Title: Sweet Release

Summary: After him, no other man could satisfy the hunger the dark man left his lovers with. They called him Casanova. (ShikaTema)

Author: Bibliophile Nincompoop

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Wise men say, only fools rush in.

But I can't help falling in love with you.

~Elvis Presley

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Chapter 5: Stupid Questions

Shikamaru didn't sleep the entire night. The bed had big lumps, the sheets were scratchy, and his pillow smelt like old people.

Not to mention he got home with new bruises from a sweet little old lady who wanted to fight over the last bag of mixed vegetables. Shikamaru won never the less, because Temari would do more damage than that old croon could any time of the week and twice on Tuesdays. But when he came back the house was spotless, and Temari stood in the kitchen preparing for dinner. A sight he thought he'd never witness, but often thought about. It was difficult to ignore the need for her, he had it. It had been just a few days since he had last well "done the deed" with a woman, and he was starting to have visions again. Of his sensei and Temari. Them dieing over and over in his head.

Why are they coming back so early? I am going to have to find another woman soon, and I have to be extra cautious around Temari now. What if she finds out? What if someone else finds out and it makes a big troublesome ordeal? What a drag...

He rolled onto his side staring at the blonde next to him. His heart jumped into his throat.

You're so god damn beautiful. He just looked at her, with a sorrowed smile. Troublesome, but beautiful.

It was like he hadn't seen her in ages. He missed the woman, he'll admit it, but he missed the woman inside who cared about him. His father had been right about the troublesome women, and he did fall hard for Temari. Days where she'd fall asleep on the field while watching the clouds with him, catching fire flies on warm summer nights, and splashing him in the river. They had loved each other, to the moon and back. He was afraid of feeling that way for her, she was nothing like the woman he wanted. She was so much more troublesome, and of course like any man when he was faced with a problem he just pushed it away. Pushing her away and right over the edge. Figuratively speaking of course.

"Stop staring at me you creep." Temari punched him lightly in the stomach.

Shikamaru chuckled nervously, definitely caught off guard. "I was just staring at that booger hanging from you nose."

"Ha ha, ass." She grumbled, still half asleep.

"So venomous even in the morning." The leaf ninja smirked.

"No." She paused, yawning awake. "Just grouchy."

She sat up in bed looking outside, the sun was barely peaking over the edge of the mountain. "Stupid time difference."

"You know back in Konoha and Suna it's even earlier." Shikamaru chuckled.

Temari rolled her eyes at him, "No really? I wake up this time every morning, and then go back to sleep. But now I have to stay awake."

She buried her face into the pillows, and screamed "This house smells like old people!"

The blonde huffed and rolled out of bed, and headed to the bathroom for a morning shower. She could feel Shikamaru's eyes burning through her, almost as if she were an ant under a magnified glass.

"Tsunade, could have healed you without you scaring." The raven haired man sat at the edge of the bed, looking over her body. Now that she was just wearing a big tan shirt.

She scoffed at him, "These are just reminders of weakness. If I would have been stronger these would have never happened. The don't hurt me, they don't make me unattractive, so why get rid of them?"

"They hurt me, and probably your brothers." He eyed a thick white scar leading from her neck to her shoulder and further down her back. "Reminding us of how weak we were, not being able to save you."

Temari laughed at him, and she shuffled into the bathroom. "Shikamaru you sure are something. Get over it, it's in the past."

"Hurry up woman, I have to be in the Raikage's office in a hour! And I want breakfast too!" He shouted with a grin.

"Screw you."

He grunted at the thought, Would you? Ugh! Get your head out of the gutter! Troublesome...

Temari's shower took about seven minutes, Shikamaru was thankful she wasn't like most girls taking over thirty minutes. From his spot on the bed the hairs on the back of his neck stood at full salute. The cloud ninja were watching them. Checking out their credibility no doubt.

The blonde opened the door, wearing nothing but her towel. But by the look in her eye, he knew she knew. This is going to make everything worse.

