Second installment, baby.

Thank you, Ling-Hao, JJ, Black Hikari, MisChibiOus, Intuition, and Uzamaki Liliana. I love people who take the time and try and help me. I'm attempting to make the characters more IC and I've also read the first Inuyasha story I've liked.

Title: Two Swans
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Characters: major: Temari, Gaara, Kankurou, Shikamaru, Kazekage, Yashamaru. minor: Chouji, Ino, Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke, Kiba, Hinata, Neji.
Relationships: ShikaTema, minor SasuNaru, implied KibaHina, one-sided InoShika

(x) means notes, which appear below.

Notes:

1.By dumb, Shikamaru means that she can't speak. Has nothing to do with her intelligence. Most of you can probably figure that out, but I thought I should just add that anyway.
2.I'm using Lady and Lord as opposed to Japanese honorifics.
3. Mine is an actual Japanese name that actually means resolute protector. I officially love the Internet.


Things are a lot harder in this Leaf kingdom than she thought it would be. She is used to heat waves, to flopping down on the sand hills, with the granules underneath her, and being able to take off her clothes to go swim in the lake.

It rains too much in this place, too much by far. Which, in turn, means it is too cold for her tastes. The fact that she is warm because she has been locked in her room doesn't make her feel better. Instead, it makes her want to scream.

There also isn't any sand in this place. It's full of trees and grass and all those damn people. They stick their noses up at her because she entered their castle in her underwear. Even the castle seems to think lowly of her, with its high ceilings and stupid paintings of trees and flowers.

They even go so far as to name their people after flowers. Sakura. It makes Temari sick.

There is so much rain, but no lakes. And she highly doubts that any of these people would take the time to strip themselves of their pretty clothes and giant egos to swim in a lake.

She can't even go out and look for nettle plants. She can't even continue her task. She curses these damn people again, and throws a chair against the door in her anger. The room is in shambles, ripped to shreds. Temari's hands are itching to get their hands on that Hokage again. He was so arrogant, locking her in here, under the pretense of helping her. Right, he's so goddamned helpful he locked in this room.

This cold room. She sleeps with three covers.

They've locked her in her room ever since she clawed that blonde's face up, so maybe it wasn't the Hokage's initial idea to keep her isolated in her room. But he did it, and that's what matters.

They took her nettle shirts away, as well. Even with only the sleeves of one shirt finished, she still feels extremely hopeless. It had taken her weeks to sew two horrible sleeves, and now all her work is ruined. Those weeks of biting back the pain were wiped off the map so easily. She wants nothing more than to kill those bastards.

To think she had trusted them! Despite their haughtiness, their rain, their damned everything, she had trusted them. She supposed it was probably because she hadn't met enough people to know they could lock her in her room for about three days. And to think, she had thought they would make her task easer!

She wants to scream, but that would be childish. It would also completely nullify all her efforts to save her brothers. She can't afford to scream, not yet.

She watches the chair break into pieces, and falls into a heap on the ground. She grips her hair tightly in her hands, as if pulling will somehow call back her nettle shirts. How is she going to go on with this, she wonders, the tears falling down her cheeks. She swallows the sobs that threaten to bubble up in her throat. Damn them. Wiping the stray tears viciously from her cheeks with her arm, she stands up again.

She's going to show these damn people that she's strong.

"You know, I don't know why I keep you here. You're so troublesome. I should let you keep hurting yourself." It's him, that proud, arrogant Hokage of theirs. She has to bite her tongue to stop herself from launching her body at him in what would be a futile attempt to get back at him.

She doesn't answer, and even she if had been able to speak, she wouldn't have. She doesn't even look at him. He's not worth her attention. She keeps repeating that, as if it's her new mantra.

"I don't know what it is about you that intrigues me, but . . . " He's standing next to her, but she still adamantly refuses to glance up. He's not worth it. Not worth her attention at all.

And then he's holding her hands, and it hurts. He's holding them too hard. She wants to pull away, but she's afraid that if she does she'll cry out. So she leaves them where they are. His own hands are cold, and it's a bittersweet kind of relief against her hot hands. "Why would you do this to yourself? I know you're not stupid. Were you born dumb(x), I wonder? Or is this some sort of religious statute you're hell-bent on following?"

