-Tayuya-
The late morning sun glared in through the window that sat above Sakura's desk, shining directly onto the bed and into my eyes. I groaned, stretching out stiff muscles and I felt Sakura's skin still against mine.
Shit, Sakura? Why is she still here? School has to have started by now, she's going to freak the fuck out. Panicked, I look at the abused alarm clock still diligently sitting on her bedside table. I swear it looks a bit paranoid though, like it could be making contact with the wall or floor at anytime. It's almost noon, she's missed her first two classes. Fuck, she is going to kill me.
"Oi! Pinkie, wake up!" I hissed, keeping my voice down with a slight hope she wouldn't wake up and I could keep my skin a little longer. Sakura yawned and stretched like a cat under me, her stomach arched and my arm slid over her mid-drift. Her shoulders rolled and I felt the arm I was lying on stretch out over the edge of our bed. I didn't realize how entangled we were until now, even my leg is hooked around her.
"Good morning," she yawned, elongating the words as she emptied her lungs. Yeah, morning... barely. I glanced back at the clock and gulped.
"Uh-" How do I start this? Yes, good morning! Did you know we've already missed our first two classes? Oh, you went on a murdering stress rampage; I never would have guessed. I wonder if she would use textbooks as weapons. Or she could use some sort of mind-fuck trick on you by spewing out questions you have no idea about the answer to.
Sakura rolled onto her side and wrapped around my body again, rubbing her bare thigh up to my ass. Her fingers danced over my side as she hooked her arms around, drawing tiny designs in the hollow of my back.
For someone who should be turning into some sort of super bad-ass murderer chick, she is being awfully calm. Maybe she doesn't know what time it is? Today is Wednesday, right?
"This is probably a really stupid fucking question for me to ask..." when it would be so easy for you to crush me right now. "But, you do know it's a school day right?" Sakura laughed, continuing to draw her patterns on my skin.
"Yes, I'm aware." She did that on purpose.
"And you know it's past five AM, right?" My torturer took in a deep breath, yawning once more before I felt her lips whisper against my forehead and turn into a smile.
"Considering we were both awake at five AM, yes I'm aware." Oh, that's right the alarm did go off.
"So, why aren't you freaking out?" I pressed, annoyed at her choosing to be vague on purpose.
"You were suspended, remember?" Temi-bitch that's right. I tested the sensitivity of my cheek, hissing at the welt that had grown. Sakura frowned, and looked over at the melted ice pack we had left at some point last night. I guess it wasn't put back in the freezer. "Does it hurt?" She asked, gently running her fingers over the bruise.
"No," I lied ignoring the look Sakura gave me as she rolled her eyes. "You weren't suspended, right? So why aren't you in class?"
"I called in sick, we need to talk. No more surprises, Tay. I want to know everything about you, and I want to share everything with you. So, today we are going to talk, alright?" That's fair I guess, I was expecting something like this after last night. But...
"Are you sure you can afford to miss a day? You've been really fucking stressed lately... I mean sometimes I'm worried my head is going to be removed from my shoulders." I teased, earning an embarrassed blush. It's true enough, Sakura can be really scary if you interrupt her nose-in-book time.
"You're more important." She replied simply. "And I don't plan on neglecting my schoolwork, Ino is going to pick up both of our homework and I'm suppose to meet her at two when class gets out." I groaned, she would already have a plan to not only get her homework, but mine too. That's just not fair.
"No whining! And you will need to stay here, if you are caught on school grounds while suspended, you will be in a lot of trouble." Defeated I sighed, resting my forehead on her collar. The only good thing about being suspended was the proclamation of no school... and I thought that included homework. Maybe I can figure out a way to get her to help me with my math project.
"Oh no, not more trouble." I replied sarcastically. "I try to stay far away from that."
"Very funny, I don't need you in any more right now. Com'on let's get some breakfast and you can tell me how you met Temari." I cringed but didn't protest, if that's where she wants to start then that's where we will start.
~o~
Half an hour later I handed a loaded plate to Sakura, laden with scrambled eggs and home fries. I have wonder how she cooked for herself and her mother for so many years, and yet is still a complete noob at it. She broke an egg open and dropped half the shell in the pan, not one small piece. No. Half of the fucking shell.
It's like the one guy that runs into the raid while he has the bomb on his head and then wonders why everyone is screaming at him.
I dropped the spatula into the sink and grabbed my plate, accepting the fork Sakura was holding out for me.
"Thanks." I said, moving to the living room to sit on the floor by the only table in the apartment. I stabbed the yellow fluff sitting on my plate trying to quell the panic building in my chest.
I need to tell Sakura everything, I owe it to her to be honest. But what if she freaks out, or becomes jealous? Not that there's anything to be jealous over, but Halloween was a disaster. I know it was Emi screwing with her and Ino, but she still freaked out.
I don't think telling her every detail is a good idea, all it can do is lead to a fight in someway.
"Is something wrong?" Sakura asked, "you've been pushing your eggs around for five minutes."
"Just thinking." Somber, Sakura swallowed another bite off her plate and stared out over the balcony. The silence and impending conversation has her on edge as well, at this rate nothing will ever be said because neither of us wants to press. What a pair of wimps we are.
"How much do you know about Suna?" She asked, taking the initiative and starting the discussion in a carefully neutral area.
"Suna? Isn't that the city to the south that's surrounded by a desert or some shit? There's a civil war or something going on, right?" I think that's Suna anyways, geography was never my strong point. Or rather school in general. Sakura smiled, swallowing the last of her eggs.
