I AM SOO SORRY! I took so long to update but this past month has been hell! It was filled with nothing but stress! Every passing day was just horrible. Thankfully things seem to have brightened up. My troubles are being resolved one at a time. There's always a rainbow after a storm. Honestly this chapter I don't think it's that great probably because I tried to work on it in my times of trouble which led to writer's block. The words just wouldn't come out sometimes. Hopefully I can get started on the next chapter soon. I promise you guys I will try my very best! Anyways thanks for sticking by me! R&R it will surely help me boost up my energy :3

Temari and Ryota sit on top of a branch they have claimed as their spot right at the outskirts of the village. The view gives them a glimpse of all the lights that illuminate the buildings, as well as lanterns lighting up the roads making the shopping streets look inviting. Looking up at the night sky she searches for a cloud, not one is in sight, not even the stars show up that night. The only thing that seems to fall is the white snowflakes that match the moon.

To her it's still early considering its past 10 p.m. but that might just be in her standards because the clutter of people she can see from afar seems to lessen as the minutes tick by.

"You should probably cover your head; you wouldn't want to get sick." She forgets about the man next to her in their moment of silence, it's as if the world has stopped revolving and they're frozen in time. Forever glued to the past that haunts them both.

"All right that's not necessary." She says to him as his hands start to reach for the black robe he is wearing. Temari undoes the scarf around her neck, with a few twists and turns she places it around her head like many of the elders do so back in her village. "You forget the village I come from has seen colder days. I'm used to it." The fabric protecting her has seen many sandstorms.

"I keep forgetting you're not like other girls." He smiles at her.

"I'll just have to keep reminding you then."

She stares at him, a small smile gifting him in return. For once she understands the crinkles around his eyes and the creases on his forehead that have come from many sleepless nights caused by his dear beloved. She remembers everything from last night, the wounds he shared with her and the pain in his eyes as he told her his story. Every word pounded into her brain as she listened intently.

"Hiromi came and went as she pleased. She had no affiliation, no village, or no family to go back to. She traveled with a group of performers, they'd usually only come upon my uncle's request. I met her when I was seventeen. We were the same age. It started out as friendship but through the years it became something more. My uncle loved their shows, being him he gave them official permission to come whenever they wanted. Hiromi and I started seeing each other more often. Sometimes she'd visit and other times I'd manage to see her when I was away on duties from the twelve guards. She loved to dance. She was the one that taught me how. Hiromi was simple, in spite of living as the days went by not knowing whether she would get money for food or shelter she never once used me for my status. She was content with what little she had. The group she travelled with was her family. At the time when we were nineteen we decided to make it official but kept it in secret. It was never uncommon for a ninja to keep their affairs in private so it worked for the both of us and back then I lived on my own so it made it easier. She knew who I was and who I'd become in the future, so when I proposed to her three years ago she had agreed to live her life here with me. Take upon the role of my Aunt in the future. But my mother was not happy about us when I finally decided it was time for them to meet and told her of our marriage plans. Because of our high positions she disagreed with me marrying someone who did not even have a last name. I was more than willing to give her one. I was distraught, my mother after losing my father isolated herself, I was still young but she always had a hard time accepting my decisions. First it had started by joining the twelve guards because it put me in danger, and then it was my choice of wife. She wanted to dictate my life but I wouldn't let her. So a week went by and we still hadn't spoken. My uncle decided to interfere for he was more than happy for me so my mother had surprisingly agreed to have a serious talk with Hiromi about her intentions with me. That day my Uncle sent me out on a mission so that I wouldn't have time to worry about their meeting. When I came back that night I noticed all of Hiromi's belongings were gone. When I went on a search for her my mother found me and told me that she had tested Hiromi. She offered her a large amount of money that could let her live in stability for the rest of her life in exchange for leaving me. My mother said had she really not been interested in our riches she wouldn't have taken it. Hiromi was long gone from the village by then as my mother told me she had left four hours ago. As the days passed I finally got permission from my uncle to go in search for her without my mother's knowledge. I tried every place I could think of but she was nowhere to be found. It didn't make sense to me, Hiromi was not greedy. But eventually I gave up and her group never came back to perform. I haven't seen her since… I don't even know if she is alive anymore… All I know is that the last person that saw her was the guard who showed me her signature from the sign-out sheet in the entrance who was familiar with her. That was the last I've heard of her… It was as if she disappeared into oblivion… Just a ghost from the past…"

Temari's eyes land on the tower that all of the family members of the Fire Lord live in. It extended on the left side and to her knowledge as Ryota had so kindly shared, that was where he lived with his mother, for now. She thinks about the fact that even though this man has so much, the sadness that surrounds him like a grey cloud belittles his surroundings.

She then remembers an old saying, tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Temari disagrees. The broken man sitting next to her was paying the price for that and there was no saying whether he'd ever heal. Unlike herself, she never lost anything because she never got to love. And because she never quite loved at all she'd move on because life goes on, she wouldn't drown in sorrows over a stupid man.

The question was though, was attempting a relationship with this man even worth it? It did not sit on her well when she realized that she'd have to live under Hiromi's shadow. Never good enough…

Her mind settles back to the scene as she feels the warmth of a much larger hand next to hers. He stares at her with an intensity trying to read her facial expression, he wasn't off with his answer about her worries.

"You're nothing like Hiromi. I wouldn't compare you to her. You are completely different people. Hiromi was a cheerful person, always smiling but also fragile. You on the other hand are a fierce fighter; you walk with your head up high and with confidence. I asked you out because you intrigued me. The way you live your life and the work that you do. I admire you and we have so much in common. Besides…" He sighs loudly, his shoulders drop down as if the weight of the world has finally fallen off his shoulders. "I think it's time I move on. I can't keep living in the past. I have to think about my future. And I suppose if I find someone that can help me get there… That would be nice..." They lock pinkies and smile at each other.

