Our Love's the Only Truth

Shikamaru and Chouji made their way to the roof where they were greeted by an impatient Kankuro. "What took you guys so long? Don't you understand how serious this miss-?" but was cut off by Gaara who raised his hand, as if signaling him to be quiet.

"Well, now that you're here, I can begin the briefing…" Gaara began as Shikamaru made his way to his position in the front alongside of Kankuro while Chouji made his way next to Naruto.

"Your orders are simple; bring Sasuke back here to Suna where he will be brought back to justice for his crimes against Suna and Leaf." As he glanced to Naruto.

"However…" he paused. "Should he prove to be too stubborn and unable to capture; Shikamaru…!" Gaara turned from Naruto and glanced at Shikamaru. "Since you are the Jounin in charge of this mission, you have my permission to kill Sasuke if it comes to that point."

"Sir; with all due respect but have you spoken to Naruto about this?" Shikamaru asked as he turned and glanced back at Naruto. He was shocked to see the look in Naruto's face; it wasn't a somber sad face but a face of determination, as if he knew that Gaara was going to grant permission to kill Sasuke."

"Be at ease Nara, I've talked to your entire team and briefed them of the situation while you were in the hospital." Gaara responded with a somber tone in his voice.

"Well that makes it simpler." Shikamaru thought to himself, rather annoyed.

"Kankuro will be the guide through the desert so be sure to stick together. Now, you all know what to do; so get going."

"Sir!" With that, they all leaped and disappeared into the night.

Temari sat next to her window and watched as Shikamaru and them leap off the roof and headed straight into the desert. As she looked, she noticed Shikamaru turned to face her while he ran; he winked at her with a smirk on his face, assuring her that he'll be back. With this new comfort, she leaned back on her window sill with a smile on her face.

"He'll be fine…and I'll wait here all night if I have to." She said with a smile as she continued to watch them slowly disappear into the desert.

::knock knock::

Snapping back, Temari slowly got up and opened the door to find Sakura and Ino standing there with smiles on their faces.

"Well, looks like you're back in high spirits." Ino smirked as she poked Temari's nose.

The girls made their way in Temari's room and sat on her bed. Temari couldn't help but notice that both Sakura and Ino were staring at her with accomplished faces.

"Alright you two; what's going on in those complicated twisted heads of yours?" She asked sarcastically with a smirk on her face.

"Mission accomplished." Ino winked

"What do you mean mission accomplished?" Temari asked cocking one eyebrow up.

"Well, that lazy oaf just needed a little push to make things happen..." Sakura smirked.

Hearing this, Temari felt a lump in her heart sink in deep. "So this whole time, he made up with me because they pushed him…?"

"…but we didn't think it would be this easy. Usually he puts up a fight and complains on how everything is a drag or too troublesome." Sakura continued.

Now Temari was more confused; she cocked one eyebrow up as if about to ask a question when Ino finished, "You must be really special to him if he's willing to give in so much."

"If I'm really that special to him, then why was he acting so coldly towards me…?" Temari asked as she leaned forward and buried her face into her knees.

Sakura and Ino looked at each other and then at Temari with confused looks on their faces.

"Well…" Ino began with a somber look on her face. Temari braced herself and tightened her grip on her knees.

"…we don't know why actually. When Chouji caught up to him in the roof after he left the room, they were talking about what Sasuke said to Shikamaru during their fight."

Temari cocked her eyebrow up, now more confused than ever. "What did Sasuke say to him?" she asked with determination in her voice.

"I don't know much of the details. All Chouji could tell me was how Sasuke was threatening to rape and kill you. He threatened to keep Shikamaru alive so he can watch as Sasuke tortured you. He also mentioned how Sasuke compared himself to Shikamaru."

"How can Sasuke compare himself to Shikamaru? Shikamaru isn't a sick twisted person like Sasuke!" Temari angrily yelled as she jumped up to her knees.

"Sasuke…" Sakura began. Temari stayed on her knees, determined to hear the rest of the story.

"…Sasuke mentioned to him that they were alike in a few ways. They both wanted you but in a not so nice kind of way. Sasuke also questioned Shikamaru's motives when it came of protecting you. He asked him if he really did love you or was he only by your side because he wanted to get into your pants."

