Chapter Two: Stones From The Sky

Cordi walked off with Gaara to see the way to where they were staying. Temari had stayed behind with Shikamaru to lead the rest of the girls back to their dorm. Gaara had asked her to, stating it was better if she helped Shikamaru with them, while Gaara handled the last girl. So, they were alone. Cordi couldn't have been more thrilled. Gaara was her favorite after all. All the Sand Siblings were, but Gaara was her favorite by far. She hoped he didn't notice her constantly stealing glances at him. He carried his greenish blue Kazekage robes and hat in one hand as they walked through Konoha. And he kept his seafoam gaze resolutely forward.

Overall, it was a very quiet walk. The only noise being made was the rustle in her jeans stride, and their footsteps. She couldn't muster the courage to say anything to him, and she wasn't sure why. Gaara, though, was content with the silence. They made a quick stop at the car, which the local villagers were still admiring. Gaara eyed the contraption carefully, agreeing it was rather odd looking for a carriage. There was no way a horse could move it.

"I should be done quickly," Cordi offered, opening the car to pull her stuff out. She grabbed her bag full of a month's worth of clothes, her purse, and her ten different carry-on bags. Needless to say, it was a little too heavy for her, and Gaara couldn't help but compare her to an overburdened mule. Mentally. He'd never voice such a comparison. While it was clearly too heavy, she refused to show it. "K, let's go," she grunted.

Gaara breathed through his nose, watching as she tried to walk with the weight, but clearly her legs were buckling. In spite of himself, he asked, "Do you need any help?"

Cordi smiled and said with heavy breath, "Yes, please." She suddenly saw sand appear around her, and the pressure from holding the clothes bag, the heaviest bag was lifted. She let it go and started walking with the Kazekage to his suite, still lumbering with her too many carry-ons, but her heaviest bag floated beside them with Gaara's hand held up as if it weighed nothing.

Kakashi turned to Shikamaru after lunch, stating, "The ninja dorms I'm assigning the girls are two blocks from your home. Would you mind taking them and settling them in?" Roxanne's face lit up at the prospect. They'd be living near the Naras? It was a dream come true! Gaara had ordered Temari to help Shikamaru, since he would be looking after four girls, and Gaara would tend to the last of the group. Kakashi then turned to the girls, stating, "Now, once the paperwork is done, I'll deliver your first weekly allowance, so you can get food. If that is all, I should be getting back to work." He gave a small salute, then poofed away in a cloud.

He looked at the four girls who were smiling at him hopefully. He raised his eyebrows and let out a small pout. Obviously, this was a "drag." "Fine," he replied showing the girls out. "How troublesome," he muttered. Roxanne had to strain her ears just to hear it. When they reached the outside of the Hokage building, Lynne stated she'd come back for the car once they knew the location of their stay.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes at Lynne's explanation, and starting to ask for a map of the town, so she wouldn't need his help getting the car and their stuff. "Why not us just get the car, then have Shikamaru ride with us to the spot?" Ronnie suggested.

Shikamaru looked at her skeptically.

Temari smirked as she said, "Let me guess. It's a drag?"

Shikamaru frowned at her. "I don't say it that often."

"Yes, you do," both Temari and Roxanne stated. Temari frowned, looking at Roxanne who pursed her lips and looked awkwardly at the sky, muttering, "I didn't say anything."

Temari looked at them, now curious. "So what kind of uncanny knowledge do you have?" Since Lynne suggested they'd be able to ace any test on them, she was curious about exactly how much they knew. But she knew better than to start a quiz of that nature in front of her youngest brother.

Ronnie shrugged, "Are you two still dating?" Shikamaru cleared his throat and looked away, while Temari gaped at the abrasive question. Ronnie nodded, clearly searching her memory by her expression as she continued, "I don't think it was ever officially stated, but it was heavily insinuated."

Rox had seen the look on Shikamaru's face as soon as Ronnie asked it, and her heart plummeted. In the Naruto world, Rox only ever had eyes for one man. Shikamaru Nara. She knew Ronnie had asked for her. Ronnie Buchanan was just as much of a shit disturber as Cordi, especially when it came to relationships. She had no doubt that Ronnie would hunt down the ninja she always liked in the comics like a bloodhound and make him fall in love with her. That always came easily to her. But for Rox, she didn't want Ronnie's interference. Especially when the man in question was clearly still in love with the blonde sand kunoichi in front of them.

Shikamaru cleared his throat again, asking Temari with a strained voice, "Do you want to answer that?"

"You don't have to," Rox offered, forcing a smile.

"Why not?" Ronnie asked with a devious gleam in her eye. "I'm really curious."

