[ShikaTema] The Thirty Day Challenge

Day 13: Teachings

(A/N: Thank you for suggesting the plot, SofTof!)

Konohagakure's usual busy streets had gathered no change, so as the ambassador to Konohagakure, Temari. However so, even from such a distance marked her face full of worry.

"Oh," the weapon seller muttered under her breath upon seeing the person who had effortlessly wiped her utmost strength back in Chuunin Examinations. "Temari-san!" Right hand waving in the mid-air, she greeted. "You're here; not really surprising," laughed out the female, pertaining to Temari's current position. "Here to see the Hokage?"

The engaged blonde shook her head once. "To see Shikamaru's mother."

What happened before her and Tenten was a part of the past; thus, it didn't bother the flaxen-haired lass as she bumped onto her this time.

"Ah, I see," cheaply replied the young kunoichi. "It looks serious; good luck!" Tenten turned around after waving her goodbye towards the blonde, then left completely. She still had things to tend to in her shop, and the latter couldn't leave it unattended for long.

Teal hues dropped on the ground, head downcast as well. If Ino was around, she would be able to tell effortlessly that Temari was feeling quite nervous. Standing at the Nara's doorstep for good seconds, she took a deep breath before delivering her fists on the wooden block and knocked for exactly three times.

There was an answer inside, undoubtedly a voice of a female, but it was incomprehensible. However, she was certain the woman from the other side responded to her calls.

It didn't take long when the door knob tilted open, an image of a young-looking mother of Shikamaru appeared before her. "Ah, Temari!" Happily greeted the older female, not to mention that she had intentionally removed the way how Japanese usually address people around them with such politeness.

Temari wasn't certain how such things work, not to mention that she had grown in a rather different surrounding compared to other girls. Figuring out how to be someone from a person closest to her fiance was probably the best choice as of the moment.

Obviously excited of the little tutorial she's going to give Temari, Yoshino had already started. "To be a good wife, nag your husband to do the right!" Her voice slightly raised, right fist was visible in the mid-air. "A wife is there to bring her husband back to the correct path; so if he loses it, you'll be there. Nag him."

Temari was unsure if she would to accept what the brown-haired woman was making her decipher, though she could tell that it was somewhat reasonable. There was no response from the blonde, but Yoshino just kept going.

"Alright! The next thing you need to do is be unpredictable! It keeps things exciting between couples, you know. If you are too predictable, your relationship will eventually get boring! You wouldn't want that, right?" Asked the older woman, smiling towards Gaara's sister. "You need to spice up your married life!"

The lass couldn't help the growing tints of crimson spread across her face; the attempt to open her mouth to make another response was halted in the mid-air once again.

"Next, you have to express your love!"

Certainly, the third step made the flaxen-haired female snap away from the embarrassment she's feeling, only to feel more. Express my love? Considering the way she was raised, Temari had found Yoshino's remark difficult. How can I exactly--

"Mom, what are you telling her?" The pineapple-haired male appeared behind Temari, which undoubtedly surprised both the girls. Before proceeding to speak, Shikamaru delivered his hand behind his head to perform slight scratches. It didn't itch, but it was more of a gesture to buy him time to think.

Yoshino looked at her son, and made her answer without hesitating. "Ah, I'm telling her some few steps about being a fine wife, Shikamaru. As for you!" She pulled his right ear towards her direction. "You better treat her right! No one's going to take you seriously aside from her, considering your lazy attitude," protectively said his mother.

Embarrassed that he still was being treated as a kid in front of his soon-to-be-wife, he winced in pain for a bit. Once Yoshino had let him go, Shikamaru rubbed it slightly before regaining his balance. Geez... "She doesn't need those," stated the latter with his utmost effort. Now standing in front of his fiancee, the young male grabbed her hand from behind, making the other flash a red face towards the floor.

What is he--?

"I love her because I love her, mom," began the male. "She doesn't need to do things she doesn't want to do," paused him for a moment before continuing. "She's fine the way she is," sighing for the last time, Shikamaru pulled Temari outside his home.

Yoshino was caught in surprise of her son's actions and words, but it only made her draw a smiling curve on her lips. "Shikaku, dear, your son had really grown well."

There was a tint of retaliation from the blonde, but it was unseen. Thus, she only uttered a few words to make the other stop from marching forward more. "Shikamaru, h-hey!"

Though small blushes were evident, the male delivered both of his palm over his fiancee's cheeks, invisibly had gathered his courage to begin speaking.

Such demeanour made Temari heat up, for she never expected Shikamaru to do romance-related things to her.

With complete assurance in his eyes, he continued. "I didn't propose to you just so I could have a wife, I didn't propose to you to expand the Nara clan, I planned to marry you not for the sake of our villages, I did all this because you're you, and I love you," said Shikamaru, delivering his hand behind his head once again, but now because of embarrassment.

Temari was out of words; however, Yoshino's teachings flashed themselves in her mind, allowing her to get something to throw back at the lad. "So...," there was touch of uncertainty in her voice, but she proceeded anyhow. "It would be okay to nag you at times, if not all?"

A tired expression had been thrown at Temari as his response, but it only lasted for a second. It was quickly changed with a sincere smile. "Geez, that would be troublesome, but if it's from you, I can deal with it."

---

In one of the days of their married life, Shikadai was born. His little cries were echoing around the area, even making Temari call for Shikamaru's help. Albeit in the kitchen washing dishes, she managed to shout to get her husband working. "Shikamaru! Feed Shikadai! Stop slacking off!"

The aged male sighed in a mixture of annoyance and tiredness. I did say I can deal it with, but man, this really is a drag, mumbled him to himself before making his way to his son's room.