Chapter 11

"Okay wait, you gotta run that by me again." The familiar voice sounded through Suda's Sharkbeach gamer headset, the light of his computer illuminated his dark room. "Why didn't you tell her you signed up for the volleyball team?"

"Because she hates any and everything that has to do with volleyball," Suda repeated exhaustedly leaning back into the cushioned rolling chair.

"I still don't understand why you didn't tell her," Enos repeated.

"Tch,"Suda grunted, forcing his left thumb into his right hand as forcefully as possible. "Look, it's complicated alright." Suda muttered hunching back over the keyboard, the pixelated screen was a flurry of color as two large burly avatars decorated in monster part armor bounced around the screen attacking a large winged crystal like wyvern.

"Watch out there's an ice scream coming," Enos said.

Suda watched as the pixilated wyvern roared its head back, a white frost coming from its mouth. Then it slammed onto the ground opening its mouth in a screeching cry as it shot out ice at the two players.

"Nice try freezer burn," Suda grunted furiously, hitting computer keys to move his player in a flash of attacks towards the monster.

"Ha, look we did it!" Enos exclaimed pride and relief washing over Suda as the last attack hit and the wyvern fell to the ground in defeat. 'Victory' was spelled out in large block letters as cut scenes of the final blow played in the background along with cheesy victory music.

"There goes the Screeching Fegiana, next is the Fanged Saberbeast." Suda said smugly. "I think that was our quickest kill yet."

"Quit trying to change the subject." Enos responded sternly.

Suda should've known better than to confide in Enos about Temari. Enos was the most persistently annoying person Suda had ever met. But he was a phenomenal gamer and one of the few people that knew Suda's secret Monster Slayer Universe addiction. The two had been friends long before Suda and Temari had ever met; however, the Pacific Ocean now sat between the friends after a new job opportunity for Enos' mother.

"I'm not trying to change the subject." Suda argued.

"You're the king of trying to change the subject dude," Enos admitted in a matter-of-fact tone. "Whatever your reason is, you seriously screwed up."

"I know that, you shoulda seen the way she looked at me. It was like she was terrified… like I was a stranger." Suda grabbed the back of his head running his fingers through his crimson hair.

"Man, put yourself in her shoes, I mean what if you were to show up at a concert and find out she was the opening act."

"Temari is a horrible singer,"

"That's not the point dumbass!"

"Then what is the point?!"

"She feels betrayed!" Enos practically yelled into the microphone causing Suda to wince at the feedback. "She feels betrayed by her best friend."

"I know! I get that part," Suda shuddered looking down at the hardwood floor. "What I don't get is how to make her forgive me."

"That I can't tell you bro. Women are complicated." Enos sighed.

"Damn right," Suda sighed. His mind drifted to her scared eyes looking up at him. His hands began to tingle at the memory of her skin. She had grown so much since the last day of middle school. When he first saw her walking the school grounds he almost didn't recognize her, Temari's curves had demanded their appearance like she was a fully grown woman already. Just thinking about her now: the way her skirt teased at a peak of her soft skin, the way her uniform shirt fought to stay closed around her chest with a single button, the way her hair swept messily across her thin angelic face, was enough to send goosebumps across his skin as well as a new found energetic hunger. Though her eyes were still as sad and empty as they always had been. At least they were until HE showed up. Suda involuntarily clenched his fists and grit his teeth as the memory of Kurasuno's captain holding Temari crowded Suda's brain. As long as Suda had known Temari, she had never been romantically interested in anyone. With the exception of the Oikawa incident, she wasn't the kind of girl that wore her heart on her sleeve. So how had Karasuno's captain gotten her to open up so quickly? How was it that she let Karasuno's captain hold her but Suda himself never got the chance?

"Hello earth to Suda!" Enos exclaimed.

"What?!" Suda shot slightly annoyed, the image of Temari in another guy's arms still at the front of his mind.

"Hey no need for the hostility man, I'm just trying to help you." Enos shot back the same attitude. "As I was saying, you gotta tell her everything man. Just rip the band-aid off and tell her how you feel."

