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Shikamaru never liked ties much. They were too damn constricting, too damn formal, and took entirely too much damn time to tie. Then there was the ever looming challenge of picking "the most suitable one for an occasion", as his mother would say. If it were up to him, he'd have just one. It would be classically black, and go with everything. No longer would he have to go through the grueling obstacle to deciphering between thick or thin, or short or long, not to mention having to pick from a gratuitous amount of colors; no. He would have just one. Tonight, his was dark green and skinny. It was worn with his dress pants, a white dress shirt, and a black blazer.
He slumped against a wall as he watched his friends' parade excitedly around his living area and kitchen. The occasional sparkle or sequin that had fallen from someone's dress would catch his eye and remind him of how much work it was going to be to clean up after everyone. The responsibility of hosting this year's holiday cocktail somehow managed to work its way into his schedule.
"They better have a good time tonight. I really don't feel like hearing complaints. I tried to talk my way out of it, but they insisted." He thought to himself. He shifted his glance and smiled, "Then again, if they don't…well, I probably won't ever be in this type of predicament again."
A pale hand flashed across his line of vision. Shikamaru jumped. Naruto and Kiba chuckled at their friend's expense. Realizing there was no threat, Shikamaru altered his expression from startled to his default annoyed look.
Naruto leaned in close to talk over the sound, "What are you doing all the way back here?" he asked.
"Yeah, you don't look like you're having too much fun." Kiba chimed in.
"I'm having a blast." Shikamaru uttered sarcastically as he pulled at his tie, "The sand sibs still haven't show up. I'm waiting here so I can hear the door when they knock."
Naruto grabbed Shikamaru's face, squishing his cheeks and mouth, "Well lighten up. You don't want that frown to become permanent by the time Temari gets here do ya?" he asked. Kiba laughed.
Shikamaru swatted his questionable friend's had away and crossed his arms. "Tch…I don't care about that." He stated firmly.
"Ok, so you won't be mad if I try to dance with her?" Kiba questioned hoping to get a reaction.
Shikamaru held his demeanor, "Do what you want. Like I said, I don't care."
"Hell yeah!" Kiba exclaimed.
Their conversation was interrupted by a high pitched shriek caused by interference with the music speakers. The group turned to look and saw Sakura. She stood above the crowd on a chair and proudly held a microphone.
Shikamaru slouched. "I thought I made it clear that Karaoke was banned from the premises."He said letting out a sigh.
"Did she bring her own microphone?" Naruto questioned.
The crowed hushed and waited in fear and anticipation.
"Ok people. We have a bit of a dilemma here." She started, "The lovely Hinata doesn't seem to have a dance partner!" she said getting down from the chair and pulling Hinata over to her.
"T-That's ok…" Hinata assured her quietly.
"Non-sense! This is a party, everyone need a designated dance partner!" Sakura countered as she scanned the room. "Any takers? What about you guys back there? Naruto? Kiba? Shikamaru?"
The three stood motionless as they felt every eye in the room turn towards them.
"Aw shit…" Shikamaru thought to himself.
"I'll do it!" Kiba said happily accepting the offer and rushing over to her.
"Hey wait!" Naruto spat as he rushed after him.
"Good thing that worked out like it did…I don't like dancing." Shikamaru thought while watching the two guys bicker over Hinata.
A soft knock came from the door. Shikamaru straightened his tie and turned the knob. As he expected the trio, with the exception of Gaara, stood smiling on his door step. Kankuro took a step forward.
"Thanks for the invite." He said patting Shikamaru on the shoulder.
"Make yourselves at home." Shikamaru responded as he stepped aside to let them in.
"You've got a decent sized place here. It must be nice having all of this as an only child." Kankuro commented as he made his way past the host.
"Yeah I guess." Shikamaru responded with a small smile.
"It's very….festive." Gaara uttered as he ran his fingers through the silver tinsel draped over a door frame.
Shikamaru remained silent. He wasn't sure if it were a good or bad thing. He had decorated to his best ability. Luckily for him, the tree had already been set up in the corner of the room for a few weeks. He wrapped garlands and lights around the railing of the stairs, and draped tinsel over every door frame as well as mixing a few ornaments with it. Any artwork that was hanging was wrapped in wrapping paper and stuck back on the wall with a bow to look like presents. Then there was of course the fire place mantle. Again, garland with lights framed it. White cotton was scattered among the pictures residing on top, and it was given sparkle dust to resemble snow. And finally, a large wreath was placed around the mirror in above the fire place pulling all the elements together.
