Scarlette's POV

In all honesty, I was going to kill Vi. Or at the very least render her unconscious for several hours. 

I took several steps towards my sister, lost in her blissful ignorance. Kankuro, whom I recognized instantly, appeared behind Violet, eyeing her with distaste. That was understandable, as was Temari's reaction to Ari's sudden appearance. What confused me at the time was Gaara. He could have--should have--killed me instantly. And yet, he didn't. One look at him told me everything I needed to know: This was before the Chunin Exams in Konoha. And that translated into: Gaara was still a blood-hungry child harboring a demon. His pre-time skip outfit confirmed that, though it was hardly necessary. His eyes told the story of his tortured past.

"Violet," I said lowly, easing closer to her. "You do realize this is your fault, don't you?" She giggled in response, and shook her head. "I just wanted to meet my Tobi-kun," she said, as if that was meant to appease my anger so easily. My normally complacent demeanor was fully prepared to morph into some monstrous being with the intention of reaping revenge for my sister's incompetance. But something stopped me.

A tendril of sand, wrapping around my wrist. 

It tugged me backwards, and I blinked, snapping out of my heated daze. Violet titled her head to the side, staring past me. Kankuro was similarly shocked, mouth gaping as he too looked over my shoulder. I followed their gazes and saw Gaara, arms across his narrow chest, eyes boring into my. His narrowed, and he said, "As much as I enjoy bloodshed, my hunger was satisfied some time ago. And I demand answers to this insanity."

I took a deep breath as the sand retreated into its container. "My sister's and I would like the same thing," I said, catching Ari's eye. Temari had given up her planned assault and was now leaning against the wall, her wary eyes shifting between my sisters and I, and also Gaara. Of course, at this point in the series, she and Kankuro were both deathy afraid of their brother. No doubt she was also curious as to why I was still alive.

I swung my attention back to Violet, leveling an even, yet muted, glare at her. To this, her only response was an innocent shrug and a playful grin. "Your infatuation with Tobi got us into this mess," I said calmly, crossing my arms over my chest. "I feel it's only fair that you take the blame."

"Shouldn't we just blame the man-child?" Ari piped up, ducking away from Temari and skidding to a halt beside me. I could practically feel her desire to hug the breath from Gaara. Instinctively, I took a step back, placing myself directly in her path. I didn't want my sister ending up hurt, and I also wanted to spare Gaara the pain of one of Ari's bone-crushing hugs. And yet, at the same time, I knew she wouldn't get to touch him. His sand would've have protected him in an instant.

"I would if it were possible," I said, titling my head back slightly to meet Ari's eyes. "But at this point in time, I have no clue where he is. So it's only fitting that we place the blame on Violet, don't you agree? Well, actually it's both your faults."

Ari pouted, her lower lip jutting out in her signature expression. Wide eyes, trembling lips, hands clutching desperatley at the hem of her shirt. If only it had any effect on me.

"I was the only one who disagreed with Violet's decision to press the key," I pointed out with a shrug. And with that, I turned away from my seemingly dejected sisters and faced the Sand Siblings, who, by this point, had gathered together on the opposite end of the hall. Temari and Kankuro stood together, at least; Gaara stood off to the side, watching us through slitted eyes.

"i'm sorry for my sisters," I said, a line I've used many times in my life. "They... get excited very easily. And being in such a strange situation only made them worse. If you don't wish to be annoyed, I'll gladly attempt to answer any of your questions."

I sensed, rather than saw, Ari getting ready to pounce past me and head for Gaara. So the moment she took off, my hand flew out and grabbed onto the back of her shirt. Incidentally, I managed only to grip the hood of her thin hooded-shirt this time, and the action choked her, sending her to the ground. But just as before, she was on her feet in an instant, rounding on me with annoyance. "What was that for?" she demanded hotly.

"Do you wish to be killed?" I asked in a hushed whisper. "This is before the Chunin Exams, Ari. He hasn't changed yet. Hugging him will only provoke him."

"Aw man," she sighed, trudging past me to rest her head on Violet's shoulder, looking despaired. I sighed myself and redirected my attention back to the curious Sand SIblings. "Again, I apologize," I said, dipping my head to them.

