Hey guys, here it is; chapter nine! Finally! Sorry for making you all wait so long; but I hope you'll enjoy it. I've been going through a tough time recently, and every single one of your reviews and comments put a smile on my face; so thank you all for that. Let me know what you think of this chapter, and as always, enjoy!

And no, Naruto still isn't mine.

…... It didn't take long for news of Hidan's departure to reach Ino and Tenten. I'd made the decision not to tell them myself; it was still too painful, but Deidara had been blabbering on at school and even the usually gossip-phobic Hinata had heard.

Tenten seemed to realise I didn't want to talk about it, and considerately opted to talk about music, homework, the mall; anything completely unrelated to Hidan or guys in general.

Ino was a little braver; attempting to recommend several single guys she knew who were, in her own words; 'Damn sexy and not really jerks', but the warning glare Tenten shot at her meant even she quickly shut up.

Normally I would've rolled my eyes and complained that my friends did not have to treat me as if I was made of glass; so fragile I could shatter at just the mention of his name. But this didn't feel normal; I didn't complain at their sensitivity. I was actually quite glad for it. I'd been close to tears pretty much every day since he'd gone.

And I tried to be as blasé as I could if ever someone asked how long it had been since he'd left. I could bat them away with an 'Oh, I forget. A few weeks maybe?'

I knew that really, it had been just over two months. Two months, three days. And it still felt as raw as the day he'd gone.

…...

'Te-Temari…'

Another week had passed when Hinata found me in the library. I knew it was Hinata without looking; that tell-tale stutter and soft voice was a big enough giveaway. She was a sweet girl; we weren't exactly best friends because her father was quite strict and preferred for Hinata to hang around with the kids who lived near her; so he could interrogate them, no doubt. But when we did get to hang out around school or at lunch, I was happy. Hinata was quiet and subdued, which made a nice change from the squealing 'girlies' sometimes.

'Yeah?'

I attempted a smile; I was getting better at it with practise. I pulled a seat out for Hinata and she shyly sat down. I wondered how she'd found me; I'd opted to spend lunch alone in the library in the hope of being able to sit without a barrage of questions. Still, I didn't mind Hinata joining me; she'd never been the 'barrage of questions' type.

'Can you…can you help me wi-with my French homework?'

'What?'

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Hinata was smart; she'd never need help with homework. Not to mention that her father paid for the best tutors money could buy; if by some fluke Hinata did need help with school, she'd have plenty of experts to ask. I was a straight A student; and a little flattered that she would think of me, but it seemed odd that she would ask.

'I s-said could you h-h-help me with my-'

'Yeah, I got that bit,' I smiled, 'But I just don't get it. You have all those amazing tutors; surely they'd be better help than me. Wait, Hinata, do you even study French?'

She sighed uncharacteristically, 'Eh…no.'

Oh, now I was intrigued. I leaned across the table, my voice quiet.

'So that was just a ruse. What's this really about, Hinata?'

Hinata looked around; as if checking we were alone, then closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, her eyebrows furrowing.

'Dei-Dei-Deidara asked me to do thi-this in art class. But I don't w-want to upset you, Temari.'

I felt my stomach knot, but couldn't fight my curiosity.

'I'll bet Deidara asked you to tell me because he knows I'm seriously annoyed that he won't shut up. Probably thought I'd scream at him if he tried to speak to me. Go on…'

'He asked me to…to pass on a me-me-message about…well…'

His name left my lips before I could stop it.

'Hidan.'

I wished I had never said it; it tasted too familiar on my tongue; it made me feel like all this time had never passed, and he was still across the street, standing there like some kind of warped god.

'Ye-yes, Hidan.' Hinata fidgeted nervously; waiting for me to either tell her to carry on or shut her up. I figured we'd got this far, why not go the whole hog? I could cry into my journal later anyway.

'Carry on, Hinata, you won't upset me, I swear.'

She didn't look entirely convinced, but she nodded anyway and patted my arm.

'Well…he's…'

My mind rattled through endless possibilities; he's got a gorgeous new girlfriend, they're gonna get married, he's sold his car to help fund their new apartment, he's-

'Been in a car accident. He-he's in the hospital.'

It was like being punched repeatedly in the gut; every crummy excuse for a wall I'd built up around myself had just come crashing down; crushing me underneath.

I couldn't hide the shock and the pain; as much as I wanted to pretend that it didn't bother me at all, tears were pricking my eyes, and my hands were shaking. And then I was crying; really crying, glad the library was deserted so no one could see me break down.

Hinata slung a thin arm over my shoulder and gently hugged me.

'I'm so sorry, Temari. Sh-sh-should we go t-to the restroom to c-clean you up?'

I shook my head; the tears were making it hard to see. I roughly wiped them away and

'No. Thank you for telling me, Hinata, but I'm gonna go sort something out.'

…...

I was still crying when Kisame drove me to the hospital. I was glad for that; living so close to school I always walked, and without Kisame I'd have been stranded. It was the first time I'd ever cut school; Hinata had kindly (and quite surprisingly) told the school nurse I'd gone home ill. It was only half a day, but I couldn't have sat there in tears, trying to work. And though I hated myself for it, I was too worried about Hidan to feel guilty.

