Belong

Part 13: Effect

It took her a couple of hours but she was finally done. She looked outside her window, it seemed to be getting darker by the hour no doubt it was going to rain in a few more hours. He should be back home by now, she thought. Without wasting any time she grabbed the food she prepared for him and made her way to his apartment.

Though she felt it was right to do this for him as a token of gratitude, she still couldn't help wondering if she went a little overboard. She isn't really the kind to do these kinds of things, so why do this? Her friends have done so much for her and all she's done in return is just say 'Thanks'. So why go far as to make a meal him? Maybe it could be because of the 'change' she's going through that she did this. She didn't want to contemplate on it though, she didn't want to end up feeling uncomfortable with it so she blocked the thoughts immediately and just continued walking to her destination. She hurried, with fear that the food might get cold. Before long she made it.

She knocked and after a moment the door was answered.

"Hey." She greets while also for some reason forcing a little smile.

"Temari?" He responds, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Surprised to see me?"

"Ah... No.. I..."

"What a drag. Why is she here? I was kind of hoping I wouldn't see her at today especially after what happened during training."

"Can I come in or what?"

"Uh.. Yeah... Sure." He invited her in.

"So what brings you here today?" He asks.

She hesitated a little to reply but eventually did anyway.

"I thought I'd thank you for yesterday.. So I made you this as a token of my appreciation." She hands him the warm food she made and Shikamaru accepts.

"Token of appreciation?" He asks, clueless as to what she means.

"Yeah... For taking me to the waterfall yesterday.. It was beautiful. I had a good time." She admits as her left hand reaches to her right elbow and a blush on her face.

He liked this side of Temari, this gentler and less intimidating side of her was the one he'd preferred. He just wished she stayed with this one instead of the other.

"You didn't have to." He says and opens the container with food in it, the smell was enticing.

"It actually smells good. Choji would finish this in seconds."

"I didn't know you can cook." He states.

"There's a lot you don't know. I think I'll take my leave now. You look exhausted and need to rest." She says and makes her way to the door.

"Wait." Shikamaru says grabbing her by the arm. Both taken by surprised by his action especially Temari. He wasn't really sure about where he was going with what he did, it was like his body moved on it's own and the word just escaped from his lips. He was hoping not see her today but there was a part of him that wanted the opposite. That could be the reason he did what he did, he thought. He knew it all too well, he wanted her with her no matter how he wished he didn't. There was something about her presence and he loved it. He loved how she made him feel, he didn't really like it all that much at first but now he wished he was with her at all times. He laughed at how idiotic that made him look but he didn't care. He loved the effect she had on him. There was no doubt that it could be why he fell for her.

"Shikamaru?"

"Huh?" He responds as he is pulled back to reality.

"What's the matter with you?" She asked.

"Sorry." He apologizes and let's go of her. "I was wondering if you could stay."

"Stay?"

"Yeah,... For a little while." He says, placing his hand on his nape and diverting his eyes from hers.

She gave him a smirk and eventually agreed.

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"You know you still haven't told me why you're in the Leaf."

"I... Need a break.. From my duties" Anxiety took over as she spoke. "That's what Kankuro said."

Obviously, he couldn't tell him the real reason why but she knew she didn't sound too convincing.

"But why here though? Couldn't you have gone somewhere relaxing?"

"I just like it here."

He was exhausted from all the training he did today but that didn't stop him from seeing that what she was saying wasn't the whole story. He knew she was saying more than what she let on. Even how she slightly reacted before she replied to him. He knew he was probably going regret what he was about to say but went for it anyway.

"Why do I get the feeling there's more to what you're telling me?"

"Excuse me?"

And there she was, the Temari he knew. The ill-tempered one, the one who seemed like she was ready to explode every time and she really did look that way in the moment but he didn't back down this time, he didn't show any signs of surrender. He remained the same, looking as if he's not fazed by her.

"What are you trying to say?" She continues, this time the irritation was present in the tone of her voice.

"I'm saying there must be another reason you're here. You would've gone back to the Sand by now if that's all it was." He says. It just didn't really make sense to him, the real Temari isn't the type to take 'breaks' from her duties. She'd proved it when she was here to prepare for the Chūnin Exams.

"Are you calling me a liar?" Even though she was, she still felt offended somehow. She felt attacked or maybe it could be the anxiety that was building up in her that made her feel this way. She knew he was a very observant person but she was still just as good at hiding her emotions or so she thought. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he could see through her. Insecurity took over and she could feel the tears trying to surface but the longer she looked him in the eyes, the more difficult it got. She knew that look very well, she'd seen it before but from somebody from the dark history of her life.

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Ever heard of "Writer's block"? You know, that state a writer reached at some point of being unable to think of how to continue with what they're writing? Yeah, that's what I'm kinda going though right now. It sucks but here it is. I think I'll able to write the next part by tonight, tomorrow at the latest which could be the last part of this chapter...

Also I know I'm aware of how long it's taking for them to be together and I'm sorry for that. But if vote/comment, it could help get rid of this "Writer's block" state