Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and its characters.

CHAPTER 13: Trouble with Shikamaru!

'Cause I'm on top of the world... Yeah! I'm on top of the world yeah!' SLAP! OW! "What was that for, teme?!"

"Shut up, dobe!" An annoyed raven-haired boy yelled as he clutch his ears.

"TEME!"

"DOBE!"

"TEME!"

"DOBE!" The blonde one lunged for him and they wrestled on the floor.

Ino walked in to the living room and sighed at the scene. She sat next to Temari and watched Hinata as she tried to stop the two.

"Do I even want to know what started this time?" She asked.

"No." Temari said and rolled her eyes when the two broke a vase. The two stopped at the sound of the crash and stared in horror.

"Oh, you guys are dead. That's Sakura's favorite vase." Tenten said and grinned at the horror stricken face of her brother.

Naruto scrambled to his feet and quickly gathered the shards and tried to throw it away.

"N-Naruto-kun! Those are sharp! You shouldn-

"OUCH!"

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata said and grabbed his hand.

"Baka…" Kiba said as he sat next to Ino.

"Shut up!"

"I'll go get the broom…" Shikamaru offered which earned a gasped and shocking stares from the group. I mean, who wouldn't be surprised? Tenten gaped at him. Did Shikamaru really said he'll get the broom? Wow! For the first time!

"N-Nani?!" Temari exclaimed as Shikamaru walked out of the room.

"D-Did I hear him say he'll get the broom?" Ino asked; not quite believing her ears.

"My… My ears are deceiving me right?" Temari said still awestruck.

Shikamaru returned with a broom and a dust pan and dropped it in front of Sasuke.

"You start cleaning, duck-tail; unless you want to experience the wrath of Sakura again." And with that Shikamaru left the room.

"Uh… Something's wrong with Shikamaru…" Tenten muttered but everyone in the room heard her.

"Temari-chan?" Hinata poked the older girl's shoulder making her snapped her head at them.

"Are… you okay?" Ino asked. The others, even Neji and Sasuke leaned in to hear the answer.

"I… don't know. These past few days, something is bothering him. I can tell. But every time I try to pry it from him, he wouldn't budge." Temari said and sighed sadly.

"Try sweet talking to him. It always works." Ino suggested which earned a shake by Temari.

"Don't you think I tried it already?" She sighed once more and grabbed her bag. "Well, I got to go now. I promised my brother to help him on his report. I'll see you guys tomorrow at school. Ja!" She said and walked out of the house.

"Do you think they're having a lover's quarrel?" Tenten whispered at Neji. The latter smirked at her which cause her heart to jump. He always does.

"Do you want to go somewhere else?" Neji whispered back. She stared at him confusedly. "I don't want to hear Sakura's wrath when she learn that her vase is broken."

"Oh. Good point." She said. She stood up, pulling Neji with her and grabbed her bag. "We'll be going too."

"Hn."

"Use condom, Neji!" Kiba shouted which earned a glare from the Hyuga and Sasuke. "Just kidding! He-he!"

"So, where are we going, Ice King?" She chimed and giggled when Neji glared at her.

"Don't call me that…"

"Aww. Why not?"

"Sounds lame."

"You're the only saying that it's lame, babe…" She said and nudges his side. The latter dodge her finger and grabbed her by the waist before quickly stealing a chaste kiss from her.

"Babe sounds better… babe." He said and winked before releasing her. Tenten was stunned for a moment before her wits came back and jumped at his back.

"So you want me to call you 'babe' than 'Ice King', is that correct?" She said after she straddled his hips. Neji grabbed the back of her legs to keep her from falling.

"Yes, that's correct." He said and grinned.

"Okay then. I love you, babe." She whispered at his ear. Neji's grin grew wide and looked at her sideways.

"I love you too, babe." He said. Tenten smiled at him softly before wrapping her arms around his neck. "It's still too early to go home. Do you want to grab something to eat?"

Tenten thought of it for a moment and declined. "I'm still full from Sakura's baked pie. I have to admit, Sakura's very good in cooking, don't you agree?" She felt Neji nodded.

"She'll make a perfect wife for Sasuke-nii." She mused which earned a chuckle from her boyfriend.

"A wife? Isn't it too early for that?" He asked. She flicked his ear which earned a growl from the Hyuga before humming to a tune.

These past few weeks, Neji helped her get through all her problems. He even tagged along when she decided to visit Luke's sister.

The little girl was a carbon copy of her brother. Tenten tried so hard not to burst in tears in front of the little girl. Neji was there to witness it all. He was there when Tenten needed him the most and she was very thankful for that.

"Do you think something is really bothering Shikamaru today?" She started which earned a sigh from the Hyuga. "What? Do you know something?"

"Why would you say that?" He asked and adjusted her on his back.

"Well, you guys are very close so assumed that he must have said something or maybe hinted that something is bothering him?" She said. Neji shrugged his shoulder and remained silent. Tenten pouted when she didn't get an answer but she didn't pry so she buried her face at the crook of his neck.

