She found herself wandering through the markets needing to burn off her excess energy after the brief encounter with Shikamaru. She needed to clear her head. Usually, she would find somewhere to train but going to the training grounds would only be asking for ninja to ask her questions.
And there was no point making the three day walk back to the Sand Village just to turn around and come back again.
Seriously, she had no idea why she had decided to leave a week before her brothers and the official entourage from the Sand Village. Sure, her brother had told her to take some extra time off before the wedding but in the Leaf Village?
So what was she doing here? Shopping wasn't her thing. She didn't need idle gossip with strangers. Or to waste her time gawking at the wares merchants had for sale. Who needed that many clothes or trinkets anyway? Not her anyway, as she made her way through the streets.
To be honest, she hadn't really been paying that much attention to the merchandise today. She just needed to move and settle herself. And it was his fault!
She had only wanted to see what his hand would feel like in hers. She hadn't really known why she had had that sudden urge. She was a warrior not some lovesick girl like...
"Ino and Sakura..." she greeted the two girls standing in front of her. They had obviously been standing there for a little bit by the expectant look on their faces. Oh great, now I'm spacing out even just thinking about him.
"Welcome back to the Leaf Village Temari", Sakura said, rather officially. She had matured a lot under Lady Tsunade's tutelage and even though the latter was no longer Hokage, she was still a very powerful and knowledgeable ninja. Especially in the medical arts.
"Where's Shikamaru?" That was Ino for you. "You know the wedding's not for another week...Oh I know you must be here early because you wanted the chance to spend a week alone with Mr Cool."
Despite her earlier thoughts, Temari found herself blushing nonetheless.
"Ino!", Sakura chided her. "Temari is the Kazekage's sister and she is probably here on some official business we don't know about."
Temari looked down. "Actually, I'm not, it's rather quiet and with a lot of the dignitaries already here or on their way, I was given time off by my brother."
"See! I knew it." Ino crowed triumphantly. "She's been pining for our pineapple head of a ninja. Though why, I don't know."
Temari saw Ino watching her out of the corner of her eye but couldn't stop herself replying. "I'm not pining for no good lazybum pineapple looking ninjas or anyone else..." Exasperated she realised she had been trapped.
"There now Temari", Sakura said placing a calming hand on her shoulder. "It's ok." Then looking at Ino with a silent glance, she turned back to Temari. "It's ok... if you just walked three days just to see your lover boy. We won't tell anyone, will we Ino?" Sakura winked at Temari.
"What are you two on about?" Temari protested, blushing slightly.
""Someone is protesting too much don't you think", Ino joined in. "I know you like him, Temari. It's ok, really."
"I am not, we work together", she replied.
"And what exactly are you two working on? Making babies? I know for a fact that there are no official missions for you here." Sakura said smugly. "I was speaking to Kakashi Sensei only last week."
Thinking quickly, Temari replied"We were, ah, getting ready for the next Chuunin Exams."
"Really? They're not for almost another year" Sakura replied, knowingly.
"Just admit it, Temari, you're into Shikamaru. I knew it from the time you two were all whispering and conspiring against that Sound ninja way back when. You two didn't even pay attention to anyone else all fight or afterwards. I saw it all! I was there!" Ino knew she had finally beaten Temari. And she was going to rub it in.
"Come on already, Temari. We're not children anymore. I think it's cute how you've been pining away for our Shikamaru all these years", Sakura joined in.
"Yeah, just look at Sakura. She's been chasing Sasuke all these years." Ino added. "And he's still running away from her!"
"Why Ino you pig!" Sakura replied, punching her friend on the arm none too gently. "You just gave up because you knew he liked me more than he liked you, you pig!"
"Forget about Sasuke, Sakura. You're better off without him." Ino added, "And anyway I have Sai now."
"Sasuke is way hotter than Sai", Sakura said, "and you know it, Ino pig!"
"Whatever. Just admit it, nobody wants you Sakura!", Ino wasn't going to give up that easily! Not to Sakura.
