Sand Siblings

Part 2

...

"How did the mission go?"
"Very well, Kazekage-sama. Our jonin managed to infiltrate the boat, and sabotaged it."
The Kazekage stared out of his office window, into the distance, towards the sea, where he knew his three children were now trapped. Probably dead. He smiled.
"Good. Very good. How many people were there on the boat at that time?"
"Twenty-seven, counting the jinchuuriki."
"Oh. It's no big deal then. Sacrifices need to be made sometimes. You are dismissed."
The messenger made to leave, them turned back towards the cruel village leader.
"Ka-Kazekage-sama?"
"What now?"
"It's just... the jonin. He didn't make it back. The demon must have murdered him."
"Oh, well. Too bad. That makes twenty-eight deaths. One more or less won't make much a difference."
"Ve-Very good sir."
The Kazekage heard the man leave. He was now alone with his beloved village, and no longer needed to worry about the threat that was his son.

...

"Shukaku's thoughts"

The night is so very long. And lonely.
If anything, Gaara was glad that it was almost halfway over. He had wandered around the island, searching. For anything. If he found something... He could get rid of the debt he owed Kankuro.

"What are you even going to do? Be nice? Please... Don't make me laugh. Or puke."

No. Kindness wasn't something that Gaara could do. Not automatically. He wanted to be... helpful. He wanted to show those two that he could take care of himself. That he didn't need them, but that they needed him. They were the useless ones. And that they actually... might need his help. With that thought in his mind, Gaara continued his search.

...

He felt the wind ruffle his clothes. Still wet, this made Kankuro shiver. All of his memories came crashing down on him. Boat. Gaara. Temari. Storm. Blood. Waves. Boat. He groaned when he moved his aching limbs. Wait... If he could move, then he must be alive. This thought made his eyes flutter open. He saw a lot of trees and a lot sand. And he could feel the wooden door underneath him.
Yes... He was still alive. He could even see the sunrise. And he could see... Temari.

Kankuro sat up sharply as if someone had shocked him.
"Temari!" She didn't respond. He felt for a pulse. She was alive as well. The puppet-nin sighed in relief. His sister was safe.
"Gaara!" He looked around. However, his brother was nowhere to be found. Panic invaded Kankuro's soul.
"No... No... Please, no... No! Gaara! Please! Where are you..." He then saw the foot prints leading into the forest. He slumped to the floor and fought tears of happiness. He did it. He saved both of his siblings. They were all alive. Well, he had no idea where Gaara was, but he knew that his little brother was safe with this beach around them.

"Nhhh... Kan... Kankuro... Ga... Gaara..." The boy crawled over to his sister. He felt her forehead. No fever. He checked her head, arm and leg. It stopped bleeding, but the wounds were pretty deep. Looking around, he found nothing that could help him much. Kankuro took off his shirt and ripped it into three large strips. He checked the wounds for glass then bandaged Temari's cuts as well as he could.
"Temari... Please, be OK..." The kunoichi was unconscious again.
Maybe I should move her, before the sun warms things up to much... though Kankuro. He tried to lift his sister up, but his arms were to painful and weak. Why? Kankuro examined himself. He wasn't off to bad. He only had a couple huge bruises and a few slices on his skin. But his limbs were exhausted for keeping his siblings on board his make-shift boat through the storm.

If he wanted to move Temari, he would need Gaara's help.
Kankuro shivered at that thought. He really doubted that the jinchuuriki would help Temari, even if she was his sister. That didn't matter to Gaara. He wasn't going to care. Kankuro sighed. He was suddenly felt nervous. On the spot, he had instinctively saved his little brother. But, now... He put Temari and his life in danger. Gaara was dangerous. Maybe... He shouldn't have saved him.