I do not own Naruto

XXXTEMARIXXX

I stared at that large, worn, hand for what seemed like an eternity before I stood up and slowly placed my own in it. It felt so warm. He looked at me when I did that…there was that look again.

"Don't' worry." He gently said with that tired smile of his. "You're safe."

He didn't have to tell me something I already knew. In fact, I've always felt safe in this man's presence. Even when I was saving his life. I had never been accepted, and valued for me…Temari …until I met him. Of course he knew my merits…though he didn't always appreciate them… but he also knew my weaknesses. Despite that he never ran away, and he always protected me. From the moment we first met, he's been protecting me. He protected my pride at the Chunin exams. He protected my reputation when Gaara caught us embracing in that hospital corridor, by saying he was the initiator. That was the evening we returned from that failed "save Sasuke" mission I think. More amazingly, he then talked Gaara out of killing him by saying the hug was a pure reflex of relief at hearing his friends would live. Of course, he protected my life on that mission to save Matsuri. Even during my trips to Konoha, he protected me: my time, my space, my belongings…well I put them near him for safekeeping when I train and he naps. He even protects my … heart. Hey, was that why he was avoiding me? Was he trying to protect my heart? Had he been aware of my growing feelings and was keeping some emotional distance between us?

That thought finally gave me the courage to ask. "Shika, have you been avoiding me?"

XXX SHIKAMARUXXX

Oh so she noticed huh. Man and I thought I was doing such a good job, always having a ready, believable excuse. "About that Tema-chan, I'm sorry. " I said back. She looked so worried, and maybe scared? What was she thinking?

"Oh well okay…wait…Tema…chan?" She replied with one brow raised suspiciously towards me.

I chuckled…"It suits you don't you think?" She really was so cute.

"Uh … no it doesn't…and you can't call me that, remember I'm older than you. It should be Tema-senpai, or Tema-sama, or Tema-shacho" She said teasingly.

" Hnnn, that's what you think huh? Well, you are older than me, but you're also much cuter. So I think Tema-chan is perfect." I reasoned back. She still looked unconvinced so I continued with ," I guess if you don't like Tema-chan, I could call you Tema-chi, or Tema-hime. Or maybe I'll just call you my cute, little kitty." I sang back.

I didn't have to turn to know she had just blushed furiously…her hand had suddenly gotten very warm. "T-t-tema-chan is fine." She relented as we continued to walk in the cool evening. This was nice, the feel of her small but strong hands in mine. They fit perfectly together, I thought as I squeezed her hand slightly.

XXXTEMARIXXX

"What is with you tonight, you're in rare form." I inquired. He really was not acting like his usual bored, lazy self. Though I was still confused as to what he was doing? He'd been giving me mixed messages all week. First he avoids me, then he tells Naruto we're on a date, then he practically forces me to hold his hand, and now he's calling me Tema-chan? He must be drunk. "Did you drink some of my wine when I left the table?" I inquired.

" No I'm not drunk. I'm just…enlightened." He said looking at me again with an undecipherable expression. He turned to look ahead and tugged my hand saying "Hurry, we're almost there."

We finally reached our target destination… our cloud watching spot. It was a quiet patch of grass and wildflowers with just a little bit of tree-covering. Proximity to the forest protected this place from the wind and also brought calming sounds of crickets and birds. The grass here was softer than anywhere I had ever been and we'd spend hours of the day here in silence just enjoying the company and the atmosphere. Though confusion swept over me as to why he was so eager to get me here. We were always here, it wasn't anything special. "I don't get it, Shika this is our…"

"I know," he softly interrupted, "But we've never looked at the stars from here…come on." He lead me towards a different patch of grass a bit farther away from the forest. He plopped down on the grass and tucked his hands under his head. Turning, he gestured for me to join him.

I followed suit and laid down a little closer than I usual do…hey, it was starting to get cold. I looked up and saw dozens of stars dancing in the evening. The moon was just a sliver tonight and the stars truly popped out of that inky blackness. "It's breathtaking" I breathily said.

He stirred next to me and I turned to see that he had propped himself up on his side and again was staring at me. "Temari, I'm sorry." He said with a touch of regret in his voice and pain in his eyes.

"Shika, you already apologized for avoiding me this trip, forget it." I responded before turning back to the stars, thinking he'd be grateful that I wasn't demanding an explanation.

"I'm sorry for everything else. For denying how I really feel about you, for taking so long to make a decision about what I want, for thinking for even a second that it would be too troublesome…" he suddenly blurted with a catch in his throat.

I interrupted with, " Okay, okay you're forgiven. Stop with all this super, touchy-feely emotional stuff already." I needed him to stop…if he continued… I was going to say or do something really embarrassing.

