Thanks for all the reviews!
I have no idea what Sunan (?) customs are. I just made them up. I wanted this to be longer, but... yeah I just could not get that to work out... so yeah.
It Couldn't Please Me More
Shikamaru grumbled to himself, wondering how his mother had roped him into going grocery shopping for her again. He did not even live with her anymore, for cripe's sake. Temari was chuckling at his expense. She seemed to think it was 'cute' his family had holiday traditions. He nearly asked if her family had any, but a sudden image of Gaara and Kankuro trying to light a barbecue stopped him. At least Temari was helping him carry the stupid groceries.
It was a balancing act just to keep all the bags from spilling. The pineapple sticking half-way out of the top bag was giving him a particularly hard time. He was a ninja for crying out loud! Why were simple errands so damn troublesome?
"Your mother must be planning on making a lot of food," Temari commented carelessly.
"I think about three times the usual amount," Shikamaru groaned, "She's much too excited the Kazekage promised to eat with us for the festival if you ask me."
"Well, no one's ever fusses over Gaara so much, they're more scared of him, so he finds your mother's behavior quite different. I think he likes it," Temari shrugged.
"I can't imagine why," Shikamaru complained.
"You should at least try to enjoy yourself," Temari laughed, "I think this festival of yours is an interesting idea."
"Don't you guys have your own festival to go to?"
"Gaara said something about inter-village relations, but I think it was just an excuse to come visit Naruto. It's not exactly at the same time anyway," Temari explained.
"Right, I should probably tell my mom to expect the annoyance as company too," Shikamaru gripped.
"The more the merrier… or something," Temari tried to console him.
"Temari! Shikamaru! Wait up," a voice called behind them.
"Of course," Shikamaru thought. They had just passed the Yamanaka flower shop. Ino came running up to them, followed by a more relaxed Choji.
"Getting ready for tomorrow?" Ino asked excitedly.
"Unfortunately," Shikamaru replied unenthusiastically.
"Oh, come on, Shikamaru, don't be such a downer. It's going to be fun!"
"Is your mom going to make rhubarb pie again?" Choji wanted to know, ruffling through the bags Shikamaru was struggling to keep a hold of.
"How should I know?" Shikamaru whined.
"She is," Temari informed them, "She told me yesterday." Shikamaru looked annoyed and Ino giggled.
"Well, you can count on my family to be there!" Choji smiled.
"Of course," Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"What are you going to wear, Temari?" Ino changed the subject again, "You do have something to wear, right?" she added suspiciously.
Temari smiled sheepishly, "Yeah, I have something. It's pretty traditional. Gaara wants to represent our culture or something."
"Ooo, that sounds promising," Ino squealed, "What color?"
"It's sort of a light green," Temari replied detachedly.
"That should bring out your eyes," Ino nodded approvingly. Temari grinned despite herself.
"What will?" a new voice joined the conversation. Ten Ten had appeared from around the corner with Neji.
"Temari's outfit for the festival," Ino informed her.
Shikamaru sighed and started putting down the grocery bags. They were going to be there for absolutely forever.
"Shikamaru," Neji addressed him, "my uncle asked me to inform you we'll be coming for lunch tomorrow."
"All of you?" Shikamaru asked warily. Just how many people had his mother invited?
"All of us," Neji affirmed solemnly.
"Well… great," Shikamaru managed.
Neji smirked, "I hope the weather's nice because we'll never all fit in the house." Shikamaru rolled his eyes, accidentally nudging one of the bags, causing the pineapple to fall to the ground. He picked it up and placed it resolutely back in its spot, glaring at it as if that might dissuade it from moving again.
"At least it's a potluck," Neji continued, "though I can see you have your hands full anyway." Shikamaru turned his glare to Neji.
"Chip, anyone?" Choji inquired to break the tension. Neji shook his head, but Shikamaru helped himself to a large handful.
A loud bark alerted Shikamaru to the fact they were about to have more company.
"Akamaru!" Kiba commanded, "Stay away from the food." The large dog stopped short, looking longingly at Shikamaru's groceries.
"Sorry man," Kiba apologized, "He's all revved up about all the great east there are going to be tomorrow at the festival," Choji gave him a high five, "I hope this is a preview."
"Don't tell me you're invited ,too," Shikamaru groaned.
"You bet," Kiba grinned. Shikamaru almost failed to notice Shino and Hinata join the crowd because both were so quiet.
"Well, you should see what Hinata's going to wear," Tent Ten told Ino and Temari in an unnecessarily loud voice, winking at the younger girl. Hinata blushed and mumbled something Shikamaru could not understand. Were they still talking about clothes?
"I'm afraid I have something to add you probably won't like," Shino informed Shikamaru in a volume barely above a whisper.
"Let me guess, it's an RSVP," Shikamaru replied sarcastically.
"How did you ever guess?" Shino's voice was toneless, "Also, we're bringing an assorted cheese tray."
