I'm feeling a little under the weather at the moment. So sorry for the short chapter and if my writing isn't that great I apologize but what's done is done. And i'm to lazy to undo anything. Anyways at the end you'll see why this chapter was kept short to begin with.
To sylversmith thanks for noticing! I realized I was kind of intertwining the one-shot and story a bit but they've got a completely different story line so i decided why not?
Anyways here's the next chapter. I'll definitely try to get started on the next chapter asap!
"I believe we're almost there." Kakashi states.
Obviously, Temari says to herself so that her annoyance won't be noted through her voice. She is not at all happy. Their feet give jumps at every branch, and every step she took was given a harder push than the others. It was surprising a branch hadn't fallen off, yet.
No matter how much she tried fighting with Naruto that the need for escorts was not necessary there was no way out. Fired Lord's orders, he'd say. Still, this was ridiculous. Travelling with her were FOUR jounin shinobi. Kakashi Hatake, Sasuke Uchiha, Ino Yamanaka, and Sakura Haruno.
The large wooden gate similar to the one in Konoha seems to get closer by the minute. Temari grabs onto the scroll hanging by the side of her waist. When she sees Ryota she is going to give him a piece of her mind. And if his reasoning isn't valid she'll tear him apart into pieces with her fan, literally.
Stepping on the last bough they lightly land on the snow covered road that leads them towards the entrance.
She spots an all too familiar figure from afar. For a second she finds herself slightly embarrassed, despite it being extremely cold her skin is damped in sweat from the running. It appeared as her neighbor comrades wanted to arrive as soon as possible.
Her body welcomes the cold breeze that hits her skin; she'd kill for a shower though.
"I am not happy." Temari states out exactly how she feels (well almost all the time), she's always been a blunt one.
"Sorry." Ryota smiles down looking sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head with his hand. "It was my uncle's idea."
Before she can retort, he turns his attention to her company.
His eyes appear to scan the four shinobi and then speaks. "The Fire Lord would like to speak to you three about some business and delivery matters. Baku here will take you to him." He points at the man standing next to him with black shades and black hair combed slickly to the back.
"Lady Temari I'll escort you to your inn." Ryota says to her.
Baku bows to the four Leaf Shinobi and starts his walk. "This way."
The four bow down to Ryota before leaving, as they do Ino and Sakura look at Temari and the future Fire Lord with bulging eyes. Sasuke passes by nonchalantly, sticking his hands into his pockets, and Kakashi's eyes crinkle, his mask hiding his smile as he waves a peace sign at her.
Ryota looks at her with a small tint of fear, as if waiting for her wrath to erupt.
"So it wasn't you who put out the order for me to be escorted to your village?" Temari starts walking, the village wasn't that big and she had already memorized the routes. Of course she didn't complain, this guide was interesting.
He erupts in laughter, "After what I've heard of what you're capable of. I can't imagine why you'd need escorting."
The Sand shinobi smiles, "Good. It was your uncle than?"
"Yeah," The Fire Lord's nephew responses, "you were more of an excuse."
"Excuse?"
"Yeah, originally he asked for atleast ONE specific shinobi. I can see though he's triumphantly evaded my uncle once again." He laughs again, that smooth rich laugh that reminds her of thick sweet honey.
"Who are you talking about? How come he is avoiding your uncle? Did he do something to upset him?"
"No quite the opposite actually. My uncle has been trying to get this man to join the twelve guards for a few years now."
"But I thought he'd already found your replacement?"
"He did but my uncle can be stubborn. He escorted us to the ball back in your village. His name is Shikamaru Nara. Do you know him?"
A painful somersault flips in her belly, out of all the people…
"Yeah. I know him. He used to by my guide and we've been working on the Chunin Exams together since I started my Ambassador duties."
"You must be close than? That man has a remarkable intelligence despite being so young." Ryota smiles at her, oblivious to Temari's feelings, she really doesn't want to talk about him.
Especially not with him.