What does he care? All she wants are her nettles, and her needles, and her hands. It's all she needs. She needs to stay focused on her task if she's going to beat Yashamaru. If she's going to save her brothers. Focus, Temari, focus.

"I wonder how far you would go if I return to you those things." Her head perks up at his words, and she's faced with his toothy grin. "I knew it. It's not just pain you're looking for. If that were true, you'd be content with anything, with breaking the window and using the glass to cut yourself. Or placing your finger in the flame of a candle. Then why is it?" He's too close. She doesn't like this, not at all.

Pulling her hands out of his, ignoring the pain, she places a good meter's distance between the two of them. "Why do you do this?" Instead of answering, she throws a piece of the broken chair at him. It hits him squarely in his chest, and Shikamaru's eyes widen in shock. She doubts anyone's ever hit him before, with the intent to hurt him. She's glad to be the first, then.

She's not afraid of him, like some people in castle seem to be, nor does she really respect him. She'll acknowledge him as a person, but until he returns to her what belongs to her, she won't do any more than that.

"I'll give you your nettles, then." Hope floods through her system. He's not that bad, all of a sudden, in her eyes. She can acknowledge him as nearly an equal, now. Only if he keeps his word, that is. "But I'll be quite honest with you. My people, they don't like you. You're a strange woman from the Sand kingdom, and you haven't been exactly friendly with them." Temari thinks back the last few encounters she's had with 'his people.' They needed to be lowered down a notch, so she had offered herself that task. They surrounded themselves with plants and sweet smells and peace, when all around them war and poverty littered the land.

"I don't know quite how to guarantee your safety here. And I doubt you like it locked in here at all hours." She nods, agreeing with him greatly. She'd agree to anything to get out of here, this cold room with its queer aroma and ugly view of the fields of flowers.

"Marry me."

Temari gapes at him, and she doesn't care how much she may resemble a fish. She's glad for her vow of silence, because there is no way she's going to find a response worthy of that sudden proposal.

"It's the only logical way, if you really think about it. And I have."

She has to think about this. Deep breathes, Temari. If she marries him, it doesn't even mean that she loves him. It doesn't even matter that she's betraying her kingdom by marrying someone from the Leaf. What is the loyalty she has for her people compared to the love she has for her brothers? If she marries this man, she can work in peace, and none will dare stop her from her task, or try to harm her.

And those stuck-up people will have to call her Lady. Mere bonus, though.

Where are the cons of the situation?

Well, there aren't any if one is thinking practically. But she doesn't want to think practically.

She was trapped in a tower for years, but she knew the concept of marriage, and of love. She always expected her prince to come, as every girl does, and sweep her off her feet. They would have a beautiful wedding, and Kankurou's wife would be her best friend and bridesmaid.

And now she's going to get married for strategic reasons, to a man she isn't even sure she likes. This is the only part of this place that reminds her of the Sand kingdom. Her father married for love, one of the rare Kazekage to do so She's following in her family, footsteps it seems. She leans over and plants her lips chastely on his cheek. If he doesn't understand the meaning underneath that action, he's more of an idiot than she thinks.

"Good."


The wedding is worse than she ever expected it to be. It's too green, to begin with. In the middle of a field, no less, with a grove in the middle. That Shikamaru doesn't know her at all. If he did, he would have realized that she would like the beach better.

There she stands, clad in a dress that would be any woman's dream to wear, but feeling like sore thumb in a crowd of these elegant women. There's that blonde one, the one with the scratch still healing on her cheek. Temari can't help but grin.

Only for a moment though. They're all ignoring her, if they can. She's going to marry their precious Hokage, and they aren't paying her any mind at all?

"So, you're going to tie down Shikamaru, are you?" Temari spins on her heels and finds herself face to face with that fat man that tags along with Shikamaru a lot. Chouji?

She cocks an eyebrow at him, but doesn't answer. Chouji laughs, and it's a nice, full laugh. It reminds her of . . . someone. Her father? She doesn't remember her father's laughter anymore.

