Shikamaru's POV:
I remember it was quiet that day. The street was golden from the setting sun in front of us. There were others around, but none of them I knew as friends, just people scattered about the marketplace. Ino, my blonde, quite annoying ex-teammate/ companion for the hour, walked beside me, acting suspicious. I didn't know what she was up to, though she had been acting like that since she picked me up at the gate after my return from a mission. I fell into a common position of mine: hands in pockets, I was staring at the clouds, thinking of course.
My mind had slipped off Ino for the second when, suddenly, I felt her eyes on me, and as I turned to look at her, her eyes shot forward. Suspicious, I know. She was up to something, I could tell, I just didn't know what yet. I rubbed my nose with my index finger, and left my hand to dangle at my side. This is when I learned her ulterior motive- I should have known when I found her waiting for me at the gate!! It was out of her character to do so!
I felt her hand as it brushed against mine. I took a deep breath as she linked her hand into mine, feeling blood go to my head. I looked over at her.
She was Ino. She was the girly-girl, gold digging, pretty teammate. I should have gotten over my not wanting to get into a fight with her at the moment - even if only for a split second- as she asked me if I was ever lonely, living by myself, spending most of my days on missions lately. I know that I should have spoken, told her no, I wasn't, but in truth I kind of was. I said nothing.
I dazed out, thinking of the past couple of weeks. I had just moved out of my parents' house, and Tsunade seems to find enjoyment that she took that time to send me on a bunch of A-ranked missio... I wasn't even getting any adequate amount of sleep!! I almost got killed out in the forest while chasing a murderer. It really wasn't the best time of my life. And today, when I thought I might just go home; take a nice, long nap before finding Choji for dinner. And yet this girl finds it to be her duty to pick me up and drag me god-knows-where? I internally scoffed.
"...okay, Shikamaru?"
I blinked. Then I nodded. Like I said, I hated conflict; I wasn't going to tell this dramatic girl that I hadn't been listening to her for the last 5 minutes. Though I couldn't help but want to kill myself when she smiled, blushing slightly, and said:
"Great!! Then pick me up at 7:00, my darling Shikamaru!!" and she ran home. I stopped in my tracks. Okay. What now? I turned to see Kiba snickering, dog on his head, and clapping mockingly at me.
"Bravo, Shikamaru... landing a date with one of the prettiest girls in Konoha...if only I had that luck with that beautiful sand kunoichi...hehehe," he left, telling Akamaru they were off to get him some dinner, and still laughing at me.
My heart sank. We had always been "close", our fathers, being best friends, had practically raised us together, along with my best friend Choji. But quite honestly I didn't like her all that much that way; it was way too troublesome to deal with a girl like her!! Unfortunately, the only two people that I would ever go to with a problem like this would be either Ino, or her friend Sakura. I sighed, planning on telling Ino that this was a big misunderstanding.
It had been two weeks since that dreaded day. That's a long time to be with someone that you don't like. As to say I didn't go through with my plan. I had gone to Choji while we were eating dinner at the BBQ restaurant that we always went to, a tradition started by our dead teacher Asuma, and while I told him that I would break it off with her that night, he jumped up and yelled at me, telling me that I shouldn't do that after about 3 hours of being a couple. I asked him when I should break up with her, but he just told me that I would know when the time was right.
Some advice that was. I had most of those days going off to missions and coming home dragging my feet, only to have her come in and take care of me, cooking me dinner and such. That part wasn't too bad. Then she would leave and I would be back to dreading her existence. And as I would lie in my bed, I wondered why I didn't like her the way she liked me. Then it hit me.
She wasn't all that bright, not at all that loyal or nice to her friends, never mind mine. And after two weeks, I had had enough, conjuring up all the courage that it took to break it off with her. I even made it down to the flower shop her family owned, made it to the desk, and stopped. She was crying. Her grandmother just died. Great.
I thought things couldn't get worse. I mean I had to stay with her always, saving her from killing herself (though I never heard of her grandmother, so either she just never found the moment to talk about her, or she was just a drama queen), comfort her with something that would embarrass me, and spend more time with her. I thought that this day couldn't get any worse as I got called down to the Hokage's office, but I guess Tsunade didn't get the memo, as she smirked across her desk at me. She was coming and, I just about jumped out the window at this, I was going to be her guide. Oh joy.