"Ronnie," Rox snapped. "That's none of our business."

"Oh, come on!" Ronnie huffed. "You aren't the least bit curious if any of the relationships we bet on over lunch over the years turned out?" She gestured at Shikamaru and Temari, adding, "I had good odds on these two. They're the only obvious ones!" Both ninjas blushed, looking away from each other. "So I really want to know. Are you two still dating?" Ronnie gestured to them, and began to mouth out "yes," for their answer.

"No," Temari answered quickly, looking away awkwardly, and now seriously regretting having asked the extent of their knowledge. Only the kages and the close circle of friends knew they had started dating. But they cut it off when they realized the Suna council was going to use their relationship as a bargaining chip with Konoha. It was a difficult choice for both of them. "We broke up," she finished, crossing her arms over her chest. Both ninja stood awkwardly apart before Shikamaru opened his mouth to say something, just as Temari muttered a small, "Excuse me." Then poofed out.

There was a long silent moment, only broken when Fred stated in a bored tone, "Jesus, Ronnie. Read the room."

"What?" Ronnie huffed. "She asked about the extent of our knowledge, and as far as we knew, they were a sure thing."

Shikamaru had already begun to walk off, his jaw set at the reminder of his recent heartbreak. How long had it been? A month? Two?

"Please, ignore Ronnie." He looked down at the girl walking in stride with him. Roxanne's ponytail bounced against her shoulders, her reddish brown eyes staring resolutely ahead. But something in the way she walked felt comfortable with him. "She can be rather pushy, especially when it comes to other people's relationships." He didn't dignify that with a comment. Rox continued anyway, "Like back in middle school, she asked out a guy Cordi was crushing on for her. It blew up in her face though when he told her that he liked her instead." Again, he remained silent. Rox cleared her throat, then added with a sigh, "I guess she was asking for me. Because, while we all liked you and Temari together, you were always my favorite character."

That made him stop abruptly in his tracks, frowning at the girl. She slowed to a stop turning to look at him. He quirked his head as he looked at her. Really looked at her. She had almost completely black hair, that didn't fall quite straight. She had piercing almost black eyes if it wasn't for the slight hint of reddish brown around the ring of her iris. She had very fair skin, with the slightest hint of natural pink in her cheeks, and vibrant lips that weren't too thick or too thin. She was shorter than Temari, only barely reaching his shoulders. And her figure was not as curvy as the kunoichi, she wasn't necessarily rail thin either. She was pretty, he'd give her that. But her eyes gave little away about her, which was unusual to him. He'd always prided himself on being able to read people, and understand how they think. Temari, he could read like a book. But this girl, he couldn't put his finger on it.

He crossed his arms as he realized he'd been staring at her before asking, "Why?" In all honesty, it was the only question he should be asking. As ninjas go, his life was relatively boring. He made a point in his life to avoid as much hassle as possible.

Rox shrugged, not looking him in the eye anymore as she said, "I dunno'. You're really smart, and while your usually really reserved, if you're passionate about something, it shows. That's something I've always respected."

He frowned, pursing his lips with a small, "Hmm." He started his pace back up, and Rox fell in step with him again, but this time, she remained silent.

Behind them, they heard Ronnie ask, "Well can I ask about the other relationships? Because after seeing Naruto and Hinata, I'd put money down that he's still single. Meaning Hinata, being my first pick for him, is either still on the market or dating my second pick for Hinata, which is Kiba. And if Kiba is not available…"

"Jesus, Ronnie," Lynne and Fred howled, "Shut up!"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. But in spite of himself, he felt a laugh bubbling up from his diaphragm, which he relieved with a sharp breath through his nose. They were talking about people he'd known all his life. He'd admit that he saw Kiba having a thing maybe for Hinata. He certainly was protective of her. But Hinata and Naruto was ludicrous. He couldn't help himself. "Why on Earth would Naruto date Hinata?"

He was answered with several responses simultaneously. "Oh, come on." "You never noticed?" "Have you seen how she looks at him?" "Let's not forget that one time he called her a goddess, even though he didn't know he was talking about her."

"It's because she's been in love with him forever," Ronnie said clearly as if she was describing a love story so epic, it was legendary. Shikamaru eyed Ronnie, fascinated with her animated explanation. "Everything she's done since she was a kid was for him to notice her. And then he finally did notice her when Pain blew up Konoha, and when Naruto was pinned down, and she took on Pain in his stead. And then she almost died, and he broke the seal on the Ninetails." She let out a sigh, adding, "That's true love right there. Both of them. Even if he's too stupid to realize it."

