All Alone

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for reviewing my story. I didn't expect anyone to really think much of it. Sorry I couldn't post the new chapter until now. I had my wisdom teeth removed, and I have been recuperating from the surgery. I hope you all enjoy chapter two.

Chapter 2

"N..Na..ru…to?"

Temari couldn't believe her eyes. Here she was mourning the loss of everyone she loved and was about to take her own life when Naruto Uzumaki, of all people, stopped her. She didn't know what to think. He barely knew her. Why would he have stayed to make sure she was alright?

Temari looked down. "Why?" she asked him. "Why did you stop me?"

"I couldn't let you do it," said Naruto. "Watching you cry reminded me of myself a long time ago."

Then she felt something wet hitting the back of her neck. She looked back at Naruto to find him with his head down and tears rolling down his cheeks. Temari's eyes widened. Shocked could not describe her reaction. Here was a boy from another village that knew nothing about her, and yet he was still crying for her.

"It hurts doesn't it?" he said. "The feeling of loneliness. It's like you are bearing the weight of the world on your shoulders. You try to cry out for help, but no one is there to help because you are alone." Naruto let go of her to wipe his tears then sat down beside her. Temari couldn't quit looking at him.

She was speechless. He just described her exact feelings. Was it truly possible for Naruto to understand her situation? Could the number one hyperactive knuckle-headed ninja from the Leaf village really know how she felt? She held back the urge to cry. No matter how she felt, she still didn't want anyone to see her like this.

Naruto studied Temari. He knew what she was going through and wanted to be there for her. He was afraid that at any minute she would burst into tears or attempt to kill herself before he could stop her.

Temari could feel the sadness welling up inside her. She thought again of the last loved-one she had being torn out of her life. Her eyes fell on the kunai still in her left hand. Then something happened she never dreamed would happen. Naruto got up and kneeled in front of her. He took her left hand, gently removed the kunai, and laid it on the ground beside her. Then he looked her right in the eyes and said, "I'm sorry for everything you have had to go through." Then he wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "As long as I'm here, you don't have to be alone."

Temari broke. She could no longer hold back her emotions. Her eyes filled with water. She embraced Naruto, hugging him tightly. She began to wail and sob. Wanting to be as close as possible, she clutched onto his shirt for dear life. Her body shook as each breath brought more tears. The sadness and pain swept through her like an overflowing river of emotion. Temari buried her face into Naruto's chest. She didn't know why, but being this close to him comforted her. She could feel his shirt getting damp but was unable to stop crying.

Naruto held her close. He knew she needed someone to help her through the pain. He knew all too well what it was like dealing with sadness all alone.

After a long time, Temari began to feel exhausted. All the pain and heartache had weighed her down. Everything that she had to go through the past few days had begun to tire her out. As she sat there holding on to Naruto, she fell asleep in the warmth of his arms.

Naruto felt Temari's body relax. He looked down and saw her sound asleep. He knew she needed to rest, so he picked her up and carried her all the way back to the Sand village. Upon arriving, he asked the guards at the front gate where she lived. They were shocked that a ninja from Konoha was carrying a sleeping Temari home. They told him she lived in the Kazekage's manor on the second floor. He thanked them and headed for the mansion his close friend Gaara had been living in.

When he got inside, one of Gaara's assistants directed him to the correct room. Naruto opened the door and closed it shut behind them. He saw her bed and pulled the covers back. Gently he laid her down on the bed and pulled the covers over her.

He looked around the room. It was fairly large compared to his. There was a workstation in one corner where it looked like Temari worked on her signature fan. Purple paint and sturdy looking metal and paper were strewn about. He looked around and spied pictures of people hanging on the wall. He knew the one of the older man and woman had to be her parents. Then he saw the one of Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara, and remembered how one of his closest friends was now dead. He began to softly cry. Gaara, the person he had so much in common with and whom he had experienced so much with, was dead. He could not believe it. Naruto dried his tears and turned to leave. He took one more look at Temari to make sure she was fine.

Naruto's heart skipped a beat, and he froze in his tracks. Temari was beautiful. Never before had Naruto felt or thought this way about a girl. He may have thought Sakura was pretty, but he really only said he liked her so that he wouldn't lose to Sasuke. He studied her face. It reminded him of an angel. Her soft, smooth skin. Her delicate, pink lips. Her long eyelashes and cute nose. Everything about her was breathtaking. Naruto stood there mesmerized. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat.

As he stared at her, he realized he had forgotten to take off her headband. Carefully Naruto lifted her head and loosened the knot. Then he folded the headband and set it on her workstation. He looked are her again. He had always seen Temari as a tough-as-nails kunoichi that was not to be messed with. He had never even bothered to look at her close enough to even notice her beauty, but now it was all he could do to look away. She really was a stunning woman.

Naruto lost control of himself for a minute. He walked over to the bed, leaned over, and lightly kissed Temari on the forehead. He took one last glance at her, then forced himself to turn away and leave the room.

I hope you all liked the new chapter. I can't tell if I did as good a job on it. It was harder to write this chapter. Please leave a review and tell me what you liked or what I could do to improve the next chapter.