Chapter 31: A "Buzz" with Excitement

As soon as we were back on our bus, everyone was buzzing with excitement, and it's not hard to see why.

Tsunade had mentioned that the competition was going to change us both mentally and physically - emphasis on physically - before bidding us good night, and all anyone could think of after that was one thing . . .

. . . Makeovers.

Makeovers were one of the biggest highlights of the competition every year, and with good reason. Not only was it a time of metamorphosis - where we would join the ranks of those who were transformed from ordinary souls into enhanced, stunning, runway models in the making - but it was also home to some of the best dramatic moments in the competition's history, from people crying at the sight of their hair being cut to the unfortunate dyeing incident of the competition's seventh edition years ago.

Makeover Day was considered a huge benchmark that all competitors wished to reach, not because we got these transformations done on the competition's dime, but also because most wanted the privilege of saying that they managed to experience it before they were eventually eliminated.

For the first few years, makeovers only covered hair, but as 'You Wanna Be on Top?' continued to grow, it expanded to cover other areas that needed grooming or improvement, and Tsunade and company made sure that all bases were covered.

If you wore glasses, then contacts would be on your pupils before the day was up.

Have a teeth problem? Off to the dentist you went.

Acne or other skin conditions? The dermatologist will see you now.

Overall, Makeover Day was a whole-body experience . . .

. . . And as the latest models to enter the competition, we were the next up to face the physical, yet hopefully enjoyable, gauntlet.

Now that I think about it, there better be plenty of tissues on hand at whatever salon they're taking us to because there's no way in hell that everyone's eyes are going to remain dry as the day goes on.

It's not Makeover Day without a few tears after all.

"Let's face it people! We're going to get makeovers, plain and simple!" Ino reiterated, definitely not the first to come to this conclusion as she spoke from the back of the bus. "Like, how could it not!? This would be the right time for it, actually. Besides, it's a tradition of this competition, so we're bound to go through it eventually. It's all a matter of when."

"If I remember correctly, makeovers usually happen after the second or third elimination every competition," Matsuri added, bringing a hand to her chin. ". . . And Tsunade really made sure to put the emphasis on how this competition changes us physically. It would be following established precedent, like Ino said."

"I guess she decided to hint at it to help us prepare ourselves mentally for what's to come," called Choji. "The makeovers have led to some pretty traumatic experiences in the past."

"And it will undoubtedly cause some more this year," TenTen announced, a mischievous smirk crossing her face. "Remember, Makeover Day isn't just for the hair on our heads anymore. Nails, teeth, skin . . . I hope you all are ready, because we're going to be put through a physical gauntlet soon."

"You almost make it sound dreadful TenTen!" Kiba called out.

"I'm just trying to keep things real. The Day of Transformation tends to be fun for some people, stressful for others, and downright scary for a couple . . ." she added as she turned to face the dog lover. ". . . And don't get me started on the waxing."

Kiba visibly paled as soon as TenTen finished saying 'waxing', and it wasn't hard to see why he was so suddenly spooked. Makeover Day did have its share of ups and downs, but it was the waxing portion of the day that was consistently disliked year after year, especially by the men. Us girls were simply more used to the entire process, having done it to ourselves time and time again, but the guys were a different story.

Though some men preferred to be hairless and liked being clean shaven, others liked walking around covered in their body hair, finding a sense of pride in it that I will likely never understand. None of the men in the house were obviously hairy, but they did have their share of body follicles.

By the time that makeovers were over, all evidence of that hair would be gone from their skin, and they would be as hairless as a newborn baby.

The wax technicians were not known for showing mercy.

"Yeah; the waxing is definitely something that I could live without," Kiba grumbled as he shook his head. ". . . But if it's going to help me get further in this industry, then so be it."

"Now that's the spirit Kiba!" Kankuro called out as Naruto shook his head in approval. ". . . Though, I must admit. I am not looking forward to seeing the hair get ripped from my skin either."

"Don't want to shout like a girl in front of all these women huh little brother?" Temari couldn't help but ask as a teasing grin came across her face.

"Well, yeah . . ." Kankuro conceded as he trailed off. "I happen to know a guy who used to have a shit ton of hair all across his body. He and his girlfriend are huge sports fans, and they ended up betting on the baseball championship series last year. She bet all the hair on her head. He bet all the hair below his neck . . . I think you can guess what happened next."