Temari sunk back down and sat there frozen. That explained why he was so distant; all those horrible words and threats Sasuke threw at him made him question himself and his emotions. No wonder he got so angry when she compared him to Sasuke. She finally understood why he did what he did; he was pushing her away to protect her. He was afraid of what he might do to her that he pushed her so far with not a cold hand but a warm gentle one. He loved her and because he loved her so much he was willing to protect her from himself…

"I can't live with just friends. I want to be more. I want to be the only man you show your soft and tender side too. The only one that makes you smile; the only who can wrap his arms around you. I won't allow any other man touch you; I won't let anyone other man have you…"

She tightened her grip on her knees as she remembered his words to her...

"I know you're still mad at me and you have every right but because you give my life more meaning, I'm willing to go through hell and back for you. Anything to see you smile and make you happy…"

He was willing to suffer to make her happy; giving up his own happiness for her. Temari felt so horrible for the things she said to him, for hitting him and telling him that she hated him. She buried her face in her knees and cried.

"Don't cry Temari-hime!" Ino cried as she placed her hands on Temari's shoulders, trying to comfort her.

"I can't help myself. I feel so horrible. I told him that I hated him, I hit him but the worst part is; I compared him to that asshole Sasuke. This whole time, he wasn't just pushing me away, he was protecting knowing how painful it was gonna be for him. When I thought he was so cold, his hands were really warm. No wonder he was so angry when I compared him to Sasuke. It must've really hurt him; especially coming from me. I'm such a horrible person, I'm the one who doesn't deserve his forgiveness; or him at all." Temari cried as she wiped her tears.

"I'm pretty sure that was his intention. He loved you and he knew that you loved him too; the thought of you getting hurt especially by him scared him. He may have gone the wrong way but his intentions were good. He just wanted to protect you and I'm pretty sure that if he found out what you know, he would never blame you for what you did to him. So please Temari-hime, don't blame and paint yourself as a horrible person." Sakura leaned forward and hugged her as her tears flowed down her cheek. "Please don't blame yourself…"

Temari placed her hands on Sakura's, she still felt horrible for what he said to him but she knew Sakura was right.

"Actually, there's more to this story…" Ino began, making Temari and Sakura turn to look at her.

"I was hiding in my room when Chouji talked to Shikamaru before he made his way to your room. Luckily Chouji made it loud enough for me to hear but I can't say what else caused Shikamaru's uneasiness." Ino finished as she lowered her head.

"What do you mean?" Temari asked as she released herself from Sakura's embrace.

Before Ino could begin, the door slowly opened behind them…

"Kankuro apparently opened his mouth and may have said some things to Nara which caused his recent behavior."

The girls all turned towards the door and saw Gaara standing there with a somber look on his face.

"Kankuro…but why…?" Temari asked with a shaky voice; too stunned for words to explain.

"I don't really know the full details of their conversation but I do know that Kankuro did say some nasty things to Nara and then threatened him with something not even he could refuse." Gaara explained as he slowly walked towards Temari and sat next to her.

"…"

Gaara looked at Temari with a guilty look, as if he was a part of it as well. "First, he pointed out to Nara that you were my sister and the daughter of the previous Kazekage; our father." Gaara began.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Sakura cried out in anger.

"Kankuro told him that someone like her could do better than a lazy oaf like him. You're royalty and as such only deserve the best."

"Who gave him the right to judge someone based on title? He can't just say things like that about Shikamaru. Sure he's lazy and refuses to work hard but that doesn't make him any less of a man. As matter of fact, a high title doesn't define you as a man! It's character that does and I bet you anything Shikamaru is more of a man than any royalty!" Ino cried out in anger, her face covered in tears.

Temari was still too shocked but managed to ask, "H-how…what did he threaten him with…?"

"He threatened to strip Nara of his job as a Shinobi. When he refused, Kankuro threatened to keep you two separated for good. He told him that he'll make sure that you never step foot in Konoha ever again, even if it meant stripping your title as a Shinobi…" Gaara explained as he lowered his head.

Temari just looked at her little brother, her blood boiling like crazy. She couldn't believe that her own brother would do something like this. She clenched her fists in anger; wanting to cause so much pain to Kankuro.

"I don't blame him…" Gaara began but got cut off by an angry Temari.

