IT'S WORTH THE TROUBLES

By ardenilia

Disclaimer: Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns Uzumaki Naruto & Company.

Author's Note: My never-ending and endless gratitude to my readers and especially my lovely, lovely reviewers KatelynDevine, suna-girl, itachisan77, Otakustone, GourdBreaker, Logophobia, LaZyEnErGeTiC, Atlantismonkey, cola-chan, OTRamble, Wind Scythe, The Flying Pen (does the pen really flies? XD), Tedabug, Natasha, MavisBeacon, arumira, Cashmeritan, Teddieox, BldCvrdKunoichi, SerenityxAngel, andeellis, Lyneia, Kachina90, PinkYellowRoses2, Shikatema :3, Jomai, NoName, and Tsubomi. And not forgetting Lotos-eater for your kindness. I really appreciate it with all my heart. You guys made the story lives. Thanks so much. Don't worry, I'll write longer chapters but for the mean time, please do accept this short and crappy chapter for now XD. It's just that time's moving faster, but so many things to do. But I will try my best to make my readers happy!

And this chapter is inspired by Yuna Ito's song, Truth.

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Part 9 : Truth

Suna…

The three siblings made a quick stop at the mansion for lunch, as Minako had insisted that they do so in the morning during breakfast. As soon as they reached home, Minako had already been waiting for them inside the dining room with the table all set.

"Tadaima, Mina." Kankurou greeted his wife as he planted a quick kiss on her cheeks earning a warm smile from the young medic nin in return.

"Okaeri…I hope everything went well at the office?"

The puppet controller sighed. "The usual stuffs. You know it, Mina." Minako laughed in response for she surely knew how much Kankurou hated talking about work stuffs at home.

Gaara took his usual seat, at the head of the table followed by Kankurou on his left and their sister on the other side. Looking so preoccupied, Temari didn't even realized that she was already sitting at the dining table and that both her brothers were looking at her in a very weird way.

'What the hell is he doing here for? Kami-sama…this has already been too much. Something wrong is definitely happening right now. Why? Shika…what would you do if you were here?'

"Temari…" Gaara called out to her in a straight tone but the glint in his marine-eyes failed to deny his worries. "Is something amiss?"

"Huh? What?"

Kankurou's forehead wrinkled in surprise. "You look horrible, Tem. What happened? Wait, did someon-"

She spat back before he could finish his words. "Nothing happened, Kankurou! It's not important. We're all tired, so let's just not talk about work or anything that could really piss me off right now!"

Gaara didn't know about Mitsurugi's pretense and it's better if it remained that way. Just for the time being. She already had a really hard time dealing with that scheming devil and having her siblings knew of her encounter with him last night would only be making things worst.

She winced in pain as the throbbing in her head returned ever since it disappeared the moment she left for Suna. Gaara noticed her discomforts and hurriedly placed a hand on her shoulder, "You should have some rest today, Temari."

"No, it's alright. I'll just take some meds afterwards and I'll be okay."

And that time a few helpers came and started to serve the foods on the table. The ever tasty and inviting aroma of the local delicacy wafted through the air, enticing any Suna native's senses but somehow, it brought up a very uncomfortable feeling to the former Sand dweller. "Oh God, what's this smell?" She quickly covered her nose, her breathe hitched and her shoulders heaved in quick shudders. Minako blinked at her sister-in-law. "But nee-chan, it's Chicken Sauté. It's your favorite right?"

"I never thought its smell is so god-awful. Get that thing away from m-Ugh." Her insides felt like being ripped and something was being pulled out of her stomach. A burning sensation tightened around her throat and she helplessly tried her best to hold it down.

Minako's expression was of worried at first but after a few seconds later, the looks on her face softened into something which is more relieved and perhaps, joyful.

"Hey…Tem. Are you sick or what?"

"It's…it's nothing. Are you worried about me, Kankurou?"

He snickered in faint disbelief. "Feh…Who ever that said I am?"

"I wonder how long you are going to keep this news from us, nee-chan…" Minako butted in, with a knowing look on her smiling face.

"What do you mean, Mina?" A quizzical look etched on her husband's face and also on his younger brother's as well.

"Gaara-sama, anata…it seems that we are going to become uncles and aunt once again"

"NANI??" Kankurou's mouth widened in sheer shock and his eyes looked like it was going to bulge out from his sockets, as Gaara looked at him with a slightly 'boring' look.

"Shut your mouth, Kankurou. Or, you're going to have sand for dinner." The red-haired Kazekage said in a monotonous tone despite the sudden surprise displayed within his serene eyes.

