As they walked up the stairs, they could hear a rather rowdy party getting under way. The voices of Naruto, Chouji, Sakura and Ino could be distinctively heard as they looked at each other and smiled.
"Are you ready, Temari?", he asked.
She looked at him, clinging to his arm a little more tightly. "Never more so."
As they walked in, all conversation stopped except for a 'discussion' between Lee, Ten Ten and Naruto which was taking place rather loudly in the middle of the room.
Shikamaru saw Chouji eating with Karui at his side, and then there was Sai and Ino, the former smiling his bland little smile and Ino looked happy too. Ten Ten was trying to split up the arguing pair but was only making it worse. Meanwhile, a cool looking Sasuke was sitting in the corner with Sakura next to him doting on him. Then of course, hiding in the other corner was Shino and of course Kiba and Akamaru. Much to his surprise, Temari's brothers, Gaara and Kankorou were also in attendance. Oh great, he thought silently to himself as Temari stared.
"Ah, Naruto, Shikamaru is here with Temari", Hinata stated quietly.
Suddenly both parties stopped mid yell. Then Naruto noticed Temari was holding onto Shikamaru's arm.
"So, Shikamaru, are you two on a date or something?", Naruto asked mischiveously.
Temari felt Gaara study her, as she suddenly turned almost as red as his hair.
Temari glared at Naruto then turned to see what Shikamaru would do. Everyone was waiting to hear what he would say.
Shikamaru looked at him with his best bored look but addressed the group as a whole. "Sorry we're late everyone...Temari wasn't feeling too well." He made a point not to look in the direction of Gaara and Kankorou.
"That's ok Shikamaru, we were getting started without you", Chouji said in between chews.
"Oh Temari! Why don't you come sit with us?", Sakura and Ino asked innocently, obviously wanting to find out more about this recent development.
"No, no ladies", Chouji interjected, hastily swallowing, "Karui saved her a spot for Temari over here." She looked at him and he nodded.
"Well, why don't you sit with us then, Shikamaru?", the girls asked.
"No, Gaara has saved a special seat for him", Naruto exclaimed loudly. Shikamaru turned to look at Temari. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze which was not lost on her brothers. She saw Gaara's face change subtly as he apparently made up his mind about something.
Everyone laughed except for Shikamaru and the three Sand siblings as seating arrangements were adjusted to accommodate the latecomers.
Well, this was going to get a lot more interesting, Shikamaru thought as he took a spot between Naruto and Gaara, whilst the conversations around the table began again.