Title: Scars and Stitches

Characters: Team Gai

Genre: Friendship/Romance/Angst

Summary: A love triangle of Gai-stronomic proportions.

Chapter Twenty-one

Temari

Temari hadn't been in Konoha in three months, because her liaison duties only require her to visit the hidden village of the leaf once every quarter of a year, now that they were living in peaceful times. And she had been looking forward to her next trip, not because she could meet up with a certain spiky-hair lazy shinobi—of course not—but because she enjoyed the change of scenery from sand to forest once in a while.

Right.

Still, she was not expecting that her next visit to Konoha would be to act as a liaison for a matter that did not concern the immediate safety of her own village—or maybe it did, but not in the usual, or most direct, way.

But Kazushi was a Sand shinobi, and a distant relative to boot, and Gaara had specifically assigned her to accompany the older shinobi and work things out with the Hyuuga clan, because it would not do to sever Suna's ties with Konoha just because a second cousin eloped with one of the prestigious clan's main family's members.

And so Temari found herself seated in the Hyuuga's main hall, three days after she and her entourage arrived in the village, to discuss the whole affair and the consequences of her cousin's actions.

"Inexcusable, simply inexcusable," a Hyuuga elder to the right of Hyuuga Hiashi said indignantly, pale gray eyes zeroing in on Kazushi, trying to impale him with a glare.

"We know Kazushi's actions have been dishonorable," Temari started, hoping that speaking up would divert the murderous stares away from her cousin and help everyone be civilized enough with each other to discuss the matter at hand. "That is why we have come here to express our sincerest apology, and try to make amends."

"A mere apology is not enough!" another elder boomed, anger in his voice evident. "And amends! What good will amends do? Your shinobi has disgraced one of our own. Nothing he or your inferior village do will ever take out that shame away!"

Temari forced herself to remain professional despite the insult. It was well known that the Hyuugas were infamous for their superiority complex, but she would deal with it, if it was the only way to resolve the problem. Gaara had entrusted this role to her. And she would not fail him, not as a subordinate, not as an older sister.

"We understand the damage that our shinobi has caused your clan," Temari answered formally, silently noting that the head, or the fiancé of the runaway girl, had not spoken a word as of yet. "And we are willing to do whatever it is necessary to . . . "

"I love Yumi," Kazushi suddenly spoke from behind her, and Temari quickly turned her head and glared at her cousin, quietly telling him to shut up if they ever hope to salvage what was left of the relationship between the two villages.

The older shinobi paid her no heed. "Hyuuga-sama," Kazushi said, respectfully, directing his statement to Hiashi, "I ask for forgiveness for my actions, but I beg of you, do not let Yumi marry someone she does not even know."

A soft sob echoed to Temari's left, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hyuuga Yumi covering her face with her hands, Neji, the prodigy of the Hyuuga clan, seated to her left, her father, face stern and formal, seated to her right.

"Insolence!" the first elder spat. "You do not speak out of turn, and you do not address our head directly unless he asks you a question!"

"That's enough," Hiashi's cool voice sent a sudden calm in the room, silencing even the hotheaded elder in his speech. Temari's respect for the clan head immediately went up a notch, for his professionalism and unquestionable authority over the other members of his extended family, older uncles and cousins included.

The Hyuuga head nodded at Kazushi, and continued, "I understand you and Yumi have your reasons for your actions, but she is a member of the main family, and she has a duty to fulfill, as she is already promised to be wed to her fiancé." A pause, and Temari could have sworn a flicker of remorse crossed the stoic clan head's eyes. "That being said, it will be a disgrace for us to allow this relationship to continue, not just for our clan as a whole, but more importantly, for her fiancé as well," he finished, nodding to Neji, who was still sitting to Yumi's left, stone-faced like before.

Hoh, Temari mused. The head was more caring than she had originally thought. It was obvious that he was concerned not only of the Hyuuga's reputation, but for his nephew's welfare as well. Impressive.

"If I may speak, Hyuuga-sama?" the clan's prodigy finally spoke, turning everyone's attention to him.

Hiashi nodded. "You may."

Neji nodded, and Temari found herself holding her breath in anticipation of what he was going to say. After all, it was a well-known fact not only in Konoha, but in Suna as well, that the genius was not very liberal with his words.

