She knew where the old village was. Those were the ruins, not too far away
from Konoha. Temari ran her hand through her hair. She really never knew
what that old place was anyway, and it seemed so very strange that the note
would request her presence there.
"Maybe it's a trap" She thought, but shook that thought right off. There was absolutely no point in her death right now, no gain for either Kabuto or Orochimaru. Besides, there was something in his eyes, something she believed no one could fake. You could lie to someone with words - but only when they're too in love not to notice. She wasn't. Not even close, but those eyes - she couldn't forget them, not even for a moment. Temari sighed again and folded the piece of paper. Ruins. Kabuto. It was the same story, over again.
But despite of this time that elapsed between then and now, she couldn't stop thinking about what he has done. He kissed her. Gently and lovingly. It was passionate, sweet, and almost devoted. It wasn't forced, not in any way, even though he could have. It was respectful. Even a little protective. Why? She couldn't answer that question. Or maybe she could, but really didn't want to. She didn't want to say it herself, she wanted to hear it from him. Why? Why? Why?
And it wasn't as if she had nothing else to do but to think about that. Temari was a ninja, she trained even harder, blocking away the pesky memories and feelings by exhausting her body almost to the point of insanity. Even her own brothers began to look at her semi-weird. She was a dedicated ninja, but this week it seemed like she was someone else. Temari tried to act as if nothing was really bothering her, and while Kankuro was really easy to fool, Gaara was nowhere as gullible. She could feel he was suspecting things, just by the weigh of his stare, but he didn't ask a single question. He preferred to leave it up to her to tell him things that bothered her. After all, he didn't have to kill her just yet, why annoy her and annoy himself?
However, he was surprised when on that day, Temari told Gaara early in the morning that she's going to be leaving. He asked her where to, looking sternly, and almost interrogatingly. She lowered her eyes and fell quite for a moment. After that she looked at him and said that it was a meeting of a private nature. He nodded understandingly. He wasn't stupid. He thought he has figured it out, but rather then jump to conclusions he decided to wait for her to say anything. It would be a lot better that way. Less hassle.
Temari left Konoha early. It was about an hour or so to get to the ruins, if you walked. She walked somewhat fast, without even realizing it, as if she was afraid she was going to be late.
"What's so great about some dumb secret anyway?" Temari mumbled to herself as she continued to draw closer to the point of her destination. When she finally arrived, it was a lot earlier then she was expected to get here. He has hoped that Kabuto would be there, waiting already. She stood there, gazing at the old ghost town. She couldn't understand why she was here in the first place. What a strange place to be, but on the other hand, if you're going to tell secrets... might as well tell them in a place that's a secret on its own.
She stood patiently, waiting. But Kabuto was nowhere to be found. She sighed and almost growled to herself. He better not be playing one of his dumb jokes, because if he is, he's going to be REALLY, REALLY sorry. She looked around again, hoping that she just didn't notice him before. But everything was eerily quiet. Just the birds, and the crickets, nothing more. The wind, caressing gently the leafs of wild vines and trees, kissing softly the blades of grass. No sign of a single human soul. She sighed again. This place was beginning to get to her. Then, she noticed a little sign with an arrow that said "Follow me." Intrigued, she walked in the direction the arrow pointed, just to find another arrow. "Here were the main headquarters," the sign read. The "Follow Me" arrow pointed me towards another building. Temari followed the directions once again. She couldn't quite understand WHY she was doing what the arrow said, but it seemed as if her feet had a will of their own. This reminded her a game her brothers and she used to play when they were young. For a moment. she thought she saw something with the corner of her eye... but when she turned - it was gone. "Here was the hospital, maternity ward," the sign read again. She sighed and growled. Great. She was being lectured in history of a place she had no association with.
It began getting dark, and she was still walking around in the labyrinth of the old buildings, reading the signs. It began to seriously annoy her, because she didn't come here to play a game with Mr. Kabuto because he decided to be bored. This game wasn't putting her into a favorable mood either, if anything she wanted to kill him now more then ever. She came here because she wanted some answers, not to participate in his childish games. The last "follow-me" arrow pointed to a massive door in one of the houses that seemed to be in somewhat better shape then others. "Please, you are expected. Second floor." Temari growled. She could feel her blood beginning to boil in her veins. Once gotten upstairs, she would tell him EXACTLY what she thought of him, and then storm off. That was the plan. He was getting annoying! Everything he did was getting annoying too! However when walking up the stairs, ignorant of what she might find on the other end of her journey, her heart couldn't stop hammering against her rib cage. Why did he do all of this? WHY?
