Notes: As you may have noticed, although this story picks up from Naruto, it diverges quickly away from the main plot. Anyway, enjoy the second chapter!

Chapter 2: Rest and Reflection

Temari gazed at the various pictures depicting the sights of Konoha across from her on the wall, a wall that had seen better days. The room was adequately lit and windows took up most of the wall behind her, the heating pipes providing the room a comfortably warm temperature. Her eyes began to droop, and she forcefully shook her head to clear the cob webs. She had only arrived an hour ago, exhausted from her journey. Temari and her brother Kankuro had run the whole way, stopping only to eat or drink. She was enveloped in dust and filth and longed for a hot shower and a bed but was ordered to wait at the Consulate instead. She was told that someone would be on their way shortly. She shifted in her seat as she brought her right leg over her left and folded her arms, again shaking her head. She leaned to the right to speak to Kankuro and noticed that he had already fallen into a light sleep, his puppet Karasu lying next to a nearby coffee table. She considered waking him, but decided to let him be. She didn't know when the escort would arrive. Night was falling quickly outside and the room they were staying in was so comfortably warm. As the weariness of her body finally caught up with her mind, she succumbed to sleep reflecting upon the events that led to her journey to Konoha...

The harsh sun beat down on Temari's face as miniscule particles of flour-like sand blew all around her. She was refining her wind-based techniques, in an attempt to concentrate her power. The training dolls lay scattered and severely beaten. Gashes were scored all along the hardened wooden bodies as if marked by a blade, a testament to the power of unadulterated wind. There were even places among the reinforced mud wall, which enclosed the training grounds, where the wind had inflicted cracks and caused deformations. She smirked, as she sheathed her fan on her back. She wiped her hands on the sides of her dress-like outfit and wiped the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand. She reached for her flask of water, the metal of the flask reflecting the blinding sun. It wasn't cold, but it was refreshing. As she replaced the flask cap, she sensed movement behind her and discreetly reached for a kunai as she turned to face the newcomer.

"Temari? Your presence is requested immediately." The intruder was a genin, probably no older than ten and was clearly frightened of her. He visibly trembled as he bowed, and was clearly trying not to. She immediately removed her hand from the kunai and suppressed a smile.

"Gaara?"

The genin nodded. "The Kazekage has received word from Konoha."

"Do you know the contents of the message?"

The genin shook his head this time, still quavering. "He would like to see you personally." The genin's eyes remained locked on to the earth.

"Thank you." Temari watched as the genin bowed once again and walked away noticeably relieved. Although she was amused with the genin's composure, she also wished she was treated normally. She was either held in reverence or fear by her own people and she was becoming bitter because of it.

"Konoha," she sighed. Previously, she had entered Konoha under the pretence of entering the Chuunin exam to hide the true nature of her mission. Although she had never admitted this to a soul, she loathed the mission. It was an erroneous and pre-emptive strike at an allying country. Temari had constantly challenged the mission's objective, right up to the point of execution. She had detested her father for forcing this on the Sand. It was only during the aftermath of the battle that it was realized that her father had been dead for a length of time. It was in fact Orochimaru who had played the role of the Kazekage. She was furious, as were many of the Sand Ninjas, but she felt nothing with her father's passing, no tears shed. She was thankful that it wasn't her father who had organized such an audacious and ill-fated mission, but she also realized how little she knew him. She had lived the entirety of her life without knowing or connecting with her parents, she didn't even know he was dead for as long as he was. Her father was an outcast and her mother had died long before her mind was capable of creating concrete memories. She only knew of the multitude of maids and in her mind, they were like her adopted parents. It had been tough on her, growing up. As the eldest sibling, she was expected to care for her brothers and to set an example, but how could she when she feared the youngest and often held nothing but irritation for the other? Without her parents, she also had no role model to look up to, no one to emulate. Over time, she grew hardened, never having felt the tenderness of a parent's love, and always fearing for her life.

Her shell began to crack with the Chuunin exam. Her first fight, against a girl whose name she couldn't remember, did nothing but strengthen Temari's contempt for the Leaf Ninjas. Temari had easily defeated her, and she grew arrogant. The second fight was different and it shook her to core. She had always been proud of her intelligence and her prowess in battle, and expected nothing extraordinary from her second opponent. Her opponent even refused to fight her and was forced into the arena by one of his friends, an obnoxious blonde. It was clear that her new opponent was also a sexist, and with anger in one hand, and arrogance in the other, she was confident. She had taunted him, hurt him and toyed with him but by the end, he had soundly defeated her, and it was she who had been taunted, hurt and toyed with. Completely out-manoeuvred, and all she could do was wait for the end. He had a satisfied smirk on his face, and as he lazily trudged toward her. She had no choice but to do the same having been caught in his shadow jutsu. Temari wasn't a coward by any means, but she did fear him then.