"That must have been both painful, and quite emasculating," Ino mumbled as she looked at the puppeteer in disbelief. "Did he really go through with it?"

"Yes; my pal Kazuki is a man of his word, and he got rid of all the hair that he put up for the bet," Kankuro added with a shrug. "All of it!"

"Um, even the hair . . . uh, down there?!" Suigetsu asked, looking nervous as he gestured to a specific area of his lower half. As soon as Kankuro nodded in the affirmative, the man with the shark-like teeth paled even further. ". . . Your friend has balls of steel!"

"Yeah; and unfortunately, he likes to remind me of it all the time," Kankuro mumbled, shaking his head.

"At least once a week . . ." Gaara added. "Sometimes multiple times a day."

"Yeah; I didn't need the emphasis brother!"

That remark earned a few laughs, and the rest of the ride back was filled with ideas on who would get what and what hairstyle would look best on some people. When we reached the house, we all got off the bus and walked in to see Gaara's handsome face greeting us from the foyer's monitor.

"You wore a chain link top in your shoot," Naruto mumbled as he looked up at the screen. "How the hell you did not scream for a blanket afterward is beyond me!"

"I tried not to think about it," the redhead mumbles as he sheepishly admired his photo. "But it wasn't easy. . . My chest was so numb afterward I couldn't feel my nipples. Plus, it was a hassle just getting that thing off me once it was all over."

The thought of Gaara's numb nipples was something I didn't expect, and now that it is in my brain, I honestly don't know how to react.

"Trust me, if any of us were made to wear that top, we would've had numb nipples too . . ." Kiba mumbled as he followed some of the others further into the house.

"Was it really that terrible for you?" Temari couldn't help but ask as we switched out our shoes for our indoor slippers. It was obvious that this time around, she was asking out of genuine concern as his sister, not for more teasing fodder like she has done in the past. "Be honest with me here."

"It was bad, but it was manageable," Gaara mumbles as we walked over to the living room. "That ice club shoot was quite the experience, but hopefully I won't have to do another one of those shoots ever again."

"I can't help but agree with you on that one . . ." I say as we enter to see only Shikamaru, Choji, and Suigetsu were inside. The others were either in the back or upstairs getting ready for bed. "So, Gaara, now that another model has left the house, you know what that means right?"

"That another bed has opened up?" he asks, already looking like he knew where I was going with this.

"That's correct . . ." I say, leaning against the wall. "Which means one of us gets to take the bed. The question now is who's going to get it!"

"Hmm, isn't it obvious?" he asks, his gaze looking playful for once, which likely means that he's not being that serious with me here. "It should obviously go to me."

"And why you, if I may be so bold to ask?" I ask, figuring it was best to humor him.

"Cause I won best photo this week," he says, like it was the most obvious answer in the world. "That's why."

"Yeah, you may have won best photo, and again, congrats on that," I say, conceding to his accomplishment. "But that's still not a good reason."

"And why isn't it a good reason?"

"Because the bed Karin used to occupy is in the room with six beds, and the other five are occupied by girls," Temari jumps in, crossing her arms. Honestly, I forgot she was around to even hear this conversation. She was just that quiet. "And I'm not sure they're going to be that welcoming to a guy trying to cross into their territory."

"Really, you're going to keep me out because of my gender?" Gaara asks, looking mock offended. "We're in modern times people!"

"And there are still gender issues that must be dealt with in these modern times. However, the one we are currently discussing can easily be rectified right here, right now," Temari smugly states before turning to me. "Izuka, feel free to bring your stuff up whenever you're ready. Your bed will be waiting for you!"

"Well . . ." I mumble as Temari walks off toward the kitchen, likely to warn her roommates about my upcoming arrival to their domain. "I guess that settles that then."

"You should have been more assertive!" Suigetsu calls, smirking at the blank look that Gaara still had on his face as he watched his sister disappeared down the hallway. "And now you're left as the only one without a bed. Sorry man!"

"Well, you don't have to be sorry for me. This is only temporary after all," Gaara reminds them as he sat down in one of the bean bag chairs. "It only takes one more elimination to happen before everyone in this house finally ends up with a bed."

