Standard disclaimers apply.

Notes: First half of fic is after the GaaraNaruto showdown in the forest. Second half of the fic takes place before Gaara was kidnapped. Not much action here cuzI actually prefer the pairing to be more subtle and as 'pure' as possible - without kisses or any of those sexual acts. So yeah, anyway... hope you'll enjoy reading this nevertheless. Thank you. (smiles)

: Welcome to Existence :

The darkness was brief, but color surged to his eyes once more, albeit slightly hazy. Gaara blinked repeatedly, unsure of what had happened. The dull brown ceiling he was staring told him he was in his room. Grudgingly, he sat up and took a sweeping glance of his environ. It was indeed his room – sparsely furnished with wide windows and dull brown walls.

"You're awake," a familiar voice came from his left.

He turned and saw Kankurou seated on a chair, watching him somewhat apprehensively. The puppet master was still in his usual black attire but his face was without paint. "What happened?" Gaara asked, aware that his voice sounded coarse.

Kankurou was trying to look calm but Gaara could smell the slight fear. "You, uh, fell asleep…"

He slept? Willingly? No wonder Kankurou seemed jittery. If he slept, it would mean that Shuukaku had the chance to eat his personality and consequently, the risk of the sand demon controlling him increased. Yet he felt no struggle within him. Strange.

"It may be because your chakra was exhausted greatly," Kankurou spoke up then, answering the silent question. Gaara stared at the puppet master, who promptly went on. "Your fight with the brat Naruto. Do you remember?"

The blonde loudmouth. The one who was strong because of his desire to protect the ones he loved. The heretic who knew what it felt like to be alone, to be incomplete, and when his existence was acknowledged, he returned the gesture with his loyalty and his life. "Aa…" was all he could say.

Kankurou looked as if he wanted to say more, but decided against it. Just then, there was a knock on the door. It was Temari, balancing a tray in one hand.

"You're awake. Good thing I brought two bowls of porridge here," she commented with a small smile as she entered the room. She stopped before Kankurou, who took one of the bowls with a quick 'thanks'. "Here, you take it," she offered the other bowl to Gaara then.

He stared at the bowl and then at her. "It's yours," he stated plainly.

Temari shrugged. "I can always eat later. You are the one who need your strength back. You've been asleep for almost four days now."

Four days? It took three days to reach the Sand Village from the Leaf, which meant they arrived only yesterday. Uzumaki Naruto gave him quite a fight then. "…thank you," he said as he took the bowl, the words rolling awkwardly off his tongue. Temari looked surprised, turning to exchange looks with an equally bewildered Kankurou. Gaara shifted his gaze quickly to the lumpy porridge. Strange, but his heart seemed to pick up pace. And there was no blood to trigger it.

An awkward silence befell the room then. Gaara forced himself to breathe properly in order to calm his heart. Although he was staring intently at the porridge, he was acutely aware of the uncomfortable looks the other two were giving him. Finally he took up the spoon and began eating. Seconds later, he heard Kankurou followed suit.

Gaara looked up after a couple of spoonfuls. Temari was gazing at him and when their eyes met, a faint blush colored her cheeks and she dared a small smile. Gaara never realized how pretty Temari was, and especially so when she smiled. Taking a deep breath, he extended the bowl towards her. She looked unsure and Gaara forced his gaze away. "Have some," he managed to say.

Kankurou had stopped eating. There was that awkward silence again. What was this feeling? Embarrassment? Gaara was certain it was so; it had been so long since he felt anything other than anger, hate and pain. Gaara was about to retract his offer then, as if to escape the overwhelming emotion, but Temari had already accepted taken the bowl from his hand.

"Thank you," she said, the sincerity in her voice ringing out clear, just like that of Naruto's.

Gaara looked back at her. She was smiling again as she scooped a spoonful and ate with gusto. He heard Kankurou let out a soft sigh. He did not turn to look, lest the other stiffened up or something. Kankurou had always been the jumpier one. But whose fault was it anyway?

Was it too late to right the wrong now? Naruto had made him realized what he had been blinded to all this while – that he had people who cared for him, who tolerated him despite his cruelty. They could have left him in the forest but they stayed and even brought him back. The betrayal of his childhood had obliterated his concept of love – the kanji imprinted on his forehead was a constant reminder of that. But now he wanted to feel it once more, the warm rush of that long-forgotten emotion, knowing that this time round, the basis for it was genuine.

"Temari… Kankurou…"

Predictably, the two stopped whatever it was they were doing. He gave them each a long, almost pleading gaze before speaking. "I'm sorry…"

This time, they were not caught by surprise. "You'd said that already," Kankurou said quietly.