"You only like Sai because you couldn't have Sasuke!" Sakura yelled at her friend. "And everyone knows that!" Sakura wasn't one to give up that easily either. Not to Ino. She was just about to add something else when she saw Shikamaru in the distance. Ino saw him too.
"HEY! Shikamaru!" Ino called loudly, jumping and waving at the Shadow ninja.
Sakura thought he looked like he was going to pretend not to have noticed them but Ino kept waving. Reluctantly, he walked towards the girls.
Temari turned to see Shikamaru walking towards them. He was looking a bit sullen. But his expression changed when he caught sight of her looking at him. Temari found her face heating up.
"Well, Temari..." Sakura began, noticing the colour in Temari's cheeks.
"Yeah" Ino chimed in, "here comes your boyfriend!"
"What have you got to say now?" Sakura added.
Temari felt cornered so she did what she normally did when cornered. She took charge. Leaving the two girls behind in shock, Temari walked up to the approaching Shadow ninja and grabbed his hand roughly. Shikamaru seemed surprised but she didn't care. "Come on, we're going to get something to eat", She said, quickly leading him away through the marketplace before the two could think to give chase. Thankfully he let her take the lead.
He had lay back down on the grass after Temari had left, trying his best to get the odd little incident out of his mind.
He tried, he really did.
But one didn't forget someone like Temari easily.
Especially not when she had been in one of her "extra spunky" states.
He wasn't really sure what had happened really. First he was lying there, looking up at the clouds. And thinking about her. Then she had showed up. Behaved a little strangely. And left him there with his clouds. She seemed upset but she wouldn't tell him what.
Geez, talk about being troublesome, he thought.
But despite that, he was still thinking about her. And not even his clouds could draw him back out of his head.
Admitting defeat, he had left to get something to eat.
But first he ran into Chouji...
Great, he knew he shouldn't have gone through the market. Although it was the more direct route, it was also much more likely he would be stopped by friends and family in there. Still, Shikamaru had just wanted to go home and have a late lunch.
But first, Chouji. He watched as Chouji waved, and approached, all the while chomping away at another bag of chips.
"Shikamaru, what are you doing in town today? I thought you were going to have the day off and go cloud watching!", Chouji said loudly, reaching for another handful of chips. "It looks like a good day for it too", he continued, glancing up at the sky.
"Yeah", Shikamaru had to admit. "Today was good."
"So...what are you doing in town already then? It's not time for dinner yet." Chouji considered for a moment. "Though if you want to go get some BBQ..."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes at his friend. "Come on, Chouji. It's only mid afternoon. And I haven't even had lunch yet!"
"Well, that's perfect. We can have a late lunch...of BBQ!", Chouji said, scoffing the rest of the contents of his packet. "Can we, can we? Please?"
"Chouji, aren't you supposed to be having dinner with Karui and your parents tonight? I thought you'd be at home now helping out!" Shikamaru said, trying to escape.
Normally he loved spending time with Chouji but right now he just wasn't really in the mood for company. And Chouji was supposed to be getting ready for the big dinner with his fiance and in laws.
Chouji scratched his head, then conceded. "When you're right, you're right Shikamaru. I just had to pick up some things for mum, but I wanted to get some chips first." He smiled happily.
Shikamaru smiled too, in spite of himself. "So how come Karui didn't come out with you? Last time I saw you two, you couldn't keep off each other!"
Chouji laughed. "Hey, I can't help it if she can't resist me!" Then looking a bit more sheepish, "She's gone to pick up the things mum wanted, so I could get some chips! Isn't she great?"
"Typical Chouji! Ino would have your head for that. You know women are not just for doing things for you, you know!" Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I know. But Karui doesn't mind. I'm telling you, Shikamaru, you really need to settle down with someone nice too!" Chouji thought for a second and then continued slyly, "Speaking of which...when does Temari get into town?"
Why did he have to bring her up? Just when he was beginning to be distracted by Chouji too! "Temari? why do you ask?"
