This chapter is based on Kankuro's and Ino's views! I am so sorry to everyone who is waiting to see what happened after chapter 17 XD

Then again, absence makes the heart grow fonder 'evil laugh'

Enjoy!

Four months ago

The faint beep from the monitors sitting around her seemed distant, the air stale with the smell of medical supplies and unscented cleaners, she missed the fresh arid desert air. Her hand resting firmly on her brothers, his only motion a faint rise and fall on his chest. Temari watched the motion as if it would stop if she looked away, it would have been day three, maybe four she couldn't quite remember how long she'd been sitting there. She recalled seeing Kankuro a while ago, maybe days she didn't remember, he was passed out asleep and didn't even know she had come in to sleep on the couch in the room that night until the next morning, where she returned to Gaara's side before Kankuro woke. Nurses would stop in on occasion and attend to Gaara and her injures as she refused to leave either of her sibling's sides since arriving in Suna, maybe it was five days?

"Temari?" The sudden sound only prompted her to grip the hand tighter, but she refused to move to Kankuro's voice. While Gaara laid in the hospital seemingly in a coma as the doctor said, Kankuro had broken his arm and suffered from poisoning that was healed on the second, maybe third day she forgot what day it was again. Her injures were far fewer, bruises and scratches nothing remotely as horrid as what her brothers had faced, she would have traded a spot with either if she had been given the choice. She promised to protect them, and she had failed.

"Come on let's get you up" Kankuro's touch to her shoulder breathed life into her, that being her hand resting in her lap to quickly grab his wrist pulling him away on instinct. Her eyes slowly pulled away from Gaara's chest, hidden under thin blankets, and turned to Kankuro attempting to narrow but instead shut them and she slowly dropped her arm down releasing him and stared down into the floor. Kankuro turned to his sleeping brother then back down to his sister with a sigh and kneeled beside her "Come on Mari he'll be fine, you heard the doctor, Gaara just suffered a lot of chakra loss he needs time to regain his strength" Temari didn't respond but didn't fight as he pulled her hand from Gaara's to help her stand "let's get you something to eat how about it? Nurses should be by to take care of him in a bit" her head shook, and her gaze turned back to her sleeping brother "Oh no you don't I'm not letting you be sad anymore" Kankuro hook his arm around hers, like she used to do when they were kids, and pulled her back "Come on"

"Let me go" she muttered pulling feebly back, but his arm was firmly around hers leading her to the door.

"It's been four days come on you're starting to stink up the place" Kankuro grinned when she turned a weak glare at him, taunting her always worked "Eat something and I'll let you come back ok?"

"It's my fault" she muttered weakly, leaning against him as he walked them out of the room into the deserted halls.

"Oh no you don't no more blaming yourself, trust me when I tell you this later, you'll wanna slap yourself for saying it" he tightened his arm for a moment as if to stir her, succeeding in getting a small huff of frustration.

"But it is Kankuro" her voice above a whisper now as she glanced up at his bare face, no paint for once "If I'd been closer to Suna when it happened" he cut her off

"If you'd been closer, you might have ended up like me, at least in the front you had units to bring with you" he scolded unintentionally making casting her eyes down, grief wasn't a good look for her, his face softened and he grinned weakly attempting to cheer her up "Come on you still got to beat someone's ass, doesn't that make you feel better?"

"He was dead in my arms, he wasn't moving" she murmured lost in her own thoughts, her hands gripping his arm as she tried to stop her sudden shuddering.

"I know it's ok sis, he's fine now" he sighed, stopping and attempting to open the door to her hospital room with his casted arm and sling distracted as he spoke "At least you killed the bastard who did this to me" he leaned down and successfully pushed the door open with his casted elbow chuckling as he did "But hey Gaara's alive, I can still open doors, and you don't have any scratches on your face, women probably freak out over that kinda stuff right?" Temari blinked up at him and furrowed her brows before she gathered her strength, though not as strong as she wanted it, and used it to slap the back of his head, he winced and grumbled as he led her in "Still violent so that's a good sign" grinning when he saw the faint tug on her lips as he helped her sit on the bed.

"Is Baki" she began while pushed back to lay in the cold bed, her sudden worries coming forth but was interrupted.

"No talking about outside problems, relax will you take a nap or something"

"But I'm supposed" he raised his hand to her face.

