After the pain

Disclaimer: Again I say I do not own any of the characters in this story, unless you count the obscure one's who don't even have names.
And at the moment I am glad they don't belong to me because they are not cooperating and are driving me crazy.


Any way without any further ado here is Chapter 5.

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"What?"

Gaara's deadly calm voice had more effect then any shout would have been.

Kankuro had to forcefully remind himself not brace his body for an impact like he felt the eight ninja standing behind him doing.

"What do you mean you can't find her?" Gaara asked through his teeth.

It was the only physical sign that his brother was angry.

The puppet master was careful to choose his next words wisely. He knew his younger sibling could snap at any moment.
He didn't know if he had ever seen Gaara this upset in his life.

"We went to Temari-Chan's usual training grounds, but found no sign of her."

Kankuro was careful to keep his voice steady. He too was starting to worry for his sister but he knew that if he let that emotion color his voice his brother would probably loose it.

"We searched the surrounding area but found nothing to indicate that she was ever there at all." He informed the Kazkage.

There was a soft whispering sound that was nearly drowned out by Gaara's voice.

"Onesan was due back three days ago." He growled.

Kankuro nodded, the whisper grew louder and he saw sand starting to raise from the cracks in the floor boards and slowly begin to swirl around the feet of those present.

"I want every available man searching until she is found." The Kazkage instructed.

"But Kazkage-sama," Kankuro deliberately used the title to remind Gaara of his responsibilities. "If all of our people are searching, who will watch over the village?"

Gaara snarled and the sand sprung to life and whipped around the room like it had been caught in a tornado.

"Do you not think I can sufficiently guard this place?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Of course, but if there is an emergency and everyone is gone....Your not joining the search party?" The painted man was rather surprised, his red headed brother usually used any excuse he could find to escape the confines of his office.

Kankuro stopped speaking when he felt the sand start to pool around his feet.

"This is an emergency." Gaara informed him with a growl.
"I will direct the search from here."

"Now get moving."

The eight men standing behind the puppet master rushed to the door as one, the sand swirling about their feet frantic to put distance between them selves and their volatile leader.

But the painted Jonin stayed a moment longer.

"I'm sure our Nee-Chan is fine Gaara." He assured the red head before turning and exiting the office with much more poise then his men had.

The sand was gone before he had closed the door behind him.

'If he acts like this when she is only late, what will he do if something has happened to her?'

He could easily imagine heads rolling and blood flying.

'You better be safe Temari, where ever you are.'

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'We're staying here?' Shukaku asked a little surprised.

'It is here, we will learn of her whereabouts as soon as she is found.' Gaara pointed out to the Tanuki.

'I see your point.' the demon agreed. 'Do you think we should send word to our allies and ask for assistance?'

'We can not, I do not wish to alarm Konoha just yet.'

'Your afraid of what he might say aren't you.' It was not a question.

'He would not be condemning if that is what you’re thinking.' Gaara sighed. 'To think I have been so careful of her safety all these years. To fail now of all times.' He hung his head.

'It was a standard training get away, nothing she has not done before.' Shukaku reminded him. 'Your onesan is a very powerful female, she can take anything an enemy could possibly throw at her.'

'True, but I am still worried. We where planning on taking her to Konoha with us when she got back.'

'I remember, the time is definitely getting close. That damn vision of yours is starting to wear me out you know.'

'Do not worry old friend, we will get Temari safely home then see to it that she is taken to where she belongs.'

'And about bloody time too!'

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Sighing contentedly Temari slid farther into the hot bath water, until only her nose and the top of her head was above the steaming liquid.

She almost felt like her old self again.
Looking around the plain bathroom of the farm house she had stayed at since the day before she replayed the crazy events of the last two days.

As it turned out, Naruto's estimation for how long it would take them to reach civilization had not taken into account the much slower pace he had to restrict himself to because of her.

They ended up getting caught in the rain storm Naruto had sensed coming and spent the night in a tree.

Temari felt her cheeks start to heat at the memory.
She had managed to relieve herself without any assistance. Then after sharing some dried biscuits and jerky from Naruto's pack, the leaf-nin had scooped her up and hopped into the thick branches of an old fir tree.
He had then settled down with her on his lap and informed her that since he hadn't brought a tent with him the shared body heat would keep her warmer.

