Disclaimer: …you know, I'm running out of funny ideas to put down for disclaimers…hmm…I don't own Naruto, but I do own a really cool 70 page college ruled notebook where I write my stories down in…don't you dare laugh at me!
Chapter 9: Shikamaru's Triumph
(Shikamaru's P.O.V)
I was…nervous…it bothered me when I felt this way in general, but when Temari was involved, it only made things that much more troublesome. That's why I love her I guess, she makes my life interesting, a bit more challenging, and at times, better than it really is.
I still remember when Asuma died…though I try to forget. It was Temari who stayed by my side when she found out about my sensei's death. She stayed with me that night while I cried…and she never told anyone about my outburst of tears. She could have used that as blackmail on me later, but she never did.
I waited, quietly looking at the clock. Ten to eleven…time was too slow at when it came to these kinds of situations. I patted a small box in my pocket, making sure it was there. The clock seemed to be slowing down…or maybe someone outside my house was pulling genjutsu on me…no, it was only me.
Before I could think any further on the possessed clock, I heard the patting of sandals coming down the hall…Temari. Great, and now I'm starting to sweat.
"How troublesome." I grumbled to myself as Temari opened the door.
"Hey, Shika. Naruto said that you needed to talk to me about something." The fan-using kunoichi asked me as she smiled cheerfully. I couldn't help but smile back.
"Yeah…I-I do…um…" I couldn't think of anything to say at the moment.
"What?" Temari asked, putting a hand on her hip in an impatient manner. I don't what it was about her, but seeing her do that made me even more flustered. Everything about her screamed 'I'm a woman damn it, you better respect me!!' She was perfect…there I go again with one of my rants…focus Shikamaru, focus!
"Temari, do you remember back when we very first meet each other?"
"I try not to, but yeah. What about it?" she joked.
"Well, when I forfeited the match during the chunin exams…it wasn't just because I was low on chakra." I replied.
Temari raised an eyebrow, and then smirked at me, "Oh really, what else is there? Were you too scared?"
"Well I'd be lying if I denied that you freaked me out…but there's another reason."
"What reason would that be?" she asked.
I sighed, "I'm lazy Temari, too a fault pretty much. Until recently, I truly didn't give a single bit about being a shinobi…or anything for that matter. I was considered a genius, but had no motivation to anything to prove it…then Asuma died…that's when everything changed. When I saw what I really am."
Temari's expression softened, "Shika-kun, it's not your fault, you know that. Asuma and you gave it everything you had…but Hidan was just too…strong."
"Exactly…I've always relied on the others for strength, I just did the planning. I feel that someday I'll be needed, but what good will I be if I can't fight?" I asked, taking a seat on the floor. Temari followed suit, and put her head on my shoulder.
"You don't have to be strong as Hidan to be a good ninja." She said, cupping her hands around mine.
"Well, I'm glad you believe in me." I said.
"Every one of your friends believes in you, Shikamaru, not just me." Temari said, as though she was correcting me. She then gave me a hug, and remained wrapped around me.
Now was my chance…I hoped…
"Temari, you care about me, right?"
"Of course I do, idiot." She laughed.
"Then you know that I really care about you too, right?"
She sighed, "Shika, what are you trying to get at?"
"Sorry, I guess this isn't going according to what I planned." I laughed, reaching into my pocket.
"What do you mean 'planned'? Shikamaru, if this is-" she stopped as I went on one knee. Her eyes were now shining with excitement, and I think I saw the shadows of tears in her eyes…she had such beautiful…gah, focus!!
What if this goes wrong? Well, too late to stop now, "Temari…will you marry me?"
Silence.
I struggled to keep my smile on my face…she was still quiet. I mean, yes, this was sudden…but I felt strongly for her, and I think she feels the same for me. We've already become closer than friends. We crossed that line about a year ago when we took a vacation together to the Land of the Waves. The place had become quite a vacation spot. We had come to understand each just how much we cared for each other on one particular night…that was something that I never regretted doing either.
"…Temari?" I called to her, a little more nervous than I cared to show.
Her eyes were now watering up, and she slowly let herself look at me, "Am I awake? You're not just teasing me, are you? This isn't a dream?"
"Yes, you are awake. No, I'm not teasing you, I'm as serious as I could possibly be, and no, this isn't a dream." I replied, still smiling.
"Good," she replied, "I was wondering if this day would ever come." She let her tears fall.
"So…that means?"
