Love is such a drag! (Shikamaru x Temari)

Chapter 9:

Temari's POV
I woke up, a smile plastered on my face. Until I noticed I wasn't in my hotel room. For a moment I started to panic, until I heard the light snores that came from below the bed. I looked down and saw Shikamaru. His sleeping form seemed tense from being an the floor all night long. He was a real gentleman... I stretched and stood up. I headed outside his room, careful not to wake him. But the moment I opened the door, his beautiful and narrow brown eyes opened. He looked at me and smiled lightly.
- "Hey. Good morning. Where are you going?"- He asked, confused. I smiled back.
-" I was just looking for the bathroom. I look like shit when I wake up."- I said, smoothing my hair, which had come undone.
-" Not really. You look very real."- He said. I blushed.
-" Thanks for bringing me here, by the way."- I said, changing the subject.
-" Sure. No problem. You can sleep over whenever you want."- He said. Sighing, he stood up. -" Anyway, I'll show you to the bathroom and them we can have some breakfast."- He said, leading me outside. When we got there, I entered and Shikamaru went back to his room to change. I washed my face and tied my hair, and then came back outside. Shikamaru, who was waiting me, motioned me over as he started to walk towards his kitchen.
-" Are we eating breakfast here?"- I asked, surprised.
-" Yeah. Unless you don't want to, of course."- He said, turning around to look at me.
-" No, it's fine. But doesn't your mom usually have breakfast at your apartment?"- I asked. I knew that the one time we'd had breakfast here was still early for Mrs. Nara to be up, so we had probably eaten before her. ( A/N: Shikamaru's apartment is inside the Nara compound)
-" Yeah. She'll have breakfast with us."- He said simply. I widened my eyes. Shikamaru chuckled. -" Don't worry. She already knows you're here."- He said.
-" And she's okay with it?"- I asked with insecurity.
-" Yeah, it's fine. C'mon."- He said, motioning me over. We entered the kitchen and I saw his mom smiling at me.
-" Good morning Temari! Did you sleep well?"- She asked.
-" Uh... Yeah. I slept great, actually."- I said, confused at her cheerful attitude. Didn't she mind that an older woman spent the night with her son?
-" Well, that's fantastic. I'm almost done with the food. Would you be a dear and set up the table?"- She asked. Shikamaru frowned.
-" Mom! She's our guest. I'll set it up."- He said. I was surprised that he was willing to help, since he was more lazy than a sloth, but I couldn't allow it. What would Mrs. Nara think if I couldn't set the table myself?
-" Don't worry, I'll do it."- I said, approaching the cupboard where the sticks and silverware were stored.
-" You sure?"- He asked.
-" Yeah, I've got it."- I said. After a few minutes, his mom served the food. Everything looked delicious, and the smells coming from each dish were heavenly. We started eating while engaging a pleasant  conversation.
-" So, Temari... How old are you again?"- Yoshino asked.
-" I'm nineteen."- I said.
-" Oh. So two years older than Shikamaru. Good, for his maturity he needs an older and intelligent woman to take care of him."- She said as Shikamaru choked on his tea and I blushed. He looked at his mom, embarrassed.
-" Mom! What the fuck?!"- He asked.
-" Watch your language Shikamaru."- She said with a slight smirk. -" Anyway, Temari, would you like to go shopping?"- She asked with a smile.
-" I don't think that's the best..."- Sikamaru started, but I was quick to interrupt.
-" I would love to, Yoshino San."- I said, taunting Shikamaru.
-" Perfect! Let's go."- She said, standing up. My eyes widened.
-" Now?"- I asked.
-" Yes, now. Shikamaru, since you're feeling so helpful today why don't you clean the house for me? Great. Come on Temari."- She said and left the room, heading towards the exit of the Nara compound. I looked at a very pissed off Shikamaru and laughed.
-" I'll see you in a few hours, then."- I said with a smirk and hurried behind Yoshino. When I caught up to her she smiled.
-" Well, now that we got rid of him it's time to talk."- She said. I raised my eyebrows.
-" So we're not going shopping?"- I asked. She laughed.
-" There'll be time for that later. Right now I just want to get to know you better. After all, it seems like you'll be spending a lot of time with me from now on."- She said kindly.
-" W-what do you mean?"- I asked, blushing. She chuckled.
-" Oh Temari. I see the way you two look at each other. And Shikamaru talks about you all the time. And you've been like this since you were just kids. I'm not blind."- She said. I looked down.
-" Yeah... I guess. I mean... He's handsome. Very handsome. And intelligent. And he always makes me laugh. He... He's also confusing sometimes. And he can really piss me off. God... I don't know."- I said, sitting down on a nearby bench. Yoshino sat next to me.
-" What are you afraid of, child?"- She asked, looking down at me. I buried my face in my hands and sighed.
-" I don't know... It just seems wrong to be with Shikamaru like this. He's from Konoha, I'm from Suna. Plus, I'm the ambassador. We'd never be able to see each other!"- I said, still unable to believe I was actually considering a serious relationship.
-" You could negotiate with your brother to come more often, right? And you could keep in touch with letters. And, when the time comes, one of you could move and visit the other village often."- She said. I looked at her.
-" But does he really like me the way I like him?"- I asked.
-"He does, if not more."- She said, patting my back. I stared at the clouds, thinking of all the possibilities. I was really falling for this guy, and hiding my feelings was getting harder and harder. Suddenly, Ino Yamanaka came running towards us. When I saw her, I couldn't help but think of the three months she dated Shikamaru. I frowned and, surprisingly, so did Yoshino. Why?
-" Temari! Hey girl!"- She said with a big smile, which I returned. I might be slightly jealous of Ino, but she was still a dear friend.
-" Hey Ino, what's up?"- I asked.
-" The Hokage is requesting your presence, as well as Shikamaru's. Apparently, it's of extreme importance."- She said. I sighed.
-" I'll be right there."- I said. Ino nodded once, and left. I looked at Yoshino apologetically. -" I'm sorry our talk was cut short."- I said while scratching my head.
-" Don't worry. We can do it again sometime."- She said giving me a hug, which I quickly returned. Then I stood up and headed to the Hokage tower.

