The Final Chapter!
I will make no comments now so enjoy!
Hours after the battle, after the Earth's final call for the retreat, the troops dispersed and returned to their respected camps, the creeping light of dawn washing away the darkness of night, the bodies that lied still in the abandoned battlefield casted in an orange glow, the blood glinting under the morning of a new day. A new promise for peace, they all hoped. The camp in the Land of Wind, busied with those able to move, began to warm, the cold night making way for the blazing heat of the burning desert sun, the victorious feeling among the shinobi that would have been now masked under the grim knowledge of what had truly occurred during the battle, and who had helped them. Their own turning against them, and the only ones who had known were the three hidden away in the war room.
The private embrace was suffocating, she was sure the two wanted out the moment she hugged each of her brothers tightly in her arms, relief that her promise still stood on keeping them safe, them alive. Gaara glanced though the sandy hair over to Kankuro who pulled a short grin to his brother when he looked over to him, the feeling all too familiar. Temari in the middle breathed with a soft sigh, subduing her strength even with how tired she was, her brothers safe, in her arms, protected even when she couldn't be there. Grateful for what he had done, anger shoved down for the time being, his plan had worked.
"Temari" Kankuro grumbled beside her attempting to pull back from her hold, Gaara remained still either finding it useless to fight her or just happy for the silent bliss of the action. They knew she had been worried, the rare sight only witnessed by those closest to her, the hug her only form of love to offer, the only comfort she knew, her words soft-spoken after her initial ranting. The mere action had them cornered and before they knew it, they had been crushed against her in her relief, and both simply let her have her moment, that was minutes ago "Come on sis you're killing us here"
"Just another second" she muttered and as she gave one last tighten of her arms, pulled back and looked to each brother her small smile falling and face slowly turning serious, the start of a lecture, her worry turning to a short-tempered anger, causing Kankuro to groan and throw his head back like a dramatic child, now he preferred the hug again "Do you two understand what could have happened today? How lucky we are things worked out? I could have lost you both, then what?" She dropped her hands from their shoulders and crossed hers over her chest, her expression as stern as their father's had always been.
If Kankuro had to guess, Temari had always been the most like their father, in attitude at least, though more prone to letting her anger show rather than masking it into a silent scowl like he had. She was the spitting image of Rasa, as Baki would mutter to him during her training. He might have looked like him, same hair, same eyes, same sneer, but he worked more than anyone to keep that term out of people's mouths, he simply never acknowledged his father's name after his death and spoke less about him than his siblings. Yet the rare moments, like her embrace, brought faint images of kind blue eyes to him, the thought of their mother coming to mind when he looked at Temari, she cared and only showed the soft side of herself to them. Her life-long promise always on the front of her mind when she was around her brothers, though still an angry woman no matter what way you looked at it. He noted to himself that war had changed her, he was sure Gaara agreed by the small shift in his glance over to his brother when she spoke. With a sly grin he looked past his sister's glare and replied to her question the best way he knew how, as any annoying younger brother would.
"One of us would be spared from your nagging" Kankuro joked and chuckled when she batted his uninjured arm, the action lighter than he thought it would be, her expression turning to one of worry, betraying her usual candor. The rare moment she was actually a gentle sister, like when they were younger, rather than the cruelest as her title would describe her as.
"Be serious, you both know I almost lost you once" she scolded, his washed face scrunching up in annoyance, not interested in remembering the day Gaara died, he'd been poisoned, and their sister had managed to save them. The days in which the events took place a horrid memory he cautiously brought up around her, it was like stepping around paper bombs that threatened to explode at any moment at the mention.
"And still you managed to come out without a scratch" Kankuro pointed out, she bit back her amusement at the statement, pressing her lips together to keep from smiling, aside from a sore back from her fall she was practically unscratched, face clean of the blood she had once had from her final kill, though her hands forever stained red, no matter how much she washed them.
