Chap 10

On their way back, Sakura had stopped across the street and stared wide eyed at some customers in Ichiraku. Aru just looked confused at the strangers. They didn't look like Leaf nin, but then again, neither did she. Sakura ran across the street screaming what Aru supposed were the nins' names. She sighed and turned her back to look a small book rack in front of her. She skimmed through a few until she found one. It was an untitled account on different theories of the meaning of life. Aru smiled sadly while skimming through it. She had often wondered her own purpose and had yet to find one. Maybe this book would help her. She closed the book lightly and looked at the price. As she counted out the equivalent in Snow money and was about to hand the old woman her payment, the small figure smiled and held up a hand.

"Many people have often wondered their purpose, my dear. You are the first to have the courage to pick up this journal and admit to not yet having your own." The elderly woman smirked in a sort of masculine way. "Keep it. It is yours." Aru smiled softly and bowed in thanks to the woman. She turned around to see her sister signaling her over to the other side of the street. Aru shyly walked over there. She was a bit nervous. She hadn't really been properly introduced to any of the shinobi she crossed paths with so far. She prayed to Kami she wouldn't make a fool of herself. She came face to face with three ninja who looked like they were related. She gave herself a mental pat on the back for her guess before when looking at their steel-plated headbands. Sand nin. The one kunoichi had honey blonde hair in four spikey pig tails and a large fan on her back. The shinobi sitting to her right had purple markings on his face and a black hood over his head with points that made him look like he had ears. And last but not least, was the mysterious rust haired boy. He had cool, jade-green eyes and a gourd on his back. He looked Aru up and down. But not in the pervy way she had been experiencing more and more frequently, he was just examining her. Sakura brought Aru out of her short analyzations.

"This is Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara. Everyone this is my baby sister, Arunanda Haruno. Aru, these are my friends from..."

"Wind Country." Aru finished. "I noticed. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who's not from around here."

Before Aru realized it, she was being hugged to death by the blonde, Temari.

"I didn't know Sakura-chan had a sister! It's soooooo nice to meet you!"

The boy with face paint stood up with his arms wide open, approaching the embraced girl.

"Yes! I think we should all join into this hug. Wouldn't that be nice. Come here you sexy thing you!" But before Kankuro could reach them, Sakura kicked him swiftly in his side, sending the poor boy skidding across the dirt. Aru was about to go tend to him when a cold grip grabbed her wrist. She whirled around to see those cool jade eyes with the black wrings around them.

"Don't. It's probably the best for him. Besides, he can take care of himself." Gaara released the Snow kunoichi's wrist. "Sit." He pointed towards the stool to his left. Aru complied. Temari sat down with Sakura in the place where Kankuro had been. The Sand kunoichi smiled widely at Aru to which she smiled back. Temari squeeled and Aru giggled, confused.

Sakura rose an eyebrow, "What's up with you?"

Temari just smiled wider, "Your sister's just so cute!"

Aru saw a bowl of ramen placed infront of her. Just as she was about to protest, she was interupted.

"Don't." Gaara said cooly. Aru turned to him. "I sensed the demon inside of you. People like us should stick together, kind of like me and Naruto." He smirked at the Snow kunoichi. "Consider this a gift."

Aru smiled her warmest smile, "Arigato, Gaara-kun."

Sakura gasped, "No Aru! You can't call him that, he has a thing about..." Gaara cut the pink-haired girl off. "It's alright." Sakura and Temari began to giggle. Aru and Gaara exchanged confused glances before looking back at the two kunoichi.

Temari put her hand to her heart in a dramatic fashion. "Ahh! Young love!" But before Gaara could snap at his sister, a small kunai flew past Temari's face and into the wall behind her. Everyone stared to find Aru smirking triumphantly while eating her ramen. The girls continued to giggle and gossip while Gaara just looked at th white-haired kunoichi next to him.

Definitely not as annoying as her niisan. There may be hope for her yet.

