Clairette: Thanks for the correction! No wonder it looked wrong but i guess my mind was somewhere else :P
ST4Love: I know what you mean! Jeez I love Shika but i think i'm making him into a total a-whole and as i write Ryota i'm starting to fall in love with him. Yikes!
And to Guest: Thanks for the reminder! I had already signed the petition earlier today though but thanks! :)
So apparently the govt wants to delete all fanfics and stuff like that. Please go sign the petition! I really want to finish this story :( And i'd love to continue reading the ones that have me hooked like "Addiction" written by Ash2Ash.
Anyways that's all for today. Thanks for the reviews! Their greatly appreciated! :D
Temari's eyes wander out the small kitchen window from the Kazekage's residence. Her hands are soaking in the water of the sink; she's just finished washing dishes. Too preoccupied with the beautiful vision outside, it even looks remotely refreshing from where she stands but she knows better. The mansion that the Sand Siblings live in is right on the best part of the village. If one were to go out they'd feel the sun's rays hit them like lasers. Such a beautiful lie…
"I see you've been picking up bad habits eh sis?" Kankuro and his big mouth.
"Shut the hell up." She sprinkles his face with water from her hands as she waves them in front of him but he just laughs.
"Somebody needs to get laid."
She shoots him a glare.
"Not everybody's like you Kankuro. Taking advantage of poor innocent girls. Considering you didn't come home last night I'm going to assume you were out having another one of your late night encounters."
"Psh! Whatever! She wanted it!" he runs away from her because he's learned by now if she's in a bad mood than it's him who she's gona take it out on, but not before disappearing he screams. "Seriously Temari how long has it been!?"
Three months…
It's been about three months. Honestly, she thinks herself pathetic. She's gone a much longer time without having any physical interaction with a man.
She's not like Kankuro, she can't just choose a random person, and the idiot has already made himself a reputation around the Village.
Through the years Temari learns to choose her sexual partners wisely, they've all been one night stands but she analyzes them carefully before anything. Their always either high ranking jonin or ANBU. They're always the quiet ones who don't ask questions and don't ask for anything more from her. Most importantly they keep their random fling a secret to the grave.
Hell… She really needed a distraction before she reached a high level of apathy, it didn't suit her well.
"We missed you Lady Temari!"
"Yamada-san." Temari bows politely at the married couple that owned the bakery shop, one of her favorite shops in the village. The irony…
"Yeah. When you're gone doing your duties Kankuro's the one who comes." The man grumbles.
Kankuro holds no boundaries, seeing as he likes to flirt with his wife. Thankfully, Nagami Yamada doesn't fall for his tricks, not to mention she's twice his age.
"I apologize for my brother's behavior."
"Nonsense!" he waves her off, "So Lady Temari will you be having the usual?"
"Yes please." Temari smiles sincerely, the Sand siblings were their number one customers.
Haruhiko Yamada cleanses his hands on his red apron and reaches for the freshest bash of breads.
"I heard from a little birdie you'd just gotten back yesterday." Nagami winks at her.
She knew she meant her son, remembering running into the kid not long after she'd arrived. It was Monday morning, and she had a 9a.m. morning ritual of going to the bakery right when it opened.
She steps out from the store and takes her road back home. The wind hits her face but it's a disgusting gust of fire breathing air. For once she wishes she was anywhere else but there, somewhere where the weather changed right when it was supposed to. Not like it was there, constant and unmoving as if frozen in time.
Temari mentally shakes her thoughts away from that forbidden zone. No, she's walking straight on towards the road without looking back, both physically and mentally as she's literally making her way back home.
Gaara and Kankuro aren't the best of cooks, so while she's gone they stick to fast food. Even the Kazekage gets grouchy when he doesn't have a proper breakfast; fortunately he only takes it out on Kankuro by giving him stacks of paperwork. But for today she decides to give Kankuro a break by picking up her walking speed.
"All right." Temari locks the door as she's the last one to leave.
It's Tuesday which means no paperwork today, instead she'll be teaching at the Academy. Because of her busy schedule she and Kankuro take turns, so they made classes only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, relieving Temari of her duties when she needs to travel. Which will now be reduced to half a month.
Temari begins to stroll down the familiar path, it's barely eight in the morning and the sun is blazing with fire. The wind pushes her forward as her steps begin to get slothful; she's in no mood for work today. She wonders if it's just the weather…
On her way she passes the Kazekage tower, the banner that lies on top of it flowing furiously. Two ninjas guard the entrance and when she passes by they salute her.
"Very good." She pats one of the eight year old boy's head in her class as she passes around the area they always use. It's a much smaller version of their arena but she figures the open area is better than being in the classroom.
Temari stands back and observes the children's attempt at yielding chakra. She's surprised that Gaara lets Kankuro take over when she's gone. He's not the best when it comes to children but through the years he's learned how to remain patient.
For her on the other hand is an easy task, the children admire her greatly and when they see her outside of class they gnaw for her attention. She smiles and for awhile forgets about her broken heart.
"Hey! Over there cover that region!" Screaming out orders she remembers why she rather do solo missions.
Her patience is better suited for kids than adults. Children are still learning and have the right to make mistakes. Grown-ups do not, at least according to her anyways. Gaara gave her a B-rank mission along with three Chunin. Task: Simple, take down four Chunin rogue ninjas. The information was wrong. There were eight.
Deflecting a chain weapon directed at her with her fan she falls back to observe the situation. Their strong sure... But nothing even she couldn't handle. If only her underlings weren't so weak.
