Title: Sweet Release
Summary: After him, no other man could satisfy the hunger the dark man left his lovers with. They called him Casanova. (ShikaTema)
Author: Bibliophile Nincompoop
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Those who are faithless know the pleasures of love; it is the faithful who know love's tragedies.
~Oscar Wilde
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Chapter 6: Deception
"No!" Shikamaru sat up in the bed screaming, his breathing was ragged and harsh. Another dream of the blonde being tortured and killed left him sweating bullets. Two feminine arms wrapped around his back, resting a tired head between his shoulder blades. He calmed down almost immediately, it had been like this for the past three weeks every single night. He didn't want to play this game anymore, no more different women every month. No more empty feeling when he went home alone. There would only be woman in his bed. And it was going to be Temari.
Though he had given into his temptation four weeks ago, but it had felt so wrong. He had left late in the night telling Temari that it was a meeting, and she had just walked him to the door and told him not to fall asleep during it. Shikamaru had found the woman he had marked out and without contemplation she took him to her home. But when he was done, it didn't make him feel better only worse. He could only think of the blonde woman who waited for him in their home.
She kissed his back through his shirt, breaking him out of his turmoil, she was obviously to tired to realize what she was doing, "Lay down."
Shikamaru did as she commanded, smiling when she wrapped half of her body over his snuggling into the crook of neck. Her warm breath on his neck sent shivers down his spine. He rather go through this torment every night for the rest of his life, just for a moment like this with her.
"Temari?" He whispered to her.
"Huh?" The blonde grunted, lifting her head and trying to open her eyes to see him.
The shadow user brushed her hair from her face gazing intently at her beautiful face. "You're so troublesome."
She chuckled ever so lightly and kissed his forehead, "Love you too."
Temari laid back on his chest, to tired to notice his heart thumping wildly in his chest. He kissed her head squeezing his eyes together tightly, "I love you."
But she was already asleep, making soft whimpers in her sleep.
His dream replayed in his head. He would never be able to get her screams out of his mind. Especially when she was screaming his name.
Temari woke up like every other morning for nearly a month. She was tired, irritable, and amazingly comfortable. Shikamaru happened to be a great pillow and blanket. He had told her that when he would wake up from his nightmares she would talk to him soothingly and coax him back to bed, but she never remembered any of it. She often hoped she didn't say any incriminating, something on the lines of 'you have a nice ass' or 'your abs are totally lickable'. Which both would be utterly true.
She wrenched her way from his strong and needy grasp, giggling (not in any sort of girly manner of course) to herself when his face scrunched up in disapproval. She'd wake him in two hours as soon as she took her shower, finishing up chores and finished making breakfast.
Shikamaru had found out that Kumo was planning on attacking Konoha, but before then they were going to destroy Suna. And the real Raikage had admitted that it was all the council's doing, he didn't want to go to war again. And yes the real Raikage, the one that Temari and Shikamaru met had been the Raikage's brother Killer Bee a jinchuuriki containing the Hachibi bijuu. So the duo had to be interrogated by the more uptight man, who still had little of his brother's personality. But occasionally the Kumo ninja still loomed over their house, but Temari didn't mind, in fact she appreciated it. Temari loved it when Shikamaru would sneak up behind her hugging her and kissing her, just like a true lover would. When he'd kiss he gently and wildly, but it was just a act for him.
The loud beep from the coffee maker brought Temari, who was dazing off into space, to her senses. She turned towards the toaster oven that was fuming dark black smoke, "Ahh! My toast!"
A little while later the blonde made her way back up to her bedroom to wake up her lazy man, but was in for a lot more than she bargained for. She opened the door and Shikamaru was butt naked drying off his hair with his bath towel. He looked towards her and flushed dark scarlet, which probably matched her's.
Temari didn't know how long she looked at him, and neither did he. His body reacted on its own and rushed blood to his cheeks and another lower region, he quickly forced his towel to cover his mid-section like a curtain, "Yes troublesome woman, what would you like?"
"Breakfast is ready. Come down. I mean with clothes on. Or not. No yes clothes. I.. I am leaving now. Right now." The blonde rushed from the room, her breath wild just like her thought.
