Notes from the Authoress: Well, it's been forever since I updated! Sorry about that. I just wrote a new chapter so I can add this one (as I've said before, I write several chapters ahead but I won't post unless I write a new one). Ah, the most recent chapter I wrote discusses how Shika's daddy figured out their relationship, but you'll have to wait to see.

Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue. I don't own Naruto, and neither do you.

Chapter Seven: The Weasel Plushie

Shikamaru could be infuriating. It was the last day before Christmas break, and he hadn't said one word to Temari about…well, anything! She didn't know if she was going to be seeing him during Christmas; she didn't know if they should exchange gifts; hell, she didn't even know if he was going out of town with his family. Usually she would pursue the subject with him, but she wanted him to actually approach her about something. It wasn't going as planned. She had become more irritable over the past week with him, and kept dropping hints about needing to talk, but for a smart guy, he was incredibly stupid.

School would start in a half hour, and she was giving all her grade books an extra check so the students would know their exact grade for the semester and why. She opened the drawer where she kept her grade books for third through six periods and reached in without looking, only to find something unfamiliar.

Looking down into the drawer, Temari retrieved the unfamiliar object and stared at in surprise. It was a weasel plushie. She had collected weasel objects since she was a child—they were her favorite animal—but she knew she didn't have a plushie that looked like this. There was a red ribbon around its neck, and after observing it for several moments, she saw a little tag on the ribbon.

To the troublesome teacher who uses this desk,

Merry Christmas already. Now will you leave me alone about it?

Shikamaru

Notes from the Authoress: Review, review, review! You all know I'm not opposed to begging for it. Hmm, not much of a preview for the next chapter...

In the Next Chapter: "Shikamaru! Wake your lazy ass up before I drag you out in whatever you're wearing!"

"Leave me alone, Ino..."

"SHIKAMARU!"