Finally deciding on a strategy she opens her fan wide so that she can use her third star. She nips her thumb with her tooth and presses a line of blood on her weapon and calls out for Kamatari. Just as she predicted she sought out to be more helpful than her cell team. The wind she attacks them with hurts them severely and with the help of her weasel the job is done.
Tamami, one of the Chunin's that forms part of her team puts down a fire created by one of the rogues before it expands. While the other two go around searching the now dead for any valuable subject that could be useful to postpone any future attacks.
Three of the ninjas are left to be inspected and Temari opts to sit on a boulder, they seem to be working fast anyways. Her eyes remain at the scene but her mind has gone blank as she spaces out thinking about nothing this time.
"Captain?"
"Oh... Right... Me..." She murmurs.
For awhile she forgot where she was and the fact that she was the one in charge of the group. It had been awhile since she'd gone out on a mission like this one.
"So…" she composes herself and that bossy attitude is back. "Let's go. We should be back in the Village before the sun goes down."
All three put their belongings away, confirming with her that the attackers carried nothing suspicious. Together they take off, feet hitting the sand as they run.
They halt to a stop as they reach the wall that protects her beloved home; her village. Existing purely for the sake of protecting her people is all that she needs, and back is the prideful Temari as she enters with her head held high.
"Everything went well I presume?" Gaara leans his chin on his hands.
"Yes."
"You can do your report tomorrow during your office hours and take the rest of the day."
"Thanks." She smiles, a small one but only reserved for her brothers.
"I'm surprised you didn't fight me about it like you always do. Have you been feeling well?" he gives her a concerned look.
"Yes I'm fine." His question confuses her.
Surely she hadn't been acting strange, had she?
"You just seem… distant from your mind." Gaara still had trouble talking to his siblings when it came to personal problems.
Not that Kankuro had any… He was a pretty happy guy.
"I assure you I'm fine." She feels terrible for lying but she doesn't feel comfortable talking about her lack of love life with him, or with anyone for that matter. "Just tired." She ends simply.
"Temari, your traveling will increase now with the negotiations with the Fire Lord. Do you need a break? I can send Kankuro instead."
"No!" she interjects immediately. "I mean, you know Kankuro isn't the most tolerant when it comes to long meetings. Really Gaara I'll be fine."
They have a staring contest that feels like an eternity. She knows that look, he's contemplating on whether he should believe her or not. Not to mention the overzealous way she objected to his proposition. And for once in years it's not the Leaf she's looking forward to visit...
Gaara sighs in defeat. "Alright Temari, just get a long sleep tonight and please go eat something. Now." He demands but his tone is soft. "I think you're losing weight."
The both are all smiles now and she feels relieved that Gaara has believed her story. Making her way out of the building her stomach grumbles.
She was losing weight? Temari looks down at her body. Well she couldn't have that, unless she wanted to end up like Sakura or Ino.
The smell of a nearby stand of hotdogs wrapped in bacon engulfs her nose. She indulges that night happily as Kankuro joins her shortly after as they down their food down with a beer.
"I was told you wanted to see me…" Temari stands speechless holding the doorknob to Gaara's office, surprised at the man standing in front of her.
"Lady Temari." He bows his head.
"Ryota?" she's to dumbfound to correct him for calling her Lady, but then Gaara is present.
"Temari please escort Ryota-san out of the Village. Ryota-san, please inform the Fire Lord that I will be sending the Sand Ambassador in three weeks time."
"Yes Kazekage." He bows his head again but this time at Gaara.
"You are dismissed." Gaara waves lightly, concentrating on the documents in front of him.
They walk out the office and as soon as they close the door behind them the atmosphere loosens up.
"You're leaving already? When did you even get here?" She asks quizzically.
He laughs richly, it soothes her in a way, "I just arrived actually. I only came to drop off some papers my uncle forgot to give you."
"You traveled for three days just to drop off some papers?" She raises her eye brow.
A chuckle leaves his lips once again, and she can't help but feel mesmerized, not even noticing that they've reached the outside already, "Two actually. And I begged for this mission. Sitting on a chair all day can be boring besides I get to stretch my legs." Temari's impressed. "I need to get back immediately though. The council wasn't pleased despite it being a D-Rank mission. It's a shame though, I finally get to come by myself and I don't get to explore it. When I came for the ball the guards barely let us out of their sight. "
"Yeah, a shame…" Temari trails down the familiar path she takes whenever she has to leave.
"You'll be visiting my village in three weeks than?"
"Yeah. Guess you won't be getting a break until then." She teases.
"I think I can wait…" he says lowly.
Reaching their destination they both stop to face each other.
"Well this is it then..." she says awkwardly.
"Yes," he smiles. "About your next visit…"
"You won't be my guide anymore?" she asks, wondering what it was that he wanted to tell her, she sensed he had something to say the moment they were left alone.
Ryota's face splits into a smile. "I'll be your guide. You're still stuck with me."
"I think the correct term is YOU'RE stuck with ME." She emphasizes teasingly.
"No. Being stuck with you would mean you're a burden and you're definitely not."
"Well than what is it? Stop beating around the bush." Temari scowl impatiently.
Amusement shows in Ryota's face but then vanishes as he clears his throat.
"Well Temari…"
"Yes?" she eggs him on.
He laughs shortly, "I'm sorry I haven't done this in a while."
"Done what?" her patience is wearing thin...
He blurts it out nervously, but she can tell a weight has been lifted off his shoulders as he does so.
"Would you like to have dinner with me? A proper dinner. Let me phrase it better... Temari, would you like to go on a date with me?"