Hello Dame, I mean Sir...

Who: Sakura and Temari
When: one random day
Where: Clover Inn
Why: meeting face to face is always fun
Warnings: none, just some horrible armour that Sakura insists on wearing.

 

Temari enjoyed the calm chatter in calm Inn bars.  The short haired blond was wearing a slightly dirty white tunic with a gold sash around the waist, the Solaur sun screst on the back.  Her tights underneath were white as well, and her brown knee-high boots were slightly dusty.  Her brown gloves were still on her hands, and the captain of the guard was nursing the last spot of ale in her mug.

The day had been a bit long--understandable, she was the Captain after all.  The guards and other soldiers could be restless, as was she--though she know she saw a lot more action than the other knights, especially the Knights of the Realm.

Temari took another swallow, finishing off the glass.  She spared a glanc eat it, contemplating whether or not she should order another.

Sakura carried her armour down the stairs in an awkward manner.  She really should have gotten her squire to do this but he was out finalising the preparation of her moving into the house she had just brought.  It really would be nice to have her own place, she had mused, but she was now faced with the prospect of being tied to the Royal City.  It wasn't something she was happy about, sure Sasuke was here she mused but she did enjoy being out on active duty.

She stopped for a moment taking in the crowd at the bar; it was a quiet day apparently.  With that thought in mind she took another step, missing one step her foot landed badly on the next one.  Loosing her balance Sakura dropped her armour and grabbed for the railing beside her.

The loud clatter caused a few patrons to look over, including Temari.

She stood, slowly.  Her sheathered rapier that she carried while off duty scraped against the stool as she rose to her feet, and the twenty-seven-year-old walked over, pausing as she stopped beside the fallen armor.  She reached down, faced away from Sakura, and started to pick up the mess.

"Oh, you don't have to do that!" Sakura exclaimed to the woman who was now helping her, as Sakura made her own attempt at collecting her armour.

Sakura's armour wasn't something to be proud of, especially considering her position as a Knight of the Realm.  It was banged up and she had every intention of getting it fixed, hell that was where she was off to now. 

"Have to?  No.  However, assisting a knight is a privilage." Temari slowly held up the breastplate, her aquamarine eyes looking over it.  Temari prefered nice, gleaming armor, however, he was not opposed to the used ones.  It showed wear... experience.  The blond spotted Sakura's crest--however, she already knew who it was.

Dame Haruno.  The only Female Knight of the Realm.

Temari stood, holding some pieces, her eyes locked on them.

Sakura smiled sheepishly at the woman before her who was intently studying the armour.  Sakura's armour wasn't to be proud of; the piece in her own hands was threatening to rust.  Sasuke had once asked why she hadn't gotten new armour, he'd also asked why she didn't have a house too.  Sakura sighed and collected what was left on the floor.

"Thankyou for your help," she stated as she indicated for the woman to hand over the armour pieces she held.

"It's no problem." Temari held out the breasplate to her, along with another few pieces. "So how have you been doing since your little scuffle at Moonshire?  Is your shoulder okay?  I know how those spears can hurt when they nick you at the top.  Feels like the pain'll never stop when your hair brushes against it."

Sakura blinked a few times, processing what the woman in front was saying.  It occurred to her that unless the woman ad been there at Moonshire she shouldn't know about what had occurred.  Even her own wound had been kept quiet. 

"It's healed perfectly," Sakura stated warily.  It was true, the scar was so pale that even Sasuke hadn't noticed it.

"That's good.  I doubt the King will be sending any of you out for quite some time." Temari looked towards the door, walking over, her boots clicking against the wooden floor of the Inn.  She held the door open for Sakura.

Sakura cocked her head to the side curious; how did this woman know about the king and his orders?  She slowly took a step through the door, eyeing the woman.

"You obviously know who I am, but I don't know you," Sakura murmered, readying for an attack that could come at any moment.

Temari looked at her, aquamarine eyes locked on her.  Didn;t know who she was?  How could she not--

"Dame Haruno, how do you not..." Temari paused.  She then let lout a low chuckle.

"Oh, sorry.  My mistake.  How could I be so silly." Temari inclined her head towards her.

"I am Sir Temari Sabaku.  Solaur Captain of the Guard."

It usually came as a shocker to anyone.  The Captian of the Guard--the one who led the final battalion at the last rebellion of Eclipse.  The one who had slain several men in one go, known to be ruthless and cut-throat, admired by all the knights in Solaur, and even in other countries.  The Captain fo the Guard, of course, had no true legacies, after all, the name was always changing as a new Captain took hold of the position.

She was, however the first woman.

 Sakura almost dropped her armour again.  The woman before her was the Captain of the Guard? 

"Sir Sabaku?" she whispered disbelieving what she was hearing.  She clutched her armour closer to herself, ashamed that she didn't know that he was actually a she and also that the woman before her had seen first hand the poor condition of her armour.

"In the flesh.  Luckily." Temari offered her a small smile.  She looked over Sakura, taking her in. "Heh.  No one said you were cute."

Sakura flushed, even sasuke hadn't said she was cute.

"Um, thank you," she replied shyly.  "Guess I still have yet to meet everyone in the court and in The Realm."

Temari nodded, curtly.  She didn't say anything, however, continued holding the door open.

"This is getting kind of tiring..." He stated, trying to hint for Sakura to walk out.  She was, after all, still holding it from when they started talking, and she knew how tiring it could get to lug around armor. "Are you sure you don't need any assistance, Dame Haruno?"

Sakura laughed sheepisly and stepeed through the door.
"Sorry, I was a little shocked.  I've only ever corresponded with you so it's a sock to see you in person," Sakura stated apologetically.  "I should be fine, as long as I don't trip again.  I need to get this reshaped again so it's a bit more comfortable."

"Men's armor will never be a proper fit.  You should see the Master of Sword Hoshigki Kisame.  He shaped my armor properly for me." Temari spoke just like her writing, firm, confident, and nearly as if everything was an order, or a subtle request.

"It's just a few dents," Sakura lied, shuffling the piece that was threatening to rust under the breast plate.  "Plus I have no money to see the Master of Sword."

 "Hm." Temari didn't comment.  She merely watched at the redhead shuffled out the door.

"Moving?"

Sakura paused and gave Temari a curious look.  She hadn't even told anyone but her men yet that they were leaving the Inn.

"In a week I will be," Sakura stated.  "I finally caved a brought myself a residence."

Temari had eyes all over the town in the form of her guards.  She had an inkling.

"Ah.  I see." The blond nodded her head.

"I wish you luck then, Dame Haruno."

"You know, we sould catch up sometime and practice duelling together, it would be nice to duel with a woman instead of a man," Sakura suggested hopefully.  It was nice to know she wasn't the only female knight of the realm.
"You know, we sould catch up sometime and practice duelling together, it would be nice to duel with a woman instead of a man," Sakura suggested hopefully.  It was nice to know she wasn't the only female knight of the realm.

Temari nodded her head towards Sakura. "Yes, that would certainly be swell.  Men can get rather boring.  Predictable."
 "That and I rarely ever get a female opponent to fight on any battle field," Sakura stated with a smile."Women like us are few and far inbetween." Temari offered Sakura a faint smile of her own. "I would be honored, Dame Haruno."

"Well Sir Sabaku, I really need to get this fixed so I bid you a good day," Sakura said with a hint of regret; she had discovered another female within er ranks and now she had to part from her.

Temari nodded, signalling her goodbye to Sakura. "Farewell then, Dame Haruno.  Let me know if you need anything.  You can easily find me in the castle barracks."