Temari is here.

She hasn't changed from the last time I saw her. She didn't even change at ALL, her eyes teal as a priceless gem, hair arranged in four ponytails, the fierce look in her face..

"You aren't helping her."

"Temari..."

"Listen to this, Shikamaru!" She exclaims, sending ripples of tiny shockwave upon the pinapple-headed's shoulder. Looks back at me with those judgy crystals. "Gaara's been miserable ever since you left. Doesn't recall your name when I ask. And sometimes, he just keeps on digging every local files in his desk, SEARCHING for any possible girl in this village who could be the one who broke his heart. You think coming back here was the right thing to do?"

Bitch please. Who does this woman thinks she is--messing around with me?? "Well, you're wrong. Because right now you're gonna get your ass out of here. Get out. I don't want to see your face again, neither does Gaara." 

I open my mouth to protest but the words dried off my mouth. This is insane. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" Shikamaru finally says. For Temari's pretty face, it takes more than just force and tenderness for Shikamaru to drag her into a corner. 

Temari has always been her dad's favorite. One time, when I was home alone and Gaara was out on a convention, I begin to look over their pictures. There was not a captured moment of the Fourth Kazekage holding Gaara as a baby. It was Temari all along, whom I thought was his mother. It was Temari who restocks his bottled milk, who carries him back in his baby bed, who craddles him freely.  

Then the pictures started to grow, and I could finally understand Gaara's grasp upon her. Sometimes, whenever I'm asleep, he would mention Temari's name and mine and that we are two of the most important persons in the world. I disagree. Throughout all of these years and all of this crap with Shukaku and the Sand village, she had been there for him. Throughout everything, she stood by him and he was thankful for that.  

Temari eyes me and instantly I shrink from my three-inch hills Kisame has stolen. Not that she towered inches from me, but at some point she was just gleaming and too delicate to look at. I don't trust her. I use my vampiric hearing sense. And as you might have noticed, I don't trust anyone. 

Shikamaru comes back later without his girlfriend and didn't say a word. Great job, Hotaru. You almost made the two of them break up. "Did you tell her?" I ask while he hands me a tiny device and I take it weakly. "No," he said. "Why?" 

"Because it wasn't my chocie to make."

We stand in a shaded area of the plaza. Shikamaru instructs me of the things I needed to do and that I should listen to every words he say over the microphone. But I wasn't clearly paying attention. I watch the crowd give another round of applause. One of them could be Gaara, and I wonder why such thought of him would make me feel sad. 

                          ❣Եհҽ Եհíɾժ մϲհíհɑ ❣

                               SAVE ME

"Model approaching at Six O'clock. I need Ino now. I repeat, I need Ino now!"

Soon as there had been a rampage inside the backstage, Team Sakura rushed fast as they could to in search for the most expensive alluring fantasy bra. It's been an hour since the show started and they're about the end it very quick, saving Ino the best for the last. She was still wearing her periwinkle lingeries and glittering ornaments from the recent round. 

She couldn't say a word--for the first time, she was inarticulate.

Naruto came back a few minutes later saying he wasn't able to find it. At the mean time Neji was taking a peek through the curtains, TenTen was helping Ino in dispossessing her jewelries and replace them with red ones, Kiba had her pair of wings stipulated, Hinata had been the one to fix her hair. 

"I can't find it," Naruto said with his hands in his knees, panting. "It's not in there!"

"Baka, use your head!" Said Kiba. 

 "There's only two of them left," Said Neji. "Tsunade-sama's gonna kill us!!" 

Tsunade tapped her polished finger in her elbow, arms crossed. She wondered what's taking Ino so long, and what's with all the stupid disturbance from inside. 

The boys looked at each other in presentiment. All of them knew the consequences of violating the daimyo. One look and they can tell whether they're in trouble; Move, or she'll kill you with her bare hands. 

"I'll do it," Hinata said. She stood up and closed her eyes, and when opened she said: "Byakugan!" 

Naruto stared in amazement. It wasn't as if he was overwhelmed or something--he hasn't seen his girlfriend for weeks. 

Hinata pulled his hand and led him to a dark room which could be the place for storage. There were boxes and packages scabbered at the floor, a few dislocated wires and food trashes. Naruto stood waiting and observed the atmosphere. 

Valentine's Day. Now he couldn't erase that memory from him. Pictures and flashes from the carousing took over his head for a while. Aahh, it was always fun in the water. There was love in the air, and even for one second he rememebed the feeling, of being set free--released from all the troubles of the world, becoming liberated. Maybe it's because they were wasted. 

