Someone Like You

March 6th - 'You are everything I--'

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"What is wrong with you?!" Temari shouted, grabbing a pillow and attempting to beat Shikamaru over the head with it, "Why would you do that?"

"What are you talking about? I thought you'd be happy," he said, stepping backwards until he was out of her reach, all the while regarding her with a look that he had - and would - bestow on her often - a mix of fear, confusion and apprehension.

"Do I look happy to you?" she rejoined, grabbing the nearest object - a clock - and pelting it at him, "You just ruined everything!" Her words drowned out the sound of the clock shattering behind him.

"What? How?" He inquired, ducking the barrage of items that she was throwing at his head. He sighed inwardly - she was really making him expend a lot of energy here.

"You just did, okay?" she replied, then paused, a vase of purple flowers in her hand, thinking, "Take it back," she said suddenly, "If you take it back right now, we can just pretend it never happened."

Shikamaru stopped ducking and straightened up, then stepped forward resolutely, his expression an odd mix of annoyance and determination, "No. I don't want to forget about it. I meant what I said, Temari - I love you."

Her shoulders slumped and she put the vase back on the table in front of her, "But - why?" she asked, forest green eyes narrowing, "How could you possibly have fallen in love with me?"

He shrugged, his face beginning to regain its usual disinterested expression, "I don't know. You're actually the opposite of what I wanted in a woman."

She rolled her eyes, "Same here. I never thought I'd be interested in someone like you," she declared, chuckling softly.

Shikamaru didn't respond this time, just kept his eyes glued to hers. Knowing that it was time to respond, Temari sighed and stepped forward, then wrapped her arms around his neck, "Now listen closely, crybaby, because I'm only going to say this once."

He didn't even bother to feign indifference this time, his eyes reflecting his tentative, fragile hope. Temari moved closer until her lips were right by his ear, "You are a complete and total baka."

Irritation in every line of his face, Shikamaru made to move away but Temari tightened her hold on him, "Let me finish," she said, catching his eyes. "But...I like you anyway."

He looked down for a moment to hide his disappointment, then looked back at her and nodded. She smiled half-heartedly, sympathy in her own eyes, "That's the best I can give you now, okay?" Then she shook her head, sighing, "Now you see why I wanted you to take it back?"

He looked away and she released him, then started to move through the room, picking up the items that she'd assaulted him with. He stood still as she slipped away, replaying what she'd said, feeling the sting of her words.

It was her voice that roused him, "Hey Nara! Get your butt over here - I'm not cleaning all this up by myself."

He opened his eyes - when had he closed them? - then turned to her and his disappointment faded as he took her in, frowning at him a few feet away. 'At least she said anything at all,' he thought and surprisingly, the thought was enough to console him.

"You should," he said as he bent over to pick up the clock at his feet, "you created this mess." 'Or did I?' he wondered as he passed by her, brushing against her ever so slightly. He didn't know but one thing became apparent to him as they proceeded to right the disheveled living room - their relationship would never be the same.

A/N: Too much Grey's Anatomy, perhaps.