It had been a quick downfall of rain that only lasted long enough to drench Naruto. His clothing stuck to his cold skin uncomfortably. It was almost four in the morning when he finally reached his home. The same old door greeted him, along with the gash; he just prayed Temari was still behind that door to hear him out.
It took him almost a minute to open the door as he fumbled with the keys in his shaking hands. When he did manage to open the door the dull light of the table lamp greeted him, along with Temari who had fallen asleep on the couch, a thin blanket covered her still clothed body. As Naruto slowly approached, he knew she had been crying most of the night, dried tears could be easily seen on her cheeks.
He let his tired body slump on the floor, his back resting against the worn fabric of the couch. Looking up he could see her sleeping face, she looked to calm right now to wake up. Deciding to wait Naruto looked out the window at the still dark sky, his body shaking every now and again in a desperate attempt to stay warm. He watched as sun slowly bit away at the dark piece by piece, his only company the sound of a lone bird chirping, and the soft lull of Temari sleeping.
The sun was just starting to splash color across the sky when he finally gave into pure exhaustion and fell asleep. But when he woke a few hours later, he wasn't surprised that his back and neck ached from sleeping sitting up but he wasn't expecting to wake in the arms of his wife.
"I was wondering when you would wake up," She said sleepily.
Naruto gazed at her in amazement, walking through that door last night he was expecting to be yelled at even rejected, not to be in the arms of the one he had hurt.
"Temari I'm…" he never had a chance to finish before one delicate finger was placed on his lips.
Shaking her head she continued, "It's to much work to stay angry, plus I'm too tired to talk right now."
Smiling Naruto accepted that this must be her way of forgiving people. He let his cold finger run along her face. She flinched at the coldness of his skin, covering her hand over his she let her warmth seep into his chilled skin. Holding her tighter he let his eyes drift closed again.
The next few weeks passed by quickly. They came and went, rose and fell, like the coming and going of breath and just as easily and thoughtlessly forgotten. Naruto was gone most of the time on missions or teaching the odd class at the academy, while Temari was getting settled in her new position as team leader of a young group of genin.
Temari was quickly becoming accustomed to living in the leaf, as well adjusting the cold weather that winter was bringing on.
The days were much shorter now, the night leaving a layer of frost on the now brown and hibernating plants. Even the sun provided little warmth now, leaving the residence of Kohona looking for heavier clothing to keep away the chill.
One night as she watched Naruto carefully cleaning his sword did she truly wonder why her temper got the best of her that night. Truthfully going into this arrangement she could have cared less if he had been involved with someone else.
She watched him intently as the cloth slid down the blade, his blue eyes inspecting his work carefully. The table lamp reflected light that danced on the walls as he moved the blade, watching for nick or possible scratches in the steel. Looking up at her he smiled, sheathing his katana he motioned for her to come sit.
"So did you enjoy your mission today?" Naruto asked, pulling her down towards him so he could maraud her neck with his mouth.
"Oh yes supervising leaf raking for an old lady is very exciting. I had to get after them three times for smacking one another with the rakes."
She could feel Naruto's mouth curl into a smile against her skin, "How childish," he whispered trying to suppress his laughter before trailing his lips up to her mouth.
Catching his eyes with her own she held them, "I thought about you a lot today." She confessed averting her eyes to his chest, letting her finger follow.
She could feel his chest rise as he let out a low chuckle, "Really? I only thought of you once today," he replied matter of factly.
Looking up she glared at him. How dare he make a joke now? He knew how hard it was for her to express her feelings.
His smile grew wider seeing the angry expression spread across her face, "But then again you never left." silencing his wife's offended exclamation with a kiss he moved lower down her neck, his mouth melting into her skin, leaving her trying desperately to suppress a moan.
Again catching his mouth with her own she leaned back, dragging him down with her onto the floor. Naruto was swift to cup a hand along the delicate small of her back, levering her fully on to the floor and grinning charmingly down at her as he pulled away. The cold wood sent shivers down her body, shivers that were easily forgotten as she felt his strong hand slide into her hair, tangling his fingers in her unruly golden locks.
Reaching up, her hand easily undid his jacket, sliding her small hands up his chest; she felt his weight press harder against her as he slid a knee between her legs.
Just as he was about to toss his now very annoying jacket to the side the sound of the phone interrupted, sending its shrill noise into the air.
