summer clouds - shikatema

a date, but totally not a date

finally!! i know yall have been waiting for shit to happen and im sorry but i have to create build up between characters or there won't be any satisfying moments. also credit to the artist who did the drawing up above ^^ I see their stuff all the time on pinterest and i LOVE it. anyways yea lets jump into the story!

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It was late afternoon, two days after Temari's letter arrived. Shikamaru had just finished running some errands for Kakashi. He dropped off some documents and helped file mission requests, trained for a little while with Ino and Choji, and collected some packages that Kakashi needed delivered. In short, Shikamaru was tired. The village was close to being refurbished, or at least to the extent that he was able to help with.

He was heading back to his apartment with his hands in his pockets when he sensed a familiar aura nearby. Looking up, he felt his heart flutter open. Temari.

She was walking alone just a ways away from him, and it didn't seem like she'd noticed him yet. Temari glanced in his direction, sensing that somebody was focused on her, and as she suspected, there was. As soon as she caught sight of him she froze.

They just stood there facing each other, not really knowing what to do. Everyone else in the crowd seemed to disappear. Shikamaru decided to lead the conversation. He stepped up to her. "O-Oh, hey..."

"Hi, loser." Temari smiled at him.

His missing piece was back.

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"Wanna get ramen? I'll pay," Shikamaru blurted out. He wasn't even thinking about it.

"What, like a date?" Temari crossed her arms.

"Of course not."

"Okay then, I'm in." She grinned.

Shikamaru smiled lightly and continued down the street towards Ichiraku, but this time with Temari at his side. They walked together in tranquility, feeling complete for the first time in months. He felt himself relaxing, forgetting about all the worries he had previously. It was like it didn't even matter anymore.

They were just two friends going for ramen together; people did it all the time. No strings attached. ...Right?

Eventually, they reached the small ramen shop and sat down on the circular red seats. "Old man, I'll have a regular miso char-siu," Shikamaru ordered.

"Coming right up!" He turned to Temari. "And for you?"

"I-I'll have the same," she stuttered.

Shikamaru looked at her, sensing that something was a bit off in her voice. "What's up?"

"You ordered too fast, I didn't get to decide what I wanted."

"Oh? Sorry, I wasn't thinking. Well, you can still change it. Look over the menu."

"I already am, idiot." She gazed at the white poster that was plastered to the left wall. A blush came over her face. "Actually, what I ordered seems like the best option."

Shikamaru laughed out loud. Temari scowled in embarrassment but soon began to laugh with him. A familiar phrase entered both of their minds at once.

This is exactly how it's supposed to be.

Their eyes met and they instantly looked away. "S-So how has it been in Konoha lately?" Temari asked.

"Uh, it's been... good. The village is basically stable again. It's relieving to finally be at peace after so long. The war really took a lot out of everyone."