Like all good things, his holiday had ended – and it was time for him to enter the workforce.
He found himself yawning in front of his breakfast, sitting across the table was his father – the man was an older replica of him, a bit more rugged, probably due to the large scar across his face. He was flipping through the newspaper while holding onto a half-eaten toast in his other hand.
His mother sat quietly and ate her breakfast, even though they had maids to help with the housework, his mother still insisted on cooking meals for the family – he had no complaints, his mother had decent cooking.
"Hurry up," his father said, still flipping through the newspaper. "You have to take the subway to work."
"Can't I drive?" Shikamaru arched an eyebrow; his father stared at him with a smile.
"Well, you could, but you probably won't be able to find a parking spot," he chuckled. "I told you, you have to earn your way up in the company, when you earn a promotion, I will assign a parking space for you in the building."
Shikamaru sucked his teeth as he ate his breakfast. "What a drag," he muttered.
His father shook his head as his son finished his breakfast quickly, taking his briefcase in his hand, he walked out of the door.
He cursed his luck as he boarded the jam packed train, feeling like a sardine in a can, he edged his way through men and women and finally stood in the middle of a sea of people.
It was at times like this, he forgot that everyone that reads entertainment news would notice his presence on board. He noticed – glances, hushed exchanges, even some squeal of excitement and clicking sound of cameras, he pressed his hand against his face.
"Oh my god, that is Shikamaru-kun," he could hear, as people started to turn and stare at him.
"My, he looks so cool," another sound, barely concealing her excitement. "I wonder what he is doing on the train."
He tried to block out the sounds, but several words floated through his mind.
Him. Hotel. Temari…?
He arched an eyebrow and turned around, hearing the sound of her name.
The two girls who were talking were caught by surprise. "He is looking at us, oh my god," the other one took a picture when
As the train arrived at his stop, he rushed off and walked as fast as he could, rolling his eyes, he reminded himself to avoid such trouble tomorrow.
He decided to look at his phone as he approached the office, trying to avoid the gazes of those staring at him.
As he stopped in front of a newsstand, he realized why so many people were staring at him.
Screw all those paparazzi, he thought to himself, as his eyes stared deadly at the fresh stack of magazine that sat there and stared back at him.
Star Magazine – BREAKING
Nara Shikamaru with Mysterious Hottie – who can she be?
The image burned in his mind- he was leaning towards her, the camera did not capture his smirk at the moment, she leaned against the wall, the camera captured only her blonde hair and perfect figure, but not her face.
The middle-aged lady stared at him with quite sufficient amusement.
"Do you need a copy?" She said, barely containing her laughter. "I can give you one, for free."
He cursed silently as he fished out several coins from his pocket, and placed it in her palm, his other hand quickly swiped a copy of the wretched magazine as he hurried his way back to the office.
He entered the tall glass building, and headed quickly to the elevator.
He sighed in relief, as he travelled upwards alone, giving him some time to glance in the contents of the magazine – a bunch of nonsense, he rolled his eyes as he exited the elevator, clutching the magazine in his hand.
His co-workers stared at him in awe, before turning back at the computer monitor.
"You are a bit late, Shikamaru," he turned to the origin of the voice, and he could not help himself but smile at him.
"Asuma," he shook the man's hand firmly. "It has been a while."
"From being your tutor to now," the man smiled at him warmly. "It will be great to have you work in my department."
"I heard, you are my supervisor," he smirked. "It will be a drag, but I will make sure that you don't lose your job over me."
The bearded man laughed warmly. "Well, you better get yourself to the induction briefing."
He nodded as Asuma walked away. Shoving the magazine into his drawer, he straightened his jacket and headed to the meeting room.
Temari was secretly amused, seeing that magazine cover, and seeing her manager freaked out over her little outing.
"How…oh my, what if those reporters found out that he was in fact talking to you?" Tenten was pressing her hands against the back of her head. "I was just walking away to go to the washroom, and then this happens…"
"There is no need to be so harsh on yourself," she smiled at her manager. "Things like this happen all the time, besides, they haven't realized that it was me, right?"
"Your publicists will be screaming if they found out it was you – I mean, they are still working so hard to increase coverage on the new found gossip to boost the talking point of your upcoming movie."
"I'd rather you not mention it, Tenten," Temari shook her head. "Only thinking about him gives me nausea."
"Well, you will probably not see him again after the premiere for quite some time," Tenten smiled weakly as an attempt to encourage her. Temari replied with a faint smile.
