Disclaimer: I want to own them, but sadly I do not...

Strategy

Teal eyes scanned the battlefield, taking in the positions of the opponent's army, and her own. Countless strategies were considered and rejected in favor of the one she already had in place. Yes, it seemed victory was at hand. She might lose a few men, but in the end, the battle would be hers.

So it was with a smug confidence that Temari watched Shikamaru considering the chessboard. His eyes took in every detail, much in the same way hers did, and she could practically see the gears turning in his head when he held his hands in his lap in that absent-minded gesture of his. She called it his "leave me alone, I'm thinking" hand sign.

Decision made, Shikamaru reached out and picked up the carved white knight, moving it forward and destroying Temari's plans. The game was over in a few moves, leaving Temari flabbergasted.

Shikamaru gave her a lazy smirk. She was getting better, and would soon rival his own skill, but she hadn't beaten him yet. He was just too good at strategy.

"Good game," he said simply, holding a hand out across the chessboard to his beautiful, clever, and therefore highly troublesome, opponent. She shook his hand, and just when he was about to suggest a rematch, she pulled him to her, pressing her lips to his.

It was over all too soon, and when she pulled back, giving him a sweet smile, Shikamaru sat stunned. "Rematch?" Temari asked.

"Of course," he said, attempting to forget the feel of her soft, pink lips. He decided looking at that gorgeous smile was not going to help him, so he raised his gaze, meeting hers. That was even worse. How on Earth was he supposed to concentrate on anything when she was looking at him like that?

Not at all, apparently. Temari had Shikamaru backed into a corner before he knew what was happening. He put up a valiant fight, but it was too late.

"Checkmate," she said, grinning.

Maybe Temari wasn't so bad at strategy after all…

AN: Yet another fic of Temari and Shikamaru playing chess. I couldn't resist writing my own version. Probably not the most original of ideas, but oh well. I had fun writing this, and that's what matters. Of course, reviews make me happy, too.