Love is such a drag! (Shikamaru x Temari)

Chapter 2:

Temari's POV
I grunted when I heard my alarm-clock ringing. Was it six thirty already? I hadn't been able to sleep at all... I was thinking about Shikamaru. What was wrong with me? Was I sick or something? Or why couldn't I get him out of my head? He's the same old, lazy ass Shinobi I met all those years ago. But... He felt different. Like he'd grown up or something. Man, I don't know. It was a strange feeling. I got out of bed, took a quick shower, got dressed, brushed my teeth, fixed my hair and ran outside to meet up with Shikamaru.

Shikamaru's POV
I yawned as I heard my alarm clock ring. I cursed Temari's schedule silently. I got up, got ready and went to Temari's hotel.

When I got there, I saw Temari waiting patiently at the door. I sighed and approached. She scowled.
-" You're late, lazy ass."- She said.
-" Yeah. Five minutes late. What a crime!"- I said, sarcastically. She rolled her eyes in annoyance.
-" Whatever. Let's go."- She said and started walking towards the Hokage tower. I sighed and followed. We were walking when I decided to break the silence.
-" So... What are you doing this afternoon?"- I asked. She looked at me, eyebrows raised.
-" Uh... Nothing. Why do you ask?"- She asked, uncertainty clear in her voice.
-" Uh... You know... I just wanted to ask if you wanted to get some lunch or something."- I said, looking away in embarrassment.
-" Uh... Right. Okay."- She answered and looked away as well. We reached the Hokage tower and Temari disappeared into the room where Lady Tsunade was waiting.

After four hours, a tired-looking Temari emerged from the building. I smirked and she pouted.
-" Why are you smirking idiot?"- She asked, annoyed. I chuckled.
-" You seem tired."- I answered.
-" I am! And it's not funny!"- She said, furrowing her eyebrows. I chuckled once again.
-" Whatever. You up for Ramen?"- I asked. Her eyes lit up.
-" Hell yeah! I'm starving!"- She answered. As we walked, we didn't talk much. But when we sat down at Ichiraku's, we talked about EVERYTHING that had happened since we had last seen each other. I asked her about Suna and she asked me about Konoha. I asked her about Kankuro and Gaara and she asked me about our friends. We laughed, and quite frankly, we had an amazing time. Temari was smart and quick with her responses. She was funny, polite and she teased a lot. Nothing like Sakura or Ino. We were still talking and laughing when I heard an annoying voice behind me.
-" Temari? Is that you?"- The blonde ninja asked. I furrowed my eyebrows. Temari smiled.
-" Yeah. Long time no see Naruto."- She said. Naruto smiled brightly.
-" Man! I didn't recognize you for a minute! You look so different!"- Naruto observed. Temari chuckled.
-" Really?"- She asked. Naruto nodded and blushed. I felt my insides turn in anger. I should've known he would be here! Naruto walked towards us and sat next to Temari.
-" So, how have you been?"- He asked.
-" Everything's great. You?"- Temari asked with interest.
-" I'm amazing, dattebayo!"- Naruto exclaimed which made Temari chuckle. I was getting really pissed. I cleared my throat. Naruto looked at me. -" Ah! Shikamaru! I didn't notice you were here!"- He exclaimed. I saw Temari holding back a laugh and I clenched my fist.
-" Yeah, clearly."- I said. Naruto raised an eyebrow.
-" Are you okay? You seem a little tense..."- He observed. That idiot!
-" I'm fine. Have you finished Temari? Let's go."- I said and stood up. Temari gave me a confused look, but stood up as well.
-" Awww... So soon? Well, can we at least meet some other time Temari? I need your help with something..."- Naruto asked with a cheeky smile. Temari nodded and left the store. I gave Naruto a death glare before stomping behind Temari.

Naruto's POV
I looked at a pissed Shikamaru stomping behind Temari. What was wrong with him? He looked ready to murder me...
-" Hey Naruto!"- I heard someone call behind me. I turned around to find Choji. I smiled.
-" What's up man? Long time no see."- I said and patted the seat next to mine. Choji sat beside me, ordered a pork ramen and turned sideways to face me.
-" How have you been?"- He asked curiously.
-" Great... Well I'm just a little confused right now..."- I said. Choji raised an eyebrow.
-" Confused? What do you mean?"- He asked.
-" Well... Shikamaru is acting strange. Did you know Temari is back?"- I asked. Choji smiled and nodded eagerly. -" Well, they were here just a minute ago but Shikamaru got pissed off and they left."- I said. Choji smiled micheviously.
-" Tell me everything that happened."- He said, and so I did.

