Last Time:

"What about the cameras outside of the house?" Sasuke asked. "If I remember correctly, there should be some cameras set up on the light posts living the main driveway up to the house. I doubt Aunt Kushina would let them disable all the cameras at the same time."

"I'll ask Shikamaru to look at them," Naruto said as he pulled out his phone.

In Nozomi's room, she closed her laptop and picked up her phone. She dialed a number, and after two rings, someone answered, "Do you know where Nara Shikamaru lives?"

"No, but I can figure it out," the man on the other end answered.

"Great." Nozomi smiled, "Find him. I don't need them identifying you because you neglected to do your job as diligently as you should've been."

"Yes, ma'am."

Opposites Attract: Chapter 56 – Crossing Lines

Shikamaru let out an irritated moan as he felt around on his nightstand for his ringing phone. Once he found it, he forced himself to sit-up on the edge of his bed and lazily bump a cigarette from the carton resting by the nearly overflowing ashtray.

He yawned and answered, "Nara Shikamaru."

"I didn't wake you, did I?" Naruto's voice came through the other end.

Shikamaru held the fresh cigarette between his lips and searched for his lighter, "I think you already know the answer to that." He opened the top drawer of his nightstand and sifted through discarded notes, half-empty pens, and worn pocket notebooks. He found a light, lit his cigarette, and took a long drag before tossing the lighter onto the nightstand and releasing a satisfactory cloud of smoke, "What can I do for you today?"

"I'm sure you've heard that the fire at my parent's house was set deliberately?" Naruto questioned.

Shikamaru flicked some ashes into his ashtray and scratched his forehead, "I had a hunch, but it's nice to have confirmation. What do you need?"

"Can you gain access to the security cameras lining the driveway? The ones on the light posts? Sakura-chan was saying that Okaa-chan was in the middle of having the security system updated, so the cameras attached to the house were disabled earlier in the day, but there's a chance that the cameras outside the house were still operational," Naruto explained.

"I'll take a look." Shikamaru took another drag of his cigarette, "We tried keeping our ears low to the ground these last couple of days to see if anyone was bragging about torching the house, but we haven't heard anything."

Naruto sighed, "Is that so? Is there anyone specifically you've been looking at?"

"Not necessarily," Shikamaru confessed. "Whirlwind doesn't exactly have a shortlist of enemies, unfortunately. Fortunately, however, none of them are large enough to do any real damage, and I highly doubt one of the others amongst the Elemental Five is going to attempt to hit one of the pillars."

"Hm, true."

"So, there's no need to look at Master Gaara, Master A, Master Ohnoki, or Lady Mei," Shikamaru assured him. "It lessens the search field to Konoha, and though it lessens the spectrum, Konoha isn't small either. It'll take time."

"Well, there's no rush," Naruto assured him. "Like I said, there's a chance that the cameras on the driveway were still functional. If they weren't, then we're just going to have to keep our ears open and hope that whoever did this gets the gall to brag about it."

Shikamaru blew out another cloud of smoke, "If they're amateurs, they'll brag about it eventually." He yawned, then looked down as a pair of arms came from behind him and draped themselves over his shoulders. "I'll call you and let you know if I find anything."

"Thank you, Shikamaru," Naruto thanked him, "and sorry for waking you."

"You don't need to apologize," Shikamaru assured him and rolled his eyes as the woman leaning on him slipped his cigarette from him and helped herself, "I needed to get up anyway."

Naruto chuckled, "If you say so. Say hello to Temari for me."

"I'll do that," Shikamaru responded. "Give my best to Lady Hinata."

"I will. Bye."

Shikamaru hung up, and he watched as Temari laid across his pillow and put out his cigarette before releasing the last cloud of smoke. He eyed her for a moment, slightly irritated at not being able to finish his cigarette, and she simply responded with a snarky smile.

"Is that any way to look at your guest?" Temari teased with her teal eyes, prompting a challenge from Shikamaru. "I'm only here for a few days, so you aren't really allowed to get mad at me."

