Whoa, I haven't updated in like...a freaking long time. Sorry to keep you awesome people waiting. I lost my mojo. I don't know if it's back or not but I'm going oil the joints, polish the ole' chassis, and try to keep the work coming. I'll start by finishing Switched! Enjoy the finale. It's good to be back.

---

As soon as they entered the gates, they headed towards the Hokage's headquarters, though they were certain that Tsunade would not be there. There didn't speak as they walked, all too anxious to find words appropriate for the situation. Kankurou thought back on his last few weeks as a girl. He would almost miss the pleasant attention of stupid boys when he returned to his familiar intimidating body. Almost.He glanced at Gaara. As usual there was no expression.

However, even Gaara's mind was spinning. Inside he was filled with mixed emotions of relief and disappointment. Soon, all would be set right and things would return to exactly as they had been before. Temari would care for them, Kankurou would be rebellious, and he would be sleeplessly aloof. He would miss the sleep definitely but tot have Temari out of his body would more than make up for that. Ever since the change he worried over her sanity. He knew it was wearing on her mentally and physically but he never knew that she was so strong. A small smile of adoration plucked at the corners of his mouth but played it off by pretending to wipe his nose. Slyly, he looked at his sister from the corner of his eye when he realized that he'd miss something else- his new height.

Temari was boiling over with anticipation. There would be no regrets when she got her body back. Kankurou couldn't be trusted with a can opener much less her precious body. There's not telling what he's been up to, she thought furiously. She would be certain to glean every bit of information from Shikamaru, even if it killed him. And if it killed her dear boyfriend, she would kill her not so dear brother because it would ultimately boil down to it being his fault. Her face narrowed into a more severe scowl. She hadn't slept in so long she forgot what sleep felt like. She had more time than she knew what to do with and most of it was filled with thinking. How Gaara could stand thinking so much eluded her. It was no small wonder that he was fussy and rude. The first thing she would do when she got her body back, she decided in that instant, would be to take a nice long nap in her boyfriend's arms.

No sooner had she made the resolution than they began to ascend the stairs to the Hokage's. Again they were stopped by a sentry. "She's not back yet, but she'll be here any day now, I assure you," he explained calmly. He adjusted his shades with his middle finger coolly.

"Look, jerk! We just got attacked by a Mist ninja!" Kankurou exclaimed as he motioned furiously to the gates. "Isn't there someone in this freaking village that can help!"

Gaara rested his hand on Kankurou's shoulder and held up the scroll he had taken. "This scroll contains the information on how to reverse a terrible jutsu but it has some kind of seal on it that we can't decipher. We'll be out of your hair if you can just help us out."

The sentry took the scroll and looked if over for a few minutes. He was silent except for the occasionally 'hmm'. However, when he handed back the scroll to Gaara and his siblings his expression was apologetic. "I really want to help but... this definitely seems like something that Tsunade should take a look at. If Mist is involved..."

"I understand..." Gaara sighed. He turned his back and shoved his hands in his pockets. Kankurou gave a scornful look at the sentry before turning his nose and following his brother down the stairs. Temari lingered for a moment but followed them, wind blown from her sails.

Kankurou dragged the metal fan in the sand slightly has he walked, creating a small trail in the dirt roads of Konoha. The trio walked without aim as they tried to clear their mind of the bad news. A breeze caught the scent of roasting chestnuts, forcing them to realize that they needed food. Gaara paused and looked back at his siblings. They gave him a knowing nod and the decision was made. Outside of the sweet chestnut shop, the young rookies of Konoha were gathered. It seemed as though they were having a small party of some kind. Temeri blushed realizing it was the first time in a long time that she had seen Shikamaru. But why did it have to be in this body!

"Gaara!" Naruto yelled. He waved a stick of roasted mochi at them and motioned for the trio to join the festivities. "How are you?"

"Not so good," Gaara answered taking a seat at a nearby vacant bench. "We got in a fight with a Mist Ninja a little bit ago."

Everyone's expression turned from mild amusement to shock. Neji grew grave and stood up in his seat. "We have to tell one of the jounin. If Mist is attacking-"

Kankurou rested his arm on Neji's shoulder. The younger boy blushed as he looked down at what seemed to him to be Temari in racy clothing. "It's not an invasion, kid. More like a vendetta."

"It's no use in hiding it," Gaara began. "I'm pretty exhausted keeping up this lie and I'm frankly surprised Naruto hasn't spilled his guts by now." He looked at the blonde boy who returned a look of indignance.

"I haven't told a soul. Well, except for Kakashi-"

"And me," Sasuke noted.

Sakura pulled his earlobe. "And me. Really, Naruto, have you forgotten all ready?"

Naruto rubbed his ear. "... ... Well, I had to tell them! They're my team!" He defended. Gaara rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Shino grabbed Chouji's hand as his friend tried to help himself to Shino's plate. "I'm still not certain I understand what's going on."

"I'd like to know myself," Shikamaru agreed. He was resting his head in his palm lazily, one foot propped up against the next bench between Hinata and Kiba. "You've guys been acting really weird since you got here. Temari's been real affectionate, Kankurou's been kind of nice, and Gaara's...well Gaara's not really what you'd call normal but he's been acting weird for him."

