Belong

Part 3: Clouds

Days went by but to them, it felt almost like mere seconds. They spend most of their time with each other. No one except Ino and Choji knew of their relationship. Shikamaru would  still feel like introducing her to his parents though, it would also be the perfect excuse to them for not going to see them after such a long time.

Temari, as for her, she still found herself questioning if maybe he was the one for her but at the same time wondering if this was just a temporary thing. It didn't feel that way though, since the first time their lips made contact.

She never as so much as to hint that something was bothering her, that she was doubtful of their relationship. She loved him, she knew that. She knew he loved her too. He looked so happy, she didn't want to worry him or ending up hurting him, she was happy  as well but the thoughts still haunted her.

Maybe she was just overthinking things. She'd made it clear to herself that she'd stop letting the past control her, it was time to move on. She'd suffered too much for too long, always feeling like she'd just disappear or wishing the hurt would just go away and always feeling like she's carrying weight on her chest which always made it difficult for her to connect with people, with her friends. She was tired of feeling and living this way but no one saw it. No one saw her for who she really is and how much she was hurting.

Except two people, two people who always cared about her, the people who saw her for who she was, the two people who always try to be the light in her darkness. She missed them so much. As to why they haven't given up on her was still a mystery to her.

She walked to the waterfall Shikamaru had taken her to the other day. She just wanted to see him so bad, she felt the waterfall was the closest she'll get to feel his presence.

As she approached the location, a figure came in sight. Looks like somebody laying down on the grass, she knew who it was as she came closer. She didn't waste anytime, she walked up to him.

"Still wish you could be a cloud, i see." She teases.

"Temari." He says as he gets up. "What're you doing here?"

"I just thought I'd come her because... i... uhh."

"Never been the one to tell people you miss them, have you?" He smiles and walks up to her. "Me too." He says and closes the space between them and making her squiggle as he grabs her by the waist, bringing her closer to her.

He felt her trembling, he loved seeing and making her feel this way. Powerless, vulnerable. Without a second thought he gently pressed her lips against hers, she did not resist nor did she want to. She couldn't even if she wanted to anyway.

Her moaning was more than enough for him to lose whatever control he had over his body. His hand slowly travelled down to her thighs and finally back up only this time with it, the end of her short skirt. He returned to his normal mind state as her hand abruptly stops his.

"Not so fast." She says, giving him a flirtatious look.

"Oh.. Right... Sorry." He stutters. "I couldn't help myself."

"Yeah, i almost couldn't too." She states. "So why exactly are you here? I figured you'd be with your team doing something."

"We'll be going on a very important mission soon. Asuma sensei is taking care of things first, as soon as he done we're heading out." He says and lies back down with Temari joining him.

"I see." She says simply.

Looking up at the clouds pass across the blue sky was something she'd never engrossed herself in. It felt so peaceful and the sounds of the wind were so calming. She could see why he found enjoyment in it, why he made it a habit. Like the passing clouds, she wondered if what she was going through would also pass. But with one cloud after another, she also wondered if there were other difficulties or challenges coming her way, maybe each one harder to overcome than the last, like the clouds. Each one seemed bigger than the last.

Then again, it's how the world works, it's life, especially if you're a Shinobi. It's inevitable, you are bound to meet challenges along the way. So sulking and drowning in self-pity won't help with anything.

"Shikamaru."

"Yeah?"

"Have you been... in a relationship before?" She asks.

"No." He admits after a moment of silence. "Have you?"

"Yeah." She responds.

"Really?!" He exclaims and sits up to look at her. "When? What happened?"

"It's not really something i like to talk about."  She says with a hint of desolation in her tone.

"How come?"

"It's just... It didn't end well."

"I'm sorry. It must've been a really hard time for you."

"Yeah... i... didn't take it too well. I just wish I'd... forget it though."

"You know, you don't have to forget it." He says.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you just have to forgive what happened. Sometimes it's the only way to move on."

Had she though? Had she really forgave her past and ready to move on. She hadn't thought about it this way. All this time she's  tried so hard to just forget it all that she failed to realize that she didn't need to. She didn't even need to come here.

Shikamaru's words were exactly what she needed to here, they made her realize that she wasn't ready to forgive Daisuke at least not yet nor was she ready to be in a relationship just yet which means she'd finally got the answer to her question.

It may end the same again and no way was she going to let herself be brought back to the beginning.

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Unravel-ken: This was hard to write but I enjoyed it. Hope you did too.

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