As he raised his arm over his head, time began to slow. She remembered shutting her eyes tightly bracing her body from the inevitable blow. She could feel her heart beat almost as if it was in her throat. He stood there for what felt like a life time, the eeriness of the silent crowd pressing down upon them. Just as the tension in the air was about to shatter, he finally admitted defeat. She couldn't believe what had occurred then. This same boy had ruthlessly ended his first fight, also against a girl, by smashing her head into the wall behind her, why was she, Temari of the Sand, spared? She could still remember his remarks then but she knew he was bluffing. He certainly looked tired, but he was certainly more than able to finish the fight. As his raucous blonde friend leapt down to berate him, he had given her a fleeting but genuine smile. It was the only time she was ever acknowledged with a smile and not with fear. She had wanted to return the smile, but she had still been in shock, still unable to control her body even though the boy had ended his shadow jutsu. She remembered her cheeks had become warm, but not due to the sun. She had turned away quickly, not wanting to let him see her blush.

Temari shook her head realizing she had lost track of time. She covered her eyes as she looked up into the sun, sand still suspended in the air. It was time to meet Gaara.

The wind and powdered sand still billowed around her as she leapt up on to the balcony. The balcony was shaded from the sun by a thin black canopy. Flags marked with the Sunagakure insignia violently waved in the air as the sandpapered shined chains clanked against the metal supports on the sand walls. Temari narrowed her eyes as they adjusted to the darkened room from being out in the painfully bright sun. Although the room was fairly large, enough to accommodate a moderately-sized table and ten chairs, it was noticeably bare. The walls were sandy beige in colour and without pictures or any other unnecessary adornments. Furniture was also sparse. Only a carpet presented any real form of discontinuity. Like the flags outside, it was black and marked with Sunagakure insignia. As her eyes finally adjusted to the darkened room, she noticed that Gaara was staring intently out into the city from the balcony. Kankuro was sitting at the end of the table, Karasu in the seat next to him, as he idly carved a wooden block with a short knife.

"Gaara?" Temari tentatively approached her youngest brother.

Gaara held his hand up and then motioned toward the table with his arm. He remained at the balcony as he gazed at the village. Temari hesitated and glanced at Kankuro, a quizzical look on her face. Kankuro shrugged and resumed carving the wooden slab. Wary, she walked over to the table, choosing to sit across from her other brother.

Gaara remained silent as Temari wondered what was going through his head. She knew his hasty promotion to Kazekage had unnerved him, but he had ultimately embraced it. The people of Sunagakure had also embraced him which had been a pleasant surprise for Temari. The story of the battle between Naruto and Gaara and the ultimate outcome was kept secret, so naturally, everyone in the village knew of it. "So what's bothering him now?" she thought.

Finally, Gaara faced them, his eyes penetrating theirs, his face an emotionless mask. Although they shared the same eyes, Gaara's could be aptly described as deep and endless wells of sea green, forever seeing into your very soul. It scared most people, but Temari had grown accustomed to them. Gaara opened his mouth as if to speak, but then closed it again. He furrowed his brow as if concentrating, but she understood. Concern had not been an emotion he could openly admit or feel when he was in his old state, and even now, he struggled. He opened his mouth again, and this time, he was able to speak.

"Temari, Kankuro, I need you two to travel to Konoha."

"Understood," questioned Temari. "May I ask why?" She didn't want to appear haughty but she also didn't feel like travelling to another ninja village without a purpose.

"You may. A new threat has become known to them and they have requested assistance. I've decided to offer our services as... repayment for our previous mistakes," said Gaara matter-of-factly. He eyed the two of them awaiting a response.

"I see," said Kankuro acidly. "They've decided to take advantage of us then you mean?"

"Kankuro..."

"I get it Gaara. We need to show good faith, but you'd think they'd have figured out their own damn problems by now."

"Oh come on Kankuro! We attacked them, we screwed up their peace, the least we could do is help them when they are of need of it," Temari pointed out. Her eyes flashed in anger.

Kankuro held both his hands up as if to concede the point. "I know, I get it. I was only kidding, just a little pissed off is all."

Temari rolled her eyes and held her temper in check. Nothing good would come from beating her brother up, especially in front of Gaara.

