Characters: Temari, Shikamaru
Summary: Temari learns the joys of cloud watching.
Pairings: ShikaTema
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
When Temari sorts out the fact that she has a "thing" for the Nara (Yes, she's graduated to calling it a thing, she tells a triumphant Kankuro, who immediately turns to Gaara and demands that he pay up, much to the young Kazekage's dissatisfaction), she is at a loss for what to do. For all of five seconds, that is.
Temari knows exactly what she's going to do. Since Shikamaru's so lazy, she doubts he'll ever get around to asking her out (Because she knows he likes her too; it's the only reason possible that he's been putting up with her for as long as he has). So Temari decides she's simply going to have to do the asking for him. It's simple.
It's simple, until Ino gets involved.
Having seen that she's lost Ino decides to lose like a woman and behave graciously. As such, part of "behaving graciously" involves informing Temari that asking him out so quickly is bad form.
From where Ino's standing, Temari and Shikamaru haven't spent enough time together on a non-professional basis for Temari to be taking that step yet.
So that's how Temari finds herself walking to the hill that Ino has pointed out as Shikamaru's favorite spot for cloud watching, devoid of her fan and wearing something other than her usual black yukata.
And oddly enough, Temari actually feels a little nervous as she approaches the familiar nin, fighting the urge to run a hand through her hair. Wow, I guess I'm not all that used to going about things like this. To someone who prefers the direct approach, this all feels pretty sneaky. Even for a ninja.
Shikamaru doesn't say anything as Temari sits down beside him, propping her knees close to her chest. Temari is silent too, unsure of what to say in a situation like this. For the most part, she ends up staring at his face like a total idiot.
If I turn into a fan girl I will commit seppuku, do you hear me?
Then, Shikamaru deigns to acknowledge the Sand kunoichi's presence. "'Lo, Temari."
Slowly, she nods. "Hello." Another awkward silence falls before Temari speaks again. "So… this is cloud watching, huh?"
Shikamaru nods, and Temari turns her eyes to the clouds. They pass at slow intervals, lazy and unhurried. Just like Shikamaru. Maybe he's looking for some long-lost relative up there.
"So…" Temari turns her head to the side, doing anything to deny the existence of red patches in her cheeks "…why do you do it?"
Temari's not entirely sure how Shikamaru manages to shrug when he's lying flat on his back on the ground. "Call it meditation. It really does have a calming effect, if you just watch the clouds in a place where there are no distractions." She bristles at first, thinking this to be a veiled hint to leave, only to relax when Shikamaru turns his gaze on her. "If you're going to watch the clouds too, you should lie down. It works better like that."
"Alright."
Temari lowers herself to the ground beside Shikamaru and tilts her head up towards the sky. She risks a glance towards Shikamaru; he's not looking at her and he's gone back to staring up at the clouds indolently. He has the sky in his eyes, and his attention is raptly absorbed in it.
She sighs and does the same.
Temari has to admit… Shikamaru's right. This is calming.
Cloud watching isn't so bad after all. She'll have to do it more often, if it means she can get Shikamaru to listen to her long enough to acquiesce when she asks him out.
There's one that looks like a fan. And behind that, an eagle…