[ShikaTema] Serendipity

Chapter 1: In the Headquarters

The forest was too quiet. No one was around, she could tell.

Sigh...

"It took you so long," said a familiar shinobi of Konoha, yawning in laziness. "I've been waiting here; I thought you'd be passing here yesterday."

Without waiting for Shikamaru to stand, she continued walking, the male following her after. "I didn't ask you to."

"It's my job. It's a drag, but I have to."

The yellow-haired woman continued walking, eyes keen on the road. It was a moment of silence for the two of them until they reached the gates open for the arriving ally. "So...," hands inside his pockets, he proceeded. "How's Suna?"

"Pretty fine. They are doing their assigned jobs; no intruder at the moment. At least, when I left," explained Temari. "And Konoha? I missed the breeze here."

Just the breeze? Wait. What the hell am I thinking?

The teen mentally cleared his throat. "Good, good. Pretty much the same as Suna's. No news about intruders, so far," replied Shikamaru.

From afar was a scream of the name of the male Temari was with. "Shikamaru!" Another blonde female was on her way to meet Shikamaru, her right arm shaking on the air as her sign of saying 'hello' to the two. Temari and Shikamaru stopped on their tracks as the younger blonde reached them. "Wow, if it isn't Temari!" She said, then immediately glanced at Shikamaru. She made eye and mouth gestures toward Temari, but Shikamaru kept refusing.

The cruelest kunoichi could tell they were trying to say something to other, but chose not to interfere. She was about to speak and say she'll leave and escort herself to her hotel when Ino began another question. "Are you here to see the Hokage?"

"Not necessarily, but I will do that too. I am here to see if the village is progressing well, if the medicines are enough to sustain all injured people at once, and the supply of weapons are still usable or if they need replacement."

"And you, Shikamaru?"

Temari was surprised Ino didn't know anything. She knew the female dressed in purple was one of his team mates, so she somehow expected that she's knowledgeable about the issue.

"I was ordered to escort this lady over here," he said cheaply. "We were on our way to her temporary hotel when you suddenly came in, so..," the male stopped his words.

The three continued walking towards the mentioned amenity. "Isn't her hotel located a bit of north from here?" Asked Ino, blinking in confusion.

"Yeah, we're going to escort her and then wait for her outside. I have to be with her almost everywhere just to ensure her safety. Konoha wouldn't want an ally's vacation be ruined by some random intruder," explained the latter, which Ino just listened on.

Her hotel isn't much of any difference compared to the other buildings built in the village. As soon as they have arrived, all of them stopped on their tracks simultaneously. "I'll be off shortly," confirmed Temari, then turned towards the sliding door of the establishment. "It's okay if you can't wait, or you have something else to do. I can manage-"

"It's my job, I'm going to wait," replied Shikamaru. How troublesome.

When the oldest of the Sand Siblings had fully entered the amenity, Ino immediately turned to Shikamaru. Her brows were furrowed in annoyance, her right hand was formed into a fist. It would seem she was about to debate about something. "Shikamaru," called the young one, Shikamaru turning to her in an instant.

The male teen's right foot was leaning against the wall of the hotel, his arms crossed over his chest. "What-"

"Aren't you gonna do it yet? This is the fourth time she visited Konoha! And you have given your fourth chance!" Argued Ino. "Don't be a coward, Shikamaru. That's definitely not you. Work before someone else gets her!"