The thing with being an ambassadress was that you can always work whenever and wherever you liked as long as you kept your deadlines and did your work brilliantly. While the paperwork was a pain to go through, she is comforted by the fact that her efficiency in the work allows her more time for doing other things like running their household, studying more about the Nara clan, and training.

Of course, she had her name listed in the roster for missions when she was sworn in as a dual citizen of Konoha and Suna with the former as her home base. Temari was not a woman who does well by sitting idly by, anyways.

However, today was one of those rare days when she had finished her ambassadorial duties in record time, allowing her two more days of freedom unless she was called to a mission. The kunoichi decided to skip training today as a little gift to herself so she dressed in casual clothes and grabbed her purse instead of her Tessen.

Temari walked the familiar alleys of the Nara estate, finding them to be calming since most of the clan members were going about their day, doing shinobi work, caring for their deer, doing research on their medicines, or running their own households. She exchanged a few pleasantries with some of the clan members who noticed her, still humbled by the fact that they were so supportive and welcoming when she married into the family about a week ago.

She closed the tall gate of the Nara estate and turned toward the direction of Konoha's centre, which lay behind a few more alleyways and several throngs of trees. It was a shortcut that Shikamaru taught her, which she utilised almost every time when she headed into the heart of the city. As the kunoichi was about to leap to a tree branch, she found herself frozen. Panic flooded her for about a second before her gaze turned downwards.

"Going somewhere?"

"I was."

She was turned to face her husband, a bored look on her face to mask the fact that she would have jumped in surprise earlier if it weren't for his blasted shadow. Still, it was surprising to see him walking towards the direction of their clan's estate especially at half past 10 in the morning.

"At least act a little happy in seeing me?" Shikamaru teased her with a smirk.

Temari harrumphed at her husband and rolled her eyes. "Why? I saw you this morning."

"Tch. Himedere…" he mumbled, low enough so she wouldn't hear.

"Anyway, why are you home so early? Did the rokudaime finally realise you're just slowing him down with all the cloud-watching you do?" she bantered with a smirk.

"Heh! The opposite. I actually sped his work up today and got some days off," Shikamaru smirked, walking towards her, which made Temari walk towards him as well.

"Ever plan on releasing me?" she asked, a brow lifting.

"Not before I do this."

The Nara clan head leaned in and kissed his wife on the lips, not even caring that they were outside and people could see. In fact, he took great joy in doing that, catching Temari off guard and making her flustered. She never was a fan of public displays of intimacy. When he pulled back, he was satisfied to see a reddish tint growing on her cheeks.

"Baka…" she mumbled softly, a bit breathless. "You owe me brunch now."

"I actually owe you a holiday, but we can go to brunch now," Shikamaru smirked, releasing his wife from his shadow bind. "Glad to see you wear your hair down today. Beautiful."

"Urusai," Temari softly admonished, blush deepening and gaze avoiding his.

"Tsundere," Shikamaru laughed, catching her hand as it was about to swat him on the chest. "Come on. We both didn't have breakfast."

"Look alive, Woman," he teased her with her own words as Temari let out an indulgent yawn and rested her head on his shoulder. Her slim arms were around his, using them as a makeshift pillow. He had a feeling she was only comfortable doing so since they have their own private booth in the restaurant. "You didn't have to wake up so early today. You had the whole day to work but you what? Started at four in the morning?"

"Hn. Just order me some miso, tonkatsu, and tamago kake gohan," she lazily said. "And dango for later."

"You're sure hungry," Shikamaru chuckled and placed the order for their brunch. "So, where would you like to go?"

"Go?" she asked, opening one eye to look at him. "What's this about?"

"I told you; I owe you a holiday. Were you so distracted by my presence earlier that you weren't listening to me?" he jibed. "I never thought I'd see the day, Tema."

"Baka. I heard you earlier. I just don't see why you would suggest a holiday all of a sudden. We are in the middle of busy times, you know," she replied, fully awake now and looking up at him.

"I have a few days off," he reasoned, laying a hand on hers and drawing circles on the back of her palm mindlessly. "And I am sure you do as well. We received your paperwork this morning."

