Chapitre 40: Envious
The rest of their tour carried on with a newfound casualness, as they wandered through the winding paths of Sunagakure. Their conversation flowed easily, drifting away from the official business that had brought them together and towards more personal matters.
"My dad can be...intense," Temari shared, her voice steady, eyes trained on the path ahead. "He puts a lot of pressure on us, Kankuro and me. He says it's because we're his children and that carries a certain expectation."
Ryomaru nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Raikage-sama is the same. He has his ideals and pride in our clan. We meet weekly and those meetings usually consist of him instilling those ideals into me."
A moment of silence passed between them, filled with mutual understanding. Then Temari asked, her voice laced with curiosity, "Do you live with him, Ryomaru?"
"No," he answered, shaking his head, a small frown creasing his brows. "I live with my mom, Miori."
There was a softness in his voice when he mentioned his mother. Temari noticed this and asked, "You're close with your mom?"
A genuine smile lit up Ryomaru's face, his ice-blue eyes twinkling like stars under the moonlit desert sky. "I love her dearly. We're really close."
Temari's gaze softened at his words. They walked in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversations seeming to blend seamlessly with the tranquil desert night. A cluster of stars blinked overhead, their distant twinkling a mirror to the intimate exchange between the young heirs below.
"My mom passed away when I was really young," Temari confessed, her voice barely a whisper against the soft hum of the desert night. "I hardly remember her."
The words hung heavily between them, a potent mix of sorrow and understanding swirling in the air. Ryomaru turned to look at her, his heart aching for the loss she'd endured at such a tender age.
"I'm sorry, Temari," he said, his voice sincere.
She offered him a small, appreciative smile, the shared moment of understanding bridging the gap between their worlds.
"So, you don't have any siblings?" Temari asked, breaking the contemplative silence that had settled around them. Her voice was gentle, almost hesitant as if she understood the intrusion into a personal territory.
Ryomaru shook his head, his eyes reflecting the glimmering moonlight overhead. "No, it's just me and my mom."
There was a soft note in his voice when he mentioned his mother, an affectionate tenderness that warmed Temari's heart. It was clear that despite the hardened exterior, beneath it all, Ryomaru was just a boy who loved his mom.
Temari observed him silently for a moment, something akin to envy flickering in her sea-green eyes. She had always longed for a mother's warmth, something she had been denied at such an early age.
"You? Only Kankuro?" Ryomaru asked, his tone gentle, mirroring the cautious note in Temari's own query from a moment before.
For a moment, Temari hesitated, her gaze dropping to her hands that were unconsciously playing with a loose thread on her sleeve. Her brows furrowed, and she bit her lip, a stark contrast to the confident girl Ryomaru had come to know in such a short span of time.
"I... I have another brother," she finally admitted, her voice a mere whisper carried by the night's breeze. She paused, taking a deep breath, before she continued, "He's... not well."
Ryomaru's brows furrowed, his mind processing her words. The silence between them was heavy, punctuated only by the distant hoot of a desert owl and the soft whispers of the wind. The revelation hung in the air between them, the vulnerability clear in her admission.
"Is he in the hospital?" Ryomaru asked after a while, his voice hushed as if afraid to break the fragile serenity that had settled around them. There was an undertone of genuine concern, making his question more than just a polite inquiry.
Temari shook her head, a sad smile tugging at her lips. "No. His illness is... different," she confessed, the sorrow in her voice tinging the otherwise serene night. "He's home but not... himself."
Ryomaru wanted to say something comforting, something to ease the pain that flickered in her sea-green eyes. But he found himself lost for words, his mind grappling with the right sentiment. He wasn't sure what to say to her. Their lives were worlds apart, yet here they were, sharing a mutual understanding, bonding over the complexities of their existences.
"I'm... sorry," he finally said, his voice raw with sincerity. His ice-blue eyes met hers, conveying more than his words could. A shared pain. A shared understanding.
Temari's eyes softened, and she offered him a small smile. It didn't reach her eyes, but it was genuine, nonetheless. "It's not your fault, Ryomaru. Life just... is."
The raw honesty of her words struck him, and for a moment, they stood in silence, the reality of their conversation sinking in. He suddenly found himself viewing her in a new light. Temari, like him, was burdened with responsibilities far beyond her years. Yet, she bore them with such grace, her strength becoming apparent to him.
The wind swept around them, lifting loose strands of their hair, carrying their silent contemplations into the vast desert. The village seemed to sleep around them, the flickering torches casting an enchanting glow on the winding pathways.
As they continued their stroll through the winding paths of Sunagakure, the weight of their personal conversations lingered in the air. Temari and Ryomaru found solace in each other's presence, their shared experiences creating an unspoken bond between them.
Temari broke the silence, her voice laced with curiosity, "Tell me more about your mom, Ryomaru. What is she like?"
A soft smile graced Ryomaru's lips as memories of his mother flooded his mind. "My Mum is an incredible woman. She is kind, compassionate, and fiercely protective of me. She has a gentle strength that guides me through the challenges of life."
Temari listened intently, her heart warming at the fondness in Ryomaru's voice. She couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the same connection he had with his mother.
"She is also a skilled shinobi," Ryomaru continued, his voice filled with pride. "She taught me everything I know about our clan's jutsu and instilled in me a deep respect for our traditions."
"I can tell how much she meant to you," Temari replied, her voice filled with admiration. "You carry her spirit with you."
Ryomaru's eyes met Temari's, gratitude shining through. "Thank you, Temari. It means a lot to hear that."
The moon continued its gentle ascent in the night sky, casting a soft glow on their path as they walked in companionable silence. The weight of their shared burdens seemed lighter in each other's presence, their understanding providing a respite from the demanding lives they led.
As they turned a corner, they came across a small oasis tucked away in a secluded corner of the village. Moonlight reflected on the shimmering surface of the water, creating a mesmerizing sight. Temari's eyes lit up, and she led the way, the sand soft beneath their feet.
They settled on a bench near the oasis, the sound of water trickling nearby adding to the tranquil ambiance. Temari leaned back, her gaze fixed on the stars above, a hint of wistfulness in her eyes.
"I wish I could remember my mom," Temari mused, her voice barely above a whisper. "I envy the memories you have of yours."
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
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Power Stone 
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