Chapter 1:
Kankuro came in as Gaara was finishing up some paperwork.
"Hey little bro, need some help with anything before I take off?" Kankuro asked.
Gaara looked up uncomprehendingly. He was a very focused individual. When he was reading, he became so engrossed that he couldn't listen. Therefore he looked up at Kankuro not having heard a thing he said.
Kankuro smiled knowingly. Everyone knew that Gaara was like that so he repeated his question.
Gaara made a grunt and started to go back to another missive he had received, when he suddenly remembered something.
"Kankuro wait!" He instructed in his low gravelly voice. He shuffled through some papers on the side counter. "Here it is!" He said to himself when he found it. He turned and presented his older brother with a gold envelope.
Kankuro took it carefully and looked at it, "Uh what is it?"
Gaara shrugged. " I got invited to some party but it's not really my thing. Maybe you can go in my place."
Kankuro opened up the envelope and pulled out a sparkling invite that was shaped like a bee.
"You must be joking! You got an invite to the Bachi! Tonight! For their grand opening and you are on the fifth floor!" Kankuro's mouth was so wide open in shock that if the invite had grown wings it could have easily buzzed inside.
The latest nightclub was called Bachi. It was in the shape of a bee hive with several levels spiraling up with a open dance floor at the bottom. The bar made up the entire second floor. The third and fourth floors had tables and booths for groups to sit back and rest before going down to the bottom floor to dance. The fifth floor was reserved for only the highest paid customers. It provided views down onto all the floors as well as access to the balcony above to view the desert night sky.
Gaara looked at his big brother curiously, "So does that mean that you don't mind going?"
"Don't mind going?! Are you kidding me?! That place has been booked for weeks. I heard some of the guys talking about. Hey this invite is for you plus one. I'll be your plus one and we'll go together."
"Oh no!" Gaara put out his hands as if to fend the offer off physically. "I don't like social gatherings much as it is and that place sounds like it will be packed. No thank you! Besides I still have a ton of work to do. Lady Chiyo's Institute of Toxicology grand opening is in less than a week. Visitors from all the nations will be sending representatives. I need to still put the final touches on my welcoming speech."
Kankuro walked over to his younger brother and put his hands on either side of his shoulders to keep him from walking away.
"Man, don't make me beg! This is the hottest club right now! Come and be my wing man! Please!" Then Kankuro went down to his knees still holding on to Gaara's shoulders.
"Please!" He cried again.
Gaara looked up to the ceiling and sighed, "Fine I'll go but what is a wing man?"
Kankuro jumped up suddenly and slapped Gaara on the arm, rocking him a bit off balance.
"Heh heh! Knew that would work! Gotta go little bro and get dressed. You better change too. Pick you up at your place in an hour okay! Thanks!" With that Kankuro walked briskly out of the office. If he heard Gaara's uttered question of 'Wing man?', he didn't show any indication.
::
Kankuro showed up at Gaara's door precisely an hour later. He was wearing a white long sleeve shirt that was open almost halfway down his chest. He had rolled up both sleeves and wore distinctive black leather wrist bands that circled up to his mid forearms. He had washed off all his facial paint that he normally wore during work hours. His hair was still damp from his bath but he had spiked it out in the latest style. He had on tight black pants and black boots adorned with silver chains.
When Gaara opened his door, Kankuro took one look at his little brother's high buttoned crimson shirt and pants that he always wore. The monotony was only broken by a leather belt where he hung a flask of sand that he took with him wherever he went. Kankuro shook his head and steered him back to his closet.
"No, no, no! You cannot go clubbing in that!"
"I don't see why not." Gaara countered, "These clothes are very comfortable and the color suits me, or so I've been told."
Kankuro looked at Gaara with a look of speculation, "Uh yeah…no, not wearing that tonight. Let me take a look at your closet."
Kankuro walked past Gaara and into his bedroom. Everything was completely in order. No dirty clothes or towel or scrolls out of place. Kankuro rolled his eyes at his brother's obsession with order. He strolled over to the closet doors and swung them out wide. His eyes couldn't help but bulge. The entire wardrobe was filled with the same colored shirts and pants.
