Title: Windy Skies

Pairing: ShikamaruxTemari

Notes: I never thought I would write a fanfic about these two, but they are my absolute favorite (hetero) pairing in the series. Love these guys! Their chemistry is just really nice so, should make for a fairly interesting story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto (unfortunately) and parts used from the manga are Kishimoto's ideas soley. I hope I don't get in trouble for sort of using them.

CHAPTER 1: Cold Tea

Shikamaru swallowed the lump in his throat, his body tense with nervous anxiety. His body rocked back and forth slightly, his eyes unfocused and distant. His clasped fingers tightened around each other every once in awhile before relaxing, but then the process would continue again. His lips were tight, brow creased with wrinkle lines.

"Stop that. You look like an old man." Temari stared down at him, frowning as he didn't seem to hear her at all. "Shikamaru!"

The boy jarred in surprise, quickly saving face by donning his usual bored and annoyed expression, covering the obvious worry. "You don't have to be so loud."

Temari half expected him to mutter something about how troublesome it was. That seemed to be his favorite word. She smiled in amusement and handed him a cup of tea.

"Here, you look like you need it."

He stared at the foam cup awhile before taking it slowly. He sat back in his seat, holding the cup on his lap with both hands, still staring at the steam floating up from the earth-toned liquid. "…Thanks."

She smiled again, taking a seat beside him. He was still polite even in this situation. His best friend and a fellow team member in critical condition…it wasn't clear yet whether either would live. The responsibility of those lives had been put on his shoulders, and this is what happened. His very first mission. Temari glanced over at him. The same deeply concerned look had come back. He hadn't touched his tea.

"I'm sure they'll be fine. You did the best you could given the circumstances." Her other team members had left for home as soon as their payment was received. She wasn't sure why she had decided to stay, but she didn't regret her decision.

The corners of Shikamaru's mouth turned up a brief moment before falling again. He knew she was trying to cheer him up, but there was no way that could happen unless his friends were assuredly going to be well. The steam from the cup had stopped rising, less warmth emitting from around its form. He frowned even more before lifting the tea to his lips, the lukewarm taste none too pleasant but she had gone through the trouble.

Temari raised a brow. It had been a good 10 minutes since she handed him that cup, plus the five it took to return from the shop she'd bought it from. It had to be cold. "Are you sure you want that?"

He held up his hand for her to wait, still taking a long sip before settling the bottom of the cup on his thigh. "It's fine. I wouldn't be a very nice guy if I didn't drink it. I'd like to keep my reputation."

Temari chuckled, standing up slowly. "You don't want cold tea. I'll buy you another cup."

"No, its fine. That would be too troublesome." He glanced up at her before taking another gulp. The brief look on his face told her it wasn't pleasant but he was bearing it anyway.

She sat down again, shoulders hunched and fingers pressed between her thighs and the seat. It was incredibly quiet in this wing of the hospital. All except for the general whirring noise of machinery. The walls and ceiling were a pristine white, a few florescent fixtures patterned above. The floor was off-white tile, but waxed and cleaned so well it gave off a near mirror reflection. Even the chairs they sat on were vaguely comfortable, thin cushions providing some median between the cold plastic of the seat itself and their bodies. There was no real smell. None that could be described. It was the smell of most medical facilities with the occasional odd chemical scent. It was obvious Konoha cared greatly for their ninja. She was a little envious.

"Thank you." She turned around, looking a bit bewildered.

"Huh?"

"Thank you for back there." He looked over at her with a small smirk. She felt her palms get sweaty. "I sometimes forget the best action is to just take action."

"Oh…it was nothing." She shot him a grin. "You shouldn't try to plan everything when there's no time for it. You're vulnerable that way because your attention isn't focused around you."

Shikamaru snuffed, looking away and sinking back into his thoughts. Temari's gaze lingered a second more before she looked down at her lap, not able to think of anything but the bags under his eyes, the tiny scars and scratches he hadn't bothered to cover, and the exhausted look of his body.

Well reviews would be nice. :3 Chapter 2 is on the way!