A Mother Knows
Karura quietly sips her tea as she waits for her host to arrive. Beside her, her youngest stares with wide-eyed amazement out of the window at the emerald green of the grass. It is Gaara’s first time out of the desert and Karura can tell that some instinctual part of him wants to run barefoot through it on his still unstable legs. The young mother smiles and runs her fingers through the child’s hair. Gaara turns to her and stares with eyes that have already seen too much. Too young to talk, yet still feared by their village because of the demon sealed inside him. Karura thinks it all quite ridiculous, but no matter what she does she has yet to find anyone willing to let their offspring play with him. So far all she has received is polite smiles and terrified eyes. Even her husband and children are wary of Gaara. Sometimes she wonders if she is the only one who sees him as human.
The doors swing open and a woman with long red hair strides into the room. Karura stands and bows to her. “Uzumaki-san, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Please, call me Kushina,” the obviously pregnant woman says as she grabs Karura’s hand and shakes it vigorously. Karura smiles and nods her assent, causing Kushina to grin widely.
Kushina releases Karura’s hand and the two women take their seats in the armchairs beside the bay window. From his carrycot Gaara stares in fascination at the stranger. The child is an avid people-watcher, and Karura is unsurprised that his gaze is glued to Kushina’s fiery red hair.
As if sensing that she is being watched, Kushina looks down at Gaara. Instead of being unnerved by the unblinking attention like most people in Suna, the young woman wiggles her fingers in greeting and smiles with what could almost be described as longing. “I’m glad you came,” Kushina says, and Karura isn’t quite sure whether she’s talking to her or Gaara.
“It was an honour to receive your invitation Kushina-san.”
Kushina pulls a face and waves her words away. “You don’t need to be polite with me. When people are too polite it makes me think they’re lying.”
Karura thinks of her own experience of such a phenomenon and can’t help but smile. “Your husband’s advisors?”
Kushina laughs. “Those old stiffs are the worst for it. They’re part of the reason why I gave up politics. Minato might be able to deal with their shit on a regular basis, but he has the patience of a saint and the bonus of not being a Jinchuriki.”
“Please don’t swear in front of my son. He’s at an impressionable age and you never know what language he might pick up,” Karura says with a polite frown.
Kushina laughs awkwardly as she rubs the back of her head. “Sorry. It’s a bad habit that I know I should get rid of before my own kid comes along, but it’s sort of second nature for me to curse those old farts.” She freezes. “Did I just swear again?”
Karura can’t help but chuckle at that. “It’s alright Kushina-san; that turn of phrase is acceptable.”
Kushina grins and reaches for a biscuit on the table beside her. She devours it in seconds before reaching for another. “Has your son started teething?”
“No, not yet. He has started to crawl though,” Karura adds proudly.
Kushina looks fondly at Gaara, who is still watching her closely. “Would it be rude of me to ask to hold him?”
“Not at all,” Karura answers, masking her surprise at the request. This is the first time anyone has asked to hold her son and she cannot help but be a little suspicious; yet at the same time the request fills Karura with the same maternal satisfaction that manifested when someone asked to hold her other children.
Kushina sends her a thankful smile and carefully picks Gaara up from his seat. “Hello there,” she coos as she brings him to her breast. “Aren’t you a gorgeous little boy? Yes you are!”
Gaara stares uncomprehendingly at her for a moment before turning back to look at his mother. Karura waves at him and tries not to laugh. Gaara is not use to strangers actually interacting with him - it is hardly surprising that he is confused. Yet he isn’t crying or putting up a fuss, which Karura thinks must be a good sign.
Seemingly reassured that his mother is still there, Gaara turns back to Kushina and slowly reaches for her nose. He prods it experimentally before exploring the rest of her face. Eventually his tiny hands find her smiling lips. Kushina takes his probing fingers into her mouth and licks them with the tip of her tongue, prompting a gurgle of sound from the otherwise silent child. Karura stares in wonder as an emboldened Gaara grabs Kushina’s hair in one small, greedy fist and stuffs it into his mouth. She is even more surprised when, instead of reacting with disgust, Kushina laughs. “Is my hair tasty?” she asks the child.
Gaara ignores her in favour of suckling on his new toy.
Kushina frowns playfully and carefully removes her hair from the child’s grasp. “I’m sorry kid but Minato’s parenting books tell me that doing that is not good for you.”
Gaara makes a sound of protest and tries to grasp a different strand of Kushina’s long hair, only to be thwarted by the now laughing woman. Eventually the infant gives up fighting her and decides instead to explore Kushina’s belly. He presses his face against her naval, as if he is listening to the heartbeat of the foetus inside her. After a moment he closes his eyes and Karura starts to panic, thinking he is about to sleep, but all that happens is Kushina gasps and removes the baby from her belly. The redhead stares at Gaara in bewilderment, and the child echoes the expression back at her.