"What the hell?" Kankuro couldn't help but utter.
Gaara, who had followed him into the room, said, "Like I said the color and style suit me so I decided to buy the whole line."
Kankuro shook his head, "What happened to the black shirt Temari got you for your birthday last year?"
Gaara looked thoughtful for a minute, "Well you see it didn't quite go with the theme of my closet…"
Kankuro looked at him in horror, "Don't say you threw it out! You know how much that shirt cost?!"
Gaara shook his head, "Of course I wouldn't toss a gift from my sister." He walked over to a chest of drawers at the other end of the room. "I always keep the things you give me." He said simply and after fumbling around a bit, produced it, "Here it is!"
Kankuro took two strides over to his brother and yanked the shirt from his hands. He fluffed it out a few times and then looked it over.
"Good! It's not too wrinkled. Okay take the one of a thousand that you have on, off. Put this one of a kind shirt on."
When Gaara did not make a motion to comply, Kankuro patted him on the back hard, sending Gaara flying a step or two forward.
"Come on! It's just for one night. Step out of your comfort zone! Be daring!" Kankuro said convincingly. When Gaara still did not move, he cried, "Please!"
"Okay, fine! Just don't laugh at me, okay?" And then couldn't help but add under his breath, "I hope no one else will laugh at me either." Gaara said as he started to change out of his traditional garb.
Kankuro looked at Gaara seriously, "Uh in case you forgot, you are the Kazekage, and on top of that, one bad ass ninja. Believe me, you could wear a clown suit and no one would laugh."
Gaara looked up at his older brother in confusion. He didn't know if Kankuro was making that up or not. He sighed and put on the black shirt. It was made of a soft silky material that seemed to hug his lithe body. The shirt had a v neck and long sleeve. It was also long so he had to remove his belt with the flask from his pants and put them back on over his shirt, hanging low on his hips.
Gaara looked in the mirror, "I feel silly!"
Kankuro stood back and gave a whistle, "Trust me, bro, you look good! Now let's go clubbing!"
He jumped up and clotheslined his brother, hurrying him out the door.
::
By the time they arrived at the block where the club was located, there was a line of people to get in at least halfway down.
Gaara looked at the approaching line in dismay, "Looks like we will have a long wait."
Kankuro laughed and put his hands on Gaara's shoulders in excitement. "Not with your ticket, bro! We are on the list! So we bypass the line!"
"Bypass the line? Is that fair?" Gaara asked as he looked apologetically to the people in line as they passed them.
They got to the door and saw a large fellow with a clipboard in his hand. As they walked up to the door of the club. Two girls were dressed up and seemed to be waiting. One of the girls saw Gaara and squealed, tapping her friend on the shoulder. Her friend looked over at Gaara and said "Hot!", with an awed expression on her face.
Gaara turned and looked at her seriously, "I thought it was a bit cool tonight."
Kankuro chuckled, "She's not talking about the weather, Gaara!"
Gaara looked back at his brother and shrugged. He didn't get what was so funny. He turned to the large man with the clipboard and began to show the invite and announce himself, but the big man stopped him by bowing.
"Lord Kazikage, we are honored by your presence. Please come in. I'll make sure that the fifth floor is ready for you."
Kankuro practically shoved Gaara into the noisy, strobe lit hotly packed club.
Once they entered, Gaara had to yell to be heard, "Now I know why that girl said it was hot!"
Kankuro shook his head at his brother and tapped his ears. Gaara had to repeat himself two more times before Kankuro understood him. When he finally did he roared with laughter. Gaara still didn't quite get the joke. He noticed that people did seem to be making a wide berth for him despite the large crush of people. He figured that they were perhaps nervous about him being there. He tried to smile to show them that he meant no harm. A man hurried up to them and bowed.
"Lord Kazekage! We are so honored. Please sir let me lead you up to the fifth floor." He was about to agree when Kankuro put his hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"I think my brother and I will hang out here for the time being. What's up there?" He pointed to the circular balconies that made a circumference around each floor and overlooked the dance arena in the center.
