ShikaTema- To Begin Again- Chapter 14: FINAL CHAPTER!

Temari walked slowly down her staircase to the hallway of her house. She was under no obligation to return here after she was married. This was the last time she'd walk past that crack in the wall, caused by one of Gaara's childhood fits. This was the last time she would walk past the family portraits in her house and feel at home. The last time.

She took a deep breath and held up the edge of her dress. It was almost stepped on. She'd always fear that she would be an absolute klutz on her wedding day. She wasn't far off. Then again, it wasn't like she was jumping for joy or crying so hard that she couldn't see where she was going. She felt dead. Like she was a zombie… lifeless and non-existent.

She could now see the door that led to her doom. She rebuked herself for that. This wasn't anyone's fault but her own. She volunteered for this. And thus, she had to be civil. This man was her allegiance now, even if she didn't know how he was. She didn't know if she'd be able to stand him. What if he was a jerk? Then what?

Again she rebuked herself. It didn't matter. All in all, this was a standing peace treaty. There was no "ifs ands or buts" in this wedding. It was what it was, and she had to deal, period.

She knew they were waiting for her even as she reached the end of the top of the stairs. She took a deep breath, knowing she'd need plenty of them during the course of her march. They had all gone silent at the sound of the bridal march, now being played softly by one of Suna's pianists. Her heart beat so furiously at the sound, resenting it and its calm tone.

After descending the stairs, she walked toward the open door. The chairs were in rows, many, many rows, and were decorated with white flowers, that Temari was sure were imported from some other country… perhaps even Konoha.

Thinking of Konoha instantly brought her thoughts to that of Shikamaru, and her breath was knocked out of her. She heaved a breath before she could gasp out and start to cry. She wasn't going to make it. Her heart ached so badly. It was supposed to be Shikamaru and her wedding, not this man. At that point, she could see his face. He looked excited, as if he had won some big prize. She was not amused. It shouldn't be this man at the end of the aisle, looking at her as if he'd won the lottery. No, it should be Shikamaru smiling there at her. Then again, with Shikamaru, he wouldn't have smiled like this man. His smile would have been calm, restive. It would have made her calm as well. Not made her feel as if she was going to have a panic attack shortly.

The man's father was in the front row. His entire torso was turned in her direction, just as everyone else's, watching her cross the dreaded carpet that led the way to the priest. She was having a hard time not frowning at the man, so instead of fighting it, she just let it slide onto her face. It didn't matter if she was frowning anyway, they couldn't see her face. Her veil was just a little too heavy for them to see through it. Transluesent. She was surprised they didn't sneer at her, the dirty men and their dastardly plans. She had no choice but to accept it however, and continued her death march down the aisle. How convenient that this be her end, the end of her fairytale, one she never thought in a million years could possibly happen to her. Well, wasn't it only fitting that her end wasn't all that happy?

Gaara and Kankuro were also seated in the front row, though their seats were on the right side of the aisle. Gaara was sulking slightly, as was Kankuro, and neither were smiling. Gaara was disgruntled at most everything. He was upset that his sister had volunteered for this, and he was even further enfuriated by the fact that he could do nothing about it. The wedding had to be, or Suna wouldn't be.

The threat was easy to comprehend. Gaara hadn't expected Temari to take it up on her end. Who knew she'd do this to herself. If only Shikamaru hadn't died…

Gaara looked subtely to his left and to his right. He could take out the clans main members in just seconds… the Groom wouldn't have time to blink it would be so quick. The only issue with it was the impending army outside Kirigakure, waiting for him to do something just like that. He nearly cursed under his breath he was so furious. He couldn't protect Temari from herself, and his village at the same time. What kind of Kage was he?

Gaara nearly fell out of his chair when Temari was approximately halfway down the aisle. He had felt a large surge of energy that exuded fury, even more than he'd ever felt from any human being before. He nearly stood up to excuse himself when he recognized the energy. It was chakra. And if he wasn't mistaken… It was…his chakra.

He slumped forward slightly in his chair, smiling lightly under the guard of his hair. He had nothing to worry about now. After all, who better to take care of it then the dead man?

--

Shikamaru ran quickly to find Suna's entrance in the sand storm. It was horrible, the amount of sand everywhere. It lashed at his face angrily. He nearly growled back at the howling wind as he finally found the place he was looking for. It was deserted at the entrance, there was no resistance to meet him. The storm must have gotten to the citizens, and they were taking shelter. He was glad for that at least. Maybe that would delay the wedding.

The subject of the wedding made his teeth grit angrily as he entered the alcove below Suna's towers. He had to stop her. He had to, before she made the worst mistake she could make. He wouldn't let her ruin her life like this. She didn't know, she didn't know anything about this man. That they'd been planning this for months, that everything they did was a fake act to fool the Kazekage. How could they be so naïve?