Gaara observed their faces for any signs of disdain or contempt. None. Not even when he was vulnerable as such. In fact, they were smiling, slight, but still smiles nonetheless. He felt warm suddenly.

"Here, have my share too," Kankurou offered then, his diffidence letting up somewhat. Temari was grinning. She really was pretty.

His siblings. The realization sank in well. And all it took was a major kick in the ass by that loudmouth. Really, what a huge debt he owed. Paying back would be scary indeed.

: - : - :

She looked really happy to leave. Perhaps it had to do with a certain Leaf shinobi. Gaara found it amusing, but he would never voice it out loud, of course.

"Take good care of the village!" Temari was saying, that playful grin lighting up her face.

"It's you we're worried about. Don't forget to come home once the meetings are over," Kankurou retorted. Clearly, the puppet master also shared the same thoughts.

Temari frowned darkly. "What are you trying to say?"

Kankurou chuckled lightly. "Why so defensive?"

"Ho! Are you trying to pick a fight with me?"

"I could use the exercise, but it'd mean you'll be late. Are you fine with that?"

Temari was already reaching for her fan and out of the corners of his eyes, Gaara noted that Kankurou had adopted his usual stance. "Enough of this!" he ordered, and though his voice lacked ferocity, the two dutifully backed down. "Go quickly, Temari. And make haste with your return as well."

Temari winked. "Ok!" She turned to leave, but changed her mind then and approached Gaara instead.

He stared quizzically at her. But before he could ask, she had already raised a hand and it was inching towards his forehead. Caught off-guard, Gaara instinctively jerked back. The hand froze in its track and he saw what looked like hurt crossing Temari's face. His heart responded in kind.

"Sorry," Temari mumbled, preparing to draw back her hand.

"No!" Gaara quickly interjected. Not knowing what else to say, he uncrossed his arms, his way of consenting what it was Temari wanted to do.

Temari looked uncertain so he had to clasp the other's wrist for conviction. Her skin was warm and soft, quite unlike the tough demeanor she was always portraying. She looked mildly surprised but he knew she was relaxed now. He let go and waited.

She was smiling again. And the next thing he knew, he felt her cool fingertips tracing the kanji on his forehead. His skin tingled at the touch but he did not find it unpleasant though. He maintained his composure and remained unflinching even as Temari drew in closer and tiptoed slightly. And then the cool fingertips were replaced by a soft, warm kiss.

"Take care, little brother," she whispered against his skin.

She had pulled back too quickly for Gaara to react. And when he finally registered what she had done, Temari was already halfway down the path. He was also aware then of Kankurou's hand upon his shoulder, the grip firm but affectionate.

"She's been wanting to do that," the puppet master said warmly, sounding pleased.

Take care, little brother… His heart felt funny as those words kept echoing in his ears. If he had to give some sort of visualization, it would be like that of a blooming flower he had seen in the village's medical greenhouse. He raised a hand to his chest, right where the heart was. These past years, this heart of his had been subjected to various funny feelings. He learnt to like some and those that he disliked, he tried not to feel them again.

Temari was gone from sight. "I'm going back now. You?" Kankurou asked then.

"In a while."

"Right. Don't be out too long." Kankurou gave Gaara's shoulder a quick squeeze before going off.

It was a simple gesture, but one that Gaara appreciated. Kankurou had learnt to relax around him and he often spent time talking to his older brother about the village and life in general. He never realized how smart and observant Kankurou was, or what a fiercely protective brother he was. A couple of jounin was nearly killed by the puppet master for their comment about the village being in constant danger since it was headed by a crazy Kazekage.

Gaara looked up to the sky. The golden sun and that endless blue spread reminded him of that one person. A smile touched his lips then. Would Naruto be seething with jealousy when he learnt who the new Kazekage was? But he should not be; he was destined to be the Hokage, after all. The Sand-Leaf alliance would grow stronger then, Gaara was sure of it.

Will I be able to thank you properly for what you've done for me, Naruto? I am needed now, as the Sand's Kazekage. I will protect the village always, even if it costs my life. And I have two trustworthy aides by my side, who will continue to stick with me through thick and thin as they always had.

He wondered what Naruto would say to that. Just then, a messenger came up to him, bearing news that the Leaf's Hokage had sent in the new revisions for the upcoming Chuunin examinations. Gaara nodded in acknowledgement, and with one last look at the sky, followed the messenger through the gates into the village.

If he had stayed on for a while more, he would have heard the whisper brought in by the passing draft.

Welcome to existence, Gaara!

: owari :