Naruto chuckled. He missed becoming a teenybopper again. Good things always happen when you do bad. The beer, the kisses, the truth and dare thing. There was always the fun and excitement in that. Shikamaru wouldn't have gotten Temari pregnant if he weren't so careless, but hey, having one historic and memorable night could be one of the greatest things that'll ever happen to your life. 

He stared at Hinata's back. Things have become--socially awkward between them and he didn't know how to fix it. How could they even end up like this?? It's pessimistic how things were so much better during the earlier events. He'd been hanging around with all the rookies prattling nonsense and yet just being a few inches or meters away from the Hyuga princess would make him shut up. This is just mentally foolish.

I'm still gonna be Hokage, tch. Believe it! 

Hinata grabbed the bra, and his eyes were squinching over the red thingy she was handling. When Hinata knew this, immediately she slammed it into his chest. What did I do again? He asked himself as the blue-haired went back to the studio without him. He was left staring at her. 

He'd even got a glimpse of her cycling shorts underneathe the navy blue slim dress she wore. 

You're getting married. He reminded himself as he walked slowly into the studio. He pretended as if he were perky upon finding the item and put on his freakishly wide grin and scratched his chin. "Found it!!" He said as Ino snatched the underlace from him. "Do we have to turn around??"

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Hotaru barfed at the toilet. Nope, she couldn't do it. Dressing properly for Gaara won't change the way Temari would look at her. Actually everyone else. 

Stupid party. She never should have come. Maybe if she'd heeded Kisame's words she would have gotten back early without crying. And, that this dress was making her look like a prostittute. Do women dress like sluts during this century??

Atleast, she was glad that someone like Shikamaru could even stand her bullheadedness. When he asked her if she truly wanted his help, part of her just switched off and everything in that moment felt wrong. So yes, she said no. 

Shikamaru was already yelling at her. Literally. "Mendukosei, what are you so afraid of??"

"This," Hotaru said as she gestured for her belly. "I'm afraid of this." 

Hotaru got into the sink and washed her face really quick. She reached for a neat towel and began to wipe her makeup, when a few minutes later her stomach rumbled--and she puked again.  

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"Oops, didn't see you. My bad." Temari winked at Gaara, trying not to look at the spot where she spilled her drink. Gaara growled at her drunk sister. "Temari..." He began, in a tone suggesting she should get the hell out of his face, or so help him he's about to do something regretful. She knew the night wasn't going out for him and yet she was still trying to piss him off. "You should wash that, lil bro." 

"What on earth is going on with you?" Kankuro looked at her sister in disgrace. "You got a problem or something?" 

"Your makeup is starting to get on my nerve." 

Temari laughed fakely while Kankuro gave her his best scuzzy look. Gaara just shook his head. Apparently nothing could get any more worse than to be stranded in a Runway show with a battalion of risque and provocative women. They're beautiful, and enticing--but full of disbarment. He would never let Temari walk in a stage like that.

"Do you want me to accompany you to the bathroom?" Kankuro asked. 

Gaara just looked at him tempestuously. 

Deciding to change his clothes, he went to the male's comfort room and entered without knocking. He took his shirt off, washed his face and wiped his hands to a towel. He realized there were adornments at the sink, and ignored them otherwise. He could hear the crowd cheering and giving another round of applause outside but he couldn't care less--ordinary people bore him.

Suddenly he heard a noise, and he didn't need to close his eyes to sense the location of the Chakra. The voice was right coming from the mirror he was looking--from the furthest cubicle, the door slightly ajar. 

It was a woman. 

No, a girl. 

The girl finally came out, eyes widened and mouth partially open upon seeing the Kazekage. 

Gaara wasn't surprised--women nowadays wanted to touch him. It's traditional. "This is the Men's room," he sighed, after he closed his smoky eyes and opened them.

"My mistake," she said softly. Gaara just continued to shake his shirt dry. The girl stood against the sink and started, "last night I had contractions and the doctor said I'm about to have a baby." 

Gaara couldn't think of any good words to say. "That's great." 

"It's just," There was an ink of swirling matrix glittering in her shoulder. Gaara wondered what it was.  "When the baby comes out, no one thinks I can do this." She looked at him, and Gaara saw how gold her hair and eyes were.

So that's what this is. To be frank, Gaara was an enthusiast when it comes to hearing children of new age. They're the newborn living thing of humanity, and what they deserve is not to become influential of what war has to elliminate. 

"Screw them." 

"What?"

"Screw them." Gaara said, looking at her in a way a boyfriend gives his girl a piece of advice. "How old are you?" 

"Eighteen." 

"My sister was eighteen." 

The girl looked poised, calm and aware. "When--when she had a kid?"

