Fated

Sai can’t help but notice how Shikamaru and Temari's fake relationship was getting a little too real after the company outing, Shikamaru’s hands always slide gently to her waist, rubbing his thumb on her hands while holding it, their stares were more a little too playful, and their smiles seem like only reserved to each other. They have been doing it for a whole week. Naruto stands up from their table and suddenly walked to Shikamaru and Temari’s spot.

“Hey Shikamaru! Oh, hi Temari” Naruto shouted with a wide smile

“What is it Naruto?” Shikamaru turned his head at him

“I have something to announce. I’ll be having my engagement party tomorrow you need to come. It’ll be in the Uzumaki district”

“Wow! That’s big news Naruto. Congrats!” Shikamaru was surprised

“Yeah, and you should bring Temari”

Shikamaru turns his head to her thinking if she’ll agree to come.

“Yeah sure, I’ll go” Temari said in her gentle voice “and congrats Naruto”

“Thanks! Alright, I’ll see you two tomorrow!” Naruto walked away from their spot still wearing the big smile

“Are you sure you wanna come?” Shikamaru asked

“Yeah, I don’t want to decline it. He looked too happy about it”

Shikamaru smiled in return “Right, uhm I’ll drive. That’s too far from here”

Temari didn’t answer, she just nodded and smiled at him. Suddenly, Matsuri walked inside the pantry wearing a big smile. Their eyes met and Matsuri smiled at her which made her startled. Temari started to feel guilty after that and realized how pathetic she was by placing revenge on her. Matsuri looked happy and contented that day, they probably had so much fun after her date with Shira.

The next day, they drove to the Uzumaki district and they were both greeted by a huge mansion filled with white décor. It has a big garden with a lot of white flowers hanging above and Temari was so mesmerized by the beauty of it. Suddenly, a girl jumped and hugged her.

“Finally! In flesh!” She released her embrace and pointed her finger at Shikamaru “And you!? You didn’t tell me you already have a girlfriend!? What kind of friend are you? If Sai haven’t told me about it, I wouldn’t know!”

“Ino! Wait? Sai told you? What else did he tell you?” Shikamaru worriedly asked Ino as Sai might told her about the fake relationship.

“He just said you have a girlfriend and you didn’t tell me!? Seriously Shikamaru?” Ino yelled at him while crossing her arms. Sai walked towards their spot and wrapped his arm around Ino’s shoulder.

“Sorry Shikamaru. My girlfriend keeps bugging me on spilling some tea so I told you about having a girlfriend”

Shikamaru felt relieved “Uhm it’s alright. Yeah, sorry I haven’t told you about it Ino. Well, she’s here now” he scratched the back of his neck.

Temari smiled at her and Ino grabbed her hands, shaking them.

“I can’t believe you dated him? Why? How did he bag a gorgeous girl like you? Are you sure you’re not being forced?” Ino said

“Ino! Please stop bugging Temari!” Shikamaru shrieked

Temari just laughed and stared at Shikamaru “I’m actually the one who forced him”

“Huh? Wow!? Did you? Hmm Interesting” Ino said while mockingly glaring at Shikamaru who was now all flushing from embarrassment.

Ino and Temari both giggled and Sai released a gentle laugh. Shikamaru grabbed Temari’s hand and walked out from their spot “That’s enough talking Ino, I have to show her around”

They both left Ino and Sai while Temari is still chuckling as they both walked towards to the beautiful garden in the mansion.

“Right. Laugh all you want, you girls are soo..” Shikamaru said

“What? She has good humor, I like her” she said while giggling

“By mocking me? really?”

 “How long have you been friends?” She asked a memory of her and Matsuri starts invading her mind.

“Long time, since I was 12?”

It’s the same age I met Matsuri, she said in her mind. A feeling of longing for her old best friend starts emerging inside her and Temari keeps thinking about Matsuri. She missed her best friend, her sister. Temari realized that she didn’t want to blame anyone for what happened to them but her mind keeps thinking that if it wasn’t because of Shira, they might still be best friends. She hates her mind and heart about having the same thought about it, she wished she never met Shira.

