Komojin

Disclaimer: I own the plot nothing more…

Temari crossed the sands like she had on many nights after Gaara would fall into his deep sleep. The 18 year old would often sit on the sand after walking for quite a bit and just stare at the starless sky and think to when her mother was alive and would smile about happier days spent with her brother and uncle in the shade.

On this night however she was not to do what she usually did, however she went in search of something much more different. She covered her nose and mouth as the smell of sake clung in the air, her ears filled with laughter and music. She dropped down and hid herself behind a hill of sand and looked over to see Tanuki much like Shukaku, in their human forms, laughing and partying like she'd remembered in stories.

"Hey! Waka hand over that sake ya bastard! I aint yet done!" I boisterous voice that Temari noticed sounded a bit slurred. The Tanuki with orange fire like hair and round large belly whacked a much smaller Tanuki, whom she assumed was Waka, and took the sake.

"Aw Bing I was only tryin' ta…oh…"

Temari felt a bit afraid as the smaller Tanuki had looked in her direction. She hid quickly.

'Oh shit…what the hell? Did he see me?' She thought. The Tanuki she was curious of seeing made her quite nervous, even if they have rings around their eyes like her brother, which was why she wanted to see them as she was curious, and though they were having a good time that didn't mean she was safe. If Bing or Waka decided to have fun with killing her then she'd not escape.

"What is it Waka?"

Waka lifted a non existent brow before turning back to the small camp where the other Tanuki laughed.

"Not a damn thing…I was just thinking that Hoshi might wanna party."

Temari's eyes opened wide, in relief that she hadn't been discovered but also because that name.

'Hoshi?'

Suddenly a vision of her mother and a man came to her mind. A man with black rimmed eyes and hair as red as blood, his eyes that shined like stars against the black of his eyes where the sclera should have been white.

'He's alive?' She thought. 'How is it possible that he lived…I saw it…I was there!'

She was brought from her musings however by Bing lifting her up by the back of her kimono.

"Well looky what we got ourselves here…a human girl."

"Let me down!" She screamed. "Please!"

Bing smirked.

"Aw was jus' havin' fun filly, don't gotta get all wound up." He dropped her. She sprung to her feet and held out her fan.

"Don't come near me." She said though hard to make it sound laugh through the cloth covering most of her face.

"Girl I aint here ta harm ya…ya sittin' here watchin us so I assumed ya wanted a drink…" Bing said with a kind smile. Waka and other Tanuki appeared behind him.

"What?"

He made a boisterous laugh.

"Ya think I was gonna kill ya huh? Oh hell little lady I aint gonna ruin the mood of the party with blood." He patted her back making her relax. "'Side Hoshi'd kill us for it…damn when one goes and kills a horde of people then we all get a bad name ya know?"

She lifted a brow.

"Hoshi? I think I know him."

Waka, whom was relatively quiet, smirked.

"Yeah well Hoshi's been 'round humans a lot…ya know what though I hear he even got a human son!"

Bing hit the smaller Tanuki again making the others laugh.

"That's just a rumor…" He looked back at Temari. "So filly how 'bout it, hm? A few drinks some dancin' and maybe ya can, I dunno, tell me how ya know Hoshi."

She nodded.

"Sure…but first can I see him?"

Bing nodded.

"I guess…he's a bit snappy right now but c'mon." He took her tiny hand in his, in a way a father would his child, and lead her to a small tent. She observed the other Tanuki, whom were well passed drunk and dancing like fools.

'How odd.'

He pulled back the opening of the tent.

"Yo Hoshi, there's a girl ta see ya."

There was no reply but a growl. She was considering leaving but looking up at the blue eyes Tanuki she shrugged it off. He was kind and might protect her.

"Filly, what's yer name?"

"Temari."

Bing nodded.

"He names Temari."

Instead of a growl there was a slight pause until she heard an all too familiar voice.

"…send her in…alone."

She shot a fearful look at Bing but the giant Tanuki smiled and shoved her in.

"Dun worry he's a nice one sometimes…I'll wait here for ya."

She was surprised by the darkness but when candle light flickered on the noticed that the tiny ten was a cover for large stairs leading down into the sand. She gulped and walked forward slowly not wanting to trip.

'I'm a real idiot…dumber then Kankuro even!'

She reached the bottom and was amazed at what she saw.

"A city…under the sand?"

"That's right…"

She turned slowly, her eyes widened. In front of her stood a replica of her brother only with golden star like eyes she'd thought she'd never see again.

"It's been a long time Temari."

-

Gaara was worried, more then usual which was never often but, he was worried. Temari was never one to sleep in so when he kindly, more like banged, on the door and then shoved it opened, sweetly I may add though he wasn't sweet, he was surprised not to find her in her bed.

After talking, more like torturing, the most likely suspect: Her ex boyfriend Mizuki, the leaf shinobi Shikamaru, he'd yet to find her.

"She probably just out for a walk."

This had earned Kankuro to have a tiny argument, if you called being bitch slapped with sand and argument.

"What the Hell…" He said very uncharacteristically as he sighed and leaned back in his chair at the breakfast table. He was hungry but refused to eat until his sister returned home. 'At this rate I'll whither and die away…oh what a cruel fate…' he thought very overdramatically for his taste.

"I'm home."

Immediately she was met with the sight of a fuming Kankuro and readable Gaara.

"where have you been?"

She walked past them.

"I was with Shikamaru."

"Wrong! Try again…I "spoke" with him this morning."

"Uh? Mizuki?"

Gaara held the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Denied."

She bit her lip in frustration.

'I can tell him where I was or I can lie and hope he doesn't figure it out…' She thought hard. 'Lie.'

I was at the doctors."

He crossed his arms across his chest.

"For what pray tell?"

She smirked.

"I was being checked by my gynecologist."

If Gaara could have turned any redder she'd have laughed. He shook his head, turned on his heels and walked up the stairs.

"Too much information."

She smiled.

"Well you were just so CURIOUS! Hey! Next time I get my PERIOD would you like to walk with me to the store to buy TAMPONS since you need to know where I am at all times?"

He threw a shoe at her from up stairs and she heard the door slam.
"Gets him every time."

She didn't want to tell him where she was. He'd be angry…furious that she risked her life over curiosity…also she didn't want to tell him the truth…that his father…his REAL father was alive after all.

Sera: YOU LIKE IT? DON'T LIKE IT? REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!! OH…Hoshi means Star thus his name… Komojin means 'red-haired people'…I was debating to write this or not seeing as I promised Part 2 of two finished stories…which I am currently debating on where to take them…but I hope you like this! Review and I'll continue!