"We cannot too often think there is never a sleeping eye, which reads the heart, and registers our thoughts."

- Francis Bacon, Sr.

--

Shikamaru gazed at the clouds above. His thoughts were currently preoccupied with a familiar pair of green eyes...

Or were they blue?

He shook his head, deciding that remembering was far too troublesome.

But her hair. He could definitely remember her hair. It was righteously the color of sand, yet the texture wasn't near course enough. He remembered brushing his hands through them on accident and was garnered speechless at how soft it was.

"Get your hand off my head," she said.

And her voice, deep for a woman's, yet it was fitting. He tried to imagine her speaking in such tones similar to Ino's...He concluded that her regular voice was a good one. Though both voices were definitely fit enough to be of the nagging kind. He wasn't too keen on listening to them every single day; he had enough of that. After all, he did grow up his mother's son. But at least Temari's personality was semi-bearable. He could imagine spending the rest of his life with her, so as long as she had some tape over her mouth...

But it's not like...he was in love with her or anything, right?

Perhaps a small crush. The logical side of his brain convinced him that he was far too young to experience any deep emotions...especially of the romantic nature. He didn't have any other past relationships where he could compare these feelings and figure out the exact depth. And the last time he'd tried getting some advice on the matter, his questions were met with everything and anything except for answers.

"When it comes, you'll know."

That was probably the best answer, except for maybe that when he tried to think about that explanation, it got really redundant. How would he know if he didn't know what there was to know about knowing something like this?

The limbo his feelings for her were in was pissing him off.

Either he loved her or he just liked her.

How hard was it to distinguish between the two?

He was a genius, for crying out loud. Shouldn't he know these things?

His eyebrows knitted in frustration as his inner turmoil went on.

Shikamaru sighed in defeat after a few tiring minutes, readjusting his seat. "Love's too troublesome to think about..." he muttered, drifting off to sleep.

And he dreamed of sand.

--

Ne, was Shikamaru in character? I tried really hard at keeping him in character!

Ahh, I truly do love ShikaTema. AKasdklfjd;;

I hope you enjoyed and don't forget to reviewwww!

Gracias!