The man smiled. "Oh yes let me give you a tour of the facility." Gaara was about to comply when again Kankuro stepped in, "That won't be necessary. We can just mingle for now."
The man bowed slightly in acquiescence and added, "Very well. The second floor is the bar area, the third and fourth floors are seating, and of course as you can see this floor is the main entertainment. When you are ready, make your way up to the fifth floor."
Gaara thanked the man though he wasn't sure that the man heard. Kankuro was pushing him towards the flight of stairs leading up to the second floor.
Gaara looked around, a bit embarrassed by some of the activities that were going on on the floor. Kankuro took the lead and led Gaara up a flight of stairs to the bar area. It was less noisy but not by much.
Gaara turned to Kankuro and said with censor in his voice, "You were rude to that man."
Kankuro shrugged and made his way up to the bar and came back with four drinks in his hands.
"Hopefully one of those is non-alcoholic." Gaara said with a raised eyebrow. Everyone knew that he didn't care for alcohol.
"Relax, bro, I got you a water!" Kankuro said with a grin.
Gaara looked at the remaining glasses in his hand.
"Here, take yours! And this one!" He thrusts the two glasses into Gaara's hands.
"Okay…are they both water?!" Gaara asked incomprehensibly.
"No Gaara." Kankuro said as if he were speaking to a child, "This one in the regular glass is yours." He clinked it with one of his glasses for emphasis. "The other in the wine glass is for that girl over there." He walked over to the balcony and gestured with one of his wine glasses across the atrium up to the third floor.
Gaara couldn't believe his eyes. He'd know that pink hair anywhere, "What is she doing here?" He asked.
"I know! I couldn't believe it either! They must have gotten into the village a few days early before the grand opening." The grand opening of Lady Chiyo's Institute for Toxicology would be open for touring in three days. They had invited representatives from all nations. Candidates from each nation would be considered and providing that they had sponsorship from their villages, could attend.
Kankuro edged Gaara with his elbow, "Come on! Now's my chance! I've had the hots for her since the Chunin exams."
Gaara stopped suddenly, almost causing Kankuro to crash into him, "Sakura?" He said incredulously.
Kankuro laughed behind him, "Are you kidding me? Ino, of course! Didn't you see her in that red sequined dress? Man, what I wouldn't give to be the guy that that girl goes home with." Gaara closed his eyes and then let out a breath that he didn't know he had held and began walking again to the spiral staircase that would lead them up to the third floor.
He looked back up at the girls. Funny, he hadn't even noticed Ino when he looked up before. Now she was quite obviously present with her red dress.
As they walked up, Kankuro kept talking, "Remember, you are my wing man, ok?"
Gaara turned his head to yell over his shoulder so that his brother would hear him. "You never really explained what a wing man does!"
"Gaara, you are hopeless! Just make me look good. You know, talk about my good qualities!"
Gaara gave a slight nod and let Kankuro take the lead once they reached the landing.
Talk about his good qualities. Gaara kept repeating the phrase until they got to the table.
Kankuro reached the girl's table first. There were several guys around them but they all stepped back and seemed to lose interest when the two brothers arrived. Kankuro set one of his glasses down in front of Ino and said, "I noticed that you looked thirsty." He said in his deepest voice.
Ino looked down at the table where there was already 5 glasses full in front of her.
"Um, thanks, I guess." She replied.
Kankuro recognized his error and gave an embarrasses cough and elbowed Gaara. Gaara who was looking at Sakura while still holding his two glasses, said dryly, "Oh sorry, I got this one for you."
He set it down next to the three full glasses in front of her. Sakura laughed, "Hah Ino! I'm catching up to you!" She joked.
Ino stuck out her tongue at her friend and flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. Kankuro could only stare awestruck at the blonde goddess in front of him.
Meanwhile, Gaara asked Sakura politely, "Do you mind if we join you?"
Sakura laughed, "Not at all."
The brothers sat down. Kankuro flashed Gaara a big grin and again elbowed him in the ribs.
Gaara sighed. He knew that he would have a bruise there tomorrow. Okay wing man duties, he thought, think of his brother's good qualities.
