The Jinchuriki's Light

Chapter 5

-Hikari's P.O.V.-

"NEE-CHAN!!!!" my eyes snapped open and I see Gaara's do the same. I sit up as he rubs the sleep from his eyes. I was just about to get up to see what the fuss was about when I saw him freeze as if coming to a realization.
"I slept" he says as if not believing his own words. I couldn't help but let a small giggle escape me. He looks up at me with wide sea foam green eyes as if it didn't notice me or hadn't expected for me to actually stay. I gave him a soft smile before extending an arm out to him. He stares at it for so long that I though he wouldn't take it before his tiny hand slid into mine. He looked up at me with a shy smile, eyes full of hope. I helped him up as the silence was pierced by another...
"NEE-CHAN!!! Where are you!!!" Letting another giggle escape me I jumped through the window of my bedroom resulting in a scream from a certain henged blonde who was practically tearing the room apart looking for me. "Nee-chan!" The currently brown eyed boy shouted relieved as he dropped the pot he was holding before launching himself at me. I felt my shirt become wet as he cried. "I-I thought y-you left m-me." I wrapped my arms around my little brother and held him tight while I hummed a random tune in hopes of calming the shaking child. I heard two small feet land behind me. I turned my head slightly to look at the the red head who seemed to have found a sudden interest in the floor. He looked up at me then focused his gaze on the now sniffling Naruto, uncertainty clear in his eyes. I gave him a sad smile before nodding. Slowly but surely he made his way from the window to us.
"K-Kaito-nii, are you o-okay?" He asked shyly as he clutched the fabric of my shirt. Said child's sniffles died down as he turned his head to look at the only other human in the room. Wiping his eyes he gave a small nod and smile which was returned by a small smile from Gaara. There was a knock at the door.
"Is everything alright in there" the voice of Yashimaru came through the closed door.
"yeah!" I called out.
"okay, just wanted to let you know that breakfast is ready." and the next thing I know I am sandwiched between two 6 year old boys at the kitchen table trying to eat my omelet. I looked up at Yashimaru on the other side of the table who was still in a state of shock.

-flashback ten minutes ago-
Naruto took a few deep breaths to calm himself down before taking my hand. I was slightly, but happily surprised when Gaara took my other hand. I gave him a kind smile to which he looked down embarrassed at. Naruto opened the door and we descended the stairs into the kitchen. Yashimaru was setting the table and turned around having heard us before dropping the plate he was holding at the sight of Gaara's and my hands. Naruto flinched at the sudden noise so I squeezed his hand in reassurance to which he squeezed back. The room fell into a silence until two boy's stomachs growled and I was dragged to the table. Naruto and I sat down and then to further Yashimaru's shock Gaara used his sand to move my seat closer to Naruto so he would have enough room to push another chair on my other side. He then used his sand to rearrange the dishes and silverware. I giggled slightly at the display before ruffling his hair to which he pouted and began trying to fix. I heard Otouto suppressing laughter on my other side so I turned around and began to mess with his hair causing him to whine and frantically try to fix the "damage." I looked at Yashimaru who, by now, I could tell had no intention of snapping out of his daze anytime soon. I looked at the omelets in the middle of the table and decided to help myself the two boys not far behind me.
-flashback end-

I felt a tug on my sleeve and looked over at a pair of big innocent eyes. "Nee-chan, do you think that after breakfast you, me, and Gaara-nii can play at the park?"
"I don't see why not? How does that sound Gaa-chan?" I turned my head smiling.
"y-yeah" he replied quietly with a soft smile.
"Yatta!!" I giggled at his enthusiasm. I heard a sort of swish sound and turned to find Yashimaru was no longer there. I figured he was probably headed to the Kazekage's office in order to report that the so called "monster" was smiling or something. We quickly finished eating and put our dishes in the sink before heading out the door.

As we approached the park I sensed a growing nervousness growing in a certain redhead. So I walked in front of him before kneeling, my back facing the now confused boy.
"She's offering to give you a piggyback ride. Your lucky I haven't gotten one of those in weeks." Since Naruto was behind me I couldn't see him, but I could definitely hear a pout in his voice. Slowly I felt two hands on my shoulders as Gaara climbed onto my back mumbling a quiet 'thank you'. Quickly I stood up and we continued to walk towards the park. Sensing Gaara's nervousness subside a bit I couldn't help but smile.
I looked over at Naruto and chuckled when I saw him walking next to me still pouting, "tell you what, on the way back to the house I'll give you a piggy back ride."
"Really!!" To which I nodded. He began cheering before skipping ahead a little.

