Sands of Time, Winds of Change (10)

Weee

---

There was a long silence as Asuma sat down next to Shikamaru, who was currently looking bored to tears.

"You know, they're thinking of promoting you for what you did."

"Hn." Shikamaru said.

"You might get your own team of Genins."

"Hn." Again, the bored, almost thoughtful sound.

"So. That girl." Was all Asuma said.

"...troublsome."

"What?" Asuma said, confused and glad that he hadn't said 'hn' again.

"They're all troublesome. Especially her."

"Is that why you went crazy? Because she was troublesome?" Asuma said, eying him carefully. He didn't want Shikamaru to see the smirk that was making his way onto his face, the stifled laugh.

"Hn." Again, with the not caring. Or maybe not knowing?

"Listen, Shikamaru. I know that's she's different to you. You don't need to deny it."

"It doesn't matter. She's dead." At this time, Asuma let out such a booming laugh that Shikamaru looked at him like he was a maniac.

"You've got to be kidding me! She's in the room right next to you!" Snorted Asuma, after he had finished laughing. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.

"Is she..."

"She hasn't woken up yet." Asuma said, resuming a small frown. "Sorry." Suddenly the door opened.

"Shikaku! Nice to see you. I assume your wife is well?"

"Unfortunately." Shikaku said, frowning. "How's my son?"

"Still the same as always."

"Still lazy?"

"Yep." Asuma said.

"Damn." Shikaku said, with an amused grin.

"I'm right here. How troublesome." Shikamaru said with a grimace.

"Congrats on being a hero." Shikaku said with a proud smile. Asuma left.

"It's so troublesome." Sighed Shikamaru, rubbing his arm.

"You're worried about the girl, aren't you? The sandnin? The pushy one?"

"...troublesome!"

"Listen, Shikamaru." Said his father, putting an arm around him. "Us Nara men are destined to be with tough women. Ones who are gonna have us whipped for the rest of our lives. So you better tell her when you have the chance."

"Why do you just give up to her like that!" Shikamaru moaned. "You could be the tough one if you tried! Technically, if you stopped being so troublesome and stood up to her, maybe she'd just give up!"

"Stop being a smart-ass. You know your mother. She'd stab me before I even said her name."

"What a drag."

"Yup."

"Hn."

"Well, I better get home and tell your mother you're awake before she—"

"Whips you."

"Pretty much."

"Bye." Shikaku left, blissfully not caring about how his wife had him on a short leash. Shikamaru moaned, and gazed out the door. It was late, and none of the nurses were scattered around, discussing patients. He tested his foot on the ground. Stable. He got up with a grimace, clutching his arms, and slowly walked to the door. He made sure the coast was clear, and darted as fast as he could (which was not fast with multiple bandages all over his body) into the door to the right of him marked 'Temari – Foreigner'. He walked over to her slowly.

There she was, lying down in the bed, eyes closed, fan broken and sad-looking next to her. She had a small, calm smile on her face (which scared the crap out of Shikamaru – she looked un-evil!). She looked NORMAL. Shikamaru's eye started to twitch.

"That's so creepy." He muttered. He sat down in a chair by the bed, staring at her, occasionally letting out a sigh of boredom.

---

Shikamaru was completely discharged from the hospital two days later. Temari was still unconscious. He was starting to get worried (something that COMPLETELY went against Shikamaru's code of living: watch clouds, steer clear from troublesome women, don't get in fights if you can help it). He had only left her room once, to go home (to which his mother scolded him for not doing so IMMEDIATELY, never once thanking him for saving Konoha). He had finally gotten an idea, and it again went against his code of living.

Disobey his father's orders.

Take the Nara Clan Medical book.

Now, the Nara Clan Medical Book was a book that held deep secrets and treatments of shinobi. It had been in his family for generations. His father never let him touch it, or look in it for that matter.

Not that he usually cared.

But Shikamaru was not acting the same as he usually did, now was he?

And he was DESPERATE.

So after taking it easily while his father was tending to the deer, he opened it to try and find something that would wake Temari up. It took him hours to read through the book, until he came upon a cure that seemed to do just what he wanted it to do. He smirked, and closed the book.

"Now to find an antler..."

---

YAY FOR DEER ANTLERS!
WudaiMarsWind