Belong

Part 8: On His Mind

How did he get here, he asked himself. He was just heading out to eat other than his cooking when he saw her, Temari. He almost didn't recognise her, in the maroon short skirt and a blouse which almost matches with the skirt. Now he's at a table sitting beside her on a warm morning having breakfast with her. What is she even doing here, he further questioned himself. She'd stated she wasn't on a mission so what other reason could she be here for?

"... Obviously thinking about it won't help. She's kind of hard to read anyway, plus she's made it clear she doesn't want to tell me. What a drag!"

He's only seen her once without a handband on and that was in the Hidden Tree village. Back then she was ill but was still pretty to look at. Seeing her without it was still a little unusual, but now that it's day time and it's clear, her beauty was indescribable. Even he struggled to find the words to describe how beautiful she is. Too bad, the same can't really be said about her personality, he thought. He smiled at the thought. How many guys have tried hitting on her, he questioned. He found himself laughing again as he came up with an answer; maybe no one has tried that on her. Maybe instead, they flee when they see her coming because they know how terrifying she really is. They know the scary girl she really is behind that beauty.

But he didn't quite feel that way, not that he'd ever mess with her on purpose even though it seems like he does unconsciously. What he felt was different and he liked it, couldn't quite put his finger on it but there was something about how he made him feel. What a drag, he thought.

"Why are you starring at me like that?!" Temari asks. Not quite sure if she was offended or embarrassed or both.

"You're just so beautiful." "HUHHH?!! WHY DID I SAY THAT?!!!"

Temari didn't respond nor did she show any signs of reaction.

"NO WAIT!!! I DIDN'T... UH.. I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT!" He defends, knowing Temari was going to probably give him a beating or have him fly through the roof. But she didn't do anything, she just simply looked back at the bowl of food in front of her and continued eating. She smiled but making sure he didn't notice.

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They had been around each other in silence before but this time it was kind of.. awkward in a nice kind of way. He still couldn't believe he said something like that, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He wished the ground would split open, swallow him and close shut. And her not reacting to what he said only made him feel worse and a little terrified. What if she didn't like being told something like that about her? What if she's planning to plumel him to the ground when they're alone somewhere?

As for her, she found it amusing a little especially after how embarrassed he looked after realising what he said but after that, it only reminded her of Daisuke. He'd tell her how pretty she looked, how beautiful her eyes were. Why would he say something like that to her? She asked herself. What was he thinking?

"Idiot!" She thought.

"Aren't you gonna say anything?" Shikamaru asks. Finally having the courage to break the silence.

"What do you want me to say?"

"I thought you'd say something in regards to... What I said earlier."

"You thought wrong." She states.

"I kind of figured."

"Aren't you supposed to be training or on a mission somewhere?"

"Team Asuma has no missions for now."

"Then you should be using this time to do something productive. Don't you think? What do you do with your free time anyway?" She asks