Temari set the table like usual, but she couldn't stick around to see Shikamaru. It was too embarrassing. She had stammered like a school girl, and that was worse than walking in on him nude. Actually him being nude was the good part. Agh! Stop that brain!
The creek in the stair case told her that her husband was coming down, so being the proper lady Temari was... she ran out the back door like a bat out of hell.
I can't believe I just ran out of there like a pansy, you're making me weak Shikamaru. You're domesticating me. At least I liked gardening before I met you. The blonde slipped on a white floral gloves. Botony was after all one of her favorite past-times.
She loved flowers, ever since she first came to Konoha. So many different species, such beautiful colors and not to mention the powerful aromas. Temari had always preferred lilies, they we so simple and yet so bold and magnificent plus they smelt amazing. Before they had moved in the garden was dead and overtaken with weeds, but with countless days of backbreaking labor the garden was a paradise. Poppies, English lavender, baby's breath, stargazer lilies, and tons of daises flourished and made their fairy tale home even more perfect. Its just to bad that this story didn't have a happily ever after.
When she came inside, Shikamaru was already gone thank goodness. He left her a scribbled note on the table saying 'thanks hon' and that was it. But for the lazy man it was a lot, and she knew it. He wasn't the type of many to go off and bring home flowers just because he can. Shikamaru was the guy who bought you flowers if you yelled at him till he went deaf and then kicked his lazy ass just to get the point across. Regardless she was thankful for his little note. Temari wasn't one for doing special things for her significant other but Shikamaru needs a little pick me up from all those nightmares.
What was Shikamaru's favorite food again? Hmm... Kelp, I know that for sure. But what fish was it? Salmon? No. Albacore? No. Mackerel? Yes that's it! I know exactly what I am going to make tonight.
Temari washed her soiled hands and went into town. It was a nice cool day with a wonderfully fresh breeze. Though it kept pushing her back home.
Why are you acting so strangely today my friend? You're blowing in the wrong direction.
The wind pushed her back even more violently.
I am very busy, I don't have time for your nonsense.
With her command her element seized and allowed her to walk into the main district. Everyone, not just a few people but everyone in the village, were in a big circle in the middle of town watching what seemed to be a fight. But Temari could just barely hear what was happening, so she couldn't be too sure, but she could see Mutaro and Kagna yelling at each other. Well that's what married couples do best after all. They probably had been at it for a while since both of their faces had gone tomato red from their screaming. Mutaro said something that sent everyone up in a tizzy. They began whispering as Kagna gasped shaking her head violently. What the hell is going on?
And within a second everyone was staring at her. Temari looked around to see if it was someone else, but no... they were all staring at her. Temari had that little nagging voice in the back of her head telling her to run, but she stood her ground. And the crowd spread like the red sea so Kagna could run up to her, but still keeping her distance.
"I am sorry Temari." She sobbed, "I didn't know. I swear I didn't know."
Did she find out me and Shikamaru are spies? Oh no, I've got to warn him. We've got to get out of here.
"What are you talking about?" Temari nervously rubbed the back of her head. Slowly backing up.
Mutaro bounded towards her, his entire body reeking with anger. Shit run! Run! Run! Run! Why aren't you running? This is no time to be prideful!
"Did you tell her!?" The dark man yelled at his wife who meekly looked away.
Temari kept backing away slowly, staying out of arms reach of the man, "Tell me what?"
"That she is fucking your husband!" He screamed.
"My husband? Shikamaru?" The blonde burst out in laughter, clutching her sides.
Everyone stared at the woman as if she had gone crazy, and Mutaro's anger slightly dissipated. "Yes Shikamaru is having sex with my wife. He is cheating on you!"
Temari was still laughing, bringing tears to her eyes. "Shikamaru my lazy ass husband? Who thinks everything is troublesome, is cheating on me? I highly doubt it."
"It was only once Temari." Kagna was still sobbing, she knew it was him. The woman had found out yesterday when she saw the two walking home from the Raikage's office. "I am so sorry."
The blonde's laughter was cut short, her beryl eyes peered into her friends chocolate ones and she knew that the woman wasn't lying. Shikamaru had been with her... "No. I don't believe it. I can't believe it."
"Well believe it!" Mutaro started his yelling again.
"That's enough people!" Bellowed out a deep voice from behind them. "Everyone go home, don't any of you guys have anything better to do!"
