Short chapter ahead but a must have for -The Enemy-

The comments guys, like I'm living for them right now! Thank you for your kind words and I'm just as excited as yall on how this will play out lol there are many ways to go from here so enjoy!

Enjoy

The faint clicks of wood against wood echoed in the hushed gardens of the Nara home. The birds stifled their calls surging among the skies as to not interrupt the battle below. Even the wind stayed still when the match began, sensei and student sitting on either side of the handcrafted shogi board. A thick trail of smoke blew from the downturned lips of the master his student lazily waving away the cloud, one he didn't quite enjoy getting in his eyes.

"You really don't make this easy for me, do you Shikamaru?" Asuma sighed bringing his hesitant hand back to his chin stroking his beard in frustration.

"That or you just don't know how to play Shogi" Shikamaru yawned, his remark halfheartedly counted as a taunt, plan set in place and simply waiting for him to play out one of the possibilities. Asuma returned his move finally with a sure nod and stumbled as his king was cornered, cigarette hanging off his lip in his surprise.

"Checkmate, again" pulling at his lips a small smirk of victory then a sigh, beginning to fix the board "can't really call it a win if you're to distracted anyways" His sensei slouched glaring at him with a slight warning.

"I'm not distracted, I'm just thinking" he grumbled helping set the board to its original position.

"About what?" Shikamaru already knew the answer, that being the faint red tint on Asuma's lips that he'd noticed when he showed up for his training, he'd said nothing and didn't quite care to know details of his visit before he'd shown up, yet he knew it had something to do with Kurenai. Asuma had sensed the faint glance at his lips and absentmindedly began to wipe at them glancing down at his smudged hand with a faint blush.

"Listen Shikamaru" he began, with all intent to defend against it, and leaned back when his student raised a hand showing his disinterest.

"You don't have to say anything, better I see than Ino she'd never shut up about it" he muttered crossing his arms

"She is already onto me about all the flowers I buy" They both sighed at the thought. Ino the team's snooping kunoichi who would have had a heart attack at the sight before her. With a quick recovery Asuma smirked and held the narrowed look of his student "Shikamaru when a man loves a woman"

"I really don't need to hear this do I?" Shikamaru groaned turning his eyes down to the board as if that'd stop the rumbled chuckle from his master.

"Your what thirteen? fourteen now? You'll eventually take this advice" He blew a thick cloud out with a breath and waited until his eyes glanced back up "trust me some day you'll get it" Shikamaru's eyes rolled.

"I get it, I just don't care" he huffed pushing a piece forward for a new game "besides woman are too much trouble always nagging and demanding" he paused and grimaced "And loud. I don't get why you'd even want to be around them they are just too troublesome" he grumbled. Asuma leaned into the board with a faint grin

"Shikamaru, you need to understand that although woman can be tough, we men can't live without them" confident in his words as his student grunted as if not believing him.

"You sound like my dad" his muttered glaring down at the board and pushing his next piece with a huff.

"They make us men better people" his smile tugged wider and he chuckled "you see Kurenai makes me a better man" when his students eyes returned to him, the slightest bit of curiosity hid behind his narrowed look, Asuma smirked at him knowing he had his attention "I've seen a lot of things as a shinobi you know, things I'd never imagined would happened when I was your age" he moved his piece slowly after a hesitant pause and crossed his arms again continuing "I've seen my comrades lose their lives for the sake of our village, I've seen war and with the Sand having turned against us you'll see it one day too" he sighed shutting his eyes a moment and listening to the slow drop of Shikamaru's move his attention focused on him "She well" he rubbed the back of his head feeling slightly embarrassed as he spoke "When a woman loves you she'll be there to help take it away"

"Take what?" Shikamaru eyed him cautiously at his unfinished words, his curiosity sparked at the mention of the upcoming war rumors.

"The memories" Asuma glanced past the board at him with smug grin at his interest then his face softened "She's one of the reasons why I protect our village, I want to able to come back to her" Shikamaru straightened although still confused, not really something he was used to, seeing this Asuma chuckled moving his next piece "when you love a woman don't wait to tell her or kiss her" At the mention Shikamaru snorted and turned back to the board "you haven't kissed a girl yet have you" a statement rather than a question answered by annoyed groan and a rough push of his next piece

"Why would I want to" his sudden hesitance to answer prompted another smirk from his sensei "it's not like I'm being swarmed by girls anyways" his ego taking a bit of a bruise at the truth behind it.

