Frenzy – hey guys, it's longer this time! Theres a little tidbit involving Thanksgiving at the end of the chapter and I just have to point out it's Canadian thanksgiving in October not American thanksgiving that's whenever. Thanks to my awesome beta Kaowaul and the ever glorious reviewers: heartlessRayne, Storm the Albatross and forever-sweet.

Chapter 6

'One of the things to be loved and hated when having so many friends is the frequency of birthdays and parties.' Kayla thought watching Ko dance with Naruto in a crowd. Naruto's godfather had spent a little extra for his 16th birthday and rented the whole on Naruto's favorite ramen restaurant. They had music blasting from more of Kina's tech and fresh food, mostly ramen, ready to eat. Kayla, Gaara and a few others who didn't like dancing were sitting at a table to the side playing cards. As the song changed there was a disturbance starting in the middle of the floor. Sasuke tried to butt in on Naruto and Ko's dance and Naruto and Sasuke were arguing much to Ko's apparent distress. Kayla knew somewhere inside she was enjoying the attention. "Is Sasuke crashing or did someone invite him," Kayla asked wishing for a reason to kick his ass out.

"Naruto invited him." Shino said

This took Kayla a minute to process. "Why would he do that? Aren't they... rivals for my sister?"

"Naruto still considers Sasuke a friend and 'precious person'," Gaara said.

"But-"

"Don't ponder the way Naruto thinks too long. Once you've made it into his social circle its difficult to get out. It's not very hard to get his forgiveness" someone else playing cards explained.

Kayla looked back over to the dance floor. Ko had decided to dance with Naruto fortunately for the birthday boy.

Forgiveness. Kayla had never been good with this but she found herself wishing for a way to gain back the Akatsuki's trust. She looked up and noticed Gaara looking at her, "what?" she asked self-consciously.

"Its your turn" he said motioning to the cards.

"Oh right" she ducked her head trying to hide her blush and play her turn quickly. 'Fuck what's wrong with me. I shouldn't be affected by this stuff. What happened to not caring?' no one seemed to notice her inner argument as the game continued. "I think we made a mistake, coming to regular high school." She murmured not realizing she finished her thoughts out loud.

"Why do you say that?" Shino asked.

"Look at the mess Ko is making." She said not wanting to make a point of her own awkwardness. "She's just pulling them both along till she gets bored with one"

"There's nothing you can do about it" Gaara muttered

"Hm? I can't just let her fumble around."

"She has to make her own mistakes or she won't know anything" he continued.

There was silence for a moment then Kayla threw a fake punch that was easily blocked by Gaara's sand defense. "When did you get so smart?"

The party was almost over when Kina approached Kayla who was sitting alone now. "We have to do something" she whined pointing into the crowd where Ko was flirting with Kankuro and Kiba. "If she keeps bouncing between guys she's going to ruin any group dynamic there is~!"

Kayla blinked a few times trying to process the words and make sense of them.

"She's going to pit everyone against each other and then there won't be any group!" Kina explained. "And I don't want that to happen."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Make her choose one boyfriend"

"I refuse to help" Kayla growled

"Just hear me out Kay. If she gets a boyfriend you won't need to protect her from everyone and you can focus on the one if he tries anything. It'll be way less work load for you. Right now she's just trying to get attention from Naruto and Sasuke she won't need to do that anymore if she has one of them." Kina informed her.

"I don't like the options"

"Would you rather she like Sasuke or Naruto"

"I'd rather she like no one!" Kayla did her best not to shout.

"You should know that's not going to happen"

"Fine. Naruto seems better than Sasuke but how do we get her to even consider this"

"I got a plan Cap'n. Come with me" Kina chirped pulling her over to Ko and pulling Ko away from the boys.

"Is there a reason for this interruption?" Ko asked keeping her voice pleasant.

"We have a proposition for you" Kina said releasing her grip on the two girls.

"You're not just trying to keep me away from your boy-toy?" Ko teased her looking back at Kiba and Kankuro.

Kina blushed and giggled, "you got me all wrong Ko-chan. I like girls" The conversation halted as the sisters looked at Kina in surprise, "Since when?" Kayla asked

"I dunno a while. Don't worry your not my type. Anyway this isn't about me. It's about Ko. We've decided that you should try going out with someone exclusively" Kina said in he normal hyper voice.

"Oh really?" Ko smiled close to laughing. "You think this too Oni-chan?"

Kayla shrugged her shoulders and avoided eye contact, "I'd accept it"

Kina waved her arms to gain Ko's attention again, "Naruto really likes you and all these guys aren't going to wait forever for you."

Ko chewed her bottom lip thinking this over.

"Empty Words" Kayla mumbled under her breath. Kina and Ko looked at her in confusion.

Flashback

The three sisters stood dressed in black greeting people in front of the funeral home. Their father stood a little ways further in. "You have such beautiful daughters." A man in a sleek looking business suit walked past them ruffling Kayla's hair as he past. The three of them listened intently to the conversation that passed. "I'm so sorry for the loss of your wife, it must be hard. The twins look so much like her. I heard you were finally expecting a son too. Such a pity you won't get a male heir. " he paused to shake their father's hand "You know I'm running for council? I'm sure after this fiasco you'll need a few friends on the inside eh Saburo?"

The two men walked into the building and continued talking. "Empty words" Munasshi mused. "Nothing he said had any meaning."