“I don’t know what happened, but the baby just went berserk. Started doing Taijutsu inside me.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Karura says, still watching Gaara warily.
“Yeah,” Kushina mumbles, giving Gaara a contemplative look.
Deciding not to tempt fate, Karura holds out her arms to take Gaara. Somewhat reluctantly, Kushina relinquishes the child to its mother. Gaara comes to her without protest, his expression still one of shock. He clings tightly to her shirt, as if seeking security and reassurance, but his gaze remains on the fascinating creature that is Kushina Uzumaki. Karura also returns her own gaze to the woman who is not nearly as wild as the rumours suggest. In Suna she has heard talk of the Fourth Hokage’s wife: an immigrant from a country that no longer exists, who bewitched her husband and has caused more trouble in Konoha than any other ninja in the village. So far, Kushina has failed to live up to her reputation as an unstoppable force of nature. Although quirky and unorthodox, Karura cannot fault the woman before her. Perhaps it is because they are meeting on her terms that she is so tame, or perhaps the rumours are simple exaggerations of those who do not trust her because she is a Jinchuriki like Gaara. Regardless, Karura finds that she likes Kushina.
After a long moment of silence, Karura says, “Pardon me for being blunt Kushina-san, but is there a specific reason you asked me here?”
Kushina begins to fidget. “Yes, there is, actually...” She pauses, her eyes darting to Gaara before coming back to Karura. “I don’t know how much you know about me, but I’m a Jinchuriki like your son, like Gaara.” Karura nods to show that she does indeed already possess this piece of information. Kushina smiles, relaxing somewhat at this. She places her hand on her belly and continues, “I was only a young girl when the fox was placed inside me. I was a refugee and a Jinchuriki growing up in a foreign village - I found it hard to make friends and grownups often treated me with suspicion. Some still do now, to be honest, but I’m use to it and it doesn’t bother me like it use to. But my child, when they’re born, they’re probably going to have to deal with that too. And I was hoping that they might have a friend to tackle that with - someone who understands what they’re going through and won’t judge them just because their mum’s got a monster inside her.”
Kushina looks up hopefully and Karura is moved. She leans forward and takes the woman’s hand in a firm but reassuring grip. “I’m sure Gaara would also appreciate having a friend who understands.”
Kushina beams, her eyes bright with joy. Her free hand joins the other in clasping Karura’s hand tightly. “Thank you,” she whispers.
Karura smiles and they share no further words. In the space of a few minutes they have formed a truly profound bond that does not requires words. Karura just hopes that their children will be able to so easily follow in their footsteps.
The doors swing open and a woman with long red hair strides into the room. Karura stands and bows to her. “Uzumaki-san, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Please, call me Kushina,” the obviously pregnant woman says as she grabs Karura’s hand and shakes it vigorously. Karura smiles and nods her assent, causing Kushina to grin widely.
Kushina releases Karura’s hand and the two women take their seats in the armchairs beside the bay window. From his carrycot Gaara stares in fascination at the stranger. The child is an avid people-watcher, and Karura is unsurprised that his gaze is glued to Kushina’s fiery red hair.
As if sensing that she is being watched, Kushina looks down at Gaara. Instead of being unnerved by the unblinking attention like most people in Suna, the young woman wiggles her fingers in greeting and smiles with what could almost be described as longing. “I’m glad you came,” Kushina says, and Karura isn’t quite sure whether she’s talking to her or Gaara.
“It was an honour to receive your invitation Kushina-san.”
Kushina pulls a face and waves her words away. “You don’t need to be polite with me. When people are too polite it makes me think they’re lying.”
Karura thinks of her own experience of such a phenomenon and can’t help but smile. “Your husband’s advisors?”
Kushina laughs. “Those old stiffs are the worst for it. They’re part of the reason why I gave up politics. Minato might be able to deal with their shit on a regular basis, but he has the patience of a saint and the bonus of not being a Jinchuriki.”
“Please don’t swear in front of my son. He’s at an impressionable age and you never know what language he might pick up,” Karura says with a polite frown.
Kushina laughs awkwardly as she rubs the back of her head. “Sorry. It’s a bad habit that I know I should get rid of before my own kid comes along, but it’s sort of second nature for me to curse those old farts.” She freezes. “Did I just swear again?”
Karura can’t help but chuckle at that. “It’s alright Kushina-san; that turn of phrase is acceptable.”
Kushina grins and reaches for a biscuit on the table beside her. She devours it in seconds before reaching for another. “Has your son started teething?”
“No, not yet. He has started to crawl though,” Karura adds proudly.
