Wind of Truth & Sands of Change

027. On Listening

He never listened when the instructors talked.

Like it mattered. They never said anything useful.

He never listened to anyone anymore.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. He listened to Shukaku. Shukaku lived in his head and talked.

And talked.

He hadn't been able to tune him out all the time. And now instead of ignoring him, Gaara always listened.

028. The Fan

Temari should've felt guilty. She knew she should, but she didn't care. Kankuro had his puppets. Gaara had his sand. All she wanted was a stupid fan.

So what if it was bigger than her? She would grow into it, she reasoned.

She should've felt guilty as her hands closed around the Kazekage's wallet. She should've felt guilty as she pulled out the money. She should've felt guilty as she handed the shopkeeper the money for the fan.

As she held the fan in her hands, black iron and a design of three purple stars on the inside, she knew she should feel guilty.

But she didn't.

She was more than just a stupid girl. She would teach herself and make a pretty, gentle, sophisticated item into the ultimate killing machine.

No, she didn't feel guilty at all.

029. Iron Stick

Kankuro watched his sister sit down at the table and eat her breakfast. Across her lap sat a rather large, black, iron stick.

"What's that?"

Temari looked at the stick. She picked it up and opened it. "A fan."

"Oh." Kankuro thought about asking her where she got it, but figured it would be best if he didn't know. He assumed it had something to do with the money the Kazekage had 'misplaced'.

"I'm going to train with it." Temari added. "It's my weapon."

Kankuro chewed on his food slowly. He found something moronic about using a fan as a weapon, she could choose something far better, but he said nothing. If anyone could make it possible it was Temari. He cleared his plate. "You need to learn how to cook better."

Temari scowled and swatted him with her fan.

They never did speak about the strange things the other did.

030. Stupid Girl

"You're just a stupid girl," they taunted. Temari's throat closed and her mouth was glued shut. "You only get to be trained to be a shinobi because you're the child of Kazekage-sama." They sneered, "That's what my father says. You're just a stupid girl."

Temari wanted to cry. She held great pride in the fact that she didn't. Instead, her hands took hold of the heavy black item she'd been lugging around all day. She swung it as hard as she could at the two boys.

One of the boys looked up, his nose bleeding. "You bwoke my nose!"

Temari's hands trembled. Her arms weak and felt rubbery. It felt heavier when she swung it with all her force she realized. She hadn't even unfurled the fan…It was huge. And she knew she looked ridiculous holding a fan that was bigger than she was, but she didn't care. "I'll be tougher and stronger than you two ever will." Temari muttered filled with anger and resolve. "I'm not just a stupid girl."

031. New Life

He was beginning a new life. One as an excellent shinobi. A shinobi that would gain great praise. He needed a new look. He didn't know exactly what he was thinking when he bought the purple paint. He didn't know what he was thinking as he smeared it on his face, but when it was done he liked the result. He liked the new Kankuro.

032. Purple Paint

Temari wasn't sure what to say when she saw her brother Kankuro all decked out in paint. It was interesting.

Kankuro looked at her, his eyes daring her to insult him. She didn't. He looked ridiculous, but she didn't say anything. She just picked up her fan and told him she'd be training outside.

This was their relationship. Formed over years of trying to become a tough shinobi worthy of their fathers' praise. They didn't converse like normal friends or bicker like normal siblings.

But they always accepted the others' strange antics.

A/N: I rather like number 29 :)

And thanks to crazytreeotaku for helping me realize I'd screwed up the numbering. All fixed now:)