56

„My Girl"

Kankuro kept a decent space from Tenten during the dinner. He never tried to touch her or kiss her, he even tried hard to not look at her too much. He kept his eye on her once, but his emotional stability was going to fall off when he remembered the feeling of holding her in his hands… So he just averted his gaze…

Tenten was left free to communicate mostly with her Konoha group - the boys and her Hokage. As if she had gotten a chance to say a proper goodbye.

And just like that the dinner was over. The guests were politely sent off.

Tsunade rushed to her room. She needed a good rest since she was going to perform that exhausting medical procedure tomorrow again. Temari needed it to survive.

Gaara disappeared quite fast and no one actually saw him leave…

Gai-sensei and Lee obviously had a lot of fun, even Neji smiled a few times.

Shikamaru wished a goodnight and left just like a shadow up the stairs. His face looked a bit worried but with him one can never be so sure.

Tenten looked at Kankuro and saw the signs - little sweaty droplets on his forehead, slightly paler face, some stiff movements… She knew well what was about to come…

"Excuse me…" she smiled kindly to her teammates. "I think it is about time for me to go and rest. It will be a long day tomorrow."

The men nodded agreeing and wished her goodnight. She got up and mechanically smoothed the dress. Then she passed near Kankuro, touching his hand. He looked at her questionably. She nodded slightly towards the stairs and left him there, climbing up. That gesture was more than enough for their communication to work out.

The sand shinobi politely went to all the people in the hall and wished goodnight. Then he also climbed up the stairs. She was waiting for him in the hallway.

"I am taking you to the hospital." she said firmly. He attempted to protest but she shook her head at that. "No. You can't come up with any argument we need to keep this as a secret. We are already here, Tsunade-sama is already helping your sister. Also she doesn't need to know. I want you to get help from someone that can really help you. You don't have a right to torture your body like that for no reason!"

Kankuro looked at her face for awhile, knowing she is not going to back off this time. He lost this one and he knew it. She knew it as well… At the end he just nodded.

"All right… This way…" he pointed to a hallway on the right. He headed down to the other end… She followed him.

Shikamaru stood up on the stone terrace on the last floor of the Kazekage tower. The moon had started to set, closing the horizon. He approached the parapet and ran his hands over the still warm stones. As if they never cooled enough over here…

The man lifted his head and looked at the stars - they were truly beautiful, just like she said. Then his sharp hearing detected quiet footsteps. He turned his head to meet the Kazekage's gaze itself.

"Gaara…" he greeted quietly.

"What are you doing here?" he asked calmly.

"I couldn't sleep so I came here, seeking tranquility." Shikamaru shrugged.

The red-haired stood near him, looking ahead, somewhere in the distance.

"It is tranquil here," he agreed. "I often come here when I can't sleep."

"Like now?"

"Like now…"

Gaara turned his head, looking right into Shikamaru's eyes. Konoha's shinobi shivered slightly when the pale green eyes fixed his. Even so, they still resembled the lively green eyes of Temari. The Kazekage turned away and sighed…

"Tsunade-sama suggested I should pick another shinobi to prepare the chuunin exams with you." He said quietly.

"Yeah, it may be a good option right now." Shikamaru nodded. "It won't be for long, anyway," he added.

"She may not survive." Gaara whispered.

Shikamaru smiled, closing his eyes, so he could see her face better in his mind.

"She will survive." He said emphatically. "Her stubbornness will guide her through everything. I have no doubt about that."

Gaara flinched at his words and looked at him disbelievingly. In the dark eyes of the other man there was not a hint of doubt - he really believed with his whole soul that Temari would not only survive but overcome it all. The Kazekage shook his head slightly, sincerely wanting to believe as well…

Tenten was sitting down on a wooden chair in the middle of the room. Half an hour already she was the centre of attention of a bunch of civilian women, who had prepared the wedding. She was feeling highly uncomfortable but there was no way to shoo them out. And she was going to be ready soon, anyway.

She was dressed in a delicate long white dress, so light she could barely feel it. Her shoulders were on display but her middle arm parts were covered in the most delicate sleeves she had even seen. The civilians offered her a big arrangement of jewellery, but she refused them all, except a pair of simple white pearl earrings. She was convinced innerly it was more than enough.

Her hair was braided in its upper part and the rest of it was laying on her back in beautiful curls.

The shoes she was offered to wear were something she wouldn't be able to walk with. So she preferred her own simple creamy low-heel shoes.

