Chapter 2
SHIKAMARU
Leaning against the sign that read "KONOHA COLLEGE", Shikamaru's eyes darted left and right. No transfers in sight. He wasn't sure what they'd look like but he figured he'd know it was them when he saw them. Shikamaru hated waiting on people - it was the pre-work work that went without compensation. That's why he never arrived early for anything if he could avoid it. Regardless, it was a beautiful autumn day - so he didn't mind being outside.
It was First Week of a new term and he could hear the coloured leaves crunching under the feet of the bustling students and faculty. As a senior in college, Shikamaru had been through his First Week plenty of times. Freshly printed schedules, grouchy old professors and batches of new students - some were even here with their parents. The sight of happy families made him itch.
Shikamaru reached into his pocket and popped his last cigarette into his mouth cursing that Naruto was probably enjoying hot cocoa with Hinata about now. He searched for his lighter that he usually kept in the inner pocket of his coat. But it wasn't there. His heartbeat quickened. It wasn't in his other pocket either. His hands searched his pockets frantically, pulling them inside out. Where was it?
He was about to drop his things and rip open in his backpack, when somebody behind him cleared their throat.
"Ahem."
Shikamaru turned to see three unsmiling faces looking at him. Recalling that the transfers shared the last name, it was obvious to Shikamaru that they would be related. But if it weren't for the identical scowl on their faces, Shikamaru never have guessed they were siblings for they each looked widely different from one another.
There was a brunette, tall and unwavering with an earring in one of his ears. Beside him was a blonde in a pleated miniskirt with four ponytails. And next to her was a redhead, short and scowling with what looked like a cello strapped to his back.
Shikamaru guessed: The jock, the artist and the musician, respectively. He glanced down at his watch. Right on time.
"Did you want to finish that?" The brunette asked, looking at the cigarette in his mouth.
Shikamaru took the cigarette out and stuffed it into his pocket. Putting on a big Naruto-like grin, he stuck out his hand to the tall brunette and introduced himself, "I'm Shikamaru Nara. VP of the Konoha College Student Council."
The brunette shook his head and laughed as the blonde girl stepped forward to shake his hand. "I'm Temari. These are my brothers, Kankurou and Gaara." Her voice was clear and direct, as if she was a soldier reporting for duty and she looked right into his eyes.
Shikamaru opened his mouth to speak, but his mind went somewhere else. A sandy beach where soft sand touched the ocean. A sparkling glimmer, green just like her eyes.
"Did you hear me?" The blonde raised a brow at him and looked down at his hand which was still around hers.
Shikamaru blinked hard. He shook her hand again, "Yes! Welcome to Konoha College, Temari," he quickly let go of her hand as he looked at her two brothers, "Kankurou and Gaara too." Temari stepped back and the three siblings were in line. They looked like they were in an army line-up.
The three of them stared at him blankly, as if they were waiting for orders.
Shikamaru stared back, then remembered he had a job to do. "Let me show you around. If you'll follow me," He walked past the gates, hoping he was exerting some kind of likable personality. He cursed Ino, for picking the member with the least charisma. Naruto was the guy for a job like this - that idiot had boundless amounts of energy and he loved people. Funnily enough, people always loved him back.
As they walked, Shikamaru heard Kankurou mutter in what sounded like disbelief, "Of all people, they send this guy?"
"He is the Student Council Vice President," Gaara whispered.
"His shoelaces aren't even tied," Temari confirmed.
Shikamaru inwardly sighed. He prayed the rest of the tour would be better.
Moments later ...
Shikamaru was peddling through the corridor, yanking open the classroom doors.
Why can't things be easy? Shikamaru lamented, as he yanked open the doors of yet another empty classroom. No scowling redhead in sight.
Shikamaru had taken the three Suna-stars around campus, and somewhere after the band room, he realised Gaara was missing. Quiet as a mouse, the redhead slipped away without a sound. It wouldn't be a problem if he wasn't a minor. One just can't lose minors on a college campus. Especially not VPs. And especially not after Ino hasn't specifically told him not to lose them. Shikamaru hoped the music genius would reappear just as quietly in one of these rooms, but to no luck. This room he had just opened was as empty as the others.
"He does that sometimes," Kankurou tried. "He'll come back."
"Alright…" Shikamaru rubbing his jaw. His cheeks were tired from smiling all morning.
Luckily they arrived at the next stop on their tour: the Art Studio.
Shikamaru walked ahead and threw the doors wide open. In his best tour guide voice, he went, "We've got tons of art supplies here. Paint, glitter, canvases - you name it. It's the perfect space for an artist to work when she wants."
He looked right at Temari with his big stupid grin, hoping this would put a smile on her face. Of the few minutes they'd spent together, the siblings hadn't once cracked a smile. And while he knew he couldn't get them all to like him, he was secretly hoping to see Temari smile today. Surely the Art Studio would make her, the artist, happy.
When Shikamaru saw Kankurou shake his head and chuckle, he realised he'd made a huge mistake, "Glitter?"
Beside him, Temari glared at Shikamaru with a piercing gaze that cut right through him, "She?"
Shikamaru's mistake was becoming clearer. It was a little presumptuous and kind of sexist of him to assume that the girl was the artist. He probably should've spent more than 10 seconds skimming the brief on the way to the meeting this morning - or he probably should've looked into that file Ino thrust into his hands.
"I'm the artist," Kankurou volunteered.
