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Miss
The results from their winter exams arrived shortly after Christmas day. Temari got excellent results in all her subjects (much to nobody's surprise). Although the exchange students didn't have to sit their exams due to differences in the school curricula, Temari couldn't help but feel as though Shikamaru would have somehow done better than her in most areas.
When school began once more, she realised how soon the Konoha group would be leaving. The Suna group would have a month's pause before going to their school, so she was glad that she'd be getting a pause from all the hustle of having extra people in the house.
That said, she knew that she was going to miss Shikamaru, and for some reason that made her... Well, it made her kind of angry.
He had been subtly stealing glances at her arms any time her sleeve hitched up, even a little, and she had to admit that it was slightly endearing.
On their first day back at school, she had dragged him to the piano room on the second floor and nagged him into playing a piece for her. (In her defence, it was him who brought up his ability to play the damn thing, claiming that his Mother was being a "complete drag" and had insisted he learn an instrument).
He reluctantly played a simple waltz and a piece entirely in staccato which made her laugh, for some strange reason.
There were only a few days left until their flight home, and even Temari had to admit that everything had gone fairly well. Until Ino got an idea.
At lunch, she gathered the group of twelve together and laid out her elaborate plan.
"We should get some kind of charm or accessory to make us seem like more of a group!" She'd said with a cute little cock of her head.
"No." Temari and Shikamaru said instantly. They looked at each other and she snorted as he snickered.
Daimaru shifted uncomfortably in his seat, fidgeting with something in his hands.
"Aw, c'mon!" Yukata pouted. "It's a great idea!"
Matsuri nodded eagerly and most of the others shrugged or mumbled in agreement.
"Okay fine. But nothing stupid!"
And so, after school, all of them headed out to one of the clothes stores.
"How about this?" Ino held up gloves, which were unanimously rejected, much to her dismay.
As were her keyrings, badges and belts.
"Hey, what about that scarf?" Temari asked, pointing to a thin black sheaf of material.
"That's not a scarf, dumbass. It's a bandana."
"Is it not a belt?"
Needless to say, the group settled on the ambiguous material, after much whinging on Ino's behalf, who claimed it was too boring.
"Okay, but what is it meant to be?" Kankurō asked.
"Whatever you want it to be," Ino shrugged, tying hers around her slim waist as Naruto fastened his across his forehead with a grin.
"Hey look, I'm a ninja!" No one comented and Gaara awkwardly put his on the strap of his bag.
Temari just tied hers around her neck, not bothered to reach up to her head, and unwilling to wear it in the same way as Ino.
"Where should I put mine?" Came a voice from behind her.
"On your arm," she said sarcastically.
When she looked behind her she found Shikamaru standing there and trying to attach the cloth to his upper arm. She chuckled and walked over to him.
"You're useless." She mumbled, low enough so that he was the only one to her it. He rolled his eyes as she reached up to help him tie it.
"It was a joke you know."
"Meh. It's fine on my arm. It won't get in the way at least. And I won't have to constantly refasten it."
"Lazy."
"What's new?"
She nudged him before turning back and walking towards Kankurō to help him fasten his own one across his forehead, clearly inspired by Naruto, who was now insisting he be called Rambo.
The night before the Konoha group were to leave, all twelve of them gathered at the Sabaku residence for a "feast" of sorts.
Needless to say, the idea was Ino's.
"How come you're on this exchange, actually?" Matsuri asked Shikamaru, sliding to sit next to him. Temari didn't hear his answer, but it did seem to amuse the other girl, who threw her head back with laughter.
"Why am I not surprised? I failed a few of my exams, plus I have a bad attendance record." Matsuri sighed. "I'm glad though, this was fun."
"Hey Matsuri?" Tenten called from the other side of the room. "I have a pet hamster, are you okay with gerbils?"
Matsuri squealed and nodded excitedly, making her way over to her pen pal.
Temari sighed and stretched back on the sofa, flinching slightly as her wrist brushed off Daimaru's sleeve. She hadn't realised he'd been sitting right next to her.
"Hey Dai," she said. It had been tense between them, but she was hoping they could ease out of that awkward stage.
"Hi." He said flatly.
She sighed and stood up to get a drink from the kitchen. Apparently the awkward stage was here to stay.
OooooooooO
"Hey, you all packed?"
Shikamaru froze at Tenten's words. He'd completely forgotten that he needed to pack. That said, he hadn't fully unpacked since he'd arrived, but he still had belongings scattered around the place. He shook his head and sighed.
"I'll do it tonight."
Tenten rolled her eyes. "Lazy as ever."
He shrugged.
"Not like there's any point in wasting energy."
She nodded and gave him a smile before leaving to challenge Matsuri to a game of "beer pong" which contained San Pellegrino instead of beer.
He watched the group of people who were enjoying the party. Naruto and Gaara were seated at the coffee table and mumbling to each other about something, Tenten and Matsuri were playing an intense game of"San Pellegrino pong"and being cheered on by Kiba and Yukata. Ino was making out with Sai in the corner and Daima-
Wait. Ino was shifting Sai.