"Temari," Gaara said, causing his sister's head to snap up and focus on him. "Y-Yes, Gaara?" she asked. I caught her hands shaking slightly, unconsciously going for the fan she wasn't currently carrying on her back. Gaara, too, noted the trembling hands, but made no mention of it. He knew how afraid they were of him, there was no need to say a thing about it. "You'll come with me," he said, his eyes sliding to look in my direction. "We'll discuss what's going on with that one. Kankuro, you watch the other two."

"WHAT?!" Needless to say, Kankuro was outraged. "I'm not watching two brats! Why don't Temari and I talk to her, and you can--"

"If I'm left alone with those two idiots, they will become nothing more than shredded flesh and crushed bones," Gaara said simply. Not once did his eyes stray from mine while he said that, and I know he was watching for my reaction. The only one I gave was a thick swallow and an imperceptable shake of the head. I'd already told him: I don't show fear very easily.

"R-Right," Kankuro muttered, scratching his head. I noticed he was wearing kitty-themed pajamas, and wondered briefly if he was really gay. So many fanfics paired him with Kiba Inuzuka, another of Ari's crushes, that I thought it was possible that they were in fact correct about the whole thing. "Alright," he said, storming back into his room and slamming the door shut. "I'll get changed, and then I'll babysit!" he shouted through the closed sliding door.

I looked down at myself at the mention of getting changed. I hadn't yet gotten ready for bed when Ari was notified about the updated chapter, so I was still in my day clothes: Jeans, Converse high-tops, white blouse and a black-backed gray cross-over vest. Ari had changed into her hooded-shirt and a pair of plaid pajama pants and dirty white socks, while Vi had on jean shorts and a red-and-white striped tank, and ankle-high dark brown boots. And yet, the two of us stood out just as much as Ari in her nightwear. In this world, these clothes were unnatural.

We'd have to do something about that if we were to stay.

I checked my pocket, and was slightly surprised to find my iPod still tucked securely into my jeans. My phone was on my desk in my room, but that didn't bother me. I was never much a phone-savvy person. That was Ari's role in the family. Violet and Ari, noticing my actions, also checked their pockets. Vi produced her own iPod Classic and Ari her iPhone. It seemed all our batteries were full, but without a charger, they wouldn't last long in this world. As useless as our clothing, really.

Kankuro soon emerged from his room, dressed in his usual black attire and purple face paint. Vi giggled loudly when she saw him, then hid her smile behind a hand when he trained his irriated gaze on her. "Thank you," I said, startling the puppeteer. "I know my sisters can be a handful, but hopefully my explanation won't take very long, and I can watch over them after. I've had years of experience."

He grunted out some response I found difficult to make out, then grabbed both my sisters by the arm and dragged them down the hall and down a flight of stairs, grumbling all the while. I closed my eyes for a moment, steadying my nerves, and then walked towards a waiting Gaara and Temari. She too had changed while we were admiring the reappearance of our electronics, and had strapped her fan to her back. It was a menacing gesture I caught immediately. Kankuro, though, had chosen to leave the Crow behind. I wondered if that meant he wasn't prepared to use force on my sisters. And then I remembered that he could use chakra strings, and quite possibly force my siblings into behaving. I instantly wanted to learn that ability.

"Why are you so different from your sisters?" Temari asked icily, looking me up and down. I shrugged my shoulders in a helpless gesture. "I've been asking that very same question for years," I replied, careful not to let it slip that I already knew her name. Though from Ari's earlier outburst, it was possible that she was going to ask about it anyway. 

She huffed and turned away, striding into a vacant room opposite the stairs. Gaara followed her, and after an indecisive moment of hesitation, I trailed after him.

The room consisted of nothing more than a wall of windows, a low table, and a pair of couches, one on either side of the table. Temari claimed the middle of one of the couches, making it clear that I was to sit beside her brother. I didn't comment, and did as she silently commanded. I sat down, and did not flinch when Gaara sat beside me.

