Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto or any other items in popular (or otherwise) culture mentioned.

Note: I promise, I will avoid the cliché of the 'new-wardrobe-new-person-everyone-happy.' While this story does involve stereotypical roles and attitudes, no one's gonna change. They're just gonna find things out about themselves that they never acknowledged before.

Note the Second: I googled Gus fink, and right before I was about to sleep. Do I regret it? Only a little ;)

….

Ever since the day in the museum, Ino couldn't help but think that the stakes had shifted a little bit. It wasn't anything dramatic – she and Gaara weren't best friends or anything – but she liked to think that the vibes of killer intent were toned down just a little bit.

That or Gaara had gotten his happy pills back. Either way, she wasn't complaining. He no longer quite grew fangs when she craned her neck to see what he was drawing – she considered that a plus.

But today, Gaara wasn't her concern. Today, Ino was at the mall with her brother – today was an escape.

Deidara was essentially her, in male form. His features were a little darker, but his blond hair was pulled back into a kind of ponytail and a fringe hung over his one eye. He was slight, like her, but tall, like their father – but, unlike any male in his family, he wore eyeliner (which Ino didn't quite mind, he could at least work it) and a black trench with red cloud designs (which Ino was kind of jealous of.)

She and Deidara were sitting in the food court, he eating pizza and she picking at the sesame chicken in front of her. She wasn't in the best of moods, though she tried not to make it obvious. Today was the first time she'd seen her brother in a while; she wanted it to be a good one.

Deidara must've picked up on something. "What's going on, hm? You're acting all…mopey. Don't tell me it's that time of the month."

Ino looked up from her food and threw a half-hearted scowl in her brother's direction. "Last week, sorry."

"Well, I hope it's not a boy. I'm a scrawny artist, hm. I can't go around beating up the jock type you seem to go for." He grinned and poked her with a plastic fork.

Ino rolled her eyes. "Remind me again why I tolerate your presence?"

If anything, he grinned. "Because I am your big brother and I give you an excuse to get out of the house. How is it there, anyway, hm?"

Ino shrugged. "Meh. You know how it goes."

"It's worse, isn't it."

There was no sense in denying it. "Yup."

"They have got to get their fucking act together. It's not right, hm," he snarled. While Ino had a feud with her mother, there was a solid wall of dislike between Deidara and both of his parents – something about throwing his life away with going to art school (and probably wearing eyeliner, because of course it's every father's dream to see his eldest son in makeup). There was more, Ino knew – but her parents didn't talk about it and she knew that Deidara was sparing her the gory details.

Ino shrugged again. "Less than two years and I'm outta there."

"The fact that you have that mentality says something, hm. You shouldn't have to deal with it."

Ino could kick herself. It was better not to get Dei started on the family baggage – even though (the way Ino looked at it, at least) their parents weren't falling down drunks nor did they have a hobby of beating the crap out of their children – which were major plusses.

They just had to get their fucking act together.

Ino shrugged again. "Look, I didn't suffer a solid fifteen minutes of mom's ranting to come here and angst about how much parents suck. How's school?"

Deidara was quiet for a minute, and looked like he might want to say something; but he shut his mouth and said, "It's good. Kinda cool, actually. I'm taking this course, hm, and –"

Being Deidara's little sister, Ino could follow along, and his words actually meant something to her. But, not being an art major, nor overly interested in making her own art, the concepts were abstract, and when he started getting into symbolism and 'breaking the laws of physics with pictures,' he began to lose her.

"Party hard?" she asked him a little too innocently when he was done.

"The hardest," he said with a grin. "How about you, hm? What's going on in the life in Ino?"

"Oh, you know," Ino said. As she spoke, she caught something out of the corner of her eye.

Actually, it was quite a few somethings.

Firstly, she saw Gaara among a group of Goths.

Then, walking by that group of Goths, she saw Karin, Sasuke, Jugo, and…

Fuck.

Sai and her? In the same place? Really?

The gods were against her. She was sure of that now. Before Deidara could notice her pause, (he'd probably just assume that she was ogling at an attractive male anyway) she deadpanned, "The usual. Smoking meth and worshipping Satan, occasionally engaging in necrophilia."

Deidara grinned. "Living up to your legacy, hm. I approve."

"As you should." Ino grinned.

"Watch yourself, hm," Deidara said. "Or I may decide not to get you that CD you've been waiting for."

"Yes, master," Ino quipped.

She promptly dodged the plastic fork that was thrown her way.

x.x.x

Ino was currently in the music store. Deidara was looking into some of that hipster or new age or whatever artists listened to these days and she was making a beeline for the new arrivals. For just yesterday, the album Aces was released to the masses.

Normally Ino would just download it, but this was special. This was something that she wanted tangible of – her mother didn't understand it, and neither did most of her friends, but Deidara sort of got it.

Spades was probably one of her favorite bands. Sure, she liked the poppy stuff that everyone liked, but there was so much more than that. Some of her friends got it, but others…

They'd ostracize me if they ever found my iPod, Ino thought cynically.

Such was the blessing of having an older brother who went through many, many phases like the artist he was – she was cultured as far as music went, to an extent, and knew everything from KISS to Motely Crüe to Bowie to stuff actually made in her generation – even if she'd never understand where the appeal was with Smashing Pumpkins.

She was admiring the album artwork when someone not quite three yards away spoke.

"You know, its people like that that make me not like music."

It was one of those comments that were spoke at you. Ino immediately bristled and shifted so she could look this guy in the eye and very possibly rip him a new one.

The speaker was a lanky teen with dead black hair and a lip ring. He was speaking to his companion, regarding her with obvious disdain. "People freakin' pollute good sound. Goddamn teenyboppers."

