Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

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Shikamaru stood before Asuma's grave,stucks of incense smoking in his hands. Squatting down, he prayed and stuck them in the ground, noticing that an expensive brand of cigarettes had been set on the grave.

They weren't there when he first arrived.

He felt a presence behind him, then heard a cough.

''He better like 'em.'' came Temari's voice.

''It felt weird buying them since I've never smoked before, unlike you.''

She squatted down beside the male, praying as well, then followed him as he turned to leave.

''Hey, how did it taste?''

He continued walking, half-lidded eyes focused on the cotton candy-like clouds in the pale blue sky above him.

''Whaddya mean, troublesome woman? Last night's dinner? It was great.''

''Not last night's dinner, silly. Cigarettes. I figure you might as well sick you head in a chimney if you want to breathe in carcinogens. By the way, incense is carcinogenic. Just thought you might like to know.''

A minute of silence.

''You know what? It's been so long since I last smoked, I've forgotten. It's probably bitter, despite how some cigarettes contain menthol. Say, would you like to play shougi later with me?''

She nodded, ectastic.

''I'll kick your arse this time.''

''Wanna bet?''

-0-

The lollipop in Shikamaru's mouth dropped to the floor when hisjaw dropped in astonishment. She beat him. The woman really beat him at shougi. Temari folded her arms and gave a satisfied smirk.

''Erm, what was the bet again, troublesome woman?''

''Loser has to wash the dishes. In a pink, frilly apron. Winner...''

She looked at the portable gaming console on the sofa as they played shougi in the living room.

''...gets to play with that naff little thing over there for the day. I have a high score to reach so if you'll excuse me, I'll get on with my game. Get washing, Nakimushi.''

Oh, aren't you a polite little girl? Not. Darn Temari...

-0-

It was bad enough humiliating himself when there was just him and Temari around, but then his parents had to decide on dropping by for a surprise visit on that day. Their laughing could be heard from the next block, proven by a neighbour from the eight floor there greeting them with a polite shout of , ''Hey! Keep it down ya flippin' hooligans!'' from his window.

''Decided to be a woman now, huh, son?'' joked Shikaku.

The joke wasn't very funny to the younger Nara, who ignored his father and continued to wash the dishes, much to the disdain of his mother,Yoshino, who soon diverted her attention to the female in her son's apartment who was currently rejoicing over a 'major' win at the pachinko game on Nakimushi,eh, Shikamaru's console.

''Woo! I beat your high score, Nakimushi! Eat your heart out!''

All three Naras sweat dropped.

''She's actually not as stupid as she's acting right now. We had a bet, you see. Whoever loses at a game of shougi washes the dishes in this equally stupid excuse for an apron,'' droned Shikamaru, anticipating a remark on Temari's un-lady-like behaviour from his mother. His parents' jaws hit the void deck. A woman actually managed to beat their unbelievably smart son at shougi?! That was a first. Truth be told, the female species usually didn't even bother to play with him in the first place.

This piece of news got Yoshino fairly excited. It would be wonderful to chat with such a woman, which she did right away, plopping down on the sofa beside Temari and engaging the blonde in small talk. Shikaku meanwhile, ambled over to his son's refrigerator, swung the door open, then got disappointed by what he saw.

''What the--?! Where's the alcohol I saw here last time I came?''

The son indicated his blonde roommate with a rubber gloved hand.

''Her fault. She got rid of 'em all. I reckon if I got some more, I'd get to know how her iron fan looks like up close,'' he sighed, wiping a plate. Shikaku settled for a can of soda.

''Problems with women, son?'' asked the father, watching the can let off a fizzle as it bubbled slightly.

''You bet. Why's mom so excited about my new room mate anyway?''

Shikaku stared at the ceiling as he thought for a bit.

''It's a female thing, I guess. She's been trying to play matchmaker for you ever since things didn't quite work out with Shihoh. Your mother didn't think you'd like any of the girls she picked for you...until now. Temari-san's perfect.''

Shikamaru nearly mistook the detergent for soda as he tried to get something to calm himself down.

''That insensitive workaholic with close to no tact?!''

''You ain't gettin' any younger son. Or would you have preffered Ino?''

Before the younger Nara could fire back another answer, he got distracted hearing his mother tell his potential bride some embarassing childhood secrets.

''MMMOOOMMM!!''

-0-

Shikamaru contemplated getting rid of the woman staying with him now, or his mom would insist on 'popping by' every single day of the month. His consciense, however, disagreed. He couldn't just shoo her off like some stray cat or dog. Sure, she had invited herself in, but he had agreed. Somewhat willingly, at that, perhaps out of sympathy. It was raining that day and she had no shelter after all. Although in actual fact, that woman had refused the current Hokage, Naruto's offer to reserve her a room in Konoha's finest inn each time she had to come for business. It had been a gesture of courtesy towards her yongest brother, one of his closest friends. Still, she hadn't wanted to impose on the Hokage , so why impose on him?

'Cuz she knew that staying in the Kobayashi Inn for one month would waste a lot of money, my dear friend?

That was his consciense speaking, the annoying thing. He wanted to shut it up. Ah well, at least she had enough courtesy to help around the house.

''Hey, Shikamaru, anything wrong?''

Oh, it's Chouji.

The tub of lard he called his best friend was waving a fat hand in front of his face. Chouji held up three sausage fingers.

''How many fingers am I holding up? C'mon, answer me buddy, don't scare me like that...''

Noticing the sizzling yakiniku, plates, chopsticks and condiments, the pineapple head remembered that he was treating his closest buddy to lunch. Now awoken from his thinking session, Shikamaru grabbed a piece of meat before Chouji could, before stealing a swig of saké.

''Shikamaru, you can tell me if you have any problems. I won't laugh if its embarassing. You know me,'' said the tubby guy, concerned. Putting the glass down, the Nara sighed.

''You know how everybody's wondering where Gaara's sister is staying, with her never being seen near an inn?''

''Yeah. Don't tell me...''

The pineapple head held a hand to his forehead.

''She's bunking with me. Sleeps in the study, takes care of my laundry, my meals and the house. Threw out ALL my alcohol, even the secret stashes. Beat me in shougi yesterday, made me wear a PINK apron. Worst of all, while I was wearing it, my parents dropped by. Humiliating. My mom is particularly taken with her. The troublesome woman now thinks TW2 is her best friend. Probably because they both like torturing me.''

'''TW2' obviously meant 'troublesome woman 2 .' Anyway, I have one sentence to sum up your one paragraph. 'She's your wife'.''

Shikamaru sighed in annoyance, rubbing his temples. He wasn't the type to lose his cool over something so trivial.

''No.''

''Well, she nags, she does housework, she cooks, she does laundry, she forbids alcohol...,'' Chouji counted everything Temari did on his fingers,'' Wives do that too.''

''So do mothers.''

The porky guy's friend reached for the saké, only to have his hand smacked away.

''Didn't you say the woman forbade booze? She'll have your scrawny little hide if she smelt it in your breath when you get home.''

Shikamaru stuffed meat into his friend's mouth so he would shut up.

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A/N: Hello, its me again! Thought I would write another chappie since you guys liked the first one so much! Not a lot to say about this chappie, though... Review!