Notes: Yaay Chapter 4! This is the longest story I've ever written. Usually they're rather short, so I don't have but one chapter. I didn't think a one-shot was good for this coupling though :3. So yes! On to chapter 4!

Disclaimer: You guys should know this by now but Naruto (c) Kishimoto.

CHAPTER 4: Limit to a Bond

Temari cracked open her eyes. The muddy blur of tan shades focused into the familiar scheme of her room from where she lay. Sitting up slowly, she stretched looking over at the window. It was mid-morning. If anyone had knocked on her door, she definitely hadn't heard it.

She looked down at her clothes, a bit wrinkled from sleeping. Sliding to the side of her bed, she opened the top drawer and took out her bathing robe. It'd been a little while since she had a chance to clean thoroughly. Missions allowed little time for proper hygiene, but at the same time, if your life was in danger, the last thing you thought about was a bar of soap.

She slid open her door, peeking out into the small apartment. It was even more bare than her own room, only holding the bare essentials. She hated it, but Hidden Sand had a different set of priorities than other more peaceful villages. Crossing the main living area, which only consisted of enough chairs for each of them and a worn couch, Temari opened the door to the bathroom and locked it shut behind her. This was the only room that didn't have a dirty look to it. She had made sure things were kept clean in here, complaining often to the boys if it wasn't. It looked like the typical bathroom, a shower stall in the back, a sink near the door and the toilet somehow squeezed in the middle, in a tiny compartment space.

She took a deep breath, setting the robe aside and pulling her hair out of their double ponytails one by one. The sandy blonde locks fell forward, brushing against her cheeks and barely touching her shoulders. She never liked her hair this way. It was an annoyance on the mission field for one, and it made her face a little more girly than she preferred too. Still, she picked up her brush from next to the sink and ran it through. Would Shikamaru like it this way?

She stopped. Her hand froze mid-stroke and her eyes looked incredulous. What kind of random, idle thought was that! Why should she care what he thought? Why had she stayed...?

"Oh God..." Temari crouched to the cool tiles below her feet, holding her head. "...I can't believe it. I'm crushing on that bum"

It felt so nice to be completely clean. Her hair was still damp, a drip or two making wet spots on her robe. Carrying her dirty clothes bundled in her arms, she walked across the living area again before the sound of another door opening made her turn around.

Kankuro was yawning as he walked out of his room and groggily eyed Temari.

"You're just getting up? Tch, you're getting sluggish, Kankuro." She smirked at him while he glared back at her.

"You've got no room to talk, Temari. What's with you staying in Konoha so long? We got paid days before now, and you just got back." He was eyeing her suspiciously while still looking groggy.

"Very attractive, beady-eyes." She snickered, opening the door to her room before she was stopped.

"Gaara wants to speak to you. You better see him after you're decent." She closed the door.

It was easy to fool Kankuro, but Gaara would see right through her. She was sure she didn't want him to find out about her new dilemma. Gaara was clingy, not very forgiving if crossed, and easily angered unless you knew how to handle him. She groaned, pulling out a few simple clothes to get dressed in and slipped the robe off her shoulders. He wouldn't understand her. He was incapable of understanding a girl's feelings. He barely understood his own. Temari had hoped to postpone this talk for awhile, but no such luck.

She opened the door to her closet, looking in the narrow mirror framed by the inside of the wooden door. Her eyes still looked tired. Did he still have those bags under his eyes...? She quickly smacked her forehead.

"Snap out of it Temari..." How was she going to face Gaara with thoughts like that? Sighing, she closed the door and headed towards Gaara's room.

The sound of the shower was running as she knocked lightly on Gaara's door.

"Enter." His voice sounded a little angry, but maybe that was just her. She slowly slid open the door, opening it only enough to pass through before closing it silently behind her. Gaara's room was a mystery to her. She had only been inside of it once or twice before. He disliked bright light, preferring to keep a shade over his window so the whole room had a dank sort of atmosphere. She swallowed, walking slowly towards his bedside where he sat watching nothing in particular.

"Where were you?"

"Konoha." She kept her answers short. It was easier this way.

"Why?"

"I had unfinished business."

