"Man... this mission is a drag."

Shikamaru had accepted, no forced onto, a mission where he was to deliver a secret scroll in Suna, then given a week to stay in the warm Village. The lazy Jounin took his time getting there and still had 4 days left before he was supposed to leave the Hidden Sand.

Suddenly, he heard his name shouted out in the distance. Sighing, he turned and said, "How troublesome..."

"I see you are as annoyed...... like always......" Temari joked as she was a few yards away from him, "So taking your time I see...." She walked up to him. "Don't you think that could be a problem.... but then again you have a hard time with rushing things..." Temari was now face to face with him. Her eyes were scanning him. With her weasel , Kamatari, on her shoulders.

Shikamaru yawned, "Hey, chill out. You sound like my mom."

To tell the truth, Shikamaru liked being bossed around by Temari, but he'd never tell her that. The lazy ninja mearly scratched the back of his head as Temari was studying him.

"What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?"

Temari sighed moved on her right foot behind her. "No.... i'm just studing you.... do you have a problom with that or something??" Temari replied and walked past him..... "come on the sooner we get there... the more time we have to spend time together......" Temari froze 'darn it that did not come out right..' Temari thought to herself. "Just ignore that last sentence and we willl both be happy...." Temari said to Shikamaru with a slight blush and started to walk back to Suna again.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes and sighed, "Yeah yeah. Whatever makes you happy."

The lazy genius followed the Suna Kunoichi towards her native village. How come all the girls he met were so energetic? He groaned again and looked up at the sky... not a cloud in sight.

"Man, what a drag."

The Leaf Jounin pulled a cigarette from the carton he kept in his pocket, putting it between his lips. With a flick of his lighter, the cancerous stick was lit.

Temari sighed quietly.... in her thoughts many questions came into her mind like ' Why is he always so lazy..... Why does he keep smoking.... and lastly how does he react if he does not see clouds...' Kamatari worked her way up to Temari's ear "Can't you move any faster?" she asked her master. Temari shook her head and whispered back "Just try to relax...” the weasel moved away from her ear.

Shikamaru picked up his pace a bit and caught up with Temari. Sighing he asked,

"Why were you out here anyway? Girls don't normally wait for uncool guys like me and Naruto."

He finished his cigarette and put it out, putting the butt back into the carton. He put the carton away as well as Asuma's old lighter. Shikamaru's last tie to his old sensei was their use of smokes.

Temari sighed "Well then.. i guess i am not like other girls" she replied glancing to Shikamaru then back to the road to Suna. "You sure asked a strange question..." she said in almost a whisper. "So how has it been going in Konoha?" Temari asked looking at her feet.

Shikamaru shrugged, "Everything is nag nag nag. If I get forced to go on another troublesome mission, I'm gonna tell the Hokage he can do it himself. Konoha's a drag man, just like it usually is."

The lazy one yawned as if his rant was a common occurrence, his eyes shifted to the older girl, "And yourself? I haven't seen you around for awhile, it's been almost peaceful."

Temari looked at him and sighed "Man all you men....complaining and making coments....." she looked up and said, "I have been doing a lot of stuff for Gaara and Kankuro latley so I have been busy... but when I herd about the mission with you and the scroll... I wanted to see you again."

Shikamaru raised a brow, Temari was always an enigma to him, ever since he had faced her during their first Chunnin Exam together. She always was around when him at strange times. It was rare that the genius got confused, but the blond jounin always managed to keep him on his toes...

"Wanted to see me? Why? It's not like I'm anyone special, like Sasuke or Neji or even Naruto."

Temari again sighed "Hay genius.....I don't think it is wise to rip yourself down like that...." She said, "Just because you are not like Sasuke or Neji or Naruto... doesn't mean you are not special..... You have your own way to make yourself special... and so do they...... your IQ is over 200. I could never wish to be that smart... and we know neither could Neji, Sasuke, or Naruto. Man.... how did you even manage to make it to Jonin... definitely not because of confidence....?” Temari looked a little angry ‘Man I hate it when others compare themselves to others” She thought staring at Shikamaru.