Too Sexy for a Shirt – 2
By: Clever Audrey
Disclaimer: I do not own.
Warnings: Randomness?
AN: This one's a bit strange, but it works, I think. :)

Temari had not been surprised when Shikamaru showed up in Sand one hot (how unusual!) afternoon. He was Konoha's ambassador, after all, and they'd been told to expect him sometime that week.

She was surprised, however, to see him dressed up like a tourist in khaki shorts, hiking boots, the loudest Hawaiian print shirt she'd ever laid eyes on, and a camera slung around his neck.

She raised an eyebrow at Konoha's laziest and smartest chuunin, who returned the gesture with a bored look.

"Ino," he said by way of explanation, gesturing at the camera. "She wants me to take pictures of the landmarks while I'm here. Apparently I ought to know 'where all the interesting stuff' is because I've been here a few times. Then Hokage-sama saw the camera and 'suggested' that I travel disguised as a tourist." He sighed forlornly. "It was too troublesome to argue about it."

Temari hid a grin and gestured for him to follow her further into the village.

They hadn't gone more than a few blocks, though, before they were suddenly surrounded by a crowd of children, all chattering and pointing excitedly at Shikamaru's shirt.

"Ooo! Look at all the colors!"

"Mister, mister, where'd you get that shirt?"

"It's so bright!"

"I wanna touch it!"

"Let me see too!"

"No, me first!"

There ensued a small shoving match, which Shikamaru eyed with growing alarm.

"What is this?" He asked Temari, blinking at the small throng.

Temari grinned. "We don't have many bright colors here. On buildings, they're scoured away by the blowing sand too quickly to be worth the effort, and bright clothing is hard to hide on a desert. Some of these kids have probably never seen anything as colorful as your shirt, except in pictures."

"Oh. Well, then, they can- Hey!" A pecking order apparently having been established, the children were now taking turns coming forward to touch and poke and prod at the eye-smarting shirt. Shikamaru tried to back away, only to find himself surrounded by more small hands from behind. "Hey!"

Temari snickered.

Shikamaru tried to glare at her, but couldn't quite summon up enough energy to make it a proper glare. He settled for annoyed, and quickly removed his pack and the camera from around his neck, tossing them to her. Temari caught both items, surprised, and then watched with even more amusement as Shikamaru struggled with all the kids for control of the shirt so he could unbutton it.

At last, he succeeded, and tossed the shirt away. The children followed the shirt, as he had suspected, and he raised a relieved hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

Temari had had a long-standing suspicion that Shikamaru was not quite as lazy a ninja as he pretended to be. The removal of his shirt had just proved her correct – he would not be nearly that well-built if he were half as lazy as he claimed he was.

At the moment, however, she was more interested in appreciating the sight than analyzing it. Plenty of time for that later.

I don't think I've ever seen him shirtless before, she mused – and then suddenly remembered that she was holding a camera.

Click!

Shikamaru turned to her with a peeved expression when he realized what she had just done.

"Stop that! And give me my pack – I'm not walking around this godforsaken desert without clothing. I'll turn red as a lobster in about five minutes." Temari tossed him the bag, and watched with some disappointment as he got out another (normal) shirt and pulled it on. That done, he shouldered the pack and looked at her expectantly. (He seemed to have forgotten about the camera, which suited her just fine. He was probably glad to be rid of it anyway.) She nodded, and they continued their walk.

Oh well, she thought, subtly surveying his now-covered back with resigned good-will. At least I've got a picture of him without a shirt on. The thought caused her to grin again, which made Shikamaru nervous, though he did not comment.

Maybe someday I can talk him out of it again.

AN: Hehe...more sexy boys with no shirts on. ;D For those of you who are shounen-ai fans, shirtless!Sasuke and Naruto are more likely to be found in some of our other stories. :) Just my fave het pairings here.
Up next: TenTen and Neji!