I watched her run her fingers through her bangs and tuck them behind her ear as she readied herself to reply. We really should have taken more time to get dressed. I don't know how I'm going to be able to concentrate for a long conversation if she's going to sit there in a tank top and panties. It's just not fair.
At least I had the decency to put on a t-shirt, they don't cling to you like a second layer of skin.
"You are basically right. There is a civil war to overthrow the government in Suna that has been going on for fourteen years now. And, yes it is on the border of a desert. It's on the south side of the Boreal Moutains which are between here and there.
"Suna is where Ino and I spent our childhood." I nodded, taking my first fork full of food; I knew that much. I realized my eyes were not focused on her face, and quickly forced my gaze back upwards before she noticed. "My birth parents-" I paused mid-chew, much more interested in what she was saying. "They died when I was very young, in a public protest. At least, that's what I was told. They were protesting the reign of the current government and a series of new laws being issued. The police there were ordered to shut down the protest and a riot started, they were gunned down shortly after.
"That was around the same time the civil war officially started."
"I'm sorry." It's a very lame thing to say, and it hardly expresses what should be said. But honestly, what else can you say?
"It's alright, I don't even remember them. Just flashes of a smile and red hair." She shook her head, awkwardly rearranging her fork on her plate. "Anyways, it shouldn't be a surprise that Suna quickly had an abundance of orphans, and no where for them to go. Ino and I were lucky, we were taken to one of the newer buildings that was converted into an orphanage. Not at the same time.
"There were a lot of kids our age that lived and died on the streets. There was simply not enough room, or food for them and after a while people stopped caring so much about a few lost children." I have no idea what it would be like to grow up in a place like that, it's no wonder Ino was so stuck on Sakura. I feel like a complete bitch now, maybe Sakura would have been better off with Ino. If they went through that together.
"Tay, what are you thinking about?" I blinked and did my best to show a reassuring smile, so much for being a good listener.
"Nothing, I was just thinking that must of been really fucking hard... it's not a wonder Ino and you are so close." Sakura still looks suspicious, so I tried to redirect her attention. "So, Ino was there when you went to the orphanage?"
"No, I was there for a while before she arrived. Her father was actually one of the richest men in Suna, but when he died she had no relatives to go to and all orphans were treated the same."
"Wait, if her father was rich?" I left the rest of the obvious question unspoken. Sakura blanched and started to gnaw on her lip, a nervous trait she often showed. Maybe I should have left that alone.
"Well... she doesn't like people to know..." She pleaded with me silently and I nodded, signing and unspoken contract that I wouldn't say anything. "I'm sorry it slipped out on accident, I wasn't thinking."
"It's alright, I won't say anything to Barbie." But now I am very curious. It's going to kill me to keep my mouth shut and not ask anymore questions. Maybe she inherits it when she turns eighteen, although it's already almost the second week of December. What would be the odds she has a birthday at the end of the month like I do? Sakura's is in the summer, so I know she's already eighteen.
I wonder if there's anything illegal about her sleeping with someone who is technically underage, that could be kinky.
"Now what are you thinking about...? You have evil all over your face. Please don't tell her I told you." Sakura pleaded.
"No, no... I wasn't thinking about that. Okay so, Barbie is rich and showed up a while after you were there. And you became instant friends, or hated each other and slowly just sort of put up with the others presence? Please tell me it was the second, that would be so much better." I prompted, successfully redirecting the conversation once again.
"Sorry to disappoint but, no. I remember I was sitting on my bed crying, and Ino walked up to me and asked what was wrong. I had seen her walk into the room earlier holding a taller mans hand but I hadn't given it much thought.
"We all slept in a large room that had rows of cots covering the floor with only small isles to walk down. Sometimes there wasn't even room for an isle and you had to step over the cots, like you were playing hopscotch." She smiled, motioning with her hands as she described the room.
"There was one cot in particular we called the 'lucky cot' because whoever got it found a new home. Three or four times in a row after only a few months, whoever was assigned to it would be adopted. And each time they left we all fought over who would get it next. It was like catching the bouquet at a wedding." She smiled, drawn back into a picture that was displayed perfectly in her memory. She shook her head after a few moments and tried to continue.
"I'm getting off topic, you asked about when I met Ino."
"I don't mind," living in a massive room with a ton of other kids, no privacy or boundaries... I wonder what it would be like to live in a place like that. I mean, I barely had any privacy in a house of four people, and I had my own room.
"Well, I remember she walked into the main room holding the hand of a man I later learned was her fathers legal consultant. He was the one who found her a place that would take care of her, by that time the orphanage was well over capacity. There were a lot of cots that held two people rather than one, and food portions were monitored.
"I guess when I think about it now, it should have been an oddity. But, I'm off topic again." She apologized, letting out a deep sigh and hooked her defiant bangs back behind her ears. "I've never really talked about this before, I just keep thinking of so many things that wouldn't make sense unless you've lived it."
"It's alright if you don't want to." I offered, resisting the urge to take her hand, to reach over the table and close the gap. Sakura shook her head in reply.
"I want to, you are just going to have to piece together the misplaced parts as they come out." I smirked and swallowed my last serving of eggs.
"I think I can manage that."
"Well, let's see..." Sakura stared out over the balcony, organizing her thoughts. "I remember I was crying, sitting on my bed when Ino came over to me.
