A/N: Woah, it's been a hot minute since I've updated this story (ha...ha)! But as promised, I haven't forgotten and I still have quite a lot planned for this. There are a number of other things being updated/in the works so do keep checking back and sending prompts in! My latest ShikaTema one-shot, Endgame, as well as another chapter of Cause for Concern are live for those of you missing a little angst/high school drama (respectively) in your lives. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
"See you soon," she half-smiled as they faced each other at the gate. They both knew all too well what the word soon implied: that there was no definitive answer, no date set in stone for her return. He realised this is probably how it would be for the foreseeable future - it would always be a bittersweet moment, one that meant a reunion with her family but a separation from the one she was starting to form in Konoha. He figured that that meant it was bittersweet for him, too: he knew she wouldn't be who she is without her roots, and yet a part of him wished she didn't have that irrevocable tie to something he could never live up to, never replace.
"See you."
Not ones to be soppy with goodbyes, they both tried to play it cool, despite lingering for much longer than necessary after their casual farewells.
"I'm gonna go now," she reiterated.
"Okay. Safe journey."
She turned to leave, then after two steps came straight back and snapped, "Dammit, Shikamaru, we're engaged! Could you act at least a little sad to see me go-"
He took her by surprise, as he often did with their kisses, and for once she didn't mind; she simply felt his warm lips mould to hers and heard the faint whistle of the guards who were obviously spectating.
"Way to go, Nara!"
"Get out of here, Genma," he grumbled as he pulled away.
"Well, I should also be getting out of here," Temari chuckled. "But I look forward to continuing that when I'm back."
"I second that," he smirked right back at her.
She smiled, then kissed him one last time on the cheek. "Don't pine too much, Nara. Soon you won't be able to get rid of me, and you'll be wishing we could go back to these days..."
"Tch," he scoffed. "After everything it took to get here? I wouldn't chance it."
She waved him off, without looking back.
"This is fun," Ino said brightly as their food arrived. When their teammate continued to pout, she muttered, "Oh, come on, Shikamaru! Just because Temari's not around doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves. Doesn't all the planning excite you?"
"No, it gives me a headache," he grumbled. "Hence why we wanted you to do it. Just make all the decisions and run them past Temari, I'm sure it'll be fine-"
"It will not be fine, idiot!" she practically knocks him over the head. "Don't you care at all about your own wedding? If not about the formalities, then at least the idea of marrying the woman you love?!"
That shut him up.
"Right. Let me know what you need me to do."
"So, the venue..." She caught sight of his unimpressed face and added, "Oh, by the way, you realise what this means, right?"
"Huh?"
"The fact that Temari's in Suna while all this planning is going on?"
"...I don't follow."
She sighed. "It means you're gonna have to use email, Shikamaru."
"Hey, Shikamaru," Naruto grinned, suddenly perched on his windowsill.
"Jeez, Naruto, you've gotta stop showing up unannounced," Shikamaru grumbled, turning back to his paperwork. "And use the door for once."
"Aw, but where's the fun in that?" He swung into the office and moved to sit on the edge of his friend's desk.
"Well, don't waste your shadow clones on me. I'm sure there's some important mission you should be saving your chakra for."
"Relax, I've got a day off."
"No," Shikamaru gasped emphatically, now looking up. "The real Naruto Uzumaki has graced me with his presence?" He stood up and poked a finger around Naruto's face and shoulders.
"Hey, stop, that tickles!"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. Ended a war and lost an arm, but this is too much?
"Anyway, why are you here? Shouldn't you be spending some quality time with Hinata?"
"She and the other girls are having lunch together. It's too bad Temari couldn't join," he commented, staring at the ceiling. "She really feels like one of us now, you know-"
"Why are you here, Naruto?" Shikamaru snapped.
"Woah, what's the problem? You guys are getting married. No more uncertainty."
"Sorry, sorry, I'm just a little...frustrated."
"That sucks, dude. It's gotta be hard when she goes away for weeks or months at a time and you don't have anyone to-"
"That's not what I meant, idiot," Shikamaru clarified, although that played into it, too. "I'm frustrated by all this talk of the wedding. I don't want it to be a huge deal. I certainly don't want a bunch of old people in robes and the rest of the village meddling in it. All I want is to sign a piece of paper so that she can stay here, and not leave every month."
