A/N: Sorry if this is a bit late. I hope my last one was ok as well. Please review so I can make the story ULTIMATE!!!! n_n Also if you didn't read the last on the italics are the characters thoughts.

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO ETC.

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Shikamaru had just got back to his apartment with a very sleepy Temari. A VERY sleepy Temari. In fact she was so sleepy; she couldn't walk back to the apartment. So Shikamaru had to carry her. All the way to his apartment. Princess style.

He laid her down on the cream bed and put her fan next to the draws and her bag on the chair next to the desk in the guest room. He put the covers over her softly and checked to make sure there is nothing she would kill him for when she woke up in the morning.

Then he saw her. She was in a deep sleep. He could tell. Although he had seen her many times before, he had never seen her quite this way. She was beautiful. Her face was flawless and she had a perfect figure. She was physically perfect. He just stood there looking at her. He didn't know why. He didn't understand why. He didn't care why.

After about 15 minutes, Temari rolled over. Only then had Shikamaru realised what he was doing. And he cursed himself for doing it. He walked out of her room, shutting the door behind him, and sighed. He then went and got into bed. It seemed so empty. And he lay there. He couldn't sleep. He just kept thinking about the same thing. Temari.

He had never seen this side of her. Usually she was loud, violent, not to mention troublesome. But for some reason, today, he saw her in a very different way. It could have been because she was too tired to make his life a living hell. Or maybe she was just a bit more mature than the last time they saw each other. Either way, he liked it.

-*-

The next morning, Temari woke up to find that she had been in her clothes all night. She sat up in her bed and yawned, before getting up and walking into the living room. She couldn't see Shikamaru anywhere. She quickly peaked in Shikamaru's room and the bathroom and still there was non sign of Shikamaru. The she spotted a piece of paper on the coffee table. It was a note:

Temari,

I've been forced to help ino pick out a dress for her date tonight. I should be back by 6PM at the latest. Also, I made you some breakfast. I didn't know when you would wake up so I left it in the microwave. Just heat it for 2 minutes.

Shikamaru.

He made me breakfast? That's actually kinda nice of him. Maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad after all.

After having a shower and getting changed, Temari Microwaved the food Shikamaru left for her and sat at the dining room table. She wolfed it down. No one was watching and she hadn't eaten since she arrived in Konoha. She was surprised. The food actually tasted really good. And she meant REALLY good.

Who knew Shikamaru could cook. Or who knew people could get so hungry the enjoyed bad food this much. Either way it hits the spot.

Temari fifnished and leaned back in her chair. She looked out the window next to the dining table.

Hey, there's Sakura and Sasuke. And they're holding hands!! Oh my god!!! They're going out!!

"What are you looking at?" Shikamaru said. Apparently Temari was so shocked she hadn't heard shikamaru come in.

"Did you know that Sakura and Sasuke are dating?"

"Yeah. I've known ever since Ino started ranting on about how she deserved him more or something like that."

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"It never crossed my mind."

Shikamaru sat on the left hand side of the settee. Temari followed and sat on the opposite end.

"Ok. What else that has happened. Tell me everything."

"Ok. You already know about Hinata and Naruto and Sasuke and Sakura. There's also Neji and Tenten. But they don't like talking about it. Sakura went out with Rock Lee for about a week or two. But they broke up. Kakashi and Anko are 'rumoured' to be going out. Asuma and Kurenai got married and now Kurenai is pregnant. And Ino, after going out with every other man in Konoha, is now going out with Sai."

"Ok. A few questions. First, who's Sai?"

"New kid in town. He came here to study art at Konoha University"

"There's a Uni now?"

"Yeah. Anyway, next question"

"Oh yeah. Why did Sakura break up with Lee?"

"Apparently he was really strange. I heard he took Sakura jogging as a date."

"Oh dear. Anyways, why don't Neji and Tenten like 'Talking about it'?"

"They just like to keep things to themselves. The whole 'respect our privacy thing'."

"Fair enough. And what do you mean by Kakashi and Anko are 'rumoured' to be dating?"

Shikamaru sighed.

"People have seen them together and started talking. People starting adding stuff on and it just got out of hand."

"Ok. One last question. Is there actually anyone single in the whole of Konoha?!"

"A few people. But not many"

Shikamaru realised where the conversation was headed and immediately changed the subject.

"So, what's been happening in Suna?"

"Nothing really. You probably know about Gaara becoming Kazekage. Other than that, Kankuro has been eyeing up every bitch he lays eyes on and Gaara's to busy with work for a relationship."

There was an awkward silence. They both wanted to ask each other the same question but didn't dare. They knew it would make the situation more awkward. Then there was a knock on the door. Shikamaru immediately stood up to get it.

"Hey Shikamaru!"

It was Shiho.

"Hi Shiho. Didn't you get my message. I can't tutor you for the next couple of weeks."

"Oh, no. I didn't. Sorry" Shiho lied.

Temari took her plate into the kitchen area to wash it up.

"Who's that?" Shiho said, every drop of joy falling from her face.

"Oh. That's Temari. She's staying here whilst she's in Konoha. I'm her guide."

Temari came over to the door and offered to shake Shiho's hand.

"Hi. Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, nice." Shiho said sarcastically, ignoring Temari's offer.

"Yeah. This is Shiho. She goes to Konoha Uni. She's studying Chemistry and Physics." Shikamaru explained.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me." Shiho felt around in her bag. Temari moved behind the door so she could still hear what was going on but Shiho couldn't see her. Finally she pulled out a piece of navy paper and passed it to Shikamaru. "There's an end of year dance at Konoha Uni. I thought that maybe you'd want to come?"

Shikamaru panicked. He didn't want to tell her no. But he really didn't want to go with her. That's when Temari decided to meddle. She came out from behind the door and put her hands around his shoulders.

"Actually, Shiho" Temari emphasised the 'ho' "He's taking me."

"Yeah" Shikamaru played along. "Sorry"

Shiho looked gobsmacked. "Ok" Shiho said hanging her head.

"Anyway, Shikamaru, I've got to go to my meeting" Temari placed some paper in his hand casually before blowing a kiss towards him and walking out the door. Of course it was only to wind up Shiho. Kinda.

"Well, I'd probably best got then too. Bye"

"Erm… wait. Can you keep the whole thing about me and Temari to yourself please?"

"Yes. Of course."

"Thanks. Bye."

-*-

I hope that was ok. Sorry for any typos. I think this story is starting to get good. Thanks for reading. Please review. n_n