A/N: Now comes the action. Have fun!
I feel like disclaiming Naruto again. I've noticed some people doing this every chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or his characters for if I owned it I would call it "Shikamaru Shippuuden".
Chapter 12: After Return
Determination. No fear what hindrance may come across. No fear of the consequences.
Shikamaru watched her chest rise and fall slowly. He had marked her on secret places.
He sighed. He himself couldn't sleep. The day would come on which he would take action. Taking his life in his own hands.
Since the Daimo was in coma, he was guarded more than ever. But Shikamaru couldn't wait for the Daimo to pass away on his own. Every night they shared together was magically but ended with her leaving secretly. He couldn't stand it anymore.
He had to act fast. One day they would send someone to inspect his work making sure he didn't just laze around. And he didn't have much evidence to show. Except for the construction plan and task schedule's of the staff which he received for pretending to use it on finding the culprit that attacked the Daimo. Naturally no one suspected him to play act. It was logical for him to demand the plans in course of his investigation when in truth he needed them for his own aim.
His plan was to wait for the first change of shifts today. In the pause only two guards were in the range of the Daimo for twenty minutes. In this short period of time he would finish this case. He did not need an excessive plan that would only raise attention. All he needed was for the guards to their work like they did every day and he would gain 37 seconds with the Daimo.
The two guards should be occupied by then. Running after a disguised Kagebunshin while another Kagbunshin waited in the corner for them to leave. He would kill the Daimo. Both Kagebunshin would be disguised as the missing nin that the bartender in Oashisu used as mask.
In the meantime Shikamaru himself would raise the alarm so no one would suspect him. The other guards who completed their shift would return. Asking him what happened. He would just tell them about an intruder and show the direction his Kagebunshin ran. They would split up, some following the false Kagebunshin, the others watching for the Daimo that should by that time lay dead in his bed waiting to be found.
While they were gone Shikamaru would release his jutsu.
The guards running after the one Kagebunshin would think it a feint and run immediately to the Daimo. While the other group of guards with Shikamaru on their trail would find the dead Daimo alone in his room.
Everyone would assume that the intruder killed the Daimo while the guards were running after the fake culprit. They would think it to be a coincidence that only two guards were there. Assuming that the culprit waited for weeks after his first attack sneaking in again into the building like the first time. Still no one would know how he did it. As long as nobody an idea everyone would assume that he had done it again. Shikamaru himself didn't knew until now how the first intruder did it. And as long as he was oblivious, he would be more believable. It was more believable if he had found no traces for the jutsu used.
When the inspector would come to interview him Shikamaru would show him how the culpit must have done it by presenting the construction plans and task schedules of the guards. The case would be left unsolved and Shikamaru would be free to leave.
The current Daimo's brother would take over. He had to decide what happened to Temari. Being more good-hearted Shikamaru assumed he would let her return to Suna.
Shikamaru would have to wait afterwards. Marrying her shortly afterwards would be too suspicious. He would have to court her after a while. It would take a year or more before the incident of the Daimo would start to be forgotten by the people. Then after he waited a sensible time and wooed her for a while Shikamaru would ask her to marry him. Finally.
Maybe dreams could become true, if you fought against all odds. Maybe a fairytale wasn't only based upon magic but reality.
Yet before anything of that could happen he would have to wait till the day began.
Nara Shikamaru would kill someone in the next few hours. One of the most influential human beings in the world. No one would ever know who did it.
He swallowed hard hugging Temari in his arms strongly waking her from her slumber. He needed her warmth to soothe the cold dread in his heart.
"What are you thinking about?" She nudged him with her nose looking him into his eyes.
How he wanted to tell her everything. To tell her what he planned. That he did it for them. For her. Tenderly he breathed a kiss on her shoulder closing his eyes. Breathing in her scent, memorizing her taste to haunt him for the rest of the way. This was where she belonged. But he knew she would leave him soon. "Just about this." He kissed her lips slowly. Savouring the moment. Trying not to think about his plan. Trying not to doubt.
What if he failed? He would turn the rumour to reality that a shinobi from Konoha killed the Daimo of the Land of Wind. War would rise. The relationship between the countries would crumble. Sending shinobis from Konoha and Suna to fight each other. They would execute him. Making an example as a warning. The choice wasn't easy. But if he didn't do it it would be same as if he failed. He would never hold her in his arms again. At least she would be freed from the strings that hold her here. He wished she would think the same if she knew what he planned. When he failed and they had to face each other would she ever be able to forgive him?
Shikamaru turned her around kissing the places of her body illuminated by the moonlight.
Temari let him make love to her again that night. Healing his cold burning wounds. There was no more doubt.