Ino. Was very passionately kissing the art club representative in a fairly crowded room.
He got over the shock and smiled as he tried to mentally calculate the likelihood of either of them pursuing what could be a very odd but charming relationship.
Low, but not unlikely.
Daimaru was cradling a cup of lemonade and Temari was nowhere to be seen. Shikamaru may not have been a social person, but he also never considered himself to be a wallflower either. He sat down beside Daimaru and gave him a casual smile.
"How did you get on with Sai?" He asked, leaning back into the sofa.
"Oh. Quite well, yeah."
Shikamaru nodded and waited for Daimaru to continue, which he didn't.
"Are you looking forward to visiting Konoha?"
"Sure."
He sighed and stood up. Temari's ex was making no effort at being social, so there was no point in trying.
He wandered to the kitchen to get a drink. He saw Temari seated at the kitchen table with a blank expression as she ate a candy cane.
"Hey," he said as he laid his eyes upon her. She said nothing and didn't even show any signs of registering that someone else had walked into the room.
He took a seat opposite her and watched as her eyes flickered and she recognised his presence.
"Oh. Hello." She said emotionlessly.
"You alright?" He asked, subconsciously glancing towards her sleeve.
She rolled her eyes and lifted her sleeve for him to see that the scars were almost fully healed and that no new ones had been made.
"You seem a little distant." He pressed on. "Are you that sad I'm leaving?" He added, teasingly.
"Hah. Sure." She snorted before going serious again. "I think Dai hates me." She took the candy cane out of her mouth and sighed.
"I've never felt this bad about a break up before. If he were angry, it would make everything a hell of a lot better."
"Don't worry about it. The wound is still fresh. Give it some time." Shikamaru suggested. "Maybe find someone else. That might help him move on."
Temari went a little red as he made the last suggestion.
"That's the thing, Nara. I have someone that I like, and that hasn't ever happened before. I can't just go off and date them, it doesn't work like that." She sighed deeply and shook her head. "I haven't exactly liked anyone before. Normally I'd just agree to date whatever girl or guy has the guts to ask me out, but this time it's different, because even if someone asks I know that I won't enjoy the relationship."
"Why don't you just ask them out?"
She glared at him.
"It's not that easy." She growled. Shikamaru tried to ignore the disappointing feeling that had settled in the pit of his stomach.
He knew that Temari wouldn't be interested in him, but hearing her say that she liked someone out loud just made it worse.
"Sure it is. Just go up to them and say 'I like you'."
"Nara. Have you ever liked someone?"
"Er, o-once."
"Did you say that to them?"
"No." He admitted.
"I rest my case."
She popped the candy cane back into her mouth and shrugged.
"It will be fine. I'll get over it and so will Dai."
Clearly seeing that as the end to the conversation, Shikamaru went to get his drink before leaving the kitchen to pack. The next day was going to be a long one.
OooooooooO
"TEMARIIIIIIIII!"
"Ugh, Ino no sto-" Temari awkwardly tried to pull her limbs from Ino's tight grip. "Ino. Please-"
"Bye Ino!" Kankurō called, making Ino release her grip on Temari before waltzing over to him to do the same.
The group had met at the departures gate about an hour before the flights were due to take off. Ino had excitedly hugged everyone (Including those who were also leaving) and the rest of the group had all been a lot more tame in their goodbyes, exchanging brief hugs that didn't risk damaging one party's ribs.
"Bye guys!" Tenten smiled, waving happily to all of them and holding Matsuri in a swift embrace.
"Yeah, see you!" Kiba grinned, winking at anyone who made eye contact.
Naruto patted everyone on the shoulder and Shikamaru just said bye.
Sai simply smiled blankly at everyone.
Before the group went through to security, Temari took Shikamaru aside and tried her best not to seem too suspicious about it.
"Em. Stay safe, okay?" She said, not meeting his eyes.
"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?"
She said nothing and let go of the sleeve which she'd subconsciously tugged on to pull him aside.
"Well if you're going to act that way..." She mumbled, making to turn away before she felt a pair of arms wrap around her and pull her in.
They'd never hugged before.
"Don't do anything stupid, Temari."
She hesitantly brought her arms around him too, trying to hide the soft blush that she knew had appeared on her face. She didn't want to let go, but she knew that it would be awkward if she held on for too long.
She pulled away and gave him a small smile.
"Bye, Shikamaru."
After the Konoha group left, the Sunans waited for a while before heading off.
Temari walked, a little bit behind the rest, as they moved against the currents of all the people going on holidays or business trips. Against the tides of those who missed no one.
It had been three minutes, and Temari was already looking forward to the next time she'd be seeing Shikamaru.
A/N: AAAGGGHHH THIS TOOK SO LONG I'M SORRY!
Okay, okay. I'm gonna edit this better later, but I've had a *lot* of people asking for an update, so HERE it is, I'll try to get the next chapter up at some point this month, cool? Okie, I will edit this later, I swear!
Hope y'all enjoyed, please follow/fave and REVIEW!
~Leeee