"What can I say, I'm the best" she flashed a proud grin and looked to Gaara, his silence seeming to speak for himself. With a sigh, she grabbed his arm gently and guided him to a nearby bench, helping him sit down without much protest from him "You two are safe so that's all that matters right now" Like Sakura had said he was tired, his body weakened and although he wasn't going to admit it she knew that he'd need rest to help his chakra return, she'd seen this once four months ago although it had been far worse then. Mentally noting that she'd have to thank Sakura for healing Gaara, to give him enough strength to help in the march back to camp. As she straightened, she heard the crumble of sand and rocks behind her and the curtain pulled back, Baki entering with a short sigh before he halted and bowed slowly to Gaara, injured in his own fight, but hiding it well.
"I managed to get the uninjured shinobi to do body recovery back down in the ravine, the ones who turned haven't been seen, probably abandoned the fight as soon as they saw Gaara" he grunted and looked between them a small smile rising to the corner of his stoic expression "heard my students were in here having a chat" Kankuro chuckled coming to his side.
"Family moment, Temari went soft on us" Kankuro stepped behind Baki, using him as a shield, when she turned to him, the glowering look his way enough to unnerve him "Relax I was kidding, she tried to suffocate us" He muttered behind his hand and looked to Baki who shook his head, unfazed, to use to the siblings' antics.
"Kankuro stop provoking her" he halfheartedly warned, crossing his arms "it's too early for you to start picking a fight with Temari"
"Yeah well" Kankuro looked form Baki to his sister, still hiding behind his sensei "Temari's got a lot to say I bet"
"What about?" She raised a brow at him, unconcerned as she knew what was coming, and had been prepared the moment she made her decision days ago.
"Well for one why didn't you say anything about your little trip to the land of Rain?" He peeked from the other side of Baki, his own eye narrowing, the sudden mention sparking Baki's interest to listen, if not look a little more than surprised at the statement from Kankuro "You didn't even tell anyone you went"
"You didn't need to be involved Kankuro" she shrugged leaning back against the table, hands gripping the edge, those questions she knew he'd throw at her ready to be shut down if she wanted them quieted "I needed to do it alone, besides Matsuri and Yukata knew where I was, they would have told you two if I didn't return by the morning" she waved him away, faking bored of his questions, she knew he'd figure it out sooner or later, her brother had his moments, and his next few were enough to start the inevitable built of her irritation.
"Alone yeah right" he snorted and stepped away form Baki pointing a finger at her "you and I both know that Shikamaru went with you" she looked over to him, casual, uninterested in his accusation, she had nothing to hide, well the information at least, that real truth hidden under her usual quiet calculating glare, the blush forced down to nothing on his next words "don't think I don't know what your jutsu looks like, I saw the wind slash on him, only you could have made them"
"Followed me more like it" she rolled her eyes looking annoyed "he needed the information as much as I did, their jinchuriki was attacked by them to remember?" Kankuro straightened and nodded slowly as she continued, seeing the obvious reason in her remark "our priority was figuring out why the Earth camp was placed in Rain country, we found little on the Akasuki though, they killed off their entire camp by the time we got there, not very useful" She looked back to Gaara his eyes closed, but he was listening, she was sure of it. Despite only getting a single name from the secret mission, the mention of some man named Pain, it was enough to know that these guys were serious, they had after all attacked her village and hurt her brothers, the term hatred was kindness for what she would have done had she met this leader of theirs.
"So why did you attack him then?" he asked, raising his brow, his questions seeming like a slow interrogation.
"He was annoying me" she shrugged, casual in the manner of hiding her unease under a grin "had to knock some sense into him" It was unnecessary to spill the details of what truly happened that night, she knew he would never say anything, so why should she?