Gaara looked over at Ino and said loudly, "Did you know that Kankuro is the captain of our armed forces here in the Sand?"
Ino who was leaning back in her seat, leaned forward across the table to hear what Gaara said over all the noise. This caused her bust to be pulled into the cleft of her low cut dress. Kankuro who was sitting next to her had the best vantage point, he groaned audibly, as he took in the sight.
Gaara mistook his brother's groan for one of dislike. I must have said the wrong thing, he thought. Name more good qualities, he thought.
"He's really good with puppets!" He yelled out. Sakura who was sitting next to Gaara and could hear him just fine, stifled a laugh.
Ino, however, still could not hear so this time she leaned against Kankuro and put her hand on his thigh. Kankuro shifted uncomfortably and let out another groan as Ino was practically in his lap so that she could hear what Gaara was saying in his low voice.
Again Gaara mistook Kankuro's audible discomfort. I'm really not doing a good job here, he thought. He looked up at his brother face and then had an Aha moment.
He leaned right towards Ino. His face barely inches away from hers and yelled, "He's really good with makeup!"
Kankuro's face went from pleasurable agony to total shock. Ino leaned back and started to laugh. Sakura, who had heard it all, was gasping for air. Kankuro's face had gone totally red.
Ino leaned back over to Kankuro and said in a flirtatious voice, "I bet I'm better than you are!"
Gaara looked back over to her and yelled quite seriously, "No he's really good. Better than anyone, girls included. In fact he used to raid Temari's cosmetics all the time!" He yelled back. This put Sakura into even more stitches. Kankuro put up his hand to stop Gaara.
"Hey bro, uh thanks! I got it from here!" He placed his elbow on the table and rested his head on it to stare fully at Ino and also to effectively block Gaara.
Gaara shrugged and turned to Sakura, "I was only trying to help." He said simply.
Sakura laughed and leaned forward towards Gaara. She put her hand on the top of his and said, "I think you did just fine."
Gaara looked down at her hand which rested lightly on his. He absently grabbed the glass next to him. All this yelling was giving him a dry throat and a headache. He brought the glass and realized too late that it was the wine that he had brought for Sakura and not the water he had for himself. He tasted the fiery liquid and started coughing as he felt it make its way down his throat. Sakura jumped up and started patting him on the back.
"Are you okay?" She asked in concern. Gaara tried to answer but some of the wine had also caught in his windpipe so all he could do was cough. His normal placid skin had taken on a somewhat rosy hue and he was already beginning to sweat.
Kankuro and Ino couldn't help but notice the commotion as well as other onlookers. Kankuro realized what must have happened and yelled over to Sakura, "He must have had the wine by accident. He just needs some air." Kankuro took one side of Gaara and Sakura the other. They started moving through the crowd and down the stairs. Ino went out in front to clear the way. As they were exiting the staircase onto the bottom of the floor, they were met by the club host again.
"No, no!" He shouted. "Go up to the fifth floor!" He pointed upwards to indicate what he was saying and mimed 5 with his hand.
Ino looked back at Kankuro questionably. Kankuro shrugged and motioned for Ino to continue to the door.
"Sorry!" Kankuro yelled, "Kazekage emergency! Nice club though!" As he moved by the stunned little man and made his way towards the door.
They emptied out into the crowded street. Gaara was still coughing and his flushed face was actually turning a bit blue. Sakura placed her hand on his chest and closed her eyes and whispered, "Breathe!"
Gaara's breathing instantly became more regular and his skin color became its normal shade of white.
Gaara looked up into Sakura's smiling face and said, "Thank you, Sakura." As he straightened up he realized that her hand was still on his chest. He looked down at it and then up to her.
Sakura blushed, "The material of this shirt is really nice." She said and then removed her hand quickly.
"You really think so." Gaara said with a tilt of his head, fingering his shirt. Then Kankuro elbowed him again and said "Told ya!" With a big grin.
"Well ladies what do we do now?" Kankuro asked as he raised his arms up in a big demonstration of a yawn before bringing his one arm around Ino's slender waist and pulling her towards him.
