Morning found Sakura and Temari still cuddling with each other and deep in sleep. The birds of Konoha sang their usual song and people went about their daily lives as the two slept. A knock at the door startled Temari awake. Realizing she had nothing on still due to last night, Temari quickly threw on a pair of Sakura's pajamas and answered the door. Even half awake Temari was very aware of who it was on the other side of the doorway. It was Sakura's mother who for no real reason that day just felt like checking in on her little girl. Temari blinked at the bright light in the room and said, "Good morning, can I help you Mrs. Haruno?" Temari shifted her feet a bit, a nervous habit of hers. Temari definitely had a good enough reason to be nervous. Sakura's mother would have little to no idea who she was and even worse, no idea why she was in Sakura's house. Temari prayed no questions would be asked, and if there were, that they would be easy to skirt the truth about.
Sakura's mother spoke after looking Temari up and down for a moment. "Good Morning? Young miss it's the middle of the day. What is your name by the way, and why are you here?" Temari's immediately cursed inside her head. This was the kind of question she wanted to avoid. Temari smiled and said, "My name's Temari. The reason for me being here is that Sakura and I were out on a mission until late last night and decided to sleep here for the night. We wanted to go report the mission finished to Lady Fifth but it was so late at night and we were ahead of schedule. So we decided to sleep for the night and report to her when we woke up." Sakura's mother smiled and spoke. "Well it is past time the two of you got up and out of bed. Sakura didn't mention anything about a mission but she is a ninja after all. Tell her I stopped by Temari, it was nice meeting you."
As she shut the door Temari let out a long sigh. That had been a close one. She walked over to the bed where Sakura was still sleeping. Temari bent over and gently kissed Sakura to try and wake her up. Sakura stirred and woke up. She smiled and said , "Good morning Temari. Did you sleep well?" Temari nodded and kissed Sakura once more before saying, "You mother stopped by and nearly scared me to death. Not the exact way I wanted to meet her. It's a good thing your clothes fit me." Sakura laughed. She imagined how the whole thing had gone. Sakura sighed as she started getting dressed. Temari smiled and gently pushed Sakura to the bed. "Not so fast, did I say you could get dressed yet?" Temari said in a slightly joking tone. Sakura smiled and said, "No I guess you didn't. Would it help if I asked?" Temari shook her head and kissed Sakura once more. "Actually yes it does. I'll have my fun with you later. For now we need to get a head start on heading to Sunagakure. I did promise you a night under the stars. That might be enough incentive to get you going."
Sakura was out of bed and dressed faster than she had ever had before in her life. She had found reason to this morning. Temari smiled as she too gathered her clothes up and dressed. It took Temari a few minutes to find her headband. It had ended up behind the small dresser in Sakura's room. She tied it around her neck like she had in the past, an old habit of hers as she had recently taken to wearing it on her forehead. Sakura smiled and commented on it. "I like it when you wear your headband like that. It looks better, plus if I ever need to pull you toward me it doubles as a collar." Temari smiled and let Sakura gently pull her over by her headband into a kiss. 'Maybe I will go back to wearing it like this' Temari thought to herself as they left Sakura's house. The sky could not have been anymore perfect that day. An impossibly blue sky and bright sunshine was over Konoha, unbroken save for where there were trees.
Temari stared at the sky for a moment, the intensity of it all causing her to squint. Another perfect day, and yet this one seemed a little different from ones she had seen before. This time she had someone to share it all with. A day like this was always best enjoyed with someone else. Sakura smiled and took a hold of Temari's arm as they walked through Konoha.
Falling leaves gently fell through the windless skies. The lack of wind surprised Temari, who had always been surrounded by it. She remembered the first time she had been in Konoha. The leaves had fallen like this back then too, on a windless day. That had been the day she had first met Sakura as well as the rest of the Konoha shinobi her age. That Chunin exam had changed so much in such a short amount of time. It turned them from kids into ninja, and then it changed them even more. The battle that had ensued after the third exam finals changed everything. Temari's heart had felt like it had been torn in two back then. At the time she didn't understand why but now, after all these years she finally understood. It was her unconscious feelings for Sakura that had caused her to feel that way. Looking back at it now though, Temari knew those things had to have happened that way for things to be the way they were now.
Sakura noticed that Temari looked like she was lost in thought. Maybe being surrounded by Konoha had brought back memories. Sakura spoke to Temari to break the silence. "I bet this place brings back memories. Even though I live here it brings back memories for me. Something about this place that makes you see everything all at once. It must be something in the way this place was made that does that. Maybe the First Hokage wanted it that way, so we never forget the past, present or future. What do you think Temari?" Temari broke out of her memories as she heard Sakura's question. Temari looked up at the Hokage faces and thought about her answer for a minute.
"I think you may be right. It would make sense seeing that part of the history of Konoha is interwoven with the original ninja clan wars and how they were brought to an end. Sunagakure is kind of the same way. The sands are always changing but somehow it seems like they remain the same. Those that founded the hidden villages probably wanted the future generations to know what peace had been won by the sacrifice of so many. Just like those that were around during the Third Great Ninja War. All they want now is to bring peace to everyone. I like that ideal but it is so hard to accomplish sometimes. For now I'll just take it day by day and be thankful for what I have, like your love." Their conversation had carried them almost to the town gate. They were passing Ichiraku Ramen as they finished their conversation. Sakura suggested they get something to eat and Temari agreed, food sounded like a good idea. AS they ate someone behind them spoke in an authoritative tone. "And just when were you going to tell me about your leaving town Sakura?"
