((Wow, three in a week! And I'm actually putting it online! *party sequence* I work a lot so I get plenty of time to write this stuff during the night. Anyway, my reviews actually doubled!))

slipknotgirl114:

i loved this chapter. lmao i loved the cooking scene with Temari haha update
soon! =D

((yay! some of the cooking scene I got from other manga or fanfics that I think I've read... but I don't remember where. my memory sucks. Glad you like it though!))

katarauchiha653719:

Awww that was cute at the end :D I really liked this chapter and I definitely
like how you've made your oc different from the other girls. Please update
soon!

((My oc's different? I really didn't know. I just made her up. So long as she doesn't go completely goody-goody like Tohru from Fruits Basket, I'm good. I love that manga but for some reason, Tohru's the kind of girl that you just want to torment because she's so good in the beginning. But another good review- hoorah!))

((Thanks for the favoriting PuNkPaNdAaLySsa13, kouriel, and hklittleredbow!))

Chapter 3: Conspiracies

Supper was quite awkward for Mishka. She got to meet the eldest brother, Kankuro. Black body suit with a hood that seemed to give him cat ears and purple face makeup that made him appear on edge. But maybe he was angry because the girls were laughing at him for wearing makeup, asking him why he would wear it.

"It's not makeup! It's kabuki face paint!" he objected angrily.

"What kind of man wears purple makeup?" a blond girl named Megumi sneered, blue eyeshadow outlining her blue eyes.

"A warrior..."

Everyone's eyes went to Mishka, who shyly looked away. Another girl with short brown hair, Anali, asked, "Whaaat?"

"W-well... back in the Cloud Village, there were stories of ancient warriors who painted their bodies to match their surroundings and take their enemies by surprise. Some of them looked like monsters to scare people away in case the reinforcements didn't arrive in time. They were brave, clever, and fierce in the ways of war."

Kaya 'ooh'ed and 'ahh'ed at the tale. "What colors were they?"

"Mostly white. There was also black and light blue. They wore armor painted white."

"That's so weird!" the strawberry blond with light blue eyes remarked. Her name was Zia and it was a little obvious that she had a few cards short of a full deck.

"No, not so much. At least not to me. Those Cloud Warriors... they're the people who made dreams a reality. They freed their people from the Kingdom Hidden in the Sky."

Kaya smiled. "That sounds like such an amazing story. Could you tell it to us?"

"After dishes. We can go to the living room and get comfortable and I will tell you the tale of the most famous battle that the Cloud Village has ever known."

This was just too strange for Temari to take. What exactly made up this girl? Selfless, willing to help, full of laughter, and now a story teller? It was like a mother in teenage skin had entered their home. But when Temari looked at Gaara, the blond was surprised. Her brother was watching Mishka without his usual look of blank scorn. It was a completely different look than the ones he was flashing the other girls, all of them giving him inviting gazes as they excused themselves to get their beauty rest.

'It's gonna take a lot more than one night of "beauty sleep" to pretty up them... did he pick these idiots at random or what?' Temari thought, rolling her eyes at their sluttish attempts at seducing her brother. Sure, Kankuro would have been tempted but this was Gaara.

Then her mind went to Mishka. The girl was indeed different than the others. As beautiful as she was, her personality was a perfect match. The girl was even willing to sleep on the couch. Granted, she'd been raised in an orphanage but was there no end to her selflessness? It was a little unnerving to her.

The blond woman snapped out of her thoughts to find the young-looking Kaya in front of her. "Are you okay? You were spacing out," she asked curiously.

Temari couldn't believe this girl was 18. She headed down the hallway towards the living room, knowing the girl was behind her. "I'm alright. Just thinking."

"About Mishka?" The look Kaya got was enough for her as she continued, "I know. There's something about her that just crawls under your skin. When I first met her, I thought she was a nice girl who wanted to marry herself out of the orphanage. But now... I don't think she's in it for the status. It's like she doesn't want him to pick her. But orphanage life can't be all that great. Where else could she go but back there?"

