Chapter 18 - Think of It As a Vacation

As soon as they reached the Hokage tower, an overzealous Temari immediately tackled Gaara.

“Oh my Kami! Gaara, are you okay? Did you get hurt? Never EVER leave on a dangerous mission without telling me again, do you hear me? I was worried sick!”

“Erg…Temari…can’t…breathe…”

Akara snickered. “Talk about a serious case of Mother Hen Syndrome…”

“Akara-chan!”

Akara was promptly glomped by Maria. “I was so worried! Are you okay? Did anyone hurt you? Are there any bruises?”

“Maria-sensei…I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

Akara looked at her skeptically. Maria stared, then let her go. “Sorry.”

“Gaara, you really should’ve seen her,” laughed Kankuro, “it was hysterical…she was screaming at Baki to tell her where you were. I can’t believe I didn’t tape that!”

Gaara whacked his brother in the head. “Shut up.”

~~~~~~~~~~

And so it was decided that the Sand Sibs and Akara would stay with Sakura for the night. Sakura had no problem with it.

“It’ll be like a slumber party!”

Temari laughed. “We should seriously stay for another day…Gaara desperately needs a vacation…”

“I do not!”

“Oh, come on!”

“No!”

Temari fumed for a minute, then her voice became sugar-sweet.

“Please, little brother,” she pleaded, her eyes going big and innocent, “Can we stay for another day?” Gaara looked at his sister, and immediately looked away.

“Please,” she pleaded again, her lower lip shaking slightly. Gaara took one look, and melted.

“Fine,” he groaned. Temari squealed and glomped him.

“Thank you, Gaara!”

She turned to look at a stunned Akara and Sakura. “The Shojo Face. One look, and Gaara is putty.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Sakura, Akara, and Temari stood in the kitchen, radio on and gossip flowing like water. Kaori and Kizumi walked in, grocery bags full.

“Hey guys,” said Kaori, plopping down a bag of vegetables, “Maria-sensei has the tofu. She had to go feed her cat first.”

“God, I hate that thing,” said Akara, filling a pot with water, “Why the heck did she bring the damn thing in the first place?”

“She loves that thing,” said Kizumi, “no way would she leave it.”

“Hey Sakura,” said Akara, “Turn it up! I like this song!”

I'm in the business of misery;
Let's take it from the top.
She's got a body like an hourglass, it's ticking like a clock.
It's a matter of time before we all run out;
When I thought he was mine she caught him by the mouth.

Kaori and Sakura sang together, swaying and throwing ingredients into various pots and pans. Maria came in, and Maria and Akara started in on the second part.

I waited eight long months,
She finally set him free.
I told him I couldn't lie he was the only one for me.
Two weeks and we caught on fire,
She's got it out for me,
But I wear the biggest smile.

Akara and Kizumi jammed out to the minor instrumental, and all the girls sang together for the chorus.

Whoa, I never meant to brag
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
To steal it all away from you now.
But God does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him now.
And if you could then you know you would.
It's gonna just feel so...
It just feels so good.

Temari and Maria tossed Sakura and Kaori the tofu, which they threw in the hot wok. Together, Temari and Maria began the next verse.

Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change.
Once a whore you're nothing more, I'm sorry, that'll never change.
And about forgiveness, we're both supposed to have exchanged.
I'm sorry honey, but I passed it up, now look this way.

Akara began the next verse as the other girls burst out laughing. She spun around, threw some peas into the wok with the tofu, and began.

Well there's a million other girls who do it just like you.
Looking as innocent as possible to get to who,
They want and what they like it's easy if you do it right.
Well I refuse, I refuse, I refuse!

All of them joined together for another chorus, each giggling during the instrumental.

Whoa, I never meant to brag
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
To steal it all away from you now.
But God does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him right now.
And if you could then you know you would.
It's gonna just feel so...
It just feels so good.

Neji, Gaara, Lee, Kankuro, Shikamaru, Naruto, Kiba, Hinata, and Tenten were sitting outside in the living room, staring at the kitchen door.

“What the hell are they doing in there?”

I watched his wildest dreams come true
Not one of them involving you
Just watch my wildest dreams come true
Not one of them involving...

Akara and Temari stopped, waiting out the instrumental. Kaori and the others were nearly done with the food, and Akara poured the pork and the beef (in separate pots) onto two plates. The instrumental ended, and Kaori and Kizumi began.

Whoa, I never meant to brag
But I got him where I want him now.

All the girls started in.

Whoa, I never meant to brag
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
To steal it all away from you now.
But God does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him now.
And if you could then you know you would.
It's gonna just feel so...
It just feels so good.

“Oh man,” said Sakura, “I never get tired of that song!”

“I know, right?”

Kaori and Kizumi finished the rice, and dumped it into a huge bowl. Maria took the tofu off the heat and put it onto a plate, while Akara got out the bowls. Opening the door with a bang, the girls smiled and/or smirked.

“Dinner’s ready!”

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