Genius? More than that.

Chapter 21

Flashback

I walked small, cold - cause of the night falling, alley. I went through it and saw kids playing. It was far from their bedtime, so it didn't bother anybody. They played with ball but soon started running away as someone approached them. The small figure took a seat on swing. I smiled lightly, who'd run away from normal kid? This was surely Gaara. As I thought, he was pretty fragile. And he had this aura, he needed to be approached. He needed love.

"Mind if I sit here?" I questioned and took a seat on swing next to him.

His sea-looking eyes with black sleepy bags, they widened with surprise. He was speechless. The time I've spent with Haku, made me soft. Or did I always have this soft spot for kids? He shook his head and I smiled.

"I am Shina."

"Gaara." it was silent. His fists tighten on the ropes. "Are you another person sent to kill me?"

"No, but I could be if I agreed."

"I thought... that..."

"Everybody has a choice. But some due to their love, has none." I slid down my mask and bandages and gave him a shark grin. "I am a monster, people never thought I'd be able to love, but look at me, I have brother and boy I love like my own child. And you?"

"I... I don't know..."

"If you can't love anyone, love yourself. People say, if you love yourself, it's easier to love others. But it's bullshit. I never loved myself. I loved my brother and my "son" so I forgotten how hating myself felt like. I even started to like some parts of me. Times might be harsh for you, but never give up. There is someone to love for everybody."

"Someone... once told me to love myself."

"Who was it?"

"My mom."

"I see, not all mothers are bad, are they?"

"She died... I killed her."

"Same here."

"D-Does your father hate you too?"

"No, he left my mother. Then he died, murdered. I don't know what happened to him before he died, but... I don't believe he was a good person."

The boy was scared of me for first, but with time he relaxed as I told my personal issues. It may sound weird, but it made him happy. It made him not to feel alone, that's why I kept talking about myself. I didn't try to press him. I kept talking. He smiled to me.

I know how much it means. Because it's what someone did to me. Arakida, his name was Arakida. He was my cousin, he'd sit next to me and blabber stupidly. I hated him, I mean I loved him, he was my family, but yeah... he was an anoying relative.

I stood up and said goodbyes as the midnight came, I knew that because the lights in the houses began fade away. After few minutes of walking I heard something rustling behind me I quickly got my knife and turned around. I saw there Gaara. He held something in his tiny hands.

"Y-You've... l-left it..." he mumbled nervously and stretched his arms out.

"Oh... thank you. Gaara? What's wrong?" the boy began crying. Later he told me about his uncle and Yashamaru's last days with him. How he told him about wounds in his heart. It... broke my heart. Listening to all of this. The motive behind acts of Yashamaru - no matter how true they sounded... they were bullshit. Of course someone as close as only "friend" would sooner or later die. True of false.

It made me nearly cry.

I pulled the boy in hug.

He stiffened. Just like I would. The sand raised, it was ready to kill me and protect Gaara, but it went down. The red-haired boy let himself relax and cuddle. I placed hand behind his head and pressed my lips to his forehead. Then, he dropped his in sleep. People who doesn't sleep once in nine days die from exhaustation. Why can't people like Gaara sleep?

Because then Shukaku bit by bit eats his host personality. But with my chakra flooding Gaara's seal, this was impossible. I almost could hear the demon's anger. I chuckled and watched the boy softly.

"Sleep as much as you need. Nobody in Suna is up before ten."

End of Flashback

I went to bathroom to get a hold of those emotions. I got so weak. Stop freaking weeping woman! Get a fucking hold of yourself! - This is what my mind screeched. But... my body wasn't listening. Mainly heart. It wanted to die, crumble. I put my acts together, maybe not fully. But I could enter the Forest of Death with straight face. I was supposed to look out for kids that can get hurt and die. Especially those with a huge possiblity of dying. Those who failed - got hurt and wouldn't proceed anyway got taken away by healers like me. Then I sensed something... odd. Anko... Anko and someone who has great power. Like... the Legendary Sanin. I believe... Anko can hold that person for a while.

I raised alarm and I felt shivers of dread as I saw ANBU. Freaking... no matter, if they save Anko those two are okay.