Shikamaru

Finally, we made it back to Konoha that was cold, damp and rainy, not a glimpse of snow anywhere. The roads were muddy and naked trees swung in the cold late autumn wind.

I came back to academy and continued as before, and so did Temari. We still visited each other's lessons and it became such a usual sight, the pupils asked about her if she was missing. I could clearly see she was going to become a great teacher. She might be strict and scary, but in her heart she was kind and loved the children, and most of all she loved the prospect of helping the youngsters to learn.

Her wind technique trainings were quite an attraction and so she had to prolong the duration of training in order to teach everybody properly. After one of those sessions, she met me under the tree where I hid from the cold rain. Her wet hair stuck to her face and her cheeks were red from the physical exertion; she yawned, a little tired.

- I'm surprised you're still here. Should be too troublesome to wait for me for 3 hours in this weather. – Mocking smile. I've grown very fond of those smiles of hers.

- It was, but I still needed to wait until it's dark. – She glanced at the sky, covered with dark clouds and it seems only now she noticed how late it was, shadows growing longer and longer every minute.

- Why is that?

- I need to visit someone. You should go home, though. You look like a mess. – I spun on my heel to go, trying my best to avoid the disaster my comment might have caused.

- Oh is that right? Funny but the way you gawked at my breasts persuaded me otherwise, you ass! – Hearing the edge in her voice I smiled to myself, slowly pacing towards a small path towards the road. – Where are you going? – She insisted.

- Graveyard.

Silence fell on us. A little surprised I heard her striding behind me instead of going home. Thinking about it I realized she was one of the few people I didn't mind going to graveyard with. Temari maintained a distance, avoiding stepping in into my personal space and allowing me to be alone if I wanted that, but still stayed close enough to show that she was here for me. And I appreciated that.

I stopped in front of a simple, inconspicuous grey stone that marked the place where my sensei was buried. A person I loved as my second father and a person who saved me from death multiple times, who guided me in life and taught me many things without saying a word, the person I could not save. The person I failed.

Raindrops ran down my face, dripping from my nose, as I stared down into the ground that covered a great deal of memories and feelings. I felt as if a big part of myself was buried there next to Asuma's bones, or dwelling inside of them. Telepathically those memories connected to whatever emotions I had in my chest and I felt a sting of pain. I always do, and that is the reason I come here. To remind myself of what is lost, of my past, of my mistakes. I need this pain, so I come here in order to not forget.

Cold, wet fingers tangled between mine as Temari came closer without my notice while I was deep in my memories. I glanced at her with reassuring eyes, seeing the level of empathy I haven't seen in anyone's eyes before. She knew what it feels to lose someone, she understood. In my eyes she saw why I only come here when it rains.

I pulled her into an embrace, my pain of not being able to safe someone suddenly turning into a need of protect those dear to me. Not that she needed my protection, but I needed to protect her anyway.

- Let's go home. You'll get a cold. – This was the closest I came up with my need.

Her lips curved into a little smile.

- As if you won't.

And we went home, still holding hands, through the pouring rain that drenched us and made us shiver. It was always like this when I came back from my rainy visits of a grave, but this time one thing was different. The hand I held in mine warmed me up, if not physically then emotionally, and I didn't feel as cold and empty as before. I felt better.