Naruto sighed. "Yeah. I get that."
"Really? Because you loved all that attention at your wedding."
"Yeah, well. The village is my family, you know? But it would've been nice to do something with just our friends, too."
"Sure."
"Shikamaru," Naruto said, tone serious. "You would invite us...right?"
"What?"
"I know if you had the choice, you wouldn't want it to be so big...but you'd still invite us, your friends, right? You wouldn't just run off without telling any of us?"
"Naruto, that option would never be on the table."
"But what if it was?"
"Honestly, man, I quite like the idea of eloping. I'm sure Temari would, too. But we wouldn't do that to you guys. Besides, it's not like my mom or Ino would ever let me live it down."
They laughed. "You really don't want us there?" Naruto asked.
"It's all hypothetical, Naruto. How could I know? But if there's one thing I'm certain of, it's that no matter which way the council spins this, your company will make it much more entertaining."
"Thanks, Shikamaru," Naruto grinned. "So...any chance I could be your best man?"
"Sorry, dude, I think that one's gotta go to Choji."
"No fair! You were mine!"
"Because Sasuke wasn't around!"
"Y...yeah. Point taken. Well, we'll be waiting for the invitation," Naruto winked, then swung onto the windowsill. "See ya around, Shikamaru!"
"Well...what do you think?"
He examined the piece of card in his hands.
"Ino...they look amazing."
"Damn straight they look amazing. You're lucky Sai's got a knack for calligraphy," she grinned. "Everyone's name is by hand."
"Well, be sure to thank him for me," Shikamaru nodded. "Really, they're impressive. I can't wait for Temari to see them."
"Why don't you send one to her?" Ino suggested. "It'll be funny, being invited to your own wedding!"
"You've got an interesting sense of humour, Ino," Shikamaru murmured. "But sure, I'll send one for her approval before they go out to the rest of the guests. Did she get back to you on flowers?"
"Yup, that's all sorted. God, I'm so excited!" she practically squealed. "It's gonna look like a botanical garden by the time I'm done with it."
"Please don't go crazy," he pleaded. "We're not getting married in a jungle."
"Shikamaru," she whispered harshly. "Don't insult me like that."
"Sorry."
"It's okay. I know it's hard, trying to sort this out while she's away. But at least we have email, right?"
"Don't remind me." But he had to admit, it made regular communication quite a lot more convenient.
"Hey, relax. Think of me as your fairy godmother. I'm going to give you guys the most incredible wedding even if it kills me."
"Thanks, Ino," he smiled. "But you don't have to be so drastic."
She punched him in the arm. "You'd better make the most of this time, because no other woman would be masochistic enough to put up with your wisecracking."
"You've put up with it, haven't you?"
"Yeah, but I don't have to come home to it at night," she teased. "Good luck, Temari."
"She loves it, really."
"No, she loves you. There's a difference."
"It's all a part of who I am."
"Package deal," Ino nodded. "That's marriage, for you."
"So, how have you been?" Temari smiled as they sat down at their table. "I'll admit, I was somewhat surprised when you invited me to lunch today. It's been a long time since we've seen each other outside of work."
"You're still as straightforward as ever, Temari-san," Karui laughed. "But that's what I like about you. I always think it's a shame that whenever we do meet, that idiot Omoi is always around." She poured her companion a cup of tea. "If I'm honest, there was something I came here to talk to you about, from one woman to another woman."
"I'm all ears."
Temari had never seen Karui look so visibly nervous and uncomfortable before. They were both quite outspoken, hot-headed people; despite not being all that well-acquainted with each other, their mutual respect and similar personalities had always clued Temari into the fact that they would get along just fine as colleagues, if not friends. It surprised her to see her fellow kunoichi acting so vulnerable.
"You see...Choji Akimichi has been coming to Kumo a lot, lately."
"Ah. I presume it's not for work?"
"Well, he always manages to use missions as an excuse. But I don't think we can keep saying it's just camaraderie at this point. He got quite serious last time he visited and started saying all these things...and I guess I'm just a little apprehensive."
"About him?"
