He welcomed her into his house. Temari had never been inside Shikamaru's house. It was a lot more grand inside than it looked on the outside, which said a lot because it was pretty huge from the outside. She complimented the house as she walked in, moving to the plate of fruit on the table. She was famished from her travels and glad to sit down.

She read the note beside the place which read 'Eat your fruits. Love, mom.'

So this is what it was like having a loving family and a mom who's alive, Temari thought. She plucked a grape and popped it into her mouth. It was pretty nice she thought, chewing the grape hungrily.

Shikamaru, tired from his trip and relieved to be home, began to unconsciously ramble, "God, it's nice to be home. I was stuck in the mines with Naruto - that big stupid idiot," he dropped his bag to the floor He was even more relieved that his mother wasn't home to nag him about throwing his stuff around the house.

"Naruto can defeat an ancient evil rabbit goddess but can't let go lit dynamite when I tell him to," Shikamaru shook his head as he yanked off his hair tie. He ruffled his hair to relax.

Temari stopped chewing when his hair fell out to his shoulders. This was the first time she saw him look so… non-pineapple-y. It was a complete 180 change. Temari couldn't help but stare at how regal Shikamaru looked. His dark eyes and the natural pout in the lips made him look very pretty. Temari remembered that Shikamaru was indeed the son of a nobleman – ergo the grand house and moody pampered sarcasm. Was she attracted to pretty rich boys? This was new realisation to her.

Temari slowly chewed on another grape, watching the jacket on Shikamaru's shoulders drop to the ground. She was pleasantly surprised he wasn't in his usual long sleeve turtleneck. She admired the sleeveless top he had on that exposed his arms and shoulders. Were his shoulders always so broad and muscled? Did he always have biceps like that? She wondered.

Shikamaru continued to speak, "I can't wait to wash off the grime and ash. There's nothing better than a hot bath after a mission."

"Really? I'm not a big fan of baths - I'm more of a shower-kind of girl," Temari spoke for the first time since entering.

Shikamaru tried to keep a straight face as the image of Temari in the shower popped in his mind. Stop that- she's right here! He scolded himself. Usually he had a little more control over her thoughts but he was too tired to hold back. Also, usually when he fantasized about Temari, he did it respectfully when he was alone.

"And you shouldn't get your bandages too wet. It's easier to move around in the shower than in a bath," she added.

The image of Temari in his head – the one where she was in the shower - was now a little more explicit… and animated. Shikamaru cursed his fast-thinking brain for making him a scumbag, but also thanked it for the wonderful and quick clarity.

"But if you really want a bath," Temari popped another grape in her mouth, "I can help you with that."

Shikamaru knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help himself. He let his mind invent a hundred possible solutions to what Temari could help him with in the bath. "I don't know if there's enough space for that," he accidentally said aloud. Shit was that aloud. He thought. Is this aloud?! Wait, no this isn't. Did she hear that?

A grape hit him right between the eyebrows with violent speed and bounced onto the floor.

"I meant that I would help you draw a bath," she told him, holding a few more grapes in one palm, prepared to throw another.

"It's alright, I think I will just take a shower," he said, "apparently it's easier to move around in the shower."

Temari smiled at the smart-mouth before her.

"But correct me if I'm wrong, you're a shower-kind of girl, right?"

Shikamaru's body was a little too damaged to avoid the speed at which Temari threw the rest of the grapes at him.

"I'm going to enjoy seeing you get stuck in your shirt," she warned him.

"What kind of idiot gets stuck in their shirt?" Shikamaru scoffed at her.

She smiled at him and then ordered, "Take off your shirt."

He blushed at the command, it was as if his imaginations were coming to life – but this was reality, he needed to act with a little more demure. So he nervously mumbled, "N-n-no?"

"Scared you'll get stuck?" She challenged him.

Provoked, Shikamaru used his good hand to grab the back of his shirt, intending to pull it over his head. The shirt went over his face, but he found he didn't have the strength or flexibility to drag it over his head entirely. His shoulders and back were just in too much pain. He stifled his groan.

Temari shameless watched his exposed stomach flex and twist as he wriggled in his shirt. His pants hung low on his hips, exposing the lower of his obliques. Shikamaru had really grown up, she thought.

"Temari, my back is killing me," he said in defeat, after a few seconds of struggling. "Could I get your help…please?"

She stuffed the last few grapes into her mouth and got up to assist. She pinched the corners of his shirt and slid it off. He let out a huge groan as he stood up tall, tensing the stiff muscles in his back. He looked at her wide green eyes. "My ribs may or may not be bruised," he told her, "I'm feeling a little out of breath."

After gulping down the grapes in her mouth, she said, "They look fine to me." Temari's eyes traced the shape of his chest and ribs.

Shikamaru finally noticed the way she was looking at him. He suddenly felt very exposed and shy – albeit a little flattered. "S-so where did we land on that shower?"