They finally finished fixing their clothes and everything.
The only thing left to fix is…
Themselves.
"Does that mean we have to take a bath?" asked Kankuro.
Temari was in panic mode. "Of course we need to take a bath, but for you, it's alright… I mean, you're still a boy and all… but for me and Gaara, it's not okay at all!"
O-Gaara smirked. It was kind of weird to see, but Kankuro made Gaara look cute.
"Aw, c'mon big sis! What's the problem with my body! Were siblings right? That shouldn't mean anything to you! I mean, if it were Shikamaru's body, it would be a whole other matter… but that's my body you're in right now!"
Temari blushed hard, but answered back.
"It's not THIS body I'm worried about!" she shouted. Then suddenly, in a faint whisper she told Kankuro "It's Gaara's situation I'm worried about…"
They both glanced at Gaara who looked as if he was in deep thought. To tell the truth, Gaara was also in panic mode, but just didn't show it.
Whatever happens, I'm never gonna take a bath in this body, he thought.
His siblings stared at him for a moment, until they were caught.
"What?" he asked in the deadliest voice Temari could ever make.
Temari thought she looked weird doing that, while Kankuro was having the time of his life… mentally.
"So…" Kankuro muttered. "Who shall bathe first-
"YOU!"
Both of his siblings pointed at him. He was too shocked to speak.
"Fine, fine! Calm down already!" he complained. He clutched his towel and proceeded to his room.
Gaara didn't mind Kankuro, he was too worried to even glance up at him…
"Ne, Gaara…"
He turned around to see a blushing O-Kankuro, which made him look weird because of the combination of his purple face paint.
"You know it's me, Temari, right?" she asked.
"Hmph"
"I have an idea…" she whispered.
Gaara was more than happy to hear this. But nothing showed.
"Why not in taking a bath, don't remove my… your… bra and panty? That way you wouldn't… yeah…"
Gaara just stared at the blushing Temari.
What have I done to deserve this?, he thought. Then he remembered himself killing off a lot of people…
"Okay, so maybe that was too much…"
"Hey, you guys!" called Kankuro from his room. "Good news! I found Karasu! He was in my room all along!"
"That's not important now, Kankuro. Hurry up and take a bath already. We each need to have a turn, y'know."
"Fine."
Kankuro hurriedly went down the stairs, and ran to the bathroom.
He locked the door, and scanned the area.
Inside the bathroom were a tile floor, a toilet, sink, and shelves with soaps and shampoos on it. There was also one big mirror.
He looked carefully at the mirror. He saw Gaara, with his usual clothes on. He also saw a serious face.
Kankuro attempted to smile a childish smile, which made Gaara look like a little panda.
"Now that's the Gaara I have always wanted to see", he muttered.
Kankuro removed all his clothes and turned the knob of the shower, causing the hot water to flow throughout his entire body.
"Aaaah… Now that hit the spot."
He switched it off, and turned to get the soap on the top shelf. Suddenly, he noticed that he still had to stand on his toes to be able to reach the shelves.
After many attempts, he was finally able to get the soap.
He gently applied the soap on his body, and glanced at the mirror.
He saw his little brother.
Not the deadly scary one, but the fragile little brother Gaara always had been.
As he attempted to soap his back, he noticed that there was some kind of pain he felt. He gently touched his back, and felt the pain again. Kankuro was so curious about the source of pain, that he faced his back at the mirror and saw…
Scars.
Kankuro's eyes widened at what he saw.
"How can such a killer dude get these scars?" he asked himself.
Oh man…
"What kind of a big brother am I?"
He bowed down, closed his eyes, and thought of the reasons that could have caused these scars. But so far, he hasn't come up with one.
He was currently in a weak state, and was saddened because of the fact that he did not help his little brother when he was in need.
He grabbed unto the shampoo, and quickly put it on his hair.
One he was done, he turned the knob of the shower, and hot water started pouring down on him.
"What could have done this to him? Why, whoever did this would… would…"
He bowed down once again, and glanced up at the mirror beside him.
"Don't worry little brother", he told his reflection. "From now on, I would protect you with everything I've got!"
