She came at him all out. He slid back and blocked. "You're leaving yourself wide open." Her reply was to scream and press forward even harder. Side step, block, side step, block; he wasn't even trying to counterpunch. "You're fighting angry, reign it in." His words only seemed to make her more determined to hit him. "Fine then." He reached out and caught her left wrist as she tried to connect to his head. She was off balance and it was easy to pull her forward. He bent and sent her flying over his hip. She landed hard on her back. He had kept a hold of her wrist. In one motion he secured her left arm behind her head and placed a kunai at her throat. "You are dead."
She gave him a look. "Again."
"Enough! Your form is sloppy and your attacks are completely off balance. What do I always say about anger?"
She sat up. "Anger is a fine servant but a poor master." She quoted.
"I don't know what is going on but you clearly aren't focused on this. Any more training would be a waste of my time."
"Well I'm sorry if sparring with me isn't good enough for you."
"Not if all you're doing is working off some frustration." He shook his head. "What is going on Temari? First you beg me to give you time off, then you come pounding on my door wanting to train. Then all you do is come straight ahead at me like a first year student. I would expect better from you." She didn't reply she just sat there. "What is wrong?"
"Everything." She looked up at the clear sky.
He looked down at her. She was upset but he had no idea why. He sat down next to her. "Does this have anything to do with Shikamaru?"
She kept looking up. "Do you think I deserve to be happy?"
"Happy? What do you mean?"
She looked at him. "I mean do I have any right to be happy sensei? Do I have any right to want something just for myself? My whole life has been devoted to others, to my village, my brothers, my bastard of a father…"
"Temari! Speak respectfully of the dead!"
"Why?" She demanded. "I called him a bastard when he was alive so I'll damn well call him one now that he's dead. If anyone has a right to it's me."
"I understand your feelings, but still show some respect; for all his faults he was a great man."
"He was a great leader and Kazekage." She corrected. "But I refuse to call any man who would not love his children great." Baki had no answer for that. "What I want to know is are we just tools or do we get to have our own lives? Is it selfish for me to want happiness just for myself?"
He took her words in. "I know very little about happiness myself Temari. I have known duty as a Suna shinobi since I was ten and I have always strived to follow the virtues and ways of the shinobi." She nodded. "There are those who say we are only tools to be used by those whom we serve. To a degree that is certainly true. Of all the virtues loyalty is the most precious one to a shinobi. But even though we are shinobi we are also human. You speak of happiness but I suspect you are also thinking of love. Whether or not it is selfish to love?" He looked at her, and she gave him a very slight nod. "To truly love means to put the needs of another above your own. In a sense when we face death in service to our village it is done out of love. For there is no greater love than to lay down all you have for another. If that is what you feel, if you would gladly give everything for the sake of someone else then that is true love. And true love can never be selfish."
Without any warning she reached out and put him into a vice like embrace. "Thank you."
He was not one for emotional displays, but he gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. "You are welcome."
She let got of him and looked away as she quickly rubbed her eyes. "Do you still want to meet Shikamaru?"
"Now more than ever, if he can inspire such thoughts and feelings in you he must be quite an interesting fellow."
She laughed. "Interesting doesn't even begin to describe him." She stood up and so did he. "Let's go have lunch with the most interesting and laziest ninja on the face of the world."
XXXXXXXXXX
There was a loud pounding on his door. He lifted his head off the pillow. "Go away!" He shouted.
"Shikamaru open this damn door right now or I swear I'm breaking it down!" He heard a familiar voice yelling.
He sat up and yawned. "Hold on I'm coming." He rolled out of bed and went to the door. When he opened it he found an impatient Temari standing there, arms crossed and foot tapping.
Her eyes grew at the sight of him. He was wearing the same shirt from last night and a pair of green boxers. "It's eleven what are you doing still not dressed?" She shouldered past him into the room.
"Come in." She scowled and he quickly shut the door. "I was sleeping." He explained.
"At eleven? I've been awake for five hours and three of them were spent doing taijutsu."
He yawned again. "I am usually not so energetic in the mornings." She smacked the side of his head. "Ow! What was that for?"
"You are a rude baka! Cover your mouth when you yawn it's just plain vulgar. I swear you are the laziest human being I have ever met in my life. Just how did you become a Genin, never mind a Chunin?"
"Bad karma?"
She shook her head. "Why do I put up with you? You are lazy, worthless, and completely unmotivated."
He smiled at her. "You left out handsome, charming, and wonderfully kissable." She smiled back, right before hitting him in the head again. "Ow!"
"You really want me to hit you today don't you?" She looked over and saw where the bedroom was and went into it. "Where are your clothes?"
"Hey what are you doing?"
