Hello everyone!! Uh I had something to say, but I totally don't remember... uhhh love you all and thank you guys for everything! Also a reminder sense we keep getting questions on this. Damaged not Broken gets updated every Friday and Rise of the Phoenix is every Monday. If this would change it would be posted both on our announcements on Wattpad and also our discord () feel free to join and come talk at us or whatever. Enjoy! I remember now! This is not accurate except some of the questions... so take it with a grain of salt.
"So the plate went where?" Hatake asked, rubbing his temples.
"It flew to the top of the cabinet and teetered on the edge before spinning to a stop. Surprisingly the plate was not damaged at all. After that everything was fine and Mustachio was sitting on Gaara's head again and Swirls was stuck with Aizawa's capture scarf." Kankuro said gleefully.
"That sounds... interesting." Hatake said, his voice far away.
"Yes! It is interesting, but totally not uh..." Yamada trailed off, not really certain where to take his thought.
"What is interesting?" Maito announced from the hallway, with Aizawa trailing tiredly after him.
"Oh, they were just telling me about the scenes the cats cause." Hatake answered, relief causing his shoulders to sag, "Now I am going to talk to you all individually. Aizawa, you are up first."
At those words, Aizawa somehow looked even more tired as he followed the white haired man before he suddenly stopped in front of Aizawa.
"Where can we go where there is privacy and we won't be able to be heard?" Hatake inquired.
Aizawa sighed, "We can go out on the back patio." Hatake nodded and Aizawa led the way.
The pair sat across from each other at a soft pink table with woven magenta chairs.
"Yes, I know the table and chairs do not compliment the colors inside the home, and no I do not care." Aizawa disclosed, before Hatake opened his mouth.
"Ok then... but that wasn't a question I was going to ask." Aizawa bowed his head in apology.
"Sorry, everyone usually asks about them."
"It's fine. Tell me about the siblings." Hatake dismissed.
"Well, they are really good kids for the most part. Although it is certainly easy to see the way their past has affected them. As they have grown more comfortable with us, the twins especially, are growing less selfless and beginning to see that it is ok to take care of yourself as well. Gaara just needs to have experiences, I think." Aizawa frowned, "I am no expert, but we got him to agree to therapy. I think it will really help him connect with the emotions that he has been separated from, especially with his school life. He has friends for the first time in years, the twins told us. In fact, two of them came over for the day yesterday. The other two did not take up the offer of talking to someone. We don't want to force them into something they are uncomfortable with, that would just harm them instead of helping them." Hatake nodded, writing down notes as Aizawa spoke.
Besides the nodding and writing, Hatake's body language revealed nothing.
"There is a note in the youngest ones profile that says he is violent, and that is one of the reasons that he was placed in your care to begin with. Tell me, have his tendencies changed?" Hatake questioned and Aizawa stiffened.
"Gaara was not violent from the beginning. People just saw his quirk as a threat, and yes I am able to quell any misbehavior from his quirk. However, this is not his fault and the kid is really a kind person, as well as extremely smart and gifted. He wishes to be a hero to help others, not to harm, and his quirk is getting less volatile, and even it has been misunderstood." Aizawa was careful not to disclose much about the nature of the Tails quirk and Shukaku himself. Although Gaara was open about sharing Shukaku, Aizawa was afraid of the consequences if the wrong person was to find out.
"I'm glad to hear that. I also knew someone with a quirk that caused them to receive similar treatment. He ended up committing suicide because of how alone he felt." (Not Naruto. FYI although Kurama has been... not that we will meet him... but yeah! Uh hints to the future/past... you're welcome? I think? Plannnnzzzz)
"I have lost too many students and alumni to that." Aizawa sympathized. Both of the men getting a far away look in their eyes.
"How often do you both spend time with them since you both work at least two jobs?" Hatake asked, and Aizawa crossed his legs.
"We both work at UA so we take them to and from school to start with. I work as a hero at night, but I had taken at least two weeks off to help them get comfortable living here. I then was injured protecting my students and I can go back to work tomorrow. Yamada only has work on Fridays, and I can easily request to not work those nights. Yamada is determined to have at least one family activity per week so the siblings can have the experiences they didn't have and also to bond, that is of course if we are approved to adopt them." Aizawa listed off.
"Do you and your husband have any marital issues?"
Aizawa shook his head, "The only thing we really disagree on is the small stuff. If we do by chance get into a fight, we make sure to cool off before either of us say something we'll regret."
"Ok, how are decisions reached and what activities do you do together?"
"Depending on how important it is, we will usually just talk about it and if we have to, analyze the pros and cons. We like to spend a lot of time together in the house, I am not one for large social gatherings. Other than that, if an opportunity comes up to get out, we usually take it."
"What was your childhood like and how do you think it shaped you?" Hatake inquired, reading from his folder.
Aizawa's face turned shadowed, "I didn't have the best childhood. My parents were neglectful and abusive, but the Yamada's found out and I was their foster child starting at the end of my first year in highschool. I think it made me more aware of the darker side of the world and it certainly makes me want to watch the problem children and have them be somewhere I know they will be safe with a family."