"Fine. I'll remember that," Shikamaru found this a bit suspect considering the sheer number of bugs Aburames kept around.
"Oh yeah, and we're gonna bring," Kiba paused, "MEAT!"
"Uh…," Shikamaru looked at the bags and then at Kiba, "All of it?"
"Psh, I don't' know, just some of our super-secret family barbecue."
"Okay, whatever," Shikamaru sighed.
"That reminds me," Ten Ten broke into the conversation, "I'm bringing pasta salad."
"Right," Shikamaru acknowledged.
"and jell-o mold," Ten Ten continues as if she had not heard him.
"Great," he responded automatically.
"Shikamaru, you're never going to remember all that, you should write it down," Ino scolded.
"I've got it," Shikamaru insisted.
"Write. It. Down," Ino commanded dangerously.
"Fine," Shikamaru whined, "Anyone have a piece of paper and a pen." Everyone looked at him blankly. He sighed and began fishing around his pockets for something to write with.. His fidgeting caused the aforementioned offending pineapple to once again fall from its place and roll to the ground. Shikamaru picked it up again, by this time extremely annoyed, and shoved it unceremoniously into the hands of the nearest person, who, as it so happened, was Temari.
"Hold this," he ordered, not even looking up at her and thus missing the completely shocked expression on her face.
"Uh… I…right," she stuttered, but Shikamaru was not really listening either.
"Idiot!" Shikamaru felt something hit him on the back of the head, "That's not how you do it!" it was Ino again.
"Not how I do what?"
"That," Ino gestured generally between Shikamaru and Temari.
"Ino, I'm just looking for a pen, like you told me," Shikamaru mumbled, irritated, still rummaging through his ockets. He was suddenly aware of a new group of people coming down the street. At their lead was Sakura, who seemed excited about something or other. Behind her lagged Naruto, Lee, Kankuro and Gaara. The expressions on the faces of the latter two were, in all actuality, absolutely priceless. Kankuro's face betrayed a mix of anger and sheer horror while Gaara looked downright flabbergasted, which was quite something considering who he was.
Sakura ran back and ushered the boys forward since they seemed to be dumbstruck, or rather, Naruto and Lee were trying to figure out what was wrong with Gaara and Kankuro.
"Ino, I, uh, don't think it's what you think it is," Temari frowned, looking strangely at Ino.
"Of course it is! Shikamaru's a genius. He wouldn't do something like that so stupidly," Ino defended.
"Something like what? All I did was hand her a piece of fruit," Shikamaru gave up on the list.
"Not just any piece of fruit," Ino seemed slightly angered now, "A pineapple. And she's from Suna."
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Shikamaru wanted to know.
"Everything!" Ino and Ten Ten screamed at him. He rolled his eyes and inwardly groaned- now another one of the girls was in on it.
"So, what's the answer?" Sakura ran up to them, slightly out of breath from herding the boys to the larger group.
"The answer to what? What's going on?" Naruto questioned obliviously.
"I wish I knew," Shikamaru eyed Gaara and Kankuro, who seemed to be approaching him menacingly. Kiba snickered. Temari looked for someone to pass off the pineapple to, but seemingly thought better of it and placed it quickly back in the bag.
"Don't jump to any conclusions," Temari intercepted her brothers, "He doesn't know much of Suna's customs."
" But you're from Suna," Sakura argued forcefully.
"Yeah…," Temari trailed off.
"Surely he must have learned something about your home when he was your guide," Ten Ten insisted somewhat more practically. Shikamaru rolled his eyes again.
"I might have forgotten to mention that one," Temari mumbled, exasperated. Kankuro's face relaxed a bit, though it still retained traces of the utter terror it had previously displayed. Gaara was now looking thoughtfully at Shikamaru, as though he had never seen him before.
"But that's the most important tradition of all-ever!" Ino cried.
"Not really…," Temari murmured.
"But it's so romantic," Sakura sighed.
"Romantic?!?" Shikamaru explained, slightly alarmed. His facial expression suddenly mirrored Kankuro's.
"Why do you all know about it, anyway?" Temari mumbled distractedly.
Sakura chuckled nervously, " I may have forced it out of some citizens when I was in Suna." Temari raised an eyebrow at this
"Oh, hey, I remember that-" Naruto began.
"It was a very calm and peaceful exchange of words which did not cause anyone to have to go to the hospital to get eight stitches in their tongue!" Sakura interrupted.
"That explains everything!" Kankuro considered this statement.
"…really?" Ten Ten asked skeptically.
"No. It only explains that those brats were telling the truth. I thought the little terrors were making it up to avoid their D-rank mission," Kankuro shrugged.
"Well, anyway," Ino interrupted importantly, "Sakura shared the story with us because she knew we would find it so romantic, right girls?" she sighed dreamily. Hinata nodded shyly.
