Chapter 2: Get Up and Do Something

Author's note:

Hehehe. I apologize for the super duper long delay. Writer's block really knocks you down. So I've played around with the plot like play dough, and I've managed to come up with something. Yepperz. Anyway, this next chapter is a little wonky, (mind you) since I've been working on this on and off. I'm leaving out specific details on the time period, because it really is a mess :( . Anyway, take your time. Read. Relax. And obviously review. Any suggestions, ideas, or editing is welcome. Do you notice the mistake in that last sentence? ;) And yes. Temari does get naked in this chapter. :O (Although it's not a lemon-scene, mind you)

Enjoy!

Clouds are nice, Shikamaru thought once more as the noon sun shone highly. He lay at his favorite spot, not caring about anything else in the world. Temari's arrival had caused Shikamaru to worry. His life would be completely complicated once more with her being around. She caused too much mischief and trouble for his liking.

"Do you always look that dumb?" came a sudden remark. Shikamaru's view of the beautiful clouds was abruptly replaced by an all too familiar smirk.

"Honestly, you should go out more often, Shikamaru." Temari laid down beside him. "Cause you really are the boring type."

"What in the world is this woman saying", Shikamaru thought. "Don't converse with her, or you'll make things more complicated and troublesome".

The few minutes were silent, yet comforting for both of them. The sun was bright, and the cool summer breeze felt very relaxing. Shikamaru's eyes became very heavy, watching the moving restless clouds. Soon enough, he was sound asleep.

Temari looked over at her partner, snoozing soundly. "Guess he doesn't look too dumb when he's sleeping", she thought to herself. Temari looked at the clouds, and thought back to her missions. She had cleared every single one flawlessly. She defeated all her opponents with a swipe of her fan. And yet… The one that outsmarted her, embarrassed her and defeated her was sleeping right beside her. "You really are something else, Nara Shikamaru" she whispered to herself.

Temari got up, and dusted the grass off her clothes. She glanced once more at Shikamaru before leaving once again.

It was midday, by the time Shikamaru woke up. The warmth and coziness was now gone, and a sudden loneliness loomed over the lazy shinobi. Shikamaru stretched out, and stood upright. The presence of his fellow companion was now apparent.

Though he would not admit it, even to himself, he dreamt many times of his greatest fear. The fear of failing. Shikamaru gritted his teeth, remembering his first mission as a Chuunin… As a leader. The memories of battle, and leaving those to protect themselves. The memories of trusting one another without second thought. The memory of trying to forget that you are the leader, and that your comrades' fate is in your hands.

Shikamaru looked into the horizon, as the sun was slowly setting. "I'll never fail" he whispered to the sunset.

Temari yawned. She decided sleeping around in trees was not a very smart idea, especially for a girl. It was very early, with the sun still wavering over the blue morning mist. Jumping down from the tree, Temari felt the fresh dew on the blades of grass as it drew close to her knees. She would've preferred using the hotel shower to wash herself, but her thoughts settled down to a clean water spring. "Shikamaru's stupid lazy ideals are slowly rubbing off on me" she thought, as shethrewher clothing on to the grass. The water was cool, yet immensely refreshing. The droplets of the morning mist slowly danced down her soft skin as she closed her eyes. It was heaven for her, as she washed herself. Her few minutes of paradise in her little private water springwere soon interrupted, much to her dismay. Soon enough, she heard a series of shouting in the distance.

"Kage mane no jutsu!"

"Kage kubi shibari no jutsu!"

Temari looked in the distance. Squinting her eyes, she saw none other than the figure of Nara Shikamaru, training in the far end. Temari watched as he continued to use his shadow clones as targets for his shadow binding and neck choke techniques. She watched him train and thought how ridiculous he looked. The sight of him becoming more mature and responsible made her laugh. Finishing her relaxing bath she changed her clothes. Her visit to the Fifth had been completed, and there was no need for her to stay…

Shikamaru looked restless. He fell to the floor drenched in sweat and dirt. "That makes.. Sixty… Four," he managed to say. He had been binding and neck choking his shadow clones all night. His parents would surely give him a good beating when he came home. He tried very hard not to think about what his mother would say.

Exhausted, Shikamaru laid on the ground. "I need to rest," he thought aloud.

"Is that all you ever do?" Temari asked eye brow raised. "I still don't understand what the leaders of Konoha see in you."

