Cloudless Sky
Chapter 16: Finally Succeeded
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Temari walked towards the gate, no emotion showing on her face clearly. She had made up her mind. She didn't want to be weak, not like she had been. If him leaving like that made her so different, then why should love be an improvement? Based on what she had learned, she had made a decision. She had analyzed. And this is what the correct answer is...right?
Her bag felt heavy in her hands, her fan pulled her back. She so wanted to stop, wanted to tell him that she needed him, wanted to stay. But it wasn't her style to be weak.
Hours before, while Shikamaru had been in speaking with the Hokage and his sensei, she had sat on top of the roof, his favorite spot, and calmly thought.
Everything was back to normal, or as close as it would get. It was water under the bridge—ninjas forgive those of their villages if they are to be trusted. As to be expected of Shikamaru's case, he was forgiven, and given new status of 'not-so-cowardly guy who survived being in the Akatsuki'.
So...why wasn't she happy? Wasn't the person you had missed so, so much, that you went to all lengths to get back, supposed to just come back and it would be perfect, just like that? Temari had thought this, until she had gotten the time to really, just, think.
She loved him. She couldn't deny it, as stubborn as she was. It wasn't worth her effort or battle strategy. But then again—loss. If they became...them...Shikamaru and Temari, then what if one of them got lost in a mission?
Her heart had bluntly shuddered at this point. Her eyes flickered, something in her twitched. Analyzed. Concluded.
She had lost enough.
No more.
She would not need him any longer.
And here she was, leaving behind the best feeling she had ever felt, the only offer, the only true friend, maybe more, that she had ever had.
She didn't cry. She had shed too many tears already.
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"Damnit, damnit! This is too troublesome, the minute I get back, she has me running off again!" Shikamaru sputtered as he ran towards the gates. Never in his life had anyone motivated him enough to run without a deadly emergency. He winced. This wasn't good, either.
He used to think that his father was crazy, marrying his bossy mother, even at the cost of his own existence. Women were a force to be reckoned with, and it was well known that he was a coward. These things were too troublesome for a guy like him.
Of course, he had asked his father what the hell he was thinking. The replies were varied, and each confirmed to Shikamaru the fact that his father was seriously whipped. 'She has her moments', 'her smile', 'you'll understand one day'.
Oh man, did he understand.
He would have to punch his father when he got home for actually outsmarting him this time.
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Temari's footsteps kept a steady pace as she reached the gates, where she stopped, turned down. Her eyes felt dry, although her heart was definitely hurting. She clutched her chest.
Love was a mystery, and definitions of this varied from person to person. To Gaara, it was someone or something to take the loneliness away. To her...what was it to her?
What was it to him?
She shook her head. She would go home. She would train. She would surpass the greatest kunoichis she had ever known. She would live, she would die. Maybe on a mission, maybe of old age. This is the life of a ninja. This is the life she had chosen.
She began to walk again, feeling no better, but wanting desperately to get away from everything.
Suddenly her feet stopped. She blinked, and tried to take another step.
Her whole body stiffened. 'Damnit...'
She knew this feeling.
"Tch. Looks like the Kagemane no Jutsu finally succeeded." Came a voice that she knew too, too well. She tried to clench her fists, suddenly seething with anger, too no avail.
"If you don't—"
"I'll show you what's behind you." Shikamaru said curtly, turning his head. Temari's head turned, to see the Konoha gates, and his own body, head turned also. She wanted to bring out her fan and do something that would definitely start a war with Suna. "Everything you're leaving behind." He said, slightly softer. She blinked. His voice came as a surprise to her.
"Damnit, let me go, you dumbass! I have somewhere to go!" She said, failing at a good reason to be let go. He smirked.
"You're still scarier than my mother." He remarked. She seethed silently, although it took all of her guts to contain the urge to scream and actually break the Kagemane no Jutsu and maim him.
"Shikamaru Nara, if you don't--!" She cried, stuttering slightly. He shook his head, turning it back so she faced away from the gates again.
"I won't let you go until you face me and tell me this is the best thing to do. It's troublesome, but you're not going until you tell me for sure, because after this, I won't chase after you anymore." He said stiffly. She blinked. Chase after her? What— "All this time, you know it. I was in the Akatsuki, feeling that hatred, that burning for being taken away. And you know what? I'm not a hero. Because I didn't do it alone. The whole troublesome situation, the only thing keeping me alive there—was you." He said smoothly. Her eyes widened. "Don't you get it, Temari!" He said a little angrier. "Women were troublesome my whole life, and damnit, you were the most troublesome! You're violent, scarier than my mom even! And you know what? I'm starting to think...it's worth the trouble. Do you want to die and know that you had nothing in your life to fight for? Or do you want to die with someone by your side. You're my King, Temari. I'm not going down without a fight, and it's all worth it when you're right beside me." He said quietly. Then suddenly, she felt herself able to move, her body tingling.
Shikamaru had let her go, with a sigh, and turned back. 'This is too troublesome...this whole thing, I shouldn't be doing any of it.' He though reluctantly.
"Damnit...you always were a coward, running away." She said, the corners of her mouth curling into a smirk, hands on her hips. He blinked, raising an eyebrow. He then turned to find her arms around him. His eyes widened in surprise.
"You're not leaving?" Was all he said. Everything else wasn't meant for words.
"If what you said was just a love confession, then no, I'm not leaving." She said, letting go of him. He smirked, and his eyes flashed. He faked a sigh, but she knew he was up to something.
"Great, then I'm going to have to do something way too troublesome." He said, and suddenly pulled her into a kiss. Her eyes widened in surprise, and suddenly she blushed a dark red. She broke away.
