Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Words Aren't Forgotten ❯ Can't Move On ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

"There are three major events in Suna's history, class, so pay attention. First was the scroll that was retrieved after the beast Shukaku was sealed for the scroll to keep Shukaku under control. Second, the death of a mass murderer, Kabutome, where one of the most famous Kunoichi destroyed him. Third, especially the most important, the sacrifice that Kunoichi made for everyone in Suna. Class, could you tell me exactly what sacrifice that was?"

"Sensei! I know!"

"Go ahead, Rini."

"She had the Kazekage kill her when Kabutome had implanted his soul into her."

"Correct. Now, could you also tell me where she resides now?"

"In the shrine north of the Kazekage's home. That's also where the scroll is."

"Extra points for your double answer, that is correct," Temari noted the answer down in her rule book.

It was hard each year to discuss with the class the sacrifice Ura had made no matter how long ago it was. Just ten years had passed, but each year still felt the same and each year just brought the same painful memories of her dear friend's passing. Though the students wouldn't guess that their sensei had been Ura's closest friend, Temari still left the classroom for some excuse just to take a few breaths before continuing. She was thankful Kankurou nor Gaara had to go through the same pain she felt each year. They would've gotten angry at the comments the students would make like 'that was stupid' or 'I bet she wasn't all that great'. Just nonsense comments, but Temari took them very personally.

"Sensei?" Rini rose her hand again.

Temari re-directed her attention back to the subject, they would just stay on the top for a week anyhow. A few hours had passed when Temari was able to take a few more breaths. Class had ended and it was time to head back to her place where Shikamaru was training their two children. Temari was just too out of it to really be the mother that day, so she just went inside and went to her room. She caught sight of Rei, her eldest daughter, look her way in worry. When her younger sister, Amai, wanted to follow Temari, Rei took her hand and held her back to continue training with their father. Temari was very thankful for the privacy that she would give Rei some type of gift that week.

She sat on her bed as she gazed at the floor. Gaara had remarried for Osamu's sake, but it was with a woman he had no intention of loving or caring for. The woman just merely took care of Osamu and tried to express her love for Gaara, but Gaara had her stay in a seperate house so she didn't think he wanted to touch her. In a way, Temari was thankful that he made it clear to her, on the other hand she wanted that woman dead anyhow. It was one of the other kunoichis that grew up with them, but she was nowhere near as good as Ura. This woman had bushy, short hair that she barely took care of and she was a little taller than Gaara. Her name was Amane and she took pride in being Gaara's second wife. But, the main reason why Temari didn't like her was because she had no respect for Ura, his first and true wife. Amane never went to pray for Ura's spirit and she had no intention of taking care of Ura's items still in Gaara's home.

Amane was rude to Temari and Kankurou, the only one she took care of was Osamu and she wanted him to call her 'mom'. Leila tolerated her as a sister-in-law, but she could barely stay in the same room with the woman. Temari and Amane had fought only one time, but Amane had told Shikamaru in a biased situation and Shikamaru went down Temari's throat for causing such trouble. That was the least of their marital problems, but Temari didn't care what Shikamaru had thought or said that evening.

There was a knock on her door and Shikamaru came in as he wiped the sweat off his brow. Temari looked over her shoulder and then sighed, were they going to get into another fight again? She was just one woman, how was she going to handle more and more problems? Shikamaru went over to her and sat next to her, "Hard isn't? I'm sorry about what you have to go through every year, I know it gets really tough."

"Yeah...it's like I get to see it and hear it every day each year. Whether I start a semester with it, or use it in a class lecture, or when I look over the tests at the wrong answers," Temari grumbled as she felt her hand being caressed by Shikamaru.

Though they had some marital problems, Temari didn't have to worry about Shikamaru leaving. They made their vows and renewed them several times, Temari and Shikamaru weren't going to get a divorce or kill each other just yet. Shikamaru kissed her hand softly, "Trust me, I see it everytime you come home."

Meanwhile, Leila watched Osamu practicing with his sand techniques as Amane stomped towards them with her face beet red. Leila had guessed Gaara had dismissed her from his office and refused to discuss any matter she brought up, the usual for Amane. Amane glanced over at Leila with intense anger, "What are you looking at? Don't look at me!"

Leila gazed back at Osamu, he remembered Ura and missed her very much. Amane tried to replace Ura many times, but Osamu knows the difference between his mother and Amane. He fully understands the death of his mother was a sacrifice she personally chose and he's very proud to call her his mother. Amane gazed at Osamu along with Leila and wiped her tears away, "I'm so proud of my son."

"Yes, my sister's son is going to have a bright future as the Kazekagae," Leila corrected Amane, she knew it got on Amane's nerve when people still refered to Ura instead of her herself.

"Tell me if i'm mistaken, but i'm pretty sure your sister is dead," Amane crossed her arms and looked over at Leila.