"Mina, how did you kn-…?"

"What? You really meant that the 'shadow freak' knocked her up, AGAIN?!"

"Oh, don't be so dramatic over this anata. Well nee-chan, I've noticed that you've been throwing up a lot since you got here. At first, I thought it was the food, but that was until I saw you in you room while you're looking at the mirror. You're acting like you're carrying 'something' in your tummy, then of course I put two and two together. Besides, I've been helping my dad at the clinic for years; such symptoms would not escape from a practicing medical nin you know"

"Well, heh…I think I just can't keep this thing away from you guys, huh?"

"Now, I think I want to salute that lazy-ass of a brother-in-law."

"And, may I ask why Kankurou?" The question came out from Gaara since he knew how Kankurou had, for eternity claimed that he 'hated' the shadow-guy for 'stealing' their sister away.

"He's lazy alright and I don't expect much from that ass. Now, I know that he's quite 'hardworking' at 'something'…eheh…He's the man."

Temari snapped in a futile attempt to hide the blushes that had started to creep on her cheeks. "Oh, shut up, Kank-uh." The next hit of nausea pushed her to run towards the nearest washroom.

"I just lost my appetite," he rolled his eyes as he saw his suffering sister's figure disappearing behind the door.

"Anata…stop it." Minako stared at her husband in disbelief. Kami-sama, he sure is immature at times.

However, despite all the conflicts and stressing situations, the good news seems like a breath of fresh air in the Kazekage's household.

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"I believe this is for the best of the village, Gaara-sama." Haruka crossed his arms as he fixed a gaze towards the red-haired Kazekage, hiding his smirk under the shawl that was covering the lower parts of his face.

"It's not that simple, Haruka."

"Would it not be in your favor then? After all, you barely knew each other and arranged marriages, from the experiences of the ones I know…would only bring trouble to young men like you. Young men who are still young and had so much to achieve in this world. Besides, this concerns the safety and future of the village. Better be wary and prudent than to be sorry later, Gaara-sama."

The young former Jinchuuriki took a deep breath before exhaling in a lethargic manner. "I hope this would not be a mistake."

"Oh, it most certainly won't."

The door was rapped hurriedly and Temari walked in as soon as she heard Gaara's voice muttering an approval from the inside. She needed to discuss with Gaara on the issue of "looks can be deceiving" and that not everyone can be trusted just as easily. And she realized that the closer Mitsurugi is to Gaara, the more complicated things will be and maybe, a lot of lives will be at stake. She understood perfectly how Mitsurugi's "Standard Operating Procedures" work; he won't mind sacrificing thousands of innocent lives just as long as he gets what he wants and Kami knows he wants A LOT. Greedy, ungrateful bastard…

"Gaara, I need to…" Her words trailed to an unexpected halt when the fact that the greedy, ungrateful bastard was also in the Kazekage room, registered to her mind.

"Temari-san…," Mitsurugi greeted her with that ever-annoying smug grin plastered on his pretentious face.

"What are you doing here?" Temari retorted back with a hint of disgust within her monotonous, cold tone and her steely eyes gazing guardedly against the slightly older man.

"Have you forgotten that Haruka is my advisor, Temari?"

The Devil must've been laughing his head off right now.

At that moment, the golden-haired kunoichi knew things were already moving towards Mitsurugi's favor and it's gonna take a lot of guts to expose his scams to her youngest brother without any prove.

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Konoha…

He walked down the all-familiar path towards his parents' house; a place where he grew up as a thousand questions harassing his already-tired brain for almost a week now. The usual dinner routine at her mother's house had been reduced to two days from the seven and the rest five days would be spent with his friends or paying a visit to Ino's house either with Chouji or by himself. He felt that being in the company of his old teammates somewhat gave him a sense of composure.

Oh no, don't say that he didn't miss his own family, even more so his children. He missed them more than words can say, but having them running away from him every time he went to see them only made things worst. He felt like he had become a stranger even to his own flesh and blood but as funny at it seemed to be; the fearless Jounin who would stand unperturbed in front of an enemy now was too scared to even talk to his children. He was afraid that he will use the wrong selection of words and hurt them even more or that Hikaru and Kusanagi would tell him that they only want their mother and not their father anymore. In either way, one side would get hurt in the end.

There were only a few doors before he reached his destination when an ANBU appeared in front of him. "I'm sorry to disrupt your free time, Nara Shikamaru-sama but Rokudaime-sama needs you right now. I'm afraid he has some very unpleasant news."

