Chapter 4

When worry nearly consumed Temari, there came a knock on her door. She ran to it in hopes that it was Shikamaru but Umi smiled hesitantly as Temari opened the door.

"Oh, Umi. I thought you were someone else."

"You mean, you wanted it to be that handsome ninja that just left your brothers office, right?"

Temari didn't make an attempt to answer the question but she pushed past Umi to see down the hall.

"He left."

"What?"

"The ninja was escorted to the main gates."

"Nani?!" Temari bolted down the hall to her brother's office.

Temari didn't knock, she slammed the door open and found her brother in his chair.

"What happened? Why was Shikamaru escorted away?"

"He refused to answer my questions."

"Which are?"

"I wanted him to admit to me the type of relationship that formed between you and him. You don't have to deny it. I know you two were active, if you're expecting his child then I would like him to admit it and take respons—

"WHAT?" Temari was utterly gob smacked. "Active? As in sexually? I'm not pregnant!" she exclaimed in defense.

Gaara looked up calmly and relaxed his wrists that were holding some papers. His silence was deafening.

"You thought I was pregnant?" she whispered. Temari couldn't stop her heart speed and yet her breathing was labored. How could he have thought that? Then, out of the back of her memory came the words she uttered when she came home, 'I'm not well…' Temari laid her head in her hands as she berated herself for her stupidity, once again.

"Brother, please, tell me what you said."

"I asked him many questions I do not recall right now."

Temari sighed in exasperation and turned to leave. She ran through the halls and out the front doors. The wind picked up her clothing and hair to dance along with the sand as she ran through town. Her ears could hear nothing but her labored breathing.

When she finally reached the gate, the men who must've escorted him, were congregating in the small gatehouse to get out of the storm that was brewing. Temari then noticed that hail was starting to fall across the ground.

Stopping to catch her breath, she leaned against the wall and looked through the entrance. No one.

'Shikamaru…I was too late…' she laid her back against the wall and closed her eyes. She didn't remember to grab a scarf. Her eyes were starting to sting and she had to cover her nose and mouth so she wouldn't choke on the thick air around her.

After moments of dealing with the pain and weather, Temari slowly stood up and headed for the closest, safe place to spend the night.

Not far from the gate was a small hotel. To Temari's knowledge, it wasn't used very often, but it would be good for her.

She stepped into the foyer and slid the door closed behind her. She smiled at the receptionist who was a familiar face but she didn't know her name.

"Welcome, Temari-sama. You shouldn't be out in this weather, my dear. Would you like some soup?"

"Yes, please. Arigatou." Temari smiled as the woman handed her a bowl and bowed.

Temari bowed and sat down at the foyer table. She was sipping her steaming soup when the owner walked in and smiled at his quest.

"Another one, dear?"

"Yes, she will need a room if the weather is going to get worse like they predicted."

"Sou," he grabbed a key and nodded.

Temari picked up her bowl and followed him down the back hall to a door. While he unlocked the handle, Temari heard noise in the room across the hall. Her head turned and the owner smiled apologetically.

"We have a guest in there. He just got in. I'm sure he won't disturb you."

"It's fine…" Temari walked in and was handed the key. She thanked him and he left. Temari went to the sink and tried to wash the sand from her eyes and face. Remembering her soup, she finished it and then opened her door to return the bowl. She had only walked two steps when she heard the other door open.

Freezing in place, she looked at him and tried to think of an intelligent word.

"Temari, what are you…?" but Shikamaru didn't finish his question. Then, before Temari could complete a thought, his face turned into anger.

"What? What is it?"

"I just think it's ironic that you accused me of having a family behind your back when you have..."

"Have what?"

He kept his mouth closed for a little bit and it was confusing and infuriating at the same time.

"Whose baby are you carrying?"

Temari was taken aback and then she realized why he would think that.

"I'm not pregnant. And I don't have…"

"A lover?"

Temari turned her head to face sideways, anything to not let him see her blush. She would never say such a word in mixed company…especially if she was under the scrutiny of someone like him.

"You don't have to say it so distastefully; I may not have one, but you thinking that of me..."

"Your brother said you had to be pregnant and was convinced it was because of me."

"He misunderstood what I said when I got home, that's all," Temari turned her back to him and was unsure if she should leave him to return the bowl or stay and talk it out.

"Did you get my letter?"

She turned to see his face, "You wrote that poem?"

He didn't respond, he just scratched his neck and looked away.

"I…I didn't know you wrote poems…it was…beautiful."

Shikamaru looked back toward her and sighed, "I meant it."

Temari slowly smiled but her eyes didn't light up, they seemed more sad than anything.

"We'd never work out, would we?" Her voice crumbled in her throat as she tried to say something else, anything else, to ease the thoughts between them.

His face showed his answer. It showed his doubt that there was a middle ground for them. The moments ticked by and they stared at each other as the storm outside howled and beat against the roof.

It wasn't until Temari blinked out tears that Shikamaru stepped to her and embraced her. Her bowl fell to the ground and rolled down the hall. She cuddled into his chest as her soft crying overtook her body.

After an eternity, Temari could feel her crying finally ebbing away, "Could you promise me something?" she murmured into his shoulder.

"Don't tell anyone?" he suggested.

"No…that's not it."

"What can I do for you then?" he asked into her hair.

"Can you promise to give me a reason to hate you?"

Shikamaru was perplexed by her question.

"You think by hating me, you won't miss me?" he more said than asked.

"I won't miss you, I won't think about you, I won't dream of you, I won't wish for you, I—

Shikamaru placed his fingers across her mouth and looked at her with concern. He then kissed her forehead and stepped back so he could take her hand. He led her to her rented room, closed the door, walked her to the bed and laid her on it. He pulled the covers over her, switched the light off and left.

Fresh tears started to roll down to the pillow as Temari stared at the dark door to the hallway. "Sayonara…" she muttered before falling into a restless sleep.