"Why are we here again?" Shikamaru drawled in sleepy tone as he glanced around at the mostly empty restaurant.

"Oi, you Crybaby. We have to gradually give the others the impression that we're dating," Temari pointed out, keeping her voice low.

His eyebrow rose at the use of that old nickname. She had said it earlier but he hadn't paid attention. It had been so long ago since the first time she had used that irritating name. It had been when she was leaving with her brothers for the Sand. A memory flashed at him.

"See you. . . Be careful going home," Shikamaru told the Sand Trio giving them a nice farewell.

"Yeah," Kankuro responded in a cocky grin as they started heading toward the gate.

Temari turned her head for one last glance and teased, "If anything happens again, We'll help out. . . Is that okay Crybaby?"

"One word too far. . That's why girls are so weird " he said grinning broadly at her nickname and not to call her too troublesome. After all she did save his life.

"Why have you started using that old name?" Shikamaru complained taking a sip of his water.

The blond chuckled at his attitude, "Fine I'll call you Shika."

He choked on his water and when she laughed he rolled his eyes. Even though he liked the sound of it on her lips, he didn't want others to get the idea that it was okay to call him that.

"I would say something about that troublesome shortening, but I'd probably get smacked with that huge fan of yours, Temari," the lazy ninja responded who attempted to avoid staring into her blue-green eyes. While doing so, he quickly noted the fact that a few girls his age were heading straight his way. Including Sakura and Ino as the leaders.

"Temari, get up and sit right beside me," Shikamaru instructed the blond across from him.

Fury flashed in her eyes and as she was about to explode, Temari saw that his attention was fearfully caught by something or someone behind her.

Temari slid out of her seat and scooted in besides the lazy male.

Their legs rubbed against one another and their shoulders pressed together in a way that was awkward for both of them. In discomfort, Shikamaru pulled his arm free and draped it carelessly over Temari's shoulder.

Even though she tensed up for a mere moment, Temari soon relaxed and smirked at the aggravated girls who walked over.

"What are you doing with her? I mean, in a elegant place like this," demanded Ino her blue eyes electrified with rage with her light blond bangs wrapped around her ear.

"Isn't she just a bodyguard?" Sakura piped up with a glare sent at Temari. Her green eyes mirrored Ino's expression.

"Temari was only that at first, but she's now she my girlfriend," Shikamaru explained carefully his dark eyes turning even darker with emotion, "She understands me, and being with her just gives me joy. Sabuka no Temari is not as troublesome as I first thought even when she hits me with that fan of hers for being so lazy."

The golden haired blond by his side blushed unexpectedly and Shikamaru concluded to himself that all of what he said was true except for the girlfriend part. Temari was someone who could easily connect with him and understand him like no one else could. And even though she was scarier than his mom, he guessed that it really didn't matter when she smiled.

Watching her as she was today, he realized that they were a lot alike in some ways. Shikamaru stared at her and noted the sparkle in her eyes and the softness of her cheek. Until she glanced over to him for him to add something to what she had said. He blinked twice.

"Were you even listening?" Temari questioned from the confused and startled Shikamaru.

"Not exactly," he admitted feeling stranger than ever.

Temari looked back at the fangirls and grinned, "Sorry girls, but he's mine."

"Hey!" the girls cried out, Ino and Sakura being the loudest.

"I bet you two have never even kissed," one girl retorted smart mouth.

A glimmer in Temari's eyes told Shikamaru that she was getting irritated.

"Fine," she snapped pulling his face towards hers and meshing their warm lips together. He took the lead and delved deeper into the kiss, sucking sweetly at her unique taste that Shikamaru felt he could never get enough of. She cradled his chin with one of her hands and lightly skimmed over it with her fingers as she played out a slow battle in her mind to let go or keep kissing.

The sound of a low moan at the back of Shikamaru's throat gave her the answer as she pulled away, her eyes seductively opening with a slowness. Temari managed to pull her eyes away from his heated gaze, and glanced over to where the fangirls were, and saw that they had vanished from sight.

Shikamaru blushed and he noted the evidence of a fading shimmer in her eyes as she tried to pull her emotions back under her control.

Trying to look unconcerned, Temari made sure that her hair was still in place and scooted over to put space between them.

Strangely as Shikamaru watched her, he realized he had still never seen her with her hair not put up into those four blond ponytails. He smiled at the thought and told himself that he would soon pull them down next time.

"Are you going to even bother putting your hair up?" asked a irritated Temari who was trying to stay calm and not give in to the lure of brushing the few dark strands hanging in front of his eyes back.

He glanced behind him where the hair tie had fallen, and picked it up, but Temari snatched it out of his hands and ordered him to turn around.

Quickly she slowly pulled the silk tresses up and wrapped the binds tightly around his hair. Satisfied at the perfection Temari let go and nodded to herself.

"There," she murmured feeling pleased as he turned around.

"Thanks for putting those troublesome girls in their place. I hope that they won't continue bothering us- I mean me," Shikamaru stumbled with his words. Temari just laughed and stood up. Shikamaru followed her example and the both walked to the house. Once inside, they found that Shikamaru's parents were no where in sight. Sighing Shikamaru went to the fridge and read the sticky note for info.

"So one of the doe is in labor. That's why they're both not here," Shikamaru mumbled as he glanced at Temari who was sitting on the couch. He yawned and walked toward her and plopped down on the couch and stretched into a comfy position.

"Today has been such a drag. I couldn't even watch the clouds because of those troublesome girls," Shikamaru complained as Temari rolled her eyes.

"Still a crybaby I see," She bantered listening to his whines as she polished her oversized fan.

He opened one eye and glanced over. She was watching him out of the corner of her eyes. Shikamaru yawned and settled himself into a nice snooze. But he still heard her next words.

"Shikamaru. . . your such a lazy bum," Temari scolded.