Author's Note: What's up everybody? Thanks for checking out our very first Naruto group fanfiction! This was written by two people on Skype, and transformed into paragraph format. Both of the authors are tumblr role-players, and really good friends! Follow us on tumblr!

Shikamaru: shadow-genius
Temari: temariofthewind

Thanks again, and hope you enjoy the first chapter!

Blue Skies

Chapter 1- New Beginnings

Another year, huh? Troublesome.

That was what Nara Shikamaru thought as he approached the school grounds after summer vacation. Goodbye sleeping late in the mornings, hello waking up early. After being dragged out of bed by his mother, he had gotten dressed, had his breakfast, and started off to school. This was going to be his third year at Konoha High, and the lazy boy couldn't dread starting school again more.

Shikamaru had always done well in school, but that didn't mean he enjoyed it. He would rather be home in bed than be sitting in a classroom listening to lectures about topics he was already knowledgeable about. Seemed like kind of a waste of time. Pulling out his cell phone, he noticed that he had a new message from his best friend, Chouji.

By the front steps. You here?

Shikamaru looked up and found his friend right where he said he was, by the front steps of the school. He approached him and greeted him with a lazy "morning." Chouji turned and smiled at his friend. "You made it! I thought for sure you would be an hour late. You're never up before noon." Shikamaru groaned. "My mom got me up. It was such a drag. You gotten your schedule yet?"

"Not yet. I was going to wait for the crowd to die down before I got anywhere near the front office." Shikamaru looked over his shoulder to notice Chouji was right, there was quite a crowd of students trying to get inside, most likely trying to get their new schedule. "We'll get squished if we try and squeeze through there." Chouji pointed out.

Seemed like this school year was already off to a rough start.

As much as Temari enjoyed the little bit of sleep she got, she forced herself to wake up extra early to get a head start on the day.

First thing she did was make her way to the bathroom, dragging her feet tiredly across the floor before resting in the doorway for a moment to look in the mirror. She looked like a mess. All the moving around...it made her so tired. Packing and unpacking, going to a new school, taking care of her two younger brothers because their no good father was never around. On top of all that, a few months ago her youngest brother was discharged from the hospital after a two-week stay.

She hardly had any time for herself, afraid to leave him alone at home. Out of all of them, Gaara had been the one to suffer the most... all the moving and their dads' 'occupation'... Gaara had been the one to find their uncle's dead body curled up on the bathroom floor covered in blood with slit wrists. He had never been the same since.

He'd been starting on a new medication for his insomnia, and although it kept him sleeping late and his appearances scarce, it was better than seeing him tormented by the figments of a sleep-deprived mind.

Kankuro, the middle child, took it upon himself to go out as soon as they arrived at their new home in Florida and look for jobs. He wanted to have some extra money so the three of them would have enough food and necessities...every now and then he would suggest they go out or maybe he would rent some movies then suggest they all hang out and watch it together.

A part of her realized he did it out of guilt for leaving them alone.

His gestures helped her stress a little. She watched the movies. She read the books he bought her. She cleaned the house until it retained the sterile air of a hospital.

She gave a sigh and shook her head, trying to shake the troubling thoughts from her mind. She barely realized she was already standing in front of the tub. She reached out turning the faucet on and quickly undressed before stepping in the warm water. It felt amazing and soothing, and helped her wake up even more.

After washing up she got out and pulled on a pair of jeans, her button up with the sleeves rolled to her elbows, and a pair of black and white converse. After her hair dried she pulled them up into four seperate ponytails then made her way to her brothers room to wake them. She merely pushed Kankuro off his bed and told him to get up and get ready but when she got to Gaara she merely tapped on the door and rested a hand lightly on his shoulder.

She flinched when he stirred and his eyes shot open, body going rigid, blinking a few times over at her before relaxing. Temari told him it was time to wake up and get ready for his first day back at school.

He merely nodded and she left him to go to the kitchen and start on breakfast. It was going to be a very trying day... She would worry about Gaara all day and hoped he wouldn't have any trouble.

When Kankuro dragged himself into the kitchen and plopped down at a table, followed by Gaara not far behind, she placed the food in front of them.

After they left the house, Temari drove to the school and finally found a parking place. They were there early but it looks like they weren't the only ones to try and get an early start on their schedules and what not.

The three of them waited in the mass of people to get into the office for their schedule and when it finally was their turn she took the papers, signed off for them, then quickly got out of the cramped space.

