Mate of the Sand (Gaara's Neko sequel)

Mate of the Sand Chapter 9

So here's the new chapter.  I have nothing to say.  Do you?

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The next day, Gaara is allowing me to stay home to look after the boy.

I arrive in his room just as he wakes up.

"Naiiiooooww!"

I chuff softly at him, he stops his loud calling.

"Murrrr. Niow meeewww urrrr?"

He looks at me curiously, eyes growing wide as his ears go down.

"Kyatto-hana, murrr br briiiooowww?"

I roll my eyes, he didn't answer my question.

"Niieee. Br brioow mewww Japanese?"

He nods.

"Good. What is your name?"

The boy opens his mouth, thinking for a moment.

"Kachinonai, Onee-chan."

My eyes flash angrily.

"Well then Ko, I'm going to bring you some food. Stay there, it'll only take a moment."

He panicks, keening loudly.

I just roll my eyes.

"Fine, come along then."

Ko jumps up, walking happily with a hand around my tail tip.

I lead him down to the kitchen, where he sits at the table, keeping a close eye on me.

When the food is done, he digs in happily, but doesn't stop watching me.

"Onee-chan, where are we?"

I wash the now-empty plate, glancing out the window.

"We're in Sunagakure of the Land of Wind."

Ko nods.

"What are we doing now?"

I turn, hands on my hips.

"Well, since you won't let me out of your sight, I'm going to clean the house, while you follow."

He nods, a happy smile on his face.

"When the house is clean, we'll give you a bath, but I don't have time to help you right now."

And you won't stay in the bathroom without me in there.

I start in Kankuro's room.

You'd think it would be dirty, but it's a lot cleaner than usual.

There's a few scrolls to roll up and place on the desk, and the bed needs to be made.

On his puppet-making desk, I need to sweep away some shavings, making sure it's only shavings.

His bathroom is almost as clean, just towels thrown on the floor.

I toss those in a clothes basket, along with the clothes in his hamper.

Then I set the basket by the door and empty the trash cans.

Ko sits in the chair at one of the desks, just watching me work.

He hops to his feet when I motion him over.

"I want you to take the basket to the top of the stairs, can you do that? I'll be across the hall."

Nodding, his eyes light up as he grabs the basket.

I look after him for a moment then turn to Temari's room.

Her room is cleaner than Kankuro's, just the bed and clothes to wash.

Gaara has nothing for me to do except grab the clothes, Ko and I finish quickly.

We drag the clothes down to the front door, then I lead him back to my room.

He recognises that this is where he woke up.

"Help me undress the bed, I don't want you getting sick after your bath."

Ko nods and we take all of the bedclothes down to the front door as well.

Then we go back to the room and I fill up a bath for him.

I don't add too much water, I don't want him to be afraid of drowning.

Either way, he's going to take two baths to make sure he's clean.

I don't look as he gets into the bath, just grab some soap and shampoo.

Handing him the soap, I bade him to wash his face and body while I do his hair.

As I thought, the bathwater is soon to dirt-filled to see through.

Holding out a towel for him, I stop him from drying off and draw another bath.

Ko's eyes light up as he understands my motives, he steps back in relaxedly.

Eventually, he's clean enough to suit me and I hand him a new towel.

"You'll have to wear some of my clothes, no one else is small enough."

He nods happily as I hand him a shirt and shorts, which comes down to his lower calf.

"We'll buy you some clothes tomorrow. Right now I need to make dinner."

Ko tugs on my tail lightly.

"Who else lives here?"

Oh, yes, he hasn't met the others.

"Gaara-sama, the Kazekage, Kankuro, his older brother, and Temari, their older sister."

Awe shows in his eyes as he follows me to the kitchen.

Temari comes in about the time that the food is done.

"He's awake? Let me see him!"

Ko hides behind me, but I wrap my tail around his waist and lift him in front of me.

He mewls slightly, but doesn't protest.

"Oh, he's adorable! So kawaii! Are all nekos so cute?!?"

I smile softly as Ko looks up at me in confusion.

"Of course, we need something to stop us from being killed willy nilly."

She frowns softly but the boys have walked in and grabbed Ko's attention.

"Onee-chan, the red one?"

I smile at Gaara softly.

"That's the Kazekage, Ko."

Gaara's face softens slightly as he looks at me, then looks down at Ko.

"What is your name?"

Ko stands tall.

"Kachinonai."

All three glance at me in shock.

"Ko."

He blushes in embaressment, even if he is only five.

Speaking of which, he's not a very sophisticated and compliant five year old.

He's a neko.

We age quickly, but remain smaller than most humans.

Well, I can tell tonight is going to be... interesting.