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The following morning Itachi awakes before Temari. He takes her in, along with the sun rays entering through the massive windows in his room. Reflecting back on the night before he may or may not have had some regrets. He understood he could be cold towards her, especially as of late. Fugaku was the primary reason why. Ever since he became 16, his father encouraged a more romantic relationship between him and her. At the time he recoiled from the thought. This was someone he grew up to even consider as an extension of his own blood family, practically a sister in a sense. As she matured, he did have to honestly admit there were attractive qualities she had. Regardless of the growing attraction, he wondered what motive his father had practically set them up. The Uchiha's already had a good relationship with the Sabaku's, so it's unlike his father to cross the line in mixing business with pleasure.
A buzzing sound stirred him from his thoughts now. Peering past the female beside him and locking on to the side table he noticed it was coming from her phone. Realizing this, he checks the time on a nearby clock.
8:05 AM.
Fully aware of the siblings moving to Konoha to look further into Gaara's alternative research he figured it was more than likely one of her brothers messaging her. Considering it was a Sunday and that Temari wasn't focusing on the marketing department of her father's company during this hiatus. She occupied a lot more free time to assist her youngest brother.
'Sunday.' Itachi repeated internally. Remembering that he has a conference call with the AB duo later today caused him to release a sigh. A happened to be his cousin, B's, manager. While Itachi didn't mind speaking with A, it was habitually B that gave him a head ache. The up and coming rapper gained a massive following and needed help managing his booming income now. A, being the more reasonable one, encouraged his cousin to start investing. While it wasn't unusual for Itachi to work over the weekends, it wasn't a preference of his either.
The same buzzing sound interrupted his thoughts once more. Curiosity getting the best of him he now carefully leaned across her in attempt to reach for her phone. Acquiring a more proper look at it now he notices the unsaved number on her Home Screen. If the area code of the number was from any other place besides him hometown he wouldn't have thought much of it. Seeing that it was though caused him to think of who it could possibly be. Knowing that Temari stayed within her same circle of friends due to Rasa's constant "keep your guard up" mentality drilling into the Sabaku's heads growing up.
Unfortunately, for him, this caused her to now wake.
"Don't tell me you were trying to kill me in my sleep," she poked and prodded at his side just between his ribs.
"Ha, ha. I was trying to silence your phone. You seem to be awfully popular this morning."
Visibly confused she checked her phone. Not wanting to make much of it, she brushed it off. Getting up to collect her clothes now she asks,"Want any coffee before I go?"
He detected her unusual behavior but refrained from displaying as such. "I'm fine. I do have a few conference calls overseas today. Shall we have lunch later today? You deserve a proper welcome to Konoha."
Without much thought she declines, "I'll be busy with Gaara and Kankuro today. Raincheck?" With this she steals a quick peck from him to not allow any protests. Much to her surprise Itachi allows her go on about her day.
Running his fingers through his loose hair, he pushes back the curtain of hair surrounding his face. After sending a quick text to his assistant, Shiho, he quickly types out a message to Temari.
Shikamaru 8:05 AM: Hey. Let me know what time works good for you today.
After tossing his phone to the side, he lies back down. He was supposed to go to the Haruno's country club later that morning. It was a reoccurring meet up between the trios parents in addition to Asuma and his wife, Kurenai. Most business was frequently discussed on the course, this same practice extended to politicians. The majority of laws passing happened to be in direct correlation to the golf course. Knowing that he's attended most of them lately his father shouldn't be too upset with him bailing. Besides, nothing much of importance was supposed to be discussed today, he figured he can miss out.
Thinking back to the hasty message he sent he suddenly snatches his phone previously discarded to the side.
Shikamaru 8:07 AM: It's Shikamaru by the way. I probably should mention that.
Instantly regretting the double text after sending it he gets up to make his way to his patio.
"I mean she is smart enough to figure out it's me… Right?" Saying this to absolutely no one he took the first drag of his cigarette.
Realizing how ridiculous he was being overthinking he wondered if this is what the other girls in his friend group felt. The anxiety of getting a text back or not seemed so juvenile to him, but with him in the hot seat it seemed to be the only natural reaction. Temari was just so different from the other girls in his friend group. Not in a cringe, "she's just like the boys" type of way but in a way where her connected with her intellectually. Every conversation they've engaged in turned into playful banter. He ate up her witty comments. In addition to this her overall mystique was invigorating. She was someone who said enough about herself to leave him wanting to know more.
Finally on his second cigarette he received a message. Checking his phone in anticipation yielded disappointing results.
Ino 8:38 AM: What is this about you not coming today? I moved my hair appointment to later today for this!