Choji's POV
As Naruto told me what happened, I could feel excitement burning inside me. When he finished, I smiled.
-" Naruto, I think there's something you need to know."- I said.
-" What is it?"- He asked.
-" I think Shikamaru likes Temari."- I said. Naruto widened his eyes.
-" No way!"- He exclaimed.
-" I know it sounds weird... Especially since it's Shikamaru we're talking about, but just think about it. It makes perfect sense! He has always been nice towards Temari."- I said. Naruto smiled. -" There's just one problem. Shikamaru won't admit it himself, and I don't know if Temari likes him back..."- I said. Naruto furrowed his eyebrows.
-" We have to do something."- Naruto said.
-" I know... And I have an idea, but we're gonna need some help."- I said.
-" Why don't we ask all of our friends?"- He asked. I shook my head sternly.
-" No way. Only a few trustworthy people can find out."- I said.
-" Why?"- Naruto asked.
-" Because if we tell someone like Ino or Sakura, they'll tell Temari and Shikamaru. They're our friends, but I don't trust them with relationship issues... Do you?"- I asked. Naruto sweat dropped and shook his head. -" I didn't think so. Anyway, here's what we're gonna do..."- I started.

Temari's POV
I looked sideways at a pissed off Shikamaru.
-" You okay?"- I asked.
-" I'm fine."- The lazy ass muttered. I raised an eyebrow, but let it go.
-" So... What do you want to do now?"- I asked. He looked at me.
-" You still wanna hang out?"- He asked, surprised. I felt my face heat up in embarrassment. What was with this Hinata-like behavior?
-" Uh... Yeah. Unless you don't want to..."- I said. He blushed.
-" Uh... Sure. What do you want to do?"- He asked.
-" Surprise me."- I challenged. He smirked.
-" Close your eyes."- He said. As soon as I did I knew it had been a mistake.
-" Shadow imitation technique!"- Shikamaru shouted, and soon my body was moving by itself.
-" What on earth do you think you're doing bastard!?"- I asked, panicking. I heard Shikamaru chuckle.
-" Don't worry. Close your eyes."- He said. I hesitated, but decided to close them. After a few minutes, we stopped. I felt myself laying down on a soft surface and I could hear water running. -" Okay. You can open your eyes now."- Shikamaru said. When I opened my eyes, they widened immediately, and I found my breath getting cut. It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever witnessed. I was surrounded by trees, which led me to believe that we were in the forest. We were laying on the grass, and in front of us there was a long, clear river. Birds were chirping and all the sounds that nature provided made a relaxing aura.
-" Where are we?"- I asked.
-" Konoha. Not many people know this spot... But I really like spending time here, by myself."- Shikamaru said, smiling to the distance.
-" It's... Beautiful..."- I said. Shikamaru looked at me.
-" You seem to like it."- He said.
-" I love it. We don't get sights like this back at Suna. It's all desert."- I said, still admiring the beautiful scenario. Shikamaru smiled lightly.
-" I'm glad you like it."- He said.
-" You are? Why?"- I asked. I saw Shikamaru blush.
-" Otherwise you'd be complaining and being troublesome."- He said. I furrowed my eyebrows in annoyance.
-" Lazy ass."- I snapped.
-" Troublesome woman."- Shikamaru snapped back. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain on my cheek.
-" Ow!"- I exclaimed and sat up. Shikamaru sat up as well.
-" What's wrong?"- He asked.
-" I don't know... Something scratched my cheek."- I said, looking at my now bloody fingers. I searched my surroundings for the culprit and found a kunai a few feet away.
-" Oh my God, I'm so sorry!"- I heard an annoying voice exclaim behind me. I turned around to find a girl. She was about my age with dark skin and greenish hair. Her blue eyes were big and round, and she had a bunch of kunais and shuriken inside her pocket. She was biting her nails and she had an apologetic expression on her face. -" I'm really sorry. I'm not very good at this..."- She apologized. Shikamaru let out an annoyed sigh.
-" It's okay, we were about to leave anyway."- He said, standing up. I stood up as well.
-" Can you take me to my hotel?"- I asked. Shikamaru nodded and we started leaving.
-" Wait! At least let me introduce myself!"- The girl behind us said. Shikamaru and I both sighed and turned around. The girl smiled. -" I'm Haruka. Nice to meet you."- She said.
-" I'm Shikamaru, and this is Temari."- He said, pointing at me.
-" Great! Now we know each other. So bye."- I said and started leaving. But Shikamaru held me back.
-" Don't be so rude."- He whispered. I sighed.
-" It's okay. I understand that you need to leave... But I think I should treat you to some barbecue as an apology for the kunai thing. Is tomorrow good?"- Haruka asked. I sighed.
-" Yeah, why not? See you tomorrow."- Shikamaru said and we left. I had a feeling tomorrow wouldn't be good.