"OF WINDS AND FLOWERS"
Written by: riyuna16
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, so I'd rather just make a fic...
Summary: Nara Shikamaru is known in the series as the lazy yet the most intelligent shinobi of his batch. He formulates the most intricate, successful tactics and knows the answers to the most perplexed questions. Everyone can justify why he has an intelligence level of over 200! But what can his IQ do when he chooses the love between two ladies? Perhaps it's time to listen to the heart. InoShikaTema
A/N: Italics mean brain waves / thinking. The conflict starts here... aww... by the way, Gaara's here! YAY! Please bear with me if I'm going humor, to serious then romantic or whatever! I sure hope it won't affect the flow of the story...
Thank you to Animecrazy666, zagon and Adelle-chan for reviewing the first chapter. I appreciate all reviews, flames or praises. Just PLEASE, don't rub it in. It completely ruins my day... sniff Well, enough schmooze and let's get the ball rolling!
Here is Chapter Two. Enjoy... :D!
CHAPTER TWO: The Obliviously Roguish Temari
"Let me guess," said Shikamaru as he threw off his blankets and moved out of bed, pushing a thought away in his clever head. "You want something, do you?"
"Wow, you got me." Temari replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "The Hokage asked me to fetch you. I'm here as a favor to her.&quoe more, and more until she almost couldn't breath. Then the kunoichi coughed and cleared her throat. "Finally! All alone..." she smiled scornfully as her eyes wandered freely around the bum's comfortable room. "Spying time, Shikamaru!" she murmured but actually exclaimed as she slowly opened one of his bedside tables.
"Hmph," she puffed out, staring at a new-looking set of shuriken & kunai. "Must be a promotion gift." She went around the bed and opened a portable drawer in his studying table. On top of the table was a computer.
"What's this?" she asked to no one in particular as she raised a white envelope to her face. In the front-top was printed the words, "To: Nara Shikamaru-kun" and at the top-bottom were the words, "From: Shikato".
"Shikato-san?!" she demanded in disbelief. "Isn't he his dad?" She opened the already-opened letter and read it. It says:
Dear Shikamaru,
Son, you cannot imagine how PROUD I am as your father. My son, a jounin. Our clan is so proud of you when I spread them the good news that you graduated first AGAIN in your career as a nin! Even though you find so many things so troublesome and all, you still managed to graduate. I am so pleased of you, really. Tomorrow is the start of your first day as a jounin, son. Grow up to be a strong and skillful ninja, and be a good help for all of our dear Konohakagure no Sato. You have ALL my reassurance & encouragement. Especially my all-out support... Good luck, son.
Your father,
Shikato
PS. Thanks for letting me take a picture of us with you as a newly-advanced shinobi (although you didn't smile). And open your closet for a big surprise... :-)
The sand kunoichi raised a brow.
Big surprise, huh?
She looked around for a big thing which looks like a closet and when she did, she gently opened it and stared at the regalia in awe. It was none other than the jounin vest - all shining, shimmering, splendid.
She gazed at it for a while for she never saw it hanging on a coat hanger before. And neither did we! Because as always, it's already worn by the chuunins who do nothing but teach, who I can only think of is Iruka, and do bad stuff, like Mizuki, and jounins we see in the series who kick bad guys in the butt or do other nasty stuff who are composed of Kakashi, Gai and the others!
Well ANYWAY...
After a period of time, she closed the closet slowly. "He's really turning into a jounin..." Then she started feeling her heart beat faster. She blinked several times and stared oblivious on the ground. It was because, needless to say, she was growing anxious. But she pushed the thought away.
In the corner of her eye, she saw something on the wall. Her lush eyes locked into place as she turned around and faced it. In front of her was a beautiful family portrait. The entire clan of Nara, standing in formal wears paired off with blissful smiles plastered on their ecstatic faces. But what caught her utmost attention was the very familiar person situated at the front-center of the picture.
She smiled.
"I hope you really do become a strong and skillful ninja..." she mumbled as her glistening eyes played with the thought. Then she remembered something. Something that made her delicate face twist into frustration and annoyance. Something that made her verdant eyes lose their sparkle. She recalled it again.
Flashback . . .
It was eight in the morning when the sand kunoichi knocked on the wooden doors of the Kazekage office.
"Come in." said a low voice.
Temari opened the door and looked up at the highest official of the Hidden Sand Village, cross-chested with his back turned away from her.
"You called me, Kazekage-sama, sir?" she asked sweetly as she beamed and placed her fan parallel to her side. Maybe now you're demanding 'Sweetly?! What's she got to do with him?!' But before you grind me into a pulp, the answer is no. She isn't, because it so happened that someone has succeeded the Kage throne after the years.
"Hn, I was expecting you later. You're early." he uttered, still turned away from her. She broke into 0D
"I already elucidated," said the kage as the turned his back away. "I said long story. I'll explain everything once you've returned."
She stared at him then sighed. The sand kunoichi doesn't really understand his little brother very well. But one thing's for sure... she trusts himGaara always does what he says. And that's what matters to her. So she grinned at him.
"Fine." she uttered. "Just make sure you know what you're doing, Gaara-sama."
"Hn." he snapped.
"One thing though," she uttered, her forehead creased. "Why me?"
There was a short moment of silence. The Kazekage smirked. "Because you were there during their rescue mission," he answered, confronting her. "You saved him."
Temari became speechless for a moment. "Well yeah, he's right. I DID save him from that flute girl, Tayuya." then protested, "B-but that's just too shallow, you know?" she stated. "I don't even know his teammates."
"There's no other reason," spoke Gaara as he turned his back again. "And no other choice."
She bit her lower lip and left the ominous atmosphere of the Kazekage office. There was something in their conversation that was too disturbing, too bothersome. Sometimes, she feels she has a kage brother but doesn't know him. Like, he's there but he never truly was here.
End of flashback.
Temari slowly turned away from the portrait, and decided to look around more efficiently for important papers or anything of valuable information she might use. A minute has passed when suddenly, the bedroom door opened wide to reveal someone she least expected.
A/N: Reviews? I really want to know your feedbacks. Arigatou gozaimasu :D!
