A/N: So here is chapter two. A bit more set up and entertaining (hopefully) dialogue. Can't think of much else to say here. Oh, this chapter is kinda from Temari's perspective, right now it looks as though I'm going to alternate the focus of the story betweeen the two. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I also did not own Naruto when I wrote the last chapter, yeah I just forgot the disclaimer.

Temari hadn't forgot.

Five years had passed since the time she had last truly laid eyes on the dark haired shinobi she now was forced to call a compainion. Still with all that time Temari's memories hadn't faded in the slightest. For Temari memories were one of the most important, no,nessecary things she owned. The few moments of pleasure, and the constant agony and pain of her youth were things she had to live with. She wouldn't, no, she couldn't allow herself to forget all those she wrongly hurt. Temari never forgot an opponent's face, espeacially an opponent who had made an impression on her. Sure this girl had been ill suited to her particular skills, yet she had shown real determination and strength, and besides Tenten had a real cute face.

Now she was travelling with this girl she had been forced to hurt. She did not expect forgiveness, she however was not content with rejection. She would try her hardest to redeem herself in this girl's lovely brown eyes even if she realized it could very well be futile.

"So, Tenten, how much do you know about this tournament?" Temari said after a while, suddenly breaking the long silence that had substained since their last stop.

"What! Why are you talking to me?" Tenten spoke disdainfully.

"Because I'm bored. Didn't you say you weren't going to be so stupid any more?" Temari said mockingly.

"Just because I said I would try to accept your company doesn't mean I have forgiven you in the slightest." An indignant tone lingered in the girl's voice.

"I'm not expecting forgiveness. I was just hoping we could talk a little, you know, since there reall isn't a hell of a lot to do out here." The other replied softly.

"I really don't know anything more then what the Hokage briefed me on. These recreational battles seem a little meainingless to me, and from all the promotioal material I've seen I've always assumed the IKC was just a big gimmick battle." Tenten said somewhat angrily.

"That's how it was at first. The International Kunoichi Chanpionship was established when some of the more 'traditional' nations protested the entrance of Kunoichi into the International Shinobi Championships." Temari started in an informative tone.

"Figures, it would be rooted in some crap ideas of some shobinistic morons." Tenten shot back quickly, still inexplicablyangry.

"Right, but it's because of people like that that this tournament has become as esteemed as it has. Many nations are not as open about training women as shinobi, some outlaw the practice all together, but many only train those women that posess clear and outstanding skill and potential, as well as those who posess inate abilities and kekkei genkai." Temari continued in a smartly smug tone.

"So your saying that because these discriminating idiots put restrictions on which Kunoichi are trained, the ones who make it to this tournament are all the best of the best." Tenten laughed a bit, losing the grip on her angry facade.

"Yeah, the quality of the participants is on average about fifteen percent higher then then the average contender in the ISC, which has huge gaps between the best and the worst. That coupled with the fact that, because many villages have fewer kunoichi then male shinobi, and the IKC is held only once every three years, and the fact that it is instantly more marketable to audiences, led this championship to become the more meaningful of the two." Temari spoke simply as she continued her explanation.

"Now you've picqued my interest. It's curious though... that I would be chosen to represent my village, I mean I don't have spectacular skill or any inate abilities." Tenten spoke slowly.

"That may be. But you've got amazing drive, a warrior's spirit, and an unshakeable will, not to mention the fact that you're highly marketable. I can see why your Hokage would put so much trust in you." Temari said cooly.

"What do you mean by marketable?" Tenten shouted, taken aback.

"You're cute." Temari replied mocking sensuality.

"What the hell! Stop creeping me out like that." The younger girl shot back restlessly after a while.

"I'm just saying all the guys are gonna like you." Temari sighed.

"Well... I'm not as pretty as you are." The other replied shyly.

"What. You know hitting on other girl's is a little odd." The blonde was deeply mocking in tone.

"I wasn't! I was just... You're the one who... God, I don't understand you." Tenten replied, masking her embarasment.

"It's alright, I know... Looks like were approching a village or something, it's getting dark we should probably stop and rest for the night." Temari laughed and sighed as she spoke.

"Sounds good... Temari, Thank you." Tenten spoke in a highly reserved manner.

"Thank you! For what?" Temari asked impatiently, though she knew what to expect.

"For what you said about me." Tenten replied softly a blush clearly visble about her face.

"Oh, that you're cute." Temari said once more quite mockingly.

"Well... yes, but I was more referring to the other parts." Tenten's face turned a vibrant red.

"That's cool Tenten... I'm going to ascertain our location in town, why don't you go and secure a couple rooms for us at that inn over there." Temari spoke slowly, avoiding the other's deep gaze.

"Alright see you later." Tenten replied with energy as she vanished into the quaint building.

Temari continued down the street, now alone. Even though she had been the informant durring their dialogue, Temari felt that she had been the one to truly learn something. She wasn't quite sure what it was that she had learned from the seemingly meaningless conversation, but whatever itwas she couldn't help but feel that it was something truly important.Soon the serenity of Temari's thoughts was disturbed by the soud of voices as she approached the village square.

