Chapter two

Gaara glares at the ceiling, as though it's personally responsible for his current situation, who ever said sea sickness wore off had obviously never experienced it. The boat lurches again and he groans, rolling over in a rather feeble attempt at getting comfortable. The cabin's small, and like the rest of the ship virtually everything is made of wood, the furniture is sparse, two beds and wardrobe and a bedside table. This would have been fine, if it weren't for the fact that, due to the ship being relatively small, he was currently having to share a room. No, scratch that… Sharing would have been fine; if only it weren't Kankuro he's sharing with! Speaking of Kankuro, Gaara sighs, glancing up at the rooms other resident.

"What are you doing?" Gaara asks, cocking his head in confusion at his brother, who appears to be half way through getting up, at least that's the best explanation he can come up with as for why the older boy is currently standing, shirtless, his back to him, in the middle of the room. Kankuro jumps turning to face him.

"Looking" he replies distractedly, almost instantly going back to staring blankly at the half of the room he's currently inhabiting. Gaara sighs

"Looking for what?"

He doesn't reply, Gaara resists the urge to throw something at him "honestly, why him... why HIM? it could have been any one, but no I have to share with him!". Deep down he knows he doesn't really mind his brother, in fact, if he had to name the person he was closest too his siblings would come top, unfortunately that doesn't stop Kankuro driving him up the wall.

"Kankuro?" he snaps his voice low

"What?" he replies pulling his suitcase out from under the bed and beginning to rummage through it, spewing the contents across the floor.

"What are you- oh never mind" he grumbles, deciding he doesn't really care; besides there's more pressing question at hand…

"Is there any particular reason you're shirtless?" He asks, frowning disapprovingly at his brother.

"You can't talk, you're not even out of bed yet!" his voice rises indignantly, but he still doesn't bother to look around. Gaara sighs staring in something like dismay and the mess emanating around his brother.

"What are you actually looking for? And do you really need to make such big mess?"

Kankuro ignores him, instead punching the air victoriously and pulling a small tub of face paint out of his suit case, "seriously… He spread the entire contents of his suitcase across the floor for face paint? Ergh, no wonder his rooms such a death trap"

"I am not clearing that up!" Gaara growls irritably at his brother

"Fuck sake Gaara, you sound like Temari!" Gaara winces as his brother raises his voice, a mixture of irritation and guilt washing over him, he turns away, pulling the cover up over him,

"Sorry" he mutters staring miserably at the wall, he knows he's overreacting, he also knows it's rather stupid but really, he hates arguing with his brother under normal circumstances, let alone when he's feeling like hell.

"Aww c'mon Gaara, don't sulk just cuz I snapped at you"

"I'm not sulking" he replies his voice muffled by the blankets pulled up around his chin, there's a rustle of cloth and the sound of Kankuro's feet. Gaara turns slightly watching his brother, who seems to have found a shirt from somewhere, pad towards him, his un-brushed hair sticking up in odd directions and his face pain half finished. He plops down heavily next to Gaara, making the bed jolt.

"Gaara, look, I'm sorry I snapped at you ok?" Gaara cringes at the concern on his brothers face and sighs, sitting up and rubbing a hand through his hair "this is dumb, what am I even upset about?" he mentally sighs glancing up at his brother, who surprisingly looks concerned, although not very sorry "makes sense really, since he didn't ACTUALLY do anything"

"No you're not" he laughs shaking his head at his own stupidity Kankuro blinks at him, and grins

"Yeah, you're right; I'm not" the usual teasing returning to his tone, "seriously, though I didn't mean to upset you"

Gaara glances up at him smiling slightly "I know, it's fine, you didn't I'm just in an awful mood that's all"

Kankuro grins mischievously and ruffles Gaara's hair, "I take it back, I take all back I hate you so much right now" he jumps up grabbing his brothers arm and twisting it into arm lock, not that that's particularly effective against a shinobi of Kankuro's level but still; Kankuro throws him off easily, Gaara darts up using his sand to grab his brother grinning evilly at him "I might be the kage but I can still mess around when I want to, besides I'm sure no one will mind as long as I don't hurt him too badly"