Shikamaru frowned. He knew some of what happened when Pain attacked. Like Konoha being destroyed, and Naruto releasing the Ninetails. But he didn't know why Naruto did such a thing, or that Hinata was the catalyst. It explained a lot. Especially why Hinata remained single even though he'd known several guys had asked her out. But Naruto, really? Thinking back on it, it started making sense. He furrowed his brow in confusion, surprising himself as he asked, "Who else were you all betting on?"

When Temari arrived at the suite that afternoon, she didn't want to talk to anyone. She just wanted to open some wine, put on a sappy chick flick, and try and forget about Shikamaru Nara. This had begun to become a ritual since the breakup happened two months ago. Usually, she'd be able to suppress her broken heart after a day or two of drunken moping, followed by a couple of days at the gym, or sparring with her brothers. Gaara was usually the best one for her to take her broken heart out on. He was virtually indestructible, and he didn't take her rage personally.

Temari entered wordlessly with a sniffle, setting her fan down next to the counter as she made her way to the kitchenette freezer. She thanked whoever ran the universe for being in a hotel that had wine at the ready, snagging the bottle and uncorking the top. Kankuro was working on Kurasu at the table, but suddenly slowed, watching his sister as she tipped the bottle to her lips and started guzzling. She dropped the wine back to the counter, wiping her eyes, and in the process smearing her mascara. But something in the way she lifted the bottle back to her lips and started chugging again, Kankuro could tell she didn't care all that much about her make-up at the moment.

It was at this moment that the youngest Sand Sibling returned to the hotel suite, a strange young lady, one which Kankuro would deem fairly attractive, at his side. The large bag he held up with his sand dropped unceremoniously to the ground, earning an agitated, "Hey!" from the dirty blonde next to him. "Be careful!" Gaara turned to her coolly, only to blink at her as if asking, "Are you really giving me orders?" She growled, dropping her other bags on top of the large duffle, muttering, "Just because you run a country doesn't mean you can mishandle other people's stuff."

Gaara chose to ignore her, now looking at his two older siblings, noting Temari's stance, holding an open bottle of wine by the neck, and swallowing a mouthful of it most likely, and her mascara smudged. Kankuro shook his head when Gaara's gaze shifted to his brother. "Is this a bad time to introduce—" Temari cut him off by taking her bottle of wine back to one of the adjoining rooms, and slamming the door.

Gaara looked at the door curiously before turning to Kankuro. "What happened?"

Kankuro shrugged. "Well, she was in the wine, so my guess? Someone reminded her of her and that Nara guy's break-up." He said it so nonchalantly.

Gaara immediately let out a small groan, knowing Temari would want to spar with him if he was available. But first they'd have to get through the next few days of drunken moping and chick flicks as she called them, and rants that the Suna council was run by assholes, a sentiment that Gaara could not agree with more.

But while Gaara gave an understanding nod, he heard Cordi beside him audibly gasp. Gaara turned, looking at her with mild amusement. She held her hand over her heart, really over her large breasts if she could feel her heart through them. "She and Shikamaru broke up?" she asked in a genuinely worried voice that almost took Gaara by surprise. Kankuro only blinked at her in confusion. "Damn," she breathed in a tone that definitely confused both brothers now, "I had money on them getting married, too."

Kankuro stood at that remark, pointing at the dirty blonde with an estranged but amused expression. "Ok, who is this?"

Gaara turned, gesturing to Cordi as he started, "This is—"

"Cordelia Turner," Cordi cut him off, crossing the entryway to the dining area to shake Kankuro's hand. "But please, call me Cordi. I've read so much about you all already, I feel as if I know you." Kankuro felt a small strained smile come to his face as she kept shaking his hand. He looked to his brother, and the expression Gaara could easily read. "What the fuck, Gaara?"

Gaara closed his eyes and took a small calming breath before stating, "She's going to be living with us for the foreseeable future."

Kankuro's eyebrows shot into his hairline. "Since when?" he asked in a sing song voice that was clear something Gaara said wasn't adding up.

"Since I offered Kakashi this morning," Gaara answered blandly. His expression, although, dared his brother question his decision.

But anyone who had read Naruto as long as Cordi had would know Kankuro was not the brightest bulb in the box. He pulled his hand away from Cordi who had begun to step away from the brother. Cordi was quick to add, "Since I'm not a ninja, I'd be happy to help out around the house." She offered it as means of repaying their kindness in giving her a place to stay. That was why Kankuro was angry, right?

Kankuro made a face then asked, "So a housekeeper? You hired a housekeeper … in Konoha?"

