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Chapter Four: Aftershock

Temari woke up that next morning feeling tired. She had been up all night worrying, why? She was worried about Shikamaru, but why? He wasn't really her friend, they had barely gotten to know each other. Temari laid in bed for a moment and sighed. She began to collect her thoughts, remain herself that none of this is her concern. But at the same time, she can relate. She knew what it is like to deal with a parent in the hospital. Temari remember how she felt, being the eldest she took in more of the responsibility and remain calm for her brothers, but she can't even image how Shikamaru is dealing. He's an only child.

"Temari! Come on get up!" Kankuro shouts beyond the door.

Temari closed her eyes. The took in a deep breathe. Today was going to be long. It was going to be exhausting. She knew things were not going to be how it was the last two days. Things happened and changed the behavior that Temari was starting to get use to. She sat herself up and her blanket fell as she rose up.

"Temari! Come on! Gaara made breakfast!" Kankuro shouts again.

Temari looks across the room and stares at the mirror that pointed to her bed. She stands up and stares at her reflection and sighs.

"I'm up, Kankuro! I'll be down in a minute!" Temari finally responded.

She could hear her brother walk away from the door. She exhaled a deep breathe and turned to her uniform that was hanging where she had left it the night before. Temari walks over to the Konoha uniform.

"I wonder how he is." She mutters to herself.

-KONOHAHIGH-

"You slept alright, Shikamaru?" Asuma asks.

Shikamaru and Asuma were walking up to the gate of the school. Asuma needed to be early because he had lessons to get ready for and Shikamaru needed to do his duties with Principal Tsuande. Shikamaru had been told by Asuma that she doesn't expect him to be punctual to her office to work on his duties but, Shikamaru didn't mind. He needed to keep his mind busy.

"Yeah, your sofa wasn't hard." Shikamaru said.

Asuma nods, "Good."

Shikamaru glanced at Asuma, "So how long am I crashing at your place, exactly?"

Asuma shifts a glance to Shikamaru, "Um until the weekend." He said.

Shikamaru nods, "I see."

Asuma placed a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder, "You know if you want to talk about anything or just play Shogi, I'm here." He said.

Shikamaru smirks, "I know, Asuma." Shikamaru said.

The two entered the school building. Asuma went in the direction to the teacher's office, where he had his own desk where he can grade papers or even have his lunch at with the other teachers. Shikamaru went in the direction to Tsuande's office. When the boy reached the office, Shizune looks at him.

"Good morning, Shikamaru." Shizune said.

Shikamaru smirks at the assistant to Tsuande, "Morning, Shizune." He said.

Shikamaru entered the principal's office, he noticed Tsuande was at her desk like always. She noticed Shikamaru and seemed a bit shocked but didn't expect anything less from Shikamaru. Tsuande stands up and walks over to the young lazy genius. Shikamaru placed his bag on the chair near where he'd sit.

"How are you feeling, Shikamaru?" Her voice was gentle.

Shikamaru shrugs, "Fine. Why don't we work on the sports days." He said.

Tsuande nods, "Of course."

-KONOHAHIGH-

Temari reached her classroom and noticed everyone there. That even included Shikamaru. He was standing by the window with Choji. The two were talking quietly to themselves. Temari walked further into the classroom and noticed Sasuke was even present. The girls were trying to please him with this ordeal for him, but Temari could tell Sasuke was not assumed.

Temari sat in her seat and then felt someone poke her, "Hey." It was Ino.

Temari smiles, "Hi."

Ino glanced from Shikamaru to Temari, "I heard that Asuma gave you a ride home. How was Shikamaru when you left him?" Ino asks.

Temari shrugs, "He seemed upset but that's to be expected given the situation." She said.

Ino nods, "I see."

Temari glanced to Ino, "So when did he arrive?" Temari asks.

Ino glanced at Temari, "He's been here for a while. Asuma dropped him off so he could get his duties done for Lady Tsuande." Ino said.

Temari looks at Shikamaru. He may seem content with Choji talking but deep down Shikamaru must be a mess. Temari began to notice the class' behavior. They were mumbling in quiet, pointing at Shikamaru and Sasuke, whispering. Temari wanted to yell at them for being so rude about it, but she didn't know how Shikamaru would handle it.

"What is his duties for Tsuande?" Temari somehow realized she asked aloud.

Ino returned a glance at Temari, "Well it all depends. Right now Shikamaru is helping the principal plan the sports day event." Ino said.

Temari nods, "I see."

Ino began to talk with Sakura when Sakura arrived. Hinata had entered in afterwards. Temari was included in the girls conversations. However, Temari couldn't help but glance around at the classroom. Some things remain the same. Naruto was trying to be better than Sasuke, and Sasuke was giving the blonde the cold shoulder much like he was giving the rest of his fan club. Temari glanced back at Shikamaru, he had such a stoic expression. She wondered if he had cried or not about all of this.

-KONOHAHIGH-

It was during lunch. Shikamaru was laying on the roof of the school. He told his best friend he had work to get done with Lady Tsuande, which was a lie but Shikamaru just wanted to get away. He was staring at the clouds and tried to relax. He needed to get away from the looks, the whispers, and the sympathy.

