This chapter is much 'softer' then the last one and I hope it still followes the intended plot. I wrote this in a rush before school starts again or I like to call it my own personal hell. But anyway you way also notice Naruto is OOC but you have to remember he is 19 and 99 of people who are that age don't act the same as they did when they were 12, so just remember that when you read.
Just as Naruto had figured, the next morning was not a pleasant one. When he finally woke up his head pounded like a giant war drum had been placed inside, he knew he had a hangover and a bad one at that. It was morning but his aching head and surprisingly stiff muscles kept him in place. Felling another body lightly touch his chest every time they took a breath alerted him to Temari's still sleeping presence.
Carefully resting on his elbow he looked over her shoulder to look at her face. Half of him wanted her to wake so he could ask her if she was alright, but his other half was scared shitless to even speak another word to her again.
Looking over at his clock he realized practice with Sakura was only in half an hour. Sliding out of the bed he took a short shower washing away the smell of what they had done last night. His hangover caused him to grimace at the sight of food, the only thing he needed now was painkillers to clear his mind, and water to rehydrate his body.
Taking a glass out of the cupboard he noticed the small red flower he had picked the night before. It still held its beauty and fullness even after being taken out of its natural environment. A smile can to his face, in a way the flower was a lot like Temari. Strong and determined not to wilt.
The sound of the door closing woke Temari out of her sleep, she didn't bother looking over. She knew Naruto had left for the day. Stretching out sore and aching muscles Temari ran her hands through her disheveled hair. She stopped suddenly when her finger felt something. Gently pulling something out from behind her ear she gazed in wonder at a small red flower.
The training session was a big waste of time both on Narutos and Sakuras part. She had managed to knock him flat on his face three times already. The combination of his still pounding head and racing mind made him easily distracted and an easy target.
Hitting the ground hard on his back he coughed loudly and gasped for air as the wind was forcefully knocked out of him. Not bothering are wanting to get up, he closed his eyes enjoying the surprisingly warm sun and the soft grass tickling his neck and cheeks.
Hearing Sakura walk up to stand over him he cracked one eye open to look up at her.
"Come on Naruto, I never saw a hangover affect you so much before." Her green eyes studied him over like she would a patient under her care. "Or is there something else?"
Pulling himself up off of the ground, he brushed the grass off, taking as much time he could trying to avoid the question. He really didn't want Sakura to know what had happened, he was scared she would think of him as a no good dog that had just wanted to get laid.
"Its nothing Sakura-chan, I'm ready now," Naruto put on one of his famous smiles praying she would not push the subject further.
She grabbed him forcefully by his collar, pulling him only inches away from her face. "Naruto," her voice was neutral but she looked as if she would pound him into the ground if he didn't speak.
After telling her what had happened, he felt as if a great weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. When it came to the subject of love he was sure Sakura would be able to help him.
"I wish I could say I know how you feel but you have taken on a task so difficult, most people wouldn't have even considered it," She took his hand in hers holding it tightly, "Love is different for everyone, it can happen all at once, or take as long as the changing of the seasons."
Naruto looked up into the sky, "I think we will forever be stuck in winter."
"Don't say that, how do you know?"
His face turned angry as he looked back at her, "Well how do you know, I don't see you sleeping with a total stranger, for your fucking village!" His words came out harsher then he had wanted them, regretting them as soon as they left his lips. He just felt so frustrated, how and the hell was he going to make this work.
Sakura didn't seem offended she knew her friend was not himself at the moment, hugging him tightly she spoke gently, "You can never force love, and trying to hard may make it worse, nor can you just ignore it. There is a fine line between the two and only you can truly find where it is."
Naruto could feel the sting of tears, but managed to fight them back, "Even if I'm with Temari, I've never felt so alone in my life."
Sakura held him for a long time, listening to him when he spoke, and reassuring him when he fell silent, she had seen him down before but this was different. She couldn't even imagine what it would be like to marry out of duty rather then love.
Letting him go she looked him directly in the eyes, "Go to her Naruto, she probably feels just the same as you at the moment."
"Thank you Sakura," Naruto muttered. Walking home he kept his eyes on the ground, not really wanting to deal with the strange looks he was getting from people. The whole arrangement had meant to be kept quiet, but like almost anything else that he was involved in the entire village knew. Gossip spreading faster then a wildfire caught in a wind. The only stop he made was to get some of his favorite ramen to take back home for supper.
The clerk looked at him strangely when the usually hyper boy casually took the food muttered a thank you and left without another word.
