Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Naruto. I have only made up a few in this story; the rest goes credit to Masashi Kishimoto. Well, I hope you enjoy.
Author's Note: Reviews would be nice, whether to tell me it's good, or to tell me how I should improve. I'm an aspiring writer, so all-constructive criticism would help. I need at least five reviews before I post my next chapter to be sure people are actually reading it.
My Thanks: I would like to thank my parents for encouraging me to write although they can be very infuriating. Also, I'd like to thank my little brother for giving me some of the ideas for the siblings when they fight. We fight like that all the time, me usually on top. Shade (I won't give out her real name), my best friend, she always reads my stories and helps me write, often pointing out my stupid spelling mistakes. And last, my ex-boyfriend. If he hadn't have hurt me the way he did I would not be able to think of such a sad plot. Once again, I hope you all enjoy my story.
A few rays of sunlight filtered into the dark room through the closed blinds, illuminating a few patches of carpet and pieces of furniture here and there. One ray fell upon the boy inhabiting the room's face. He screwed his eyes shut against the harsh ray of light that had so rudely awaken him from his slumber, trying to return back to the Land of Dreams. "Kankuro! Why aren't you up yet?" Came a loud booming voice from the kitchen, "You're going to be late for school! What are you doing up there?" Kankuro's eyes snapped open, immediately squinting against the light. "Oh, crap…" He muttered, quickly throwing the clean white sheets off his body and jumping out of bed. "Uh…uh…just a second!" He shouted, digging through his drawers for clothes to wear that day.
"What are you doing that's taking so long?" The booming voice asked again, sounding more annoyed by the second.
"Dad, I'm…uh…" Kankuro stammered, searching his room for an excuse. His dark green eyes rested on a small black comb lying on his black marble bathroom counter. "I'm…combing my hair!" He lied, ignoring the laughing coming from the kitchen.
"Wow, that's a first!" Came the stinging insult from his sister, Temari.
"Shut up, Temari!' He snapped, "I'll be down in a minute!" Kankuro pulled a pair of black jeans out of one drawer and a black shirt out of another. He pulled on his jeans and walked to the bathroom, tugging the shirt over his head. Looking in the mirror, he noticed that the shirt he was wearing was too small to be his own. It nearly showed his midrift, and it was a so tight that he thought that if he moved the seams would surely rip, but that was just an exaggeration his mind had come up with. He then realized that the shirt he had so carelessly thrown on was his brother's. He didn't recognize the design on the front. He let out an exasperated sigh as he dug in his drawers again for another shirt and then quickly changing into it, checking to make sure it was one of his own first. He walked back to the mirror for a quick mirror-check. That'll do. He thought, running his pale fingers through his light brown, almost blond hair. He dashed out the door, stopping just long enough to straighten one of the many puppets on his shelf, and then continuing down the stairs to the kitchen. "Haha, you take that long to comb your hair and it looks no different." Temari teased as Kankuro walked into the kitchen.
"I don't care about your opinion." He replied bitterly.
"I know you don't, that's why I was just saying---"
"Will you two stop fighting?" Their father shouted over their argument, "Kankuro, you eat. Temari, stop harassing your brother."
"Yes sir." They both replied in unison. Kankuro stared hungrily at the food his father had prepared, his stomach making a loud growling noise as the delicious scents filled his nose. He sat down in one of the empty chairs around the wooden table, grabbed a bagel, butter and a butter knife, and a piece of bacon and began to eat as if he hadn't had food in years. Temari stared in disgust as she watched him gorge himself. She sighed and pushed her blonde bangs out of her face. "I'm going upstairs, call me down when we start to leave." Without waiting for a reply, she pushed herself away from the table and started up the stairs. Gaara, who had been silent the whole time, nodded and added, "Same with me." And then followed Temari. Kankuro looked up at his father who was reading the newspaper and occasionally taking a sip of his coffee. Dark and bitter, that's the way men drink their coffee. He had heard his father say this many times when he was a kid, and remembered all too well how it tasted when he tried to show his father he was grown up by drinking coffee, but the instant the bitter brown liquid touched his lips, he spit it out, not proving anything to his father, and giving him a good laugh. Kankuro took a bite of his bagel, the bitter coffee taste lingering in his mouth. He scanned over the articles in the newspaper. Nothing of particular interest. Big Win Today, Teenager Hospitalized from DUI. He tried to look around the paper to see what had his father so interested, but gave up, realizing what time it was. He crammed the rest of the bagel in his mouth, swallowing painfully, and left the table. His father looked up briefly to see Kankuro running up the stairs. "We're leaving in five minutes. Don't take as long to pack your things as you took to fix your hair." He teased. Kankuro rolled his eyes. Shut up, dad. He thought, wishing so desperately to say it out loud, but he knew what the consequences would be. He entered his room and grabbed his black bag, cramming the binders and books on his desk into it. Temari popped her head into the room and smirked. "Oh, Kankuro, Brother Dearest, you seem to have forgotten something in your panic to be on time." She taunted, holding up a worn and bent up black notebook. Kankuro turned in time to catch a glimpse of his notebook as Temari left the room, laughing insanely. He let out an annoyed sigh, slinging his bag over one shoulder and following after his sister. Temari, upon hearing footsteps behind her, broke into a run, turning a sharp corner and running down the stairs, the notebook still in hand. Kankuro dropped his bag and chased after her, tackling her at the bottom of the stairs. Temari yelped in pain as she fell to the ground, Kankuro on top of her. "Get off of me, baka!" She shouted, struggling under his weight. Kankuro smiled triumphantly, reaching over and pulling his notebook out of Temari's grip. She struggled more, kicking and thrashing, trying to knock him off of her. "Kankuro, get off! I'm serious!" She growled. Kankuro laughed, but stayed where he was. "Hmm…" He said, inspecting his notebook. "It's bent."
"You dope, it's always been like that!" She screamed. She looked up as their father entered the room. "Dad!" She said in her whiniest voice. "Tell Kankuro to get off! He's breaking my spine!"
"Aw, c'mon, Temari. I'm not that heavy." Kankuro said, faking the hurt tone in his voice.
"Kankuro, get off her." His father ordered. "Are you two ready, and where's Gaara?"
"I'm right here." Gaara had been watching the whole thing silently, like he always did. He spoke up only when someone wanted to speak with him. Kankuro stood up and dusted himself off. "Oh, good God, Kankuro!" Temari gasped. "You were crushing my lungs!" She stood up and pushed a few strands of blonde hair out of her face, and then picked up her lavender messenger bag. "Well, I'm ready."
"Same here." Gaara added, walking down the stairs with his tan one-strapped backpack on his back. Kankuro sighed noisily. "Give me a second, I'll get my bag." He reluctantly started up the stairs, grabbing his black bag and coming back down again. "Remember, we still have to pick up Shikamaru. You'll have to explain why we're late." Temari pointed out.
"Yeah, I know, but Shikamaru will understand. He's my friend after all." Kankuro replied matter-of-factly.
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