"About the distance," Karui admitted. "I...I wanted to get your opinion, since you and Shikamaru Nara are now engaged. Congratulations, by the way! Did you receive the flowers from the Raikage?"
"Yes, they were beautiful, thank you," Temari nodded, remembering the assortment of random gifts they received from governments and royals across the lands just for being engaged. Shikamaru didn't understand it and she herself only saw it as another superficial, unnecessary gesture, so they ended up giving most of their haul to Yoshino who revelled in all the new additions to her home and garden. "But to answer you...I don't know what it would be like. It hasn't been the smoothest of rides for us, but we're a bit of a unique case. We're still learning. We haven't even figured out half the stuff that's going to happen when we're actually married. But Shikamaru...he makes it feel easy. Like it will all work itself out. Before, when I thought of a political marriage, I never assumed it would be to someone from another land as well. It was something I simply couldn't fathom. And now that Shikamaru's in the picture...I can't begin to imagine my life otherwise. It feels natural. I guess when you're that certain you want to be with someone, distance doesn't feel like an issue anymore."
"Sounds like you really love him, Temari-san."
Crap. "W-well, yeah. He's my...fiancé, after all." Quickly, she added, "I wouldn't move so far away from Suna for just anybody."
"You're moving to Konoha?"
Should've stopped talking. "Nothing's written in stone, but that seems like the most logical conclusion."
"I just wonder if I'll ever feel strongly enough about someone to leave Kumo," Karui mused. "Don't get me wrong, I like Choji, but I'm a little wary of committing to an actual relationship if I'm not certain yet that he's the one."
"I felt the same, but it really depends on the person," Temari replied. "I don't think Shikamaru is the one, but then again, I don't believe in destiny. I think we both work hard for what we have, and I know for a fact that Shikamaru's way too lazy to do that multiple times over. Once he's found a good thing, he sticks with it. And I think you'll find that Choji will be much the same."
"Really?"
"Of course. Choji's a great guy with a heart of gold, from what I've observed and all that Shikamaru's told me. He's never shown interest in anything other than food since you came along." Temari smiled. "He's passing up opportunities to go to Yakiniku-Q with his best friends so he can get a head-start on seeing you."
Karui looked visibly surprised.
"A little birdie told me," Temari winked.
"Well, I trust Shikamaru's judgement," Karui nodded. "I guess we'll see how it goes."
"Keep me updated. You and I need to stick together," Temari laughed. "It's nice to finally have someone to talk to about the long-distance predicament."
"At least yours is over soon. For me, it's only complicating things..."
"But it keeps them interesting, too," Temari interjected. "I sometimes worry that when we're married, and living together, we'll become boring. Hell, maybe we already are."
"Ha!" Karui snorted. "You? Boring? Not possible. You'd never let that happen."
"True. I'd blame Shikamaru first."
"So, is Temari going to be in Konoha for Christmas?" Ino asked, twiddling the straw in her milkshake.
"I'm not sure," Shikamaru shrugged. "If this is her last full Christmas in Suna, I wouldn't want to take that away from her."
"But it would also be your first Christmas as a couple," Ino reminded him. "Don't you want to spend it together?"
"It's her call," Shikamaru said, avoiding a direct answer. "Can we drop this? All we ever talk about is Temari."
"Because you miss her," Ino teased. "And you should let yourself miss her, instead of trying to veer away from the topic altogether."
"What did we ever talk about before she happened?"
"Nothing remotely as interesting," Ino laughed. "Besides, you were the ones who wanted to involve me in this process. I'm here to talk about Temari whether you like it or not. She's half this wedding, after all."
He sighed. "Can't wait to see the fruits of your labour in the spring."
"You could sound a little excited, Shikamaru."
"It'll be great, I'm sure. Just doesn't feel real when she's still not here half the time, you know?"
"Yeah. It sucks. It's even worse that now both you and Choji are suffering the same affliction."
"Eh? How did you know about that?"
"Please," Ino scoffed. "Neither of you have ever been subtle. Going to Kumo every month on a mission? It's literally Shikamaru and Temari 2.0. I'm sure you've already warned him of how troublesome long-distance is."
"It sure as hell isn't a walk in the park."
"But it's worth it."
"Yeah. I told him that, too."