Fire style: Burning Love Jutsu

Chapter 26: They've signed their death wish

"Muku. You're only 16! What were you thinking?!" Gaara said sternly. "I was thinking I wanted to know what it felt like to be touched in a mutually loving way!" She finally spat, after him yelling at her for the past 10 minutes. "What... do you mean?" I heard Temari ask, Azamuku's sentence catching her attention. Azamuku went quiet and I could see tears filling her eyes. "Muku. Tell me. What does that mean...?" Gaara said reaching out to her and gently touching her shoulder. When she saw him reach out, she flinched a bit, causing him to hesitate before following through.

"When I didn't accomplish a mission, I was punished. He said he did it because he loved me and wanted me to grow up big and strong..." Muku said. "And then... when I did grow up... I felt what a real monster was like." She said, forcing herself not to cry. "What did he do to you? Who was it?" Gaara demanded, his rage growing.

"The leader of the akastuki. He violated her... but I assure you he isn't alive any longer." I said. Gaara looked at his shivering sister and turned away, storming out the door. Temari went over to her and hugged her close, petting her hair as she cried. I ran out after Gaara and caught up to him. "Tell me. Are they all dead?" He asked, his voice icy. "As far as we know, yes." I said. "Good. Because should one of them mistakenly cross me, they won't live to tell the tale." He said, twirling a ribbon of sand around his fingers.

"You really care about Muku, don't you?" I asked, watching the ribbon. "Of course I do!" He said, glaring. "Why, though? If you don't even care about your actual siblings." I asked, curious. He clenched his hand into a fist, scattering the sand particles. "Leave me." He said as he ran ahead. I sighed and headed back to the house.

Walking through the door, I saw Kankuro hugging Azamuku. "Temari?" I began, keeping an eye on him. "Yeah?" She replied from the kitchen. I walked in there and leaned against the counter. "Why does he care so much about her if he doesn't care about you two?" I asked, being straight forward. She sighed a sad sigh. "Because. She's the only family he has." Temari said.