Something Like That
Dinner for Two . . . or Twenty?
On Stage
The Konoha and Suna ninja bowed, Neji pried himself away from Lee only to have Tenten glomph onto him, "Check it out! They love us! They love us!"
"You two are so troublesome!" Neji said.
"Hey that's my line." Shikamaru scoffed.
"It just seemed the right thing to say." Neji said, gesturing to his two comrades, Lee threw his arm around Neji's shoulders and gave the audience a "thumbs up" as if posing for a picture.
"All right, I'll grant you that . . . this time." Shikamaru admitted.
There was a strange moment of calm when the young ninjas came back to themselves, the intoxiation of being so heavily applauded gently waring off.
It was only the calm before the storm as reporters rushed them!
"Mister Nara, Mister Nara, Shikamaru-kun these fliers claim that the Hokage's aprentice Sakura, and the talented Shino would be playing Ramon and Julia, why the sudden change?" One of the reporters asked.
Shikamaru cleared his throat, "Sakura and Shino ditched at the last minute . . . to be married in secret."
"Miss Yamanaka, Miss Yamanaka, how did you come up with such a brilliant variation of the classical play?" One man asked.
"Dedication, blood, sweat and tears went into this work of art!" Ino cried.
"Well I had the idea to just improvise for everything-" Kiba was saying, but Ino slapped her hand over his mouth.
"Shino, Sakura, what do you say to the rumors that you skipped out on the show to be married in secret?"
"Cha, yeah right!" Sakura cried.
"Did you hear that, folks? Confirmation! They were married!" The reporter said in shock.
"What? No we're not! We're fourteen! I meant 'yeah right' in a sarcastic way!" Sakura cried.
Shikamaru smirked, that's what those two got for showing up late and making him play the lead.
"Ino baby, darling, who designed these authentic looking costumes your actors wear?" One female reporter wearing an extremely fashionable dress demanded.
"They're our regular cloths." Kiba said, but she shoved him asside.
"I did! I did, it was me! ME!" Ino cried.
"Shikamaru, Temari!" one reporter demanded, "is it true that you two have a secret relationship off the stage?"
"Who the hell are you?" Temari demanded, "If I had a secret anything I wouldn't just tell you, if I did how would it be a secret?"
"Does that mean that your denial is actually a confirmation?" A reporter demanded.
"I dunno, does your persistance mean you want to die?" Temari asked, leaning on her fan.
"Shikamaru, Shikamaru, what's it like kissing a girl who's so out of your league it isn't even funny?" One reporter asked.
"Troublesome." Shikamaru with a shrug and no hesitation.
"Ino, what do you say to the rumors that you and your troop of actors will be performing this very play before the Daimyo of the great countries at the next great conference?"
"The heck is a great conference?" Ino demanded.
"It's a conference. It's really great." Shikamaru said sarcastically and Temari snickered.
Back Stage . . . for the last time . . . kind of sad really
Shikamaru stretched, it was long after sunset, but there was still a few hours left before he needed to go home and sleep.
He just didn't have any idea what he'd do for that span of time.
He noticed Temari walk by with some of the other girls, chattering away. Damn women were so . . . well they were women and they sure were something.
"This was so much fun!" Tenten said, "I don't even care that Temari-chan kept beating me up!"
"Did I?" Temari blinked in surprise.
"You mean you didn't notice? Asside from when you were banging heads with Shikamaru, anytime you inflicted pain on another being it was Tenten. You really didnt notice?" Sakura asked.
"Not really." She said. The others kept on walking, laughing but Temari broke off from the group and came over to Shikamaru.
"Hey," She said, "Everybody is going to celebrate the success of the play by having dinner at some weird ramen place . Ino says she'll pay."
"Yeah I know. What I don't know is how they'll seat everyone, they've got about six stools." Shikamaru yawned. "Well it's troublesome, but I guess I'll go, I am hungry."
Temari smiled at him, "We don't have to." She said.
Shikamaru smirked at her, "You feel like some korean barbecue instead?"
"How many people in the party?" Temari asked.
"Just you and me." Shikamaru said, looking at Temari, trying to gauge her response.
She seemed as if she'd respond positively, but then she said "Oh I don't know. Might not look too good, you're still just a kid after all." Temari said.
"So're you . . . for a few more months." Shikamaru said.
"True . . . so I guess it is appropriate . . . for a few more months." Temari said. She smiled at him, "Alright. As long as it's just you and me."
"You mean we can't come?" Kankuro demanded suddenly.
"No you cant!" Temari said. "How long were you listening to us?"
"But . . . we have to make sure he respects you." Gaara said.
"I can beat him bloody with both hands tied behind my back if he tries anything I don't like! So go eat ramen!" Temari commanded.
Her younger brothers exchanged dubious glances, then nodded and went off with the rest of the cast. Temari looked back at Shikamaru and collected herself, "Are you asking me out on a date, Nara Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru's smirk grew, "Well since you can can beat me bloody with both hands tied behind your back, I guess I'd better say 'yes' . . . you troublesome woman."
At The BBQ
Shikamaru was a little nervous, he hadn't come here before without Asuma sensei or his team . . . he'd certainly never brought a girl here before . . . of course he'd never brought a girl anywhere, this was his first date! Was this even a good place for a date?
He saw Chuunin Examiner Mitarashi Anko, and Naruto's teacher Kakashi sitting together, Kakashi didn't look completely certain but Anko said "C'mon Kakashi, letting me take you out to dinner is the least I can do for accidentally punching you, and stepping on your foot, and then tripping you so that you fell on your face! It's not like this is a date or anything, I'm just trying to make amends!"
Shikamaru smirked, so at least he and Temari weren't the only odd couple here. Not that they were a couple . . . just like Kakashi and Anko, this wasn't really a date.
