Chapter 14

Why didn't they tell me, I have a brother? They always bade me goodbye with a smile everytime I go to Suna and when I get back, okasan would hug me tight and otosan would smirk proudly as if overseeing the Chuunin exam is a dangerous job. But they never inquired about him...

...I refuse to believe kaasan and tosan are so ruthless that they would give away their own son!

Temari continues to run, angrily rubbing the tears off her eyes with the back of her hands. She stumbles on an unforeseen rock with uneven surface but she is able to prevent her fall by swiftly gaining her balance. She continues to force her legs to leap from one sharp stone ledge to the next, to prevent them from shaking. She knows that if she stops she will bawl like a child. Clenching her teeth and finally giving up trying to stop her tears, she allows them to silently flow but she still attempts to try to outrun her thoughts.

They wouldn't just give their child away...My God, they didn't know! They didn't know they have a son. If they did otosan and okasan would have done everything to get him back.

Temari's left leg hesitates for a moment. The urgency of her movements from fleeing where he is, is now gone and she halts, a frown marring her face.

Was Kama—Shikamaru taken when we were born? How could that happen? Wait! Kamaru said his actual name, Shikamaru was given to him by his father. His father, the fourth Kazekage knew Kamaru is not his real son. He's probably the only person that knows the truth.

-o0o—

"What are you doing here?" The kazekage slaps both of his palms on the table top as he stands causing some of the papers to fly.

Temari just stares. After all these years, after all her visit to Suna, this is still her first time to see the Fourth Kazekage with this kind of proximity. Considering that she and Kamaru always handle the first part of the Chunin exam, she's usually on her way back to Konoha during the awarding and the two times she has opted to stay, she has caught only a glimpse of the Kazekage from a quite a distance.

Now Temari feels in slight awe at the man, his Kazekage robes billowing when he suddenly stood up, then she remembers her reason for entering the kazekage's office unannounced. Confronting the strongest shinobi in Suna may not be the wisest decision Temari ever did, but it needs to be done. Temari takes a deep breath and asks evenly "Is Shikamaru your real son?"

The Kazekage sits back slowly, Temari's question doesn't seem to surprise him "You are still unsure if you are asking me that"

"Then let me rephrase it. Shikamaru is not your son" Temari states. Hatred gleams from her eyes, her clenched fists at her sides.

The kazekage leans back on the chair and enquires "Anymore conclusions aside from that my child?"

Temari's fierce eyes are trained at the Kazekage "I'm not your child. I'm not one of your people you can threaten to keep quiet!" Temari snarls.

The Kazekage's lips lift at the corners "Of course, I should have expected you to be like this, knowing who your father is"

"Are you mocking me?" Temari has expected the Kazekage to be furious but now she can't tell if the Kazekage is or he's just toying with her.

The kazekage just gives a knowing smile and then his face transforms and becomes serious, the tilt on his lips straightens and his eyes become menacing "Who else knows about it Temari?" the Kazekage asks, his tone firm and forbidding.

"I couldn't tell anyone else now could I? It's not the type of secret one could just blab out and to hell with the consequences" Temari admits, reigning in her own anger. With the kazekage showing finally his fury, it would be more prudent to thread carefully.

The Kazekage looks into Temari's eyes gauging the truth of her words "Good. Keep it a secret to your grave and I just might let your parents live" The Kazekage cautions. Slowly a smirk appears on his lips. It is full of its evil promise.

Temari becomes rooted on the spot; a shiver has run through her spine and leaves her hands and her feet cold "Is that a threat?" Temari asks ferociously, baring her teeth. But she doesn't miss the sneer on the older shinobi's face. It denotes his confidence and his assurance that he could do it.

"You know I'm capable" The kazekage's eyes again meet those of Temari's.

"Otosan, would kill—" Temari continues amidst the Kazekage's maniacal laughter "you and I'll make sure I'll—"

"You'll make sure what my child? Help him?" The kazekage scorns "I could snap you into two pieces without even trying. Your father might pose a more challenging opponent. I would enjoy playing with him"

Temari notices that the Kazekage's eyes don't even blink, as if he already anticipates his and her father's battle and his win. With the sheer self-assurance emanating from the Kazekage, and the cruelty in his eyes, Temari believes his threat. And the possibility that such a man would defeat her father is high. Shikaku is a talented shinobi and a smart strategist who has taught her all she knows but being a realist, Temari knows her father is not at par with Suna's number one nin. She has heard stories about the kazekage's exploits that would leave the faint of heart with a lifetime of nightmares. Fear she doesn't want the Kazekage to see flits through her eyes.

Noticing that imperceptible telltale sign on the female shinobi, the Kazekage gives a boisterous laughter "I know you'll understand. Good girl"

Temari glares at the Kazekage. Her hands have remained clenched at her sides, incompetent to protect and at the same time unite her family.

"Now go before I change my mind and kill you instead" The Kazekage waves his hand towards the door.

"You are a monster!" Temari spats, her harsh tone an indication of her frustration at being unable to do more.

"You have no idea. Now go" The kazekage returns his attention to his work, getting a document from the stacks in front of him.

Dismissed, Temari leaves the room and bangs the door.

The Kazekage glances at the now closed door, a frown appearing between his brows.

TBC

1 26. 3 18/11

A/N: I'd love to hear what you guys think...concrits are appreciated...