A/N: Many thanks to my readers... I love ya!
Chapter 4: Jealousy
Shikamaru abandoned Ino and Chouji shortly after the restaurant incident. He desired space and peace, a chance to let go of the stress weighing on his shoulders. So, he strolled around Konoha, fully intending to find a nice roof top or field where he could sit back and cloud gaze.
It was his own form of therapy, affording him focus and quiet when his brain roared with uncertainties. He could empty his mind and bask in each moment, enjoy every bit of the world around him. Every worry, every pain would slip away, absorbed in those lovely, weightless wisps skating across the sky. Peace. He, more than anything, wanted peace.
Yet, his feet carried him far from the fields, seeking out the main source of chaos in his world.
He found her walking alone in the merchant district, wandering aimlessly through the various shops, gazing distractedly at the goods. He didn't approach her, merely hung back and watched her pick over a table of decorative fans. She flipped one open with a quick flick of her wrist, examined the art painted on the paper, then smoothly snapped it closed. She repeated this a few more times, gazing upon the different, intricately patterned designs. Occasionally, she'd sweep the fan in front of her face, ushering a small gust of wind across her features.
It amazed him how this woman could be so daunting and volatile, yet move with such beautiful grace. Like an ominous storm cloud, glittering dangerously while it continued to bloom in the sky.
Shikamaru's lips lifted slightly. Temari had yet to bloom into a thundering tempest, but the frown curving her lips and the gathering of her brows hinted at her mood. She needed space. He could see it in her tense posture, in the tight line of her lips.
Troublesome.
He retreated to the roof tops, content to watch her for a time from their relative safety. Wherever she walked, he followed, silent and careful. He would wait until he was needed, which was only a matter of time.
It wasn't as if Temari couldn't take care of herself. As far as Shikamaru was concerned, the woman was incredibly apt at self-preservation. She was, however, directionally challenged when it came to certain areas of Konoha.
A few wrong turns and her pace picked up as she headed into the less favorable part of the village.
Shikamaru grinned. Temari edged towards impatience when she was frustrated. She use to play shogi in much the same way. A wrong move here, a pawn lost there, and suddenly her end of the game picked up. Until, finally, like a cornered animal, she lashed out.
He couldn't count how many shogi pieces had been tossed at his head over the years. But that was alright. Temari wouldn't be Temari if she behaved like a door-mat.
He respected—no, admired—her for it.
Shikamaru crouched on the ceramic roof tile and watched as she came to a stand still a cross street. Her fists clenched and unclench as she gazed upwards, reading a street sign. Though the street bore the same name as the one on which the Embassy was located, it wasn't exactly the same roadway. The street broke in a few places, continuing on in the less favorable parts of town. As a result, several of the foreign ambassadors ended up lost in the red light district—as Temari was now.
She shoved her fists onto her hips and started down another road, unaware of the lurid, indecent establishments at it's end.
He sighed and crept down from his perch, landing just inside the alley way, placing himself directly into her path. "I wouldn't go down this way if I were you—it's a dead end."
Her blue-green eyes flared slightly and then narrowed, a clear indication that he was about to be on the receiving end of her frustration. "Hn. With Konoha's messed up street system, what else should I expect?"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps that's why they assign the ambassadors guides?"
Temari stalked forward, slowly closing the distance between them. Her movements were rigid and tight, full of fury, yet she didn't reach for the large fan strapped to her back. She paused a few feet from him, and cocked her head to the side. "It took you long enough to reveal yourself," she snapped. "Did you enjoy the show?"
Ah, so she knew he followed her. Damn. Next time, he'd just have to do better at masking his chakra.
"You enjoyed watching me get lost," she sneered. "Don't deny it."
"Why would I deny it?" Shikamaru shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels.
She blinked at him, and for a brief moment he saw a inkling of hurt reflected in the shimmering depths of her eyes before it was once again masked by her anger. "Go fuck yourself," she growled just before she spun around and walked out of the alley.
Shikamaru cringed inwardly, feeling the sting of her words. She was seriously pissed. It was rare that she treated to him to such a vile curse, but when she did…
He suppressed a groan and followed after her. She walked with easy confidence, her gate sure and even despite her ignorance of the neighborhood. He shook his head as he watched her attempt yet another wrong turn. "Oi, Temari—not that way," he said on a sigh.
She paused and cast him a dark look before she headed again in the right direction.
He should apologize. He should just sidle up beside her and apologize for making her miss breakfast, for ditching her, for not helping her sooner. He really, really should ask for her forgiveness. But as he watched the angry sway of her hips and the gentle swell of her rear, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Am I freaking deranged to like a woman like this?
