Cloud Nine

"You kept your promise!" Temari looked happier than he'd ever seen her before.

"Of course I did."

They clambered onto the minibus and sat down side-by-side.

Temari had been training so hard for the finals, Shikamaru knew he couldn't miss it, even if he wanted to. Which he didn't.

Throughout the two hour bus ride, Shikamaru fell asleep twice and was woken up as the coach drove over bumps too quickly.

His legs had been hurting him a lot more recently, but he didn't want to let that get him down.

When they arrived at the stadium, he sat with Iruka and Gai in the stands.

Asuma was on paternal leave and hadn't shown up to work in the last week as he was looking after Kurenai and his new born daughter, Mirai.

When the team left the changing rooms, Temari looked up at Shikamaru and waved at him happily.

She got through the first four sports without a hitch, and during the half hour pause, she sat with Shikamaru for a few moments before giving him a swift kiss while no one was looking.

She stood up and left the stands to warm up again and she was excitedly bouncing on the balls of her feet.

At the one hundred metre sprint, she came first and looked delighted with herself.

As she got into position for the second sprint, Shikamaru stood up shakily and cheered her name, she glanced over to him and gave him a brief wink before turning her whole attention to the track in front of her.

Tayuya was by her side as the second representative as Teru couldn't make it.

When the starting pistol was fired, she sprinted forward. In just over thirty seconds, she had crossed the finish line, the ribbon tore as she reached it, a look of pure joy on her face, she began slowing her pace down to avoid injuring herself with a sudden stop.

When she glanced up at Shikamaru for a second, Tayuya sprinted ahead of her and she stumbled in an attempt to not collide with the red head, who had stuck her leg out.

Temari tripped and landed awkwardly on the gravel track. She jumped back up to her feet and dusted off her shorts and shirt, glaring at Tayuya.

She had blood dripping from her nose and her knees were scratched.

She spat a mouthful of blood at Tayuya's feet before turning her back to the red head and walking away from her.

She went up to the stand where Shikamaru was seated and slumped onto the seat.

"I want to kill the bitch." She grumbled.

Shikamaru ignored the blood on her face and held the blonde girl tightly.

"Well done Tem, you did it," he smiled into her neck and brushed his lips against her collarbone. "I'm proud of you."

He felt her relax into his arms and hug him bag.

"Thanks," she murmured into his ear.

She stood up to prepare for the award presentation. As team captain, she was representing the entire Konoha Ath Club during the ceremony.

Before she could leave, he handed her a cloth to wipe the blood off her face with.

After she collected the gold medals for the each category, she received a trophy, recognising the team as the over all winner.

She beamed at him the whole time, he felt like a winner.

She was on cloud nine, and he was right there with her.

A/N: Uwah, again, I encountered some difficulties with getting the editing done, so I didn't get around to the reviews, sorry!

I've had a crazy day and I am so so so tired, I'll get to the reviews next chapter, I swear.

I was meant to go to a cast party for a show that I did the lighting for, but I'm too tired so no way am I going.

Aaaanyways,thank you for reading and supporting this fic, it means a lot and it seriously helps me get through the shitstorm that is my life.

Only two more chapters!

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~Lee