I Love You

Shikamaru walked to her apartment while carrying a box of pizza and 6 canned beers. His eyes glanced at the number that was hanging on the door.

"Alright, I think this is hers. Room 0714"

He pushed the doorbell beside the door to notify her that he was already there. After the second rang, the door opened and Temari greeted him. His eyes suddenly froze after seeing her wearing a silk night top paired with silk shorts.

I haven't reached the plot but things kind of getting interesting. He said in his mind after remembering what she said, that they were going to do something interesting.

He kept pinching his arm to wake himself up because he doesn't want to look like some kind of pervert or creep in front of her, after having some sexual delusion around her.

"Oh, you already bought a pizza and beer?" she asked while trying to grab the pizza from his hand

"No, It's okay I'll bring it inside" he refused her hands from carrying the pizza "Yeah, Uhm. I hope you liked pepperoni?"

"I was actually planning to get the pizza after you arrived so we could decide the flavor. I'm surprised you came prepared…and yes, I do like pepperoni. Thanks, detective" she smiled at him

"Of course, I just want us to go straight up eat and do some interesting stuff...that you said" he jokingly said "How about Budweiser? I hope you like buds?"

"Yeah, that's alright. So, how much is my share?" she asked

"What do you mean how much is your share?" he said while preparing their food on the center table in her living room "I asked you out, didn't I? so you're not going to pay me anything"

She crossed her arms and sighed "Alright, if you say so"

"Here" he hands her a slice of pizza

"Thanks" she smiled and grabbed one canned beer. Temari sits on her couch and Shikamaru did too after getting a slice of pizza and beer.

She grabbed the remote control and opens her TV to entertain themselves while enjoying their food. Shikamaru slowly slides his arms to the couch's back where Temari's shoulder was resting. Then, he moistens his lips and clears his throat before saying his next words.

"So…uhm, what is the interesting thing that you're talking about again?" he asked

She turns her head at him while licking the pizza crumbs and oils in her finger, after being caught up by his question.

"Oh. Right. I almost forgot" She stands up and slowly seated on his lap "Thanks for reminding me, detective"

"Ahhh" his tone was a mix of curiosity and amazement after feeling her hips on his lap. He grabbed her thighs, securing Temari in that position. Shikamaru's jaw dropped to the floor and made a few rubs on his mouth after glancing at her pretty face and feeling her soft skin on his palms, he couldn't believe that this is happening.

Is this really happening?

"I bet you're going to enjoy this one" she said slowly and in a seductive tone. Her face almost touched his while reaching Shikamaru's ears.

"I bet I am" he whispered back while chuckling.

Her hand extends behind him like she's grabbing something. After a while, she stood up from his lap and returned to her seat.

"Wait…what?" Shikamaru was confused after seeing Temari left from his lap. His hands felt empty without her.

"What?" she said

"Why did you—I thought we were going—" he stuttered

She raised the thing that she was holding, it was a pair of consoles "We're going to play a video game. Grab your console. You're blocking the cabinet so I need to grab it from your seat"

"Woman! Don't tease me like that"

"Sorry, force of habit. I'm kinda used to sitting on someone's lap you know. It's part of my job and It's becoming normal to me"

He groaned while rubbing his face and leaned his back on the couch, after having the most anti-climatic moment in his life.

"I bet you suck at video games" she yawned while choosing the game they were going to play "Come on! Beat me on my game"

He sighs and whispered while rubbing his temples "Troublesome….I thought we were going to have sex"

"Hey, what are you murmuring? Are you going to play or what?"

"Give me that" his face was visibly disappointed and reached the other console beside her.

Temari laughed at him after seeing his angry face, her gaze returned to the flat screen where the video game menu was flashing "If want to have a part of me, you need to earn it"

She said it in an almost whispered voice but Shikamaru catches it, he heard it. And he agrees, he needs to earn it because every part of her is worth it. So, he will do everything to just have her.

It was his first time feeling interested in someone. He's always the laid-back type of guy and didn't have much care about anything or anyone. For some reason, Temari piques his interest. Somehow, he feels motivated whenever she was around.

They eat, play, and talk like a usual date night, well for him it was not since his usual first dates were always led to sex.

He finds it unusual and unique. How can something so simple yet feels intimate?

Temari told him that she was kinda sleepy so it was his queue to leave her apartment. It was already 3 am when they waved goodbye, his feet don't want to leave but he must.

"Thanks for tonight, I enjoyed it" she said while holding the door

"I'm glad you did…so this is a goodbye?" he wanted to ask for another date night so badly

"Yeah" she gazes at his eyes and could sense his yearning. Temari smiled after comparing them to lost puppy eyes "Well, I think I want some rematch. You beat me to every game. I think I deserve a rematch"

His face brightens after hearing that "I can come here tomorrow night if you want to?"

"Oh..we have a show tomorrow. Wait, Jiraiya and Asuma didn't tell you? They're going"

Shikamaru felt betrayed "They will? Tch, those two"

"Well, Tsunade and Kurenai gave them tickets. Soooo, don't get mad at them" she extends her hands to him holding a ticket for tomorrow night's show "I was actually wanting to give this to you earlier but didn't have the chance"

Shikamaru grab the ticket from her hand and a wide smile appeared on his face. He looked at the ticket like it was something precious to him.

"I want you to be there" she said while fixing her hair

"Of course..I will, I'll definitely will. I'll see you tomorrow night" he excitedly responds

"Alright..good..good. I'll see you tomorrow night then"

"Alright"

"Bye" she smiled at him

"Bye" he smiled back

Temari slowly closed her door, after that Shikamaru walked out of her apartment and raised the ticket that he was holding, he kissed it and slid it into his wallet. He checked it every now and then to make sure that it was not lost.