"She asked me what was wrong, and I told her I was upset because another couple that came through the orphanage hadn't wanted to adopt me. I didn't understand why no one wanted me, it had been a few years at that point. I remember she had purple hair, she always dyed it. It was like some sort of ritual for her. Every time she would get her 'allowance' she would spend it on three things. Buying toys and food to give out to everyone we lived with, and dying her hair a new colour."
"Somehow, Barbie with purple hair doesn't surprise me." Neither does the other half, but I'll never admit it. Sakura giggled and seemed to cheer up with the subject shift, I couldn't help but note the smile in her voice as she talked about Ino.
"It really seemed to suit her as odd as it was. But, after that day we were always together. Ino always protected me from bullies, and older kids. We got into so many fights, I remember one time Ino and I were being chased and we ran down an alley. Ino knocked over a garbage can as we turned the corner, and the boy chasing us tripped and ended up with his face in the dirt covered in all sorts of nasty bits. He was so mad!"
"Can you blame him? He got the shit kicked out of him by two girls and got a face full of dirt and garbage. I'd be pretty fuckin' pissed too." I did my best to share her happiness, collecting her plate and heading back into the kitchen to deposit them. I can still see and hear her, so it isn't rude to start cleaning, right?
"Oh, and I remember there was this small corner store. The owner was an evil old jerk who refused to let kids inside, even though Ino just wanted to buy a candy bar. He would always beat any kids he found in his store unless they were clutching the hand of a parent, and even then he wasn't happy.
"So, one day Ino and I snuck in when he wasn't watching and we grabbed the candy bars and ran like crazy. He chased and yelled after us for three blocks, but he never caught us. We never could go by there again either, but it was worth it." I felt my eyebrows rise as I scraped off the remnants of our breakfast into the trash.
"You actually stole something?" I asked in disbelief. Wasn't Ino worried I was a bad influence?
"Well..." Sakura squirmed where she was sitting, embarrassed and flustered. "Yeah." I put the plates and utensils into the sink, moving back into the living room. Plopping down beside her, I rubbed her thigh and she turned an even darker shade of red. I wonder if she will ever grow out of how easily she blushes, I hope not... it's incredibly cute.
"So basically, the entire point of this story was to tell me how naughty you've been?" I coaxed, readying a smirk for when she turned to face me and rebut the statement.
"No, it-" Silencing her with a kiss, I manoeuvred myself to sit on her lap. Pinkie squeaked in surprise but gradually let herself give in, kissing me back with as much passion as I was showing her.
Roughly, I found her breast and squeezed. "My dirty thief." The soft, happy smile she wore earlier filled my mind as I felt her hand grip my ass and pull me against her. I found myself riding up and had to lean down to find her lips once more.
I've never seen that look on her face before, it was like the memories were unquestionably happy once Ino was introduced. Jealousy flamed to life and I felt the insatiable need to claim what was mine. I pushed her down against the carpet, moving to bite at her neck as I slipped my leg between hers.
She chose me, she loves me; so then why does that smile, that look bother me so much. Sakura writhed underneath me, a happy sigh leaving her lips as I bit down more forcibly than intended. Chiding myself for the brief thought of almost wishing I'd left a mark, physical proof that she was mine.
It bothers me so much because if I hadn't forced myself into her life, this would be Ino and her right now. And she would be just as happy... if not happier. I know the line about how Ino and her are better off as friends is a lie Ino told her. I can see it on Barbies face every time she sees us together. I just wonder if Sakura believes her, and if that's the only reason she finally chose me.
I felt Sakuras hands slide up my front as she pushed me away gently.
"Tay, we need to stop or I'm going to be late." She smiled, and I felt like I had just crash landed. It's the half smile she uses when she's hiding something from me, it's not the same.
"Late for what?" I asked, trying to bite the annoyance out of my words.
"I told you, I have to meet Ino at two when class lets out to get our homework. Remember?" She looked at me curiously and I tried to wipe whatever look I was wearing off my face. There was a question in her eyes, but she is hesitating to ask it. I smirked and kissed her again.
"Does it matter if you are a few minutes late? I'm sure Ino would understand." Understand because you are mine. Maybe it would be a good thing if Sakura let her know that.
"Yes, it matters." She laughed pushing me away again. I let out a mock sigh and pretended to bite at her nose as she held me at bay. "She's doing me a favour, and it would be rude to keep her waiting." She continued to laugh as I stuck out my tongue and tried to lick her, she squirmed and tried to hide.
"Fine." I conceded, rolling off of her and lying with my back to the floor. Sakura planted a quick kiss on my lips as she got up to head for the washroom. "Can I at least join you in the shower?" I called from my spot on the floor.
"That would still make me late." She chastened, disappearing around the corner and out of site.
"Aww, com'on don't make me beg!" I called after her, earning a bar of soap being thrown at my head. I ducked out of the way just in time to hear it thud against the floor. "Oi! That really could have hurt!"
Pushing myself up, I followed her into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. More to put a message across than any real need to shut it. Sakura put on her best, 'I'm serious' look.
"I can't, Tay. Really, I can't be late." Sliding past her, I gently took her hands and started to back into the shower. Sakura followed slowly putting up little resistance. "So, you're just going to have a shower with your clothes on?" She protested to my smile as I took my first foot and placed it inside.
"If any of my clothes come off, it's up to you." I promised.
"Tay..."
