She was never what you would call religious. Didn't really believe in it. She believed in what she could see and touch. She believed in training and in action not in prayers. But she prayed now. As she approached the monument she prayed for all she was worth. She thought she sniffed just a trace of smoke in the air. The sun was down and it was twilight. On the eastern edge of the monument she spotted a red light. As soon as she got near enough to see she gasped and felt her heart stop. Bathed in the red light was Shikamaru's body, covered by a dozen wounds and soaked in his own blood. No! He can't be dead!
"Shikamaru!" She leapt to his side and dropped to her knees. She reached two fingers to his throat and began searching for a pulse. There! A pulse! It was slow but steady. He's alive!! As if to confirm it his eyes opened.
There was Temari, why was she crying? His thoughts were foggy. He didn't feel any pain now. Morphine, great stuff, he felt like his whole body was floating. He was tired and very sleepy. "Hey Temari."
She touched his face and looked down into his eyes. "Shikamaru are you all right? What happened?"
"Senya attacked me, I killed him. Didn't need any help this time." He gave her a lazy smile.
Senya? Oh Sulamon I will kill you for this. She tried to smile back as she lifted him up into her arms. "You did great; I'm getting you to a hospital right now. You'll be fine."
He didn't feel her lifting him; it was getting kind of cold. "Temari?"
"Yes?"
"I love you. I love you so much Temari."
She stared at him. "Baka you pick now to tell me that?" She tried to make light of it, but her heart was torn. It was filled with worry, grief, and… joy. "I love you too Shikamaru." She was running now with him held up in her arms.
I'm glad she said it back. He was very tired. He shut his eyes and went into the comforting darkness.
She saw his eyes close. "Hey lazy stay with me! Open your eyes! Shikamaru! Shikamaru stay with me!" When he didn't respond she pushed her body even harder, willing herself to move faster. "You're going to be all right. You're going to be all right. You're going to be all right." She wasn't sure if she was saying it for him or for herself. But she kept repeating the mantra all the way to Suna Hospital.
XXXXXXXXXX
In the master bedroom Gaara pressed a hidden button. A secret door opened revealing a small room only ten square feet. The room had a single chair, a large console, and a hundred and thirty monitors. A monitor for every room, hallway, and area both inside and outside the house. He had not known of the room's existence until he'd become the head of Sabaku and been given a letter written by the Kazekage for his successor. It had been addressed to Kankuro. The letter had revealed a number of carefully guarded secrets; this room was just one of them. The Kazekage had been consumed by fear of conspiracy and a desire for security. He'd had hidden cameras placed everywhere and used them to keep tabs on those who were, physically, closest to him. Gaara had no fears for his security and rarely used the room. On occasion he wanted to know what a visitor was up to, but he didn't concern himself with his siblings or his servants. At least until now.
He tapped some keys on the console. All the images on the monitors became the same, an image of a large radio transmitter sitting in a room. Everything that occurred was stored in memory for twenty four hours. He began rewinding the image backwards. It took a few minutes, but he finally found what he had been looking for.
Tanya was about to leave for home when she felt the sand wrapping itself around her. She screamed. The sand covered her mouth and she could only make muffled noises. A few servants came running to find out what was happening. At the sight of Gaara standing there and Tanya bound in sand they did the only sensible thing. Without a word they turned around and ran away in terror. Gaara noticed and sighed, this would hurt the image he had been trying to build. Rumors would fly through Suna that he was murdering people again. Oh well, he had things to do now. He stared at Tanya. Only her eyes and nose had been left uncovered. She was giving him a look he'd seen many times before. Sometimes his reputation did come in handy. "You have been very bad Tanya. I am afraid I am going to have to punish you now." From the muffled noises he knew she was trying to scream. "Lets go down to the basement and have a talk."
XXXXXXXXXX
Temari heard a storm tear through the hospital. This particular storm had a name, Yamanaka Ino. Ino came tearing around a corner and towards the waiting area just outside operating room one. The girl looked like she was furious with the entire world. Following on her heels was a very worried looking Chouji.
The moment she saw Temari she went up to the older girl. The girl's clothes were covered in blood. Temari opened her mouth to say something but Ino just wasn't in the mood to listen. She reared back and the punched the girl as hard as she could. "What the hell did you do?! Why is Shikamaru in surgery?!"
Chouji grabbed her from behind and pulled her back. "Ino stop it! This isn't Temari's fault! She's the one who called us."
"Oh yeah she called us to let us know that Shikamaru was in a hospital to be operated on! Just what the hell happened?"
Temari rubbed her jaw and got up on her feet. "You know for such a little thing you hit pretty hard. I know you care about him and that the two of you are close. So I'll give you one free pass. But if you try that again little girl I swear Shikamaru won't be the only one in surgery tonight."
"Just what did you do? Did he say something about your stupid hair do?"
"Listen you stupid pig I didn't do anything except get him to this hospital as fast as I could. We got separated and while we were apart he was attacked."
"Attacked? Attacked by whom? I want to know what happened!"
Temari took a deep breath and lied. "I don't know who did this or why." She thought his teammates deserved the truth. But there were other serious considerations. If it became known that Shikamaru had been attacked by a Suna nin she feared for the result.