Seeing that it's merely Ino he places his phone back down. Receiving another ping he ignores it figuring it's just Ino blowing up his phone.
"Gosh Ino it's just a hair appointment," speaking into the morning air he extinguishes his cigarette before heading back inside.
Temari 8:39 AM: What type of girl do you take me as? I don't have random numbers hitting me up all the time LOL.
Now with something to smile about, he reads her message imagining the playfulness in her tone. Noticing the bubbles indicating she was typing his heart rate started to increase.
'I've got to stop with the lovestruck-ness, it's troublesome.'
Temari 8:45 AM: Here is my place. You can pick me up at 10 if that works for you? Just let me know when you're outside.
Her current location was sent along with her message.
Shikamaru 8:46 AM: 10 it is.
Once 10 rolled around Shikamaru was outside of Temari's building. With the timing matching perfectly she stepped outside.
Entering into his black Porsche Cayenne she gave a cheeky grin before stating, "I didn't peg you to be a preppy Porsche driver"
"Preppy?"
With her seatbelt finally fastened, he proceeded enroute to the botanical gardens.
"Yeah. I swear all of the guys I've encountered that have driven Porsches have a certain look to them."
Invested in this certain look he requested an elaboration on her end.
Twisting her body more so it faced him she began to rant, "You know how that Hyuga guy dresses! The pristine button up layered under a cashmere sweater. THAT is a preppy Porsche driver."
He couldn't help but chuckle at her analyzation of Neji. His infectious laugh filled the car causing her to giggle along with him.
"So then what type of car does an oil Heiress drive then?"
"What type of car do you think I drive?"
With a bit of thought, a few options crossed his mind. She could be modest and drive a Honda Accord to fall under the radar. Or how quickly she was to match Ino's catty energy she could absolutely surprise him again by driving some type of super sports car. He settled on something that could fall between instead.
With confidence he locked in his final answer, "A Range Rover."
"Oh my GOSH, no!" Falling into another fit of laughter, she managed to add, "do I sincerely look like the type?"
Not quite fully comprehending what was wrong with driving a Range Rover he then questioned, "So then what do you drive then?"
Collecting herself she answered, "I don't have a car."
Tearing his eyes from the road ahead he peered over at her. Adverting his eyes from the road, to her, back to the road, to her once more and finally landing back on the road.
"I wasn't exactly expecting that. I honestly was teetering towards a Honda Accord. You don't come across as the flashy type. I mean I only have this car because Ino wanted Choji and I to have matching cars with her our senior year of high school."
"You guys undoubtedly are the best of friends huh? Speaking of Ino, what's her deal?"
He didn't know where to begin to address that answer. 'What's her deal?' A general, a broad, a vague question.
"That's just how Ino has been recently. Trust me she wasn't always like this."
Temari noticed how carefully he addressed the matter. If she didn't know he was a politician's son, she would know simply by how diplomatic his answer was. Or she might have been reading into his response.
"What was she like before then?"
Once again she could tell how he carefully thought about the question before answering. After clearing his throat, he began, "She was more humble before we entered high school. She just got self-absorbed in high school. It amplified ten times over once we entered college though. I always blamed Sakura for Ino's sudden shift, but obviously placing the blame on her would be too easy. Realistically people grow and the individuals we were before when we were younger, they just aren't the same people that we are now…"
Trailing off he seemed to have come to a realization. The Ino that he might have loved romantically before just isn't the same Ino that is in the present.
Temari realized the sudden shift of the atmosphere and decided to steer the conversation in a lighter direction.
"I see… Well, that is understandable. It's life. People change, people grow. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. I think it's nice that you all got to grow up so close to each other like that. Not just the three of you but with everyone else too. Despite the personal changes you all have gone through you've managed to remain good friends. That speaks volumes, regardless of the personal growth."
He appreciated her optimism allowing her words of wisdom soak. This didn't last long though as he segwayed into a topic he wanted to uncover.
"Yeah I agree it's nice to have close friendships that last a lifetime. You and your brothers seem to have hung out with Sasuke and his brother growing up though. So you understand those bonds I'm sure."
Nodding slowly she shifted in the passenger seat now to face forward fully.
"Mhmm," she hummed softly, "Our fathers are alike in many aspects. That is how our families grew close. But you understand close family and friend ties. How is it coming from a long line of politicians anyways? Is it something that you sincerely want to do or did your father and friends influence your decision?"
His deep brown eyes widened at her direct question.
Noticing the shock on his face, she interjected quickly, "I'm not trying to pry." Now trying to soften the blow, she opened up, "I'm just curious because my own father has consistently tried to dictate what my brothers and I do."