Kushina looks fondly at Gaara, who is still watching her closely. “Would it be rude of me to ask to hold him?”
“Not at all,” Karura answers, masking her surprise at the request. This is the first time anyone has asked to hold her son and she cannot help but be a little suspicious; yet at the same time the request fills Karura with the same maternal satisfaction that manifested when someone asked to hold her other children.
Kushina sends her a thankful smile and carefully picks Gaara up from his seat. “Hello there,” she coos as she brings him to her breast. “Aren’t you a gorgeous little boy? Yes you are!”
Gaara stares uncomprehendingly at her for a moment before turning back to look at his mother. Karura waves at him and tries not to laugh. Gaara is not use to strangers actually interacting with him - it is hardly surprising that he is confused. Yet he isn’t crying or putting up a fuss, which Karura thinks must be a good sign.
Seemingly reassured that his mother is still there, Gaara turns back to Kushina and slowly reaches for her nose. He prods it experimentally before exploring the rest of her face. Eventually his tiny hands find her smiling lips. Kushina takes his probing fingers into her mouth and licks them with the tip of her tongue, prompting a gurgle of sound from the otherwise silent child. Karura stares in wonder as an emboldened Gaara grabs Kushina’s hair in one small, greedy fist and stuffs it into his mouth. She is even more surprised when, instead of reacting with disgust, Kushina laughs. “Is my hair tasty?” she asks the child.
Gaara ignores her in favour of suckling on his new toy.
Kushina frowns playfully and carefully removes her hair from the child’s grasp. “I’m sorry kid but Minato’s parenting books tell me that doing that is not good for you.”
Gaara makes a sound of protest and tries to grasp a different strand of Kushina’s long hair, only to be thwarted by the now laughing woman. Eventually the infant gives up fighting her and decides instead to explore Kushina’s belly. He presses his face against her naval, as if he is listening to the heartbeat of the foetus inside her. After a moment he closes his eyes and Karura starts to panic, thinking he is about to sleep, but all that happens is Kushina gasps and removes the baby from her belly. The redhead stares at Gaara in bewilderment, and the child echoes the expression back at her.
“I don’t know what happened, but the baby just went berserk. Started doing Taijutsu inside me.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Karura says, still watching Gaara warily.
“Yeah,” Kushina mumbles, giving Gaara a contemplative look.
Deciding not to tempt fate, Karura holds out her arms to take Gaara. Somewhat reluctantly, Kushina relinquishes the child to its mother. Gaara comes to her without protest, his expression still one of shock. He clings tightly to her shirt, as if seeking security and reassurance, but his gaze remains on the fascinating creature that is Kushina Uzumaki. Karura also returns her own gaze to the woman who is not nearly as wild as the rumours suggest. In Suna she has heard talk of the Fourth Hokage’s wife: an immigrant from a country that no longer exists, who bewitched her husband and has caused more trouble in Konoha than any other ninja in the village. So far, Kushina has failed to live up to her reputation as an unstoppable force of nature. Although quirky and unorthodox, Karura cannot fault the woman before her. Perhaps it is because they are meeting on her terms that she is so tame, or perhaps the rumours are simple exaggerations of those who do not trust her because she is a Jinchuriki like Gaara. Regardless, Karura finds that she likes Kushina.
After a long moment of silence, Karura says, “Pardon me for being blunt Kushina-san, but is there a specific reason you asked me here?”
Kushina begins to fidget. “Yes, there is, actually...” She pauses, her eyes darting to Gaara before coming back to Karura. “I don’t know how much you know about me, but I’m a Jinchuriki like your son, like Gaara.” Karura nods to show that she does indeed already possess this piece of information. Kushina smiles, relaxing somewhat at this. She places her hand on her belly and continues, “I was only a young girl when the fox was placed inside me. I was a refugee and a Jinchuriki growing up in a foreign village - I found it hard to make friends and grownups often treated me with suspicion. Some still do now, to be honest, but I’m use to it and it doesn’t bother me like it use to. But my child, when they’re born, they’re probably going to have to deal with that too. And I was hoping that they might have a friend to tackle that with - someone who understands what they’re going through and won’t judge them just because their mum’s got a monster inside her.”
Kushina looks up hopefully and Karura is moved. She leans forward and takes the woman’s hand in a firm but reassuring grip. “I’m sure Gaara would also appreciate having a friend who understands.”
Kushina beams, her eyes bright with joy. Her free hand joins the other in clasping Karura’s hand tightly. “Thank you,” she whispers.
Karura smiles and they share no further words. In the space of a few minutes they have formed a truly profound bond that does not requires words. Karura just hopes that their children will be able to so easily follow in their footsteps.