Ino giggled and patted his chest before managing to slip out of his embrace. She grabbed hold of his hand and said, "Come on! If we hurry we can crash Shikamaru's and Temari's date at the noodle place down the road.
Kankuro held fast which made her stop short, "Orrrr…we could go back into the club. Gaara has a golden ticket to the fifth floor. We may never get this chance again." He said.
Sakura took Gaara's hand to steer him past the two, "We vote for noodles!" She looked over at Gaara, "Okay with you?"
Gaara allowed himself to be dragged away, "Uh yeah. I'm really hungry!" He realized suddenly that he was really hungry and not just saying that to be polite.
Ino put her free hand on Kankuro's chest and looked up at him through her lashes. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "Come on! Imagine the look on your sister's face when we all sit down at her romantically planned dinner for two?"
Kankuro smiled at the thought. He did like the idea of getting under Temari's skin. "Come on! Let's beat Gaara and Sakura there!" He added playfully.
Sakura gave a petite snort, "Not in this dress and heels!" She said shaking her head. She gave a whoop of laughter though when Kankuro picked her suddenly and cradled her in his arms. He passed Gaara and Sakura with ease. He enjoyed the sound of Ino's laughter in his ears and as she held on tight.
"Hey no fair!" Sakura called out as they passed up her and Gaara.
Gaara watched them go dispassionately and then thought maybe Sakura would like to be carried. Before he could finish his thought, he felt Sakura lift him up and start to run.
He felt like laughing, it was so comical. He slid a floating sand barge beneath the two of them.
Sakura put him down and said, "Wow! You are heavier than you look!"
Gaara looked at her very seriously and said, "It's the sand."
Sakura couldn't help but laugh. Gaara actually felt his face lighten in an expression that he wasn't used to. Then he heard the sound of a hoarse chuckle. He realized, mildly incredulous, that he was laughing. Him, Gaara of the Sand, was laughing.
Sakura looked at him with the remnants of laughter still on her lips, "You really need to laugh more often Gaara. It makes you look, I don't know,…" She suddenly felt embarrassed. She wanted to say that he looked sexy but he was looking at her do intensely and the smile was slowly dying away. "Well it just looks good on you!" Was what she ended up saying instead.
He nodded and seemed satisfied. They jumped down from their floating sand barge right as Kankuro rounded the corner with Ino in his arms.
"No fair!" Kankuro yelled as he placed Ino back on her feet. Ino adjusted her dress and Sakura could tell that her friend looked flushed.
Ino shook her long blonde hair out of her face and peered into the small window of the noodle shop. "Well shall we go in?" She asked.
Kankuro opened the door for all of them as they entered the noodle shop. As it turned out they had indeed missed them by 15 minutes or so.
Ino turned and looked at the other three. "Well what do we do now?"
Sakura turned and looked at the others, "I vote that we stay here. I'm starving and it smells delicious."
Gaara agreed with Sakura, "Yes me too", he said simply.
Kankuro looked over at Ino, "I'm with you gorgeous, so whatever you want."
Ino pivoted around sending her long hair flailing to look at the hostess, "Looks like 4 for dinner please."
"Right this way!" She said with a smile.
::
Back in Bachi, the club manager was bowing profusely to a shadowed figure in the corner. There was only a tiny lamp lit on the other side of the room causing dancing shadows on the floor.
"I am so sorry! The Kazekage has left. I tried to get him up here. Several times in fact but he had his brother with him." The petite man made a face. "That Kankuro is so boarish! It's hard to believe that those two are blood related."
The shadowed man made no move towards the club manager.
"Well not all is lost. I needed to practice my new jutsu anyway." The shadowed man made a flick of his wrist. Shadows zoomed forward grabbing the man and holding him tight and then with a sudden crush of his hand, the shadows tighten, strangling the life out of him.
The shadowed man stood up and looked down at his hand, a wicked smile filled his face.
"Interesting! What a lovely little power to have."
::
Hello everyone! Hope you like the next installment. Don't forget to follow/fave or send a review. Thanks!