He was in the narrow crevice entrance of Sunagakure and still he met no opposition. The wedding must have already started, and this thought nearly made Shikamaru see red. He quickly calmed himself and looked on into the actual village. It was untouched by the sandstorm. There were Suna ANBU standing guard at the entrance, loathingly watching the guards from the other village. It would seem they found little interesting about their comrades from the conjoined village. Shikamaru would help them with that easily. His hands flew almost instinctually into a hand sign that he barely ever used, being it was one of his father's main attacks, and he had better things to do than choose such barbaric trademark jutsu. But, to him, it seemed proper to do away with these lying men right here with such a jutsu. His shadows convulged on the two guards from the other village and they began to suffocate. He released the jutsu just before they suffocated all the way, and ran into the light of the shining sun. The ANBU seemed slightly shocked, but quickly recovered and became business like, ignoring the unconscious masses before them.

"You have to hurry quickly if you want to stop him!" The ANBU with a fox mask said, pointing to the north. "The wedding should have started a little over an hour ago, if you don't make it-"

"Oh I'll make it." Shikamaru said in a dark voice. He nodded to the ANBU in thanks and began his running treck again. He needed to get there, and fast. He knew now that he had even less time than he'd thought. If he didn't hurry, The deed would be legally done, and he'd disappear the moment the vows were said.

"Hold on just a bit longer Temari…" Shikamaru said under his breath. " I'm coming for you!"

--

Temari sneezed lightly and nearly dropped the blue rose. She rubbed her nose, sniffling, and continued on. The people in the pews were either gushing at how adorable that was, or giggling. She'd kick them later. She was about to reach the end of the carpet now, and very shortly, the priest would go through all the vows… How tedious.

She continued down the aisle and met the new man that she was to marry. He smiled so gratefully, as if everything was going according to plan. But something didn't seem right to her. Something was very off… but she couldn't place it. The priest had gone through more than half the ceremony before she finally realized he had said her part of the vows, and was waiting for the response.

"And do you, Sabakuno Temari, take this man to be your lawful wedded Husband? In sickness and in health? In light and in Darkness? In life, and till death do you part?" She opened her mouth to say the words she'd been practicing, but no sound came out.

What was she doing? She didn't love this man. She couldn't go through with this. Was it too late to change her mind? Was she determined to live her life like this, lost confused and ever unhappy? She remembered Shikamaru's face in her mind and nearly started crying again. The priest and the prince were looking at her, waiting for her answer. She gaped for only a second longer.

"I do." Rang out her voice. Her heart dropped. That was it. She had sealed her fate. She felt like her heart had stopped beating. It felt dead, just like the rest of her body. The man before her smiled triumphantly and she looked at him, her eyes held no warmth now. His hands reached to touch her face, but she could not feel them. She was an empty shell like this. He lowered his lips to hers, only an inch away now….

"Get your hands, OFF my girlfriend… NOW." Everyone spun around in shock, unable to believe their eyes. All gasped upon seeing the finely dressed young man before them. His long hair was not held up in a ponytail and his normally lazy eyes were alive with fire. He wore a black suit and green tie, but the jacket was over his shoulder, and the sleeves of the dress shirt were rolled up. Temari breathed and her eyes widened. It was him. It was as if her imagination was taking it's toll on her. Finally, it was doing the justice it was supposed to. He looked amazing. So casual, but so himself. She couldn't help but smile at the elegance she saw. She barely noticed the man next to her, looking absolutely furious, he didn't matter anymore. It was only her and Shikamaru. She stumbled forward in her heels slightly, trying to get closer, to see his face, to hold him in her arms. She had to get closer.

Shikamaru looked at her in shock. She was beautiful, there was no doubt, but there was something about her now. She'd lost weight, become sallow, and the shadows beneath her eyes were barely covered by the creamy make up that was over her entire face. But that didn't matter to him. She was here, and she was looking at him as if she'd like nothing better than to tackle him into the ground. He smiled and held up his arms, inviting her forward. She ran into his arms, and it was instant bliss.

Temari's eyes hadn't been this wet in days, but it felt so good for her to cry. She felt so happy that her heart felt as if it were exploding. He was here, really here, not just some illusion, not a fake, just Shikamaru. Just himself, laziness and all. She inhaled his crisp scent, taking in the lustrous smell of his clothing, then looked up at him. Their eyes met and she smiled. Life had returned to her.

"Who the hell are you?!" The prince asked, pointing at Shikamaru incredulously. "Who gave you the right to be here? I demand your instant removal from this sacred ground! This is a WEDDING for goodness sakes!"

"Not for you it isn't." Shikamaru replied, sneering at him angrily. "You people are liars and conspirators. You can't be trusted, and They should know…"

Shikamaru turned to face the curious eyes of the Suna people, and the angry and suspicious eyes of the prince's family.

"I come here in testimony. A testimony that most of you won't believe. But it is true. The truth. They have no army, they have no way to hold you here. The threat you've all been hearing about? It's a lie. Non-exsistant. They came up with this plot to gain command over a great country without revealing how low they really were on the economic chain." He stopped and pointed to the prince. "He planned to kill Temari shortly after his marriage to her."

Shikamaru looked around at the furious faces of the Suna civilians.

"I don't know about you… but if one of my own village's nobility was subjected to this…. I'd be pretty angry." After this statement, a buzz seemed to be coming from the masses. The prince and his followers gritted their teeth and stood, eyes shifting about, as the angry Suna citizens came forward to attack them.