Oh great, more problems. Mendokuse.

He rushed towards the Hokage's office and found out that he wasn't the only one summoned. Kiba and Neji were already there, wearing the same worried expressions on their faces.

"Sorry I'm a little bit late. I rushed here as soon as I got the message."

The yellow-haired young Hokage nodded in understanding. "It's alright Shikamaru. The rest had actually got here a few seconds earlier. No worries. Now, I've just received a very unfortunate news. Shino's team of genins had arrived safely this morning from the mission at Mist but the problem is they arrived in Konoha…without Shino…" Naruto's eyes dropped in contemplation.

"You mean- he's M.I.A?" Kiba asked with shock vividly displayed on his face.

"Were they been attacked on their way? That's the only logical explanation considering that his students managed to get back to Konoha without him. Has anyone talked to them?" Neji spoke rather calmly and Naruto nodded his head in reply. "You couldn't been more right, Neji. They were under attacked by a group of wandering ninjas and Shino fended off the attacks and urged his students to make a quick, direct escape to Konoha and they were too worn out to turn back for Shino. That's why Kiba, I want you and Neji to gather a few Chuunins and scout the outskirts of the borders. If Shino's in trouble, he might need assistance from us. You may go now."

"Yes sir," both of them nodded in admission and disappeared in a flash, leaving only Shikamaru and the Hokage in the office.

"Shouldn't I go with them, Naruto?"

"No, I need you for another thing. And it's a harder task."

"You mean…"

"Yes, Shikamaru. You need to inform Ino of the news."

"But why me?"

"You're the only one with many experiences dealing with females; I mean psychologically and no once can handle a hysterical woman better than you do."

"Just because I am not seeing you smiling, doesn't mean I don't believe that you are making fun of me."

"No. I'm bloody serious."

"Mendokuse. Okay then. I'll go see her straight-away."

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He was a man of wits and there's no situation that he cannot handle professionally but right now, he just wished that somebody else would do the job instead of him. All he could do was stared helplessly at the crying woman in front of him, looking more vulnerable and more fragile than her usual demeanor. He felt the responsibility to soothe and comfort her as soon as she broke down when he relayed the news of Shino's sudden disappearance to her. After all, she had always been a great help to him albeit in her troublesome ways sometimes. But apparently, his silent contemplating had made her bursting to increase a decibel higher.

"The-the girls…what should I tell them? They'r-they're so young, I can't b-bear to see them heartbroken, Shika. And I don't know how I can survive without Shino…I don-don't know…" Ino muttered weakly between her weeping.

"I'm sorry about the news, Ino. But I want you to know that Chouji and I will always be here for you and your kids. Calm down, Ino. Please…"

"How the hell do you expect me to calm down when my husband might be stranded off somewhere and injured to top it off!" The flaxen-haired young woman screamed back at him, not realizing that one of the neighbors had already started to peek from the section of their gates. But Shikamaru was quick enough to understand that she will create an unwanted commotion within the neighborhood if he didn't do something about it.

"I need to be alone…"

"No. You need someone with you. I'm staying here."

"Go away, Shikamaru."

"I'm not letting you doing something stupid, Ino."

"JUST GO AWA-"

Shikamaru pulled her into a hug, causing her to shed tears once more. "Hey, you're my friend, no you're like my sister. There's no way I'm leaving you alone when you really need a shoulder to cry on. Although this is too troublesome but knock yourself out. Chouji will drop by soon and I don't want him to be upset with me because I'm not doing a great job in helping you."

"I'm sorry, Shika. I didn't mean to scream at you. But thank you."

"I should get you inside before your wailing disturbs the whole neighborhood. You sounded like a banshee just now you know."

"Stupid Shika!"

The two friends broke into a small unexpected laughter.

"I was just joking. At least, you can laugh now. That's a relief, huh?"

Unfortunately for Shikamaru, he was so worried of his former teammate's well-being that he didn't perceived that there was a lone figure watching him in denial, as he disappeared behind his friend's front door.

I'm having a heart attack…the mysterious figure muttered silently.

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Suna…..

She had a meeting with Lee, Tenten and Konohamaru outside the walls of the Kazekage late one afternoon. Much to her interest, some of the information reported had proven her doubts about Mitsurugi's devious plot. But she needed a concrete proof to show Gaara just how Mitsurugi had been planning to overthrow him from the Kage position all along. But among the group members, only she and Konohamaru knew exactly what Mitsurugi was scheming and for that matter, Temari felt pleased that she found an ally in the late Sandaime Hokage's grandson.

