Thinking ahead

P. S.: O. K., I gave up with reviews. It was only prologue at all.

Part two: Shikamaru

Authoress' notes: Well, adding Okami and ... to previous dedication. Uhm... and it's my first action stuff in English. Don't flame me.

Disclaimer: I dun own any original Naruto character, only my ANBU Haruka :P

Shikamaru POV

It has been a while since we stood there out of our battle stance, both of us drained of chakra off, yet still ready for facing enemies. All the trees in about one kilometer radius were cut down by Kamaitachi, so we could see anything suspicious. There were few of Sound nins left though and we didn't know where they were and actaully didn't want to know.

But there he - one of them - came, and although we were sure we are ready, we weren't. He appeared right behind Temari, shlashing her side with his katana, the oldest of all troublesome weapons. She shrieked while knocking him out with simple kunai, but started bleeding intensively. I was watching her, paralyzed with fear and not registering my own enemy that managed to stalk behind me. Or he was thinking so, cuz he had time for thinkin' since he was binded in my Kagemane already. I turned around smirking just to find only air... and being smacked to the back of my head so I don't remember anything that happened later. It must had been some sort of Bunshin...

It hurts. That was my very first thought when I woke up. I didn't open my eyes though, since I could listen her crying and I wanted to know why. Why is she crying? Because of me...?

„SHIKAMARU! Don't leave me...!" She cries like I'm dying... but am I not? Her tears were soaking my cheeks while her blood was soaking my chuunin vest... She was leaning over me, hugging me around my neck.

„Temari... don-'t c-cry..." soon I found out that I wasn't very able to speak. The pain was blurring my vision and other senses, so I didn't have to face it.

„Shikamaru! You are awake!" Oh, only that will hurt... I prepared myself for slap that never came.

„You know, Shikamaru... you're in awful condition... but you mustn't give up. I'm gonna quickly explain you our situation." She hardly tried to sound as sharp as ever. I slightly nodded and tried to straighten myself, but she yelled: „NO! You want to kill yourself! Stay still... Don't make your wounds worsen... Please.

Well -though it isn't well-, you are badly hurt. So am I. I can heal you. You can't heal me. You're going to be fine, because I'll save you. You're gonna live, I'm gonna die." I panted. Is she insane or what!

„NEVER! Temari, never say that again! I won't let you die!"

„SHUT UP! I made my decision! If it's not you, it's me neither, because I won't live without you! I can't!" When tears started roll down her cheeks again, just then I started to think.

She wants to die. To die for me. Am I about to let her or not? It isn't as egoistic idea as it might seem to be... I know how it feels to be left alone, when somebody died for your sake. She doesn't. Chouji, my best friend and Ino, our kunoichi were now dead, so I knew. Besides that, her brothers are still alive, protecting her and wanting her to live... needing her to live... and so am I.

I love her, so it's going to be unbearable for me when she dies.

She loves me, ...ehm, or I do think and hope that... so it's gonna be unbearable for her to live on when I am dead.

But I love her more than I love myself, I added bitterly. And girls are so much troublesome... because they are stubborn. So I'm not gonna let her know that she is really going to die, though she is.

„You know, Shika-chan... I'm gonna heal you... You. Must. Live. On." she said weakly, yet strictly as I felt her chakra continuosly flowing into my body for a while already. Unlike in the Fire country, each Sand ninja have learnt some medical jutsus in academy. It was a need.

„Shikamaru..." now she whispered, not having a strenght for more, caressing my cheek.

„I love you... You must... inform Hokage and... and my brother about..."

„I know my duty, now don't be afraid... everything is fine... I love you, too..." I kissed her lips one last time, before adding: „Now you are looking like crybaby... Please don't, Temari. Smile for me..." I assured her as she smiled. She died with this calm and beautiful smile on her lips.

I stayed alone, again. How many people it was, who died for me already? But it didn't matter how many were them, but how close they really were to you. And for me, they were the closest. Temari, I let you die because I didn't want you to suffer... You don't know how it is, when your closest person is gone because of you... I didn't want you to live with such a burden on your shoulders... To live is now more painful then to die.

Authoress' notes II.: Blah, it is sticky like soaked lollipop! I didn't want thaaat! Help! Or at least review, please!

Sheltie