Temari yawned as she awoke. A sudden realization of where her left hand was made her jump. Somehow, as she slept, she had put her hand up Hinata's shirt. As she pulled her hand back Temari couldn't help but notice how soft Hinata's skin was. She knew she was blushing bright crimson at this moment. If it could have turned deeper it would have when Hinata stirred and said sleepily, "I was enjoying that Tema-chan. Put that hand back there."

Hinata took a hold of Temari's hand and slid it back up her shirt to her breasts. She smiled and said, "A hand down my skirt wouldn't be amiss either you know."

Temari was shocked by all of this. Hinata had never been so forward before. Her face a bright red as a cherry Temari stutteringly said, "A-are y-you sure Hinata?"

"Yes I am, but there's one thing I want you to do first."

Temari felt her hand being gently taken a hold of and being put down Hinata's skirt. "W-what would that be?"

Hinata smiled a bit more and said, "You need to wake up Tema-chan."

Temari gave Hinata a confused look and then woke with a start at the sensation of Hinata shaking her awake. "Wake up Temari. You looked like you were having a bad dream." Hinata said as she stood over Temari trying to wake her up.

Temari looked at Hinata and realized she had been dreaming no, fantasizing about her new girlfriend. It embarrassed her to no end. She yawned and said, "It wasn't exactly a bad dream. Just...an unexpected one."

Hinata smiled and said, "Oh? What was it about?"

Temari got out of the bed and said, "Let's just say it was about you."

As they walked out onto the deck of the ship Hinata said, "So...what I was doing in the dream was scaring you?"

Temari shook her head and stared out over the ocean waves. "No, not exactly." She took a breath of the salt air and continued, "You were a little too frisky with me in my dream and because I thought that I had woken up here and all that it confused me."

Hinata blushed and said, "You had a-a-" she quietly whispered the next few words, "a sex dream about me?"

Temari turned her brightly blushing face away from Hinata for a moment as she quietly said, "Yes, I guess you could call it that. It hadn't gone anywhere yet by the time I woke up but it was close enough."

Hinata gently hugged Temari and whispered in her ear, "You know, if that is something that is on your heart that you wish of me, let me know. Like you said, we don't have to rush things along but it is good to know the desires of the other's heart."

Temari hadn't felt this embarrassed or this shy in her entire life. She was sure everyone within eyesight could see her bright, flushed face. She turned to face Hinata and said slowly, "You know, I guess that is something that's been on my mind. After all, that's not the first time I've had a dream like that about you. It was just the first one where you were being really forward about it."

Hinata gave Temari a kiss, trying to relax herself and Temari by doing so. Nervous didn't even begin to describe how she was feeling. Hinata slowly broke the kiss and said, "I think that, if we are ready for that step we will know when the time is right to take that step."

Temari let out a short sigh of relief and said, "I think so too."

She laughed slightly and said, "You were awfully cute in my dream though. You kept calling me Tema-chan."

Hinata smiled at this and said, "Is it something you like being called? Or is it a pet name from your childhood you wish you could forget?"

Temari thought about it and said, "I haven't been called by that name since I was about five. Before she died, my mother's sister Yashamaru was the last person I allowed to call me by that name. I guess, letting you call me by that name wouldn't be too horrible as long as it's only in private when it's just the two of us."

"Thank you, Temari. I think I keep stealing more and more of your heart day by day." Hinata said as she hugged Temari.

Temari quietly said, "You know what, I don't think I mind too much either. I know you're giving me just as much of yours in return."

The day passed relatively quickly as a strong wind carried them toward their destination. On the ship there wasn't much to do outside of stare at the never-ending water and waves and talk with the various crew members. Temari managed to win some Ryo at a game of Liar's Dice played against some deckhands who weren't working. Later during the day, Hinata played Shogi against the ship's captain and added to the pile of Ryo Temari had won. By the time they went to bed the two of them had managed to make an even five thousand Ryo between the two of them. Everyone on the ship cursed them for having such skill at the games and a few blamed the shinobi arts for their losses.

On the morning of the next day Temari and Hinata were awoken with the news that they would be on shore within the hour. The wind from the day before had kept steady through the night and had gotten them to their destination a little faster than it normally took to get there.

The ship landed and Temari was never happier to get back on solid ground. She had enjoyed seeing the ocean but realized she enjoyed being on something that wasn't always moving. The brisk wind that filled the air caused her to shiver slightly. Hinata noticed this and immediately dug out a cloak from her bag and handed it to Temari. "It must seem really cold to you here." Hinata said as Temari put the cloak on.

