Secrets of the Heart - ShikaNaru

2

"You're finally home!" Temari exclaimed, her voice bright with excitement. "What took you so long?" She was overjoyed to greet her husband by their front entrance, her usual boisterous energy softened by genuine joy.

"Nothing much, just went drinking with Naruto," Shikamaru replied, managing a small smile that concealed the guilt simmering beneath the surface. He met Temari's bright, youthful grin with a pang of melancholic warmth. Despite her happiness, he couldn't completely hide the grimace lurking behind his calm facade.

It was definitely the alcohol that made him feel this sentimental.

Their marriage, forged under pressure from both families, was a union of duty rather than passion. It brought with it a quiet distress and a series of unspoken disputes, but Shikamaru, ever the collected and understanding man, had accepted it. He had nothing else to achiever and after all, he was getting to the age where marriage was a reoccurring conversation.

Temari, too, had believed that this connection would strengthen the bond between their two villages. Their relationship was filtered with mutual respect and a shared sense of responsibility.

But even so, the blond of the two found herself developing feelings for Shikamaru. Yet, her pride kept her from admitting this underlying attraction. She chose instead to bury her emotions deep within, knowing that Shikamaru, with his strict self-control, would never allow his desires to influence his decisions. He remained distant, never returning affection to anyone, and Temari resigned herself to a bond defined by duty rather than love.

Despite all this, she chose to show affection.

He was everything she looked for in a man since she was a little girl; respectful, intelligent, and wise.

Not once did Shikamaru attempt to scrape at the defined boundary between them; he never tried to touch Temari in a way that every woman craved at least once. She first saw this as a kind and considerate gesture that would slowly break the impenetrable wall between them with time, but it never happened. 

They remained on opposite sides of the line, neither of them intending to cross it. Shikamaru didn't understand and Temari was too shy to initiate anything. And for that, she hated herself even more.

Shikamaru, though always praised for his almost legendary observational skills, found himself at a loss when it came to deciphering women's feelings. It was as if they were written in a complex code, one in a language he had never heard of. He could sense the shift in Temari's behavior, but understanding the emotions behind it was a puzzle he couldn't solve.

Naruto? Again? Temari thought, unable to hide the frown that tugged on her lips. Her heart throbbed rather than unveiling anger. But she couldn't just lash out. After all, her husband was the advisor to the Hokage; it was inevitable that he would spend considerable time with Naruto. 

"..I made dinner"

"Thanks, ill get changed first"

Temari bit down on her lip, her frustration gnawing at her. She knew she mustn't let herself be consumed by jealousy, especially given that there was little she could do to change the situation. The reality of her marriage and her own emotions were a tangled mess, and it was a struggle to keep them from overwhelming her.

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Short chapter; a brief dive into their marriage situation!