A/N: My Beta Ciel Orihara works like a tooth Fairy. I went to sleep after sending her four chapters and when I woke up, those four were already beta-ed. A-MA-ZING!

To Love Is Only a Word, thanks for the reviews...your last one, the only review I got for chap 30, means so much. Hehe I'm imagining what if you haven't sent it ~shivers...my imagination includes the recycle bin and a face palm~

To Sandyx5, chapter 31 is revised, re-beta-ed and uploaded ASAP because of you!

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Warning: Some contents are not suitable for very young readers. Nothing explicit.

Chapter 31

In the dead of the night, a lone Suna shinobi jumps from one tree branch to the next, his unbound hair flying in disarray behind him and his brown robe flapping with the opposing wind. The night is only disturbed by the sound of the crickets' chirping and the nin's breathing as he flees Konoha and his feelings of guilt.

All he knows is that he must continue running, exerting even when his direction is still unknown.

Temari, being proud, would never admit how much it pains her for allowing such a thing to happen. He should have known. He should have been the one to stop her from sacrificing herself, paying for something that wasn't her fault. But he didn't.

He snatched at the chance to be with her even if only for a little while, forsaking Temari's future happiness.

Shikamaru runs as fast as he can, suppressing his thoughts of Temari's moans and smiles. She probably had to pretend he was Sasuke for it to be bearable for her.

In fact she declared in a dry voice, "Paying you doesn't seem much of a chore."

Hearing that was enough to make him stop pretending. Those words made him realize that despite her wicked smile, despite her acquiesces; it was just an obligation to her. He had taken her roughly then but he noticed her wincing. He mumbled, "I'm sorry if I hurt you." And was about to withdraw when she replied, "It's nothing compared to the pain my father caused you." Shikamaru changed his mind and plunged deeper, punishing her for her inability to see how her carefree words had affected him. But she seemed to more than welcome him being forceful. Crying his name out loud, Temari appeared to reach completion first.

After a while, when both their breathing had steadied, Shikamaru reached for Temari, muttering, "The first one is for you...The next one is for me." Shikamaru smiled tenderly at the confused Temari, letting her see everything in his eyes.

For the last one, he wouldn't hide his feelings as he tried to gently own Temari.

He removed her four hair ties and arranged her blonde hair on his pillow then he kissed her slowly, seeming to taste her essence. He didn't hurry as he travelled down Temari's body, getting re-acquainted with it. When he got back up, he allowed her to tuck his hair behind his ears, to caress his brows, the tip of his nose to his mouth. He then watched her smirk as she wielded her power over him when she suddenly changed their position.

Catching her breath much later, a totally worn out Temari grinned at him, then she snuggled closer to his chest, immediately falling asleep.

Shikamaru had stayed awake, tracing the little creases still visible on Temari's forehead even in slumber with his eyes. After a while, when Temari had fallen deeper to oblivion, he pulled her closer, tighter in his embrace and in her sleep Temari tried to push him away. He whispered softly to her ear, "Just a few more minutes, Temari."

Temari quieted down and permitted herself to be drawn in, causing Shikamaru's lips to lift at the corner. He felt Temari's breathing, her softness and warmth, and tried to memorize every moment of it.

After almost an hour, Shikamaru performed a seal, and using his shadows, he moved Temari off his chest for him to be able to stand. He gathered up his clothes and packed his satchel quietly.

Staring at Temari's form, naked beneath the blanket, he knew Yoshino would have more reason to hate him if she discovered what happened. He carried Temari back to her room, careful not to wake her, and then he removed all the traces of what happened inside his room.

Returning to Temari's bedroom with Temari's clothes and the soiled beddings from his bed, he searched for a pen and scribbled a note. He knew Temari would get his message, that whatever happened between them was enough and this time he hoped Temari would finally realize that he won't lay claim on his birthright.

Bending down, he was about to kiss her lips for the last time but he stopped himself. Straightening, he gazed at her for a second before saying, "Goodbye, Temari."

—o0o—

Shikamaru's mad dash in the early hours of the morning has brought him to a little, unknown town by mid afternoon.