"Ha. You realize that this is just some nothing village, and no one would think twice if I were to wipe you all off the map." Shot a deep, hatefull female voice.

"We told you, miss, we are a poor village, we don't have any thing of value to give you." An old man spoke cowering under his breath, others, most likely villagers, were at either side of him.

"Nothing of value. Ha. Well you have to have something to give me. If nothing more, at least I will have the pleasure of killing you all with my hands." The woman spoke once more with evil short laughs.

"Please no. We haven't done anything to deserve this. If you have to kill someone, then please just take me and leave my people alone." The old man replied slowly.

"No elder, you can't just give yourself up." A middle aged woman cried from somewhere in the crowd of villagers.

"Don't worry, that doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense. Why would I just kill one old man when I could cleanse this whole village of all its pathetic filth." The woman shot back darkly.

"Just because you're a ninja doesn't mean were going to give up without a fight, we have you outnumbered." A young village man yelled at the woman.

"Don't you see how futile it is. No matter how much you worthless vermin struggle, you'll all end up dead in the end. Can't you see that it is inevitable." The woman spoke again.

"Hey you leave these people alone." Temari found herself shouting, at the woman. This wasn't her problem, but If she could do something to help, she had to try.

"Ha, what the hell do we have here. One of the village weaklings decide to grow a spine... No, you're an outsider, a full fledged kunoichi. I suppose you have too much time on your hands, either that or... a death wish." The woman spoke bluntly. She had relatively short dark purple hair, that was swept to one side. She was tall, and had a very shapely figure, which was adorned with a highly decorative and somewhat revealing and clingy body suit. Her eyes were a pale piercing yellow, and she wore a Kiri Village headband across her forehead.

"I just don't like seeing people hurt those weaker then them just because they can." Temari shouted maliciously, though she fully realized that only a few years ago, she could have been the target of these same words.

"So you gonna do something about it. Who the hell do you think you are!" The evil woman asked a certain brutality on her tongue.

"I am Sabaku no Temari, the kunoichi pride of Suna village, and I shall take you out if need be." Temari spoke with high emotion as she took her fan from her back and placed it to her side, though in the back of her mind she wondered how terribly corny her outburst sounded.

"Ha. You seem a formidable opponent... whilewere on introductions I shall have you know, I'm Amaya Mizutani. Known throughout the land as Amaya the soul slicer. Enemies cower in the face of my great power." The woman spat forcefully; Temari couldn't help but feel, that if she was corny, then this girl was just ridiculous.

The battle soon reached a high degree of intesity as Amaya brandished an odd custom weapon adorned with three blades that seemed to have hollow sections at their centers. The Mist ninja charged her opponent visciously, hacking away at Temari's defense, and leaving her with few opprotunities to launch an attack, or an adequate counter measure.

"Ha you're prety good, keeping up with me like that. But I think, it's about time we heat it up a little." Amaya said as she held her weapon against her body with one hand and performed a series of signs with the other. Soon water began to pour from the hollow sections of the blades covering them in a constant sheet of flowing water. Temari raised her fan to prepare a counter as her opponent, launched forward with a vicious watery slash. Temari could feel the water pouring agianst her fan, she was having trouble holding it straight through the pressure. Soon the pressure stopped. Temari had little time to react before she felt a sharp cutting pain at her back, and then felt as blood trickle down her body.

"Damn you're good, It's a rare opponent who survives my Death Blade of Deluge technique. You actually managed to dodge two of the blades. No matter, with that cut on your back you will have trouble keeping up with me now." Amaya laughed visciously. Temari knew she was right. Though she could feel that the cut wasn't even all that deep, she could teel from her bodies reaction, that the blade had some sort of oddparalyzing toxinabout it. She was having trouble moving her body. Ha, at least if she died in battle here, it would be while protecting innocents, not bringing them pain.

"Then perhaps you're in need of a new opponent!" A distant voice sounded in approach. Temari gave a sigh and a smile upon seeing the figure of Tenten racing toward her at high speed. She knew that she would soon have even more reason to feel guilt towards her young companion, no matter how this turned out.

A/N: Yep that's it. A shortchapter with a cliffhanger ending.Don't you love cliffhangers. I hope that wasn't too boring. This chapter was basically meant just to show you, Temari's thoughts on stuff, give you more pointless setup, and introduce one ofmy OCs (don't worry the OC's have a lot smaller role this time around).Those of you reading this for the sex, might be bored out of your minds by now, but keep reading we'll get to that in the near future. I'm enjoying writing this, I've already wrote Tenten and Temari both before, but this time I'm allowed to keep them truer to their selves. Their relationship is more fluid and natural then those before. I can actually get to show Temari's darker points off . In my previous story Tenten served more as a support for Sakura, but now I can actually highlight her own personality. Anyway keep reading and reviewing and I hope you enjoy the rest.