost missed the soft word of thanks from his older brother before traipsing back into the world of children, and wishing he had missed the 'Is Matsuri pregnant again?'. He gave a slight, awkward nod. "16 weeks. She ends up breaking my fingers every time, so I'm not looking forward to that."
"Good luck..."
"Not exactly a congratulations." He pointed out with a smirk.
"How's Temari dealing?"
"With what?"
"Didn't she tell you?"
Gaara turned back round, shaking his head.
"She told me half a year back. She can't have any more kids. She was lucky to have Shikadai."
"Explains why she's so eager to help with Kichona..."
"She'll be jealous."
"Isn't she always?"
Kankurou laughed a little then. He couldn't help it, even though his stupid thoughts were driving him close to tears. "Yeah, I guess so...probably because ours aren't old enough to be that bratty yet."
"If only I could stop them trying to bite each other..."
"I doubt a third would really help that."
"They might shut up for a little while..."
"Tanto just complained."
"He was just one. Gankaku's always complaining about being the youngest."
"Alas, you know his pain."
He came back in, offering his elder brother a tissue. Kankurou was unaware he'd actually started to cry. "I guess I do." Gaara mused, smiling slightly. "I can't remember being that young."
"You used to drag that teddy bear around with you all the time."
"Temari said I used to be cute too. Shame how times change."
"Leave the being cute and attracting people to the kids, that's what I do."
Another smile. So many in one day from the Kazekage. New record, it had to be said.
"Eat and then come down. We're trying to celebrate your existance, it's a little difficult if you aren't there."
"Yes sir!" He puppeteer joked, giving a mocking salute before turning to the tray of food, allowing Gaara to leave and go back to the kids.
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