"You damn Suna nins I knew we couldn't trust you."
"Ino!" Chouji spoke. "Stop it! We don't know what happened. Stop taking it out on Temari."
"Why should I?" She looked to her teammate. "If it weren't for her none of this would have happened!" She looked at Temari with real pain and hatred. "If he dies it's your fault!"
Temari stared back at the Leaf ninja not sure what to say. It was true; this all really was her fault.
Ino pulled something out from beneath her shirt and displayed it. "Do you know what this is?"
Temari immediately recognized the silver onyx pendant. She could also see the name on it, Ino. "It's a Nara's Heart." She said in a small voice. He gave that to Ino? But I thought he loved only me.
Ino was surprised. "So he told you about it?"
Temari nodded. "When… when did Shikamaru give that to you?"
But to the older girl's relief Ino shook her head. "Shikamaru didn't give this to me. This was from his father. Chouji has one exactly like it. We were given them shortly after being born. They represent a special connection we share with his clan. I still remember Shikaku telling me as a little girl that it meant we were beloved of the Nara clan. That we would always be welcomed in their home and have their protection. Chouji and I have a connection to him and to his family that you will never have. They have always been good to me and I love his family just like my own. If I have to go back home and tell his mother and father that their only son has died then I will… kill… you." Ino ground out the last words.
Temari heard the words and after a moment nodded. "If he dies then you should kill me."
XXXXXXXXXX
There were many stories surrounding Gaara. In a way he had become something of a myth even though he was still a living person. Mothers who wanted to frighten their children would tell them that Gaara was waiting for them. The servants of Sabaku knew them all, and knew most of them to be true. They knew about the basement. Gaara never slept. All through the night he would be awake and would try to find ways to fill in the empty hours. He would walk the halls over and over and over. He would read. He would train with his sand. He would sit on the roof and stare at the moon when it was full. And sometimes, for no reason anyone could see, he would take someone to the basement. Maybe it was just simple boredom or perhaps some nights the blood lust was too strong to deny. But for whatever reason he would take someone he'd captured with him down into the basement. He would stay down there all night. Then he would come up, alone. There was always blood to be cleaned up, but there was never a body. The basement had a section with a sand floor. None of the servants would walk there. They all called it the, 'graveyard.' Tanya knew all this and her heart was pounding like mad inside her chest.
"Tanya," Gaara spoke in a polite calm voice. "I know you are a spy and that you changed the frequency on the radio transmitter. I want you to tell me everything you know. Please do not lie to me or attempt to hold anything back. If you do I will become very upset." With a wave of his hand the sand retreated from her mouthed. She began gasping air. "Now, to begin with, who do you work for?"
Just being here in the dark with Gaara had broken her. "I serve Ossama Sulamon and House Ossama." She choked out.
"I see." Gaara was not really surprised.
He asked her questions and she answered them. It turned out she had been an outstanding spy for Sulamon. He was angry at Sulamon but not really with her, she was merely a tool. But sometimes the only way to teach someone a lesson was to break their tools.
"So how much were you paid?"
"I don't know." She sobbed. "It varied, he would reward me depending on what I told him, 100 ryu or 500 or 1,000 or 2,000. It didn't matter I didn't do it for money."
"Why then?"
"I did it because Lord Sulamon said he could help my brother. It seemed the only way." She looked up into his cold hard eyes. She gathered together all her courage. "Gaara-sama I know I have offended you and that you will kill me. But I beg you not to tell Sulamon-sama that I have betrayed him. Let my death alone be the punishment for my crimes, I beg you do not punish my brother. I want him to live free and to come home, even if I am never to see him again."
Gaara stared at her. "You risked my anger all for your brother?"
"Yes Gaara-sama."
"Do you love your brother that much?"
"I love him more than my own life! He is my baby brother, I have to protect him."
Gaara just stared at her. Then without a word he waved his hand. She was stunned to feel the sand releasing its grip and to watch it return to his gourd. Gaara waited for all the sand to return. He then turned around and walked to the steps. "Leave this house Tanya and never return. If you ever step foot here again I will kill you."
She didn't dare speak a word. She just sat there, her legs unwilling to hold her up, and watched him go. As soon as her knees allowed it she escaped from the house and ran home.
XXXXXXXXXX
"He's going to be fine. He suffered from numerous injuries and broken bones, but fortunately none of those were life threatening. He had acute blood loss, but has received enough to now be in stable condition. He should be fully recovered in a few days."
The three of them all let out a collective breath and thanked the doctor.
"We're leaving tomorrow for home will he be all right to travel?" Ino asked.
The doctor frowned. "Well he should be, but we would like to hold him for twenty four hours for observation."
"Maybe we should just stay one more day. We can always catch up to the caravan on the road." Chouji said.
Ino shook her head. "No," she said firmly. "This place nearly killed him; we're not staying one hour longer than we have to."
"Can we see him?" Temari said quietly.
"Normally visiting hours would be over." He bowed slightly to Temari. "But we can make an exception in this case."
"Thank you doctor." Temari nodded back in appreciation.
"He has been moved to room 105. He has been sedated and will not wake up until morning."
