Face Paint - A Kankurou love story. (Original – date of creation is 2007)

Beginning:

A young girl by the name of Shokidenai Hanna was running through the last of the tree's before she comes to the desert. She jumps down on the ground. Putting a hand up to shade her eyes from the sun she scans for anything or anyone. She finds no one so she takes her canteen and drinks from it heavily. She had been trying to reach her friend whom she had lost contact with. She wiped her brow when she was done drinking. She started back on her way to the Sand Village. Thoughts rampaged through her head as she was trying to think of why her friend, so dear would vanish, and not tell her. Her eyes scanned as she was searching for any sign of her friend, A young girl, around her age. Shokidenai Hanna at the age of sixteen was banished from her village, and many others. She had no family left, she tried to destroy what was her village. There had been a large epidemic shortly after she was born, it crumbled the life of many of the elders. It continued to destroy the village. And when it was done, Only she and 7 others were left of the village. Soon after being banished and whipped, she had met 'her'. One who made most people shudder in distaste and hate. And her name was... Sasumi. Sasumi at first was skeptic of Shokidenai. But soon, unknown to Sasumi, grew to be powerful friends. That was when they were nine. It has been some time since the last meeting, In fact almost a year.

Shokidenai was scanning the ground and horizon. Thinking of all the times they spent, happy, even if that was a feeling that Sasumi said she did not have. Running, even faster now, as she was thinking, she soon, unknowingly till the last second, realized she was there. And the last second, was... too late. She ran into the wall. She pushed herself off of the wall, and rubbed her head. It caused a minor headache but she was fine. She walked backwards and inspected the large rock. She walked back up to it and pressed her hand to the rock, and felt the creatures living inside the rock. She scowled, she then backed up again and ran up the wall, forcing all of her chakra into her feet and scaled the large rock. It was only a few minutes later that her feet had no more rock to climb, so she jumped on to the top. She scanned the village below. It was beautiful, In a way that satisfied her cravings for the forest. She jumped down and landed on a small shack, and jumped down from that still. She had a feeling, that somewhere in this village, her friend, was here. There was almost no mistake about it. She walked around the village, and that was her first mistake. Scorned looks, and looks of fear swooped from the eyes of the people. It made her angry. She hated the looks, and unlike sasumi. She couldn't handle it, it made her blood boil. The looks just continued, and so did the rising anger. Soon, her nails were cutting into her skin, more and more. A masculine yell, reached her ears. Causing them to twitch.
"Who the hell are you! Answer me you Wench!" The voice yelled, and a hand, gripped her shoulder not in a caring grasp, but in in bone shattering twist.

That was it, she had it. She lifted her foot and tried to kick the man behind her, but... her kick stopped? She turned around and pushed the hand off her shoulder.
"Is that how you treat a lady?" Her eyes, brown, usually, turned a crisp black. Her lips in a scowl, and got in a traditional fighting stance. The man, however was no man, but, rather, her age. Her blood started to boil more as the guy, just stood there, arms crossed eyes closed, face... plane. His hair, Red, was just begging to be ripped apart. She couldn't handle it. She tried to run at him but her feet were stuck. She felt sand creep up her body, enveloping it in sad. It started up her head, but then a familiar voice, shouted in the distance.
"Gaara! Stop it, I know her!" A young woman, now, ran up and grasp the guy, his face filled with shock. The young woman walked over to Shokidenai, who was no longer covered in the sand.
"Sa-sa-sasumi? Oh Sasumi I thought something terrible happened to you!" Shokidenai ran up to Sasumi and grabbed one of her hands and smiled, tears rolling down her cheeks. Sasumi let out a small concerned smile, and let go of the guy, and hugged her old friend.
"I missed you too Shocky. I am sorry that Gaara almost killed you." Sasumi smiled and slightly chuckled.
"It's OK. It would take more than that to kill me remember?" Shokidenai smiled and wiped away the tears, and fell to the ground, exhausted from today's travel.