"Yeah. It's freezing. How can you stand it without a cloak?" Temari said, still shivering from the cold.

Hinata shrugged slightly and said, "It's not all that cold really. This is like a cold day in winter for Konoha. I guess it seems much colder than that to you since you're used to it being so hot all the time.

Temari pulled the cloak tightly around herself and said, "I'm going to be so happy when we find the inn we're staying at and get into a hot spring."

The wind died down some as they approached the inn Temari had mentioned. The warmth of the place was instantly felt as soon as they walked inside. Temari walked up to the desk and the woman behind it said, "Welcome to my inn. Is there something I can help you ladies with?"

Temari folded back the hood of her cloak and said, "Yes there is. I was told by the ruler of the Land of Snow that I would have a room reserved here. My name is Temari."

The woman looked at a pile of papers in front of her and said, "Ah yes the diplomat from Sunagakure. Of course you have a room reserved here. Right this way miss."

Temari and Hinata quietly followed the inn keeper to their room. The inn was nicely furnished, the floor was thickly carpeted in a nice dark blue while the walls, where not interrupted by hanging pictures, doors or windows, were a rich, brown colored oak wood. Both Hinata and Temari couldn't help but notice the amount of luxury this place had. The inn keeper stopped and opened a door and said, "here you ladies are, your room for the duration of your stay. I hope you enjoy it."

Hinata nodded slightly and said, "T-thank you ma'am."

The inn keeper smiled and said, "If you need anything just ask. I'm almost always at the front desk."

Temari thought for a moment and then asked, "You have a hot springs bath here correct?"

The inn keeper nodded and said, "Of course. Go down the hall this way and there will be a hallway on your right. That is the way there. Anything else?"

Temari thanked her and said no. The inn keeper wished them a nice stay once more before returning to her desk. Hinata set her bags down on the floor and walked over to the bed and sat down. "You feel like going to that hot spring Temari? You had mentioned you wanted to."

Temari shut the door behind her and said, "Of course I do. Why do you ask?"

"Because I'm coming with you when you go." Hinata said.

Temari laughed a little at this. "Why are you telling me when I already knew you were going to come along anyway?"

Hinata got up and walked over to Temari. She looked into Temari's eyes and quietly said, "I'm telling you this, because when we come back here I..."

Hinata turned bright red and stalled on what she was saying for a moment. Temari took a hold of Hinata's hand and said, "Whatever it is you want to say, I'm willing to listen to it."

Hinata smiled and finally got the courage up to say what it was that had been on her mind. "When we come back here, I want to take the next step in our relationship. I've been thinking about what we talked about on the ship and about everything else and I think I'm finally ready to do that."

Hinata hugged Temari and gave her a kiss. Temari looked at Hinata after they broke the kiss and still holding her close said, "You know, I think I am too."

The two of them stood there a moment longer, letting what they had just said really sink in. They walked to the hot spring after a short while.

An ornate doorway that had a small sign that simply read 'Hot Springs' was exactly where the inn keeper had said it was. Temari and Hinata walked through and saw the outdoor hot spring. Snow quietly fell and melted just feet above the slightly overhanging roof. The two of them went into a small changing room and undressed, returning to the spring covered in nothing more than a simple white towel.

As they lowered themselves into the warm water Hinata sighed slightly and said, "You know, This place is really pretty. It's like this whole area is a world to itself."

Temari let herself relax and sink into the water. It felt nice just to be able to relax after all that travelling. "It wouldn't be the same without you here. It would simply be just another hot spring. With you here, it's something special."

Hinata moved to where Temari was sitting and sat down on Temari's lap. Temari looked at her and smiled. Hinata put her arms around Temari's waist and said, "You know, it's weird. Just a few days ago this is something I would have never done. Sitting in your lap like this. I guess I've changed a little since the start of this mission."

Temari smiled slightly and said, "You want to keep relaxing a bit more or do you want to go back to the room as badly as I do right now?"

Hinata blushed slightly and gave Temari a passionate kiss. That would be answer enough.

Temari slowly broke the kiss and said, "I guess that's a yes. You know, we shouldn't even bother getting dressed. After all the clothes would just end up on the floor anyway."

The two of them left the hot spring, collecting their clothes as they headed back to their room. Hinata smiled at Temari as they walked down the hall. "You know, after this everything between us will be different. We'll be lovers after this." She said quietly as they stopped in front of their door.