"Romantic? As if!" Ten Ten sputtered.
"Oh, admit it, girl, you're just as much of a romantic as the next girl. I mean, just look at your outfit, it's totally pink," Ino argued.
"What does that have to do with any- wait! Pink?" Ten Ten shouted, "You need to get your eyes checked. It's clearly maroon."
"Girl, that is magenta if I've ever seen it."
Shikamaru sighed. They were talking about clothes again and Gaara's staring was starting to get really unnerving. He turned to Temari. She had stayed rather quiet.
"Are they implying what I think they're implying?" he asked dryly.
Temari seemed about as happy as he was to be discussing the subject, "As long as you're thinking they're implying the erm... presentation of a pineapple during a festival is a traditional marriage proposal in Suna, then yes. Yes they are."
"Hn," Shikamaru affirmed, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Temari rolled her eyes and turned her attention away from him.
"Remember that time I said I was going to kill you?" Gaara did not use his name, but Shikamaru knew he was being addressed. Everyone else went quiet, Ino and Ten Ten stopping cold mid-fight, staring at the two of them intently. A few seconds ticked by slowly before Shikamaru answered.
"Yeah….," he replied cautiously.
"I'm sorry," Gaara told him plainly. Without another word, the Kazekage walked around Shikamaru and continued down the road. Kankuro's mouth dropped open. He stood, stock still, unable to move. A slight breeze struck up, almost daring a tumbleweed to roll by. Finally, Kankuro dumbly followed after his brother.
"Hey! Wait!" Naruto called, running after them, "Don't I get an apology?"
"Naruto, don't be stupid," Sakura scolded, also going after the group. Rock Lee trailed after Sakura, curious as to Gaara's words.
"Well, that was… kinda random," Kiba broke the silence that followed. Shikamaru was still just standing there, slightly dumbfounded himself. Temari appeared to be deep in thought, frowning.
"Maybe not," Ino commented slyly, giving a look to Hinata and Ten Ten.
"Whatever," Kiba retorted, "We've got to get going, guys. See you tomorrow!" Shino simply walked after him. Hinata whispered a quiet goodbye followed after Kiba and Akamaru as well.
"See you!" Ino called after Hinata, "It's going to be so much fun," she continued excitedly.
"Ino, don't overdo it," Ten Ten warned, still a bit put off from their previous argument over colors.
"And you, don't be such a spoilsport," Ino shook her finger at Ten Ten, "It'll be great, right?" She looked at everyone else for support.
"Right," Choji crunched a chip enthusiastically.
"Right…," Temari grumbled half-heartedly. Shikamaru and Neji said nothing.
Ino sighed, "Well, if you guys want to be such sticks-in-the-mud, fine. You don't know what you're missing," Ino huffed.
"I know what I'm missing: the rest of this conversation," Ten Ten announced. With that, she stomped off. Neji hesitated for a moment before wandering after her.
"Here," Temari said all of a sudden, shoving a piece of paper at Shikamaru.
"What's that?" Ino questioned eagerly as Shikamaru perused the document.
"A list of the food everyone said they were bringing so he can give it to his mother," Temari replied plainly.
Ino looked livid, "A list of what!?! That's what you were doing this whole time. Ugh! You two are just…," she fumbled for the right word, "impossible! I give up" She threw her hands in the air and turned on her heel, heading back to the flower shop.
Choji shrugged, "See you later," he said jovially before walking away in the direction opposite of Ino's departure. Shikamaru swore he heard him mutter "good luck" under his breath.
The street was now eerily quiet. Shikamaru and Temari were left standing awkwardly in the middle of it, surrounded by a lopsided assortment of grocery bags.
Then, as if to add insult to injury, the accursed pineapple fell out of its bag again, flopping to the ground depressingly, as if to mock them. Shikamaru stared at it for a moment before bending down to pick it up.
He looked at the list in his right hand and the pineapple in his left. He pretended to read the list again, watching Temari out of the corner of his eye She was just standing there, arms at her sides. The corner of his mouth twitched. He had never been one for spontaneity, but….
Still looking pointedly to his right (anywhere but at her) and with his normal disinterested expression, Shikamaru took the pineapple in his other hand and slowly, purposefully held it out to Temari once more.
No, seriously, that's the end. I cannot believe I used a pineapple as a major plot point. I think I need to stop watching Psych reruns.
Curtis Zidane Ziraa got another one of my random refreces. The last chapter title was from Oliver! And "Fortune Favors the Brave" was one too. It's easy to put them in titles... heh heh.
Note, which may or may not be interesting: I was doing some background research on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., USA, for a paper and I got distracted reading about the cherry trees. To make a long story short, one of the types of cherry tree is a Yoshino, named after the city from which they originated in the Nara prefecture in Japan. So there is actually a city called Yoshino, Nara. I am probably the last to know, but it was definately the last thing I expected to find out when I started.
USR: 1(7)