"Since when has that been a rule?" Shikamaru questioned as he climbed on top of Temari and pulled her closer to him. "If anything, you're always a pain in the ass."

"Huh?" Temari narrowed her eyes at him, "Is that any way to talk to your girlfriend?"

"I thought you didn't like being called my girlfriend?" Shikamaru questioned as he lowered his face closer to hers, and smirked as her cheeks began to turn bright pink. "What?"

Temari eyed Shikamaru. The slight smirk on his face with the condescending look in his eyes paired with his shoulder-length black hair that hung around his face rendered Temari silent. She looked away and poked her bottom lip out, "It's not terrible… being your girlfriend."

Shikamaru chuckled a bit, "I swear, you're so troublesome." He leaned down and planted kissed against Temari's neck while occasionally allowing his tongue to slip out and gently brush against her skin. Temari bit her lip to suppress a moan that slipped out, but she couldn't stop the way her body arched towards him.

"Isn't there something you have to do for Naruto?" Temari asked as Shikamaru's hand disappeared beneath the sheet.

Shikamaru eyed her, and without saying a word, he slid all the way inside of her. He enjoyed the way Temari bit her lip to keep from moaning too loudly, and he enjoyed the flustered expression on her face.

"He said there was no rush," Shikamaru told her as he began to move his hips. "However, if you feel that I should go ahead and do that now, I can."

Temari shook her head.

"Hm?" Shikamaru watched as Temari wrapped her arms around his neck, "What was that?"

"Don't stop," Temari moaned.

"Ah, that's what I thought you meant."

Shikamaru put Temari's left leg on his shoulder before leaning down and pressing his lips against Temari's. Her tongue found his tongue, and as Temari became enveloped in pleasure, she stopped trying to hold back her moans.

"Shi-Shikamaru," Temari cried as she clung to him and wrapped her legs around his waist.

Shikamaru groaned in the back of his throat as he felt Temari's insides pulsate around him. He bit his own lip and tightened his grip on his sheets as he tried his best not to climax. As he felt Temari lighten up, he let out a sigh of relief and pressed his forehead against hers, "You're not done yet, are you?"

Temari shook her head and gave him a sweet smile, "Not yet." She sat up and forced Shikamaru back onto the bed. She slowly ground her hips against his and bit her lip as her sensitivity was at an extreme. "Stay in today."

Shikamaru bit his lip as he ran his hands up Temari's thighs, "You know I can't."

Temari pouted, "Please?"

"Temari." Shikamaru sighed.

Temari shook her head, "Mm. No, you don't need to apologize. The timing of this trip wasn't… great. Sorry for asking."

Shikamaru could see the misty-eyed look lingering in Temari's eyes, and he let out a heavy sigh. He sat up and brushed a gentle thumb across her cheek, "Honestly, woman, you're so troublesome."

"Well, sorry," Temari whined.

Shikamaru shook his head, "That's not what I'm saying." He laid back on the bed and stretched his arms outward as he stared up at his ceiling, "Ugh."

Temari teared up, "If you're so annoyed with me, then why don't you break up with me already?"

"Huh?" Shikamaru watched as Temari climbed off of him and hurried off into the bathroom. He let a loud groan as he rubbed his face and rolled off his bed. He found his sweatpants and pulled those on before heading for the bathroom door and trying to open it, but it was locked. "Temari, open the door."

"No," Temari whined.

Shikarmu gently banged his head against the door, "Why are you so troublesome?"

"You're an ass!" Temari shouted.

"And you're a pain in my ass!" Shikamaru argued. "Open the door!"

"No," Temari reiterated. "Leave me alone."

Shikamaru sighed, "Temari, seriously. Earlier, you said that you're only here for a few days, so I'm not allowed to be mad at you, right? Well, the same goes for you."

"I'm not mad," Temari muttered. "I'm annoyed."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "Is that so?"