A strong hand landed on Temari's shoulder, she looked up to see the octopus ox beast container. "Killer Bee."
"Come with me." With out a question or hesitation she followed the man who walked straight into one of the towns pubs. Inside was dark and dingy, it looked like a bar straight out of the slums like in the movies. "Stay here till everyone chills off, okay babe."
And she was there from the big incident, till... The blonde gazed at the clock on the wall it read ten o' clock. So nearly fourteen hours she had been here, drinking away all of her worries. The first couple of hours she nursed a glass of whisky, but after that she couldn't quite remember. But it wasn't enough to stop her heart from hurting. It wasn't enough to stop her thinking of him with her. It felt like she was being stabbed over an over again, no it was worse than that. She'd rather take a kunai to the heart rather than this pain she was feeling.
How could you do this to me? How can you make me feel like I was the only person in the entire world for you and then make me feel lower than dirt? I love you and this is what you do to me... No, I did this to myself. I let myself love and like all love I have ever had, it has been crushed and demolished.
Temari had her head against the counter top, holding her empty glass in her hand. A hand rested on her shoulder, which happened to be the thirty-fourth hand today. "Fucking beat it asshole, I am drowning myself in my own fucking self pity." The hand still stayed, so Temari flung herself around to scream at the owner only to see Shikamaru. The blonde laughed again, never taking her eyes off of his strong yet worried and sad face. Temari kept laughing till she was in tears, but these weren't from humor. The blonde sobbed into her hands, no man had ever made her cry. Not when they beat her, not when they used her sex against her, not when tortured her past the brink of sanity. Never, until now.
"Temari..." He whispered to her, almost like a silent apology.
She stood and walked out of the bar, her steps were quick and clumsy. Drinking obviously impairing her movements. Her body swayed back and forth as she walked, but she didn't notice her mind was set on going home. To her real home, in Suna. They had enough information, she was leaving now without him. Shikamaru in an instant had her in his arms and was walking to the house. She didn't struggle, and he didn't speak. Well until he unlocked the door...
Temari lept from his arms and ran upstairs, locking the bedroom door behind her. He knocked on the door, "Please let me in, we need to talk."
"You're not actually married to me, you don't need to be faithful. Go ahead and screw all the girls you like Shikamaru." She said with a straight voice, trying to sound as normal as possible. He wouldn't make her weak. "I was playing the part of upset wife, you know... like all of this was, it was fake."
"Then why won't you let me in?" He asked.
The blonde wiped madly at her tears, "More acting. No wife would let her husband back in after cheating."
"I didn't mean to do it, I'm sorry..." His voice cracked from his masked emotions.
Temari scoffed and yelled, "What you were both jogging naked and ran into each other and whoops?! I'm not stupid!"
"Temari...." Shikamaru was cut off by her gasping sobs.
"Stop Temari-ing me! Just go sleep on the couch, like you're supposed to and leave me the hell alone." The blonde listened for his response, but none came. Only the soft grieving footsteps walking down the hall and stairs, and then the front door click shut. Temari grabbed her traveling bag, and stuffed all her clothes and belongings in it. "Stupid idiot! And to think I, Temari of the desert mistress of the winds, fell for a stupid cloud gazing pineapple head reject like him!"
The blonde stormed down stairs with her bag in tow, and went into the kitchen to pack up some food for her long journey home. "I should have just kicked his ass right then and there. That's what the real me would have done. I would have decked him, knocked his lights out. I would have..."
A knock sounded from the front door. Temari peeked her head out from the kitchen to stare at it, tears still clouding her vision. "Ha! Locked yourself out, you deserve it!"
The knock still beat against the door, strong and firm. Though how strange and stalker like it was, Temari knew Shikamaru's knocks. They were more drawn out and well... lazy. The blonde made sure the dead bolt was in place before she opened the door to peek through the crack.
"What are you doing here?"
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Dun Dun Dun. I feel so horrible for making Shikamaru such a bad guy, but it is necessary. Once again if there are any spelling errors tell me, I am only human and spell check doens't allways catch everything.
Hope you enjoyed!! And you all will have to wait till Monday or Tuesday for an update because I am going camping. Sorry!!!!!