"We'll both be staying here until he wakes up." Ino said. Chouji nodded his vigorous agreement.
The three of them walked over to 105. Ino and Chouji discussing the logistics of getting everything ready for them to leave by 9 a.m. Temari wasn't paying attention. She had a lot on her mind. What kept coming back to her was that first terrible image of Shikamaru lying bleeding and motionless in the red light. She recalled exactly what it had felt like to think he was dead. And dead because of her. She knew it had nearly happened. She knew what she had to do.
Outside room 105 Temari spoke to them. "I'm afraid I have to go. Could I have just a few minutes alone with him?"
Ino tore into her. "Oh! So after nearly getting him killed you don't want to hang around? What's the matter? Got another date lined up?"
Chouji grimaced. Sometimes Ino's words could cut like a kunai. It was so obvious how hurt Temari was by this. He didn't know what had happened but he was sure she'd had nothing to do with it. "Ino," he put a hand gently on her shoulder. "You know Shikamaru would want us to let her."
Ino opened her mouth but Chouji gave her one of his very rare firm looks. She closed her mouth and gave him an annoyed face. "Fine," she mumbled. "Five minutes, and we'll be waiting right out here."
"Thank you." She said humbly. She went into the room while they waited out in the hall.
Ino stood next to her teammate and whispered to him. "Chouji, take care of my body."
His eyes widened. "Ino don't…"
Making sure there was no one else in the hallway she went through a complex set of hand signs. "Walk Out of Body Technique." Her body instantly became limp. She watched as Chouji grabbed a hold of her and carefully sat her down in a nearby plastic chair.
In her astral form she didn't feel anything. She couldn't touch, taste, or smell. But she could hear and see. The Yamanaka clan had developed this technique as a means of gathering intelligence in empty rooms, or in places where possessing someone was not a good idea. Whatever her boys thought she didn't trust Temari as far as she could throw her. She walked through the wall into room 105.
XXXXXXXXXX
She looked at him. He was sleeping peacefully in a hospital bed with an IV in his arm. She went over and crawled into the bed beside him. She placed her head carefully on his chest and listened to the sound of his heart beating. It was the most comforting sound in the entire world. She pulled her head up and looked down into his sleeping face. She moved close. This was the last time she would ever be with him and she wanted to be as close to him as she could.
"Hey lazy, it's me." She whispered to him. She touched his face. She let her fingers trace over his eyes, his nose, his cheeks, his lips, and his chin. "You know you scared me tonight. When I saw you lying there I thought you were dead and I knew it was my fault. I'm so sorry Shikamaru. I am so sorry that you had to go through this because of me. I knew it could never work between us. I knew I was never going to get to live happily ever after. Forgive me for doing this to you. Forgive me for causing you so much harm. I never meant to hurt you. It's just… I wanted it so badly."
She began to sob and needed a moment to get her voice. She knew it was foolish to say farewell to someone when they were unconscious. But she had to; she needed to tell him everything, even if he wouldn't remember it. "You know I asked my sensei once if I had a right to be happy. I asked if I was a person or just a tool. Baki told me that I had a right to love because love could never be selfish. But he was wrong, because my love for you is completely selfish. I knew it was dangerous, Sulamon came and practically told me what he was going to do and I didn't care. You made me so happy I was ready to take any risk and face any danger to be with you. And because of that you're here now, and it's my fault."
She wrapped her arms around the boy. "I had no right to put you in danger and I beg you to forgive me. But please know that I have never loved anyone else the way I have you. When I was a little girl listening to those stories I always imagined my prince would come riding out of the desert on a white horse. I never imagined I would meet him on the arena floor in Konoha. But I did, you are my prince Shikamaru. I would love to just be with you in a little house in Konoha. I would love to spend my whole life with you and with our children. I want that more than you can imagine. But I can't have it. I want to be your fair maiden but I'm not. I am kunoichi and I am the first daughter of a noble House and I am a tool. I don't get to live happily ever after. But thank you for giving me this time with you. Thank you for loving me and for being with me." Her voice choked and she had to struggle to keep going.
"I need you to know something Shikamaru. You have made me happier in the little time we've had together then I've ever been in my life. I will always bless and thank Kami that I got the time with you that I did. And I will give offerings for your health and safety. It made me so happy when you finally told me that you loved me. I already knew, I could feel your love every time we kissed or when you held me close. But hearing you say those words set my heart free." She gently kissed his lips. "I love you Shikamaru and there is nothing in this world I would not do for you. If you gave the order I would gladly kill for you." She kissed him. "If it was your wish I would die for you." She kissed him. "If you asked me to I would live my life only for you." She pressed her lips slowly down on his. Kissing him one final time. "And to protect you I would… never see you again and never be with you." He was so warm. She didn't want to let go of him. She wanted to wrap herself around him and never go. She let go. She got up out of the bed.