"But you won't get much use of it though, right?" Choji asks, looking a little confused. "You're an insomniac after all. You spend much more time awake than asleep . . . Actually, when was the last time you had a good night's sleep anyway?"

"About a month ago I think . . ." Gaara mumbles, scrunching his features as he thought about it. ". . . Yeah, it's been a while."

"Yeah, it's not easy being an insomniac, but you get used to it," I say, offering a small shrug. "You do manage to get a lot of stuff done during the night though. School work, stuff for your job . . . It's all about keeping yourself busy."

"Well that sounds troublesome," Shikamaru grumbles. "Wouldn't you be better off just not doing nothing? If you bore yourself enough, you should be able to catch a few hours of sleep."

"I have tried that, quite a few times in fact!" I say, shaking my head. "It doesn't usually work, mostly because I'm terrible with sticking to a long term plan, even when it's supposed to be good for my health . . . Insomnia isn't something you can cure just by boring yourself to sleep Shikamaru."

"For someone so smart, that was quite an . . . interesting question you asked just now." Suigetsu couldn't help but add as the tired looking man got up from his seat.

"Sometimes I spout nonsense when I'm sleep deprived, and speaking of sleep . . ." he tells us, almost mumbling his response as he walked toward the exit. "Good night everyone!"

"Hmm, sometimes sleep comes easy to people," I hear Gaara mumble as we watch Shikamaru disappear into the hallway. ". . . And then there's people like us, who can't fall asleep when they want to, mainly because our respective circadian rhythms are completely out of whack."

"Hmm, now isn't that the truth . . ." I say, shaking my head. "But hey! Sometimes a lack of sleep is for the best. . . You don't want to wake up in the middle of the night because you had a nightmare where your head was shaved bald for your makeover now do ya?"

"Well isn't that just a scary thought . . ." Suigetsu mumbles as Choji looked like he was paling at the idea. "Why did you have to say that?"

"I was just trying to make a point!" I say in my defense, raising my hands to show I meant no harm. "It's not like you both are going to get nightmares tonight . . ."

"Yeah, that's highly improbable . . ." Suigetsu states, laughing it off as he makes his exit, though the laugh wasn't a confident one. Choji was quick to follow right after him, his eyes showing his fear as he left.

"They may not have said it, but I'm sure they're a little worried," Gaara mumbles as he slides over to my side. "So, about my swimming lesson . . ."

"You still want to go ahead with part two tonight, or do you want to hold off on it till a later day?"

"I think we're better off pushing back my swimming lesson for a night, or maybe a few," I had a feeling he was going to suggest we push our lesson back a night, but the fact that he wanted to push it back by a few days put me off guard a little, and I'm sure my shock showed on my face. "It's not that I'm scared to go into the water again, and trust me I'm not, and it's not because I'm trying to use my leverage as the winner of best photo to give myself a few nights off, because again, trust me, I'm not . . ."

". . . Then what's the reason?" I ask, both confused and curious to what his motivation was this time around.

"I fear that if we went on with the lesson tonight, we may attract an audience." He mumbles, gesturing his head toward the windows. Taking the hint, I turn to see Kankuro and Naruto standing outside, talking to each other. As soon as Kankuro turned his head, he immediately turned back, as if he hadn't expected to see me staring at him.

"I think I see what you mean now. . ." I mumble, a little annoyed by his brother's antics. "Fine, I guess we can put it off, for now."

"Thank you, sensei!" he says, bowing his head like a student acknowledged by his master. "Um. . . why do I have the sudden feeling that you won't go easy on me during the next lesson?"

"Because I do not plan on going easy on you during the next lesson," I add, being blunt in the delivery. "Look, we all want to be here till the grand finale, but people have to get eliminated, and we don't know when our time is up in this competition. . . I'm just trying to make sure that you learn enough before either of us are told to leave. That's all!"

"Aw; it's so nice to know you care. . ." he mumbles, looking off to the side.

"Hey! It's not just that!" I say as I walk over to my luggage. "Swimming is an important skill that everyone should learn, including you. Now then, if you excuse me, I have a bed to claim!"

"Yeah, yeah; you say that now, but trust me, you're going to be right back down here once everyone else is asleep because you can't sleep again, and I'm going to end up being your only company through the late hours."

Unfortunately for me, the man made a good point.

A/N: Please review!