Temaris POV

There are about 4 stages of greif.

1- Denial

2- Anger

3- Depression

4- Acceptance

Losing a love one is tuff. I get it, I lost both my mom and my dad, But I did not greif for as long as Shikamaru has been for the past month. When I lost my dad and mom, I was in stage 1 for about a week, 2 for another week, 3 for about two weeks, and I accpeted the fact that theyre dead, and there wasnt anything I could do about it.

Right now I would say hes in between stage 2 and 3, making no progress whatsoever. Look at Ino and choji, I think Ino is done with all the stages and choji is recovering just fine.

He only makes it to school ONE day and he stops coming again. His whole mood is on and off. I bet his room smells like crap too.

Now it really gets me thinking, What can I do for him? Not as a friend, but as a lover. Im not dating him but we obviously have an attraction for each other. I dont want to be the one to ask him out though...

It was after school but I decided to head back to the hotel early. Kankuro and gaara were playing go-fish and I was laying on my bed, bored out of my mind. I never learned how to play go-fish, and I wasnt in the mood to listen to someone go on and on about rules for a card game.

Both Kankuros and my phone buzzed at the same time. We both looked at each other and grabbed our phones. It was from baki! Finally! I cannot wait till I get out of this hell hole known as 'Konohagakure'. God I miss Suna so much.

*ON THE PHONE*

Baki: Im coming to pick you guys up in 2 weeks. Business took longer then usual.

Kankuro: 2 WEEKS?! NOOOO

Temari: Pick us up now...Please?

Baki: Im sorry, I promise on my own life Ill pick you guys up in 2 weeks. You can kiss konoha goodbye, but not school there.

Temari: Going to Konohas school, I dont mind. Living here? Now thats a whole other fucking story okay?

Baki: I understand, Its worse there then it is in Suna.

Kankuro: Youre damn right. Did you know some crazy ass kid killed a teacher here?

Temari: Yeah ^^

Baki: And? Dont act like that doesn't happen.

Kankuro: How can you say that? He died.

Temari: He was a good man too, plus it doesnt happen often in Suna. Murdering I mean. 

Baki: It does happen often in Suna.

Baki: Brats

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"I hate Baki sometimes..." Kankuro said. I nodded my head in agreement.

"Whats he saying?" Gaara asked us. Hes not allowed to have a phone yet so he didnt have any clue about what were talking about.

"Baki is coming in 2 weeks. For sure." I told him.

"Good..." He mumbled, "There are these two girls who are so annoying. They follow me around everywhere, and the worse part is that they're 7th graders."

"AWWWWWWW GAARA HAS HIS OWN FANGIRL BASE?!" Kankuro shouted. He kept giggling too like an idiot, "Wait how come I dont have a fanbase?"

"Im sure you have 1 or 2 fangirls." I tried to cheer him up.

"Yeah and you have like a million guys wanting to say Hi to you. Am I just not hot like you guys?" He sniffled.

"Um...Well I dont know if I have a million guys following me-"

"Can you like...oh I dont know...Introduce me to your friends so maybe I could get a girlfriend? Ill give you a hint, I like brunettes so maybe the shy one or the witty one can talk to me."

Kankuro went on about what he likes and dislikes about girls and Gaara was just nodding his head to whatever he said. Im pretty sure both of us werent listening to a word he was saying.

Back onto the topic of Shikamaru, Maybe Ill pay him a visit. I miss him a lot, and I feel like I need to tell someone about the whole staying in Konoha thing.

But I have to think of a plan to escape the room without being the center of attention. Maybe I can sneak out while Kankuro and Gaara are focused on their game, but Gaara has a really good sense of hearing...

"But a girl who can cook would be nice... Speaking of cooking, Im starving..." Kankuros stomach rumbled loud enough for me to hear it from across the small hotel room, but I think I can see the silver lining in Kankuro being hungry.

"Ill get food." I bursted out. My tone was firm and strong, so no one wanted to talk back to me.

"A bag of chips from the gas station would be fine." Gaara mumbled, "Nah forget that, Get me some Chinese food!" Kankuro yelled.

I put on a sweatshirt and grabbed my wallet. "Sure thing, I'll be back." As I turned to open the door I put on a sly smile. Stopping by shikamarus house wouldn't hurt...Would it?

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I wish I was more athletic so I wouldnt sound so out of breathe when I got to his house. I was fast like the wind, but I dont have much stamina.

What if I didnt look presentable either? I mean a pink sweatshirt and some jeans dont really look good together. I never cared about what I looked like but now I do. What has gotten into me?!

I took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell. I waited outside for an awnser.

The door opened and I met face to face with an older man who looked a lot like Shikamaru, except he had 2 scars across his face.

"Hello." He crooked.

"Hi, Um...Is Shikamaru home?" I asked him. He put his hand on his chin and looked as if he was thinking for a moment.

