ShikaTema Week; Day Two: Silence

This feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty was something she never allowed herself to feel. It went against her very nature. If there was a problem or an obstacle, she'd tackle it head on without any fear of retribution. If there was a menace, she'd strike without hesitation. Second-guessing was unacceptable. It was a fatal mistake in shinobi missions.

But this situation made her feel completely vulnerable and helpless. She would never admit it out loud though. Not to him. And especially not to herself.

However his anger was a rare thing to behold. Moreso since it was because of her.

But she couldn't bring herself to say she was at fault. Nor could she apologize. She wasn't used to doing either.

Thus the stillness in the atmosphere between them. When he turned to leave home for work without saying a word, her mouth opened but nothing came out. She could only stare in desolation. The pain and sorrow she only now allowed to fill her teal orbs.

As he stepped out of the gates, he looked back at their house and imagined her slumped form. He sighed dolefully. But he wasn't going to give in. Not this time.

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When he came home from work, he found her seated with the shougi board in front of her. The expression on her face was something he could almost call vulnerable but not quite. She didn't look to be intimidating him to play with her. Thus he willingly sat down cross-legged in front of the board.

She allowed him to make the first move by inclining her head. He acquiesced.

Throughout the whole game, both of their concentrations were on the board. When Shikamaru made his finishing move, Temari merely nodded in acknowledgement.

As they cleared the game away, Shikamaru turned to move away. He had intended to go to their room and change clothing. As soon as he stepped into their bedroom though, he felt feminine arms embrace him from behind. She squeezed to an almost uncomfortable degree while burying her face into his back.

He felt his defences fall almost immediately. That she was willingly making the first move after their huge fight was quite monumental. That she placed him before her pride bespoke solid remorse on her part. But more than remorse was a desperate need for reconciliation. Nothing could have disarmed him more than experiencing his troublesome woman display deliberate affection.

He felt her lips move against his back and knew she was trying to communicate the words but sounds were something she was incapable of at the present moment. The circumstance was too precious to waste with any miscellaneous sound.

Turning around in her embrace, he found himself drowning in her teal orbs that stared back unflinchingly. He smiled, knowing that even as vulnerable as she was allowing herself to be right now, the kunoichi in her would always be present whether in formal battles or personal ones. As if she was attempting to say that she would fight tooth and nail... for him.

Seeing that smile, she felt her chest's ache slowly fade away as it made way into light pounding. She gripped him tighter, a question delivered.

Lifting his hand to her face, his fingers gently held her chin and his thumb brushed against her quivering lips. That light touch sent shivers down her spine and her eyelids fell helplessly.

With a slight smirk, he touched his lips to hers in a feather light contact, barely lasting three seconds. Opening her eyes, she gave him a curious look. To which he responded by tightening their embrace as he pulled her close and just took in her scent, trying to embed it into his memory, heart and soul.

Her body sighed into his like it was the most natural thing in the world. Not unlike knowing that Konoha was full of greenery and Suna was full of sand. And knowing that destiny could have easily directed them towards other people, this right now was nothing short of a miracle, really. Even more so that such a stubborn, brash woman fell for a lazy, unmotivated man such as he and that he developed feelings for a type of female he always swore he wouldn't get involved with and would rather avoid even.

She was such a curious, precious person. Love was such a curious, precious thing.

But they were both undeniably troublesome.

And he couldn't wait for what else was in store for them.

Not that he was eager per se. A lazy man was never actively eager.

Hopeful was more like it. A hope that shone bright for them. As bright as the rare twinkle in her impassioned eyes.

Just as she settled her face into the hollow of his neck and her fingers played with the tendrils of his loose hair, he thought that even if she surrendered first, she still defeated him. With her vulnerability, her tenacity, her strength, her passion, her loyalty, and her boundless love for a man like him.

And just like in the chuunin exams, he conceded everything to her.

And it was the best decision he ever made.