Sorry, sorry. Like I said summer is bad for my flow. I get too easily distracted.

Chapter 19- arrival and departure

There was a sense of stillness as Temari slowly gained her bearings. She recognised the soft thing she was lying on as her bed but she couldn't tell how she got there. She didn't move but instead lay still absorbing the comfort of her bed and whatever it was that she was cuddling that made her feel... safe... relatively. Maybe it was because it wasn't the actual real thing. Her eyes fluttered open on registering a noise from somewhere outside of the room and she came face to face with Kiba. He had his chin rested on his folded arms on the edge of the bed and was staring at her. A part of her mind found it weird that he was watching her in her sleep but a small part of her found it cute. Especially the way he chose to pose while watching her, like a child wanted their parent to wake up but wouldn't dare wake them on their own. It reeked of suspicious business.

"Hana's here." he broke the silence. He watched as the freaked out frown became a confused look as her morning mind processed the implications of his words before a look of elation over took her and she pushed herself up from the bed. "She checked him and said she'd have to consider a few things before locking herself in the bathroom."

"The bathroom?" Temari asked giving him a confused look.

"Yea. She ate some stuff." he clarified.

"Stuff?" she asked unconvinced.

"Yea. Stuff. Apparently it didn't agree with her." he answered nonchalantly.

"I don't what to know." she said quickly getting out of bed. She immediately realised she was wearing the same clothes that she had on the day before. "It's the same clothes."

"Would you have preferred if I had changed them for you?" he asked bouncing his eyebrows as he smiled at her. She glared at him. "Exactly."

"I have it!" was heard from outside the room. The door swung open to reveal Hana smiling at them. "I have good news and bad news."

"Ok..." Kiba prompted.

"The good news is: I know what's wrong with Sanji. The bad knows is: it's incurable. The other good news is: I know how to prevent it from continuing. The other bad news is: it takes a while to make the medicine and I'm not sure if Suna has the herbs I need. But never fear! Hana brought all her herbs!" Hana said all in quick speech.

"So, what's wrong with him?"

"Nothing, depending on how you look at it. It's more of a genetic ability than anything else." she said leaning against the wall. Temari raised a brow at her as she waited for her to continue. "It's really rare. I've only seen it once in one of my uncle's-I'm straying from the point. It causes a growth spurt of huge proportion. It's used to buff up. Sanji is currently two times the size of a normal dog his age. I can only guess that since you're so much more mature than Sanji is, Temari, Sanji is trying to make himself more mature but too quickly. He's rapidly growing but his mind is and if the hormones start he's gonna go crazy. The change takes a lot of energy so it's a good thing you gave him Akamaru's supplements, Kiba. If you hadn't he would have burned himself out."

"So what now?" Temari asked.

"I'm gonna go make his meds." Hana answered. "Kiba, why are you on the floor?"

"Uh, right." he muttered before pushing himself up from the ground. "Run along. You've got meds to make."

"Right. Give me an hour." Hana stated before rushing out of the apartment followed closely by her twins?

"Well, that's interesting." Kiba commented walking over to Temari. She frowned at him.

"He'll be fine?" she whispered.

"Yea. You want breakfast?" He answered wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her out of the room and towards the kitchen.

"Shouldn't you be teaching?" she asked allowing him to lead her.

"Yea, class starts in a few minutes. I just wanted to catch some time to watch you for a while."

"...That's weird."

"You have an adorable face."

"You're weird."

"You're hot."

"You're weird."

"You're sexy."

"You are weird."

"How many times are you going to use that? Is that my only redeeming quality?"

"Yes! Now go to work!" Temari answered pushing him away. He smiled at her before bolting through the door with Akamaru. A small smile graced her lips until a new thought hit her: 'we sound like a married couple!'

XXXXX

"Now, remember he's not to do much for the next few days so just leave him be but make sure he doesn't move much." Hana reminded Temari as she was walking both Hana and Kiba to the gates. It was the day after Hana had arrived and Lee had arrived that morning so Kiba was going to return to Konoha with his sister.

"Yea. I will." Temari assured her. Hana had been able to create and administer medication for Sanji to get better. Now Sanji was resting and surprisingly Kankuro had agreed to stay and watch him while Temari was out. In his mind Temari went with them because she was thankful to then both. To Kiba for being there to help her until Hana arrived and to Hana for healing Sanji. How little did he know about this.

"Good. I'm going ahead." Hana said suddenly running off with her triplets. Akamaru decided to go and play with them as well. Temari and Kiba watched them leave before Temari found herself being pulled quickly away and into a side street. She was released when they were both out of sight and calmly brushed her sleeve as she turned to look at him.

