Yay! Chapter 2 is up! Thank you for waiting patiently.
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Three days later, Temari forced herself to calm down before entering the house she shared with her siblings. They would sense if she were worried or angry. Making sure that a small smile was pasted on her face, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. A blast of cool air greeted her. She glanced around the living room. Empty.
"Hello?" She called out. "Is anyone home?" She stiffened as a chakra signature came into focus. It was coming from the kitchen. She cautiously worked her way over to the doorway and peered in. The sight that greeted her was startling. Matsuri was at the stove, humming a tune as she stirred something in a pan.
"Matsuri? What are you doing here?"
The young girl gasped and spun around. "Temari! W-we didn't expect you back so soon."
"Uh-huh. That doesn't tell me what you are doing in my kitchen."
"I'm making soup."
"Soup?" Temari said incredulously, raising an eyebrow. "It's 100 degrees out there, and you're making soup?"
"Yes, well...it's chicken noodle soup, and it's supposed to make someone who's sick feel better." Matsuri explained.
"Wait. If you're sick, why are you here spreading your germs?"
"Oh, I'm not sick! Gaara-sama is sick. He says that his throat is sore."
"Gaara? Sick? That's hard to believe." Temari mused.
"Yes, well, it happened." Matsuri reached into a cupboard and pulled out a bowl. "Would you please get me a spoon?"
"Uh, sure." The blonde woman retrieved the utensil and watched Matsuri pour the soup into the bowl. "How long has he been sick?"
"He just mentioned it today, but I think he's had it for a few days." She snapped her fingers. "Oh! A few days ago, someone came into the office, and he had gotten a cold from a mission he had been on. Gaara-sama probably got it from him."
"It's possible." Temari stuck the spoon in the bowl. "Would you like me to walk with you?"
The brunette gave her a strange look. "Um, no, that's okay. He's just upstairs."
"You actually got Gaara to come home and leave his office?!"
"No, not exactly. He brought his paperwork home although I tried to talk him out of it. He's in bed right now. I also called a doctor to take a look at him just to be sure it's nothing serious."
Temari stared at her in amazement. "You'll make a great wife for some lucky guy." She grinned as a deep red worked its way across her face. "Like, maybe my brother?"
"Oh, no thank you. Kankuro isn't my type." And with that, she hurried off, ignoring Temari's laughter.
"She likes Gaara. I can tell." Temari's stomach rumbled. "Guess I'll raid the kitchen for something to eat."
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A few hours later, Kankuro came home to a pacing Matsuri, who had been forced by the doctor (and ordered by Gaara) to stay out while the examination was taking place. Temari was lounging on the couch, trying to stifle her laughter.
"What's going on here?" The puppet master blinked.
"Matsuri is waiting for the doctor to leave so she can go see her beloved Gaara-sama again."
Kankuro snickered. "Is that so?" Then something in his brain clicked. "Doctor? Gaara's sick?" A panicked look crossed his face.
"Relax, it's just a sore throat. That's it. Nothing to get so worked up over."
"Oh. By the way, Temari, what are you doing back so soon? Weren't you supposed to be in Konoha for three more days?" Kankuro inquired.
She shrugged. "Yeah, but Tsunade-sama said I could leave earlier if I wanted, since Shika..." She wet her lips and tried again. "Since Shikamaru and I finished quicker than expected." If Kankuro noticed her hesitation in saying his name, he said nothing. Temari breathed a sigh of relief.
Matsuri spun towards the door just as the doctor walked in.
"Well, doc?" Kankuro plopped down on a chair.
"He just needs some rest. It appears he caught a cold. Nothing serious. Make sure he doesn't overwork himself, though." Before leaving, he explained about the medicine Gaara was to take.
Matsuri breathed a sigh of relief when the front door shut. "I'm so glad he's okay..."
Temari and Kankuro exchanged looks. "Yeah, you can go see him now if you want. Just don't kiss him or you will catch a cold, too."
Matsuri dashed out as fast as she could, cheeks aflame.
"She's got it bad." Kankuro observed quietly.
His sister nodded in agreement. "I wonder if he feels the same way."
"Maybe he does. He deserves to be loved. And Matsuri will be good for him." Stretching out, he eyed Temari. "You're quiet. Usually, you're talking about what happened during your stay in Konoha."
"Nothing exciting, really. Boring paperwork, that's all."
"I see." He didn't sound convinced. "Tem, did something happen between you and shadow boy?"
"Wh-what?" She stuttered. "No, of course not. Stop looking at me that way. I'm telling you the truth."
"Yeah, right. I know you, Temari, and you're definitely lying." His eyes widened. "Did he hurt you? I swear, if he so much as touched you-"
"No, I'm fine, Kankuro." She interrupted with a sigh. "Everything is normal. Now, if you'll excuse me, I want to see Gaara." With that, she stomped out of the room. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? Sure, something had happened between them, but she didn't have to say. No, she didn't want to say. If he ever found out, she would be a disgrace to her clan. She might even be killed. No, she had to keep it a secret.
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"Hey, Gaara. Temari poked her head into his room. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine." He rasped. His voice sounded like he had just gotten stuck in a sandstorm. "But she won't let me out of bed."
"Well, you don't sound fine, Gaara." She shook her head and crossed over to his bed. "Just rest for a few days and drink plenty of water and take your medicine."
"I've never gotten sick before. I don't need medicine." He sneezed.
"Yeah, you do." She hesitated. Would it be okay if she told Gaara? He was the Kazekage, and although he was a Hikari clan member, too, she doubted he would tell on her. "Can I talk to you? Alone?"
Gaara nodded, and motioned for Matsuri to leave. Once alone, he turned questioning eyes to her. "What is it?"
"Gaara, I did something absolutely horrible. And I wish I could undo it." She buried her face in her hands.
"It can't be that bad, Tema."
"Yes, it is. I...I betrayed the clan." She whispered.
There was a rustle of movement as he sat up and touched her hand. "What do you mean, you betrayed the clan?"
"The Hikari clan. You know that we aren't supposed to interact with the Nara clan."
"Yes, but you are the liason and Shikamaru is the guide. It can't be helped. You can't exactly say that you're a Hikari, or you'll become a target."
"Yes, I know. But...the night before I left, he and I..." She blew out a breath. "We slept together."
Shock was evident in his eyes. "You...did what?"
"I wasn't thinking right!" She cried out. "I was thinking that they were going to arrange my marriage when I turned twenty-five, and I guess I wanted to do something to make them furious. I realize now I shouldn't have, but at the time..." Her voice trailed off.
He sighed. "I see. Are you going to tell Kankuro?"
"No! I can't, and you can't, either. I just had to tell someone. But please, say nothing about it." She begged.
"...I don't know if I can, Tema. I'm the Kazekage. But...I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can talk to them and soften them up a little."
"Thanks, Gaara." She smiled slightly. "Now, get some sleep." (1)
"Right." He closed his eyes as Temari slipped out of his room.
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