Yeah 'nother chapter, this one was done rather quickly, maybe too quickly. This one one should be better than the last though!

Over 60 reviews! I was hoping for 50 by the end! Wow! Thank you so much!

I'm aiming for 100 by the end now!

Karura parked the car and the Kazes walked into the store. Their mother grabbed a cart quickly and she brought them to the liquor section.

"These look good, and you can't have New Year's without sake!" She said as filled the cart up with alcoholic beverages.

"Mom? Are you sure we can drink all this?" Kankuro asked.

"You boys can't! You're still under twenty-one. I'll grab some sparkling cider for you two." She said grabbing every different type of drink there.

"Mom! It's New Year's! Please!" Kankuro begged.

"No! It's against the law! You will not consume ANY alcohol! None!" Karura said stubbornly.

"You're not going to be able to drink this!" Kankuro protested.

"He's right, it's not healthy." Gaara spoke up.

"Machigattemasu." She replied in a singsong voice. The redhead frowned.

"Mom!" both boys objected.

"Enough! I am your mother, I am an adult, and I can drink as much as I want. I'm not driving anywhere." She said and nodded her head authoritatively.

"It's not healthy." Gaara persisted.

"You're such a party pooper!" Karura said. The siblings were at a loss, they couldn't convince her not to drink. She rolled the cart filled with far too much booze to a check out line. A few people stared at the copious amounts of drinks. The cashier eyed the drinks.

"Ma'am, are you sure you want to buy all that?" he asked.

"I'm throwing a big party." Karura lied.

"Oh." He said and continued ringing up the drinks. Kankuro stared at his mother; there was no way she could drink all of that. They loaded up the car and drove back home. Kankuro was feeling very envious along the way.

Kankuro walked out of his room in his usual outfit, his cat hood placed squarely on his head. The brunette stared at his sleepless brother with concern.

"Gaa-chan, why didn't you wake me up?" He asked.

"I didn't want to bother you."

"Baka ie! I told you, you were allowed to. " Kankuro said almost angrily, he sighed. Gaara drank his coffee avoiding his older brother's eyes.

"I'm fine." Gaara said his eyes trailing to the floor.

"You say that, but look at you."

"What good would it do me to wake you up!" Gaara said irately, smashing his cup on the counter, "You don't need to protect me anymore!" Gaara didn't know why he was saying this but he went with it and left the kitchen, slamming the door to his room.

"I'm your brother, I'll always need to protect you." Kankuro said quietly to himself and drank from Gaara's mug. Karura woke up and donned on her robe to see what was wrong.

"Kan-chan? What happened?" She asked inquisitively.

"He said he doesn't need me." Kankuro riposted numbly.

"Gaa-chan doesn't mean that! Let me go talk to him." Karura placed a hand on Kankuro's shoulder as she went to Gaara's room.

"It's New Year's and look at all this drama!" Karura said to herself. She knocked on Gaara's door. Their mother heard the redhead sobbing softly. The light-haired woman gently turned the knob.

"Gaa-chan, Gaa-chan, what's wrong?" she asked approaching her son. Gaara looked at his mother who was now sitting on his bed.

"I told Kankuro that I didn't need him, but I didn't mean it, I don't even know, god I'm so stupid, it was nothing!" Gaara said.

"Sh, baby, I know, it's been so long, everyone's just a bit tense. What did you say?" Karura asked while pulling Gaara close.

"I told him I didn't need him to protect me. He was just worried about my sleeping habits. I don't know what to say now." Gaara bit his lip.

"Gaa-chan, he's going to protect you no matter what. He's your brother, he loves you a lot. You can tell because he's hurting right now. This is just a little spat; it's easy to patch up. He knows deep down that you don't mean it. And you know deep down he'll forgive you." Karura said lovingly. Gaara swallowed.

"I wish I hadn't said it, it's so stupid!" The redhead said.

"Gaa-chan, all you need to do is explain how you feel. Kan-chan will love you." Karura said counseled. Gaara got up.

