Miera's POV
I sat there, still shaking as Gaara crouched down in front of me.
He cut the bonds, and I craddled myself sadly.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded weakly.
“Why are you trembling?”
“That guy with the orange hair. He....he's....,” I started, but I fell silent, trying not to cry.
“What is he?” he demanded.
“He's my cousin. We used to be really close when I was really little,” I said.
He just stared at me.
“And that green guy scares me,” I sighed, trying to stop myself from trembling.
“You know one of the Akatsuki?” he asked.
“He was my only family when I was little – before I met you and your siblings. We looked after each other, and were happy, until he left me,” I muttered.
Flashback #1
I ran beside a boy with orange hair.
“Come on Miera!” he taunted.
“No fair, Pain! You're older than me! Plus you're a boy,” I complained.
“Yeah, and you're a Thief,” he poked his tongue out at me.
“I don't even know how to use my powers yet,” I whined.
“Come on, Miera. I'll go easy on you,” he smiled.
“Meanie!”
Flashback #2
I threw my kunai at the straw dummy.
“Good throw,” my companion said.
I turned my head and smiled at the ginger haired boy.
“I'm improving,” I grinned.
“That you are.”
Flashback #3
Pain and I leapt from branch to branch, gaining speed.
“Ground,” he said quickly.
I nodded, and we jumped down to the ground.
We ran in the same direction.
My foot caught on a branch, and I fell over.
I pushed myself onto my hands and knees.
“Here.”
A hand appeared in front of my head.
I smiled up at Pain and took it.
He helped me to my feet, and we resumed running.
Flashback #4
“Miera, I'm sorry to tell you, but I'm leaving you,” Pain said to me sadly.
“What? But I'm only six,” I complained.
“I have something I must do,” he sighed.
“But you're my only family!” I whined.
“You'll get a new family. Don't worry. And one day, you'll be able to join me,” he smiled weakly.
I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Contact me, and visit me, please,” I begged.
“I'll try,” he said, hugging me back.
End Flashbacks
“Miera?” Gaara asked, drawing me back to reality.
“Sorry,” I sighed.
“Come on. Let's go home,” he said softly.
I nodded weakly.
He stood up and held out his hand to me.
Like, legit, offered me his hand.
I took it gently, and he helped me to my feet.
He let go of my hand, and I stuck my hands in my pockets.
Slowly, we walked back to the house.
I continued to tremble, on edge.
“Thank you,” I said after a while.
“What for?” he asked.
“Saving me,” I said.
“You're part of my family,” he shrugged.
Part of my family, I thought.
Maybe I did finally have a real family.
One with Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.
We walked in the door.
“Where have you two been?” Kankuro asked, looking up from the TV.
But then he saw my pale face and me shaking.
Temari saw it to from where she sat beside him.
“Sit down,” she ordered.
I sat down on the couch beside her.
“What happened?” Kankuro asked.
Gaara explained what he knew.
I explained everything he didn't.
“The creepy guy said they would make me into a Jinchurici with the one-tailed beast within me,” I sighed.
Gaara stared at me.
“Shukaku,” he muttered.
“Yeah,” I bit my lip.
That was the beast they had taken out of Gaara.
“This DEFINITLY is not good,” Temari scowled.
“They will come back, you said. That means someone needs to be with you at all times,” Temari said.
I sighed.
“Not necessarily.”
“It is best,” she said.
“But who will look after me? I only trust you three with my true identity,” I asked.
They spoke to each other quickly.
“Temari and or I will look after you when we are not on missions. When we are, you will remain at Gaara's side at all times. As he does not sleep, Gaara will look after you at night. Understood?” Kankuro said when they turned back to me.
“Hang on, when I'm sleeping?” I frowned.
“The Akatsuki got you when you were asleep. I repeat; you must be watched over at ALL times,” Temari said.
I sighed.
The idea of Gaara watching me as I slept was not cool in my mind.
But I had to accept it.
“Fine,” I sighed.