I want to thank all those who are following my story and also those who take time to review it. I'm not much of a reviewer myself so I understand if most people just read the story without reviewing. I'm also not the greatest writer but I'm working on it :)
"Temari!..." A young teenage girl with short Sandy blonde hair waved at a distant. She quickened her pace towards the older woman.
Temari had just bought a bag of veggies and fruits from a merchant when she heard the voice of the girl.
Having recognized the girls voice, Temari took her bags and started making her way through the crowds of people avoiding confrontation with the girl.
Oh no... Not her!
She kept hearing the girl shout out her name.
She's still coming!... Why won't you leave me alone!
When she figured the girl wouldn't quit until she spoke to her. Temari stopped.
She turned around facing the panting teenager.
"What is it Matsuri" she said irritated at the girl's persistence.
"Temari! I haven't seen you in a while. How are you!" Matsuri, oblivious to the irritation she had caused Temari, looked at her with marveled eyes. The girl had always admired the sand siblings ever since Gaara became her teacher. Temari, being the only girl out of the three, was more of a role model to Matsuri which was why she always made the effort to talk to the fierce kunoichi when she needed advice.
"I'm just peachy" Temari snarled. " what is it that you wanted"
The young girl's cheeks started blushing while her eyes started to look anywhere but Temari's glare.
"Well you see..." She started "I...I heard some rumors..." She brought her eyes back to look straight at Temari's. "...about you"
Temari's glare vanished. She looked at Matsuri confused as to what rumors she could have possibly heard when all of a sudden she froze in place. She felt as if someone had just poured a bucket of ice water all over her. She had forgotten all about her pregnancy for most of the day, even now it still felt like she was in a dream but she knew it wasn't. It's been around four months and she still didn't want to believe she was going through all this.
Temari let out a sigh. "What kind of rumors?"
"Well..." Matsuri started to fidget with her fingers. Temari could see how uncomfortable she was. "...it's none of my business but people are saying you have a secret lover..."
"Uhhh..." Temari didn't know whether to deny it or ask how such a rumor even started but before she could respond, Matsuri looked up at her still blushing but this time she looked determined.
"Temari-san please tell me who he is... It's that Konoha ninja isn't it? The one with a ponytail!" She brought her finger to her chin, thinking. "What was his name again?..."
Ugh how...troublesome... Maybe I should just tell her what happened. I'm sure she can keep a secret unlike Kankarou and Gaara.
Temari grabbed Matsuri's arm and dragged her to an empty alley while the young girl kept thinking of the Konoha ninja's name.
Temari massaged her temples.
I can't believe I'm doing this...
"I got it! It's Shimimaru!"
Frustrated, Temari put her hands on Matsuri's shoulders and looked her square in the eyes.
"Matsuri I'm about to tell you something but you have to promise to keep it a secret.. Got it!"
Matsuri gulped and nodded.
"OK well first off I'm pregnant" Matsuri's eyes widened, her eyes fell from Temari's face to her stomach.
"W..who's the father?" Matsuri asked, keeping her eyes on Temari's stomach.
Temari took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I don't know..."
It was dead quiet for a while before Temari continued.
"It was at a masquerade party..." Temari put her hands on her tummy and started massaging it. She felt her growing bump and closed her eyes. "He had black hair... It was neatly combed back and was held in place by gel... He was sooo...intriguing, that I just couldn't stop myself..." Tears started rolling down Temari's cheek.
All Matsuri could do was listen, she knew Temari didn't like people taking pity on her. But Temari wasn't one to cry so easily either but she was.
Temari cleaned off her tears before opening her eyes once more. "Now I'm pregnant"
Matsuri saw Temari giving her a weak smile. She knew of Temari's pride in her intelligence and strength, she knew being pregnant was probably the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to her especially because she didn't know who the father was.
"Does Shimimaru know?"
Temari's eyes widened at the girl's question.
"...no. Shikamaru doesn't know..."
"Well shouldn't you tell him?"
Temari was starting to feel herself getting hot. She gave out a nervous laugh "ummm I got a lot of things to do Matsuri but I hope I can trust you with my secret" it seemed stupid to Temari of having said that. She wouldn't have told the girl if she didn't trust her. But it had been the only thing she could've said to distract the girl from the current subject. She needed to get going before Matsuri decided to ask another uncomfortable question.
"You can count on me Temari-san!" She heard the young girl call out as she walked away.
Temari and Matsuri had parted ways but were oblivious to a little boy in the shadows that had overheard everything.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
Shikamaru had been walking towards the ambassadors hotel room when his ear started inching.
Some troublesome person is probably talking about me...
He was about to knock at the hotel door when an anbu appeared by his side. "Lady hokage has sent you a message" he stated and gave him the scroll before vanishing.
"Tch"
Shikamaru knocked at the door and was let in by 'Temari'
"Helllooo Shikamaru"
"Ugh you know how gross it is when you do that" he said disgusted while closing the door behind him.
Kankarou let out a laugh before heading to the couch. As he did so, Shikamaru started to read the scroll he had been given.
Shikamaru,
You are to accompany Temari back to Suna. The Kazekage has asked for your assistance on a mission stating he will need you and Temari. I have accepted the Kazekage's request so pack your stuff and get going.
- your Hokage, Tsunade
Shikamaru threw the scroll at Kankarou and started to make his way back from where he had come through a minute ago. "I'll be back in half an hour and then we leave"
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
"You what!?" Temari shouted.
"I've asked the hokage to send Shikamaru" he stated calmly, as he looked over a paper on his desk. "Are you not friends with him, Temari?"
"Yes but I don't want him to know about this" she said pointing at her stomach.
"People are going to find out sooner or later Temari"
"But why him?" Temari pouted as she sat across her little brother's desk.
Gaara stood up and walked to the door. "Shikamaru is the only one I can trust for this mission." He opened the door to head out "now if you'll excuse me I have to go water the cacti" before Temari could ask anymore questions the door closed.
...What mission?