It was a stupid fight, hardly a fight! He won't care. Gaara thought. Kankuro still stood by the kitchen counter.

"Kan-chan?" Gaara said to get his attention. Kankuro looked hurt as he gazed into Gaara's warm eyes.

"Zannen desu." The redhead said penitently. "I didn't mean what I said, I…" Gaara halted as Kankuro pulled him close and kissed Gaara's forehead. His younger brother wished it was a different kind of love that compelled the kiss, but he buried his face in Kankuro's chest anyway.

"Forget it. Happy New Year's!" Kankuro said, as they broke apart. The phone rang and Karura picked up.

"Moshi moshi!" She said.

"Hey mom! Happy New Year's!" Temari said.

"Happy New Year's! Your father isn't letting you have any alcoholic beverages, is he?" Karura asked.

"No, he's not." Temari sighed.

"Good. What are you going to be doing?"

"Might go out for dinner and then see a show. What about you?"

"I'm going to drink profusely!" Karura responded.

"Don't hurt yourself."

"I won't! My kids are the biggest party poopers."

"Hey I wanted drinks!" Kankuro griped.

"All right. All my kids except Kan-chan." Kankuro nodded his head.

"I can't help it mom, I worry about you." Temari said with seriousness.

"Shinpai shinaide, I'll be just fine."

"Don't let Kan-chan drink any."

"I won't." Karura replied.

"Have a good time mom, I love you."

"I love you too. Have a wonderful time." Karura said and they hung up.

"Are we going to see fireworks?" Gaara asked.

"On T.V." His mother replied.

"What time?" Kankuro asked.

"They start at ten, I think." Karura answered.

"Bring on the booze!" Karura cheered and grabbed some from the cooler. They couldn't fit them all in the refrigerator. Kankuro glared from his spot on the couch. The boys each had a blanket, but Gaara had suggested that they shared theirs for more heat. Gaara liked being close to Kankuro, even though it made him so nervous. Karura returned with some Vodka and sat down. It was only nine thirty but they were doing a countdown of the funniest commercials. Karura took a long swig from her bottle.

"Mom, please?" Kankuro asked.

"No." She said without looking at him. She downed some more and hiccupped. Gaara watched the screen intently. The commercials they chose were not funny.

"Kanpai!" Karura suddenly shrieked. She started giggling madly. Karura stood up to get some sake.

"Mother, you shouldn't drink so much." Gaara said. Karura flipped him the bird. The redhead stared in shock.

His. Mother. Flipped. Him. A. Bird. Mother. Kankuro laughed.

"She's drunk I wouldn't take it personally." The brunette said. Karura sat back down, she some how thought to bring the cooler.

"Mom, you shouldn't drink that much." Gaara said again. Karura knocked back a glass.

"I'll drink, whateveh I wanna drink." Her speech was slurred. She poured herself another glass of some type of beer. She drowned that glass too. Karura laughed insanely.

"We should stop her." Kankuro said.

"Yeah."

The brunette got up, Karura noticed.

"Don't touch me. I scream rape." She hiccupped loudly and pulled out another bottle.

"Mom, that's unhealthy." Kankuro said.

"What the hheellll do you care?" she asked as she swallowed the beverage. She frowned when it ran out but pulled out another bottle. This one was wine. Kankuro tried to grab the bottle, but Karura held fast.

"Rape!" She said pathetically.

"Mom." Kankuro said firmly. Karura tugged the glass and chugged it.

"I love you. More beer!" Karura had a dopey grin on her face.

"No mom. Enough." Kankuro said trying to take away the new jug of beer without hurting her. She waved it in the air while pushing Kankuro away with her feet. Karura imbibed the burning liquid. Suddenly she was asleep. Her legs slumped to the floor and her drink rested against her chest. Kankuro gently pried it from her hands. He set it down on the floor and lifted his mother from the chair. She murmured slightly but didn't wake up. Kankuro walked into her room and set her down on the bed.

"Goodnight." He said. He walked back to the living room. He eyed the cooler mischievously.

"Kankuro, Mou yamete." Gaara ordered.

