Spring had finally come.
Flower began to bloom around the lakes of the oasis, as the warm sun shone upon the golden sand.
The servants were busy packing for her trip – her trip of no return.
Temari sat in her chambers, the warm spring breeze brushing across her face.
The piece of jade sat coolly atop of her chest, as the servants packed her belongings according to her list.
"Wait," she waved her hand at the servant. "I will deal with my chest on my own, you go on and pack the clothes."
"Yes, Your Highness." The servant dipped her head and left the chamber, as she walked, another blonde girl entered the chamber.
"Your Grace," the servant's voice alerted Temari, as she stood up and smiled at the young lady who entered.
"Your Grace," she greeted her, it was her brother's wife, the Queen of Suna.
"Please," the girl hurried over and took Temari by her hand. "You make me suffer if you treat me in such a way."
It turned out that Princess Nezumi embodied her name in person, she was as meek as a mouse, while she was gentle, she was timid like the small creature, which she was named after.
The girl sat next to her, her hands courteously placed atop of her knees.
"I wish to talk to you, sister," Nezumi called her affectionately. "Before you depart."
Temari nodded, her heart ached at the thought. Signaling the servants to fetch refreshments, she turned her attention to her sister-in-law.
"I apologize for not having the time to visit you and talk to you," Temari said, studying her expression.
Nezumi shook her head, avoiding Temari's gaze. "So am I, I am busy learning, the ways of being the Queen…"
"And as my brother's wife." Temari smiled at the girl – she was expecting a blushed maiden, but instead, she saw a whimpering creature in front of her.
"Is there anything wrong?" She reached out and touched Nezumi's hand, she flinched for a second; as she adjusted her breath, she allowed Temari's hand to take hers in.
"His Majesty, I…I am afraid of him." Nezumi held Temari's hand in her small grip. "I, I have heard…"
"You must learn to discern," Temari said with a thoughtful smile. "I have heard that you are a distant cousin of Queen Mei, and that you were raised away from court. It might be difficult for you to adjust here, but you must learn."
Nezumi noticed a sudden change in Temari's warm tone, it turned into something much more stern and composed.
"You have to understand that Gaara is not like any other man, he is the King of Suna, feared by his people." Temari said, blinking. "He is learning to change, learning to love his people, and you, you must teach him how to love."
"How can I?" Nezumi asked hesitantly.
Temari cupped her face with a smirk on her face. "Dear Nezumi, you already have a distinct advantage."
Nezumi frowned and looked at Temari, confused.
"You resembled my late mother a lot," Temari clarified. "Gaara had never met my mother, she died giving birth to him. Take this to your advantage, teach him how to love you, from that he will learn to love his people."
She smiled at the younger woman in front of her; warmly, she enveloped her hand in her own.
"I entrust Gaara, and this country, to you."
Nezumi stayed for a while before she left.
Temari sat for a quiet moment, before she opened her chest. It was not a very large chest – she could carry it on her own and she intended to keep it close by.
She opened it, it was filled with bottles after bottles of liquid, which she intended to use.
These bottles are essential to her plan, but they were not her most prized possession.
She took out the few pieces of paper in her hand – it was the only letter he wrote to her.
His handwriting was fair, save for the few strokes of laziness, dragging his brush along the paper. She could see him, writing as he yawned with a lazy smile.
He had not written to her for quite a while now, she took the letter he wrote to her and traced the dry ink on the paper with her finger.
Heavens know when we shall see each other again - clouds seemed to lose their charm without you.
I shall save all the troublesome words until we meet again.
It was short, written without careful thought – but that was why she adored it.
It was emotion; it was he talking through his words.
She read the letter again and again, fondly. The tearstains she once left on the paper had dried.
She wrote back the day she received the letter, but he never did reply.
The envoy's words came back to her mind.
The Harpies' lair … Revenge…
She had a gut feeling that something terrible had happened to him, perhaps the next time she saw him, she would not know who he is.
Perhaps he had no idea that she was going to marry into the Hyuga family – the council and the Hyugas intended to keep it a private matter to prevent any unexpected incidents, even hosting two separate banquets.
Most of Konoha would only know when the Suna entourage enters the city, this time to send their princess here instead of taking her away.