Temari stood at the top of the hill side, her back against the Sun rise. Shikamaru looked up and saw her. Temari's hair still dripping wet, her soft silk skin glowing in the birth of the Sun's morning glory. Shikamaru could not help but gawk at her utter beauty.

"What… Is there something on my face?" she asked rather forcefully. The scene had been breath-taking for poor Shikamaru. He tried answering, but the dry air caught up with him.

Shikamaru let out a cough, as he tried to regain his composure. "Gah. It's nothing", he replied. "Have you seen the Fifth yet?" He asked, rather indirectly.

Temari nodded. "I sent my message to her yesterday. I'll be leaving for the Sand soon." Something in her voice made her sound reluctant to leave. A pause lingered above them once again. Their thoughts crashed into one another, as they tried to think of something to say.

Temari slowly turned. Shikamaru closed his eyes. If there was anything to describe it, it was a still moment between two people in a heavy rain. And though both of them felt a sudden wave of emptiness, they were too ignorant to play the role.

If Temari had looked back, she would've heard him murmur a goodbye.

It was almost noon time before the giant fan wielding girl took a break. The sun was slowly beating her down. It would take a few more hours till she was home… Her father destroyed the meaning of home. As Kazekage, his role as a father never existed. He terrorized the civilians, and he agreed to the destruction of another village. He was never home to take responsibility of his children. She remembered the last time he spoke to her.

"Pick up your stuff. I have no time to baby-sit you and your siblings."

"But father…"

"Do not call me father. I am the Kazekage of the Sand."

She cared less when he was found dead at the hands of Orochimaru. She held neutral feelings for his death. Almost as if he were a complete stranger.

Resting her back against a tree for shade, she took out a water canton. As well as a kunai.

Shhzzwing!

"You're not going to fool me" Temari stated, as she drank the canton.

"I've learned not to underestimate young women such as yourself" Kabuto said dropping down from the trees. In his hand was Temari's kunai. Apparently, he was very good at catching.

"Kab…"

"I'm afraid there's no time for introductions" he said as he disappeared.

Temari fell to the ground, as she coughed out blood. Kabuto had lunged forward an incredible speed, knocking her in the stomach with his elbow.

"Orochimaru needs more soldiers for his army… Wouldn't it be nice for you to be in it?" Kabuto whispered in her ear.

Temari fell unconscious as Kabuto grabbed her before she fell to the floor. "Orochimaru's plan is going very well…." Kabuto thought.

Shikamaru's ears were very red. Apparently, his mother wouldn't stop shouting and lecturing him. He was, of course, expecting this. He slowly sighed and rubbed his back neck.

"And go fetch your dad!" she shouted before letting him go.

"Jeez…" Shikamaru muttered to himself before stepping out. It was night time. He had spent most of his day talking to Asuma and Choji after the seeing Temari off. Choji seemed more enthusiastic about training, while Asuma stayed quiet for most of time. Usually, Shikamaru would play a few rounds of Shogi or Go, but today wasn't the case.

Shikamaru arrived at the local bar once again, however his father was not present at his usual seat. He glanced at the bar tender, who replied that he already left for home. Shikamaru sighed. He looked around the bar once more to make sure.

There were a few people sitting in tables. Tsunade and Shizune were present in their little corner.

"Yes, I've heard."

"Do you think they'll find her?"

"Hopefully, I was just speaking to her the other day. She had left for the Sand earlier today"

"How did they find out?"

"It seems that a local hunter-nin spotted them, and reported back."

Shikamaru knew something instinctively happened to Temari. The bottom of his stomach began to churn. He quickly left the bar.

Packing his things, he left for the gate of Konoha. He was going to go after her. Upon reaching the gate, he bumped into his father.

"Where are you going Shikamaru?" his father asked him, his voice echoing through Shikamaru's head.

"I'm going to go save someone", he replied hastily.

"Have you gone over the consequences for leaving? Have you considered the reality of you decision…? And err- does your mother know?" His father asked him bluntly.

Shikamaru sighed and looked at the sky. "I'm tired of being saved. I'm not going to fail" he said, as he walked past his father and the gate entrance of Konoha.

His father chuckled, and slowly headed home. "I seriously hope my wife doesn't go ahead and open the 8 gates on his sorry ass."

Shikamaru looked at the stars in the sky. "I'm not going to fail…" he whispered.

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