Ch. 16 The Day They First Met
Temari was found where she usually was, sitting on the couch like a lazy couch potato. She turned off the TV and walked down her hallway; she then stopped when she got to the end of it and turned to her left and gazed into the room. She smiled and then dashed into her room.
She closed the door to her house and flew off on her fan. After a few hours, she arrived in Konaha. She eventually landed by a rather large old house. She walked around back to the garden there and walked into the house through the back door. She walked into the old room that once belonged to her friend, she smiled and walked out of the house and began to walk the streets.
Eventually she came to a playground; she walked up to the swing set and sat in one of the swings. This was the place. Three years ago, this is where she met Don. The guy who would change her life forever. She couldn't help but look back.
Temari walked into Konaha delighted as could be because she would soon to be able to pester her favorite guide in the whole village. She looked in all of his usual spots but couldn't find him. While she was searching for Shikamaru, she came across a playground. She saw the swing set and it reminded her of the swing set she used to sit on back home, it was the only place that made her feel at home when she felt alone.
"Well, I am tired, I'm sure that lazy ass has to show up some time." She said to herself. She sat down and swung herself in a mild manor and was lost in her thoughts for a while. Just then, she looked up to the sound of someone snoring. She looked up to see a boy around Shikamaru's age sleeping on the slide that was a few feet away from her.
She saw the dark hair and the headband tied to his left arm. She thought for a second it really was Shikamaru. She walked up and observed him up close for a bit, while he went on sleeping and snoring. It wasn't him, it was someone else. He had dark brown, curly hair. He had long grey pants and a grey vest with black trimming.
"Hello?" she said poking the boy a few times. The boy grunted. "Ok, this is getting me nowhere and I really need to find Shikamaru." She said to herself. She opened up her fan to the third moon and swung at the boy with all of her might. "Wake up you lazy ass!" she shouted and sent the boy flying straight up into the air.
The boy came crashing down to the ground and got up. "What the hell was that for, bitch!" he shouted. Temari glared at him and swung her fan just as hard, sending him just as high into the air, which made him fall just as hard into the ground. "What was that for?" he asked. "For calling me a bitch, you dumb ass." Temari said angrily.
"Dumb ass? Who are you calling a dumb ass, you ding bat blonde?" he said. "I dare you to say that again!" Temari said. "Ding-bat-blonde." He said. Then Temari whacked him over the head hard with her fan. The boy got up and attacked her which she managed to dodge; he then made a sweep to her feet which she simply jumped out the way.
Temari suddenly froze, she couldn't move. "What did you do?" Temari said. She then turned her attention to the boy who was squatting in a position with a familiar hand sign. "Where did you learn that? I thought only Shikamaru knew that."
The boy got up and walked toward her, which she too walked forward. "How do you know Shikamaru?" he asked. "That lazy ass is supposed to be my guide when I come here. I can't find him anywhere." She said. The boy released her from his bind and started to walk away from her. "Ugh, come on." He said. Temari followed him.
"How do you know Shikamaru?" Temari asked the boy. "I just do, what's it to you?" he replied. "Well, that jutsu you used, shadow possession no doubt?" She asked again. "Yeah, so?" "So, is he the one who taught it to you?" she asked. "If I tell you will you stop annoying me with useless questions?" He asked. "No." Temari said innocently.
"Ugh, fine, if you must know, yes he did." He said. They eventually reached the Hokage building, he pointed to the top floor window. "He should be in there, either he is in there talking to Tsunade or sleeping in a chair in the corner."
"Ok, thanks, by the way, what's your name?" Temari asked. "More with the questions? Fine, I guess it's ok if you know. I'm Don." He said. "Ok Don, thanks. I'm Temari by the way." She said winking at him as she ran off inside, which Don then blushed a bit.
Temari walked into the office and saw Shikamaru talking to Tsunade. "Hey guys." Temari said. "Here to pester me more?" Shikamaru asked. "More like to keep your ass in line." She replied cunningly. "You know, your friend Don is kind of cute, especially when he sleeps." Temari said giddily. "I take it you just met?" Shikamaru asked. "Yeah, not to pleasant of a boy, needs to find himself a good girlfriend to straighten his ass." Temari said.
"Well, he has his reasons." Tsunade said. "Oh yeah, you never told me you taught Don your shadow jutsu. He's quite handy with it." Temari said. "Yeah, I did that years ago back at our time of the academy, heh, we were among our class's worst students, but yet we managed to graduate. He barely had anything to help him though class but one day he asked me to teach him something so I taught him that. It apparently helped him graduate. We've been friends ever since." He replied.
"Well I guess you want me to get you a place to stay. Come with me, I will see you later Lady Tsunade." Shikamaru said. Shikamaru led her through the streets looking for a place for Temari to stay. "Hey is that Don?" Temari pointed into the distance at a boy sitting under a large tree with Hinata.