Gaara wiped his face with his hand. There was silence between the three. Kankurou shifted nervously from foot to foot. Temari rigidly stood beside Gaara, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. Naruto looked between all three of them, then nodded knowingly.

"If you know what's going on, Naruto, spill it!" Kiba snapped. Akamaru barked in agreement. "All this suspense is just stupid."

"It's not for Naruto to tell, Kiba," Sakura intercepted. "It's really a bad situation and I can understand their feelings." She turned to Temari and looked thoughtful. Temari didn't move an muscle. "I think we should just drop it..."

Sasuke shrugged and popped a chesnut in his mouth. Gaara gave a deep sigh before he began to explain. "We had a mission to in Mist country. Some punks were giving Wind merchants a hard time and took something very valuable. We got hired to retrieve it and eliminate the thieves. Things were going really well until..." He paused remembering the moment. "Until the last ninja remained. She performed somekind of ninjutsu that switched our minds and bodies. So...I'm Gaara. Temari," he pointed to his brother. "is Kankurou. And Gaara is Temari." He motioned to his sister as he finished his explanation.

Jaws dropped. "It's been the biggest lie of the century the last couple of weeks but as soon as Tsunade gets back, I'm getting my old body back. This girl crap is terrible." Temari gave him a dirty look that shut him up.

Neji opened his Byakugan to confirm their stories. He noted the anomalies in their chakra with silent surprise. "That's a pretty advance jutsu. So you killed the ninja that performed? How will you turn back then?"

Kankurou shrugged. "Well, we got this alleged scroll that's supposed to tell us how to reverse it but we can't read the damn thing. It's sealed." Gaara tossed the scroll on the table. Sasuke grabbed it eagerly and began to look it over. No sooner had he put it down than a gloved hand snatched it up.

"Hmm, pretty tricky," Kakashi mused, cupping his chin.

"Kakashi!" Naruto and Sakura exclaimed. The other genin and Shikamaru moved in closer to the jounin.

Kakashi gave a wave and a smile before spreading the scroll on the table. He looked it over intently and took a deep breath. He placed his hand on the cool, smooth paper. A blue light emanated from his hand. Slowly, with the same blue light, ink began to reveal itself on the paper. A diagram illustrating the effects of the jutsu was centered in the middle. The light disappeared as the last of the scrawl was unsealed. The was hushed awe.

Taking the scroll up, the Copy Ninja again began to study the scroll. He expression was serious. "I could probably release this seal but I think I know someone better suited for this." He looked at Ino.

Immediately assuming that he meant her she went red as a boiled octopus and began to frantically wave her hands. "Oh no way! I mean I'm flattered but I'll probably just screw it up and I really don't want these guys mad at me!" Kakashi smiled.

"It's a high level skill. I wouldn't give this responsibility to you. I meant your dad. Do you think you could get him?"

Ino felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted. "Sure. I'll be back before you can say "The most beautiful ninja in Konoha." She gave a wink and stood up.

"Yeah, yeah. As if anyone would want to say that anyway," said Shikmaru. Ino correct him by slapping his hand away from his head, making him fall into the table.

"Nobody asked you!" She ran off in a huff.

Naruto meanwhile was feeling the excitement build. "This is great. I mean, I couldn't stand being in Sasuke's body for more than a second. Though...I wouldn't mind being in Sakura's..."

Sakura growled fiercely and held up her fist. Naruto swallowed. "I couldn't stand being in your stupid body and I'd rather commit seppuku than let you spend a second in my body! I'd kill you for being in Sasuke's body too!"

"But then you'd be killing Sasuke who would be stuck in Naruto's body," explained Lee.

Inner Sakura gagged. That's too disgusting to even think about! Shut up, Fuzzy Eyebrows! No one asked you! Outwardly, Sakura shuddered with pure disgust. Poor Naruto only put on his sad face his unrequited love for Sakura flying back into his face.

Ino returned dragging her father, who was still in an apron from his work at the flower shop. "I'm back and I got my dad."

"What's this all about, Kakashi?" Yamanaka asked, looking around. "Ino said it had to do with some kind of exchanging jutsu?"

Kakashi tossed him the scrolled. "Yeah, pretty complicated stuff. Nasty if it works too. Thought you might appreciate a new skill!" He smiled jovially. The elder Yamanaka looked it over and and a gave slow whistle.

"Impressive. But nothing I can't handle." He rolled the scroll back up and handed it to his daughter. "Right. If we're going to do this we need to do it in the same order. So who got switched first?" Gaara and Temari raised their hands. "Okay. Stand in front of me." They did as they were told and stood before the jounin, exchanging looks of apprehension as they did. Taking a deep breath, Yamanaka's hands became a blur as he performed the hand seals to invoke the jutsu. "Koukan no Jutsu!" He touched Gaara's arm. The young Sand ninja felt his world suddenly began to detached. "Touch him. Hurry!" Temari was a little stunned but grabbed Gaara's hands he wobbled unsteadily. As she did so their mind and bodies swapped. Gaara, now back in his body, fell unconscious caught by his friend Naruto. Temari, now in Kankurou's body fell to her knees.