She pushed the door and walked in. There was a bed. A table. A small lamp that lit the room, a chair and a window. A figure was standing by the window, facing it. She closed the door behind her and the person turned around. He was wearing an Anbu mask of a fox. Temari's blood just boiled. She wanted to walk over there and rip that thing off his face, which she pretty much did. She walked over and pulled the mask off his face. He stood there looking at her, grinning.
"You know, I HATE you SO much!" she almost screamed "You are SO annoying! What, you think this is a funny game? You lead me through this maze of old buildings with some. dumb history lessons on each one of them! You know I could be at home right now!"
Kabuto lowered his eyes to the floor and then looked at her again. He took her hand, the same one that was holding the mask and interlaced his fingers with hers giving her hand a light squeeze. Temari began to shake... His touch provoked those feelings in her again, feelings she quite didn't want to face. All of it, starting from that meeting in the forest, and ending with the moment now was so weird, so strange; it was so frightening and yet so unbelievable. She gazed at him with her eyes widened and her heart pounding. There was so much she wanted to say to him before, and none of it was any good, but now. Now she couldn't manage to produce even a single sound, she never felt the way she felt now. It was so strange. and. Weird. and.
He. leaned over and. kissed her. Just like before. They've done this before once. and it seemed like once again, Temari wasn't sure what she was doing here. Her heart kept on stopping every time. like a heart of a little animal that gotten into the hunter's trap. She was short of breath and thoughts. I wasn't sure that she could demand anything at that moment of time. and she wasn't sure that she could remember what it is she wanted to know. It seemed like everything she came here for was just told to her without ever using a single word.
They parted and looked at each other. She felt as if she was drowning in his soft eyes. He smiled and reached out with his hand to cup her face. Temari closed her eyes and stood there without knowing what to do. His hand felt so warm.
"So.what's the secret?" she finally braved in a soft voice once her heart leaped back into her chest.
He pulled her close and although she wanted to struggle she couldn't. Her whole body felt like it was made out of cotton. His arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into a close and complete embrace. Kabuto leaned over to her my ear and whispered one single word.
"Aishiteru"
Temari shivered. She was so afraid of that word. And at the same time. She was so afraid he wouldn't say it. It was both sad and happy, when she heard it. She didn't know why all of this has happened the way it did, but she knew one thing; she couldn't stop that word from resonating in her ears. She came even closer and wrapped her arms around his torso, relaxing her head on his chest. It was so incredibly strange. Ever since she was a little girl, she believed that moments like these weren't for her; they were for someone else, someone who didn't have to take care of a possessed little brother. All her life she believed that being aggressive has saved her from ever feeling alone.
"People fearing you are better then you fearing them."
Those were the words of wisdom her father spared. She was afraid to breathe, to open her eyes, she was afraid of finding out that all of this is just some cruel joke, some silly illusion. They stood like that, holding each other....
She decided it was her time to leave again after several hours. It felt as if she was in a complete coma. She wasn't even exactly sure where she was going. But just before they parted, Kabuto kissed her again and looked her in the eyes.
"Aishiteru, Neko-chan" he said softly pulling Temari close. She wanted to say so many things...but...her voice gave out on her. All she could do was to manage one word, and even that escaped her lips as a soft whisper.
"Aishiteru." she said, looking him in the eyes, and in that precise moment, she knew that she meant it.
The feeling didn't let go of her until she finally got home. Again, Gaara didn't question her about a single thing and she was glad. She wasn't sure how she'd explain to her little brother what exactly happened in those several hours she spent together with Kabuto. She felt exhausted. She got out of her clothes and fell on her bed. There were so many things she felt when Kabuto explained to her why he wanted to meet at that place. It was his home...before his whole clan was destroyed, and the house...was the house his family owned. The room.that was his. old. room. She felt so many different things in those brief hours. but she doubted she could ever find words to describe them even closely. She rolled over to her side and closed her eyes.
"I'm going to go to bed," she thought to herself "because I am so incredibly tired. I don't know what will happen now, and I'm not even sure what has just happened not so long ago. I doubt there is anything I am sure of at this point"
She took a deep breath and before she knew it, she was already drifting asleep. The minutes were ticking away, turning into hours as the night grew strong. She was honest with herself, she really didn't know what would happen now, and she wasn't sure about many things at this point of time. But one thing, she was sure of, deeply in her heart. That word. That only word that she managed to say, when she held him so close. She meant it. With every ounce of her being.