"Supposed to be on the front yeah yeah don't worry Baki has that covered too, sit, relax, eat, and whatever else you do when you're not nagging us" He laughed when Temari shot a pillow at his face, a small grin accompanying it "See feeling much better already" Leaning back Temari forced her sore body to relax while Kankuro attempted to fluff a pillow with one arm "Hey why didn't you come see me when I was hurt?"

"I did, slept on the couch" she pushed forward while he adjusted the pillow behind her.

"So that means I'm not your favorite brother? Since you didn't hold my hand while I was passed out"

"Jealous? Gaara is just so adorable even now, you lost that when you started using the makeup" she smirked her fire slowly returning to her, savoring the fall in his face and his growing anger.

"It's called war paint Temari" He threw a hand into the air to emphasize his point "War Paint!"

Glancing over the edge of the ravine Kankuro slowly rose from his crouch, his third time checking the paper bombs hidden below, Temari would kill him if he messed this up, better to be safe than sorry he figured. With a short sigh he glanced back to his twenty or so shinobi either huddled around the small fire or sleeping among the scattered boulders. They might have been forced to work with each other but that didn't mean he had to engage with the Leaf's troops seated on the other side of the same cliff. He found the guy with glasses suspicious; he was far to quiet, and he had bugs. The thought causing him to shudder in disgust he turned back to the fire seating himself down with a huff, three sets of eyes turning to him.

"Oi Goro hand me something to eat, all this waiting makes me hungry" A dark haired man nodded holding his own sandwich in his mouth as he searched the pack to his right and tossed over one to him. Leaning against his knees he took a bite and glared into the fire, his sister's last words to him finally unsettling his nerves, plus the Leaf's commander with injured no doubt caused by her. You'd have to be blind not to know what a wind style attack looked like, then the fact that they both seemed to have been somewhere else during the same night. Kankuro's eyes narrowed, and he gripped the sandwich in his hands tightly, something told him she'd been with that guy, but why?

"Sir you alright?" A younger man, Jun, to his right looked concerned staring at the food as pieces fell from the clenched fist. Kankuro snorted sitting up and shaking the sandwich from his hand, he'd have to calm down to no arouse any suspicion.

"I'm fine" he turned his eyes over to the fire of the Leaf, their captain laid on the side of the white beast, they called a dog, laughing it seemed to the group around him.

"Captain are you sure we can trust these guys not to mess this up?" Goro muttered through a mouthful following Kankuro's eyes to the Leaf shinobi.

"Temari told us to be on our watch, but we aren't allowed to attack that's her order" Kankuro almost snorted, laughed even, his sister showing mercy now that was a good joke. A faint grin however crossed his painted face and he rose from his spot, he'd get some real answers.

"Sir?" Jun looked to Goro and back at their captain as he started to walk to the Leaf's side.

"Just watch my back and find Hiroto will you? It's his turn to patrol the cliff" He walked through the path between their ambush camps keeping his steps heavy to make sure they didn't think he was trying to ambush them, no need to piss them off right now at least. The white beast under their captain lifted his head growling as soon as he emerged to see their campfire in full view, their captain stirring and sat up "Oi Dog boy" Kiba growled at the call mimicking Akamaru's threat.

"Who you calling dog, you clown?" he snorted standing and reading himself, Kankuro furrowed his brows but said nothing, fuming inside however avoiding to get physical "The hell you want?"

"I've got some questions" he stopped, pushing the anger in his voice down, hopefully it would convince Kiba to talk if he sounded friendlier.

"What makes you think I'll answer them?" Kiba straightened and glaring back at him lips twitching as he seemed to attempt not to growl.

"Just listen will you" he grumbled glaring down at Akamaru as he took a step forward fangs bared "you said you commander smelled like mud well what kind?" Kiba raised his brow, his mouth turned down at the odd question and slumped his shoulders "Was it from your land or somewhere else?"

"Why you asking?" Kiba eyes his cautiously

"Can you just tell me damn it, what kind of mud was it?" Kankuro grumbled

"I don't like your attitude" Kiba smugly crossed his arms looking away

"Come on" Kankuro groaned eye twitching.

"Have some manners and I might just tell you" Turning back with a smirk Kiba waited

"Seriously" Kankuro narrowed his eyes and turned around raising his hands in defeat "Yeah forget it then no way am I going to get that low for some answers" A pause then he rethought, if he could just know what land it was from he could decide, then annoy Temari until she told him. He just didn't want to know that his sister might have been sneaking off with her rival, at least hoped, instant shudder at the thought. He turned back and sighed loudly but kept his tone sharp and harsh "Fine will you please just tell me" Kiba snickered and nodded to Akamaru who sat down quiet but never looking away from Kankuro.

