Mendouksai: Shikamaru + Temari
Chapter 2: Temari
"Temari, I've decided to put you in charge of organizing the Chuunin Exams. They will be held here, in Sunagakure. You will have to travel from here to Konohagakure to get all the supplies necessary. Understand?" Gaara, the Kazekage, ordered.
"Yes Gaara," the blonde girl sighed, tightening her forehead protector so that it wouldn't continuously slip.
"Good," the red head replied. He stared into her eyes then averted his gaze outside the window.
"When are the exams?" Temari asked, watching her brother stare longingly out the window.
"They are in a few weeks, so you have some time. All you must do is get the paperwork for the Konohagakure students, set them up here, then gather equipment to place in the Evaluation Field," he replied, looking at her with cold eyes. He didn't intend the look to be that way and Temari knew that, but after years of seclusion, one would usually look at things with a cold eye.
"Okay, I'll get started right away," she nodded, adjusting the strap to her fan that was slung onto her back.
Temari turned and left, leaving her red headed brother to stare from the spot she stood, to back out the window. As she walked, she heard a voice echo through the halls. The voice got louder and closer as its owner made his way towards her.
"Hello there Temari-chan," Kankuro grinned, walking up to his sister.
Groaning in annoyance, she said a quick hello and tried to walk off again, only for him to follow closely behind.
"How are you today?" he smirked.
"Fine," she sighed. "May I ask why you're following me?"
"I just wanted to talk to my lovely sister, is that so bad?"
"Who's paying you to do what?" she snapped, narrowing her eyes.
Kankuro just smiled. "Kiba, Neji, and Naruto. They decided to give me five bucks to find out if you're into Shikamaru Nara," he said, rolling his tongue on the R in Nara.
Temari blushed lightly and looked up at her brother. "O-of course I don't! He's j-just a really close friend of mine," she said defensively.
Kankuro watched as she scurried away, looking down to attempt to conceal her blush, before he smirked. "She so likes him," he chuckled.
Temari exited the Kazekage building, thinking intensely to herself.
'Stupid Kankuro. I don't like Shikamaru; we are just really close friends! I will admit, he is really sweet…and smart…and funny…and cute...TEMARI QUIT IT! I don't like him!' she kept repeating it to herself. As hard as she tried, she couldn't deny that she did feel a deep connection with the black haired genius. He attracted her to him like a moth to light. He always made her laugh, even when she just wanted to cry.
Sighing, she entered the Evaluation Field and got to work taking inventory of what needed to be brought over and how many were needed.
"Okay, I just need about five targets, tree dummies, and a tarp. Better get to Konoha," she said, placing her hands on her hips, smirking. Temari quickly exited the field and began her walk through the sandy village of Sunagakure. People were out and about, walking in and out of stores, restaurants, and houses. Shops buzzed with business and laughter filled the streets. Today was a good day, which was a good sign.
The blonde girl arrived at the gates of the city, smiling as she left, beginning her journey to Konohagakure. She began to run through the desert, attempting to get to the fire village faster. Whilst she ran, her mind started to drift farther away from her, to the image of a certain boy who was always in her thoughts.
Temari couldn't help but smile at his lazy grin. She loved the way he acted so nonchalant towards everything, how he was so intelligent and never flaunted it, the way his eyes glazed over when he played Shogi. You could practically see all the strategies race through his mind. She knew she could deny it all she wanted to, but she liked the boy. She had fallen for her best friend. Temari figured it would happen eventually, but she wasn't expected to feel overwhelming disappointment that she knew he didn't like her like that.
He always says women are troublesome. They could be so bossy and obsessive over the silliest things. It broke her heart. She wanted to tell Shikamaru that she liked him and that she wished to be more than just simple friends, but she also didn't want to risk ruining her perfect friendship she had with the Nara genius. She was torn. Torn between her heart and her brain.
Her heart screamed to tell him. That the next time she sees him, to claim his lips with hers. They looked so soft, and she always wished to know if they were as soft and warm as they looked. Her aching heart begged for her to confess her love to him. But her brain said otherwise. Her brain screamed that if she did, her relationship with him would be ruined, along with any chance she had of being with him. She couldn't risk that. Her friendship with him was precious to her.
"What will I do?" she whispered to herself, frowning at the mixed emotions she felt in her stomach. Temari looked down as she bolted through the trees, sighing while she fought back tears of sadness.
"T-Temari?" an innocent voice asked, popping up next to the upset blonde. Temari looked up shocked, pulling out her fan.
"I-it's just-t m-me! H-H-Hinata!" the frightened Hyuuga stuttered, back against a tree trunk with the blonde's fan against her throat. The blonde looked at Hinata, then widened her eyes and stepped back.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Hinata! I didn't realize it was you!" she quickly apologized, blushing and positioning her fan back into the straps tied around her shoulders.
"I-it's alright T-Temari. Umm… W-why did y-you look so upset-t?" the Hyuuga asked, moving away from the trunk of the tree, following Temari as the two bounded off towards Konohagakure.
"Can I trust you?" the blonde asked, biting her lip.
"O-of course you c-can," she smiled softly in reassurance.
"I kinda…like someone," Temari blushed, looking down.
"Shikamaru-chan?"
The blonde's head snapped up, looking Hinata in the eyes. "H-how'd you know?" she asked, worried that if this girl knew, then so might Shikamaru…
"Well i-it' obvious. T-the way you look at h-him, a-and how you two act-t with each other," she responded, blushing slightly.
"D-does Shikamaru know?" Temari asked, terrified her crush would be exposed and she'd be humiliated.
"N-no, he doesn't k-know," the Hyuuga said, smiling at Temari's relieved face.
"Do you think he likes me?" she asked suddenly, making the Hyuuga's eyes widen slightly.
"W-well why don't you j-just ask him-m?"
"I don't want to be humiliated, or risk ruining my friendship with him," she whispered, frowning.
"W-well I think that i-if the friendship i-is as strong as you b-believe it is-s, then confessing-g your crush wouldn't-t ruin it…"
"Ya think so?" she asked, looking at Hinata with such trust in her eyes.
The white eyed girl smiled and nodded. Temari knew she was right, but she just needed to hear someone else say it.
"Thanks Hinata, really. I owe you," Temari said, hugging the small girl before letting go and bolting towards the village, leaving a blushing Hyuuga standing there in the trees.
"If only N-Naruto-kun and I-I had the relationship-p you have with S-Shikamaru-san," she whispered, putting a hand over her heart and sighing.
Temari arrived at the village a few moments after her conversation with Hinata. Smiling, she walked towards the Hokage's office, whilst searching all over for Shikamaru. Temari couldn't find her lazy friend anywhere, and she couldn't put off her meeting with Lady Tsunade any longer. Sighing, she gave up her search and entered the grand building.
She could hear Lady Tsunade's voice as she neared the office. The woman seemed to be talking with someone, but the Suna girl didn't know who. Temari knocked on the door, opening it when she heard a loud 'come in' being barked from the other side.
"Ahh, Temari! We were just talking about you! Temari, this is your new escort, I'm sure you two know each other quite well," the Hokage smirked, waving her hands back and forth between the two.
Temari looked up, only to blush slightly and smile when she saw none other than Shikamaru Nara, smiling at her.