Five minutes later we arrived at the park and I saw a few others there as well. Suddenly Gaara's nervousness was back full force.
"Ahh!! It's the monster!" A child screamed causing the others in the park to turn their attention to us. I felt my blood begin to boil, but bit it back to keep from further scaring the already frighten kids with me. Gaara had buried his face in my hair while Naruto was hiding behind my back clutching the back of my shirt. Both were shaking.
I barely held myself back from beating the daylights out of the civilians when they began screaming at Gaara to let them live before parents grabbed their children and fled. When they left I set Gaara down before turning on my heal and engulfing both shaken boys in a hug. After a minute I broke the hug smiling, "okay, so who's ready to play?" Both boys smiled at me and began to run around. We ended up playing tag and I quickly found myself chasing after two laughing 6 year olds. I knew when I heard their laughter that I would cherish the sound for the rest of my life.
We played for a few hours, and it was almost lunch time, before an ANBU appeared in front on us. The ANBU focused his attention on Gaara causing me to take a step in front of the boy I have grown to see as a little brother just like Naruto.
"Children, for your own safety I must ask you to step away from the monster." The ANBU ordered to which I narrowed my eyes. I heard a growl from next to me as I saw anger begin to burn in Naru-chan's eyes.
"Now why would we do that? From what I can tell I looks to me like you intend to harm Gaa-chan." I slid into a defensive stance.
"YEAH!! AND MY BROTHER ISN'T A MONSTER!! THE ONLY MONSTER I SEE IS YOU! WHAT KIND OF PERSON WOULD ATTACK A SIX YEAR OLD!!!" I sensed Kurama awaken and even him start to grow angry at the ninja. I motioned for Naruto to calm down. It would do no good for him or us to let Kurama out. We would have to flee quickly and I don't think that would be the best way to help Gaara. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Naruto slip into a bit of a sloppy defensive stance, but he was only six. Killer intent was released from the Shinobi as he hurled kunai at us. Before I had the opportunity to deflect them Gaara's ultimate defense shot up and protected the three of us. I took deep breaths to keep myself calm. I needed to keep a clear mind. I couldn't let our cover be blown quite yet so I took the most logical option left. I grabbed both of their wrists and ran. I knew that he would pursue us, but I had faith in Gaara's defense and Shukaku to keep us safe. I turned corners dragging the two boys behind me as I tried to get to the only safe place I could think of. Yashimaru's house. The ANBU would most likely not follow us in there. I took a sharp right and we were already on the correct street. Five houses away. Three houses. Two. One. I threw open the door, pushed my brothers inside before slamming and locking it shut. I heard the dull clunk of kunai and shuriken hitting the door before silence. I slid down the door onto the floor as the three of us tried to catch our breath. I looked at the brunette and redhead making sure neither one sustained any injuries, but it seemed the sand did it's job.
"I-I'm sorry," Gaara sat curled up on the floor. The slight shaking of his shoulders gave away that he was crying. "If it weren't for me you two wouldn't have been attacked." He began rubbing his hands over his eyes in a futile attempt to stop the tears. I knew that he believed that we would leave him now. That we would hate him like every one else. Both Naruto and I crawled over to him and wrapped our arms around his shaking figure.
"It's not your fault Nii-chan, you didn't do anything wrong." Naru-chan comforted.
"He's right you know. And don't worry we won't leave you." I ran my fingers through his hair and we sat there for the longest time.
I wiped my eyes and theirs once the crying stopped. I never used to be a cry baby. I blame being turned into a kid. "Since it's lunch time now, how about I make us something to eat?"
"Yeah! Can we have ramen!?" I was met with two big brown puppy dog eyes that I knew I wouldn't be able to refuse. I sighed and nodded in defeat.
"Yes!!! RAMEN! RAMEN! RAMEN!!!"
I looked over at a smiling Gaara, "Would you like to help me?" His smile widened as he quickly nodded and followed me into the kitchen.
"Hey! I wanna help two!" Naruto shouted as he ran into the kitchen after us. Well in the end we ended up eating left overs since instead of making ramen we had a food fight. Oh well, it was fun and I got to hear them laughing again. In the back of my head though, I held some sympathy for the mess that we would be dumping on Yashimaru to clean up.