"Of what kind?" Temari hesitated to respond to that, Gaara's head turning slightly towards her.

"Answer me, Temari."

"It was just something small. Nothing to worry about."

He stayed silent for a moment then turned his head completely forward again. Silence was not good. It meant he was thinking rather deeply about what little information he'd received.

"Were you paid for it?"

"What? It wasn't that kind of business."

"What kind was it?"

"Why do you ask so many questions, Gaara? I already told you it was something small, insignificant. You don't need to worry about it." She was getting annoyed with this. There was no way she was going to tell him the whole truth.

"Temari" Gaara turned to look at her directly, not a comfortable thing. She hated his gaze sometimes. The deadly look in his eyes, but sometimes there was fear. In this case, it was just curiosity and maybe concern. "you don't want to tell me."

There was no other answer to that. Unlike hiding parts of the truth, lying to Gaara was not an option. She was trusted, Kankuro was trusted. No one else could get close to him, not without a lot of pain in the process.

"...I can't."

"Why not? Don't you trust me, Temari?" She looked away from his eyes, not answering. She trusted him, but she didn't trust his temper.

"I understand." He turned away from her, staring blankly. She wanted to leave, run out of that apartment so fast and not return for hours. Unconsciously, she took a step back from him. "Are you afraid now? After all this time, are you still afraid"

"Gaara, stop it." Temari stared at him. "No, I'm not afraid of you. But I don't think you need to know about everything in my life, so stop asking" She held her breath. Yelling was a bad idea with him. She'd lost her cool a moment.

"...I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I've made you upset."

She glanced back at the door, listening. The sound of water had stopped. She came forward, sitting on the edge of the bed behind Gaara and hugged him.

"Are you worried about me disappearing one day? Don't worry, I'll be here for you, Gaara." She could feel his body stiffen at the touch but after a moment, he leaned back into it just slightly. He was more fragile than people imagined. She smiled a little and let go of him, standing to her feet.

"Temari." She looked down at him, his face turned away. "...promise."

She frowned slightly. Assuredly, she would come when he needed her, but to always be at his side...she wanted her own life too. Gaara would have to understand that someday.

"I can't do that, Gaara...I'm sorry." With that, she left rather quickly from his room, thankful for the silence left behind her.

Opening the door, she spotted Kankuro right beside it, staring hard at her. She closed Gaara's door before acknowledging him.

"Do you always have to eavesdrop?"

"What are you planning?" Temari looked at him quizzically.

"Don't play dumb with me. You could have made that promise, but there's something else, isn't there?"

Now it was Kankuro's turn to question her! Slowly but surely, this was pissing her off.

"Why are you so nosy? Go play with your dolls or something." Her eyes were narrowed at him as she walked away towards her room. She needed time to herself.

"You're hiding something. You've always told Gaara exactly what happens." That plucked her last bit of patience.

"Will you just leave me alone! Am I not allowed to have a personal life! I don't have to say anything to you! I'm not going to say anything!"

Temari slammed her door closed with a sharp crack, locking it and squeezed her eyes shut. Why did they have to know everything? She growled in frustration, opening her eyes and moving away from her door to her window. Kankuro could stay in the dark for all she cared, but she was more concerned about hurting Gaara..and what he would do with in that hurt state. His silence was not a comforting one.

She sighed deeply, wondering if it had been a bad idea to come back...

Woo hoo! Another chapter successfully done.Sorry my update wasn't as quick as the first 3 but those were previously written all at the same time, I just wanted to release them at separate times XD. The next couple chapters will probably be a little slower unless you want me to just work all the way to the end, and post them in quick updates. Gimme feedback on this! Now to address some reviews that have been made:

chibi-viki: Aaaah really? ;; I was trying so hard to keep her IC. Oh well, guess I slipped.

gargoylesama: And there is plenty more to come X3. And yes, while Shikamaru is a genius at strategy, I don't think he's quite got this one figured out. XD

Max Knight: Awww really too kind. And no worries! I'm liking where this story is going, so I'll be sure to keep it up!

Well that's it for now. Thanks to all my reviewers! Really, I appreciate the commentary sooooooo much. It means tons to me X3