Both of the girls turned around and standing there was Tsunade. Sakura dropped her chopsticks in surprise and stuttered an answer. "U-um I-I was going to tell you after we ate. I j-just hadn't gotten around to telling Temari that." The nervousness Sakura displayed at that moment put Hinata's normal nervousness to shame. Tsunade just shook her head and smiled. "It's okay Sakura. I was going to let you go. I can tell when you've made up your mind. Besides, I have something for you to deliver to Gaara. As Kazekage he needs to know of your reassignment. You're still a Konoha shinobi Sakura, don't forget that. I'm sure we'll miss having you around. You better stop by once in a while." Tsunade gave Sakura a hug and then left. Sakura was surprised by all of it. They both finished their meal in relative silence. Temari knew how hard it was for Sakura to be making the choice she was.
They left Ichiraku ramen and walked toward the main gate. People all around were going about their lives, adding to the foot traffic. Merchants were calling out to those closest to them, trying to sell their wares. Temari obliged one of them and bought something when Sakura wasn't looking. Temari smiled to herself, it was something that would mean a lot to Sakura. The gift she had bought was nothing extravagant, merely something that would let Sakura remember Konoha. It was a small statue that displayed a view of Konoha from the sky. It was small and circular, about five inches wide all the way around. Almost every vendor in Konoha sold them, it was a way for foreigners to remember their trip to Konoha. Temari had no idea what Sakura would think of it, but hoped that it would help a little with the move to Sunagakure. She would present it to her when the made camp for the night.
The sunlight dappled the fields just outside of Konoha. farmers and villagers who didn't wish to live inside of Konoha's walls had made the fields far more open than the surrounding forests. Occasional tress cast shadows from the sun as they walked. The only sounds heard were the occasional passerby, birds and the nearby river. The girls didn't speak much as they walked. They each enjoyed the unusual quietness of the day. Temari was the first to speak after they had been quiet for over an hour. "You know something, Sakura? This trip should take as little as three days. I want it to last just a little longer than that though. After all, being with you is what makes me happy. How about we spend a day resting on the way there? We could take a bath together at this wonderful waterfall that's on the route home." Temari smiled and took a hold of Sakura's hand. Sakura smiled back gave Temari a kiss and said, "I would love to spend an extra day just watching the day go by with you. That bath at the waterfall sounds fun. I love spending time with you as well." The two kissed once more and continued on.
The long walk was now a little more than just that. Their conversation went back and forth covering all sorts of subjects from their various ninja studies to what each of them wanted from the other. Sunset finally arrived on their first day. Temari decided to make camp near the base of a large tree. It took then a couple of minutes to set everything up and gather things together. Once that was all done they made themselves comfortable for the night. Both of them had set up some simple traps just to keep out unwanted visitors as they slept. The fire kept them warm as they cuddled together for comfort and warmth. Even though it was summer the nights in the forest still had a tendency to be cold. Sleep finally found them both as the fire slowly died. The only things watching the were the creatures that roamed the forest at night. Sakura held Temari close in her sleep, a smile on her face. The dreams were good for both of them but they found that reality was far better.
Temari woke up in the middle of the night. Her pleasant dreams had turned into nightmares. She gently got up and walked over to the nearby brook. She knelt beside it and washed her face to wake her up a bit and calm down. A light touch on both her shoulders made her tense up suddenly. It was Sakura who had woken up after feeling Temari leave. As Sakura wrapped her arms around Temari's waist she leaned her head against Temari's shoulder and said, "You have a nightmare? I could feel it in the way your body was acting in your sleep. I'll stay with you until you calm down and then I'll see what I can do to help you sleep." Temari smiled and thanked Sakura saying, "That would mean a lot to me. I can think of one thing you could do to help me sleep. Give me a kiss and hug me tight. After that I think I'll be able to sleep." Sakura turned Temari towards her and gave her the best hug she could. Temari smiled and then Sakura kissed her. Sakura put her whole heart into the kiss, and Temari did the same. The kiss lasted for a couple of minutes.
Temari smiled again. "Sakura you are the only person that has ever made me smile this much. I love you so much." Sakura blushed slightly. "I'm glad that i can make you smile. It makes me happy to see your beautiful smile. Come on let's go back to camp and try to get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow." Temari gave Sakura another kiss and then they walked back to camp. A few minutes after arriving back at camp the two were peacefully asleep in each other's arms. No more nightmares haunted either of their dreams. Sunrise would see that their bond had grown even stronger. By the end of the trip to Sunagakure who knew how strong it would be.
(Author's note: Setting the stage for the trip to Sand leaves a big gap in conversation. Hopefully trying to make it look like Sakura is rethinking her decision worked out in the end. Just about halfway there I think. Look forward to a look at the more intimate side of these two next chapter. As always read and enjoy.)
Shinobi of the Onyx Sands