Since he was finished rinsing, we grab hold of the towel, wiped himself and covered his down part. He wiped away the sadness on his face, and replaced it with his usual smirk. And then he went out of the bathroom.
"Yo guys!" he shouted. "I'm done! Who's next?"
Gaara and Temari just stared at him.
"I'm going next!" said Temari. Then she looked at Gaara. "Just take my advice once it's your turn, okay?"
Gaara merely nodded.
Kankuro climbed up to his room, and so did Temari.
Once they came out, Temari was holding he towel, and Kankuro was wearing…
His usual clothes…
Which are too big for Gaara's body…
And made him look like a cute, little baby panda.
Temari couldn't help, but hugged him tightly.
"WTF?" shouted Kankuro.
"SQUEAL! Kankuro, you make Gaara look so cuuuute!"
"And you make me look so gay."
Temari sweatdropped, and quickly let go of him.
"HEHEHE… sorry, just got carried away."
Temari went back inside the room to prepare his brother's clothes, and Kankuro went downstairs to Gaara.
He sat beside him silently.
"Did you see it?"
Kankuro was startled by a serious, female voice. He turned his head to look at Gaara.
But instead he saw Temari. But there was something in her… that didn't belong in there.
"See what Gaara?"
"The scars."
Kankuro just stared blankly at his brother. Finally, he spoke up.
"Gaara, you should have called for help… from me."
"I wanted to, but even you can't do anything about it."
"What are you talking about? I'm Kankuro, the puppet master who-
"Listen to me. It was the fourth Kazekage who gave me the scars."
Kankuro stared at him in disbelief…
'That guy…' Kankuro thought dangerously. "What kind of Kazekage is he? He couldn't even dare treat his own son the right way! I mean, it's his fault Gaara has to live like a monster… It's his fault our beloved mother died… If only I could get back at him-
"You are staring at the flower"
Kankuro quickly snapped back into reality, and realized that he was indeed, staring at a flower.
"I… um… think that this particular flower is pretty!" he said, as he picked the wilted rose from the vase.
Gaara merely rolled his eyes, a certain rare expression coming from him. He was slightly embarrassed of how he looked if he had his older brother's personality.
"I'm ready to take a bath now!"
The brothers looked up at Temari, but they saw the O-Kankuro waving in a girly mode. The real Kankuro stuck out his tongue in disgust, while the O-Temari smirked inwardly.
Temari ran down the stairs and stopped right in front of the bathroom. She stood their for a full 20 seconds.
"Oi, Temari!" shouted Kankuro from the living room. "What's the hold up?"
The eldest among the siblings just stared at the bathroom, slowly breaking out cold sweat.
"I'm in a guy's body…" she thought nervously. "Don't lose your cool, Temari. You can do this!"
"Um, sorry about that guys! I was just thinking about something…"
"Something? Or someone?" said Kankuro in a teasing manner.
"Temari fumed. "Shut up, Bro!"
And she stormed off towards the bathroom.
She first hangs the towel, and then she glanced at the mirror in front of her. She saw Kankuro, with messy paint on his face, matching his messy brown hair.
"Hmm… I kind of forgot the appearance of Kankuro without his paint… I mean, I haven't seen his real face since he was 7 years old!"
She was so excited to see the face of his bro without the paint, and she hurriedly took off all his clothes… except for the briefs. Temari just didn't have the guts at all, because even if he's her brother, Kankuro is still a guy.
Once the clothes were removed, Temari turned the knob of the shower, and let the water come across her… his face. She was enjoying this a lot, well, just like any other girl. After 3 minutes of rinsing, she went to grab the soap… but something caught her eye…
She tried to look at the mirror for a while.
At first she was excited, but as soon as she saw the reflection, the excitement on her face was replaced by a horrified expression.
Temari saw the fourth Kazekage staring at her, through the mirror.
"Father…" she uttered under her breath.
It was as if his eldest son was an exact replica of him. She really never noticed, well, because the kabuki paints were covering him up so much.
"Is this the reason why he never shows his face to me and Gaara?" she asked herself.