"She doesn't want anything to do with me anymore."

"Did she say that to you herself?"

"Something along those lines," Suda trailed off.

"That was probably just heat of the moment shit," Enos said. "You need to talk to her, bring her some chocolates and flowers or something…"

"You think that will actually work?" Suda asked, trying to hide the hope in his voice.

"Maybe, maybe not but how long are you going to sit here and be in a pissy mood over it?" Enos paused and let out a deep sigh. "Look man, I've known you for a long time now and I know how long you've had these feelings for Temari. You need to man up and tell her how you feel before someone else comes into the picture."

"What if someone else already has?"

"Don't know until you try."

"You didn't see the way she clung to him." The words were more of an out loud thought than a statement.

Silence came over the headset until Suda heard his friend's deep sigh.

"You don't know what's going on with her right now. Looks can be deceiving. You're not gonna figure anything out by hiding in these video games."

"Ouch," Suda chuckled.

"You need to hear the truth whether you like it or not and the only way you're gonna get it is by talking to her." Suda knew Enos was right though he didn't want to admit it. Just the thought of seeing Temari's face again made his chest sting. "Anyway man, good luck, I gotta start getting ready for school."

"Alright thanks," Suda muttered. "See ya later," he saved his game then logged out of the screen pulling the bulky head seat off his head and setting it on the desk. Suda sat back in the seat again staring up at the plain ceiling. He lifted a large hand to his chest rubbing the muscle to get rid of the sting but as long as her face remained in his head, so did the pain. As he sat back up in his chair, his eyes drifted to the small picture frame hanging on his wall of two little kids, maybe 10 or 11 in age, a boy and a girl on their first day of school. The boy's cheesy smile distracted viewers from the girl's shy smirk as she clung to the boy's hand. "If only holding her hand was as easy as it was then," he thought to himself.

"Suda!" his brother's rough voice filled the air followed by the sound of the front door closing.

Suda stood up and shuffled out his door which led to the apartment's dining room. To the left was the hallway leading to the front door. Hotaru stood in the walkway, setting his briefcase on the floor against the wall. Suda crossed his arms against his chest and leaned on the frame of his door.

"How'd it go?" Suda asked skeptically.

"Well," Hotaru scratched the back of his head, his curly crimson hair tossed about his head. "Tobio wasn't very excited to see me again. I don't think Temari remembers though."

"Figured she wouldn't," Suda answered. "She doesn't really remember a lot from then, Mr. and Mrs. Kageyama's death kind of blocked everything else out."

Hotaru nodded. "I kind of figured that when she introduced herself like she didn't know who I was." Hotaru walked over to the small table and sat down crossing his legs and setting a bag on the table. "Miwa sent over some food. She was surprised you didn't come."

"I don't think I would've helped anything." Suda said.

"Maybe," Hotaru said. "It was quite an awkward night."

"What happened?" Suda asked, walking over to the table sitting across from his brother as he opened the bag. The sweet smell of dumplings hitting his nose.

"Well, their grandfather was not too pleased with me." Hotaru said, slumping onto the table, letting his head rest in one of his hands.

"Well yeah, you're not even back home for a month before you knock up his granddaughter." Suda said, shoveling dumplings into his mouth.

"Do you have to be so vulgar?" Hotaru growled, flicking a plastic fork towards Suda's forehead.

"Hey watch it, you could take out an eye!" Suda exclaimed, dodging the fork letting it collide with the wall behind him. "You're the one who couldn't keep it in his pants."

Hotaru sighed again, a vulnerability passing over his face. "Miwa has always been my weakness,"

"Gross," Suda remarked.

"It's not like we don't have history," Hotaru defended sitting up.

"Yeah yeah, I know, I remember." Suda rolled his eyes dreading the high school sweetheart spiel.

"I mean it's not like I wasn't going to end up marrying her anyway." Hotaru said.

"Yeah yeah," Suda stood up holding the bowl of dumplings then shuffled to his room.