"It's odd. I always thought he would marry Ino. You know, just because he'd find it too troublesome to keep her away any longer." He seems to catch the confusion in her eyes, because he elaborates. "Ino's the blonde woman that made a snooty remark on your sewing. She's been chasing after Shikamaru ever since we were kids. She liked Sasuke for years before that—all the girls did at one point or another—but no one can be blind to the obvious attraction he has for Naruto." He points in the direction of the grove. Underneath a pair of trees she can vaguely make out too figures standing closely together. More than that. They're kissing, and quite passionately.

That must be Sasuke and Naruto.

Even though she and Chouji are fairly far away, she wonders how she could have made of the mistake of thinking they were doing anything else. As she watches, the blonde man slips a hand under the other's shirt. Temari glances away before she sees more than she thinks she should.

They don't have any decency for the important things in this castle, Temari notes. Sex is private.

Temari finds herself blushing, in any case, despite herself. Chouji laughs again. "They do that whenever they have the chance."

"Quite the blushing bride, isn't she?" Another person daring to speak to her? This must be her lucky day. Temari looks in the direction of the voice, and she finds herself eye to eye with a frowning woman. "I can't believe I basically meet the bride on the wedding day. I'm his mother, for goodness sake!"

"Lady(x) Nara, Shikamaru only wanted to surprise you."

She scoffs, and crosses her arms over her chest angrily. "Chouji, no one asked for your opinion." Temari frowns at this woman's rudeness, but her expression shifts to one of confusion when Chouji grins in response, instead of getting angry. This must be something habitual, then.

"Well, she certainly looks capable of bearing an heir and many more besides." With that, she turns and walks away, leaving Temari unsure whether she's just been insulted, or complimented.

"I think she likes you, Mine." Mine; it means resolute protector. They had no idea how incorrectly that name fit her. She hadn't gotten very far on her shirts. Her hands had needed to get used to the nettle stings all over again after being locked in her room, and the pain was horrible. Old wounds simply reopened and it had been all Temari could do to stop herself from screaming.

Most of the people in castle had ignored her, simply walking past her as if they couldn't see her bleeding hands. Temari convinced herself that she doesn't care. She doesn't need them accept her, or for them to understand her. All she needs if for them to not lock her in her room again.

That means she has to control herself as well. No more scratching up the Ladies' faces.

Shikamaru hadn't ignored her though. His people might have seen him as a heartless bastard, for ignoring his fiancé's hurt. Temari had chased them away, baring her teeth at them like some kind of animal to get her message across. She did not need his help. It was hard enough on her pride marrying him in the first place.

Temari gives Chouji a small smile and wanders away, perhaps to nibble away at some food before the ceremony. Something to make her feel better on this horrid day.


Shikamaru watches the people around him, carrying on and such, but doesn't quite care. They're being too loud, he can't even enjoy the clouds with such noise. He'll be glad when it's all over and he can go back to being lazy. Or at least, trying to be lazy.

When you're in charge of caring for an entire kingdom, it's rather hard to be lazy, no matter how much you may want to.

He hears someone approach, but he doesn't lift his head up to see. He has a good impression on who it is, anyway. "Your dear mother is in quite a mood, you know." Shikamaru grunts at his best friend, but doesn't feel up to answering. If Chouji is here to tease him, he's going to have him hung.

"She said Mine looks capable of bearing many children" Shikamaru snorts in amusement, and looks up at Chouji, finally relenting. His mother is bossy and demanding, but she is amusing, to say the least. She has gotten a little more mellow since his father died, though. But Shikamaru doesn't want to think about his father. Not today.

"What was the expression on her face when she said that? Mine's face, that is." Keep your mind on Mine, Shikamaru, he scolds himself.

Chouji leans over to whisper this into his ear. "I think she was a bit insulted, truth be told." Shikanaru chokes back another laugh. His eyes find themselves traveling in her direction, actually. She's taking careful bites of the food, as if afraid it might be poisoned. In fact, knowing some of the people he knows, it just might be. This time his laughter erupts from his body in waves.

