Chapter Twenty Seven

I went to bed, I was thinking about you

Ain't the same since I'm living without you

All the memories are getting colder

All the things that I want to do over

I went to bed, I was thinking about you

I want to talk and laugh like we used to

When I see you in my dreams at night

It's so real, but it's in my mind

And now, I guess, this is as good as it gets

Don't wake me, coz I don't want to leave this dream

Don't wake me, coz I never seem to stay asleep enough

When it's you I'm dreaming of

I don't want to wake up

After the meeting with the Hokage, Shikamaru wandered through the streets of Konoha, taking the longest route home. He needed to think. The Hokage had sent for the sand ninja to have them familiarize themselves more with the Genin of the Leaf. They needed to build bonds between the Sand and Leaf villages. He couldn't wrap his head around it. Temari was here in the Hidden Leaf. After what happened to her, after how he had lost her. He didn't want to have to see her, and see the lack of recognition in her eyes when she looked at him. Well, I have the next few days off, so I guess I should just stay home and lay low… He walked past a small park and rounded a corner - and came face to face with Kankuro. "Oh hey, Shikamaru right?" he said. Shikamaru looked at him. "Yeah." he said with stiff monotone. Gaara stepped forward, standing beside his brother. And the third one, he couldn't look at her. Temari stepped towards him. "Why so glum?" she said cheerily, that hint of amusement in her voice. It caught him off guard. His heart stopped and he looked up, making eye contact with her.

"Well?" she asked, her eyes twinkling. It was as if her memory were never taken from her. She seemed her normal self. "N-nothing, I'm fine," he said quietly. "What was your name again?" she asked. It felt like his heart were being ripped from his chest. There it was. That lack of recognition. "Shikamaru," he said. He looked down at the ground and shuffled backwards a step. He looked back up at Kankuro. "I'm kind of busy, I have to get home." Kankuro looked slightly puzzled. "Yeah, sure, no problem. Catch you later then." Shikamaru gave a short nod before walking away from them as fast as he could without looking like he was fleeing. He still didn't want to go home. He knew that was the first place anyone would look for him, and having to put up with his mother and father at a time like this would be a drag.

Instead he walked through the village until he came to one of the training grounds. Seeing that no one was there, he crossed it and climbed up into one of the trees, sitting in the branches. He leaned back against the trunk and let out a deep sigh. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander off. He thought about Temari and about how they were before she lost her memory. He had always been happiest when he was around her, and when he found out about what happened to her, just knowing that she would not know him when they next met, made him feel like he could never be happy again. And for a while it seemed that way. He sat up, deciding he should actually go home now, and jumped from the tree. As he walked he let his mind run over and over the fact that Temari did not recognize him, and the more he thought about it, the angrier and more upset he became about it. By the time he got home, he was in such a foul mood that he did not even greet his parents as he shoved the front door open and trudged up the stairs to his bedroom. Shutting the door heavily behind him, he flung himself onto his bed. He lay there brooding until a knock sounded from his door and his father came in. "Shikamaru, what's up?" he asked, concerned. Shikamaru didn't respond. He didn't even move. He just kept staring angrily up at the ceiling.

His father stood there watching him, waiting to see if he would say something. When he did not, his father sighed and left his room, shutting the door behind him. He felt his eyes begin to sting with oncoming tears, and he made a frustrated noise and fought them back. The sun was starting to set outside, and the dim light shone through his window. He rolled to face the wall and closed his eyes. Before long he drifted into a fitful sleep, his dreams filled with Temari.

He woke the next morning to loud banging on his door. Wearily, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. The door flew open and Ino stomped inside, Chouji in her wake. "Why did we not see you all day yesterday?" she demanded. "A small 'hello, I'm back' would have been fine." Shikamaru ignored her and just stared up. When she didn't get a response from him she came right up beside his bed and leaned forward, trying to look him in the eyes. He averted his eyes and stared away from her. Ino made an annoyed huff and stepped back. "Have you eaten anything?" she asked, "It's almost noon." He lay still, the only sound coming from him was that of his breathing. In truth he hadn't eaten since before he went to see the Hokage yesterday morning when summoned. Ino looked over at Chouji. "Help me out here?" she asked. Chouji looked at Shikamaru then back at Ino. "How am I supposed to make him talk? If he doesn't want to he doesn't have to." Ino glared at Chouji. "Thanks for nothing," she muttered, stomping out of his room and down the hall. Chouji followed her, shutting the door behind him. He listened out for the front door closing, signaling the departure of his teammates.

When they were gone he sat up and looked at his closed door. Stretching his stiff arms and sore back, he stood up and paced about the room. With a deep breath he lay back down again. He did not leave the house all day, he just slept.