Disclaimer: I don't own anything
The days after Ryota's confession left Temari feeling confused. Not in it's meaning. Oh no. Temari knew exactly what Ryota's message was. Temari just wasn't prepared for a confession. If she was going to get a love confession, normally it's from your partner. Not your nephew.
Temari didn't know what to do with the information. She couldn't tell Shikamaru. That would put him on the spot. Not to mention, she didn't want to force him to tell her anything he wasn't ready for.
But knowing this made her feel...different.
Shikamaru loves her.
The fuck was she supposed to do with that information?
Temari did what she always did when she couldn't process her emotions. Overwork herself in the office so she could try, and fail, to bury her emotions. Sex wouldn't help her this time.
Her poor employees.
"Uzumaki did you email the documents I sent you?"
"Yea-"
"Good. Go to the 3rd floor and speak with Guy."
Naruto blanched. "I don't-"
"Now."
Naruto scurried away. Temari continued her assault.
"Haruno."
Sakura flinched but made eye contact. "Yes boss?"
"Paperwork is waiting to be picked up on the 4th floor."
Sakura took the hint and ran away.
"Yamanaka."
Ino did not hide her distaste. She still responded as politely as she could. She did need the paycheck. "What?"
"Speak with the secretary on the 1st floor."
"Um about?"
"I haven't the slightest idea. She won't stop pestering me. Speak with her and do what needs to be done to fix the problem."
Ino left the floor extremely confused. It certainly wasn't a hard task. But what the hell?
"Lee."
Lee sprang up from his chair. He saluted, stiff as a board, and awaited orders.
"Hatake is being a bother. Go speak with him."
"Yosh!" Lee left in the blink of an eye.
"Uchiha."
Sasuke had no problem glaring at the boss.
"Coffee."
He almost had a stroke at the menial task given to him. He would have rather spoken to the old bats. He glanced at the stapler on his desk. A lot could be done with one stapler. Kiba noticed and threw his pen at his friend.
"And take Inuzuka with you. Bring back snacks."
Sasuke threw back Kiba's pen when it looked like he was going to scream.
"Hyuga."
Hinata let out a terrified squeak.
"Continue your work."
She almost fainted on the spot.
It was the topic, yet again, for the millionth time, at Friday's meal.
"Dude what in god's name did you do?!" Kiba
"She's bat shit crazy. Seriously! She's actively trying to murder us!" Ino
"S-She more d-demanding that normal." Hinata
"My fingers are in so much pain." Sakura
Sasuke didn't say anything. He just sat in his seat seething in anger. Naruto and Lee were crying.
Shikamaru could only stare at his friends. Things were that bad in the office?
"Uh things are great actually."
"What?!" Everyone shouted in unison.
"I met her family for the birthday party. Besides her brothers, everyone else was great. The kids seem to like me. Her sister in law was super nice."
"Then what the hell crawled up her ass and died?!" Naruto cried more salty tears.
Shikamaru shrugged. "We don't talk about work. Maybe her bosses?"
Everyone shuddered.
They resumed their meal. More chatter and drinking. As the night drew on Shikamaru felt more guilt. He couldn't take the knot in his stomach anymore. He needed to have a serious talk with his friends.
"Guys, I'm going to tell Temari the truth."
Fearing for their lives, no one was happy with the news.
"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!" Naruto screeched like a banshee.
"No."
"She's going to gut us. We're going to be animals going to slaughter!" Kiba slammed his fists onto the table.
"If you try to say anything. I will hog tie you." Sasuke practically growled like a snarling dog.
"Don't you fucking dare!" Ino dug her nails into Shikamaru's arms and shook him.
Shikamaru wasn't under the illusion his friends would have taken the news well. But he didn't think they would be this against the idea. It honestly hurt him.
"You guys are being selfish."
Everyone stopped their protest.
"You know I really like her."
Everyone groaned.
"She's honestly a good person."
Everyone groaned louder.
"Guy's I'm serious about this."
"How serious?" Sakura asked.
Shikamaru made a point to stare down Sasuke and Sakura.
Hinata gasped "oh my."