"I know that things will be different." Temari said as she opened the door and they walked in.

Hinata turned and shut the door and locked it so they wouldn't be accidentally disturbed. When she turned around the first thing she saw was the towel Temari had been wearing slide slowly off her body and to the floor. Hinata allowed hers to do the same. Sunset light filled the room as they both stood there quietly for a moment. Hinata slowly walked over to Temari and gently put her arms around her. Temari did the same and said, "I love you Hinata."

Hinata smiled and said, "I love you too. I can't wait for this. I've been wanting this for so long but knew that waiting for it would make it just that much better."

Temari giggled slightly and playfully said, "Just get on the bed Hina-chan. You're not the only one in the room that has been wanting this."

Hinata laughed sweetly at the use of a pet name and made her way over to the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed and Temari gently pushed her on her back. She let her hands wander over Hinata's body as she looked at her. Temari pushed Hinata further onto the bed and straddled her before kissing her passionately. The anticipation of the moment was exciting the both of them.

As they kissed Temari put her hand on one of Hinata's breasts and gently massaged it. The hand played with the nipple for a bit before slowly sliding downward. Hinata let out a short gasp of surprise as she felt Temari's hand slide between her legs. Temari took her time and gently slid a couple of fingers inside of Hinata.

Hinata moaned slightly as Temari began to pleasure her. The feeling was unlike anything she had felt before. Temari kissed Hinata once again as she slid her fingers in a little deeper. Instinct was all that was driving Temari as she had never done this before. She broke the kiss and trailed a soft line of kisses down Hinata's body, following the path she had traced with her hand earlier. She paused just above Hinata's wet slit and then slid her tongue inside her lover.

The taste and warmth was almost a sensory overload for her. Hinata's moans had gotten a bit louder but Temari knew she was trying to not be too loud so as not to be heard by anyone but her. Hinata had to muffle herself as Temari found her clit and started to play with it. The pleasure from it was beyond everything she had felt so far. She let out a low moan as she finally came, the waves of pleasure rolling through her as it happened.

Temari slowly cleaned Hinata up with her tongue and then promptly kissed her. Hinata propped herself up and took a hold of Temari and rolled her on her back, switching their positions. She smiled lustfully at Temari and said, "Your turn since you did such a wonderful job."

Temari's response was cut off by Hinata's kiss. Hinata had what Temari had done to her to go on as a sort of guide but the rest she would leave up t what her mind told her to do. She slowly massaged one of Temari's breasts with one hand while the other was wandering lower tracing random designs. She found it hard to control her impatience with wanting to return the favor to Temari as soon as possible. She let the hand that was lower on Temari's body drift over in between her legs. Hinata quickly found what her hand was consciously searching for.

Temari moaned gently as she felt Hinata's fingers slide inside of her. Hinata seemed to know exactly where every last spot was that gave Temari more pleasure. Temari arched herself to let Hinata in deeper. It was surprising to her how much she was enjoying this.

Hinata traced a line down Temari's body with her tongue and then slid it in inside of her slit. Hinata was surprised to find that Temari tasted sweet and set about licking at every point she knew would generate pleasure. Temari was moaning loud enough that she had to use a pillow to muffle the sound. Hinata finally allowed herself to focus on Temari's clit and she could audibly hear how much Temari was enjoying this.

It did not take long for Temari to finally come and it was accompanied with a loud sighing moan. Hinata licked up what she could and then smiled slightly at Temari and kissed her.

The two both stretched out on the bed, smiles on both of their faces. The smell of sex hung in the air as Hinata snuggled up against Temari. "That was something else. I was surprised by how amazing that was." Hinata said as she put her head on Temari's chest.

Temari smiled and said, "You took the words right out of my mouth. I can't wait until we get the chance to do this again."

"Neither can I, Tema-chan." Hinata said as she started to drift off to sleep. "I love you."

Temari hugged her gently and said, "I love you too."

As Temari drifted off to sleep she knew that there was a reason she had come all this way, but right now Hinata was all she could think about. Everything else could just wait. Right now she just wanted to sleep in the arms of her lover.

(Author's note: Another story finished being told. I didn't want to do another long story like Another Side, Another Story right on the heels of finishing it. Something short and sweet works just as well. Hopefully you liked it. Read and enjoy. New story will be starting up Christmas Day, Dec 25th, as a present to all you lovely readers. Thank you for reading what I write and thus keeping me writing.)

Shinobi of the Onyx Sands.