"Come on," Kankuro said.

"Don't." Gaara said.

"Why not?"

"Because you'll get drunk."

"That's the point." Kankuro laughed, he stopped when he noticed how serious his brother was.

"Please, just don't." Gaara said.

"Fine, fine." Kankuro grumbled and crawled back under the sheets.

"Thanks." Gaara said his eyes focused on the television. The fireworks were just starting. The night got colder and Gaara was almost sitting in Kankuro's lap. He felt happy, right here so close to Kankuro. Gaara couldn't find the will to care how he fell in love with his older brother. He just accepted it.

"Kan-chan?" Gaara asked.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry about what I said earlier." He said.

"Relax. It's fine." Kankuro said.

"I don't even know why I said it." Gaara continued.

"Look," Kankuro tilted Gaara's chin up to face him, "We all say things we don't mean." Gaara blushed darkly.

"You get embarrassed easily don't you?" Kankuro asked. Gaara turned to face the T.V. They watched in silence for most of the fireworks. Gaara had fixed them somehot chocolateas it got later. Kankuro was very appreciative. The brothers sat wrapped up in blankets, with coffee mugs in their hands, and sitting very close together. As midnight got closer the announcer kept saying to grab your lover for a New Year's kiss. Kankuro frowned but didn't say anything. It started showing clips from other countries.

"Look Konoha!" Gaara said. It was snowing lightly making the fireworks even more dazzling. Gaara smiled.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" Kankuro murmured softly in his ear. Gaara shivered.

"Yes, it is." He replied. The New Year's special showed Sunaga, which was nowhere near as spectacular. It returned to the announcer who once again mentioned for everyone to be ready for his or her New Year's kiss.

"How annoying." Kankuro complained

"What?" the redhead asked.

"The whole 'New Year's kiss' thing. They make such a huge deal out of it." He replied.

"So?"

"I've never had one, and they keep talking about it as if it's really important." Kankuro groused.

"I haven't either." Gaara said and continued watching. They were showing more displays of pyrotechnics, they seemed to be focusing on Konoha. Not a surprise really, Konoha was pretty big.

"Grab your love ones and keep them close you do not want to miss your New Year's kiss. There are only five minutes left." The announcer droned. Kankuro snorted.

"They do make a huge deal." Gaara commented.

"Yeah I told you." Kankuro said. The station took a commercial break, it showed a few that were on the countdown. The announcer returned repeating his message with even more force. Gaara laughed.

"It's so ridiculous." He said. Kankuro nodded in agreement. The cameras were now paying attention to the main event, the big Konoha finale.

"Please be ready to give a New Year's kiss everyone!" he said. Kankuro shook his head. An idea hit Gaara and his heart started pounding.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two…"

Gaara closed his eyes and gripped Kankuro's shirt. He gently pushed his lips against his brother's. It was a very gentle, timid, and unsure kiss. Kankuro stared at Gaara completely stunned. Gaara quickly pushed himself away.

"Now you've had a New Year's kiss." Gaara said. Kankuro started laughing.

"Good one! You sure as hell scared me!" The brunette said. He thought it a joke.

Gaara forced a chuckle, "Yeah, I had you for minute, didn't I?" the redhead tried to mask his hurt. Kankuro nodded.

"Happy New Year Gaa-chan, I'm going to bed." Kankuro yawned noisily and walked to his room.

"Goodnight." Gaara said half-heartedly. He made sure Kankuro had gone to bed and then grabbed a bottle of Vodka.

"I hate Mondays." Gaara said to himself and drank the alcohol.

Poor Gaara. Stupid dense Kankuro. He's not going to figure it out for a while. I'm thinking about getting rid of the japanese, what are everyone's thoughts?

Happy New Year's, wait...It's not New Year's...hm...

Machigattemasu: You're wrong
Baka ie: Nonsense
Zannen desu: I'm sorry
Shinpai shinaide: Don't worry
Kanpai: Bottoms up
Mou yamete: Stop that.

Hope you all enjoyed! I love your reviews!