The next night, he wears his white long sleeves polo, black pants, and a one-stem rose in hand for that night's show. He joined Asuma and Jiraiya in the VIP seat of the theater, Neji didn't join because he was out of town.

The show started with several girls singing and dancing as part of the introduction, he waited for the Finale where Temari will perform. A smile didn't leave his lips while watching the show, he was excited to see Temari and her performance that night.

When the finale comes, Shikamaru leaned forward to see her. She was gorgeous as ever, wearing a red corset, fishnets, and feathered accessories. Temari owned the night with her moves, but the more he watched the crowd more he noticed the way these men looked at her, and he didn't like it.

Temari seated on one of the patron's laps, as per usual. He released a mocking chuckle while looking at the old man's hand slowly gliding down to her hips, with his lustful eyes staring at his Temari.

His hands gripped his seat, and a sudden urge of punching that man stirred inside of him.

Is she really safe in this kind of job? He asked himself after thinking about the Night Scythe targeting night workers like hers and how these men looked at her, she deserve more, she deserved something better, she deserve somewhere safe.

She deserved the best.

When the show ended, he waited outside along with his senior detectives, Asuma and Jiraiya. He stared at the one-stem rose that he was holding while thinking of how to save her in this kind of environment. Feeling a hero of himself and thinking about how to save the damsel in distress.

Kurenai and Tsunade walked outside and greeted Asuma and Jiraiya. They had a small conversation before waving each other's goodbye and after that, they both walked to the paths leading to their homes. Before the four of them left, Kurenai spoke.

"Oh Shikamaru, don't worry she's already dressing up. Just wait for her a little bit, ah hun?"

He nodded and smiled at them

"Alright, see you tomorrow Shikamaru, Finally got the courage aye?" Asuma teasingly said to him

The two couples chuckled and left his spot.

After a few minutes, Temari walked out from the exit door and strolled towards him. His head lifted to see her and unconsciously his lips drew a wide smile from his face.

"Is this for me?" she giggled and grabbed the rose from his hand.

"Yeah. You did a great job tonight"

"Thanks. Did you like it? I performed so well on the stage, didn't I?"

She did but something really bothered him, he grabbed her arms and slowly pulled her closer to him "How much do you need just to quit your job?"

"Huh?" she was startled by his question

"You should leave this kind of work. I can provide you with anything, just tell me how much do you need to quit your job" he firmly asked

She pulled her arms away from his grip "Are you hearing yourself? You sounded like a jerk!" Temari released a heavy breath "Don't…don't tell me to quit my job just to feed your masculine ego. What? Are you bothered by how we are being used as a fucking objects just to fill your sexual fantasies? That I am doing some kind of dirty job? Huh? Is that what you're saying?"

"That's not what I meant. You deserve better! You deserve somewhere safe! And this is not the safest place for you, I know I sounded like a jerk but it bothers me so much Temari! Especially a serial killer is freely roaming around at night targeting night workers like you" his voice becomes louder "And have you seen those eyes staring at you? Those filthy men!?"

Temari couldn't believe what she was hearing "You know what, just go home. I don't need you" she rolled her eyes and pushed the rose to his chest "Here's your flower, I don't need it either"

He rubbed his face in frustration and grabbed her arms before she walked away from their spot. Shikamaru realized that he just snapped earlier from all his emotions "Look, I'm sorry. Let me just walk you home"

"I can walk. Thank you!" she angrily responded

"No, I'm not letting you walk alone tonight" he grabbed her hand firmly to make sure that she wouldn't let go and Temari let him but still her face visibly looked irritated.

They reached her apartment without saying a word to each other, when she was about to close her door, Shikamaru spoke.

"I'm still firm with what I said Temari, I hope you consider it"

Without saying a word, she shut her door forcefully after hearing that. Shikamaru just rubbed his neck and sighed, he walked back to his apartment after that.

Temari woke up the next day and prepared her breakfast, she didn't care what Shikamaru said last night. It's not his place to tell her what to do, she swears to herself before that no man should tell her what to do.

Her eyes glanced at the TV across her kitchen and saw the news.

…Another night entertainer was killed last night….

Temari froze from her spot after seeing who the victim was, it's Yukata. The girl she met last month, she's also from Suna and migrated to Konoha to make a living, just like her. Her heart starts beating faster and the feeling of fear starts to linger through her skin.

….decapitated…murdered…brutally…killed

Her breath starts to become shallow like she was gasping for air. She grabbed her knife and starts dicing the onion to shake all her fears away.

Tears slowly drew down from her cheeks, she didn't know if it was from the onion that she was cutting or the emotion that was splurging inside of her.

I love you

I love you, alright

I'll treat you to a coffee shop

I'll buy you a coffee

Do you like that?

His last words echoed inside her mind. She could feel her mouth becoming drier than before, her hands start to shake, and sweat starts to form in her temples.

Then in a glimpse of time, it happened again.

Temari started to have a panic attack, it happened twice this week and it's becoming more frequent than before.

She grabbed the edge of the kitchen counter while catching her breath. Her chest tightens as his voice becomes louder inside her mind. She falls down to the floor breathless, sweating, and with tears in her eyes. All of the stuff from the kitchen table also falls down and was now laying on the floor with her.

The sharp knife cuts her hand from all her trembling. She raised it to her face and saw a sharp cut in her palm while blood starts to draw downwards.

Suddenly, she heard a beeping sound from her phone that was now on the floor. Her eyes were blurry but she could see who it was from.

From: Shikamaru

Sorry about last night. I bought you pancakes. I'm heading to your apartment now.