She did write him a letter about this, but she wondered if he had received it … if he had, why did he not respond? Did he even care?
She clutched the jade in front of her chest, seeking the comfort she needed.
This was all the proof you need, Temari.
No matter what, her plan must go on. Even if Shikamaru had forgotten about her, she will get her way.
She put everything back into the chest, as a servant walked into her chambers.
"Your Highness, His Majsety is expecting you." Temari nodded at the servant as she stood up and proceeded to her brother's study.
She was not surprised to find Kankuro and Gaara there, waiting for her.
"What's with the long face?" She smiled at Kankuro, who looked at her grimly.
"You look awfully cheerful for someone who is going to marry a man old enough to be her father that is dying to have you father his children." Kankuro shook his head, and sighed.
"I thought we have been through this," Temari snapped, turning towards Gaara. "You wanted to talk to me?"
"Indeed," Gaara nodded, as he stood up. "I was just wondering, if we could spend some time together, before we see you off tomorrow."
Temari blinked and smiled. "Why, sure."
Kankuro ordered the servants to bring tea and wine, as the siblings sat at the podium outside Gaara's study.
"I am really sorry, that it has to come to this," Kankuro sighed. "If only the developments can speed up…"
"There is no point complaining right now, the council and the crown had been struggling for power for a very long time, making it impossible for any sort of development, now with the power slightly balanced, Suna will prosper in no time… meanwhile I will just put up with my…situation." Temari downed another cup of wine from her golden cup. "I am confident that with you and Gaara, Suna will be out of this particular predicament." She smiled
"Say, if your plan succeeded, what should we do?" Kankuro said, scratching the back of his head. "Or rather, if your plan failed, if the Hyugas do become King, then what should we do?"
"We will play according to the game, of course," said Temari, pouring herself and her brothers another cup of wine. "If I succeed, the Hyuga will be no more, then obviously I will find Suna a worthy ally that would benefit the both of us … if I fail, either I will be dead, or I will be Queen of Konoha, so it does not matter right?"
"You will not fail," Gaara suddenly spoke; he was quiet all the time. "I know you won't."
Temari smiled at her brother, surprised as her heart was warmed by his sudden kind words. Gently, she walked up to the both of them and took their hands, walking to the fenced edge.
"Kankuro, fetch the tea leaves jar." She ordered, as the man with the painted face frowned, handing the jar over to her.
Temari grabbed a handful of tealeaves, the dry matter crunching against her grip.
She lifted her hand up in the air, over the edge.
She let go.
The leaves left her hand and was caught in the wind, the breeze carried them away for some distance, some of them falling onto the ground while some got carried further and further away from the hand that granted their freedom.
"Pakura taught me," she smiled at her brothers. "You can wish for good luck."
Kankuro shrugged as he followed suit. "If you say so."
Gaara stared at the jar hesitantly, slowly; he spit out each of the words. "I don't believe in this."
Temari sighed softly, shaking her head, she put a handful of tealeaves in his hand and enveloped it. "Remember back then, when I tell you about the stars?"
Gaara looked up at her. "I am not a child, not anymore."
"Of course you're not," Temari laughed softly. "You see, you need to have a little faith in things like this."
She led him to the edge of the fence, and gently, she pried his hand open. A gust of wind carried the tealeaves in his hand and blew it far away from him.
She turned back at the both of them, the sun had fully descended; darkness had befallen the desert.
Her green eyes shone in the dim moonlight, a glint of tear wavered in her eyes.
"Tonight may be the last time we can drink and talk like this, Kankuro, Gaara."
Kankuro looked away for a brief second, while Gaara stared at her.
"I wish you good luck and success." Gaara said softly, as Temari reached out and placed a hand on his face,
Gaara did not flinch, as Temari bit onto her lip and smiled at him.
"I just want you to know, mother and father would be proud of both of you." She grinned at them, before her hand left Gaara's face.
She turned around and left her brothers; she returned to her room and changed into her night robes.
As she sat on the bed and stared at the round white moon, she dreamed of him by her side, as she laid down, she closed her eyes, imaging Shikamaru was there, his eyes closed as his chest heaved upwards and downwards, dark hair cascaded across his handsome face.