Everyone's mouths dropped. Except Sasuke. His eyes almost popped out their sockets.
"Squash those feelings!" Ino begged.
Shikamaru stood from his seat.
"I know my relationship wasn't exactly planned. Honestly I did expect better support from you all. This hurts guys."
Everyone started speaking at once. Some apologizing while others still screamed it was a horrible idea. Shikamaru merely shook his head and left enough cash to cover his part of the bill. He left the restaurant with his friends still yelling at him.
Temari had decided she needed to talk to someone about her unexpected news. She was starting to feel bad about all the work she was making her employees do. She was normally a rational person. Her actions were borderline childish.
She called Tenten over to her penthouse.
Tenten was more than happy to visit. She could eat all of Temari's snacks and snuggle with Gecko.
"Sup bitch!"
Temari rolled her eyes as she let her friend in. Tenten kicked off her shoes and threw herself onto the nearest couch. Gecko barked in excitement and trotted over to her friend. She licked Tenten's face as her tag wagged happily.
Tenten giggled and cooed at the giant.
Temari took a deep breath and exhaled. No sense in beating around the bush.
"Shikamaru loves me."
A loud thud resonated in the penthouse. Tenten had fallen off the couch. Gecko looked down at Tenen in confusion. Head tilted, she sniffed her fallen friend to make sure she was ok.
Tenten gently pushed Gecko's snout away. She sat up.
"I'm sorry, what?"
Temari tugged the ends of her hair. Face flush red she repeated herself. "He loves me."
Tenten was gaping like a fish. "He told you."
"No. Ryota did."
Confused stare.
"He said...he said that Shikamaru looks at me...the same way Gaara looks at Matsuri."
Tenten let out a high pitched squeal. The whales at the aquarium would have responded if they heard it.
"Shut. The. Fuck. Up. He said that?!"
Temari nodded.
Tenten continued to freak out. In the middle of her freak out Tenten noticed Temari didn't look excited. She didn't even look happy. Tenten gave Gecko the sit command. The good girl sat. Tenten hugged her like she was her life line to this world.
Tenten patted the empty space in front of her.
Temari wordlessly sat down.
"Talk to me."
Temari could see that any trace of teasing, giddiness, or laughter left Tenten's eyes. She looked calm. This was a rare sight.
Temari let her emotional dam explode.
"I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about this."
Tenten hummed. She was listening.
"I've never had anyone feel this way about me. In high school none of those boys were serious. It was all about making out and touching boobs for them. In college dating was so different. Everyone was stressed about classes. It was more having someone there with you to study and occasionally hook up. Then when work started I absolutely did not have time for any relationship. Sex. There was nothing else there. Just sex."
Temari paused. She bit her lip.
"I'm scared."
Tenten was grateful for Gecko being next to her. She didn't mean too but she squeezed the giant tightly when she heard those two words. The Temari she knew wasn't afraid of anything.
"That's ok."
Temari didn't look so sure.
"Even if you're not sure you love him. You really like him. And that's ok."
"Is it?"
"Of course! Emotions are weird as shit."
Tenten's reassurance was welcoming. She still felt stupid though. Tenten could sense it. So she did what any good friend would do. Distraction.
"So I don't mean to take away from our serious talk. But I can see you don't want to talk about this anymore. I can tell you how your nephews managed to embarrass me and score a hot date."
The fact Temari sat up a bit straighter, Tenten knew she had her attention.
~Flashback~
Tenten, Yota, and Shinki were on their own. By their count they had spotted 15 different butterflies. Equipped with their tiny magnifying glasses and determination the trio were unstoppable. They literally didn't spot. Or look up.
They looked through their glass and slowly inched their way through the plants and trees.
Yota was the first to bump into another person.
"Hey you're blocking the way!"
"Excuse me?"
"Out of the way!"
"Yota stop being loud. You're scaring the butterflies." Shinki shushed his brother.
"No you're scaring the butterflies cuz your ugly!"
"That makes no sense."
"Does too! They have like a million eyes. So that's a million times they see your ugly."
"You're just mad because I've found the most butterflies."
