Book One- The Enemy

Chapter 10

It had been years since she had cried.

Years since she let herself shed a single tear.

Years since she had let out her pain.

Years since she felt the remorse.

When Shikamaru had pushed past her fan, her only defense between them, she was lost only thoughts of how she had to fix her father's war surging her mind. Temari had to do it on her own as the eldest it was her obligation to her siblings, her people, her village. She'd become numb to feeling, stained were her hands with the blood of her enemies, unknown men and women who had gotten to close to the goddess's wrath. What she had left was her love for her brothers, she couldn't let them be hurt anymore. They needed her, but she needed them. Her eyes rose to meet his.

With sudden realization she saw his unwavering gaze narrow and he pushed past her fan, determined. A quick step back she tensed trying to figure out how to get away, she went back for her weapon. He grabbed her wrist, although roughly she didn't feel anything as she stiffened unable to move her body, yet she tried with a weak grab at her fan. She was sure he would try and kill her now; he had the advantage and had brought her down to her lowest, one she didn't know existed. Teal eyes widened and she inhaled sharply as his body pushed into hers, his arm wrapped around her back pulling her into him. Her chin rested on his shoulder, and she stared into the heavens above, so this is how she'd die stabbed in the back, literally, by her enemy.

The thought crossed her mind until her wrist was released, and his arm joined the other in an embrace. Temari didn't dare to blink as she stilled in his arms, hers slowly dropping to rest at her sides as he held on tightly. She felt his warm breath at the nape of her neck his hands gripping lightly but firmly into her back pushing her closer into him making her shudder.

Jaw clenching, her eyes shut tightly, and she let out her pain, the cry echoing around her. She was sure it was loud, yet she heard nothing only felt the rain and tears soak her crimson cheeks. Shikamaru didn't flinch and if anything, he pushed further to tighten his grip on her.

-

Age 3
Temari swung her legs anxiously as she sat beside Kankuro at the hospital. They had been brought down by her uncle upon her father's demands and she was now worried when she heard someone mention to much blood, she knew blood was bad. Kankuro had thankfully been too occupied by his doll to see her concern. When she spotted her uncle marching down the hall, she quickly pushed off the chair and ran to him, only to be stopped by her father's firm grip on her shoulder jerking her back.

"Temari sit" She swallowed nervously when she turned up to look at him. Rasa glared ahead of him his face set in something she'd never seen before, rage.

"Where's Mama?" she forced herself to speak and defy his order as she flinched back from his narrowed eyes turned to her, lips turned down.

"She's dead" his voice was stern as if he was scolding her for asking. Her eyes widened and she tried to pull away, but he kept her still with a painful grip.

"Where's the baby?" She demanded but it came out meek and to quiet.

"His name is Gaara" He let her go when her eyes began to fill with tears and went after her uncle. Temari stared down at the floor drops of tears falling to a puddle before her.

-
Age 5
Temari giggled quickly covering her mouth to stifle the noise as she successfully tiptoed her way down the hall towards the very far room. She couldn't let her father or uncle know she was sneaking around past bedtime. Her tongue stuck out comically as she raised a hand to the door and glanced around briefly before sneaking into the room, ignoring the faint squeak of the door as she shut it behind her.