"Yeah… We're friends…"
Quickly Temari shifts the conversation about the food she has been dying to eat again. Easily the pang in her heart disappears and instead her stomach grumbles at the mention of a baked potato.
The rest of their stroll is spent retelling of stories he'd written to her about, making her laugh to tears. Although they've only been kept in touch through letters, they had become more frequent and felt as if they weren't that far away from each other.
In the back of her mind though she hopes that this is the last time he talks about HIM. She hopes the Fire Lord next time uses an alternate method to lure Shikamaru or better yet give up on the whole idea, he would never budge anyway.
After yesterday's busy day, the travel and an evening spent with Ryota, it was nice waking up after much needed sleep. Temari liked being productive but a good slumber never hurt anybody. Her arm reaches out to the alarm clock placed on a stand next to her bed reading 7:00 a.m. The meeting with the Fire Lord wasn't until 9:30. Her stomach grumbles, toast sounded good but first a shower.
During her shower she thanks the gods in heaven that kept Sakura and especially Ino busy while she was out with Ryota. They'd spent most of their time walking around the village, trying out each food stand that they could find. She's sure the two females would have tried to interfere.
Once done with her breakfast she cleans, it's still early. What appears to be an angry knock thumps on her door; it can't be Ryota she thinks, he said he wouldn't pick her up for another hour. Besides his poundings on the door were always remarkably gentle yet loud enough to hear. This only meant…
"When were you planning on saying goodbye!? After we left!?" This blonde sure had guts to be screeching at Temari, but because she held her in high regard she always let her hysterics fly by.
"Good morning Ino." Speaks Temari as Ino has barged into her inn room.
Resting on her temporary brown soft couch is the loud blonde shell, hands on her lap, face staring intently around the room. Temari joins her on the other end.
"Holy cow! This room is fancy! And WAY better than my room."
Remembering every other inn she's stayed at she definitely had a point.
"This was rented out by the Fire Lord. I don't really care much about luxury." Utters Temari with a shrug.
Ino scoots over slightly and raises one of her eyebrows, "The Fire Lord eh? I think you mean Ryota-san."
Comparing the pros and cons in her head because she knows where this conversation is going Temari opts for the route she rather take. "Shouldn't you be meeting the rest of your team at the gates?"
"No," she smiles evilly, "we're not supposed to meet for another thirty minutes. But that could also mean an hour because if we all know how Kakashi-sensei is he'll probably be running late."
Condemning Kakashi Hatake as she turns her head around quickly hoping his beloved perverted books burn to ashes and plays her next card. "Where is Sakura than aren't you two always stuck to each other like glue?"
"She's out having breakfast with Sasuke. Which I was not invited to, by the way. Totally fine though, Sasuke kind of gives me the creeps with all that glaring he does." Imagine that, not a few years ago she was pinning for his attention.
At the moment she has no other way out of it and while holding in a long sigh she offers, "Want some coffee?"
The platinum responses, "No thank you, I ate before I came to see you."
Temari fears the silence that creeps around the room. She was never good at talking about her 'feelings' mainly because she did not like to, always keeping everything to herself. But the topic would not be avoided, not if Ino had anything to do with it… Ino has become attached to her throughout the years and despite they're different personalities she appreciates her friendship.
"So… The Fire Lord's nephew… He's pretty cute…"
Ha! She was too predictable Temari thinks of the reason for her visit.
"There have been rumors…About you two… I wouldn't suppose they were true, were they?" Ino fiddles with her purple blouse, eyes and head tilted facing away from her as if to feign innocent curiosity.
"Supposing they were?"
Her eyes gloss with sadness for just a second and then as the good shinobi Ino is she erases it immediately.
"So then you two are together?"
"No. Ryota is my guide. We have had time to get to know each other. Yes, we have been dating. But no we are not officially together." She simply states the facts.
"Well if you're happy, I'm happy." She notes the sincerity in her smile and voice.
"Thank you."