"When she lost her child. I know what it's like when others tell you what you can and can't do, especially when you're a kid. But ultimately, whatever you're considering doing or giving up, the choice is yours." He wasn't planning on entertaining the strange woman but the words just came out of him. She smoothens her belly. "It's not exactly what you think it is." But Gaara insists. "It never is. People are going to tell you who you are your whole life, but you've just got to punch back and say, "No, this is who I am." If you want people to look at you differently, make them. If you want to change things you are going to have to go out there and change them yourself, because there is no magic in this world." 

He summoned a mass of sand and used it to wipe the tear in her eye. It was soft and ticklish, the tiny particles of earth bringing delectation to her. She smiled just as Gaara did.

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"And, we're ready!! Ino's here." 

Tsunade clapped her hands when she peeked throughout the backstage. "Chos!! Let's keep it moving people, this is the last one!" She wore a different dress today, a longsleeved peach Kimono that matched the gloss in her lips. She grinned vastly once she saw the Platinum Blonde. 

Only, there was this Chakra Tsunade's been having a bad feeling of, and she just didn't want to pressure the rest. Where is that Chakra coming from? 

She turned, and greeted this man with hostility when she saw him. 

"Hello love," the man with an eye-patch said. When Ino turned around, her blue eyes gleamed in the neon lights. "Well this is a surprise. You look stunning. You'd make a beautiful bride someday."

Kiba, Neji, Naruto and the others watched from a distance, their eyes brittling from the scenery.

 "You came!" Ino said as she embraced him in a big hug. Tsunade ruminated at their proximity. 

"Told you I'd come," Obito chuckled.

They were both interrupted by Tsunade who cleared her throat.  Ino was meeting someone she didn't know and who probably live in a different village, without any of her philosophy. "O-oh, this is Tobi my lady." Said Ino. "He's a friend of mine who used to live in the village. He's my therapist." 

"Therapist?"

Ino and Obito have become really close together ever since 

"We don't have time for that now, do we?" Shizune said from the frontstage. "Ino, it's time for you to go." 

With that, Obito whispered something in Platinum Blonde's ear that made her punch his shoulder. Obito laughed. The two of them could make the best actors and actresses of the world. 

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"On the count of three," Kiba said, "Naruto will teleport us to the V.I.P seats so we could go shout for Ino. Think we can swing that?" 

"Make the Nations go deaf," Neji chuckled. 

"Alright! Let's do this, btches!" Said Naruto. 

"Ichi," they said in unison,

"Ni"

"San!" 

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"After I find my father, I will disappear, obliviate, but I'll always come back." Rin said as she waved a hand over Kakashi's eyes. Kakashi shook his head. What just happened? He thought, but then again he was sitting next to the white-headed girl whom he hasn't given up his theory that this little lady right here could be a serial killer. Why does she even look at him like that? 

"I know what you're thinking," said Miyako. Kakashi's shoulders vibrated and tensioned as their conversation finally arrived to this. "I know you're trying to make up stories that I'm a lunatic, so get it over with, stupid." 

Kakashi wanted to apologize for his idiocrasy. But then he saw the little girl swallowing the whole cotton candy and he just rested his head behind his arms. He couldn't read a darn green book so he just watched Ino in her catwalk. 

"Why are you wearing a mask?" 

"Because I'm wearing a mask." 

"But you're not a vampire. You don't burn under the sun, do you?" 

Kakashi just smirked. He had to give it to this kid. "Tell you what, kid." The girl gasped with her big pair of coal eyes and somehow it refills him with a peace of mind. "I'll show you my face if your dad doesn't show up early. Would that work for you?"

"What if he never shows up?"

"Oh he will. What kind of father doesn't show up to their children?" He winked at her. 

*Twenty minutes later*

Rin slowly slid the mask off his face. They were in the restroom, since she was okay with Kakashi's favor in concealing his looks(which he joked that it would drive women crazy). Obito showed up full three minutes later, eyes appalled and jaundiced. 

Kakashi was kneeling so she could reach him, and so when she saw his face again, she started giving the tip of his nose tiny pecks, and lastly in the forehead.

*Go back earlier*

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*FAST FORWARD VIDEO TO 4:09. You'll see Adriana Lima, the girl with black hair!*

Ino was smoking hot when she first hit the stage for the last time. She was wearing a seductive, black and red minnie-mouse like lingerie that outshown her shapes and curves all over her body. Roses and red gems added details to her accessory. And for the first time she was out of weapons, no kunais or shuriken blades that are hidden in her thigh sheathes. She was the Queenbee, the star of the night, Konoha's Vampire Queen. She raised her hands in the air, made a peace sign with her polished fingers, bit her lip, winked at the crowd, and waved her falcon wings as she reached the remotest part of the stage.

