The Jashinist's Son (Naruto Fanfic)

Chapter 12: Not a Date

It was the morning after arguably the worst two day of his entire life, that Takeo woke up to an empty bed. His hands stretched out, palming at the far side of the bed only to feel cold sheets. With a grumble he pulled the sheet from over his head, using a hand to prop himself up.

While this wasn't the first time he had been in the room, it was certainly the first time he had slept in there. Normally, he'd sit at the chair opposite the double bed, sorting stacks of paperwork Gaara just so happened to bring home with him before they headed out to the living room.

The window was open and light streamed into the room, leaving him to rub his eyes for a moment before taking a good look around the large room. Like the rest of the buildings, it was made of neutral toned sandstone and clay. The inside of the room was rather simply decorated with a large bed at the centre, a couple of chairs and small table opposite it underneath a large window. The bathroom was tucked to the far side of the room, near a large bookshelf that was filled with books varying in topic, nicknacks from his childhood and a couple of framed photos.

Takeo's eyes locked onto one particular photo in a wooden frame with swirls carved into it. It was taken shortly after he arrived in Sunagakure, when Temari insisted on bringing her siblings and Takeo to a photo booth. He remembered being nervous under the watchful eyes of the ANBU who shadowed them, always being in sight to remind him of their presence despite Gaara telling them not to. In the image, Takeo's arms were around a grinning Temari and a stoic Gaara, and Kankuro was on Temari's other side with his tongue hanging out.

It made Takeo smile as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, bare feet hitting the ground and dragging him towards the bathroom. He turned on the tap, splashing cold water onto his face and rubbing it over his neck to wake himself up. He used his shirt to wipe away the water as he left the room. His stomach ached when he realised that he hadn't eaten in days.

He debated on whether or not to head to his room to change, when he saw a spare change his clothes folded on the table. He slipped out of his pyjamas and into the oversized white shirt with two black stripes extending vertically down the sleeves, black pants and shoes, before leaving the room in search of food.

As he walked down the long hallway, chatter could be heard from the large open living area opposite the kitchen. Temari laughed at something Kankuro said as Takeo entered the room. He was met with a pair of smirks, leaving him quick to divert his movement strictly towards the kitchen in hopes of avoiding their mischief.

"Oh hey, Takeo. Did you sleep well?" Takeo sent an exasperated look over his shoulder that forced a laugh to escape Kankuro's mouth. He went back to rummaging through the fridge when the puppeteer spoke again, all too eager to continue by the sound of it. "So, I- well, Temari and I, couldn't help but notice you had stayed in Gaara's room last night. And before you ask, we're not mad. But like, what's going on with you two?"

Takeo heard Kankuro wince as he shut the fridge and made his way to the couch with a punnet of strawberries in hand. Temari sent him a sweet smile that didn't help to settle his nerves as he mentally prepared a response.

He bit into the sweet fruit as Temari leaned forwards, raising a hand. "What my idiotic brother wanted to say, is that Gaara didn't feel the need to say anything this morning and we were curious. But don't stress, we don't need an answer. Right, Kankuro?" Takeo's eyes swept from Temari to Kankuro and back before the puppeteer responded. Temari dropped the grin and glared at her brother, iterating her words through gritted teeth. "Right, Kankuro?"