Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All properties belong to their respective owners.
A Home Is Where The Heart Is
Chapter One: IQ of Love? Zero, my friend
Author's Note: Yup... It's a Shikamaru/Temari fic. Heh, I was too "drunk" to think of a proper plot, so I'm just wingin' it (as the hip people of today's society say). Of course, writer's block is an incredible issue of mine, so I tend to lose track of things... But if this thingturns out good, I might try "extra" hard to please you people. Uh huh... Enjoy!
Shikamaru was a lazy person. And lazy people do very lazy things…
"Clouds are so nice. So nice and free…" Shikamaru thought as he stared into the sky. He had just completed his last mission, and was paid very nicely. But money meant very little to Nara Shikamaru. It was too bothersome. Too much or too less meant trouble. Shikamaru gazed at the clouds like he always did, in his new favorite spot, up on the hill side, just across the training area. No one bothered him, and interruptions were of rare occurrences.
Looking up at the clouds, Shikamaru noticed a certain shape in the blue sky. As it continued to float carelessly, it looked more or less like a… fan? He thought back to his battle with a certain girl, in the Chuunin exam. He smiled as he remembered the look on her face when he caught her, defenseless against his attack… Temari, he whispered to the air.
A gust of wind, shook steadily as the name escaped his mouth. He never quite felt the same after that match. Maybe for the first time in his life, he had been motivated during that portion of the exam. He sighed… Maybe I'd like to see her again, he thought.
Shikamaru stood up from his spot, and shook off the thought of visiting Temari. Perhaps it had been too troublesome for him, for he decided to head back to town. Ino and Chouji are probably mad at me he thought, scratching the back of his neck as he treaded through the grass. He dragged his feet along the way, while thoughts of playing Shougi, or Go consumed his mind. And then he heard it…
"You still have that dumb look on your face…" Temari said, leaning against a tree arms crossed. Her fan sitting beside her. It was pretty hot out, so she stood inside the shadow of the tree.
"It's you again eh?" Shikamaru sighed. "How troublesome…" At the sight of her, Shikamaru stopped and tensed. He was filled with a certain feeling, from head to toe. Was it happiness? Nervousness? Or just exhaustion from resting too much? What ever it was, it caused him to sweat.
Temari looked at him. Not a single change, she thought. A dumb look always plastered to his face, as if he had been day-dreaming the entire day.
"Bah… Aren't you going to ask why I'm here at least?" she said. There had been a calm pause between them earlier, and breaking the tension was probably the best way to go about.
"No… It's simply none of my business. And getting into yours, is just so…" Shikamaru started.
"Troublesome?" She said, a smile now present on her face. At times, he can be so predictable, she thought. Temari uncrossed her arms and began walking towards Konoha.
"I suppose so…" Shikamaru said, as walked along. Temari was a few paces ahead of him, keeping the same distance between them. A silence came upon them, like a sudden gust of wind. Only the sound of birds, was heard throughout the small walk.
Soon enough, the entrance of Konoha was set before them. The guards noticed Temari almost immediately.
"You're from the Sand. What is your business in Konoha?" the guard said, abruptly. After the invasion of Konoha, things between the countries had become uneasy, despite the claim of surrender by the Hidden Sand Village.
"I'm here to speak about important matters with the Fifth" Temari said bluntly. The guards looked at her carefully. Shikamaru pondered as well. The Fifth? What did she have to talk about, with the Fifth, Shikamaru wondered.
"Very well, we will send for an escort immediately -" the guard started.
"That is not necessary. This Chuunin has been escorting me." She said, pointing to Shikamaru. "There is no need to call for another one." Shikamaru looked hesitantly, before Temari quickly stomped on his foot. He nodded to the guards, thinking about the trouble he had gotten into.
The guard, noticing Shikamaru agreed. The two quickly set foot inside the Hidden Leaf Village. Everything had been restored to its former glory. The buildings looked new, and the people looked happy. The hard work of Konoha really paid off.
"Maybe it would have been better if you informed me, of why you were here. Instead of choosing a more aggressive approach…" Shikamaru stated, looking his stubbed toe.
"Well, maybe if you asked me, like a proper gentleman, I wouldn't have gone with the aggressive approach," Temari said frankly.
What a mess. "What have I gotten myself into?" Shikamaru thought as he scratched the back of his neck. Suddenly, the street was filled with a sound an echo of constant shouting. It sounded more or less like… Chouji… and Ino? Shikamaru sighed. It was going to be a long day…
As they walked by, Shikamaru stopped at the barbeque restaurant. Apparently, it had been the source of the shouting. "Gah... I'll be a second..." Shikamaru said, as he went in. Temari peered inside the restaurant. The odor of cooked meat was obvious. Smoke filled the room, as people chatted away. Others paid attention to the back table. There seemed to be a great fuss.
"I can't believe you! Why would you -"
"Well it's not my fault that you -"
"You should have noticed -"
"Hey you two cut it -"
"Excuse me sir, you haven't -"
"What's going on?" Shikamaru interrupted. The screaming ceased. Ino was the first to answer. To Shikamaru, she looked like a wreck.
