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Rasa stood there, face scrunched up and red. As if steam was coming out of him. Temari held her breath. She never made him this mad before.
“Why the fuck are you crying?” He yelled, “I did not raise a weakling!”
She didn’t know how it happened. He was training with Kankuro and started to become aggressive. She could see the fear in her brother’s eyes. She thought that maybe if she stepped in her father would stop. All she accomplished was giving her brother a chance to escape.
Maybe that was good enough. She could take whatever her father had planned.
Short comments turned into heated replies, heated replies turned scolding. Before she knew it he hit her across her face. She couldn’t remember if it was a punch or a slap. All she could remember was how badly it hurt.
Shame creeped its way onto her fathers face. Guilt of hitting his first born, the one that looked too similar to his late wife. He didn’t know what to do with these feelings. Didn’t know what to do with the fact that his daughter had tears falling down her cheeks.
He didn’t know what to do. So he became angry.
“Shinobi. Don’t. Cry. I thought you wanted to be a ninja!” Foam was forming at the corners of his mouth. “ Why are you crying?! Don’t make me ask again.”
She’s been scared before. But this was different, this was worse. She was told to trust him. The Kazekage. Her father. Her dad. She didn’t just feel fear, she felt betrayed.
She tried calming him down. “I- I was just… Caught off guard! I’m sorry. I swear I’m trying to stop!”
He took a step closer. You could see his veins popping out. How angry he looked was not helping her stop crying.
In a tiny voice, she whispered. “ I’m so sorry .”
“SORRY?” He scoffed. “ Pathetic. How the fuck did I raise such an overly emotional little girl?”
He raised his hand again. Temari bit the inside of her cheek. I promise not to cry again. She thought. I promise.
“Lord Kazekage!” Someone called out. “She is seven, please give her some grace!”
No, don’t pity me. Please. Just don’t.
Rasa glared at the kunoichi standing at the doorway. His eyes made their way back to the girl on the floor. “Don’t ever let me catch you crying like a baby again.”
She swallowed. “Yes sir.”
“And you,” He started walking towards the woman that stopped him. “Meet me in my office. Now.”
She never did see that lady again.
And she sure as hell didn’t cry again.
One foot in front of the other.
The Sand Kunoichi was running on pure adrenaline.
She hadn’t seen her brothers yet. If she did, she didn’t notice. She only saw glimpses of a few of her friends from the leaf. She couldn’t comprehend who was alive and who was not.
Her head was pounding, her eyes threatened to shut every time she blinked. Her feet were basically screaming at her to stop, to take a break. She feared that if she did then she wouldn’t be able to move again. But she was so tired… No! Keep moving. Don’t stop.
Behind her she heard a medical ninja talking to someone. They were saying to get a few bandages from the tents and let people (who were able to) take care of themselves, it would save time. She could do that. It would keep her busy.
She made her way to the closest medical tent. Not paying attention to any of the cheers or crying going on around her. Her legs hurt and she couldn’t breathe, she should take a break. She couldn’t bring herself to.
Once she was inside she felt nauseous. The strong smell and all of the bodies on the ground. Some in bags. She was ready to throw up. She asked a shinobi who was standing where the bandages were. He pointed to a room that had a curtain as a door.
They’re were noises coming from behind the curtain. She pushed the piece of fabric aside and took a few steps in.
Holy shit.
He was going through something. Probably looking for papers, or some weird medical thing he was told to find.
Nara…
He turned around and saw her, obviously taken aback.
Her shoulders tensed up. She inhaled and wouldn’t let the air go. Convinced that if she did, she would drop.
Someone outside was yelling orders, telling people to do things. A hint of worry was in their voice. The person stopped for a second to speak with another. Oh my god… It was Gaara! She couldn’t make out exactly what he was saying but one thing was very clear to her. Gaara was talking with Kankuro. Her brothers were alive! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!
She was snapped out of her thoughts when the man in front of her said the most annoying and (In her humble opinion) on brand thing for him to say. “You know, you look really tired.”
She snapped.
A laugh escaped her mouth as her shoulders fell and her legs betrayed her.
Her knees hit the ground and tears started to roll down her eyes. She felt so stupid and so small. Daughter of the fourth Kazekage, sister of the fifth and here she was. She tried whipping them away but her attempt was unsuccessful. She started to have trouble breathing, it quickened and hurt.
She hated crying.
But, she couldn’t help but feel a weight being removed from her body.
All she could remember was that day. Her fathers yelling, her apologizing. Basically begging herself to stop.
A hand made its way to her shoulder. Shikamaru was also in a panic. He would never admit it but he admired the girl in front of him. The way she carried herself, the way she always said what she thought no matter what, the way she kept on moving.
He quickly realized that no matter what he did he wouldn’t be able to calm her. He sat down in front of her. He moved his hand that was resting on her shoulder and lightly grabbed her wrist, pulling it away from her face. Her eyes were red, the tears running down her cheeks were whipping away dirt.
He brought her arm closer to him and started drawing circles, hoping that he could trick her into fixing her breathing. The circles turned into lines and that turned into him tracing the creases on her palm. Thankfully over time her breathing slowed and her sobs were now silent. That was progress, right?
Temari quickly opened her mouth to say something but closed it just as fast. They’ve been sitting for at least ten minutes, someone would be looking for them soon.
Shikamaru decided it was time to break the silence. “Temari-”
“I’m sorry.”
… What? Why the hell was she saying that she’s sorry?
“Why? You didn’t do anything wrong Temari. You do know that, right?” He tried his best to reassure her.
Her breath hitched. She flung her arms around his neck, her chin resting on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” She repeated. “I’m sorry for calling you a ‘crybaby’. I’m sorry for being mean to you. I’m sorry for not being there. I’m sorry for everything that’s happening currently. I’m sorry for making you worry when you have everything else to worry about. I’m so fucking sorry Shikamaru. ”
He allowed his arms to snake around her. Refusing to let go.
“It’s okay,” He said. “Everything’s alright.”
She pulled away and laughed to herself. “I guess I can’t call you ‘crybaby’ anymore?”
They locked eyes for a second. “Nah, you still can, troublesome woman.”
She smiled and got up. She went behind him and picked up the bandages she originally came there to get.
The kunoichi started to leave but turned around before she could. Shikamaru was still sitting on the floor. She took a few steps towards him and he looked up at her. She couldn’t help but think that he looked like a lost puppy.
She put the bandages in her pocket. She took her hands and placed them on his cheeks, tilting his head up.
She placed a quick peck on his forehead and left before he could say anything.