Growling in frustration Naruto lowered his head against her chest, praying the cursed noise would stop. Unfortunately it persisted on, until neither could take it any longer.
Snatching up the phone with more force then was needed Naruto growled into the phone, "Hello?" he asked his voice a little gruff sounding.
Temari lay patiently on the floor one arm braced behind her head to give her the extra leverage to watch Naruto as he tried to get rid of the distraction.
"Oh I see? Is there a reason why she wants to meet with us? Alright then we will be there." Naruto hung up the phone, his voice had changed from frustrated to concerned.
Seeing his change in mood Temari got up and walked over to him, "What is it?" she asked.
"Tsunade wished to speak with both of us tomorrow," Naruto replied his voice sounding calm and neural. But looking into his eyes Temari could see that he was worried.
"What could it be she wants?" Temari asked.
Naruto turned to her and smiled, "I'm sure its nothing, probably just a message from your brothers. It has been a month since they last saw you."
"Maybe it's something serious?" Temari suggested.
Naruto waved the objection away with a gesture of his hand, "Don't worry about granny Tsunade."
Temari nodded accepting the possible reason but still she wasn't reassured. "Your right I'm sure its nothing," she repeated her words sounding hollow even to her ears but it felt better saying them over.
Naruto stood outside of the school waiting for Temari to return from her mission. All day he found it hard to concentrate, normally things never got to him. Dealing with the present was his way of things, the future always managed to sort itself out whether it be by chance or fate. This time it was different it wasn't only about him, Temari was involved as well. Blowing hot air into his cupped hands he looked up at the trees, being forced to squint as the sun shone brightly through the now changing leaves, making them look as if they were on fire.
The couple walked in silence, both to caught up in thought to form words to one another. The office was empty except for Tsunade standing idly by the window. Looking as if she hadn't noticed them she sighed deeply.
"Thank you for coming, please sit," she turned around and gestured to the two worn chair.
Naruto felt his stomach drop when the back of the chair touched him, never had he felt this nervous.
"I have some good news for you both, it seems that the Sand is willing to keep up with the alliance," Tsunade casually spoke as she sat down on her large green chair.
"You wanted to tell us that?" Naruto questioned, his tone sounding a little annoyed at being worked up for nothing.
Tsunade smiled weakly catching Naruto's undertone, "No, it's that we have both agreed to end this marriage. A child has not been conceived yet so naturally the Sand as well as the Leaf wishes to format a better means of alliance. Temari's brothers will be coming to pick her up in two days."
Pens and paper flew as Naruto slammed his fist down on the table, he was standing now, rage flickering in his normally calm eyes, "How dare you play around with peoples lives, first it's marry this person now its divorce them? I knew I was going to be part of your little politics but this is taking it too far!"
Temari looked over in shock at Narutos reaction, sure she was upset about being used, but now they were both free from the commitment of making a marriage work.
"Please Naruto, lower your voice," Tsunade spat back. "I thought for sure you would be relieved about this."
Naruto glared back at her, "Well I guess you were wrong," he replied simply as he started to leave the office. He ignored Tsunade calling him as her voice echoed down the hallway. He was too angry to deal with this at the moment.
Temari only watched as Naruto stormed out, turning back she saw a very upset Hokage, "I'll go talk to him."
"If you wish, something set him off about this new deal and I doubt he will tell me. Maybe you can get it out of him," she replied, turning around in her chair she watched as Naruto headed out of the building making his way in the direction of the forest.
It was very late in the evening when Temari finally found Naruto curled up on a fallen tree log, his head resting against his bent knees.
Walking across the now frost covered grass Temari asked timidly, "Mind if I join you?" she questioned. Being met with an inaudible grunt she took it for a yes and climbed over the fallen tree.
Naruto never acknowledge her when she sat beside him, looking over at his pale glowing face he seemed tired and his eyes looked older. Temari knew that this was just another blow to him from his village, he was a person who had always relied only on himself, he walked that road. Always hopeful. And if not hopeful, then determinedly.
"How could they do this," he suddenly spoke, his words leaving his mouth in a warm mist that melted away in the cold night.
"They are doing this for us," Temari replied her voice soft and calm.
Snorting in disagreement Naruto turned to her, his blue eyes catching the darkness of the sky making them look darker. "How are they making this better for us?"