"Excuse me?" Ino said, venom dripping from her words. She turned to fully face the boy, arms crossed, album in hand. "Were you speaking to me?"

The boy sneered. "And what if I was, princess?"

"Give me a break. You really think that?"

"Never said otherwise," the boy said, taking a step forward.

Ino refused to be quelled. "You stupid anti-mainstream-hipster-punk-Goths think you know everything because you listen to Alien Sex Fiend and avoid the radio and hate things once it becomes relatively popular. Newsflash, it's freaking annoying. So knock off the holier than thou attitude and people might actually respect you, kay?"

The boy was absolutely seething now, and Ino finally paid attention to the boy standing beside him.

I am so dead.

The boy who she had just told off was standing next to none other than Gaara.

His face was blank as ever – Ino didn't know if that was really good, or really bad. He said nothing to his friend or her, so Ino paid him no mind.

"You wanna make something of this, Blondie?"

"Not particularly. I want to go home and listen to my CD. Tootles. Oh, hi, Gaara." She grinned in a way that she'd know would piss the boy off – not only had she gotten the last word, but she'd said hello to his companion – score one.

She turned and stalked to the checkout counter, hearing the boy say, "You know that psycho?"

Gaara must've known that the fate of his nether regions depended on his response, because he only hned in reply.

In a way, she could see where the kid was coming from – it was kind of annoying when you had a thing, and then other people started to encroach onto your thing – she got that. But really? Spades was a relatively unknown band – two EPs and an album released.

Untouched by the masses, she mused.

But the Rocker Guy With a Giant Stick Shoved Up His Ass and Gaara left her mind as she found her brother and left the store.

x.x.x

"They're checking you out."

"Of course they are; I'm the only thing with a dick in this store, hm."

"Go say hi."

"Bite me."

"Mark the spot."

"Get real, hm – ow ow bastard!"

"Warned ya," Ino said with a grin. Deidara made a face at his arm, and she flicked him on the nose. "Now, should I get her the bracelet or the necklace?"

They were in the jewelry store – Ino was looking for a Christmas gift for Sakura. The store was on the lower side of the high-end spectrum, but there was a huge holiday blowout sale – one Ino wasn't about to miss.

Deidara inspected the necklace in question. It was a silver chain with a silver g-cleft pendant; Sakura must be into music, he mused, because the bracelet had a flute charm on it.

"The bracelet's cool, I guess, but charm bracelets are getting old. Go for the necklace – it's classier," he said.

Ino took another moment to scrutinize the jewelry, then nodded. "Yeah – I think Naruto already got her a bracelet anyway."

And so the purchase was made. As they exited the store, Deidara caught sight of an art supply outlet and proceeded to squeal (or, the closest thing Ino had ever heard a guy coming to squeal) like a crazed fangirl.

Naturally, he dragged her inside.

Here Deidara was truly in his element. He ran straight for the sculpting section, and with a small smile and a shake of her head, Ino went to follow him.

She was virtually unmolested until she rounded a corner and collided with something and dropped her possessions.

Or, someone.

More specifically, Gaara.

The day's earlier encounter slipped to the front of her mind, and for a second, Ino felt a little embarrassed; then she realized that she had just completely knocked into Gaara and was embarrassed.

"Sorry," she told him with a sheepish grin. "Didn't, ah, see you there."

Please don't kill me. Screw the toning down of the 'don't fuck with me' vibes. This was Gaara, and she had run into him.

And dropped all my things.

She knelt down to pick them up – Gaara knelt down too, to help her – and she gathered her things.

"Thanks," Ino said, taking the bag Gaara offered. She noticed that he was still holding one thing – the CD.

"Don't tell me you're going to give me shit, too," Ino muttered, narrowing her eyes.

Gaara's face was blank as ever – well, it sure looked it – but Ino swore that amusement (amusement!) flickered in his eyes. "Not…everyone shares his opinions."

"Well that's reassuring," Ino quipped.

He still didn't make to offer her the CD. "In fact, some would be pleased that he was put in his place."

The words by someone like you weren't said, but Ino could tell that they were there. "Well, anytime. I don't mind yelling at asshats who deserve it." She grinned. Gaara wasn't going to go berserker on her, and if she was correct, he had just congratulated her on biting a kid's head off.

Score two for Ino.

Gaara was looking at her, and he still didn't offer her the goddamn CD. "This is an interesting band."

Ino shrugged. "That's why I like it."

"I wouldn't pin you for the type to like them."

"Yea, well," Ino said, but – oh, no.

Over Gaara's shoulder, she caught sight of Sai and her. She didn't think they noticed her, yet, but still…

I need to make a break for it. Now.

"Just 'cause I don't dress like I belong in a hair metal band doesn't mean I don't like to rock out." The words came out in a rush, unfiltered and, surprisingly, true. Ino took the album from Gaara – he'd finally held it out to her - and stood.

"I'll see you later. Gotta go!"

She was halfway down the isle – and safely out of their sight – when Gaara said, "Ino."

She turned, eyebrow raised. What could he possibly want to say?

"Let me know how you like the album."

A smirk crossed Ino's features. "Yes, sir!" she said, just a little mockingly.

And even though she was technically hiding from two people she hated, she did it with a lopsided gin and her head held high.

x.x.x

And, a note to n00bs:

If anyone takes offense to the jabs at stereotypes, I suggest ChillPills. Because, honestly, it's a joke. And because this is the internet, people give you crap for dumb stuff.

No, I am not an ignorant prick pointing out how (insert subculture here) acts. I am poking fun at the worse behaviors/beliefs held by some people who appreciate good music and don't like it when other subcultures start to encroach upon their own.

If you haven't met somebody like that, then be grateful…-.-"

Hm. Hoped I did that okay, as far as the Ino/Gaara bonding.

But, in other news, let me know whatchya think. :D