Temari's POV:
I packed my bags for Konoha, stopping to wonder what season it was there now, what to pack, seeming as there is only one temperature here in Suna: hot. I considered asking my brothers what they thought, since I didn't want to head there only to be unprepared and vulnerable, a side of Suna nin that no one will ever see: I'll make sure of that. I soon decided against it, for Gaara, being the Kazekage, wouldn't even bother to answer I know, and Kankuro was as reliable as a pillow. I threw some of my everyday-at-home clothes in the small bag, hoping it was summer, and picking up my food rations on the counter, I headed to the Kazekage's office.
I knocked lightly before opening the door a crack. "Kazekage-sama?" I asked politely, just in case the other council members were in there (otherwise he is just my little brother Gaara?), to which there were, three to be exact, one of them I knew personally.
"Ah, Temari, here," Gaara handed me a scroll I he had asked me to deliver to the Hokage earlier. I took it, placing it in my bag.
"When you get there," he told me in his deep, monotone voice, "there will be someone waiting for you at the gate. He will be your guide for the next couple of weeks, so I suggest not pissing him off."
I nodded, knowing that Gaara knew how bad my temper can be, though I do have to admit that I am oh so proud of my mood adjustment lately.
"Temari! Going on vacation to Konoha, eh?" the one council member I recognized spoke up as I clenched my fists, his voice sounding like nails on a chalk board.
"DON'T YOU EVER TALK TO ME IN THAT MANNOR, YOU IMBOSILE! DO YOU REALIZE WHERE YOU ARE?" I shook my head. My brother demanded respect, and even I was less of a threat than him. "And for your information, since you are too stupid to realize this, I am the liaison, for Suna."
"Temari," Gaara said, obviously annoyed.
"Right." I got the picture: I was getting out of hand again. I bowed to my brother and headed to the gates for my three day journey.
There were many people I knew in Konoha; mostly they were the ones from the time of the war, chunin and jounins I had fought against (and then with). There was Sakura and TenTen who weren't that bad of friends, and the ever so annoying Ino, and the shy girl named Hinata. Naruto was too loud, Kiba was all right, Neji was too cocky- oh hell, who cares? All I know is that they all were pretty much a fun group of people last time I saw them.
; 3 days later;:'
It was about noon when I arrived (finally) at my destination. I showed the guard my passport, to which they opened the gate for me. I proudly walked into the village sporting my village's symbol. I was smiling, and some civilians were staring at me. I ignored their presence and walked a little further, near the grass.
I looked around, feeling to make sure that I had my fan at ready incase the crazed villagers decided to attack me, for no other reason that I am a sand nin, and not only that, but Gaara's older sister. Some of those dopes never forgave us for that war. I chuckled to myself.
Remembering the words of my brother, I looked around for my guide. Turning toward the benches at the gate, I caught eye of that guide, as I knew when he let out a groan audible from where I was standing. I smirked. I knew this guy from a while back.
"Oi, crybaby," I called. It was Shikamaru, looking more like an adult now, taller than me (to my displeasure), but his hair was still propped up in the shape of a pineapple. To say the least, we weren't the best of friends, and we spent most of our previous times together arguing. Then again, I hadn't seen him since two years prior, perhaps he changed?
"Temari┘" he mumbled my name as if it were a swear word. He frowned.
My smirk just became even larger. "Bring me to Tsunade's office, she's gonna be looking for this," I held up the scroll.
I'm not sure whether it was for my ears or not, but all I heard from his mouth was how troublesome I am and something about the first two minutes. I laughed. He was so stupid. It was his job; I told myself laughing as I realized he was complaining about me ordering him around. I laughed a little more, and he turned to face me.
Shikamaru:
"Fucking troublesome woman! Always making me do all her damn bidding two minutes after she's walked into the gate!" I said softly to myself. It wasn't supposed to reach her, but I guess she caught wind of it as she started to laugh from behind me.
I turned to look at her. She looked, at the moment, rather like a nice person, as she smiled pleasantly. Her menacing fan hovered behind her back.
"WHAT?!"
She only shook her head at me, smiling. I noticed then that I was finally taller than her, and everything else was pretty much the same, except for her shapely body - WAIT, WHAT?! Remind me to slap myself when Temari is gone. That was not cool to be checking out her figure - DAMN IT!! I just admitted that I was checking her out! DAMNIT!
