Ahem... please forgive any excessively emotional content :)
o-o-o
"Damn it, Temari."
The dark-haired young jonin sat by the bed, whispering softly to the still figure lying there.
"Why did you have to do that? Why did you have to go and jump in and save everyone, and get yourself killed? Why did you have to…die…" His voice broke and he reached for her cold hand before continuing.
"I wish you'd wake up. I wish I could be the one lying there instead of you. I... I'd do anything… I wish I'd told you I loved you more often." He choked up again and sat silently staring at the girl as if he could will his own life into her as she lay in her white burial dress.
"You look so beautiful, 'Mari… there's only one thing missing. I got something for you." He reached in his pocket and brought out a small box. "I was waiting till your next visit, but it's too late for that now… I was going to ask you to marry me, Temari… you would have said yes, wouldn't you?"
A tear slipped down his face as he eased the ring onto her limp finger.
"There. Now you look just like a bride. My bride… I keep expecting you to open your eyes and start laughing at me for saying something so soft. Or call me an idiot and whack me one with that daft fan…"
She didn't respond.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do now, 'Mari. Do I have to carry on, watching clouds and going on missions and just living? I don't want to… not unless you can live with me, but now you can't."
He chuckled softly, mirthlessly.
"You'd be calling me crybaby by now. I'm kind of surprised you haven't revived, just to make me shut up. If you really were here, I'd be irritating the heck out of you…" He sighed and looked down at the pale, still hand he held.
"The ring suits you, you know. I didn't think you'd want a big, sparkly one… this one's perfect for you." The solitary diamond twinkled in the morning light.
"They're going to bury you soon, 'Mari. Funeral's at noon… I'm going to leave before they come to collect you… I want to remember you alive, vibrant, troublesome… not like this. I'll be at the funeral, though... you'd kill me if I didn't show…"
Footsteps sounded outside and he slowly got to his feet. A tear dropped onto Temari's face as he leant over and kissed her cold forehead one last time. He straightened slowly, reluctantly, and walked to the door. He paused.
"Love you."