TEMARI

Temari waved goodnight to Naruto, who raced to catch up with Chouji who walked ahead with Shikamaru on his shoulder.

As they left, Temari couldn't help but curse with frustration. Eventhough they were helpful, she hated that Naruto and Chouji had shown up. She was annoyed that Shikamaru had fallen asleep. She was also angry at herself for getting so caught up in her emotions. And she felt... extremely frustrated that that make-out session was so good.

As lazy as he liked to portray himself, Shikamaru knew what he was doing. Even when he was intoxicated. Temari paused a moment, wondering if she had been wrong to kiss a man while he was drunk. Had she taken advantage of him?

Before she could process that thought, her phone rang. It was Gaara. Her brothers wouldn't call her unless it was important.

So she answered immediately. She heard Kankurou's voice protesting in the background, "She's just going to get mad at the both of us!"

"She will get even more mad if we don't tell her," Gaara spoke.

"Gaara? What's going on?" her tone made it more of an order than a question.

"We are in the emergency room at the college's medical centre," Gaara's voice was flat. "But Temari there is no need for you to come over as Kankurou is only slightly injured-"

Temari didn't hear what he said because she turned around and headed back to the main campus.

INO

Ino's night was turning out to be huge bore.

She had planned an exciting date night with her boyfriend Sai, which ended up being postponed due to an 'art emergency'. Heartbroken and cranky, she called Sakura and Hinata, seeking comfort from her best friends… only to find Sakura more heartbroken than she was, crying into Hinata's arms at the library. Sasuke had left the campus for the weekend without telling her.

And just when the two of them had started texting… Ino thought, shaking her head in disgust. She couldn't believe she used to have a crush on him.

She didn't know if Sakura and Sasuke's on-again-off-again-barely-on-the-first-time relationship was ever going to amount to anything, but she was rooting for her best friend's happiness. Ino, Hinata and Sakura had been through it all in their years of friendship. So at Hinata's suggestion, the trio were going to hang out and watch a movie together. Which would have been a perfect night.

But as they were leaving the library that evening, they'd run into one of the "Suna-stars". Ino chuckled at how genius that nickname was. Kankurou had accidentally hurt himself in the carpentry shed. Chopped his finger off with one of the powertools. It's a good thing the three girls were the top of their medical class or he might have had to say goodbye to that finger.

They managed to get him to the emergency ward in time to get him the medical attention he needed. But then there was Dr. Tsunade roaming the halls, ready to grab them for some volunteer work. The lady was like an eagle with huge boobs. Dr. Tsunade was ramping up to give them some kind of work for the weekend. Luckily for Ino, an angel from heaven appeared. Beautiful and blonde, Temari rushed through the doors of the emergency ward.

Ino quickly brushed Professor Tsunade away, telling her that it was their sacred duty as the Student Council Members to ensure their new transfer was reunited with her family. She doubted Dr Tsunade cared about that but it was distracting enough for her and Sakura to get away. How Hinata managed to blend in and go unseen always amazed Ino… especially recently when Hinata has been sneaking away more often.

"I'm here for my brother. Is he alright?" Temari asked the front desk urgently. From the way she was dressed and oversized hoodie and trackpants, Ino guessed she came straight from a workout. Who runs on a Friday night? The same kind of people who'd risk their limbs to make their art, Ino guessed. These Suna-kids were truly hardworkers. What did she expect for the track star of Suna. But there was something about Temari's outfit that was familiar.

"Temari!" Ino pulled Sakura away from Tsunade when she had her back turned and headed to Temari. "Come with us, your brothers are over here," Ino called her, directing her to the beds.

Temari walked with gusto, obviously concerned.

"Hi Temari, I wish we could have met in better circumstances. I'm Sakura-" Sakura started to introduce themselves, but Temari already knew their names.

"Sakura and Ino - Secretary and Student Welfare, right?" Temari said.

Sakura blinked at Ino, as if to say, she's good. Ino just mouthed 'Suna-stars' to Sakura.

"That's a really nice hoodie, by the way," Ino watched as Temari glanced down, as if to take a better look at it.

"Urh - thanks," she said shyly. Ino noticed the pink at her ears.

Is she blushing? Ino thought.

The three of them walked to a room and Ino pulled back a curtain, revealing Kankurou on a hospital bed. His shirt had bloodstains and one of his hands was bandaged up. Gaara was sitting next to him, legs crossed. His face looked very intense with his heavy smudge eyeliner around his eyes. At the arrival of Temari, the two boys sat upright.

Everyone knew Ino was the biggest gossip on campus. It's not that she wanted to hurt people, she just knew the value of knowledge. Having information about the campus students and their relationships is what allowed the student council to run smoothly and effectively becuase it kept the student body engaged. And in this moment, Ino had feeling that there was a story behind that scarf. But now wasn't the right place or time for it. So it will have to wait.