Gaara eyed Cordi strangely, ignoring his brother's question as he said, "That won't be necessary."

"Please," Cordi replied, "it's the least I can do to repay your kindness."

"Gaara," Kankuro started, giving his brother a weird look. When Gaara finally looked at his older brother, Kankuro made an animated shrug as he stated, "I'm a little lost here. Why would Lord Hokage ask you to hold onto a girl for him? Especially to live with indefinitely?"

Cordelia took another step back, sensing the brothers were about to have words. Possibly about her, but not in the context she'd originally believed. She pointed to one of the back rooms, stating, "I'm just going to use the bathroom." And before either brother could say anything, she disappeared behind the door, flicking the fan on for the bathroom so they wouldn't think she was listening in.

"I mean," Kankuro made a comedic chortle as he continued, "even the Suna Council would think hiring a housekeeper in a city we don't even have a house in seems kind of silly, Gaara."

The sedate smile Gaara gave his brother would have ensured his murder had it been ten years earlier. Now he only replied with, "And yet your room is mess wherever we go."

Now Kankuro let out a deranged laugh. "Are you saying you hired her for me? Because that's what it sounds like you're saying. Even though my bedroom mess hasn't been an issue for you the past twenty years."

Gaara looked at his brother blandly. "What exactly are you insinuating?"

"What I think is you've 'hired' an arguably pretty girl," Kankuro started, his tone clipped and sharp, "to come live with us, because the council has pretty much stipulated that one of us needs to start having children, so they don't give our sister grief. And that," he jerked his thumb over his shoulder to where Cordi had disappeared to, "if she is 'for me' as you just insinuated, is your convoluted way of making me become a father first. Well guess what mister, you can forget it. I'm not going to fall for that seductress. I don't care how much you're paying her." Gaara blinked at his brother who just began laughing haughtily. "Didn't think I'd figure it out? Huh. Well you are not as smart as you think you are."

Gaara frowned, giving a small shrug as he cast aside his robes and kage hat onto the couch, "I'm clearly not as ingenious or devious as you think I am." Kankuro frowned, not following. Gaara resituated his shirt. The weather in Konoha's summer was beastly hot. And not the dry heat he was used to in the desert. It was a wet, muggy hot that made his shirt cling to his skin. When Kankuro's confused expression didn't change, Gaara let out a tired sigh that he had to spell it out for his brother. "She's not here for that." Gaara straightened, adjusting his shoulders before settling his gaze on his brother's. "If you must know, she part of a group of girls who showed up in Konoha this morning, claiming to be from another world. They have uncanny knowledge about our personal lives. And while the Hokage only had space available for four of them in the Konoha ninja dorms, I offered housing for the fifth. This is until they figure out how to return."

Kankuro frowned again. "How much does she know?"

Gaara made a face, something he rarely did, but Kankuro was around him enough to not be shocked when he did. "Enough that I didn't think she would accept."

After a moment of silence Kankuro huffed. "Sorry, I don't buy it. A girl from another world. Yeah right." His gaze narrowed, an expression Gaara was never comfortable seeing on his brother's face. "Unless." A word Gaara never liked to hear Kankuro utter either. "Unless she's to legitimize that girlfriend story you spout to council whenever they get antsy in the meetings."

Gaara shot a leveling look at his brother. "I have a girlfriend. Why would I need to hire a stranger?"

Kankuro let out a scoff. "Gaara! Who are you lying to? I'm your brother. I know your girlfriend is made up!"

"She's not made up. She just prefers to remain anonymous," Gaara stated, "Probably for the same reason you keep your dalliances secret." Kankuro balked that Gaara would admit to knowing about them, but Gaara shot him a piercing glare. Kankuro wasn't that slick. Gaara continued, "Again, that's also a position I'd hardly ask a stranger to fill, especially since the council will start pressing the marriage issue again."

Kankuro shot him a look, and Gaara frowned back at him. "So what are you going to tell the council about her? She's a stranger living in our house."

"The council will not demand me to marry anyone not from Suna," Gaara countered. "Especially when they see she's not enough to tempt either of us, or a ninja." That was a half lie. All the women who had arrived had each been pretty in their own way. Gaara could tell. Cordi was especially pretty. She had hair the color of the sun's rays off a sand dune. She had eyes that were deep and dark in normal lighting, but when the sun hit them they turned to a sultry chocolate that would give any man pause. Her skin was just as fair as Gaara's, and her lips full and as red as the crimson buds on his prickly pear cactus. And her figure was a solid hourglass like Suna's symbol. It was clear she did some working out, as her body was toned especially in her legs, and a little in her arms, but she looked soft in the necessary places.