For in a few nights time, she would be sharing her bed with a strange, disgusting old man.
He found himself cursing silently as he opened one of his eye, the sunlight peering through the shades of the window.
The servants had gone through his room while he was still asleep, it was almost a habit for their young master rarely woke, especially when he now found his solace in alcohol and smoke.
He scrambled up and fetched his smoking pipe, lighting the tobacco and died spices in the pipe, he huffed out a mouthful of smoke.
His mentor loved smoking, he used to be befuddled by his actions, now that he had tried it himself, he understood more.
The spices tried to ignite whatever passion one possessed, while the mint cooled you down – as the smoke left his lungs, he felt that whatever words he kept for himself,
A strange envelope appeared atop of his desk; rather, there were two.
He did not recall any letters – an avalanche had blocked one of the messenger routes, besides, he had too much on his hands to notice the presence of the letters.
A thought flickered through his mind, as he hurried over to his desk and ripped open one of the letters.
Dear Shikamaru.
Her handwriting was graceful and free-spirited at the same time, quite the embodiment of herself. The first line already stung in his heart, he slowly pulled out the letter as he read on.
Dear Shikamaru,
Everyday passes with the thought of you in my mind, my heart's greatest desire is to see you again, to have you see me dance in the wind, while enveloped in your shadows.
My heart burns like the desert sun with the thought of you. May we meet again, and may that meeting be swift.
Temari.
The first letter was short yet warm; he smiled as he finished reading it and put it down.
Turning to the other letter, the envelope was heavier, and he had a bad feeling about this one – the marking on the envelope was hastily made, either she wrote it in a rush, or she was annoyed when she wrote it.
He tore the envelope open, as he read, his grip on the paper tightened.
Dear Shikamaru,
My heart is the colour of ash as I write; I have been calculated, tricked by the council in one of the worst plans imaginable – I am to marry Hiashi Hyuga.
I am sure that you have good reasons not replying to my last letter, I fear something has happened to you, but I would rather not make any guesses, in fear of them being true.
I have been struggling in fear that you will do something reckless, I apologise for telling you so late.
Do not tear the letter at this sentence, for I have devised a plan that even you would praise me for. I cannot discuss this in detail, but in time you will know – for I am yours and you are mine.
Do not be sad for me, such is my fate- and I intend to embrace it and twist it with my own bare hands.
For one who have seen the ocean, he would never be satisfied by any other rivers or lakes; For one who have seen the majestic floating whites atop the highest cliffs, he would never be attracted to clouds anywhere else.
Temari
Shikamaru studied the last two sentences for a long while; the tea his servant poured had turned cold. He took a sip – it was cool, devoid of temperature; its bitterness numbed his tongue – a chilly pain stung in his heart.
He sat silently as he muttered, repeating the last two sentences.
He sighed softly as a Nara soldier barged inside his room, kneeling as he entered.
"Young lord, marvelous news."
Shikamaru took a long breath through his smoking pipe, he said nothing.
The soldier observed him, and cleared his throat.
"Say what you must, then leave me." Shikamaru let out a mouthful of smoke.
"My Lord, we have caught him." Shikamaru's glance shot up at the man kneeling. "We have caught Hidan – your trap had worked."
He stood up, realizing that he was still holding Temari's letter in his hand, he paused.
Folding it up, he snapped a finger. "I will get dressed and we shall head there." The kneeling man nodded and stood up.
"Before you go," the man turned around and dipped his head.
"Yes sir. "
"Send scouts and monitor the roads from Konoha to Suna, notify me if you see any entourage, carrying a young woman."
The man nodded, Shikamaru stared at the armour that he had left on the rack since his mentor's death.
"I am no fighter, Asuma." He said softly. "After running away for so many years, it had finally become too troublesome to run."
With a painful smile, he pulled the loose robes around him and began to dress himself.
He would settle everything, once and for all.
Author's note:
Another short update ... as we see, Shikamaru is off to avenge his mentor's death, and to meet Temari once again - will he be able to?
Temari prepares herself as she plunges into darkness - what is her plan?
What will happen meanwhile? ... stay tuned!
Thanks for favouriting, following and reviewing my story :D xoxo
V.S.V