"Shikamaru! You actually rolled out of bed early? It's a miracle!" Shikamaru stiffened just hearing the shrill voice of Ino, the girl who had been his lab partner for the past three years. He prayed that this year he would actually get paired with someone different.

"Hey, I can wake up early if I need to, Ino." He shot back, rolling his eyes as she got closer. "Yeah, yeah, sure you can. Man. Did you get dressed with your eyes closed this morning? You look awful…"

Shikamaru looked down. He was wearing his usual: a thick dark green hoodie jacket with jeans. His messy hair was pulled up into his usual ponytail. "What so you mean? This is how I always dress…" Ino scoffed. "Yeah, that's why you look so bad everyday. Haven't have ever heard of fashion, Shikamaru? I should go shopping with you sometime. There's this store on the corner that-."

Ino was cut off when she realized Shikamaru was walking away from her. "Hey!" She called after him. "Where do you think you're going? I was talking here!" But she was too late. Shikamaru and Chouji had already walked inside the school to get their schedules.

"Seems like Ino hasn't changed a bit over the summer. Man, I wish that girl would shut up for one." Shikamaru complained, getting in the now not as crowded line for the office. "Be nice to her, Shikamaru. She comes from a nice family." Chouji said, getting behind his friend. "Yeah? Well then she must be the runt of the litter, because she's annoying."

Kankuro was looking to the map and offered to show Gaara around, well aware that Temari was stressing herself out again just at the thought of all the classes and her younger brother. She hesitated a moment not sure if it was a good idea separating just yet but finally she gave a sigh, "Yeah, just...try not to get lost. You have my number if you need help. You too Gaara." She gave him a smile and hesitantly reached out lightly tousling his hair.

That was something she rarely ever did but it did earn her a small twitch from the corner of his lips, which soon faded back into his ever-present deadpanned expression.

Kankuro pulled him off, leaving Temari there to look over her schedule and wait for her first class to get started.

Chouji and Shikamaru were standing off to the side, looking over their new schedules. "What's your first class?" Chouji asked.

"English. I'm in the advanced class with a bunch of upperclassmen. I'll probably just sleep through the entire thing." Shikamaru let out a long yawn. "At least try and stay awake, Shikamaru. I have Biology first, so I'm going this way." Chouji pointed down a hallway that leads to the science classrooms. "Alright. See you at lunch then." Shikamaru called, waving as his friend left.

He sighed and decided it was time for him to make his way to his class too. Stretching his arms out, he turned to his left, walking up the stairs and down the hallway that leads to the English wing. He looked at his schedule to find the room number he was in.

Room 302.

As soon as Shikamaru found the room, he opened the door, and noticed he was the only one in the classroom. Everyone must be running late on their first day. Oh, well. At least I get first pick on seats. He thought as he moved for the back of the room, setting his things down next to the desk at the very back of the room, directly next to the window.

Temari looked through her schedule and then to the map searching for the English wing. She had taken a lot of advanced classes positive it would look good on her college resumes...that is, if she ever got the opportunity to go to college... Just the thought of it made her frown.

If she went to college she would have to move again, most likely bring her brothers along, get a house for them, get them into school again... that way she could at least take care of them while she went to college. She felt like she had to be there for the both of them. Always.

"Room 302..." she muttered walking past several rooms. "302..-ah." She stopped in front of the room marked 302 and peeked inside. She thought it was empty but then she spotted someone in the back. He appeared to have been sleeping.

"Hn..." Taking a seat at the front of the class she dropped her book bag down beside her and pulled out a notebook. Might as well work on some botany... she would like to get a head start on that.

Soon after finding the classroom and sitting down, Shikamaru drifted off to sleep. These early morning classes would be the death of him. He wondered how many lectures he would actually listen to. It would be a miracle if he stayed awake for more than 10 minutes everyday.

He was awakened by the sound of the teacher's voice. He looked around him, realizing how long he had drifted off. Nearly every seat was filled in the classroom. Hm. Just as I thought. Upperclassmen. Shikamaru thought as he looked around, not recognizing many of the faces in the classroom.

The teacher was a younger man with long silver hair. Shikamaru had seen him around in years past. He was kind of hard to miss. Hatake…Hatake Kakashi… He thought to himself, remembering the name of said teacher.