Shikamaru put on his sweater watching the sun rise pulling it over his head. Putting on his vest, he controlled his equipment. Maybe he would need his chakra blades or his Kagebunshin might need weapons to defend himself. Although Shikamaru hoped it wouldn't come to complications he made sure to be prepared. Binding his hair in its typical ponytail he run the plan again through his head. There were many elements of uncertainity. But he had evaluated the different options. Calculating his chances he figured this plan with the least peril. He wouldn't know if the plan worked until he released the jutsu after raising alarm seeing if the Kagebunshin had succeeded. But he had his own role to play.
He had often practiced the Henge no Jutsu copying the missing shinobi of Konoha. Then making two Kagebunshin and release only his Henge no Jutsu spent much Chakra. For the last few days he had practiced it twice a day hoping the fleeing Kagebunshin had enough chakra to run as far as possible. Hoping he wouldn't run out of Chakra Shikamaru stretched his muscles and decided to eat something before he waited for the time to come. He wouldn't back down. There was no doubt in his heart. Gaara himself had told him that he would do anything for his sister, even if it meant killing the Daimo. Shikamaru remembered Gaara's words with a sarcastic smile. It was the right thing to do although it felt wrong.
Leaving his room he went to the kitchen were breakfast was being prepared. Instead of ordering and eating alone he preferred to dine with the staff. Today would be no exception of the routine to prevent stirring distrust.
As he ate his breakfast his mind went busy counting the staff in the kitchen making sure no one was ill so that nobody could cross his way unexpected. Being satisfied with the result he casually looked at the clock. It was time.
Finishing breakfast he nodded to the servants passing him. He only knew half of their names. If someone asked it was important if he didn't knew too much. While he continued walking his nervousness increased. From the outside he seemed calm and bored but his inner self was running wild. Now or never.
He passed three guards that were going into their pause. His twenty minutes started.
Rounding the next corner he stood still. Paying attention he tried to hear if someone was passing. After three seconds he waved his signs. Trying to be fast he also concentrated to use the correct amount of Chakra. He know looked like the missing shinobi. After he used the second jutsu one Kagebunshin went of. He would come from the other side to the Daimo's room. The guards that made a pause should miss him. The other Kagebunshin hid in a closet room nearby.
Now or never. It had to work. He went after the first Kagebunshin to cross paths with the chasing guards. Seventeen minutes to go. There was enough time.
He walked slowly anticipating the Kagebunshin to come his way. It had to work. His hands began to sweat as another minute passed. Suddenly he heard screams and running. He counted to three and began to run. The Kagebunshin ran dodging him. He had a good head start.
The guards saw Shikamaru. "Stop him!" But Shikamaru wasn't fast enough to turn around to catch him. He called after the guards that he would raise alarm and went off, hoping the second Kagebunshin was in action. He hadn't much time to kill the Daimo. Until now everything worked fine.
Shikamaru ran to the quarters of the guards. When he spotted a guard he began to yell as loud as possible waving with an arm the direction the first Kagebunshin escaped to. "An intruder! We need reinforcement!" As planned the guards were splitting up into two groups. He halted faking that he was short of breath. When the guards rounded the corners he released his jutsu.
Instantly he knew. The mission was accomplished. Swallowing hard he prayed for the gods to forgive him.
He went after the group of guards that went to see after the Daimo. He caught up before they reached the room. The door was left ajar. The lock was broken.
Shikamaru already saw it. He saw what his Kagebunshin saw. But he still had to act. As the first guard rushed into the room Shikamaru heard his gasp. It was over. He passed the other guards entering the room. He stood in front of the Daimo's bed. The throat was cut through to kill him fast. The blood was gurgling out of the wound. Shikamaru averted his face. His Kagebunshin had killed him. Shikamaru had murdered him. He saw out of his Kagebunshin's memory how his hand cut with the kunai through the throat with great pressure. Blood trickling out of the wound.
An unarmed, sleeping man. It was murder. He was a shinobi. He had killed before. He had taken revenge before without some sovereign ordering him to.
He would clear his conscience this time as well. After he doused his burning wish that it would have been his own hand that murdered Temari's frightful husband.
The other guards arrived. He heard crying, choking and stammering words. He went to them. One looked at him. "It was a diversion."
As if being shocked Shikamaru flinched. "Damn."
No one seemed to doubt his behavior. He listened for the report of the guards that followed the first Kagebunshin nodding after a while. They confirmed that it was a Kagebunshin of the missing nin. He turned to the other guards. "Has anyone seen a suspicious person or someone leaving this room?"
The collective shaking of the heads verified that no one suspected him to be the culprit. "Okay. This incident has to be reported. The wife must be informed. No one touches the Daimo. We have to look for any traces to learn how he had done it. And sent for the medics. It won't help to cry now." He watched a young guard starring at the corpse. "Go." People set in motion.