"I can see that" he crossed his arms and chuckled, amused in her need to always bully him as she'd put it most days, his own thought coming back to the conversation he had with Shikamaru a couple months back, Temari never giving him a choice when it came to fighting "but why didn't you tell me, I could have gone with you"
"Kankuro I needed you to be where you were, the ambush was more important than this" her stern tone made him huff and look away, he knew better than to argue her made decision "I went, because that's where I found Gaara, that's where those Akasuki were and I wanted answers" She looked back to her brother and pushed off the table with a sigh, his blue gaze hidden behind closed eyes, but still hearing every word "He went because he needed them as well, Gaara said it himself the Akasuki are our real enemy here. The Leaf never was" Kankuro scoffed.
"Who have we been fighting for the past ten years then?" He rolled his eyes, as if her absurd statement was something he couldn't believe came out of her mouth.
"The tampering happened within the Leaf's village" Gaara spoke, gaze lifting to meet them, interrupting his three commanders, his family, his now stunned into silence family who all turned to look at him, wide eyes betraying the shock towards the statement.
"What?" Temari, first to react, bit back her sudden rising anger, only managing one word through gritted teeth.
"Hayate told me before I killed him" He added eyes closing again, his voice lacking much volume, but still heard "Tsunade's chakra was copied and the seal we saw when they denied us wasn't her response, but someone else. I am sure they don't know about it" Temari put her palms to the table leaning towards him.
"Are you sure Gaara?" she asked, the thoughts flashing behind her gaze "Did he say anything else" Gaara shook his head, lost in his own thoughts.
"It's the only lead we have right now Temari" Baki muttered distractedly, thoughtful as he looked down into the map below "I would have thought that with the rebellion that someone in Suna would have tampered with it, as much as I'd hate to admit it, unless they were working with someone from the Leaf perhaps?"
"Someone tampered with the alliance?" Kankuro gapped at them, no one looked to him "Damn it, I did miss a lot" Kankuro groaned into the silence, unconsciously flexing his bandaged arm, the ache still there even after being healed.
"I'm sure they don't know about it" Temari began shaking her head slowly "They would have said something" She looked from Baki to Gaara
"Of course, they would. After what their commander did for you three, I highly doubt he would have known about this" baki looked between them and sighed "Villages hold secrets even from their leaders, they did it to your father" the mention caused both Kankuro and Temari to tense slightly "this had to be someone else within the Leaf" he finished and shut his eyes, his expression unreadable.
"But that just means that if they had known, they kept it from us, so that would mean they are the traitors" Kankuro grumbled "they are the ones who tricked us eight years ago to make our Dayimo declare war"
"Whoever they are they wanted us to declare war" Baki glared down into the ground, as if it held his answer "but why?"
"Kankuro everyone has a reason to hide something" Temari shot a quick glare at him, quieting him under "I know for a fact Shikamaru didn't know about this"
"How are you so sure?" Kankuro gave her a suspicious glare.
"He saved your ass didn't he" she raised her brow at him, holding his slow narrowing eyes.
"Point taken" he muttered and relaxed rubbing his arm "your pretty defensive about him any reason?"
"She was the first to trust him" Gaara interjected in the debate, eyes all turned to his quiet stare back to Temari "He made you see that the alliance was the only way to survive this battle, that's why you were so adamant to convince the council to sign for the alliance a few days ago" Temari looked away with a huff showing her irritation on her hours-long argument with the council less than a week ago. His gaze turning from her to the others "His intentions were to protect you two, his orders were to watch over you ever since he entered the front, and he did just that, he kept you both alive and stopped the advance the council pushed for" he looked to Temari, her eyes turning down, quiet "once he saw me, he found a way to stop the battle, knowing that our own would turn against us, I see why you respect him Temari" shutting her eyes, piecing things together, Temari listened to Kankuro's amusement behind her.
"So, he's been keeping us out of trouble" Kankuro laughed, though sounding bitter at the start, confused, then tired as he thought it over in his head "man for a lazy bastard he really pulled one over us, it explains so much"
"Do we know who gave him the order to not kill?" Baki asked eyes still trained to the grains of sand below.
"The Hokage" Gaara muttered and brought a hand to his chin mulling over the possibilities quietly to himself.
