Neurological disorder

Rated M: Violence, drug use, alcohol consumption, sexual situations, course language.

Note: Everything will be explained, or further explained in the next chapters.

Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto

P.s: 'This' -means an inner voice is talking/thoughts

The ages are the same in this, purely because it interrupts my past scene, but to appease any viewers, let's say Shikamaru skipped a grade -.-;

Dark Shikamaru! :D

Chapter 12: Ultimatum

Waking up, Shikamaru was sure he was dreaming. Where else could Temari be after so many years apart? Then it slammed into him. School, the party, the fight. He frowned. Something had to be done. He yelled at Temari and that's... that's unforgivable. He gently caressed a soft, round cheek with the pad of his thumb. He slid his hand down to finger the silver chain around her neck. The love crossed, TS symbol encrusted with a heart-shaped diamond in the middle. His gift to her on her 8th birthday. That's right, they dated when they were eight (technically Shikamaru was seven at the time) and yes, the male was filthy rich, they both were. In fact, that was the year they got together.

It was fashioned to be a cross of both their names, but it turned out looking like purely Temari's name. But, as long as it gave her an excuse to keep wearing it, Shikamaru didn't mind. Because it was inscribed: 'Your heart beats for me. If it stops, so will mine'. So he was morbid as a child, sue him. He meant it then and he still means it now. God, Temari kissed him so many times that day... wow life was simple back then... 'but not as hot.'

Shikamaru shook the memories from his head as Temari woke up. Time to face the music properly. Teal eyes opened to greet him, and a smile lit up the dirty-blond's face. "Hey." she whispered to him, small smile tilting her lips.

"Hi." he whispered back, matching her tentative smile with one of his own.

"What time is it?" she yawned, snuggling into his warm embrace.

Shikamaru's gaze briefly flickered to the clock before looking at her. "It's almost 7. Guess we slept through most of the day." Temari smiled gently.

"Is Shikaku gonna be wondering where you are?" she asked, a finger tracing over the contours of his face.

"Nah, the old man's got this knack for knowing whenever I'm with you." Shikamaru shrugged uncaringly. His expression suddenly turned sombre. "I'm sorry for yelling at you." his smoky orbs bore holes into her own as the seriousness of what he did sank in.

"It's fine Shika, everyone does it to everybody they love at some point in time. Hell I do it to you all the time." Temari pointed out. Shikamaru's expression didn't change.

"This is different and you know it. I may be nuts when it comes to you, but I could never hurt you, physically or mentally... if I could help it." Him moving at 14 crossed his mind.

"Yeah, I know that now..." they shared the same thought. With a sigh Temari rose from the bed. "We need to talk." Shikamaru winced. Those weren't the greatest words ever spoken. "After last night I've realized 2 things. One, Kizeki and I... there was no chance from the beginning, he was just someone I settled for because I wanted to erase the hurt a little... try and move on. Then you came here and screwed it all up." Temari groaned, rubbing her face with the palm of her hand.

"And the second?" Shikamaru only let a little satisfaction creep inside him at the confession, of what he already knew but still, the spoken words were so much sweeter. He had no doubts Temari's follow up statement would be less pleasant.

"The second is, we need time." Temari stated. Shikamaru raised a brow. "We lose our heads around each other and that's not healthy. So if you want to have even the smallest hope of us getting back together... we take this slow. Friendship slow." Temari glared at him. Shikamaru bristled.

"Fuck no." he denied outright. Friends means no rights, no rights means prospective boyfriends, prospective boyfriends means fuck. no.

"Well too fucking bad, what I say goes so deal with it or get the fuck out of my room." Temari bit, crossing her arms and steeling her expression.

"Are you gonna date?" Shikamaru scowled.

"Maybe, not your call." she scowled right back.

"No." he pursed his lips.

"Excuse me?" Shikamaru paled. Oh shit. He really should have known better. "Fuck you. I will date whoever I fucking please and you are just going to have to deal with it." Temari growled, lifting from the bed, seething. "If you so much as touch any part of them, we are through, for good." With that she stormed out of the room, leaving Shikamaru to his thoughts. He frowned deeply.

It wasn't too bad. He just had to make sure the guys stayed away... without hurting them... god why did she have to be so troublesome? Then an idea clicked. When they were friends before they were eight, they held hands, kissed on the cheek (which could be close to the mouth), and snuggled together during thunderstorms... he could make this work... no, he would make this work. Temari would be back in his arms soon and he... wait... but what about... he'd have to leave her again, for good... could he put her through all that pain again? Was it fair to her?

Shikamaru clutched at his head, feeling his brain pound inside his scull. Muffling his groans of agony in the pillow, he curled up into a ball. After some time he slumped into the pillows, panting slightly as the pain receded. Shikamaru painfully re-opened his eyes. He's have to tell her some day... no way could he keep it a secret for long. Gritting his teeth, Shikamaru shakily shoved himself off the bed, stumbling slightly when he got to his feet. He would tell her before she agreed to being with him again... that he was a man at death's door... but one who had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. And damn him straight to hell if he wasn't going to fight for her with the possibly little time he had left.

…

Temari sunk into the couch, thinking on what she said. She had no doubts Shikamaru's head had already concocted some plan to win her affections in minimal time... in all honesty, with him back in her life, it was so easy to forget the pain she suffered through when he left... it didn't help that neither of them had a choice in the matter, so she couldn't really blame him. He was only 13, there was nothing he could do. Shikaku and Yoshino had decided, for reasons she still didn't know and they refused to disclose.

The teal eyed women groaned into her hands. Would it really be so bad to accept him back? She still loved him, and it was obvious that he loved her. Temari trembled slightly as she was sucked into the past. Memories of sleepless nights and over-dosing on sleeping pills, of a body so weak, it was hard to open eyes. Shuddering, Temari bought herself back to the present. Hardening her heart, she shook her head. She could not let this go any further. Their love though passionate, was all-consuming and blinding, it was dependent and blissful... but mostly, it was lethal. It was going to take a lot for her to agree to take back such a love with open arms.

She pursed her lips. Before anything could be decided, they had a lot to talk about. He needed to know what she went through, and no doubt, what happened to him because of their separation... but before that... she had to speak to Kizeki. She was anticipating the hurt, the anger and the fear. Though she may not have loved him, Kizeki was the only one she let in romantically after Shikamaru... the boy had fought hard for her and deserved so much better. Temari willed away the tears of regret and disappointment.

What's done is done. All she could do now is hope that fate would deal a kinder hand to the three of them. But, some things are just inevitable... and in life, it's usually not the best things.

Admittedly, I'm not proud of the way this year's gone, but I have no excuse for not updating later last year except for severe writers block. I ended up falling for other couples and losing sight of this story and I'm sorry, but I never give up on stories except for good reason, so don't give up on me yet. Anyway, here you are and sorry for the wait. Can't wait to hear what you guys have to say (though I understand if you rage about the time.)