Much to her surprise she had quickly fallen asleep in his arms and did not stir until the morning light woke her.

Two hours later Naruto found a small farm and after introducing them he had asked if Temari could stay with the family while he went to collect the crop reports from the surrounding area.

It still amazed her that the farmer had agreed so easily. The mans wife had even helped Temari get cleaned up and gave her a kimono to wear then helped brush out her tangled hair.

Naruto had left with the promise to return as soon as he could and before he left he had slipped a pair of shuriken into her hand.

Her eyes moved to the weapons that now rested within easy reach on the side of the tub.
Looking at them made her smile. She had slept relatively well on her own in the small room given to her with the deadly knives tucked under her pillow.

Earlier this afternoon Temari had received a surprise visitor, an old woman around the age of seventy arrived and after introducing herself as Auna she informed Temari that she had meet Naruto in the nearby village and when he had learned that she was a retired medic-nin had asked her to stop by and check on Temari.

The sand Jonin had been absolutely stunned at the gesture but was glad Naruto had thought of it.
Auna had healed the damage done to her private parts so that now Temari was able to move about without pain.

Although still weak from the loss of blood she felt a hundred times better.

The only part of the session that she hadn't liked was when the old woman had informed her that she needed to see a medic-nin about a pregnancy test as soon as she got home.

"I'm a little out of practice my dear, so it's to early for me to tell if you are or not." Auna had told her, her voice kind.
"Best to be sure you know."

Temari had yet to decide how she felt about that possibility.
For now she was determined to put the whole thing out of her mind and worry about it when the time came.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the bathroom door, a moment later the farmers wife stepped into the room.

"I brought you some new clothes."

Temari was surprised, she had already been given the kimono to use. Why give her more clothes?

"Your young man is back and brought you these from town." The woman explained as if hearing her silent question and setting the clothing on a small stool that stood beside the sink.

The young woman was thankful that her cheeks were already flushed from the hot water, it hid her blush.

"We're just friends." she informed the woman, not wanting anyone to get the wrong idea about her and Naruto.

Although she had to admit it was easy to make that assumption, he was being extremely thoughtful. Not even her brothers on their best days would have thought of bringing her new clothes without her asking for them.

The woman tisked drawing Temari's attention.

"That's to bad, is he attached?" She asked after a moment.

Temari shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Are you attached dear?"

"N..no, I'm not." Her brow furrowed in confusion.
'What did it matter?'

"If you ask me, I think that you should find out if that boy is available. And if he is you should grab him."

Temari felt her face flame. What a mortifying thought, especially considering how he had found her.

"Why would I want to do that?" She snapped.
She couldn't bring herself to feel guilty for speaking harshly to the woman.
She was being waaayyyy to nosy.

The woman chuckled as she headed for the door. "Take it from me girl, that is one very fine young man. We call his kind a keeper, and they are very hard to come by."

Before the speechless ninja could think of anything to say, the door closed and she was once again alone.

'Hook up with Naruto? She has got to be kidding!'

’She is right you know, he is a keeper.'

'That's not the point, I'm hardly in any position to go man hunting.'

'Why?'

'For one, I don't know if I'll be able to even stand having a man touch me any time in the near future.'

"You don't seem to mind Naruto's arms wrapped around you.'

'That's different! He was carrying me because I couldn't walk you idiot!'

'Carrying, touching same thing.'

'It is not!!! You stupid... URG!'

'HAH! You wouldn't be getting so worked up if I was wrong.'

'I have just lived through being beaten and raped by FOUR men! What makes you think that I would be even REMOTELY interested in getting involved with another one!!??'

'Not just any man, Naruto.'

'You are nuts!'

'Just think of his body, so well muscled...mmm.. That broad chest, those string arms. YUMMY!!'

'Stop it.'

'Why?'

Temari started to quiver, even if talking to herself was a normal occurrence the inner voice that she had always just assumed was her conscience had never had this much to say about any thing.
And it was now starting to scare her.

'Can I just say one more thing?'

'What?'

'You've felt the amount of strength and power that boy has in that big body of his and you've seen what he can do with that power first hand.'

'Yyyyes.'

'And despite the fact that he has a demon sealed inside of him, has he EVER threatened or harmed you in any way?'

