Chapter 21

I had just taken two steps into the kitchen when a blur tackled me to the ground.

"Rayne you're awake. It's about time".

"Hello to you to Naruto. Would you mind getting off me so I can get up?" I questioned.

"Sure" he said smiling helping me up.

Kankuro was sitting at the table smiling at me but Temari was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Temari?" I looked at Gaara

"She's out training, she has been for the past three days, and she keeps saying that she should have been the one who saved us all. She rarely eats these days, all it is, is train, train, train"

"Oh"

I looked down in embarrassment as the memories of the fight came back to me.

One that particularly sunk into my head was curling up on Gaara's lap crying feeling his arms circling my waist pulling me closer resting his head on mine and Shikaku and Koori's words of praise and comfort.

A sudden throat clearing brought me back to the present.

"Ray-Ray are you ok?" I looked at Kankuro

"Ray-Ray?" I questioned

"Umm yeah..." he replied rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

I looked at him for a while and he blushed a bright red

"Come on Rayne the kid is going to pass out in a minute if you don't reply" I smiled my biggest smile at him.

"I like it Kanky" I saw him visibly exhale and I stifled a giggle.

A stabbing pain hit me in the chest and I thought of Temari out in the field training "hey guys I'm going to go out for a while" and with that I left.

I wondered around aimlessly for about half an hour before giving into my rumbling stomach and locating a diner.

Ordering my food to go I wondered if Temari had eaten lately.

Ordering for another person and grabbing a few take-away containers and made my way to the training grounds.

I saw Temari hacking into a tree near the side of the field I observed her techniques and noted her frustration.

She was trying to put a few close combat combos together but was failing and falling over every time she tried.

I made my way over to her and stood within view of her.

Seeing me she scowled and turned away "What do you want?" she questioned pulling off Gaara's cold voice with perfection.

She tried the combo again and fell on her butt. "Fuck, arse dick stupid fucking..." she rambled and punched the ground.

I held out my hand to help her up and she looked at me like I had grown two heads.

"I don't bite...much" I said smiling at her.

She sighed and let me help her up.

"I just can't get it right" she ranted in frustration

"Try it again, I'll see if I can find out what's wrong" Temari looked at me sceptically "I used to help the academy students with my friends" I explained.

She nodded, and I watched as she took a couple of steps back.

Taking her typical pose with her fans drawn and in the closed position, she took a fast and wide step forward and brought both of the fans down hard where the targets shoulders and collar bone would be.

Then, spinning on her left heel, she brought her right heel around to cross against the first attack.

The problem was immediately noticeable to me, as there was a lengthy delay between her attacks, which any Ninja would be able to capitalize on.

The combo was a good trick, especially when trying to pressure an opponent, however failed to deliver.

"Do it again." I instructed, and she followed.

As she spun around, I caught her, holding her by her outstretched arms and right knee.

"You stick your arms out too much, creating an awkward balance for the speed you're looking to rotate. Try instead to cross your arms as you begin to turn. Do it quickly and you'll create additional momentum. Then, once you bring the right heel to cross against the first blow, invert the stick lengths so that you've only got a few inches to the top, then thrust them straight towards the target as your right heel begins to land." I analysed.

With a nod, she began again, taking the broad first step with her left foot as lead.

Bringing the pair of clasped fans down onto the targets shoulder and chest area, she was quick cross her arms and invert the way she held the fans as she spun on her left heel and brought the right to strike along the same zone as the first attack, then as her right heel landed, she took the stumpy ends of the fans that she had so well choked up on, and thrust them into the same zone for a doubling blow that would even affect someone wearing armour.

"Wow, I did it" she said smiling.

Temari looked down and the carefree attitude vanished from the air.

"Look Temari..." I began but was cut off

"Stop" she said harshly.

She looked up and I gasped, tears were flowing freely down her face.

"Thankyou" she whispered "You saved Gaara, my baby brother... I was supposed to be the one looking after him and you saved him. I felt so useless doing nothing; I was the one who had to be protected and I just..."

I walked up to Temari and held out my hand "truce?" she smiled and shook my hand

"Is that breakfast I smell?"

I laughed and gave her a take-away container, smiling to myself as we ate.