"HOW COULD YOU NOT BLAME HIM? BECAUSE OF HIM…BECAUSE OF KANKURO'S STUPID MOUTH…SHIKAMARU….!" She was cut off by her tears. She was angry; angry at both her brothers, angry at Kankuro for threatening Shikamaru, angry at Gaara for defending him.

"…Shikamaru suffered in silence. He let everyone get mad at him for hurting me; he even let me hurt him…all for what? To protect me from Sasuke, himself and from Kankuro's threats. Kankuro may be my brother but I can't forgive him for what he did. What gave him the right to run my love life and judge who I to be with? I can't forgive him for this…!" Temari cried as she continued to wipe her tears. "Stupid Kankuro…"

"It's because he loves you and only wants best for you. I'm not defending him; as a matter of fact, I plan to talk to him about this. I know what he did was wrong and unforgivable but I do know how he must have felt. The thought of you with someone makes me angry I probably would've done the same thing but…"

"But what?" Temari asked with anger in her voice.

"…you're my older sister and as much as I can't stand the thought of you with someone else makes me angry to the point where I want to kill him but it's because I love you I respect your choices. Kankuro probably feels the same but the difference is, he took it at a different approach. You have every right to be angry at him and I don't blame you but don't hate him. I'm asking you this not as the Kazekage but as your younger brother." Gaara explained with pleading eyes. Temari's face was covered in tears; Kankuro may have done something unforgivable but she knew that Gaara was right, he was her brother and no matter what he does, he'll always love her. Even if it meant pushing away people from her life. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, trying to fight her tears and anger away.

Just then, her thoughts were filled with Shikamaru; his back was turned. She noticed how the whole time since he started treating her so coldly, his back was always turned. He never showed his face to her and she finally understood; he didn't want her to see the pain and heartbreak in his face. "You pushed me away with those warm hands; wanting to wrap me in those strong arms and pull me in, not wanting to ever let go. Now I understand; love hurts and it requires us to risk a bit of ourselves. You gave me more…you gave me your entire self; sacrificing your happiness for mine's, knowing it would hurt us both but hurt you more than me…" Temari couldn't stop the tears from flowing. She loved Shikamaru and he loved her…that's the only truth in her heart at that moment.

"I promised him…" she began as she slowly raised her head, facing her brother and the girls. "I promised him that I would stay up and wait for him to come back…" she continued with a smile. "I love him so much that I'm willing to wait for him all night because his face is the last thing I wanna see before I go to sleep. Because of this, I'm going to stay up and wait for him." She said with determination in her heart.

Ino and Sakura couldn't stop fighting back their tears as they hugged her out of joy. Gaara simply nodded and placed his hand on her shoulders. "If he's that important to you, then I will do nothing but stand behind you and support you with whatever you decide to do. I won't attack him or crush him like Kankuro but give him my full support." Gaara smiled at his sister, comforting her and filling her heart with determination.

She turned and faced her window, looking at the sky; it was full of stars. She closed her eyes and remembered a time when she and Shikamaru sat down and just looked at the clouds.

"So I have to ask, why do you like clouds?" Temari asked with curiosity.

"Well, I have my reasons." Shikamaru answered with a smirk on his face.

"And those reasons would be…?" she asked as she poked his nose.

"Demanding are you? You're just as bad as my mom. You might as well call yourself my wife while you're at it." He said sarcastically with a smirk on his face.

"Oh please, even if you were the last man on earth; I still wouldn't marry you." She grinned as she laid down next to him.

"Not even to repopulate the world? Oh how will I ever revive my clan?" he said sarcastically as he fell back, laying down next to her; laughing.

"I don't know, you're the genius, figure it out." She giggled as she poked his cheek.

"Nah, too much effort." He replied with a grin on his face.

They just laid there and looked up at the clouds. Temari just kept looking up, enjoying the scene. "You don't get this type of sky back in Suna…" she thought to herself.

"Clouds are free and can move where ever they choose too." She heard Shikamaru explain.

She looked at him with wide eyes but then laid back down and said, "Not really. They can't really move of their own will. In order for them to move, they need wind to move so it's the wind that moves them to where ever it chooses." She pointed out as she giggled.

Shikamaru just stared at her with wide eyes. His face flushed in a tint of pink; he couldn't believe this woman. "Sheesh, she had to kill this moment for me…" he thought to himself as he smiled at her direction.

"I actually like stars better than clouds." He heard her say.

