Temari sat down between Karui and Hinata as she watched Shikamaru take his own seat between her brothers, Gaara and Kankorou.
"So Temari, how are you finding it in the Leaf Village with Shikamaru?", Karui asked politely.
"Uh, we're not-", she began.
But Hinata came to her rescue. "Shikamaru and Temari have had feelings for each other for a long time now but they are not together like you and Chouji sama, Karui-san. Even though I'm sure they would both like to be."
"Oh I see", Karui said while Temari sat stunned by Hinata's pronouncement. Apparently, she was a lot more observant than she let on. Perhaps she had underestimated the quiet Hyuuga girl.
"So what is it? The whole two village thing? Or is it something else girl? Come on Temari, Chouji's told me all about you two. There's no use trying to pretend otherwise."
"Well", Temari began, a little taken aback by the direct approach the two women beside her were taking. "We've never spoken about it but I do enjoy spending time with Shikamaru. It's mainly missions and prep work for Exams really. We don't get a chance for much time together as I'm sure you understand, Karui."
"Hell but that's no excuse girl. Just look at Chouji and me. We don't exactly come from the same village either but we made it work, didn't we hun?", Karui replied.
Chouji nodded as he continued to eat. "Temari, Shikamaru's been my best friend since we were little and let me tell you, he's never shown any interest in other women even though he's had no shortage of them chasing after him. Especially the last few years." Temari was surprised though warmed to hear Chouji talk about Shikamaru like that.
"Yeah and Chouji tells me that he's always talking about you and saying what a troublesome woman you are", Karui added.
"Look Temari, Hinata is right. Shikamaru has had feelings for you for a long time but he is just too much of a genius to work it out. So if you don't do something about it, shadow boy is going to keep fooling himself into believing that you two can't work. He'll bring up the age thing, the two village thing, etc but I've never actually heard him dispute the fact that he cares about you."
"Temari-sama, I was so happy to see you two walk in tonight arm in arm. It reminded me of me and Naruto. We took a long time to see that we belonged together but eventually we worked it out. I just had to wait a lot longer than I hoped because I never believed someone as wonderful and brilliant as Naruto could care for me", Hinata said, taking a hold of her fiance's arm.
"Believe it Temari", Naruto chimed in. "Shikamaru may be a genius and all but sometimes even he can be a great big knucklehead like me. Especially when it comes to you! You should listen to Hinata and not let him get away because you will never meet someone like him again." He paused. Then more loudly, "And I can't have a grumpy Shikamaru for my advisor when I become Hokage someday. So you have no choice but to marry him!"
Temari felt overwhelmed by everyone's support and realised how much they believed she could make Shikamaru happy.
"I smelt your scent on him when he went through town yesterday", Kiba added.
"And my bugs told me about your little moonlight walk the other night too!", Shino drawled from his corner.
"Yeah you have to marry him Temari!", Sakura piped in from across the table. "Men just need us women to tell them what to do. Don't let them get away from you like Sasuke here tried to do to me."
"He only wanted to take over the world to get away from you, Forehead!", Ino smirked.
"Why you pig!", Sakura yelled.
"Now now ladies", Sai joined in. "I was really confused for a long time about women too until I found some books that really helped me. Perhaps I should give Shikamaru a copy...", he added innocently, smiling.
"Sai dear, Shikamaru understands just fine", Ino chipped in, more seriously this time. "He's just scared you'll hurt him, Temari. And I don't mean just physically. He tells everyone how troublesome and scary you are but it's only because he's too scared to admit that he's fallen in love with you. We can all see it except the two of you. Maybe I'll have to get him to come into the shop tomorrow and get you some flowers!"
"Ok, ok that's enough! Thanks everyone but it's getting a bit much now", Temari said, embarrassed and flustered by the attention and well wishes of Shikamaru's friends. "Can we get onto something else?"
"No!", Sakura and Ino yelled excitedly.
"What they mean to say is", Hinata added quietly, "a chance like this may not come up again anytime soon. And it's not like we're going to get married again!"
"Nope, next time it's gonna be us, right Chouji dear?", Karui announced. Chouji 'dear' almost choked on the morsel of food he had been chewing on, as everyone around him laughed.
"Troublesome woman", Shino muttered, doing his best Shikamaru impersonation, which drew yet more laughs.
Sasuke spoke. "He and I are alike in that way, Temari. We find fan girls a nuisance but when we find someone who can really put up with us and who we can trust, we allow ourselves to fall in love. Sometimes, it just takes a long time." He looked at Sakura who smiled happily at his words. "I hope you two work it out."
Sasuke had grown up to be rather serious and rarely spoke about women or notions like romance so when he did, the group listened.
"Yeah", Naruto added. "I'll have a word to your brother later, Temari, see what I can do to help", Naruto explained, then turned to Gaara for confirmation but Gaara was too busy talking to Shikamaru.