Problems can be fixed but

unrequitedlove is a tragedy.


"That's all for now, I suggest that you take a rest since Suna is 3 days away from here. We'll discuss your actual mission here tomorrow"

Temari and I are facing the sixth hokage of Konoha, Hatake Kakashi. I wasn't that surprised when he was named hokage since he was one of those who shaped the next generation of legendary sannin that stopped the war and saved the world, even though he sneaks reading his favourite Icha Icha series while doing paper work.

We both nodded at his comment and head out of his office. So what now? I don't want to go home yet. Ugh troublesome. I glanced at Temari, maybe I could ask her to go grab some tea with me or something just to let time pass. But what if she decline my offer having been so tired from her journey. Wait, why am I thinking so hard about this where I can just ask her to find out her answer. Something's not right with me..

"Hey Temari, I'm going to that tea shop that we often go to. You wanna come?" There much better than contemplating questions in your head that will be answered right away. It's not like I'm asking her out for a date…

Where did that thought come from? Something is definitely wrong with me.

I know I have this unknown feeling for Temari that's been lingering in my chest for a while now. Okay scratch that, I started feeling this way when she came to save me from that sound nin Tayuya. She's scary I know but when she flashed me that huge smile on her face when she finished what I started, my heart started frantically beating out of my chest. At first I thought it was just the adrenaline making my heart go crazy but it kept happening whenever this troublesome woman smiles at me. I also stated earlier under my breath my relief that she's not letting Kiba hit on her if she does, it's damn too troublesome to have a competition not that I'm not up for the challenge but because it's too troublesome and she might not like me at all in the first place.

"Yeah I have some time to stop by a tea shop." She stated without glancing at me. That's it? No snide comments? Sarcastic remarks? Annoying nicknames? "You okay troublesome woman?" I asked. This time she looked at me as she answered and gave me a reassuring smile. "Yes crybaby, why wouldn't I? I'm just tired that's all."

There it goes again, my heart started pounding hard and fast because of her smile. God she's so pretty and this is so troublesome. Breathe, Shikamaru don't let her notice you're affected with her beautiful smile.

"You don't have to go with me at the tea shop if you're tired you know. I'll drop you off to where you're supposed to stay." That came out alright. Although I want to spend a little more time with her today, but I think it's okay since she'll be here a little longer than usual.

"I have to 'cause I wanted to. Besides there's still plenty time for me to rest we won't be seeing the hokage tomorrow till noon." We're out of the hokage compound and now heading to the said tea shop.

"Well if you have enough time to rest, care to play shogi with me? Let's just go at my place and mom's probably cooking dinner by now she won't mind if you join us for dinner." Wait, what did I just say?! Did I invite her at my house and to eat dinner with us?! Ugh, I'll be dealing with two troublesome woman now. That. Came out unexpectedly. This is the first time she'll be at my place and the first time she'll meet my mom. God what did I just put myself into.

"Heh, didn't know you're a cheapskate." I bet cheapskate is added to the nicknames she has for me. Sweet. "It's because I'm not, been a while since I played shogi with a challenge." Temari is the only one who asides from Asuma and my father I enjoyed playing shogi with.

"Well alright, if that's what you say. Lead the way cheapskate." There you go, sigh.


"Mom I'm home!"

"Shikamaru?! Good! You're home early, dinner will be ready in a few min—" She came out of the kitchen with a spatula in her hand and her apron wrapped around her waist. Her sentence was cut off when she saw me with Temari just by the door.

"Good evening Mrs. Nara, I'm Temari of the Sand." She greeted my mom with that lovely smile that makes my heart go crazy. Keep it together Shikamaru, you can do this, It's not like you're introducing her as your girlfriend…

My mom returned the smile Temari gave her "Hello there Temari I'm Yoshino Nara, come in make yourself at home." She turned to me and hit me with the spatula she's holding in the shoulder. "And you mister, why didn't you tell me earlier that we'll be having a beautiful visitor? I should've prepared Temari's favourite food for dinner."

"Mom, that hurts and this is unplanned so I didn't have time to tell you." I answered while touching the spot on my shoulder she hit.

"It's alright Mrs. Nara sorry for the surprise visit." Once again she smiled. She really need to smile a lot even though it makes my heart do troublesome stuff.

"Oh, don't be. It's about time Shikamaru introduce his girlfriend to me." With that reply, I blushed. When I say blush, I mean blush really hard! "Mom! What are you saying! I just invited her over dinner to play shogi." This is so troublesome.. I glanced at Temari to see if she's also uncomfortable with my mom's comment and to my surprise she's also blushing?

Temari of the Sand is capable of blushing? And I saw her blush, she's not just pretty.. She's gorgeous, I think I need to make her blush more often.

"Stop with the denial now Shikamaru, Ino told me about her and how you've been talking about her with Chouji." I really need to stop her from saying any more, she knows too much information even though I'm not telling her anything about Temari! Ino and Chouji are in trouble.

"Mom I think you're about to burn the house.."

"Oh right! I'll call you two later when the food's done." And with that she's gone. Does she really have to say that in front of Temari? Geez. I looked at Temari, she's still blushing and I think my mom just scarred our friendship.

"Hey Temari, are you okay? Sorry about that, my mom's mind have been corrupted by Ino with all the troublesome gossips and such about us." I said as I lead her to the living room and motioned her to seat at the couch. Finally she looked at me and I can still see the hint of pink present in her cheeks, I just hope she didn't notice mine.

"It's alright I'm kinda used about all the gossips about us." Maybe she's just surprise that my mother know and would say such thing but she believed my excuse, thank God.


Dinner went fine, I guess? I manage to stop my mother from making any other comment about me and Temari.

Temari on the other hand was now comfortable with talking with my mom after what happened in the living room. They get along just fine and they talk about me just like I'm not in the room. Troublesome women..

I'm now leading Temari to my room where we'll play shogi. "Your mother is not that bad like what you intend her to be."

"Yeah? I think troublesome women stick with each other. Takes one to know one." I like having these conversation with Temari. It's a good thing she really didn't take what my mom said seriously about us, if she did I think we wouldn't be able to be alone here in my room. She'd probably excuse herself and go to her hotel room and think about what happened then contemplate on how to shut Ino's mouth from spreading more rumors about us.

"So you're saying I'm not as bad like what other people think?" She said as she took her seat across from me.

"No, I'm saying you're like my mom. Both of you are troublesome." I started arranging the pieces on the board. "You two can be scary when you wanted to and keeps ordering me around."

"Well if it weren't for us you won't be motivated to do anything. Besides, I think the reason why you're stuck with us troublesome women 'cause of your laziness." She's right, they're one of the reason I'm striving so hard to become a great shinobi aside from protecting the King. In fact, I've been working hard for weeks now to be promoted to Jōnin just like what she said back then, take my duties seriously so I can be Jōnin like her. I don't want to be left behind by this troublesome woman. I want to be just right beside of her.

All the pieces are now set, the game has now started and she take the first move. We played silently. Halfway through the game she finally spoke.

"Shikamaru.." Temari said gently, eyes cast down to the shogi board. I didn't answer and just waited for her to continue what her sentence, but when she didn't I decided to ask while looking at her straight in the eyes.

When you played enough shogi with someone, you learn how to read them like a book. That's why I know something is wrong with the one I'm playing shogi with right now. "What's bothering you, troublesome woman?"

A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to update, been busy this past few days. I would like to thank those who left a review on the first chapter I appreciate all of your comments :) Much love to those who favorited and followed this story! Thankyou! Don't forget to share this story to our fellow Shika/Tema fans 3 Hope you like this chapter ^^.