Shikamaru's POV

"So," I knew what she was going to ask, the look in her eyes just made it so obvious, "make any advances on your girl?" I couldn't help but make a face when she said 'your girl', not that I didn't want TenTen to be my girl, it's just, I wasn't really sure if I liked her or not. I felt confused, especially after what had happened the day before, I wasn't sure if she hugged me or if it was imagination, not to mention she was gone when I turned around. And, I couldn't fight the feeling that she didn't want me, I mean, aren't girls her age supposed to like "gawk" at guys when they don't have their shirts on? I didn't have my shirt on and she didn't seem like she was "gawking", hell, she was sitting on my bed not even paying attention to my constant blabbering, probably thinking of that Hyuuga bastard. I couldn't stand it, I knew what Temari said about them just being friends was probably true, but, I just couldn't deal with knowing that he had such a 'head start' to where I was currently. In case you are wondering I'm probably on the "friend-of-a-friend-that-I-sometimes-talk-to" level, whereas he's on the "best-guy-friend-that-I-wouldn't-mind-having-relations-with" level. I sighed outwardly. "Hello? Earth to Shikamaru!" I looked to my left, I had almost forgotten that Temari and I had spent a good portion of the early evening together and that we were making our way over to were she was staying, basically, I was walking her home, it was her last day. To be honest, I was disappointed that she had just arrived the day before and was leaving, usually she'd stay around for about four or five days. She probably had to get to "her man", that's what she liked to call him. 'Is this what relationships do to friendships? You'll be to busy to spend time with the other people in life that you care about?' I had wondered for a moment before realizing that I should speak before she ripped my ears off and stapled them to my neck.

"Sorry," I focused my attention forward, "I spaced."

"Well," she smirked, "now that your back, answer the question."

"Kind of," I thought about the day before, "I guess."

"What'd you do? Casually bump her shoulder and apologize, then start a conversation?" I chuckled. "What?"

"Well," I looked towards the sky, "I did bump into her."

"Then what?"

"She fell in the mud." Temari gave me a disbelieving look, one of shock, one of...annoyance, possibly.

"If you don't believe me, you can ask her. She fell in the mud. Dragged me in after her. I took her to my place so that she could shower and clean up. I loaned her some of my clothes, my mother walked in on her, I asked if she'd stay for dinner, and she did. You should of seen her, she looked so cu- ridiculous. She looked ridiculous." Temari broke into fits of laughter. I frowned, 'Why is it that women laugh at what I say? I'm not making any sort of joke. She probably caught onto the cute thing...great.'

"You call that kind of making advances?" I nodded, "Ok, so, she has already been naked in your house, she currently has some of your clothes, she met your parents, and she stayed for dinner."

"Your point is?"

"Gee, Shikamaru! Get a clue!"

"What do you mean?" She stopped walking, we had made it to her 'home.'

"You may be a genius, but, when it comes to 'romance', you may possibly be the dumbest person I've ever met." She turned and faced the door. "Let's just say this. You may not have to work as hard as I thought you would've." And with that she left me standing there, looking stupid.

I simply shrugged and began walking around town, letting my feet take me where they please. Oddly enough, I ended up at my old team's training ground, how and why my feet took me there, I don't know. I tried looking for a dry spot to sit, but, I couldn't find one. I sighed angrily.

"Why the hell did you take me here?" I grumbled. "I don't want to train. I want to relax, especially after yesterday, I barely got any sleep." I turned around and there she was with a confused look on her face. Oh! Not she, as in TenTen, it was she as in Ino.

"What are you talking about, Shika?" she strolled over next to where I was, I just rubbed the back of my neck, 'Gosh,' I thought, 'I already know this conversations gonna be a pain in the neck, unless...' "Answer, Shika, if you know what's good for you."

"I do know," I looked at her lazily, "milk, fruits and vegetables, eight hours of sleep, though, I perfer more hours than that, an-"

"Quit playing dumb! You know what I mean!" she punched my arm, I just chuckled.

"Where's Chouji?" I had 'just' noticed my other best friends missing presence.

"He's on a mission," she looked down, then up with a big smile, "he'll be back tomorrow! I'm gonna make him his favorite dinner, too! We'll finally be able to spend the night together again! I'm so excited!"

"Oh, that's great." I didn't sound excited, mainly because I knew that Chouji was on a mission and back tomorrow, I just need to get her off the topic of what I was thinking of, I wasn't going to tell her that I liked TenTen, at least, not at that moment, I was going to tell both of them, Chouji and her, at the same time.

"I know! I finally get to see him! It's been, like, forever!" In fact, it hadn't been, it'd only been two days. 'Is that what being in a relationship is like?' I thought, 'Forgetting how to tell time while you're significant other is gone?

"Ino," I don't know why I told her, when I had planned to tell her and Chouji at the same time, but, I did, "I like TenTen." She stopped her...lovey dovey babbling and gave me her full and undivided attention.

"What?" she sounded surprised, I couldn't blame her, I was surprised as well.

"I like TenTen." I said it as though not to make a big deal, my guess, Ino thought it was a big deal.

"You? Like TenTen?"

"Yeah..." she made it sound like a crime, "Is there something wrong with that?... With me?... With her?" I didn't mean to, but, when I said 'With her?' I made it somewhat threathening if she said yes.

"No," she looked at me straight in the eyes, "it's just shocking. I mean, everyone thought that you and Temari-"

"I don't like her," I had to interupt, that whole Temari and I thing was annoying, "she has a boyfriend, anyway."

"Oh, well, there's no doubt, in my mind, that you and Ten-chan would make a cute couple." she nudged me and made the entire sentence sound way to sweet. I made a face to try and stop my face from turning pink, it didn't work, because the next thing I knew, "Awh! Shika! You really do like her! You're blushing!" I hung my head.

"Yeah." then it hit me, she and TenTen where closer than the other girls, excluding Temari, "Would you help me?"

"Of course!" she placed her hand on my shoulder, "we'll, I mean, you'll get the girl." I couldn't help but smile. I finally got a "right-hand-man", don't ask, that's what she called herself.

"Now what?" I asked, Temari was right, I was the dumbest person when it came to romance.

"Whatelse!" she jumped up in excitement, "Tomorrow we tell Chouji-kun and work out a bone afide plan for you to get your girl! Then..." she looked at me.

"Then?"

"Then we go on a double date! Ah! It'll be so fun! Having two of my best friends around to go on dates with!" I just smirked. There was no stopping it now. TenTen was going to be my girlfriend...well, if she wanted to be.