"Tenten…" Shigemaru repeated to himself, shaking the empty glass of wine in his hand. He was in the limo on the way back home. He had ridden with Shikamaru and Shikamaru's pals on the way there. But now they had all gone home each with a girl or another friend, and Shigemaru was alone. Of course. He didn't really mind as much as he had lately, though. The usual pangs of loneliness were now filled with swirls and flashes of the face of that lovely girl he had met at the wedding. She had left so early, and suddenly the party was so boring that if it hadn't been his cousin's, he would have left right after.
I didn't even get her number…
Shikamaru didn't know what had possessed him to visit his uncle's grave the next day. He had woken up unusually early in his aunt Yoshino's guest room bed. He had his own condo but he always insisted on sleeping here instead. Yoshino was still sleeping, as it was barely six in the morning so Shigemaru made his way to the kitchen and opened the fridge but didn't find anything appetizing enough so he decided to skip breakfast and walk out of the door. He was in his sweat pants and a white t-shirt, not his usual style, but he figured no one would be around to catch him slipping up (fashion wise).
The air was chilly, howling over Shigemaru's skin and giving him goosebumps. I hate the cold. Shigemaru pouted to himself. His old village had been a much hotter climate year-round, but Konoha was definitely warmer in the sense that he actually had people to see and a mother figure to talk to and eat with everyday unlike his old life which consisted of absent parents always on trips or business and distant housekeepers. Right now, however, he was being hit by the familiar emptiness as the streets he passed by were all bare. I guess Konoha isn't exactly bustling with early birds…
He had been walking for a while before looking to his left and seeing a great mountain. He recognized it. It was home to the burial grounds of Konoha. He had been there before with his clan only once for Shikaku's funeral. His stomach clenched as he recalled how sick he had felt that day. Still, he felt worse for never going to visit his late uncle.
"Hey, uncle." Shigemaru gulped as he found the grave marked 'Nara Shikaku. Honorable Soldier, Father, and Husband.' He bent down and breathed slowly, closing his eyes, as if he were feeling a response, "I know I never come here. Sorry. I'm still that same asshole I was when you knew me…when I was eight…" Shigemaru laughed to himself, remembering how he had always been the mean one, playing pranks and picking on Shikamaru from a very young age, "But something's different…" Shigemaru scratched nervously on the back of his neck, "You know…I met this girl…at the wedding yesterday…" He looked down at the earth, "And I was just wondering…" He plucked some grass growing on the dirt, "When did you know you were in love with auntie? Did you know from the moment you saw her?"
"Shikamaru?" A female voice startled Shigemaru, breaking him from his trance. He stood up and spun around to face the mysterious girl from yesterday.
"Tenten?" Her name slipped out of his tongue strangely. It was foreign and fresh to him. It made him nervous.
"Oh, Shigemaru…" She looked down at his clothes, "I'm sorry you looked like Shikamaru from the back." She chuckled. Shigemaru blushed, noticing his attire.
"I never dress like this." He blurted defensively. Tenten burst into laughter.
"I can tell!" She wiggled her brown eyebrows, drawing Shigemaru back.
"What do you mean?" He asked curiously.
"I've heard a lot about you." She winked, making Shigemaru's eyes widen. What the hell have these bastards been saying? Bastards!
She was holding a bouquet of flowers and she grabbed a single pink one and bent down and placed it in front of Shigemaru's grave. She smiled at the tombstone then looked up and smiled at Shigemaru, too, the wind blowing through her bangs.
"He was a good man." She said softly. Shigemaru's heart tugged a little and he nodded, looking away. "Did you know him well?" Tenten asked further.
"I-I don't know…" Shigemaru admitted, and then tried to regain his composure, "I mean he was my uncle and all but I didn't really…" He trailed off, cursing himself for lacking his usual smoothness.
"I get it." Tenten assured, getting up and placing a hand subtly on his arm, causing goosebumps again. She looked down at her flowers and took a step back, "Well…I'm here to see a friend…" She bowed slightly and started to walk past him, "It was nice seeing you again."
"You too…" He swallowed. I guess now is a horrible time to ask for your number? Shigemaru thought to himself. He looked up and watched as Tenten's figure slowly disappeared into the distance, further up the mountain. "Tenten…" He whispered to himself, looking down at the pink flower she had left behind.
He had ended up staying there until the sun finally started to get up. He got to his feet and stretched, looking up at the brightening sky.
"Well, uncle," Shigemaru sighed at the grave, "I better get home before another cute girl catches me dressed like this." Not expecting an audience, he was startled by giggling that he heard in front of him. He saw Tenten again. He blinked, wondering if it was some sort of mirage.
"Good luck, everyone's up by now." Tenten smirked, strolling past him. She wasn't carrying the bouquet anymore. Shigemaru couldn't help grinning, and clicked his tongue, slightly embarrassed. He looked down at her body and was disappointed by her loose fitting pants. Still, he followed her out of the graveyard.
"Where are you going now?" Shigemaru asked, reaching over and twirling a loose strand of hair near Tenten's neck. She snapped around and raised her eyebrows at him, as if scolding him for touching her.
"Oh, you know, going to slip into my Gucci dress and my prada shoes before anyone catches me looking like a bum." She mocked, sticking her tongue out and turning back around to keep walking. Shigemaru nodded to himself.
"I like them feisty." Shigemaru sauced, regaining some confidence.
"I hope you also liked them dressed like a boy. Because what you saw yesterday was a blue moon kinda thing," She called without looking back. Shigemaru thought about it. He hated girls who dressed the way she was now and he had held on to the fantasy that she was normally as dressy as she was when he had first met her. But somehow, she was still striking to him.
"You're still beautiful." He finally responded, making her stop in her tracks suddenly. She turned around slowly, which was nerve wracking to Shigemaru, although he didn't reveal it in his face.
"Well aren't you smooth?" Tenten cocked her head, trying to fight back a smile. She was flattered, but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing it. After all, she had quickly pegged him for being a total player.
"No, I mean it." Shigemaru shot back but Tenten wasn't looking at him anymore. She was looking at the sides of the streets, preparing to cross. "You're really pretty." But his voice was muffled by the sound of a whizzing car flying by.
"I have to go okay?" Tenten waved, running to the other side when she got the chance, "I'll see you around, Shigemaru!"
Shigemaru held his hand out and pulled it back slowly when it had failed to stop her. Damn. I STILL don't have her number!
