Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Way We Were ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and honestly I would probably never have the creative capacity to think of something even close. Kudos to Masashi Kishimoto!

 

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The Way We Were

Chapter 1

[Revised: 11-20-2005]

 

By: Forgetmenow

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Life in the scorching desert was no day at the beach. The melting days and freezing nights were not kind. Sand storms that occurred as often as they didn't. Not to mention always getting sand in ones' shoes. At least the most important resource of the Village of Sand, the deep water wells, remained plentiful. The reservoirs ran deep beneath the town, and collected enough fresh water during the rainy season to sustain the village even during long periods of drought. The uninterrupted resource also ensured Sand maintained strategic positioning if they became caught in a siege or attack. They'd merely wait for their enemies to literally dry up and die.

 

Trekking back to the hidden Village of The Sand from Leaf was not Temari's idea of fun. Temari preferred company; three days of talking to herself made for bad conversation. Being alone was hell. Even if it meant no conversation at all, just to have the presence of a companion during a trip made the silence bearable.

 

Temari seriously considered relocating to Leaf.

 

It wasn't as if she'd be missed. During the many months following the Fifth Hokage's succession, Temari spent more time in the allied village of Konoha training or assisting with missions; eventually, rising to the ranks of Chuunin then elite Jounin. She managed to sit down and have ramen with Naruto on a few occasions; in her spare time, even belittling Shikamaru.

 

Growing up, she never did get to tease her younger brothers like in other families. Guidance under Kazekage was torment enough and inflicting more on her siblings was too cruel. She just hoped Shikamaru wouldn't misinterpret her playfulness as infatuation. In her Genin days, the idea of a relationship with him did cross her mind. He was smart, funny, and reliable...though sometimes a coward. Somehow teasing him gave her some lighthearted relief and angst from the stress of missions. Fortunately, Shikamaru seemed to get the hint and was satisfied with their friendship.

 

She confessed to herself that she missed her two younger brothers- -Kankurou with his overconfidence that always left a snickering grin on her face and Gaara with his matter-of-fact curtness and quiet strength. God knows that his silence is deadly. Though if you actually provoked Gaara into some form of speech, it usually meant death was forthcoming. She loved her little brother dearly. She refused to say the words out loud. Somehow, speaking her thoughts- -giving them form-- made them real. Such signs of weakness and longing were things Temari didn't want out in the open. No walls in the desert, but there were still ears. Akatsuki had certainly proven that.

 

Ah, the good ol' days.

 

One of the elders had explained to Temari that she was in-fact not truly sister to Kankurou and Gaara. Hell they'd been pretty blunt explaining that she wasn't even bloodkin to anyone of sand lineage. Temari had actually been the primary candidate in becoming the human vessel for Shukaku. Kazekage had felt having a female vessel would make Shukaku more controllable and submissive: subservient in Sands search for power. Ironically enough, the incarnate of sand was not compatible with a vessel of non-sand heritage. After this predicament arose, Temari was subsequently adopted. Temari had wondered about her true background, but it was merely brushed off when she asked. Her only answer was that she was an orphan, and she should be grateful the village of sand took her under their wing as one of their own.

 

The former Kazekage still had a dilemma though. Who would willingly give up their child and take a monster in its place? Who would be the village's sacrifice? Understandably, there were no volunteers. In the Kazekage's thirst for power and military dominance, he decided to use his own child. That notion, he found advantageous. In addition to Kage authority he would also have the control of parentage as a degree of clout over the weapon-child. With that idea, Kazekage set out to bring a new life into the world which would make the other shinobi villages of leaf, water, grass, rain, stone, snow, and mist tremble at the Sand's feet. Kazekage had a particular interest in making Leaf recognize Suna's accomplishments, since he resented it for being more favored by Daimyo. The Sand had to restore its dignity.

 

His wife, though she was devoted to her husband, was at the mercy of his lustful and power hungry advances which had little regard for her, until it was confirmed she was with child then she was quite doted over. She gave birth to a boy. Needless to say, the Kazekage was disappointed. Nearly a year had passed and he was at square-one again. He did remain optimistic, because he at least had a son to continue the family and bloodline limit though dormant as it was…

 

Day after day, week after week, month after month, Kazekage's mate suffered his advances and eventually began to view herself less and less as beloved wife and more and more like a ritual offering. Kazekage's patience too had worn thin, his wife could not seem to conceive a second child and he himself was feeling like no more than an overworked stud horse. By the time, his second child was conceived and born, He cared little that the gods in their ironic generosity had granted yet another baby boy. Regardless, this child would be the vessel for the demonic soul Shukaku and all the nations will cringe at the Suna's might. With her dying breath, the mother of his two children named their second born, “Gaara…” as her violet eyes closed for the final time.