When the woman, applying makeup on her face was done, Tenten got up and looked at herself in the mirror - the result was almost unbelievable, she was just resembling herself… Her eyes looked way bigger, her lips stood out beautifully in a pleasant pink.

The girl glanced at the women, they all looked pleased. She thanked them, smiling. Then she sighed and headed towards the hall where she was expected already.

Tenten was walking the hallway slowly. She could hear the noise coming from many people gathered in the same place. She wondered how her teacher and Lee would react. How would Neji react? She hardly took a breath. She caught his fixed gaze a few times in the evening and she couldn't explain it to herself. Now, anyway, wasn't the right time to think about it…

She reached the stairs and went down slowly, looking at her feet. She noticed the sudden silence. Lifting her head, she met Godaime's wide smile.

"That's one my girls!" she said with a note of proudness in her voice.

Gaara turned around and stood there looking at the girl with his eyes wide open. He rarely valued something as beautiful, but this… woman was. Gai-sensei and Lee had their mouths open, staring at the wonderful vision. It was just Neji who turned his gaze down in a few seconds, there was no other reaction coming from him.

"Tenten, I really couldn't keep quiet that you are really beautiful tonight." that was the first one who came over the shock - Shikamaru.

She smiled, blushing and thanked him quietly.

"What are you staring at?! Close your mouths, sensei, Lee!" She put her hands on her waist, which seemed really thin right now because of the dress line.

"Mommy, look how pretty Kankuro-sama's bride is!" a sincere child's voice was heard.

Tsunade chuckled, approached the girl and took her arm.

"Come on, my dear. Let's go." Godaime urged, leading her to the place where the man she would officially marry here in Sunakagure was waiting.

The wedding itself went out smoothly with no accidents. The official ceremony was really short though. There was no tradition for the groom to kiss the bride, so Kankuro didn't. But he looked so intensely in her eyes, she felt the need to hide.

Her discomfort had fast disappeared due to the great amount of people insisting to personally present their congratulations and wishes. And even though she smiled all the time, she needed to overcome her tears a few times - there were a few elder women wishing her sincerely to give their loved Kankuro-sama heirs. It was as if he somehow felt the need of some support, because he hugged her shoulders, holding her tight. That gesture was all she needed now to regain her strength. It was as he was telling her "I am here. Whatever happens, I am here and I will protect you."

When all the civilians and shinobies talked with the couple, the official reception started. And Tenten admitted it was actually quite fun. There was a lot of dancing. She witnessed Gaara trying sake for the very first time. His facial expression after the first gulp was priceless.

And now, at the end of the reception, dressed in white, Tenten was sitting near her teammates. They were telling jokes and laughing. Neji was quieter than usual, but except that, everything was good. Kankuro sat on a chair near their table and smoothly joined the conversation. Tenten was still feeling uneasy from time to time, because there were still people looking at her shamelessly like an item on display. She shivered.

"What's wrong?" Kankuro leaned to her to whisper.

"I just can't get used to all of this staring…" she whispered back.

"Don't blame them," he chuckled. "It is not like there is nothing to stare at."

She blushed slightly. She got so many compliments for a few hours today, that she never had gotten during her whole previous life. It was pleasant in the beginning but at one point it became too much to handle. But the way Kankuro was giving her a compliment… It still felt good. They were not so obvious and not so impulsive. It was like without saying anything in particular, only hinting, he succeeded in saying much more…

Her gaze stopped on Neji for a moment. He didn't return her smile which hurted more than if he hit her. She turned to Tsunade for a moment and when she looked at Neji again, he was gone.

"Did someone see where Neji went?" she asked.

"I think… The alcohol didn't go well with him." Kankuro smiled, joking.

"Me too." Grinned Lee, who definitely couldn't bear drinking much.

"He went outside." Gai-sensei got up. "I am planning to take a walk, so I will look for him as well."

The rest nodded.

Tsunade somehow smiled only with her lips. She could see what's going on. The passion in Kankuro's eyes may be hidden to the others, but not for her. She insisted on a conversation with him earlier that day. She had told him as a Hokage, she doesn't want to lose one of her best kunoichis just because of a passionate pretty boy like him. She had told him to think good and to value his true feelings before trying to steal her girl from Konoha. He had reluctantly agreed to give himself enough time to recognize the truth of his feelings. Which meant he had to rule out sex as a factor altogether…

"I am sure Neji is just fine." Godaime smiled and got up. "I am also going to take a walk."

