Chrysantthanks so much for reading my stories!
And Jayjoan thanks so much for the compliment!
Well there's not much to say except I do not own Naruto.
Here's chapter two. Next chapter will be Temari's pov. I'll be shifting pov's but unlike my first story the whole chapter will be in just one pov and not going back and forth.
Striking each chord with immense speed the man playing a solo with his violin is surrounding the ballroom with an aura with the emotions he is trying hard to portray with his music. He is successful considering he has his audience in awe. The rest of his group members taking a break behind him as they take swigs of water to hydrate them back to life; political gatherings always stretch long through the night.
Shikamaru's eyes flutter, resisting the urge to fall asleep, that music is no help at all. He mentally admits to himself that if he could he'd listen to this type of music all night, laid on his bed, gladly falling asleep to the pure sound.
All of his friends, mainly the guys, could never quite understand why Shikamaru hated going out to parties. He hated the ruckus, the drunken fools and the smell of tobacco. Despite being brought up by a drinker and a smoker it never caught his attention. After several attempts giving into peer pressure (more so they'd shut up) he gave up, too troublesome. He was never bothered for it again and he was grateful that his friends had gotten the hint.
Even then though this elegant scene was not his style. He felt out of place, which was a good thing that he was actually working and not having to mingle with the others.
The Fire Lord apparently thought that his twelve guardians were not enough to keep him and his family safe. So for backup he hired a four man cell. Normally, Shikamaru being the Hokage's adviser didn't take light missions like this one but the Fire Lord had specifically asked for him. The price he was willing to pay was so grand no one could refuse. He was even sure he'd seen money signs pop out of Naruto's eyes. Hinata was left in his place for the time being, she could always calm him down when needed.
So besides himself scattered around the room were, Choji, Ino, and Sakura. Two medic nins, surely the Fire Lord liked to overreact. Not to mention the annoyance of having to deny a position as one of the Fire Lord's guards for the hundredth time, he'd been at it for years, that man never gave up, he was sure that was his true intention in all of this. Had it not been for the promise he made to Asuma he'd taken the job just to get away from everything, but he also had his mother to think about. He'd never put her through such loss, not again.
"What are you doing Ino?"
The platinum blonde haired woman scoffs at his question and places her hands on her hips. "I need to use the restroom Shikamaru you can't expect me to hold it all night!"
"Make it quick." He tells her coolly.
He doesn't mean to sound harsh, but duty calls, work and friendships should be kept separated.
"Hmph. I'll take as long as I want!"
Her remark makes his lips tug lightly because he already knew what she'd say.
"Just go Ino." He says in a lighter tone.
"Alright. Oh and just to warn you, clean your drool, it's gross."
"I don't know what you're talking about." He says nonchalantly.
"Whatever let's you sleep at night." She sings out before leaving.
Shikamaru places his hands behind his back assuming his guard position. His gaze wanders off and targets the cause for Ino's teasing. The woman is accompanied by one of her brothers as they share a drink. Kankuro raises the bottle of beer in appreciation and chugs the liquid as if it were water. Temari smirks at her idiot brother while she moves the straw in circles. Gaara's siblings are fond of alcohol; he's known them long enough to know. Yet, they never lost their poise no matter how much they consumed.
"It's a gift." Kankuro would always say.
The Kazekage makes way towards his sister, extending his hand for a dance. Beaming that rare smile she grabs at his hand and they make way towards the middle of the dance floor. Immediately his line of vision falls towards her. It wasn't everyday that you saw the wrathful woman act with so much grace.
Temari's dress sways as she moves back and forth to the slow beat. The right side of her navy blue dress is slit such a long way up that that you can see as her lightly tanned leg flexes as her heels touches the floor.
A flashback of his girlfriend hits his mind. Fuyumi was barely five feet tall. Her skin was so white sometimes he wondered if she got enough sun. Her body so frail looking he was scared he might break her at times during their sex acts. Her body held no muscle.
He looks away making sure everything is in order. A voice echoes through his head, "We're just friends." Shikamaru couldn't keep count anymore of how many times he'd have to correct people over his relationship with Temari.
"Having fun are we?"
That voice.
"Tch. Hardly."
Temari grins at him.
"You might wanna slow down woman."
"Ha! As if this is enough to get me drunk."
"True." Shikamaru smiles playfully at her.
Temari downs the rest of her drink, a new one for he notices this one's a nasty brown color. A small drip escapes the side of her lip; it travels toward her collarbone and to the top of her breast. Her dress doesn't look like it fits her too tight but she's so well endowed that they peak out of her dress perfectly.
Another image of Fuyumi crosses his mind.
"When do you leave?" she interrupts his train of thought.
"The day after tomorrow. The Fire Lord wants a full day to recuperate. Not everyone can take a drink like you." He says teasingly.
She snorts. "What a lightweight."
He rolls his eyes but gives a small laugh.
"Want to grab lunch tomorrow? My treat."
He looks at her teal eyes then at the small sincere smile she gives him.
"Guess I can't say no to free food."
Temari laughs richly and places a hand on his shoulder before she leaves. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
He nods at her in agreement. The warmth of her hand still feels imprinted on his flak jacket regardless of the thick fabric.
He sees the troublesome woman take a seat on her table and decides to scan the area again. Choji's eyes look pained with hunger as the waiters walk around with trays of food. Shikamaru feels bad for his poor friend but can't help but chuckle at his expression.
He looks out at the large window draped with velvet curtains. The split in the middle lets him see out at the night sky. The stars sparkle making the scenery of the evening absolutely breathtaking. He forces himself out of his own reverie to concentrate on the task at hand.
His pupils fall instantly at the man approaching Temari's table. He recognizes the man. He was one of the three that he was supposed to be guarding. He was the nephew of the Fire Lord, the man next in line for the position.
He sees him finally reach her, a smile plastered on his face as he speaks. Temari finally looks up but he cannot see her expression since her back is to him.
Shikamaru locks his jaw and turns around to take sight of something else, anything else.