So here it is, guys, chapter 6 of 'Those Lovely Young Men Across the Street'. Thanks, as always, for the reviews and support, and hope you enjoy this chapter! This chapter won't have much Temari/Hidan-ness in it, but rest assured this will be back in later chapters. I just felt like I needed to add a bit more background to the story. Hope you guys like it!

Now, onwards…

…...

'You knew they were there!' I accused.

He didn't even deny it, just smirked his stupid smirk and snickered. About me socking him in the jaw; that moment seemed like the perfect time.

…...

I guessed Hidan knew I was peeved, because when I turned round to yell at him, all I could see was his tall form retreating back into his house. I groaned, cursing under my breath, before turning back to my brothers. I could deal with the moron that was Hidan later.

I realised as I slammed the door behind me that my plan of avoiding the lounge (and my brothers) and sprinting straight to bed was not going to work. They were stood in the hallway, Kankuro smirking like the Cheshire Cat and Gaara's expression caught somewhere between shock and terror. They were side by side, hands bracing against the walls as if to block any chance of escape.

I'd always known that my brothers were scary. Now I was sure that they were terrifying.

'Good night, was it?' Kankuro practically purred. His expression was knowing, and I knew I wasn't going to get out of this.

I nodded. 'Yeah. Look, Kankuro, Gaara, I can ex-'

I was cut off as Kankuro laughed. . Full on laughing. I wasn't sure why, but I decided it was better than him taunting me.

'Temari,' he sighed, 'We're not your parents. Your business is your own. If you want to go out with him, go out with him. It just means Gaara and I will have an excuse to dig out the photo album.'

Oh. So he'd decided to taunt me after all.

'Are you okay with this?' I said quietly, directing my gaze to my youngest brother. 'Gaara?'

Gaara glanced up at me, running his fingers through his messy red hair. 'It doesn't bother me,' he said, raising a small smile. 'But if he hurts you,' he went on, his eyes narrowing, 'I will ensure he can never have children.'

I gulped. Still, that was Gaara's speciality. Going from impassively calm to psychotic in an instant. I guessed his concern would have been sweet, if it wasn't so disturbing.

'Oh…er, thanks, Gaara' I nodded. He nodded blankly in reply, before leaving his spot on the doorframe to pad upstairs to his room. 'Night.'

One brother down, I stood with Kankuro in the hall.

'So,' I began, 'You like Hidan?'

He shrugged, 'I don't really know him. But from what Pain was saying, he's a pretty cool guy. Just, you know, be careful. I don't like the thought of my sister getting hurt. You know, that's what happens when you get too caught up with guys like these.'

'Guys like what?' I questioned. It seemed like a weird thing for him to have said, and I wanted to know why he'd decided to say it.

He shook his head quickly. 'Nothing, just a turn of phrase. I just meant… I want you to be happy, but… be careful. That's all.' He held up his palms to me, a habit he often exhibited when I didn't believe him.

'Fine,' I sighed, 'Whatever.' I smirked. 'I guess I didn't know my little brother was such a softie.'

He groaned, blushing bright red. 'You get more like Mom everyday, Temari, I swear.'

I laughed at that, standing on my tiptoes (Kankuro had got his long-awaited growth spurt recently) and pinching his cheek gently, like a great aunt does to a toddler. 'Aww,' I teased, 'Little Kuro-kun is such a softie. Yes he is, yes he is.'

'Gah!' he cried, shaking free of my hold. 'I'm not a baby.' He laughed. 'And I'm not little, midget. I happen to be the tall one of the family.' He puffed his chest up, as if to emphasise this fact, and I couldn't help but chuckle. He was no comparison to Hidan.

'But I'm glad you get on well with the other guys,' I said genuinely. 'At least I won't have to do the awkward introduction thing.'

'True,' he nodded. 'Wait…have you told the girlies yet? I don't wanna face the wrath of that.'

'The girlies' is Kankuro's name for my friends; namely Ino and Tenten. He's never quite gotten over the fact that Ino had a crush on him when they were ten, and so refuses to come out of his room whenever they're at our house. That may seem extreme, but Ino did bake them his and hers cookies at the time (iced with Mr. and Mrs. Sabaku, of course), and poor Kankuro claims he still has nightmares.

'Well, er, not yet.' I admitted. Kankuro was right. I'd be slaughtered if Ino and Tenten found out from anyone else.

I grabbed my cell phone, walking into the kitchen.

Well, here goes nothing, I thought, let the squealing commence.