"Temari-san...did that jerk harass you again just like last time?" Konohamaru asked composedly, after Lee and Tenten had made their way back to the mansion.

Upon seeing the sincerity within the younger boy's black orbs, Temari couldn't find the heart to tell him off. Instead, she was touched that he even bothered to ask how she had been even though they were not close acquaintances to start with. "No, he did not, Konohamaru. But something tells me, he's getting bolder with his actions. I won't be surprised if he'll strike one of these days."

Konohamaru nodded in understanding. "I'll be watching your back, Temari-san. I'll help with anything that I can and right now, Mitsurugi is within my radar. I'll keep a lookout for his next dealings. I really want him to be dealt with since he's messing with a lot of people's lives."

A smile of admiration graced her lips upon hearing his words. 'Not many youngsters are as spirited as he is nowadays.' "You're pretty eager to get back to Konoha. Missing somebody already?"

The smart young Chuunin shook his head while laughing in return. "Nah, I want everyone…you, sensei and Tenten-san to get back safely to your families. That's all."

"Konohamaru, that's very nice of you."

"It's just that being a child, you would always want both of your parents to be near to you. I've lost almost everyone that I hold dear in my life when I was younger and I don't want the same thing to happen to the young children of Konoha."

Hearing his response had made Temari speechless. Up to the point of her, understanding the pain that he had endured when he was really, really young. She didn't want her children to go through the same situation.

'Hikaru, Kusanagi…I promise I will come home as soon as possible.'

She was walking along the halls of the administration building, hoping to find Kankurou in his office but as soon as she turn into a hallway, her paths crossed with a very familiar face.

"Aina-san, I didn't expect to see you here." She greeted the younger girl in a cheerful tone as well as with a smile on her face. Unfortunately, she was taken aback with the sight of the girl's flushed and tear-stricken face although she tried really hard to cover them by dropping her gaze lower. "Anou, is something wrong?"

"Uh…no, Temari-san. It's alright. I'm okay."

"You don't look okay to me."

"Nah…it's nothing. I think I better go now, Temari-san. I need to retire for today."

"Oh, alright. I'm sorry for keeping you away but take care. Maybe I can pay you a visit some time."

"That would be great, Temari-san. Have a nice day."

As soon as she watched the young girl walked away along with her guardians, Temari considered making a re-order of her destination. Instead of Kankurou's office, she headed towards Gaara's station in return. And she was glad when she found out that Gaara was all alone in his room, sitting restlessly near his working table.

"Hey…is everything alright?"

"…" No answer. Feh, same old Gaara.

"I just met Aina-san on my way here and if my instincts are correct, something's definitely wrong. Do you wanna talk to me about it? You're getting married to each other soon, you should be able to work things out together."

"There's not gonna be a wedding, Temari."

"What? I may be tired but that doesn't mean I lost my sense of hearing. What did you just say?"

"I've called the wedding off."

"Wha-Why? It's only within a few weeks time."

"It's for the best of the village."

"What do you mean, Gaara?"

"There's a possibility that this marriage was only proposed so that Iwa can take advantage of my position as the leader of Sunagakure."

"And where did you hear such nonsensical theory from?"

"I would never doubt Haruka's judgment. It took a long time for him to extract the information from Iwa."

"And you believe his lies? My God, this is not you making the decision, it's him! He's playing you all along. Why can't you listen to other people's point of view first before making such decisions? Do you even ask Aina-san how she feels about this?"

"She didn't seem to be affected by the resolution." His aqua eyes resonating an 'I couldn't care less' expression as he stared back at his older sister in response.

"Not affected? Gaara, when I saw her just now, she was obviously heartbroken."

"She was?"

"Even if this involves political issues, she does not deserve to be treated that way Gaara. Especially not from you."

There was a silent pause between the two siblings before the red-haired shinobi found the courage to ask, "What should I do now that things can't be undone, Temari?"

"There's nothing that explanation couldn't do. It might be hard but when you've told her how you exactly feel, you'll see that things could actually work out better in the end."

Yeah, right back at you Temari.

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After Temari left the office late that afternoon, he wasted no time in making his way towards the royal inn where the noble guests and ambassadors to Suna would reside for a temporary stay. In the middle of his walk, he earned several surprising gazes from the villagers of Suna for never would the Kazekage been seen appearing in the streets of the village, without an escort nevertheless. He must've had something really important to do or someone important to see for he didn't care much about his safety in the open roads.