Chapter 2:

Shokidenai slowly opened her eyes, she was resting on a bed. She bolted up, and saw 'Gaara' and Sasumi there. She glared at him, but then grabbed her head as a sharp pain came up her back and into her skull. The fight she had a week ago was finally coming back to her. When the pain was gone she looked back to Sasumi. She saw Sasumi slightly worried, and Gaara pissed as hell.
"Sasumi, do you really know this girl? She's... So..." He looked at her, up and down with a skeptical view. Shokidenai looked at him as well. She folded her arms and cleared her throat.
"Well, I don't believe that you look as perfect as a cup of tea either. So I suppose we are in the same boat." She turned on her heels and then walked to a bench and sat on it. She crossed her legs and she stared at them from afar. Gaara looked over to Sasumi with an disbelieving look, and Shokidenai saw his lips moving, and then Sasumi's. A young man, older than Gaara walked up, he had purple face paint on and a black out fit with an black hat looking thing (just what is that anyway?). He came up and clapped both Gaara's and Sasumi's shoulders, Shokidenai's eyes thinned with slight anger. Gaara smiled slightly and the guy talked to Gaara and Sasumi for a bit; they both pointed, Gaara with disgust, and Sasumi with a plain, but caring look at her. She tossed her hair absently, and her eyes, slowly returning back to their calm brown color. The guy walked over to her, both Gaara and Sasumi walked with him.

"Hello, I am sorry for my little brother, if he did hurt you. You see he is the-" He got cut off by Shokidenai,
"No need to apologize, And I don't give a flying, colored rat's ass about who, or what he is. I would just like to catch up with Sasumi. Unless his royal, I-can-try-to-kill-who-ever-I-want, will try and kill me again with that damned sand of his." She talked with the air of someone who could snap an arm in half if she really wanted too. Sasumi looked at her friend, and sighed. She put an hand on the guy's shoulder. He looked a little shocked and confused.
"Don't worry about Shocky, she gets miffed easily that's all. Her full name is shokidenai Hana. Pronounced shah-key-dee-nie hahn-ah." Sasumi looked at the guy with apologetic, and slightly it-is-my-fault look and continued "She is really loyal to the few friends she has, and she must have been looking for me. She is an really emotional person. Even though she herself, is somewhat a cause of the murder of majority of her village." Sasumi stopped there as, unexpectedly Shokidenai shot up and ran her eyes shut tight, fists clenched, blood running down her clenched fingers. She jumped out the window and up on top of the houses, and was soon out of sight.
"What... just happened." The guy stared after where she disappeared. Shocked faces for all three of them. Sasumi was about to open her mouth, but she stopped herself. Gaara however, his shocked face was gone in a moment, and he continued to glare after her long gone image. A young woman walked up, and noticed the three of them, two shocked, one pissed.
"What's going on? Gaara, Kankurou, Sasumi? What is it?" The young woman asked. She stared on her blond hair in its usual pigtail type. Sasumi shook her head.
"We don't even know Temari. Note even us. I think she is upset again. She is still soft." Sasumi jumped out the window as well and disappeared. Kankurou stared after them and then walked away. Gaara walked to his office and slammed the door. Temari just stood there bewildered.

Shokidenai sat, knee's practically glued to her chest, and her hands resting around them, crying in one of the dark alley's. She looked up at the sky, and her shoulders heaved while she continued to cry silently. She sighed, as she slowly calmed down. A smile graced her lips as a small bird found it's perch just above her seat. It twittered and sang, and then relocated to her knee. She smiled at it still. Soon she was laughing, and giggling as the bird decided to dance. It then flew up and did a few dips and then it flew away, still singing. The smile disappeared. She sighed again, her heart still heavy, She stared at the people bustling, their turbans and shawls and such. But then, the black outfit caught her eye. It was him again. She spat a curse or two and then stood, the motion seemed foreign to the alley, and it caught his attention. He walked over and looked at her, his eyes seemed to widen with slight amazement. She once again tossed her hair, but this time to get it out of her face. He walked closer with a smug look on his face.
"You know Sasumi is looking for you. I am sorry if we got on the wrong foot. Lets start over shall we?" He held out his hand, with an sincere look on his face. She just stared at him, then took his hand, and instead of an hand shake, flipped him on his back. She walked over him and turned around, just past his chest she was standing. He stared up at her, with a smile on his face and he was blushing.
"Nice view. Good arm too." His smile got bigger. She glared at him and picked him up by his collar and glared at him.
"You should be glad that I don't like to fight. I am against it, and if I don't have to, will avoid fighting at all times." She glared at him, her face a few inches from his. His smile faded slightly. He looked at her, and then he put his arms up.
"All right you win. And if you want we could put this all behind us." He started to laugh a bit but then quieted when he saw her glare. He put out his hand again. This time she shook it instead of landing him on his back.
"My name is Kankurou, Yours?" Kankurou smiled, the face paint distorted slightly from the smile.
"Shokidenai Hana, you should know that. Sasumi said it." She glanced at him up and down, a side view glance as she was turned slightly.