"Hey, Tenten, would you dance with me?" Lee grinned.

"Well, all right." She got up and let him lead her to the dance floor.

When Kankuro was left alone, there was a tall, blond, green-eyed and quite gifted woman in the breast area, approaching him. She leaned over him and slid a hand over his chest, whispering in his ear, causing him flinch:

"You forgot about me?" Her whisper was tender and sensual.

His eyes widened. He could never mess up this voice. It belonged to the woman he had, until recently, thought he loved.

"Mia." He turned to look at her, frowning, removing not really tenderly her hand from his body. "What are you doing here, Mia?"

"Well, the reception is a public event." She pulled back a bit and sat neatly in the next chair. "I wanted to see what you changed me with." He could swear there was a note of jealousy in her voice.

Kankuro looked at her tender eyes, the clean milky skin… She was very beautiful, and she was well aware of that fact. Her breasts were barely covered, her knees were just visible under the rim of the dress she wore. She was more like a picture than a real person. The man intentionally didn't give her any compliment.

"You don't like the way I look?" she smiled at him knowingly, as if they shared a secret.

He looked at her eyes again not giving in to her provocations:

"So what do you think then?"

"That attitude hurts, you know?" She frowned theatrically.

"I never asked you to come here," he calmly said.

"Yes…" She leaned towards him and slid her long and delicate fingers on his thigh. He shivered slightly, undetectably. "But, anyway, I am here…"

"And you are leaving." He succeeded in keeping his voice calm, almost cold, even so her touch had caused an explosion of excitement… He removed her hand.

"Why would I do that? Maybe your new woman would get jealous?

"It is not just my new woman, she is my wife." He hissed.

"Do you even love her?" Mia asked, surprised by his defence.

He glanced Tenten - her smile radiating like the sun itself. His tense face softened…

"You do love her, all right…" The woman said in awe since she carefully examined the change of his face.

"It is not really in your business." He turned back at her. "Just go, please."

She was still looking at him in disbelief. It was not possible he could develop so deep affection towards a woman that he went on a few dates with and sent some letters to. Mia knew the official version about Kankuro and Tenten, since he realised it would be risky to tell her the truth. She just didn't want to believe she could be so easily replaced by another woman, shinobi or not…

"Tenten, thank you!" Lee's voice came from a few metres away.

Kankuro gave Mia a warning look, she got chills - she never had been standing against him. She couldn't suspect how dangerous he could be if he was protecting something he values.

"I really had no idea you could dance that well," she replied cheerfully. "I should thank you."

Mia narrowed her eyes and leaned back. Lee sat on his spot and Tenten left standing.

"Wouldn't you introduce me to your wife?" she asked sweetly.

Kankuro sighed:

"Tenten, this is Mia. She is… a friend of mine…"

The girl's hazel eyes smiled together with her lips.

"It is nice to meet you, Mia-san." she nodded politely.

"Likewise." She got up on her feet - slender and nothing else but feminine. She smiled and grabbed Tenten's hand. "You have made a good choice with him." She winked slily. "You know what I mean."

Tenten certainly didn't, but smiled back politely. Kankuro clenched his jaw, raised his dark eyes to look at her face and also smiled:

"Mia-san, it would be great if you could stay more with us."

"Oh, yes…" she grinned. "I should go, really. I am in a hurry. Just stopped by to wish you two… all the best." Mia released Tenten's hand and got close to the man instead.

He got up and hugged her politely for goodbye, whispering warningly in her ear:

"I don't want you to come for me."

She nodded, waved to Lee and headed to the exit.

Kankuro felt a bit sorry that he had to chase her off. Even if she wasn't the love of his life, she was a really capable lover and he was going to miss her because of that. But the mission required him to be an exemplary husband, and he would carry it out on behalf of his sister.

Somewhere in the back of his mind appeared a thought that he wouldn't be able to seek any of his girlfriends to satisfy his primal sexual needs. Obviously after the conversation with Tsunade-sama, he was not going to try to sleep with Tenten until his feelings were clarified. He sensed a lot of lonely nights ahead of him…

He glanced at the girl, now his wife - she smiled at him warmly. That smile somehow softened his mind and enlighted his heavy chest. And he thought… just for a spare second… that maybe it won't be as bad as he imagined it now… that maybe, just maybe, it all would be worth it at the end…

"That's… actually that's my girl…" Kankuro thought, smiling slightly…