After effects.

[Warning: the follow story contains mild language, sexually explicit content, and mature subject matter. This story may not be appropriate for all readers. Rated T for a mature audience.]

Temari wanted to kick herself, but she simply didn't have the strength to. Last night was a blur, but the memories she did have weren't ones to be proud of. Her head, her body, her throat, even her eyes hurt. Ugh. She was glad that his house was out in the middle of no-where, because if anyone walked in her looking like this, she would never be able to recover her image. It would be tarnished for the rest of her life, and she'd most likely flee Suna in embarrassment. This was more than embarrassing, this was ridiculous. Her image, her brothers image, her spotless reputation- it was all at stake.

So why...

Why was it so hard to say no? To leave? To simply make her intentions clear with him? This relationship could end her in disaster, especially if it continued in the way it was going now. For crying out loud, even Naruto had his suspicions, and that kid wasn't necessarily the brightest bulb. Oh. More memories flooded to her mind, horrible, immoral memories of things she did. God. Had she really done all those things? And for what? She rolled over and looked at the man next to her, his long strands of dark hair hanging in front of his face as he snored away, butt ass naked in his bed. The covers were everything but clean and proper, much like how Temari was feeling now. Letting her head hit the headboard of the bed, she glared down at him. Damn him. She wasn't sure what was worse, the fact that this wasn't her first time waking up here, or the fact that it had happened again.

Every damn time.

He was like a seasonal cold or allergy that just would not stop. Temari rubbed her temples with her fingers, she wasn't hung over, but she wished she was. She was just sore from last nights, er, events. Looking around the room, she felt her face flush with embarrassment. He always kept his room so neat and tidy, but by the time they were done with it, someone would have guessed a natural disaster had struck it.

Clothes that were torn off madly, in the heat and passion of the moment, like a fat kid tearing off a candy wrapper, were strung across the room- in places that seemed near impossible. Well how the hell did my underwear get on his celling fan, are you kidding me?

Temari shuddered as more reminders of last night flooded back to her. Oh, right. That's how.

The worst part of this whole ordeal was the morning after. Then she would have to see his smug face, listen to his words in that all-knowing smart-ass tone of his. 'Did you sleep well? Because I sure did.' Oh shut up. She could hear him now. That stupid smirk of his.

It didn't matter how hard she tried to avoid it, somehow, someway, he was able to make her come home with him. Looking back on it now, it seemed so obvious, all those lame excuses he made.

"Oh, would you look at that? I forgot those papers at home. You might as well come along, no point in you standing out in the middle of village alone. "

"You should really keep better track of the time zones, Temari. Our day time is shorter here, all the cafe's are closed. Why don't you come stop by my place, I have plenty of coffee and tea. I don't mind sharing, if you'll be nice."

"Well excuse me if I can't keep the Sand Princess entertained enough. If you're that bored, then come play shogi with me. Unless you're scared to lose, which is perfectly fine. I didn't really expect someone as 'high up there' as you to even play shogi anyway."

God damn him. He knew just the right things to say in just the right way to lure her in. Temari sighed. He might as well just come out and say "Hey, come back to my place so we can make tea and not drink it, or start a shogi game and not finish it, because we'll end up kissing and I'll ravish you all night until the break of dawn, or until we break the bed."

Temari looked behind her, as if she needed the confirmation from the wall behind the headboard, or at least, what was left of it. Turning back around, Temari shuddered. The things she let him do to her. Temari didn't need a mirror to show her what kind of state she was in. She knew. There was hickeys on her neck, a deep love bite on her shoulder, bruises on her upper thighs and a hand-mark on her ass. Running her fingers through her hair, Temari winced. Her skull was sore from the way he had pulled her hair, tightly, yet somehow lovingly, as he took her places she never thought she would go.

Their nights together were of violent passion, love making that shook the house to it's core. It was like a de-stresser, it's how they unwinded, and it was how they spent time together. There wasn't an inch of her body that was left untouched by him- he made sure of that. Temari couldn't help but wonder what she meant to him, if anything at all. A casual fuck buddy? Some type of trophy-fuck? He might be fucking other woman- oh hell. For all she knew he could be in a relationship with another woman. Was she a home-wrecker? The other woman? If that ever got out, God knows, there'd be no end to the torment.

Everytime she did this. Every single time... She was putting so much on the line, but still, despite her best efforts- no matter how hard she tried to stay away, she always eneded up here. In his bed. Surrounded by his smell, part forest, part man. Surrounded by his warmth, that seemed to reach every corner of the room. Surrounded by the love he seemed to have for her. Love?

Did he... love her?

"Good mornin'."

Temari looked down to him as he looked up at her. His head barely on the pillow, his right leg hanging off the bed. He sat up slowly and cracked his neck, narrowing his eyes, clearly sore from falling asleep in such a weird position.

