There Were Times I Hated You
It was dark when Shikamaru and his team walked up to the A-Un gate and saw Ino standing there. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow when he saw his blonde teammate and walked up to her. "Ino? What are you doing here?"
"We'll see you at the tower, Nara," one of his teammates said, and Ino nodded at them as they passed.
"I need your help with something when you get done at the Hokage's," Ino said with a slight frown.
Shikamaru furrowed his brow. "What's wrong?"
"It's Temari," Ino replied. "She got to the village earlier today, and Lady Tsunade had me walk around with her until you got back from your mission. Everything was fine until we hit up the bar. She got totally wasted and now she won't leave, and puts up a fight whenever someone tries to make her."
Shikamaru sighed and stuck his hands in his pockets as he turned to walk towards the Hokage's tower, Ino falling into step beside him. "And what do you think I can do about it?"
Ino gave him an annoyed look. "You're her usual escort, Shikamaru. You have a thing for her. She'll listen to you."
Shikamaru stumbled a bit. "Who said I have a thing for that troublesome blonde?"
Ino smirked. "Oh, please. Everyone can see you have a thing for her."
Shikamaru's face turned a light shade of pink as he looked away from her, neither confirming nor denying her comment. "Fine. Whatever. I'll help after I check in with my team."
Ino smiled. "Maybe you can actually confess to her too."
"Troublesome woman," he muttered, his face going a little darker.
They were silent the rest of the walk to the tower, and Ino waited outside until Shikamaru came back out with his team, then the two split off and headed to the bar where Temari was.
When they walked in, Shikamaru's nose crinkled at the smell that hit him. He hated the smell of alcohol, and he wasn't a big fan of drinking it either, though he had started to drink a little. He saw Temari sitting at the counter, glass raised in the air as she shouted for more of whatever she was drinking, and walked up to her, Ino walking off to join some guy he didn't know.
"Temari, let's go," he said as stopped beside her.
Temari frowned and turned to look at him. "An' why should I?"
"'Cause it's late."
"So?" Temari slurred and turned back to the bartender. "I said gimme another."
The bartender looked at her then at Shikamaru, asking him if it was a good idea. Shikamaru sighed and sat down on the empty stool next to her and nodded. "One more, then we're leaving."
The bartender nodded and filled Temari's drink, then walked away to tend to his other customers.
Temari tipped back and gulped the whole glass down, then slammed it down on the counter. "Ah. Tha's the stuff."
"Why in the world are you drinking so much anyway?" Shikamaru asked.
Temari turned to him and frowned again. "Woun't you like ta know."
"I would. That's why I asked, you troublesome woman."
She raised a finger at him, it swaying in the air. "Why do I 'afta put up wit a guy like you anyway?"
"'Cause I'm your escort," Shikamaru sighed out, knowing she wasn't going to answer him.
"Ino's my escort now. Go away," she said, waved him off, and looked around for the blonde in question.
"She was only your escort 'til I got back."
She turned back to him, swaying in her seat a bit. "I don' want you."
"Why?"
"'Cause I hate you."
Shikamaru raised his eyebrow at that. "And what exactly did I do?"
"There were many times I hated you, bu' never could say it. I gotta be profess'nal an' nice."
"That's never stopped you before," he replied as he put his elbow on the counter and his chin on his palm.
"Shu' up, Nara!" Temari yelled and nearly fell off her seat when she leaned towards him. "You thin' you're so smart. You bein' a gen'us an' all, never hav'ta try a' all."
"So you hate me because I'm smart?"
"Don' be so smug," Temari said with a glare, her finger going into his face, making the man back up a bit.
He sat up fully and put both his hands up. "Relax. I'm not trying to be smug."
"I hated when you beat me. You bein' a snot nosed li'l brat. You looked down on me!"
Shikamaru wracked his brain to try and figure out what she was talking about. "You mean during the chunin exams six years ago? You're still mad about that?"
"Makin' me look like an idiot! How dare you!"
"Temari, will you keep it down."
"No! I hate you!" she replied and turned back to the counter, crossing her arms. "Gimme another!"
Shikamaru sighed and stood up. "Temari, let's go," he said, then turned to the bartender. "I'll come back to pay what she owes."
The bartender just nodded and turned to serve his next customer.
"No! I'm na goin' anywhere wit you."
Shikamaru grabbed her arm and gently pulled her off the stool, which she tried to fight, but fell into his chest. "Wha's the big idea, Nara! Le' me go!"
"Come on," Shikamaru said as he pulled her towards the door.
"I said le' me go!" Temari yelled as she pulled weakly on his hand on her arm, but getting frustrated that he wouldn't let go.
Shikamaru managed to pull her out of the bar and down the street towards her hotel, her hitting, cursing, and yelling at him until they got to the building of their destination.
"Will you keep it down, woman," Shikamaru said sternly as they walked through the lobby of the hotel, stopped at the desk to grab her key, then headed to her normal hotel room.
"I can walk by myself," Temari said as she pouted, actually complying with keeping her voice lower.
Shikamaru looked at her, then released her arm. When they got to the room, he unlocked it and let her walk in first. "Get some sleep."