"Just trying to get something. Use words and compliments to his benefit." Kayla growled glaring at the ground.

"It works" Ko said sadly.

End Flashback

"Empty Words" Her head was hurting now.

Both Ko and Kina were looking at Kayla. "What?" Kina said confused.

"Ko I know I'm supposed to leave you love life alone but I have one request. You need to make a choice between them before someone gets hurt. Think about it long and hard and make your choice. I'll accept whoever it is as long as you do this." Kayla said shutting out Kina's plan and leaving them both awe struck.

"I'll see what I can do, for you guys, I wouldn't mind bringing one of them home to give dad an aneurysm. See you later" She said as she turned to go back to the party.

"What was that!" Kina squeaked scratching the back of her head in confusion.

"She needs to learn for herself. Now if you'll excuse me I have my own mistakes to fix," Kayla grumbled leaving the party.

She walked down the street silently pondering the information she had received at Naruto's party. "I'm sure if I explain myself they'll forgive me," she whispered to herself holding her coat together against the cold autumn air. 'I'll have to wait till school. I don't know how to get in contact with them... I'll talk to Deidara and Sasori after Thanksgiving to get them on my side.' She thought making her plan and trying to think of what to say.

That was when she heard voices and stopped. There were voices coming from the next alley over. Kayla crept closer trying to catch any of the conversation. Someone was begging. She inched closer to the alley, curiosity overcoming common sense.

"Please I swear I can get it for him" said the begging voice.

Kayla crept a little closer as she heard another voice chuckling.

"Leader-sama already gave you a warning, un. You think you can get out of this now? Too late, yeah"

Kayla froze at the familiar voice, she couldn't stand it. She peeked around the corner of the alley. Deidara was standing over a man pointing a gun down at him. He had his black cloak with red clouds on. She looked away from Deidara deeper into to the alley and ducked back as she saw a pair of golden-brown eyes flash in her direction from the darkness.

"I have a kid at home-"

"Shut up, yeah" Deidara snarled and there was a loud bang of a gunshot.

She scrambled backwards away from the mouth of the alley eyes wide from shock.

"Did you hear something Danna?" Deidara asked.

Kayla stopped breathing.

"Let's just get this cleaned up. You took too long with that one as it is." Sasori replied curtly.

Kayla slowly pulled herself away trying to get enough feeling in her legs to stand. When she got far enough to avoid being heard she sprang to her feet and ran as fast as she could as far as she could, getting home in record time.

For days Kayla holed herself up in her room, afraid that they would come after her because of what she saw. On the fourth day her door was opened. She ducked behind her bed and peeked over to see who it was. Munasshi stood in the doorway looking worried and amused at the same time. "Kayla this isn't healthy. I know that you have a good reason; you don't need to tell me what. But try and be alive for tonight. It's thanksgiving dinner and we plan to have it as a family this year."

Kayla nodded quickly, "I'll be down in a minute."

Munasshi smiled and left. As soon as the door was shut Kayla hopped over to her desk and pulled out a picture frame. It had a much younger her and Kina and two other older girls in it. This was her real family. They even got along with Ko and Munasshi when necessary. She hid the photo in her desk and brushed out her hair getting ready for one of the most uncomfortable events of the year. Family Dinner. 'It's not my fault these get-togethers are so painful.'

She got dressed in formal clothes and tied her hair back, better safe than sorry. When she got down to the dining room she was glad she had done it. At the head of the table her dad sat deep in conversation with her grandfather about the business, while her grandmother and her sisters spoke. Kayla sat beside Ko hoping not to be noticed; too bad things rarely went the way she hoped.

"Well Kayla-chan nice of you to join us" her grandmother croaked.

"Hello Obaa-san, Ojii-san. Happy Thanksgiving" she replied automatically. It's not that she didn't like her grandparents she just didn't like her grandparents.

"I was just talking to your sister's about their studies. What do you have in school?" Her grandmother asked.

"English, Taijutsu, Weapons Class and Art" She said, pulling some turkey and stuffing onto her plate.

"Nice strong classes for a Lore hmm? Except for Art... Seems a little wimpy. Isn't there something more useful that you could take?"

"Hm" she continued to pile food on her plate.

"Your sister's taking Science. Isn't that such a smart class?"

Ko soaked in the compliment. Munasshi rolled her eyes.

"Enough of academics. You girls must have lots of friends, tell me about them"

Ko began recounting all the new people they had met along with a few funny stories.

"What about you Kayla-chan? You haven't said anything," Her grandmother chided.

"I hang out with the same people as Ko. Although she didn't mention a few." Kayla said wishing she could finish and leave.

"Oh yes? Anyone I'd know?"

"Kina Daisu." She said knowing she only knew kids connected through companies.

"The heir to the Daisu Technical Corp." Their father filled in.

"Oh her. Well if there isn't any other heir I suppose they will have to turn to the gypsy's daughter." Their grandmother said snidely.

"I'd run away too if I had to be married into one of these families" Kayla muttered under her breath.

"What was that dear?" their grandfather asked.

Kayla kept her eyes on her plate trying to keep her lips from pulling back in a snarl. "Kina is a genius with that Tech and they'd be lucky to have her running the company... If you'll excuse me" she stood and left the dining room. So maybe it was her fault for the awkwardness.

Frenzy – Chapter 7 will be out really soon! I got most of it written, R&R please!