"Why didn't you tell me before I came that Whirlwind was dealing with drama?" Temari asked. "I would've rescheduled my flight and come later."

Shikamaru sighed and leaned against the wall beside the door, "If you came later, then it would've screwed up my plans."

"What plans?" Temari asked.

Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck, "I guess I should tell you since you hate surprises. That and you don't let me have secrets anyway."

"What're you talking about?" Temari asked.

Shikamaru shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants, "You see, a lot of the clans in Konoha are in their transitionary period where the current Clan Heads pass on their duties and responsibilities to their successors. For the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka Clans, they transition power to the next Clan Head at the same time, so in the Spring, Chouji, Ino, and I are going to be named the next leaders of our clans."

"So?" Temari wondered.

"I'll be moving into the Main House of the Nara Complex at the beginning of the year," Shikamaru confessed. "And that house is too big for me to be living in it alone."

The door unlocked, and Shikamaru watched as the door opened, and Temari poked her head out.

"Are you asking me to move in with you?" Temari asked. "My father isn't going to like that, especially since we aren't married."

Shikamaru sighed. He stood up and walked over to his dresser. He opened the top drawer and felt around the back part of it before pulling out a red velvet box, "I'm aware, and much like your parents, my parents are also traditionalists when it comes to a man and a woman living together under the same roof."

"Huh?" Temari watched as Shikamaru walked over to her. "Is that…"

"Now," Shikamaru waved the box, "I can ask you now, or I can ask you tomorrow on the anniversary of when I knew I was in love with you and wanted to spend the rest of my life with you."

Temari teared up, "Shikamaru."

"Pick, or I get down on one knee now and propose to you while you're stark naked. Then we have to become that couple that makes up the story of how I proposed," Shikamaru warned up. "Then, one day, while you're drunk, you tell our son or our daughter, the real story, and they never look at me the same again."

Temari couldn't help but laugh as tears began to roll down her cheeks, "I can wait until tomorrow."

"Good." Shikamaru kissed her forehead, "I love you, even though you're troublesome."

"You're such an ass," Temari whined.

"Yeah, but I'm your ass," Shikamaru teased.

"Ah," Temari rushed over to her suitcase and began emptying it, "I don't have a dress."

"Didn't you pack one?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yes, but not a dress to get engaged in," Temari whined. "And I need to get a manicure. Geez, why didn't you say anything sooner?"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes and walked over to his nightstand. He picked up his wallet and pulled out his credit card, to which Temari happily popped up and held out her hands, "Don't go overboard."

"No promises," Temari warned as she snatched the card before he could take it back. "Love you."

"Love you too," Shikamaru grumbled as he watched Temari float into the bathroom. As he heard her happily hum while the water from the shower began to run, he couldn't help but smile. Though he was slightly disappointed his "proposal" hadn't gone as planned, he was delighted that Temari had accepted.

He ruffled his hair cleaned up their discarded clothes while Temari showered. Once she was done, he showered with what hot water was left. By the time he came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, Temari was sitting at the mirror and putting on makeup.

"Is eye make-up a Sabaku thing?" Shikamaru teased as he brushed his teeth and flicked Temari's ear.

"That joke gets funnier every time," Temari replied.

Shikamaru chuckled and sat on the edge of his bed. He pulled up his laptop and began tapping rapidly, to which Temari couldn't help but crawl onto the bed and peak over Shikamaru's shoulder as he worked.

"Are you going out?" Temari asked.

"Yeah," Shikamaru answered. "I'll be down at Konoha Cultural Museum. It's quiet there."

"Mm, okay." Temari kissed his cheek and climbed off the bed, "Will you meet me for lunch, at least?"

Shikamaru nodded as he headed back into the bathroom and spit into the sink, "We can do a late lunch. Two?"

"Two works," Temari agreed.

After that, Shikamaru got dressed and headed out of the door with Temari. He hailed a taxi for Temari, who couldn't have jumped in fast enough. She complained about the cold, and Shikamaru teased her about the impending winter and snow that Konoha had every year.

