Emi and Kankuro

"You have got to be kidding me." A girl with nearly black-colored dark brown hair gawked at her mother, who glared at her.

"I am not kidding you. We need the money and you're going to do this job. It won't be for very long and besides, this is the Kazekage's sister, Emi." Her mother tried to reason with the teenager. Emi was eighteen and what was she doing for a living? Whatever her mother told her to do. Emi crossed her arms over her chest.

"No. I know I'm your little money-bringer or whatever but I refuse to babysit. I hate little kids. I'm not going to babysit even if it is for the damned Kazekage." Emi snarled back at her mother. Emi knew she was going to have to do the stupid job eventually, but she could fight while she still had a chance. Her mother crossed her arms over her own chest.

"You're doing it or you're not eating, Emi. This is for the good of the family so get your butt to that address and babysit for three hours." Her mother growled. "And besides. I hear the Kazekage's brother is going to help you out." Emi's eyes widened and she gawked at her mother again. A man was going to be helping her. Why did Kami hate her? Her mother had accidentally gotten knocked up, causing her to be born. She never knew her father and she was pretty damn sure her mother didn't know who her father was either. She hated men with a vengeance. This babysitting job was going to be a really big pain in the ass.

"Fine. I'm going. But I swear I'm going to kick someone's ass for this!" She yelled as she grabbed the slip of paper from her mother and finding where the address was that was on the slip of paper. She sighed when she got far enough away but glared at everyone as they passed. Almost everyone around her was wearing those forehead protectors that shinobi or whatever they were called wore. She wasn't a shinobi, nor did she really want to be one. She was fine on her own. She walked down the sandy streets of Suna and expertly maneuvered her way around everyone so they wouldn't get too close. She had a strong issue with personal space and anyone that had gotten in her personal bubble could tell you; she didn't hit lightly. Finally she made it to the address and knocked on the door, dreading the moment when the door would open. A man wearing a weird cat-looking suit and – wait, was that make-up on his face? – answered the door with a scowl.

"You must be the poor sap that got forced into doing this with me? I feel sorry for you. Well, welcome to hell." He growled out as he opened the door to let her in. She stepped into the house and took one look at the little boy sitting on the floor. Her scowl sent the boy screaming from the room and Emi groaned. It was going to be a long three hours. She spun around to face the man that had let her in.

"My name is Emi Sasaki. I'm laying down some ground rules here and now, so shut your damn trap and listen up. I have a huge issue with personal space and if you enter my personal bubble you will not leave this house without multiple bruises. I have a very short patience so you may have to stop me from killing the little demon spawn multiple times, even if it is only for three hours. I will not sit still for more than three minutes tops so beware. Any questions?" She asked, expecting the guy to just gawk at her like all the others. He just grinned and nodded.

"Yeah, I got it. The name's Kankuro. You sure are a firecracker now aren't you?" He asked before going off to find the little 'demon spawn' she had previously mentioned. The little brown-haired, gold-eyed boy scowled as he was brought back in.

"I don't want to play in here! I want to play outside! Play with me or I'll scream!" The little boy threatened. Emi groaned. Scratch that comment. It was going to be very long three hours. She sat down on the couch and started throwing toys at the boy as he screamed at her to play with him and before long she got up and started chasing him around the house, causing him to laugh, thinking they were playing tag or something retarded like that. Emi scowled when Kankuro started laughing at her attempts to quiet the boy and went into the kitchen, sticking a lollypop in the boy's mouth and standing RIGHT next to Emi. She growled and tightened her fist, getting ready to punch him before realizing with a start that she didn't mind him being close to her and blushed, quickly moving away from the puppet master. Unfortunately, the silence did not last for long, seeing as how the little spawn seemed to suck up the sugar and be on a sugar buzz, making the lives of the puppet master and the teenager turn into a living hell. Soon, Emi grabbed a knife and started trying to stab the boy, making Kankuro hold her back by the waist.

"Get back here you little – " Her mouth was covered by Kankuro's hand as he tried to stop her profanities from leaking out. It was then she realized he was in her personal bubble AGAIN and she still didn't mind it as much as she thought it would.

"We're not getting paid to kill the little demon, no matter how much I want to. You haven't seen Temari when she's angry." He shuddered. She glared at his make-up covered face and sighed, nodding and dropping the knife.

"I still want to kill the damn kid. I hate little kids." She said in a huff as she sat on the couch. Kankuro sat with her and nodded.

"Ditto, chick, but you gotta deal with things you don't like sometimes, unfortunately. I keep having to do all this stupid stuff for my brother." She sighed as well.

"Ditto again, only for me, it's my mom." She replied and sneaked a glance at this guy. He wasn't so bad, for a man anyway. He may even be a guy that she actually…almost…liked. Maybe if she could make him loose the cat-eared hat and make-up he may actually be kinda cute. She scooted a little closer to him and she could see him blush from even under the make-up and knew that he felt the same way.

"Well then, after giving the demon spawn back to his parents, do you want to maybe catch a bite to eat? My treat." He offered. She grinned and nodded.

"Yeah, that sounds nice. You know, Kankuro, you're not too damn bad for a guy that wears make-up." She grinned. He grinned back before leaping up to chase her after she picked up the knife and started chasing the young boy after he screamed something at them.

"Wait! Emi you can't kill him! God, you're a piece of work." He yelled at her. She grinned at him.

"I'll take that as a compliment, thanks. Now, when are his parents coming home so this night can be over already!?" She yelled. He grinned and helped her care for the little demon spawn until his parents came home to the little thing sleeping from the exhaustion of being chased around for three hours. Together, Kankuro and Emi went and ate at a restaurant and realized this was the start of something completely different from what the two were used to.

I hope you enjoyed it, Kankuro's Puppet! It was fun to write, but this was my first ever piece of work that I've swore in. It's kinda weird. Not sure if I'll do that too often! grin

Kulani Tawanoki