They were friends, they had been for some time now, they were just . . . just hanging out.
If they held hands, or kissed or something like that, then it was a date. But they werent, so obviously-
Temari squeezed his hand and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Damn.
Time to face facts. You're on a date. You will not say 'troublesome' out loud, and you will keep your eyes above her neck. Shikamaru thought to himself, remembering some of the dating tips his parents had always given him, even though he'd done his best not to listen.
Not Far Off
"She's holding his hand! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, ohmygosh!" Ino squealed, jumping up and down energetically.
"I dont get it, why'd you rat your sister out to us and tell us she was going on a date with our teammate?" Chouji asked.
"Because she wouldn't let us come." Kankuro said simply.
"But if it's a date they probably just want to spend a quiet evening together . . . alone." Chouji said.
"Like we'd let 'em." Ino and Kiba scoffed at the same time.
"And why are you here, Kiba?" Chouji asked.
"Look man, I dont have a girl friend, I've never been on a date . . . I have to live through Shikamaru right now, and as sad as it is at least I know when I go on my first date I wont screw it up as badly as he does here."
"Actually he's doing all right." Sakura said.
"And why is she here?" Chouji asked.
"Doing all right so far." Tenten said.
"And her too! Why is she here?" Chouji complained.
"They're girls. They care about this kind of thing." Shino said.
"And why are you here? Why is everyone here?" Chouji asked.
"Because we're romantics at heart, and we'll all do our part, to make sure these two can find love."
"Lee, why are you still rhyming?" Neji demanded.
"Because it's great fun, just try an easy one, beneath the starts spaklling and shining!" Lee said.
Chouji shook his head, "Seriously, her brothers have an excuse, and Ino and I are on his team, but how do the rest of you guys justify being here?"
Hinata raised her hand, "Um . . . because we're their friends and we want to make sure they don't get hurt? There are weirdos out after dark you know."
Everyone stared at her, "That doesnt even work as an excuse if we get busted, Hinata!" Kiba said, "Just admit it, we're all here because we're dying to see how far Shikamaru gets with Temari."
"Agreed." Most of the Shinobi present said, the exception being Gaara and Chouji.
Gaara just sort of nodded his head, and Chouji shook his.
"Look I'm not saying I'm not curious, but isnt a group this big going to have trouble following them without being noticed?" Chouji asked.
Ino frowned and put down her binoculars. She counted on her fingers for a moment then said, "All right, new plan! We're splitting up! Go by teams, Sakura you're with Chouji and me, try not to get us spotted with that great big warehouse sized forehead!"
"I won't!" Sakura said. ". . . and quit making fun of my forehead!"
Bit Later . . .
Temari smiled as she and Shikamaru walked together in the light of the full moon in Konoha.
She'd love to show him Suna some day, but she knew he'd be too lazy to ever go out there and see her. Konoha was all they had.
Not that it mattered, after all this was just a practice date, to get her ready for the real thing . . . since she went on so few dates, when she really did find the guy that she was destined to be with she wanted to know how to behave on a date.
It'd be kind of like this, only the guy would be her age.
Maybe. Really what was age if not a mere number designed around reminding one how long they had to live?
She squeezed his hand, and she was pleased when he squeezed hers right back. Judging by the moon's position in the sky it was getting late.
She didn't care. She wasnt tired at all.
She heard something familiar, the rustling of sand.
"Stop shoving!" Gaara's annoyed whisper.
"I didn't mean to, I almost fell!" Kankuro said.
Temari shook her head and sighed. She looked up at the tree branches above them, there was some rustling.
"Shh! Shh!" Gaara shushed Kankuro.
There was silence for about two seconds, and then "Do you think she sees us?" Kankuro asked.
"Forget it Kankuro, she can hear us at least! If only you'd learn to shut up!" Gaara hissed.
Temari put her hand on her head and said "Hey we've got company."
Shikamaru nodded, "Yeah, I know." He said, reaching behind a park bench and pulling Ino out by the collar, "It was nice while it lasted though."
"Oh-ho-ho, don't you kids mind us!" Ino said, laughing nervously.
More To Come . . .
Director's Commentary: Originally the final chapter they weren't shown actually going on a date. Temari would agree to go with him, the crew at the ramen place notices they're not there and does nothing, we fade out and then the actual ending events happen, the ones that keep getting put off. That's how it was supposed to happen, but when I was writing it I thought, "hey, let's just go for it and see what kind of fun we can have" so I did. Really this didnt give details on the date either. Didn't feel like it had to, I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out, and this does mean a couple extra chapters, more time to decide whether or not I want to do a sequel, and more material to work with if I do. The sequel of course still being quite unlikely.
But man what a lot of reviews for last chapter, I dont even think I can respond to all of them without doubling the length of this one!
Well yeah, Temari and Shikamaru forever, don't ever let the man get you down, huzza for you readers and fans! To the fans who rhyme, excellent, we can start an army of Shika-Tema rhyming stories!
To those who've read the whole thing in one sitting, or late at night when they should be sleeping I hope it wasn't too long. To everyone who just read and really liked the story, thanks for your support. This story isn't the biggest thing to ever hit this site, but it's certainly the biggest I've ever written, and it's not really even that long compared to some of my other works!
I really do think it has a mind of its own, especially when it was supposed to be over after ten chapters, now we're looking at at least one more, possibly two, and even the possibility of a sequel.
It's really great to have written this, and it's great to see that so many people enjoyed it, the rhymes sadly weren't really necessary for this chapter (though Lee is keeping the flame alive, he'll get help from a few others in the next chapter too) and I really didn't think there'd be any response, let alone a positive one to the tiny little bit of Ank/Kakashi but hey, if the story can scratch two itches that's cool with me.
Cheers!