A/N: Final Chapter, I hope yal've enjoyed this. I've enjoyed writing it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anyone/thing in this story.
Chapter: 3
"Temari!" He called.
She jumped and turned around with a guilty expression on her face. Kankuro's stomach plunged. This was not his confident, haughty sister. Something was really, really wrong. He could tell by her face that this wasn't just a matter of "womanly problems".
"Gaara wants to see you, it's important." He turned and immediately started walking back to the Kazekage's office.
By the time Temari had realized what he had said, he was gone. She turned to the gardener before hurrying off, "I was told that it's best to add bone meal when planting for the first time."
She ran off before the gardener even had a chance to bow. Once inside the office, Gaara motioned for her to take a seat. She noticed Kankuro was leaning on the desk.
"Temari," Gaara began, "Kankuro and I can't help but notice that since you took the job as Ambassador to Konoha, well," he looked at Kankuro who nodded. "Well, you just haven't been yourself. We're concerned. We don't know if it's boredom, or stress, or 'womanly problems'...the Hokage mentioned you were probably just working on ways to strengthen diplomatic relations. But that was a while ago, shouldn't they be strong enough by now?" Gaara's light green eyes searched his sister's face.
She was struggling with something, he could feel it. Then she smiled.
"Really guys, you brought the Hokage into this?" Her lips thinned for a moment. "She's right you know. As for relations being strong between Konoha and Suna, they are. Between the governments. The citizens of Konoha still have to be convinced that we're not traitors. We DID help Orochimaru invade their village afterall. I've been trying to show them that we're their allies, learning some of their more obscure customs. Quite frankly, it's like living a double life." She smiled again and both brothers noticed a little puffiness around her eyes. "It's just stress. Really, I'm fine. I love my job. I love being able to represent the government and the people of Suna. (I love being with Nara Shikamaru.)"
The brothers exchanged looks. They weren't sure what to believe. For the briefest moment they saw their sister as she used to be. They knew she was upset that they'd gotten the Hokage involved, but she'd yet to grab her fan and hit them with it. That wasn't like her at all.
"You're sure that's all Temari? " Kankuro's looked her dead in the eyes. "You would tell us if there was anything we should know, or if something was wrong?"
"If there was anything you needed to know, or anything wrong I would tell you. Absolutely. No question about it."
The brothers were unconvinced.
"What were those brown things I saw you giving the gardener?" Kankuro asked.
Temari rolled her eyes. "Bulbs," she stated simply.
"Bulbs?"
"Bulbs," she repeated. "Flower bulbs, specifically daffodil bulbs. I bought them at the Yamanaka Flower Shop in Konoha."
Gaara leaned forward, a puzzled expression on his face, "what is their purpose?"
Temari laughed.
"They're just flowers," she shrugged. "I guess their purpose is that they make people happy. I'm hoping to develop a species that can handle the desert environment."
"What do we need daffodils for," Kankuro scrunched up his nose. "Nobody likes those things, roses I can see, but daffodils?"
Temari gritted her teeth and exhaled through her nose. Her nostrils flared.
"Otouto-chan," her smiled was fierce and her nostrils were still flared, Kankuro cringed. "You must have forgotten that daffodils are my very favorite flower, and Konoha has some of the most beautiful varieties available. There will come a time when I cease being the Ambassador, and I'd like to have something to show for my efforts."
"As long as that's all you bring back from Konoha..." Kankuro muttered a little to loudly.
"Nani?" Temari reached for her fan.
"Nothing," Kankuro waved his hands in front of his face and moved to hide behind Gaara.
Gaara laughed, Temari was acting normal again, mabye it was just "womanly problems" afterall...
o-o-o
Miles away in Konoha, a lean, black-haired shinobi lay stretched out on a bench staring at the clouds overhead. A "plump" brown-haired shinobi sat next to him munching on a bag of barbeque chips.
The larger shinobi made to point at something in the sky.
"Damnit Chouji!" The lean one exclaimed, "not every cloud looks like an hourglass!"
o-o-oOWARIo-o-o
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