"I think they left us for a reason." Kiba said smirking at her as he leaned on the wall. She smiled at him.

"I think so too." she said walking to just about an arm's length away from him. "I don't really want to say good-bye."

"How long do you think you'll be stuck here for?" Kiba asked brushing some of the hair of her bangs away from her face just to watch it fall back right where it had been. She really was beautiful.

"Two or three weeks." she answered watching his face. He frowned in annoyance as he released a groan.

"Why so long?"

"It could have been two or three months."

"Still doesn't make me feel better." he whined. She laughed lightly patting his on the cheek.

"Miserable. It won't be too long." she told him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he leaned off the wall to rest his hands on her hips. She looked deeply into his dark slit like eyes. "I think I'm going to really miss you."

"I know I'll be missing you." Kiba answered looking right back at her. Temari could see the sincerity in him. Though she would never admit it, it wouldn't be the first time she missed him, if she did when he was gone. He had become someone she could probably call important. She was glad he had been there when Sanji was sick. She needed the support and help, she guessed.

"Sure." she muttered rolling her eyes before tipping up on her toes to kiss him. It was a soft peck on the cheek that left him pouting. She laughed lightly. "Yea, I guess you deserve better than that."

He didn't get to say anything since Temari pulled his head down into deep kiss.

XX

Etsuko had been running along the roofs minding her own business on her way to Temari's to visit her friend when something familiar caught her eyes. She hopped lightly to a stop. She was so accustomed to been completely silent on her most recent mission she didn't make even a sound on landing. She back tracked a step and peered down at the street she had just passed. It was empty except for two people. Etsuko wasn't too keen in watching a couple make out so she decided to leave it at that but something was nagging at her brain. She wasn't the brightest but her brain work well enough. Where had she seen that kimono before? Black and red, black and red and blond, bl- 'holy crap! Temari!'

The girl hid herself on the roof as soon as the thought popped into her head. Her eyes widened to almost the size of saucers. Her mouth widen into a giant grin as her brain caught up to the implications on just who was with her. She didn't have enough information. Could she chance taking another peek? No. She would be caught for sure. Temari had mad skillz and who knew what kind of skills the guy had. She took the next best option. Smiling her usual giddy smile, Etsuko sped off to Temari's apartment.

Now, Etsuko stood bouncing excitedly in the doorway of the apartment. She was keeping an eye on Sanji and looking out for Temari's return. The moment Temari became visible Etsuko's grin hit abnormal levels. The sudden change along with actually seeing Etsuko caused Temari to pause for a moment before stepping forward cautiously.

"Hey sis!" Etsuko greeted happily.

"Hey. What's up?"

"What do you mean?"

"You seem a little weird."

"Really? I feel fine."

"You sure?"

"Yup!" Etsuko assured her as they both entered the apartment.

"Where's Kankuro?" Temari asked. She had expected to see him there just as she had left him.

"Oh, he went out. I offered to wait for you instead. I wanted to surprise you and it worked!" Etsuko said hugging her happily. Her voice suddenly dropped from it happy pitch to a low tone. "There's one thing though."

"What's that?" Temari asked her weariness coming back full force.

"Who's mister chocolaty hair?" she asked in the same low tone. Temari froze.

'How'd she know?'

Taking Temari's reaction into account she broke out into her happy self again and laughed. "That was him! He was here! You're seriously not going to tell us who it is?"

"Etsuko..." Temari tried to calm the girl.

"You are doomed Temari! I have seen him once and if I ever see him again I'll know it's him!"

'Crap.' the blond thought dejectedly before grabbing the bubbly girl to steady her. "Etsuko, you can't tell anyone. Not even a vague description."

"Um, ok." Etsuko answered blinking widely.

"...Ok?" Temari asked. She had thought it would take more convincing to get the girl to agree. Had it been Aiko she would have had to beg and even then it wouldn't have been guaranteed.

"Yea. Finally I am the winner!"

"The winner?"

Yep! For the first time, I am the one with the upper hand and I will use it the moment they think they have found out, to crush their happiness with the fact that I, the one that is usually teased, have already conquered the challenge!"

"Uhhh... Whatever you say just don't tell."

"Sure. It's not like I can tell much anyway. All I know is he's a brunette and you two were smoochin' in an ally."

"That's it?"

"Yup!"

"Seriously?" she asked

"Yea but my recognition skills are great so I'll know him the minute I see him."

"Yea." Temari agreed. It was true. Etsuko could spot people she had met only once after not seeing them for years.

"So, you have my word." The girl told her with a grin.

"Good."

"So..." Etsuko prompted drawing Temari's attention to her. How does it feel to smooch in plain sight?"

"Goo-shut up!"

'I can't believe I almost answered that!'