Platinum Blonde always wanted to do this in her whole life. Living in the fashion world was her dream, 

When she was at the center, she faced the crowd once more, pressed her hands to her lips and sent them flying kisses, before she'd put her hands together and bowed her head. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kakashi shook his head again, feeling like his brain got latched out of him. Now what was that all about? All he knows is that he's currently sitting in a seat and that the people around him are starting to disperse. He saw Sakura hugging Ino, and to think that the two of them finally got back together as best friends. Teenagers. Oh, and where the heck is Gai?? Despite being a headache to everyone, it's awfully quiet without him around.

"You used to have a girlfriend, Kakashi." Gai said, one time when they were on a mission and they've decided to make camp. It was a very humdrum hellweek for both of them. "What happened between the two of you?" 

Kakashi just observed his sorroundings. He didn't want to ruin the reunion of the rookies backstage, so he started to pick trash and clean up the mess. I must be a mess myself.  

"Come on," he flashed a smirk at her. "I'll teach you." 

Hanare gave her a 'you've-gotta-be-kidding-me' look. "You suck at dancing."

"Depends whoever I'm with doing it with." Hanare rolled her eyes. He held a hand, in which Hanare took it gladly. She stood bluntly watching her feet. "Now how do you do it?"

"One thing you have to remember, you don't step on your partner's foot. Otherwise the others would be pretty much distracted of how stunning you look." Hanare fiddled her eyes toward him, and for a moment she looked like Haku. Kakashi chuckled remembering how her girlfriend was such a stubborn young woman, beautiful and thought-provoking. "You have to put your hand here," he placed it into his left shoulder, "and here." He held her hand. 

They both glared at each other for a while. "You know there's something missing."

"Hm?"

Slowly, Hanare placed her hands at his cheeks, his lips, a promise of thousand sensations once kissed, and there--she peeled it off, and Kakashi let her do it unhesitatingly. "There."

You would think as Hatake Kakashi, discarding his mask would be paring his skin, or stripping his clothes off. But the first time she'd done it was when they were reunited after fourteen years, and fourteen years he wouldn't let them part away again.

Kakashi smirked, a hint of disgrace and lust became visible from the bright light. 'Bring it on.' 

She pulled her lips into his, as they ventured into the milky way. 

"Kakashi Hatake, what a pleasant evening to you." The Mizukage said as she greeted the copycat with a ravishing smile. 

Kakashi held the tray of champagne glasses still. Even until now, the Mizukage was a Queen. "Fear not, boy. I'm looking for someone." 

Kakashi felt his heartrate race. By the tone of her voice it already sounded so alarming, fatal. Mei Terumi wouldn't talk to anyone unless if it's particularly her business. 

She handed him a painted picture, and the first thing he'd noticed was it was a girl. And it's small. Too small, for whatever reason this woman has been after a child. "A few months ago my men found her trespassing near the Sound Village with the man named Kisame. You've known him, haven't you?" 

Kakashi's eyes itched. "K-kisame?" 

The Queen smiled sweetly. "Yes, Kakashi. And as you might realize, she's an Akatsuki. She's a danger to everyone. We don't know what Madara's plans are but recruting a child could be very doubtful." Kakashi didn't take his eyes off the picture. "We've tried to capture her, but unfortunately--she escaped." The Mizukage said rasply, her cunning voice no longer there. "We don't know where she is, but in the mean time she's an S-rank criminal. She might as well be the youngest Rogue-nin of all history. She goes with the name Wakana." She faced Kakashi with so much enchantment, as if his time was already up. "Wouldn't that be a little fortuitous? The world is becoming evil by the second. Best to cut out the little roots that grow in the dark." 

"I'm sorry, I don't know who this person you're looking for." Kakashi said. He scratched his head and yawned, as if the subject bored him.   

He wasn't lying--Mei could already tell.  

"I'll let you know if I cross paths with her." 

The Mizukage snatched the paper and gave him a one last look of seduction, stooped to stun him with her precious pair of watermellons and said, "I'll expect that." 

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9.7.14 Sunday

Trivia

- HanaKashi flashback occured in TNU 2.27: Kakashi~Our Love Story

- Video on how Ino walked at the runway

- What the Mizukage said to Kakashi was true. When she found out Wakana had ties with Sasuke, she sent Kiri-nins to abduct her. This happened in TNU 4 AU REVOIR - TNU 4.40 Brand New Eyes

- Shikamaru helped Hotaru bc he didn't want Gaara to end up the way he did

- Obito & Ino became close friends

 - Art of Seduction was the name of a chapter from Enemies to Couples, one of the best SasuSaku stories in history by the amazing @Charmaineuchiha