"I just want to help soap you up, after that though my mind isn't in control so you can't blame me for anything more." I stepped fully into the shower, quickly pulling Sakura in after me as her face lit up. Finally out of protests, I turned on the shower and sealed my conviction as the water started to rain down on us and I found her lips with mine.
~o~Sakura~o~
I ran through the front gates as the last bell rang, I just barely made it. Why can I never hold my resolve around Tay, she always wins.
That doesn't matter right now, I need to find Temari. Steeling my resolve, I started to try and figure out where she would be. I know she has drama with Ino and Emi, and then math with Tayuya. So I could start there, maybe I can catch her on her way to her locker.
Pushing the front doors open, I felt like a fish trying to swim upstream as students battled their way to leave the confines of the building. I ducked behind a pair of boys I recognized as Kibas teammates during the football season, quickly turning down the main hallway that housed Temaris locker.
I don't see her, maybe if I head towards Tays and her classroom I will run into her.
I didn't meet her on the way, peering into the room, Ino came up behind me.
"Oh, Saku. I thought you were sick today?" I jumped at her voice, why is she down here? Her last class is on the other end of the school.
"I, uh..." Crap, I was really hoping to avoid running into Ino. "I just wanted to pick up my homework and I was hoping to find Temari." And she isn't in the classroom either, I hope she didn't skip today. I know she used to do that frequently. Ino watched me with a curious look on her face, I didn't notice the stack of papers in her arms.
"Well, I picked up your homework. Some of Tayuyas as well, she really doesn't get much homework. If you want to join me while I post the rest of these posters, I can get your homework out of my locker for you." I chewed on my lip nervously shifting my weight from foot to foot, how am I suppose to get out of this now.
"I really just need to talk to Temari." I insisted. Inos eyebrows became stitched as she replied slowly.
"I think she's out back smoking... at least that's where she normally is after class lets out." Leave it to Ino to know that.
"Thanks." Ignoring the look she gave me, I set my sites of my target. Brushing past Ino as she raised her hand and opened her mouth to say something.
~o~
I burst out the back door and looked both ways before I caught site of Temari and a group of people barely visible at the far end of the wall by the parking lot. I heard the door open and close behind me, but ignored it with my sites set on Temari.
She's pushed me around for years, insulted me and shoved me in lockers. She's treated me worse than dog shit but I can deal with that, I don't understand what I did but I can deal with it. What I cannot, and will not tolerate is her hurting Tay, whether is was because of me or not.
If she has a problem with me, it needs to be between her and I.
"Temari!" I called, watching as a couple of the people Temari was with turned to look at me. They seemed amused as they started to chat amongst themselves.
"Psst-" Ino hissed from behind me, I quickly glanced over my shoulder at her but kept walking. Bunching my fists and taking a deep gulp as I pushed forward against shaking legs. "Saku, what are you doing?" Ino continued to press.
"Go away, Ino." This doesn't concern you and I don't want you to interrupt me. I could feel my resolve wavering as a pair of boys near Temari folded their arms and watched me approach. I set my jaw and focused on my target.
Ino jogged to catch up as I reached Temari, she smirked tilting her chin up as she greeted me.
"Sakura, to what do I owe this pleasure? I see you've left one of your bodyguards at home. I heard about your 'sick day', I had one of those after my first time with Tayuya as well." I scowled, encouraging her to continue her rant as her fan boys wolf whistled.
"I just want to talk, Temari." I forced my voice to stay even and ignored her groupies.
"Then by all means-" she started, putting on a show and throwing her arms out. "Talk." She moved closer, I could smell smoke on her breath as she stared me down. Still keeping the same cocky smirk.
"Saku." Ino whispered behind me, sounding very uncomfortable.
"Alone." I insisted, hoping Temari would understand without possibly having to bring up something I didn't want to use. She may be a bitch, but no one deserves that.
"Whatever you have to say, you can say right here. Besides, that would mean leaving your guard dog behind." She sneered, feeding off the laughs she was evoking from her entourage.
"Saku, we should go." Ino tugged at my arm, "please."
"This doesn't concern you, Ino. Go home." Temari laughed, flicking a cigarette bud onto the ground.
"You've been dismissed, Blondie. Let her say what she has to say, I probably know what it is already anyways." She looked at the boy closest to her, draping her hand over her forehead. "Leave Tayuya alone, we're in love." My hands clenched a little tighter.
"I just want to talk, Temari. And I don't think you want everyone here to hear what I have to say." Temari's eyes narrowed, searching to see if what I was implying was what she thought it was. Spitting onto the pavement she cursed.
"We're sooo scared." The boy beside her laughed, nudging Temari in the ribs for reassurance.
"Leave." She commanded, earning a round of raised eyebrows. Slowly, they turned and walked off. Checking every few steps to see if it was a joke, and expecting a cue to turn and strike. It never came and eventually they were out of site. Temari glared at Ino.
"I'm fine, Ino. You need to leave too."
"But-" She glanced at Temari and seemed torn.
"Don't you have any faith in me?" I asked, doing my best to smile. Ino gave me a pleading look before she finally turned and went back into the door we had left the school through. Blonde ponytail swaying behind her as she went.
"Talk." Commanded Temari.
"What the hell did I do to make you hate me so much?" I asked, shooting straight out of the gate the second the starting bell rang. Temari visibly balked, slamming a fist against the brick wall beside her while keeping eye contact with me.
"What did you do?" She hissed, taking a threatening step closer. "Are you really that stupid?"