"I still hate you," Temari said as she glared at him, but attempted to take her sandals off.
"I know," he said as he stuck his hands in his pocket after laying the key on the bedside table. "I'll be by in the morning."
"Wait," she called out before he left the room.
Shikamaru turned back and saw her kick her second sandal to the side of the room then stumble over to him. "What is it?"
When she finally got to him, she grabbed the front of his vest and pulled him closer to mash her lips on his.
His eyes went wide and his face heated up.
"I hate you," she said after she pulled back.
"Th-then why did you just kiss me?" he asked, still shocked.
"'Cause I love you, you idiot. Tha's why I hate you. You made me fall in love wit you."
Shikamaru just stared at her, mouth slightly open. He couldn't believe that she just confessed to him. "You do?" was all he could say.
"When you los' to tha' sound chick. When you bawled fo' your friens. Every smirk. I hated you every sigle time, 'cause every time, I fell more in love." She finally let go, finally realizing she still had a hold of his vest, then stumbled over to the bed and plopped down on it.
Shikamaru just watched her. He knew he loved her back, but could he really trust her drunk confession like this? He wondered if he should just leave and then ask about it in the morning when she could actually remember what she was saying.
"You jus' gonna stand there?" Temari asked.
"I should go," he said and started to turn back to the door.
"Don' go," she said quietly.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Temari, it wouldn't be a good idea for me to stay."
"Do you no' love me back?" she asked, a hurt look on her face.
"N-no, I do, it's just…" He rubbed the back of his neck as his red face turned away from her. "I don't want to force you into anything you don't actually want."
Temari scowled at him. "Then jus' leave," she yelled as she crossed her arms and turned her head.
Shikamaru looked back at her and saw a tear fall down her face, which she rubbed at harshly. He walked over to her and stood in front of her, raising her chin to look at her. "I do love you, Temari, but you're drunk and not thinking clearly. I don't want to ruin anything we could have because of a drunken decision."
Temari stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, and this time Shikamaru responded to it by wrapping his arms around her waist. "I love you," she whispered on his lips. "I have for so long."
Shikamaru's lips turned up in a smile. "Me too, Tem, but I'm not going to take advantage of your current state. I'll come back in the morning and we can talk more about it, ok?"
Temari leaned her forehead against his. "Don' leave me. Please," she begged, tightening her arms around his neck.
Shikamaru took in a deep breath, breathing in her scent that was mixed with alcohol. "I don't want you to regret anything, Temari."
"I've wanted you for so long," she said as she tilted her head so her lips brushed with his again. "I'm always 'fraid that you'll die like you almos' did in da war."
"I'm not going to die, Tem. Missions have been pretty simple now that we're at peace. Plus, I can't die yet, I have too many things I need to do first."
She looked up into his eyes. "Promise?"
Shikamaru smiled. "Promise. I'll see you in the morning."
"I'd better," she said as she finally lowered her arms and tried to step back, but fell back on the bed instead. She pushed herself back and fought with the cover so it laid on top of her.
Shikamaru chuckled. "Good night, Temari."
"Nigh'," she replied, her eyes already closed.
Shikamaru walked back to the door, but looked back once more to see her already sleeping peacefully before he walked out of the room.
NNNNNNNNNN
The next morning, he knocked on the door to her room and laughed a bit when he heard her curse about the loud noise. He wondered if she would remember last night at all.
The door opened to see a disheveled Temari glaring at him. "What?"
He chuckled. "I'm here to take you to get something to eat."
She grabbed her head as she opened the door and walked back into the room. "Let me get ready," she said, then disappeared into the bathroom.
Shikamaru leaned against the wall and just stared at the bathroom door. His mind definitely wasn't going to the wrong place. His face reddened and he shook his head, then stared at the floor.
Five minutes later and Temari looked fresher. "Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah." She grabbed her fan, but not her bag, and walked towards the door.
"How long you going to be in the village?" he asked as she locked the door.
"'Til tomorrow. The Hokage said she had to gather the information Gaara needed and it may take a day or so."
Shikamaru nodded and they walked silently down the hall and out of the building. They strolled around the village a bit until they reached a small teahouse. They settled at a table, Temari leaning her fan against the table, ordered some food, then sat there awkwardly.
"How much of last night do you remember?" Shikamaru finally asked.
Temari blushed. "Not a lot," she said, picking at a small damaged spot on the table.
"Do you remember… kissing me?" Shikamaru asked, his face also tinting pink.
"A-a little." She fidgeted in her seat. "Thanks by the way."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "For?"
Her face got redder. "I do remember asking you to stay last night."
Shikamaru smiled. "I would never do anything to hurt you."
Temari finally looked up at him. "Did you want to?"
"Well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't."
She looked down at the table again. "I meant what I said."
"So you do remember what we talked about?"
"Some of it. I do remember confessing to you."
"So maybe we can stop hiding our feelings for each other, now?"
Temari looked up at him again and smiled. "I'd like that."
The tense air around them finally dissipated and they talked comfortably until the food came, and even between bites. They were both happy with this reunion.