What do you see?
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or its characters.
He had to admit, he hated this place.
Normally he was the escort, not the ambassador. This time though, their roles were switched.
He arrived at the sandy gates of Suna, feeling hot and sweaty.
"Too much effort," he told himself, waiting to enter the village.
When he finally did, he was greeted by the woman with the fan at her back.
She stood there arms crossed. "You're late."
He shrugged. "Too hot to try and make it on time."
She rolled her eyes and sighed a "Lazy ass" underneath her breath.
Shikamaru pretended not to hear. "Just show me to where I'm staying for the trip, woman."
"I know I know," she began her walk, signalling him to go with her. "Make sure you dress up suitably for tonight. Even if you do know Gaara personally and informally, we expect you to still remember your here for business reasons."
Shikamaru shoved his hands in his pockets and followed her. "Yeah yeah, I know."
The dinner party was set at Gaara's tower. With the sun set, the desert became a cold place very fast.
Shikamaru was glad that he had brought warm clothing, just in case.
Ambassadors from all sorts of places were here, ready to discuss topics that Shikamaru couldn't care less about. His orders were just to come to Suna, sign the treaty, or contract, or whatever document it was that he needed to sign, even if he had forgotten what it was for, and then finally come back home.
Let's hope this gets over and done with, he thought, teeth slightly chattering. It didn't help that there was an open balcony in the room.
He sat on a table with Temari, eating silently.
She looked at him worryingly. "You okay?"
"Not exactly," he replied. "How can you stand it?"
"Well with Gaara being Kazekage, politicians and such are always around and-"
He cut her speaking short. "I don't mean the party, I mean Suna itself."
"What's that meant to mean?"
"It's so far away from other countries for one. Also, it's so hot in the day, and so cold in the night. I seriously can't stand it."
"Come with me," she said, walking towards the balcony.
Shikamaru hesitated for a second, knowing it would be even colder out there.
He got up anyway, following her.
Outside, the night was lit up by the thousands of lights that filled Suna.
"Nice view," he said, viewing the scene from the edge of the balcony.
"It is."
They said nothing for what felt like forever.
"Why did you ask me to come out here?" he asked, looking for answers.
"What do you see?"
He didn't know what she meant. "Um, I see a large village in the middle of the desert."
"Is that all?"
"I see people in the village as well."
"Haha," she said, filled with sarcasm.
Shikamaru smirked. "I'm sorry, but I don't get what you're on about."
He moved closer to her. "What do you see?"
She stayed silent for a moment, as if in deep thought.
"I see homes, I see families, I see friends, I see memories."
She turned her gaze to him. "How can I stand this place you ask? It's because no matter what happens, no matter how the weather may be, no matter how long time will pass, it will always be my home. This place is special to me, and no other place could ever make me feel more safe."
Shikamaru kissed her on the cheek. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise," he said.
"You're right though," he said holding her from behind.
"This place really is special."
End.