"I'm assuming that's a rhetorical question." Temari ground her teeth at my impromptu joke, all but spitting in my face.
"Bitch! You made me talk about something I didn't want to talk about, and then just left! We get to a new school and all of a sudden you are just miss goody-two-shoes? Please, convenient timing." I could see the pieces falling into place in my mind, and things started to make sense.
"Temari, I tried to explain all of this already."
"Don't feed me that bullshit. I don't fucking believe that it was all a happy coincidence that the week after I tell you everything," I cringed at the agony in her voice. "You suddenly act like you are too good to be seen with me? To you I'm a dirty skank, right? I bet you think I wanted it." I thought what? No! That's just, that's beyond wrong.
"Temari! Don't be stupid!" She snorted, glaring out over the soccer fields covered in a thin layer of snow as if they would have some sort of answer. "Iruka died." I whispered, rubbing the arch between my eyebrows when she didn't respond. "That summer, Iruka died in a plane crash a few days after you told me everything. It's not an excuse, and I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me. But I told you the truth. I really do need the scholarship money, it's not that I didn't want to be around you or be your friend or that I was embarrassed." I threw my hands into the air, unable to think of how much more clear I could make what I was saying.
"I just couldn't go on making a record of fights and pranks anymore. Not if I planned on getting into a good university. With Iruka gone-" And Anko out of commission. "I just, I couldn't keep doing what we were doing."
Temari stared out over the fields for a long time without saying anything. I became acutely aware of how inappropriately I was dressed for the weather, so I shivered in silence.
"Why didn't you ever fight back, why did you just let me beat the shit out of you for four years?" She asked, I ignored the snippy remark that wanted to come out and repeated myself.
"Because, I needed to keep my record clean."
"Not because you felt sorry for me?" Temari snapped, turning to look at me she shoved her hands deeper into her pockets before turning away once more.
"Fuck no, why would I feel sorry for you?" I let a laugh ring through the words and Temari seemed to relax a little. "I know what happens to people who feel sorry for you, they get the stuffing beat out of them!"
"Yeah, well-" stroking her ego always did work well. "That happened anyways." Point. "Why should I believe you? Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because, this is becoming more than just my problem. It was hurting people I care about." I replied honestly, hoping she would see my answer as sincere.
"You mean Tayuya." She scowled, kicking a cigarette bud on the ground and shifting a little to try and warm stiff limbs.
"Not just Tayuya. Hinata, Tenten-" She flinched at the brunettes name but didn't say anything. "You." Temaris blue eyes flashed and I knew she didn't believe me. I can't say I blame her, I doubt she gives two licks about me anymore and it's been three years since we talked.
"I do still care about you Temari, and what happens to you. Even if you hate my guts. But, I will not let you hurt Tay, or anyone else, anymore. I've said my peace, hopefully we can come to some sort of understanding. If you still hate me, then keep your focus on me." Temari didn't reply, nudging the ground with her foot.
"Did you..." she paused, tilting her chin up again in a subconscious display of dominance. "Tell anyone?" I waited until she turned to look at me, so I could keep her eye contact. It was too serious a question to take lightly.
"No." She challenged my gaze and I held hers. "I still don't agree with keeping it a secret, but it's your decision and I will never tell anyone unless you ask me to."
"Sakura?" Came a curious voice from behind Temari. Shizune appeared around her shoulder, trying to see past the placated blonde. She clutched her purse, looking awkward in her heels while walking over uneven concrete. "What are you doing here, you called in sick." I glanced at Temari who seemed to have no inclination to reply.
"I was just getting my homework." I fibbed.
"Oh, well let me drive you home. I was going to visit Tsunade anyways." Checking silently with Temari one last time, I sighed. Nothing will be fixed today, but hopefully someday we can work everything out.
"Sure, thanks."
-Ino-
Temari and Tayuya used to be lovers? I wonder if Saku knew, or maybe Temari just outed her. Poor Saku, that would be a really harsh way to find something like that out. I slumped against my knees as the rest of the conversation ran through my head.
"Sakura, to what do I owe this pleasure? I see you've left one of your bodyguards at home. I heard about your 'sick day', I had one of those after my first time with Tayuya as well."
Did they? I felt my chest tighten as droplets splashed down onto my pants. I wiped at my eyes furiously trying to fight the stream of tears that didn't seem to want to end. My nails ran over my scalp as my fingers became knotted in my hair, roughly pulling my ponytail loose so the elastic snapped off the wall.
A strangled sob burst out of my lips and I felt my lungs constrict, fighting to take in air when my chest wouldn't give way for them to expand.
I should have expected this, I was the one who helped them along. I saw them in the cafeteria yesterday, the whole school saw them! You would have to be blind to miss the looks Saku gives that stupid Harpie! I'd be a selfish bitch to ask or expect her to give up someone who makes her that happy for me.
I know that in my head, so why does it hurt so much?
I heard the large metallic doors to the pool creak open and slowly roll to a close. I wiped at the tears on my cheek, wondering how puffy my eyes were and hoping they would simply leave. To my horror and embarrassment footsteps started to fall; gradually growing closer to me until I saw a pair of sneakers poking out from under baggy jeans.
A soft thud sounded of a back meeting a wall, as my torturer slid down the wall to sit uncomfortably close to me.
Curiosity got the best of me, as always, and I risked a look from under my hands. Through my puffy and bleary eyes I saw a slim white rolled piece of paper offered to me between pinched fingers.
