DEPARTURE
"Strong enough to leave you, But weak enough to need you, Cared enough to let you walk away" - In case Demi Levato.
It was a beautiful morning with birds singing and the warm sunlight streaming in the window as Temari was slowly waking up, but it was not the sunlight or birds that was waking her up it was the soft constant knocking sound.
After a while Temari registered that the cause of the knocking was someone at the door, but she was hopelessly too comfortable too answer, besides said person will go away eventually, Temari thought to herself as she snuggled closer to her pillow while the pillows arm tightened around her waist.
"I know you're in there Shikamaru." Said person called from the door.
How can he possibly know that, Temari groaned deciding to keep ignoring said person. Temari's foggy mind was finally starting to wake up as she opened an eye. Temari realised two things at that moment, firstly that comfortable pillow she was snuggling was actually Shikamaru and secondly she new the said person at the door...
Neji.
Temari raised her head of Shikamaru's chest slightly, listening if Neji was still there.
"Temari, mind waking Shikamaru up for me?" Neji called from the door, amusement laced in his voice.
Dammit! Temari thought as she banged her head on Shikamaru's chest.
"Shikamaru wake up." Temari said as she nudged him but only received a groan as he attempted to pull her closer but failed when her foot connected with his ribs sending him flying of the bed.
"I said wake the hell up lazy ass!" Temari exclaimed from the bed glaring at a grumpy Shikamaru on the floor.
"And I told you to stay on your side!" Temari exclaimed glaring at Shikamaru who glared at the roof.
"I was on my side." Shikamaru said bluntly rubbing his eyes with the palm of his hands.
"Just get the bloody door." Temari said annoyed.
"Why don't you get the door?" Shikamaru groaned still on the floor.
"Have you seen how I look plus it's your apartment." Temari said rolling her eyes.
"Who's at the door?" Shikamaru sighed on the floor.
"Neji, now get your lazy ass to that door." Temari said threateningly.
"I'm going troublesome woman." Shikamaru said glaring at Temari as he stood up walking to the door cursing inwardly at the fact that Neji, out of all people, is at his door.
"What do you want?" Shikamaru said as he opened the door glaring at the start of his problem.
"Well good morning to you too." Neji said smirking.
"Go to hell Neji." Shikamaru sighed.
"Slept well last night? What happened to your shirt?" Neji asked slyly.
"Neji, do you sleep with a shirt in the middle of summer?" Shikamaru asked bluntly.
"No." Neji replied crossing his arms.
"My point exactly, now what do you want?" Shikamaru asked boredly.
"Good morning Temari, nice outfit, I see where Shikamaru's shirt went now." Neji smirked looking over Shikamaru's shoulder at Temari who tried to sneak past to the washing machine to get her clothes.
"Go to hell Neji." A fuming Temari answered while Shikamaru rubbed his templates.
"This is troublesome. What do you want Neji?" Shikamaru sighed.
"Naruto's back and he wants to see you." Neji said.
"Troublesome, give me a minute." Shikamaru said heading for his room leaving the door open as Neji made himself comfortable on the couch.
"Don't you have something planned with Tenten or something?" Temari glared at Neji as she returned with her clothes.
"He told you." Neji stated returning her glare.
"He did." She smirked at him.
"I'm cutting out his tongue." Neji scoffed.
"And I'm cutting out your eyes." Temari replied smiling.
"Shikamaru's right, you are troublesome." Neji said crossing his arms.
"Well aren't you the observant one?" Temari smirked amused.
"Poor Shikamaru, you're a handful." Neji said shaking his head.
"But that's what he got two hands for." Temari grinned leaving Neji to roll his eyes while she went to change.
"Shikamaru, hurry up." Temari groaned knocking on the bedroom door impatiently.
"What do you want troublesome woman." Shikamaru said as he suddenly opened the door causing Temari to almost hit hom in the face.
