Sorry! I've just been going through some stuff... But lately when i start writing it gets my mind distracted so that's good. Anyways, thank you guys for keeping up with me despite how long I've been taking to update. All your reviews are greatly appreciated! (:
ST-4Love: In time I will show Temari and Ryota's relationship develop I promise! & I've already planned a Temar/Shika/Ryota scene. So far there's just one planned in my head but as the story develops maybe I can think of more ;)
About Temari and Ryota, well about the story ingeneral. This story is nowhere near done. Relationships develop over time and I don't want to just jump the gun with T&R just to make Shika jealous. So this story might take you guys through a wild roller coaster ride :P
Clairette: I feel like I'm writing Shikamaru as a d!c# (pardon my french) because yes he obviously knows what he's doing to Fuyumi is wrong, but it's also Fuyumi's fault for letting him walk all over her! Here I am fuming and I'm the one that writes it :P & yes you're right Temari by meeting Fuyumi realizes how she needs to take her own path, thus her acceptance of Ryota considering they hit it off really well.
chrysant: Everyone always wants what they can't have! ;) Darn that Shikamaru :P
Well I won't bore you guys anymore here's chapter 10! Next chapter Temari's POV! (:
Centering his thoughts towards a distraction proved to be difficult for once. As much as he tried to calculate various predicaments in his head that needed answering to the next day at work it proved to be pointless. He sluggishly rolls himself over on his Clan's grassy backyard; belly flopped down on the ground. Pulling himself up has never been more tiring.
The jelly like sensation lingers all over his body from lack of movement as he sits up, he doesn't know how long he's been laying outside but by his body's reaction it's been long enough. Shikamaru's idea of relaxation by watching the cloud's for once did not give him comfort.
Instead he opts himself in a stagnant pace to go home and take a nap. A long one, the less time his mind had to think the better.
Shikamaru grabs his doorknob and rethinks about maybe getting some work done. The Chunin Exams, although a couple of months away, has him working like a slave. Thankfully though he wouldn't be proctor this time, not that it made any difference to his workload.
Only then did he realize he'd have to go back to his office and get the folders he needed. There was no way he was stepping foot out to the village. He'd had enough with the gossip, but he couldn't avoid the people forever. Not when he promised to take out Fuyumi that Saturday.
"I feel sick…" he grumbles.
A churn in his stomach flips it upside down; he gets the urge to vomit.
"I'm glad we're out, it's been awhile." Fuyumi smiles softly across from the fancy dinner table. "You haven't been looking well, thought you might want to cancel."
Condemning himself for letting his emotions show he snaps himself out of it for the time being, "I'm just stressed. The Chunin Exams are a lot of work. Not to mention Naruto keeps adding to my paperwork."
"Yeah…" her word sticks along with her sigh; he knows she's not stupid.
Looking around the fancy restaurant for once he is grateful for the uproar of voices that chatter on too fast and loud to truly comprehend what they are saying.
Shikamaru takes bites of his food, dozing off finally for once to the vocal tunes of the woman singing on stage. Or maybe it's because he's extremely bored and the awkward tension between him and his girlfriend has intensified dramatically. He should know, it's been two weeks since they last had sex. Strangely enough, he didn't miss it much. He did all the work anyways, troublesome...
Unfortunately for him the nice atmosphere does not last long as three tables down an odd couple decide to make a ruckus. The plump dirty blond woman is hysterically aiming her hands around everywhere; a sign that she is especially angry. In front of her a scrawny, tall man frantically tries to calm her down. He supposed love came in many different shape and sizes. This reminded him of two people he knew who chose to keep him in the dark. No matter, they'd tell when they were ready.
Shikamaru rolls his eyes, lovers' quarrels, so annoying…
"I really like this song. Would you dance with me Shikamaru?"
"Sorry. I don't dance."
"Oh…"
Shikamaru has ruined the rest of their evening. The awkwardness of the rest of their dinner tells him so, and he doesn't want to fix it. He's in no mood as he secretly pushes with force one foot on top of the other so Fuyumi cannot see the anger that pours into him as the animatedly couple pass by them talking about a topic he does not wish to touch.
"Whatever you say, Captain!" a cheerful Lee resonates through his eardrum.
Leave it to his bad luck to get stuck with the guy filled with more energy than Naruto. TenTen put him in his place when needed though so he was grateful for the kunouchi as a teammate, and being with Choji made the job more bearable. Regardless of the four men cell he was placed in their four opponents still roughed them up. They were all physically strong, Choji proved to be a worthy opponent compared to the rest. Lee being four times smaller than his rival was too fast for them. He on the other hand could not say the same; because of his mental distraction they almost lost the fight….
"I would be more than honored to carry you back to the Village Shikamaru!" Rock Lee salutes at him like a soldier.
"Thanks but no thanks, I think I can manage." He says leading the way.
Shikamaru's arms want to fall limply to his sides, but he musters up the courage to continue after all it's only a fifteen minute walk. And although the lazy part in him wants more than anything to be magically transported home, he won't give Kotetsu and Izumo that satisfaction.
Before he can even arrive to the outskirts of his land Fuyumi makes a run to him in a panic. He supposes it was Choji who warned her since he went to report back alone. Such a good guy…
Fuyumi rushes him past the door so that she can begin her treatment. His wounds are not deep so he sees no reason to get actual medic help; they have more important people to attend to.
Shikamaru's arms are filled with lashes and bruises that turn a deeper purple by the minute. He really needed to practice on his hand to hand combat.
