Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"So you're the Kazekage." Soraoi stated thoughtfully. "You're very young."
"…" Gaara stood there watching as Soraoi picked up the bag that lay discarded at her feet.
"Shiki-kun said you weren't the talkative type." Soraoi walked over to the tree she's been puncturing with projectile weapons and began to remove them from the tree trunk.
"Hn." He grunted, watching her pack up the remaining few weapons into her bag.
"He also told me you were really strong." She closed her bag and began walking towards Gaara.
"I suppose." He replied.
"Well you must be, to be had been given the title of Kazekage, and all." Soraoi reasoned.
He watched as she approached him, coming to a stop a few feet from where he stood.
"You were in the Hokage's office when Shiki-kun and I went in weren't you?" Soraoi asked.
"Yes." Gaara coolly replied.
"I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself then." Soraoi stared at him, making Gaara a little uneasy. "It's never too late though." She smiled, bouncing the remaining few steps towards him. "It's nice to meet you Kazekage-sama; I'm Nara Soraoi." She bowed as a show of respect.
"Gaara." He responded.
"Excuse me?" she tilted her head slightly, indicating that she didn't understand.
"Call me Gaara." He clarified.
"Oh. Okay. Gaara-sama." She extended her hand out to him.
"Just Gaara." He replied, as he looked down at the small hand in front of him.
"Gaara." She repeated. "Nice to meet you Gaara-kun."
"And you; Soraoi." He took her tiny hand in his and shook it.
Gaara was a bit surprised by his own actions. He was never one to be outwardly friendly to a complete strange, or to anyone else really; though most people would probably not consider shaking a person's hand or telling her to call him by his name, instead of his title, as particularly friendly. Nonetheless, Gaara felt slightly out of character as he stood before the perky girl who was currently smiling broadly at him.
Knowing what she had been through, yet seeing her maintain such a cheerful disposition, Gaara felt something awaken inside him. He wasn't sure what it was, but he kind of liked it.
"So…" Soraoi began, "Isn't there a festival going on or something?" she asked.
"Tomorrow." He replied.
"Oh." Soraoi stood silent for a moment, clearing thinking about something.
"We should get going." Gaara stated.
"Right." Soraoi walked up next to Gaara and latched her right arm into his left. "So Gaara-kun, tell me… what do you know about my brother and your sister?"
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"Still haven't found her?" Temari walked up to Shikamaru.
"No. We've been looking for hours, and it's getting pretty late." Shikamaru replied, looking up into the darkening sky. "Troublesome woman" he mumbled under his breath; though Temari still heard it.
"What?!?!" Temari shouted.
"Not you." Shikamaru stepped back. Getting Temari angry at him was the last thing he needed.
"We'll find her." Temari tried reassuring him, in a much softer voice. She walked up next to him and took his hand in hers.
"I know" Shikamaru sighed, "it's just…"
"She'll be okay." She gently squeezed Shikamaru's hand.
"I hope so." He whispered, squeezed her hand back.
"SHIKI-KUN" a voice in the distance yelled out from behind the pair.
Shikamaru and Temari turned around and saw Soraoi and Gaara walking towards them.
"Looks like Gaara found your sister." Temari observed.
"Huh." Shikamaru noticed Soraoi clinging onto the Kazekage's left arm.
"What?" Temari turned to face Shikamaru, "I thought you'd be happy to see her."
"I am." Shikamaru replied, without removing his eyes off the couple headed towards them.
"Then is it that you don't like seeing her with my little brother?" Temari teased him.
She too had noticed how close the other two were walking. Knowing her brother though, she was certain that he was probably feeling as uncomfortable about it as Shikamaru was. It was cute to see Shika so overprotective of his little sister. (A/N: I know, they're twins, but let's just say that Shika is the older one).
"I'm sorry Shiki-kun" Soraoi gave Shikamaru a half smile.
"You better be." Shikamaru replied, though not in an accusing tone.
Soraoi only giggled at his attempt to scold her. "I didn't mean to make you worry, Shiki-kun." She said more seriously, "it's just…"
"I know." Shikamaru cut her off, understand what she meant. (A/N: I don't even know what she meant, but… they're twins, doing that twin thing… lol).
"So you must be Temari-san" Soraoi turned to the blond kunoichi standing besides Shikamaru.
"And you're Nara Soraoi." Temari replied.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Soraoi extended her hand to shake Temari's.
"Likewise." Temari replied, taking Soraoi's hand.
"We should get going." Shikamaru looked up at the sky. It was getting dark out, and they needed to get home.
"Okay." Soraoi let go of Gaara's arm and walked over to Shikamaru.
"Thank you Gaara-sama." Shikamaru nodded at the redhead.
Gaara only nodded his head to acknowledge the other shinobi's thanks.
"So we'll see you tomorrow at the festival right?" Soraoi asked the two sand siblings.
"Sure, that would fun." Temari answered for the two. Gaara remained unmoved, yet all the while not taking his eyes off of Soraoi.
"Good night then." Soraoi smiled, as she and Shikamaru began making their way home. "Oh," she turned to face them Suna ninja once more, "thanks for the walk Gaara-kun." She smiled and waved goodbye before turning back to follow her brother.
"Gaara-kun?" Temari smirked at her little brother, before taking off in the opposite direction.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
A/N: I was going to make this longer to include the festival next, but I kind of liked where this ended, and I figured I'd post it before going to bed. Tomorrow I will definitely work on the Festival. I've got a few ideas for it already. One main one that I've been foreshadowing, but will hopefully still take some people by surprise. I have a few funny ideas including the other characters. And no worries ShikaTema.rox.like.hell, Kankuro won't be alone, he just doesn't get a Nara… lol
Anyway, I hope you all liked these small Gaara x Soraoi and Shika x Tem moments. :D
Thanks again to everyone whose reviewed.
Next up: the Festival (for real this time… lol)