"Right. I keep forgetting that, somehow, you always have access to my work," Temari chuckled. "But a holiday, though? Seems rather…extravagant at the moment."

"We still have the coupons that Ino and Sai gave us for our wedding," he reminded her. "I was going through our stuff last night and I found it. Seems like a nice place. Besides, it doesn't require us to go out of Konoha."

"Coupons of what? I hardly remember who gave what and what the whats are all about…" she mumbled. "It was a lot to go through and we have only sorted half of our gifts."

"Believe it or not, it's to an onsen," Shikamaru said. "Something about us and our history with onsen…"

Temari turned a deep shade of red once more when she was reminded of their first (and currently last) encounter with an onsen. Certainly not her best and brightest moment. "Ino, honestly," she shook her head. "I thought I told you not to tell her."

"Ino's a mind-reader, in case you're forgetting."

"I know but can't you, like, shield thoughts from her or something?" she huffed. "I wouldn't want our private life dissected and discussed even if they are our friends.

"Oh? Here I thought you're so used to having your life viewed upon by the public, Temari-hime," Shikamaru grinned.

The blonde rolled her eyes. "You are an idiot sometimes."

"A sometimes-idiot whom you married," he replied, bopping her nose with his finger and chuckling when he heard her grumble. "Anyways, we're getting far from the point. Do you want to use the coupon or not?"

"I suppose now's a good time as any. We might get busier in the next few weeks, especially since we're arranging the Chuunin exams. And don't those things have expiration dates?"

"I think so, yeah," he said before thanking their server when their food arrived.

The couple said their pleasantries before their meal and shortly got to eat. Their brunch was a quiet affair, as the pair of them comfortable with silence, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Temari split her dango sticks with her husband, who took them with a grateful smile.

"When are we leaving? We have a clan meeting tonight. I assume you did not forget?" she asked.

"I didn't," he assured her. "And the coupon only grants a two-day-one-night free so tomorrow works."

"Good. You can help me with the chores around the house today, then."

"Mendokusai na…"

"No complaining."

Temari awoke that morning when the sun was barely rising to the skies. Truthfully, she had a hard time sleeping the night before but she didn't feel at all restless when she opened her eyes. The all-too pleasant sensation coursing through her stomach was to blame for it, she just knew. But she had to cut herself some slack, it was the first holiday she would ever have with her husband anyways. She was allowed to feel extremely excited about it.

The kunoichi gently removed her husband's arm from her stomach and carefully slid out of their blanket to head to the bathroom adjacent to theirs. Temari let Shikamaru sleep a few minutes more while she got herself ready. She decided to wear her hair down since he seemed to like it so much.

"We're going to miss breakfast at the inn if you sleep in more," she said softly, kissing his forehead as she shook him awake.

"'m awake," he mumbled groggily before bringing a hand to his face to rub the sleep from his eyes. Shikamaru sat up from her bed and felt his hair being gathered and tied up into its usual fashion. "I can do that myself."

"I know, but you really need to get a move on."

"Someone's excited."

"Naturally. I haven't had a holiday in years, anata. Now let's go before I drag you out by your ponytail."

After a few short minutes, they were out to travel to the direction of the inn. Being shinobi, they didn't see the need to travel with a vehicle if they can just breeze through the streets and rooftops. Besides, Konoha at daybreak was a sight Temari liked seeing.

It took them about half an hour of sprinting before they reached their inn and Temari let Shikamaru talk to the receptionists while she inspected the quaint yet exquisite lobby. She made a mental note to thank Ino for her gift and she thought she would need to return the favour for hers and Sai's wedding in a few weeks.

The couple was soon shown to their room and Temari marvelled at the sight of the luxurious bed complete with a plush mattress, lush pillows, and an equally indulgent duvet. Outside their door was their private onsen and a very picturesque view of Konoha's countryside. Shikamaru was likewise pleased at what their accommodations had to offer. "We need to thank the ghost couple for this."

The shinobi was nearly hit by a small pillow speeding towards his face. "Just because they're pale, Shika…" Temari shook her head. "At least be kind to the two who were gracious to gift us this."

