Author Notes: The first chapter of my first fanfic. I read through a couple of Shika/Tema stories, some where good, some peeked my interest, but i never found something i really liked. So, i wrote one myself instead. I decided, that i would be doing this for a while, and once i put my mind to something, i always finish the job! Keep in mind, that i like borrowing lines from my favourite authors. See if you can find them in my text xD

Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto franchise, nor do i expect to gain any profit what so ever from posting this story. Enjoy!

Shikamaru looked upon the endless sea of sand. It stretched out before his eyes, seemingly with no end. It was he's third day of traveling through the desert. Or rather, the third night, since he slept during the daytime, in caves made specifically for the purpose of travelling in the desert, god knows how many years ago. He was on a mission from the leaf, travelling to Suna, since hes presence was requested by the Kazekage himself. Apparently they where in need of his "wits and intellect" as Kakashi phrased it.

He had gotten no information regarding the actual task, but it was probably something important, judging from the high-level security warning on the letter from the Kazekage. Shikamaru sighed. this was gonna be one hell of a troublesome visit, and he knew it.

Standing in front of the main gate of Sunagakure, Temari stood half asleep, waiting to escort a well known lazy ass to the Kazekage office. The clock was about four in the morning, and he should be arriving any moment now. She yawned, wanting nothing but to sleep. She had been asssigned as the guide and escort of the young slacker while he was visiting the sand. she smirked, "how troublesome ." Even though it might not have mattered on this particular assignment wether or not she was asleep while waiting, she wasn't about to give the master of naps himself the satisfaction of seing her sleeping on her post. That was simply out of the question.

When Shikamaru arrived at the gate, he found Temari waiting, resting her head at her fan. the moment she recognized him, a smirk crawled up her face, turning into a smile and then even a... grin? "What are you laughing at, troublesome woman?" "Your stupid face of course, lazy ass." It was good seing her. it had only been about two months since she had been to Konoha. Yet he was somehow extremely happy to see her again. His stomach flipped when she smiled at him. What was wrong with him? Sure, they where friends. Well, good friends. But the unique notion in his stomach, the way something about her just filled him, making him feel like a whole being, yet at the same time miserable and in desperate need for something he never had. Something he needed to live on. "What are you staring at?" He was ripped out of his thought process, realizing he had been staring at her the whole time. "nothing."

"nothing?"

He glared at her. "Yes you heard right."

She rolled her eyes, giving up on getting an answer.

Relieved, Shikamaru walked with her in silence all the way to the Kazekage mansion. That suited him just fine.

"Good evening Shikamaru-san." The guest from Konoha just arrived in the office, where Gaara had been expecting him. Shikamaru nodded "kazekage-sama." Gaara couldn't help a small smile forming on his lips. It was good to see his comrade from the war, that he had done so much work with, while in command of the Allied Shinobi Forces during their fight against Madara Uchiha. Back then, Shikamarus stunning intelligence had proven extremely useful in the battle. That was also the excact result Gaara was hoping for, when he so suddenly requested the presence of the young Nara.

"Alright, so basically you have a quite influential terror-network in Suna known as The Mask." Shikamaru sat on the chair with his usual lazy attitude, his black hair only regulated into a ponytail, and completly out of control besides from that."thats correct. We know for a fact, that the group focuses specifically on assassinations. They claim to be doing what they do for the good of the people." Shikamaru sighed. He knew what was comming next. Gaara was gonna ask him to help uncover the mysterious group. The Kazekage leaned back in his seat, lowering the his head slightly, hiding it behind his traditional hat. "We need your intelligence and sense of strategy to unravel the luring rebellion. You are here on an S-rank mission, and i'm obligated to inform you, that leaking any information about this assignment to anyone, civilian or shinobi, will be punished by death." The young leaf Jounin smirked. Its not like he didnt know any of this already. Then again, Gaara knew this too. "I'm sure you must." Shikamaru yawned uninterested, scrathing the back of his head. "Well if you dont mind Gaara, i would very much like to go to sleep now. I've had a rough journey, and i'd like to be ready for a troublesome day tomorrow." Gaara nodded in understanding. But something about his face warned Shikamaru, that something was up. Something didn't seem right. "You will be staying at Temaris place during your stay." There it was. Kankuro was at the brink of bursting into laugh, while an amused smile played on Gaaras lips. Temaris gap of troublesomeness stood wide open, her eyes looking with at her brother with disbelief. No way. Was he trying to set them up? That was so... uncharactaristically of Gaara. Who would have thought?

"WHAT?" Shikamaru couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But isn't there a quarter at the Kazekage mansion for ambassadors and such?"

"it's occupied by delegates from The Rain Village. No other rooms are avaliable for guests."

"What about Kankuro. Doesnt he has room to spare?"

The bubble containing Kankuros laugh apparently sprung, which Shikamaru found quite uncomfortable. "I got nothing. Besides, you dont wanna stay at my place! You wouldn't get a minute of sleep from all the... ahem, tutoring going on."

Shikamaru couldn't help but blush slightly. He sighed, not bothering to question the truth of the statements of the young men. It was simply not worth the trouble. "whatever. I guess that is only fitting, since you are gonna be my escort while im here."

Temari smirked knowingly, as she watched the young man complain. When she first met him, she got sick of his laziness, that seemed to pop up, even in the most inapropriate places. It felt like he wasn't aware of the annoyance he caused. She could not have been more wrong. He knew better than anyone, but for him, it was a matter of pride. Showing that he cared about a mission, would simply not fit his image. In some aspects, he was almost like a little kid, even these days.

Temaris apartment was quite simple, showing clear signs of her, not spending much time at home. Despite that, she had 2 bedrooms, and a decently large living room, aswell as a neatly fitted kitchen. As he was showed to his room, he almost imideatly threw himself on the bed, not even bothering to eat or ready his stuff for the next morning. Before he fell to sleep he felt his skin, dry like a rousin, aswell as a set of beatiful green eyes watching him, as he finally closed his eyes, to get some well deserved rest.

Phew, that was a tough nut to crack. If it takes a week or two for the next chapter to be released, no worries! Ill just be working even harder, to create something i you guys can apreciate, and i can be proud of! Please review, possitive and negative reviews are welcomed with (almost) equal apreciation!