"It wasn't our land our mud is darker, smells like wood mostly, but this smelled like rain, and a lot of it. I'd say it came from the Land of Rain and by his cuts probably got in a fight with someone there" He shrugged as if the answers meant nothing to him.

"Anything else?" Kankuro raised his eye at him?

"What do you mean?" Another cautious glare from Kiba

"Any other smells on him?"

"The rain would have washed off the scent if he was with anyone" Kiba scratched the back of his neck slowly dropping his arm and widened his eyes "Why, you think he was with someone?" Kankuro smirked and shook his head, Kiba remaining unconvinced.

"No just asking" he turned and waved smirking when he heard the growl behind him "Thanks dog boy"

"Stay on your side Clown" Kiba huffed and turned back to the fire, his own mind starting to run through ideas as to if he'd have gone with someone else.

One year ago

"Shikamaru!" Ino called out eyes wide at the sight of the heavy fan resting on her teammates chest his focus set on glaring up at the eyes of the woman smiling down at him. Temari smirked turning her gaze up to Ino, the two having managed to slip away from her first attack towards them, and to her, not so surprise, she went after Shikamaru when she split the group. You'd think after three years on the frontline the woman would have killed him by now or at least chosen a different target, but she seemed to enjoy picking on him. No one was allowed to pick on Shikamaru except her, Ino thought, then again woman always seemed to go for him, maybe it was his smartass comments that seemed to piss her off.

"Beat it will you, the leaders are trying to have a conversation here, it's rude to interrupt" Shikamaru glanced backwards at his team with a sigh as if he was too tired to care about his current predicament, probably was considering this wasn't his first time trapped under her weapon, you'd think he'd learned how to dodge her by now. Shaking her head disappointed, Ino guessed he was just to gentle hurt a woman, he's always been against fighting girls, but how could he be at a time like this when his rival was the leader of the Sand's frontline, and she was about to kill him.

"Alright Temari we've already stopped your little raid; you've lost so just let him go already" Ino began a quick tactic to find a way around her, hopefully get her to stop crushing Shikamaru into the ground. Unfortunately, it did the opposite effect as she pushed the fan in just slightly as he grumbled back up to her, more annoyed than in fear as usual, her smirk turning down to him then back up to his team.

"Are we negotiating? Because if we are I'd like a full surrender from the Land of Fire then I'll be on my way" She tilted her head blonde tuffs shaking with the effort, mocking her, woman was blunt and cruel as always. Ino groaned irritated by the situation at hand. The woman impressed and irritated her, although admired her for her skill, a worthy opponent indeed she could take advice from her if she wasn't on the wrong side, then there was the sarcasm "No? Didn't think so, now leave so you don't have to see anything, I'm sure a woman like you can't handle these kinds of nightmares" Irritated Ino blew her bang from her eye and tensed ready to strike arms rasied. Temari pulled the fan off readying to slip it open but stilled in her attempt eyes widening and smile falling, her arms lowering and the weapon dropping to her side.

Ino's body slowly slumped to the side her arms starting to fall, along with her mind transfer success, Choji caught her before she hit the ground and set her down near the brush smiling in victory. With a relieved sigh Shikamaru sat up, chest sore but thankful for Ino's save, always could count on his team. His gaze turned to Temari as her eyes slowly fluttered shut and she fell forward, a quick panicked look from him, before he moved forward to catch her fall, although lacking some grace and blushing slightly at her sudden closeness, hidden thankfully from Choji, as her head fell to his shoulder his arms wrapped around her carful where to place them if not a bit awkward to be holding her. He was sure she'd be more pissed with him if she got a bruise from falling, more things to add onto the list of things that angered his rival, not that she wasn't already a wrathful woman on a good day. Then again, he could be blushing, because she called him handsome earlier which was a new taunt that surprised him and although embarrassed, it waited until now to show on his face, he didn't know why it happened, but it did.

"Think she'll be fine in there?" he called out to Choji, gently placing the sandy tuffs down into the grass as if to not wake Temari, her face seemingly peaceful no anger behind closed eyes, and he looked back to Choji as he sat back with a sigh, unaware of his friend's actions or the teal eyes slowly opening behind him.