"Yeah, but why would he be protecting us, he never made it look like he was?" Kankuro grumbled.
"He was probably sworn to keep it quiet; he was preventing an invasion on Konoha if either of you were killed" Baki looked up as if he had just realized something "he's been ordered to keep you two at bay so we wouldn't attack the village, that's why he never advanced on us he was keeping on defense for so long. We all know that if the Leaf killed either of you, we'd turn and attack them without a second question"
"Exactly why he did all this, he was looking for a reason to start the alliance" Her jaw tightened as she said it, the realization that he'd been playing them for years just waiting for his sure hit, just like she had in battle, damn genius she thought, yet it wasn't betrayal, he moved her just like he did in battle, moved her to the shadows he used, with the words and actions of the past few days, and she didn't realize until now "someone sent him out here to do just that" she scoffed in frustration.
"Temari why didn't you kill him anyways you know how many chances you had before we knew all this?" Kankuro muttered, eyes set on his sister, her own gaze returning to look at him, eyes narrowing. Anger mixed with something else.
"He was never a threat, you all know that, the others were and I killed when necessary, that is all" She looked at each of them eyes softening, but her orders not up for debate as she made them "That's enough talking right now, we are all tired and need some sleep if we're going to return to Suna in a couple of days" She looked back to Gaara for a moment "Gaara you need to rest if you're going to make the trip, Baki get your back looked at I saw you earlier, turned it wrong again huh?" Baki furrowed his brow, and unconsciously rubbed his lower back as he looked away from her, smile small at her observation, having twisted it during his battle but nodded his agreement "Kankuro, stop moving your arm you're going to tear open the cut again" Kankuro rolled his eyes, but obeyed and set his arm to his side "All of you rest and stay put, I'll cover camp and get things in order before we leave" Baki went to speak, but she continued raising her voice "If any of you try to fight me on this I will not hesitate to hurt you more" Baki sighed and crossed his arms, pointless to argue "We are going to convince the council to sign this alliance, so get ready because we have a lot to go over when we get back home, we'll get our answers in time, remember they sought an alliance with us too" she turned not waiting for the response of the three and left the war room.
The day busied in cleaning the carnage of the battle; the Leaf's camp still worked to keep things in order, the count, the bodies, the victory acknowledged only in passing. With their first in command injured, Kakashi had taken over alongside Neji to keep things on track, though one seemed less enthusiastic in the matter of speeding things up or moving like Neji did to push the shinobi to work faster. The guards posted at the entrance looked briefly at Temari as she stepped towards the camp, her intention clear that she was entering whether they protested or not. One stammered to stop her, but she didn't turn to look at him gaze set firmly on Kakashi as he seemingly had been awaiting her presents by the entrance. Her confident march paused, looking from him to the guard who had almost followed after her, before he spoke.
"Temari what brings you to our camp?" He asked so casually and carefreely, the question more of a greeting than anything.
"Kakashi" she gave him a short nod of her head before looking into camp, in a way knowing someone would have guessed she'd be coming by the camp during the day. She didn't quite guess it'd be him, but she had respect for the man, his name was feared among nations, some old war stories her sensei used to mumble about when she was younger coming to mind "Baki told me you both fought well against the first wave" Kakashi closed his eye, seemingly amused by the statement.
"Well," he leaned back mulling over his words as he said them, laid back in the manner of explaining how it went and more "two rivals fighting alongside one other fair better than when they fight against each other" like an elder speaking his wisdom over the youth, she found herself looking at him, the implication would have irritated her further, but she was too calm to react, too exhausted to care.
"Interesting way of putting it" she looked back down the path.
"I'm sure you know that already" his expression unchanged, she narrowed her eyes but smirked, humored further by him.
"I'm looking for Sakura" getting to her point, he nodded once and looked down the path into camp.