"Well, I don't call them that to their face. That's kind enough."

The blonde was about to retort when they heard a knock to the dining area of their room, a server letting them know that their breakfast was there. Shikamaru let the man wheel the cart in and bowed to him in thanks.

"Come on. The food here is supposed to be a new kind of delicious," Temari said melodiously, dragging him towards the meal. What greeted her was a sight she probably won't forget anytime soon. And while mortification reigned over her, her pig of a husband started laughing uncontrollably. "Shikamaru!"

The food looked delectable in a different way: rice shaped into a lady's pair of breasts with a mung bean on top to somehow illustrate the nipple; fried egg in the shape of a lady's behind; natto was arranged in a plate that was shaped as a man's member; the end of the plate had a bowl where in the miso soup was contained and it certainly looked like some kind of body fluid; even the tsukemono and kobachi were somehow arranged in an obscene way. The yakizakana was shaped like a woman's apex, if he were to be asked. Only the nori was presented in a normal way.

Shikamaru dragged his wife down to sit by the table and willed to control his laughing. "You have to admit this is very creative. Doesn't it just set the mood, Tema?"

"Shut up. I think I lost my appetite."

"Aw, come on." The shinobi picked up a pair of chopsticks and handed another to his wife. "Don't be such a prude. It's not like you haven't seen any of that before. Or that you don't have some of those…food parts."

"Stop being a pig, Shika."

Shikamaru kissed her cheek to appease her even if her embarrassed state was highly adorable. "Come on. It can't be that bad. It's supposed to be a new kind of delicious, yeah?"

Temari could only sigh as she reached for her bowl of gohan.

"How have you kept your skin this smooth after all these years?" he asked softly, hands wandering on her naked stomach. His chin was rested on her shoulder, cheek pressed to hers. There was an abundance of space in their private onsen but they chose to spoon in the hot spring.

"You're just saying that," she said softly, the warm water and the feel of his hands on her skin making her feel a little bit more feverish than usual. "I'm sure I have a few scars that I haven't taken notice of to cure."

"I found nothing so far…and I have been to every nook and cranny, haven't I?" he breathed. "You're beautiful, Temari. I feel like I don't tell you that enough. You're brilliant and beautiful, and it's important that you know how I think about you and how I feel about you."

The kunoichi could only smile to myself when he offered his words of endearment. She didn't want to ruin the mood. Shikamaru openly discussing his feelings was rare enough as it is and she merely wanted to savour every moment that they were in it.

"I just wish I'd realised my feelings sooner," he continued which made her frown slightly.

"Don't…Don't say that. We are exactly right where we need and want to be, are we not?" she hummed, turning to face him as much as she could. "I would not have had it any other way."

"Really?"

"Of course. I would not have changed anything. Things happened the way they did because they needed to happen at that place, at that time. Now's not the time to dwell on the misgivings of the past. After all, we have a lifetime ahead of us."

Shikamaru's eyes misted at her words, and he couldn't pinpoint if it were the steam of the hot spring or the perfection whom he held in his arms that caused it. "You never fail to set me straight."

"It has been my job for years. I don't plan on stopping," Temari hummed, one hand going to rest on his arm.

"I'm counting on you."

"I'll try not to disappoint."

"I don't think you could ever," he said truthfully.

"You have much confidence on me, don't you?" she chuckled.

"Of course; it's you."

As if on instinct, Temari bowed her head slightly, not used to being subjected to such words of confidence from anyone in her life. And here was her husband rolling out said words as if he had practised them his whole life.

At the silence, Shikamaru tugged her closer to him, arms tightening around her frame as if he were afraid of what might happen if he let her go. For a moment, he was worried that he had said too much but the blush on her cheeks remained and he took that as a quiet encouragement to continue praising her. Maybe not with words this time.

They never had any elaborate intimate exploits so far, since they only became physical with each other on their wedding night. The transition from close friends to lovers to married couple was quick, spanning only a month. They never had the chance to explore this side of their partnership before marriage. This time, he was hell-bent on making it up for the discomfort she felt when they first came together about a week ago.

