Whispering Bells

Dream Analysis

Shikamaru looked over at the sleeping kunoichi lying beside him. She seemed to fall asleep as soon her head hit the pillow. His heart was still racing a million miles a minute. Why did he have this memory of kissing her? He remembered the way her lips felt against his. Soft, warm and inviting. Their mouths exploring each other's with increased urgency. The scent of her perfume. The feeling of her body pressed up against his. His arms pulling her body on top of his.

When she had moved the strand of hair from his face a few moments ago, he had the most incredible sense of déjà vu . It was like it had happened before. But nothing like that had ever happened. It must be a dream right? He closed his eyes trying to recreate the memory.

The memory was hazy. He remembered opening his eyes and seeing her there with him. She looked like a beautiful angel in her dark kimono and warm teal eyes. She was stroking his face ever so lightly. He had felt so worn out, so tired and frustrated. He was so happy that she was there back with him. So happy, that he had reached up and kissed –

No. That was crazy. It couldn't have happened, it must be a dream. He had never even held her hand before this mission. Kissing her? Kissing her like that? There was no way. She would have knocked him clear across the room if he had tried something like that on her. Wouldn't she?

He looked over at the girl sleeping beside him. How did he get himself into a situation like this? He just wanted a simple life. Instead he kept getting himself into these troublesome scenarios. Like, how did he end up on a dangerous mission lying in bed with a beautiful woman who he may or may not have kissed?

He leaned toward her sleeping body so that he was facing her. He'd be a fool to deny the attraction he felt for her. She was the opposite of what he always thought he wanted. He thought he wanted a woman that was sweet, gentle and easy going. A woman that was average looking – not too pretty or ugly, that would stay at home with their two children. Temari was the opposite of easy going. She was hyper and demanding and if he could describe her in a word it might be feisty.

Average looking? She was anything but. He looked at his teammate, who was usually covered in many layers of clothing, wearing her simple blue nightie. While the nightgown was modest, it revealed more than he was used to seeing. The elegant line of her collarbone, her bare shoulders and arms, her wild blonde hair, her long slim legs, her narrow waist and shapely hips. Her lips were a soft pink colour that looked so enticing, so sweet, so kissable. With a girl like her, he'd have to worry about other guys all the time.

Gentle? That was not a word he'd use to describe her at all. He shuddered at the memory of her absolutely decimating Tenten at the chunin exams. A warrior to her core. She was gentle with him though. The way she so carefully helped him take his shirt off so that it wouldn't hurt his arm. The way she had cleaned his wound and dressed it. The way she was constantly giving him food and drinks from her travel bag, without him even asking. What did his father once say? No matter how strong-minded a woman is, she will show kindness to the man she loves.

Loves? Shikamaru shook his head. She couldn't possibly love him. He closed his eyes again to see if he could remember more. He remembered a cool breeze in the room. The oak bed was not his. The room - it was not his, but it felt vaguely familiar. There must be something that could trigger his memory . His mind kept focusing on his kiss with Temari, but he needed to see past that and look at the surroundings. He started concentrating deeply. There was a dresser across the room, with a photo that had three people. Who was it? He delved into his subconscious trying to remember.

Finally it came clear. It was a photo of Choji's family. This was a room at Choji's house. It was the room he had spent the previous few nights in before this mission. But he had so many dreams when he was asleep. How did he know what was real and what wasn't? He felt in his gut that he had kissed her as he had secretly desired to for a while now. This memory wasn't like his other dreams of her. But why hadn't she pushed him away?