She looked over to the chair where his clothes were piled. She looked at him and then pointed. "Do you see that wooden box with the shiny brass handles? That is called a dresser, clothes go in there." She went over to the chair and began picking through them.
"What are you doing?"
She picked out a clean shirt, pair of pants, and boxers and handed them to him. "Go take a shower. I want you clean and dressed in ten minutes so we can have lunch with my sensei."
He took the clothes she handed him and just stared at her as though she were a crazy woman. "Temari when did I say I would have lunch with your sensei?"
She smiled sweetly and began reaching for her fan. "You've got nine minutes and forty five seconds left."
He mumbled something about, 'insane' and 'mom' but he did scurry over to the bathroom with the clothes she had picked out. When he came out nine minutes later his hair was still wet and his clothes damp, but he did look presentable. He was not surprised to find his bed made and his clothes no longer on the chair. He felt a cold shiver of fear. She had woken him up, made him shower and dress, and cleaned up his room… she really was acting like his mom. She was actually worse; his mom had never beaten him with an oversized fan.
"Well let's go." She was waiting by the door.
He went over to her, but suddenly stopped. "Oh, wait I forgot something."
"What?" She said in an exasperated tone.
"This." He took hold of the side of her face and leaned in for a kiss. He was happy to see the look of surprise on her, along with some pink color in her cheeks. "Too bad we're in such a rush." He said once he'd kissed her.
As he reached for the door she grabbed him by the front of his vest and shoved him hard against it. He was surprised; he hadn't expected the kiss to make her angry. She leaned her face into his. She had an evil grin that promised nothing but trouble.
"Five minutes." She said and pressed her mouth down on his in a rough kiss.
XXXXXXXXXX
When they got downstairs Baki was sitting at a table sipping some tea. Looking up as the two of them approached he smiled. "I hope you don't mind but I decided to sit down while I waited. It has been over half an hour."
Before Temari could think something up Shikamaru spoke. "I apologize. I was not dressed and I am afraid it takes me quite awhile to get ready. I am sorry for making you wait."
Baki was a Jonin and used to picking up on the slightest detail. He did not miss the guilty look that had flashed between the two of them. Or the slightly relieved expression Temari had possessed once Shikamaru completed his explanation. "I see, well no need to apologize since we had not planned to meet you are not late."
"Baki-sensei, may I present to you Nara Shikamaru of Konoha. Shikamaru this is Baki he has been my teacher and instructor since I was eight." Temari made the formal introductions.
Baki stood up and bowed. "I am most pleased to meet you Nara Shikamaru."
Shikamaru returned an equally respectful bow. "Thank you Baki-san. Temari has spoken of you often and I can tell she thinks a great deal of you."
A grin tugged at his lips. "Most of it good I hope. Please do not feel the need to be formal; you may simply call me Baki." He sat back down. "I haven't ordered yet, shall we go ahead and have lunch?"
They both sat down at the table and began looking at menus. They were both still deciding when a familiar shrill voice rang out.
"Shikamaru why didn't you tell us you were having lunch!" The three of them looked over to see two Leaf nins approach.
"Oh wonderful," Temari muttered under her breath.
"Hey Ino, hey Chouji." Shikamaru waved to his two friends. When they came over to the table he performed some quick introductions.
"Well how nice you're having lunch with her sensei. How sweet. Well Chouji and I were just about to have lunch as well." She paused.
All eyes went to Temari. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. With an effort she screwed on a weak grin. "Would the two of you like to join us?"
"Thank you." Ino chirped. She sat down to Shikamaru's right, and Chouji sat down on hers. Temari sent the girl a frown. Ino sent a brilliant smile in return and absent mindedly put a hand on his arm. "So Temari how was your date last night?"
Shikamaru shut his eyes. "Troublesome," he muttered.
Chouji looked eager to hear more. Baki looked over to his student. "You had a date last night?"
She nodded to her sensei. "Well as you know hospitality demanded I invite him into my home. We had a very nice dinner and some pleasant conversation." She reached over and put her hand over his. She directed her attention to the other girl. "Shikamaru can be very fun once he relaxes."
"I'll just bet." Ino replied.
"Have you got something to say little girl?"
"Just wondering if you wear cherry red lipstick or if Shikamaru met another friendly girl on his way home."
Shikamaru jumped in before Temari could explode. "Chouji do you know she made a steak for dinner and it had to be at least 40 ounces."
Chouji's eyes expanded. "Really?" As Shikamaru had known he would his friend began asking Temari about the details of the dinner. During which he sent Ino an unhappy look which she shrugged off. He let out a sigh. This had started out as such a peaceful day, now he felt as if he were stuck between two opposing armies.