XXXSHIKAMARUXXX

I chuckled and said…"Aw man, that's another thing I love about you…so not emotionally high maintenance." Oh !$, did I just say… love…I wasn't planning on dropping that word yet.

She looked over at me at sound of that word, her eyes wide with surprise as she surveyed my now very red face. She then squinted her eyes as she coyly said, "Hnnnh, really, well what else do you LoOOoVE about me Nara-san."

She propped herself on her side too, in order to face me completely. She then proceeded with this gaze that Kiba calls the "come hither" look. She used this, usually paired with some kind of seductive touch, when trying to embarrass me in front of the guys. This time though, there was no one around but us. I felt a shiver run down my spine curling my toes as I began to focus on those plump and round…lips. She gently turned my hand over and began to trace little circles into the palm. Although I liked that she was so close to me, I was caught off guard by her sudden forwardness. I couldn't tell if she was joking around like usual, or if this was different. Uh, oh if this keeps up, I'm going to be in trouble really soon. As she began to walk her fingers up my arm, I begged her, "Temari, please stop, when you're this close… Why do you think I've been avoiding you this trip. Last time you were here, you were so familiar and … close, I could barely breathe."

"Haahaahaa…You're too easy sometimes Shika." She guffawed as she lay back down to enjoy the stars.

When I could think clearly again, I noticed she appeared content and peaceful. The restlessness and worry I had noticed lately had completely been replaced.

She turned her face toward me again and asked "Aren't you going to enjoy the stars? It's such a great view tonight. Who knew a cloudless sky would be this beautiful huh?"

I smirked in response to that. I mean sure the stars were beautiful, but I definitely preferred THIS view. She rolled her eyes at me when I made no effort to change my position and went back to watching the stars.

XXXTEMARIXXX

We'd probably been there half an hour or so before a rare north wind began to blow through the clearing. I cursed myself for not bringing my jacket…well it looked funny over the kimono. A quick shiver ran through my body.

"Tema-chan, come here …" he said and I saw that he had propped himself up on a large nearby rock. I got up and walked over to him. He lightly touched my hand …"You're so cold." He pulled me next to him and wrapped his arms around me. "Is that better? Or do you want to go back?" He asked.

"It is better, and no Shika, let's stay here for a bit more." I told him, all the while thinking that I never wanted to leave here, I never wanted to leave his arms. "Shika." I timidly started "this is one of the things I love about you…how you always protect me."

He stiffened at that word and I imagined a similar look of shock had swept across his face as it did mine. "Now you've done it Temari, I'm no longer responsible for what I do to you tonight." He said with a gleam in his eyes.

"Oh I'm not too worried." I replied. "I can still kick you if I want to." Well that was a lie, but I knew he'd never hurt me. Plus I have to admit I was curious to see what he would be trying to do. Being this close to him and being so vulnerable was definitely awakening desires I had fought to suppress.

He laughed again, "Tema-chan, you really are the only one for me… Stay with me forever." He pleaded as he drew me closer guiding my head to his shoulder.

I looked at him, again surprised by how open he was being. "Shika-kun, all you had to do was ask." I replied with a smile.

XXXSHIKAMARUXXX

We sat there in the moon and starlight for hours. Eventually she moved so that her back was up against my chest and I could embrace her more completely. She claimed it was because it was warmer than sitting side by side. Whatever, I was just glad there was more contact. As the night had gone on, I had a growing need to feel and know her more intimately, so this was making me one happy man. Though, I doubted I could get farther than this tonight, because she did flash me this look of warning when I "accidentally" brushed my hand up against….well.

"Shika, what are we going to do about the distance, more importantly what do I do about my brothers?" She anxiously asked breaking the silence.

"I'll deal with your brothers." I told her. "And about the distance… we'll manage."

That seemed to reassure her, as silence overtook us again and we enjoyed just being there together. I had taken her hair down a while ago, since her ponytails kept poking me and was currently enjoying the smell and feel of her soft hair on my nose and cheeks. I nudged the crook of her neck with my nose and noticed her pulse had fallen in sync with mine. As I moved my arms to hold her even tighter I whispered into her ear…

XXXTEMARIXXX

"Tadaima." He whispered while nestling into my neck with his nose.

I reached up to touch his encircling arms, and leaned further into his embrace replying " Okaerinasai."

All endings are honorifics…for the ones you may not be too familiar with, shacho basically means boss and hime means princess and chi is an affectionate "little"

In Japan , tadaima is said upon entering someones home and it means "I'm home"…while okaerinasai means "welcome home".