Chapter 75
"That's enough!" Temari suddenly moves her legs, jarring awake the person whose head lay on her lap. She can't ignore the numbness on her lower extremities anymore. It has become too uncomfortable. Added to that it's getting late; the sun has dropped lower from the horizon, making a couple-like afternoon walk feasible. "Let's go," she rasps, shaking her legs more violently.
Shikamaru, left with no choice, lifts his head from his pillow, squinting irritably at the woman. "You could have done that gently."
"Crybaby," mocks Temari.
Shikamaru gives the woman a dark look before putting his head back on the blanket covered ground, and pointedly closing his eyes.
"Lazy ass," taunts Temari.
"Tch, calling me names won't change the fact that you can't even cure me of a simple headache," mutters Shikamaru under his breath, eyes still shut while his body remains relaxed on the blanket covered ground.
"What?" Temari's forehead knits into an annoyed frown. The ungrateful bastard! She has not moved at all, not even to wiggle to relax her cramp muscles for him to remain undisturbed. She has endured it –not just once but three times— until her legs felt like they're literally on fire and in the end he just mocks her efforts.
"Your father revealed that lady Tsunade had initiated ages ago, long before her self-banishment, the inclusion of at least one trained medic in every team in Konoha. Since you have not offered to make me feel better, I take it, you're not it."
"I'm not gonna sit around with a dead fish, you know," growls Temari, her face mirroring her irritation.
Shikamaru sighs. His head is still painful but bearable. The throbbing has been reduced. At least now it doesn't feel like it's being split open by a jutsu. The discomfort he had felt before had almost made him wish he has chosen the more troublesome path and asked Yoshino directly if she could cure him instead of enquiring for an inadequate medicine. Any mother would want their children to be well but tch not all mothers are scary like Yoshino. And anyway, he and Temari won't have stayed here all this time if that troublesome woman uncharacteristically volunteered to fix him.
Slowly, he hoists himself up into a sitting position, eyes only partially open as his face cringes in exaggerated pain, testing Temari, wondering if it will prevent her from hitting him.
Temari just glowers at Shikamaru, still smarting from his questioning her healing abilities. She can't help but sneer defensively, "But I do know a high level medicinal jutsu that has something to do with the deer." Smirking condescendingly, she adds, "It's a family secret so I guess I should show it to you."
Shikamaru conceals a smile. No painful thump has befallen on his head yet. Maybe Temari is not done showing him her kind side. That or she thought she has some trump card against him.
Tch obviously it's the latter. Oh well too bad about that advantage she thought she has. Shikamaru then revealsnonchalantly, "Oyaji has already shown some of it."
"Oyaji?"
Fuck! Oyaji just slips past his lips unchecked. "Yeah. Any complaints?" mumbles Shikamaru, blandly.
"I'm just asking," Temari utters just as dispassionately. "Continue calling him father. Shikaku must be thrilled."
"He's your father too."
Temari snaps, "I know that."
Sitting on the blanket, time pauses and then skips to a few minutes as they mutually try to shift to safer topics, talking about the techniques of the family jutsu, almost comparing notes but careful that they don't remark about the fairness or unfairness of their birth right. They already have agreed to be civil and Temari has clipped her tongue, refraining from asking how much time Shikamaru spent with Shikaku and what else they have talked about.
But still Temari silently wonders how much her known father and his real son regret not meeting sooner. Forcefully, she shakes her head purging herself of her unwanted thoughts.
Shikamaru, watching the nuances on Temari's face, sees everything. "Let's go," he utters, resolutely reaching for the picnic basket and handing it to the woman. As he stands up, he waits for her to put the remaining food, drinks and then the re-folded blanket back to the basket before retrieving once more the said container.
Conversation is almost non-existent as they walk back down from his relatively new discovered favourite spot.
Finally, upon reaching the town, only the buzz from the people loitering on the sidewalks and from the stalls fills in the silence. Shikamaru, carrying the basket between them, notices the difference in Temari's mood before their so called date and then now.
Sighing quietly, Shikamaru then murmurs, "At least smile. People must be watching us."
Temari scowls at the man walking beside her.
"What?" Shikamaru asks, acting oblivious.
Temari's step falters into a sudden stop. She wants to scream. First, he tells her he likes her then he reveals it's just part of the strategy to win over Yoshino. Then he divulges that he and Shikaku are having those father-son moments, obviously excluding her. God damn it, she's sharing to him her—his—mother then her father! The least he could do is genuinely like her. Furthermore, it grates on her nerves, making her so damn frustrated, that she's this disappointed. She's been telling herself all this time that there's no reason for her to be upset just because he doesn't like her. There's no fucking reason at all!
…Then why won't that part of her listen to what she's telling!
Watching the fleet of emotions—mostly anger—on Temari's face, Shikamaru has decided. He's going to act, feel, and say what he damn well pleases. She's gonna be annoyed no matter what anyway.
"Wait here," Shikamaru mutters, handing the basket to Temari.