The lunch was interesting to say the least. Her sensei was actually trying to hold a conversation with him as he tried to mediate between the two girls who continued to snipe at each other. For his part Chouji mostly listened as he stuffed himself with barbecue. Near the end of the meal, as they were all sipping on their drinks Baki brought up a familiar topic.
"Shikamaru I am curious about something I have heard. Perhaps as a Chunin who is close to your Hokage you could shed some light for me."
"Well that all depends on what you wish to know." He answered warily, friendly or not he had to be careful what he said to shinobi from another village.
"The Chunin exams are coming up soon and we have received a list of competitors from the participating villages. We have yet to receive anything from Konoha."
It was Temari who actually answered. "Shikamaru and I talked about this last night. It seems their Hokage is considering boycotting this exam."
Baki looked astonished. "Is this true?"
"No decision has been made as yet, it is only a possibility." Shikamaru said.
"So your village intends to forgo selecting any Chunin?"
"As I understand it every Kage has the authority to appoint Chunin or Jonin at their own discretion."
"Of course, there are always some shinobi who are skilled but for whatever reason do not excel at the exams. Sometimes the competition is simply too brutal. And of course during war time the exams cannot be held. Still, participation in the Chunin exams is considered an important aspect of demonstrating respect and friendship between the hidden villages. I remember your own Hokage speaking thus at the preliminaries of the last exam."
Shikamaru sent the man a cold look. "I remember the same speech, I also remember attending the Sandaimes funeral as well as getting ready to die as I faced eight Sound nins. Tell me Baki-san, as you stood there listening to the Hokage speak of friendship and respect did you already know you would betray us?"
The table was dead silent. Temari looked hurt, and his friends looked surprised that he could sound so passionate about something. Baki had no expression at all. Shikamaru honestly didn't know where that had come from. Perhaps some wounds just took longer to heal.
He stood up and bowed to Temari's sensei. "I apologize that was rude of me."
Baki then stood. "You do not need to apologize. You have every right to be angry at what took place. You are a Chunin of Konoha village and your loyalty does you only credit. And to answer your question, yes I knew." He bowed low. "And for that Nara Shikamaru I apologize to you." He then turned to Ino and Chouji, and bowed as low to each of them. "I apologize to each of you as well." He sat back down.
As Baki and Shikamaru sat Temari slowly came to her feet. She looked at him, he could see her distress. "I also knew Shikamaru. If it is worth anything to you I never wanted it, and I spoke against it when Baki first informed all of us."
"She did." Baki confirmed.
"Temari you don't…"
She bowed to him. "I apologize to you Shikamaru for my deceit. I ask only that you understand that it was the will of the Kazekage." She looked to the girl and bowed. "I apologize to you Yamanka Ino." She looked to the boy next to Ino and bowed. "I apologize to you Akimichi Chouji." She looked back to Shikamaru. "Please excuse me I have to go." She did not wait for an answer as she fled the restaurant.
Shikamaru jumped to his feet. "Excuse me." He quickly followed her. Everyone else at the table simply watched.
Baki looked concerned. "I wonder if he will still take her to the festival tonight." He said to himself.
"Festival?" Ino asked.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Temari wait!" She kept on walking. He finally caught up to her just outside the Inn. "Temari please wait." He took a hold of her wrist.
She stopped. "Do you hate me?"
"What?! No, of course not!"
"Are you sure?" She looked very unhappy. "If you feel that Baki betrayed you then so did I. Anything you believe him to be guilty of I am guilty of as well."
He stood before her and took both her hands into his. "I am not angry with Baki or you or anyone else here in Suna. I know that it was Orochimaru…"
She shook her head. "Orochimaru was a bastard and he was the one who convinced the Kazekage before murdering him. But the fact remains that the Kazekage did order the attack on your village. Even though I disagreed with it I obeyed the order." She looked at him intently. "What would you do if Tsunade declared war and ordered her army to invade Suna?"
He took a deep breath. "I would obey the order; I couldn't stand by and let my friends be in danger. But I would never be your enemy Temari; I would never try and hurt you. If the Hokage ordered that I would refuse."
She squeezed his hands. "I know that, and I would never be yours."
He tried to smile. "We're allies now, so this shouldn't be a concern."
"We were allies before. I truly don't believe that anyone here would start another war with Konoha. But the shinobi world is a shadowy one with very few absolutes."
"I know about shadows Temari, but some things are still certain even if they are hidden."
"Such as?"
"My feelings for you."
She leaned forward and pressed the side of her face against his. "This is never going to be easy for us is it?"
"No, but we knew that from the beginning."
She saw the stares of people passing by. "I want to be alone with you." She whispered to him.
He felt a shiver. "Well I have a place." He glanced to the Inn. She nodded and the two of them went back inside.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Chouji you're taking me dancing tonight."
"I am?" He looked at her in surprise.
"You are."