"When the Daimyo's son comes here next month I am going to tell him I accept his proposal. It's for the best. When I am the Daimyo's wife I will be able to do more good than I ever could as a kunoichi. I will never forget you Shikamaru and even if I am another man's wife you will be the only man I will ever love. I will hold you in my heart and never let you go. When I am old and grey you will still be as handsome and as young as you are right now. I will never forget you, but I beg you to forget me. Find a woman who will make you happy." She actually to manage a laugh through her tears. "One that's not too ugly or too beautiful I suppose. Forget me and be happy. Don't write to me because I won't answer. Don't try to see me because I'll avoid you. Don't ever see me again because I will be as cruel and as cold to you as I can, even if it tears open my heart."
She moved to the door and just stood there looking at him. Her eyes soaking in the sight of him. She willed herself to burn this image into her mind and to never let it go. "Good bye my love."
XXXXXXXXXX
Ino felt ashamed. All this time she had assumed that Temari was just playing games with him. All this time she had thought the older girl was just having a little fun with poor naïve Shikamaru. It never even occurred to her she might actually love him. But as she stood there and watched Temari pouring out her heart Ino felt her own heart breaking. When Temari left the room Ino ended the jutsu and returned to her body.
XXXXXXXXXX
Chouji saw Temari exit the room crying. "Please tell him that I am very sorry. And tell him it is over between us and that I never want to see him again." Temari didn't wait for a response she hurried away as fast as she could without breaking into a run. He wanted to say something but just at that moment Ino began to stir. By the time he looked back up she was gone.
It took Ino about five minutes to fully regain consciousness. Chouji was worried. "Are you all right? What happened?"
Ino gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine Chouji, it's a high level technique and I'm still not used to it. It just takes me a little while to recover. Where's Temari?"
"She left; she said she didn't want to see Shika again."
Ino shook her head. "Oh she still does Chouji; she just thinks she's protecting him."
"Ino what did you see?"
She gave him an abbreviated version. "She really loves him."
"I told you she cared for him. So what do we do now?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "We wait for him to wake up."
XXXXXXXXXX
Temari trudged down beaten and defeated. She had always believed she was strong enough to deal with anything. But now she knew better. For what was one girl against a whole village? When she got home Gaara was waiting of course. They exchanged information.
"If I ever see Tanya again I swear I will kill her. And I'd like to kill Sulamon too." Temari said.
"Do you really want them dead?"
She looked at Gaara. From most people that would be a rhetorical question, not from him. She seriously considered it, but in the end she shook her head. "If she stays away from me I'm willing to let the bitch live. As for Sulamon I really would like to kill him, but that would start a civil war." She laughed mirthlessly. "So the old bastard gets exactly what he wants. I'm never going to see Shikamaru again. I'm going to marry the Daimyo's son."
Gaara looked surprised. "Is that what you want?"
"No, but what does it matter what I want?"
"It matters to me sister."
She gave me a feeble smile. "Thank you Gaara that means a lot to me. But I've decided it's for the best. I don't want to see him again." She looked at herself; his blood was still on her. "I need to take a shower." She trudged up the stairs.
Gaara watched her go upstairs. He then left the house. There was something he needed to do.
"What the hell happened to you?" Kankuro gaped at her.
"It's a long story, I'll tell you tomorrow." She was too tired to deal with him right now.
"What did that stupid Leaf do to you? I swear I'll…"
Maybe she did have some energy left. She grabbed him by the collar and shoved him against the wall. "I'll tell you what he did; he nearly died because an idiot like you didn't like him dating me. You stay the hell away from him. If you ever touch him I'm taking every puppet in your room and starting a bonfire. Got that puppet boy?" He nodded and she let him go.
XXXXXXXXXX
His wife knocked on the door. She put her head in and looked at him. "Dear Lord Gaara is here."
"Thank you dear please invite him in." This would be very interesting. Sulamon wondered if Gaara was here to kill him. When entered he stood and gave him a polite bow. "Good evening Gaara. What brings you here so late at night?"
Gaara shut the door behind him and returned the bow. "There is something I wish to discuss with you."
"Yes?"
"Senya tried to kill Nara Shikamaru earlier this evening."
"I see."
"He failed."
"I assume he also died?" Gaara nodded. "That is a terrible shame; my family will mourn his loss." Sulamon spoke with a careful lack of tone.
"Will you?"
"Of course."
Gaara waited a moment to make sure nothing else was coming. "Why did you order it?"
Sulamon gave him a look of well practiced surprise. "Gaara he was not acting under any orders. Whatever he did he did for his own reasons. As a Council member you can check all mission logs. I assure you that you will find no record of any mission for my grandson."
"Please do not insult my intelligence. We both know the assassination of a foreign ninja would not be logged. It would be strictly handled as a hands mission."
"Shall we speak in the hypothetical then?"
"If that will make this easier then yes."
"Very well, hypothetically speaking if I were to have ordered the death of Shikamaru it would have been done to guard the security of Suna. A marriage between his clan and Sabaku would not only have posed a security risk of the highest order it would have caused serious doubt among the public as to the loyalty of House Sabaku."
"I see."
"Does Temari still intend to favor him?"
"May I speak hypothetically?"
"Of course."
