Asuma was dead. Hidan had killed him.

Every occupant of the Hidden Leaf village, ninja or civilian, had mourned and shed many tears over the loss of the beloved sensei. Shikamaru, however, had yet to let his tears and built up pain surface. His reasonings were always "I'm not a child anymore." Or "Men do not cry."

Asuma was dead.

The man that was more of a father to him than his own was gone.

At times Shikamaru's heart was screaming with the pain of the loss of his sensei, and even though his friends tried to get him to let out his emotions…

He just wouldn't.

Until, that is, a certain Sand kunoichi made her return to the Hidden Leaf.

As an ambassador to Suna, it was an expectation for her to attend the funeral of the renowned Konohagakure shinobi. However, she had her own reasons for attending the funeral. She had always respected Asuma, and he never made her feel unwelcome whenever she visited the village. Besides that it didn't hurt that she also got along exceptionally well with his team members.

As Temari stood in the front between Lady Tsunade and Shizune, she took the time to glance around during the procession. Immediately her eyes landed on Yuhi Kurenai. She watched as the leader of Team 8, as well as the secret-yet-not-so-secret lover of Sarutobi Asuma, as she placed a bouquet of red flowers atop his grave, wiping her red and puffy eyes to keep from crying again.

Temari's heart went out to the woman and her unborn child who would never know his father. 'That kind of pain…tragic.' She thought before her eyes drifted over the rest of the crowd. Skimming over the familiar faces of Konoha 11. Well, the Konoha 11 except for one.

Where was Shikamaru?

Having not even bothered to go to the funeral Shikamaru made his way slowly into the forest. His hands shoved deep in his pockets, eyes to the ground.

'Asuma sensei…'

CRRRRRRRRRAAAAAACK!

THUD!

"Ow! Damn it!"

"Huh?" Shikamaru's head snapped up at the sudden disturbance. "What the hell?" He managed, as right in front of him a certain blonde haired kunoichi was now lying in a pile of broken tree branches, leaves, and her fan underneath her.

"God damn it that really hurt! Of course I land on the one branch in this whole forest that has wood rot!" Temari cursed angrily as she got up and rubbed her lower back.

"Temari? What the hell…?" Muttered a now slightly amused Shikamaru.

"Oh!" Temari's eyes snapped up to meet his. Her face immediately turned red in embarrassment. "I…uh…well…"

"Were you following me?" He asked, more shocked that he hadn't even noticed rather than the fact she was spying on him.

"No, no, no! It's not like that!" She said waving her hands in front of her defensively. "I was just…uh…just...oh to hell with it." The blonde let out a defeated sigh before straightening up. "Yes." She admitted quietly, her eyes looking away.

Shikamaru crossed his arms over his chest. "Why?"

"To make sure you were alright." Temari muttered, her gaze shifting downwards now.

Shikamaru stood silently for a while. His signature look of boredom etched onto his face. "Why wouldn't I be alright?" He finally asked.

"Well…because I know how close you were to Asuma and I was just making sure you were doing alright. You didn't show up at the funeral."

"Of course I'm doing alright….it doesn't matter…he died honorably." Shikamaru then quickly changed the subject by asking, "How the hell did you end up falling flat on your ass? Aren't you supposed to be some amazing kunoichi of the sand."

Temari's face got red again and her eyes met his with a fierce glint. " I am an amazing kunoichi of the sand!" She shouted before mumbling under her breath, "That stupid branch was weaker than I anticipated is all."

At that, Shikamaru actually burst out laughing.

"Hey! Sh-shut up!" Temari shouted fixing him with a glare.

Shikamaru managed to finally calm down enough to speak, "Hehe…sorry….but seeing YOU of all people fall flat on your backside is pretty amusing."

Temari's fists clenched by her side, "Shut up! At least I didn't cry about it!"

He frowned. "Tch…troublesome woman…" was all he said before turning to walk away.

Temari quickly reached out to pull him back, "Wait…no. I'm sorry…."

He shrugged her hands off and continued to make his departure.

"There's nothing wrong with crying!"

He paused just long enough to glance over his shoulder at her. "Men don't cry…"

Temari's eyes narrowed. Again with the chauvinistic crap huh? "Don't give me that! You know that's not true! Men can and do cry…doesn't mean you're weak it just proves that you've got the balls to show people that you're not afraid to show emotion!"

She saw his shoulders visibly tense. "As I recall…" He began, "You were the one lecturing me that shinobi aren't supposed to get emotional." He spat.

"I was fifteen! Yes you shouldn't let emotions get in the way of a mission, but you also shouldn't bottle it all up inside! If you don't let it out you'll become no better than that maniac Hidan!"

Her head spun as she was suddenly forced back against a nearby tree and all of a sudden he was suddenly face to face with her. Noses almost touching.

If it hadn't been for the fact that he was fixing her with a glare even Gaara would find frightening she would find the situation very erotic.

"Don't." He hissed between clenched teeth, eyes shining with the beginnings of tears threatening to fall from his eyes, "Don't you ever compare me to that bastard!" He whispered harshly.

Temari's eyes kept going from his to the ground and back again until she finally whispered, "I-I'm sorry."

Shikamaru stared at her for a few moments before turning around, his body shaking.

Temari cautiously stepped forward towards him. "Shikamaru?" she whispered.

No response.

Temari slowly reached over and put her hand on his shoulder.

She had no time to react when suddenly he grabbed her wrist and whipped around to throw his arms around her, crushing her against him his shaking body.

"Sh-shikamaru…" Temari stuttered in surprise. Her face turned bright red once again.

He opened his mouth to say something but everything came out as just a strangled whimper.

Temari's eyes softened and she rubbed his back gently. "It'll be alright." She whispered gently. His body shook against hers, and though the tears threatened to fall they still didn't, though this was a start.

Eventually, Shikamaru grip on her loosened but he wouldn't let go of her completely. Her warmth felt nice against his cold body.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck and breathed in heavily.

Temari shuddered softly, and the moment she did she prayed that he hadn't noticed.

No such luck.

Shikamaru lifted his head enough to look into her eyes. Her tanned cheeks had a slight tinge of red, and she kept looking everywhere but at him.

He smirked to himself.

"Why Temari, are you blushing?" He drawled.

"NO!" She spat at him, fire in her eyes. "I have a cold that's all!"

"Heh…" Shikamaru smiled softly and pulled her against him once more. "Then let me warm you up." He said gently.

The moment he said it he mentally prepared himself for her to begin beating him.

To his surprise, she didn't protest.