Rules of Seduction - A Shikatema AU

Chapter 5

It's been a week since he had a peaceful sleep for more than 8 hours, Temari cured his insomnia. Shikamaru woke up facing her, she looks so peaceful while sleeping. He never tried to look at the woman he had sex with after he woke up. Not with her, he didn't even have sex with her but the happiness he felt when he saw her first thing in the morning warms his heart. He runs his hands through her soft hair, removing all the strands that fall from her face and tucking it behind her ears. He then caresses her shoulder, attempting to pull her closer to him. He's ready to lay his head above hers and keep her in his chest.

"Taku" she said in a low voice while still asleep.

It was so low it almost becomes a whisper but Shikamaru caught it, he heard it.

"Taku? Who the fuck is Taku!?"

"I love you, Tak—" she said it in the same low voice

He remembers the pain again, the same pain he felt when Maki was wed to some young Lord. Now, he hated the person who named Taku. He gripped the blanket and turned his body around to the other side, and he tucked himself forcefully then he falls asleep.

He woke up again seeing Temari in the window drinking coffee in a cup.

"Good morning my Lord, did you enjoy your sleep?"

He gets up from bed without saying anything, he didn't even look at her, and then he walked to his wardrobe. Temari saw it and narrowed her eyes at him.

"I guess that's a no to my question. The Lord seems upset after waking up?"

He still didn't answer. She thought he's playing some mind games with her; she didn't like that. A knock was heard on their door.

Knock Knock

"My Lord and Lady, the breakfast is ready. Should I bring 2 breakfast meals in here?"

Temari answered "Just one meal, I'll join the ladies downstairs later"

Shikamaru counters "Bring two, she'll have it in here"

She frowned at him with a clenched jaw and crossed arms. Shikamaru then gave her an icy stare in return.

"Care to tell the problem?" She asked

"I don't know, why not ask Taku about it?"

She gasps like her jaw just broke; she fixed her posture and looks down at the floor. She felt her eyes were a little heavy so she walked to the window and look upward.

Shikamaru saw her tears falling when walking to the window and felt sorry about it. He started rubbing his face with his palm.

"I'm sorry" he said

She might have a lover and it pains him to imagine seeing her with someone other than him. It pains him. He realized he cannot let her go, not again, not this time.

She rubbed the tears in her eyes "Did I call his name in my sleep?" She chuckles "Silly me, sorry my Lord I am not aware"

"You're asleep, it's not your fault"

"Two months ago, he died" She tucked in her lips "He—we escaped from my family to live together"

He listened to every word she said, he did not know what pains him more, seeing her crying or the story that she was spilling.

"But we were caught, then he died" Some part of him felt sorry but some part felt relieved.

He walked towards her and grab her shoulder, forcing her to turn around. He pulled her closer to his chest and let her head bury his neck. His arms wrapped around her waist, securing her.