Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Naruto. Mainly because I don't want to be sued. My allowance is only ten bucks a week, and that's cutting it short. So yeah… Written listening to Safetysuit's Stay (again), Good Charlotte's Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous, and Broken by Lifehouse. That is some playlist! Oh, thank you so much to angelofdarknessvampiress666 for amazing reviews and mentioning me in her profile, darkaquarian96 for her reviews and helpful notes, and Shibo26 for reviewing! You guys rock. :D
Aiko and I walked in silence for a while, until we turned onto my street. He was the first to speak.
"Aya-love, how have you been?" His voice was soft, and he slipped an arm around me. I leaned against him, glad to have my brother back. A small smile enveloped my face as I walked the final feet to my house.
"I've been good. Actually, I've never been better. I can't believe how much better I feel being away from them. And all my friends here are so great. Like Naru and Hinata, even Neji and Tenten who argue off the wall. They're the best. For once, I actually adore going to school. My teachers are good. Except for a few… This one, his name is Itachi, is some sadistic creep. And not in the way Gaara-kun is sadistic, but more of an I-will-kill-you-and-your-entire-family sadistic. Another, Iruka, is like…amazing at catching anyone before they even pull something like making spit-wads. Oh, Kakashi is my favorite. We don't do a lot in his class, but when we do he makes us think a lot! Then there's Shizune. She's pretty funny. Man, I just love Kohanakagure."
Kio-sama laughed and squeezed me closer, before opening my door.
Kane was digging through the refrigerator as always. As soon as he saw me, Kane dropped the two oranges and the Mountain Dew he was holding and wrapped me in a hug. I guessed he'd missed me too. I laughed and hugged the older boy back, barely able to breathe. He must have realized this, because he put me down. My brother's best friend looked me up and down with a nod. "Finally, you got taller!" he exclaimed.
I punched his arm with a bit of force. He rubbed it with a pout on his face. Kane hadn't changed. He was still playful and happy, with a serious side I hated to see. The boy was just too adorable when he was happy to want to see him angry or serious. A mop of straight, pitch-black hair rested atop his head, which stood about five inches above mine. Of course, his eyes were still a mischievous moss green with silly golden flecks. Sadly, they were usually hid by a pair of square, grey-rimmed glasses. Oh, his smile, which was so bright and joyful it made you smile right back, was still the same as well. The only thing that had appeared different was his size. Not only was he taller, Kane had finally gained some muscle. Camping constantly and part-time jobs had certainly left its mark on him. Now he looked like a handsome, happy graduate and not a cheery, cute class clown. This suited him, I thought.
"How have you been, my little Papaya? Any guys I have to beat up yet?"
"That is not my name!" I said with exasperation.
"There may be a guy we have to speak with," my brother mumbled.
"Oh?" Kane asked, serious for once.
"A red head named Gaara that she seems to have befriended." The two continued to speak over my head of Gaara, who was no threat to taking away my innocence. Finally I grew annoyed enough to say something.
"Damn it; stop talking like I'm not here!" Both of the boys looked down at me. "Thank you. Gaara is no threat to my single status thank you. He's just my friend."
Kane poked my nose. "That's how it always starts out, Papaya."
"My fucking name is Aya, and you know this!"
"Tsk, tsk. I knew Akio never should have cursed around you."
"Shut the hell up."
He laughed in response.
"Aya-love didn't mention that though she and Gaara are just friends, she said she would see tonight. As we were leaving, at that," Akio said darkly.
Kane stopped laughing and I felt both of their stares on my head. I glared up at the boys.
"I'm sure both of you can remember that I inherited insomnia from my brother. Well, Gaara-kun doesn't sleep either. So we sit on his roof and watch the stars, or sit in my room and talk. Besides, Gaara-kun has never had a friend before me; I don't think he's hoping to jump my bones just because I talk to him. If you'd like, since Kio-sama is sleeping on the cot I have in my room, one of you can even watch us."
Kane raised his hands in defeat. "Papaya cusses, threatens, and brings the pain, but she doesn't lie. Besides, I actually sleep at night."
"That's why I'm letting you have the futon in here," I said.
"I still don't trust the boy," Kio muttered.
I rolled my eyes and went to shower.
When I came out of the bathroom, Kane was asleep with his hand sticking out of a bag of sour cream and union chips on the coffee table. I rolled my eyes and murmured about him being a dork. My brother sat on the love seat, mindlessly watching T.V. I resisted the urge to roll me eyes at him as well. Almost skipping, I went over to the love seat and sat next to my near-silent brother. He smiled at me, and went back to the television. I turned my thoughts elsewhere.