"She'd back in the medics tent" The second to long pause, she was suddenly aware that he was smiling under the mask, she could feel it even if she wasn't looking at him "You should already know where it is" Temari almost laughed, biting the inside of her cheek to still the realization that when she did sneak around fire country, she was always aware, but apparently so was he. Who knew the Leaf shinobi had more than a few worthy opponents, now worthy allies. She didn't say anything out loud about it and let herself move forward, the reminder of her calm before the storm was still burning inside her, and she had her decision made, no stopping her now.
Keeping her pace even she remained unfazed as she passed the shinobi, the men and women that had survived and fought yesterday, the ones who had seen her even before that, in battles against them, some stopping to look curiously at her, others watching cautiously, remembering. She paid them no mind, not the time, nor did she have the energy to deal with distractions, gaze setting to the turn of a head, pink hair being brushed aside with a sigh before scribbling something down on a clipboard in front of her. Outside the medic's tent, Sakura looked as worn as she did yesterday, her vest long gone, and specks of blood coating her once white apron, but she never broke her brisk pace.
"Sakura" the call of her name, Temari allowed some familiarity into her voice, her pace slowing to a stop before Sakura who looked up, eyes wide in surprise.
"Lady Temari, what are you doing here?" she asked, hands lowering her notes down to her sides. Temari raised her hand stopping the motion of her head dipping down, too formal for what she came here for.
"Where is he?" The demand, impatiently getting to her point, but kind enough, to not sound as harsh as she'd usually would make her voice sound. Sakura grinned past her initial confusion, pleasant and kind.
"He's alive, made it past the worst at least" Sakura crossed her arms, recalling her healing process for a second before chuckling "he slept through most of it actually"
"Not surprising" Temari rolled her eyes, mimicking Sakura as she crossed her arms.
"I'll say," Sakura chuckled again brief, as she quickly grew serious "but he's going to need time to rest, he lost quite a bit of blood so he'll need to stay here a few days before we can get him to our hospital in Konoha" The short exhale of air leaving her lips, Temari nodded once, but Sakura continued smiling returning, comforting, the action quickly met with a glare "He's going to be fine"
"I'm not concerned if that's what you're implying" Sakura pressed her lips together, the realization of who had healed him quick to flash through her mind and Temari smirked, amused when Sakura returned the smile "Let me see him"
"Well, he's recovering, and those wounds went all the way through he needs time to rest-"
"Sakura, I wasn't asking" she narrowed her eyes, the argument would have just wasted time anyways, and calm was there but only just "I like you" Temari placed a hand to her shoulder, grip firm with her intention, but her glare never wavered from her, though Sakura didn't seem as fazed as she thought she'd be. The respect almost instant when the shades of blue held one another, she'd go as far as to say she could sense more worth in this woman than she had before "don't make me change my mind about that, let me see him"
"Fine" Sakura quickly raised a finger to her in warning "but don't hurt him, I've got more shinobi injured you know" she looked to her hand then back to her "and you look pretty pissed off"
"That's because I am" she replied bluntly, letting her arm drop to her side "I don't like being kept in the dark" Sakura nodded and pointed towards a tent, keeping her voice even.
"Alright, just try not to yell to loud" she muttered looking around as if they were planning something "Everyone will hear you" Temari scoffed, but saw her point, seeing as the able Leaf shinobi that had passed them casted a second to long look before continuing to work, their conversation unheard.
"I'm not going to yell" she muttered and held her gaze for a moment, the edge softened but only for a second to show her gratitude "Thank you for helping Gaara, he's tired but able to move thanks to you" Sakura's eyes widened before nodding quietly, Temari passed her and slipped into the scarcely lit tent, pulling the curtain aside and setting her focus to his form, lit by the small rays of the setting sun outside. He laid back arm draped over his eyes, bare chest wrapped in white bandage, the wounds hidden. Walking in she shifted the dirt below, making herself known, the curtain fell behind her and she only stopped when she came to the side of the cot looking down at him, the sigh, weary yet irritated.
