Chapter 11
It was all revealed now, the news about her identity was now revealed and soon it will reach the Kages in Kumogakure. The eyes of the young samurais glared at her when she walked to her practice spot. The gossip spread faster than the light touched the ground.
She looked to her left and six samurais wearing a badge of Suna stared at her intently, like they observing her from head to toe. Back in Suna, only the privileged people can only see the royalty, especially the princess. She was kept hidden from the crowd and their palace becomes her prison. It was their tradition to keep the princess pure before her wedding.
Her gaze return to the red dot that she was staring at before releasing the string from her bow.
It’s still a miss.
She released a heavy sigh, Temari was losing her patience with her Kyudo, she only hit the target twice and it was not precise, it didn’t even touch the middle but only the corner of the red dot. She still considered it a success. But she kept on practicing and she promised herself that she’ll be able to hit a precise and accurate shot.
A noise echoed behind her like someone was walking in the grass, she turn around and saw Shikamaru.
“Back to your position” he moistens his lips and stands beside her
Temari nodded and pull the string while aiming at her target, she released it but it was still a miss.
“Come on, you can do this. Create an imaginary line in your head and position the arrow at the exact location of the red spot” He assists her hands and holds them while she released the second shot.
It almost touched the red dot and Temari smiled “I guess I can consider that a success”
Shikamaru smiled too and their eyes met. In his periphery, he saw a group of samurai wearing badges of Suna whispering. He forgot that the princess shouldn’t be touched by any man. His hands immediately break from the assist and he slightly walked backward from her.
“That’s a good improvement. Keep practicing” He turns around and starts walking away
“Wait, you don’t want to stay?” she asked
“I-I have to teach the other samurais. If I have time, I’ll try to assist you with your kyudo”
Temari saw him walking away from her spot, her heart felt heavy after seeing that. She returns her focus to her training to clear her mind.
In Kumogakure, the five Kages were having their meeting to plan for the upcoming battle on Ouza island. Tsunade (Hokage) from Konoha, Mei (Mizukage) from Kirigakure, the A (Raikage) from Kumogakure, Onoki (Tsuchikage) from Iwagakure, and Rasa (Kazekage) from Suna with his sons.
“You need to understand Rasa that we need to stick with the first battleplan” Mei pleaded
“Yes, but this assembly will not make sense if one of the Kage didn’t agree with the plan and I disagree with what you presented” Rasa responded
“The Kazekage seems to be stubborn” The tsuchikage said in his sarcastic tone. Gaara and Kankuro looked at him with furrowed brows.
“Thank you Kazekage for telling your side. Believe me, I understand your part but this is our only chance to win” Tsunade explained
“Enough, let him talk. Maybe Rasa has his reasons behind it” Raikage followed
“Thank you Raikage, about the plan that you all presented----I am really hesitant with it, it was impossible to execute-----” before the Kazekage continue a loud knock was heard from their door.
“Mabui, I thought you already told the servants to avoid any interruption?” The Raikage said
The white-haired female assistant of the Raikage bowed “I apologize Lord Raikage, I’ll talk to the person behind the door and will scold them about the assembly. Please excuse me”
The Raikage sighed and return his gaze to Rasa “Alright, I’m sorry our dear Kazekage please continue your speech”
The Kazekage return his gaze to the four Kages wearing his impassive face “As I was saying-----”
Before he continued, Mabui returned from the meeting room running and panting “Sorry but I have to announce something. I have news for the Kazekage. Can I have for a moment please, Lord Rasa?”
The five Kages stared at Rasa while Gaara and Kankuro stared at each other.
“Speak. You can tell us in here” Rasa commands
“Your daughter” she was breathless
“What’s with my daughter?” his face paints a worried father with a hint of anger
“What happened to Temari?” Kankuro yelled while gripping the end of the table while Gaara looked worried.
“She-She entered the war…..disguised as a man” Marui stuttered “Your daughter is in Kika Island along with the hundreds of men”
Rasa stood up from his seat and punched the table, Kankuro gasped from his seat, and Gaara squeezed his eyes shut.
“I guess the princess got her stubbornness from her father” The Tsuchikage mockingly said. Rasa’s eyes were bloodshot while staring at him and his sons did too.
Shikamaru was pacing back and forth in his room while waiting for Temari to come. He heard a knock and immediately opened the door then pulled her inside, afraid that someone will see them.
“Why did you call me? What do you need?” She asked
“Okay, listen. Neji left and he brought his army to somewhere we don’t know. I can feel that he sends a message to your father” Shikamaru whispered
“Why are you whispering? And pleaseeee, what if he just had a mission? I think you’re overthinking”
“Shh—I’m doing this to keep my head intact when we reached your father okay!? He’ll kill the both of us if he found out that I helped you with your disguise!” his voice was in pure panic
“I know my father. It will less likely he’ll do that. The most gruesome thing that he did was just…burning a criminal in the middle of the desert but the man survived though, that’s a relief for us”
“Woman! You’re too troublesome!” he palmed his head in frustration
“I’m just kidding. Yeah, he’ll probably cut our heads but hey, there’s a chance that he will not. I say 50/50” Temari said in her serious voice
“Maybe you! You’re his daughter but how about me!? I wanted my death to become memorable, like fighting in the war not just being beheaded by a Kazekage because I helped the most troublesome woman I know!”
Shikamaru walked closer to her, his arms extended, and palmed the wall where Temari’s back was leaning.
“You need to promise me that you’ll defend me incase your father commands to cut my head. You’re the princess and have the authority in your village. You are the law. You need to promise me Temari” he whispered
Her heart starts pounding faster, she cannot hide it anymore. The princess was in love with the samurai. His face was so close to her, she could his warm breath touches her cheeks. Her eyes travel to every part of his face like she’s looking at a masterpiece.
Unconsciously, her hands cupped his face and kiss him. She closed her eyes and feels the warmth of his kiss, it was her first kiss.
Shikamaru kissed her back but breaks it immediately, he grabbed her hands that were holding his face and stared at her for a moment.
“Why?”
Temari was silent for a moment “I don’t know” her next answer surprised her “I-I think I like you”
“No, please” he pleaded
Temari was startled by his reaction “No? you didn’t like what I did?” she looked at him and waited for his reaction, to shed some light on her aching heart.
“This is wrong” he said while looking at the ground
“Wrong?” her voice becomes whispers
“Yes”
Temari realized that maybe she just assumed that he was in love with her too. That everything was wrong about her view between them, between him and her. An unrequited love.
Am I the only one who feels it? She said to herself
“You’re right, I shouldn’t do it. I’m sorry” she turns her head to the side while Shikamaru starts walking away from her spot.
“Yes, we shouldn’t do that. Forget what happened. This—this doesn't seem right” Shikamaru was panting and immediately left his room leaving Temari inside.
He left her in his room heartbroken, her cheeks starting to warm while she tried to resist her tears to fall down. Temari shakes her head and starts walking out of his room. She proceeds to her usual spot to do some kyudo training, her hand gripping the bow tightly, and starts aiming her target.
She closed her eyes to breathe in, opened them and her fingers released the arrow.
It’s still a miss.
Temari rubbed her eyes, the red dot becomes blurry from her sight which loses her focus. She keeps hitting an arrow but still, all of it was a miss. She’s aware that she’ll never hit any of it in the target, it’s hard to see when your eyes were full of tears.