"Are you crazy for asking that? Once they end this we will never have to worry about pleasing our villages, or living up to the set expectations. Honestly I don't know why you are so upset about this," watching curiously Temari noticed that she had upset him. He no longer looked in her direction, pretending to be occupied with kicking around a small rock out of the ground he fell silent once again.
Placing an arm around him she spoke quietly into his ear, "You will be free now."
"I will never be free," he replied his voice dripping with sadness and pain.
"Naruto what are you talking about?" Temari questioned thinking that maybe he was just fooling around.
He turned to face her, his shining eyes holding back tears that wanted to fall at any moment, and with a soft low tone a tone only meant for her to hear and no one else he spoke, "Because I have fallen in love with you Temari."
"Please don't say that, it will only make things harder," Temari muttered back.
Naruto grabbed her shaking hands covering them with his own, "While our lives seemed to be falling apart I found myself falling in love with you, is that so wrong?"
Temari was lost for words, her insides felt like they were filled with butterflies.
"I wish I could just ignore this and continue on but in my world there is only you, and I can't stand to loose anyone close to me again," his last few words were shaky and unsteady, he wished to say more but he didn't trust his voice.
Hugging him tightly she closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his body against hers. She wanted, pleaded, begged not to care, but honestly she was getting closer and closer to this man, letting down her guard was something she was taught never to do. Feelings were far more dangerous then any poison known to man, they had the ability to break the strongest warrior down to nothing. And love was the strongest of them all; loving someone is giving them the ability to destroy you, and trusting them not to.
"I've been keeping this locked away, but every time we kissed I felt a little piece of it breaking free. And I had to tell you before they took you away," Naruto mumbled into her hair as he held onto her closer, never wanting to let go.
"Why Naruto? Why?" she questioned feeling tears fall down her cheeks.
"Because I know all the wonderful things that make you who you are, and I will never forget them." He replied simply.
Pulling him away enough to look into his face she kissed him, he responded immediately with as much passion if not more. At that very moment she felt her defenses crumbled into dust, every guard or alarm that had been carefully set up faltered, as if they had been nothing but fragile leaves in the chill autumn breeze. Breaking the kiss Temari whispered to him, "I love you to Naruto."
Smiling broadly Naruto caught her mouth again with his; molding her lips into his own he ran his hand up to cup her face. Temari could easily feel the need in Naruto's touches and she would not deny him.
With cold almost numb finger she undid his jacket; sliding her small hands into his loose clothing he moaned her name softly. The next thing she knew he had set her down on the ground his body weighing hers wonderfully down into the soft grass.
Shrugging his unwanted jacket to the side Naruto returned his attention on her, kissing her neck his lips melted into her like ice on a hot summer's day. Tangling her hands into his golden tresses she brought his mouth to hers again, needing to feel his lips against hers once again. So many emotions were swirling between them love sadness and everything in between. Both of their breaths now coming out in great puffs of mist, as their chests rose and fell sucking in air that suddenly felt heavy.
Naruto slowly slid off her clothing leaving her completely exposed to the nigh air; she shivered violently as goose bumps covered her body. Seeing her discomfort Naruto lowered his bare chest against hers and concentrated his chakra so it flowed into her in the form of heat.
Gasping at this new sensation Temari closed her eyes, she had heard of ninja's exchanging chakra but she doubted it normally felt this good. Desperately she wanted him to take her, but unfortunately he had caught on to her need long ago and was enjoying himself by teasing her. Kissing her stomach lightly she trailed his way up her body one agonizingly wonderful kiss after another. His breath was so warm against her skin, as his mouth moved ever so slowly closer to her lips; she wanted him so badly she could almost taste him. When he finally did reach her face he kissed her softy.
"Temari, in two days we will no longer be husband and wife, so I ask you this right now. No politics involved. Will you marry me?" his voice sounded so beautiful as it left his mouth, those perfect words dancing and gliding on the cool autumn air, reaching her ears like a wonderful song.
Running her hand down the side of his gentle face and allowing him to kiss the soft palms of her hand as she did so, she replied, "Yes,"
That night when he took her she felt once again case in the form of a virgin; this night was how it should have been that first time. There bodies moved together as one, like a dance that was older then time but still all so new to them.
This last part may be changed later on but I didn't really feel like doing that right now, and just to let you know this isn't the end there will be another chap up after this.