The wind goddess

Abduction

It was the last evening before Temari traveled back to Suna. Shikamaru sat in his bedroom and thought about how he could say goodbye to her without looking like a complete idiot. Suddenly someone knocked on his door. "Shikamaru, Hokage-sama wants to talk with you!", Yoshino said to her son. "What a drag", Shikamaru thought but stud up and walked out of his room. "What does she want from me?", he asked his mother while he put on his shoes. "I don't know. But hurry up. It's getting late and you don't want to miss her, do you!"
So Shikamaru jumped up and walked hastily to the Hokage's office.
In front of the door, he knocked three times and entered the room without waiting for permission.
Tsunade looked up from her documents and grad the young Nara.
"Oh, hello Shikamaru. I expected you. I have a mission for you. No big deal. Just sound out the situation in Suna. After that Akatsuki kidnapped the Kazekage, I want to make sure that really everything is going to be all right there. "
"And why do I have to go to Suna? I thought Temari is the ambassador and tells you everything.", Shikamaru argued.
"Yes, she is. But I also know that the shinobi of the desert are proud people and don't ask for help.", Tsunade explained. "Do you understand? And do you accept the mission?"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama. I'll go to Suna.", he answered. "Good. You can leave tomorrow with Temari. So you'll have a guide, too. You can go now. Have a nice trip!", Tsunade called as Shikamaru left the room again.

"How troublesome!", he thought. "But so I don't have to say goodbye to her. I'm able to stay a bit longer with her. Oh man, I'm such a coward. I have a crush on Temari and I'm too afraid to admit it. Maybe I will do it on the trip with her..."

He walked on, towards to his home. And slowly he got an idea. He switched the direction and moved way to Temari's flat.

When he arrived there, he shyly knocked on the door. "One moment! I'm right there.", it sounded from the other side. A tick later the door was opened and Temari stood in a violet dressing gown in front of Shikamaru. "Oh hey Shikamaru! What are you doing here?", she asked him astonished. "Hello, Temari ... today is your last day in Konoha and I thought it'll be nice for you to have an enjoyable eve. We can eat something in the new teppanyaki restaurant..."
"Oh gosh, it's out now!", Shikamaru thought after he asked Temari for dinner.
For a long moment, Temari looked him over. But then she let him come in. "That's a good idea. I just have to change my dress. Please have a seat. It only takes a few minutes.", and with those words, she disappeared into her bedroom. Shikamaru's sight flitted through the room and stopped at a desk with a lot of paperwork. "I hope I didn't interrupt you in some necessary work?", he asked Temari as she entered the living room again. "No, no. I was tired of that stuff anyway. I deserve a break now. So let's go!", and with those words, she left the flat. Shikamaru hurried up and followed her.

"Do you always wear your shinobi dress?", Temari asked him. He considered her. Temari wore a kind of black short kimono with a purple ribbon that ends in a bow on her back. She also let her hair down. "No, not always. We can have a short stop at my parents' house. So I can change clothes, too.", he proposed to her. She hasn't had a demur and so Shikamaru walked with her back to his home.

"I'm back! But I'm immediately away again!", he called through the house as he ran to his bedroom. Temari waited in the entrance while Shikamaru quickly picked up his weekdays outfit.
"What wanted the hokage from you?" , Yoshino asked her son.
"She wants me to visit Sunagakure for getting an idea of their current situation. She's a bit worried.", he answered his mother.
"Oh, I see. And who is this pretty young lady here?", Yoshino wondered as she walked out of the kitchen and discovered Temari.

Shikamaru blushed as he heard that.
"Hello, my name is Temari. I am the ambassador of Sunagakure and I'm also a working partner from Shikamaru. We prepare together the Chunin exams.", Temari answered for Shikamaru. "Hello, Temari. I'm Yoshino, Shikamaru's mother. Nice to meet you. He invites so rarely friends. Especially girls...", Yoshino chatted. Temari blushed now too. Thankfully Shikamaru returned again and led his mother back to the kitchen. "Sorry mom, but we're late. Maybe you can speak next time with Temari...", with those last words he and Temari left the house again.
"I'm so sorry! My mother is so embarrassing!", he excused to Temari. She giggled. "No problem. It was a bit funny too. And fortunately, you came back at the right time.", Temari said and gave him a little wink.
Confused Shikamaru scratched his back of his head and stopped walking. "Hey, daydreamer! Come on! Let's hurry up. Afterward, there is no place for us in the restaurant.", she called him. He caught up with her again and together they arrived at the teppanyaki restaurant. Luckily there was one table left and so they set down.
"Can you advice something good?", she asked him while she browsed in the menu.
"No, not really. It's my first time here, too. Maybe we can ask the waitress.", he proposed when a young woman walked to their place. "Good evening! Do you have chosen yet?", she asked the two teenagers. "Yes.", Temari answered. "We take the mix plate for two and for each one a sake.", she closed and smiled barefaced to Shikamaru, who wasn't able to say anything.