Book One- The Enemy

Chapter 7

The heat of the early morning sun in the desert surpassed that of the Land of Fire on its hottest day. The front-line camp of the Sand nestled near a cliff edge the area around nothing but rocks, sand, and scorpions as Kankuro would put it. Over the edge a small dry ravine that led to nothing but a crack in the imperfect ground. Above the dry landscape an oasis, small, crowded with the awaiting troops of Suna. Mighty men and women serious as the deadly desert around them, well most at least.

"Yukata hurry up" Matsuri called carefully lifting the sandstone tea pot from the small fire sitting by the clear water and blew at the hand she had burnt earlier while starting it. Yukata rushed to her side steadying teacups in her arms as she fell in pace with her companion "Lady Temari is waiting for us" she whispered gravely.

"Sorry I couldn't find the cups" she muttered nervously eyes focused on the opened tent at the edge of camp they were walking to. Matsuri stumbled with her pot for a second and quickly corrected her feet as they made it to the tent peeking into it at small table set aside with a golden-haired woman kneeling before it focused on a scroll in her arm. Elegant in her short satin kimono, gaze soft as she read the painted words, a goddess as they would call her full of beauty and wrath. Her hand reached up, black silk sleeve slipping down to her elbow, as she curled her loose hair behind her ear her other waving a small fan to brush away the morning heat.

"Lady Temari?" Matsuri called in her voice meek for a second as she stared. The woman didn't flinch at the sudden interruption and simply moved the scroll down her arm to the next passage her voice one of power when she spoke.

"Close the curtains when you come in" Temari ordered her eyes never leaving the scroll. Matsuri stepped in while Yukata balanced the teacups in one hand and unclipped the golden sashes to the tent and shut them, enveloping the room in a dim light. Matsuri quickly moved over and set the teapot down the steam from the hot drink escaping at the tip. "Sit ladies" she hummed softer leaning back slowly setting her small fan aside and rolling the scroll up before meeting the eyes of the two before her. "Thank you for the tea it was very kind of you to offer" she smiled lightly the beauty seeping through her delicate turned lips, the two beamed at her kneeling side by side while Yukata set the cups down and lifted the tea pouring quietly.

"Are you going to talk to us about our role in the battle?" Matsuri leaned in smiling. Temari smirked lightly shaking her head.

"No, I was going to ask how you're training with Baki went, seeing as I've been busy with other affairs" Temari glanced down to her tea as Yukata slid it to her, and lifted it gingerly with two hands "I'd have preferred to train the chunin myself but it's not possible right now with things being so hectic" She took a short sip.

"Baki Sensai is a great teacher, a little rough, but he's no Temari though" Yukata joked chuckling with Matsuri when Temari bit back her grin amused.

"Now be nice, Baki is my sensei after all, and besides you both know I'm less forgiving when you mess up" The quieted and nodded as she set her cup down and sighed resting her chin on her palm her loose robes slipping open slightly in the front relieving the soft slit in her chest. "As you both know we have Leaf commanders entering camp today" They nodded in unison "The troops know to not attack or engage them, as for you two I expect you to treat them as you treat me and Kankuro" She pulled back straightening "Gaara wants the alliance to last" a small twitch in her lips "but I have my suspicions" the two glanced at each other a saddened look exchanged between them.

"How has Lord Gaara been recovering?" Matsuri muttered looking down at her untouched tea. Temari tapped the edge of her cup her chest heaving under her black silk robes, pushing the rising anger down. Gaara had been recovering for months after the Akatsuki had taken Shukaku from him. Although saved from death he's been stuck in Suna keeping quiet as to not let their enemies know of his recent weakness, his siblings suggestion. She wouldn't let the Leaf know, she wasn't even remotely ready to trust them, if ever. They declared on keeping their distance after the betrayal and the Suna council turned their backs on the matter for years. Like two children after a school yard scuffle, neither wanting to apologize first. Men always throwing their fists first and asking questions later.