"We're gonna have another dinner, this time, I need you to be there." Hotaru said standing up facing Suda.

As soon as the words left Hotaru's mouth Suda inhaled a piece of a dumpling which stuck itself to the back of his throat. Suda grabbed his throat and dropped to his knees as he attempted to cough up the piece of sticky dough. When it didn't break free, Suda pounded his large fist against his chest, his eyes began to water as all the blood rushed to his head causing the sense of overwhelming heat in his cheeks.

"Suda!" Hotaru exclaimed as he grabbed Suda from behind and shoved his fists into Suda's abdomen.

"Get *cough* off *cough* me!" Suda pushed Hotaru away as the piece of dumpling came free from his throat. Suda quickly whipped the hot painful tears from his eyes and turned over sitting on the floor letting his back rest against the wall trying to catch his breath at the same time. "W-what did you just say?" Suda breathed heavily

"Miwa and I thought it would be a good idea to have a family dinner monday for us all to get reacquainted."

"Please tell me you're kidding," Suda begged, his brow furrowed as he put his hands together begging his older brother. "I can't go, I'm gonna be sick."

Hotaru looked at his younger brother confused at the vulnerable expression on his face. "Since when have you not wanted to hang out with Temari?"

Suda dropped his hands and looked to the floor, the same stinging pain returning to his chest. "Things are kinda complicated with us right now."

"Ah I see," Hotaru said, sitting back on his heels. "It doesn't have anything to do with the guy I saw with her tonight does it?"

"What guy?!" Suda's eyes shot to his brother.

"Tall guy with black hair, wearing some volleyball warm ups. I assumed he was a friend of Tobio's but given the look on your face…" Hotaru said.

"Tch," Suda grumbled looking back at the floor. "Whatever, it's not like I care who she hangs out with."

"Ah little brother, you've never been a good liar." Hotaru stood up brushing off his pants then walked to the other side of the dining room where the door to his room was located. "Dinner, Monday, attendance mandatory."

"Yeah, yeah," Suda waved off his brother then set his head back against the wall. All he could think about was her face.

~

"Breakfast is ready!" Miwa called from downstairs. Temari finished brushing her hair and set the brush down on her desk. She listened to Tobio's heavy footsteps cross the hall and down the stairs followed by the angry yelling from both Tobio and Miwa and eventually grandpa trying to break up the two. With a heavy sigh, Temari stood up and grabbed her bag then walked down the stairs to see all three sitting at the table, no one eating or speaking. Only an eerie silence passed between them all as Temari fixed herself a plate of scrambled eggs and sat herself at the table. No one dared to say a word. Tobio, Miwa and their grandfather radiated tension and anger so thick it felt as if it were pouring into Temari's very soul. Temari shared Tobio's feeling of betrayal. Sure they had their problems, but it's not like they weren't close, they didn't keep secrets. The only reason Temari hadn't asked about the father of the baby was because she thought Miwa didn't want to talk about it. She thought it was too painful for Miwa to share. Nevermind the fact that none of them even knew this guy. How was Temari to know that he wasn't just marrying her for the baby? What if he secretly was a horrible person? What if he was a drunk or abusive?

Their grandfather let out a deep sigh and sat back in his wheelchair, the squeal of leather was the only sound in the whole house.

"I understand you are upset Tobio, as we all are-" their grandfather began, his wrinkled face heavy with emotion.

"I'm a helluva lot more than upset," Tobio muttered.

"I'm sorry, okay?!" Miwa exclaimed standing up, throwing her hands on the table. "I'm sorry I made an adult choice and didn't consult my kid brother."

"That's not the point!" Tobio screamed jumping up as well. "What happened to no secrets in this family!?" Tobios words were like an arrow into Miwa's chest. Her mouth fell slightly open and her eyes went wide. The color drained from her face and she hung her head letting her hair fall in front of her before sitting down in defeat. Temari didn't bother to step in, nor did their grandfather. They were all feeling the same betrayal. "You broke the one rule mom and dad left us." Tobio's voice dropped in pitch, sounding more disappointed than angry. Miwa didn't raise her head to look at anyone. Temari didn't look at either of them but instead at the mahogany table, a heaviness settled into all of their hearts.

