naruto drabble
shikamaru/temari
is age really a matter of concern when it comes to love

note : slight spoilers to the recent (?) *coughasumacough* chapters, i guess, and no, i do not and will never own naruto (515 words)


Older

Temari frowned slightly as she watched Shikamaru lighting up yet another cigarette. Ever since... recent events, he had evidently become a chain smoker. Quite a surprising twist of fate really, since being a smoker was a troublesome habit after all.

She wasn't going say anything about it at first because it was his life anyway, but this was getting ridiculous.

"That's your fifth stick," she flatly commented, the irritation evident in her tone.

He inhaled languidly and then blew out a steady stream of smoke over the shougi board between them. The wispy clouds drifted lazily back to his direction, swept along by a soft breeze coming from the window of the now deserted meeting room. Finally lifting his half-lidded gaze to look at her through the white puffs, he quirked his eyebrow in query. "So?"

Her frown deepened. "So... that's your fifth stick, since we started playing this one game."

The lazy genius just shrugged. "It's a slow game. You're taking way too long to decide your moves."

Temari narrowed her eyes menacingly at him. "Why, you little – " Shikamaru's unexpected laugh stopped her words abruptly.

For a moment, she could only stare him in surprise. She loved to hear him laugh, since it was quite rare despite his more normal countenance, compared to the rest of his brooding batch of peers. But still... he was laughing at her. She immediately bristled at the thought.

"What?" she snapped angrily, glaring daggers in his direction.

He was smirking at her now but his eyes were still bright with mirth. "Oh, nothing, really. I was thinking that you remind me of my mother."

"What, your mother?!?" Temari demanded, incredulously. She was older than him, that was true. But to be compared to his mother? That was just too much. Without really considering her next words, she leaned towards him and snarled, "I am not too old for you!"

Shikamaru just stared back at her blankly. She belatedly realised how revealing her words were and drew back quickly, dropping her gaze to stare blindly at the shougi board.

Silence wrapped around them both like a heavy cloud and she squirmed awkwardly. Just when she was about to bolt, pride be damned, she heard Shikamaru clear his throat noisily.

"What does that have anything to do with you reminding me of my mother? I was just saying that your nagging reminds me of her when she gets on my case."

Her wary gaze shot to his face but he was looking out the window. "So you don't really think I'm too old?" She added silently, For you...?

He sighed and rubbed at his forehead to hide the slight blush dusting his cheeks, still refusing to look at her. "You're only three years older than me. Of course, you're not too old."

"Oh..." Temari was so relieved she had only misinterpreted his statement that she almost missed his next words, muttered too faintly to be heard.

But the sweeping winds seem to pick them up and the words drifted over to her softly.

"...In fact, you're just perfect for me."

end


i wrote this way back then when shika was in the spotlight in the plotline of the manga. i just like the thought of temari being touchy about being older than shikamaru. it'll be kind of cute that she's strong and confident about the major stuff but a little insecure about the little things. yes, i'm weird that way. O_o