A/N Sooooo close. But I didn't change this one much either. I should be done with this soon

Talk with me, I want to hear peoples thoughts!

Chapter 24: Temari Talk

July 5th:

I finally open my eyes to see that I am still on the table.

My head hurts. My whole body hurts a lot. Only, I can feel the chakra moving correctly for once since I passed out. I hear talking but cannot make it out. I want to get up but I am afraid to even try to get up. They left me on the table.

I can't even open my mouth, I feel trapped again.

I hate this feeling as well.

Do something about it!

"Why, Tooru you are up?" I hear a voice.

He comes right over my head and I see that it is Sai.

"Don't try to talk yet, Sakura says that you hurt your voice very badly when you were screaming. But that cannot be helped," Sai places a rag on my head, "We are all worried about you Tooru. But we know how alone you were. Kakashi was finally able to tell us what happened when you were younger. I'm sorry about that."

There is a moment of silence. I close my eyes and I try to put up my bubble. Only I cannot infuse chakra. I open my eyes again and see that Sai has moved away but I can hear rustling around the kitchen. I turn my head – with a great amount of pain – and see Sai washing out some bowls. I also see Temari next to him. She looks a little upset, as though she is hiding something.

"Yes Temari," Sai answers.

"I know it is wrong but maybe we can fix this whole thing. I know that Shikamaru is not okay with how she was treated," Temari says.

"Maybe, only why are you bringing this up now?" Sai asks.

Temari sighs, "I don't know."

"I think you are hiding something," Sai says.

Temari sighs, "Maybe you are right."

There is a pause. Sai looks over to Temari and waits. I don't know what they are talking about but it seems serious. I still am in pain, but now I want to focus on what they are saying.

"To some extent I do love Shikamaru." Temari mumbles.

"Then why are you with that other guy?" Sai questions.

"Because, he is someone who challenges me and I love him a lot…" Temari responds looking down at the ground.

Temari… she is dating someone. I remember her saying that. I don't know who though. But why is she saying she loves Shikamaru now? Did something happen with this other guy?

Why do I feel slightly upset with her saying she loves Shikamaru?

What changed in me?

Sai is quiet for a moment, "Would you want to be with Shikamaru?"

Temari snaps her head up and looks at Sai, "Honestly, I would. I mean, I still do care for him. Only, I know that if I do go with Shikamaru I would have to move to the Leaf… I mean he is going to be the head of the Nara clan soon. I would have to leave my home and come here since I don't think Shikamaru would think of leaving the Leaf now."

No he isn't…

"But it would be nice to have you in the village Temari, Ino enjoys hanging out with you," Sai says.

"I know. But how he looks at her…" Temari trails off.

How he looks at who? I feel… guilt maybe? But why is Temari so worried? She loves the sand, and she loves her brothers. No way in hell would she leave them. Not if it meant she had to give up being a ninja. Or was that just a rule Lord Third placed on me?

"Maybe it is because he is feeling lonely. And Tooru was there and she showed him a tenderness. She challenges him in ways that no one else has ever done. Not even you did," Sai explains.

"I guess you are right," Temari sighs.

"Besides, why would Shikamaru fall for someone so fast? That doesn't sound like the calculated Shikamaru I know but she would sit and talk to him. Something none of us would do for him. Plus, he no longer feels alone. She distracted him form you and maybe in some way he felt something but it was from the looks he saw. We both know that Shikamaru does not like people based off looks. I am sure he still loves you," Sai concludes.

Temari ponders this, "I want to be with Shikamaru."

There is a moment of silence between them.

I don't even know what to think about this. She breaks his heart but she loves him? I turn my head back and close my eyes. There is no way that I can even be with him. It is true that Shikamaru has been feeling lonely since Temari.

Maybe my first guess when this all started was right. I am merely here to help, I won't talk to him after this. He will see that Temari still him and he will go to her and be with her.

It was that man… the man I saw her with right after the war, the one who was willing to wait for her. Temari has someone she fell in love with. Is she scared because of it? Why should she be?

"Sai," Neji comes into the kitchen, "Kakashi wishes to speak to you."

"But I am watching Tooru," Sai replies.

"I will be watching her," Neji states.

I open my eyes and tilt my head to see Sai walking into the living room. Temari and Neji remain silent. I see Neji is leaning against the counter. I know Temari is thinking. I just don't know what she is thinking.

I don't want her to love Shikamaru.

I don't want Shikamaru to be in this picture with her just because she is scared about something, maybe it is the man from her village. The one from after the war. The one who wanted to wait for her.

If she loves him why is she running to Shikamaru?

"I overheard you and Sai," Neji states.

"And what do you think?" Temari asks, she almost sounds ashamed.

Neji looks at her, "I don't think Shikamaru loves you anymore."

"Why not?" Temari raises her voice a little.

But I feel… I don't know. Maybe joy a little?

"Because," Neji remains calm, "He knows that you moved on and hopes you two can be friends but I think that he truly does care for Tooru. Personally I would like to see where it goes."

"What happened to not trusting her?" Temari asks.

"I got to know her past. You sat and listened to Kakashi explain everything. Shikamaru sat by her and made sure she was okay. He was concerned about her, more than Shikamaru normally is. I'm sorry but you already hurt him once," Neji explains.

So Neji knows what happened. He knows that Temari rejected him by a letter after she avoided him the day the sand siblings were leaving. He knows that Temari is seeing someone else.

Mentally I give Neji a high five.

Why is he protective though? I thought he didn't do things like this.

"But I love him Neji," Temari whines.

"That doesn't matter," Neji harshly states, "Look, I know about the man from the sand. How he was injured and that he doesn't remember you but is trying to be with you."