"I dont remember...Please come in, come in." He opened the door wider and I stepped in his house. It was the same as last time. The living room and kitchen were sort if in the same room and there was only 1 narrow hallway. It was a very small, but nice looking house.

"Who is this?" I heard a woman say. I looked over on the couch to find a middle aged woman on the couch, she had her hair in a messy ponytail, but she rocked the look. Does every Nara have their hair up in a ponytail?...

"Im Temari, One of Shikamarus friends...I was just worried about him and wanted to make sure that he was okay. Is he home?"

She hesitated for a minute then spoke up, "I think he said something about going to the park...The hokage memorial park."

The Hokage Memorial park was a beautiful park that was above a mountain hovering a little over the city. It was probably the most important thing in the city. People all around the districts knew about the Hokage mountains. They even say that the hokages spirits are in each statue, Creepy right?

"Its a long walk, let me drive you there." Shikamarus dad said. It was a little far away from here, but I dont know if I should just take a ride from some stranger you know? I dont want to miss Shikamaru though so...Maybe it will be a good idea to take a ride this time.

"Yes, that would be appreciated very much sir." I smiled at him.

He grabbed his car keys and walked back to the door, "Ill be right back honey." He waved at her, "Be safe and come home quick, The show is about to start soon..." She winked at him. I mentally shuddered at the innuendo...

He laughed and took me to a beat up car in the front of the small condo. I got in the passenger seat in the boiling hot car and waited for the old man to get in as well.

This was gonna be a quiet ride, and Id like it to be like that.

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We pulled up to the curve and I opened the passenger door, about to get out of the hot and smelly car, but The old man grabbed my forearm.

"Wait."

I slowly sat back down and looked at him... It was scary being in a car alone with him. The ride was very uncomfortable too and sitting in an empty car where no one was around was even more uncomfortable.

"If Shikamaru tells you whats wrong with him...Please tell us. We've also known hes been acting distant lately. Hes been faking being sick just to miss school. So if you could?..."

I was surprised. They didnt know why Shikamaru was sad? Did they even know Asuma was dead?..

"Um, I kinda already know...I thought you guys did too."

"Know what?..." He tilted his head, he had a worried look on his face as well. I swallowed the little lump in my throat.

"Well...Hes sad because of Asuma...You know-"

"I havent seen that idiot in a while." He chuckled, "What about him?"

A felt something warm stream down my face.

"Hes dead..." I spit out. I coughed a few times because it felt like there was a rock in my throat. It hurt to try to stop crying.

Shikamarus dads eyes turned from happiness to heartbroken. He gripped his stearing wheel and broke down in front of me.

"Tell him to come home soon...please." He rubbed his eyes to cover the tears. I got out as quick as I could and fast walked away while the car drove off.

I wiped my tears with my sleeve and walked around, looking for a man with a spiky ponytail.

The sun was starting to set and I know Kankuro and Gaara will start to wonder where I am. I just need to find Shikamaru, thats all I ask.

As if the gods were reading my mind, I saw Shikamaru laying down under a tree, looking off into the sunset.

I ran over to him, as I got closer, the picture got clearer. He was smoking while looking up at the sky. I clenched my fists in anger and stomped over to him. I surprised him by grabbing the cigarette in his mouth and throwing it off the small hill.

"T-T-Temari! What the hell!" He sat up.

"No smoking." I told him. He sighed and mumbled something under his breath, "What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?" He asked me.

I took a seat next to him and looked at the sky as well. There were a few clouds here and there, The clouds were an orange color. It looked like the sky was on fire. This is what I loved most about Konoha. The sunsets. Its not the same anywhere else.

"How come you never told your parents about Asuma?"

He stiffened next to me, "I...I didnt want them to be heartbroken like me... I threw away all the letters about Asumas death away before they could ever get to it."

"They were gonna find out sooner or later so it would of been best to tell them Immediately."

"I know...I just didnt want them knowing."

We were silent for a moment, we just starred at the clouds.

"Temari." Shikamaru whispered in my ear. He was too close so I couldn't help but giggle a little. Hot breath on your ear feels weird.

"Yeah what?"

"I love you."

"Uhhhhhhhhh..." I kept stammering. He loved me?! No Impossible, I try to make myself as distant as possible from anyone, and actually loving me? I'm a stubborn, idiotic, fool... Why would a smart idiot like him love me?

"Date me." He held my hand and grabbed my cheek. He turned my head towards him so we made eye contact.

"Okay" I whispered back to him. He smiled, and kissed me.

He confessed his love to me under a cherry blossom tree. I dont believe in superstitions, but our love should last forever from now on.

The stars started to shine as our kissed lasted.

He finally pulled away and we looked off into the sky, which was now pitch black, with the stars being our light.

He was suppose to be home by now...But whats the harm in star gazing?