School's coming back in 19 days more or less School's coming back in 19 days more or less! Agh! –pulls hair-

Kankuro: Woohoo!

Me: I can't update my fan fics everyday anymore! Wah!

Kankuro: Double the Woohoo!

Me: But, hey, I updated my first chap fics every other day since I was working on it during the school year so… I don't have a problem.

Kankuro: Minus one Woohoo.

Me: And here's the next chapter!

Kankuro: Negative one Woohoo.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

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Chapter Four:

"Of Heavy Metal Rock and Explosives"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

This is a very, very bad omen.

"Ever heard of an umbrella, Tenten?" Neji commented, ransacking his locker for his gym towel. He's such a great friend to actually go through the trouble of having to look for his junior gym towel (which is probably lost) just to get me dry.

Here I am, dripping wet in the middle of the first hall, leaning on my closed locker as I got weird looks from the passing students. I didn't dare open my bag. I'm sure that I'd just find drenched notebooks and soiled homework and it'll just make me feel worst.

"It's not my fault, I said," I tried to defend myself, glaring at Neji, "It was fun and sunny and it even seemed to be forty degrees centigrade outside three hours ago! Then, woosh! The rain pours on me like I'm jinxed."

Neji found his gym towel and handed it to me as he mumbled, "Three hours ago? Tenten, no one goes out to walk to school at 6 a.m. You know classes start at 9, technically. People who wake up at 6 to get to school are ravers and kids who have insomnia."

Insomnia. Gaara.

"The tickets!" I blurt out, accidentally sprinkling rain drops onto Neji's face as I turned sharply to him, "I got up early to get the tickets! They must be soaking wet in my pocket!" Oh, gawd, this isn't my day.

Neji and I worriedly stared at my side pocket. Should we dare go check on the tickets? If ever I find those tickets torn or doused, I'll own Neji big time. Bigger than last time!

Still, I had to check on the tickets. Slowly, I sunk my hand into my pocket and tried to feel any dry paper and maybe, miraculously, the Metallica tickets had a barrier of some sort that makes them waterproof.

"Only two are ruined."

Thanks to the thickness of the material used for the tickets, only two got wet. The other three are saved.

"I'm hoping two of them wouldn't want to come." I sulked, flapping the ruined tickets to make them dry up and fast. Then, the moment of truth had come.

Gaara, Kankuro and Temari are coming this way.

"Tenten, come on, ask them to tonight's concert already." Neji pressured me, gripping my wrist as he glared back at the Beach Sibs, "This is like this one time in your life when you can finally go really find out if Voldemort really is Harry's father! Go!"

"He wasn't, idiot!" I growled, snatching my wrist away, "And besides, I can't just ask them straight! I gotta beat around the bush a little, pretend it's coincidental!"

He rolled his eyes then muttered, "Fine." He had an idea. He grabbed me by the wrist and took my hand above our heads and he screamed, "Free tickets to the sold-out Metallica concert in the Desert Gale!"

Real smart.

A crowd of people ran to our spot and frantically tried to snatch the tickets from my hands. I was just lucky that Neji had a grip on my wrist and was bringing my hand higher to keep them out of reach. "Hey! Down, dogs! Sit!" Who knew there so many people who were in love with the music?

Of course, the Beach Sibs (well, only the guys, though) turned their heads to look at the tickets and in a few seconds, Gaara motioned for Kankuro and Temari to follow him through the crowd to the tickets. Temari rolled her eyes and Kankuro looked like a cat getting a reward.

Neji pulled on my wrist, making me reach higher and it was just unlucky of me to have him almost five inches taller than me. It felt like my arm muscles were going to be torn off. Then, a calm and collected yet demanding voice halted the frenzy.

"Three please."

I took my gaze around to check out who said it, but no doubt it was Gaara. Soon, from within the crowd, he came out with his rock star brother (complete with an empty guitar case latched across his back) and his computer whiz sister. His panda eyes were fixed on me.

"I said I want three tickets." He repeated himself, glaring at me with those metal blue eyes, "You said they're free, unless you were bluffing."

Neji let go of my wrist and even as I set my hand down, no one dared to take them away. And Neji had to go on with his 'plan'.

"Y-Yeah, they're free but…" Neji tried to make up a way to have these end up in the Beach Sibs' hands, "Seeing the fans of Metallica here, we can only give it to the number one fans… The three most number one fans, to be exact. And I want you guys to prove your fandoms."

A lot have walked away already, but about ten remained, including the Beach Sibs.

Two guys performed one of Metallica's songs with their acoustic guitar in front of us. They keep saying that they were number one fans since they're obsessed enough to actually study the band's voices and try to alter their own voices to theirs. Of course, no one was convinced.

The two guitar buds were out.

