"Keep your eyes close," it amazed Temari how she listened to him so obediently.
She kept them shut, as he took her hand, leading her out of the car.
She could hear music playing faintly, as she took several steps, the music became increasingly clear.
She remembered she could hear it before, but where?
"Open your eyes."
She did, covering her eyes with her hands; the glittering lights blinked at her, it occurred to her now - the music, uplifting and cheerful - they're in an amusement park.
"Wait…" she turned around and looked at him, he smiled at her.
"I, eh, made some arrangements." Shikamaru shrugged. "Troublesome as they were, we have the park all to ourselves - for a couple of hours, that is."
Temari blinked as she stared around in amazement.
"So this is what an amusement park looks like."
"You've never been to an amusement park?"
"No," Temari shook her head. "Well, let's say I have a really strict childhood."
Shikamaru was about to say something, Temari shook it off with a wide grin. "Anyway, let's go play!"
She seemed to have forgotten that she was wearing stiletto heels and began to drag Shikamaru into the park.
He obliged willingly, as Temari stared around like a amazed child. Shikamaru stared at her as he walked around with her, she looked around, unsure where to start.
"Come on, let's go on the carousel." He took her hand and led her there. "You haven't been on one even on your films?"
"Never had the chance to," she said. "I'm either doing really depressed sad romantic films or other kinds, romantic comedy isn't my thing."
"Why?" He opened the gate of the ride, the wooden horses waited patiently as he led her through.
"They said I am too serious to be in a romantic comedy." She stood by one of the wooden horses, painted with cream colour and blue ribbons. She hopped on as Shikamaru hopped on the horse next to her.
"Well," he shrugged. "You wouldn't like to have yourself act like a total fool in those flicks anyway."
Temari smiled at him. "Have you ever watched my films?"
"I did, watched Blue Shores in the movie theatre with Ino and Chouji."
"Do you like it?" He tried to think back to that time, frowning in the process.
Temari laughed and shook it off. "It's average, I'd say," she blinked with a smile. "Critics said if it wasn't for me, it would have been a total flop."
"Cocky, aren't we?" Shikamaru chuckled, he signaled the technician to start the ride.
As the light music played, the carousel began to spin around gently, Shikamaru held her hand as it did.
She smiled at him as they sat in silence, he thought he saw her lips quivered. He held her hand the entire time, until the ride gently pulled to a stop.
Temari jumped off after he did, she held her hand gently and led him to the ferris wheel.
They entered one of the pods, and closed the door behind them.
Slowly, the wheel began to move, their pod ascended to mid air.
Temari leaned her head affectionately against him, as he slung his arm around her shoulders.
"You're probably a mind reader," she said softly, snuggling closer to him."Everything you does surprises me."
He smiled and pressed a kiss on her forehead, saying nothing in return.
"Thank you, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru sighed softly and rubbed her shoulder gently. They stared out of the window at the numerous lights of the city, blinking, glowing, almost outshining the stars.
She leaned against his shoulder, her arm wrapped around his waist.
"You know what? I felt like I've known you for a very long time," she smiled at him. "Despite the fact that I actually knew you a few months ago, when you spilled that beer all over me."
She looked up and stared at him straight in the eye. "So now's probably a good time for you to tell me that you don't want a devoted relationship or something, before I am in it too deep."
"Troublesome," he muttered, tightening his embrace around her. "I do have something to tell you."
"I knew it," Temari cursed softly, her smile increasingly strained.
Shikamaru arched an eyebrow, as he paused for a moment.
Temari was confused when he chuckled, shaking his head.
He stopped laughing, and looked at her with his dark brown eyes.
He slowly raised his hand and cupped her face with his hand, Temari felt a surge of warmth from inside of her as she looked back at him with her emerald green eyes.
The time froze, she could hear his slow steady breath, smell the minty spiciness of it.
She gulped nervously, feeling the blood rush to her face, a hue of pink emerged.
He looked away for a brief second, silently cursing before he turned his gaze upon her again.
"Look, eh," he cleared his throat with a dry cough. The pod stopped moving, the two of them sat silently at the highest point of the ferris wheel, staring at each other in the eye.
"Temari," he leaned forward. "This may sound crazy, but I feel exactly the same as you do."
Temari remained perfectly still as he paused, she could see him gulping nervously.
"I felt like I...I've known you for a lifetime," he said, his other hand holding the other side of her face. He leaned forward and laughed nervously, his forehead was pressed against hers.
"Fuck," he cursed again, Temari laughed with him. The pod began to descend.
"Come on now," she frowned, putting her arms on his shoulder, smiling at him.
He sighed and smiled.
"I love you Temari."
She froze, those very words seemed to have turned her brain into a mush, it was a strange sensation - she felt hot and cold at the same time, as if her brain had went into overdrive.
She blinked, snapping out of her trance, she grinned widely.
"Troublesome," she pulled him close and pressed a kiss onto his cheek.
Resting her head on his shoulder, she smiled as she whispered into his ear.
"I love you too."
The pod finally reached the ground, he held her hand firmly as they emerged from the pod; each of their fingers filling the gaps between the other's hand.
He drove her home, it was late at night and there were only a few people on the street.
He held her hand the entire time, not even flinching as people came across their path, straing with their jaws dropped, their expressions amazed and confused.
Temari wanted to retract her hand for a moment, but Shikamaru was firm, he held her hand in his all the way until they reached her penthouse apartment.
"Are you going to stay the night?" She asked him, smiling as they walked inside.
She frowned as she saw the arranged flowers, completed with a card on her coffee table.
Shikamaru noticed her sudden change in expression, he smiled and took her hand.
"Sure, if that's what you want." He yawned. "Can I go take a shower?"
She nodded with a smile, as he went into the bathroom.
Temari waited until the water started to run, she walked up to the pot of neatly arranged flowers and took the card in her hand.
She ripped open the envelope, as she took out the cream coloured card, she arched an eyebrow.
Next to you is where I want to be.
The man signed his name neatly at the lower corner of the card.
Hyuga Neji.
Temari shook her head with a soft sigh and crumpled the card, ripping it into smaller shreds and tossing them into the bin. She held her phone in her hand, knowing full and well who the accomplice was.
As Shikamaru emerged from the shower, his lower half wrapped in a white towel while his upper torso exposed, Temari walked up to him and gave him a peck on the cheek.
He arched an eyebrow as Temari encircled his neck.
"Whose flower are those?"
"Just a fan," she smiled at him, batting her eyelashes. "Just a fan."
He nodded, as Temari held his hand and led him away.
He hid a discreet smile as she did, walking behind her.
How Neji thought he had a chance was beyond him - the thought accompanied him, as he closed his eyes, with Temari snuggling in between his arms.
Just as he closed his eyes, Temari's phone glowed on the nightstand, on it was a message.
A message from Tenten.
Author's note:
Well ... looks like it's all Nara now ... what will happen with Neji and Tenten? (Hint: I am also a NejiTen fan so :D)
Anyway, stay tuned! Thanks for all the lovely reviews and support for this story xoxo
V.S.V