Temari must run a tight ship, Ino guessed. Are they in for some kind of lecture? Punishment? Ino loved watching a scene, almost as much as she liked stirring the pot. She was a busybody, so sue her.

The boys' eyes were wide and they froze as Temari rushed to wrap her brothers in a hug.

"Oh Tem, gross," Kankurou let out. "Why do you stink?"

"Sister, please... you smell like a chimney... if it was made of meat." Gaara said softly. The two boys rolled his eyes before wrapping his arms around her as well.

Ino loved the sappy moments just as much, so she was satisfied.

Temari let them out of the hug and gave them a good once over. With a nod of her head, her eyelids dropped to a steely glare. She whacked them both on the head. The boys went "Ow" in unison.

"What on earth happened here? Kankurou, how have you injured yourself within the week?" Temari had her arms crossed over her chest.

"I thought I turned off the power saw, but I didn't and well… oops," Kankurou grumbled shyly.

Temari looked at the bandage on his hand, her eyebrows scrunching up in distress.

"Oh don't fret. It was a clean cut and despite the blood loss, it was a very simply procedure of reattaching the veins and nerves. The human body is actually quite amazing because once-"

Ino stopped Sakura's enthusiastic explanation. "Yeah he'll be fine, Temari. Sakura is the top of our class and prodigy of Dr. Tsunade herself. She knew what to do and she made sure he got the best treatment," Ino said, proud of her best friend.

"Yeah, good call on bringing the finger. I didn't know we could reattach body parts like that," Kankurou called out.

Temari rushed over to Sakura and hugged her as well. "Thank you," Ino heard her say softly to Sakura beside her. Sakura shot Ino a glance. Ino signalled her to hug Temari back, which Sakura did hesitantly. Temari let her go and turned back to Gaara.

"And Gaara, what happened to you?"

Now the people present turned to Gaara, who had dark rings of eyeliner around his eyes that made him resemble a raccoon. He also had on a torn mesh shirt, huge black platform boots and several studded belts around a very baggy pair of pants.

"I've been wondering the same thing all night," Kankurou admitted.

"I guess it is time for me to inform you both…" Gaara said seriously. Standing up, he looked between his big brother and sister.

Ino and Sakura quietly watched all of them. They were a peculiar bunch. Three very gifted and very good-looking siblings, who took everything they did way too seriously.

"I am in a band," Gaara admitted proudly.

"A band?" The other two siblings asked in unison. They turned to each other, mouths agape and then back to Gaara.

Temari asked, "Since when?"

"With who?!" Kankurou asked, pushing himself up higher on his bed, ignoring the fact he almost lost a finger a couple hours ago.

"From our day of arrival at Konoha College," he told them calmly. "With my new friend, Lee. He is a drummer. I accompany his drumming with my cello." Then with a smug expression, he revealed, "We are very good."

Temari and Kankurou were too stunned to speak.

Ino knew Lee. Everyone knew Lee. Lee was great, and cheery and an all-round sweetheart. How did he end up in a band with dark and brooding Gaara? That was another interesting story to be found out, but first - Ino had to act on the opportunity that came up in front of her.

"We actually need a student band for the Fall Festival," Ino said out of turn. "Would you and Lee be interested in playing?"

Gaara looked at her blankly. "I will confer with Lee. But that sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Thank you for asking me, Ino."

This would do well at the next student council meeting. A fusion of the two schools would look great too! Ino thought gladly.

Then someone tugged at the curtain. Hinata's head popped in, with her wide pale eyes and perfect bangs, "Ino, Sakura - we need to go. Dr Tsunade is looking for someone to volunteer this weekend. I think she wants us to change the bedpans…" Hinata's big eyes caught onto the addition of Temari. Temari herself looked at Hinata's sudden head in astonishment.

"Temari!" Hinata let out in soft gasp.

"Hinata," Temari responded, equally surprised. "It is nice seeing you."

"You too. How is your father?" Hinata asked, to Ino and Sakura's surprise. Despite being wildly popular on campus, Hinata was not a very sociable girl.

"He is... busy," Temari finally answered.

It seemed like the two girls knew each other. Ino wished she could've stayed to hear all about that, but at the risk of losing her weekend was too great.

"I'm sorry, but I think i hear Dr. Tsunade coming. And that's our sign to skedaddle, folks!" Ino said, "Speedy recovery, Kankurou and let me know about the Festival, Gaara. We'll see you around Temari!" Sakura yanked her through the curtains and the three girls rushed out of the hospital.

"That was the most interesting night I've had in a while," Ino admitted to her besties. "And Hinata, you have got to tell us how you know Temari! Spill!"