Of course, my mind was wondering off to Gaara: the mystery I called my best friend. I knew him inside and out, and yet not at all. I could name off a ton of things he liked and all the things he hated, with room to spare. Anyone could question me about his food, music, clothing, movie, or book preferences and I could answer in an instant. People could be throwing me questions left and right and I wouldn't even mind. Yet, if there was a question about his mother or father, even grandparents, I would freeze up and become lost. If someone asked me where he was from, what his mom's maiden name was, if his dad was funny, which set of grandparents he preferred, how well he got on with his dad's brother… If I was asked any of those, I wouldn't know. I knew nothing of his family, excluding his siblings and that his dad was a hotshot business man. Baki didn't technically count because he wasn't a blood relative, but I knew very little about him anyways.
A soft sigh escaped me as I sat with my brother. He looked at me questionably and I just shook my head slowly. He understood I didn't want to talk about it and went back to watching television.
Twenty minutes of sitting in silence passed very slowly with my mind heavy. Finally I sat up and looked at Kane. "He is such a dork," I observed.
Akio shrugged. "Kane's a dork, but he's my best friends. Almost like a brother to me…" Kio-sama laughed, a smile coming to his face.
I pursed my lips in thought. "I guess it's kind of like Mori and I. She's the biggest dork in the world but still my big sister. And Kane is dorky as well, but still like your twin." I tilted my head, still talking in thought. "Maybe… Maybe we always pick the ones that suit us best – the ones that are completely opposite. That's just how it all works out, I think. We pick the opposite of us because it's what completes us."
Before Akio could say anything in reply, I was skipping off to answer the ringing door bell to my apartment.
My smiling – and knowing – face met Gaara's close-to-stoic one. "Good evening, Gaara-kun." I moved aside to let him in, closing the door behind him.
"Aya," he replied softly. I swear I saw the hints of a smile as he removed his coat, placing in on the back of one of my kitchen chairs. Even his eyes seemed a bit happy, looking at me so attentively.
I wanted to hug Gaara at that moment, and realized I'd never done exactly that. Sadly, Kio-sama's voice called out before I had a chance. "Hello, Gaara." Thankfully, his voice wasn't hostile. It was calm, but held a warning as an undertone. I practically groaned. Akio was my amazing big brother, but he could be so annoying sometimes.
"Hello, Akio-sama." I smiled at Gaara's intelligence. My brother melted under respect. Well, usually he did…
I motioned for both of the boys to sit at the table and they did, leaving me a spot in between then. I had another urge to groan. Instead, I put on a pot of coffee. This would be a long night, I figured. So, to make the best of it, I plopped into the chair with a huge smile. My smile wasn't so bright when I realized I had nothing to talk about… Oui.
"Sooo…" I tried. The boys just looked at me with a weird expression.
"You two are hopeless. I mean, c'mon. One of you is my brother – who happens to be very protective and unwilling to compromise without force – and the other is my best friend – whom is also very protective and unwilling to open up! You two give me a headache alone, and now you're in the same place! I need coffee and an aspirin just being near you guys." The boys glared at each other, but they softened after a moment. Gaara and Akio each looked towards me, then back at the other boy. Both of my favorite boys looked on with determination. I hope it was determination to get along instead of determination to fight like cats and dogs twenty-four seven.
"I guess we could try to get along, Aya-love," my brother said in a soft voice. He placed a hand on my shoulder and looked at my red-headed friend. "And it can't be horrible. I mean, you decked your brother to protect my sister. You may have hope yet."
"And Aya-chan is really happy you're here. She adores you."
I blushed at the boys' thoughts, turning my head away from them.
"I just hope you boys don't ruin the holidays for me," I joked. Akio feigned hurt and Gaara let out a signature 'Hn.'
I glared at the red head. "How many times do I have to fucking tell you that 'Hn' is not a word?"
"You used it once."
"And you told me that I couldn't use it because I was social."
"You are," he confirmed.
"As are you," I shot back. "You have spoken with at least five people today, instead of the usual three."
"That doesn't count."
"Yes, yes it does."
"Actually, I don't think so. He only expanded his social horizon because I and Kane came into town. If not, I'm sure he would have kept his normal pace if it wasn't me."
"Shut the hell up," I mumbled back. "You're supposed be totally supportive about your little sister, you jerk."
"Only if she has good reasoning."
"Jerk," I mumbled again, going to fetch the coffee.
"He agreed with me, so I win." Gaara's voice actually held a small amount of happiness, as if he wanted to laugh a little. How I would love to hear my silent boy laugh! One day, I swear I will get at least a giggle from him.
"You guys are both jerks, I hope you know."
"I'm used to it," Akio said with a shrug.
I laughed and dumped a ton of sugar in my coffee, creamer following. A smile still played on my lips, despite the loss of a battle. Once more, I plopped into the chair between the boys. The both looked at me expectantly. Honestly not knowing what to say, I sipped at my coffee, pretending to be very involved in drinking the sweet, caffeine-induced liquid. In reply, I received two amused faces, one eye-roll, and a groan from the couch. Intrigued, I peeked over the back of the futon. Kane sat up and groaned again.