Two guards were staying with him to find hints what had happened. He knew there wouldn't be any signs if everything worked as planned. Thinking again about a possible miscalculation he searched the whole room. Glad that he couldn't find anything he rubbed his face. The worst part was done. "Found anything?"
The other two turned to him shaking their heads. He sighed and mumbled: "How did he do it?"
The medics came after a while confirming that it was a fast cut. When asked if the corpse could be touched Shikamaru nodded.
The medics closed the door before stripping the Daimo looking for other signs of violence. Everyone in the room seemed relieved that there weren't any other marks. He had died fast.
Suddenly Shikamaru heard loud noises outside before he recognized Temari's voice. "Let me through! I am his wife!"
The door flew open and there she stood red faced and shocked. She walked to the bed starring at the dead body. No one said a word. Being uncomfortable the guards tried to look everywhere else but at the Lady. Scared to be scolded by her.
Shikamaru watched her instead. She clenched her fists and bit her lips. She turned her gaze away from her dead husband shifting her gaze on him. He didn't flinch. He didn't stir a finger. Temari pierced him with her gaze.
Then she tilted her head leaving the room. As she passed him she stood still avoiding to face him. "If you had found the shinobi it wouldn't have happened." With that she left.
He was utterly surprised. She was playing along. The people in the room would believe that she blamed him. But Shikamaru knew she wasn't. She had sensed that he had met the man in Oashisu. She had already suspected him to lie. And the look she gave him! She knew it. It was now in her hand how she would react to him on their next encounter.
After hours of discussion, explaining and reporting Shikamaru finally returned to his room. His shoulders were slacked. His mind felt for once depleted. He jawned before he entered the room. It had been a while since the last time he craved this much for a cigarette. He kicked the door closed behind him.
The Daimo was dead.
His brother would probably be informed by now. Tomorrow they would meet. He would explain everything that happened with the missing nin. Explaining that there was still no sign of him. Naturally he would offer his help to search for him. If everything worked fine the new Daimo would release him because the danger was over. After the new Daimo would be announced Temari would be free to return to her brothers.
It had been the best he could do.
"It was you, wasn't it?" Temari had waited in his room for him. Now she was leaning against the wall beside the door. Shadows were hiding her face. Her voice was emotionless.
Shikamaru crossed his arms behind his head watching her. Waiting for an emotion to be shown. "What do you mean?"
She stepped out of the shadows piercing him with her eyes. "The hints are out of place. At the first attack the culpit tried to strangle him. This time there was a neat cut."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe the assassin didn't want to take too much time to make sure he was dead this time."
"Probably." She nodded twice and reduced the distance between them by one step. "Furthermore the culprit entered the last time unnoticed. This time there was a Kagebunshin as distraction. Not so smooth as last time, don't you think?."
He nodded. She had always been good at these things. In the back of his head he wondered if someone else would see through this as easily as she did. But she knew his motivation. No one else knew. "Perhaps. I would say he really wanted to make sure this time."
She ignored his explanation. "And the only one I know who could pull of such a show is you." She was standing before him. Bending slightly her head back to look at him due to his height she watched him fearlessly. "Why did you do it?"
He raised his eyebrows. He didn't bother anymore to deny it. Either way he would have told her eventually. He trusted her to keep this secret and if she chose to turn him in he might really deserved it. "Does it change your view of me?"
"Answer my question!" She was now on tiptoe to face him.
He rubbed his face. He had explained it to himself so often, he didn't knew what was the most truthful answer anymore apart from – "For us. I did it for us. I did it for you."
She let her feet sink on the floor again rubbing her temples. "Who gave you the right? Do you know what happens when this is revealed?"
"I thought about it." For he wanted to lessen the suspense he yawned. He pushed his hands in his pockets.
Gesticulating widely she let her anger out. "Did you really?!" She snapped again at him.
"I did it. It is over. I can't undo it and I wouldn't." He shrugged. He had known that she wouldn't thank him for what he did. But he hadn't anticipated to have this talk on the same day. Pain was throbbing in his head.
She jabbed him with a finger in the chest. "I'm a widow now. You made me a widow."
He thought that he would make her a wife again but chose wisely not to speak it aloud. "I did what I could to free you from this situation. You once told me that I didn't do anything for our relationship. That I only let it drop by. Well, I corrected my mistake and saved you by the way."
She stayed silent a moment looking outside the window. Her arms were crossed.
"So? Do you see me with different eyes? Does it change what you feel for me?" He shifted his weight anticipating her answer.
She inhaled sharply. Turning around her eyes were stung with tears.
He watched her. His heart felt heavy. He had done the right thing. But he didn't know if he could live with the consequences. He feared loosing her ultimately. Again.
Determination. The will to risk something for a greater thing. Not giving up. Whatever it takes.
A/N: This chapter made really fun to write. Murderous intentions, mwuaahha. I hope you can follow Shikamaru's plan to be as simple as possible.
