ShikaTema : Waiting For You

Chapter 25: A Plan And A Favor To Ask

The door flung open revealing a crossed, older woman carrying a death glare, "Shikamaru Nara, what did I say about visiting more often?"

"Quit whining. I brought you a respectable woman home. You should be happy.", he lamely responded entering the house and stepping to the side to undo his shoes and present Temari behind him.

Yoshino sighed, placing her hand on her forehead in disbelief, "I guess that's the only thing that got through to you."

Temari laughed at their little quarrel, stepping through the front door, "Don't worry, I'll force him to visit more."

Yoshino gave the girl a warming smile with a greeting hug, "I knew I liked you. I just wish my son would realize he did too.", she whispered with the hug.

"Well, Actually...", Temari said sheepishly in a high pitched voice, as the broke away.

Yoshino's eyes widened, leaving her hands to grip the girl's shoulders excitedly. She snapped her head over her own shoulder to look at her son in surprise, "How many years have I waited for you to tell her?"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes as his body fell backwards willingly onto the couch, "Seems like that's everyone's response."

"What? Everyone? How long have you two been dating now?", Yoshino pointed offended.

"A little over a month or so.", Temari answered in estimation. They were still very unsure on when they were going to count being officially together. If they based it off of what everyone else was saying, it would be back before the fourth great ninja war...

Yoshino hugged the girl happily once more, "You let me know if my idiot of a son does anything stupid. I'll put him in place for you."

"She'll keep me in shape so you won't have to.", Shikamaru defended in a louder mutter for them to hear this time.

Temari smiled devilishly at his comment as she took her shoes off and left her bag next to his by the door.

"Oh, here!", Yoshino grabbed the two bags, "I'll show you two to the guest room so you can get comfortable."

Shikamaru swiftly rocked up from the couch to relieve his mother of the duty of both the bags before they followed her down the hallway. She smiled thankful at him, knowing he wasn't really all the terrible things they joked about and that he turned out to be a great young man.

"I cleaned out this room for you two. I'm sure you can show her where the bathroom and everything else is?", she asked to her son.

Shikamaru nodded easily, laying the carried bags, and himself, to slump on the offered bed.

Yoshino shook her head, "Tsk. You never will grow out of being lazy, will you?"

"Where there is a bed, there is surely a Shikamaru occupying its space.", Temari kicked his foot that dangled over the side, "Get up, we still have to unpack and help your mom set up for dinner."

He tiredly groaned, sitting up and rubbed his eyes.

The pair decided if they were going to make it official, then they should be official. While they wouldn't scream it from the top of the Hokage rock, but it was important to announce it to their families at the very least- and maybe Temari was also becoming a little homesick too with the thought of her brothers. Their plan was to have dinner with Yoshino to formally announce they are dating so she wouldn't be furious with the lack of information, then head out in the morning to Suna to have dinner with Temari's brothers.

They were finally relieved from office work and were given some time off for this trip, but that didn't stop Naruto from overworking them this morning to get last minute work finalized. They had a long day at the office, and were going to have an extra-long three-days after tonight. Shikamaru was especially tired, and going to continue to be. Although the three-day's trip there and back would take up most of their time off, he knew he would suffer worse consequences if his mother and Temari's brothers weren't informed of their new pairing soon.