Forbidden. Forbidden. Forbidden.

Temari's feet beat out a pattern as she ran faster and faster, tears streaming down her cheeks. She normally -- no, she never -- let herself cry. Except now.

"I'm such an idiot! I can't believe I let myself get carried away like that."

She stumbled to a stop and leaned against a tree for support. Sliding to the ground, she pulled out a water canteen from her pack. Her head pounded from crying. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.

"Nobody knows about this. I'm safe. I'm okay. No one has to know about this. I can't let them find out..."

Temari knew what would happen if her little secret was discovered.

Banishment...

The kunoichi buried her face in her hands and closed her eyes, but it didn't work. She could still see him. She could still hear him whispering her name. She could still remember his touch, his kiss...

"I'm such an idiot..." She whispered. "Only I would go and do something forbidden..."
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(The previous night)

Temari self-consciously smoothed her black dress free of invisible wrinkles. Why she was so nervous, even she didn't know. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that her dress was uncomfortable? It was strapless, and only reached to her mid-thighs. There was a slit on the right side that stretched to her upper thigh. A simple emerald necklace, gold bracelet, and gold ring complimented the outfit. Her hair was pulled back with a barrette, with small ringlets cascading down the sides of her face.

She glanced around for someone she knew. But so far, there was no one that she recognized. Well, she may have seen some of them around, but she didn't know them well enough to just waltz over and start a conversation with them.

No. She'd just have to wait until someone talked to her. That was something she'd been taught as a child. Never speak unless spoken to. But she was no longer a child. She was now twenty-one years old.

She had four more years of freedom left, unless they arranged her marriage sooner than that.

Her fists clenched. She hated the idea that she would not be allowed to choose her own husband. They condemned that idea. They said it was better if the men chose, that way the woman's heart wouldn't get in the way.

Because a woman's heart often led her astray.

Temari cursed silently. Her green eyes sparked angrily. They didn't trust women. They believed that a woman's heart was fickle, always changing. Perhaps there were some women out in the world like that. But not her. She would never let her emotions obstruct her view of what the man was really like. She would never marry a man who was easily angered.

She didn't want to end up trapped in a marriage just like her mother's.

She smirked. She'd show them that she could rule her own life.

Her musing was interrupted when a hand tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me, but do you know where I can find Temari no Sabaku?"

"Oh, I'm she." Temari turned around, a bit puzzled as to who would want to talk to her. She started when she smacked into a broad chest. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"Wait. You're Temari?!"

"Um, yes." She tilted her head. Her mouth dropped open. "Shikamaru?"

The Nara shifted and pulled at his tie. "Yeah, it's me. You probably can't recognize me because of this stupid suit."

Temari raised an eyebrow and scrutinized him. "You look really good in black."

"Thanks." He looked away, but not before she noticed a slight blush creep across his face.

"Did I just embarrass him?" She lifted a hand to her mouth in an attempt to stifle her laughter.

"What's so funny?" He demanded.

"Oh, nothing. Nothing." She waved a hand dismissively at him. "Hey, I'm thirsty. I'm going to get something to drink."

"Oh, okay. I'll come with you."

The two ninja began to squeeze their way through the crowded room. Shikamaru greeted a few people every once in a while, then was hugged by a slim blonde wearing a light blue shirt and matching skirt.

"Hey, Shikamaru. What's up? How are you doing?"

"Ino, hi. Not much. And I'm doing fine. Why all the questions?"

"No reason. Just making conversation with my teammate." Ino glanced over at Temari.

She looked away, pretending to be distracted by something.

"Uh...okay. Look, I'd like to stay and talk, but Temari's thirsty." He gestured toward the punch bowls.

"Fine. Go ahead and have fun, you two." She giggled cheerfully. "Nice talking to you."

Shikamaru shook his head. "I'm sorry. I have no idea what was up with Ino. She has never acted like that."

"Don't worry about it." Temari glanced down at her feet, which were being pinched by her tight black sandals. She knew what was wrong with Ino. It had started two months ago when Temari confessed that she liked Shikamaru. The other kunoichi had become enraged, saying that Shikamaru deserved someone better than the Sand woman. Needless to say, Ino's words had stung.

"Uh, Temari? Do you want your punch now...?" Shikamaru broke through her thoughts.

"What? Oh, sorry. I was just..."

"Daydreaming?" He smirked.

"I do not daydream! I was thinking." She seethed.

"You were daydreaming."

"...Fine. I was daydreaming." Accepting the glass, she lifted it to her lips and took a sip. "Can you believe that Tsunade Hokage had no idea that this was a surprise birthday party for her?"