He looked her up and down, his eyes jumping from one part of her body to the other. Just staring at her. She cleared her throat. His attention was drawn immediately to her lips.
"It's impolite to stare you know. And besides. I don't like guys who are indecent." She turned on her heels, and started to walk off. Kankurou let out a soft whistle. She turned her head briefly in an angered manner then jumped out of his sight. It was the most humiliating thing that had happened to her in a long while. She couldn't help but think.
"There has to be a reason to why Sasumi would spill something so deep and important to me to just a couple of guy's. I mean. We made a pact to keep the past to our selves." She continued thinking, and she was soon just across to the Kazekage's office. She saw Sasumi in there, sitting on.. Gaara's lap? Him, the KazeKage. Impossible! He was a brat, not exactly little but definitely a brat! She shook her head again, sure enough. He was still there. But... he... was kissing her now. Them together. Jesus almighty. That whack with the giant rock and the faint really must have done something to her logic. She shook her head again, she felt someone behind her, a woman by the sound of the shoes. She turned. It was a young blond girl. She was older than Shokidenai, but... She was similar.. to someone. Kankurou came up behind the young girl and he poked her shoulder. The glare on her face disappeared as she saw Kankurou, she turned to him and the had a talk. She turned back and bowed slightly, in an apologetic manner.
"I'm so sorry Shokidenai. I didn't know who you are, but my brother explained everything." She put on a small smile and continued "My name is Temari by the way." Temari was still smiling. She then looked up to Gaara's office and smiled slightly.
"Great, more siblings. And I suppose, by the bad luck I am having so far, there are more? And I also assume by my bad, in fact Horrible luck, That Sasumi, and I am assuming, younger brother are together. Is that so?" She looked at them with a tightly held face, that normally, to one that has no experience in death or fighting such as a academy student, would scare the living shit out of them.

Both just laughed, and as if reporting the weather Temari replied.
"No, just the three of us. Though how did you know that Sasumi and Gaara are together, and that Gaara is our younger sibling?"
"A guess. And I just happened to see them kissing only a moment ago. The chair was sideways. And just three? Why not five or seven. It feels like it." Shokidenai just shook her head again. Temari walked over and held out her hand, and Shokidenai shook it.
"Just one more question. For Temari only seeming as despite the saying, she has more brains." Shokidenai glanced with slight anger at Kankurou then looked back to Temari. "Has Kankurou always been... Perverted... Even though I think that too weak of a word." She glanced back at him and shook her head. Temari just stared at her than at Kankurou, who tried to look innocent, but must have failed.
"Why, What happened."
"Oh, Well lets see. When he first offered for a hand shake, I flipped him and then I stepped over, and was right around here." She showed where she stood with her hands, and it was right below her breast. "And he said I quote 'nice view, and nice arm.' If that isn't perverted I don't know what is." And just stared back at Kankurou. Temari glared at him and walked over.
"Is that true? Did that really happen! That... Is.. Just.. So... Rude!" And she glared at him, fists clenched. And Kankurou didn't really do anything, but stare with the face of disappointment.
"What do you have to say about yourself!" Temari still glared at him, getting madder at the second.
"She left..." He just stared still at where Shokidenai was, and Temari turned, and it was true. She really was gone.