The raven haired man swooped the blonde into his arms, laying her on the bed and kissed her soundly. Her long silky legs wrapped around his hips, and moaned throatily against his rough kisses. His hands roamed the curves of her body, touching his woman for the first time. The blonde flipped him onto his back and kissed his jaw down to his neck and nibbled on his ear lob with seductive chuckle.

"Honey, you have to be going soon." She kissed Shikamaru's bruising lips, like she had always wanted. "And I still have to make you breakfast."

The flaxen haired man, flipped his wife over and kissed her as deeply as possible, "I'll stay home."

She chuckled and pushed him up, "No my love go shower."

"You're evil." He growled in his lust. He reluctantly pulled away from her and went into the shower. But the sad thought dawned upon him. She was acting. I forgot it wasn't real.

He went into the kitchen where Temari was making what looked to be french toast and eggs. A hot cup of coffee was already on the table. Her tea was still on the kettle.

"Thank you for buying chamomile." She looked at him out of corner of her eye.

He remember specifically to buy in when he was at the market yesterday. He actually bought enough to last an entire year, just so he'd never have to go to that damn market again for it. "Oh I forgot I got it."

"Well thank you anyways." She grabbed a plate and served his food, sliding it down the table to him. "I hate playing Susie home maker. Why can't I be the ninja and you're the domesticated ball and chain?"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "Temari..."

"I know, I know. It was more of a general statement and wish than a question." She poured her cup of tea and sat with him.

"Why aren't you eating?" Shikamaru took a bit mouthful of his breakfast, washing it down with his coffee.

She rested her face in the palm of her hand stirring her tea with a spoon, "Not hungry."

"Whatever." Shikamaru finished his food, staring at her lips the entire time. He already missed the feeling of them against him, or her body against him as well. "What are you going to do today?"

"Go into town, try to make some acquaintances." She sighed happily from the taste of her tea.

"You should be careful. Mutaro said you shouldn't go alone." Shikamaru said a little worried.

Temari scoffed at her pseudo husband, "Are you serious?"

"Ok I'll go warn the person about you." She laughed lightly from his joke/insult/compliment, and he smiled as well. "I wonder what 'strange happenings' Mutaro was talking about anyways..."

"Don't fret over it, I am sure the Raikage will inform you soon enough." The blonde picked up his plate and empty mug and put them in the sink. "I'll escort you to the building."

He opened the door and held it open for her, "I want you home before it gets even remotely dark, and don't give me crap alright."

"Yes mother." She smirked.

Shikamaru groaned, "That's giving me crap, woman."

The air outside was terribly cold, which made Shikamaru wrap his arm around his blonde companion. It felt amazing to be so close to her again, and even better knowing it wasn't a dream. It took roughly ten minutes to get to the overly excessively large building, which Temari stood on her tippy toes and kissed her husband's forehead.

"Behave." He ordered sticking his finger out at her.

The blonde smirked evilly, put playfully said, "Who me? Always. Have fun at work."

She walked away, her hips swaggered seductively though she didn't even try. Shikamaru suppressed a lustful groan and whispered, "Be safe."

He walked into the building, ready for his tests and initiation.

Ugh dirty men.Temari kept a fake cheery smile on her face. While the men on the streets eyed her like a piece of meat, and some even whistling. Neither of which she was quite use to, especially when people knew about her. The evil wind bitch, or something on those lines. Pfft, strange happenings my ass. More like foul men wandering the streets.

The blonde made her way into the shopping district, where she saw very few women wandering around. Most of them were in groups or with their husbands. She smiled seeing that there were quite a few blondes. In Suna being a blonde was a disgrace, blondes were ugly. In Konoha, there were a handful and men found them attractive. But here she could see at least seven, and there were about twenty women in the shopping district. At least she would fit in.