"Did you want one?" Temari asked, holding out what I now recognized as a joint.
"N-no," I hiccoughed while trying to get the answer out. I heard her lighter click and a new smell assaulted my senses, I pulled my knees in tighter and decided just to wait silently. Temari is the last person I want to talk to right now, besides the Harpie. Actually no, Temari is above Harpie at the moment.
"I'm sorry." She took in a deep inhale, resting her head back against the cold tile on the wall as she let out her breath through her nose. "I didn't realize you hadn't clued in about Sakura and Tayuya. I'm surprised it took them this long to be honest, Tayuya never was patient." To my horror she laughed, amused by the thought.
I'm amazed you figured out it bothered me and then came here to apologize while you laugh and rub my nose in it. You're worse than Emi.
"If all you came here for was to rub my nose in-" I caught myself before I said something I would regret. I don't trust Temari to keep my secret. "I'm leaving." I finished instead.
"Woah, woah, Blondie." Temari grabbed my arm gently to stop me from getting up. I find the nickname ironic, considering. "Hold on now, where's the fire? I promise I won't bite anymore unless asked." The resemblance between you and the Harpie is unreal, any doubt I had in your claim was clearly misplaced.
Both of you with your stupid little nicknames for everyone, foul language, and overall bossy, rude personalities. You're perfect for each other.
"Are you sure you don't want one, it will make you feel a lot better." She asked again holding out the lit temptation.
"I don't smoke." I argued, Temari laughed again.
"Not yet, but things change all the time, Kitten.(1)"
"I'm a dancer, I can't smoke." I insisted, feeling the temptation starting to overwhelm my resolve if only to ease the pain in my chest.
"Oh? A dancer, I know a lot of dancers. Most of them smoke every once in a while, it's a great way to relieve stress." Temari took another drag, seeming completely unperturbed by our strange conversation.
"I'm not a pole dancer." I snapped, earning another amused chortle.
"That's too bad, you would make a lot of money in tips. Do you have any idea how fucking hot you are?" I blushed despite myself, cursing her shameless ability to say completely inappropriate things. "What if we make a deal, or a bet or something. I get something I want, and you could get something you want." Something I want? What do you have that I could possibly want?
"Like what?" I asked before I could stop myself, giving in to my insatiable curiosity.
"Whatever your heart desires, Kitten." A light bulb seemed to click to life in my head, I know what I want that she can give me. Temari took in another deep breath, falling further and further into contentment.
"I want you to answer every question I ask you truthfully for the rest of the day."
"That's all? I was expecting something more, deal." I eyed the joint she held out to me once more, the mischievous grin on her lips making me think twice about our 'deal'. "Don't be a wimp, com'on!" She coaxed.
"I am not a wimp." I snatched the offered, rolled white paper and sucked in the smoke that burned my throat, causing me to cough and my eyes to water. Temari took back her prize during my coughing fit.
"Fire away." I blinked, trying to clear that haze that was slowly settling over my mind and fished out the first question I wanted answers to.
"What kind of game are you playing with Tenten and Hinata?"
"Game?" She asked. You agreed to complete honesty, before I could snap with the growing annoyance I was feeling, Temari continued. "I don't really consider it a game, but I guess you could see it that way if you were to think of me as a heartless shrewd. Which I'm guessing, you do." She tilted her eyes at me and I turned to meet her look.
"I'm not the one who has to answer questions." Temari smiled.
"Intelligent and feisty, careful I could really grow to like you." She offered the joint back to me, now already having lost a quarter of it's original length. "You have to keep up your end of the deal as well." She pointed out when I hesitated.
Once I had taken the offered puff-stick she decided to elaborate on her answer.
"So, Tenten huh? Let's see... Well, she was more a conquest than anything else, I guess." And you wonder why we think of you as a heartless shrewd. "I really enjoyed talking to her, and I think we would have done well together, or at least been good friends. But for some reason, out of no where she got this stupid idea that I was after Kiba?" Temari's face tightened with a bitter look. "I don't know where that logic came from, I doubt it spawned out of jealousy. I've done a lot more that could have made her jealous if there was anything there, but it didn't."
Oh crap. "Then why were you spending so much time with Kiba?" I asked, needing the clarification. Temari turned with narrowed eyebrows, suspicious.
"How did you know I was spending time with Kiba at all?" She asked.
"I heard it from someone around school." I partially fibbed, cursing my curiosity for not only being the cause of this whole mess, but also for being stupid enough to ask Temari that question.
"Anyways..." she continued, obviously not buying the explanation. "I was only spending time with Kiba because he and Hinata were always around Tenten, and I was around Tenten a lot. But, whenever Tenten and Hinata would start to talk, Kiba and I were forgotten. So naturally, I started to talk to Kiba." Her answer seems almost practised, I wonder how many times she's had to explain this to Hinata or Tenten.
"That all seems a bit too innocent to be the whole truth." I replied skeptically. The haze on my mind had grown to a full fog, and I had to concentrate to not bite my tongue. I found my eyes drawn to the slight beat of Temari's pulse on her neck, as it pulsed again and again and again...
"Does it?" She laughed. "Or does the story you've built up in your head just seem so drama filled with all sorts of hidden motives that it simply has to be real? Realistically, I bet if you look at both, mine seems more likely.