A guy and two girls formed one group and showed off their tattoos of the Metallica members on their backs. Really freakishly obsessive, but the two jocks who had the song lyrics tattooed on their legs proved better (My gawd, these people are freaks.).

But Gaara made a better piece of fandom proof.

Temari took out her cellphone (which she designed, upgraded, bought and even customized herself) and played a video from Youtube showing Metallica in the other year's concert… and Kankuro with Gaara were standing on stage, jamming with them.

Whoa…?

Obviously, we gave the tickets to the Beach Sibs. All three tickets and I think I'm sure about Temari going there out of force since she was whining when Gaara told her to get one ticket. She doesn't have much of a choice since her brothers are going and she has to guard them.

"Say," Kankuro then said before they left us, "Why're you giving these away, anyhow? These cost a lot. I couldn't even afford them, shockingly." His arched brow and angsty scowl made me gasp softly. Wooow…

Neji shrugged and made up an excuse, "Tenten and I were supposed to go with three other pals but they declined. Didn't want the tickets to go to waste, that's all." Of course, the wet tickets were still in my pocket. Hopefully, they'd keep their shape and wouldn't rip so we can still use them.

"That so?" Kankuro smirked, showing some of his teeth. Only now did I notice that his right tooth at the side was pointed and it made him look like a bad boy. Nice touch, if you ask me, "Well, we'll try to spot you guys there. Thanks for the tickets again." He waved the tickets and gave them a smack.

Neji raised his brows while I made a cheery smile and waved to them. Gaara kept his baby bear smile on as he paired it with those devilish eyes (not a good combo but it works for him) while Kankuro smiled back with an eye in a wink. Was that for me?

"Are…"

I spoke up, mumbling. The Beach Sibs turned to me and gave me a questioning look. I said, "Are… Are you DemonFalcon, Kankuro?"

Why did I say that?

He chuckled and answered smoothly, pulling on his guitar case's handle a little confidently, "If you want me to be…"

"No, no. I mean, is your chat name DemonFalcon?"

"My chat name's 3n3my. Wanna chat?"

"S-Sure?"

"Check you out after the concert, then."

And there, the three walked away. I felt my cheeks burn and I swear my eyes were literally blowing off pink hearts like in those dumb cartoons. Kankuro… Why didn't I see this guy before?

Pinch.

"Ow! What was that for?" I yelled, slapping Neji across the cheek after he pinched my waist. He rubbed his cheek after my slap and growled, "Don't go asking people about that DemonDove guy…"

"Falcon."

"Dove, Falcon, Eagle, Chicken, Quail, Featherless Mongolian Cuckoo Kiwi Mongrel! They're all birds!"

"Well, it just came out, sorry! Couldn't help it."

He eyed me angrily and suddenly asked as he pulled his calculator out from his locker, "Y-You talked to him last night, you said?"

"Yeah. He IMed me and I was dumb enough to answer."

"Idiot."

He slammed his locker door shut with a loud slam and he then turned to the other side of the hall, "I'll meet you at recess and lunch break. Then, we'll try to get those tickets dry. Look for Lee and tell him about it." He shouted back as he ran through the hall.

I nodded to him and shouted back, "Hey, your gym towel--…"

"Give it back later! I'm late! We're late! I still have a Trigonometry test today so I gotta hurry if I want to have the cheats pass by my seat! See ya!"

Cripes. He's right. I took out my Biology books out of my locker then rushed down the hall… with Neji's towel hanging from my shoulder.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O

The first time I heard Metallica was in Neji's Ipod. Hanabi downloaded it without his knowing. Neji was someone who'd listen to any genre of music but his Ipod is packed with coffee shop blues, jazz, soft listening, classical… Old people stuff.

I didn't mind so one day, we were sharing headphones and just listening to his Ipod. The tracks were all real soft and relaxing but then, one of the Metallica tracks blared through the headphones. It was a shock for the ears and we couldn't hear well for days.

Up till now, Hanabi hasn't taken out those Metallica tracks from Neji's Ipod.

Still, I'm here in the middle of the concert with Neji and Lee (Neji had a ticket. Lee bribed the guy in the entrance.), just absorbing the loud metal rock mixed with the screaming fans and the hooting bums down at our left. If Neji wasn't in a good mood, he could've punched the lights out of them.

"Where are those three?" I impatiently looked around to spot anyone of the Beach Sibs, "Do you think they got the tickets then sold them? That is not sane."

Those three can do anything with everything. Gaara can sell half a pencil for three hundred bucks and have it sold in three minutes. Kankuro can sell his guitar for thrice the original price and buy it back on the same day. Temari can buy the school. Period.

Anyway, it was good to see Kankuro and Gaara walking towards us with Temari tailing them. She had earmuffs over her ears. Such a disappointment to metal rockers everywhere.