The voice then fell silent leaving the blonde sand-nin to wonder if she was going crazy.

That was it! The trauma from her ordeal was finally sinking in.
Why else would she even be entertaining the though of starting a relationship with someone?
Especially when there was the possibility that she might be pregnant.
And that thought brought her back full circle to what she had been trying to avoid thinking about in the first place.

Now agitated she ran her fingers through her silver blonde hair and cursed under her breath.
She was off kilter, it was like her world had been strapped to a spinning top and been flung in a hundred different directions.

And now she had to try to pull herself back together, one piece at a time.
The problem was, could she do it?

"I can! I'm still alive, I've been trained to handle these kinds of things. I just need to take it one step at a time." She whispered to herself.

A knock sounded on the door causing her to jump.

"Temari?" Naruto's voice called through the wooden barrier.

"Um... Yes?" She shrank lower into the water then berated herself.

'It's not like he can see through walls.'

"I was sent to tell you that dinners ready." The young man told her.

"Thank you, I'll be right down." She called back and was pleased to hear that her voice sounded steady.

She didn't move as she listened to his foot steps retreat down the hall.
Several minuets ticked by before Temari realized she was still frozen like a scared rabbit.

The realization made her angry. She had never been a weak and sniveling female. She had stood beside her brothers as an equal against some of the most deadly ninja in all the five lands.

Setting her jaw firmly she closed her eyes and ducked under the water.

Her hair swirled around her head like silken fingers.
For a brief moment the young woman was transported to another world.

One of silence and peace.

Of quiet power and renewing strength.

In this world the desire to succeed, to continue on, to triumph was revived and solidified.

It was here that the flaxen haired beauty vowed to reclaim the shattered pieces of her world and put them back together. No matter how long it took.

Burning lungs forced the return to the real world.

In one smooth, graceful moment she came to her feet, like a selki rising from the depths, water fell in glistening cascades from her pale body.

Golden lashes parted and a pair of silver eyes looked out on the world with a new determination.

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Naruto slowly ambled along the moon lit path on the way back to the farm.
The evening had gone quite well as far as he was concerned.

Temari had thanked him for her new clothes and he was relieved that they seemed to fit okay. A little loose but then he knew she was under weight so he had bought them that size on purpose.
He also had the feeling that she wouldn't want to show off any more of her body then she had to right now.

The old medic-nin Auna had stayed for dinner at the farm and Naruto had gotten a chance to get to know her.
He liked the way she was so blunt and straight forward when she talked.

After dinner he had escorted her home despite her protests.
Part of the reason being he wanted to thank her for what she had done, but the other had been because he needed to put some distance between himself and Temari.

Seeing the Sand kunoichi all fresh and glowing from her bath had unsettled him.
He wasn't quite sure why, she had a scent to her that he found familiar yet couldn't place it with her usual smell.

Was that the only reason? He wasn't sure then, and not even after having more time to think about it.

He had other things on his mind now however.
As he had left Auna at the door of her home she had said something rather strange to him.

"Watch over that girl, she's going to need you to stay close to her."

He had assured the old woman that he would care for her until she rejoined her family.

"Her brothers can't help her like you can." She had informed him before closing the door in his face.

Naruto had no idea what the woman had been talking about.

Half an hour later he was still stumped.
Finally he shrugged it off.
Temari was a friend and he would help her in any way he could.

Returning to the cozy farmhouse he was greeted cheerfully by the farmer and his wife.
Temari had already gone to bed and after visiting for a few minuets Naruto decided to do the same.

He was directed to his room and he walked in without turning on the light.
Moving to the bed that he could just make out in the darkness he sat down to remove his sandals.

He felt something hard beneath him then there was a startled squeak causing him to scramble off the bed.

Tripping over his own feet he landed on the floor with a crash. Scrambling back to his feet he hit the lamp on the bedside table, turning it on.

To his shock he saw Temari cowering against the wall with a shuriken in hand, blinking at the sudden bright light.

"Jeez Temari, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were in here." He apologized profusely. "I must have miss understood the directions."

Chuckling nervously he scratched the back of his head as he wondered how to lower the tension in the room.

Slowly the sand-nin relaxed letting the covers she had clutched to her chin fall into her lap.

