Hello, I'm not dead!

Updated becausee Lucy-chan updated! Hope you like this somewhat filler-ish chapter...

Tess

"Hey," Rini spoke up, her eyes suddenly alight with realisation. "You didn't tell me what happened to Gaara…"

Temari and Kankuro glanced at each other, smiling slightly; they were definitely proud of who their little brother had become, not what, but who. He was a lot more open now, and had been convinced that killing every person that looked at him the wrong way wasn't the best reason the live (it was now only every second person). Temari was now curious as to whether Rini still had a crush on the youngest sibling, while Kankuro as formulating the best reply. Kankuro, however, wasn't one to mince words.

"He's the Kazekage," was the reply from the middle child.

Rini blinked, she'd heard that there was a new Kazekage, and that he was the youngest ever, but she hadn't known his name. She smiled happily.

"Is he enjoying it?" she asked.

"Well, other than the paperwork," Temari laughed. "Yeah; and the villagers aren't so afraid of him anymore."

"I'm glad," Rini murmured. "I take it you three are getting along better then?"

"Hai," the female sibling replied.

Rini wasn't surprised that her friend didn't elaborate, and she didn't push it. She was curious, however, as to how he'd gotten the Kazekage position; logically, someone from outside the shinobi world would think that he inherited it from his father, but the Kage positions weren't given like that, so there had to be a good reason… and considering that most of the villagers- no, all the villagers, were either afraid of him, or simply hated him, it had to be a pretty damn good reason.

"So… is he dating someone?" she asked curiously.

Temari giggled at this; "What, does someone still have a crush on my otouto?"

"You had slash have a crush on Gaara?" Kankuro asked, barely stifling laughter.

Rini flushed and ducked her head, causing whoops of laughter and teasing from the Siblings. Rini created a few feathers with a single seal and stabbed Kankuro with them, he jumped at the sensation.

"I thought medic's vowed to cause no pain," he muttered.

"Are you in pain?" she asked tartly.

"No…"

"Numbing jutsu, basic stuff."

Kankuro grumbled and pulled the offending feathers from his arm, glaring half-heartedly at the currently innocent looking almost-fifteen-year-old.

"No, I don't," Rini looked at Temari seriously as she spoke.

"Hey, Rin," Temari asked. "Would you like to come back to our place for a while; you can reacquaint yourself with Suna… and my otouto."

"Oh shut up," Rini grumbled. "Yes, I'd like that. And no, I don't have a freakin' crush, got it, fan-girl?"

Temari looked horribly offended at that last comment, and Rini blinked, noticing for the first time the other way her words could be interpreted. She didn't bother to make her meaning clear.

'Hey, Hoshiko?'

'Brat?'

'Oh for the love of… will you stop that? It's been nearly seven years for Kami-sama's sake!'

'You'll always be my brat,' Hoshiko's voice took on a slightly affectionate tone as she fluttered down to land on the back of the remaining chair.

The result was predictable and belated. Temari and Kankuro gaped for a moment at the brilliantly coloured phoenix now preening herself in front of them, then looked at Rini, who didn't seem at all surprised by the beautiful, flame-coloured plumage.

"Uh… Rini?" Temari asked warily. "Is that Hoshiko?"

"Yep," the blue-haired girl nodded.

"But… wasn't she a gyrfalcon?" Kankuro's question was met with silence, before…

"Yeah…"

The two Jounin stared at the slightly miffed bird.

'Hoshiko, can you tell Otou-san that I'll be back at some time around sunset, unless he wants me back earlier?' the Hikari asked, her eyes glazed white.

'I guess… you owe me though.'

'Don't I always?'

The bird took off gracefully, her wing cuffing Rini's head. Rini glared after her, but then smiled and shook her head.

"Does anyone else feel like they're having déjà vu?" Rini asked, cocking her head.

Temari couldn't help but agree, and Kankuro soon gave confirmation.

"Rin… about Hoshiko… how is she… what is she?" Temari asked hesitantly.

"She's a phoenix," Rini replied. "As to how… I'm not really that sure… she just turned up one afternoon looking like that… She didn't tell me why or how."

"Are there any side affects?" Temari questioned. "I mean, you're connected… right?"

Rini's lips curved into a teasing smile.

"I take it that means yes?" Temari sighed.

Rini continued to smile.