Shikamaru pulled broke part of a chocolate bar in half and started eating part of the bar. He crossed one of his legs over the already bent leg. His hand not holding the bar was resting behind his head. He took another bit of the chocolate and then just stared at the peaceful sky above him. He was so calm and relaxed until he heard the door that lead to the roof shut. Shikamaru didn't bother to sit up, he had a feeling he knew who had found him but decided to just lay there.

"Go away, Choji." Shikamaru said.

"I'm not Choji," It was Temari.

Shikamaru sat up and gave her a look, "You lost or something?"

Temari shakes her head, "Your friends are worried so I decided to come find you." She said.

Shikamaru frowns, "It's none of your concern." He said.

Temari sits next to him, "From what I hear you have amazing friends who care about you. Ino and Choji are worried to death about you, Sakura and Hinata are deeply sadden by this, and Naruto wants to punch you in the face to snap you back to your lazy self." She said.

Shikamaru handed her a piece of chocolate, "I'm still lazy." Shikamaru said.

Temari took the piece of chocolate, "They're worried about you. This happened so suddenly, and well none of them are sure if you've cried yet." She said.

Shikamaru glanced at her before turning his gaze to the sky, "I just- I don't know how to feel about it."

Temari frowns, "I- I guess I can understand that." She said.

Shikamaru raised his eyebrow, "Pardon?"

Temari looks at him, "Um- When I was young, my mother got really ill. She was taken to the hospital." Temari said.

Shikamaru frowns.

"She was fine. When she had Kankuro and myself her health was fine, however after Gaara's birth, our mother's health started to grow worst. The doctors claimed it was some kind of misfortune, but they told my dad the real reason why she got sick. She had some kind of cancer and it had finally began to kill her." Temari went on to explain.

Temari was shocked she was revealing so much about her past to him. Shikamaru just sat there and listened.

"She was lucky enough to get another year with us before passing. My father was beyond angry and resorted into piling more work upon himself, which led to him hiring more help to watch over my brothers and I. I basically raised Kankuro and Gaara, I'm the only mother they really know." Temari said.

Temari was shocked to feel Shikamaru touch her hand, "I'm sorry you dealt with that at such a young age." He said.

Temari nods, "It wasn't easy."

Shikamaru nods as well, "I can image." He spoke.

There was a moment of silent between the two. Shikamaru continued to share his chocolate bar with Temari until it was completely gone. When that happened, Temari watched the lazy guy lay back on the floor of the roof. He just closed his eyes, but she knew he wasn't going to sleep.

"So why did you decide to come here?" Temari asks.

"Hm?" Shikamaru responded.

"To the roof? Why come here?" She asks.

Shikamaru shrugs, "Its the only place to get quiet." He replied.

Temari looks at him, "You could have told them that instead of lying." Temari replied with a faint glare.

Shikamaru opened his eyes and turned to her, "If I told them I was coming here, they'd all follow. It's called peace and quiet for a reason." Shikamaru said.

Temari frowns, "Look, you don't have to act fine if you're not. I understand what you're dealing with." Temari said and noticed Shikamaru slightly tense, "It wasn't easy with my mom getting sick and it wasn't easy trying to raise two younger boys. But I managed and I even vented to the sitters or my friends."

Shikamaru sighs, "I get it. You don't want me to be a walking time bomb with my friends. I get it. I just can't handle all the overbearing and all the concern." Shikamaru said.

"Shikamaru, it's human nature to worry and want to help." Temari said.

Shikamaru sits up and sighs again, "But its too much. Everyone is expecting me to act a certain way with all of this. They want me to cry or get angry." Shikamaru said looking up at the sky.

Temari remain quiet.

He sighs and looks down, "Yeah I'm pissed. My dad got shot, hell he may even never walk again. I don't know how my mom would handle it, I am certain she sent me to stay at Asuma's to make sure there is someone stable to watch over me. I'm expect to be so much. I am suppose to be the grieving son, suppose to be a train wreck. But I'm not." Shikamaru spoke.

Temari seemed a bit confused, "Shikamaru?"

"I love my dad," He then chuckled, "I never said that to him and he's never said that to me. Our relationship is- well I've always seen him from behind than actually having him as a role model. I'm so angry and upset but I- I can't cry." Shikamaru said.

"Yes you can," Temari said, "Keeping it to yourself isn't healthy."

Shikamaru turns to her, "I can't cry because I feel numb. Like this is some sort of bad dream and I'll be waking up any moment, but I know reality has cursed my dad by him getting shot." Shikamaru said.

Temari reached over and placed a hand on top of his hand, "If you need anyone- anyone to talk to or just sit with, I can be that person if you want." She suggested.

"Why? Why are you being so nice to me?" Shikamaru asks, "Please tell me its not because you feel guilty about everything or feel like you have to because of what happened to my dad?"

Temari shakes her head, "I've been where you were. And maybe having someone you don't know that well to talk to without judging may help you out. I mean, if you could tell Choji you were hiding away, I don't think you could tell them how you really are feeling." Temari said.

Shikamaru shrugs, "If you want to stay, that's fine."

Temari kind of seemed a bit surprised, "Really? You're just okay with it?"

Shikamaru nods, "You raised a good point," Shikamaru said and then looked at his hand, "Now can you let go of my hand."

Temari looked down and saw she was touching his hand. She blushed brightly and pulled back. She watched him lay back down on the floor. Temari noticed him now, he seemed less upset than before in his eyes. He was just watching the clouds and enjoying the silence. Temari looked from him then to the sky above them.

I really hope everyone is enjoying this story!