He was hopping that he wouldn't meet anyone on the way home; they would immediately ask him how things were going. And of course he would have to lie, and he hated lying. Turning into a dirty ally as a means to avoid being spotted, Naruto looked back, swearing he had heard someone, shrugging the feeling off he continued on his way, kicking a pop bottle into an over turned garbage can.
"Naruto!" A voice yelled out from behind him. Immediately he knew who it was.
Turning around reluctantly, he waved trying to put on a good smile, "Oi, Konohamaru."
"So I hear you're a married man now, when did this happen?"
Cringing Naruto replied, "A few days ago."
Konohamaru looked Naruto over. Confusing the blond ninja in what the younger one was intending to do. Suddenly Konohamaru reached over and pulled aside Narutos collar revealing a small red mark he had received from the previous night.
"Well you sure don't waste time do you?" Konohamaru laughed. Immediately Naruto zipped up his jacket, glaring daggers at the younger boy. "So how was it? She any good? From the way she carries herself fighting she would probably be a minx in bed."
The next thing Konohamaru knew he was pinned up against the cold stone wall with Naruto's angry eyes only inches away from his face, he felt himself being pushed forcefully against the wall with Narutos right hand lifting him off of the ground leaving his feet dangling helplessly. "Don't ever speak about her like that again!" Naruto yelled, his voice echoing down the ally, causing some passerby's to slow their pace to watch the ongoing scene.
Looking over to see the gathering people Naruto released his hold. Letting Konohamaru slid down the rough wall until his feet touched the ground.
Konohamaru brushed the wrinkles out of his shirt. When he looked over at Naruto his face was filled with hurt and anger. "It was just a joke! What happened to the Naruto I knew?"
Looking down into a puddle, Naruto caught a glimpse of his reflection in the muddy water, "I don't know." He didn't bother to stop Konohamaru, when he walked away pushing past the small crowd of people.
Naruto waited for the people to leave before he started on his way again, hanging his head low in shame at what he had done.
He silently pushed the door open, determined to do something tonight that would break the ice between he and Temari, and allow him a small glimpse of what was in his wife's heart. Temari was sitting on the window sill with her fan calmly repairing small rips and tares the object had received during the long trip. When she looked up Naruto swore her eyes were red from crying.
"I have supper, you don't have to cook tonight," He said happily trying to lighten the mood, failing miserably.
Setting down the package he walked over to her and kissed her lightly on the head, she didn't respond. Naruto sighed in defeat, who knew marriage was this hard. His feet started to move away but a hand shot up and grabbed him tightly around the wrist. Turning around he saw Temari looking up at him, tears threatening to fall from her eyes any second. He didn't say a word, knowing what she wanted.
Removing his jacket he slid himself behind her, wrapping his arms tightly around her small frame, immediately Temari curled up between his legs letting her head rest against his chest. Naruto knew this wasn't a sigh of affection merely her needing comfort even if it came in the arms of a stranger.
Temari closed her eyes tightly, just enjoying the warmth Naruto gave off. Taking in a deep breath she inhaled his sent, even now the smell seemed foreign to her. Hating how fragile she had become, her hands bunched in the fabric of his shirt in anger. Never had she felt this way, even when she was shunned and ignored by her village. Right now she felt so weak the wind could just blow her away.
Distracting herself she looked out the window at the setting sun, and the coming night that was already creeping up on the unsuspecting day.
"I never realized it before until this very moment, you are like a sunset. Ending my day with a beauty nothing in this world could ever match," His voice didn't sound like the annoying 12 year old boy she had once knew. But of a man that had grown wise over his years and meant every word that left his mouth.
Letting her eyes drift up she gazed at Naruto. He was watching her with a concerned yet gentle look on his face. Without realizing it his keen blue eyes caught hers and held them in a intense stare. The way he was looking at her now made her half think he was capable of reading minds and controlling people as she found herself sitting up on her knees.
For once both held there ground and didn't flinch when their lips met. The kiss was chaste, but seemed to hold more meaning then anything they had done the night before. She shivered when Naruto's hands gently slid down her back, stopping on her hips, just as his mouth rested on her jaw kissing a trail to her ear.
His hot breath made her feel something strange deep within her body, but it quickly faded in a moment like a snow flake on a warm day.
"What you say we eat now?" His voice was smooth running through the air like a wisp smoke.
She nodded a little surprised of the sudden change of mood, but in a way was relieved as well.
