Whispering Bells

To Love or Not to Love

Temari took a big breath as she stood in front of the intricate door. She ran her fingers over the deep wood grooves, the coolness of the wood caressing her hand. It had been three days since the blow up with her father. She was sure that everyone had been talking in the shadows about it. Gaara had asked to see her. He rarely formally summoned her, usually their conversations were more casual. She feared that he had been speaking to their father. While she trusted Gaara, she knew how manipulative her father could often be. She tentatively rapped on the door.

"Come" she heard Gaara's voice call.

She entered the room to see Gaara sitting on his desk, and Kankuro on the sofa in front of him working on one of his puppets. She let out a sigh of relief; there was no one else in the room.

Kankuro looked up and grinned. "Well if it isn't our blushing bride."

Temari stopped dead in her tracks. Gaara gave Kankuro an exasperated look.

"That's not funny" Temari snapped. She went over to the couch and sat beside Kankuro, bumping him to the side stiffly. She looked at Gaara pointedly.

"I suppose you've spoken with father."

Gaara got off his desk and went to the other side, sitting down. "He did have words with me."

Temari waited for her youngest brother to continue, but he seemed to have stopped there. Gaara had a lot of good qualities but being verbose was not one of them.

"And...." She waited.

"Well, I don't agree with everything he said, but he did make some good points. I told him that I would speak with you."

"Good points? The only point that needs to be made is for him to stay out of my life. I am tired of him controlling everything. He's not Kazekage anymore; he needs to take a step back. Not everything needs his hand in it."

Kankuro started snickering. "What's the big deal anyways? I thought every girl's big dream was to have some big obnoxious wedding. Is our sand princess different?"

Temari groaned. "Ugh...it's like you don't even know me."

He laughed. "Well I know something is up with you. You've been dressing differently, your hair is different, you wear some make up now. " He looked her up and down. He hated to admit, but his sister was turning into quite a stunner. "Who are you trying to impress anyways? Do you have some secret boyfriend we don't know about? Is that why you freaked out when father mentioned marriage?"

Temari's face flushed bright red. "I am not a child anymore. I dress and do my hair because I like it that way. Not everything is done for a man. I like the way I look this way, that's why I do it. I also did not take becoming a Jounin lightly. This is what I want to do. Not get married"

Gaara turned to her. "Do you not want to get married Temari? Ever?"

She stared down at her feet. It was such an awkward conversation to have with her brothers. "I'm not saying I never want to." She paused. "I do, actually. I want to get married, when I am ready. I want to get married to a person that I have chosen. Not one that was chosen for me."

"Have you thought about what you are looking for? In a partner?" Gaara asked softly.

Temari raised her head back up. A far away look came onto her face. "I know that I want someone that acts as my partner, and not as my master. Someone who I can have long discussions with about anything and everything. Someone who can make me think. Someone who can make me laugh. Someone who cares about my thoughts on things." She smiled. "Someone who makes my fingers and toes tingle when I see him."