"I had a crush on Tenten, I took a swing and missed. Instead, we became friends and then because of the rumour mill that runs this school, she got some stupid notion in her head. So now, we aren't friends because she doesn't believe the honest, simple truth. I talked to Kiba because he was there, and he was there because he is the boyfriend of her best friend.
"But I guess when the rumour mill considers you a whore, nothing is ever that simple." I felt the guilt in my chest grow, was I the reason Temari seems so sad? Maybe Tenten would have jumped to the same conclusion without my pushing. Even then, I was just checking in with Hinata... right?
"You know, the funny thing is: I've only ever been with one person." Temari flinched and held back an unspoken comment, continuing what she was saying. "But somehow, I've gotten this reputation of being a whore. Bitch is understandable, that one I think is justified because of my temper. And because of what people have seen or heard of me doing to Sakura. But whore? Maybe that came along with the other random insults people spew because they just don't like you."
It's odd, Temari seems completely at peace talking to me right now. I never would have put us together, having this conversation. She's right though, people take the rumours around this school as fact. I'm guilty of it myself.
"Speaking of Sakura, why did you do all those things to her? She said you were friends at one point."
"It's complicated." Temari quickly made a flicking notion to get her bangs out of her eyes. "Well, how I saw things we were best friends. I told her something very personal, and the next day she disappeared. When I saw her next, she gave me a lame excuse to not want to be around me anymore and I became angry about what I believed she thought of me... and a little worried she would tell everyone what I had told her." That's... vague.
"What did you tell her?" I asked, biting my own tongue and chastising myself for being stupid enough to ask something like that. If it was personal enough to ruin a friendship, I have no right to ask.
"I'd rather not talk about it." Temari pursed her lips and I let answered quickly.
"That's fine." Stupid, stupid! I chewed on my lip and look at the pool, the only movement came from the filter sucking in water. The top shimmered slightly with the glare of the large lights hanging from the ceiling and I found myself memorized.
"You love her." Temari said breaking the dragging silence. I accepted the offered joint and took another swig, managing to lessen my coughing fit considerably from the first two. I didn't need to answer her, she already knew. Saying it out loud would only hurt. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"Because I know how much it hurts to love someone and watch them fall for someone else." I stared out at the water, pulling my knees against my chest again. We sat in silence for a long time, and I found my thoughts roaming without restriction.
"Who?" I asked, and Temari seemed to realize there was still someone there.
"Who?" She asked, having long forgotten our conversation.
"Who did you love and watch fall for someone else." I clarified. Temari eyed me for a moment, apprehension clearly shimmering through fogged eyes.
"You should be asking who do I love, and am still watching fall for someone else." I scrunched up my eyebrows trying to follow what she was saying.
"Tayuya?" Temari nodded. "I'm confused, if you love her... and you two were dating. What happened?"
"I dumped her." She smirked, amused at the look on my face while I silently tried to piece together some sort of logic to her answer.
"I don't understand, if you love her why did you dump her? Doesn't that seem counterproductive to you?" Temari let out a throaty laugh, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I dumped her because I loved her, and I was scared of what that meant. I was afraid if I let her get any closer, she would find out and end up the same way Sakura did. So, I left before that could happen."
"And now she's with the person you dumped her because of." I concluded, "that must really hurt." Temari gave me a dirty look and I hastened to reply, "no, shoot! Sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud."
"Whatever, do you have anymore questions?" She snapped, crap now I've made her mad. I gnawed furiously on my lip, pushing the fog away from my mind so I could try and remember what else I wanted to ask before she left.
"How did you know I was here? Why did you come and find me?"
"Well, there are aren't many places you could have gone and I doubted you would risk walking home until you were sure Sakura was gone." How? I thought and my face must have clearly said the question for me.
"I already told you, I know what it's like to love someone and not have them love you back. The look on your face after what I said earlier-" Temari shook her head, pigtails shaking with her. "I guess I could relate, and thought you might want someone to talk to."
"So that's it? We've never exactly seen eye to eye before. Actually, I was pretty sure you hated me. You know, with my kicking your butt and all."
"You were protecting Sakura, I don't hold you personally accountable, just stupid." She replied. "I would have done the same thing if I were you." She looked down at her hands, rolling her fingers and I watched the way the light flashed off her nails.
"After today, I don't know what to think. It all seems too convenient to be real. But at the same time, I don't think she would lie about something like that. I don't think anyone would." And you just pointed out to me that the simpler option is often the truth.
"She worries about you."
"She told you that?" Temari asked.
"No," I paused trying to recall the exact conversation. "But, she doesn't need to. She would never admit it anyways, but when she talks about you I can tell she really misses you."
"Does she talk about me often?" Temari asked, a controlled neutral with a hint of hope and curiosity.
"I can only remember once or twice... but it was enough. She is really confused, about why you are so angry with her. Mostly, I think she feels guilty and doesn't know why." Temari grunted, choosing not to reply as she took out another joint from her pants and snapped the lighter to life.
I managed take in the smoke without coughing, the burn from earlier only a slight heat. Temari took out her phone and set it on the pool floor tiles, she looked up to make sure I was watching her and set her forefinger on one side and her thumb on the other. With a practised flick of her wrist she sent the phone spinning on spot, creating a blur of colour and lights twirling in a circle.
I giggled and tried to copy her when the phone slowed to a stop. The pressure on one side must have been greater than the other, because the phone took off towards the edge of the pool. Just as I squeaked in surprise, Temari stopped the phone with her foot and dragged it back by recoiling her leg.
