Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Shikamaru slouched into the Hokage's office. Given the choice, he would much rather be asleep. But he wasn't given the choice. "Shikamaru." Came the voice of the Hokage.

"Yeah?"

"I have an assignment for you."

Shikamaru just looked at Tsunade through half-lidded eyes, aware that the Hokage would continue, whether he said anything or not.

"You are to be the escort of Temari of the sand while she is in Konoha."

"Troublesome." Shikamaru muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?"

"I asked why she needs an escort. She has been in Konoha before, and I doubt that she's forgotten how to get around."

"Because, she is an ambassador from Suna, and she will be treated as such. And who knows, maybe she'll even find a way to motivate you."

Shikamaru just sighed, resigned to his fate. It would be too troublesome to argue, and the outcome would be the same. He would still be stuck as Temari's escort.

"She will be arriving at the west gate in half an hour. You are dismissed."

It figures I would have to be her escort. She's the only woman even more troublesome than my mother.

Shikamaru headed for the gate after leaving the Hokage tower. If he got there early, he would have time for a nap before Temari arrived.

He was rudely awakened by being poked by a fan. "Troublesome woman." He grumbled.

"Crybaby." She taunted. Shikamaru should have known that Temari was never going to let him live down that incident at the hospital. It was one of the things that made her so troublesome.

"I have to be your escort. Again."

"Oh, poor Shikamaru, am I unbearably troublesome?" she taunted.

He sighed. "Why don't I show you to your rooms, and you can take a nap or something?"

"I have to let the Hokage know I'm here, then I want something to eat, then, maybe, I'll sleep."

He sighed again. "Troublesome woman." He muttered.

"What did you call me?" Temari demanded, voice sharp.

Shikamaru's brain scrambled for an answer that wouldn't make her attack him with her giant fan. "Uh, I said wonderful woman." His face turned red from embarrassment at not being able to come up with anything more believable to placate the angry sand kunoichi with.

Temari, noticing his blush cooed in a sing-song voice. "Someone has a crush on me." As she pinched his cheek, hard, and turned around, striding towards the Hokage tower.

"I do not!"

"Riiight."

Shikamaru was slouched once more in the Hokage's office, watching lazily as the two troublesome blondes talked.

"Temari, you don't have anything else planned for today, but you will be expected at the council meeting tomorrow morning, at nine. Shikamaru can keep you occupied, I trust." Tsunade pointed out, a slight smirk on her face, knowing how much the lazy genius would grumble.

"Right. Shika, c'mon. Let's go get some food."

'Shika?' Tsunade thought.

"Shika?" he demanded as they exited the office.

"Aww, you look so cute when you're annoyed." Temari commented, enjoying the power she had over him.

"How long are you here for?" he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.

"As long as I need to." Temari replied smugly. "Now, let's get some food, Crybaby."

Shikamaru sighed in defeat. As her guide, it was duty to stay with her, no matter how troublesome she was. "What do you want for lunch." He grumbled.

"How about ramen? Gaara told me to say hello to Naruto, and he might be there."

"He'll probably be there. If he could, he would live at Ichiraku's."

Temari grabbed his hand and dragged him in the direction of the ramen stand complaining "Get a move on, lazy ass. I'm hungry."

"If you know where Ichiraku's is, why do you need me to be your guide? I don't think being dragged around like a rag doll was in the job description."

"Too bad, you're stuck with me."

Don't I know it.

"I want the Miso ramen." Temari told the girl at the counter. "Whatcha want, Shika?"

"Shika?" their waitress asked. "How sweet! You brought your girlfriend for ramen!"

"She's not my girlfriend. She's far too troublesome." Temari elbowed him in the ribs, shooting him a deadly glare. Shikamaru sighed. "I'll take a bowl of miso ramen as well."

"They'll be right out!"

"You keep calling me troublesome!" Temari accused.

Shikamaru just looked at her like 'No duh. That's because you are.'

"You haven't even seen me at my most troublesome!"

And I pray I never will.

"Here is your ramen. Enjoy!"

Shikamaru was glad of the distraction that the food provided. The last thing he needed was for Temari to decide she had to prove that she was nowhere close to being as troublesome as she could. Trying to distract her, he asked. "So, is your ramen good?"

She nodded happily as she slurped her noodles. Swallowing, she said. "We don't have any place like Ichiraku's in Suna." A few minutes later she wondered aloud. "I wonder where Naruto is."

"Maybe he's finally realized that Hinata likes him. She's not troublesome, unlike someone I know." Shikamaru said slyly.

Temari smacked the top of his head with her hand. "Jerk. Just for that, I'm going to make you entertain me now, instead of taking a nap like you wanted."

Sigh. Troublesome woman.

Temari threw up her hands in disgust. She had just lost at Shogi to Shikamaru. Again. For the ninth time. In a row. "I give up!"

Finally. "Does that mean that you acknowledge my superiority?" Shikamaru asked, smirking openly.

"Get out!"

With pleasure. Shikamaru's plan had worked to perfection. He had done his duty, escorting and entertaining Temari until she dismissed him. Now he had the rest of the day free to laze and watch the clouds without having to deal with that troublesome woman. Perfect.