The blonde walked up to a woman around her age, and tapped her lightly on the shoulder. The woman spun around having a kunai in her hands. "Whoa whoa." Temari chuckled waving her hands in front of her, "I am new here and I was wanting to talk."

The woman pocketed her weapon and smiled lightly but gasped. "You really must not be from around here, your eyes are so beautiful."

"Huh? My eyes?" Temari raised her brow in confusion. "They're nothing special."

The woman chuckled, "Nearly everyone in Kumo have brown or hazel eyes. Oh where are my manners, I am Kagna."

"I am Temari." She bowed respectfully, "Pardon me for asking but why is everyone..."

"We are having issues with drunkards lately." Kagna huffed, "And the Raikage doesn't want to waist our resources in protecting us women."

"Men." Temari scoffed.

The woman nodded in agreement, "I know."

Mission find friend: Complete

Shikamaru stood in front of the Raikage, answering a long list of ridiculous questions. He had just passed a ninja examination, now was the loyalty test.

"Favorite color?" The extremely dark man asked.

"Green." Shikamaru answered flatly, slouching in his chair.

"Your wifes favorite color?"

"Purple."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"When is your anniversary?"

"March twelfth."

"Why did you get married on that day?"

"My wife wanted the weather to be nice, and it was far away enough from our birthdays and any holidays."

"What country did you come from?"

"The Land of Tea."

"Nasty place, is your wife from there too?"

"She's originally from the Land of Valleys, but moved to the Land of Tea when she was thirteen to live with her uncle after her family died in a fire."

"What about your family?"

"I'm adopted. My parents died a year ago."

"Cool, I'm done." The Raikage smiled. Shikamaru couldn't believe how strange this man was. He acted more like a teenager than the leader of a country. "You're an official member, now go do ninja things."

"Such as...?" The former leaf ninja asked.

"Go on patrol, yea patrol." The man relaxed in his chair.

Shikamaru stood up and left, My mom always said I acted like an old man, but now I feel like one.

"Ok bring in the chick." The robed man called to his assistant.

Temari was immediately in the Raikage's office, being shoved by a younger boy. "It's very rude to interrupt someone while they are having tea with someone."

"Sorry hun. I just have to ask you some questions." The man slipped on a pair of sunglasses.

This can't possibly be the Raikage... No wonder this place is all screwed up, the freaking leader is just a big kid. She sat down, where her husband was just sitting. "Shoot."

"Favorite color?"

"Purple."

"Your husbands favorite color?"

"Green."

"When is your anniversary?"

"March twelfth."

"Why on that day?"

"Because my husband whined that it would be too hot or too cold any other day of the year."

"What country are you from?"

"I am from Land of the Valleys and my husband is from Land of Tea. I have no living family, neither does my husband. He has a birth mark on his left butt cheek that resembles a cloud. My bra size is a C. I dislike octopus and squid, I like roasted chestnuts and vegetable soup. My husband whines about everything I cook, so I don't really care about what he likes. He takes his morning coffee black. Anything else you'd like to know?"

"Welcome to our country." The Raikage said a little bit scared.

She stood up in a huff, "Thank you. I am sure I will love being here."

Shikamaru walked down the relatively empty streets, he had already escorted a drunk man back to his house. It wasn't even noon yet. He had spotted a few women who caught his interest, but one in particular. She didn't seem to be on edge like the others, she was more confident. She was definitely the next one, but would watch her for awhile to make sure she was a safe choice. I should just ask Temari, or tell her at least. No... She'd be disgusted with me. I couldn't live with her looking at me like that, knowing what I do.

"Shikamaru." He whipped around to see Temari standing behind him. "Did you not hear me calling you?"

"Evidently not." Her scowl grew, and Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Sorry, no I didn't. Did I mention how great you look today."

I am so whipped.

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Ok I changed the summary back.... because a couple of you said you like the old one better. Thanks for your input. Once again if you catch a error please tell me, I don't always catch them. I am only human.

K I S S I N G :D