I do not own Naruto and/or its characters.


"I'm sorry."

It was a bright sunny day in Konoha. The streets were bustling with people doing their errands, shopping for the upcoming festival. It was summer time and everything felt like summer. The air felt like steam and the humid weather made everyone feel sticky. Red lanterns adored the streets at day that are even prettier when lit at night. Cicadas and all sorts of insects began to crawl out from who knows where. And the hidden village seemed a lot livelier, festive in a way, as summer reached its peak.

"No. Don't be."

She wished she didn't hear him through the deafening noise of the town. She wished she had been mistaken. But she knew she didn't. She heard him loud and clear as if the wailing child three feet from where she stood or the chanting of the drunken men in the next-door yakiniku bar didn't exist.

And as if on instinct, she merely smiled at him like she always did; pretending that that was what she wanted to say.

"I hope we can still be friends… if it's okay."

He rubbed the back of his neck as his eyes looked anywhere but her green eyes that were begging for an explanation. But that would be too much to ask given the little time she has left. And so she began to pick up her bag after taking one last sip of green tea. She showed no signs of discomfort. It was almost turning into a mission. Her goal: get out of the damned teahouse with dignity intact.

"It's okay. I understand."

Of course nothing was okay and of course she did not understand why. She had been faithfully going back and forth as an ambassadress of Suna to Konoha. She spends three months in Konoha and then a month of rest back in her village. For three years, this was how her routine had been. And for each anniversary she celebrated as Suna's Ambassador, the years they spent as each other's special companion peacefully piled up one after the other. Sure, like all couples, they've had their fair share of fights. But they always found a way to reconcile. She had her sarcasm and dark humor and her own way of doing things but he dealt with them either way. Everything had been going smoothly for the past three years. But like that one kunai even a skilled shinobi sometimes misses to deflect, his words pierced through the thick heavy summer air.

She had so many questions for him—mostly why's—because more than depressing or heartbreaking, the sudden revelation was bewildering. But she knew she wouldn't be getting any answers. Heck, she didn't even know if she would be able to carry the weight of those answers if she did pursue any. So like a careful and wise shinobi, she took the chance to retreat.

"I'll see you around." Was her final move.

She made her way through the busy folk going about their day. After a good five minutes of brisk walking, she reached the gate and not for a minute did she stop to look back.

It wasn't aimless, the way she travelled for a week on her way back to Suna. It was merely devoid of reflection. She blocked it off. She probably didn't want to believe it. The breakup seemed surreal and the only way to describe how she felt was akin to standing on top of clear glass; okay but not well, steady but uneasy.

Eventually days made up a week. Like the dutiful ambassadress she has been for the past three years, she got back to Suna on time with all the scrolls and documents that need attention. Upon entering the village, she went straight to her brother's office to drop off said documents. With very little words said, she reasoned out that she simply wants to retire for the evening in her room. The Kazekage replied with understanding and dismissed her with a hint of suspicion.

"Temari," Gaara called just before his sister was about to shut the door behind her.

"Yes, Gaara?" She replied flatly. Every letter was a struggle to form and pronounce. It's as if at any moment now, she would float away like a balloon that slips a careless child's hand.

"I've been taking care of new species of cacti in our greenhouse." He said with his own version of a smile. "And the hydrangeas you planted the last time came back are now in full bloom."

"I'll go look at them now." She replied. "Thank you for looking after them while I was away."

And the door was shut close.


My first fanfic in over 2 years. I've been working on writing again and I can say I'm getting there.
If you have the time, please do drop a review for me please? :D

Chapter 2 will be up tomorrow.

Thanks for reading!