My New Gardener

Chapter 1: First Love and Unknown Mission

It had been a seven years, and she was utterly in love. They did everything together; they played, did missions, cuddled, and had se… well maybe not everything. But that is how it ended, because she could not do "it".

"My little flower, you know I love you so much. But…I can not be with you if your not willing to go farther into the relationship. You know what I mean, right jellybean?"

Still even after that, she could not do that to herself.

It had been a month since that day, the day that Temari and her (ex) boyfriend Hatoru split up, but to Temari it felt like it just happened. Her heart mourned over what happened, how easy it would have been to keep him, how simple it would have been to keep him. The man whom she had known since she was in the ninja academy. Their relationship was kept a secret. The day he asked her out was one of her most precious memories, so very sacred.

"Hey Tem!" called the eighteen year old man with dark maroon hair and a body to die for. He ran into the greenhouse, where the woman he looked for resided.

The eighteen year old blonde-haired woman turned to gaze upon her life long friend, her only true friend. "Hatoru? What are you doing here? Gaara said you had a mission in the Mist."

The dangerously good looking man looked down at Temari. "Tem, it has been so long. So very very long, I think it is about time I asked you…Temari will you give me the pleasure of taking you out on a date?"

Temari stood there a blush imprinting itself on her silky tan cheeks. "Uhhh, yea sure, I mean of course." A true and complete smile settled on her delighted face.

"Really?" he asked, making sure what he heard was true. She nodded. "Great! I will see you tonight." He dashed away and then right back "I uh forgot to tell you when I yea" he nervously asked, "I will pick you up at six?" She nodded "I will pick you up at six!"

"At six…" she smiled while he skipped away giddily.

"Temari." Gaara's voice snapped her out of her memories, and back into her twisted reality.

"Yes Kazekage?" She said barely able to look at him.

Gaara took notice in his big sister's behavior lately, and it compelled him to try to help in some way, even if he had to be a little coarse. "I am sending you on a mission to Kohona, Tsunade will inform you when you get there. You will meet a shinobi from the leaf village when you get to the border. No if ands or buts, I need you to be alert Temari. You are a ninja, twenty four seven, your outside life is not existent. Understand?"

She nodded, stunned and hurt by her brother's uncaring words. But he was right; she is a top ranking shinobi of Suna. She should act like it.

"What do you need an invitation?"

Temari almost laughed at her brother and his attempt of being sarcastic, almost. She returned to her apartment, where "together" they use to live. Now it was only her. She packed her bag, being prepared for however long she should be staying.

'Temari old girl' she told herself 'straighten up, your twenty-five years old. No man should ever put you in this predicament, he is not worth your time.'

Right?

She sighed and left, with her mind set on him…and only him.