"It is difficult to forget something so excruciatingly annoying," she sighed, she stood up and stretched. "But it will end tonight, anyways."
Temari took one last look on the magazine cover, she remembered the face of the man in the photo, he arched an eyebrow, with a proud smirk.
She would have thought of something clever to retort, if he had not acted so suddenly, he seemed to be at peace most of the time, his sudden flirtation was barely within his character, it sent her heart racing.
She had not feel something like this for quite some time now.
And just as she thought that he was going to seal his name as 'pervert' by advancing a kiss on her, he pulled back and returned to his former self, peaceful, calm, nonchalant.
There was something special about him that made him linger in her mind - he is a challenge. An impossible puzzle, like a heavily tilted chess game.
Temari smiled as she looked away from the cover of the magazine, and walked out of the room.
"Troublesome," she muttered. "Yet interesting."
Shikamaru went home in the evening, kicking off his shoes and walking into the living room, he sunk himself onto the sofa, as he pressed his hand onto the television remote.
He flicked through different channels like pages of a book, suddenly, his finger paused, when he saw a familiar face on the television.
"Entertainment Today – Temari and Hidan on the red carpet! Things seem to be looking great for the Bad Boy, striding proudly in his dark red suit with his arm candy, the gorgeous Temari, dressed in a custom made black gown…" The voice of the narrator faded out as Shikamaru stared, in a trance, at her beautifully painted face, the confident grin that complimented her shining green eyes, all of it seemed perfect … except for the man by her side.
He could tell from a single look that the man was simply a pile of muscle, a pile of well-trained, toned muscle with an empty skull.
And the looks he gave her – what kind of a decent man would stare at his date's clevage, in front of the cameras?
"Troublesome," he decided to change the channel again; leaving the television on, he walked to the bathroom.
He tried to get the image out of his mind as he washed himself clean under the running water, in the mixed smell of soap and tap water; his mind was foggy like the hot steamy bathroom.
As he emerged from the bathroom, wrapping his lower half in a white towel, his well toned chest and abdomen tingled in the slightly cool night air inside the house.
Wiping his dripping dark hair with one hand, he swiped up his phone from his bedside table, arching an eyebrow to see that he received an email.
It was almost surreal, as he opened and stared in awe at his bright phone screen.
Call me tomorrow after you got off work.
Temari
"Troublesome," he muttered, unaware that a smile had crept up his face, turning to the clock, he realized that it was still early at night, and he decided to take his chance.
She shifted uncomfortably in the darkness, not sure what to feel as her character leaned against Hidan's chest on the large silver screen.
Temari was trying to avoid Hidan's burning gaze, which occasionally moved from the silver screen to her face, her cleavage … and god knows what.
Then suddenly, her phone vibrated in her purse. Once.
She took a peek, and there it was, a message.
Looking for me?
She smiled with her perfectly painted lip, as she shoved her hand in and typed.
Thanks to you, I am in hot water with my manager and publicists, not fun.
She could picture him sucking his teeth, as she turned her head upwards and stared at the silver screen, just enough time to skip the passionate make out scene between her and Hidan.
Another vibration.
She peeked again, and smiled.
You want to meet me tomorrow?
She smirked and reached for her phone again.
Just want to discuss some damage control, NBD.
"Who are you texting?" Hidan asked with a hushed voice. "You just missed our hot scene, babe."
"Trust me, I'd rather not see it," she smiled as she spoke each word like throwing knives at him. She turned back at her phone.
I will see what time I get off, call you tomorrow.
She smiled, the movie flew past her eyes, without paying much attention, the lights began to turn brighter, as she stood up with Hidan and the rest of the cast and accepted congratulations from the audience.
Cameras began to flash and record, her smile was ever constant, not even flinching when Hidan wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss on her hand.
His actions only triggered more flashlights and boggling lenses.
Temari stood there, proud, beautiful, as she always is.
Something else was on her mind, something more peaceful, nonchalant.
Some troublesome thing.
Across the city, laying on his bed, the dark haired man also had something on his mind.
Shining, bright, sassy.
Something very, very troublesome.
He closed his eyes with a smile.
"What a drag," he muttered as he put himself to sleep.
Author's note:
Another chapter ... :D I hope you guys are having fun reading this, as I have a lot of fun writing this
Oh and Hidan is here again :3 and since i am writing a comedy ... I probably won't kill off characters as much as I usually do hahahah
Anyways, enjoy! xoxo
V.S.V