That's when Tenten decided to jump in to try and save the poor stranger. His way out was blocked by two children arguing.
"Boys lets get our facts straight. I've found the most butterflies."
Yota and Shinki were quick to gang up on her.
"You did not!"
"Not true."
"Of course it is! I saw the one with the blue wings. That puts me at 7 butterflies."
"I saw that butterfly first!" Yota argued.
"Did not." Tenten shook her head.
"Did too!"
"Did not."
"Did too!"
Soon Tenten forgot the stranger. She entered a shouting match with a 7 year old over butterflies. Shinki soon distanced himself from the arguing pair to try and find more butterflies. Tenten and Yota noticed this and dragged Shinki back into the argument. The stranger was completely forgotten.
"Please move your children so that I may pass."
Tenten, who at this point had both children in a headlock, looked up from her position.
"My what?"
"Children. The ones you're currently hurting."
Tenten blinked slowly. Yota and Shinki looked nothing like her.
"They're aren't my kids."
"Yea she's not my mom!" Yota shouted angrily. Shinki struggled to get free.
"So you're abusing someone else's children." The stranger looked ready to call security.
"Their parent's know about this. Don't worry!"
The stranger looked very worried.
"Tenten let me go." Shinki grunted. Yota continued to squirm wildly.
"Not until you admit I've seen the most butterflies."
"NO!" Both boys shouted in unison.
The stranger started to walk away. Yota and Shinki continued to struggle and squirm. Once the stranger passed by he was suddenly yanked back. In the middle of the madness all four ended up on the ground.
With the stranger's face smacked against Tenten's butt.
The boys took offense on Tenten's behalf. They came to her rescue.
"Pervert get off of her!"
Shinki shoved the man off her.
The stranger was very confused how he ended up on the ground. All he did was try to walk away.
Tenten held the children back from attacking the stranger.
"Sorry dude! You alright?"
"No."
Tenten offered her hand. He took it.
Yota and Shinki gave the stranger dirty looks.
"I notice your headband. Are you familiar with Konoha's history?"
"Duh!" Yota rolled his eyes. "She has all the cool weapons from the old time!"
"She knows how to use all of them." Shinki huffed.
Tenten wiped out her phone. She was more than happy to share images of her play things. Before she could really dive in with her collection, Shinki and Yota started to drag her away.
"Come on Tenten. We gotta find more butterflies!"
"You've talked enough to the pervert."
The stranger bristled at the pervert comment. He didn't take the bait. He wouldn't get into an argument with a child. Tenten smiled apologetically as the boys forced her away.
"Sorry about everything!"
The stranger hesitated before following them.
"Perhaps we could discuss your collection more on a date."
Yota and Shinki started to drag Tenten away faster.
"Sure!"
"We have to go! Bye!" Yota shoved Tenten as Shinki dragged her.
"What's your number?" The stranger picked up his pace. The children were moving fast.
Tenten gave him her number. As the stranger typed into his phone the children, with Tenten, finally ran away.
Temari looked at Tenten.
"You gave him your number after he touched your ass?"
"First, it was an accident. Second, he's hot. Third, yes! My dry spell is about to be over!"
Temari snorted. "Yota and Shinki will be disappointed."
"Hey they got me the date. They're great helpers!" Tenten laughed.
"So who is he?"
Tenten took out her phone and showed Temari a picture. "His name-"
"Neji."
"What? How the hell do you know that?!"
"That's Hinata's cousin."
"Is that your employee who's the embodiment of an angel?"
"Yes."
Pause.
"Whatever! I'm still jumping him!"
"I'm not stopping you."
"Good. Cuz even if you were, I wouldn't listen." Tenten pouted.
Temari laughed. The two continued to chat about Tenten's upcoming date. Temari felt much better after their talk. She was certain she would act normal around Shikamaru the next time she saw him.
I liked how this chapter turned out. Writer's block is easing up a bit. Don't worry guys I'm not stressing myself over the story. I just give myself personal deadlines so I don't leave the story untouched for like 6 months. Which has happened before. Thanks again for reading and please let me know your thoughts!
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JaiFei