He had never been good with words and considered himself a joke of a romantic, even now he found it hard to express himself clearly, but at that moment looking down at her the words just seemed to form and leave his mouth as effortlessly as breathing. He was lucky Temari seemed not to have minded the compliment; he just hoped she wasn't thinking he was just feeding her some lines he had picked up off of his former sensei.
They ate in silence both lost in there own thought. Naruto was wracking his mind on what he could do to get Temari to open up to him. He watched as her eyes drifted down to her noodles, seeing that she was occupied he acted.
Temari was distracted from her thought when she suddenly heard Naruto cough loudly, obviously trying to get her attention. When she looked up her husband had a chop stick stuck up each of his nostrils. He looked back at her casually as if nothing was wrong.
Temari tried to hold back her laughter at such a childish prank but at the moment she needed to laugh. Naruto was pleased to see her smile naturally for the first time in days.
After eating Temari had asked if Naruto would be willing to show her around. The night was cool but for the moment the rain had stopped.
The tour was brief, but it felt good to be out in the fresh air. Both ignored the strange looks people threw there way, it was a Friday night and many other young couples were out walking in the unusually nice weather. Naruto looked over, admiring how the street lights cast shadows across Temari's perfect face. His eyes slowly traveled down her arm to her hand. Cautiously he walked closer to her his hand making its way inch by inch towards hers. He was so close, the heat from her skin radiating on his. Naruto knew he was being stupid, hell this time last nigh he was sleeping with her, but he knew if he was going to break into her heart he would have to do it slowly.
Taking one last breath to reassure himself he slid his fingers into the small grooves of her hand. Temari did not look over at him, but responded by squeezing his hand.
For the first time that day Naruto felt content, maybe it was the clear sky and the bright moon, or maybe it was the feeling of her hand in his, whatever it was he was happy.
They stopped halfway over the old rotted bridge Naruto and his old team would always meet at. The place had changed over time, planks squeaked louder then he had remembered and the paint was peeling so badly, the original color was hard to spot. More then anything seeing this old bridge reminded him of how much time had passed, and how his childhood was also slowly rotting away much like the wood he stood on. Sliding his fingers delicately over the railing memories flooded back, some good, some bad.
Temari leaned over the railing taking in the sigh of the clear open sky. Millions of stars shone down like diamonds stuck in a great black rock.
"I haven't seen the start so clear in months, look you can see Ohitsuji," Naruto noted pointing out into endless sky. Temari could only look back in amazement at what just came out of this boy's mouth.
"You know the names of star constellations?"
Naruto looked back at her; he nervously put his hand on his back trying to fight back the blush that was forming on his face. "Well when I left at the age of 12 my education was not the best. My sensei new this for years. So when we finally got to training I was looking forward to learning new and powerful fighting techniques. But unfortunately he had a different plan for me; he insisted I got a proper education before anything else. So for three months I had to read all about history, literature and science. I hated all of them except for astronomy."
Temari leaned on the wooded rail and look at him, her eyes studied him over to see if he was lying, "How come I never knew about this?"
She could tell the question hurt him a little when he turned his face away from her, "I never said anything because I knew if I did people would be thinking I was some sort of wanna be genius. I know for a fact that I will never be as smart as Sakura or Shikamaru. I was afraid people would just judge me against them if they ever found out. They know me as the idiot ninja and no matter what I do I'll always be that to them. Once people judge and make assumptions about you they stick."
"Well I see you now standing here as a man that is kind, cunning, strong and so much more that no words spoken on this planet could describe," Taking a step forward she stood face to face with him. Her eyes shining black, as if they took in the color of the sky. Suddenly the sound of music playing loudly jarred them out of there stare.
Temari looked over in the direction of the sound with a puzzled look on her face.
"It's the local bar, they tend to play music loud until around two or so," Naruto replied.
The two just stood there for a moment, letting silence once again take over. Naruto listened to the songs catching bits and pieces of them. When a slower song started to play, he looked over at Temari who was busy watching the reflection of the stars on the glass like water.
Naruto pushed himself off of the railing, his feet slowly making there way over to her. All the while his mind was praying his idea would not back fire in his face. "Would you like to dance?" Naruto asked holding out a shaking hand towards her. Temari could easily see the nervous look on his face and the stutter in his voice he desperately tried to hide.
Taking his hand Temari replied, "I would love to."
Naruto knew he had not managed to win Temari over completely and her love was still hidden to him. But as they held one another closely, gently swaying in time to the music that drifted across the night air, he felt that one more stone had been taken from the wall that she had built up, and in the process she had done the same to him without even knowing it.