She was about to close her eyes when Neji spoke up. "He did say something about his father's orders and it was bothering him."

"What about his father's orders?"

"No idea. He just said that he declined it and that made his father very mad, that's all." Neji said in a tight tone which Tenten did not miss. She eyed him carefully but dropped it.

"Oh, poor Shika…" She said with sympathy.

Neji stopped in front of a bench and put her down on the pavement. Both of them sat on the bench and watched the passersby.

At School the next day:

Tenten was walking with Ino and Sakura when they saw Temari sulking on a bench, deep in thoughts.

"These past few days, I swear Temari was not herself. She's always in deep thoughts." Sakura whispered to the two.

"Hm, now that you've mentioned it, so was Shika." Ino said with her fingers on her chin.

"Do you think they're fighting?" Tenten asked which the two replied with a shrug.

"Let's go find out then!" Ino said and grabbed the both of them and literally dragged them towards Temari.

"Hey, Tem! What's up?!" Ino said in her most cheerful voice which earned a disapproving looks from Tenten and Sakura.

"Oh, hey guys…" Temari said lamely. Tenten sat next to her friend and put an arm around her shoulder.

"Why are you so gloomy today, Tem?" Tenten joked and poked her arm. Temari looked at them with a confused look.

"Am I?"

"Temari, Temari, Temari, even a blind man can see how gloomy you are. You're aura is screaming it!" Ino said in her high-pitched voice.

"Ow, pig. Stop shouting! You're making my ears bleed!" Sakura scolded which earned a playful slap from her friend.

"Nonsense. Back to the topic, Tem. What's up with you?" Ino asked once again. Temari sighed and put her head on her palms.

"The question is what's wrong with Shikamaru? He's been avoiding me these past few days!" Temari said sadly. Sakura patted her back.

"Did you two engaged on a fight?" Sakura asked.

"Ugh, I don't know! We fight, like everyday, but he never avoided me until now! Plus, if I remember correctly we didn't fight almost a month now!" She complained.

"Well, you must have said something that pissed him off…" Tenten suggested.

"As far as I remember, none," Temari said sadly.

"Did you try talking to him now?"

"I would if I could. He keeps on avoiding like I have a contagious disease!" With that Sakura and Tenten backed away slightly. "I don't have a disease!"

"I think I know what's happening." All eyes turned to look at Ino's serious face.

"What?" Tenten asked.

"Based on what Temari have said…" Ino paused to look at their expression.

"What is it?" Temari asked. All of them leaned forward, waiting for Ino's response.

Ino sighed and put a finger on her chin. "Shikamaru might have fallen for someone else…"

"INO!" Both Tenten and Sakura shouted surprised at what their friend have said.

"What? It's just a theory! A conclusion! You see, I've read something from a magazine that when you're boyfriend decided to avoid you, it's either: a.) he's pissed at you or; b.) he found someone else."

"But don't you think it's a bit rude to judge Shikamaru's action?" Sakura scolded while raising an eyebrow at her friend.

"Yeah, I'm sure Shikamaru has reasons! Right, Te-?" Tenten turned around to find Temari missing. "Temari?"

"Now look what've you done, Ino?" Sakura again scolded.

"Why is it my fault?" Ino defended.

"She might accuse Shikamaru with wrong reasons, stupid!"

"Well, it's her fault for believing it!"

"INO!"

"Okay! Sorry!"

"We've got to find her before she finds Shikamaru and accuse him." Tenten said and the two nodded. The three of them dashed in different directions.

Sakura ran for the library and only found Neji. She quietly ran to Neji.

"Hey, Neji!" She whispered. The Hyuga turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. His eyes quickly averted at her back; expecting to see Tenten but to his disappointment it's just Sakura.

"What is it?" He asked in his usual tone.

"Have you seen Shikamaru or Temari?" She asked. The Hyuga shook his head and averted his eyes back to the book he was reading. "Hmp. Where could they be?"

"Where's Tenten? She said she's with you and Ino a while ago." Neji said not moving his eyes.

"She's gone to find Shikamaru or Temari."

"Why?"

"Long story, Nej. I have to go. If you ever saw them can you please text me?" She asked. The Hyuga only shrugged. "Thanks! Ja!" She ran back outside the library.

Ino ran for the cafeteria (not because she was hungry… well, sort of) and saw Naruto and Hinata eating ramen.

"Ramen again, Naruto?" She asked sarcastically.

"Hey, Ino!" Naruto said with a mouth full of ramen.

"Hello, Ino-chan. Where are the others?" Hinata asked with a smile. Ino pouted.

"I'm actually looking for Shika or Tema. You haven't seen them, have you?" She asked; looking around the place.

"Oh, I saw Temari-chan outside the window a while ago! She was running. She must be in a hurry. Why?"

"Oh nothing. I just want to talk to them. Well, continue your date, lovebirds! Sorry to interrupt!" And with that, Ino dashed towards the direction Hinata pointed.

Tenten made a dash to the parking lot, just in case the Temari decided to go home but to her disappointment, neither Temari nor Shikamaru was there.

