Yey for Seme!Temari. X3 Yup, Tema/Shika again. Short.

Useful Rain

by

Red


She had him cornered and he knew it.

Physically, she was standing between him and the door, but he was trapped in another way as well.

"Take me out to dinner."

He raised his eyebrows and smirked. "Aren't I supposed to ask you, woman?"

She bristled and crossed her arms over her chest. "Don't be so sexist; that's old fashioned. Women these days go after what they want."

His eyelids lowered, but she knew he was still watching her. "So you're going after what you want, eh?"

Confidence returning, she placed her hands on her hips and smirked right back.

"Tonight?" he questioned, meeting her eyes. She shrugged and looked away.

"Whatever. I don't know any good places here."

"Fine."

So, that was how they ended up walking side-by side down the brightly lit streets, the usual banter and casual conversation making passers-by smile.

When they arrived at a fancy restaurant, Temari raised her eyebrows. "Can you even afford this?"

"Probably. Just don't go crazy."

"Whatever you say, genius-boy."

When the meal was finished and they were sipping warm drinks, Temari coffee and Shikamaru tea, the bill came. Shikamaru grimaced at it, but dug into his pocket anyways while Temari looked discreetly into her cup. There was no purpose in her feeling guilty for roping him into this. He wanted to, didn't he?

"Alright, are you done?"

"Yeah."

Outside it was raining.

"Where are you staying?"

"Ryuugi's Inn downtown," Temari responded, eyeing the purple-grey sky above her from under the door's overhang.

"I'll walk you."

"I don't need your protection." She turned and headed down the side of the building, moving from under one overhang to another.

"I know," Shikamaru answered from beside her, out in the rain.

The rest of their walk was in silence except for the continual white noise of the rain hitting the packed ground.

At the entrance of the modest inn they stopped, Shikamaru stepping into the doorway, dripping, searching for appropriate words.

She was the one who stepped forward again, always reminding him of who was the older, smarter, more experienced one was.

And she kissed him, resting one hand on flat on his chest as if to push him away, but it was quick and fleeting, leaving him a little flustered, but not enough to do more than open his eyes a little wider.

"Thanks for dinner." She grinned, taking pride in her ability to scratch that bored exterior.

"Yeah, no problem."

An uneasy silence.

"How long will you be in the valley?"

"Just tomorrow. Why, you have something in mind?"

"Can I pick you up tomorrow morning?" The cool attitude was back up, even though Shikamaru was still whirling inside from that kiss. His father was right; woman did know how to make you crazy.

"Ten."

"Alright."

Temari had no idea what he was planning, and neither did he, but the meeting was set and she waved over her shoulder at him as she headed into the warm light of the inn.

Shikamaru sighed to himself and headed off into the rain again. It was troublesome to have to walk all the way back home, but there weren't any other options. At least it would give him a chance to think.

Comment? Critique? Fangirlish luvvin?