And at that moment Gaara did something that chilled Sulamon's soul. He smiled. A very big, very happy smile. Sulamon felt a murderous killer intent ooze off the boy. "Hypothetically speaking, it's none of your damn business. You have hurt my sister, and I am here to make sure that does not happen again. I am putting you on notice that as of right now I am placing Nara Shikamaru under the protection of my House. Anyone who attacks him will be attacking me. And before you think about how to arrange an, 'accident,' for him keep in mind that if I suspect anything at all I will hold you responsible."
"And what would you do then? Will you come here and murder me?"
"No, I won't harm you at all."
"That is good to hear."
"I will come here and I will kill your wife." Sulamon stared at him in shock. "Then I will kill your sons and daughters. Then I will kill your grandchildren. I will kill every single person in your clan with a drop of your blood. But you I'll leave you alive to mourn them."
Sulamon gaped at him. "You wouldn't dare."
Gaara laughed. "How many people have I killed in Suna? Even I've lost count."
"If you attack House Ossama you will start a civil war!"
Gaara's smile faded away and his polite façade returned. "Someone I respect once told me he would do anything to protect his precious people. I feel the same way. I have no wish to kill anyone, but if I must I will. I will protect my sister whatever the cost." Gaara paused a bit. "I would like your promise that you will not do anything to harm Nara Shikamaru now or in the future."
Sulamon slowly nodded. "I give you my solemn word, in the name of my clan that I shall cause Nara Shikamaru no harm."
Gaara nodded. "Thank you that is all I came here for. Thank you for your time I will show myself out."
"You know Gaara I truly believed you had changed. But I see I was wrong."
"I have changed, my old self would not have cared about my sister's pain."
"Your father would not have put Temari's wishes ahead of the good of Suna."
"If you are saying I am not like the Kazekage then I thank you."
Sulamon stared at him. "Please consider my offer of marriage to Alyssa to be revoked. And I ask you not to return to this House again."
Gaara nodded. "As you wish. You are also asked not to enter my home."
Sulamon nodded. "Let me make you one additional promise tonight. On the honor of my clan I swear to you that you will never be Kazekage."
Gaara simply looked at him. "We shall see." He bowed politely. "Goodnight Sulamon."
XXXXXXXXXX
She had showered and put on some clean clothes. But despite being exhausted she couldn't sleep. She went up to the roof and looked out at the stars. Gaara found her sitting there. He told her of his meeting.
"Sulamon will not attack him again."
"Thank you Gaara, thank you for doing that, but what about your dream of becoming Kazekage and protecting this village?"
"I will be Kazekage whatever Sulamon may wish. Since Shikamaru is no longer in danger do you still not wish to see him?"
She looked up at the stars. "Sulamon isn't the only idiot in Suna." She said nothing more.
XXXXXXXXXX
What was that horrible noise? It sounded like a giant buzz saw devouring wood. He opened one eye. Of course, it was Chouji. I can sleep through any alarm clock ever made but not through his snoring. It took him a moment to orient himself. He was in a hospital bed. Chouji was asleep in a chair to his right. Looking over there was Ino curled up in a chair to his left. He looked around the room, no Temari. Maybe she was getting breakfast or something. He sat up in the bed and yawned. He felt sore as hell, but nothing really hurt anymore.
His yawn was enough to wake Ino. "Shikamaru you're awake!" She got up from her seat and gave him a crushing hug. "How are you?"
"Ack… Ino… you're crushing me." She let go of him and he was able to breathe again.
Chouji opened his eyes. "Shika!" Once again he was in a bear hug. Seeing this Ino joined in again. He loved his friends dearly but they really were squeezing him to death.
Once he had them convinced he really was all right he asked about the most important thing. "Where's Temari?"
The two of them shared a look. Finally it was Chouji that spoke up. "She was the one who brought you here. She stayed until you were out of surgery and in your room. She saw you for a few minutes. Then she left crying saying she was sorry and that she didn't want to see you again."
Shikamaru stared at his best friend. "She said that?" Chouji nodded. She doesn't want to see me? He had a foggy memory of telling her that he loved her and her saying it back to him. But he wasn't sure if it was real or not. Had she decided after last night that dating him was just too much trouble? He really wanted to see her, but he was still team leader and he had a mission to carry out. "Chouji what time is it?"
"A little after 7:30."
Shikamaru nodded. He saw his clothes and his vest were sitting by the bed. "All right, I'll get dressed and we'll head back to the hotel to get a quick bite and get our things. Then we'll head out to the gate."
"What about Temari?" Ino asked worriedly.
Shikamaru shook his head. "I don't have time to see her now. I'll write to her when I'm back in Konoha and find out what's going on."
Ino stood and shook her head violently. "That'll be too late. Shikamaru you have to see her now or you're going to lose her forever."
"Since when do you want me to see Temari?" He asked suspiciously.
"Since I found out she really loves you. She only said what she did because she's trying to protect you. You have to see her before you go or you're going to lose her."
He was amazed to hear this coming from Ino of all people. But he shook his head. "I can't just blow off the mission."
Ino let out an exasperated snort. Men! She sat back down. "Fine we'll do this the hard way." She went through some hand signs. "You'll thank me for this later."
"Ino…"
"Mind Body Switch Technique." Ino went limp in the chair.
Chouji jumped out of his seat. "Ino what are you doing?"