"Why am I even doing this, Chouji? I think I might be marrying a woman too much like my mother." Shikamaru glances over at Mine once again. She really does look wonderful in that dress. He's glad he had Hinata take care of it; she really does have a good eye. Beyond the obvious, that is.

"Like father, like son." Does that mean he'll . . . No. He promised himself he would't think about that. He sees Hinata—what a coincidence, he was just thinking about her—clutching Kiba's arm like an anchor, approach the place where Mine is shoving food down her throat. Although he can't hear what she's saying, or read lips from this distance, he can pretty much guess generally what is going on.

Kiba seems to have gruffly complimented Mine, but she seems more offended than flattered. Hinata is obviously trying cover up for him, as she always does. Mine shrugs, but her lips remain shut, as always.

The two of them walk off, and soon begin a conversation with some other people, most of which Shikamaru neither cares to notice, or really has to. Mine continues to shovel food into her mouth. That dress is going to be torn to shreds if she continues this way, Shikamaru realizes. Perhaps that's the point. Her own pathetic revenge against the Leaf people?

He stands up, about to head over there and forcibly stop her from eating, but several people notice his sudden movement and begin clapping. Oh, damn it. They think the wedding's starting. Mine looks over at him, a questioning look in her eyes.

Well, there's no time like the present, is there?


The sound of wings flapping surrounds her, and she feels good again. A different good than she's felt in her time in this place. The good only her brothers can give her.

"Temari? What the hell are you doing here!" Kankurou is furious, and looks just about ready to kill her. Temari is scared of him for the first time in her life. She never knew he had such a temper, but she sees it in his eyes. He's furious at her.

Temari's shoulders slouch, and she motions at her clothes. She wore nice ones on purpose. Temari wants to show her brother that they are treating her well here, and that she is comfortable. That these Leaf people aren't going to kill her any time soon. She also brings forth the finished shirt.

But all Gaara sees are her hands. "Temari! You have to stop this! Your hands will never be the same again. I bet you can't even aim a kunai properly now!" He grasps them loosely in his own, and stares up at her with those pleading eyes. Temari looks away. They know she won't stop her task, not when she's gotten so far.

"You've been silent for more than a year, now, sister. I just don't know how I will feel being human at your expense, Temari." Kankurou feels guilty? She shakes her head furiously. No! She is choosing to do this, of her own free will. "Well, at least we know you're safe. It's been one hell of year since you've been gone. We were afraid you'd been killed." Gaara nods heatedly, and hugs his older sister tightly.

"I'll come to see you every day, okay, Temari? You'll be here, right?" The tears are threatening to spill, but she holds them back by sheer will. She nods and smiles down at her youngest brother. This is what she's been silent for, this is what she's been fighting for. If feels as if she's been doing this all by default the last year. Now a newfound passion as been reawakened in her at the sight of her brothers.

Even so, a second later all she is left with is the scent of swan and a feather in her hair.

She stands up, and gathers her things quickly. It took her a whole year to finish one shirt. She finds herself going from zealous to despairing, and doubting herself. How will she manage this?

And meanwhile, she is finding it harder and harder to keep the promise she made to her brothers. It's obvious what everyone expects of her . . . of them. Shikamaru and Mine. It's been several months now, and even Lady Ino asks her every so often if she's feeling any different. By that, she simply means to ask if the two of them have procreated. If only they knew he hadn't laid a hand on her this whole time.

He's not a womanizer. He's not much a talker either, but Temari doesn't mind. She likes taking a break from the nettles and the pain they inflict, to lie down on the field next to him and gaze up at the clouds. They lie there in complete silence, but she feels comfortable in a way she isn't sure she's ever felt, even with her brothers.

But she will not fall in love with him. She definitely isn't ready to . . . have that kind of relationship with him. Not until she has freed her brothers from the swanskin they are trapped in. Not until her vow of silence is broken.

As soon as she's back in room, her nettles and needles at her side, she allows herself to feels torn, like her hands. And then she grabs ring she had been given on her wedding day, which she keeps on a chain around her neck, and she throws it out the window.


Oooh, sap. How delicious.