Again, this is only a side fic and it does not follow any sort of timeline from Wild One. The chapters will be short and in no particular order! This chapter, for example, is before Gaara becomes Kazekage, but they're in Suna so obviously there's been a time skip.

"You only tease the ones you love"

-?

Chapter 6: Pushing Buttons

Lounging on the living-room sofa I absently watched TV, bored to tears. Flipping through the channels I ignored the heavy footfalls behind me. "What's up, Carrot top?" Kankuro huffed sitting down on the opposite side of the couch.

"Up is, and always will be, the opposite of down so you can stop asking me what it is," I said smirking. Ever since I'd moved to Suna I'd found dancing on Kankuro's last nerve to be a wonderfully entertaining new pastime.

He sighed and rubbed at one temple, "You are aware I could kill you without even getting up, right?"

And so the game begins. I looked at him from the corner of my eye playfully, "I suppose that's true, but Gaara would stop you before you could, isn't that right?" I said looking above Kankuro's shoulder with my most dazzling smile.

His painted face turned ashen milliseconds before he whipped around, "I was only teasing her I swe-" he spluttered to a stop once he realized Gaara wasn't actually there. "You tricked me," he grumbled turning back to me with a pout.

"Yep, but the point is still valid," I nodded with a smirk. "Oh, and Kankuro," I said sweetly.

"Hm?" He rumbled scratching the back of his head.

"Don't call me Carrot top," I purred before chucking a throw pillow as hard as I could at his head and bolting from the couch.

"Umph!"

I snickered as I ran, thrilling at the satisfying thumph the pillow had made against his face.

"Get back here you little menace!" he called after me.

Racing up the stairs two and three at a time I ran for my and Gaara's room, trying to make it there before Kankuro caught me. I'd made it halfway down the short hall before I heard Kankuro start-up the stairs, "You're dead, you little pest!"

I pounded my feet against the plush carpeted floor in a desperate attempt to close the remaining yards between myself and the door, its brass knob tauntingly close. I stretched my hand out towards it, my fingers clasping onto the handle. My body slammed into the wooden doorway in the same instant that Kankuro's hand grasped my right shoulder. The door flew open from our combined weight crashing into it, and we landed with a thump in the middle of the floor.

Kankuro's weight almost knocked the air from me, and I struggled to wiggle out from under him."Get off me!" I gasped out, kicking weakly at the oversized puppeteer. Twisting around I tried to bite his arm, but he jerked it out of my reach.

"Not a chance, Kida. You're gonna get it this time, and Gaara's not around to save you," he growled with a mocking laugh, "And now it's time for some way over-due payback."

"Kankuro, get off of her."

I felt Kankuro freeze stock still an instant before he flung himself off my back, "G-Gaara! What are you doing home?" I would have laughed at Kankuro's stuttering if my ribs didn't feel bruised from the fat-ass falling on me.

Gaara watched stoically as I scuffled to his side, rubbing my jarred shoulder with a grin. He looked back at his elder brother with an irritated air, "I finished training early today, and needed to finish a mission report," he said nodding towards his desk where a small stack of papers sat, a pen resting on top.

"Yep, looks like Gaara's home early!" I chirped and stood on my tiptoes to throw an arm around his shoulders.

"S-Sorry for the intrusion Gaara, I'll get out of your way," Kankuro hurried, backing out of the room almost as quickly as we had entered it, throwing me one last irritated glare at me cheesy grin as he shut the door behind him.

"Kida."

"Hmm, yeah Gaara?"

"Get off of me," he sighed.

"Getting off!" I chirped removing my arm and hopping onto my bed, the newest piece of furniture in Gaara's room. It had taken quite a lot of arguing to convince him there was enough space in here for me to get one without him losing his precious couch. It took a lot more bickering before he actually let me bring it in. I guess it made sense for him to be biased with the whole "not sleeping thing", but I had gotten really sick of spending my nights on the floor.

Bouncing up and down on the bed I watched Gaara return to his desk and pick through his papers, scratching a word or two here and there. "So...how...was...your...day?" I asked between hops.

"Hn."

Scowling I jumped off the bad and strode over to the aloof sand ninja. Reaching from behind him I pulled at the corners of his lips. "What's that? You had a long hard day but you're happy to see me? Huh? I'm all you think about while you're away," I chirped while pulling at his mouth.

"Geoff!"

I jumped back laughing as Gaara reached around to swat me away. Darting from the room I ran once more down the hall, pausing at the top of the stairs to watch an arm made of sand slam the door I'd left hanging open shut. Laughing I made my way down the stairs. I really do love to push those boy's buttons.

AN: So here it is, the first new chapter this story has gotten in years. I was going to wait until Wild One reached 600 reviews, but I figure 599 was close enough. Anyway I hope you guys enjoyed it, and if you did then feel free to review! I just might update more often if you do...or not. ;)