Kankuro stood up. "We should get going…"

"Yeah…" Rini agreed, following Temari as she copied Kankuro.

They walked down the main street together, Kankuro walking a little ahead of the two girls, who were silently enjoying the other's company. Rini was glad beyond reason that Temari didn't hate her, she'd been worried, but it seemed that it really was true that the worry is worse than the event…

Rini grinned suddenly, pressed a finger to her lips as she looked at Temari, then silently dashed forwards. Kankuro stumbled as she latched onto his back, giggling. The puppeteer groaned, then hoisted her higher on his back and continued walking. Temari laughed and ran forwards so she was walking abreast of the duo. Rini was now trying to get down, and not succeeding. Kankuro had a slightly smug smirk on his face, and was pointedly ignoring the blunette's annoyed voice.

After a few minutes, she gave up, and relaxed a little, watching the shadows on the sand, and feeling the hot, dry wind on her skin again, and revelling in the warmth of the desert sun. She definitely loved Suna; she'd enjoyed living in the forest village, but Suna was her home, she knew that. She'd tried dancing in the forest, but the leaves under her feet hadn't felt the same as the hot sand, and the cool breeze hadn't been the same as the hot, dry wind of the desert.

She rested her chin on the top of Kankuro's head, and was glad that the other citizens had abandoned the heat of the mid-day sun for their cooler houses, leaving the trio to enjoy their walk without having to be formal. She smiled at the sandy, boy-ish scent his hair had, and remembered she was still wearing his hat. She made a mental note to buy one like it.

Her eyes widened as she took in the enormous Kazekage mansion. She'd been there before, sure, but not in years, and it seemed bloody huge. Temari stopped beside them at the gate, pressing her palm against the lock. Rini sensed a small flux of chakra, and the gate swung inwards. She looked curiously at the eldest sibling.

"Chakra recognition," she shrugged. "We'll program yours in sooner or later. It keeps the fangirls out."

"Fangirls?" Rini asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Since Gaara became Kazekage girls suddenly decided he was the hottest thing in town," Kankuro told her, walking inside and waiting for the gate to close. "I don't know why, I'm older, and more charming, and more handsome."

"And more modest," Temari teased.

Kankuro grinned a little, and let Rini slide down his back. She landed carefully in the sand, and found her balance quickly. Then she spun around, her hands thrown up and laughing. Temari and Kankuro watched in worry, had she gone loco from the heat? The youngest girl spun quickly, her feet leaving patterns in the sand. She stopped, and barely stumbled, surprising the siblings.

"How'd you do that without getting dizzy?" Kankuro asked, looking dizzy from just watching.

"Spotting, or you can use chakra," she shrugged. "I spot."

She explained spotting as they walked through the courtyard and to the door. Suddenly, Rini stopped, and turned around. A bird fluttered around her, chirping excitedly, obviously happy to have found its target. Rini held out a hand, and focused on the bird; luckily, it was one of her family's messenger birds, so she didn't have to wait long to connect.

She frowned, and her eyes glazed white. Temari had stopped where she was opening the door, and Kankuro was standing with one hand held out towards her, looking a little worried.

"Damn," Rini muttered. "I have to go… there's been a problem… gotta go…"

"Aw, damn," Temari sighed. "Is it urgent?"

"This is our fastest messenger, I'd say so," the blunette replied. "I'm so sorry, but I really have to go… This'll have to wait…"

"It's okay," Temari shrugged. "See you another time?"

Rini ignored the frustration, and nodded, turning to the gate, which was swinging open. She looked at Kankuro, who was lowering a hand, his fingers extended like a spider or some sort of insect. She blinked and smiled thankfully, running down the courtyard she'd only just entered. She pulled out a tiny scroll, bit her thumb, and opened it. Smoke exploded around her, and the messenger bird, once big enough to sit in her palm, was big enough to ride. She swung a leg over it's neck, tucking her legs under the wing joints to stay on.

"I'll see you another day!" she called as she took off.

The siblings stared at the retreating bird, slightly surprised.

"Well… she's definitely still full of surprises," Temari said after a while, the door swinging open.

"No shit…"

There was silence... then...

"Hey… She's still got my hat!"

I wasn't really happy with this, but I hope you enjoyed! Review if you did! Oh, please, spare two minutes to tell me your favourite part, or point out a mistake, please?

Tess