"I want to change." Temari said bluntly as she looked at Shikamaru's nicely shaped chest also noticing his hairs down.
"I'm almost done." Shikamaru said going back into his bedroom leaving the door open for Temari who made herself comfortable on his bed waiting for Shikamaru to leave.
"Are you just going to stare at me the whole time?" Shikamaru asked pulling on a shirt.
"Yes, I'm waiting for you to leave, besides it's not every day Shikamaru Nara has his hair down." Temari smirked at him.
"Being thrown out of my own room, how troublesome and shame goes for you, when has Temari no Subaku ever had her hair down?" Shikamaru said raising a eyebrow at her as he went to the bathroom.
"Dammit Shikamaru do you live in a cave? You could've at least close the door behind you." Temari said annoyed going to the door to close it glaring at Shikamaru.
"Well I do live alone, besides who's lazy now." Shikamaru shrugged.
"Still you lazy ass." Temari said closig the door.
Temari changed out of Shikamaru's shirt and into her usual black kimono and just when she finished Shikamaru came in.
"Didn't your mother learn you to knock before coming in, I could've been naked for all you know." Temari said glaring at him with her hands on her hips.
"Would that really be such a bad thing." Shikamaru shrugged with a smile dodging her shoe that she aimed as at his head but Shikamaru retaliated by shooting her with hair ties.
"What the hell are you doing?" Temari asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I thought you wouldn't mind some hair ties." Shikamaru smirked.
"You could've given them to me like a normal person but thanks." Temari said laughing.
"Probably, see you later." Shikamaru said shrugging as he walked to Neji who was still probably on the couch.
"You could've passed me my shoe on the way out you know!" Temari called to Shikamaru.
"Too troublesome." He called back making her roll her eyes.
"Are you kidding me Neji." Temari heard Shikamaru said to Neji annoyed as she tied her hair, he was probably watching there every move with his byakugan.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes at an amused Neji as they left his apartment for Naruto's office. They where almost at the office when Shikamaru couldn't take it anymore.
"What Neji?" Shikamaru asked frustrated.
"What?" Neji asked.
"Why are you staring at me?" Shikamaru asked narrowing his eyes at Neji.
"I thought you're going to die alone." Neji smirked.
"This is troublesome." Shikamaru said giving up as they traveled in silence.
"Well guess who decided to finally show up." Shikamaru said with a smile as he entered Naruto's office.
"Shikamaru! What took you so long?" Naruto said impatiently while Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"He was preoccupied." Neji smirked as he came in.
"This oughta be good." Naruto smiled leaning back in his chair while Hinata stood silently behind him waiting for Neji to continue.
"Shikamaru was too busy cuddling with his girlfriend." Neji smirked causing Shikamaru to sigh, Hinata getting a surprised look and Naruto falling of his chair almost hitting Hinata.
"What? Shikamaru has a girlfriend, why don't I know about this?" Naruto said with a hurt expression.
"Becuase I don't have one, Naruto next time you want to see me please just send Hinata, she at least minds her own business." Shikamaru said rubbing the bridge of his nose glaring at Neji at the last part.
"Oh that's not what I saw." Neji said mocking Shikamaru.
"What did you see Neji?" Naruto asked curiously.
"This is troublesome." Shikamaru sighed.
"Well when no one answered the door I used my byakugan to see where Shikamaru was and I found him in his bed cuddling with guess who?" Neji said.
"Who?" Naruto said totally caught up in the story with wide eyes.
"Temari." Neji said.
"Oh man I forgot she was in town." Naruto said grabbing his head.
"Yeah you're gonna hear about that later." Shikamaru smirked finding joy in his misery.
"Plus Shikamaru was missing a shirt and Temari was only wearing a shirt, Shikamaru's shirt." Neji Continued.
"No." Naruto gasped like a teenager.
"Yes." Neji shook his head.
"Grow up you two, besides both of you sleep without a shirt, right Hinata?" Shikamaru smirked at Hinata who turned pink.