But she wasn't a ninja. That much was obvious. And after the debacle with Hakuto in March, Gaara was certain the council wouldn't condone a pairing with a woman who couldn't even rank Genin. For either him or his brother. It was too risky. Gaara in part agreed with that sentiment. If he did marry, it would have to be with someone who could hold themselves in a fight. Kankuro, although, would avoid commitment at all cost. Gaara learned that when Kankuro threw him to the mercy of the council back in March with the arranged marriage idea that they had originally offered the older brother.

Kankuro rolled his eyes. "Yeah right. You're emotionally stunted, not blind."

Gaara gave a small glower. Had this been ten years ago, he might have murdered Kankuro for such a comment. "Look Kankuro," Gaara huffed, his emotions still well in check, "I was being honest about the other world thing. She's not some guise for the council, since I have a girlfriend. She's also not a seductress I hired for you. If you don't believe me, ask her. I'm sure she can tell you enough."

"Yes, I can," Cordi stated from the doorway. Both Kankuro and Gaara looked up. Kankuro was very taken aback to see she had listened in on his and Gaara's conversation, but Gaara only looked mildly interested. She turned to Kankuro stiffly, but the gleam in her eyes made it clear to Gaara something they had said upset her. But he'd never been that good at reading women. "All three of you were born about a year after the previous. Temari's birthday is August 23rd, making her a Virgo, like my sister Rox. Kankuro, yours is May 15th, making you a Taurus. And Gaara's birthday is January 19th, making him a Capricorn. Temari is the oldest of you three, and her chosen weapon is a fan with three purple dots. She can also summon ferrets and uses predominantly wind jutsus. She's also a master strategist. The relationship between her and Shikamaru was obvious because he is the only one who is smarter than her, although she thought Sasuke Uchiha was 'hot' when she first met him." Temari stepped out with a pale frown, holding her wine as she stared at Cordi. Kankuro shot her a weird look at the last remark, but Temari only blushed. "Her blood type is O, like myself. And she likes sweet chestnuts."

Cordi whirled back to Kankuro, pointing at the eldest brother as she continued harshly, "You, Kankuro, prefer your puppets Kurasu, Kuroari, Sanshouo, and Sasori's puppet body upon his death, as well as an assortment of poisons. You once begged Lady Chiyo to train you, but she turned you down because she didn't give a shit about the village anymore. You wear purple kabuki make-up and all black. This is to reference the traditions of bunraku, a Japanese puppet theatre, where the puppeteers wear black and face paint so they are not seen during the performance. The color purple for your face paint was picked by the comic's artist because it's the color of royalty, and was to reference that you were one of the Fourth Kazekage's children. But under that hood, you have medium brown hair and the rest of your features without makeup are generally nondescript, looking incredibly similar to your father. As a kid, you were terrified of your brother, and the first time you saw Shukaku, you were so terrified, you couldn't eat for a week. Your current job is to be your brother's bodyguard, even though you've said yourself, 'Does he really need one?' Your blood type is B. And your favorite food is hamburger steak, which I agree is delicious."

She pointed to Gaara now, stating, "Gaara uses his sand, as his ability with it is a mix with the Kazekage line jutsu of magnetic release and having the One-tailed beast sealed inside him as an infant. But since Shukaku was ripped from his body when he was fifteen, essentially killing him, which Granny Chiyo sacrificed her life for to bring him back, and he still has the sand ability, some have argued that it's the will of your mother Karura protecting him, because he was born prematurely, due to Shukaku being sealed in Gaara in the womb. A decision that also killed your mother. Shukaku is a tailed beast that takes the shape of a tanuki and acts like an alcoholic, and makes it impossible for its host to sleep. The alcoholic personality is because in Japan, where the comic is from, the animal tanuki is largely associated sake and bars, really drinking in general. When Gaara was six, your uncle said some fucked up shit to him on behalf of your father, who let's be honest was nowhere near the podium on any father-of-the-year awards, just to see if he could get a reaction."

Gaara was feeling really uncomfortable now, but he didn't dare say anything. It was weird to hear such facts about his own life rattled off as if they were nothing. That incident had released Shukaku and many people died. But she talked about it as if it was nothing more than some book she read. His chest tightened as he realized it was exactly that. In her world, they were entertainment. They weren't living breathing people to her who he killed. She knew what he did all those years ago, but she didn't know the gravity of it.