Kankurou ran forward instinctively to help his siblings. He knelt down beside Temari when just like before he was ambushed by the jutsu. Yamanaka touched him on the head and as he touched his sister their minds and bodies swapped. All was right.

Temari felt something cold on her forehead. She opened her eyes. Shikamaru was looking down at here with worry. He lifted a damp towel from her brow and helped her to sit up. "You are you, right?"

"I..I think so," she responded in a familiar voice-her own. "YES! It's definitely me!" She hugged him tightly around the neck. "I don't ever want to go through that again."

Shikamaru patted her back and helped her too her feet. "You just should have told me in the first place. It's troublesome to keep lies like that. We might have been able to help sooner if you just had-" She rolled her eyes and shoved him away lightly.

"Oh, shut up...Where's Gaara? And Kankurou?"

"Hey, Gaara's coming to finally..." Naruto quipped. There was a groan from a bench. Gaara's red-head ascended from the bench. He held his throbbing head in his hands. "It's me all right... Miss me, Shukaku?" He grumbled. "Because I really didn't miss you." Naruto grinned.

Kankurou yawned loudly and sat up from the ground. He looked around groggily but seemed to realize where he was suddenly. He patted himself, touching his face and chest. He even checked to make sure he was still a boy, much to the chagrin of Temari and the other civilized ladies.

"YES! I'm a man again!" He hopped to his feet and stretched. He patted his bound Karasu. "I missed my puppets, I missed my body, I missed peeing standing up! I MISSED IT ALL!" He hugged Yamanaka but immediately let him go and crossed his arms defensively. "Uh... yeah, thanks. Good job..." Kankurou cleared his throat.

Gaara touched his hair and looked has his hands. "What did you do to my hair? What did you do to my nails?"

"It's called shampoo, conditioner, and a manicure, little brother." Temari looked herself over. "But what did Kankurou do to MY body?"

Kankurou shuddered from her glare. "It's called Sexy. I don't expect a cow like you to understand the concept. My body on the other hand is pretty awesome! As usual, though. Good job not screwing it up, brat." Gaara simply glared.

"There's just one thing I don't understand," Naruto interrupted. "If Kankurou was in Temari's body that whole time... Was Shikamaru making out with a girl or a boy?"

The color from the lazy genius drained clean away. He's body went limp and slumped forward, eyes wide. Like a bad dream, Kankurou realized that he did make out with Shikamaru. He remembered it. Every moment of it. Just because he got his body back, those memories and feelings didn't disappear. The two boys looked at each other as if they were both horrendous aliens.

"I...kissed...you?" Shikamaru stammered.

"Oh sweet mother in heaven...I'm going to puke!" Kankurou jumped over a table and ran to the bathroom.

Shikamaru put his hand over his mouth and ducked away in a hurry. Everyone looked half-confused and half-disgusted at the situation. Temari giggled in spite of the situation until she realized the her brother stole her first kiss, her boyfriend, and who knows what else.

"... I'll kill him..." She jumped up and ran to the bathroom. "KANKUROOOOUUUU! YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!"

Naruto looked over to Gaara. "Aren't you going to stop her?"

"Huh? Why bother? It's not my body anymore, she can do whatever the hell she wants. Besides, I warned the idiot not to do it." Gaara yawned, plucked a roasted mochi from a skewer and chewed it lazily.

That night the Sand siblings and Shikamaru were seated around the table. To celebrate the end of their 'curse', Temari decided to cook a meal for them. Kankurou nursed his black eye and busted lip with an ice back. Shikamaru brushed his teeth for what seemed to be hours and still he felt dirty. Kankurou and him refused to look at each other. Temari exited the kitchen with a big pot of steaming stew.

"Okay! It's all ready. Eat up!" She ladled the stew into the boys bowls. Kankurou looked down and winced. Gaara scooped up a spoonful and put it in his mouth. He turned green for a second but made no remarks. Temari looked around and was about to admonish them with a timer went off. "Oh, the rice. I'll be right back. Eat! Eat!" She left the table in a hurry.

Shikamaru sighed. "Kankurou?"

"All that food? You mean...You cooked it right?"

"Hnnn, yeah..." They remained silent.

"I miss your cooking."

"I know." Kankurou held up a small bento box. "Pour your soup on the floor. Gaara will soak it up with his sand. You can eat this on you way home. Don't let her catch you."

Shikamaru grinned. "You'll make a good wife someday if you keep this up." Kankurou shrugged, forcing his blush to go away.

Temari came back with a large bowl of rice. She looked from Kankurou to Shikamaru to Gaara and back again. She set the bowl down and grabbed a wooden spoon.

WHACK!

"STOP FLIRTING WITH MY BOYFRIEND!"

"I WASN'T!"

" A WOMAN CAN TELL! SHIKAMARU!"

Shikamaru swallowed. "I promise! There's nothing between me and your brother! You're the only one I love. Kankurou and I are just friends...God, I can't believe I just said that."

Gaara stood up from the table. "And it just got wierd... again. Good night." Walked up the stairs, ignoring the sounds of the fighting behind him.