summer clouds - shikatema

potted plants

hi yall! i really hope people end up reading this... i don't even know if naruto fics are even popular anymore but we'll see lmao. anyway enjoy the chapter!

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Shikamaru finally found his way back home, and he slipped his shoes off as he entered the door.

This apartment was fairly new; he'd just bought it about six months after the war ended and he now lived alone.

He stripped off his clothes and turned the shower handle, letting the warm water softly hit against his body. He looked at his arms, torso, and legs... there wasn't one part of himself that wasn't faintly scarred. His shoulders and biceps got the blunt of it for some reason.

He lathered himself with cinnamon-oak soap, his favorite scent. No one knew this about him besides his mother, and he wasn't keen on informing anyone else about this embarrassing little quirk of his.

Later, he lay awake in his bed. All of the lights were off, kunai underneath his pillow. Shikamaru, the laziest guy on earth, couldn't sleep. His mind was swirling.

"...That was a one-time thing. You know nothing can come of this, okay?"

"I'm so tired of this, why the hell did she have to kiss me anyways?" He said aloud.

You're the one who kissed her cheek, you idiot.

Shut up.

He hated to admit it, but it was a recurring event that Shikamaru kind of missed Temari every time she would go back home, and not return for another few months. It was his least favorite part of the mission... every single time, without fail.

Why did it have to be this time that she was only staying for one day?

Shikamaru reluctantly set his alarm for five-thirty, so that he would have time to get ready before meeting Temari at her hotel and escorting her departure.

After at least two more hours of agonizing contemplation, he finally managed to drift into slumber.

Shikamaru stood in his apartment, but it looked different. The countertops were sprinkled with different kinds of potted plants; dozens, at least. They littered the windowsills and shelves, and even hung from the ceiling. Varying from cacti to succulents to ferns, the sight did nothing less than intrigue him.

The air around him seemed lighter and more full of life than ever before. He walked into his bedroom, and his small futon had transformed into a large bed. The walls were decorated with several posters and pieces of art. The window was open and a perfect breeze blew through, shimmering lace curtains calmly waving about.

A shogi board and mats were set up in the corner of the room.

A candle was lit, and it delicately filled the space with his favorite scent... cinnamon oak.

Suddenly, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his slender torso. He didn't even have to turn around to know that it was Temari. Her aura was sweet and lively; it matched the space around him.

This wasn't strange, this felt exactly right.

Shikamaru sensed a peace in his heart that he hadn't felt in a very long time. Temari's voice sounded from behind him:

"This is exactly how it's supposed to be."

The harsh ring of an alarm clock invaded his consciousness, and Shikamaru fought to keep dreaming. But finally he couldn't resist any longer and he pried his eyes open to face reality. "...Nothing can happen between us."

His room flooded with dry sunlight, and the walls were basically bare (besides minimal posters, a calendar, and a clock) again. No potted plants in sight. He groaned with fatigue and practically dragged himself out of bed and into the bathroom.

After washing up, he got dressed, tied his hair back, and headed out the door.

People were scarce; Shikamaru was one of the few citizens out and about at this hour.

It took him all of fifteen minutes to arrive at the hotel, and by this time it was six o'clock on the dot. Temari was already waiting outside, tapping her foot against the sidewalk and biting her nails.

"Morning," Shikamaru yawned.

"Hey, you," Temari replied. She immediately started along the path, obviously eager to get back home.

Shikamaru followed in her footsteps until they were side-by-side, walking in the sleepy spring sunlight. Birds chirped and fluttered about in the sky.

They didn't talk much on the way to the gates; neither of them had anything to say. However, it wasn't an awkward silence. The two were comfortable enough in each other's presence for silence not to be awkward anymore.

The boy's face grew more into a frown the closer they got to the gates. Temari didn't seem to notice.

Eventually, the enormous Konoha entrance emerged into sight. Shikamaru sighed. The two Shinobi approached the doors labeled "あ" and "ん". The usual guards, Izumo and Kotetsu, sat groggily just a few yards away. Their eyes followed Shikamaru and Temari as they walked together.

"Aye, Kotetsu. Here are those two again."

"Hm? Oh yeah. Shikamaru and that girl... Lady Temari of the Sand, right?"

"Yeah."

"I swear, one of these days I guarantee they're gonna kiss on the way out," Kotetsu chuckled.

"I'm surprised it hasn't happened already... there's no way there's nothing going on between them," Izumo said.

"You're right about that.."

Temari turned around to face him before exiting. "It's pretty busy in Suna as well, and I'll be travelling in between villages a lot. I won't be back here for maybe another two or three months when everything is close to being done with. So take care of yourself, okay? And don't do anything stupid." She crossed her arms. Her voice sounded rushed, like she just wanted to say something to him no matter what.

"Heh... right." Shikamaru scratched the back of his neck.

She smiled at him once again, and his heart skipped a beat. What a drag.

Temari turned her back to him and started along the dirt path in the direction of Sunagakure.

"Temari, wait." Shikamaru called out to her for no reason; it was unconscious.

She looked over her shoulder. "What is it?" Her eyes glistened in the sun.

Shikamaru gulped. "U-Um, no... it's nothing. Never mind. Have a safe trip."

Temari gave him a confused and yet amused look. "See ya, crybaby."

And she was gone.

He stared at the empty road for a long time before turning around to go back home.

Shikamaru felt as if a piece of himself had been taken away... he wasn't able to think properly. What the hell is this feeling?

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short chapter! just a heads up, the chapter lengths are hella inconsistent in this book so yeahhhh. anyways i love yall and stay safe, as always!