Chapter 3:

"Gaara... you have to understand. She's my... Friend. She doesn't really have anywhere else to go." Sasumi concluded there conversation and laid her head on Gaara's chest, who still had on a stone cold face, she only vaguely remembers. She looked at him, he tried to concentrate on anything but her face, and how it looked right now.
"She, doesn't seem right. She, seems like trouble. She might hurt you. I don't want you to get hurt." He took her face in his hands. He looked at her face, his eyes, soft and caring. He pressed his face next to hers in a passionate kiss. The door flew open. Shokidenai stood by the door, her eyes crisp black, no, more like a soulless blank black. Her mouth twisted in a grimace, not of pain but anger. She walked over and grabbed Sasumi's arm, carefully, as to not hurt her, and glared, with all the anger she could muster at Gaara who was about to get up. Shokidenai pushed him back with just her foot.
"No, I have to have a talk with Sasumi. Sit there you arrogant prick." She hissed, with a scowl on her face. She turned to Sasumi, who was slightly shocked and motioned for them to leave. Gaara clenched his teeth and gripped his chair with anger. When both left the room Shokidenai looked straight at Sasumi with those same blank black eyes.
"Those eyes, their, so... different." Sasumi tried to not have contact with the eyes, they, just seemed to capture all hope. Shokidenai looked at her, with a calm face, her normal eyes returned.
"Why are you with him? WHY! You know that men don't keep their promises! You know they aren't really worth it!... Sorry. I'm just. Nothing... Thank you Sasumi for not telling him everything, even though he is the worst prick I ever saw. At least you didn't tell him about.. The pin." Shokidenai looked like a child with the last two words, they lulled on her tongue, tasted like sugar, but cut her heart like knives. She sighed and leaned against the wall.
"Shocky... I don't know why, and.. Don't sound like Shikimaru. It's OK. Things just aren't going your way right now are they? And I will never tell, I keep my promises. If I didn't tell him some, he would just have tried to kill you even if you're my friend. All just for the headband." Sasumi smiled softly. She grabbed her friends hands in a loose grip.
"You like clubs don't you? Temari offered to take me to one, so come on. Lets go get ready." She pulled lightly on Shokidenai's wrists, she winced. Sasumi looked at Shokidenai's pained face. And looked at her wrists.
"What's wrong? Are.. They broken?" She inspected them.
"Don't bother, I will get used to them, It was just my stupid self. You know how I am clumsy." Shokidenai held a loose smile on her face. Sasumi just looked at her, and noticed in her eyes, a slight fear, yet, she was so calm.
"Come on give 'em to me anyway... we'd better get ready right? We can't have you wincing every time you move it." Sasumi smiled, and took Shokidenai's wrists and healed them in a bright light. After she started to leave but Shokidenai didn't follow.
"Wait.. Is there... Something else?" Sasumi looked worried at her friend.
"I.. Hnn. Sorry. They... know where your hiding. They followed me, but didn't get past the outside barrier. Or.. The giant rock." She looked down at her feet, deeply sorry for her misjudgment.

"It's OK. It's not your fault. All we have to do is lay low for a while... Come on, let's go get you in an outfit for the club." With that both girls were happy.

3 HOURS LATER!

"Temari, you'll look great tonight! That was such a cool outfit!" Shokidenai laughed, Temari smiled, she shook her bags.
"You'll look good too. I like your dress you bought. I bet every guy there will be all over you." Temari laughed, Shokidenai shook her head.
"Nope. That has to be Sasumi.. Hey, sasumi why aren't you talking?" Shokidenai looked concernedly at Sasumi who was lagging behind thinking. She looked up and laughed.
"Maybe Gaara will have to beat a few guys off with a stick, but not all of them." She had an awkward smile on her face. Shokidenai stopped and put an arm on Sasumi's shoulder.
"Spill it Hun. What's cookin' in that noggin o' yours?" Shokidenai pretended to knock on Sasumi's head. Sasumi shook her head.
"I've just been thinking. About how... You need to know how love feels. True love. Not the kind that is in every family. But emotional love, between two people. Such as Temari and Shikimaru." Sasumi smiled "You're the only one who isn't in a relationship. So... I was thinking that maybe this could be a good social boost. You know?" She tried to hide the slight fear of Shokidenai getting hurt.
"I.. Understand. I.. Just don't think that, it would be a good Idea. Guy's aren't really my thing. Poison is... Remember?" Shokidenai looked at Sasumi, and by then they totally ignored Temari.
"Come on! We'll be late! You two can talk about this at the house. Come on!" Temari walked over to them and dragged them to Her, Kankurou's, and Gaara's house. When there they all took turns changing.

A FEW MINUTES LATER!

