The Unbearable Weight of Sand - NaruGaa

Birthday part 2

Author's Note:

I just stayed up until 5:30 in the morning to finish this thing. @_@ So very tired. I hope I proofread this thing well enough hehe. Anyway...

So much happening in this chapter! It took me forever to get through one of the scenes, got a bit of a block and ended up cleaning the house and dragging branches around the yard until I figured out how to get the effect I wanted. Still not sure I am entirely happy with it, but heck, two days of working on a chapter is long enough for me lol.

JJ- Yes, clone Naruto has massive issues going on. Naruto will likely get over the Sakura thing eventually considering their past, and he tends to forgive her for the stupid things she does trying to protect him so I want to keep in character of course :)

Most other questions... Answered in this chapter! It was super exciting for me to write, and I hope you enjoy it.

As always, reviews serve to inspire.

Naruto

I watched Temari as she talked on the phone with Kankuro. I had decided to just watch and somewhat listen in as she had made her call, not wanting to think. Thinking was bad for me. I would either think about my annulment, my failing health or Gaara and all three options tended to freak me out a little bit. So, instead, I listened. She spoke with her hands as she did, half yelling into the phone at times.

"I know two weeks is a long time, you can make it, you aren't a baby."... "Need me to hold your hand while you talk to Shinki about it?"... "You jerk, take it back! I'll come there if I have to!"...

I looked out the window as she continued her conversation, her words partially registering in my mind. Something about Shinki and missions. Something about Shikadai and how much he was like his lazy good for nothing father. I smirked at that, a warmth was in her voice when she had said it. They were probably the most solid couple I had ever met, happy. Why couldn't I have had that with...

I brought my attention back to Temari, my mind going in a direction I really didn't want it to go. "Yeah, I have my friends over today- yes friends. One is here now."... "What do you mean I can't handle more than one friend at a time?"... "That only happened once!"

What happened once? I smirked at the conversation they were having. Kankuro and Temari were always such a contrast to Gaara. They would always bicker and Gaara would just stand between the two stone faced...

Temari sighed. "Fine, have it your way."... "He fixed you tomatoes?"..."Seriously? What in the hell did he do this time? I don't think he has ever gone as far as tomatoes before."

Tomatoes? What in the hell were they talking about over there? I leaned in a little closer.

"The kid killed my teacher in front of me in cold blood once, I highly doubt it could possibly be that shocking."

Shocking?

"Uh huh. Yeah I know he has a weird thing about him. Uh huh."... Temari froze in place, her eyes widened, "HE WHAT?"

I froze and stared at Temari. Please tell me Gaara didn't...

"How?"... She groaned, "I know how that works, you moron, I mean Gaara, how did he-"

I swallowed. Yup. This was it. I slid out of my chair. Maybe it would be good to just head back to the cottage? For just a few minutes of course.

I could see her hand shaking. She must have been seriously pissed off. "I see. So..."..."Waiting then."..."I think... I think I need to let you go. That was just a bit... much."..."Yeah, ok. Talk in a couple weeks."..."Tell Gaara I am thinking of him, kay?"..."Yeah, you too."