"Yeah, that's where you can most commonly find him; he is also usually with Hinata." Shikamaru said as they walked by and waved to Hinata and Don. "I have to ask, why haven't I ever seen Don around here before out of the years I have been coming here?" she asked. "Don is somewhat of an outcast in this village. He's always kept to himself and seldom does he ever visit with anyone unless it's Hinata and her family.
"Are they dating or something? They look like they'd make a good couple." She said intently. "It's not like that Temari. Don and Hinata are like family, kind of like really close brother and sister. They've been like that since we were kids. It only looks that way, but they aren't dating." Shikamaru explained. "Oh." Temari said as she looked back into the distance at Don and Hinata.
They eventually found Temari a hotel and checked her in. "Well there you go." Shikamaru said. "Well I have nothing to do; can I just hang out with you instead?" Temari asked. Shikamaru sighed. "I guess so, if I said no, I'm sure I wouldn't hear the end of your whining."
"Sweet!" Temari shouted. They walked around and then ran into Don. "Hey Don, still coming to my place tonight for our usual Monday night card games?" Shikamaru asked. "Yeah, I'll do the cooking as usual." He replied and looked at Temari. "Does she want to come as well?" he asked. Shikamaru turned to Temari, "Do you, Don has the best cooking in the whole village. You will never have a finer dish." He said.
"Well I guess so." Temari said happily.
Later that night Temari and Shikamaru were sitting on his couch watching TV when a knock came from the door. Temari got up and answered it. Don was at the door with bags of groceries. "Ok Shikamaru, I'm here. I'll start cooking." Don said. Don walked into the open kitchen area and Shikamaru took a seat that the bar that was in the kitchen area.
"Temari, come over here and sit down." Shikamaru said. "Why? I never liked watching people cook. It's so boring, it's like a zombie is cooking my food." She replied. "You won't want to miss this. Don can do awesome tricks and toss food high in the air and other things too, it's quite entertaining." Shikamaru said. Temari sat next to him.
They both watched as Don cooked their food and tossed it around and did other magnificent tricks. Even watching him chop vegetables was entertaining. He flipped the knife and when it landed cutting the vegetable he would instantly toss it back up, it was like watching a professional juggler with knives.
After a short time their food was done and Don served them. Temari took a bite and her face shot up with delight. "This is the best food I have ever had!" she said scarfing it down. "Well I'm glad you liked it Temari." Don said happily. Temari looked at him, his scowl had faded and he was in a pleasant mood. He seemed like a better person to be around now.
After they were done, they loaded their dishes in the sink and Don and Shikamaru set up the table for their games. Temari watched as the two of them played different games and even helped them against the other in other games. Eventually it got late and Don had to go home. Shikamaru and Temari walked with Don as he went to his apartment that he lived in, then Shikamaru escorted Temari home.
"Well that was fun. I didn't think I could have so much fun from one visit. Don has one heck of a personality." Temari said. "Yeah, it's rare that you see him like that now adays, but I will admit, he has his moments." Temari entered her apartment and Shikamaru went home.
The next day Temari was walking in the streets of Konaha when she caught sight of Don training in a nearby lot. "Hey Don." Temari said. "Oh, hey Temari. How are you this morning?" he asked. "I'm fine how about you?" she replied. "I'm fine. Up early I see to go harass Shikamaru?" Don asked.
"How would you know that?" she said innocently. "Shikamaru tells me stories of how much you bother him. Don't worry I think he likes you too much to mean it." He said. "Oh, really now?" she said. "Yeah, oh by the way, my birthday is next week, want to come? I'll be cooking and everything." He said.
"Really?" she asked excitedly. Don nodded. "Yay, of course I would!" she screamed. "Good to know. It's be at the Hyuga's place." He said.
Eventually Don's birthday came and Temari came to the Hyuga residence and found Don cooking food for everyone in the back yard. She saw all the people that had come to celebrate his birthday with him. "I wonder what Shikamaru meant Don was an outcast if he has all of these people here for his birthday?" Temari thought to herself.
She joined the party and it wasn't long before the party ended. What seemed like a short time was actually hours. Temari had fallen asleep on a chair and Don came to wake her. "Hello?" he said. Temari just grunted. Don sighed. He flipped over her chair, "Get up you lazy ass!" he shouted. Temari jumped up after she hit the ground. "What was that for?" she shouted. "It's late, party is over, time for you to go home." He said.
"Where's Shikamaru?" she asked. "He left, I offered to take you home." He replied. Don turned around and started walking. "Come on." He said. Temari grabbed his arm and he walked. "Thanks, I guess." She said. When they reached her place, she gave him a peck on the cheek and dashed inside the apartment.
Over the next months of the year, Temari came to visit Konaha more and eventually found herself visiting Don more and more. He would cook for her and they would get to know each other a little bit more. However there was still so much mystery about him. One thing was for sure, he did have great cooking.
Temari got up from the swing and looked at the sky. It was dark and the stars filled the sky. Temari walked to Don's grave and payed her undying respects to him and blew him a kiss then headed back home.