"But no matter what happens, we'll always be friends right? You'll visit the Leaf even if it's just to say hello?" Ino asks with worry laced in her voice.
Temari understands where this is going. Quickly each of their lives have changed, their friends settling down, sometimes those friendships would tear with the distance not only literally but as each of them went about their future.
She knows that if by a lucky chance her friendship with Ryota expands to something more the future that awaits her.
"Of course, Ino." She reassures her.
"Oh no! I should get going! Just because Kakashi-sensei will be late doesn't mean I will." Ino exclaims ruining the moment.
Temari is thankful for that, she was an emotional sap and comforting the girl would make her feel uncomfortable.
"You'll be visiting next month right!?" Ino points at her, and she was back.
"Yes I'll be there, now leave I have to get ready for my meeting." Temari walks Ino to the door.
"Alright, alright, I'll let you get ready for your meeting." She emphasizes.
Temari would make her pay for her nosiness, maybe then she'll learn.
"He knows you know."
"Huh?" Ino turns around confused.
"Shikamaru. He knows."
"Knows what?"
"About you and Choji."
Ino opens her mouth and every time she tries to speak no words come out.
"Goodbye Ino." Temari gives her a devilish smile before closing the door.
She sighs in relief while leaning on the door, her eyes than catch the book lying next one of the lamps. Not once since she'd received it had she even opened it. Losing to that lazy bum was not an option. She grabs it and puts it on the stand next to her bed; tonight she'll definitely get started.
It's her third day in his village and from the beginning they have been inseparable. From spending luncheons with his uncle during the afternoons and late night dinners with just Ryota tonight is no different.
She's eating again at the same restaurant from last time, upon her request. The place has an elegant aura from its looks to the workers. That's not what catches her attention. Besides the delectable food, the late night music from the woman who sings every night soothes her ears. She was a remarkable singer, her voice was not too loud, yet not soft, it was perfectly right in the middle. With the companionship of her fellow musicians they were beyond perfect.
She finishes her dinner and watches as Ryota does so too. "Do you want to dance? I've noticed you rather enjoy it."
At her suggestion he smiles in agreement, but before getting up he wipes his hands with his napkin.
He takes her by the hand and leads her to the dance floor. It's almost as if they've been transported into another dimension because despite the dance floor being rather packed by couples it feels as if only the two of them exist. And even though they are looking at anything but each other there is no awkwardness between them.
Temari notices that longing again as she turns to finally face him, a sorrow that illuminates even with the shining of the orbs light that extend his handsome features.
"I know you must be curious about that night at your apartment and what I said."
Reflecting back on that slightly drunken night she remembers his words "It reminds me of the good days…"
"Not really." Simply stating a fact, Temari answers, it was not her business to begin with.
"You don't pry into people's business. I like that about you." Vocalizing his thoughts he smiles.
"Ryota you really don't have to-"
"I want to." He reassures her as he gives a small squeeze to their entwined hands.
"All right. If that's really what you want Ryota, and you're willing to share with me whatever has been tormenting you for so long. I'm here." She whispers that last sentence and wishes more than anything to be able to ease his pain just a little bit.
Her hand reaches up to the back of his neck and rubs circles around with her thumb. Her emotional barrier along with his has begun to fall down. He rises up the hand that he holds with his own; he raises it towards his lips and kisses her wrist right where her heart beat can be found. The action for once does not gross her out; instead a sudden warmth travels through her whole body. Then he places it atop his shoulder just like the other one and smiles warmly at her. He is about to share his deepest heartache, one that will bind them together in more ways than one.
A common obstacle in life they share in common… A tale of a broken heart…
"Her name was Hiromi, she was a gypsy…"
And so the story began…
So... This chapter was mostly a buildup for this cliffhanger. I know, I know, I'm mean. Don't hang me! Lol. Originally I wasn't going to make Ryota's past revealing until another more chapters but I thought what the heck!? Hope I didn't rush it? Let me know what you think!