"Where could they be?" She asked to no one.

"HELLO THERE, YOUTHFUL FLOWER!" An obnoxious voice yelled behind her. She turned around to find Lee walking with his hands.

"Hey, Lee. What are you doing?" She asked politely. The latter gave her a thumb up with a matching sparkly grin.

"I lost a contest with Sasuke and Neji, youthful flower; and with that I vow myself to walk around the campus with my hands." He said and started walking with his hands again. "Well, I'm off now, my youthful flower!"

"Wait, Lee!" Lee stopped and turned to look at her. "Have you seen Shikamaru or Temari?"

"Oh! I haven't seen Temari-san but I saw Shikamaru watching clouds at the football field."

"Thanks, Lee! Good luck with what you're doing!"

"Thank you, youthful flower!"

Tenten ran towards the football field. When she was near the football field, she almost tripped when she saw Temari and Shikamaru arguing. Uh-oh.

She hid behind a pillar and peeked. Shikamaru looked bored while Temari was on the verge of tears.

She tried to get closer to hear what they were saying and cheered when she found a better spot.

"-then what is it?!" Temari shouted which earned a gasped from Tenten.

"Temari, believe what you want to believe." Shikamaru said and averted his eyes at the clouds. "I'm tired."

"You're tired of what?! Of me?" Temari asked trying not to burst in tears.

"I didn't say that. You jump in to conclusion easily, Temari." Shikamaru commented. Tenten sighed in relief. So Ino was wrong.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" Temari half-whispered.

Shikamaru sighed. "Temari, let's not see each other again." He said nonchalantly.

Tenten froze on her spot. She's guessing that so was Temari since she's been silent for a minute or two.

"What?" She asked. Shikamaru didn't answer, thus walked away.

Temari remained frozen on her spot. Her back was turned to Tenten so she couldn't see her reaction.

She spotted Ino and Sakura hiding behind the pillars and they must have heard what happened because shock was visible on both their faces.

Her heart went out for her friend whose shoulder was shaking with uncontrolled sobs. She couldn't believe Shikamaru would do that to her. Even though Shikamaru was the laziest of them all and he and Temari always fight, Tenten knows from the bottom of her heart that this Lazy ass loves Temari more than his own life.

Tenten decided to walk out of her hiding place but before she could literally show herself to Temari, Shikamaru ran back to Temari while panting like a dog in heat.

"Damn it! Damn it all to hell!" He cursed and crushed Temari in a bone-crushing hug.

"Sh-Shikamaru?" Temari muttered.

"I couldn't do it! I don't want to do it!" Shikamaru yelled with gritted teeth.

Before Temari could answer, Shikamaru crashed his lips to hers.

"I'm sorry, Temari… I'm so sorry." He said between kisses.

"I-I don't understand…"

"Please… Don't ask." He said and buried his face on her neck and a sob escaped from his lips.

'Okay.' Tenten thought. 'I've seen enough.' She signaled to Ino and Sakura to move back. The two were watching with tears. The both of them nodded and moved back.

Tenten surely don't know what was happening but she was glad that Shikamaru came back. Shikamaru must have reasons. But whatever Shikamaru was about to do, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He loved Temari so much.

Tenten walked back to the building and bumped into her brother (not literally).

"Watch where you're going, dummy." He said and raised an eyebrow at her. She rolled her eyes and then saw Neji with Kiba and Naruto.

"Yo, Tenten. Have you seen Ino?" Kiba asked when they were near them.

"Uh, yeah, she's with Sakura at the moment." Kiba nodded with a grin before walking out of the building with Sasuke and Naruto. She smiled when she saw a bouquet of flowers from behind Kiba.

A pair of arms snaked their way to her waist. "Hey, babe…" A husky voice whispered at her ear which tickled her.

"Hey…" She giggled and turned around to kiss him on the lips but before their lips could touch, a cough interrupted them.

They turned around to find Principal Tsunade glaring at them. Tenten jumped back while Neji let her go.

"Detention for the two of you! You know the rules! NO kissing in the hallways!" Tsunade scolded and gave them a detention tickets before walking away muttering, "Kids this days don't know their limitations."

When Tsunade was out of sight, Tenten burst out laughing.

"Oh my god!" She said between breathes.

"We just got a detention ticket but you're still laughing; you sure have a good sense of humor." Neji joked. Tenten wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the lips.

"And still you love me."

"Of course." He said and gave her a chaste kiss that left her breathless. "Come on, I'm late for practice."

Author's Note: Hey guys! I hope you still remember this story. I just wanted to say sorry for not updating for ages. I've been busy with college and a lot has happened and I honestly forgot this story. Tho, I'm glad someone find time to messaged me up. If it weren't for him/her I would have not continued this story. I'm going to say thank you in advance for those who are still going to read this story! I promise to try my very best to update as soon as I can. Review and tell me what you think of this chapter. Flames are accepted but not too much. I don't think my heart can take it :)

~LeeYumLevi