Desert Lily

By hell butterfly

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

That day has passed for ages. But he still remembers that dreadful moment when she fell, when she looked up at him for the last time with that gentle smile.

Even as he drew his kunai across the throat of the enemy, he saw her keel over on the spot with her fan still posed at her side. As blood gushed over his hand, he saw, through the dust that had risen in between, her falling down in a graceful arc, still and stiff like a statue.

A dull thud.

He dived over the fallen body of his opponent to reach for her, landing beside her just as she touched the ground.

He caught her hand in his.

For a long time, as he knelt beside her, the only sound that could be heard was the gentle rushing of the wind in the leaves, and the slow dripping of blood.

He could definitely feel his hand shake, but remained his grip on her slowly cooling body.

The blonde girl struggled to remain her eyes open, her cold fingers trying to grip his. He locked his arms around her crippled form tightly, as if doing so would stop the warmth evaporating from her body.

Temari's eyelids flickered as she whispered in a low, coarse voice, 'I'm sorry, Shikamaru…I cannot…stay…any longer…'

He put a trembling finger against her lips, muttering fervently, all his cool lost, 'Don't lose hope yet…don't die, don't leave me just yet…'

But she closed her eyes slowly, her hand slowly loosening from his grip. A smile slowly spread across her face, so peaceful, and so gentle.

'Forget me, Shikamaru….Good bye.'

And he thought he heard the sound of a beautiful desert lily withering, shining so brightly before her petals closed.

Deep inside, he heard his heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

-

The grave stood alone in the sandy wilderness, the only structure standing out in the howling desert wind.

The man slowly put a bunch of lilies in front of the headstone. The pure white flowers were the only fresh looking things in the dry, sandy desert.

He bent down, and kissed the flower petals gently before turning to leave. Desert lilies. They were still blooming so purely in the wilderness, but his desert lily had drooped her head years ago.

She told him to forget, but he chose to remember the only flower that had bloomed in his life.

Through the years, it seemed that time had brought her closer, instead of lengthening their distance.

And he still remembered that dreadful moment when she fell, when she looked up at him for the last time with that gentle smile.

And sometimes in his dreams, he thought he saw her smile, like a pure, brave desert lily.

Perhaps, his flower had never left his side.

She had always been blooming in his heart.

-End.

Ah such a long time since I had written a Naruto fic! (coz I had put all my attention to Bleach these days sorry TOT) I would have enjoyed a nice long serial but as my time is limited I decide to content myself with a one-shot.

Feels as though my pen (or my fingers?) is withering. Anyway please review!