"Family means no secrets and love always," Temari meant to repeat their mother's words in her head, but they slipped through her lips. Tobio looked down at her, almost surprised she said anything.

"Come on Temari, it's time for school," Tobio spoke, taking on a softer tone. He then walked behind Temari. Without looking at anyone, Temari stood and followed Tobio out of the room.

The walk to school was silent and heavy. Temari walked behind Tobio watching the steam emit from his ears. Temari hugged her arms to her chest, unable to shake the heaviness she felt over her entire body. When they finally arrived at the school, Temari wasn't overcome with an overwhelming sense of urgency to get to the safety of her desk. Instead she just felt drained and defeated. Temari was even more oblivious to the crowd and conversation as ever. She didn't notice Nishinoya calling her name or Suga accidentally bumping her shoulder. Instead of avoiding the crowded hallways to her classroom she wandered through them not caring whose eyes were on her or who was touching her. It wasn't until Kinjo grabbed her shoulders that Temari realized she was sitting at her desk in the classroom.

"What is up with you?" Kinjo asked, her brow knit in concern.

"N-nothing," Temari said, grabbing her notebook from her backpack.

"Bullshit, I've been calling your name for like five minutes and you're just staring off into space." Kinjo said.

"I haven't even been here five minutes," Temari argued.

"Okay smartass," Kinjo remarked, setting her head on her hands, her makeup highlighted by the sun pouring in through the large windows.

"Sorry," Temari sighed, laying her head on the desk. "It was just a rough night… and morning."

"What happened?" Kinjo begged. "Whose ass do I need to kick?"

Temari shook her head. If Temari told Kinjo about Miwa's new fiance she'd have to explain Miwa's pregnancy and that was still something Miwa didn't want being talked about. "It's just family stuff,"

"Talk to me about it," Kinjo grabbed Teamri's arm, her intense gaze made Temari uncomfortable because Temari felt she couldn't hide the truth from Kinjo. Temari knew Kinjo wasn't the kind of girl to judge character, and she was the only friend Temari had.

"Alright class let's begin," Mr. Toshi began as he walked into the classroom.

"I'll tell you at break," Temari said and Kinjo nodded, finally loosening the death grip around Temari's arm.

"I can't believe she would do that," Kinjo exclaimed as they walked through the halls to lunch. "I thought you guys were really close?"

"Yeah," Temari scoffed. "That's what I thought too,"

"What was the guy like?" Kinjo asked.

"I don't know, I didn't say anything to him. He wore fancy clothes though,"

"Maybe he's rich and he's come to sweep your sister off her feet and take you guys to live in a nice big mansion somewhere." Kinjo smiled.

"Or he's some psycho killer with a foot feedish," Temari said in a serious tone.

Kinjo let out a nervous laugh. "Calm down, that's probably not the case."

"Hey first year!" Temari heard the high pitched voice out of nowhere before her body was slammed into the lockers. Her shoulder jarred and head hit the hard metal as her books went flying as her knees hit the hard floor, her other hand shooting out to brace her fall.

"What the hell was that for?!" Kinjo's voice argued furiously. Temari sat back onto her feet, grabbing her head as pain shot through the right side of it and her vision began to blur with hot stinging tears.

"Better watch where you're going first year." The high pitched voice giggled just in front of her. Temari looked up at the blonde girl crouching over her. "Oh was this yours?" The girl had picture perfect makeup painted on her face and blond hair that was curled immaculately in place. She held up Temari's notebook flipping through the pages.

"Hey give that back," Temari held out her hand though dropped it as pain shot through her shoulder. Why was this girl going through her sketchbook? Was she the one that shoved Temari? Where did this girl come from?

"Look what we have here, Yamabe," the blonde girl held up Temari's sketch book which had flown out of her hands.