Leila glared over at Amane as much intensity as the powerful sun in the dessert. She couldn't stand Amane anymore than anyone else, Amane was a rude and mean person by nature and only married Gaara for the status that she'll never recieve. Amane forgot to understand that she couldn't replace someone with great shoes to fill, she'd have to be a better kunoichi than Ura to be respected by Gaara or anyone else in the village. Leila was the first to break the angry gaze they had on each other and then went over to Osamu, grabbed his arm and went back to Gaara's mansion. Amane tried to follow, but stopped in front of the mansion when a barrior of sand blocked her path.

Osamu pulled away from Leila's hard grip on his arm, "What's the matter? I'm 24 now and i'd like to be treated more of a man than a child."

"I just don't want that vile woman to think she's apart of this family because she's married to your father," Leila stated angrily as she glared over at the front door.

He mulled it over in his mind at the frustration his aunt was feeling. Osamu knew full well that Amane was supposed to be his mother-figure and he really did appreciate her kindness, but he'll never forget his real mother. Glancing back at Leila, he had to also understand what his aunt was feeling as well. She had lost her sister to a monster inside of her and had to tolerate Amane along with Temari and Kankurou.

"She kinda is apart of this family now, I mean she's been married to my father for seven years now," Osamu shrugged his shoulders as he looked out the window to see Amane ruffling her short hair.

"That still doesn't make things right between her and our family," Leila pointed out as she started for the back door to go to her place with Kankurou.

Osamu was left alone in the welcoming hall, stuck between his blood family and the woman that wanted to be his mother. There was only one woman that could truly be his mother, but Osamu was also torn between his own feelings of Amane's role in the household. He disappeared in a cloud of smoke into his own small apartment where his live-in girlfriend, Mimi, was cooking some dinner. She could see the confusion in Osamu's expression as he sat at their kitchen table.

"What's wrong, sweety?" Mimi untied her apron and sat in front of Osamu, "Is is Amane again?"

"Sorta..." Osamu shrugged.

When Osamu was upset or any negative emotion, he closed down to the world and kept everyone at a distance. He wasn't an emotional person when he was upset about something and usually kept to himself. Sometimes he opened up to Mimi or his father, but that was it. This time, Osamu just left Mimi in the kitchen and went to their room where he just went to the bed to take a quick nap from training all day and last night.

There was only one person who could get away with not speaking to anyone for that day. Gaara sat in his office all day, everyday, unless he had to go somewhere important. If anyone needed a mission or to see him, they could easily find him in his office at all hours any day. He sat in complete darkness with the windows open for some fresh air and light, but mostly Gaara just sat in the darkness to think on his own.

Day and night were the same anymore, how could things just move on when there's a sandstorm in one's heart and mind? Gaara had two wedding rings, one that he wore one in front of the other. The brass ring that had his name and Ura's name on it was the first ring on his finger, then the cheap ring he had bought for his second marriage. Though many people disagreed with his choice of a second marriage, he needed to have a woman in Osamu's life to look up to, though he now regretted the choice altogether. He had no feelings for Amane, she was just a good kunoichi that had a somewhat high ranking, but nowhere near Ura's.

Gaara took the cheap ring off as he disappeared to the shrine where his true wife slept eternally. He sat against her open casket as the incense candles burned throughout the room. The chakra that filled the candles were supposed to keep Ura's youthful features as she lay dead. Gaara had them imported from a far off country in hopes of providing his village with protection over Ura's spiritual watch. He knew no one would disturb him there in his sanctuary, whenever Gaara personally visits the shrine the doors lock automatically.

How could it be ten years already? When did time keep going when Gaara's sense of time stopped the moment the sand released Ura's lifeless body? The question was, how could he move on when his soul died that night too? Gaara wanted to die along with Ura, there was no reason to be a leader when his sole purpose of living was gone. Being the Kazekage was his first dream, something he accomplished with time, but his second reason was right next to him dead. He knew his family didn't want him to be depressed anymore, they didn't want him to get remarried, and they didn't want him have Osamu growing up to think Ura could be replaced by some other woman.

"Ura...is it time for you to wake up? Or is it time for me to join you in your eternal slumber?" Gaara mumbled as he brought his knees to his chest.

Age seemed to defy him as well, it had to be with his good chakra channel. He was near 38, and he still looked like he was in his late twenties, but it didn't matter to him. Nothing mattered to him that much anymore, not when all he did was eat, work, and help Osamu or his family. The only time he got to be truly at ease when he was at the shrine or when he went to sleep at night. Since Shukaku was out of him so many years ago, Gaara was finally able to sleep and dream. He dreamt of his time with Ura, how precious the time was to him and how he would do anything to get it back.

"Gaara."

Gaara's eyes opened wide as he heard a soft voice. He stood up and looked over Ura's lifeless body, there was no way he could've heard her speak.

"Gaara, open the door. I have some important news for you," the voice came from outside.

Leila stood outside the door with a scroll in her hand, Gaara felt a little silly for thinking Ura had said something. He stepped outside and looked around as he opened the scroll, but he guessed the news was going to be grave...