"Sorry," I laughed, placing my fingers on either side to try again. She didn't reply and I could feel her eyes watching me, but oddly I didn't care.
Temari is different to talk to than I thought she would be. She's perceptive, probably more-so than people realize. I don't know how much of who she is, is just a mask she wears so people will see her a certain way or, if it's reality.
I spun the phone again, and again it went straight for the pool only to be stopped by Temari. Pouting, I took the phone back when she recoiled her leg.
"Here," she placed her hand over mine, gently nudging my fingers into place. "Make sure your fingers are in the middle, and lead with your thumb. Focus more on your fingers than your wrist." I looked up and saw the beginning of a smile, I wonder if she realizes how much better she looks like that than with her sarcastic smirk.
"Alright, try now." She said and I found myself watching her lips move under the downcast of her dark blue eyes. "Ino?"
"Yeah," I looked down at the phone, trying to blow the fog out of my mind that refused to clear so I could concentrate. Recalling what she told me, I tried a third time and to my delight it stayed mostly on spot revealing a flashing rainbow.
"Hey, Temari." I asked.
"Yeah?" She picked up the phone and slid it back into her pocket.
"Why do you get into fights?" She appeared confused by the question, the smirk returning to her face as she replied.
"Because it's fun. Why do you dance?"
"Because it's my passion." I replied, trying to draw a line between the two, "but I don't see how those are related."
"You don't see how a lot of things are connected," I scowled at the insult. "I fight because I enjoy it, I enjoy feeling powerful. It's not fun to pick on a weak opponent, where is the glory in beating someone who is so obviously weaker than you?
"I enjoy fighting people who are stronger than I am."
"Then you must think Sakura is better than you." I concluded. Temari nodded, surprising me when she didn't scowl or defend herself.
"I know she could kick my ass if she wanted too. I don't know what it is, or where she learned to fight but it's the same thing as you. Well, not the same thing but the same feeling." She tried to convey something she was having having a hard time putting into words.
"We learned to fight so we would survive." Street brawls were my original dance stage, they are preliminary the same. Temari took another long puff and didn't reply, rolling the joint between her fingers.
I found my head resting on her shoulder and watched the water filter pull in and spit out water. Temari didn't seem to mind, or pay any heed.
"She hates to fight, that's why I pushed myself so hard. So she wouldn't have to."
"Well, then I'll fight your battles for you." She didn't even recognize that line on the first day. It was the same one I used when she cried one day at the orphanage, saying she didn't want to hurt anyone. "That's probably the main reason she has never fought back." I mumbled, poking Temari's hand that was resting on the ground between us.
Temari pushed her hand up with her fingers, crawling over the tiles like a spider to poke my thigh. I smiled and watched her hand crawl up my leg to my knee, perching itself as she awkwardly pretended to have it sit down.
"It hurts, you know." She retracted her hand almost instantly, muttering an apology. "No! I meant watching Saku... and Tayuya." I felt her eyes on me again and I knew she was listening. "I didn't think it would hurt this much, I mean she's happy, right? Shouldn't that be enough?"
"Why didn't you fight for her?" Temari asked in a whisper.
"Because, I needed her to choose on her own. I didn't want to have doubts that she was only with me because I pressured her more than the Harpie." Temari laughed. "What?"
"You called Tay a Harpie. It suits her oddly enough, want to know what she used to call me?"
"What?"
"Her Siren." I blushed at the implications of such a nickname. "I didn't mean to cut you off though."
"It's alright." I paused to recollect my thoughts, "I just, I didn't want a relationship that was built on pressure and forced feelings. When I watched her with Tayuya, I could tell she liked her but didn't realize it. And after a few months, it was obvious Tayuya was falling in love with her but didn't want to act on it." I felt Temari shift under my cheek, I looked up and found her focus on the design of our school logo.
"I wanted her to choose me, so I took all the pressure off and let her do what her heart told her to do."
"Which ended up being Tayuya." I flinched at the cruel joke, the spite and hurt in Temari's voice making me wonder if it was directed at me or to punish herself.
"How do you make the hurt stop?" I asked, wishing beyond hope that Temari might have some answers.
"I've only found one thing that helps." Temari replied, turning to look at me with desire in her foggy eyes. I tilted my chin up so I wouldn't have to strain my eyes to look at her.
"What?" I asked, and her lips parted.
"You won't like it."
"I'll try anything." I replied honestly, and her lips were upon mine. Pulling me in with a passion and vigour I haven't felt before. Logic flown out the window, I lost myself in the hunger of her lips.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Alright, I realize I just posted a chapter like a week and a half ago but this one was sooo easy to write :3 Finally, I get some of the details out! Sadly, this is only half of the content I had originally intended to cover in this chapter, but I didn't want to have to have another two parter like chapter eleven.
I hope this chapter answers some questions, and introduces some new ones! For those paying attention to the underlying story! Thank you for all the reviews, I do appreciate and love them! ^^
Also thank you for to everyone who posted their favourite song(s) and artists, I have a lot of new stuff to listen to!
I finally updated the description for this story, long overdo (I suck at writing summaries). The quote below is by Marie Osmond and I thought it summarized this story rather nicely, don't you agree?
Little things in my past that I really thought were over and done with were still elements of the puzzle that weren't pieced together, and so she helped me do that. - Marie Osmond
Until next time, Kiravu over and out!
1- Dragon Age 2 anyone? Isabela, I heart you.