"Wow these are really creepy," a tall brunette laughed as she looked over the blonde girl's shoulder into Temari's sketch book. She also wore picture perfect makeup and clothes that looked two sizes too short.

"What a pathetic loser," the blonde girl's laugh echoed in Temari's head as she watched on in horror. The blonde girl began ripping the pages in half one by one ruining all of Temari's drawings.

"No!" Temari screamed out as she attempted to stand. As Temari lunged for her notebook the blond girl stuck out her foot tripping Temari who skid across the floor.

The blonde girl let out another shrill laugh. Temari noticed the tight clothes and short skirt realizing what these girls were. They were the populars. The hot girls in school, the ones who all the girls wanted to look like and all the guys wanted to date and they were the ones who were humiliating Temari in front of the entire school.

"What the hell Mitsui?!" Kinjo exclaimed, attempting to run at the blond girl; however, the brunette stepped in the way.

Mitsui laughed and stepped onto Temari's hand, smashing it on the ground. Temari cried out in pain desperately trying to pull her hand out from under this girl's heavy foot.

"You two are the pathetic losers!" Kinjo exclaimed, grabbing the brunette. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Apologize!"

"Why should we apologize to a first year scum like you?" Mitsui laughed, twisting her foot on Temari's hand. Temari cried out again, her skin burning and bones snapping. A stabbing pain entered her fingers and shot up Temari's arm. The brunette pushed Kinjo hard enough to send her flying into a trash can.

Laughter filled the halls from students passing by, no one bothering to stop any of it.

"Listen up first year," the blonde grabbed a handful of Temari's hair pulling Temari's head up off the ground, Mitsui's long sharp nails cutting into Temari's scalp. Temari howled out in pain. "Stay away from Daichi. He's mine. If I ever catch you walking with him, touching him, so much as even looking his way, your dead meat." the girl growled then threw Temari's head down on the floor. Temari couldn't help the tears pouring out of her eyes as she grabbed her head in pain. "Bye bye now," both girls strutted away from the two as quickly as they came.

"Yeah you better run!" Kinjo yelled, finally getting out of the trash can. "Temari!" Kinjo ran to Temari's side helping her up. However the only thing Temari was focused on was her sketchbook and the pain in her right hand. Each page had been ripped out and into pieces scattered on the floor. Her entire life's work of drawings, her biggest diary, ripped to pieces, her heart ripped with every single one.

"Damn Mitsui! Who does she think she is?!" Kinjo grumbled. "And all of you! How could you stand by like nothing happened?!" Kinjo ripped into anyone that stopped to stare but Temari didn't listen. All she could look at was the torn pieces of her heart littering the floor.

"Temari!" she heard in front of her. Looking up she saw Tobio's panicked expression as he ran to her. "What happened? Who the hell did this?!" He grabbed her arms, holding her steady. "What happened to your hand?!" Temari looked down at it, black and blue bruises were forming and it swelled about three times it's normal size. Something was clearly broken, the throbbing pain told her so. As Temari looked from the pages to her broken hand, her breathing became shallow and ragged. The air around her became thin and her body began to shake uncontrollably. "Temari look at me." His angry voice sounded as he grabbed her face forcing her eyes to move from the papers to his own face. His cool blue eyes were steady and fierce, the way they got when he was angry. His brow was knit together and his lips scrunched angrily together. "Are you okay?"

"No," Temari whimpered, shaking her head. She used her good hand to cling to Tobios as she fell against his chest. Tobio wrapped his arms protectively around his sister trying to calm her down. He knew all too well that if she didn't get her breathing under control she was going to have a panic attack.

"You have to breathe," he said softly, smoothing her hair as she cried into his chest.

""I-I-I c-can't-t-t-t," her chest rose and fell dramatically as she tripped over her words. Her good hand moved to his shirt and she gripped it so tightly Tobio was surprised the fabric didn't tear.

"Yes you can, just breathe," he soothed. With every breath Temari took it felt like the walls were closing in around her. Temari nodded, she had to get out of here as soon as possible.

