Final chapter!
Thank you to everyone who followed my first ever chapter fic!
Hope you enjoyed the ride.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and/or its characters.
It was five in the morning. The sun is just about to rise in the hidden village of Suna. The streets were empty, the whole village was quiet. Only the sudden gushing of wind could be heard.
"Will you be okay?" Gaara asked his sister as he stood by the doorway. The kazekage normally doesn't wake up for until another hour. But today, Gaara wanted to send his sister off.
Letting her resume her duties, as Suna's ambassadress to Konoha was something he wasn't completely keen on allowing. After his sister's confrontation with Shikamaru, he hoped it would just end there. No more pain for his sister. But pain isn't something you runaway from. Pain should only be conquered. Gaara realized how much that pain bore something greater: love. Through Temari, the idea of forgiveness became clearer. And even though he's only on his way to understand the concept fully, he is no longer afraid of hurting. Because if Temari was able to do it, he thought, he could do it too. He's human, not a monster, after all.
Temari, strapping on her sandals and wrapping her windbreaker around her stood up and replied: "I'll be okay, Gaara." With her signature grin, the wind tamer of Suna spread her arms open for a hug.
Kankuro suddenly enters the moment and hugs both his siblings. "Aww why wasn't I invited to this little hug fest?" His hair obviously uncombed. He clearly just woke up and ran downstairs because he'll miss his sister badly. But of course he would never admit that.
"Not my... fault... you... di...dn't...wa...ke up... in...time!" Temari replied struggling because of the tight embrace, which was shortly followed by a chuckle. It's always fun when she's with her siblings.
"Ka...n...ku...ro... let... go..." Gaara quietly said.
Kankuro then let go of his brother and sister. "Well, take care sis. You know what to do when the bastard attempts to even get within a mile near you, ok?"
"You can stay some more. Take a longer break, nee-san." Gaara almost sounded like a little kid pleading for candy. With the six months Temari stayed home, he had gotten a lot closer to Gaara. He opened up to her the same way she did. From late night stargazing on the roof, to tending to the plants in the greenhouse on days off. The two have become more comfortable with the affection they never got the chance to show until the past half a year that has passed. It was therapeutic, even, for Temari to spend so much time with her youngest brother. It felt great to be able to say whatever she wanted to say without the fear of prejudice. Gaara actually made her realize a lot about herself. Whenever she would say something and Gaara, being Gaara, would ask 'why' or 'how so', she finds herself exploring more of what she truly thinks and feels. Without Gaara knowing, he has helped her move past what has happened not only with Shikamaru, but her past troubles as well.
"Oh, you two." Temari looked at her brothers fondly. "I have to go. Come on, I'll be back before you know it."
"We'll miss you." Kankuro replied. "Now off you go! We wouldn't want you stuck in the middle of the desert at nightfall." He returns the smile.
"Ok, I'm off then. Take care while I'm away, Gaara, Kankuro." She bids farewell.
Temari began her week-long travel from Suna to Konoha. It's been a while since she's been out of Suna other than the rare missions when she had to be at another country.
The last time she was on this path, Temari recalled, was when Shikamaru broke up with her. She remembered the struggle, the weight of her legs while treading through the long path home. It felt like she was dragging her body with all she had.
But not this time.
This time, Temari is stronger. Temari is ready to face him again. Because strength isn't always about fighting back. Sometimes it's about giving another chance; going through pain and struggle to finally see the beauty of peace that is often taken for granted. There is no need to establish whose fault it was. It no longer mattered.
It's almost Spring, the season of new beginnings.
The time she was away, the time she spent not seeing him, these moments made her realize how much she wanted to fight for him. She loves Shikamaru. And Shikamaru loves her too. Enough for him to rise above distance and time.
The void that was opened when he left her, is now filled with an explanation, even an apology. And she chose to move past that. No longer suspended in nothingness, Temari feels the ground beneath her feet. Ready to take another step forward, she reaches the gates of Konoha, Shikamaru right in front, waiting for her.
The spring breeze blows away all her fears.
She gives him a smile.
I never planned for anything. I literally just sat in front of my laptop one afternoon after work.
I never expected it to be ten chapters long. I never expected it to be this heavy.
But I'm glad I wrote it!
Here's to more fanfiction! :D
Thank you so much for all the reviews, favorites and follows.
I appreciate it! SO MUCH!