#to think our beloved tem is making an appearance | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

shikamarubase · 4 years

Text

The Gift of Family (A Fic)

Written for ShikaTema Shrine’s Secret Santa event. Surprise @ostaranight, I’m your secret santa!🙈I sincerely hope you like it!

[Summary: After a close shave with death, Temari urged her brothers not to travel to Konoha for Christmas]

It was half past five in the evening of Christmas eve, and Gaara was still tucked away in his office.

Work had piled up after he took a few days off to recuperate from the injuries he received when he fought Urashiki Otsutsuki. Unsurprisingly, stacks of paperwork and other issues related to his village awaited him, ones he began to tackle immediately after he was discharged from the hospital.

For the next few hours, Gaara saw nothing but letter after letter of stringed words which eventually began to mesh together into blurs of ink; heard nothing but scribbles on paper and the rhythm of his own heart as it beat to the seconds of the clock; and felt nothing but the ache of his fingers after long hours of stamping and signing his own name on sheet after sheet of official papers. He spared no time for breaks, but continuously plowed through his work with determined focus. So when he finally lifted his head hours later, he was surprised at the orange tint reflected in his eyes as the sun dipped below the horizon.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief as he watched the colors of dusk eventually fade away, replaced by darkness illuminated only by a few twinkling stars. The beautiful night sky above Suna served as his only reminder that Christmas Day was the day after; his office was void of colorful lights and banners, not a single hint of the upcoming holiday aside from the date he encircled on his calender.

He stared at it now, realizing that he and his brother would’ve been on the last train to Konoha at that very moment had they not been critically injured and hospitalized. Instead, Temari specifically phoned to tell them not to bother with the trip and scolded them when they insisted to go. Christmas was one of the few times a year they get to see each other, and Gaara felt a slight pang in his chest when he realized he won’t be with his family as they greet the new year.

He glanced at the paperwork on his desk again. Compared to a few hours ago, they were now neatly stacked in piles according to their respective section and category.

Gaara exhaled deeply. He was beginning to regret his eagerness to finish work, realizing that he no longer had any plans for the holidays other than to spend time with his brother at their undecorated home.

Although he was always glad to have Kankuro for company, he couldn’t hell but feel that Christmas will be a bit lonely that year.

His train of thought was interrupted by a knock on the door. He swiveled his chair just as Kankuro’s hooded figure appeared behind the doorway.

Kankuro raised an eyebrow at Gaara’s tired eyes and pale complexion. He looked like he aged twenty years since he last saw him.

“Jesus, Gaara. Have you been cooped up in here all day?”

Gaara craned his aching neck. “I thought I should get a bit of work done before the holidays.”

Kankuro shook his head. “You just got out of the hospital, little brother. Don’t push yourself so hard.” He eyed his desk. “And judging from this, you did more than just a bit.”

“I suppose I got carried away.” Gaara shuffled to his feet, stretching his arms over his head while swallowing a yawn. “Shall we head home?”

Kankuro shot him a strange look, but nodded his head. “I came here to pick you up...and stop you from overworking, but I guess I’m a little too late for that.”

He fell silent when they left the office, much to Gaara’s surprise and confusion. He’d known his brother all his life and not once was he able to keep his mouth shut, not even when Gaara threatened his life during his rebellious age.

When they left the warmth of the Kazekage building and stepped into the dark street, Kankuro didn’t wince from the chilly breeze. Instead, his face crumpled as if he was deep in thought. And when a frown began to form on his lips, Gaara‘s curiosity finally reached its peak.

He placed a hand on his shoulder. “What’s wrong, brother?”

Kankuro startled. He looked around in a daze, unsure of where he was at first, and then focused his gaze on Gaara.

“How? What—?”

“You were spacing out the entire time,” he explained kindly.

“Oh.” Kankuro jammed his hands into his pockets and lowered his eyes. “Sorry about that. I was just thinking of Temari and how much it sucks not to visit her this year. I already prepared an awesome gift for her and Shikadai! I even put a bit of thought into Nara’s gift. All that, plus my generous heart, wasted.”

Gaara nodded. “I understand. I’m disappointed as well. But we can visit them for New Year’s and give them our gifts then.”

“No, no. That’s not what I mean,” Kankuro groaned loudly and looked up at the sky as if to ask for guidance. “How do I say this? We visit them on Christmas every year. Every year. But we couldn’t this once and suddenly you’re overworking yourself. Do you get what I’m saying?

Gaara‘s hand fell limply to his side. “You mean—“

“I mean we should’ve jumped on that train and went anyway, even if Temari bites our heads off when we get there.”

“She wouldn’t do that,” Gaara said quietly. “She would’ve been difficult, but happy to have us there.”

“Exactly.”