"Sakura if you came in the yell at me again, please don't" he groaned, his low voice tired as if he had just woken up, but made no motion to move his arm from his eyes "I've already got to many women angry with me right now" she crossed her arms, patients slowly diminishing as he took the sudden silence as a dangerous presents, a familiar one as he moved his arm slightly and as soon as he saw her stirred "Temari?" She spoke as soon as he looked up to her, her usual teasing pushed aside for a more severe tone, if not annoyed at the need to shout, but keeping her volume low enough.
"Shikamaru Nara" his name left her downturned lips at his sudden confusion at her presence "you have got to be the biggest idiot I've ever met" his surprise washed away immediately, making way for the grumble at her, he could tell she wasn't pleased.
"And here I thought you came to thank me" he muttered a weak taunt her way and let out a sigh as he covered his eyes again "do you really have to interrogate me now, can't it wait?" avoidance, she hated it instantly.
"Why because your hurt Crybaby?" Her eyes narrowed tighter when he sighed again, but didn't speak, her rant beginning as the irritation built up to its peak "Let me guess as soon as you saw Gaara you made up some plan on how to stop everything?" even if he was going to respond, she pressed on to wrapped up to do anything but speak her mind "You kept me from knowing that he would be there, did you even for a second think at how dangerous it was to have him use up his chakra like that? You're lucky Sakura was there, he could have been hurt or worse" now he moved, his arm drew back dark eyes slowly meeting hers.
"Temari listen" He attempted to sit up, her quick movement forward to stop him, not so gentle as she pushed down to his uninjured shoulder.
"Lay back down, you'll reopen your wounds if you move to much" the order to remain down ignored, though he lowered to his uninjured elbow and caught her eyes, her attention focused on him, her arm retreating to her, mind set firmly in keeping her arms crossed over her chest and her displeasure known on her expression.
"You know there wasn't a choice there" he spoke calmly, cautious as he explained, as if she'd lose it and knock him out with her fan, though even she knew she wasn't going to do it, he already looked to beaten for that side of her "if you and Kankuro were going to get attacked it was only natural that they would go after him when he left, I made the plan as soon as I saw him he had to be there because he-"
"I know why you did it" she snapped, interrupting him, the irritation she had carried all day with her fueling her fire to return, that unease in her sparking at the knowledge, at everything she had found out, but said nothing of what Gaara had discovered, she wouldn't not now at least. He didn't know about it, she was more certain than anything, yet why he did it all she didn't want to know right now.
"I would have told you sooner" he muttered "but it was better you didn't know"
"Don't you think I know this, I" she stopped herself from saying it, a silence occurred, he patiently waited while she took a breath and spoke without her edge, a foreign voice is she had to guess, her gentler tone, smoother edge, no hatred just the relief washing over her "I always have to worry about them, they are all I have left Shikamaru, you know this" she took a deep breath "I already lost Gaara once that's why I told him to stay in Suna, so when he showed up to camp" she sighed, seeming to calm herself more as she reached into her bag, pulling the chakra blade out, gazing at it a brief moment. His plan she thought, everything from the blade to the scarf, to Gaara's presence, possibly even how she'd react, he might have just figured her out if she didn't know any better.
"It was the right move, without him there, things would have turned out much worse" she rolled her eyes, holding the sharp tip of the Chakra blade in her fingers, handle pointed to him, while he continued, reaching for his weapon with ease as she had stepped forward, closer to him "Kurostuchi only retreated when she saw him and Naruto together that's why I had him come, because they could stop it before it got out of hand and we lost more lives that we did" he grinned faintly, sounding grateful, the blade set at his side, no second thought on it as he looked to her the entire time "besides without Gaara showing up when he did, I'd be dead" she exhaled, quiet in her annoyance, and shook her head.
"You still got hurt" to soft spoken, she thought wanting to slap herself for the sudden weakness, sudden loss of control in her tone.
"And?" he raised a brow at her, in question, acting like he'd been ready for it.
"That's my fault" she admitting it like a confession.