Kankuro and I exchanged greetings while Temari and Gaara just raised their brows at us (But Gaara didn't dare make eye contact with Lee. Status thing?). From what I'm seeing, they don't exactly look like they're enjoying themselves.

Except for Gaara. He was jumping around yelling "Metallica Rules!" before we called to them. Hypocrite.

But then, Temari gave them an annoyed glare and muttered to her brothers, "Can we get this done and over with? I think my ears are going to just explode. Not even the earmuffs can protect me." Kankuro rolled his eyes at his sister and mumbled something about 'not appreciating good music'.

The brothers gave each other a nod and Kankuro began, "We don't usually do this, but we're inviting you to come with us. Like explosives?"

Neji, Lee and I exchanged looks then replied simultaneously, "Uh, no."

Gaara rolled his eyes and grumbled, "Too bad. Still goin' with us?" Neji shot me a look that yelled 'No' in the plainest way. Lee appeared to be getting more and more eager by the second. If we do go with them, it'd get my chances of getting one of them as my ball date, right?

"Sure!" I replied.

I swear Neji wanted to strangle me on that moment. Lee squealed… for the nth time.

With the Beach Sibs, we walked out of the concert venue and found the sandy vista of Desert Gale before us. Desert Gale, after all, is just some dusty piece of desert outside town. It's deserted and this concert is the first event to be held in this sand dump.

Once again, Neji pinched my side and growled lowly in an infuriated tone. Walking past me, he muttered, "You owe me three."

"I know. Sorry." It was all I could say.

The six of us kept walking until we were some distance away from both the concert place and the town entrance. What the heck do these guys want to do?

Then, they stopped. "Alright, this is a good spot." Gaara said, stomping onto the sand below his feet. Kankuro nodded and took off his guitar case. Surprisingly, it wasn't empty this time… it was full of fireworks.

(In case anyone's wondering: He just brings the guitar case around in school to show off. He can't play the guitar. But he sings well. So, so well.)

"Whoa." Neji murmured under his breath as he watched Kankuro take out a firework after another. How many did he have with him? And how did it all fit inside that one guitar case? Anyway, Temari approached my group and explained everything.

"These are fireworks from this year's New Year festival. Yeah, we smuggled them. You guys seem like a lot of fun so we decided to share the fun with you." She said, shaking a matchbox with one hand, "But you gotta swear that not a word comes out that we're doing this, okay?"

Did we have a choice? If we blabbed about it, we'd be taking some blame, too, since we're with them. The cruelty of the world.

We just nodded and promised that our lips are sealed. We watched Gaara plant the fireworks on the sand side by side in a row. Indeed, no one was around to witness anything but one firework is enough to summon the local police from the town.

There was a rather flat and wide boulder nearby and we were instructed to go behind it so we can see the fun and stay safe. There, I sat beside Kankuro and Neji. Lee, of course, sat beside Gaara.

"We do this a lot, you know," Kankuro mentioned, turning to me, "And every time, the cops never get to catch us. Pathetic, actually."

I just nodded and giggled without much consciousness. For the third time today, Neji pinched my side. But this time, I didn't dare slap him. We watched Temari rush to the fireworks and light every one. By the time she lights the last one, she still has time to rush to the boulder, though.

And there, she lit the last firework and ran back to the boulder to join the group. Impatiently, we waited for the fireworks to go off and they did…

But they didn't shoot to the sky. They exploded on the spot.

"Cool." Gaara chuckled with a smile. Is he a pyromaniac or what?

On the other hand, Lee bent lower and covered his eyes, screaming of hell and Shakespeare.

Temari just sat there, arms across her chest looking calmly as if she expected it.

And my best friend, Neji, stared back at the explosion like a child in awe.

I made the oddest reaction. I yelled, "Fridge nuts!" I am such a sissy.

Then, the weirdest thing happened: Kankuro took my hand and mumbled, "Shouldn't let that scare you, you know. Just an explosion."

I wanted to scream. The Kankuro, Gaara's rocker brother and the object of admiration of half of the school was holding my haaaaand.

I don't know why he did that, but I am so sure it wasn't accidental!

Then, when the explosions died out, Lee leapt out of the boulder and shouted out at the top of his lungs, "That was so awesome! Like fairy godmother's dress under a twinkling glare of a black and orange Telletubby!"

That has got to be the weirdest piece of poetry he has ever made.

"That has got to be illegal." I commented, staring back at the dust and mess the fireworks made. Indeed, fireworks, generally, are illegal.

"We know it's illegal," Temari said, standing up from her place as she brushed the sand off of her skirt, "That's why we run."

