Today, I am a new woman.
All that past stuff, it doesn't matter. All that I care about now is everything resuming back to normal. Or at least, back to the closest it can be to normal.
I wear my hair down, but held from my face with bobby pins. My clothing consisted of a white tank top, blue jean cut off shorts, and sandals.
Today is my first day of vacation. I know it's a little late to be having a vacation this late in the year, but oh well. I think I deserve it. Apparently so does Lady Tsunade because she agreed without hesitation when I went to her office days ago and requested a while off.
"I am near the breaking point. I cannot do this any longer M'Lady." Sobs ripped through my body.
"I understand. You'll be sent to Suna for a much needed vacation." Her eyes were soft with understanding.
"Thank you M'Lady." I rubbed at the tears that fell down my cheeks.
"You'll leave in the morning. I'll leave it up to you whether or not to inform anyone of this vacation. I also expect you to not to slack in your training."
"Hai." I nodded vigorously.
"Dismissed."
As soon as I was allowed to leave, I ran back to my apartment and packed. I could hardly wait for the sun to come up so I could leave. thankfully, I didn't run into anyone as I left the village. The only ones who knew of my departure would be the Hokage and the two ninja guarding the gates. I assume my team now knows, seeing as how I've been missing quite a few days now.
When I had first arrived in Suna, I thought I was going to melt from the heat, but Temari has helped me adjust to the temperature. I know when I get back home, I'll have a nice tan.
The Kazekage and his siblings, Temari and Kankuro, are very kind to me. I don't think they know of the drama that was occurring in Konaha, thank Kami. It will be nice to be around people who don't judge you because of your past mistakes.
Today, Temari is going to be showing me around the village. I'm headed to their home right now.
The feel of the hot sun on my skin makes me happy. No one is out quite yet. It is only eight in the morning, so I'm enjoying the deserted streets while it'll last.
I find the way to their home easy to get to from the hotel I'm staying at.
The guards at the gate don't stop me from entering, so I just head right in. Immediately I am attacked by the sweet aroma of syrup and the sounds of frying batter.
Pancakes. Delicious.
I follow my nose to the kitchen to see a man cooking. Any man who knows how to cook this good is definitely a keeper. Plus, from behind, he isn't all to bad looking. The nice firm butt is totally pinch-able.
"Can I have some?" He turns at my voice, and I see that it's Kankuro. I have to keep myself from choking on the saliva that had pooled in my mouth.
"Sure. Gaara's already gone, and Temari is worried that they'll go straight to her hips." He says easily. "I think she's only thinking like that because of that damn Nara boy from your village."
"Probably." I say, giggling in surprise. He must really hate Shikamaru from the tone he used. "though, she may have some competition with Ino, 'cause they seemed kinda chummy last time I saw him and her together."
"Oh, Kami. Don't let her hear you say that. She'll practically run straight to konaha if she did, and would never come back until she forced him into marrying her." He gripped.
We hear footsteps in the hall and stop talking.
"Kankuro, make me something to eat!" Temari demands as she walks into the room. She blinks at the sight of me. "Oh, hey Tenten."
There is a long and awkward silence.
"Why do I get the feeling something is going on here?" Her eyes narrowed as she takes us both in.
We burst out laughing.
"What the hell?"
"Nothing sis." Kankuro says when he composes himself and turns back to the stove. "Absolutely nothing at all."
She stares at us long and hard before sighing in defeat. "Want to go now?"
"Actually-" Kankuro cut me off.
"Actually, unlike some people I know, Tenten here likes to eat and doesn't starve herself for the sake of a guy." We girls both look at him, me in shock that he would say such a thing to his sister, and her in confusion, the, slowly it turns into anger and rage.
"Kankuro!" She hits him upside the head, and I am reminded of how Sakura does that to Naruto. Instantly a knife-like pain cuts into my gut and I have to take a deep breath to calm myself.
They laugh and she hugs him before plopping down into the chair next to mine at the table.
"Hurry up, old man!"
"Yeah, yeah. I got you're 'old man'." He places the last of the pancakes on the plate and places it on the middle of the table before he goes back to the cabinet for plates for the two of us. Then, he rummages through the fridge and pulls out a bowl of peaches and places it on the table in front of Temari and gives me a plate. He pulls out three forks and two knives form the dish drainer and hands them out respectively.
"Eat up." He mutters and stacks four of the fluffy pancakes on his plate and slathers them in syrup before taking a healthy bite. I take three of the remaining five, and do the same as Kankuro. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Temari as she eats only enough to sustain a small bird.
She waits politely for me to finish.
A/N: I love a sudden twist, don't you? Read and review. Thanks!
Sorry it took so long to make this new chapter.