Shikamaru x Temari Distance (AU)

Chapter 3

Part 5

Chapter 3

- Were you in intense training for years? – asked Shikamaru, expecting her to start denying it, making him feel stupid for even coming to that conclusion. But instead all he got was a dumbfounded look on her face that said she really didn't want to be in this circumstance.

Temari wanted to hit her head pretty hard so she would pass out at that moment. Her curiosity got the best of her as it came around and bit her in the ass.

- You were? I was almost joking.

Temari rolled her eyes at the "almost" part. You don't almost joke, you either joke, or you're serious. And occasionally when you say something stupid or offending, you make up the perfect excuse that is "it was just a joke". And the other person being the nice one has to at least have the audacity to fake a smile because it's rude to not to laugh at someone's joke. Even if it's not funny in the slightest.

- I wasn't. But that doesn't mean I don't know some moves and how they work.

Shikamaru eyed her for a second. He knew she was lying. But what he wondered was why. In his opinion knowing some kick-ass moves was cool. Unless of course you're practically using that skill to lie to people, like him for example. But he was pretty sure Temari wasn't an undercover agent. She's a terrible liar unlike him.

- Hey, are you thinking about leaving any time soon? – asked an irritated voice as Shikamaru finally regained his composure. He looked at Kankuro and remembered the reason why the boy was there. He looked back at the blonde and all he wanted was to ask questions. Ask why even though she led him on, she reacted like that when he leaned in for a kiss. He wanted to ask what he was to her, why she lied a lot, why she always seemed to want to hide the real herself, and why she had come here. But most important questions he wanted to scream so bad wasn't about him. He wanted to know if she was okay. How she was going to live from this point on with both of her parents gone. Did they leave enough money for her and her siblings to get the education they needed? Enough for them not to starve? Does she have a job? Does she need a job? If so, where? Anywhere he can maybe, possibly hook her up to?

But he knew none of that was his business, the only question that he should be asking was "Did the Akatsuki have anything to do with your family, are you connected to them in some way that Konoha wouldn't want you to be when you're in their safe ground?"

Practically if she was a fraud. Or even if she wasn't, did she mean any danger to Konoha?

Hopefully not. He didn't want his father to make her go.

But he didn't ask any of them. His courage crushed by her instant rejection. He still didn't get that. He'd understand but the girl went on a date with him. He would assume she was into him. But again she never said yes. Did she? It was just him forcing her this entire time he spent with her. He forced her to go to his house, he forced her to go on a date with him even after she said no. But still she was the one who went. She didn't say no then. Maybe her being her, decided to give him a chance even though she actually didn't want to, and when he went in for a kiss, it was just too early for her? But just the way she flinched under his touch when she pushed him away it was just so familiar to him in some way that he didn't remember.

Shikamaru didn't respond to Kankuro's question through words but he turned around and went for the door.

- What's his deal?

- I don't know.

- I think you gotta stay away from him. I don't trust him, at all.

Temari knew he was saying that because he was just embarrassed, but she also knew it had a piece of truth in it.

- Thanks for charging in like an idiot by the way. It wasn't what you thought but still, meant a lot. And on side note, you know I was able to...

- Break his bone if you wanted to? Yeah, but he doesn't know that, he'll think I'm like a cool protective brother. Though in his case, I don't think you could've done any damage to him.

Temari's eyes shot up. – What? Why?

Kankuro just rolled his eyes. – The guy was obviously trained. I wonder why though. He lives here, who does he need to protect himself from?

- I don't know, his dad's a chief.

- Let me change my question, who does he need to protect himself from when daddy police's there to kick some ass?

- You don't know their family, maybe his father wants him to be strong and stand his ground. Like any father would.

Kankuro just shrugged in response.

- Are you actually defending this guy? Finally, you start to have some sense in the outside world? – Kankuro asked grinning but his composure changed in a second.

- – but I don't trust him, you shouldn't too. – he continued in a whole different tone.

She rolled her eyes as she turned around, and somehow she felt excited but hurt at the same time when she faced the empty stairs, just emptiness flooding her body all over again.

- Hey, if it's not a trouble, can I ask you one thing?

She turned around. – Depends.

- What happened? Between you and him?

- Nothing.

- I thought you liked him?

- I liked who I think he is. But I don't know him, I can't trust him.

Kankuro just nodded to himself, having an idea in his mind where she had some big trust issues.

- Temari?

She turned around to face his other sibling.

- We need to talk.

A/N  shortest chapter?  unedited, kind of a boring chapter, i know, but thanks for reading it.

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