"Who the hell are you?" Kinjo asked Tobio.

"I'm her brother, who are you?" he remarked angrily.

"Kinjo, Temari's my best friend," she said, crossing her arms.

"Did you see what happened?" Tobio asked sharply. "Who the fuck did this to her?"

"Mitsui and her bimbo bitch side kick," Kinjo answered.

"Who?" Tobio asked confused.

As Tobio turned to talk to Kinjo, Temari could see the shreds of paper scattered across the hallway getting ruined by other students' dirty footprints. Then she saw the paperless shell of her sketchbook. Every one of her drawings was destroyed. The drawings of her mother, her father, her family. Everything is gone. The paper and lead she had poured her heart and soul into... gone. The only thing that made her feel like she fit in somewhere, her safe place… gone. The laughs echoing through the hallway grew louder and louder until it was the only thing Temari heard. The faces of students gathering around with their phones in their hands recording her grew larger until they were the only thing Temari could see. Everyone was watching her. Laughing at her. Pointing at her, snickering. Everyone was talking about her. There was no escape from the laughter and the phone cameras. Hot tears burned her cheeks as she ran down the hallway pushing through crowds of people as she made her way out of the building carefully holding her broken hand to her chest. It didn't matter how loudly Tobio or Kinjo called after her, she had to get out! And even when she was out, she still kept running. She had to get away from everyone's eyes watching her. She ran and ran and ran until finally she found herself breathless and exhausted standing outside her front door.

"What are you doing at home?" her grandfather asked as she dragged her feet into the house. "Temari?"

She didn't answer him but collapsed on the floor mat in front of the door sobs still coming from her lips and tears pouring out of her eyes.

"Temari-" her grandfather gasped. "You're hand! You need to go to the hospital I'm calling Miwa!"

Temari didn't bother to protest, her grandfather had already left the room before she could. Instead she trudged up the stairs and collapsed onto her bed cradling her hand. Nothing had changed. She was still the girl who everyone picked on. She was stupid to think this was her chance. Hadn't she learned from the other times? Who was that girl? What had Temari ever done to her? Why was she so concerned with Daichi? Did Daichi have a girlfriend? No he said he didn't. Why would he be so nice to her if he did? Why would he take her out to eat and drive her home from school? So then who the hell was she and what did she want with Temari? Temari looked over at the picture she had of her parents sitting on her desk. She had failed them. All they had wanted was for her to be a normal girl, to be happy and have friends. She had failed them miserably. Her cell phone kept buzzing in her pockets. It was either Tobio or Kinjo. Maybe even Miwa.

Temari looked at her hand, the skin wasn't broken, there was no blood. However her hand hung in a way that was definitely not natural and even made her stomach sick looking at it. A queasiness came over her as she noticed the white bone threatening to break her skin. Gagging, she threw herself onto the floor and over her trash can as the eggs she ate for breakfast came back up. Temari didn't know how long she sat over her trash can retching, but when there was finally nothing else in her stomach to come up, she sat back against her desk hugging her feet close to her chest.

There was a knock at her door but she didn't answer. She still couldn't catch a breath in between her sobs. Without saying anything the door slid open and footsteps approached her. The floorboards moved next to her but she didn't look to see who it was and they didn't say anything meaning it was probably Tobio. If it had been Miwa, she would have thrown herself onto Temari begging for answers. Instead, Tobio placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, not even knowing what to say but desperately wanting to take his sister's pain away.

"What are you doing, if you ditch school you can't go to practice," Temari said in between sobs.

"That's fine," Tobio said. "Nothing I can't miss."

Temari didn't say anything. Was he really choosing her over volleyball?

"Want to tell me what happened?" he asked.

"I don't know what happened, this girl just came up and shoved me into the lockers." Temari sniffed.