"Yeah. And Jiraiya sensei managed to trick her into thinking that she was going to a gambling and drinking party."

Temari chuckled. She casually studied the Nara. He looked majorly uncomfortable in the suit he wore, but Temari had to admit that he looked hot in it. Not that she would ever tell him that. She knew that it would never work out between them. They were from different villages, not to mention that she was three years his senior.

Shikamaru suddenly grabbed her hand. "Hey, can I talk to you? Privately?"

"Sure." She set her drink on the table and followed him to a secluded room. "What's up?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly agitated. "I-I've wanted to say this for a long time, but I just never got around to it. But I like you." He blurted out.

Her jaw dropped to the floor. "Say what?"

"I-I like you. Alot. And I just have to know if you feel the same way about...Oh, forget it. This was stupid. I should have never told you..." He turned dejectedly to leave, but was stopped when she grasped his arm.

"I like you, too." She said simply.

His black eyes searched her green ones. "Seriously?"

"Shikamaru, would I lie to you?"

"...Well...No."

"Then what I'm telling you is the truth. I just never brought it up because of our different countries and ages."

"Temari, I'm eighteen and you're twenty-one. The age difference isn't an issue anymore."

"Yeah, now it's just our villages. Face it. We'd never be able to be together."

"Hey. Since when does Temari give up?" He asked softly. "Remember the fight with Tayuya? I said it was hopeless, yet you proved me wrong."

"...You're right. I--" She was cut off by his lips on hers.

"I've wanted to do that ever since you saved me from that Sound kunoichi." He admitted. "But I could just never work up the courage. And besides, it was too--"

"Troublesome." She finished for him.

"Yeah. But now it's not..." He lowered his head to hers. She accepted his kiss, moaning into it as his tongue swept across her lips. She granted him entrance and his tongue dueled with hers for a minute or two before he once again pulled apart. Understanding looks passed between them.

He lifted her into his arms as she kicked her shoes off, wrapping her legs around his waist. The hem of her skirt lifted, showing off more of her slender and shapely legs. He pressed her back against the wall. His tongue teased the nape of her neck. Her chest heaved as her breathing grew heavier. He slid his fingers up her slit, caressing the smooth skin.

Temari's hands trembled as they pushed his jacket onto the floor and undid the tiny buttons of his white dress shirt. Running a finger across his chest, she marveled at how such a simple touch could make him lose control. His tongue overtook her mouth as he pressed her closer to the wall.

"W-wait." She managed to get out when his left hand played with the zipper of her dress. "This isn't exactly the right place, Shikamaru."

He shot her a crooked grin. "Sorry. But yeah, you're right. Come on. I'm sure that no one will miss us if we leave early..." He nibbled on her earlobe.

"...You can put me down now." She laughed quietly. She shoved her sandals back on and straightened her outfit. "Let's go." She purred.

Shikamaru burst out laughing as a mental picture of Temari as a yellow kitty popped into his mind. "I'm right behind you."

The two ninja managed to sneak out without anyone noticing them. Or so they thought.

"I can't believe it!" Ino seethed inwardly. "What does he see in her? I am so much more hotter than she will ever be! I've got to break them up somehow. No matter what it takes..."

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(That morning)

Temari yawned and stretched, pausing when her fist hit flesh. She jerked up, then reddened as she realized where she was. Pulling the covers tightly around her chest, she rolled over. Shikamaru looked so innocent lying there. He was on his stomach, his mouth open slightly. She smiled, tracing the kanji on his left shoulder.

Wait a minute. A kanji? And not just any kanji. It was the kanji for 'betrayal.'

Temari gasped, horrified. She hadn't wanted to believe the legend was actually true. But it was. All that Hikari and Nara junk she had been told since she was a young girl of five was true. But that meant...

She covered her face with her hands. "No. No. No. NO!" She yanked the sheets back and hurriedly dressed, attempting not to wake Shikamaru up. It didn't work.

He opened his eyes just as she was reaching for the doorknob. "Temari? What's going on? Why are you leaving?"

"I-I have to get back to Suna."

"Don't tell me this was a one-night stand!"

"M-maybe it was."

"You used me, didn't you, Temari? You took advantage of my feelings for you."

"No, Shikamaru. It's not like that at all. I-I still like you..."

"Then why are you leaving?"

"Because I have to. I'm sorry. But we can never be together..." With that, Temari swept out of his room without a backward glance, leaving a very crushed Nara behind.

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(Present time)

Temari brushed a tear from her eye. She was as good as dead if anyone found out. She lifted the emerald necklace from her pack. "Why did I have to be born into the Hikari clan...?"