"Yeah."

Temari feels as though she is no longer alone, that maybe in this lifetime there is someone for her, and the two of them in their own way have declared to fight each other's internal battles, together.

Wintertime air leaves her body alone as she enters the Fire Lord's building for another long-winded meeting. The breakfast she had that morning was too light for it to hold her off for the next five hours. It would have been wise to take on Ryota's offer for breakfast but since she woke up barely on time she declined, being on time for the meeting was her first priority, her stomach second. Yet, there she was salivating with every step she took on the hard marble floor thinking about bacon and pancakes…

"All right! Let's get this over with so maybe we can finish sooner and have our lunch break!"

Temari couldn't agree more.

With every word the Fire Lord spoke the sleepier she got. It was information she already knew, after all she was the one wrote the information documents. Assorted them from highest to lowest percentages, inventory, gains, losses, point was she new everything by heart. She though as a professional kept her stature straight and eyes wide open. Nevertheless her brain was preoccupied with another fascinating subject she'd just discover, shogi. She'd beat his ass…

Guaranteeing the rest of the Fire Lord's council members about the economic growth between trades they finally moved on to the next subject.

Swearing mentally Temari finally takes a rest as she scoots her back against the long rectangle chair that's as hard as rock. So uncomfortable…

A very excited Lord perks up at his next question. "So Temari, the Chunin Exams are coming up. By any chance will you and Nara be proctoring again?"

The way his face glows as he mentions THAT name makes her almost forget her appetite, almost.

"No my Lord since we took care of preparations' shinobi's from the other lands will be in charge of that."

"Oh what a shame…" A look of disappointment paints his face. She figures it's because it'd be easier for Shikamaru to avoid him that way. Great, she thinks, even when he's not there he still manages to creep up in her life…

Her stomach is more than grateful when they finish an hour and a half earlier than planned. The minutes that ticked on the wall clock couldn't go by any faster and she happily gets up from her seat while the other's chatter away.

She is then joined by Ryota who remained quiet, again, during the whole ordeal at the last end of the table.

Chuckling he tells her. "Told you it'd be best you ate something other than a bowl of cereal."

"What? Are you gloating because you were right? Quiet before my hunger makes me loose all my senses and I punch the lights out of you."

Exclusively for her, he gives out a laughter that echoes out through the hallways as there is no one in sight but themselves. She picks up the speed but not before glaring at him playfully. There was no way that she could be angry at him after making him laugh so hard just when two nights ago he had looked so broken.

"I'm glad I amuse you. Now come on I'm starving. Take me to the nearest place where I can get food on demand. If not I won't promise that your village will live to see another day."

Temari and Ryota walk discreetly inches away from each other towards their meeting destination that morning. Of course, that doesn't stop some onlookers from pointing and staring at the couple. The attention they received by being seen together was wearing off but it didn't stop a random villager from being nosey every now and then. She only hoped they'd find something else to gossip about, soon.

Immediately upon reaching the border with all the carriages that delivered the goods the Fire Lord beamed at their direction.

He makes a u-turn as to end up behind them and pushes them forward and closer together as they walk closer to the carriages. "Alright you two, I know this is boring but work comes before play. Afterwards you can go on and do whatever you youngsters do on your free time. How is my nephew treating you by the way? Splendidly, I would hope so."

"There would be no other way to describe it my Lord." She bows lowly but instead of smiling at the Lord she does so at Ryota who in return smiles back embarrassed and eyes low on the ground.

"You keep up the good work then son." The Fire Lord's eyes sparkle from one to the other and starts rambling about the exports about to be delivered.

He then goes on to show Temari each crate of crop to be delivered to the Sand Village. Together with the Land of Fire's help they would set out resources that her own village lacks due to the dry desert areas.

After some time their business talks were interrupted by a male shinobi who pulled the Fire Lord out to the side and relay I private message. Obtaining what little information that she could from afar by using her hearing senses all she gathered was that there was a threat near where their village borderline ended. Moving in steps closer next to her Ryota seems to be trying to decipher the low whispers. What little expression she managed to read on his face she knew he had heard enough to go into stealth mode.

It was all but clear as the twelve guards jumped into four lines of threes and received official orders. With small bows they vanished into thin air and then were seen as they jumped from one building to another as to avoid the eye of the public. The less people knew the better; it'd stop them from panicking.

"I can help-" Ryota is cut off by his uncle as he jogged towards him.

"I know you can, but you are no longer of my guard squad Ryota. You must learn to lead and leave the fighting to others, as their leader you must trust them with your life." He pats his cheek and puts an arm around him so he can lead him back to her; she hadn't moved from her spot out of respect, foreign village affairs were not her business. "Do not worry child. Now, take Lady Temari away and do not say a word to anyone. If we can deal with this in secrecy it will be better for our village. We don't want to scare them." Directly leading him to her, he loops their arms together. "Take Temari out to lunch, she must be starving. I promise to inform you of any other news I receive." He then shoves them lightly forward to head back to the village's busy streets. "Go on you two. Nothing's happened here."

Of all the times, today wasn't one of them, to be walking around like some lovey dovey couple. She tries to unwind her arm but Ryota with a grasp that's gentle but firm does not let her. Temari narrows her eyes and is about to yell when he points out to her the attention they have received the moment they stepped out back into the busy streets. Realizing that the Fire Lord had pulled up a trick up his sleeve without either of them noticing and Ryota being much faster at comprehending the whole ploy, she goes along with it. This would keep the villagers too busy to notice any fights going on in the outskirts of their own home.

Well, looks like the Fire Lord isn't so dumb after all…