"I hold great value to my duty to the clan, and since my adolescence I have sworn that I will fulfill it to the best of my abilities. I am certain Yumi feels the same way as I do." A pause, only to give way to another silent sob to his right. "That being said," another pause, as the prodigy seemed to look for the proper words to use, "I would like to appeal to end our arranged union, if only for the reason that forcing us to marry will be a detriment to the clan rather than a benefit."

A collection of indignant protests rose in the air, and Temari had to hide her smirk behind a subtle cough. I like this guy, she thought, inner self nodding in approval. He has guts.

"Inexcusable!" the first elder yelled in a very un-Hyuuga fashion. Temari also noticed how limited his vocabulary was (Inexcusable? Insolent? What was his fetish with words that started with the letter I anyway?), making her think that contrary to popular belief, not all Hyuugas were really as intelligent as other people expect them to be. "You are merely trying to come up with reasons to justify your illicit—" Ah, there's that I again—"affair with that inferior," another I, "talentless opportunist you have for a teammate!"

Temari, and the rest of the people in the room, froze. Not only because of the gravity of the accusation, but also because of the immediate reaction of the Hyuuga prodigy to the remark. The Sand kunoichi had to stop herself from going on automatic defense position, and she sensed Kazushi react the same way behind her. She would even dare say the rest of the people in the room felt the same way she and her cousin did.

And it wasn't as if Neji had suddenly stood up and taken a gentle fist stance. No, he had remained rooted on his spot—a now cowering Yumi beside him—but his byakugan was well in force, and such was his murderous intent that Temari was sure he would have given the Gaara of before a run for his money.

"I advise you to refrain from calling my friend in such manner in the future," came Neij's baritone, calm-sounding, but with an undertone of fury held back only with a self-control instilled on him since childhood.

The elder tried to open his mouth to give a retort, but Temari noted, with some satisfaction, that he could not utter a word in response, his shoulders quivering tensely at the open hostility Neji was giving him.

"That's enough," Hiashi's voice broke through the spell one more time, enforcing a strange calm over them all. "This matter will be discussed after our visitors have left," he said, shooting the elder a reprimanding stare. "I suggest we go back to the more important matter at hand," he finished, nodding once at Temari, quietly telling her that she has the floor once again, and that she was now allowed to make negotiations on behalf of her family.

Temari, quickly regaining her composure after Neji's display of antagonism, nodded. Smirking slightly at the thought of how lucky a certain bun-haired kunoichi was, she then proceeded to make the Kazekage, her younger brother, proud.

End of Chapter Twenty-one

Burp.

You guys, what lovely goodies you gave me last chapter! I am so stoked; I think I've had a wonderful case of sugar rush from all the treats you showered on me. Thank you!

Anyway, yes. Of course nobody saw that coming, right? Some of you expected Temari to be the POV during the Sand chapter, but I had to be sly and use her for this one as well. But I think an outside POV of a Hyuuga council is needed, and Temari seemed the right person for the job. That didn't mean that I had an easy time writing this chapter, because although I kind of like Temari, I could never get a proper grasp of her personality. I mean, sure, she's like this tough badass chick, but I refuse to believe that she's as flat a character as that. And that's why it took me a while to write this next installment (err, right, because the excuse of my pathetic real-life schedule is getting boring).

Anyway, thank you to everyone who reviewed and patiently waited for this next one. It's a bit of a downer after the fluffy/mushy last chapter, but it's a necessary chapter to keep the plot moving. Next chapter is from Gai's POV. Yosh, this will be youthful!

I haven't replied to any of your reviews yet (I am so sorry!), but I will get around to it . . . soon. And to the anonymous reviewers, I can't respond to you personally because you didn't leave contact information, but really, I appreciate your feedback and love and gooey marshmallows!

And to answer Ichigo-chan's question, it's more like, Tenten is still in love with Lee (that's a fact in the story, sorry) but she feels she loves Neji as well. She's not sure, though, if it's as much as what she feels for Lee, or if it's enough to openly reciprocate his feelings, because she knows she still has baggage from her unrequited affection for their bushy-browed friend. Ergh, did that make sense, or did I just confuse you more?

Reviews will be lovely, and flames will be used to roast marshmallows.