"Who's Tobi?" Temari asked, not giving me a moment to collect my thoughts. I hesitated only briefly, to come up with a suitable answer. "He's the man who brought us here, from our home," I said, and Temari's eyes went wide. I turned to Gaara. "I didn't lie to you when I said I have no idea how I came to be here. But I know this man, Tobi, had something to with it. We, me and my sisters, aren't... from here. We're from a land very different from this one." I wasn't sure whether or not I should tell them that we weren't even from their universe, let alone their world. "And last night, we recieved a message from Tobi, asking if we wanted to meet with him. Violet, the blonde girl, immediately said yes, because she believes she knows him. And I assure you, she doesn't. But she accepted the offer, and the three of us blacked out. And when we came to, we found ourselves occupying each of your rooms. Once again, I'm sorry for the trouble we've caused you."

Temari let out a short laugh, one with a very clear, very mocking intent. Obviously, my story was a little farfetched, but there was no need to so blatantly mock me. I blinked at her, forcing my eyes to keep from narrowing. 

"You expect us to believe that?" she asked, leaning forward in her seat, her hooded eyes piercing my own. "It's ridiculous. Now tell us the tr--"

"Temari. Shut up."

Her jaw snapped shut in an instant, and I turned to Gaara, my curiosity as brimming as Violet's. Gaara stared out the window, choosing not to acknowledge either of us. "She isn't lying," he said, and I saw the protest forming on Temari's lips. But another look from Gaara stopped her cold and she looked away, her face pale, eyes skittering around the room, resting everywhere but on her brother. "She has no reason to," he continued, finally turning his teal eyes on me. "She's already admitted to fearing me. Lying would only ensure her death. What she says is true, at least to her."

I nodded hesitantly, feeling my heartbeat kick faster. I fought to keep the pounding to a minimum, but it was hard. His cold, deadly gaze was enough to set grown men's knees knocking together.

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?" I asked, looking between to the two siblings. Temari shook her head, and Gaara simply said nothing. I assumed it meant he too had nothing else to say. "Well, then I think it would be best if my family got out of your way. Our being here is only going to cause problems." I stood and smoothed out the wrinkles in my vest. I wasn't sure where we were going to go, but I knew how much danger we'd be in if we stayed. But on my way out the door, I was once again stopped by sand. This time it curled around my ankles, holding me in place.

To my surprise, it wasn't Gaara who argued my point, but Temari. She stood from her seat and faced me. "You're not Ninja," she said, taking quick, precise steps to stand in front of me. "So I highly doubt the three of you are dangerous." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I don't know why I'm even offering this, but.... The three of you can stay here, until we've figured out what happened to you at least."

I physically couldn't help it: My jaw went slack and my eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. I couldn't believe that Temari, who was so rudely awakened by Ari's mindless shouting, was allowing my family and I to stay with her and her brothers. And the Kazekage, if they even lived with him. "Are you sure that's alright?" I asked cautiously, subtly shaking the sand from my ankles. It slowly inched away from me and returned to its master. "You've already seen my family, and you can't have a very high opinion of Ari. Why would you do this?"

She shrugged. "It seems wrong," she said quietly, "to turn away three helpless girls. Father may have a different opinion, but it doesn't really matter. He isn't here very often. And Gaara doesn't seem to mind your presence. If Kankuro agrees, we'll find you a room to share in the house, and help you out, ok?"

I nodded robotically, watching her as she strode from the room. "Kankuro!" she shouted, disappearing out the door. "Tell me you didn't kill the kids yet!"

I looked back at Gaara, but he was already gone, just swirling sand left in his wake. Even that vanished as I watched. I took another calmly breath, and went after Temari.

What an unexpected turn of events.

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Sorry it was only from Scarlette's POV, I just really like her! She's my favorite sister for sure. Anyway, I know this chapter was kinda serious, but I'm sure that'll change when I switch back to Violet and Ari's POVs. They're the troublesome sisters. And the obsessive ones. And the fangirl-y ones. So yeah, they'll get into some funny situations, especially when they hit the Leaf Village, and when Scarlette isn't around. 

Well, arigato for reading, and I hope you liked it. If you did, vote, comment, whatever. You don't have to, it's just appreciated. And if you do comment, wanna tell me which sister YOU think is the best and/or most interesting? Oh, and tell me if you'd rather all three POVs be in each chapter, or if you don't mind one sister hogging the whole chappy! 

I've wasted enough of your time ranting, so I'll just say thanks again, and end it here. 

See ya!