Hatake nodded and clicked his ballpoint pen, retracting the tip, and pulled out the book he had earlier.
"That will be all. Will you send Yamada out now?" Hatake queried and Aizawa nodded in response, anxiety causing him to almost walk into the sliding glass door.
Aizawa walked into the house grumbling, shuffling back into the living room.
~~~
Yamada fiddled nervously with his hair as Hatake stared at him from across the table.
"Why do you want to adopt the three siblings?" Hatake finally asked.
Yamada perked up at the easy question, "I want to be able to give them the best life they can possibly have!"
"And you think your house is the best place for that, with two jobs and one of them is being a pro hero I might add?" Hatake yawned, side eyeing his book that was placed carefully beside him.
Yamada's expression faltered, "Well, we both have been making sure that we give the kids priority while also completing our other duties. We also get to spend a surprising amount of time together, especially since we all commute to the same school! And because of our jobs, we can afford anything that they may need care wise as well as education, hobbies, fun days, anything that is within reason! I just want them to be happy. They really deserve it." Yamada paused, "If they didn't want to stay here, we wouldn't have tried to adopt them. We would have done everything we could to find them a fit. However, they agreed and were even excited at the prospect. I think they just want what they desperately need, a family that cares for them." Yamada finished as Hatake just stared at him.
"Who is each child the closest with?" Hatake sighed, annoyed by the man's nervous energy.
Yamada frowned, "I am not sure at this point. It took a lot to break the ice and start to really get to know them." Hatake gave a nod.
"That makes sense. Can you describe the health of you and your husband?"
"I mean, despite any injuries we get during our jobs, excellent. Shota has had to have eye surgery before, he has problems with them because of his quirk, and I have hearing damage because of mine, but that is all. Oh wait, Shota has chronic joint pain, but that isn't like health related, just pain? I mean-"
"Ok, that is enough. I get the picture." Hatake cut him off, "Send in Kankuro now." Hatake rubbed the bridge of his nose as Yamada nervously hopped away in the direction of the living room.
~~~
Kankuro strutted out onto the patio with an air of protective confidence.
Hatake watched with a raised eyebrow as he plopped down on the patio seat, before narrowing his eyes.
"These colors don't match the color scheme of the house. Chaos. I like it." Kankuro said, although internally wincing at the random color change.
"Uh yeah." Hatake settled on, not sure what to say.
They sat in silence as Kankuro stared at the table and then the house, trying to stop a scowl.
"So, how do you like living here?"
"I love living here. Aizawa and Yamada are really kind and supportive. They make sure everything is ok with us and everything. It's been weird," Kankuro admitted, "We never really had parental figures that were involved in our lives before, and admittedly I originally only decided to stay here because family would be good for Gaara. But Yamada and Aizawa had a way of convincing me otherwise. I realized that we all can be a family together, and Gaara doesn't have to have parents or Temari and I, he can have both."
"Who does work around the house?" Hatake inquired.
"I get to cook!" Kankuro said proudly, "It took awhile for Yamada to share the kitchen since it was such a habit, but now we take turns cooking. Other than that, we don't really have set things to do. We all help out in our own ways. I think that maybe they don't want to put a lot of pressure on us? Although, Yamada really likes to clean, so, there could be that."
"Alright, do you have anything else to say?"
"Nope! I don't think so anyways, not very good at this questioning thing." Kankuro concluded.
(guess he should never commit a murder, then)
"...Ok then... send in Temari then." Kankuro gave a nervous salute and walked back into the living room.
~~~
"How have you liked living here?" Hatake asked a nervous Temari. She really didn't want to be the reason the adoption failed, not that she had anything bad to say, it was all good, but she couldn't help but be worried.
"Yes I have. It's a very different environment than what we have had in the past, and it is a good difference. Yamada and Aizawa actually care for us while I am not too sure Rasa really had any interest in us at all. Everytime I start comparing the two houses, I really see how our family should have been. We fit in here. It's like out of a story book. I keep thinking one day I will wake up and it will all have been a dream, and Gaara and Kankuro will still be stuck in a place where they will never do well. I am so glad that Aizawa and Yamada offered to take all of us in instead of letting us get separated. It has been really amazing so far."
'So please don't take it away from us' Her eyes seemed to plead.
"Anything else you would like to add?" Hatake sighed and Temari shook her head.
"Ok, send Gaara out here now."
~~~
"This is the guy who seems like he is in charge. The other one seems too... insane." Shukaku theorized, "So if we kill this one..."
"No." Hatake looked up as Gaara spoke out of nowhere, "If we kill him we can't stay here. I want to stay here."
"No?" Hatake questioned and Gaara didn't answer, sitting down silently.
"So tell me about living here?"
~~~
"Should we have warned him that Gaara doesn't talk much?" Temari asked suddenly and Kankuro's face turned pensive.
