I wanted to finish this sooner but work has kept me busy. I'm exhausted! So if this chapter sucks I apologize :/ I'm just too drained. Anyways... here's the next chappie.
Oh & by the way. I kept the name Kotori. First of all cause it's just too cute but also cause I was too lazy to look for another one.
"You're really going to drink that? It's barely noon, troublesome woman." Shikamaru says in disgust.
Temari arches an eyebrow and snaps. "I can drink whenever I feel like it. Besides it's my day off."
She takes the jug of beer that has been settled on the table and takes a large gulp.
"I guess… Your livers not mine."
"Glad you understand." A tone of sarcasm stated in her voice.
While they wait for their food to be served both of them remain quiet. It's never awkward but there's always tension that's thick as syrup. Neither makes eye contact. Temari concentrates on the glass before her, scrubbing off the wetness on it created by the ice cubes with her index finger.
Confident enough not to be caught she glances at him quickly, if he catches her he'll smirk and say something stupid and she's in no mood for a fight today.
Shikamaru is facing away and even though it looks like he's staring intently at the fake plant crossing his view she knows better. The boy is always thinking, overanalyzing everything. She told him once that not every problem has a solution; he shrugged her off and said. "There's always a way. You just have to try harder."
Temari swears his voice had sounded pained that day, almost as if he had lost something. She doesn't question him though; he was never much of a talker when it came to his personal life.
He's been like this for three months though…
"Let me know if you need anything else."
The waiter had busted her out of her thoughts as her food was placed in front of her. Stomach growling in protest she digs in.
"So how's work?" Shikamaru asks between bites.
"Horrible. Last week I had to go to the Cloud Village and of course with my luck it was around the time Killer Bee decided to throw one of his rap concerts. As a liaison I was FORCED to go." She remembers bitterly.
The ass tries to muffles his laughs but is unsuccessful.
"You think my torture was funny?" she asks glaring at him.
"Yes." He gives up on holding back his laughter.
Temari throws the biscuit she had just taken a bite off from and throws it to his face.
"Aw come on Temari don't waste." There's playfulness in his voice as he catches it before it falls on the table or worst the floor. Chouji influenced him a lot when it came to food.
He chomps off a piece and hands it back.
"I don't want it." she smacks his hand away and he shrugs taking another bite.
She goes back to her roasted chicken and mashed potato, while shifting in her seat to make herself more comfortable. When her leg outstretches she feels it bump with Shikamaru's. Their table is small meant only for two people but there is a long green cloth that covers it so you can't see. His knee falls next to her own. Deciding she's too comfortable in the current position she decides not to move. Their actions are harmless after all.
Yet despite of that they spend the rest of their meals in silence with the air in the room getting tighter as the minutes pass by and their pressed skin creating heat that is scorching hot
The sunset is nearing as the hues of the sky turn into colors of red and purple. Robes cover their bodies away from the cold breeze that is beginning to pick up in speed. After lunch they wandered throughout the city looking at the new merchandise the vendors had brought in for the season.
Now they sat at the top of the hill that kids usually use to sand surf. The incident at the restaurant is never brought up and they went back to their usual game of who can piss the other off more.
Temari sees the children play a game of tag. Memories haunt her of a miniature Gaara only wanting to make friends. They out casted him for thinking him monster. Remembering those years long ago makes her heart ache.
"Tch. There are hardly any clouds here. And I can't even lie down or I'll get sand in places it really shouldn't be in."
"Finally listening to me?"
"Lesson learned." He chuckles.
"So how's Tenten holding up?" Regardless of the rough start those two had, they both had gotten close throughout the years, just like she had with the rest of the girls.
Shikamaru sighs making it obvious that he knows who filled her in on the juicy gossip. "Well from what I heard she's more than fine. She has Lee and Guy who look after her. They made sure Reiji got hell of a beating that he might never cheat on another woman ever again."
"I'll be sure to visit her next time."
"Things would have been different if Neji were still here…"
"Yea…"
Giggling children is all they hear for a while. Whenever the war is brought up everyone always seems to be at a loss for words. She was no different. Even if she didn't lose any of her immediate family, like her brothers, there was still so many men and woman that had died. Half of the ninjas fighting had lost their lives. Each of them had to have had a family that cared for them even if it was just one member, or a close friend.
She decides to change the subject. Provoking him was her hobby.
"So how's your job? Mr. Hokage's adviser." She smiles at him and cackles at his expression, here comes the whining she thinks.
"Troublesome." he grumbles. "It's a pain. I end up doing most of Naruto's paperwork and he makes me wake up so damn early. He's too cheerful in the mornings. I don't know how you do it."
"Well it helps that Gaara acts his age." she smirks at the suffering boy.
"Tch, whatever at least you have Kankuro. I'm all by myself."
"Yes because Kankuro is soo helpful!" Temari sneers, "He's too busy trying to get into our secretary's skirt that I end up working until midnight."
Shikamaru gives her a sympathetic smile, "Guess we're on the same boat then?"
"Not really." She corrects him. "I get a lot of travel missions and you're just stuck in Naruto's office."
"Too much running is troublesome." he shrugs.
She digs her hand into the piles of sand that her rear is sitting on and picks up a handful. Slowly it falls back down just like the hour glass in her office. This just gives her a strange sensation, almost as if she's running out of time for something but doesn't comprehend exactly what that is.
Temari grabs sand with her hand but this time turns around, blowing it all on Shikamaru's face.
"Oi! Woman do you want me to go blind!" he rubs his eyes.
The child inside of her couldn't help it. She snickers at his irritation.
"Don't be such a baby." She smacks his shoulder, "So how is she?"
"Huh?" Shikamaru looks at her in confusion, his eyes slightly red.
"HOW-IS-SHE?" she emphasizes the words this time.
She blew sand on his face not his ears.
"Fuyumi?" he asks dumbly.
"No." frowning at his stupidity, "Your goddaughter."
"Oh."
"Although if you really want to talk about how much you miss your girlfriend you can do that with Ino. I really don't want to know your business."
This was actually the first time he'd ever brought it up. In fact it wasn't him who told her, but he knew she about it. The moment she stepped foot in the Leaf Village she was attacked by Sakura and Ino. If they weren't interrogating her about her "relationship" with the lazy bum, they were describing every fault (or at least the ones they thought they saw) that Fuyumi had.
Just like him she kept her private matters to herself. Those were never topics in their conversations. Even if her face didn't show it, he through her off guard this time.
"Sorry. I was spaced out." He says softly.
Seems to happen a lot these days she thinks.
"Kotori… She's going through a princess stage." He gives her a grouchy look.
Temari smiles at their new talking point, the cute little three year old. "Is she making you play her prince?"
"No. She makes me be the dragon and then I'm stuck chasing her until she tires out. And you know how much energy she has."
"Good. At least someone can actually make you run." She grins evilly.
He narrows his eyes at her. It's nothing compared to hers, she's unaffected by it.
"We should get going before the weather drops. See even the children know better." Pointing at the scatter of what now looked liked dots as they ran towards their homes.
Stretching as she rises to her feet makes her bones feel better.
"Come on lazy." She turns around, right foot making the first step, but a whisper stops her in her tracks.
"Fuyumi is good for me…"
The words travel in through her ear, down to the pit of her stomach. She feels a tug but then ignores it and continues walking.
"It's getting cold Shikamaru."