And Yes
Xxx
Shikamaru always regarded himself as a coward. Anyone would tell you he was anything but. This time, he felt this way tenfold. Not even Choji can calm him at this point.
"Shikamaru, I doubt she'll say no," He was barely understandable, what with all the potato chips in his mouth, "She loves you."
The shadow nin's leg was bouncing erratically, shaking the bench they shared, "I know she loves me. At least I hope she does. But I doubt she loves me that much."
The ring in his pocket was warm and slick from the sweat of his hand. While he called himself a coward, it took a lot to scare Shikamaru. But Temari was one of the things that truly terrified him. Not in any bad way of course. He wouldn't be contemplating asking her to marry him if that was the case.
"Choji, she'll say no. I know it. She won't leave Suna and she won't let me leave Konoha. It's a no."
"What's a no?"
Both boys jumped at the question, bot expecting a third voice. The most certainly not expecting it to be Temari's.
Choji shifted his eyes between the two lovers and gathered up all his potato chip bags, "Well, I guess I'll just leave you two be. Don't want to intrude on you love birds."
"Choji!" Shikamaru got up to grab his friend's elbow, but missed.
They were alone. The two of them, together. Alone. No one else.
"So," Temari started up again, "What is there a 'no' to?"
Shikamaru took a deep breath, "I have a question."