He tried to act normal.
But Chouji had been his friend for a long time and although Chouji was nowhere near as intelligent... "Shikamaru, you may be the genius. But boy can you be dumb sometimes."
"What do you mean?", Shikamaru asked carefully.
"Don't play dumb with me, buddy. Everyone knows you and fan girl have been hitting it off for a while now. One of these days you two are just going to have to own up to it." Chouji winked at his friend. "Come on, Shikamaru. She's about the only woman I've met who is more troublesome than your mother. Which means she's perfect for you!"
"I don't know what you're talking about Chouji. We're just friends." Shikamaru knew he had to get out of there now! "I am hungry though so I think I'll go get some sokonbu before I head home. See you later!"
He tried to get past his friend but Chouji wasn't having any of it. Shikamaru found himself in a bear hug. "You don't fool me that easily buddy! You two were made for each other, like BBQ and pork! You're the brains and she's the brawn. The sun and the moon. Like Hinata and Naruto!"
"What?!", he asked loudly.
"Come on buddy, you've both been pining after each for so long now", Chouji teased. "Seriously though, just be a man and get it over with. Tell your lady that you want to spend the rest of your life with her and put everyone out of their misery!"
"As if she's not troublesome enough already, Temari isn't even from this Village!", Shikamaru protested.
"Neither is Karui!", Chouji gloated. "Stop thinking up lame excuses and woo the girl already. She's 3 years older than us so if you don't do it soon, someone else is going to take her away from you."
"First you said we were perfect together. And now you say someone else will sweep her off her feet. You're not making any sense! ", he retorted, hoping that was the end of a conversation that was making him more than a little uncomfortable. "Plus, I've just seen her and..."
He hadn't meant to let that slip.
But it was too late.
"Ahh, so that's why you're acting strange! Well, she's obviously come into town early for a reason, my friend. Don't let this opportunity pass you by." Chouji placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "I know Shiho was sweet on you in the past and that other girls have admired you from afar but Temari...well, you're not going to find someone who can give you as much trouble as her. So don't make her wait any longer. You're not going to find another girl like her again. I mean it buddy." Then as an afterthought, "You know, your father would be laughing in his grave knowing you had found the one woman more troublesome than your mother!"
Sigh, that again.
"Thanks Chouji, but I'm just going to get some sokonbu and then go home. I need a nap."
Chouji laughed, knowing he had won. "Good luck my friend, you'll need it!"
Shikamaru watched as his friend walked off, knowing that Ino would be the next one on his case now that it became known that Temari had come into town early. But to see me?, he thought. It couldn't be. But the more he thought about it, the more he couldn't work out why she was here in the Village at this time, and seemingly by herself. Perhaps he had better go see the Hokage and see what the situation was. That was it, surely there was an explanation that didn't involve him.
Feeling better with this line of thought, he went off in search of some sokunbo.
That's when he heard them. Ino and Sakura could be so loud at times. But to get to the best sokunbo shop in town he would need to get past them. And he was really craving some now. All that talk with Chouji had set him off.
That's when he saw they were not just being their normal loud selves gossiping about something or another. No, they were bothering someone who looked a lot like...Temari, he realised, as the third person turned around to face him.
"Well, Temari..." Sakura began, noticing the colour in Temari's cheeks.
"Yeah" Ino chimed in, "here comes your boyfriend!"
What? Had Chouji managed to tell her already or had she figured it out somehow? Then a third thought popped into his head. No way, Temari wouldn't have said anything about him...not to them, at least!
"What have you got to say now?" Sakura added.
He could see Temari was uncomfortable and cornered, which normally meant someone was about to get hurt. He was half expecting it to be a tessen blow but Temari surprised everyone by coming at him!
Too stunned to react, he felt her hand close on his. It was so warm and soft and...he just stared at her as she said something to him. But all he saw were her moving lips.
He held on as she proceeded to drag him away from the younger women, too surprised to offer any resistance, so lost was he in the twining of her fingers around his.