Being a new face, the people stare and some even point their fingers in his direction. His head protector would have clued the townsmen that it's impolite and even dangerous to stare at a trained Suna shinobi but ever since he was a kid, his head protector is always tied around his right wrist and the only time it becomes visible is when he raises his hand, causing his robe sleeve to roll down.

With no forehead protector seen, the people have their defences down thinking that the inconspicuous stranger, with eyes tired and hands inside his pockets, is just an ordinary civilian, just passing through or even possibly lost.

Knowing this, Shikamaru ignores them. He continues to walk in search for the town inn. He plans on staying here for the night to catch some much needed rest. In his flight, he has been pushing his body to its limit, with no sleep and no food. He would say he would catch some sleep but he knows he would just lie in bed and think of her. He might as well do that comfortably on a proper bed than out in the open.

First, he has to eat. After leaving his satchel inside his rented room, he goes out to scout for sustenance. After finishing a very late lunch and early dinner, he explores the town, not looking forward to getting back to his room. The neighbourhood appears to be a little seedy and people seem to be starving. A young child of around six years even pretends to bump into him and tries to steal into the pouch tied around his right leg thinking that it is his money purse. Shikamaru is a lot faster than the thief and without batting an eyelash he crushes the young boy's wrist with his punishing grip.

Shikamaru could have allowed the boy to discover that the pouch only contains ordinary sand that he uses for his Invisible Thread Jutsu but his reflexes have already kicked in.

The boy, with no shinobi training, could only scamper away once Shikamaru lets go of his battered wrist. With his injured hand supported by his other hand, the boy runs as fast as he can, his face mirroring his terror.

Shikamaru doesn't attempt to catch the scamp. Following the kid with his eyes, he realizes that, compared to that child, he is more fortunate. He doesn't have to steal in order to eat. He has a brother who likes to play pranks on him and another who looks up to him despite being that strong.

Shikamaru finally smiles, looking forward to going back home to Suna. After three more steps, he falters, realizing that the blessing he just counted isn't his. They are actually Temari's brothers, mumbling, "Tch," he resumes walking towards the inn.

Inserting the key into the lock, his instinct warns him of danger. Turning the knob slowly, he then immediately jerks the door open. Noticing the curtain flapping gently because of the breeze coming from the broken window, anyone who has been to this room has long been gone. And whoever that person is he has taken the satchel with him. Shikamaru's spare clothing, bedroll, his extra pouch of sand, a set of kunais and the majority of his money are now gone.

"Damn troublesome thieves," Shikamaru swears wearily then dropping and lying on the bed, he stares at the ceiling.

Last night, the ceiling was blotted by Temari's face. Gritting his teeth, Shikamaru closes his eyes. He remembers Temari's soft chuckle as she drawled, "Lazy ass, I'm doing all the work!"

He can't stop now. The memories keep flooding in. Maybe he just has to let it. After all the memories of what happened last night is all he has of her and it will last him his entire lifetime.

Shikamaru sensed he is the first man Temari has allowed to get intimate with her body. It was a surprise, a pleasant one. Knowing that Sasuke could have been or rather should have been the first, Shikamaru's lips curl slightly upward. It would have felt so wrong if she already belonged to Sasuke in that regard and then he touched her. It would have shown to him how low he could sink.

Shikamaru squeezes his eyes tightly closed. He hopes Temari wouldn't let Sasuke touch her...or at least not immediately after him. But...

Shikamaru slowly opens his eyes. By allowing Temari to pay with her body whatever she thinks she owes him, he has sealed his fate with her and maybe even her fate with Sasuke.

Would the other shinobi, with his cold eyes, understand and still accept her?

It is his fault if...

He should have stopped her. If he really loved her, he should have...

Shaking his head, knowing that what is done is done, he accepts that all he could do now is make it up to her.

He couldn't just run away.

Sitting up, a frown marring his forehead as he focuses on the wall, Shikamaru contemplates what Jiraiya had said regarding Tsunade.

Maybe he wouldn't go home just yet. He owes Temari some answers.

But he knows that in order to acquire those answers, he has to risk being unable to return back to Suna later.

TBC

—o0o—

~3/14/11.9 10 11AF~

A/N: Please review. This baby needs sustenance ~sweet or sour or spicy it doesn't mind~