The shinobi sank his mouth down gently on her shoulder to nibble on her soft skin experimentally. His eyes were trained on her face, gauging her reaction. Seeing no trace of protest, he continued nibbling towards her neck and up, exploring the expanse of skin available.

Temari gasped in surprise when his lips came in contact with the back of her ear. The warmth that formed there suddenly spread to the whole of her body and she felt like she was aware of the world and lost in it at the same time. Apparently, that spurred her husband on but she wasn't complaining.

Shikamaru paid attention to that spot for a few more moments, taking note of the information to be saved for later. He figured it would come helpful especially since they have a lifetime ahead of them, which meant a lifetime's worth of pleasuring Temari. His tongue darted out to stroke said spot and when she keened in response, heat exploded inside of him and he was a man on a mission.

His hands started to make their move next. They left their niche on her smooth stomach and carefully made their way upwards. His fingers felt the soft and supple curvature of her breasts, introducing her to the sensation gradually. Finally, his hands cupped her mounds, squeezing and prodding until he found a rhythm that made her breathing go ragged.

There weren't many times when Temari was caught speechless, far even rarer when she would be breathless. And yet Shikamaru has managed to achieve that in a short amount of time. She was practically rendered to mush with his hands alone. The way they felt against her skin, his palms roughened by years of combat, it was far too good to even start to describe. And when his thumbs and forefinger pinched her nipples— "Ah!"

What replaced heat was electricity now and she felt her nerve endings being practically shocked but she couldn't find it in herself to complain. When Shikamaru repeated the action, her stomach coiled and her head fell forward. Temari couldn't help her mouth from releasing a moan that was more pleasured than surprised now.

"Shika…" she crooned, hands resting atop his. She wasn't sure why she was nervous about all of this but she was with Shikamaru, the last person that should make her nervous. And so, she mustered up the courage to ask for what she wanted. "Shika, more…"

A small smirk formed itself on Shikamaru's lips as he heard his wife ask in that sultry voice of hers. He peppered her neck with kisses, occasionally dropping a peck on that sweet spot behind her ear, as he fondled her breast eagerly. Temari's constant and consistent keening excited him all the more and he wanted to take her on but he knew he had to be patient for now.

Every single time her husband's hands tightened against her mounds, jolts of heat shoot to her core and she soon began to tremble at the pleasure. She was sure she was making her satisfaction known with her mouth keeping open and allowing a string of whimpers and groans of pleasure to slip through. But then he stopped.

"W-what…" she began to ask breathlessly but then she felt his hands snake downwards. Temari bit her lip slightly in anticipation of what he was to do next. The clear water allowed her to watch his hands as they travelled down her body, and she keened once more when his fingers grazed the sensitive patch of skin below her navel. She had a hunch he remembered that she was sensitive there. He always remembered important things.

The kunoichi could only observe with baited breath as he parted her thighs. Her eyes were glossed like the surface of the water that engulfed them, blinking ever so rarely like they were afraid to miss a crucial part of the show. Temari felt tiny fireworks dance underneath her skin whenever Shikamaru's hands inched closer and closer to her apex.

The heat in her stomach intensified at the mere show and she struggled to grasp just how good it would feel when he finally touched her there. Her hands remained resting on his strong arms, wanting to be a part of the movements that made her feel this way. And finally, a tip of his finger grazed her sensitive flesh.

Shikamaru was silent, remembering all those books that he had read on how to pleasure a woman. He never thought that he would ever get around to using the skills he had picked up from them but he was thankful for the few and far in between moments of self-indulgence that he had sufficient knowledge on how to start making his wife feel pleasured.

The shinobi let one hand rest on her thigh to keep her legs open while he willed the other to explore her womanhood. A fingertip felt the bottom of her slit, tracing invisible circles until he felt a bit of fluid flow out of her. It was hot but thick, unlike the water of the hot spring. Slowly, that fingertip grazed her entrance. It rubbed against her up and down and up again, a steady pattern so she could get used to the sensation.