Aru thanked the waitress as she took he empty bowl. She looked up to see Gaara smirking at her. Again, it wasn't pervy, just friendly. She smiled warmly back. "Hey, Sakura-niichan."

Sakura looked over Temari's shoulder with a smile "Hmm?"

"Perhaps we could invite Gaara, Temari and Kankuro to sushi tomorrow night?"

Sakura gasped happily, "Of course. Temari-chan, Naruto and I are hosting a little get together to introduce Aru-chan to the rest of our team mates. Would you like to come?"

Temari nodded with her signature grin, "Of course!" She turned. "What do you say Gaara?"

The shikaku carrier glanced at the water bender, who gave him a little shrug of anthusiasm. He smiled and nodded. Temari took this as a 'yes' and nodded to Sakura, who smiled. Just then, Kankuro stumbled over. He looked like he was about to grab the table top for balance when everyone gasped, except for Gaara who suddenly had a craving for blood. Instead of grabbing the table, Kankuro placed both his hands firmly on Aru's mounds. Aru's eyes widdened. Kankuro looked up with pervy grin and a small nose bleed.

"Well, well. You're bigger than I thought. Nice to know there are some nice supports these days, hehehe." Before Temari could smash her fist into Kankuro, Gaara held his brother with his sand, around his waist, up in the air, away from Temari.

Kankuro wiped imaginary sweat from his brow. "Thanks, Gaara. For a second there I thought Tema-teme was gonna kill me." Kankuro chuckles died when he saw a deadly smirk creep its way up on Gaara's face.

"Who said I wasn't gonna kill you?!" Gaara began to mold sand all around Kankuro's body. He continued until he felt a small hand on his shoulder, which made him drop his sand all together. Kankuro landed on his head while Gaara glanced over his shoulder to see the delicate water-demon carrier. She massaged his shoulder lightly, which made Gaara purr. Aru pulled her hand away and Gaara slowly turned around to face her.

Aru smiled. "Don't hurt your niisan, Gaara-kun. Kami only knows he's not the only one to make such a pass at me."

Gaara's frown only deepened, "I'll kill anyone who tries anything."

Aru just giggled, which caught Gaara offguard, "Well then. You should prepare for a lot of blood."

Gaara smirked, "I was born ready Aru-chan."

After they all said their goodbyes and went their seperate ways Temari cleared her throat loudly getting both her brothers' attentions.

"Gaara?"

He looked at her blankly, "Hn?"

She smirked, "Was it my imagination or did you purr back there?"

Kankuro went wide-eyed, "Nani?! I missed Gaara purr?! Why don't I catch any of the good stuff?"

Temari glared, "Maybe if you'd stop being such a pervert! Besides, didn't seem like you had any trouble 'grasping' Aru's breasts in your hands!"

Kankuro chuckled and gave his signature perv smile, "Well, it be kinda hard to miss grabbing those beautiful things. Hell, if Aru-chan touched me, I'd purr too. Of course," he winked at Gaara, "she'd have to rub me a bit lower to really get me started!"

Gaara stopped in his tracks, looking down at the floor. Temari and Kankuro turned to face Gaara, merely a few steps ahead of him.

"Kankuro" Gaara said plainly.

"Hmm?"

"Run."

Kankuro's eyes widdened just a bit, "Nani?"

Temari toke on large step aside as a huge wave of sand appeared behind Gaara. Kankuro looked up terrified and took one large gulp. He looked at Temari, who sweat dropped.

"Run?" Kankuro asked.

"Run." Temari responded.

"Run!" Gaara said through blood shot eyes.

And so the chase began, with Kankuro in the lead, Gaara catching up to Kankuro and Temari falling back.

She yelled after them, "Gaara, try not to kill him!"

Gaara glanced back with a smirk, "Can't make any promises." He sped up and Kankuro looked back.

"Oh shit!"

And three Sand nin sped off towards their temporary abode.