Shikamaru smiled. "Relax Chouji, I just figured it would be easier for me to show him than tell him what Temari is feeling."
"You know he's going to be really mad at you for taking him over without permission."
Shikamaru waved that away. "Oh, I'm sure he'll forgive me." Suddenly Shikamaru sat up straighter and let out a girlish giggle. "Ooooh, I knew it."
"What?" Chouji asked.
"I just saw the memory of that first dinner with Temari. I knew she was the one to make the move." Shikamaru giggled some more. "Wow, he has a lot of memories of kissing her; those two have been really busy."
Chouji looked around nervously. "Ino maybe you shouldn't be looking at his memories."
"Ok, you can't blame a girl for being curious." Suddenly he had a huge smile. "Oh! He thinks her kisses taste like cherries. Chouji, what do you think my kisses would taste like?"
Chouji looked as though he were choking. "Ino, I know it's you but hearing Shikamaru say that kind of freaks me out."
Shikamaru laughed. "Ok, ok, I've given him the memories he needs." Shikamaru brought his hands together. "Release."
Ino stirred awake in the chair as Shikamaru shook his head. They both looked at each other. "Thanks Ino, but never do that again."
"Sure."
"All right change of plans. You two head back to the hotel and get all our stuff. I'll meet you at the gate at nine."
"What are you going to do?" Chouji asked.
"I'm going to go see my girlfriend."
XXXXXXXXXX
As he entered the Sabaku compound Gaara came out the front door to meet him.
"I'm sorry Shikamaru but I'm afraid Temari does not want to see you."
"I am not leaving here until I talk to her."
Gaara looked surprised as Shikamaru tried to walk past him. "I wasn't making a request Shikamaru." Sand came out of his gourd and quickly covered Shikamaru completely from the neck down.
Shikamaru gave him a bored expression. "I am still not leaving."
Gaara just stared at him coldly. "You do know I can crush the life from you with one gesture of my hand?"
"No one's disputing that."
The two of them just stared at each other in silence for a couple of minutes. Surprisingly it was Gaara who finally spoke. "Aren't you afraid I'm going to kill you?"
"A little," he admitted. "But I'm much more afraid of losing Temari."
They stared at each other again for a couple of minutes. Finally Gaara waved a hand and the sand began sliding off him and back into the gourd. "You will find her on the roof."
"Thanks Gaara." Shikamaru hurried inside.
As he went up the stairs he saw Kankuro on the second floor landing. "You going to attack me?" Shikamaru asked.
"Nope." Kankuro said. Shikamaru passed him as he hurried up the stairs to the roof. "I still don't like you."
"I still don't care."
XXXXXXXXXX
She was sitting on the roof looking out at the morning sky when she heard someone approach her. She didn't bother to see who it was. "Leave me alone."
"I would if I could, but I can't so I won't."
She jumped to her feet and looked at him. "What are you doing here? I told Gaara I didn't want to see you."
"I know he put me in sand and threatened to kill me. But when I told him I wasn't leaving without seeing you he let me go."
She didn't know what to feel. She'd spent all night trying to accept that she would never see him again. Now here he was, smirking at her with that adorable little grin of his. How does he always manage to make things hard for me? She took in a deep breath. She knew what she had to do. "Hey lazy didn't your friends tell you it's over? Listen I had a little fun but you're just too much of a boy for me. I need a real man and I'm afraid you just don't fit the bill. So go back home and find yourself some soft little girl, because this woman is bored with you." She laughed and began to walk away from him.
"Shadow Possession Technique." She suddenly was frozen in place.
"What the hell do you think your doing? Let go of me right now!"
He took a few steps so they were standing face to face. He gently touched her cheek and she touched his. "I'm not leaving until I've talked to you."
"Shikamaru if you don't let go of me right now I'll scream for Gaara and he'll probably kill you."
"Go ahead."
She stared at him. "I'm not bluffing."
"Scream all you want no one's stopping you."
"What part of, 'I'm not interested,' do you not understand?"
"Well I suppose I'm trying to understand how that connects with everything you said in my hospital room last night."
She suddenly felt her face become very red. "You… you couldn't have heard that… you were unconscious."
"I know that you said you would kill or die or live for me and that you would stay away from me to keep me safe."
She stared at him. "You heard that?" She said weakly.
He nodded. He put his arms around her and held her close. "I know that you love me Temari." He drew his lips to hers.
"Don't…" He kissed her, and she just melted into the kiss. She shut her eyes and kissed him back. I shouldn't do this; it will only make things harder. She opened her eyes and pulled her lips back. "You're using your jutsu to force me to kiss you."
He smirked at her. "Temari I deactivated the jutsu before I put my arms around you. I would never force you to kiss me."
She stepped back and pulled out of his embrace. "Shikamaru this can't work don't you understand that?" She shut her eyes and tried to hold back the tears. "Why are you making this so hard for me?"
"Because I love you and refuse to let you ago."
"What has your love gotten you? You almost died last night!"
"So? Temari it was the third time I've nearly died." He grinned at her. "Actually I feel like I'm improving since I didn't need you or Asuma to save me this time."
"Don't joke about this! When I found you last night I thought you were dead! I thought you had died because of me! Don't you understand I can't bear the thought of you being hurt because of me?"