"No, it's not" he shook his head and pulled a smirk, humored by her surprising statement "I knew the second one was coming"
"Because you stabbed yourself" rolling her eyes, she didn't find it as amusing as he did "out of every move you could possibly make, and you choose to run into the blade, some genius you are" she mocked and huffed, back to annoyed.
"It was meant as a distraction, you hesitated" as he said it, he stopped and leaned into her slightly as if trying to get a closer look at her sudden reaction. Her eyes turned down, she felt like she had been scolded for the mistake that resulted in his injury, mistakes always cost lives and she made sure to never make them twice, once was reminder enough "I didn't mean-"
"I know I did" she replied quickly stilling his words, always harder on herself before others, she'd done it before, hesitated, she hated that she had, it cost her lives, yet it also left him alive three years ago. He didn't press on, seeing the shift, her own disappointment in herself, masked under a fierce look of frustration towards him.
"Everyone who was there today" he began to lift himself up, just enough to put his elbow under his body, but slowly as he kept speaking through it, possibly through the strain of moving with his injures "knew what we were protecting, and who. I'm sure you figured it all out by now"
"With Gaara there it was the only way we could have forced their surrender, yeah yeah I figured that out the moment I saw him" she huffed, waving away the obvious, and steadied her anger keeping it behind her scowl "But you still didn't tell me, I don't like being deceived Shikamaru" she tensed when he reached out and grabbed her wrist, the sudden tug forward, pulling her down until she was seated at the side of the cot, the dark gaze, serious, burning into hers to keep her from moving away, silent rage she thought, what was he mad about?
"Temari" the way he said it, her name coming out as if he was commanding her attention, though tone lower and quieter than she would have made it sound, he really did pick up on a few of her tricks, habits if she didn't know any better, he'd always had it in him, just too lazy to put in the effort, well here was the motivation burning her into silence. She reminisced back to when they were headed to the Land of Rain, how her name spoken from him stilled her movement on her own will, she stared back at him, conflicted, unable to decide on anything but to listen to him, why exactly he had that sudden impact on her, she didn't know "you're a troublesome woman, I had to keep your focus on your shinobi not him, you were needed where you were, to buy the time we needed for him to get there, that's why I had Naruto on our push forward, and that's why I told you last minute the change of plans so you'd be distracted by that" Teals widened slightly, firmly set on his intensely calm stare back at her, her wrist still trapped in his an afterthought. She didn't even look down as she knew the shadow wasn't holding her, his words were.
"I had Ino and Choji keep by you, because I knew if something happened to me you would need someone there to help you get to where you were needed, they knew what they were doing" he sighed, took a breath and continued, taking his time in her silence "I didn't think you'd get hurt, but I still planned for it. We both know once you set your mind to something there's no changing it, that's why I left my chakra blade with you if we got separated, you'd use it, because you know how I fought with it, bet your happy you always picked on me now?" She didn't respond, no snarky comment, no smile, no shout, no reaction, just a quiet stare down at him, mind working furiously to keep up with her sudden realization. He shut his eyes, his serious tone relaxing, seeming to take a moment to think about what he was going to say before his eyes met hers again, her attention never leaving his.
"I had them both covered and watched as soon as I figured out they were going to turn on you guys. You should have already known that I would do this the moment you trusted me, and I knew you trusted me as soon as you stopped trying to kill me" he grinned briefly, a small tug at the end of his lips, but it settled just as quick as he remained serious in his explanation "I've been looking for a reason to start the alliance, took only four years, but I managed as difficult as you made it for me" he looked down to her wrist, his grip tightened as if trying to gain a reaction, none, before looking back up to her "All I did was listen and watch Temari, you think you set the pace, but I made for you, I didn't deceive you, you're stubborn, so I was just waiting for you to agree with me" he let out a short exhale "I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner, I'm sure you were worried" her gaze had slowly lowered, settling on her hand, to his, something about it made her speak.
"Thank you for protecting them" to quiet, she would have thought, meeting his gaze gradually as she said it.
