Tap, tap, tap.

It was almost seven o'clock in the evening.

He sat there, his sleek fingers tapping repeatedly on the keyboard.

All alone in the office, the white light of his computer screen shone on his face, making him look extra pale.

He leaned back as he smiled in satisfaction.

This troublesome proposal is finally done.

Ding.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

Arching an eyebrow, he reached down and took out his phone.

A text message.

With a few taps he opened it.

Hey there crybaby.

He smiled.

That smirk emoji did no justice to her glorious smirk.

Troublesome woman.

He waited for her reply as he began to stack the documents on his desk.

You know you are supposed to ask questions to keep the conversation doing.

He almost laughed when he saw the message.

So, when are you coming back?

He shoved the phone in his pocket, as he left the building and walked towards the building where he lived.

His phone remained still for quite some time, the slightest movement around him would make him draw it out and check for new messages.

Nothing.

He sighed as he entered the building, just before he entered the elevator, he saw another message.

Sooner than you think :)

He smiled as the elevator door closed.

Staring at his phone, he smiled as he walked towards the door.

"Are you going to keep looking at that thing?"

He looked up and saw the brightest grin ever, shining in front of him.

He could not help himself but grinned back.

Temari was leaning at his door, dressed in a purple t-shirt and dark jeans, hair up in four crazy pigtails, green eyes shining with amusement.

"Pick your jaw up from the ground," she sniggered.

"I wasn't expecting to see you so soon, troublesome woman." He sneered as he opened the door.

"But you are happy enough to, wipe that stupid grin off your face," she shot back with a smirk.

She walked into his apartment after him. "Nothing has changed, huh?"

"So you think," he smirked as he sank himself into the sofa. "Why are you in Konoha, really?"

"I came with my brother Gaara, he has to meet with your boss, Tsunade."

She sank into the seat next to him. "Got any beer? I could barely sleep on the plane."

"Nah, I quit alcohol."

"What?" She arched an eyebrow, mouth opening in surprise. "No way."

"Well, not entirely," he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Just not as much."

She smiled at him. "Keep surprising me, Shikamaru. Keep going."

"Heh," he grinned, staring at her. "Listen to this."

She stared back in anticipation.

"I got a promotion."

"Now that's some news," she sniggered. "How did a lazy ass like you get a promotion?"

"It's about using here efficiently," he pointed at his head, tapping onto his forehead.

"Show-off," she snorted.

They fell back into silence.

He was staring at her.

She was staring back at him.

The silence condensed into awkwardness, the air seemed to stood still in his apartment.

"I should be going," she stood up, and he immediately followed, gently holding her by the wrist.

"Wait," he said softly. "Don't go."

Temari shook his hand lightly, and left his grasp.

"It was nice seeing you," she flashed him an embarrassed grin and walked up to him, squeezing him quickly.

He stood there as the door closed quietly after she left.

To be honest, to be very honest …

He was confused as fuck.


He saw her the next day as she sat next to her brother during the meeting with Tsunade, whom he was sitting next to.

They exchanged awkward glances, in between listening to their bosses.

Apart from her gaze, he received the attention of another pair of teal green eyes.

He saw her brother – Gaara, looking at him occasionally, a bit too much for comfort.

Something told him that Temari's brother was not a particularly friendly person, nor was he particularly fond of him.

"So, Gaara," his boss said with a confident smile. "That's about it, any thoughts?"

"I will think over it, Temari will tell you more about it later."

He saw Temari returned a courteous smile.

As they left the conference room, the red haired man turned around.

"Nara Shikamaru?"

He stood there and nodded. "What can I help you with?"

"We need to talk." He said, emotionlessly, eyeing Shikamaru from head to toe.

"About?"

"We need to talk about my sister," he said plainly, making Shikamaru arch an eyebrow. "Meet me at five thirty at the entrance."

"Sure…" Shikamaru could barely reply as Gaara turned around and followed his sister, who was talking with Tsunade from afar.


He did not know what got to him when he hopped onto the black limousine outside the Konoha Corporation Building.

He took a good long look at the man sitting opposite him – his dark red hair was spiky and unruly, his teal eyes stared at him without any warmth. His features were more masculine than Temari, but retained its delicateness.

"I have asked you to ride with me." Gaara began. "Because I need to tell you a story."

"I see," he replied.

"Temari took care of Kankuro and me," he said, his emotionless voice slightly changing. "Our mother died when I was only a baby."

Part of Shikamaru wanted to slam himself on the head. This is going to take forever.

"It scarred us all. Us, our father – he became very strict, heartlessly cold. He treated us like strangers, success was the only parameter." Gaara pressed onto his forehead, it was at that moment, he noticed that he was wearing concealer.

"And then we lost it one day, all three of us, skipping school, I even got a tattoo on my forehead." He smiled at his opened palm.

"You see, I have always been quite unstable … mentally." He looked out of the car window. "Temari and Kankuro were the only ones there for me…and Naruto, we met in a therapy group."

"Ah." Shikamaru nodded.

"Anyway, back to Temari." He raised an eyebrow at the mentioning of her name.

"Temari had it bad – she was the oldest and always shielded us from our father's wrath, and then … " He stopped and sighed. "And then just when she thought she found someone who would love her, he crushed her."

"You are talking about Hidan." Shikamaru frowned. "That man's a jackass."

"You have no idea what he had done to her," Gaara looked away murderously.

"I have never seen her so sad, nor have I seen her so bruised and tattered."

Gaara clenched his fists together. "That time, I almost killed him."

Shikamaru felt a cold chill down his spine, he admired him for the love he had for his sister, but somehow it freaked him out.

"So Nara Shikamaru," Gaara looked back at him, his eyes calm. "How long have you know my sister, now that you have hear me out, do you think you really know her?"

"I have to admit," he replied. "There is quite a lot that I don't know."

Gaara nodded in agreement.

But Shikamaru did not stop here. "Troublesome as it is, I am willing to learn."

Gaara looked at him with widened eyes.

"Even if it takes me a lifetime to," he continued, a lazy smile hanging on his face.

"Do you love her, Shikamaru?" Gaara stared at this man across, not sure how to react. "I mean, you barely know her."

"I know her well enough to know." He replied with a smile. "If I hurt her, you can beat the shit out of me."

"I will if you do that." Gaara's lips turned awkwardly upward. "Here," the limousine halted to a stop.

Shikamaru looked out of the window, he recognize this place.

The building where Temari's apartment is located.

"I am sure she wants to see you." Gaara nodded. "I still have a meeting to attend to downtown."

He opened the door and stepped out of the car. "We will speak again soon."

The limousine drove away in a cloud of exhaust.

Shikamaru walked into the lobby, getting into the elevator and arrived at the twenty-third floor.

He counted the steps as he approached her door.

One, two, three …

He stopped and straightened his shirt.

Don't mess this up again, Nara Shikamaru.

Don't you dare.

He took a deep, long breath before he knocked.

Knock, knock.


Author's note:

Long awaited update! Working as an intern gives me less time to write so it's a bit late (and a bit short, on purpose though)

I hope this keep you hooked :D Sorry for diverting resources over a few stories but you know when you write you can't really stop so hehehe

Enjoy! I hope I can update soon!

V.S.V xoxox