Silent fell on them once again, as they continued to trudge towards their home, each occupied in their own thoughts. They fully expected to return to a dark and empty house, eat takeout food before opening their presents, and then go to bed. What they least expect was to find their humble abode blazing in light, as if whoever it was turned on every single switch in the house.

Gaara and Kankuro turned to each other, wide-eyed. Their first reaction was to reach for their shurikens, suspecting an enemy attack before dismissing the idea. Because what kind of idiot would announce their presence so obviously to the two most powerful ninja in the village?

Only Naruto, Kankuro would say.

They quietly crept closer to the entrance, tried to peek in once or twice from the window only to find their view blocked by thick curtains, and crouched down in front of the door.

At Gaara’s signal, Kankuro kicked the door open and was ready to unleash his puppets on whoever was stupid enough to trespass on their property when—

“Merry Christmas!” —their jaws dropped.

Wearing the biggest smile on her face, Temari met them at the front door.

“What took you so long?” She scolded them playfully. While her brothers were still staring at her blankly, she grabbed their wrists and pulled them towards the living room.

“Wha—How?” For the second time that night, Kankuro struggled to find words. “This is a dream, yeah. Temari’s a hallucination. Some other bastard trespassed and put us in a genjutsu.”

“I agree,” Gaara replied weakly, eyes still fixed on his big sister.

Temari scowled, then pinched their cheeks hard. “Who’re you calling a bastard?!”

“Ow owwww!” Kankuro rubbed his aching cheek as reality finally sunk in. It’s really you, Tem? What’re you doing here?”

Temari put her hands to her hips and arched an eyebrow. “To celebrate Christmas with my brothers, of course. Unless you don’t want me here.”

“It’s not like that, Temari.” Snapping out of his initial shock, Gaara spoke up quietly, “We’re happy to see you, but what about Shikamaru and Shikadai?”

“You called?” From the kitchen connecting the living room, Shikadai nonchalantly strolled towards them, game console in one hand and a half-eaten pie in another.

“Greet your uncles properly, Shikadai! And I told you not to eat until they arrive!” Temari turned her back to scold her son. Both brothers inwardly breathe a sigh of relief when her intense eyes were no longer on them.

Shikadai shrugged. “What a drag. They’re here now, and I’m hungry from decorating the house all day!”

What?

Gaara and Kankuro belatedly noticed the major change in their otherwise plain living room. Streams of light hung against the walls, overshadowed by the colorful banners and garlands adorning the chimney. Finally, a tall cactus stood in the center of the living room, with Christmas ornaments hanging from its sharp needles. A pile of wrapped presents sat underneath the Sunan version of a Christmas tree.

Gaara and Kankuro marveled at the sight. It had been too long since they’d seen their home so full of holiday spirit.

Gaara barely recognized the Christmas socks he bought and small Christmas puppets Kankuro built a decade ago. In the last few years, they found no need for decorations since they made it a routine to celebrate the holiday in Konoha with their sister and her family. Temari and Shikadai must’ve spent a long time searching the attic to retrieve those.

“I can’t believe you did all this!” Kankuro‘s eyes lit up in glee. “This is awesome! I can’t even recognize our living room! Can you remember the last time it looked like this, Gaara?”

“Not at all. It’s certainly an enthralling view.” Gaara allowed himself relax for a mere second, before another concerning question popped into his head.

“But does Shikamaru know you’re here?”

Shikadai shot him a strange look before answering, “Dad will be here tomorrow. He’s trying to get work done before leaving.”

“But we could’ve gone instead and save Shikamaru some time—“

“Gaara.” Temari placed a firm hand on his shoulder and looked at him pointedly. “We wanted to.”

“Mom had us riding on the first train to Suna, so that we can celebrate together. But when we’d arrived you weren’t home, so I decorated the living room while mom prepared the food.”

“But you could’ve told us—“

“Gaara,” Temari said a bit louder. “I wanted to make an effort to spend time with my brothers, so stop worrying about every little thing and just be happy we’re here, okay?” She flashed him a smile, the smile reserved for only her most beloved.

He felt a pat on his back and looked up to his brother, who’d sent him the toothiest smile he had ever seen. When was the last time he saw Kankuro this excited, this happy?

A smile began to form on his face. Amidst the warm and cheerful interior plus his dear siblings and nephew, it had never truly felt like home until that moment.

“They’re right.” He chuckled as they stared back at him in confusion. “It is indeed a merry Christmas.”

Because Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

The End.

——————

A/N: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!🤗 I hope you liked this, Bridge. As always, thank you all so much for reading! <3

#sand siblings #Sabaku No Gaara #Gaara of the Sand #gaara #Sabaku No Temari #Sabaku No Kankuro #nara shikadai #I am a rusty mess but I hope it’s still ok huhu

52 notes · View notes