 

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“…Gaara of the Desert,” as he coldly regarded the black haired Leaf before him. “I'm also interested in you, your name?”

 

“It's Uchiha Sasuke.”

 

Their arrival to Konoha for the Chuunin exam was the first time Temari ever recalled Gaara having to introduce himself. The mere look of Gaara rarely called for it. He had already established himself among their people was a fearsome weapon. The Genin who could complete Jounin-level missions with not a scratch.

 

Now to show these Leaves who they're dealing with. The corner of Temari's mouth quirked.

 

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Temari shook herself from her walk down memory lane. Carefree days of Genin revelry were long behind her. Every decision she made on a mission was always critical, a life or death choice that would determine if she'd be returning to her brothers or becoming just a name on a memorial stone like in Konoha.

 

Even after the incident with Akatsuki… Politically, to have one's leader kidnapped didn't send a good image to military allies. To top it off, murder only added to the humiliation. Suna would surely have become the laughingstock of ninja villages throughout the continent if their Kazekage did not return. Another missing Kazekage was to be avoided. In the end, to have Gaara alive and well after his run-in with the clandestine organization was a fortuitous for Suna.

 

Though everything has its price…

 

She gritted her teeth, stiffening and easing the muscles in her jaw.

 

It's in the past, can't change it now.

 

Temari's kicked the sand beneath her feet, successfully lodging grits of it in her sandal. She cursed.

 

Something's changed. After all this time, I still can't place my finger on it either. Thing's are different now. I'm different….He's different too.

 

The events following Shukaku's extraction had been catastrophic.

 

Just the thought of that polluting entity's presence, oozing with malice and ill intent, made the bile in her belly rise. Her mind flashed images of scattered limbs, decapitated corpses, chunks of rotting meat with eyes, and lips…Shadowed figures with equally shadow robes and faces…Indistinct script on discolored scroll parchment. She pressed her palms to her temples. Screaming, crying, and pitiful mumbling echoed in her ears. The distinct smell of charred human flesh filled her nostrils. It was true, that once you've smelled it you'll never forget it. It's incomparably worse than burnt animal flesh.

 

It's not real! Be Quiet! I'm stronger than you!

 

Fear, so much, she was going to be sick! She covered her abdomen with one hand while the other clamped over her mouth, as if that could somehow physically null the effects of her shock and prevent her from spewing the contents of her stomach. The bitter acidic taste threateningly lingering just in the back of her throat as she tried to swallow it back down. She felt dizzy and her body trembled, attempting to cope with the mental bombardment.

 

Not here...not now!

 

She was almost home. The walls of the great city were just barely visible in the distance. She took five labored steps, before halting. The throbbing on her head became unbearable. With what strength she could muster, she drove the fan into the sand in hopes she could use it to keep herself upright. Her knees weakened and eventually gave way under her…unconsciousness, her only defense. Temari crumbled there in the hot sand, with the rough wind sweeping over her as if she was just another sand dune in the endless wasteland.

 

That is where Gaara found her.

 

The desert looked the same from all the directions, a uniform landscape of sands and rocks. It just so happened that as Gaara scoured his vast surroundings he noticed a black shape rose from above the dunes Northwest of his position. These solitary treks into the desert still remained one of Gaara's long standing habits. His advisers especially Baki had urged him to bring guards, even if they may be useless. As Kazekage, bodyguards were more decoration than anything else.

 

Gaara recognized Temari's fan before he even arrived. He dropped to his knees before the mound of sand adjacent to the half-buried weapon. He frantically clawed the debris, the gritty grains becoming caught under his short nails. He pushed the aside the sand, dreading what he would find, but his fear drove him to dig even more zealously. Within seconds his hypothesis was confirmed Temari lay face-down, her sprawled form had created an air pocket beneath the dunes.

 

Testing the pulse in her neck and turning her head over to see her face, a quick look over revealed that she was not injured, although unconscious. He brushed away some sand away from her face, his fingers lingering on her flesh. He looked up; scanning the nearby area, but the wilderness around her gave no clue if she had been traveling alone or not or how she came to be there. Tracks, if any, were long covered by the ocean of grains. Gaara held her limp form in his arms, her head resting in the crook of his arm.

 

“You've returned.” Temari did not stir.

 

…to me

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED…

 

 

 

I tend to go off on tangents when I write, I hope it wasn't too obvious. (^^;)

 

Not too bad right? (^^;;;;

 

Gaara really only has female contact with Temari, rarely does he ever interact with other female characters, so I thought this match was more realistic.

 

Decided to make Gaara and Temari, non-blood relatives otherwise having them develop anything more than sibling affection is a bit wrong. Though, for those of you that like the kinky stuff, I guess you can reread the fic and overlook that section. LOL