"Itadakimasu!"
*several dozen bowls of ramen later*
At last, twelve enthusiastic cadets, one kunoichi, and one very broke shinobi were all stuffed to satisfaction.
"Bye-bye, Sensei! Thank you for the food!" They called as they retreated to their homes.
"I swear I've just fed an army!" Shikamaru felt it necessary to voice this, in order to explain his money coma.
Noa and Yori, who were both very reserved, approached their sensei and his companion with caution.
"Will you accept this gift?" Noa adressed Temari, tentatively extending her hand. Temari received the origami flower the girls had crafted with a smile.
"You girls have quite a gift!" She turned it in her hand, admiring the neat creases. and lovely delicate structure.
"Yori made it," Noa said, nodding to the girl beside her. Yori ducked her head, and glanced at Temari's face out of the corner of her eye. Temari knelt and looked into the girl's face.
"You are an excellent artisan, Yori. I could never make so much as a paper crane! What a treasure. I'll take good care of it." Yori's pale face reddened and she smiled behind her bangs and short-cropped, childish haircut.
"Thank you for the food, Sensei!" Noa called, in a louder voice, as she and Yori walked up the street hand in hand.
Shikamaru smiled.
"Those two are inseparable," he commented, allowing his arms to swing freely at his sides. "Yori seldom speaks and is unaccustomed to loud noises, because her family has the kekkai genkai of silence. They can create an impenetrable silence. Of course, Yori's abilities have not matured as of yet, but she practices quite often. She loves the fine arts."
"What about the other girl?" Temari asked.
"Noa's so patient and kind. she's really a wonderful help in the classroom. She told me one day that she and Yori got to be friends because she was having a particularly difficult time mastering one technique; I don't remember which. She was quite pathetic, actually; moping about the classroom. Then, came into school one morning and found origami on her desk and a note that said, "Try your best." Yori was the only one in the room at the time, so she knew it was from her. They've been like this ever since," Shikamaru said, linking his pinky with Temari's as a visual.
He let their hands drop, but inconspicuously kept his pinky linked with hers. Temari, of course, kept note of this.
"You seem like a really great teacher, Shika," she praised.
"Why, thank you for the compliment," he said, halting in his tracks to bow exaggeratedly.
"Speaking of which, what was that, earlier?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am; I have no idea what you're talking about." He kept a straight face.
"You told me I was a strong person or something, and then we were interrupted by that cute little kid."
"Stupid eavesdropping brat. And why would I compliment you? That's absurd." He smirked.
She whacked him.
"OUCH!"
"Thanks for nothing, then."
"Is that so?" he asked. In a split second, he was behind her; his right arm circled her body and on his left index finger he spun a kunai.
"Don't even joke about that!" She screeched, shoving away from him.
"Sorry, sorry." And he was. "But don't I have a right to compliment whomever I wish to compliment, and to insult whomever I wish to insult?"
"Baka."
Shikamaru went for her pinky again, but she picked up on his intentions and quickly pulled away.
"Aw, c'mon!" He cried, enveloping her and laughing in an uncharacteristic burst of emotion. "Let's go home!"
Annoyed, but charmed, Temari smiled.
Kira-sama's on a roll! remember to review because it means more chapters for you!