"No I understand it's not coming from a place of malice. I just haven't had anyone ask me that. At least not so directly, the question of 'what made me interested in politics', yeah, but not if it's something I sincerely want to do." He tried to reassure her that he was not uncomfortable. Although subconsciously it seemed liked he was trying to reassure himself.
Releasing a soft sigh, he explained, "Between you and me, I'm not too sure if politics is for me. It's historically a controversial topic, so I'm constantly towing the line of either making history in a sincerely good way or a tragically terrible way. Not to mention the social obligations that comes with it and it feels like I've always been under a microscope all of my life. To put it simply: It's troublesome. If it were up to me, I would rather lounge around and do nothing."
"A lazy politician? I am not too certain that slogan of 'It's troublesome' will fair well during your forthcoming campaigns. Also, you will have to excuse me for interfering with what I'm sure would have been a relaxing Sunday for you, Mr. Nara."
He couldn't help but steal a glance at his passenger. Observing her smile beaming across her sun kissed skin caused a faint smile to form on his own lips.
"To be honest with you I ditched my prior obligations. A relaxing Sunday at the botanical gardens with you sounded less troublesome."
Unable to suppress the heat emerging from her now glowing cheeks she opted to focus her gaze on the window. Seeing the former city landscape farther in the horizon. They finally arrived at the botanical garden. After parking the car Shikmaru made sure to pay for their ticket entry.
Temari stared in awe at all of the exotic plants. Taking her time to observe their unique characteristics and pointing out each one to Shikamaru, stating the names of each. After a while of comfortable silence, he decided to ask her a question.
"Aside from plants what are you passionate about?" He felt confident enough to flip the question about life long dreams back at her. If he could reveal his authentic feelings when it came to politics he would hope for the same honesty from her.
"I have a decent understanding of what you and your brothers do from the girls gossiping about it at dinner before you all arrived."
Teal eyes rolled after hearing this. She wasn't surprised since chatter about her family behind her back was something she grew up with. However, this did explain the third degree questioning Ino gave her while Shikamaru was out smoking.
"Well you might have heard through the grapevine that Gaara is completing research on alternative energy. He has always been concerned about the negative impact the oil industry has on the environment. I thin that is why he has a green thumb. His love for our planet rubbed off on me. I think that is why I love plants so much." She continued, "Kankuro, on the other hand, is interested in anything that has to do with whiskey or bourbon. He has been trying to get more involved with our distilleries."
As Shikamaru walked along her side and listened carefully to her, he realized that she hadn't really discussed what she was passionate about but instead rambled about her brothers.
"Right, but what are you passionate about?" He reiterated once more.
Realizing that she went on a tangent she clarified confidently, "Making sure my brothers are successful. That Is what I am passionate about. I'll do whatever I can to be sure they excel."
He wasn't satisfied with her answer but wasn't going push any further.
"Family seems to be important to you."
"My brothers, yeah." She made sure to distinguish those were the family members most important to her.
Seizing the chance once again to change the subject she asks him why he decided to ask her out to the botanical gardens. She did not vocalize that she was apprehensive due to his motives.
"I wanted to speak to you more without the interruption of my, sometimes, obnoxious friends." He highlights the examples of such, "Ino and Sakura interrupted our first conversation at the bar. Then I could barely get a word in last night due to everyone shouting over each other."
She walked over closer to him now standing directly in front of him. Almost closing the gap, she teased him in a hush tone, "Mr. Nara it sounds like you want to monopolize my time now."
Answering back in a similar tone he simply states, "Who wouldn't want to?"
Now flustered at this she focuses more on the garden around them.
After spending 2 hours walking around the garden, the pair finally made their way back into the city.
Unbeknownst to the pair, a certain Uchiha was in the back seat of one of his cars as his driver navigated to a lunch spot. Itachi absentmindedly stared at the cars passing by trying to decompress after his lengthy conference call with A and B. Coming to a stop at a four way intersection he noticed a familiar face.
There sat Temari in a black Porsche. She seemed to be chatting away with the guy beside her. Her blonde locks bounced every once in a while as her hands corresponded just as animated as the expressions across her face. He couldn't withdraw his eyes from her, nor did he possess the desire to. Witnessing her as if she was stranger passing on the street, her beauty captivated him. It didn't help that seeing the pair interact made him feel as though he swallowed batter acid.
Finally ripping his eyes from her, he looked at the male driving. Instantly recognizing his go to pineapple styled hair he discovered who she was with. Despite barely meeting him a few times during social obligations, he knew the politician kid genius from the array of Sasuke's classmates.
Once the car proceeded past the intersection Itachi finally scoffed to himself.
'Busy with her brothers, yeah right.' He couldn't help but think.
Thank you once more for reading!