"Don't answer that Hinata, it's a trick question." Naruto said eyeing shikamaru causing Neji to facepalm himself.
"Idiot you just answered it for her." Shikamaru laughed.
"I think I'll just go now, Neji why won't you come with me." Hinata said leaving quickly while tagging her cousin along so he wouldn't patronise Shikamaru any further.
"Sure." Neji said following his cousin.
"Admit it Shikamaru you love Temari!" Naruto exclaimed loudly as Neji and Hinata left making Shikamaru sneeze.
"Sorry I'm allergic to bull shit, besides I know you have something to admit about a certain hyuga heiress." Shikamaru said with a raised eyebrow.
"I will admit no such thing." Naruto said with narrowed eyes.
"Anyway what do you need Naruto?" Shikamaru asked.
"Just someone to suffer with me while WE do paperwork." Naruto grinned handing Shikamaru half of the paperwork on the table.
"Damn troublesome hokage." Shikamaru said with a glare as he dragged a chair to Naruto's desk and took half the space to work.
"You know Shikamaru the people you love might not always be there, there will come a time when they will not be here anymore, that's why you gotta tell them how you feel while they're still here." Naruto said while Shikamaru filed some papers by the bookshelf.
"Naruto don't jinx anything if anything happens I'm going to kick your ass, besides take your own advise." Shikamaru said rolling his eyes just as Naruto got a look of inlightement and smiled.
"Shikamaru, I got a mission for you." Naruto grinned.
"How troublesome, what mission?" Shikamaru asked.
"First go get Temari, will ya?" Naruto grinned wider if that was even possible.
"Why?" Shikamaru asked confused.
"She's going with you of course, I'll explain when you get back." Naruto laughed at a very confused Shikamaru who simply applied to Naruto's wishes.
Shikamaru left Naruto's office an houer ago searching for Temari but as luck whould have it he couldn't find her anywhere. Shikamaru gave up, he looked absolutely everywhere for that dam troublesome woman but she was nowhere.
"Where the hell is she?" Shikamaru moaned as he fell on his back on the grassy hill close to his parents house.
"Where the hell is who?" Temari asked repeating him coming out of nowhere.
"Where the hell were you?" Shikamaru asked irritated lifting his head to look at her.
"Actually I was at your parents house." Temari shrugged.
"What!" Shikamaru exclaimed in horror.
"What the hell did you do there?" Shikamaru asked mortified.
"Your mother saw me and invited me for tea." Temari answered.
"Why?" Shikamaru asked with narrowed eyes.
"Don't know, hospitality?" Temari shrugged.
"Troublesome." Shikamaru sighed, he had an idea his mother had alterior motives.
"You know you where adorable when you where little." Temari laughed.
"You've got to be kidding me." Shikamaru sighed rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands groaning. He never resented his mother this much till this point in time.
"Well lazy ass what do you want?" Temari asked with her hands on her hips towering over Shikamaru.
"Naruto wants to see you." Shikamaru said bluntly.
"Finally, took the damn idiot long enough." Temari exclaimed spinning around walking to Naruto's office.
"Well come on." Temari called back to Shikamaru who was lying on the grass ignoring her.
"Shikamaru, if you don't get your lazy ass over here right now you won't live long enough to regret it." Temari said threateningly in a low tone.
"Calm down, I'm coming troublesome woman." Shikamaru sighed with a bored facial expression as he stood up slowly and walked over to an impatient Temari.
"Do not tell me to calm down when you're the one making me mad, now pick up the pace." Temari said as she started jumping from roof to roof.
"What's the rush?" Shikamaru asked next to her.
"I'm going to smack Naruto so hard the bloody previous Hokage's are going to feel it." Temari growled. Shikamaru had absolutely no sympathy for Naruto but he did feel sorry for Kekashi even thought it was impossible for Kekashi to feel it.