"Really? And why is that?" he asked with curiosity.

"Well, they don't have to move. They can just stay in one spot and shine so beautifully into the night sky." She replied with a smile on her face.

"Sounds kinda boring if you ask me." He told her sarcastically, refocusing his attention to the clouds.

"Really? What's your definition of "an interesting life"?" she asked him.

"Well, I don't like staying in one place. I like to move around, be carefree without any worries. Plus, they don't have issues like people do, they just move around. Sometimes I wish I was a cloud." He sighed deeply as he closed his eyes.

"Heh heh, well if you're a cloud, then I'm the wind. So lay still as I push you away." She giggled as she began to shove him away.

"Hey! Hey! Quit touching me you damn crazy woman!" Shikamaru laughed as he tried to fight her back. He managed to grab her wrist as he continued to wrestle her.

"Hahaha! Hey, you wanted to be a cloud so I'm the wind shoving you around until I found the right spot." She snickered as she tried to wrestle her wrist free.

Shikamaru managed to catch her other wrist and looked at her while grinning at her. "Checkmate. You might as well give up because I'm about to win this ma-" he wasn't paying attention that she pulled so hard that he fell back on top of her. He slowly got up to all fours and looked down at her. He was surprised to see how easily her hair flowed and spread on the grass. He blushed as he noticed how curvy her body was; he couldn't stop his heart from beating as she looked up at him, she was blushing as well.

Temari looked up at him as well and noticed how broad his shoulders were. She slowly made her way from his shoulders to his neck, which was thick and muscular; though not too muscular. With her eyes, she traced from his neck, to his shoulders all the way down to his arms; his arms weren't as skinny as they used to be when they were younger, his arms were strong and muscular. Temari blushed a bright pink as she made her way to his chest. She cursed the vest for hiding the "interesting" part of his body that she's always been curious to see ever since she noticed his masculinity.

"Hey there you stubborn woman; quit hitting on me! I know I'm hot and good looking but it's kinda hard for me to take you so serious when you're gawking at me like a crazy fangirl." He smirked as he got off of her.

"Like I said earlier; I wouldn't marry you even if you were the last man on Earth." She giggled as she shoved him again.

Temari snapped back and looked at Ino, Sakura and her little brother and smiled. "Don't worry about me. I promised him I'll wait and that's what I intend on doing."

With that Temari sat there, continued to look at the stars. "I wonder what star he's under…?" She walked to her window and opened it. She placed her fingers on her lips and blew a kiss into the night sky. "Please stars, let this kiss reach him where ever he is."

Shikamaru and his team stopped to rest at a small rocky mountain for a bit before continuing their search for Sasuke. Naruto and Chouji sat down to catch their breaths while Sai sat down next to them and pulled out his book.

"Alright, we'll rest here for five minutes. Then we'll continue our search." Shikamaru pointed out as he looked up. "I'll go further up to keep my eyes out on the desert. Kankuro, I'm asking if you stay here with them in case he shows up." Kankuro nodded in agreement and rested his scrolls on the ground while Shikamaru leaped further up.

Once he got to the top, Shikamaru looked at the stars and couldn't help but notice how beautiful they were. They reminded him of Temari's eyes and how they sparkled, melting his heart and making him weak. Then he felt a small breeze coming from the direction from Suna. Closing his eyes, he looked up and whiffed the breeze, allowing him to relax. He couldn't help but notice the scent the breeze had.

"Vanilla…?" he asked himself. He opened his eyes and stood there, letting the breeze hit him.

"Temari…wait for me." He closed his eyes again and let the breeze hit him with its vanilla scent.

He felt complete.


Author's Note: I've been reading everyone's review and all I can say is; I'm touched guys. I didn't think people would actually like my fanfiction (*sniffle* *sniffle*). I'm still drawing some of the scenes from it and they're still up on my deviantart gallery so feel free to look.

Sadly for some of you, Chapter 12 is going to be the last chapter of this story. I don't want it to drag on so I'll be writing a new story called "Before the Dawn" which will basically pick up from where Chapter 12 left off so stay in touch and keep up to date with me if you wanna see this story to the end ;]

During the middle of this chapter, I was listening to "I Run to You" Lady Antebellum and around the ending I listened to "Stars" by Switchfoot. Yeah…it was awesome.