Both Kankuro and Temari watched Cordi wide-eyed as she fearlessly plowed through, both looking to their youngest brother for a reaction. "Which he did, because that was when Gaara made that scar after killing Yashamaru who had just tried to kill him, again at your father's request. This breakdown also released Shukaku, which then attacked Sunagakure. I know Gaara's hobby after that point was thwarting your father's assassination attempts on him, and both experiences, plus the added isolation your father already put him under, were direct causes to him developing a warped existential philosophy that he must kill to prove he was alive. During the chunin exams arc, where you were all introduced in the comics, on screen Gaara killed three mist ninjas during the second part of the exam, which don't know if you know, but it was witnessed by Kiba, Shino, and Hinata who were hiding in the bushes. Then in the month after, he killed Dosu of the Sound village, who was an asshole anyway. And two more mist ninjas who were hired to coerce Gaara into throwing his match with Sasuke. This philosophy was the artist's way to convey a kind of school shooter mentality, which is the more violent psychological reaction to years of bullying and isolation, which has become a problem in my world's current culture. Although, to add to his creep factor during the chunin exams, the author also added some serial killer psychology to his philosophy. A sociopathic mentality if you will. Although, since it wasn't present when he was a child, or at least how it normally presents itself in children, it is easily determined that he developed it as a way to cope with the fucked up shit Yashamaru told him at your father's request, as well as the isolation. I also know if you were to ask him about his hobbies now, after Naruto changed his philosophy on life, he'd answer keeping Suna safe and growing cacti. He is the youngest person to become Kazekage. His blood type is AB, which is also one of the rarest blood types in the world. And his favorite food is salted tongue and gizzard," she turned to Gaara with a judging expression as she added, "which gotta' say, gross.

"When the three of you were genin, you were led by the Sand Jonin, Baki. I know how Orochimaru murdered your father in a ditch, then stole his face in order to get Suna to attack Konoha during the Chuunin exam when you were kids. This was because Orochimaru had a vendetta against the Third Hokage, who died during the crush, and posing as your father for a month was the only way he could get close to him and cripple Konoha. I know you," she directed her point now at Kankuro, who was now looking wide-eyed at the onslaught of information, "are good friends with Kiba since you saved him during the Sasuke retrieval attempt." Her finger swung back to Gaara, adding, "I know Rock Lee kicked your ass in the Chuunin exam, and it was amazing to watch! I also know if you showed up five minutes earlier during the Sasuke retrieval attempt, you would have witnessed Rock Lee's ultimate taijutsu, which only happens when he's drunk. I also know you saw Deidera as an immediate threat, because his bird wasn't native to the desert. And I know he used your sand coffin against you as a means to plant his detonating clay spiders in your ultimate defense."

She huffed, shaking her head before she continued, "I know all of that, and more. I even know stupid shit about you that only exists in my world. Like Gaara's outfit when he fought Deidera was inspired by Neo from the Matrix, a movie that likely doesn't exist here, but I brought the DVD, so you can watch it if you want." She reached into a bag hastily, yanking a small case out, and flicking it at the brothers. Kankuro tried to catch it, but it bounced of his wrist. Gaara recovered it, and looked at the cover with a frown. The man on the cover did wear a similar outfit to Gaara's old fighting gear, but black instead of Gaara's burgundy. "I know that during the Sasuke Retreival mission, your outfits changed for two reasons. First was to show you were now good guys. Second was because the artist thought your Chunin exam gear was too difficult to draw. I know Gaara's backstory, as well as Suna's, is the artist's favorite backstory in the series. I also know that since you three's introduction by every comic book reader poll, Gaara is one of four characters who has never dropped out of the top ten favorite character rankings among its probably billion readers. Those two facts are why the comic's artist thought it best to make you good guys." She turned to Gaara and added, "If you're curious, the only other three like you who haven't dropped out of that top ten ranking is Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi."

That made Gaara's eyes widen a little. It was hard to fathom a world where a billion people knew your deepest, darkest secrets, and still favored him among the people Naruto encountered as a ninja. Deep down, he didn't feel worthy. He looked at her, and her eyes burned back into his. He saw her lip tremble, and he wasn't sure why.

"Do you know why I know all of that stupid shit about you? Because you three were my favorite characters," Cordi continued, her eyes shining now, landing on each of them. All three looked at her warily as her lips pursed into a snarl. Her fists tightened at her side. "I knew so much stupid shit about you three, but what I didn't know was that all of you are assholes!" She spun on her heel, seeing Temari in the doorway, the open bottle of wine still in her hands. Cordi grabbed it from her, taking a swig as she stomped into the room she'd been hiding in, and slamming the door closed with a loud "Crack!" Gaara's room, as it were.

Temari shifted her stance, looking at her brothers curiously. Kankuro had his lips pursed and his eyebrows raised almost to his hairline, his wide-eyed gaze unwavering from the door she'd just slammed shut. Gaara gave his sister a bland expression before asking, "Are you ready for that spar?"