"Maybe if you didn't call everything a drag, you'd be more popular with the ladies" Shikamaru remained silent as he waited for the next move, interest slowly waning. Asuma sighed at his avoidance "when you meet a woman who you can't get out of your head don't hesitate" When he met his students slow return to attention he leaned down and moved his next piece "and don't overthink it either, just trust your gut when the time is right" he smirked as Shikamaru's glare returned to the board and pushed his counter against his defense "and knowing you, you'll probably find a troublesome woman" dark eyes returning to his sensei he groaned annoyed where the conversation had ended up going.

"If I ever look for one, she'll be quiet" he grumbled resting his chin on his hand "I can't stand loud women" Asuma laughed before he could finish and prompted another sigh from the student.

"Shikamaru, we don't choose who we fall in love with, the red thread of Fate is very specific on that" Asuma grinned "trust me when I say this" he leaned into the board drawing the attention of Shikamaru who's eyes narrowed in irritation "when you see her, you'll know she's the one, because you won't be able to get her out of your head" another laugh from his sensei at his groan.

"It's your move" he muttered looking away from the board and into the garden, the sudden breeze shifting the chimes above and droning out the amusement from Asuma.

Teal eyes slowly opened heavy as they were they parted for her sudden command. Her breath began to steady she could hear now, soft ringing from her cries, the splashes of raindrops, a soft breath nestled beside her. She blinked and her body went rigid at the sudden tighten around her arms, she was alive still. He didn't betray her as she initially thought, once again he had a chance and chose to let her live, she instantly thought Shikamaru too fragile to be a captain.

It's been like this for years, he'd always avoided as many deaths as possible, if it meant a retreat, he'd take that over a battle to the death. A death of any of the royal members of Suna meant a war, one solely meant for revenge. He seemed to know that if he killed her, he'd be starting the true war they had been working on for ten years. So why was he holding her? She remembered vaguely her mother hugging her when she had fallen once, she had cried, and her mother simply held her until she had stopped. Her eyes widened slightly as she began the slow push away from his shoulder, she was in pain, and he had held her until she stopped.

Temari spoke and he tensed as if she'd woken him up and pulled back as her arms slid down from under his cloak retreating to her sides. She stood still before him eyes demanding his lowered gaze, and when they met, she felt that undesired heat rise again but she pushed past it with her curiosity as to why he had done such a thing, again. He had been serious about his words against the war. She felt weak almost embarrassed the moment she desired to lean back in and hide away from the world, like when she was a child. The idea scared her more than Gaara used to, showing weakness she couldn't do that a second time in front of him.

Yet she weighted her options, Gaara's injury being revealed, the impending war against the Land of Earth, killing a commander of the Leaf's forces, hiding away in his embrace again, kissing him. Though she remained still physically, mentally she just about burst into flames at the thought, maybe one that'd be alright, right? Killing him would be a good start, then again, she still needed his army. She'd always liked him though if anything respected him, but he was her enemy. He'd embraced her and held her in a time of need, but he was now staring at her, patient as always.

He had always stared every time their paths crossed, from some form of fascination or caution she couldn't figure out even now. He'd keep eyes on her watching almost protectively during each battle, either she had worked her ability to well, maybe, the taunting and enticing smiles to win a man's heart, or he had simply wanted to avoid her wrath, she had plenty of that too. He knew what war meant yet he was soft when it came to proclaiming it against her, either he was a wise man or a coward for avoiding it. Years of their battles of wits, she knew he was always watching to find a way to slip away from anything that could change those tides, all the chances he had to strike Suna down and he instead opted to steer his army against it, taking the defense against her offence.

Just like he seemed to do now waiting for her move to find a way to slip away. She could choose to agree, she fought the war for the sake of her country same as him, maybe this alliance could finally last, leaning her chin up she held his gaze under hooded eyes. All she needed was to lean in give him some of her trust.

Then again Temari was known for her wrath.