The royal guards standing vigil outside the main chamber was slightly shaken with the sudden arrival of the feared, young Godaime Kazekage. Both bowed in respect as one of them, the older one addressed him rather shakily, "Kazekage-sama…it is a surprise having your presence here. How can we be of service?"

His usual icy gaze moved from the door to the two keepers in front of him. "I need to see Kurosawa Aina from Iwa. Now."

"B-But, Kazekage-sama, Kurosawa-dono instructed us to not allow anyone to step beyond our post. She insisted on not having any visitors today or tomorrow."

"Are you defying my request, soldiers? As far as I'm concern, my orders precede over anyone within the borders of Sunagakure. I'm already in a foul mood, so don't be pushing your lucks today. I might just kill somebody for a release but you can help prevent that from happening if you just let me pass through."

Both of them cowered in fear. "We're truly ashamed of ourselves, Kazekage-sama. We shouldn't be questioning you of your rights. Our lives are for your disposal. Please, do proceed forward."

The corners of his lips raised into a smirk as fast as it disappeared. They really still believe he would kill them for no apparent reason. He would thank Temari later on for the tips. "Thank you. Now, I think it would be better if the two of you could take a break somewhere very, very far."

"I beg your pardon, Kazekage-sama?"

Gaara tried very hard not roll his eyes in helplessness. Man, these royal subjects are so 'polite'…no… 'dense' is the better term. "Can you just get the hell away from here? I need to talk to my fiancée privately."

"Aah…gomen, gomen. We understand." They nodded in consideration and they disappeared hurriedly even before Gaara had the chance to 'make their lives hell' again.

He knocked on the door once and waited for a reply but somehow, there were only silence. He could hear his own heartbeat thundering within his chest and right now he already feel like regretting the decision to come here. What should he say? How can he face her after what he had told her before? The look on her face when he told her that he's breaking off the engagement was still vividly emblazoned in his mind.

Inside the dimly-lit room, he saw the outline of her back as she stood at the veranda. The raven tresses are now tied into two even ponytails, swaying gently to the rhythm of the strong blowing summer breeze.

"Aina…"

Her body stiffened upon hearing his voice. He could see that she was wiping her face with the sleeves of her maroon-colored yukata before tilting her head to the side, glancing warily at her guest. "Gaa-Gaara-sama? I'm very sorry but I'm not ready to see you right now."

"I will leave if you want me too but please hear me out just this one more time," he said with hope within his eyes and his heart. 'If only you could turn around and let me see your face. Even if this is for the last time.' Unfortunately, a minute passed by but still they were being enveloped in an eerie stillness. "Aina…when I made the decision to break off this engagement, I believed that it was the best for all sides. I thought that I'm doing you a favor by letting you free from such political mess. It is my responsibility to protect my village, my people."

"How could you-How come you would even think that my father is trying to take advantage of this marriage and plotting with the Tsuchikage to take over Sunagakure? He's a very good man and I know my father very well. My father would never do such things. He didn't even force me into this. I chose to be with you out of my own free-will."

"But you must've had someone you already love and would want to be with. I don't have the right to hold you back from your own happiness."

She turned her petite figure around and faced the towering figure of the fomer Jinchuuriki. "Love? If you really want to know….Yes, I already had someone that I love with all my heart-"

He didn't know for what reason but the moment he heard that sentence from her, he felt like a part of him died straight-away.

"-And I know my happiness lies with him. But what if he was the one who refused to give me a chance? He's pushing me away from his life and he still said that he didn't deserve the right to give me my happiness? And if I were to share my life together with him, shouldn't we be making decisions together?"

He couldn't hide the surprise on his face when the truth dawned upon his head.

She loves him.

But he didn't deserve a person with such perfection. He truly had no idea whether he will be able to make her happy.

"You're mistaking love with compassion, Aina."

"Stop it, stop this now. And listen to what I have to say."

He never had another person who dared to talk back to him in such way, in exception of Temari of course. Conversely he was amazed and thrilled with the girl's sudden outburst.

"I may not know you that much in person but I have heard of who is the cold-blooded Sabaku no Gaara and what he had done in his childhood and why he was feared by all five shinobi nations. But that didn't trigger fear within me…I want to know you, what happened to you when you were young and somehow, I found the answer. Gaara-sama, do you know I have a wish? A really impossible wish, I might say."