"Snow?" Temari whined. "If that's the case, I don't know if I want to marry you."

"Very funny." Shikamaru closed her taxi door and watched as she rolled down the window. "I'll call you if I finish up early."

"Try and finish up early, please," Temari requested.

Shikamaru smiled a bit, "I'll do my best."

With that, Temari's taxi took off, and Shikamaru made his way to the train station. Luckily, the train wasn't crowded, so Shikamaru had elbow room, and when he arrived at the museum, the usual weekend crowd was touring the exhibits.

He greeted the usual employees and flashed his employee ID to the usual security guards before making his way down to the basement. Before the elevator doors opened, he entered in his employee ID, and once his ID number was verified, the doors opened, and he entered into the Konoha Cultural Museum's most expensive room.

Shikamaru was completely surrounded by pieces of literature and writings older than the city itself. Parchments, novels, and scrolls were stacked from floor to ceiling and stored in separate chambers in temperature-controlled rooms behind bulletproof glass. Not only that, each chamber required biometric identification, and the floor itself was said to be so secure that it could survive a nuclear blast, if necessary.

"Ah, Shikamaru-kun!" Shiho, the latest addition to the archivist team, jumped up from her desk and adjusted her ditzy glasses. She was fresh out of high school, but nowhere near as fresh-faced as she probably should've been. She had lengthy blonde hair that she kept tied back in a loose ponytail, with a few loose strands here and there. "I didn't know you were coming in today!"

"It was a last-minute decision," Shikamaru replied as he headed towards his desk and docked his laptop. "Are you working overtime?"

"No," Shiho answered as she scurried over to Shikamaru's desk and fiddled with her thumbs. "I was scheduled to work today, but there's not much to do today. I'm still in training, so I'm not allowed in any of the chambers unless Shukaku-sensei is around."

"Ah, that's right," Shikamaru muttered as he logged into his station and yawned. "Well, if there's anything in particular that you want to read, let me know. I'll fish it out for you. Just promise to be careful with it."

"O-Of course!" Shiho exclaimed.

The intercom buzzed, and both Shiho and Shikamaru looked up.

"Shiho-chan," the Assistant Curator hummed, "have you taken your lunch break yet?"

"Ah." Shiho looked at her watch. "I forgot. I'll go now!"

"Thank you," the Assistant Curator said, and the intercom clicked off.

"Will you be okay by yourself?" Shiho asked.

Shikamaru nodded, "I'll be fine. Go enjoy your lunch."

Shiho nodded, "I will. I'll be back soon, Shikamaru-kun."

Shikamaru waved, and Shiho grabbed her purse and left. With Shiho gone, Shikamaru logged into Whirlwind's private network and navigated his way through the copious amounts of information they kept compiled in various places.

It took him a minute, but he located the security footage for the main house. He began playing through the footage beginning at the start of the week, four days before the arson, and he leaned back in his chair and watched. There wasn't much out of the ordinary, and with plenty of people coming to the house in preparation for Naruto's party and the Kurama Festival, it was hard to pinpoint if any of them could've been a threat.

Even with the upgrades to the security system, Shikamaru didn't see much out of the ordinary. As the footage for October 10th began, Shikamaru heard the elevator doors open. He looked away from the screen and noticed a janitor with a cleaning cart come off the elevator.

"Oh, sorry," the janitor apologized, "I was told no one would be down here."

"There's no supposed to be," Shikamaru assured him. "Don't mind me, if you need me to move, I'll just get out of your way."

The janitor smiled and shook his head, "No, you're fine, sir. I've been told it's fairly easy to clean down here."

"For the most part," Shikamaru responded. He looked back at the screen and saw it was pitch black. "Hm? That's odd." Shikamaru began to rewind the footage, but in the middle of doing this, he noticed something in the reflection of his screen.