"Something had to have happened, this isn't random." Tobio argued. Temari didn't want to tell him that Daichi might be involved, though even if she did tell him he probably wouldn't do anything. He would ignore it just like he did at Kitagawa First. "Please don't shut me out,"

Temari sniffed and looked through the side of her eye to the floor. "I've never seen her around school before," Temari started. "But she told me to stay away from Daichi or else she'd do something worse."

"What?" Confusion was written across Tobio's face as he sat up, his shoulders growing square.

"We've been hanging out at school," Temari quickly added. "He brings me lunch and sits with me while I draw. I don't know, maybe this girl saw and got jealous?"

"He did this to you…?" Tobio growled.

"No!" Temari exclaimed, grabbing her brother's hand as he began to stand up. "Daichi doesn't know anything." she hoped this was true.

"Bullshit," Tobio growled. "I told you to stay away from him."

"He's not the bad guy!" Temari exclaimed. "Please Tobio, don't do anything just let me handle it!"

"No!" Tobio boomed. "I ignored this shit for a long time. I'm not going to ignore my sister's hand getting broken over a fucking guy!"

"It's not his fault!" Temari screamed, standing up as more hot tears spilled out of her eyes. "Just let me take care of it… please."

Tobio opened his mouth to argue but when he saw her tears, the anger in his heart turned to regret. Regret that he wasn't there, regret that he hadn't done anything to protect her.

Suddenly, the door to her room flew open

"What the hell happened?!" Miwa exclaimed, running into the room, cheeks flushed, hair wild, and eyes wide. As soon as her eyes fell onto Temari, Miwa ran to her little sister throwing her hands onto her face examining for any cuts or bruises. "Are you okay?! Where are you hurt?!"

Neither Tobio nor Temari answered but instead cast their eyes to the floor.

Miwa dropped her hands from Temari's face and looked at the two. "Are you guys seriously so mad you're not going to tell me why the hell you're on the floor with a broken hand?"

"Some bitch at school attacked Temari." Tobio finally grumbled, not looking at Miwa.

"Why?! What bitch?! Tell me who! I swear I'm gonna-" Miwa began as she kneeled in front of Temari holding her broken hand.

"No Miwa stop. Just let me handle it okay?" Temari argued.

"Temari this isn't acceptable, if girls are bullying you they need to be punished. I'll call the school, I'll call their parents for heaven's sake!" Miwa exclaimed looking up at her baby sister's tear stained face. Miwa let out a sigh, Temari's pain piercing Miwa's heart. Miwa put a comforting hand on Temari's cheek then pulled her baby sister into her arms praying she could take away the pain. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Temari couldn't stop the sobs from appearing again. "One minute I was walking with my friend, the next this girl was shoving me into the locker and ripping my sketch book."

"She ripped your sketchbook?" Miwa gasped, holding Temari tighter. Miwa knew what that sketch book meant to her. After their parents died, all three of them threw themselves into something. For Tobio it was volleyball, for Miwa it was work and men, for Temari... it was her sketchbook. Temari nodded as she sobbed into Miwa's shoulder. Miwa smoothed out her sister's hair trying to hide the rage she felt billowing inside of her. Miwa looked at Tobio who looked as angry as she felt.

"Did you see it happen?" Miwa asked.

"No," Tobio responded. "I didn't see anything until after it happened."

"So you don't know who this girl is?" Miwa asked.

Tobio shook his head. "But I know how to find out."

Miwa nodded then turned her head back to Temari. "Come on, let's get you to the hospital."

Temari nodded, wiping away her tears. The three stood and walked down stairs. Tobio took Temari to the car as Miwa explained the situation to their grandfather. Then the three drove to the nearest hospital.

When they arrived, Temari immediately noted the smell of disinfectant coming from everywhere. Doctors and nurses walked quickly but quietly from locked door to locked door. The waiting room was surprisingly quiet however. Not many people sat in the comfortable leather seats though she did notice the mother with an infant in her arms as well as an elderly couple in the corner.

"This way," Miwa ushered the two towards a large circular desk in the middle of the room. Male and female nurses in scrubs sat in front of computers and conversed with each other as well as a few men and women in long white coats. When they reached the front desk, a woman in grey scrubs and long black hair tied up in a bun looked up from her computer screen at the two.