"Nah, he has been talking more often, and besides, our little bro can stare him into submission." Kankuro laughed and Maito looked confused.
"Does the young youth (#notproperenglish) not like to talk?"
"I think he just doesn't feel like talking, and he definitely doesn't talk much to those he doesn't trust." Kankuro shrugged.
"The little bean is certainly a 'to the point' kind of talker." Yamada agreed.
"You should hear him call out some of his classmates in class, he is quite brutal." Aizawa snorted and Temari nodded.
"Sounds like Gaara. Very blunt." Temari agreed and Kankuro looked aghast.
"Our baby brother is the most adorable, kind hearted, sharped mouth, kid on the planet. He is not blunt." Kankuro protested and Temari looked at him with eyebrows raised, "Ok, maybe he is a little blunt. BUT! He is still adorable."
"Yes Kankuro, Gaara is adorable." Yamada comforted, patting him on the back.
"I just hope Gaara doesn't spend the entire time staring at him..." Temari trailed off.
~~~
Gaara stared at the man in front of him.
They had been silently sitting there for about five minutes since Hatake asked his first question.
"Um, could you please tell me about what living here is like?" Hatake finally asked again, staring down at his notes.
'The notes don't say anything about him being selectively mute or deaf... although I don't recall him saying anything when I was talking with the family earlier.'
Gaara shrugged.
"There are fluffy cats here. There were not any fluffy cats before."
"Ok... what about Yamada or Aizawa? Anything to say about them?"
"They are nice, although for some reason Yamada doesn't want sand in the kitchen." Gaara frowned, "I really like living here. There are cats. And I can pet them all I want. I can also have friends over... and have friends. I wasn't allowed that before."
"Not after last time..." Gaara thought to himself.
"That's good, I see you like cats?" Hatake prompted, recognizing that was something the kid seemed to talk willingly about.
"Yes, they are fluffy. Yamada and Aizawa even let me get one that is my own, although they all just stay in my room anyways... but I love my cat."
"Ah, that's good. So they are treating you well?" Gaara nodded.
"I really like them." Gaara said softly and Hatake smiled.
"How about school, everything going ok there? Did they give you what you needed to catch up?"
"Yes, everything is fine and they did." Gaara nodded.
"Ok, if you don't have anything else to add we can be done." Hatake closed his folder and stood up.
"My therapist is also fluffy. And so is the angry pomeranian's hair in my class. Your hair looks fluffy." Gaara narrowed his eyes from his seat and sand started pooling around Hatake.
"Uh-" Hatake was cut off by Gaara floating up and touching his hair.
Gaara nodded, "Fluffy." and instantly set Hatake gently down and nodded again at him with respect as if Hatake had passed some sort of test.
"Alright kid, that's cool. Next time you can just ask." Hatake sighed, relieved that the kid wasn't going to attack him as Gaara's face lit up with hope.
"GAARA! PUT THE NICE MA-" Yamada rushed out panicked, leading the group of everyone inside.
"It's quite alright. He just wanted to see if my hair was fluffy."
The group sighed in relief.
"Sorry, just got a little panicked you had asked him an obscure question and he took it literally and was about to like put you in a tree or something..."
Gaara looked at him indignantly.
"I wouldn't have put him in a tree." Gaara scoffed and Hatake looked on in shock and confusion.
"Sorry Gaara, you sometimes don't get figures of speech and such." Yamada apologized, and the boy shrugged.
"Why don't you guys head inside, Hatake and I have to have a chat." Maito suggested, causing the tension to suddenly rise, and the family headed back into the living room.
It felt like it took hours for the pair to come back in.
The family looked at the two men with fear in their eyes.
"You guys might want to sit down for this." Hatake said, mournfully.
If we were mean we would end it right here... (((if we didn't want to move on we would end it right here... so consider yourselves lucky.))) (((so we are mean... just lazy mean people.))) (((also lonely)))(((but hey that's a little deep so uhhh... back to the no cliffhanger.)))
"Hmmm... how do I put this? My first impression of all of you was that you are all a bunch of idiots." The group looked at him shocked, "However, you are a bunch of idiots that all love each other. So we wish you luck in the future, you pass the inspection." the family's faces turned from shock to even more intense shock and disbelief.
Suddenly they all were hugging, Gaara being reluctantly dragged into the chaotic group hug that even Aizawa seemed to be a part of.
"I have something else to say." the group paused, fearing the worst, "The holes in your heart get filled by those around you. Fill the holes in each other's hearts and stay strong in the days to come. We will see you on Thursday for the hearing. Expect the truth from us."
"Yes, the power of youth runs strong in this household!" Maito smiled and gave a thumbs up, teeth shining.
"Am I the only one seeing how impossibly white his teeth are? Is that his quirk?" Shukaku panicked.
Gaara just rolled his eyes as everyone started to bid farewell to the two inspectors.
"So you happy now?" Shukaku asked.
"Yes. I think I will be happy here." Gaara smiled, but everyone was too busy to notice and the boy floated up into his room to cuddle with the cats.