"I hope so"

The sandstone halls were dark, only lit by torches hanging from the walls, limp bodies lining the corners of the sides. Ino let out a breath to calm herself, not her first time seeing something to this degree, but definitely making her nervous as she began to walk down the hall focusing her gaze to a faint light coming from a cracked open room. Ino stilled her steps when a soft sniffle accompanied by a child's whine seemed to echo from the room. It was unusual to be led around like this during a mind transfer, she'd seen a few where they appeared as a memory or dream, but usually it was a void in which she could easily maneuver.

This mind was darkened and laid out like a trap, Temari was trying to hide something, and she did it well. With a short exhale determined to help her team, she pushed forward stopping at the door and peeking into the crack, inside a small girl, five or so years old, facing the darkened window her head held in her hands, four sandy tuffs shaking as she cried. Ino pushed the door open wider and cautiously stepped in the girl stilling and then quickly whipping around as she backed into the wall terrified at the sudden intrusion, yet she blinked, and her face slightly softened curious almost.

"Temari?" Ino stepped in when the girl sniffed and wiped at her eye.

"You shouldn't be here" she swallowed her words coming out in a soft whisper as she looked down into her lap hands gripping at her knees.

"Hey, it's ok" Feeling the need to comfort the girl Ino stepped forward, but she flinched away whimpering arms raised as if to defend herself.

"No, you have to leave it's not safe here" stopping Ino softened her face and kneeled before the girl, who slowly looked up blinking tears from her welled eyes.

"It's ok I'm not going to hurt you" she glanced around quickly turning back to the girl as she rubbed at an eye, lips quivering "you're not the real one, are you?" the girl shook her head

"I used to be, but she took over when they hurt me" the girl leaned forward as if whispering a secret "She'll get mad if she finds you" the girls warning made Ino tense and more alert as she scanned the room, when the girl looked back down she fumbled with her fingers "she's always mad" her faint whisper seemed to darken the room and Ino stood looking around as the walls shook, faint ebony cracks breaking apart the sandstone memory, her body shuddering as if in a earthquake, this was the room that led to her mind she confirmed inwardly looking into the darkness through the cracks.

"Where is she?" she looked back at the girl as she turned her foggy eyes up blinking away more tears from her soft innocent eyes.

"She told me to hide, but I didn't listen" the girl muttered and stood as if obeying an unknown force. A black crack began to split behind her, shattering the window, Ino gasped eyes widened, at the familiar darkened room behind her, the control room. Suddenly blocked off by an arm stretching from the crack gripping tightly to the girl's shoulder as the figure pulled itself out from the black void and manifested behind the girl, a smirk pulling at her lips and teal eyes darkened with a teasing rage.

"Did you find what you wanted, if not I can show you around?" The voice from Temari wasn't her own, it was darker, still sarcastic though. Ino could only stare and cursed herself for taking a step back, her mind sealed away under layers of rage, hatred, hurt.

"So, you're the real one huh?" Confident in her tone but inside she couldn't help but be fearful, wasn't everyday she had to witness this.

"I'm the one that has to be here" Temari pulled her lips down into a serious line and grabbed the shoulders, roughly, of the girl who suddenly flinched under the touch "this one is what I was before, and I have to protect her from people like you" pulling the girl aside she stepped past her as if shielding the younger version from Ino, Temari's eyes narrowing and lips pulled into a snarl "you will not take anything from me again, no one will" the room shook again and Ino willed herself out her mind.

Gasping Ino sat up panting and quickly searching the clearing to see if she had bought the time her team needed. Temari stood eyes shut, her weapon casted away to the ground, as still as Shikamaru glaring back at the still woman captured under his shadow, so she'd been able to wake up while she was in her mind. She felt a light hand grip her shoulder bringing her attention to Choji showing her worry. She felt bad for her, a mind like this was hardened over time to suffering, she truly felt for her enemy.

"You alright?" he asked quick to help her stand. Ino forced a smile and nodded following him to Shikamaru's side, his eyes trained on Temari, quick to urge her team into a retreat. While she was down, they had a chance.

"She woke up, didn't she?" Choji nodded and chuckled while Shikamaru turning to her to share the red handprint to his cheek, Ino bit back a laugh covering her mouth to attempt to stop it.

"A warning would have been nice" he grumbled turning back with a sigh. She'd woken up just as he'd turned away from Choji and was met with Temari's hand to his face, painful reminder not to turn your back on your enemy.

