The stars filled the night sky in Suna like glitter on a dark canvas.

"It has been some time since we get to sit down here, all three of us." Kankuro sighed as he took a sip from his cup of sake. "I can't believe that you are actually going to move to Konoha tomorrow, I mean, I never even thought you would be getting married, not to mention to another village."

Temari rolled her eyes with a smile. "Come on, I am not that bad."

Gaara was quiet as usual, listening to the happy bickering of his brother and sister.

"If it were not for that scare we had with Gaara's marriage plans," smirked Temari, her face covered with a hue of pink. "I would have moved to Konoha already."

"Sorry." Gaara muttered, instinctively. "I did not mean to."

"Bro, she is joking." Kankuro patted Gaara on the shoulder. "As our Kazekage, you need some humour in you too."

Gaara looked at his brother and smiled a little.

Temari stared at the endless sand sea in front of her.

That day…

She thought she would die, as the attacker collapsed in a pool of blood.

Gaara … Gaara …

What about her little brother? What about the Kazekage - the valuable hope of Suna?

Her vision was shaky and dark, just as she thought she would lose balance, somebody's arms wrapped around her, supporting her exhausted body.

Amidst her fading consciousness, she could still make out the face of that person.

"Troublesome, how did you get yourself into this mess?" His voice was laced with concern. "Let's get you to the medical shinobi."

She was relived, to see the face of her fiancé.

"Sorry about this , but … Can you please go look after Gaara for a bit?"

She swore she could hear him suck his teeth.

"After I leave you with the medics."

At that very moment, it reminded her why she decided to devote her love to this lazy man in front of her.

The sense of security he gave her - to make Temari of Suna feel safe is no easy task and she knew it.

And somehow, he pulled it off without much effort, from a grumpy frown to the warm hands that held her up and cradled her like a Princess right now.

This was the man she wanted to live the rest of her life with. She was sure of it.

Temari smiled as she took another sip of the sake.

"I have one question for you." Kankuro was louder than he usually is, staring at Temari with his brown eyes.

"What do you see in Shikamaru?" He asked, arching an eyebrow beneath his painted face. "I mean, he is a nice guy and all, but why him?"

She chuckled softly.

Back at the time, all the way back to the Chunin Exams …

She thought Sasuke was cute, dark, handsome … just like every other girl would.

That lazy boy she met in the final rounds – lazy, unmotivated, irritating … she would not hesitate to knock some sense into him.

And he defeated her, caught in his shadow, he could have delivered a serious, if not fatal blow, with a kunai or whatever he had.

But instead, he held her in place and raised his hand, giving up his victory.

She loves winning, but that victory tasted bitter in her mouth.

Never had she thought that she would meet him again, after the Invasion, this time saving his ass from the sound ninja.

More so, she never knew that she would turn around and proudly grin at him, just like a little girl asking for a reward for a good deed – she had not done that for so long that she almost forgot she could be like that.

Her heart stirred, even ached a little when his father slammed him for being a coward, something struck her when he cried and promise never to fail again.

Maybe he had something other than extra weight on his shoulders now.

He grew faster than she thought he could, taller than her when she finally noticed.

Something about him just made her smile, perhaps it was the way he outsmarted her, perhaps it was the way he expressed his annoyance to her 'troublesomeness'.

The moment she realized that he was truly a man, was when he avenged the death of his teacher by killing, or rather, incapacitating an Akatsuki member, all by himself.

He became increasingly important – acting as proxy commander in Gaara's place during the Fourth Ninja World War; following the footsteps of his father and becoming the important figure in the shinobi world he is today…

But no. That was not the reason why Temari chose him.

As the daughter of the Fourth Kazekage and the sister of the Fifth, a beautiful and powerful kunoichi in her own right, she never had problems with suitors – they drooled upon the trail she treaded upon.

It was their bond that separated Nara Shikamaru from the rest.

How they understood each other, care for each other.

Even more, how they realize the pain each other bore, and their mutual goal to create a better world for their King – the children of the future.

He is a man, a man who knew the value of love, a man loyal to his cause and would protect those he held dear fiercely.

He is a man with shoulders that she could rely on, as they stared at the sky, watching clouds for seasons and seasons to come.

He is Nara Shikamaru. Konoha's Nara Shikamaru. Temari's Nara Shikamaru.

"Well?" Kankuro arched an eyebrow, she turned and saw Gaara's anticipating gaze, and Kankuro's irritated tapping fingers.

Temari smiled at them, shaking her head. "Troublesome."

Gaara looked very confused while Kankuro chuckled. "Fair enough, he does seem more like the subtle type, really."

"You said nothing, Temari."

"You will understand sooner or later, Gaara." She reached out her hand and ruffled his dark red hair.

The Kazekage did not flinch; instead he was enjoying the moment a little.

"If only father and mother are here to see you, Temari." Kankuro sighed softly.

She smiled and threw her arms around the shoulders of her brothers.

"I am sure they will be very proud of all of us." She grinned at her brothers.

"Tch, yeah." Kankuro rubbed his nose.

"At least one of us gets to be happy," Kankuro laughed. "Don't worry, Temari, I will take care of Gaara."

"More like Gaara taking care of you," Temari sighed with a grin.

"Gaara?" She turned at her quiet little brother, who was silently enjoying the moment, sipping on his hot tea.

"I want you to know," she hugged him tighter. "You are the best Kazekage this village has ever seen."

Gaara stared at his sister, his expression slightly confused.

Her fingers pinched his face lightly. "We are very proud of you, very, very proud."

Kankuro gave him an affirming nod.

"And don't worry if I am in Konoha, I will make sure this friendship we forged with blood and tears will last." She ruffled both her brothers' hair. "You can always come visit me! Now that the Shinobi Union is up and running, we will get plenty of chances to meet!"

She stood up at the ledge of the Kazekage residence, a cup of sake in her hand.

"I will never forget about this endless desert and the beauty of the desert sky, the dry air, and more importantly, everyone here at the village."

Gaara thought he saw a tiny tear rolling down his sister's face.

"Father, mother," she said softly, staring up into the sea of stars. "We are your legacy, and Suna will be great and peaceful."

She clasped her hand together, closing her eyes.

More importantly, Father and Mother.

I found someone, someone who would hold my hand as we create a new world of shinobi, a better world for our children and their children.

I found someone who would love and protect me, who will give his life for me, just as I would give him mine.

I found him, father and mother.

And I am going to marry him.

She opened her eyes and stared as her diamond engagement ring basked under the soft starlight, shinning like a sole gem in the endless desert sea.

This was her last night in Suna, tomorrow is going to be a brand new day.

Author's note:

Long time no update! Enjoy!

Thanks for the love :3

V.S.V xoxo