As the teacher took his place at his podium, he started his first day lecture. Really he just went over the rules, saying he didn't care if the students slept in class. If they wanted to flunk out of the class, it was fine by him. Shikamaru knew that wouldn't be the case for him.

Temari stared up at the teacher taking some more notes. Already he had given out assignments for essays and she couldn't help but groan inwardly. They weren't going to be hard but they would still be a pain.

Before they knew it, the bell for the next class rang, and everyone stood from their seats and headed for the exit. Shikamaru took his schedule out of his pocket as he walked, trying to determine where he was going next. Calculus room 40-

Once the bell rang Temari took her time gathering her papers and books not bothering to shove them all into her pack. She stood up and took a few steps before realizing she left her pencil. Turning around she accidentally slammed into someone...or someone had ran into her.

Shikamaru's thoughts were interrupted when he slammed into someone, the person's books dropping all over the ground. "Oh…sorry. Guess I'm always kind of distracted in the…morning." Shikamaru paused when he looked up to find a fierce looking girl with multiple ponytails staring back at him.

Temari wiped the scowl off her face that made its way there on her face when her books were knocked from her hands. After he crouched down and began picking up her books she joined him

Quickly getting down on his knees and picking up whatever book he could, Shikamaru refused to meet the girl's eyes. "Uh…you're not hurt, are you?"

"Nah, I'm not hurt." Temari shrugged. "It's just some books." She gathered her scattered papers and took her books from him. She began putting her books away into her book bag thinking it would be easier and safer than carrying them around in her arms.

"Thanks...um,?" She waited for him to say his name. Once they stood she looked him over quickly. He was dressed in a nice hoodie and jeans. Nothing super fancy about them. Just casual clothes...his hair was pulled back in a ponytail. It kind of looked like a pineapple. Her lips turned in a slight smile just at that small thought.

"Oh, I'm Nara Shikamaru. A third year." He answered her, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Sorry again. I'm not really used to getting up this early. And…you are?"

Now that she was in front of him, he looked her over. She was slim, her hair pulled back into four separate ponytails. How very…unique. "Were you in my English class just now? How about that professor, huh? Homework on the first day of class…how troublesome."

Temari recognized him as the boy who was asleep when she first walked in. "I'm Sabaku no Temari. I'm new here." She smiled and held out a hand for him to take.

Shikamaru reached out and took the offered hand, shaking it lightly. "Nice to meet you, Temari. You're new? Did you just move here? Where from?" Shikamaru was honestly curious. It wasn't everyday that their small little school got any newcomers.

"Yeah. Seriously, I'm pretty sure that it's not going to be the first class to do this." She sighed looking to her schedule. "I have Botany 1 next...all the way on the other side of the school... then biology... calculus and then lunch." She sighed. "This will be fun..." She shook her head and gave a sigh. "Sorry," She walked off towards the door with him. "I'm keeping you from getting to your class." She rubbed her neck giving a slight laugh.

She was a little hesitant about telling him where she came from. She honestly just wanted to forget about that old place and start over not worrying about that old life but she decided to tell him anyway, "I'm from California." She shrugged. "I moved her literally two weeks ago with my two brothers."

"Oh, there's a shortcut to get to the science wing. If you take a left down this hallway and then take the first right, it pretty much takes your right there. Most people think of going around the long way when in reality you can just go in from the back." Shikamaru knew this school backwards and forwards, so he pretty much knew every shortcut there was.

Temari quirked an eyebrow, "Hn... well then. That will make the trip much more easier." She smiled. "Thanks."

Shikamaru took in the fact that she was from California. He wondered why anyone would want to come to a small town in Florida after living in the sunny state of California. It didn't make much sense. But, he simply nodded and said "I hope you'll settle in here quickly. Hopefully it's not that different from your old home."

She walked down the hall a ways with him before coming to a stop. "Thanks for your help Shikamaru." She smiled fixing her bookbag on her shoulder before turning around. "Maybe I'll see you later?" She said a bit hopefully. He had been the first to speak to her since she's been here so it was kind of nice to have someone to speak with.

"Bye!" she waved heading off to her botany class before she could be late.

Shikamaru stopped with her when they needed to part. Calculus was to the left, and the science wing was to the right. "Sure. If not later today, tomorrow morning bright and early for sure, right?" He gave her a small smile. "Good luck on your first day." He called as he walked towards the math wing.

Neither of them realized just how interesting this new school year was going to be.