Don't Leave Me

Chapter 4: The Clouds

Disclaimer:I Don't Own Naruto.

Shikamaru wasn't that afraid of the Akatsuki anymore; the longer he was there, the more he got to know them. And he knew them well now. However, Itachi had never really taken his eyes off the new subordinate.

He had been there an entire year and now the time had come to leave.

This wasn't going to be easy…even for a genius.

A week had passed since Shikamaru was pronounced dead. His body was found bloody and broken not too far from Konoha's gates. They had said that he was probably making his way back home when he died. He was found propped up against a tree trunk in the middle of the forest.

"He died in his sleep I'd say." Tsunade stated when he was brought back to Konoha. "Sat down for a rest and slipped away. He would have been in pain of course but it is comforting to know that he died asleep."

She looked over to Temari who was still staring at the body like she was expecting him to wake up any moment. "Temari." Shizune said "I'm sorry…but he's dead. He's not waking up. I really am sorry."

Temari ignored her and just kept staring at him. She kept daring herself to touch his cheek. Part of her wanted to feel the warmth of his body again. The other half knew that he would be ice cold and that that would scare her.

She unfolded her arms slowly. 'If he's warm, he'll wake up. If he's cold, he's…dead. Okay? There's still a chance. Please. There's got to be a chance!'

Just like she promised herself, she reached out and pressed her fingers lightly against his cheek.

Death cold.

The second that Temari had proved to herself that Shikamaru was dead she broke down. It was true. He wasn't coming back. Everything was over.

She crouched down when her knees buckled. She cried her heart out into her hands. Tsunade turned to leave. Shizune followed. Tsunade knew how Temari was feeling and at this time it was best that she be left alone.

Temari wandered along the streets with her daughter and new born son. She still hadn't named him yet and she was always thinking of names for him.

"Shikamaru." she whispered.

"What?" her daughter said. Her mom really had gone mad with grief. He had been dead for a week! She couldn't still be in the denial stage!

"Shikamaru." she said louder this time and then lifted her baby up in the air and giggled. "It suits him, don't you think?"

Now Shikako caught on. "You're naming the baby after dad." she said quietly.

"I finally thought of a name. And it's perfect!"

They arrived at the funeral that afternoon. Everyone was quiet; what could they say?

Hinata tried to comfort her but nothing worked. Every time Temari looked down to see her son, she saw her husband's eyes staring back. They were so similar.

She walked into the room at the back of the funeral parlour to take a look at him. He was so pale. She wanted to touch him…part of her still hoped that somehow his hand would be warm. That somehow he would be alive. But the other part of her knew that he was going to be cold, just like before…and that scared her. She didn't want to believe that he wasn't coming back.

Eventually, she reached out and took his hand. It felt like ice. She was almost shocked at how cold he was.

She squeezed his hand gently and then pulled the blanket away from the baby's face so that he could see it. If any part of Shikamaru was still in that body, he would be able to see his baby. He would have liked that.

Now, he was being lowered into the ground. Ino was crying. Shikako was crying.

Kankurou squeezed his sister's shoulder; he knew this was hard for her and he knew she just wanted to stay strong. But he also knew that the minute she was alone with no one around, she would let it all out. Something that she needed to do. This wasn't easy.

Temari briefly wondered if Shikamaru had had the life he wanted. If he had died without regrets. Or if he had…cried.

She hated it when he cried. It was usually just because he was stressed more than sad. She hated to think that he ended his life upset and alone. With no one around to say goodbye to.

Temari decided that, for her own sake, she would believe that he died happy. Well, as happy as you could get in his position.

And that he did say goodbye. And somehow she heard it. Subconsciously at least…

Even when everyone had gone, Temari stayed behind to stare at the grave. She held her baby tight in her arms, with Shikako close by her side.

She read over the tomb stone over and over. It read:

Shikamaru Nara

Jounin of Konoha

Devoted husband

Caring Father and Beloved Son

Rest in Peace

She began to remember all the memories they shared. But soon, her thoughts were interrupted by her daughter. She spoke the way Shikamaru did when he was comforting her; like he wasn't talking to her but he knew she was listening.

Shikako said: "He isn't down there. He's up in the sky, see?" they both looked up "I just know he's up there. Where he always wanted to be. In the sky…he's a cloud. Yeah, he's an angel now. And he's happy." there was a long pause as they stared upward. "I love the clouds. Don't you mommy?"

"Yes, sweetheart. I really do."

Fin.

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