I groaned and she snickered a little more. No, her face definitely was softer as well-
"Lets go," I called as I walked off she said nothing but followed me.
I dropped her off at the door of the Hokage's mansion and sat at the bench nearby. I got a quick glance (probably making sure I didn't go far) before she went inside. Troublesome still - some woman never change...
Suddenly I saw the swaying of blonde hair from the corner of my eye. Great. It was Ino of course.
"Shikamaru! My dear sweet lover!" she said as she wrapped her arms around my neck in a hug over the benches back.
"Ino," I simply said.
"well I have to go on a mission now, I thought that I would come and say goodbye first - why are you here at the tower? Did Tsunade send you on another mission?"
"No...I am only escorting a sand nin here." I told her, bored already with the conversation.
"Oh, would I know him?" she asked, and I caught the 'him' at the end of the sentence. I knew this girl, so I knew how to handle her jealous heart. Besides, I knew she wouldn't leave me alone if she knew I was to have some chick follow me around all day, none the less someone that she herself didn't like, and who was in the same way hated back, I knew. I wouldn't dig myself a hole.
"no, I don't think you would." I looked up at the sky for the sun. "maybe you should get going before it gets too dark. Who's going with you, by the way?" I didn't care; I just wanted to change the subject.
"Oh just Choji and TenTen," she muttered looking likewise towards the sky. "I should go..." again she hugged me around the neck and said her goodbye, and waved back to me as she walked away.
I sat there on that bench for quite some time. If the wood hadn't been so picked apart, I would have laid down for a nap, but I knew that Temari would beat me senseless with that iron fan of hers if she found me sleeping anyways, so it was a lose-lose situation. The night was beginning to take over the sky; I had been watching those rainclouds roll over Konoha, though I doubted it was going to rain. I stood up, and like clockwork, I found her standing at the edge of my bench, probably trying to scare me or what not. She smirked. I shrugged it off and sighed for relief. All I had to do now was bring her to wherever she was staying for the night. Then I could go home and sleep.
?Temari?
He had left me at the door of the Hokage's to go and sit on the bench in the grass nearby. Just like him to go find some place to plop his lazy ass down. I had to walk up many flights of stairs, I found, and was rather annoyed when I got to the floor I was supposed to be on. My shoes clicked down the silent hallway and I wondered if it was a holiday or something, I hadn't seen any workers around. I looked out the window. I could see quite over to the other side of the gate from here. I looked down just to make sure that my guide was around still.
He was, yes, and I was quite pleased with him, that is until I found that trampy girlfriend of his with her long, obnoxiously girly hair and purple outfit standing ever so close to him. I shook my head and wanted to open that window and yell 'SLUT!!' cuz that's what she was, and even she can't deny it. I didn't open the window only for the professionalism of my village; I was, after all, supposed to be the good role model for my village, not some psychotic window-screamer.
I knocked before I was let into the Hokage's office, which was a lot like my brother's, actually, messy as can be. Tsunade had her head in a pile of papers hat surrounded her head. Her assistant, Shizune, had opened the door to let me in, and now was tapping the obviously tired leader on the shoulder.
"Tsunade, the liaison from Suna is here."
The Hokage looked up, rings under her eyes, she told me to sit. She had no time to play hostess, and got right to the point. She gave me a list of all the meetings I was to attend throughout the three weeks that I was here, and that includes with others, such as the Academy teacher, Iruka. I simply nodded, not wanting to get on her bad side. She told me that was all and then started to write again. I had almost forgotten to give her the scroll when I reached for the door handle, and upon apologizing for interrupting her for the deliverance, she asked me where I was staying.
"I don't know. I thought that I might get a hotel room by the restaurants, like my brothers and I have done every time we came here." I shrugged. That was the plan.
But Tsunade wouldn't have it, saying she would never have a liaison spend so much money for housing for three weeks.
"What about sharing an apartment? I know of someone who has lots of extra room in his. It would be a whole lot more comfortable." She said.
I told her I would, and that I hadn't thought of how expensive it would be. She nodded and told me who's apartment I would be staying at. I smirked.
As I wandered outside, I decided against attacking him as unprotected he was, though I wanted to smack him upside the head with my fan. I guess he heard me anyways, for he stood up almost automatically and looked at me. We then began to walk off the Hokage's property, and I quietly laughed to myself as I knew very well he would ask me that question:
"So. Where are you staying?" he said lazily.