"Aishiteru."
"Maybe it's a trap" She thought, but shook that thought right off. There was absolutely no point in her death right now, no gain for either Kabuto or Orochimaru. Besides, there was something in his eyes, something she believed no one could fake. You could lie to someone with words - but only when they're too in love not to notice. She wasn't. Not even close, but those eyes - she couldn't forget them, not even for a moment. Temari sighed again and folded the piece of paper. Ruins. Kabuto. It was the same story, over again.
But despite of this time that elapsed between then and now, she couldn't stop thinking about what he has done. He kissed her. Gently and lovingly. It was passionate, sweet, and almost devoted. It wasn't forced, not in any way, even though he could have. It was respectful. Even a little protective. Why? She couldn't answer that question. Or maybe she could, but really didn't want to. She didn't want to say it herself, she wanted to hear it from him. Why? Why? Why?
And it wasn't as if she had nothing else to do but to think about that. Temari was a ninja, she trained even harder, blocking away the pesky memories and feelings by exhausting her body almost to the point of insanity. Even her own brothers began to look at her semi-weird. She was a dedicated ninja, but this week it seemed like she was someone else. Temari tried to act as if nothing was really bothering her, and while Kankuro was really easy to fool, Gaara was nowhere as gullible. She could feel he was suspecting things, just by the weigh of his stare, but he didn't ask a single question. He preferred to leave it up to her to tell him things that bothered her. After all, he didn't have to kill her just yet, why annoy her and annoy himself?
However, he was surprised when on that day, Temari told Gaara early in the morning that she's going to be leaving. He asked her where to, looking sternly, and almost interrogatingly. She lowered her eyes and fell quite for a moment. After that she looked at him and said that it was a meeting of a private nature. He nodded understandingly. He wasn't stupid. He thought he has figured it out, but rather then jump to conclusions he decided to wait for her to say anything. It would be a lot better that way. Less hassle.
Temari left Konoha early. It was about an hour or so to get to the ruins, if you walked. She walked somewhat fast, without even realizing it, as if she was afraid she was going to be late.
"What's so great about some dumb secret anyway?" Temari mumbled to herself as she continued to draw closer to the point of her destination. When she finally arrived, it was a lot earlier then she was expected to get here. He has hoped that Kabuto would be there, waiting already. She stood there, gazing at the old ghost town. She couldn't understand why she was here in the first place. What a strange place to be, but on the other hand, if you're going to tell secrets... might as well tell them in a place that's a secret on its own.
She stood patiently, waiting. But Kabuto was nowhere to be found. She sighed and almost growled to herself. He better not be playing one of his dumb jokes, because if he is, he's going to be REALLY, REALLY sorry. She looked around again, hoping that she just didn't notice him before. But everything was eerily quiet. Just the birds, and the crickets, nothing more. The wind, caressing gently the leafs of wild vines and trees, kissing softly the blades of grass. No sign of a single human soul. She sighed again. This place was beginning to get to her. Then, she noticed a little sign with an arrow that said "Follow me." Intrigued, she walked in the direction the arrow pointed, just to find another arrow. "Here were the main headquarters," the sign read. The "Follow Me" arrow pointed me towards another building. Temari followed the directions once again. She couldn't quite understand WHY she was doing what the arrow said, but it seemed as if her feet had a will of their own. This reminded her a game her brothers and she used to play when they were young. For a moment. she thought she saw something with the corner of her eye... but when she turned - it was gone. "Here was the hospital, maternity ward," the sign read again. She sighed and growled. Great. She was being lectured in history of a place she had no association with.
It began getting dark, and she was still walking around in the labyrinth of the old buildings, reading the signs. It began to seriously annoy her, because she didn't come here to play a game with Mr. Kabuto because he decided to be bored. This game wasn't putting her into a favorable mood either, if anything she wanted to kill him now more then ever. She came here because she wanted some answers, not to participate in his childish games. The last "follow-me" arrow pointed to a massive door in one of the houses that seemed to be in somewhat better shape then others. "Please, you are expected. Second floor." Temari growled. She could feel her blood beginning to boil in her veins. Once gotten upstairs, she would tell him EXACTLY what she thought of him, and then storm off. That was the plan. He was getting annoying! Everything he did was getting annoying too! However when walking up the stairs, ignorant of what she might find on the other end of her journey, her heart couldn't stop hammering against her rib cage. Why did he do all of this? WHY?