"Sorry to disappoint you Temari, but Naruto is still the Hokage and you are not aloud to smack a Kage especially not from another village." Shikamaru said knowing that's not going to stop her.
"Watch me." Temari said determined confirming Shikamaru's line of thought.
"Troublesome woman." Shikamaru sighed.
"Don't worry, I'll bring you some proper food the day you get thrown in jail." Shikamaru chuckled.
"How considerate of you, but I'm not going to jail." Temari laughed.
"I'm totally calling it." Shikamaru smirked.
"Don't jinx it, if I land in jail I'm blaming you." She laughed hitting him on the arm softly as she started running faster.
"What now?" Shikamaru moaned starting to go faster too.
"If I'm at the office first you won't be able to stop me from smacking your precious Hokage." Temari smirked challeging him.
"Troublesome woman, I don't need to be first to stop you." Shikamaru smirked back.
"That's unfair Shikamaru, let's see how you fair when I start using my jutsu's." Temari smirked back.
"You wouldn't." Shikamaru said with wide eyes.
"Oh, I whould." Temari grinned as she pulled her fan of her back unfurling it in one quick motion as she turned around and swung it sending a small controlled gust his way.
"Troublesome woman." Shikamaru grunted as the gust of wind slowed him down.
As they sped towards Naruto's office Temari was still in the lead with Shikamaru behind her dodging her winds. Temari stopped throwing winds at Shikamaru when she leapt for Naruto's open window aiming her fan at a unsuspecting Naruto's head. Temari was so close when she felt a shadow tendril wrap around her waist giving Shikamaru time to catch up to her. Temari cursed and a second later it dissipated making Temari smirk and just when she was about to bring her fan down on Naruto's head she felt Shikamaru tackle her from behind sending them flying over Naruto's head and tumbling to the ground infront of Naruto. Naruto had never looked so confused as he watch them rolling on the ground struggling for control then finally standing up.
"I win." Shikamaru smirked.
"Dammit Shikamaru this is the second time you use that bloody just on me! And you." Temari glared at Shikamaru from the corners of her eyes then turned her attention to a cowering Naruto.
"We where suppose to have a meeting then you run of to who knows where." Temari said glaring at Naruto.
"My bad I forgot." Naruto said rubbing his head.
"Troublesome Hokage if I wasn't around you wouldn't have a head anymore." Shikamaru sighed.
"Damn right he wouldn't." Temari glared at Naruto.
"Anyway I have a mission for the two of you and don't you dare release that jutsu Shikamaru." Naruto demanded.
"If you keep wasting my time I might consider releasing it." Shikamaru shrugged while Temari rolled her eyes.
"Anyway I was going to send Sasuke and Sakura but I met with Sasuke yesterday and he told me he's not coming back this week so instead I'm sending you two I got permission from Gaara this morning. " Naruto said seriously eyeing Temari every now and then to make sure she's still under Shikamaru's jutsu, it explained the look Naruto had this morning before he sended Shikamaru to look for Temari.
"Why me?" Temari asked.
"You and Shikamaru are the most qualified." Naruto shrugged.
"After I kick your ass I'm kicking Sasuke's next." Shikamaru said out of the blue but Naruto smiled understanding what he's getting at while Temari was just plain confused but she didn't even bother asking.
"Anyway the Otokage asked our help with a situation. People, especially shinobi are vanishing without a trace and there is a important ball coming up and the Otokage doesn't want anything going wrong so he wants us to attend the ball undercovered and help solve there disappearing problem." Naruto informed them.
"How long have people been disappearing?" Temari asked with a frown.
"About two months now." Naruto answered.
"The bodies was never found?" Shikamaru asked.
"No." Naruto said shaking his head. Shikamaru had a bad feeling about this.
"When do we leave?" Shikamaru asked.
"This afternoon." Naruto said carefully.
"You're joking, twelve o'clock is..." Temari started but stopped looking at Shikamaru in the corners of her eyes for an answer.