"Why is the light on, dude?" he muttered.
"Because you're the only pansy in the house. The rest of us are awake and not complaining," I teased. The red head gave me a questioning look and I received a proud grin from my brother.
"Shut the hell up, Papaya."
My face reddened. "That is no way to speak in front of a guest, Candy."
"I'm a freaking guest," he said. Then he looked over the couch and noticed Gaara. "Ehehehe. Oops." Kane's face twisted in confusion. "Wait, did you just call me Candy? Are you serious?"
"Yes, Candy. As in Candy Kane. I hope you love you're nickname, because I adore mine."
"I hate you."
"I hate my nickname."
"If you stop calling me Candy, I will stop calling you Papaya."
"Then it's a deal."
"Sooo… Why did he call you papaya?" Gaara inquired.
"A couple summers ago, he was on the computer looking for fruit smoothie recipes because his current girlfriend had a thing for weird fruits. So he asked my how to spell the word papaya. As soon as Kane realized my name was in it, I had an annoying new nickname."
"Wow. That's…interesting" He struggled for the right word.
"I know right?" Akio snickered.
"I still hold sway over you, Kio-sama. You know exactly what I'm talking about, so I would quit while I'm ahead if I were you." My smirk was powerful as he grew nervous. My older brother tugged on his collar and mumbled until he found something to say that was mostly coherent.
"Are you talking about November a couple years ago?"
"Yes, yes I am."
Akio gulped.
Kane and Gaara looked amused. My brother's best friend was most likely imagining the worst possible things I could know about. Noticing this, Akio groaned and glared at me. "Ah-ah-ahhh. No glaring, that's what I tell Gaara-kun all the time."
My brother raised pity-filled eyes to my silent boy. "You have to deal with her bossing you around, too?"
"You have no idea."
"I'm so sorry."
"Jerks," I mumbled again. Akio only laughed at me.
"You are so rude to your guests."
"It doesn't count if they're family, ya know."
"Poor Gaara here isn't family, but he still has to put up with your abuse."
"Pshh. I'm considered family. I cook at his house twice a week because his sister would burn down the house if she poked a spatula."
My silent boy nodded. "It's true."
"Damn it. You'd make a good lawyer."
"And you'd be an excellent dancer."
He blushed deeply and rolled his eyes, trying to ignore the comment.
"He would what?" Kane asked.
"Oh, he never told you about November two years back? Well, we were-"
"Shush." Akio growled low in his throat. "You could make even a saint swear."
"I take that as a compliment."
"Ayyyyya," Kane randomly whined from the couch.
"What?"
"I'm hungry."
"And I'm not your mother."
"Please. My mother would never associate with someone like Akio."
"Hey!" Kio-sama protested.
I ignored my elder sibling. "You're right. And your mom would never know about a pizza place open 24/7 would she?"
The older boy bowed at me, murmuring, "All hail Aya."
Akio immediately began laughing. We all shot him questioning look. He wiped his eyes and said, "It's almost like he said Allah and not Aya."
"Freak."
"Shut up, Aya-love."
I rolled my eyes and began ordering pizza. A large with extra cheese and a medium with pineapple would be delivered in thirty minutes or less. Kane and Kio-sama cheered about the food, while Gaara looked on, amused yet again.
+Morning+
I awoke with a slight headache, wishing my stereo wasn't so loud last night. Going back to sleep wasn't really an option; I could never sleep after I woke up once unless I was sick. Shaking my head – which wasn't wise for the pain – I ran my fingers through my hair. I knew I should've put it in a pony tail…
Ugh. Why hadn't I slept when I actually began to feel tired for once? Nooo, instead I had to stay up until six in fucking the morning listening to the local pop/rock station while eating pizza, drinking coffee, and hanging out with three guys. I hope they felt as bad as I did. Of course, by the look of Kio-sama's smiling, sleeping face I could tell otherwise. For some reason the lack of sleep never effected him – unlike me, whereas I was only effected horribly once in a while. A groan escaped my lips and I stood, stretching my sleeping muscles. Not bothering to fix my blue sleeping shorts or white tank top, I opened my door with a yawn. And – much to my unfortunate luck – ran right into a fully awake and smiling Kane. "Owww. You jerk, that hurt." I groaned.
"Ehehehe. Sorry, Aya-chan." He laughed a bit, but it fizzled out very quickly under my glare.
"I hate mornings, Kane."
"So does your brother."
I smiled a bit and continued to get some coffee. When I reached the living room, I stopped, looked around, quirked and eyebrow and continued on my way.
It was honestly too early to figure out why Gaara was still sitting on my couch with a chocolate cupcake in hand, watching VH1's countdown.
Heya guys. Sorry this one was short, but I hope you enjoy it anyways. If you review, tell me whether you think Temari should end up with Kane or Shika. I've thought about both but can't decide. Later. OH! If you like Teen Titans, check out my newest story, Disaster's Decline.