Temari gives Shikamaru a vicious look but does not protest verbally, opting to just resentfully receive the basket. The way she's feeling right now, it's best if he goes away for a while or she'll be publicly thrashing his stupid ass, which will result in undoing today's difficult work.
—o0o—
Shikamaru is searching for a flower shop. This town must have one. The Suna shops only offer flowering cacti and plastic ones but Konoha is different. The lushness of the tress and the humidity of the place must produce those flowers that bloom beautifully in the pictures.
Actually he has always wanted to give Temari a gift whenever their birth date approaches but he has never done so. But today even when their birthday is still far away, the inclination to give her something—anything— is strong.
He still has no idea what best to offer her and a bouquet of expensive blossoms just seems to be the most appropriate at the moment.
If he can give her a good surprise…maybe she can forget whatever that's bothering her. The way he sees it her mood has changed when he mentioned that he's now calling Shikaku—oyaji—father—these days. It's his fault for revealing something like that at the time, sounding like he's gloating. He shouldn't have but then she will find that fact soon enough.
Finally, spotting a store front with buckets of colourful flowers spilling upto the side of the road, Shikamaru hurries; hastily opening the sliding glass door of the flower shop before he changes his mind.
It only takes a split of a second before the Suna nin recognizes the familiar face manning the counter, a profusion of different flowers simply lying on the table or lodging in vases in front of her.
"Ino," Shikamaru utters, the up tilt to his voice revealing his appreciation of seeing a familiar face.
The blonde woman lifts her eyes, meeting that of the new arrival, greeting him with a ready smile that easily turns into a frown as she remarks, "You look awful."
"Tch."
"You're buying flowers for Temari?" Ino suddenly scrunches up her nose. "Never figure you to be the flower-giving type."
The knowing look on the woman's face bothers Shikamaru. Maybe this is not the first time someone bought Temari flowers. Maybe even Sasuke purchased something for her here. Suddenly, Shikamaru's brilliant idea feels stupid. Guardedly, he answers a succinct, "No."
Ino raises one dainty, questioning brow.
"I know her enough to know she doesn't really think much of flowers but why don't you give me one of those." Shikamaru points towards the group of small pots littering the floor on one corner. The plants they bear are stalk-like tipped with small clump-like flowers. They are the most sorry-looking blooms found on the shop. If not for their vibrant purple colour, their grass-like appearance will turn off any potential buyers.
Ino ignores Kamaru, picking a simple bouquet of red roses and another one with an extravagant arrangement of pink roses, lilies and carnations. "This one or this?" she asks, waving one bouquet after the other.
Shikamaru mutters, "Don't you think those are over the top?" Then pointedly gesturing with his head towards the potted plants, he reiterates, "Just give me one of those."
Ino picks one potted lavender plants, smelling the profusion of tiny flowers. "Good choice."
Shikamaru gets the suspicion that Temari's friend seems to be laughing at him, making him feel like he needs to explain, "Tch, troublesome. It's purple. She likes purple." Damn it, he's not gonna admit that he almost purchased something similar to what the other guys courting Temari had bought.
Ino winks at Kamaru. "I like purple too."
Shikamaru chooses to ignore Ino's flirtatious tone. "It seems adequate. How much?"
"Consider it my gift to the newlyweds." Ino wryly twists her lips, letting Kamaru know of her displeasure regarding unexpectedly receiving the news about the nuptial. The mere pursing of her lips speaks volumes of her disappointment for learning fait accompli.
"It's my gift." Shikamaru reiterates, "How much?"
Ino pouts further. Lifting four fingers, she sullenly indicates the price in ryo. "Okay. But what can I give you as gift?" she enquires morosely as she skilfully wraps the purchased pot in clear plastic, tying a purple bow on top.
Abruptly, Shikamaru states, remembering something, "You're the medic in your team,"
"Yeah. You sound like you just discovered that fact. Remember I saved your brother's ass against that ugh puppet guy?"
Shikamaru nods his head. Recalling that time he fought together with Temari against Sasori's numerous puppets. "Of course, I remember."
Ino scrutinizes Kamaru. He looks terrible with his wan face, bloodshot eyes and unkempt hair falling on his hunched shoulders. Obviously he's sick and maybe even in pain. Apparent too that she's right… he's not the flower-giving type. "You're not here for the flowers are you?" she prevaricates candidly.
Simultaneously, it is then that they both feel the presence of someone outside the door.
Ignoring Temari's presence behind the closed door, Ino queries, "Are you here to ask for my help for that god-awful flu?"
Shikamaru looks at the door, noticing that Temari just stands outside with her back turned towards the shop. The troublesome woman has already ruined his surprise. The least she can do is enter and pick a flower she likes.
"Kamaru?" Ino waits for his reply.
Sighing deeply, "Yes," Shikamaru answers.
"Consider it my fond gift for a comrade then," Ino remarks, beaming at Kamaru, before glancing towards the door and noticing through the glass, the tense shoulders of her childhood friend.
TBC
~5 22 13, 7 29 13 A 13~