"Half an hour." Shikamaru answered bluntly at her unasked question.
"...Half an hour away." Temari continued.
"Exactly, if you ask me it's more than enough time. Besides it's your fault, you took so long." Naruto scoffed.
"I'm blaming you." Temari said to Shikamaru.
"Troublesome woman, why are you always blaming me?" Shikamaru asked defeated.
"Because it's mostly your fault." Temari scoffed.
"How is it my fault?" Shikamaru asked rolling his eyes.
"Because you took so bloody long to find me." Temari replied.
"I fail to see how that's my fault." Shikamaru said bluntly.
"Ahem, I guess you can leave tomorrow morning, but I'm guessing you still need a dress Temari." Naruto interrupted before Temari could continue their bickering.
"A dress?" Temari asked heavily confused.
"You're attending the ball." Naruto said with a grin.
"I am?" Temari asked surprised.
"Jap, you, Shikamaru, Sakura and Sai are attending." Naruto said popping his p.
"I am?" Shikamaru asked not as surprised as Temari was.
"Yep." Naruto said popping his p again.
"How troublesome." Shikamaru sighed.
"Shikamaru you're in charge and Temari you are second in charge. Here are you're invitations to get in the gate and ball if you two don't have any further questions then you're dismissed." Naruto said as Shikamaru nodded, Temari mimicking him.
Shikamaru turned for the door and opened the door releasing his jutsu as he walked threw the door. Temari hesitated, turning around glaring at a cowering Naruto. She stared him down as she slowly walked to Naruto stopping right infront of his desk making Naruto gulp.
"Here's the scroll Gaara told me to give you." Temari smirked placing it on his desk before leaving a relieved Naruto in his office.
"What took you so long?" Shikamaru asked with a raised eyebrow as Temari catched up to him.
"I just gave Naruto a scroll from Gaara." Temari shrugged.
"Oh, do you need anything for the mission?" Shikamaru asked as they left the Hokage mansion.
"No, you?" Temari asked.
"Just little things." Shikamaru shrugged.
"Okay, then I'll get us some lunch and rations while you get your little stuff." Temari grinned.
"Thanks." Shikamaru smiled at het as she took a turn for the food district while he kept straight looking at her back as she disappeared.
Shikamaru walked slowly to the weapon shop with his hands in his pockets looking up at the calming clouds. After passing a few shops and streets he made it to the weapon shop. As he entered he saw Tenten at the till bored out of her mind.
"Shikamaru!" Tenten called with a smile as she woke from her bored trans.
"Hey Tenten, slow day?" He asked boredly.
"Talk about slow, the slowness of this day rivals even your slowness on a daily basis." Tenten sighed dramatically.
"Troublesome." Shikamaru said bluntly.
"How can I help you Shikamaru?" Tenten laughed.
"I just need some kunai and paper bombs." Shikamaru shrugged as Tenten left the till looking for the stuff he needed.
"I heard you and Temari are together now." Tenten grinned as she gathered the stuff for Shikamaru.
"Let me guess, you talked to Neji today? I swear he's more troublesome than Ino." Shikamaru sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Sure did, guess he won the betting pool." Tenten mused.
"More gathering, less talking." Shikamaru said placing his hands in his pockets.
"Wait there was a betting pool?" Shikamaru asked registering to her words.
"Jap." Tenten said handing him the stuff he asked.
"What was the bet?" Shikamaru asked placing the stuff in his ninja pouch and handing Tenten some money.
"When you two will finally be getting it on." Tenten shrugged.
"Nothing happened." Shikamaru sighed exaggerated.
"So the bets still on!" Tenten exclaimed, excited that she still had a chance.
"Wait, but that's not what Neji saw." Tenten scoffed remembering their conversation.
"Neji only saw what he wanted to see and when the hell did this bet happen?" Shikamaru asked with a irritated expression.