"I won't let you ruin this wedding for you're stupid lies!" The man said crazily, grabbing the priest by the shirt. "Finish the ceremony before you lose an eye-"

"Don't you dare!" Temari said. She ran and pushed the man away from the priest, who took that moment to run off in fear. The man looked furious.

"Don't you touch me like that wench!" He cried.

"iWHAT/i did you just call my sister?" Kankuro cried out angrily. Gaara's sand was moving lethally about the area, and the prince was eying it warily. He smiled. Then, with a move so quick it wasn't seen by anyone there, He had Temari in a choke-hold and she was slowly turning blue.

"Though I would have loved to have a piece of this…" He said, running his hands down her arm as she started to sputter from lack of air. "But I'm afraid if I can't have her, neither can you friend. I don't know how you found out about our little plot, but it doesn't matter, for in a minute or so…" He dropped Temari. She collapsed to the ground and did not get back up. She was not breathing.

"TEMARI!!" Shikamaru screamed angrily. He turned to the man in a blind rage. "You MONSTER!"

"It matters not what I am honestly." The man said nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter at all don't you see? You can't have her if she's dead."

"You-"

The man turned to laugh at Temari's unmoving body but his face contorted to see that she was now being tended to by a medic nin with short, choppy hair. Two other kunoichi, one a cousin of the bride, and the other the medic nin's twin, stood as a barrier between the man and Temari.

"You'll do no more damage to her you foul man." Jezebel said, holding up a fist.

"I dare you to make a move toward killing her… We'll get you first.

The man gritted his teeth in fury and turned to Shikamaru.

"This is iyour/i doing!" He shouted angrily. The crowd went quiet. "You shall be the next to die!" He lunged for Shikamaru, but made it not even a foot before he stopped midair. His eyes widened in shock as he realized what was going on. His whole torso was covered in sand.

"Let go of me you bijuu FREAK!" He cried, trying to no avail to escape Gaara's clutches. Gaara raised his brow in amusmant.

"That's not very nice language… we'll have to teach you some manners… Sorry Shikamaru, though we're sure you'd like a chance at him, Kankuro and I will get that pleasure I'm afraid."

"Be my guest sir." Shikamaru said politely, bowing and moving out of the blood range.

The squelch that followed echoed as loud as the scream that accompanied it.

With the threat now away, Shikamaru turned to his one and only love. She was being held up by the medic nin, Suzuka, who was checking her pupils and whispering into her ears questions. She was nodding slowly, confused and torn looking. He wanted so badly to pick her up and take her away from all of this drama.

Temari stood up with the help of Suzuka, and she looked over at Shikamaru. Her eyes strayed nowhere else, and she looked at him with a fire that he felt as well. They both embraced each other and smiled happily. Then she stepped back from him.

To everyone's shock, Temari slapped him across the face. Kankuro's jaw dropped and there were several gasps from the surrounding kunoichi, until they saw Shikamaru's face and Temari's expression.

"How could you leave me like that you lazy inconsiderate-" She was cut off by Shikamaru's lips.

"You troublesome woman… can't you see I wouldn't die without marrying you first? Don't you have any faith in me?" Temari's eyes welled over and the tears rushed across her face. Finally, now, she felt at home, at peace, and at one. The priest walked over and smiled calmly.

"Sir, I know um… this isn't the best area for a wedding…"Shikamaru said, indicating the blood spatters. "But would you mind wedding us… right here, right now?" Temari's neck twisted so that she could see him. Her expression was shocked.

"But Shika….I…"

"Temari…" Shikamaru said quietly. "I love you too much to let you go. Say you'll be mine." Temari couldn't speak. So instead, she nodded her head, and locking lips, the crowd applauded to the priests final closing line.

--

bone year later/b

Temari woke up with a start. The sun was already up, and she was still in bed. She glanced over at her alarm clock and saw that it was only about seven in the morning. But after sitting up all the way she realized why she had gotten up so early. She heaved her body up and tottered over to the window of her room. The sun had been so gracious lately, shining everyday with such beauty. She enjoyed it so much.

She looked over at her sleeping husband's figure and smiled warmly. He looked like such a child with his hair all over the place on his face and sprawled upon the pillow. She twisted wrong however and instantly was greeted by her daily visitor; nausea.

She ran into the bathroom to vomit, not knowing Shikamaru was actually up. He stretched and followed her into the bathroom, holding her hair out of her face and rubbing her shoulders. After the sickness passed, she looked up at him and smiled.

"I guess I wasn't very quiet was I?" She asked, getting up to wash out her mouth.

"Nah, I was already awake." He insisted. They both walked over to the bedroom window again and looked out. It was indeed a beautiful day in Konoha once again. Shikamaru smiled as he felt a little foot nudge his hand from Temari's stomach.

"Soon we'll have her out here with us…" Temari said smiling. "And I can't wait."

"Me neither… she'll be just like you." They kissed and glanced one more time out the window. Such a happy ending. They wouldn't want it any other way.