"I was just following my orders" he muttered just as quiet, whispering like she had, released her wrist, he made no motion to move resting still on his elbow as he casted her a narrowed look, as if he was trying to gage what she would do or say, waiting for her reaction, just like he had during the kiss. She was calm, to calm, but there was no storm, no anger, maybe she was stunned into silence. Even as her brows began to furrow, still in her own mind, he waited as always, patiently, for her to make her move, he finished his turn, and she was next. The brief thought of who would beat the other in Shogi returning, to only be replaced with her actions. Temari glared back down at him, seeming hesitant, thoughtful, and suddenly irritated by it all, too much overthinking never did much but throw out ideas that gave her a headache when she had to second guess herself.
Leaning down, without much warning or thought behind it, thinking on her feet she would call it, careless if she was being honest with herself, she placed her hands to his cheeks, holding him in place, and pressed her lips to his, the burn she had felt before, the sense of some need to get closer to fuel that fire, replaced with immense relief that he was alive, possibly for what he did and why, much to her internal surprise at her own rash gesture or why she cared that she had been worried before. The urgent push forward sparked him to respond to her almost instantly, possibly having seen it coming, not that she bothered herself much to muse on it now, she was enough trouble, or had been once.
Further thoughts melted down to nothing but a focus on the tender feel of his lips to hers, eyes shut between them, no haste in quickening her pace or his, or the hand that came to hold the back of her neck. Fingers gently holding her in place, burying into the sandy hair, always so soft so careful, even now, the fleeting observation, he was a good man, to kind, to innocent, yet something was there, she saw it before. The hesitation that followed her, the second it took her to gain some sense of herself, to gain her true nature back and move back, the moment to brief if she wanted to think it over.
Breaking from kiss, her fingers tightened against his jaw and held him back, just an inch, whether to keep him from attempting to pull forward again or to keep herself from leaning back down, the temptation there, but quickly becoming an afterthought to continue stopped by her willpower, as she made herself move. His hand loosened the instant she pulled back and slipped back down to his side, no protest, giving up she would think. Pulling back Temari stood, taking a step away from him, eyes firmly set on his, the move was somewhat defensive for her, as if she was guarding her choice in reaction.
Teal against the dark gaze, wide in surprise, but slowly narrowing, still trying to read her, trying to figure out why she did it, hell she wanted to sit here and debate it too, but pride called for a silent glare down at him. It was not like she was trying to manipulate him, or tempt him in any way, like she had been doing for the past few years, to break his focus and win her match with taunts and well played smiles that tugged at him in interesting ways, their matches a test, that was when he'd play along with her, when she finally began to respect him as an equal rather than someone who couldn't bother her attention, or her mercy.
She just wanted to be close to him at that moment and she didn't quite know why, yet she knew she had that upper hand on him, that little control seeing as he still waited with bated breath, his words stilled her, and her actions returned the favor. She responded, however, a short reply, an old reminder, a reason for what she did if she had to guess it herself, not that she would ever second guess her choices if she was always so sure of herself. Too much confidence, perhaps, no, not that, she was being careful, light on her feet, waiting for a sure hit. She began to overthink in the seconds they had stared back at one another, before she spoke, a calm tone, betraying her internal rambling, her, as he'd put it, freaking out moment, minus the hitting part. She'd been outsmarted, simple as that, though she knew that wasn't the only reason, troublesome woman he'd call her, she could see it now.
Even in her thoughts she managed, the tug at her lips flashing the wide smile, the one he'd stare at and turn away before being caught. She has always been able to hit him hard with that one, without even touching him. The wrath and beauty of the goddess wrapped up into one small effortless movement, one sure hit right where she wanted it to land.
"Consider this my thank you" she turned, without hesitation, and left the tent.
The end is upon us!
Book one complete, and the start of Book two -The Alliance- will began soon
Thank you for taking the time to read, and I hope every one of you enjoyed my story, well the beginning that is.