"I understand, but Temari it's a risk I am willing to take." She was about to interrupt but he put a finger to her lips. "Listen to me. We are shinobi and we know our lives are always in danger. There are no guarantees. Whether I am with you or not I will still be in danger so long as I am a ninja and so will you. I know how you must have felt last night. When I imagine losing you it tears my heart out. But whether we are together or not I would feel the same if anything happened to you. Nothing is guaranteed, but I know that whatever time I have I want to spend it with you. I love you."
She looked at him. She tried to say something cruel something that would push him away, but she couldn't. Looking at the love in his eyes she couldn't bring herself to hurt him or push him away. She didn't want to push him away. She put her arms around his neck and sobbed. "I love you too."
He held her close and let her cry. He whispered in her ear that it would be all right, that everything would be all right. He held her and comforted her until the tears finally passed and she seemed better.
"Temari," he whispered in her ear. "Close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Just trust me." She did. He took something out of his vest. "Now open them."
She opened her eyes to see him holding a silver onyx pendant. On the central band she saw a name engraved, Temari. She stared at him in wonder. "Are you giving me your heart?"
He smiled at her. "That's right you troublesome woman. If you accept this it means that you will be the only woman I will ever love or pursue." He smirked at her. "It also means you won't ever be able to get rid of me."
She carefully took the Nara's Heart from him. "Shikamaru I accept your heart and I swear I will always guard and treasure it." She put it around her neck. With that done she put her arms around him and kissed him.
XXXXXXXXXX
Gaara and Kankuro were waiting on the second floor landing as they came down the stairs arm in arm.
Gaara asked his sister. "Have you changed your mind about not seeing Shikamaru any more?"
Temari actually laughed. "Why? Is it that obvious?"
He looked to Shikamaru. "Do you love my sister?"
"Yes." He answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Do you want to marry her?"
"I am going to marry her just as soon as I turn sixteen."
"Oh really?" Temari cut in smiling at him with a hint of trouble. "Haven't you forgotten something?"
"What?"
She shook her head. "You haven't asked me yet lazy."
He quirked an eyebrow. "Do I need to ask you?"
She began poking his ribs. "Yes you do."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine, want to get married you unbelievably troublesome woman?"
She let go of his arm and crossed her arms across her chest. "Not if you're going to ask me like that." Gaara coughed and gave his sister an annoyed look. "Fine, Nara Shikamaru I accept your incredibly unromantic proposal."
Gaara nodded. "Shikamaru sixteen is also the minimum age to marry here as it is in Konoha. However, if you wish there is a ceremony that can be performed now."
Temari gave her younger brother a huge smile. "Gaara, really?" He nodded.
Shikamaru saw how excited Temari was. "If it's something Temari wants then of course."
"Very well, come with me." Gaara led them down the hall.
He took them to a small room at the northern end of the hallway. It was the Sabaku family chapel. The four of them entered and shut the door. Gaara spoke. "Shikamaru let me explain what is to take place here. As head of Sabaku I will perform a betrothal ceremony. While you will not be legally married this ceremony will bind our two clans together with a blood tie. Once the ceremony is complete we will consider you to be part of this family. Now, unfortunately marriages between clans of different villages are usually only allowed as part of an alliance between those villages. While technically not illegal, I believe you have seen firsthand that some people have strong feelings about the issue. Therefore, for both your safety and Temari's I ask that you keep this secret."
"For how long?" Shikamaru asked.
"Until either the wedding or until an alliance is formed between Konoha and Suna."
"But we're already allies." Shikamaru pointed out.
"We are tacit allies true, but there is currently no formal treaty of alliance between our two villages. Until one is signed it would be dangerous to make this betrothal common knowledge."
"So I can't tell anyone I have a fiancé?"
"You can tell your parents and the Hokage can also be informed as this involves an alliance between two clans. But no one else must know, not even your teammates or your sensei." He paused. "Actually your parents should be consulted prior to this ceremony."
"It's all right Gaara." Temari took out the Nara's Heart. "This is a symbol of their approval of me as a wife for their son." She turned to Shikamaru. "Your parents did have this commissioned right?" He nodded. "We can consider it a symbol of their consent."
"Very well. There is however one more issue to consider. As the betrothal is to be kept secret Temari will have to maintain the illusion that she is still being courted. This will have to include certain amounts of interaction with suitors."
Shikamaru frowned. "You are not telling me that Temari will be going out on dates are you?"
To his horror Gaara nodded. "She will need to attend the festivals and dances and there will be occasional dinners." Before Shikamaru could say anything Temari spoke.
"Hey, you can trust me. And the dinners will all be chaperoned with Gaara there. I doubt anyone would try anything. And if they did they'd regret it."
"All right I suppose. Hey, should I pretend to date too?"
"Sure!" Temari gave him a sweet smile.
"Really?"
"Absolutely, as long as you want me to come up there and beat you and the girl to death with my fan. No ones courting you Shikamaru, so I had better not hear anything about you and any other girls!"
"I was just asking."