"Yes, you idiot. I will marry you, and I wouldn't want you with anyone else." She replied, quietly crying with a small smile on her face. I slipped on the ring as she continued, "I will admit though, you caught me off guard big time."
"That's what I had hoped for." I laughed, admiring how she looked with that wallet emptying golden band with a diamond on it. I had spent the money from my last four A-class missions so I could get the perfect size for her.
"Really? You hoped for it? You seemed to be pretty unsure of yourself just a minute ago. Were you scared?" she teased, holding me tightly.
"To be honest, yes. I didn't know what to say, didn't know what would happen, you know. I asked my dad for advice; he simply laughed and said that his dad wasn't that helpful when he asked him for advice when he proposed to my mom, so why would he be any easier." I admitted.
"Well, aren't you glad you asked me?" she smiled.
"Definitely." I said, as though it was the most honest statement I ever made…in fact, it was.
Then another thought crossed my mind…where would we live?
"Temari, should we move to Sunagakure, or do you want to live with me and my family here in Konoha? It's up to you."
She didn't hesitate, "Here. I think I've fallen in love with this village, and being that our villages are allies makes things like marriage that much better. I think it would be great to be a ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves."
I smiled, "Good, then that's out of the way…you sure you can deal with me for the rest of your life?"
"Someone needs to keep you in line, it might as well be myself." She smirked.
We both laughed lightly, and then I spoke, "Let's go tell the others; I'm sure that Ino will start making bouquet arrangements for us in advance, and she'll give us discount if I'm correct."
"A discount?" Temari repeated.
"Probably…hmmm…sixty percent at the least…she's a sucker for weddings…and even more so when she knows the people…and even more so than that when she's good friends with the people."
We both walked into the living room and waited for everyone to stop and notice us. Little to my surprise, Ino spoke first, "What are you two smiling about?"
Temari simply showed the ring on her left hand. Almost at once, Tenten, Ino, Sakura, and Hinata let out girlish squeals.
"Omygosh! Omygosh!! He didn't, he didn't!!!" Ino sputtered with a typical girlish smile and flailing of her hands.
"Temari, we're going shopping as soon we finish this mission! We need to get you the best wedding dress possible…wait, what about our dresses? Ack, so much to shop for, so much to shop for!" Sakura added, panicking slightly.
"And I thought you were going to force it out of him to marry you!" Tenten smiled, jumping up and down with the others.
"Congratulations Temari-san!!!" Hinata said, joining the feminine frenzy.
I was lucky enough not to be engulfed into the chaos. Choji and Naruto simply laughed, while Kiba added, "Well, he finally motivated himself to do something."
Shino nodded, which I accepted as a 'Congratulations' while Rock Lee started spouting out a passionate speech of how love grows from the time of the springtime of youth. Neji smiled, and simply shook his head. I knew for a fact that Tenten had been badgering the Byakugen user for a good six months on the issue of matrimony now, and he said they should worry about it when they're ready.
What made me relieved was the scene from Temari's brothers. Kankuro smiled to me with a rare grin while Gaara gave me the slightest shadow of a smile. They were happy with us being together, which made things easier. However, what made Temari happy in the end was mattered in their opinion.
We celebrated the engagement for another two hours, and then everyone left. Soon it was just Temari, her brothers, and me.
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you again soon." I said to Temari.
Temari gave me a look that she reserved only for me, "Actually, why don't I stay here for the night?" she suggested, turning to Gaara and Kankuro, "I'll meet with you guys in the morning at the gates, okay?"
Kankuro raised an eyebrow, "Just stay safe if you two tango tonight." Gaara coughed in order to suppress a laugh.
I said goodbye to the now retreating brothers of the Sand as Temari ran them off with her fan in tow. She eventually came back to the steps of my house with a healthy blush, muttering, 'let's see him laugh when I use those puppets for firewood'.
"You know, you're cute when you're angry." I said. We shared a kiss, and then Temari smiled. We walked inside and into my room. She pushed me onto the bed, and then left for the bathroom.
"Give me five minutes." She said in a rather seductive tone as she walked out of the room.
"It's a good thing Mom and Dad decided to have that vacation this week…and it also helps that I don't have training in the morning." I smiled to myself.
End of chap.9- Gasp! They didn't!!! Yeah, they did…but I won't type such things down. Well, there you go, a chapter dedicated to one of the most interesting pairings in the Naruto universe in my opinion: Temari and Shikamaru. What did you think? Well, the next chapter begins the mission, and things will become more involved with Sakura and Naruto again. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please R&R!