"I don't care but she's in the way." Megumi stepped out from the shadows, her blond hair in large curlers and a hair net. Her blue eyes were set in a glare. "I will not have some family-style reject keep me from my destiny."

"The only person keeping you from anything is you, Megumi."

"The longer you stand up for her, Kaya, the closer she and Gaara-sama will get. And there's already chemistry. We can't waste any time."

"Wait, what?" Temari asked, shaking her head. This blond girl was talking about Mishka like the enemy in a war.

"That girl was the only one whom Gaara-sama asked any questions during the introductions and before supper, they were in the kitchen and he licked her cheek."

"No way... he did that?" Kaya declared incredulously.

"And left her blushing up a storm. He had the most satisfied smirk on his face. Ooh... we REAL contestants have to stick together, Kaya. Who's side are you going to take? Mine or that tramp's?"

"Hey!" Temari growled. This chick was pissing her off. When it came to looks, all the other girls had Mishka beat in the skimpy department.

But Kaya was beginning to bend to Megumi's manipulation. "I... I should ask her about that I'm sure it's a misunderstanding."

"No, Kaya. It's not but do whatever you want. I'll await your answer for joining me. Goodnight." Megumi slipped back into the shadows, her bedroom door opening within them.

Temari and Kaya continued on their way and finally entered the living room. It was a large house.

Kaya didn't want to believe what the cruel Megumi had said. But she could tell that the blue-eyed blond hadn't lied. Was her kind friend really so two-faced?

"Just ask her. Mishka will answer all your questions," Temari stated, her voice sure and strong. "She hasn't lied to us yet."

"Who hasn't lied to you yet?" the white-haired girl asked as she entered the living room. She looked at her black-haired friend and her eyes sparkled with worry. "Kaya?"

"I-I wanted to ask you... um, is it true that Gaara licked your cheek?"

Mishka thought for a moment. "Yes. I was cleaning the kitchen and Gaara came to see how supper was going. He asked me to help Temari and I failed. Why?"

"Did you... like it? Him licking you?"

"Not really. It was embarrassing and left a weird fluttery feeling in my stomach. He was just teasing my failure, though. It's not like he was flirting with me."

A happy smile graced Kaya's face and she nodded. "You're right. There's no way he'd know who he wants this early."

Temari wanted to his both girls in the head. 'You have got to be kidding me...' she thought exasperatedly. Gaara didn't just go up to someone and lick them. He didn't tease just anybody for the Hell of it. That wasn't Gaara!

'Time to light a fire...'

"So, Mishka, it seems like you don't care if you lose?"

The white-haired orphan shrugged. "No. I'm surprised I've made it this far, actually."

Temari's shoulders slumped. 'And to have that fire taken out by a sudden downpour.'

"What are you talking about?" Kaya asked. "You're gorgeous! Of course he picked you!"

"Gaara needs to pick someone like you. Beautiful, a good family... Kaya, all of those old guys would readily accept you. All I have to offer is myself and that's not enough for them."

"But it would be enough for him."

Both girls looked at Temari strangely. "He's got all sorts of girls after him-" Kaya objected.

The blond woman shook her head. "You mean after his position. Gaara's been alone all his life. He didn't have anyone to call a friend until the Chuunin Exams when he was 12 years old. All his life, people have been trying to kill him. But I think if he could find one person that could love him and only him... that would give him her heart, he would love that girl despite her social standing."

Kaya swooned at the romantic thought but Mishka still didn't seem convinced. However, their discussion would have to wait. Gaara entered the living room and sat down on the couch next to Mishka. Pretty damn close to her if Temari's eyes were any indication. The white-haired female didn't seem to notice. It was story time.

((I'm not sure if there's electricity in the Naruto world... but in this story, there is. Hope you like this and please, read and review! I shall start on the next chapter now!))