After applying soap and shampoo, she took one last glance at the mirror. She still saw her father. She quickly rinsed her whole body… his whole body, and then wrapped his/her down part with a towel.
She took one last breath inside the bathroom, opened the door and-
"Temari!"
"Aaaah!" It was Kankuro, standing in front of her, all of a sudden.
"What are you doing in front of the C.R? Wasn't Gaara supposed to take his turn? Besides, your turn's done, bro!"
"Shhh!" whispered Kankuro. "Get back to the C.R., now!"
Her little brother pushed him in a way that she almost tripped. Both of them were now inside the bathroom.
Kankuro quickly locked the door.
"What the heck, little bro?" she asked.
All she got for a reply was his awkward way reaching down his pocket.
Man, Gaara would look so cute if only he acted like his older bro…
"Gotcha!"
Kankuro raised his hands and showed Temari a small can of purple paint, and a flat paintbrush.
"Oh…" was all she could say.
"Okay now sis, please stand still…"
Kankuro opened the can, and dipped hi paintbrush in it. He gently painted the O-Kankuro's face.
"Hey bro…"
"Yup?"
"Why do you wear paint so much?"
"…"
Kankuro just stood there. After a while, he wore a smile and said
"I like kabuki art!"
Temari just smiled back. She didn't want him to say anymore; maybe it would just break her heart…
"But, I'm also trying to hide myself you know… It's kind of hard to go around in public if you look like… the great Kazekage." He said in sarcastic mode.
Temari just agreed, and Kankuro continued painting. She glanced at the mirror for a while and saw…
Little Gaara trying to help his brother with the face paint.
The scene looked adorable, so adorable that she wanted to take a picture.
"Okay! All done."
Kankuro snatched the cap off his head and placed it on Temari's head.
Temari looked at the mirror and saw…
Kankuro.
He was, in no way, looking like his father anymore.
"Let's hurry up and leave, sis. Gaara's gonna take his turn soon."
They both went out of the bathroom in a hurried mode when-
"What were you guys doing?"
"Aaah!" screamed Temari and Kankuro in unison. Gaara was standing in front of the bathroom… for who knows when?
"Were you here… the whole time bro?" Kankuro asked.
"No, I just came."
"Oh."
"Well Gaara," said Temari. "Better get your towel now, and clothes too."
The siblings went up to their room, and Gaara started preparing Temari's clothes.
Temari grabbed hold of Kankuro, and she dragged him towards Gaara's room.
"Temari, what now?" he asked.
His elder sister merely opened Gaara's cabinet and pointed at it.
"Wear these"
"But it's too complicated! He puts on too much clothes and bling-bling!"
"Wear these"
"Fine."
Kankuro had no intention of wearing his little brother's clothes. But he had no choice, cause it was his sweet and loving sister who told him so.
Temari left the room, giving space for O-Gaara to change. She then knocked at the door of her own room.
"Gaara, are you ready to bathe now? Baki's gonna be here in a few minutes-
"I am ready."
Temari turned around, just in time to see herself holding a towel and wearing a bathrobe.
"Oh, I never was you there… anyway, you have to be ready in 20 minutes. Baki's coming."
The youngest among the siblings (who is currently the eldest) nodded hi head and proceeded to the bathroom. Once he stepped in, he locked the door, hang the towel, and removed the bathrobe. Under the robe was Temar's bra and panty, which caused Gaara to blush slightly.
"I have to end this soon", he thought.
He quickly turned the knob of the shower, and rinsed his new body. He wanted to rub his hair, but he realized that he forgot to remove the ponytails.
He removed the ponytails right away, and applied the shampoo. Once he was done with everything, he reached out to the towel (which was hung beside the mirror), and dried himself up.
Like his his siblings, he tried to glance up the mirror, and somehow saw a familiar face…
No, it wasn't Temari he saw, it was…
His mother.
True, Gaara never met his mother, but somehow, he knew how she looked: the gentle eyes, the kind smile, the soft hair… Temari looked as if she were their mother.
"But the ponytails ruin it all" , thougyhtGaara.