Temari groaned, struggling to keep the bite on her lips. "Sh-shika…maru…Atashi…Ki-kimo… Ah…"

The small sensation was enough for her to let loose. It wasn't assaulting that she couldn't handle it at once but it was enough to reel her out of her sanity. And as if it wasn't enough, Shikamaru introduced another finger on her flesh to join the steady rubbing. Her eyes shut closed and it only made her feel him more against her pussy.

Shikamaru smiled a little egotistically, knowing that he was the one responsible for such reactions in her. The hand holding her thigh firmed its grip a little as her legs started to quiver. There could never be another first time of Temari losing herself in the pleasure of him feeling up her pussy, so he made sure to savour the moment and make the most of it. Without warning, his ring finger and middle finger hiked upwards and pressed against her clit.

"Ah! Shika!" Temari moaned loudly, her head throwing backwards and eyes tightening their closure. She felt his idle arm slide under her breasts to keep her steady as he continued using his fingers on her clit. The sensation on her knob was too much that she didn't even feel his shadows binding her legs to keep them open.

At first, he experimented patterns on her pleasure centre. He stroked the knob up, down, and every which way, determining by her moans which pattern was the most pleasurable for her. Soon she was steadily moaning without restraint once his fingers settled on the right side of her clit, stroking the sensitive bundle of nerves in a circular motion. Temari's pleasured wails continued and intensified, making his ears burn hot as he found her unrestrained cries of pleasure a great source of satisfaction.

Her mouth went dry as she sucked in huge breaths of air and released them in loud, steady moans that were sure to scratch her throat. She didn't care. The way his fingers worked on her clit was almost too much but she couldn't stop him, she couldn't even think. All she had in her mind was the feel of his fingertips rubbing her clit in steady circles.

"Oh, Kami. Kami…Shika…Shikamaru, ah! Motto hayaku! Don't stop!" The blonde kunoichi whimpered loudly in between pants. Her back arched lightly as she tried to move her hips in synch with his ministrations, creating more friction for her clit. Temari's wails grew higher and higher in pitch as his fingers sped up.

Her chest heaved; her legs quivered and struggled to move against the bind of his shadows. There was a white-hot coil building up on the base of her stomach waiting to explode. Temari's nails dug on her husband's arms as she started to climb her peak. Her hips stopped moving as his fingers exacerbated their motions.

"Iku…Iku! Shikamaru, iku!" Temari screamed, letting herself tip over the edge. Her head remained thrown back and her mouth hung open, letting loose incoherent cries, as she rode out her orgasm. The kunoichi quivered in her husband's arms for a great while before breathed out in pants as her body calmed down.

Shikamaru watched in both astonishment and pride as he watched his wife fall apart in his arms. She has always been beautiful but seeing her lose herself in her orgasm was a different kind of stunning, one that only he would ever have the privilege to see. The husband held his wife against him, his arms helping to steady her as she rode out her climax.

Temari fell slack against Shikamaru's muscular body. She couldn't think clearly at the moment, mainly focused on letting her body relax after experiencing her first real orgasm. Her eyes closed and her head turned towards his, wanting to be as close to him as possible. She felt a kiss on her forehead, gentle and loving.

"Come. I'll take us inside. All this heat can't be good for you," he whispered before he effortlessly gathered her in his arms and walked them back to their bedroom.

Shikamaru laid her on the plush sheets and fetched a towel from the bathroom, taking it upon himself to wipe her dry. He had an endearing smile as he watched her on the bed, too tired to move a muscle. Soon, he wiped himself dry as well and joined her, pulling the sheets on top of them.

Temari let herself be pulled against his chest, her head automatically burrowing itself against his neck. He smelled like pine and sandalwood, something that she always noticed and something that grew on her until she found it endearing and comforting at the same time.

"How do you feel, Tema?" he asked as he began stroking her back gently.

"A million things all at once," she replied, not even caring if she made any sense at all.

"A million good things, I hope?"

"A million great things."

Shikamaru smiled at her reply. "Good. Rest for now. We can continue later."

"Shikamaru?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you," she said, managing to wrap an arm around him.

"I love you too, troublesome woman."