The next day, the five girls agreed to meet up in the village square and hang out. Rox was chipper. Ronnie definitely eager with an eagle eye for something, or someone. Lynne looked at everything in wonder. And Fred looked rather nonchalant. "We should try Ichiraku for lunch. They're always going on and on about how amazing it is in the show," Lynne suggested excitedly.

Rox nodded enthusiastically. Neither Ronnie nor Fred really listened. Ronnie looked up and beamed at an approaching figure. "Cordi!" she yelled, waving her hands above her head. "Over here!"

Cordi spotted them and picked up her pace a little as she jogged over to them. "'Sup?" she asked, popping the "p" with her lips.

Ronnie frowned, looking at her longtime best friend. She could see from the lacking glimmer in her eyes, the way she chewed on her cheek, and her less than proud stance that something had happened. "What's wrong?"

Cordi shrugged. "Nothing."

Fred crossed her arms at this. Being the oldest, she was always the one they all went to for advice. "Ok, spill it. What happened? Did he hurt you? Are we going to have to go kick his ass?"

"No," Cordi said, quickly holding up her hands. "No. It's my fault, really." She frowned, crossing her arms tightly across her chest as she huffed, "He's got a girlfriend."

Lynne and Rox both frowned, and even Ronnie was taken a little aback by the statement. "Who? Gaara?" Lynne asked. The thought was bizarre. Gaara just didn't seem like the type to date. Really any romantic scenario didn't compute with Gaara. But with Cordi nodding her affirmative, Lynne had to re-assess what she knew of the redheaded kage. "Huh," Lynne grunted. She looked at Ronnie and Rox, and both held similar expressions to her.

Before any of them could say anything, Cordi added quickly, "And I know I have no right to feel jealous or even shocked by that news. It's just that it's Gaara. He just doesn't seem the type to just date, unless it's..." She didn't want to finish that sentence. Unless he was completely and utterly serious about marrying her. Cordi knew enough about him that he let few people into his world. Fewer still that he'd trust enough to have a functional relationship with.

"No, we know," Lynne stated supportively. Rox and Ronnie gave affirmative nods, still confused by the prospect. "He's not the type."

Lynne stepped forward and pulled her youngest friend into a hug, and slowly they all joined, last being Rox, who added, "Would now be the right time for me to say 'I told you so?'"

Cordi pushed her away with a small glare, and the group began to laugh. "Why don't we grab a bowl at Ichiraku, explore the town, and just have fun like we were supposed to be doing?" Lynne offered.

They all agreed, and set out for the famous ramen bar. Then they explored until their legs were tired and they collapsed in a field, sitting in a circle, quickly falling into their normal banter and laughter. "I'm not saying I want to cut our time short or anything. I'm just saying I'd like to find out where the kennels are—" Ronnie stated matter of factly.

"Only because you want to hunt down Kiba!" Cordi howled with laughter.

"YEAH!" Rox snapped in agreement.

"Well, what's wrong with me meeting my favorite character?" Ronnie argued. She pointed at Cordi and Rox, adding, "You've met yours. Why can't I meet mine?" She smirked as she added, "Especially since, according to Shikamaru, he's a single pringle ready to mingle?" Cordi started to laugh at her friend's rhyming.

"Because we have to go back, Ronnie," Fred huffed, rolling her eyes.

"How? Did you figure that out since yesterday?" Lynne asked, her brow arched.

Fred grimaced dejectedly. She knew she was the one driving when they got lost. And even though she apologized, would they stop nagging her about it? Likely not. "No, Lynne. I didn't. But it's not good idea to start relationships when we don't plan on staying here."

"Who said anything about a relationship?" Ronnie asked with a laugh, leaning forward. Fred frowned, as her little sister continued to the rest of the group, "Look, we're here for the foreseeable future. Why not have some fun while we're at it?"

Fred shot her sister a disapproving look. Trust Ronnie to suggest hooking up with the land's most eligible ninjas when they could find a way home at any moment. She puffed out some air, blowing her bangs out of her face, then looked at Lynne and asked, "You were as big a fan as these three. Are you going to chase down your favorite ninja, too?"

Lynne pursed her lips, picking at the grass as she said, "Well, my favorite character was kind of a bad guy in the series." She winced, looking up at the sun as she continued, "So if I had to guess, he might not even be alive." She chucked her picked grass into the breeze casually, sucking on her teeth.