"Oh right, that's my mistake. I must have misread the brief..." Shikamaru said politely. But he caught Temari's scoff, as she grumbled, "Presumptuous, sexist pig..."
Shikamaru was beginning to wonder if all blonde women could read his mind when Kankurou spoke up.
"It's fine man. People make the mistake all the time. Don't mind her, she's a grump," Kankurou walked into the studio, looking over the shelves of art supplies. He let out a low whistle at the vast colour selection. "This is all… fine and dandy, but I'm a traditional artist. I carve and paint marionettes for cultural performances. I need some real tools." He smiled at the power saw that was left out on the large work bench. Putting his hands on the table, Kankurou added in glee, looking like a child who'd found the Halloween candy stash, "This is what I'm talking about. Does it work?"
Relieved to finally see someone happy, Shikamaru moved to the plug outlets. Having never been in here before, the mess of plugs and wires made absolutely no sense to him. But he figured he'd try something. He flipped one switch. Nothing happened.
He flipped another switch. A lightbulb turned on.
And then he flipped one more and the power saw roared to life with a loud guttural whirring. The saw leapt from its spot and its sharp metal edges bit into the table. Like some feral animal out of its cage, the machine zig-zagged across the table and ran straight toward Kankurou.
Shikamaru ran back to yanked the entire set of plugs from its socket. The saw died as quickly as it came to life and the room quiet. The three of them looking at the deep slices in the table surface.
"Sweet!" Kankurou exclaimed.
"You almost lost a finger, Kankurou!" Temari shouted.
"I would've fought it off."
"You can't beat a machine that's part saw. Where would you even go?"
"Nah, I'd win."
Shikamaru didn't hear what they were saying. His heartbeat was in his ears. Somebody could've died. Ignoring the adrenaline rushing through his body, he combed his hair back and put on a calm exterior, blinking away the tears that that formed in his eyes.
Temari looked from her brother, who seemed to get distracted by the myriad of brushes on the shelf. She caught sight of Shikamaru stuffing his shaking hands into his pockets.
"Are you okay?" Her voice was tender.
He turned to the blonde and spoke as confidently as he could, "I have one last place to show you."
"What?" She seemed stunned at his reply.
"You'll like what I have to show you. Follow me," he said walking out of the room with the blonde few steps behind him.
Shikamaru led Temari out of the arts building to the College's outdoor sports arena. It was an astoundingly huge complex, complete with a freshly laid football field and running track - both of which cost Konoha dearly.
Shikamaru had scoffed at the number at first but now he thought it was worth every cent.
"Pretty impressive, huh?" Shikamaru said smugly to Temari's dropped jaw. He noticed her eyes were honed in on the racetrack where the girls' relay team was training.
Temari was watching them, and her eyes followed the captain.
Feeling this might be his best chance to leave a decent impression on Temari - for the sake of his student council of course, not for any personal motive - he leaned toward the blonde and mentioned casually, "That's Tenten, the team captain. She's a friend of mine."
"Mmhmm," Temari said it in a distant tone. The same tone an adult would use in conversation with a babbling baby. It's like he wasn't even there.
"She placed 2nd in the inter-college race last year. Apparently she was this close to breaking the record too," he whispered. To that, Temari responded clearly, "It was for the 100m All-Girls International Race last season. And she wasn't that close."
A jock who knows her stuff, he surmised with a smirk. Shikamaru didn't say anything. He just watched her as she continued to eye Tenten. The captain had a clipboard in her hand and was laughing with the girls.
"Let's go say hi. I'll introduce you," he offered.
Temari turned to him. And he felt the air catch in his lungs as she smiled at him, "That's a good idea."
If he wasn't so distracted by Temari's upturned lips, he probably would've paid more attention to the way she marched to the track full of determination. As they approached the track, Shikamaru could hear Tenten announcing to the girls, "Alright! We've got one more spot on our team. We need the fastest runners for the upcoming Fall Dash."
Shikamaru waved at Tenten, who waved back with a big smile. Then her smile vanished.
"Is that her?"
"She's a legend!"
"What is she doing here?'
Whispers were becoming more obvious the closer they got. As they closed the distance to the track and the other girls, Shikamaru noticed all eyes were on the two of them. It's almost like they were cowering away from him or... from her.
"It's you," Tenten spat out. Tenten eyed her in what Shikamaru perceived could only be in disgust, something he'd never seen before from Tenten. He glimpsed at the blonde beside him, just a few inches shorter - just who was she?
"Hey, Tenten. How's 2nd place been treating you?" Temari's dripped out venomously.
Tenten was shorter than Temari, but that didn't stop her from squaring up. "Pretty good. How's retirement?" Tenten replied with a cold smile. "It's too bad we won't see you at the Winter Dash this year. I was looking forward to seeing your face when I bet your record."
Temari scoffed, letting out a bitter laugh. "Why wait? Show me," Temari challenged.
"What? Here?" Tenten asked, her voice faltering slightly.
"There's a track, and you're all warmed up... Think of it as a head start," Temari told her.
Shikamaru tried to defuse the situation, "You know, we're not finished with the tour. We've still got plenty to see."
"I promise you, you won't want to miss this," Temari told him, unzipping her wind breaker.
"Fine," Tenten said, readying herself. "Do you need a minute to warm up?" Tenten asked patronisingly.
"Not against you," Temari said. As Shikamaru watched Temari take off her jacket to reveal what looked like a cashmere turtleneck vest, he could almost hear Ino's voice ringing in his ears. Don't ruin this. This was extremely troublesome...