"You just startled me, no harm done." She smiled at him but he could tell it was a little wobbly.

He also noticed that she was wearing the t-shirt he had given her.

'Is she wearing my boxers too?'

'What a stupid thing to think of at a time like this!'

'At a time like what?'

"Umm... I'll be leaving now." He started backing towards the door before he did or said something stupid.

"Actually." Temari's voice stopped him. "Now that I think about it, I don't think you have the wrong room."

"I don't?" 'Why would she say that?'

"I believe that there are only three rooms." As she spoke she climbed out of bed and walked past him to peek out the door and down the hall.

'She is wearing my boxers, even if the shirt almost covers them.'

Why his brain was hell bent on pointing out that she was in his clothes, now of all times he couldn't fathom.

Maybe he needed to find some female companionship when he got home.

'Why wait?'

'WHAT!!! You have got to be insane! I'm not making a pass at Temari!'

'Why not? She's got a killer bod, as you well know.'

'I'm not having this conversation with you right now.'

"I was right." Temari announced.

"Um.. What?" Naruto mumbled, unsure of what she was talking about, and hopping she wouldn't notice as he tried to pull his thought process away from the beautiful body hidden beneath his borrowed shirt and boxers.

"There are only three bedrooms." Temari clarified as she quietly closed the door.

"Oh." That meant he was supposed to sleep with Temari?

'YES!!!!'

'That's not what I meant!'

'Sure it is, besides there is only one bed.'
The voice inside his head was practically singing with glee.

Said bed was only a single, while it was possible for the two of them to fit on it would put them in VERY close proximity.

'So, you were closer the other night.'

'That was for health reasons.'

'Just keep telling yourself that.'

"I'll sleep outside." Naruto told the woman next to him.

As he moved to go around her he felt a hand on his chest, stopping him.

"Naruto, you can't sleep outside, It was raining earlier. It will be cold and damp out there." Temari's brows were slightly furrowed with concern.

"Don't worry about it, I've slept out in worse weather then this." He assured her.

Temari started to worry her lower lip with her teeth.

'O god, don't do that!' He felt his body start to react and cursed himself. He was an ass!

"I think I should sleep out side."

"But..."

He raised a hand to stop her protest.

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable, and I wouldn't want to give our hosts the wrong idea either."

'BULL SHIT!'

Temari shook her head at him.
"I already set them straight about our relationship." She assured him. "And besides I would feel guilty having you outside. I couldn't possibly sleep knowing you were out there because of me."

Naruto sighed, he had the feeling this conversation would go on all night if he let it. Temari could be very stubborn at times.

"I'll sleep on the floor then." He announced.
After all, he had enough self control to stay there.

'Party pooper!'

"Aaare you sure?" Temari asked, he noticed her cheeks were a bit flushed and she was starting to fidget a bit. "I mean, I can.... or we could... share."
She was babbling a bit and he knew she was only offering because she felt bad putting him out of a soft warm bed.

Naruto gently took hold of her elbow and steered her over to the futon.

"I'm used to sleeping on the floor." He assured her. "I fall out of bed all the time." That was a lie but he was trying to lighten the mood.

"Besides, I'm a cover hog, so you'll be much more comfortable without me."

Setting her on the bed he reached down to lift her legs onto the mattress and carefully maneuvered her so she was laying down, then shook out her blanket before tucking the material around her.

"Good night Temari."

Removing his jacket he rolled it up to use as a pillow.

"I have an extra here." Temari handed him a pillow.

"Thanks." Settling down on the floor he reached up and switched off the light.

Shaking out the jacket he used it to cover his shoulders then rolled onto his side and relaxed.

"Night Naruto." Temari's soft voice drifted to him in the dark.

He hummed a reply and put a choke hold on the voice that was suggesting that he change his mind and climb into bed with her.

In the silence he was finally able to recognize the voice in his head.

And it wasn't his conscience either.

'I'm still not talking to you Kyubi.' He growled silently.

'Jeez kit, it's been six years.' The demon fox whined.

'Fuck off! You ruined my life. I'm never talking to you again.'

Silence was all that greeted that statement.
Satisfied that he had shut the kitsune up.
Naruto lay awake until he heard Temari breathing evenly in her sleep.

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Thanks goes to all of you who reviewed.