Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Shikamaru complained a lot about her. Sometimes he'd complain in front of her. But he realized after the first few remarks to keep his mouth shut for the sake of his bruised arm (complementary from her iron fan). Though, that never stopped him from making a few snarky comments under his breath while she was around.

And he never addressed her by her first name. It was always "that troublesome woman" or just "that woman," along with a hint of displeasure in his voice.

The one time Ino pressed a question about her resulted in him immediately shutting it down.

"She's a pain," he said bluntly. Ino decided best to let the matters go.

He didn't particularly like working with her either, but the choice was either working with her or face the wrath of Tsunade for deliberately disobeying the task he was assigned.

"It's not like I had much of a choice," he told Asuma at the time, opting for the less troublesome route. Apparently, she was the less troublesome route.

And he rarely smiled while he was with her. Actually, he rarely smiled in general. He always seemed uninterested about anything really, producing a bad habit of zoning out while people talked to him.

So, when Asuma witnessed him smiling he couldn't help, but stare.

It was at the Tea Shop, Asuma was with Kurenai and Kakashi, when he spotted two shinobis just a few tables down. Their distinctive hairstyles made it painfully easy to spot them in the crowd. Her back was facing him, but Asuma had a clear view of Shikamaru nonetheless.

Shikamaru was slouching back in his seat, his arms across his chest and head down. His brows creased slightly, and his lips were pressed together, the way they always do when he was deep in thought. But there was something off-putting about this picture.

It was his nodding.

It was weird because Shikamaru nodding implied that he was actively paying attention to her- as if he was enjoying the conversation. Then seconds later, his lips slightly curved upward.

It was a rather subtle smile. His lips barely moving in the process as if it took much effort to produce a proper one. And if Asuma had to ask, the majority would argue if it was even a smile at all because to most it almost looked fake.

And if Asuma didn't know Shikamaru the way he did, he would have agreed.

But it was his eyes that gave it away really. The way that his expression had soften and how his vacant stare had suddenly turn warm and light. His shoulders had relaxed and his breathing turned steady and slow. Yes, without a word, Asuma could tell that the smile was indeed genuine.

Later that day Asuma spotted, from afar, the two by the village gates. Their interaction was short. She waved and bid her farewell before walking off. Shikamaru, with his hands still in his pockets, watched the kunoichi make her way down the dirt path back to her own village.

"How is she?" Asuma asked as he approached his student.

Shikamaru didn't answer right away. Then he sighed. "Temari's fine," he replied before walking off.

Shikamaru didn't particularly like working with her, but perhaps it was just a façade he puts up since it was during their small interactions that made Asuma realize that he actually didn't mind her company.

Because for the first time, he called her by her first name.

So yes, it's exactly as the summary states. This is a fic of Shikamaru and Temari's relationship through the perspective of other people- ie their friends and family. And every chapter is dedicated to a different person's perspective. I haven't written in a long time so I'm pretty rusty, but I've had this idea for a while and really wanted to write it down.

Anyway, read, review and thank you!

J.R