Echoes in the Rain ~Completed Story~

Chapter 12: A Promise

After a few minutes, Kankuro, Hinata, and Gaara saw Naruto run through the kitchen followed by Temari. Naruto shouted over his shoulder, "Can't talk! Running away from Sasuke-teme! AAAHHHH!"

"Come back here, dobe!" Sasuke yelled as he ran through the kitchen, knocking Temari over. Naruto screamed like a little girl and ran through the back door. Sasuke followed. Kankuro, Hinata, and Gaara followed, mildly interested.

Naruto screamed when Sasuke exited and jumped. He landed about thirty feet down in a huge puddle that hadn't been cleared up yet. Sasuke stood at the edge of the balcony and said, "That's what you get for pushing me into the water. And distracting me. And wasting my time. And for being a dobe."

Naruto protested, but nobody listened to him. Sasuke turned around and said, "Sorry for disturbing you."

"No problem," Kankuro said, smiling.

"Hn." Sasuke jumped off of the balcony, but didn't land in the water. He walked on top of it and left. Naruto cursed him as he tried to stand up.

"Lovely morning, isn't it?" Kankuro asked cheerily as he lead them back into the apartment. "Where's Temari gotten off to-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

They had walked in on Temari and Shikamaru essentially making out in the kitchen. Kankuro looked livid. Hinata blinked and rubbed her eyes. No, she hadn't imagined it.

"What on earth..." Hinata wondered as Temari, still hugging Shikamaru argued with Kankuro.

"Oh, you're not used to this," Gaara said matter-of-factly. "They do this all the time."

"They do?"

"Yeah. I don't get why Kankuro doesn't like Shikamaru," Gaara shrugged.

"Boy, this is troublesome," Shikamaru grumbled. "I never thought that you'd be this troublesome, troublesome woman."

Temari smiled flirtatiously and said, "You have an I.Q. of over 200, use it occasionally."

Shikamaru cocked an eyebrow. Kankuro said, "Please get a room."

"We would," Temari said, giving Kankuro a disdainful look, "but, you'd have a heart attack."

"Break it up already," Gaara commanded. "Kankuro, stop being so overprotective. Temari, stop baiting him."

"Yes, Gaara," his siblings said in unison.

"Oh, Gaara-sama, this is troublesome, but I have a letter for you from Tsunade-sama," Shikamaru said, pulling one out of his pocket and handing it over.

Gaara took the scroll, opened it, and read over it. Looking up, he said, "It says here that to celebrate the peace between Suna and Konoha, there's going to be a ball tomorrow night."

There was silence, then Temari cheered while Kankuro groaned. Hinata tried not to laugh at their childish behavior.

"Oh, don't bother calling anyone else," Shikamaru said. "The girls will be here in 5...4...3...2..."

There was a knocking at the door and three kuniochis entered the kitchen.

"Hi everyone!" Sakura, Tenten, and Ino said cheerfully.

"How do girls have energy in the morning?" Kankuro mumbled to himself. "I want to go back to sleep."

"Poor puppet boy," Tenten said, ruffling his hair and smiling dangerously. Kankuro looked frightened.

"You've heard the news, right?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah," answered Temari. "Shika-kun here just gave Gaara the invitation."