Kisame didn't seem remotely surprised by my reaction, nor by the fact I'd practically begged him to chauffeur me to the hospital.

'Some drunk driver decided to plough into Hidan's car. He's bad,' Kisame admitted, as he pulled into the hospital car park, 'But stable. Broken bones, gashes, and his legs got mangled, to put it bluntly. So walking is kinda out of the picture for now; until they assess all the damage, which is pissing him off the most. He'll look pretty beat up when you see him; just to prepare you, but he'll be talking and stuff. It's a little thing with Hidan; gets into some crazy situations; broken more bones than I've eaten hot meals, but he always pulls through. Always.'

'What do you mean; more broken bones than you've eaten hot meals?'

Kisame sighed heavily. 'Damn it, I said too much. Forget it.'

But I couldn't.

'Is this what you meant when you said he'd been through things that would make me wince?'

'You remembered that, huh? I'm only telling you this because I trust you not to say anything to anyone about it. Just don't let Hidan know I told you.' Kisame rapped his fingers briskly on the steering wheel. 'Did he ever tell you about his parents?'

I shook my head, 'Not really. Just that they were really against tattoos.'

Kisame snorted bitterly, 'Understatement of the century. Hidan's dad; for want of a better word, the guy's a religious maniac. Hidan always just kinda dealt with it; and then when he was about thirteen, he found out why his mom always wore long sleeved tops; why she never went out.'

I bit my lip, willing it not to be true. 'His dad beat her?'

'Yeah, the guy thought it was his duty or something,' he sighed, 'Even then Hidan was a hot-head. Told his mom to divorce him and get out straight away. But she wouldn't. The guy had practically brainwashed her. She thought she was the one in the wrong. And Hidan wouldn't leave without his mom, so he stayed too. Used to stand in the middle of his parents and let his dad use him as a human punch bag. Didn't stop the guy hitting his wife, but Hidan said it made him beat her less.'

'But he left to live with you guys,' I frowned, 'What about his parents?'

'His mom passed away when he'd just turned nineteen. He got out of that hell hole as soon as she did. What I'm telling you; it's not something Hidan likes people knowing. But look at his back closely one day; and you'll see the scars. Faded, but still there. Broken bones are nothing for him.'

'Does he even want to see me?' I asked; 'I don't want to intrude.'

Kisame nodded, laughing quietly, 'He always wanted to see you. The nurses thought he was delirious with the way he kept asking for you. But he wanted to wait a couple of days to let you know; didn't want you seeing him when he first got admitted. He was really bad at first.'

I took a deep breath to steady myself.

'Now,' Kisame smiled gently, 'Get in there. Go see him. I'll wait out here in the car.'

I didn't argue.

…...

For once, Hidan looked terrible. I knew it wasn't his fault; I was sure he hadn't gone out with the intention of being in a car accident, but because he usually looked as close to perfect as anyone was going to get, it was strange to see him like that.

His silver hair was ruffled, stuck limply to his forehead at the front and sticking up in clumps everywhere else. His skin had always been pale, but now he looked ghostly; the dark circles under his eyes and his plump bruised lip contrasting against his skin. There were tiny cuts on his cheek, and one of his arms sat in a sling. Although he was shirtless, as ever, the duvet was covering the majority of his torso, so I couldn't see that tattoo.

He was sitting up though, which I took as a good sign. And as I gave a quiet cough to alert him of my being there, his face broke out into a weak smile.

'Temari,' his voice was quiet, but the smile was there, 'Hey.'

He gestured vaguely to the chair at his bedside and I hesitantly took a seat, busying myself with looking through the cards and flowers on his beside cabinet. His friends hadn't seemed like the cards and flowers type, but I guess that was one more thing I'd been wrong about.

'Thank you,' he whispered, and I didn't have to ask what he meant.

He was glad I'd come to visit him.

I wasn't sure how far to read into that. I wanted to be mad at him; he'd hurt me, after all, but he looked so weak, vulnerable, even pathetic, that I couldn't bring myself to do it.

'Kisame sends his wishes,' I nodded, eager to change the subject, 'He drove me here. He's waiting in the car park to drive me home.'

Hidan nodded, and a small smirk flitted across his lips.

'Temari, you skipped school to come see me.' He pushed himself up to sit up straighter, 'Little Miss Goody Goody skipped school for me. Damn, I must have really got under your freakin' skin.'

I decided, going by the vaguely slurring tone to his words, that it must have been the pain medication talking. His vibrant eyes weren't nearly as sharp as usual.

'So…what's the damage?' I ventured.

'Broke my freakin' collarbone, hence this pansy-ass sling thing they put me in,' he groaned, 'Three broken ribs, shattered pelvis, and my legs are fucked.' His eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment, and when he spoke again, he looked close to tears, 'They pinned my pelvis so that's okay, I guess, but my legs, hell, we still don't know. What if I can't walk, Temari. What the fuck am I gonna do?'