Temari didn't realize it, but she was scowling.

"What's wrong?" The look on his face immediately changed, from sleepy and happy to alarmed and confused, and hurt?

Why is he looking at me like that...

He sat up and slumped a little, looking away. The silence was painful.

Realizing the look on her face, Temari quickly stopped herself, and raised a hand to the side of her face.

Why do I do that...

He rubbed his left shoulder with his opposite hand, still avoiding her. Temari pulled her knee's up to her chest.

"Why do we do this..."

The words were like ghosts, slipping from her mouth without warning. The question lingered for a moment, until he turned to face her. He opened his mouth, about to reply, but no, Temari wouldn't let him.

"Do you even love me?"

The question blind sided them both. Temari just sat there, completely venerable. Naked, afraid, and struck dumb by her own stupid tongue. She didn't mean to ask that. She never wanted to ask that. But she had. And now it was out there, it was something she could never take back.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she turned her back to him, and promised herself that this would be the last time she ever came back here.

Why do I put myself through this...

Temari could feel tears rising, but she pushed them down and refused to let them out. She wouldn't show anymore weakness in front of him. She would leave and she would never come back.

It hurts... this silence... It's like I can't breath this air...

The room was filled with thick tension, like a massive storm after a decade of drought. Temari could feel it, the storm that was about to hit. She would get up to leave, he would say something petty, and then she would cry, and quickly try to dress herself. He would yell, she would hurl accusations, and they'd both say things neither of them meant. In the end, she would leave, and they would never see each other again, only on rare occasions- like when they're walking different directions down a path in the middle of a rain storm, and just for a brief moment, they look one another in the eyes. And for a split second, they'll remember all the memories they made together, they'll remember what almost was, and just like that, as quickly as it came, it would go, and they'd both keep walking.

"Of all the stupid questions."

Temari tensioned. Was this it? The petty one-liner that would start the storm? Was she prepared to hear it? Would she be able to face it? These next words, would they be hurtful? Would they leave her scarred? Temari knew for certain, at the very least, the words would ring in her head every time she thought of him, every time she tried to move on, every time she almost felt whole again, they'd be there. In the back of her mind. Lingering over her, like the thought of what they could have been.

"Of course I love you."

That was all it took. Those five words was all it took. No longer was she standing in a dead field, cursed with a decade long drought. No, now it was a lush field of long green grass, flowers of every shape and color, and she wasn't standing there alone, and the sky wasn't dark- no, it was bright blue and clear. There was no petty one-liner, no tears, no screaming matches. There were no hurtful words, no running away, no walking in opposite directions. Temari turned back to him, and now she wasn't scowling, she was shocked.

"I know I don't portray my feelings very well- but," The look on his face. He was desperate. He knew if he didn't say it now, he would loose her forever. He was struggling hard to keep her right where she was. "I do love you, I had hoped- well, I had thought that I had made it obvious to you."

Temari felt her stomach flip. She wanted to run, but she didn't know where to run to. Run to him? Run away? How could she run away? Her feet were glued to the floor.

Turning away from, Temari took a deep breath and smiled.

Smiled. Now she was smiling. Damn him- he always did know how to make her smile.

"Temari, please." His voice was shaking as he begged, and sad, he sounded oh so painfully sad. "Please don't leave. The only one I want to be with in this world is you."

Tears. Now she was crying. Damn him- he always did know how to make her cry.

"I love you too." Temari said, surprised at how effortless it was.

They laid back down and curled up in the sheets, she laid her head on his chest, and he kissed her worries away. They melted into a world of their own, where nothing bad could happen, nobody could find them. He stroked her hair and they slept the day away. They promised to be faithful, and in a half dazed, half dreamy voice, he promised her he would make her his wife one day. She believed him.

The only worries that she had now, was how in the fresh hell she was suppose to get her underwear off of Shikamaru's celling fan.

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Authors notes;

Second fan-fiction uploaded today. I mean, I posted one at 1am and now this one will be posted later today, probably when I wake up at like noon seeing as it's 4am right meow. Good god I need sleep, but I wanted to write this first.

I love this fan-fiction and it's concept. When you're not sure if it's love and you're too afraid to ask, if can feel like a massive storm hanging over head.

Swiggity swag, left Shikamaru's name out of the fan-fiction until the very end.

But come on, who else could it possibly be. Those two were made for each other. *le heart*

And as always, thanks SO much for reading! If you liked it be sure to leave me a review, feedback is always appreciated! :]

See you all in the next story, chow for now my lovely people.

-Pink Peaches.

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Ignore this part

or don't. I'm not your celling fan.

Words: 1967

File: 1/1

Status: Complete.

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I don't own Naruto, but if i did, Temari and Shikamaru would have soooo many episodes dedicated to just those two doing cute things together.

All rights to the owners and creators.