"Hello…" Temari said as the last one to glide past him.
Shikamaru closed the door and tucked a piece of hair that had fallen from his ponytail behind his ear.
"How was your trip?" he asked.
"Like any other to the Hidden Leaf." She started, "I always enjoy the journey here. There's something different about this village that I admire." She finished as she gave him a coy smile.
"I've always liked it here." He replied proudly.
Temari chuckled and smiled again once she caught his eye. There was a pause between the two. Shikamaru shoved his hands into his pockets and cleared his throat.
"So I-"They both began at the same time.
"You first." Shikamaru insisted.
"Ok, well…I've talked to my brothers about this, and should you ever have to travel to Suna…we'd expect uh, insist that you stay with us." She told him. He gave her an expression of surprise. "I-in fact…we'd take it as an insult if you didn't!" she said as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Um…thank you. That's very generous." He responded still in slight shock.
"Humph, well you know, it's just one of those an eye for an eye things…you've always housed me when I come here so I figured it would be the morally righteous thing to do. Consider it an early Christmas gift." She said brushing off his complement. "Just don't become a burden or anything."
"I can feel the hospitality already." He said sarcastically.
Temari opened her mouth to argue back but was cut off by a tug on her shoulder. Sakura had wrapped her arms around Temari's and was pulling her to the center of the room.
"Lucky you! We were short one girl for this dance but you go here just in time!" She shouted as they passed through the noisy guests.
"Hu?" Temari uttered still trying to comprehend what was going on.
Shikamaru stood among those who chose to sit out on the first group dance. The music began and the couples bowed and circled around each other. His eyes swept across the group. Sakura was with Naruto, Kiba with Hinata, Ino was with Lee, Ten-Ten with Neji, and Temari with her brother Kankuro. The bodies glided across the floor and followed the tempo of the music as if they were in slow motion. The girls all smiled and gushed while the guys tried to play it cool with a casual smirk. Shikamaru watched as Kankuro dipped Temari. She giggled and playfully punched him in the arm. He found himself taking a few steps to get a closer look. The guys spun the girls out and the couples began circling each other again. Kankuro shot Shikamaru a glance as he neared his area of the circle of guests surrounding them. Shikamaru raised a curious brow.
Kankuro reached out to him. "Step in for me? I need a break." He said grabbing Shikamaru by the tie and throwing him into the dance.
"What?" Shikamaru gowned.
He quickened his pace until he matched the rest of the dancers. He adjusted his tie and glared at Temari annoyed as he stumbled over his feet trying to find the right place. The couples came in closer together; their chests only a few inches apart as they spun around each other.
"Don't give me that look. I didn't throw you in here." Temari whispered to defend herself.
They separated after the twirl. Shikamaru reached his hand out to her. She took it and allowed him to spin her into him.
Shikamaru sighed, "Dancing just isn't my thing. Don't take it personal. He responded.
She spun under his arm and placed herself in the classic pose by holding his hand and resting her other on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist. They followed the path of the other dancers as the music quickened.
"I'm impressed you're putting as much effort into this as you are." She said as her feet traced around his.
"Well, I passed the point of no return when we started circling. If I were to back out now then I'd have to deal with making excuses as to why…and that's just too much work." He responded with a smirk.
"Well that was a good choice on your part. If you had ditched me in front of everyone there'd be hell to pay." She said smirking back at him.
"Always in the tone of aggression. I wonder why?" Shikamaru stated as his eyes shifted around her face.
Temari shrugged as she kept her conniving face. The couples separated again. They stood across each other as one by one each couple pranced down the middle.
"You do realize that isn't the best way to get what you want?" Shikamaru muttered to her.
The two stepped towards each other and back into the formal hold.
"Yes…but then, you always seem to listen to me, don't you?" she countered.
They traveled down the aisle; one stern face gazing at the other. They spun closely around each other once more before stepping back and ending the dance with a bow. Shikamaru lifted himself up just in time to catch Temari slipping away into the crowd. He subtly stretched his neck to see where she was going. No luck.