"Good," Fred sighed. Lynne shot her a strange look. "Not that he's dead," she recovered, shaking her head and waving a dismissive hand. "Just that you aren't going to go off panting after your cartoon crush like these three ninnies."

"Hey!" Rox huffed, shooting a scowl at Fred, "I'm not panting." Fred shot her a facetious glare back.

"And I'm not going to run after a guy who's clearly taken," Cordi added, with a disappointed frown directed at Fred, as if to tell the oldest of the group that she should know them better. "I'll also note, he's also not the only guy in Suna."

Rox balked at her sister. "Wait, you're still going?"

"Duh."

Lynne shrugged, letting out a sigh as she returned to the main subject, "While I might not go chasing after Sasuke, I'm not entirely opposed to having some fun while we're here."

"THANK YOU!" Ronnie called out, gesticulating wildly at Lynne who just laughed and rolled her eyes.

Fred frowned. "What happened to the 'Chicks before dicks' rule?"

"We can find you a guy, if you think you're being left out," Ronnie said, flicking her wrist as if the question was of no importance.

"Or some cats," Lynne offered with a smirk.

Fred glowered at her, plucking some grass and throwing it at her. "Not funny." Lynne rolled her eyes.

Ronnie stood, drawing their attention away from the oldest two of the group about to start a grass fight. "Alright, that settles it," she declared. "Until Cordi leaves in a few weeks, we will come here every day and hang out. But while we're here, we will also have some fun and break some hearts." She stuck her hand out in the middle of the circle. "To having fun."

Cordi stood first, putting her hand on top of Ronnie's. She smirked as she said, "To having fun." Lynne next, then Rox. Finally Fred let out a huff, rolling her eyes as she pulled herself up to stand, placing her hand on top of the pile. "To having fun."

Suddenly, a light glowed from their hands, and they each frowned at the bizarre spectacle before it jolted them with a shock. They each withdrew their hands, wordlessly looking between themselves for an explanation to the odd moment.

"Do you hear that?" Cordi was the first to speak. It was a strange whistling, and they all began to hear it. Cordi looked up, then wide-eyed she yelled, "MOVE!" Jumping back a pace. The girls did the same, just as five strange stones landed, one each where they had been standing.

The stones were odd, and smooth, and varying in vibrant colors. A ruby red one sat in Cordi's spot, a sapphire blue one in Ronnie's, an amethyst purple one in Roxanne's, an emerald green one in Fred's, and a diamond white one in Lynne's. Cordi was the first to reach down to the red rock. "What are you doing?" Fred snapped.

Cordi frowned, answering as if it should have been obvious, "Inspecting the rock." She put her hand on the stone when it suddenly cracked. And a ruby bat-like wing popped out. More cracks sounded as the other stones erupted until all that stood in front of them were what could be considered baby dragons, or at the very least vibrant winged lizards. Each one looking at the person whose spot they took. Each of the girls suddenly felt an enormous power rush through them. Then darkness.

Rox was the first to wake up, muttering about how her head hurt. She felt some weight on her stomach, and she looked, seeing the baby dragon nestled on her abdomen. It was a beautiful shade of purple. It had feathered wings with silver tips on the feathers. The scales were purple, but the spinal scales were silver. Its four legs looked like hawk talons and its tail was long, but at the end, there was a fan of purple and silver feathers, like the wings.

The second to come to was Lynne, muttering something similar about a headache. Hers had no wings but had a long snake-like body, a lot like an Asian dragon. It had small whiskers and a small goatee. Down its spine, it had a line of fur that was tinged gray. Otherwise, it was completely white, except for the brown antlers, which were just little nubs now. It had short arms and small paws.

The third was Ronnie. Her dragon was royal blue with webbed feet. Its front legs were longer than its hindlegs. It had a long tail that flattened to a sail like tip, and had big, bat-like wings attached to its back, showing its ability for flight. It had a long neck and gills under its chin. It also had nostrils, showing that it didn't need to be in water.

Then Fred woke up. Hers had leathery green wings tinged with brown. It had a long pointed snout and small brown antlers. It had brown and green scales along its body, patterned like a ball python. Its tail was long, but had an end that looked heavy and fitting to be a sledge hammer. It had normal lizard-like feet.

Cordi's was similar in build to Fred's except its scales were red and black, with the spine of black scale starting at the top of its dome all the way down to the tip of its tail. The tail also didn't have a special end, just a normal pointed tip. It had black horns that curved around the side of its head like a ram. The snout was also a little shorter and a bit more rounded. It was the smallest in the group.

The dragons stared at each of the girls they were laying on, small smiles on their snouts. The girls looked to each other, now more than a little afraid that their presence in this strange world may not have been an accident.