"Hello, how can I help you guys today?" she spoke in a soft melodic voice that made Temari feel somewhat at ease in this cold bland building.

"Uh, my sister, she needs to get some x-rays. I think she broke her hand." Miwa said putting her hand behind Temari's back.

"Oh no, okay," the woman looked at Temari, a sad expression on her face when she saw Temari's hand. "Yeah that definitely looks broken. Let me just get your information and a doctor will come see you. It is going to be about a long wait I'm afraid."

"How long?" Miwa asked confused.

"Maybe a couple hours." the woman answered. Miwa looked at Temari wide eyed and sighed.

"Okay, that's fine. It's not like we have a choice," Miwa grumbled.

"Hold on Jenna," a familiar masculine voice sounded. Temari looked behind the woman to see the same man that was on her doorstep last night. Hotaru. "I'll take care of it," Hotaru laid a hand on the back of her chair as he handed the woman a file. He then looked up at the three, a warm smile on his face.

"Are you sure Dr. -" the woman began.

"Yes, yes of course," Hotaru smiled, waving off her words. "Tell the other doctors I will be taking an extended lunch," he smiled.

"Hotaru you don't have to do this," Miwa pleaded.

"It's no trouble at all," he smiled again. "Give me just a few minutes to finish something up really quick."

"Thank you," Miwa sighed then turned to Temari and Tobio. "Go sit down guys, I'll be right there."

Temari nodded and pulled Tobio over to the waiting area.

"Of all people, we had to run into him here," Tobio growled, sitting back in the chair as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"He's a doctor…" Temari watched Hotaru, his eyes unwavering from Miwa's. His stare wasn't a creepy kind that Temari would assume any kind of serial killer would have. But instead it was kind, it was gentle, it was unwavering. His features seemed to soften with every second he stared at her and it seemed that no matter what she said, the smile on his face was genuine. Temari recognized this look. It was the same look that their father had when he watched their mother. "Maybe he's not a serial killer after all…"

"A what?!" Tobio exclaimed, jerking his head to Temari.

"Shh," Temari threw her good hand over Tobio's mouth. "She's coming."

Temari sat back in the chair gently holding her hand as Miwa approached them and sat Down in the chair next to Temari.

"So he's a doctor now?" Tobio said not looking at Miwa.

"Now? What was he before?" Temari thought to herself.

"Drop it Tobio, this isn't the time nor the place to have this conversation." Miwa shot at him without looking.

Temari brushed off their conversation as she felt her cell phone buzzing in her pocket. It was probably Kinjo. Temari couldn't imagine the panic Kinjo was going through after Temari took off like that. Sure enough when the phone screen came to life there were 8 calls and 4 texts from Kinjo. Temari unlocked her phone.

Kinjo: Temari where the hell r u!

Kinjo: Why the hell did u run off like that?!

Kinjo: CALL me ASAP!

Kinjo: PICK UP YOUR DAMN PHONE WOMAN!

Temari: I'm fine don't wrry about me. Im w Tobio and Miwa @ hospital getting my hand looked @

Kinjo: About time you answer your damn phone!

Temari: I had to get out

Kinjo: It's okay, you just scared me…

Kinjo: Tobio txtd me when he found u

Temari: How do u have my bro's number?

Temari looked up at Tobio. His eyes were closed and his hands were crossed over his chest. Did he and Kinjo know each other? Wait if she wasn't the one who texted her just now then who was it? Temari closed out of the conversation looking at her other messages. A small blue dot sat by Daichi's name. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach as she opened the message.

Daichi: Are you okay?

Daichi: Kinjo told me what happened, I know you must hate me right now but please let me explain.

Daichi: Temari… I'm sorry…

"Alright Ms. Temari," Hotaru's voice sounded. Temari looked up from her phone, still trying to wrap her head around Daichi's message. "Let's get you some x-rays,"