Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I wouldn't have been thrown in the ocean. I'm still wet.

You Gotta Fly to Survive

Chapter Twelve: Everything will be fine

"Orochi-who?" Sasuke asked.

"Orochimaru!!" Temari said again. "He's coming to get me. He wants me back!" Her hands on the sides of her head, the blond shook it repeatedly. "Please just let that stay a dream! A really, really scary dream!"

Sasuke put his hands on her shoulders, causing her to look up at him. "Temari." he said in a soft yet stern voice. "I don't know who this Orochimaru character is, but I won't let him take you." he assured her. "I won't let anyone take you."

He pulled her up into a tight hug. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

Temari didn't know what to say. She was feeling so much at one time. Fright, sadness...and comfort. She leaned her head on his shoulder as she started to cry. "T-Thank you..Sasuke-san."

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Sakura felt herself filled with rage. She was SO going to kill that foreigner!! No, scratch that, she was going to MASS MURDER her!!

It all started sometime in the middle of the night. Her mother was called by one of her friends, who was called by friends, who was called by friends, saying that the young Uchiha was getting it on that night.

It took Sakura a while to understand what that meant since she was half-asleep, but after hearing that she couldn't sleep at all! Her Sasuke...getting it on?! At his age?? With a foreigner?!

She didn't want to believe any of it. What if they were all just rumors? Yeah, that's what they were, rumors. Nothing more.

Sakura shook her head as she turned in her bed. In the morning she would check to see if these rumors were true, using everything at her disposal. She wouldn't rest until she came to answers.

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"Are you sure it's safe to come out, Sasuke-san?" Temari asked as she was pulled out of the shelter of her friend's apartment.

"Yes, Temari." Sasuke told her as he squeezed her petite hand. "Nothing's out here. Even if there was, I'm with you."

The blond gave him a soft smile as she squeezed his hand in return. "You're right."

She closed Sasuke's apartment door, sure that it was locked. The two walked into town, heading for the Uchiha's old home. Temari wanted to get washed up so she could start her day. Sasuke needed to meet Sakura and Naruto for a mission a little later, having enough time to make sure Temari would be alright.

As the two walked, many of the villagers took time to watch them. Sasuke found it strange that they would get so much attention from people who were normally busy carrying on with their morning activities. He heard low whispering and snickers. What was with everyone today?

Temari felt very tense with all the attention. She could feel them all looking at her. She heard some man whistle towards them, making her react, clinging to Sasuke's arm. Had they figured out something? Did they realize what she actually was?

"Sasuke-san," the raven haired boy heard from his numb arm lowly. "What's going on today? Why is everyone looking at us?"

"I'm not sure, Temari." he relied as he felt the blond tighten her tense grip. "Just relax until we get there."

With all the commotion going on, Sasuke had a hard time trying to slip them both out unnoticed. Many older man that Sasuke didn't know slapped him on the back, telling him "Great pick!" or "Never knew you had it in ya!"

Finally, they got their chance, slipping away to the old Uchiha domain. Temari quickly ran inside, happy that she was finally away from everyone.

"Are you okay?" Sasuke asked her as he went to the kitchen to fetch her a glass of water.

"No." Temari answered from her seat on the staircase. "I don't want to go out anymore, Sasuke-san."

"You can't let this scare get you down." he told her as he emerged with the small glass. "You can't stay in here forever."

"Maybe just for a little while until we find out what's going on?" she questioned, accepting the glass.

Sasuke nodded. "Alright. Just for now." He wrapped a supportive arm around her shoulder. "I need to go, but I'll be back later. Will you be okay until then?"

Temari gave a small nod.

Her chin was gently grabbed as her head was pulled to look at the young Uchiha. "Everything will be fine." he assured her as he placed a small kiss on her forehead.

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The day slowly turned to night as Temari lounged around the mansion. She sat on the outside patio, observing the now dead garden that she guessed was once beautiful and full of life. All the flowers were brown and shriveled up while the small pond was dried of water. There was a leafless tree off to the side, bark chipping off from time to time.

The quiet atmosphere that had blanketed the blond had kept her calm all day. She had mentally kicked herself after Sasuke had left. How could she act like that? How could she be so cowardly? She wasn't afraid of him. Not Orochimaru. But then why did she act like it?

Her wings out, Temari glided up the deceased tree. She stood on a branch but kept her wings out incase it collapse under her weight.

She saw the lights of distant buildings shining in the dark night. No one was walking the streets though all the streetlights were on. That's when an idea hit her.

'A walk.' she thought to herself. She had been inside all day, and it wasn't like anyone was outside. 'Sasuke won't mind.'

She glided back to the patio and walked back into the house to retrieve her sandals. She gently tucked her wings into her kimono and tightened the obi that she had left loose all day.

Making sure the coast was clear, the blond exited the safety of her home for a night walk. The air was cool, not brisk like it had been for the past few nights. She silently inhaled and exhaled a smile creeping on her face. She gave a small twirl on her feet as she turned a corner.

She suddenly stopped when she saw someone covered in the shadows.

"Hello?" she called out, but there was no response. The figure moved to one side, than ran off, leaving Temari.

'Should I follow him?' Temari wondered. Her curiosity grew as she watched the stranger run under a streetlight then stopped to look back at her. 'Is he waiting for me?'

Without a second thought, the girl started walking toward the fellow who ran to another light. As she got closer to him, he moved further away. Soon they were both running.

"Wait!" Temari called out to the stranger when he suddenly disappeared. "Where did you go?" she asked no one as she scanned the area. Trees...grass...where was she?

Walking forward, Temari noticed she was lead to a cliff. It was the top point to the whole village!

"Wow." Temari breathed as she took in the scene. She could see the whole village decorated with lights. Glancing at the bottom edge of the cliff, she could see what looked like faces carved out of rock. Beautiful.

Temari couldn't help but smile. She could bring Sasuke here for a surprise one of these upcoming days. He would like it.

Turning around on her heels, the blond was about to try and find a way back down when she saw the figure from before.

"Oh, hello!" Temari greeted with a smile. "Is this why you were leading me?"

Suddenly the figure started toward her. Temari felt a great force push her as she felt herself falling. She watched as the figure, safe on the elevated ground, got smaller and smaller.

She had been pushed over the cliff.