Sand Siblings

Part 12

Reina laughed with Baki as they shared stories of their lives whilst running full speed, intending to arrive at the pier before the end of the next day at the latest. Time. Time was crucial to save people. However, nothing stopped them from getting to know each other whilst traveling.
"Really? He did? Aw... That's... Kind of cute!" she chuckled.
"It was, actually. I'm telling you, people might consider Gaara as a terrifying beast but, on the inside, he is just one big baby sometimes. He once saw a huge spider next to him and he acted as if everything was cool but we all saw him slowly edge away from it, hoping that we wouldn't notice. He's human. People just don't see it because of his demon." continued Baki, reminiscing about the rare good times he had spent with his team.

Reina's clear laugh rang out again and she slammed a hand over her mouth to keep it in.
She normally didn't talk to her mission companions, let alone laugh with them. Actually, she simply didn't laugh much, period. But this man was truly amazing, interesting and was such a caring sensei deep, deep down. If it weren't for the fact that everyone knew that Baki's students where the Kazekage's children, she would have thought that their roles were opposite. Baki was the loving father, and the Kazekage was the grouchy sensei.
She was so happy that she ended up placed with him. It made her travel less dull and made her forget, maybe just for a second, about all the pain and death that the shipwreck had caused.

She hoped, secretly, that he would join her and her brother on their search for the shipwreck, that she more or less located the area of. She had a feeling that the search party wouldn't even consider going as far as that. But he seemed to be the type of guy who always followed protocol and saving those people was more important to her than her new friendship.
However, she enjoyed being with him. He was so good at telling stories that it almost made her like the Kazekage's disappeared children. Almost.

This wasn't happening.
Gaara and Temari stared at the guilty looking Kankuro, then at each other.
Were they hallucinating? No, he actually said that.
Once again, they had lost their brother. But in a different way this time.

Temari drew in a ragged breath and placed a hand on Kankuro's shoulder.
"You... You don't remember who we are?" she whispered, knowing the answer anyway.
The puppet-nin slowly shook his head and smiled lamely.
"I'm sorry. But, judging by the way you two have treated me since I woke up, I think that I should..." he trailed off, inspecting his siblings curiously. "So... Who are you guys?"

Temari slowly closed her eyes and sighed.
"Oh no... Please, no... Why him?" she whispered, scratching her forehead with her trembling hand, realizing that this was a very serious reality.
But Gaara didn't understand.
"What? What are you talking about, Kankuro? You know who we are!" he growled, getting frustrated. Why was his brother acting so dumb? This wasn't the least bit funny! He nearly died falling off of a waterfall, for crying out loud!

The puppet-nin flinched at the redhead's murderous tone.
Temari placed an arm around her youngest sibling's shoulders and turned him away from the brunet.
"Neh, Kankuro? Give us a moment, 'kay?" she smiled at the boy and led Gaara out of the shelter.

Once outside, the jinchuuriki tore his himself away from his sister.
"Temari. What is going on?" he asked, fists clenched in anger.
The girl gulped and crossed her arms nervously.
"Gaara... Kankuro has... amnesia. That fall made him lose his memory. He can't remember who we are. I don't know what he can or cannot remember, which is why we have to be patient with him, to help him. Okay?" she said, letting the information sink in.

For a second, she feared that the boy would become furious and attack Kankuro, but he seemed strangely calm. He blinked and looked at her.
"Kankuro... Can not remember us? Even if he is our brother?" His eyes showed so many emotions. Hurt, confusion, pain, lost.
"No. He can't. He might remember some things, but not who we are. That is for sure."