Learn How To Love

Disclaimer-I do not own naruto.

Chapter 2: Lesson One

The 'den' was (as expected) also enormous. It was painted red with dark brown floorboards and rusty coloured, old looking sofas. There was a black coffee table in the middle with an orange and red rug beneath it. A flat screen television was fixed to the wall above the black fireplace and a large mahogany desk sat in the corner with two matching chairs.

She stared at an oil painting that hung on the wall for who knows how long before she spied a beautiful glass vase on the desk. She traced the intricate designs with her fingers. Hand made. No mistake.

Just then, in strode Shikaku shouting "Shikamaru!"

Temari spun around in shock and soon the glass vase was silently tumbling towards the ground.

All that was heard was a loud smash sound and a "Damnit."

Temari was speechless. What could she say? Sorry? That probably wasn't enough. She blinked hard, hoping that when she opened her eyes, the vase would be okay. But it wasn't. It just lay there in a million pieces, while Shikaku just stood there, his face unreadable.

"And you are?" he asked with a yawn.

"I-I'm Temari, s-sir."

"Shikaku. Pleased to meet you Temari." he stepped forward and shook her hand before continuing with "Now, where is that boy…"

As if on cue, Shikamaru crept into the room behind his father. "What do you want, dad?"

"Well, I was gonna make you go out and grab some stuff from the store…but Temari has found a better job for you here."

"Bu-"

"Goodbye Shikamaru. Temari." he nodded towards her and was gone.

Shikamaru left and returned with a dustpan and brush, and with a glare and an awful lot of muttering, Shikamaru swept up the many pieces that were scattered across the floor.


"You know, you're gonna have to pay for that." he said matter-of-factly when he had finished.

Temari's eyes grew about two sizes too big. Her mouth dropped open and hung like that for around two minutes. Meanwhile, Shikamaru just stared at her expectantly.

"I-I…errr….we-well…I-I erm…"

Speechless, Temari just sat there. What did this mean. Was he joking?

He had to be. He knew that she could never afford to pay for something like that.

He collapsed down next to her on the sofa and stared at her expectantly.

What a great day this was turning out to be. "I can't pay for it, you idiot." she stated. "And if your dad hadn't startled me like that the vase would still be intact…so don't blame me!"

"You break it. You bought it. And since you did break it you will buy it…or pay for it…whatever."

She began to panic. He was really serious?

He continued to stare. "It isn't going to pay for itself you know."

Damnit. Her brothers were going to kill her.

"How much?" she asked, closing her eyes, trying to guess how many zeros were going to be on this number.

"Baka." he replied suddenly. "You need to lighten up. Forget about it. I didn't think you'd take me so seriously. Just be glad it wasn't the painting that hit the deck."

He picked a book off the shelf and handed it to her. She glanced at the cover and then stared back at him.

Her face read 'You're kidding me, right?'

She continued to stare at him. And then averted her eyes back to the book. She eyed it cautiously.

"Yes, Temari. It's a book! You read it!"

"I know it's a book!" she growled, "It just looks so old! That's all."

"Temari…" his eye twitched in irritation. 'Troublesome.'

"Isn't there any history that isn't so damn old!?"

"All history is old! That's why it's called history!" Why did he even bother trying to teach her. He should have just ran for the hills as soon as he was told he had to be her tutor. "Do you have to be so troublesome?"

"Yes."


When Shikamaru had finally convinced her to read the book rather than stare at the cover all day, he found that she was quite smart when she wanted to be.

Very smart.

She was also scary. Very scary.

And she was charming…in a troublesome way. She grew on him. He began to even enjoy the weekly lesson. She was someone his own age that he could spend time with-even if most of this time was spent bickering.

It wasn't long before Yoshino, Shikamaru's mom, invited Temari to stay for dinner. But, as expected, the only word that was running through Shikamaru's mind was: 'troublesome'.

"Stupid, match-making, bossy, annoying, aggravating, troublesome mother." he grumbled under his breath.

"Match-making?" Temari asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"Just sit down, troublesome woman."


"So Temari…tell us about yourself." Shikaku asked in an attempt at small talk.

"Well, I have two younger brothers called Gaara and Kankurou. We live in an apartment on the other side of town." She waited for their reaction. The other side of town was the 'rough' area. People from around here didn't usually mix with those from over there. They might not agree with their pedigree son spending time with a common sewer rat.

But all the two adults did was briefly glance at her before continuing to eat their dinner. 'Heh. They're not as snobby as I thought they would be…'

She chose not to mention her parents. They would have gotten the idea anyway that her parents weren't…around.

In the end, dinner finished on a high note. The parents seemed to have taken a shine to her…but Shikamaru just seemed relieved that something hadn't gone wrong.

"You should stay for dinner again sometime Temari!" Yoshino called as she left the house.

Temari smiled as she continued to walk down the driveway. She would like to stay for dinner again.

"Wait!" she heard someone call. "It's late. I'll drive you home if you like." it was Shikamaru. Offering to drive her home. How strange.


"Bye then." she said quickly as she stepped out of the car.

"I can walk you in, you know." he was eyeing the apartment block wearily. Obviously not impressed.

"I don't need you to take care of me." she snapped.

"I dunno. I don't like this place. Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Yes. I'll be fine. Now go!"

"You sure? I'll come if you want." he was already stepping out of the car. "I just don't like the idea of leaving someone alone here. Even if they are as scary as you. I really don't mind coming." he walked around the car to her side, his eyes still boring holes into the building. "C'mon lets go."

"NO!" she stated firmly. "I don't need you to look after me so go home!"

He almost looked hurt. But he left nonetheless.

"Suit yourself." he grumbled and was gone, leaving her alone with the exhaust fumes, the towering apartment block and her brothers.

Oh God. Her brothers.

I think I'll just keep the title the same...changing it would be too...troublesome.

R&R!