Her lips turned, her mistrust returning, and her arm pushed forward sending a firm jab into his vest and he winced leaning forward in his surprise. She rested her hand on his neck, her cold fingers slowly cupping over the skin and rested his head on her shoulder. She could have teased him mocking his kindness to what he did, but she didn't allow herself, she felt small, and it made her uneasy. She almost felt nervous around him and in turn had to turn it around for her to take control. He was a man to be respected, someone who she didn't want to let go, someone she could possibly trust. Temari admitted to herself she might possibly like this man enough to know that if she killed him, she'd remember it. She didn't like to remember anyone's death. Once again, she owed this man, and she hated owing anyone. She leaned towards him speaking gently, she was thankful truly for his compassion, yet she forced a hint of a demand for his attention out of habit. Not like he had a choice in his position to not listen to her.

"Shikamaru" when he tensed, she grinned slightly, just a little trust could go a long way she'd give him that "Thank you" Temari momentarily thought back to his embrace, warm and gentle, holding her in her fall. She'd give him just enough trust, but not enough to turn it against her "But if you ever tell anyone" her grip tightened on his neck, her lips turning to his ear trying to force the heat to still on her cheeks, she was enjoying his closeness a little too much, once again she felt worried like she'd get deceived by him for showing her gentleness "About this I'll have to kill you, and I don't want to do that" Truthful in her words she raised her hand from his vest and pushed him back slowly, biting her lip at the site.

She'd expected an uncomfortable reaction, but Shikamaru looked more like she'd told his secrets to the world. Brows furrowed in the same unease as when she'd tease him and he glared down at her to prove her point. She couldn't help the tug on her lip, and she grinned, then Temari laughed, her smile pulled wide and pure amusement left her. She lavished in his unease his reddened cheeks and his eyes that showed his embarrassment to his sudden takedown. Yet it didn't feel like she was mocking him she was laughing in a way she only would to those close to her, but not at him, well maybe a little. His face fell and he stared at her, awed and serious, before she could even notice she felt hands wrap around her cheeks, firm and soft in his grip, and her lips falter as they pressed against his.

Temari's eyes widened as she stared into his glaring dark eyes, the same eyes who stared back at her many times before. Of course, she'd beckoned them at the time, forcing his attention to her for her own control. Now she felt drawn in as if he'd laid a trap just for her, and that almost frightened her. In the uncertainty she pressed her eyes tightly together and teared her lips back pushing away, her cheeks cold as the rain fell back onto them. He slowly straightened but held her cautious wide-eyed stare with an unwavering glare and a smirk. He'd made his move and she was next.

What could she say in her panic? Absolutely nothing, not even a single word could be formed under her burning cheeks, so she chose her only option, her fist bawled, and she threw it towards his smug grin.

So much for thinking on your feet, he'd planned it all out, she forgot he was a genius for a second. His arm was ready and caught her wrist in a tight grip, saving himself with her hesitance to make a choice and probably a black eye. Shikamaru pulled her close and turned his gaze down to meet her surprise. The tips of his fingers rested gently under her chin leaning her lips towards his and when she stared back up his gaze softened awaiting her to slowly part her lips and lean up. Her eyes grew heavy, his lips establishing the lead when the touched, taking over her sudden scattered thoughts, and she sealed a hint of trust as she pushed up into him.

She could have fought but it seemed to, as he'd put it, troublesome.

Either he was the bravest man alive or the stupidest idiot ever to tempt a goddess to obey under his hold. She didn't quite care to muse on it now, shocked as she was, she willed her body to press into his, towards the lips that suddenly trapped her, captivated in her sudden need to be closer. His fingers glided around to the back of her neck and pulled her into him with a sharp inhale as if to steady his breath. Temari tensed under his hold and allowed her lips to part for his command to slip his tongue inside and prompt an involuntary moan from her. A short hesitation followed from his stilled mouth and he slowly pulled back.

His hand loosened on her wrist and fell to her back tensing as he pushed her towards him, but as he did, he moved away from her lips and glared down at her, his hand at her neck slipping to her cheek to brush away the fallen rain. Chest heaving under the cloak Shikamaru hesitantly searched her widened eyes resting a moment on her parted lips as she looked up silently at him, words still lost. He loosened his hold and stepped back his action creating a sudden coldness to her shuddering body.

"That's for punching me" He muttered and turned his back to her setting his pace to the captain's tent, surprisingly still upright unlike some of the others in the camp. Temari was sure she looked stupid, mouth gaping, eyes wide, arms dropping slowly to her sides, standing in the rain as she stared at his departure. She was panting, from the kiss still lingering on her lips or her sudden embarrassment that she wasn't in control she couldn't quite decide.

I just love a good cliffhanger

Don't you?