"The other night before Temari arrived when you left early." Tenten shrugged.
"Who else betted?" Shikamaru asked narrowing his eyes remembering that night.
"Everyone." Tenten laughed.
"You guys are troublesome, I'm leaving." Shikamaru sighed irritably as he left the shop.
"Bye Shikamaru." Tenten laughed as he left.
"How troublesome." Shikamaru mumbled as he walked back to his apartment with his hands in his pockets and his head in the clouds the whole way back to his apartment thinking about how lucky and peaceful they where.
But when he got back to his apartment he literally took a step inside then got shoved back out again.
"What now?" Shikamaru groaned at the source of most of his problems.
"We need to go otherwise we're going to be late." Temari replied.
"Temari, first of all I need food and secondly I need a sleeping bag." Shikamaru sighed as he went back inside.
"Hurry up then and your food and rations is on the table." Temari said as she walked to the kitchen table sitting on top of it resting her feet on the chair waiting impatiently.
"Come on Shikamaru, move your lazy ass." Temari called impatiently placing her elbow on her knee to support her head as she rested her chin on her palm.
"I'm coming troublesome woman." Shikamaru called irritably from his room.
"Finally!" Temari exclaimed when Shikamaru finally appeared in the kitchen.
"You know Temari a table was made for eating food at and that foot stool of yours was made for sitting." Shikamaru said bluntly.
"Good to know." Temari said grinning, throwing the rations at Shikamaru who caught them and placed them in his bag.
"Now let's go." Temari said exaggerated jumping of the table grabbing his food handing it to him as she passed him.
"Troublesome woman I need to eat first." Shikamaru said bluntly.
"Walk and eat." Temari said leaving the apartment.
"This is troublesome." Shikamaru sighed, this whole day is troublesome, Shikamaru thought as he left the apartment locking the door behind him.
They where halfway to the gate with Temari walking fast and Shikamaru lagging behind eating his food.
"Hey Shika and Blondie." A little girl called making Temari stop dead in her tracks and scowl, fantastic.
"Hey Mirai." Shikamaru smiled.
"You again. Look kid we're in a hurry, we don't have time to mess around." Temari said glaring at Mirai.
"Calm down blondie, I can walk and talk." Mirai smirked making Temari sigh rubbing her templates.
"Ugh, let's just go." Temari grumbled walking again.
"Aaawww is somebody grumpy." Shikamaru teased finishing his food and picking Mirai up placing her on his shoulders.
"Less talking, more walking." Temari glared at them as Shikamaru smiled at her and Mirai giggled like crazy.
"Are you coming back Blondie?" Mirai asked with big eyes.
"Of course I am." Temari replied smiling.
"When are you coming back Shika?" Mirai asked playing with Shikamaru's hair.
"That's adorable Shika." Temari said softly, teasing Shikamaru as she laughed at him while he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Probably after a weeks time." Shikamaru answered Mirai.
"Blondie too?" Mirai asked.
"Hey brat I have a name and yes I'm going with Shikamaru on this mission and I'm returning with him." Temari said.
"Hey Shikamaru you're late!" Sakura roared from the gate.
"Actually Sakura, he's on time." Sai said with a smile.
"Oh, must be Temari's influence." Sakura said surprised that he was on time.
"Damn right it was." Temari smirked making Shikamaru roll his eyes.
"Is everyone ready to leave?" Shikamaru asked looking at everyone seriously.
"Let's go already." Temari grinned as Sakura and Sai nodded.
"Okay then. Sorry Mirai but you can't come." Shikamaru said as he took her of his shoulders and placed her back on the ground.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Mirai said crossing her arms while she pouted.
"See you when we come back brat." Temari grinned as Shikamaru rubbed Mirai's head before they turned to leave while Sakura and Sai smiled at Mirai before they followed Temari and Shikamaru leaving Mirai at the gates as she watched them start their long journey to the sound village.