And off she went ahead of all of us. As for the rest of us: We didn't start running until we heard the police sirens wailing and getting louder by the second. Across the Desert Gale we ran, all five of us minus Temari who went ahead, laughing and having so much fun.

By the town entrance, we caught our breaths and panted, still chuckling from the experience. "We gotta do that again one day." I laughed, turning to Kankuro. He beamed back and he replied, "Why not? Once we've got another batch of fireworks, we'll meet again."

And there, I just nodded. Gaara fixed his hair and wiped every trace of emotion off of his face before dully saying, "Come on, Kankuro, we better catch up with Temari. And you three, shut up about this."

The two Beach brothers walked away and before those two were far enough, Kankuro called out to me, "Oh, and I'll chat with you tomorrow morning, Tenten! I'm 3n3my, okay? Night!"

O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O

DemonFalcon: had 1 hell of a nyt princess 1010?

I was typing on my PC after Neji walked me home when the IM came. I wasn't in the mood to be talking to this stranger again since Neji gave me the cold shoulder. He says the holding of hands was unnecessary and equally crappy.

I really don't know if he's overprotective or if he thinks I'll replace him with Kankuro.

Still, I answered back to the IM.

1010kunoichi: Awful night, if you ask me.

DemonFalcon: fireworx are fun u know. fraid arnt ya?

1010kunoichi: How'd you know about the fireworks thing?

DemonFalcon: cops. says teens set off fireworks at desert gale. wanted 2 c if u were responsible so I asked. u gave d answer away honey.

1010kunoichi: I see.

1010kunoichi: You have contact with the cops??

DemonFalcon: nope. ur firework antix in d news dope.

1010kunoichi: Crap.

1010kunoichi: Great.

DemonFalcon: u say it wuz awful nyt 2nyt?

1010kunoichi: Yeah.

DemonFalcon: y so? cops didn't catch ya so celebr8 dope.

I didn't answer immediately. I grabbed my phone and called Neji's number to tell Neji what DemonFalcon is saying. He had to know. I just hope he's not angry enough to ignore me. But when I waited for ringing, the line was busy. That's strange. Neji's direct line is never busy since he doesn't have much of a social life.

Maybe he's talking to Lee…

DemonFalcon: still alive?

1010kunoichi: Yeah, yeah.

DemonFalcon: so hws ur hunt 4 d grad ball d8 comin?

1010kunoichi: Bad. It might look like I'm going stag. How about you?

DemonFalcon: no d8. stag I told u already.

1010kunoichi: Oh, yeah, I remember.

DemonFalcon: need advice?

1010kunoichi: Sure. Talk to me.

Hey, I'm desperate.

DemonFalcon: well xori cant help ya. I know nothing so cant help ya. dunno ur prob.

1010kunoichi: You make sense.

DemonFalcon: I do coz im right nd that's coz, nigga.

1010kunoichi: Are you a gangster?

DemonFalcon: gee u think dope?

1010kunoichi: Sorry.

DemonFalcon: ds s all d advice I cn tell ya fer now: if uv got a prob with urself that affects ur way of getting a d8, ask a friend w/ xperience. Xample: if u suck at looks, ask advice from a good-lookin pal. If u suck at d8 tests, get a pal whos got xp.

1010kunoichi: Date tests?

DemonFalcon: kissing dope. Kissing is d ultim8 date test. It's a plus 4 d guys. U kiss good, ur good.

1010kunoichi: Ew.

DemonFalcon: ur prolly lucky if u didn't have a 1st d8 with a guy hu did a d8 test on u if u dnt hve kissin xperience.

DemonFalcon: did my advice help?

1010kunoichi: Not exactly.

DemonFalcon: ur welcome.

And there, he went offline. This is getting interesting… and irritating.

I dialed Neji's number again and found his line busy again. I left a message:

"WHO THE HECK IS DEMONFALCON?! HE'S DRIVING ME CRAZY! IF YOU'RE HIM, I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU BUT YOU GOTTA AT LEAST TELL ME THE TRUTH! SOME FRIEND YOU ARE IF YOU LIE TO ME! … Call you tomorrow."

Tomorrow's Saturday, so I'm going to be hanging out with Neji and Lee. Hope things'll be fine by then.

Hmm... but DemonFalcon did help me a little. Come to think of it, I think the only things holding me back from snagging a date are: my label and... dare I say it, my lack of date test experience. This is weird, but what if Kankuro or Gaara or any guy I might like to snag as a date does do a date test on me.

Fine, DemonFalcon. Your advice helped. I need to find a close friend who'd help me with my 'date test problem'. The label problem is beyond me. I can never change that, duh.

So... who has kissing experience that can help me? Hm...

That's it! ...Neji.

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There.

Kankuro: You made me a rocker? Nice.

Me: I was hesitant. Reviews please! Thanks!