She pushed the door and walked in. There was a bed. A table. A small lamp that lit the room, a chair and a window. A figure was standing by the window, facing it. She closed the door behind her and the person turned around. He was wearing an Anbu mask of a fox. Temari's blood just boiled. She wanted to walk over there and rip that thing off his face, which she pretty much did. She walked over and pulled the mask off his face. He stood there looking at her, grinning.
"You know, I HATE you SO much!" she almost screamed "You are SO annoying! What, you think this is a funny game? You lead me through this maze of old buildings with some. dumb history lessons on each one of them! You know I could be at home right now!"
Kabuto lowered his eyes to the floor and then looked at her again. He took her hand, the same one that was holding the mask and interlaced his fingers with hers giving her hand a light squeeze. Temari began to shake... His touch provoked those feelings in her again, feelings she quite didn't want to face. All of it, starting from that meeting in the forest, and ending with the moment now was so weird, so strange; it was so frightening and yet so unbelievable. She gazed at him with her eyes widened and her heart pounding. There was so much she wanted to say to him before, and none of it was any good, but now. Now she couldn't manage to produce even a single sound, she never felt the way she felt now. It was so strange. and. Weird. and.
He. leaned over and. kissed her. Just like before. They've done this before once. and it seemed like once again, Temari wasn't sure what she was doing here. Her heart kept on stopping every time. like a heart of a little animal that gotten into the hunter's trap. She was short of breath and thoughts. I wasn't sure that she could demand anything at that moment of time. and she wasn't sure that she could remember what it is she wanted to know. It seemed like everything she came here for was just told to her without ever using a single word.
They parted and looked at each other. She felt as if she was drowning in his soft eyes. He smiled and reached out with his hand to cup her face. Temari closed her eyes and stood there without knowing what to do. His hand felt so warm.
"So.what's the secret?" she finally braved in a soft voice once her heart leaped back into her chest.
He pulled her close and although she wanted to struggle she couldn't. Her whole body felt like it was made out of cotton. His arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into a close and complete embrace. Kabuto leaned over to her my ear and whispered one single word.
"Aishiteru"
Temari shivered. She was so afraid of that word. And at the same time. She was so afraid he wouldn't say it. It was both sad and happy, when she heard it. She didn't know why all of this has happened the way it did, but she knew one thing; she couldn't stop that word from resonating in her ears. She came even closer and wrapped her arms around his torso, relaxing her head on his chest. It was so incredibly strange. Ever since she was a little girl, she believed that moments like these weren't for her; they were for someone else, someone who didn't have to take care of a possessed little brother. All her life she believed that being aggressive has saved her from ever feeling alone.
"People fearing you are better then you fearing them."
Those were the words of wisdom her father spared. She was afraid to breathe, to open her eyes, she was afraid of finding out that all of this is just some cruel joke, some silly illusion. They stood like that, holding each other....
She decided it was her time to leave again after several hours. It felt as if she was in a complete coma. She wasn't even exactly sure where she was going. But just before they parted, Kabuto kissed her again and looked her in the eyes.
"Aishiteru, Neko-chan" he said softly pulling Temari close. She wanted to say so many things...but...her voice gave out on her. All she could do was to manage one word, and even that escaped her lips as a soft whisper.
"Aishiteru." she said, looking him in the eyes, and in that precise moment, she knew that she meant it.
The feeling didn't let go of her until she finally got home. Again, Gaara didn't question her about a single thing and she was glad. She wasn't sure how she'd explain to her little brother what exactly happened in those several hours she spent together with Kabuto. She felt exhausted. She got out of her clothes and fell on her bed. There were so many things she felt when Kabuto explained to her why he wanted to meet at that place. It was his home...before his whole clan was destroyed, and the house...was the house his family owned. The room.that was his. old. room. She felt so many different things in those brief hours. but she doubted she could ever find words to describe them even closely. She rolled over to her side and closed her eyes.
"I'm going to go to bed," she thought to herself "because I am so incredibly tired. I don't know what will happen now, and I'm not even sure what has just happened not so long ago. I doubt there is anything I am sure of at this point"
She took a deep breath and before she knew it, she was already drifting asleep. The minutes were ticking away, turning into hours as the night grew strong. She was honest with herself, she really didn't know what would happen now, and she wasn't sure about many things at this point of time. But one thing, she was sure of, deeply in her heart. That word. That only word that she managed to say, when she held him so close. She meant it. With every ounce of her being.
"Aishiteru."
