.Funereal.

Temari smoothed down her black suit jacket as she waited for Shikamaru in the foyer of the station.

"Hey, Lieutenant Hotstuff, why you here?" Kiba asked doubling back as he passed her.

Temari raised her eyebrow briefly at the nickname, but let it slide. "I'm working on a case," she reminded him.

Kiba tilted his head slightly. "Did you forget the way to Shikamaru's office?" he asked kindly.

Temari looked at him incredulously. "No. We're going to Asuka's funeral. I'm waiting for him, considering I don't have a car and I don't know where it is."

"Oh," Kiba said.

Shikamaru chose that moment to hurry in. "Sorry I'm late," he said to Temari, "You ready?"

"Yeah," Temari replied.

"Great. I'm parked just outside, we can head off immediately," he told her. She nodded in reply.

"Yo, Shikamaru!" Kiba exclaimed as Temari headed towards the main doors, slinging his arm around Shikamaru's shoulders. "You tapped that?" he asked, nodded his head towards Temari's retreating back.

Shikamaru squinted sideways as his friend incredulously. "Kiba, go away," he said, and removed Kiba's arm from his shoulders, moving towards the door.

"Hey, take advantage of the situation you have been blessed with!" Kiba called after him, chuckling when Shikamaru just ignored him.

Shikamaru slid into his car and leaned over to unlock the door for Temari. She climbed in and looked at him expectantly. He stared ahead for a couple of minutes before running a palm over his face and reaching forward to start the car. Temari's forehead creased with worry.

"Hey, are you gonna be okay?" she asked gently.

"Yeah," he replied briskly, looking behind him at the cars. "I'll be fine."

--

The church was silent as Hiruzen Sarutobi, the former commander, made his slow, halting speech.

Beside Temari, Shikamaru dropped his head into his hands, drawing her attention.

"Shikamaru?" she whispered, resting a hand on his shoulder. She felt his shoulder's jerk under her hand and worry furrowed her brow again.

"Are you okay?" she asked, feeling remarkably stupid immediately afterwards.

"Fine," he replied, but his voice caught a little.

"Shikamaru…" she trailed off, her attention completely off Hiruzen now.

She heard a choked intake of breath just before he shook hi head slightly, his face buried in his hands.

She suddenly felt very protective and concerned over the crying man next to her, a rather maternal urge to comfort and console welling up in her.

She shifted closer to him and put her arm around his shoulder, her other hand resting on his closer shoulder, and gave him a squeeze. She shook her hair back and looked back up at the podium, rubbing small circles into his back as he continued to cry.

--

They stood slightly awkwardly as they waited to speak to Kurenai after the service, both standing in silence.

"Shikamaru," a low voice said from the side of them.

"Kurenai," Shikamaru said. They'd arrived late, so Temari hadn't been introduced yet.

Kurenai nodded at Temari, but before Shikamaru could perform introductions, she spoke.

"I didn't know you were seeing someone, Shikamaru." A weak smile found it's way onto Kurenai's face.

"What? Oh no," Shikamaru exclaimed, looking between the two women. "She's not… I mean…"

"Lieutenant Temari Sabaku, SPD," Temari interrupted, holding out her hand to Kurenai.

Kurenai looked slightly confused as she accepted Temari's hand.

"I've temporarily been assigned to KPD. I'm working on your daughter's case," Temari explained gently.

"Oh." Kurenai's expression grew slightly duller.

"I hope you don't mind if we ask you some questions," Temari continued.

"No, not at all," Kurenai said, "Anything to help things along."

Temari smiled weakly. "Thank you. Do you remember anything unusual about the night?"

"I've covered that already," Shikamaru interrupted quietly.

"Oh. Sorry. Um… Did you have any enemies at all? Anyone you can think of who would want to do this to you?" Temari asked.

"Honestly? Unless it's a year old grudge from one of my criminal court cases- family of the convicted and such- then I can't think of anyone. I'm on fairly good term with everyone I know, with the exception of a coworker I might have accidentally insulted, but that's mild- and recent," Kurenai explained.

Temari grimaced, thinking to herself.

Shikamaru glanced into the distance, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

"Temari?" he said after she was silent for a minute or so.

"Mmm?"

"Are you done?" he asked.

Temari shot a glance at him. "Um… yeah, I think so."

"Would you mind if we went now?" he said, the question directed at both the women.

Temari's eyes softened slightly as she looked at him, and Kurenai's mouth twitched.

"No, I'm done," Temari replied.

"Catch him," Kurenai said softly, reaching out and lightly resting her hand on his elbow.