Shokidenai walked out of the room, she was the last one out.
"Wow Shocky, you look really girly for once! Nice Outfit." Sasumi looked at Shokidenai and approved the outfit by nodding her head. Temari smiled and clapped her hands a little bit. Gaara glared and walked over to Sasumi and put his arm around her waist. Temari just smiled again. Gaara left the room, as well as Kankurou who had been looking at Shokidenai closely. When they came back they looked dashing. Shokidenai was slightly shocked on how cleaned up they looked, and held a slightly baffled look to her face.
"Snazzy.. Really, I thought that Mr. Hiss & piss wouldn't even think of going somewhere fun. Nor Mr. Purple face over there. Where's your make up anyway?" She put her hands on her wrists and then laughed as both glare at her.
"Shocky please. Won't you at least try to have manners? They are my friends and don't tell me that I didn't strain that enough." Sasumi looked at Shokidenai with a i-can't-believe-you look. Shokidenai ignored it and walked past them with an air of someone of great importance. Gaara was restraining himself for the sake of Sasumi. Kankurou just glared at her. Miffed, but not as angry as Gaara. He felt the pin in his pocket that he had picked up only a few hours ago when she disappeared from the rooftop only to appear in Gaara's office moments later.
"Gaara, thanks for not-" Sasumi started but Gaara just walked over and grabbed her waist, and started walking to the club. Temari and Kankurou followed.

AT THE CLUB!

"Come on Sasumi, I got something to show you!" Temari dragged Sasumi up to the stage, and the announcer called out that she was going to sing a song. Baffled and a bit miffed, she thought of the song to sing, it was Perfect, by simple plan. As she was singing Shokidenai smiled, and felt something severely wrong with the picture, something wrong with Sasumi, and even the Irritable Gaara. She glanced around, no one else sensed it.
"WHOO GO SASUMI! YOU ROCK!" That was what Shokidenai shouted when Sasumi was done singing. Sasumi walked back and growled,
"That was really harsh Temari. Why did you have to send me up there?" Sasumi stared at her. Temari just started talking to Sasumi about how good she sings.
"Sasumi. Is.. There something wrong? Nothing seems the same." Shokidenai looked at Sasumi with slight fear. "Is it your demons?"
"No, it isn't, just the same old same old. Getting chased by someone." Sasumi waved her hands as if it was unimportant information.
"It was the Akatsuki wasn't it? Kisame and Itachi I am guessing." Shokidenai looked serious, as if she knew what was going on. Everyone looked at Shokidenai with surprise of her accurate, and self-assured guess.
"How... How did you know? We.. Didn't even give you a hint... How.. Could you guess so accurately?" Temari was the only one who could even say a thing. Kankurou just let his mouth fall, Gaara's was only open slightly, and he quickly hid his surprise in a glare.
"Just the luck of.. Well. Me I guess. I mean. I know people, who know other people. And it goes in a circle." She shrugged. It was better than giving lucky guess.
"I am going to search the bingo book." He was about to turn before Sasumi grabbed his arm and shook her head.
"Gaara. You would just be wasting precious moments to dance with me, by just turning pages that have no name like hers on there." Sasumi smiled, a reassuring smile. Shokidenai just kept sitting there, and then she sighed. She puffed out her cheeks, out of boredom.
"Gaara, do you want to dance with me?" Sasumi smiled. "It'll be fun. I promise." Gaara shook his head,
"No, I don't dance." He sat there defiantly on the seat. She looked at him, with a sad face.
"Hey, Kankurou." Shokidenai looked over to Kankurou. He looked over sleepily.
"What?" He looked at her with the same expression.
"Dance with Sasumi." She said that with a slightly, bossy tone.
"Fine. But this doesn't mean that I will do whatever you say." He just looked at her and he got up and took Sasumi's hand and started to dance with her. Shokidenai sighed, and got up she waited next to the wall until Sasumi asked to dance with her and she obliged and soon, they were done dancing. After badgering Gaara to dance, he danced. First sad pathetic dancing, then as if he was born dancing. She laughed at him, and then stopped. Shokidenai felt alone. She rubbed her arms. She looked up and realized that they were looking at her. She smiled.
"Come on Shocky let's go." Sasumi walked over and put an arm over her shoulder. Gaara grabbed Sasumi's arm and took it off her shoulder. Sasumi stared at him for a moment. Then left. She double backed though,
"Do you like Kankurou?" Sasumi looked over to Shokidenai and had a small smile on her face.
"Hell no. I don't know him." Shokidenai scoffed.