Gaara eyed the two of them again, and then sighed. "Just travel to Konoha as fast as you can, their problem is urgent. Your travel papers." Gaara handed them two thin folders the same colour as the walls.

Temari pulled out the documents and examined them. All the particulars were in order including her name, blood type, and height but she noticed a peculiarity under transfer status. There stamped was 'temporary transfer' in bright red ink. She was confused and she sensed Kankuro was as well.

"Gaara, what the hell is this?" questioned Kankuro. He jabbed his finger at the document. "Temporary transfer?"

"You're going to be there for a while, so it would be best if you were made temporary residents..."

"Why!?" burst out Kankuro. "We can travel between villages easily enough."

"Are you questioning me Kankuro?" Gaara spoke in a deadly whisper, clearly annoyed at this point. "I may be your brother, but I'm also the Kazekage. Please don't make this... harder than it already is."

Kankuro shook his head wordlessly. The unbidden feeling of concern Gaara had felt earlier had grown stronger.

"Good," replied Gaara. "Leave as soon as possible." With that, he abruptly turned away and resumed overseeing the city again. It was clear he was done talking.

Temari grabbed Kankuro's attention and pointed her head toward the open balcony. Kankuro nodded in understanding, his face had drained of its colour and contrasted sharply with the black paint he used. They both holstered their weapons and swiftly left, leaving Gaara to his thoughts.

The journey between Sunagakure and Konoha was for the most part, uneventful, if hard pressed. Temari, like Kankuro, was not happy with the transfer status, but she was prudent enough not to question it as openly as her brother had. During the monotony of her travel, her mind wandered and it was constantly falling back to his face, the boy who had defeated her. Her feelings and emotions were obscured in a haze, and she was puzzled.

"Do I actually like that... that lazy ass?" she thought. "I can't be falling for someone like that... I can't be..."

She shook her head but her mind remained fixated on the boy. Unbidden feelings seemed to lurch from within her. "Perhaps I'm just exhausted," she thought. She sank deeper and deeper into her thoughts, mentally visualizing the fight over and over again. His fleeting smile, like a broken track record, remained with her. Just as the fog grew thicker, she felt a presence nag her, like a pin prick in her mind. It was a voice that was calling out her name.

"Temari..."

"Go away," she thought. "If this is Kankuro's idea of a game..."

"Temari?"

She chose to ignore it but the pressure was growing and her annoyance crept toward the surface. The mist was dissipating.

"Temari!"

"What!" yelled Temari. She expertly whipped out her kunai, and before her mind could register what had happened, she was back in the warm room at the Consulate, her blade against the throat of a Leaf Shinobi, her brother also wide awake.

"I apologize for waking you, but you really must come with me now," said the Leaf Ninja. He appeared unimpressed that his life was in danger, even if for a moment. He appeared to be smiling.

Temari withdrew the kunai and rubbed her eyes. As the room came into focus, she realized to her horror that the ninja she had threatened with her blade was none other than Shikamaru.

"S-sorry," she mumbled. Her cheeks reddened in the embarrassment.

"No problem. You're just tired." Shikamaru smiled again. It was infectious and Temari couldn't help but smile back.

"I hate to ruin the moment, but can we get going? I'm tired, pissed off and could do with a shower." Kankuro let out an audible yawn and reached over blindly to grab Karasu.

"Yeah, follow me. For tonight, you can stay at my place."

"Thanks." Temari gave Shikamaru a grateful look. Shikamaru gave her another smile.

"That damn smile is really getting to me," she thought. "I feel like blushing every time I see it."

Her mind was slowly becoming foggy again as the weight of exhaustion pressed down on her. What happened next was a blur. The only thing she remembered was walking into the guest room, and falling on to the bed, her fan discarded on the floor as she finally dived into her dreams.

Shikamaru sat on a well used couch in his living room as he recalled today's events. The one that stood out was his reception when he woke Temari. He chuckled as he pictured her face after realizing who he was. "Just like when I gave her that smile at the Chuunin exam," he thought. "Too cute." He grinned again. He certainly wanted to know her better, but he needed his sleep first, the next couple of days would be hard on everyone. He stretched as he got up, his arms reaching for the sky. He shuffled to his room as quietly as he could and with a flick, the last light in the house gave way to the darkness outside. Crickets called out to each other as the stars overhead lit the night sky, like a celestial road map.

Night had finally fallen on Konoha.

So ends Chapter 2 of The Fallen Leaf. Review please!