Shikamaru gazed at her momentarily, before stepping forward and embracing her. He held her for a few seconds and then stepped back, painfully aware of Temari's presence.

"Okay. I'll… I'll se you soon, Kurenai," he muttered, shifting his weight from one foot to the other before abruptly turning and heading towards his car.

Temari smiled at Kurenai. "Thank you. I'll get in touch if there's anything else I need."

"Lieutenant," Kurenai said suddenly, and then softened the exclamation with a slight smile. "You really are a cop. Can't snap out of it, can you?"

"Um-" Temari started, unsure of how to respond.

"It doesn't matter. It reminds of…" Kurenai trailed off, and then shook her head slightly. "Temari- may I call you Temari?"

"Yes," Temari said cautiously.

"You're young. But… life isn't forever. Have a little fun."

"Um… thank you?" Temari replied, thoroughly confused.

Kurenai laughed slightly. "I saw the way you were comforting Shikamaru. He needs someone. I've got my friends. But Shikamaru… this has really affected him. Just… help him? Please?"

"I don't… I… um…" Temari's speech was halting.

"And I think what he really needs is a good fuck to get his mind off things," Kurenai added in a low voice. Temari almost choked, and her cheeks turned pink.

"Wha- it's not-"

Kurenai chuckled. "You needn't bother denying it. Just take it as the senseless ramblings of an old woman, if you want."

Temari laughed slightly. "Thanks, I guess. It was good meeting you. And while it does sound overused, I really am sorry for your loss." She smiled at the older woman.

"Thank you. Now go," Kurenai pushed her lightly in the direction of the car.

"Bye," Temari called as she hurried off to Shikamaru, who was waiting patiently in the car.

"What was that about?" he asked, as she climbed into the car.

Unnoticed by him, as he was starting the car, Temari ran her tongue over her teeth and looked him up and down out of the corner of her eye in contemplation.

"Nothing," she replied after a moment.

Shikamaru glanced at her as he pulled out, faintly amused. "Temari, I'm also a cop. You hesitated."

Temari flashed a grin at him. "Just some girl talk."

Shikamaru shook his head slightly. "I don't feel like working at the station. Would you mind if we just grabbed the records and worked at my place?"

Temari hid a slight smirk as a thought inspired by Kurenai's comments floated through her mind. "No, not at all," she responded.

--

Shikamaru groaned and scooted back from his desk. "All these guys are either dead or in jail!" he complained, glaring at his computer screen. "You having any luck?" He looked over at Temari, set up on his laptop on the other side of the room.

She glanced up tiredly. "Nope."

"We've been at it for hours," Shikamaru moaned, glancing at the clock. "Oh bloody hell. You're fucking kidding me," he said exasperatedly.

"What?" Temari asked.

"It's eleven o'clock!"

Seriously? PM?" Temari inquired.

Shikamaru just leveled a gaze at her. Temari sighed and put the laptop on the lounge table.

"Well, Kurenai certainly was a competent and busy criminal lawyer," she sighed, running her hands through her hair.

Shikamaru snorted. "You're telling me." He yawned and got up from his chair. "Whatever. You want some more coffee?"

"Yeah, please. And do you have any food in there?"

Shikamaru's lip twitched. "I'm sure I can find something edible."

"Even if it's just some cereal. I'm starving," Temari said gratefully.

Shikamaru chuckled and headed towards the kitchen.

His phone beeped and she automatically leaned over to read it. Her face gradually hardened, even as her own phone went off, and she stood up.

"Shikamaru," she called, and he emerged.

"What?" he asked.

"We have to go," she told him, tossing him his phone. He automatically reached out and caught it, reading the message as Temari grabbed her jacket.

Wordlessly, he grabbed his coat and headed towards the door, Temari close behind.

-TBC-

A/N: I am so, so sorry for this terribly long wait you've had to endure. Life has been topsy turvy over here. I've had ridiculously little time in which to do ANYTHING, there was HUGE upset at home, and other shit, which-lol- has ended up with me going to a psychologist (some of you might not be surprised by that, what with the content of my stories, =P In fact, I do believe it's been advised by one of my readers before XD)

But that's not the point, and hardly excuses me. I also didn't know how to write the funeral. At all. So. I didn't. Really.

Anyway, I also would LOVE it if I could get some help from you guys- should I do NaNoWriMo or not? I'd possibly do 'ELOQUENTIA' (info on my profile) for it. I've a poll up on my profile, and would love it if you would vote- I need to know, and soon. (I'm undecided, and need help)

Thank you for reading, again, I'm ever so sorry. Please review anyway. Please.