Chapter 20
Her thumb pushed to where his pulse was located, she felt a small beating from it. Temari was checking his heartbeat every minute while she softly rubbed his now scarred face. Shikamaru was laying on his bed in his room inside the ship, they were now sailing back to their lands. A medic was immediately brought to him after Temari’s constant pleading on the ground.
She grabbed the soaked towel in the bowl of warm water to clean him, making sure that he will not get any infection after closing his wounds. Luckily, his vitals were not hit but it was a deep cut.
Temari tucked the hair that was covering his face behind his ears and she gently glided her fingers through the soft skin of his face. She peeked out the window, and a radiant full moon that was wrapped in the darkness of the night greeted her.
“I’ll sleep here tonight my love. I want you to see me when you wake up”
“Having fun sleeping huh? I hope you could see me in your dreams”
She holds his hand, wrapping it with her warmth
“You’re such an idiot! You didn’t tell me that you’re injured when I hopped on your horse”
“I told you that’ll kill you if I see you dead on the ground? Have you forgotten that?”
“And you called me troublesome every time I brought that up”
She giggled while tears start flowing down her cheeks
“You keep on telling me to be alive but you forgot to save yourself, you idiot!”
“Hey…..I really want to see the flower fields in Konoha. You promised me, you promised that you’re going to bring me there”
Temari was observing his face so dearly, he was so peaceful in his sleep. Like what she always saw every time she woke up in his bed back at their camp.
Suddenly, a knock was heard on their door. She expected to see the medic to apply some medicine to his wounds but was surprised when she opened the door.
It was her father who was standing with his usual cold gaze.
“I haven’t seen you eat yet” he spoke
“Oh” she turns her head to the side avoiding his stare “I forgot, I didn’t check the time and I—”
“May I come in?”
“Ofcourse” she gently said, still unsure of what her father wanted to discuss but he knows that her decision will remain firm.
“I thought you rode the ship that will go straight to Suna? What are you doing in here father?”
“Me and your brother decided to stay here” he walked slowly and seated on the chair near the door “You haven’t noticed? You’re too busy on him I guess” he pointed to where Shikamaru was laying.
She shakes her head and released a small laugh “If you’re going to convince me again to marry that feudal lord from the north. I don’t want to”
“I know”
“Hm?”
“I know you. Once you decide it was fixed”
Temari starts walking to where he was seated earlier and holds Shikamaru’s hand again.
“I’ve never been so sure in my life” she gently said
There was a deafening silence after that, Rasa stared at them like something just flashed before his eyes, a memory perhaps.
“I met your mother when I was fifteen. She’s the only one who trusted me, after all the people who put doubt in my ability. Your mother was the reason why I am the Kazekage”
Her eyes widened, it was her first time hearing their story. On how they met and how they end up being together. Rasa was never the warm and romantic type of man, it was the exact opposite of her mother being kind and gentle.
“Your stubbornness is what I can relate to, is it because people have been doubting you? And you feel that they’re underestimating you? That’s why you keep on looking for something that can prove yourself. That you’re strong?”
She chuckled “It sounds more like you”
“Exactly..were alike” he crossed his arms to his chest “And him…..is he the reason why you keep on pushing? that’s why you’re brave to do things that could end up being punished or even” he chuckled “dead”
“He never doubted me, that’s why. He trusted me as much as I trusted him”
“Do you know what the people are calling you now?”
“Huh?”
“The lovers of the war”
She rubbed her forehead after hearing that, after all the gossip that spreads during the war and people still had the audacity to call them some silly titles just to pique their interest in such things. Newspapers would love to post some scandalous stories, especially about two warriors who secretly hide their relationship and fought it during the war.
What a silly world we are living in.
“I don’t care. They can call us a lot of names if that’s what they want”
“The Lord from the north did not want to accept the marriage proposal after hearing the gossip”
She turns her head to him with open jaws and wide eyes “huh?”
“Tell him…your lover that he needs to make sure that he gets into the politics before marrying you…So I could approve”
Rasa immediately stood up from his seat and walked towards the door “When we reached the land. You still need to return to Suna”
Before her father closed the door she spoke “I’ll return to Suna….If….”
Her father froze on the ground and stared at his daughter.
“If you’ll allow me to go to Konoha in Spring”
Rasa hesitated to answer at first but he still gave his blessing “You’ll still need to bring your guards with you….and servants”
“Yes” she smiled at her father “Thank you”
Temari breathes out, and her heart becomes lighter after the conversation he had with her father. She can’t believe that he gave his blessing to them. She was going to tell him everything after he woke up, Temari was excited to say a lot of things, a lot of stories to him.
Her head was buried in the side of his bed where she decided to sleep.
The next morning, she felt a warm hand touching her hair. Her eyes opened to the view that she was waiting for, Shikamaru has already woken up.
He was sitting on his bed while his left hand was holding the huge wound in his stomach.
“Why did you sleep in here? My love” he gently said like he was the protagonist in a romantic movie.
She punched him in the arm, a force of habit when she was angry.
“AwWw! What did I do?” he groaned
“You didn’t tell me that you were injured when I hopped on your horse! You idiot!” she shrieked
“You said you needed help”
“But you almost die! You piece of—I swear I’m going to kill you’ll do that again!” Her eyes were now bloodshot after all the worry and frustration that she felt when he was still unconscious.
“But I’m alive, right? Stop being so troublesome woman”
Her brows were furrowed and her eyes could eat him alive from all the anger she felt. Temari crossed her arms and turn her head to the other side.
“My father told me you need to get into politics before marrying me”
“Your father said that?” Shikamaru was surprised after hearing it, he grabbed her arms to face him. He wanted to make sure that Temari was staring at him.
“Your father is going to approve me? Marrying you? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Don’t be so confident. I told you…..you need to get into the politics first”
“Pshh! That’s easy. Kakashi was now the Hokage and the position for the right hand is available. And you know that I’m the only person who fits in that position”
“Oh wow. Really? Huh? If I didn’t see you being the right hand of the Hokage when I step into your village. I’m going to leave you”
He released a heavy sigh and rubbed his temples. He could feel the pain that was now emerging in his head after having this kind of conversation with his girlfriend, first thing after waking up from his almost deathbed.
“And if I’m going to be. You’re going to marry me” he grabbed her hands and placed a gentle kiss
“Spring” she said
“What?”
“I’m going to visit you there in Spring. So, you better prepare your mansion”
“Alright. That’s three months from now, I can wait” he whispered
Temari leaned closer and kissed him “I’ll have to go to Suna first but I’ll be with you in Spring. You’re going to tour me around, right? I’ll give all of my time…I’m all yours. All yours Shikamaru”
Shikamaru smiled, her gentle voice sounds like a siren that managed to mesmerize a young weak man.
“That’ll be a great deal” He kissed her once more, this time it was a long passionate kiss.
“I love you” she whispered under her breath while he deepens his kiss.
“I love you too”