I swallowed the golf-ball sized lump in my throat, and the words tumbled out almost instantly.

'You're alive, Hidan, so stop being such a baby. You have to be thankful for that at least. And if you couldn't walk, and that's only an 'if', we'd sort something out.'

And then my brain caught up, and the full force of my words hit me.

'We'd sort something out'.

Not me, not him. We.

Why the hell did I say that?

Hidan's response was a raised eyebrow and a look that could only be described as stunned.

'Knew it.' Was what he decided to say after a few moments in the tangible silence.

I bowed my head; concentrating on my shaking hands. I didn't want to look at him; if I looked at him, I'd have to say something. And what could I say? I didn't even know what I was feeling.

'I knew it, Temari. I always fucking knew it; even when you didn't. There aren't many girls who'd tell me to stop being a baby and not worry about pissing me off, or skip school to come see me in all my freakin' bedridden glory.'

'What do you mean?' I sighed, still not meeting his eyes. It was easier that way.

'I mean,' he whispered, 'That like it or not, you love me.'

My eyes shot up to look at him before I could stop it. My heart was racing, my palms felt clammy, and my head was so fuzzy it felt like someone had filled it with cotton candy.

'You broke my heart,' I growled, 'You know you did. You broke all your promises, and you're cocky and arrogant and you think you're better than everyone and you're not.'

'Think about it. I just told you that you loved me, and instead of denying it, you just tell me all this shit. True shit, I know, but shit all the same.'

Oh, it was just like him to try and crack jokes at a time like this.

He reached over with his good arm to take my hand; the warmth every bit like two months, ten days ago. My heart spluttered and skipped a beat.

'Stop it…' I pleaded, 'Just stop it.'

'No,' he growled, 'I won't stop it until you look me in the eyes and tell me, truthfully, that you don't love me. Just say you regret meeting me. Say you regret all the fucking amazing stuff that was there.'

Of course, I couldn't do it.

And I wanted to scream because yet again, he was right. But I couldn't do that either.

'Why do you have to be right all the time?' I sighed, letting him thread his fingers through mine. 'Do you get some sick kick out of it?'

Hidan wrinkled his nose.

'Why do you have to make everyone else happy all the time?' he countered, 'Do you get some kick out of that? You let people walk all over you, Temari. Hell, I should no, I was one of the people who did it to you. And I freakin' hate that.'

He squeezed my hand before letting go completely. I tried to ignore the emptiness that appeared when he let go.

'But you know, Temari. You know I'm sorry, and you're trying to pretend you don't care but it won't fucking work. Because I see it, you know. I can see right through you.'

I wasn't sure why I was crying, but the tears were there, dripping down my face, and all I could think was how hideous I must have looked, what with all the crying I'd been doing recently.

And then Hidan's thumb was on my cheek, brushing away the tears as they fell.

'Shhh,' he soothed, and even he seemed surprised by how gentle his voice sounded, 'I should be the one crying. I fucked things up. Hey, at least you can walk.'

I think it was the joking tone to his voice; or the fact that only something as random as that would be said between the two of us. Whatever it was, I found myself laughing before the tears on my face had chance to dry. And I was glad that Hidan could do that; cheer you up without trying.

'I'm sure your legs will be fine,' I smiled gently. A genuine smile; I hadn't seen one of those in a while.

'And if not,' he grinned, 'How'd you feel about pushing me around in a kick-ass wheelchair?'

I thought about that for a moment.

'I might consider it.'

'It's good to see you smiling,' he went on, 'I missed that smile. It's hot, you know.'

And before I could say anything, he had pulled me down to his level with his good arm and was gently holding me. It was nice; being held like that; just close enough to feel safe and warm.

Perhaps it was a bad idea.

But things just sort of fitted.

'You know, I fuc- I love you, Temari.'

My heart seemed to lurch, but not in pain or anguish. No, this was the excited sort of flutter like when I'd first met him.

And what I liked even more was that he didn't expect me to say it back. I think he knew it was too soon for that.

'Hey, now we're being all pansy-ish and emotional, can you fluff my pillow for me?'

He leant forward and I gently patted the fluffy white pillow.

And there, on the pale canvas of his back, were several tiny scars; silvery on his pale complexion.

I wanted to make them disappear, along with all the pain, but I couldn't do that. After all, I wasn't supposed to know, was I? I guessed that was a conversation for another day.

'Kisame told you, didn't he?' he sighed.

I bit my lip. I didn't want to get Kisame into trouble; he'd been a good friend.

'It's okay,' he attempted a shrug, although it was almost laughable with his arm in a sling, 'I can't exactly punch him in this state, can I?'

I was struggling to work out whether Hidan was joking or not.

'Just don't pity me about it, seriously. The scars are just fucking reminders of a shitty time. But that's over now.'

I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck before I knew what I was doing.

He responded by nuzzling his nose into my touch.

'Just don't say a word about it, please?'

I nodded slowly.

In reality, three words sprang to mind.

I love you.