He quickly wrapped himself in his towel, but realizing that he wasn't male today, he had to use his sister's bathrobe.
He stepped out of the bathroom, and proceeded to Temar's bedroom.
Inside, Temari was looking at herself… himself… at the mirror.
"I look ugly", she said, puppy-eyed at Gaara.
"Do that and you'll be uglier"
Temari made a face, and started to get to work.
"Okay Gaa-kun, first, you'll need to dress upin my clothes."
The eldest among the Suna siblings was so eager to prepare Gaara for the vacation, because she thought it would be like playing dress-up using her body.
While the two were busy on top, Kankuro just tried to wear the gourd in an awkward manner.
"Stupid gourd… stupid sand…"
He then remembered that his Karasu needed some fixing.
"Hmmm, it would be a vacation", he thought. "But we'll never know, maybe we will need our weapons!"
Kankuro ran towards his bedroom, grabbed Karasu and dragged him to the living room. He then started fixing the puppet.
After a few minutes, he felt that Karasu was all fixed when…
*Knock knock knock*
"Baki's here!" he shouted. Both Temari and Gaara ran out of the elder sister's room, and tried to think straight.
"Kankuro, you open the door!" said Temari. "Just make sure you act as Gaara! And you, Gaara, would have to pose as me, got it?"
The youngest understood, but he did not have the guts to act like his sister.
"Okay Kankuro, let him in."
Kankuro slowly opened the door, and saw Baki.
"Ah, Gaara", he said. "Are you ready for your vacation?"
Kankuro would have said 'you bet I am!' but all that came out from his mouth was a faint
"Hmph."
Baki didn't suspect anything, and he tried to look for the other kids.
"Temari? Kankuro? Are you ready now?" he asked.
"Coming!" said O-Kankuro. He quickly came downstairs and greeted Baki.
"Good thing to know you're prepared" said their sensei. "Will you bring Karasu with you?"
Temari looked nervously at Baki, and then turned towards Kankuro's direction. He gave her a little nod, which meant she would have to bring the ugly puppet.
"Of course I would bring my most beloved puppet!" he said. "I just couldn't live without him, you know."
Baki nodded at him, and asked where Temari was.
'Right in front of you' was her answer but she said "Upstairs."
Then she shouted in Kankuro's usual playful voice.
"Ne, Temari! What's taking you so long? Too much make up to apply?"
She was hurt by what she said, but she also hoped Gaara would act along with the plan.
Suddenly, O-Temari showed her face from the upstairs. She looked so serious, but when she saw Baki…
She smiled and waved in a girly manner.
"Hi Baki-sensei!" Gaara shouted in a happy tone. Then at Temari, "Shut up Kankuro, you wear make up too, y'know!"
Both Kankuro and Temari was speechless.
""Excuse me…" said Kankuro. "I have to use the C.R."
He walked calmly and dangerously towards the bathroom, locked it, and laughed hysterically inside, but in a silent way.
Temari was just purely amazed.
"Why so shocked all of a sudden, bro?" asked Gaara. "I finally hit you with my words, hmm?"
Temari started to act all Kankuro like again.
"Shut up sis!" he shouted and then proceeded to wrap Karasu with some paper like thingy.
Kankuro finally came out of the bathroom and wore a deadly glare on his face. "I'm ready"
"Good" said Baki. "Bring your weapons, I'll take care of your bags."
They left the house, and finally started to walk towards the Suna gates. No one said a single word in the process.
After 10 minutes, they stood at their destination.
"This is where I'll leave you guys, okay?" said Baki. "You will continue on your own now."
With that he waved, and disappeared, ninja style.
That's when the siblings broke up the tension.
"Man, Gaara" said Kankuro. "I never knew you could imitate Temari's personality so easily!"
Temari was a little bit offended by this.
"But your personality is even easier to copy!" she shouted.
"Oh yeah?" asked Kankuro.
"Yeah!"
It was kind of ridiculous to physically see Kankuro and his little brother fight over each other's personality.
"This is going to be on, long, vacation" thought Gaara.