"Shikamaru! Chouji sat on my flower arrangement! I was working so hard on it!" she sniffed. Jeez, Shikamaru thought.
"Hoy, Sh'kamaru! It's her fault for not knowing where to put it!" Chouji said, chewing on a piece of meat. Shikamaru looked at them, and then looked at Asuma. Asuma had a confused look on him, sweat forming at the side of his head, and his mouth not knowing what to say.
Shikamaru smacked his forehead. "Gah, this is too troublesome… Chouji apologize to Ino, and Ino... Next time watch what you're doing"He said before leaving the restaurant. He had thought something worse had happened. Ino, Chouji and Asuma continued their shoutingbattle, despite Shikamaru's advice.
Temari smiled, as she thought about a memory of Gaara and Kankuro.
(Flash Back)
It might have been the first time, that Gaara showed any signs of humanity, after his traumatic experience as a child.
Kankuro had been trying to put a special gas weapon inside of his doll. He had been working hard all day. Gaara leaned against the wall, his killer intent at a minimum. Temari had been sitting on the window ledge cleaning her giant fan, as it sat on her knees.
Apparently, Kankuro's fingers had gotten stuck in his doll's mouth. Peering down towards the doll, to get his fingers out, the green gas that Kankuro had been working on, ejected into his eyes. Kankuro began to cry uncontrollably, as he fell to the ground dragging the doll on top of him. Temari started giggling, and dropped her gigantic fan on her feet. Gaara who had been watching the all the stupidity surround him, shook his head in disgust. That is until, Kankuro let out a screeching fart. Gaara's lips twitched, as he let out a smile... In which, he instantly covered.
(End of Flash Back)
Paying little attention, Temari failed to notice Shikamaru walking away.
"You know… It's not very nice to ditch the person you're escorting, Shikamaru." Temari said tapping Shikamaru's shoulder.
"Pfft, I would've hoped I lost you… What do you want?" Shikamaru said sarcastically. Temari felt a hint of annoyance in his voice. This guy is totally random, she whispered to herself..
What do I want, she thought. A familiar pause loomed over their heads, as Temariconsidered areasonable response.
"Hmph" she said, crossing her arms and turning away. It was the best she could come up with.
"Huh?" Shikamaru replied, as he scratched the back of his neck. Thinking for a bit, Shikamaru threw his hands up in defeat."Er- Whatever. I'm going to go take a nap or something." Shikamaru left, the ambition of another nap gnawing at his back.
Temari felt somewhat stunned. He had the nerve to say something like that to me! she thought. Looking in the other direction, Temari quickly recollected herself.
"Oh well, I don't need him. I have more important matters to attend to… I can get to the Fifth myself," she said quietly walking away.
Temari moved swifty throughout the busy village. She compared it to her home back at the Sand, and it was nothing like it. The people at the Sand were too serious and tense all the time. Temari sighed… If all goes well, this can all change, she thought.
"Hey, Pops." Shikamaru muttered as he entered the local bar. It was getting late, and the sky was turning dark. Shikamaru sighed. Getting his father's attention was something he struggled with. The only really thing he talked about with him, was women. Not that his father was an expert on dealing with the opposite sex… He was just… More experienced.
His father was in his usual seat, with his usual attitude. "I'd figure you were here…" Shikamaru stated, scratching the back of his neck. "Did mom scold you again?" Shikamaru asked. It happened time to time. His dad would come to the bar occasionally, after receiving a "lesson" from his beloved wife. Shikamaru figured it was because of his dad's utter laziness. But then again, his father was very clever, always being able to woo his wife back.
"Not this time…" Shikamaru's dad snickered. "Just happened to stop by, figured a drink or two would be good for the soul, or something."
"Heh…" Shikamaru managed. He took the seat next to his fathers, and looked around the bar. There were only a few people sitting around drinking… And usually Tsuande would be in her corner, downing her third shot. But today wasn't the case. "Let's go home already…" Shikamaru said lazily.
"Gah… Fine." was his dad's response. Usually his father would protest, and they would stay an hour longer…
They headed out the bar in silence. Shikamaru kicked around dirt as he walked, and his father saunter slightly side to side.
"Mom's going to scold you again…" Shikamaru muttered as he strolled along, a few paces ahead of his father.
"Meh, I'm used to it" his dad replied. He stretched out his arms around his neck, and breathed out into the night.
"I still don't understand… How can you put up with such a strict woman? It's too troublesome" Shikamaru mumbled. His dad laughed, confusing Shikamaru.
"I told you before, idiot… There are days," his dad stopped, and thought for a bit "when your mother has the biggest smile, and the warmest heart. To tell you the truth, when I first met your mom, I thought she was nothing but trouble…"
Shikamaru's dad started to ramble on about complete and utter nonsense. Gah, he's drunk… This won't be good, Shikamaru thought. He let out a long sigh. What a day, he whispered to himself...
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