Shikamaru happily introduced Temari to his friends as his girlfriend like he was not faking it and Temari enjoyed the party very much. When the party ended, heavy rain starts pouring in the Uzumaki district. Shikamaru was worried because it will be 4 hours drive back to their apartment and news of a heavy flood was flashed on the TV.

“Temari, we can stay at our house in the Nara district for tonight, it’s only a 30-minute drive from here. We cannot push going back to the city, there’s a heavy flood along the way” Shikamaru offered

“Yeah, sure” She trust Shikamaru and nodded at him in response.

They drove to the Nara district and they both walked inside Shikamaru’s old home. He took out his old clothes and gave them to her and Temari happily accept them. He offered his old room to her for tonight and he will sleep in the separate room next door.  

Shikamaru lay in bed and looked at the window beside him. The rain keeps getting heavier and louder, he was worried that Temari might be scared next door. Does Suna have heavy rains like this?

He slowly walked out of his room and attempt to glance inside where Temari was sleeping. When he opened it, the room was empty and she was not inside. His heart skips a bit after finding out that she’s missing. He immediately walked to the kitchen but she was not there. He looked at the bathrooms and other rooms, still not there. He called her phone multiple times but it was unavailable. Cold sweats were now dropping in his temples, his mind can’t focus right now as the dreading feeling starts invading him. His feet lead him outside to their porch and Shikamaru found her, she was outside looking up like she was embracing the rain, all wet.

“What the hell are you doing woman!? I’m so worried looking for you, did you know that!?” He shouted

“What?” Temari asked, she did not hear him due to the loud rain noises

Shikamaru released a heavy breath and palmed his face. He walked outside letting all the rain pour on his body and he crossed his arms when he reached her spot.

“What the hell are you doing here!?” In his angry tone

“Enjoying the rain?” She answered while her eyes flickers from the raindrops

“Are you out of your mind!?”

Temari chuckled as she turns her gaze away from him “Maybe”

“Why are you doing this?”

She returned her sad gaze to him and Shikamaru noticed her eyes and nose were a little reddish.

“Are you crying? Again?” He asked

“Someone said if you walk in the rain no one can see you crying and people wouldn’t notice it” she said in her low and sad voice.

Shikamaru hates it, he hates seeing her crying “You know there’s an easy way to release that pain inside you”

“How?” She suddenly tilted her head curious about what he said

“If you turn around you can see the deer forest, it’s big and almost endless. You can shout your pain in there. Release what hurts you”

Temari turned around and saw the forest he was talking about. She prepared herself to let all her emotions out and shout at the vast and endless forest in front of her.

“I am a fucking idiot letting you do this to us! I am a fucking idiot choosing you, Shira!”

“I put revenge on my best friend because of you!? Who do you think you are? You fucking asshole!”

“I’m a fucking idiot bitch!” Temari was almost breathless from all the shouting when she heard Shikamaru mumble behind

“What?” She asked while turning around at him

“I said more like a crazy bitch” he said with a deadpan expression

“A crazy bitch?” She furrowed her brows at him

He walked slowly towards her with a smirk on his face and leaned closer “Yeah, my crazy bitch”

Temari was confused about what he just said, she felt his fingers slightly pinch her chin and lifted it up. The next thing she knew Shikamaru was kissing her. She didn’t resist as her lips feels the craving for it like a thousand years. Shikamaru guides her arms and put them at the top of his shoulders, he then slides his hands down to her waist and starts pulling her closer. Temari felt something just awakened inside her.

They could feel the soft tickle of breath in every move of their lips, pressing to each other. Temari starts tilting her feet to reach his face and Shikamaru assists her waist to have the best angle. Their fingers traveled to every inch of their body and felt the little electric sparks and cold rain droplets through their skin. Shikamaru can’t help but explore her lips like he was waiting for it for a thousand years. They have pauses in between to breathe and turn their heads, their souls were contented like they just found their other half.

Temari’s hand pushed his chest gently trying to break the kiss “What happened to rule number two?”

Shikamaru was disappointed about it “Fuck rule number two!” then he kissed her again.

After a few minutes, Shikamaru noticed that Temari’s arms were shaking due to the cold rain. He breaks the kiss and pursed his lips, then he whispered to her ear “Let’s get inside, you might catch a cold”

She nodded at him in agreement.