Temari looks away, a little flustered. She almost looks as though she does not want to talk about it. So, I am right, she is running away from her true feelings. I look closer at her and see she is blushing about it.

"How did you know about him?" Temari asks.

"Gaara talked to me about it. If I remember correctly this man has left presents for you late at night and has even been trying to prove to you that he wants to be with you forever. He is concerned about you Temari," Neji moves closer to Temari as he says this.

"I… I don't know why he is so concern about me…" Temari backs away from Neji.

Neji turns to me and see that I am looking at them. Temari follows his look and looks away quickly. Neji walks to me and kneels in front of me. He only looks at me. I look at Temari who is blushing and very red in the face.

"Tooru," I heard Temari say, "Did you hear all of that?"

Neji moves out of the way, "I will let you two talk."

Neji gets up and walks out of the room. Temari remains where she stands and looks almost ashamed. I only look at her wanting to say a million things but know that I cannot speak. She has to do all the talking. But I remember talking to that man. The man she is with.

"I know what you are thinking," Temari states, "I shouldn't try to come back into Shikamaru's life since I already hurt him. But I don't know if I can face that guy again. I am almost sure that he loves me, yet I cannot tell fully if he does. With Shikamaru though, I know he isn't right. I watch him with you and that look he gives you. I have always wanted that look from him. But that guy in the Sand gives me that look and I don't know why it scares me so much. I guess because I know I would forever be with someone that I know cares. He and Shikamaru are alike but so different. I know that I should let that man fully take my heart but that means giving up on people here. Only, I wish that everyone would stop. Truly, you bring out the best of Shikamaru, and I mean I have never seen him this happy in such a long time. He has an easier time doing things and the worry he has about you is crazy," Temari pauses, "Look, I hope that Shikamaru is happy and you clearly make him happy about a lot of things. I love that other man… but Shikamaru is familiar to me."

I thought Shikamaru did give her that look.

There is a long moment of silence between the two of us. I wish I could ask her more about the man in the Sand. I glance down at my hand and hope she understands that I can talk to her through memories. She looks at me and grabs my hand.

I close my eyes and let the memories begin.

XX

"Temari!" someone yells.

I am sitting on top of a building in the Sand, I was there to deliver a message to Gaara from Kakashi. But I showed up early and am waiting for him to go to his office so I can tell him. I look down at the name because it is Gaara's sister's name and Kakashi told me I should start to make friends with people for once in my life.

Temari turns around and smiles, it is the man who loves her.

"Hey, how are you feeling today?' Temari asks.

"Much better, I can finally resume training. I am really excited to train again but I have to start all over which is the only downfall," he replies.

Temari chuckles a little bit, "That must be hard, I mean you were a jonin before."

"You know I don't remember that," he replies and shoves her playfully.

Playful? It seems like what the other couples do in the village.

"I know," Temari turns and smiles at him.

"Temari…" the man pauses, "What were we like before I got hurt?"

Now it is Temari's turn to pause, "We were very close friends."

There is a moment where neither one of them speaks. There is tension, but its one of them both hiding feelings for the other. I remain in my place because I recognize Temari and the man. Temari looks down and blushes a little before being able to speak. The man wants this to go somewhere since he finds Temari beautiful and this is the only time neither one of them are not smiling.

"And what about now?" he asks.

"I don't know…" Temari looks at him.

Before anything else can happen he brushes her bangs back and pulls her in for a kiss. Temari doesn't fight it; in fact she seem eager about kissing him. They stay like that for a moment.

Finally Temari breaks away, "No don't do this to me now…"

"Do what Temari? I think we have something," the man says, staying at a distance from Temari.

"But, I might be with someone and I think I love him," she states.

"You don't sound all too sure about him," he retorts.

Temari looks away from him and waits, "But he loves me and I don't know if there is anyone else like him…. No I know there is but I think I am just scared to do anything."

"But why be the guy you don't love? Go for the man that makes you happy and can give you what you need Temari," the man pulls Temari into a hug.

"I'm sorry I have a mission," Temari breaks away and runs.

I jump down next to the man without my mask on. I land beside him, both of us looking after Temari. I glance over at him and see the pain in his eyes, I know that he wants to be with her. We stand there for a moment.

"I love her," is the first words to come out of his mouth.

"I can see. Would you be willing to wait for her?" I ask.

He turns to me and nods, I can see it in his eyes that he would do anything for Temari. I look at him and I hope that he does get to be with Temari. I just hope she realizes how much he loves her and that she is only fighting the feelings for him as well.

"Then wait," I say.

"I will. I know that even if I am not with her I will be happy if she is happy," he replies.

XX

I open my eyes and see Temari looking at me.

"I didn't even know you were there. But you think I should? I mean he is sweet and that day that he kissed me… I wanted to stay with him but I knew that Shikumaru really loves me. I didn't want to hurt either of them. But that guy, If I be with him, then I may never be able to come back to the village," Temari says

I look at her and know that she will always be welcomed into the village. Naruto will always let the sand siblings come to the village just for visit and everything. There is no question about it, besides any weddings that happen the sand siblings are welcome to join.

Temari sighs, "No, I know that is untrue. I know that I am always welcomed here. I know I am scared about everything. I care deeply for Shikamaru and I know I cannot make him happy like you can. But that man, I know he is right for me."

"Who is right for you?" a new voice chimes in.

Temari turns around, "Oh Shikumaru, no one."

"Temari can I talk to you a little bit," Shikumaru asks.

Temari stands up and follows Shikamaru outside. I look after them and turn back. I am very sore right now. I hope I can talk soon. I close my eyes and allow myself to fall asleep.