Gaara held up a long piece of brilliant white silk. "Temari hold out your arms, palms upward. Shikamaru place your arms on top of hers." They did as instructed. He began to wrap their arms together. "I bind you together into one common future and one common fate, whatever comes you shall be bound as one. Nara Shikamaru I betroth to you my sister and charge you to protect her, to make her enemies your enemies, and to always provide her with water and shade. I welcome you into this clan and swear to protect you, make your enemies my enemies, and provide for you water and shade." Gaara then went over and to Shikamaru's surprise kissed his cheek. "You are my brother." Gaara paused. "The ceremony now requires you to say the same and kiss my cheek."
Feeling a bit weird he nodded. "You are my brother." He kissed Gaara's cheek.
Kankuro then came up to him. "Don't get the wrong idea." He shook his head amused. "You are my brother." He kissed Shikamaru's cheek.
"You are my brother." He carefully kissed Kankuro's cheek trying to avoid his make up.
Temari had tears in her eyes as she leaned forward. "You are my betrothed and one day you shall be my husband." She kissed his lips. He looked at her questioningly and she nodded.
"You are my betrothed and one day you shall be wife." He kissed her.
"It is done." Gaara said.
XXXXXXXXXX
They were walking arm in arm out to the gate. "I want to marry you on my sixteenth birthday."
She nodded and gave him a knowing smile. "That'll at least make it easier for you to remember our anniversaries."
"Will you move to Konoha once we're married?"
"Of course," she answered without hesitation. "I'll miss my brothers but I know I can be happy there with you. I don't think you could ever be completely happy without your precious clouds."
"You already know I want two kids right? A girl and then a boy?"
"Are you placing an order?" She laughed. "We'll have at least two, but I may want a big family."
He leered at her. "I'll do my part."
She gave him a sweet smile. "You sure will, and your part will include changing a whole lot of diapers." They continued walking. "You know you're going to have to get a new dream."
"What do you mean?"
"Well to start with you are marrying a girl who is very beautiful." She giggled. "Also you're not going to be just an average ninja you have way too much intelligence and potential for that. I expect to be Jonin by the time you turn sixteen and you had better be one too or we're not getting married."
"What?!" He came to a halt. "You won't marry me if I'm not a Jonin?"
She nodded. "That's right; there is no way my husband is going to be of a lesser rank than me. I've seen what you can do you have the skills to be Jonin; you just need to apply yourself. So you can consider this motivation." She got them walking again. "Now, what goal should you set?"
"Goal? Woman I'm starting a huge family and becoming a Jonin! Isn't that enough?"
"For you probably, but not for me. I told you a long time ago lazy you were going to need a wife who wouldn't let you sleep all day. Now how does Hokage sound?"
He stared at her in horror. "Woman do you have any idea how much work it is to be Hokage? Besides I already know who the next Hokage will be."
She looked at him in surprise. "Has Tsunade chosen a successor?"
"Not officially, but it's obvious who she will choose."
"Who?"
"Your friend and mine, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Naruto?! Are you serious? I mean I really like and respect him for what he did for Gaara. But how can he be Hokage?"
"Simple, the easiest way to be Hokage is to be nominated by the current Hokage and approved by the Council. Naruto is Jiraiya's student and helped him bring her back to Konoha to be installed. During that mission he was able to master the Rasengan, a special attack jutsu and use it to defeat Kabuto. Tsunade gave him a unique necklace that was originally from the Shodai, our founder and her grandfather. That necklace is a symbol that she considers him a worthy successor to the title of Hokage. And if you'd ever seen him yelling and calling her, 'grandma,' you'd know she has a special place for him in her heart. Naruto will be her successor."
"I see… well then I think I know what your goal is going to have to be."
"What?"
"You're going to have to become Chief Advisor to the Hokage."
"Are you serious?"
"Well are you serious about Naruto becoming your Rokudaime Hokage?" He nodded. "Well then think about it. While I like him he's not the sharpest kunai in the pouch. I mean anyone who would spray paint your monument in broad daylight is going to be in serious need of help."
He sighed. "Knowing Naruto that's true."
"Think about your village. For the good of your entire village you need to be there to help him make wise decisions."
He thought about it. "Boy this is going to be troublesome."
They reached the gate at nine just as the first wagons began moving. Chouji and Ino greeted them. Ino surprised Temari by giving her a hug and promising to take her shopping the next time she was in Konoha. Choiji let her know he was glad to see them together again. His friends left them to say their final good byes alone.
He wrapped his arms around her. "I hate leaving you."
"I know, I hate seeing you go." She smiled at him. "You know I just thought of something."
"What's that?"
"Remember in the hospital when I hugged you and you invited me to dinner?"
"Of course."
"I almost didn't, I was afraid you would push me away."
He smiled. "Good thing you're so brave then." He touched her cheek gently and leaned in close. "In Suna we say good bye to our loved ones with a kiss. That is true right?"
"It is." They shared one last kiss.
"Good bye my troublesome woman."
"Good bye my lazy ninja."
She stood there and watched him go. She was a bit sad, but compared to what she had been feeling just a couple of hours ago it was nothing. She reached beneath her clothes and pulled out the pendant. In the bright morning sun the silver sparkled. She had his heart and she would never lose it. That was more than enough.