Shikamaru's POV
I was waiting for the Hokage to open the door when I saw Temari running towards me. Instinctively, I fixed my clothes. What was wrong with me? Temari slowed down and smiled. When she approached she hesitated, and then did something I didn't expect. She hugged me. For a moment, I just stared. But after a while, I hugged her back. Her messy hair tickled my face, but the fact that our bodies were so close together... Separated by just a few layers of clothes, sent shivers down my spine. Her face was buried in the crook of my neck, and her arms were wrapped around my chest. Mine, on the other hand, were placed around her lower back. I held her tighter, taking all of her in. Even if it was just a hug, it seemed way more intimate than that. And I never wanted it to end.
-" Ahem... Am I interrupting something?"- I heard a voice ask. Temari and I quickly separated, only to find Tsunade smirking at us. -" You can come in now."- She said and entered her office. Temari and I looked at each other. She blushed, but I took her hand and smiled. She smiled back and, with our hands interlocked, we entered the office. Tsunade chuckled. -" Well, well. What have we here? So, are you two a couple?"- She asked. I looked at Temari. I wish.
-" No, we're just friends."- I said. Temari looked down and nodded. Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
-" If you say so. Anyway, that's not why I called you in for."- She said.
-" I hope not."- I muttered. Temari chuckled.
-" Huh? What was that, Nara?"- Tsunade asked, frowning and clenching their fists. I sweat dropped.
-" Eh... Nothing, Hokage Sama."- I said while scratching my head. She smirked.
-" That's what I thought."- She said. Damn. That woman was crazy!
-" So... Why are we here again?"- Temari asked, changing the subject.
-" Right. Remember what I said when you first came? That you'd accompany Shikamaru during his long missions?"- We nodded. -" Well, the moment has come."-Tsunade said with a smirk.

Hey minna! Sorry I took so long to update! My life has been crazy lately XD. Don't worry though. I'll update later this week. So... What do you think? Shikamaru and Temari are finally getting serious! But what is the mission all about? And let's not forget the masked man! After the clear display of affection, will he simply let it go? Stay tuned to