Chapter 12
Shikamaru walked out of his room after their kiss. He leaned on a big tree that was sitting near their camp and started to light his cigarette. His mind starts thinking about it, about what just happened. He puffed a couple of smoke and buried his lips in the cigarette butt, masking the sweetest kiss that he just had.
“You need to get yourself together, Shikamaru. We’re in the middle of a fucking war” he said to himself
Suddenly, Kiba came to his spot and started calling him.
“There you are! Come on Shikamaru! We’re going to the red district! The boys are waiting”
Maybe he needed it this time, he needed some pleasure to clear his mind, and to forget his feelings for her. The four samurai walked the path leading to the red district on the island. They were greeted by young beautiful girls and they started wrapping their arms around them.
It was a long night for Shikamaru, he failed to shake away the incident inside his mind. They started walking back to their rooms all drunk and with girls wrapped around their shoulders.
He pulled the girl inside his room, he didn’t even ask her name and started to do his usual thing, having sex with the girls from the red district. He kissed her but Temari’s face starts invading his mind. He drains all his energy that night to the unknown girl in his futon, he thought he could go to sleep that night after the sex he had but he was wrong.
Shikamaru woke up the next day with only three hours of sleep. He glanced to his left and saw the brown-haired girl sleeping beside him. He stood up and walked out of his room to light a cigarette for breakfast.
Suddenly, the girl he had sex with walked out of his room only wearing his haori. Her eyes were playful and flirty to him, she slides her hands to his chest up to his neck and starts wrapping them around his shoulder. The village girl starts opening his kimono to expose his chest and then placed several kisses.
“You’re really good in bed, I’d say. Do you want to visit me here again after the war?” The girl said
He didn't respond and just stared at her with his lazy eyes. The girl pulled his neck and started kissing him outside of his room and Shikamaru let her.
After they kissed, he saw someone familiar walking in his periphery. It was Temari.
Their eyes met after he kissed the unknown girl but Temari just continued walking to her usual spot. Pretending that she didn't see it while Shikamaru removed his gaze to where she was walking. He grabbed his clothes inside and started walking towards the shared bathroom to wash.
Temari chuckled when she reached her kyudo practice spot.
“What were you thinking Temari? That man didn't like you so stop. Stop your delusion!”
After seeing him kissing another girl, it becomes clearer to her now. Probably he’s just the type of guy who's not serious about having a relationship or falling in love.
“Remember what he said, fucking rule number 7!” She released the string and hit the arrow a little too hard. It’s still a miss.
She just hoped that someday she’ll meet someone just like him. It’s really easy to compare people if you already taste a glimpse of perfection and Shikamaru is her definition of perfection. Temari will definitely be going to marry someone who’s just like him.
Suddenly, she heard a low and masculine voice behind her.
“I really hate people who are lame at Kyudo”
She turned around and saw Sasuke standing behind her, the master of kyudo. She accepts his insult because of course, he’s the top when it comes to bows and arrows.
“Close your eyes for me, please” he commands and starts tilting her chin. Temari just followed him, he’s probably the best person to teach her this thing.
Shikamaru glanced at their spot while having a sparring session with one of the samurai.
“You see, our eyes are the key to hitting the target precisely. Open them after two minutes” he released his fingers on her chin
“Our eyes can be weary if we use them for a long time. Are your eyes tired?”
Temari thought of all the crying she had and wanted to nod at him but she didn't respond to his question, she just stood there with her eyes closed.
“You have a pretty face, princess. You shouldn’t let anyone hit you with an arrow” he leaned closer to her with both hands placed at his back.
Shikamaru kept on glancing at their spot and was curious why their faces were close to each other. His focus was now divided into two, the opponent in front of him, and Temari and Sasuke’s spot.
Temari opened her eyes and was surprised that her sight became clearer.
“Now, back to your position”
She immediately fixed her position and started pulling the string.
“Did you see the end of your arrow? Can you touch the end of it to the red spot in front? When you release it, put in enough energy. Release the string like you're playing a shamisen. Dance it with the rhythm of the air” he said
She followed and the arrow hit the target, in the perfect middle of the red spot. She gasped and her heart jumped with joy, it was a big achievement for her to hit a perfect shot. Sasuke released a faint laugh while Temari was gasping.
“See? It’s easy” he glanced at her and Temari turn around to face him, wearing a big smile “Do it again”
She pulled the string again then released it, it was another perfect shot.
A brimful emotion escaped from Temari’s heart after hitting two perfect arrow shots “I did it again!? Is this real!?” She starts pinching herself
“Another one” he commanded
She pulled the string again and was confident to hit it but this time it was a miss.
“No, wait. What?” He shrieked
“Tch! Focus on your breathing. Don't break it from your emotions” he leaned closer to her and started sliding his hands to her waist. His left hand palmed her abdomen “Focus here”
Shikamaru saw Sasuke’s hands start sliding to her waist. His hand gripped the wooden katana tightly after seeing that and he swung the wooden katana to his opponent so hard that made the young man stumble to the ground. He threw his weapon to the ground and walked away from their sparring spot; all the young samurai were surprised by his reaction.
Temari was beyond happy after her kyudo session and finally, she was able to hit six perfect arrow shots that day. She took a nap after her session wearing a big smile on her face. It was around 6 pm when she woke up from her quick nap, it was already dinner time. A faint yawn escaped from her mouth and she stretches her arms to wake her muscles up.
She walked out of her tent to get her food ration that night. Her feet made a quick stop when she saw Shikamaru standing outside her tent. He walked closer to her but Temari continues to walk like he was not there.
“You’ll have your Kendo session first thing in the morning tomorrow” he said while walking beside her
“I’m done with kendo Lord Nara. I need to practice my kyudo skills, I’m lame at it and you said it before. Have you forgotten?.....huh? Lord Nara” she said with a stiff voice.
“I’m your commander so you’ll do what I say” he said and suddenly Temari stop walking.
“I am not doing Kendo tomorrow” she said with rage in her eyes.
Shikamaru looked at her and crossed his arms to his chest “You’re doing Kendo tomorrow! Whether you like it or not! End of discussion!” he storms out of their spot leaving Temari who was now visibly angry at him.
She gripped her hands tightly from her frustration and starts stomping her feet on the ground. She wanted to punch him in the face that night so badly.
“You fucking asss---!”
“I can’t believe I’ve fallen in love with you! You little jerk! Freaking hell!”
“I swear Kami-sama! Just make me the best arrow shooter in the world and I’m going to shoot him in the neck!”
Multiple curses escaped from her mouth, releasing all the anger that she felt that night. She proceeds to line up to get her food ration and joined her two friends for dinner.
Shikamaru sits at his desk reading some of his books but his mind is still clouded by his feelings.
“Don’t break your rule Shikamaru, remember rule number 7. Don’t be a fool” he whispered to himself.