"Hey, I'm okay." Shikamaru speaks softly, it's been days but for once he's grateful she's there.
Fuyumi smiles as she sits next to him preparing the bandages for him. "I worry for you no matter how small the mission."
He's beat and refuses to eat despite his girlfriend's insistence. She was never good on being persuasive. Three hours have passed and it's getting late, he opts for a shower.
"Will I hurt my wounds if I shower?" he asks, it's unusual when he gets wounded, thus making it almost alien him to the proper procedure.
"No. You'll be fine." She giggles at his question.
"Tch."
"Here I'll help you."
"Nah, you don't have to. You've done enough."
"I want to."
"Suit yourself…"
Fuyumi helps him out of his attire at a leisurely pace. The water hits his body giving his aching arms comfort. There is a silence that follows, not counting the sounds of the dripping water that cascades his face. Now that he thinks of it he's not sure how he's going to wash his hair, but when he turns the woman entering his shower answers his question.
"What are you-?" his words are cutoff by Fuyumi's lips.
As she continues her trail down his chin, on his neck, on his chest, the region of hair atop his belly button, and finally reaching his manhood, he places his head back to lean on the tiled wall because he knows where this is going…
There scattered all over his living room is a mess of toys by none other than the adorable Kotori. They have been playing for three hours already, which was it for his stamina though because he was resting with his eyes closed on the sofa. Kotori too engrossed with a guitar that had buttons that played music given to her by Uncle Naruto. No, not even the repeated notes that had an annoying tune could annoy him at the moment, if it wasn't because he had to baby sit he'd be passed out despite how big the noise was.
Supplicating though were his eye lids as he'd force them open but they'd snap back shut. He promised to have her home by seven; one more hour to go. Not that he minded the little girl's company, especially at the moment, she was very calm. There on the floor she was now sitting down pretending to bottle feed her doll water. Kids…
The door echoes a knock. It's Choji and in one of his hands is a white plastic bag.
"Heard you were babysitting. Thought I'd stop by, I know how lazy you are, and poor Kotori probably hasn't been fed."
"Tch, my mom feeds her when she's over."
"Uncle Cho!"
"Hey kiddo! I brought you some sweets." Choji ruffles her hair as she takes a brownie wrapped in plastic.
"Yay!" Great the kids going to get more energy.
Gazing at the box of cookies his best friend takes out they take a seat on opposite's side of the couch. Kotori makes way and grabs a handful but before continuing off with her playing she smiles widely at both of them. She had everyone wrapped around her little finger.
"You know, sweets aren't really considered food." He offers the suggestion for future references but most importantly for the health of his unborn children.
"I know your mom makes sure she eats properly when she's over. You're smart Shikamaru but you can't cook to save your life. Besides what kid doesn't like snacks after their meals." Utters Choji in between bites.
Satisfactory response for anyone else maybe but he's not stupid, "Why are you here Choji?"
"Do I need a reason to visit my best pal?"
"No." Troublesome.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing. You've been looking a little sick lately."
"Just stressed." He shrugs.
Cheers from his goddaughter breaks the five minute silence as she finds a chocolate covered donut inside of Choji's magic bag.
"Shikamaru, are you really okay with-"
"I'm fine." He cuts him off before the forbidden topic is mentioned, the unspoken rule amongst all his friends.
"We've known each other for so long Shikamaru. You can tell me anything. I won't judge you." His voice sounds a bit hurt.
"I know buddy…" but that was the end of THAT conversation. "Same goes for you, you know?"
"I know that." Choji says a little confused.
"Nevermind." Shikamaru says quietly but he figures Choji's chewing of chips is too loud on his own ear for himself to hear. He won't push it out of respect that Choji only questions him out of concern, and Ino's too. Their conversation takes onto a different path and his worries for awhile at least are forgotten. This was their type of friendship and he was never more grateful for anything at the moment.
"You heading to lunch, Shikamaru?" Kakashi asks as he enters the Standby Jonin Station.
"Yeah, I figured I'd just get something from the canteen."
"Well let me save you the trouble of doing useless walking. The kitchen is closed for the day. Something about Naruto meddling in the kitchen."
"That fool…" he sighs, now what is he supposed to eat? "Alright thanks for the heads up Kakashi sensei."
"No problem." And with that the copy ninja leaves.
"Just my luck… Guess I'll head to my mom's. All that walking though… I blame Naruto." He mutters to himself.
Hands inside his pockets and head bowed down he makes his way home.
Building after building… All this walking was too much for him. He felt like a zombie.
Behind him a pair of screeching banshees (two middle aged woman) cannot keep their traps closed. They appear to be headed the same direction. Great… He wants to block them out but it is impossible. The talk of the village. The one thing people just couldn't keep their mouths shut about. The one conversation he was trying to avoid…
It's been a whole week already; one would think since the WOMAN has left his land the people would have nothing to gossip about anymore. Oh boy he was wrong.
His body felt numb as his feet carried him through the dirt road and his hunger now gone. The vision of his precious village gets blurry as he finally looks up. Mechanically his body moves itself as if it knows where he's going because inside that brain of his is nothing but a big white blank. The only functional parts of his body are his eardrums as the repetition of the words that have thrown him into a loop for the past week pounds into his head like a hammer.
"Did you hear? The Feudal Lord's nephew has been spotted recently having late night dinners at fancy restaurants with the Sand Ambassador!"