In that next second, Shikamaru grabbed his computer screen, whirled around, and hit the "janitor" with it and caused him to stumble. He didn't release his gun, however, and Shikamaru dove out of the way as the "janitor" began to shoot blindly at Shikamaru.

Shikamaru pulled open the drawer of the desk he was behind and reached inside. He felt around on the top part of the drawer until he found the gun, and once he pulled it free, he released the safety.

The "janitor" came around the side of the desk, and Shikamaru tackled him to the ground. Shikamaru took a bullet to his shoulder, and he gritted his teeth as he slammed the "janitor" into the wall of the nearest chamber. He tried to shoot the "janitor" in the foot, but he was caught by his wrist, and the bullet dug into the ground between their feet.

"I heard you Whirlwind bastards were resilient, but I didn't expect this from a museum archivist," the "janitor" snickered as he stared Shikamaru down.

"I'm usually full of surprises," Shikamaru said through gritted teeth before head butting the "janitor" and hearing his head crack against the chamber's glass wall.

Shikamaru stumbled back as blood began pooling from his forehead, and he watched as the "janitor" held the back of his now bleeding head. Shikamaru ran into him before he could recover, and knocked the gun out of his hand. Shikamaru kneed him in the stomach as hard as he could, and knocked the wind out of the "janitor," but he gritted his teeth and slipped a knife out from underneath his sleeve.

Shikamaru caught the "janitor's" wrist before the tip of his knife could wedge itself deeper into his side, and he let out a roar of frustration as he forced the tip of the knife out of his side. The "janitor" tried his best to overpower Shikamaru, but they were evenly matched as they struggled against one another, and the "janitor's" head throbbed from being slammed against the obnoxiously thick glass.

Growing increasingly frustrated with the situation, and beginning to feel the impact of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, Shikamaru twisted the "janitor's" wrist. He pulled the "janitor" forward, and with all the strength he could muster through his burning lungs, he flipped the "janitor" over him and slammed him against the ground. He dislocated the "janitor's" shoulder, but before he could relish in his victory, the "janitor" brought his leg back and kicked Shikamaru in the jaw.

Shikamaru stumbled backward and slammed into the wall of one of the chambers. He tried his best to recover before the "janitor" rolled over onto his stomach and scrambled for the gun, but just as everything stopped coming up in triplicates, his ears started to ring.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

"Fuck," the "janitor" cussed as he put his gun down and grabbed his dislocated arm, and popped it back into place. He let out a loud groan of frustration as he retrieved his gun and eyed his handiwork, "Tsk, and here she asked for quick and painless. That'll take a minute."

Shikamaru slid down against the chamber's glass wall and looked down to see his shirt was darker than he remembered. "Ah," Shikamaru coughed as he looked at the "janitor," "I messed up."

"Yeah, you did," the "janitor" agreed. He opened his mouth to speak, but he heard the ding of the elevator. "I guess I should go. Enjoy the afterlife."

Shikamaru watched as the "janitor" made his way to the emergency exit, and as the elevator doors opened, he saw Shiho exit. She looked up from her cellphone, and he simply managed a weak smile as she screamed and dropped her lunch.

"Shikamaru-kun!" Shiho rushed over and removed the white scarf from around her neck and pressed it against his stomach. "Shikamaru-kun, what happened?"

"My phone," Shikamaru requested.

"Huh?" Shiho watched as Shikamaru struggled to fish his phone out of his pocket. She helped him and watched as he used a bloody finger to dial a number. As the phone rang, she could see a picture of Temari come up on display.

"Miss me already?" Temari answered.

"I'm sorry," Shikamaru apologized and winced as Shiho pressed harder.

"Shikamaru? Shikamaru, what's wrong? Why do you sound like that?" Temari asked.

Shikamaru sighed, "I just wanted to hear your voice and tell you that I love you."

"I love you too," Temari responded. "Now, tell me what's wrong."

"Shikamaru-kun?" Shiho watched as Shikamaru's phone slipped from his fingers, and his head dropped. "Shikamaru-kun!"

To Be Continued…