"…"

"I wish that I could turn back time and I would've known you earlier, when we both were still children so that you wouldn't feel so lonely and I would be there whenever you need someone and I could've spend time with you just a little bit longer. And maybe you wouldn't push me away from your life just like now. I truly do, want to be your 'someone'."

"Aina…" No words can be used to describe the whirlpool of emotions within him. It felt strange. It felt weird. But it made him feel…sad. "It's just that right now, I have so many things happening and I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to face this. I really don't want to drag you into my problems. Things are…complicated." His well-built, tall figure dropped gently on the edge of the four-post bed. He didn't care if he looked weak in the eyes of the woman who was standing right in front of him. He's already tired of acting like the so-called 'heartless Gaara of the Sands'. He just wanted to be him for a change.

He buried his weary face in his hands, resting all his weight on his knees. Hoping that the Lord would give him just a little bit more strength in getting through this mess.

A pair of warm, gentle hands touched his tense shoulders although they seem to be reluctant at first. As he looked up, he saw her…up close and tangible. Her violet orbs glittered with unshed tears. "I don't know why it's so hard for us to live our lives the way we want it to be."

He dropped his head with regret when he realized just how wrong he had been before; that he would make their lives easier by breaking up something that hasn't even started yet without giving it a chance. "…"

"Ne…anata…" The smooth skin of her palm brushed against his jaw line and he felt her warmth seeped through his very soul when she lifted his head back up. "Married or not, that would never stop me from loving you." She gave him a choice and space. He could push her away if he wanted but instead, he delved deeper into her awaiting embrace, knowing that she was the 'strength' that the Lord had blessed him with from the start. The tears that she had been holding flowed freely as her hands swept his red hair in tenderness.

At last……

He had found love.

He had found someone to care for.

He had found someone to call his own.

And she would be the person he would come home to until the day he die.

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Konoha…..

Yoshino paced agitatedly across the living room. The letter inside her hand was gripped rather tightly for her own comfort. Her motherly instincts had been holding her back from doing something she will regret to her own son but that didn't stop her from bursting out in anger when he accused her of being paranoid.

"Paranoid? Do you even care to read what she wrote to you?" In blind rage, Yoshino threw the letter straight at Shikamaru's chest, receiving a confused look to the already jaded expression on her son's face. "Tell me, should I just close my eyes and pretended that everything is alright when you're cheating on her behind her back!"

"Mom! What the hell…Where on earth did you ever get such crazy ideas from?"

"I saw you yesterday at the Yamanaka girl's house. Now don't deny it."

"I'm not denying th-"

"You did not sleep at your house last night, Shikamaru. Interestingly, I found out that her husband had been away on a mission, the same goes for your wife. Everything seemed so convenient isn't it? For the last two weeks, you haven't been spending time with your own children, but you've certainly wouldn't mind 'lending some company' for another woman's children…Even when your kids had been asking for you."

He was, beyond doubt bemused with his own mother's allegation. "That is so absurd. Mom, I had been spending each and every night at the office, doing paperwork. Mendokuse. Ino's my best friend. I would never do something so troublesome like cheating on my wife or having an affair with my own best friend."

"And apparently, your 'friendship' had been troubling Temari very, very much. Why is she feeling insecure of your own marriage if not because of it?"

"That's the problem. I don't know!" The plum-haired Jounin released a very heavy sigh from within. Things had become waaaay too worst and problematical.

"So, you're not seeing someone now?"

"Of course not!" he retorted back in disbelief.

"So, do you still love your wife?"

"Of course I do!" This is getting him nowhere.

"….You're not sleeping around with another woman right?"

"Mom!!!"

He sighed, again for that day. This is gonna take one whole day.

Temari…come back home please……

End Of Chapter 9

To Be Continued…

Next Chapter…

Some people love and tend to be selfish for their own reasons.

Each and every one of them are being selfish up to the point where they rather see their beloved suffer or risking everything, even their own lives so they could be with the person they love once again.

There's a fine line between love, selfishness & obsession.

Gaara loves his sister very much and he rather see her suffer than risking her and her unborn children's life;

Temari would even go to the ends of the world just as long as she can return back to the man that she loves forever. Even if it meant Death will be waiting in the middle;

While Haruka's obsession will rob a family of its happiness.

And after all that happens, will each and every one of them received the ending that they deserved?

A/N: After 5 months of withdrawal, this is the best I could do with my restricted time. I'm very sorry everyone. I would motivate myself to keep on writing and writing for not only my own satisfaction but yours as well. Till next chapter, dears. Take care.

Love,

ardenilia