"Baka!" She cried, punching him. He rubbed his shoulder. "Taking advantage of me!" She said defensively, although her blush was apparent. He sighed.
"How troublesome." He said. Then suddenly he brought something out of his pocket. "Here." Was all he said, and passed it to her. She raised an eyebrow.
"Eh? Throwing something at me? What is it?" She said a little angrily, almost dropping the small box. She opened it quickly, then blinked, gawking at him.
Inside was a silver necklace, a small cloud hanging from the center.
"It's not an Akatsuki one." He mumbled, shrugging. "I just thought, to replace the other one. It's...a promise." He finished. She looked up at him, questioning. "That I'll be with you." He said, a light blush crossing his face. She snickered.
"You plan pretty far ahead, Crybaby." She snickered softly, then put on the necklace. He sighed.
"Troublesome woman." Was all he said, as she grabbed his hand and dragged him off.
"Let's go eat." She said, as he sighed and smiled slightly, finally happy to be back in his own village.
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It was not long before days, and weeks, had past, all forgiven, all normal again.
Shikamaru's mother had hugged him fervently, eyes tearing as she cooed over her son, but not after she had pummeled him with curses and told him that if he ever ran away again that they would attend a second funeral not too far in the future.
His team had hugged him, causing him much annoyance (although anyone could tell that there was a twinge of happiness in his groan), and taken him out to lunch in their joy of their teammate being back.
Shikamaru had also taken more time with Temari, although it was not needed, which people began to take notice to.
"Going to see Temari, ne?" Ino would tease him whenever he said he would have to leave or he'd get whipped. He'd blush slightly and sigh, not replying.
It was on one particular day that Shikamaru had found it.
Right outside his home's door, it was there, a note attatched with a kunai.
Shikamaru blinked and picked up his Chuunin jacket, surprisingly clean and still the same it had always been. It was only when he read the note that he was thoroughly shaken.
Shikamaru no Danna—
You're no longer one of us, so this is a notice, un. But it's also in hopes that you'll recognize what we do for a living. Although I've returned this...don't expect any other little casualties, un. We're enemies, as we were. It's different now. But I have to say that you're the first one to be a member and escape living, un. Take that as a compliment or a warning. Heh. You're probably the smartest one in your whole village to accept them back, un.
You should know that we didn't capture you because we needed you.
You were a pawn in the game.
You can figure out why we took you in the first place, heh.
You're smart enough.
--Your enemy, Deidara
Shikamaru dropped the letter from his shaking hands, the horrible realization dawning on him.
Why hadn't he thought of this before? Before anyone else, why did they take him?
As he put on his jacket, he could only thank God that he had made it out, although he was sure his bounty was fairly higher than Asuma's now. Heh. Another thing to brag about, besides his Shougi skills.
He was a pawn in the game, all along.
He was the knight, the strategist, the genius.
He was taken because they believed, one day, that he would be smart enough to be used against them.
They thought when with others, he could destroy them.
Shikamaru smirked as he straightened his headband on his sleeve.
He couldn't let the Akatsuki down now...could he?
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Shikamaru and Temari walked down the street lazily, a few weeks later. They had kept everything low key—no one asked, so it didn't seem a big deal. When confronted though—they blushed and denied everything. But it was apparent, for sure.
"Shikamaru! Temari-san!" Cried a voice. Both looked over in surprise.
There stood Sakura, waving happily, and an eager-looking Naruto. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. He hadn't seen Naruto in about two years, and man, did he have a troublesome story to tell. Then again, maybe it was better not to say anything.
"Well if it isn't Naruto!" He said, waving. Temari raised an eyebrow curiously. Sakura and Naruto ran over happily.
"Shikamaru!" Naruto exclaimed. They came to a stop to talk.
"So you just came home, then?" Shikamaru asked. Naruto grinned, putting his arms behind his back.
"No, I came back yesterday." He answered, while Sakura stood by him quietly. Shikamaru chuckled.
"Heh...so has any of your idiocy left you? And have you changed well?" He asked jokingly. Temari stifled a laugh. Sakura took on a face of pure horror.
"No. He hasn't changed at all." She said, waving her hand back and forth dismissively.
"Sakura-chaaaannn..." Naruto moaned, sighing and bending over in defeat.
"Ah...really?" Shikamaru asked, faking disappointment. Suddenly Naruto stood up.
"So...are you on a date too?" He asked, grinning wildly and sneaking a glance at Temari. Shikamaru blinked in utter surprise and Temari blushed madly.
"That's not it." Shikamaru said, although his slight blush betrayed him.
"You're joking. Why would I go out with such a—" Temari said, blushing a dark red. 'Damn kid.' She laughed in her head. Shikamaru then stammered onto his Chuunin duties as Temari smiled on, adding bits to the conversation.
Suddenly his hand found hers. She blushed deeper. He caught a glance with her sidelong, as if to say, 'well, it'll be known soon enough'. She laughed, and together they talked with Naruto and Sakue for a while.
Temari and Shikamaru walked with them, silently thinking. They had lost greatly and gained much. They had changed, maybe for the better. Who knew now?
Only time would tell.
They would become stronger. Shikamaru vowed to get a blow in the Akatsuki, as much as the motivation that he was feeling bugged him. Temari would still be the strong kunoichi, maybe stronger now that she had found love.
Suddenly Shikamaru looked up and nudged her.
Clouds danced across the bright blue sky, causing them both to blush.
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The End
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A/N: First off, I'd like to say THANK YOU to everyone who read, you ROCK. I loved writing this, and I love people who reviewed even more This story was great fun to write, and I'll be writing much more ShikaTema in the future. Thanks again!