Yes, he was definitely skewed.
She took another wrong turn and Shikamaru stayed silent, following her down the shaded street, too engrossed in the shape of her derriere to really care. She stopped after a few steps and turned to face him. "I don't remember this street," she barked. "Am I going the wrong way?"
"Hai," he agreed as he stared at her lips, wondering over their naturally pink tint. She never wore lipstick. He'd seen her wear eye make-up, but never any lipstick. He'd once heard that women wore make up to accentuate their good features; Temari's eyes were gorgeous, and her mouth was just as devastating…
"Stop staring at me," she hissed.
Shikamaru raised his eyes to hers, a smirk forming on his lips. "I didn't know I was staring."
She frowned and raised a hand to brush across her mouth. "Just get me back to the embassy."
He shrugged and delivered a droll, "Fine."
After several minutes of silence, a yawn or two on Shikamaru's part, Temari bitterly pointed out, "You're with Ino."
"Hn?" Shikamaru stared blankly at Temari. "What are you talking about?"
Temari looked straight ahead. "Ino and you. I saw you two together today."
Shikamaru slowly shook his head. "It's not like that," he muttered.
Temari shot him a skeptical glance.
"I took her to lunch, yes."
She gave him a death look.
"What? Am I not allowed to take my friend and teammate out to lunch?" He frowned and kicked at the dirt. He could usually handle Temari's looks and snide comments if there was a logical explanation behind them. But jealousy…Jealousy wasn't logical. It was distrust and suspicion and envy. None of those things fit Temari.
"She's a little too touchy-feely for a friend," She gritted out. "You saw her last night?"
"I did," Shikamaru admitted.
"Hn." Temari reached up to adjust her fan on her back.
"But it's not how it appeared," Shikamaru said softly as he inched closer.
"Then what were you doing with her last night?"
He didn't respond—in truth, it was because he wasn't quite ready to tell her he'd been pestering Ino for help in the middle of the night. His silence, however, proved damning.
"I see," Temari snapped. "You must have gotten quite a kick out of my confession." She drew back her lip in a sneer. "Did you and you're girlfriend have a good laugh about it?"
Shikamaru's brows rose in surprise. "I didn't laugh."
"Whatever."
Shikamaru gritted his teeth, anger flushing his cheeks. The woman was positively frustrating. Normally, he enjoyed her company, her conversation—her insults. Never—not once—had it crossed into jealousy or bitterness, but there they were, rife in that single, infuriating word: Whatever.
It was worse than an insult.
"I'm done with this conversation, Temari," he snapped. "When you want to stop acting like a bitch and behave like an adult, I'll gladly talk with you, but my time—whether it's spent with Ino or not, is my business alone."
"Fine by me," she growled.
Again, the silence fell between them, growing uncomfortable and tense. With each second that ticked by, Shikamaru felt the opportunity to talk to her, to persuade her to come back to Konoha slipping through his fingers.
Do something! Say anything. Yet the words wouldn't come.
The moment the embassy was in sight, Temari's pace quickened into a near-jog.
Shikamaru pulled up short, his mouth twisting into a deep frown. Kami, she was actually running away from him. Out of desperation, he yelled out, "Eh, Temari!"
She turned around, her eyes narrowed and her mouth pursed tight. Her cheeks, normally an even tinged gold, were flaming pink .
Oh, she was mad, alright. And by the storm raging in her sea-green eyes, Shikamaru had little doubt that she would kill him if he were in reach. Her fury, as great as it must be, was a thing to be feared. There should be cold sweat beaded upon his brow, a quiver to his knees. Yet, as he stepped forward, none of those things were present. He wasn't afraid of her anger or passion. He, in a supremely masochistic sense, found his blood rushing with excitement and desire.
Temari never looked more attractive than when she had murder on her mind.
However, that did not negate the fact that he enjoyed her most when she was reasonable. Far more than her raw sort of beauty, Shikamaru valued her intelligence—and even more so, the manner in which she displayed it. She was a treasure, a priceless find in a world ridden with shallow, idiotic women. He couldn't just let her run from him, and if that meant telling her just how much she meant to him… "It wasn't—isn't—like that between Ino and me. I…" His throat clenched tight as his heart thudded heavily in his chest.
Her lips relaxed, but her glare remained steadfast. "I'm tired and I've work to do, Shikamaru." She whirled around and again headed for the embassy, clearly dismissing him.
He gritted his teeth and kicked at the dirt. Troublesome, irritating, jealous woman!
Well, fuck.
A/N: Just a little heads up--Updates may be a little slower in the next two weeks.