"Come on we can get out of here before she-" her words interrupted

"Before I what blondie" Temari met the surprised look on Ino's face with an annoyed glare, eyes slightly opened as if just waking up "Had fun in here?" she would have tapped her head if she wasn't captured in the shadow.

"You're a pretty twisted woman you know that?" a rather weak insult turning Temari's lips up into a smirk almost pleased.

"That's what happends when you see the things I've seen" Temari chuckled seemingly amused by the unease. Ino calmed her breathing and looked to Shikamaru for command, he remained still, thinking no doubt, eyes never leaving Temari's as she focused back on his. Ino quickly making her usual inner remark that they always seemed to stare at each other, if she didn't know better, she'd say they liked each other, that'd be crazy, but that was just the romantic in her speaking. With a smirk Temari flicked her eyes behind them for a second "you know you guys should really learn to watch your backs" The faint clanking of wood turned the attention to a pair of puppets rushing towards them. The team moved in time to avoid capture from the Crow and Black Ant. Shikamaru ducking to the side, moving Temari along with him, to her annoyance "Watch it will you, next time I won't just slap you" she hissed at him, her body following his to a kneel, irritated by the smirk on his face.

"Temari you alright?" Kankuro called out his presents tensing the air, along with a few Sand shinobi behind him each shinobi hesitant to move at the sight.

"I told you to stay by me" she called out her rage returning then she grumbled seemingly less angry almost defeated in her tone "Why can't you just listen to me?"

"I would have gotten here sooner but they triggered the bombs, whole place is a mess now" Temari rolled her eyes and was forced to straighten into standing. Shikamaru gave her a side glare, Temari scowling when she forced what little power she had to glare back.

"Ino" Shikamaru called out calmly returning his gaze to his readied team. They turned to each other nodding and Choji ran out first, each step shaking he ground as he expanded and grew while rushing the unit in a diversion. Kankuro glared up at the sudden advance, uneasy at the sight considering his puppets couldn't help here, of the large shinobi and quickly ducked away from the force of his attack, a pair of his men knocked back into the trees in the strike. Ino rushed back to Shikamaru, the distraction giving her the chance, and steadying her breath.

"You sure you have enough chakra to hold her and them?" Concerned for a moment if their move would work.

"You gonna doubt me right now?" Shikamaru smirked up at her.

"Someone has to, so you don't get too cocky, it's probably the reason Temari slapped you" She smiled smugly when he rolled his eyes and placed her hand to his head mind focused and guiding their team to victory. Temari bit back her retort and smile while watched unamused as her unit was taken out, Kankuro left last but snagged in the same shadow as her. Their victory over the Sand, Team ten had been able fall back towards the raid sight, leaving the Sand to retreat and Ino to keep Temari's secret to herself.

The chilling air bit lightly at Ino's skin but she kept her blue gaze tuned to the cliff below, the delay's ambush ready to be deployed come tomorrow. She would have smiled proudly had she not been stuck in her recent thoughts about the possible treaties being tampered with, after all these years two sides fighting over a lie. Hopeful however that everything would go well but prepared if it didn't. The recent problem against the Land of Earth still pushed as priority, as soon as the delay began her small unit would join the main legion with Shikamaru and Temari then the real fight would begin. The temporary alliance could possibly begin a permanent one after this, but as they always said never turn your back on your enemy.

She'd been on and off the front for the past four years, and whenever she was put on it was always requested for certain missions Shikamaru needed her for. Like any proud sister she encouraged, annoyed, and picked on her teammate, telling him once that it would build his character is she teased him, but that was years ago. Who was she kidding she still did it. The small pang of worry for him and his recent actions never left her mind, but she knew better than to question him when he set a plan out he always followed through.

"Beautiful" Ino bit back her grin as she looked back, her thoughts leaving her, Sai smiling back his eyes closed as he lifted a notebook to her, excited now she quickly came to sit by his side and look at his recent drawing, her staring out into stars. Her cheeks burning, she pulled away to avoid having him see her blush, not that he hadn't seen it all before.

"You know you can always draw something else Sai it doesn't always have to be me" she attempted to subdue her burn and look back at him.

"I could, but I don't see anything else worth drawing" he hummed the simple compliment burning a new shade of red on her and turning her head again to hide.

"Stop it" She giggled turning back only to hide away again from his smile.

"Please stop it" muttered two Leaf shinobi behind them, unheard by the pair it seemed. They'd been witnesses to this the entire time they'd been on this mission, and at this point gave up trying to stop them.

People in love only seemed to listen to their hearts.