<It’s been two years since that day we started dating.> This thought popped into Shikamaru’s mind while he was lying on the grass, wathcing clouds with his girlfriend, Temari. <Oh god, I probably have to do something for her… troublesome…> he looked to the sleeping girl next to him. She was so beautiful… Every time he looked at her he fell more and more in love with her and every time he thought that was his limit and he couldn’t love her more but than he realized he could… <ah, I don’t care how troublesome it is> he thought <I’ll have to do it anyway… so maybe I should make some effort for this one…>he closed his eyes and slowly fall asleep.
***
But they didn’t get so much sleep, because they were rudely interrupted by their classmate Naruto  and his girlfriend Hinata.
“Yo guys! What are you doing? *making kissing sounds* ha-ha!” he pointed at the still sleepy couple and started laughing.
“It’s been already two years, Naruto, I thought you didn’t do that anymore… it’s so damn troublesome…” ever since that day two years ago Shikamaru and Temari announced they were together Naruto has been making jokes about it.
“Yeah, Naruto. It’s not funny now as it wasn’t than!”Temari was already up and mad at Naruto for awaking her and making jokes about her and the one she loved.
“Yeah you should really stop that already…” Hinata wasn’t so shy anymore and she had really became something like Naruto’s step mother, but he loved her anyways.
“WOAH! Don’t you all jump on me like that! I just wanted to say that classes will start soon… and we should be getting the others and go already…” Naruto explained with his hands in front of his face for deffence (not that anybody would hit him or something…)
“You’re right actually.”Temari said looking at her watch. “So where are the others?”
“Well Neji is or training with Ten-ten or making-out with her…Sasuka and Sakura are together in town…” Naruto gave all the information he had.
“Than we should head to town. We’ll get Neji and Ten-ten from the Huyga mention on the way.” Hinata said. “Right?”
“Sure! “
“Let’s go!”Naruto punched the air and ran away.
“Too much troublesome energy…” Shikamaru looked at the clouds for the last time as he followed his friends.
***
“Yo, Ino!” Shikamaru greeted. “What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing much… Hi, guys!” Ino had some sort of a relationship with Sai but then he left her and since than she was alone. Of course she was still after the goal of getting Shikamaru back or at least steal Sasuke from Sakura. But she couldn’t…
“Hey, Ino!” Naruto shouted. “Where’s Chouji?”
“ And Lee?” Hinata added before Ino could answer.
“Oh, and Kiba…” Temari also asked.
“Well I think Chouji is at the BBQ and Lee’s probably training…” Ino answered slowly so that even Naruto could understand.
“Well than, you come with us and we’ll look for them.” Hinata suggested. She was really changed from that shy girl she was two years ago…
“What do you need them for? Maybe I could help…” Ino was trying to rise in Shikamaru’s eyes, but she wasn’t really succeeding…
“Oh we don’t need them… We’re just going to school already…” Shikamaru said lazily.
“HIGH-school, honey, high-school…” Temari corrected her boyfriend.
“Right…”
“Sometimes I wonder witch one of you is the genius…” Sasuke said. He and Sakura had came out of nowhere and had joined the group.
“Let’s go get the others!” Naruto was already running when Hinata said something.
“Any ideas where could Kiba and Inabi be? Oh, and Shino…” she asked.
“Well they’re probably making-out somewhere in town…” Ino said qietly but everybody herd her.
“We were headed that way anyway so I guess we could get them too…” Temari considered and her friends agreed.
***
“So when does our first class starts?” Naruto asked when the whole group was gathered.
“Well in about half an hour…”Sakura as usual knew the answer…
“So we have time for a coffee? Because if we don’t I think I’ll fall asleep…” Shikamaru yawned. Temari laughed.
“I still don’t understand what do you like about him so much, Temari…” Lee asked. “I mean he’s just lazy… and… oh yeah he’s a ‘genius’…” he said that last word ironically.
“Well, in him I see the same Ino does…” Temari turned to the girl and so did everyone else. ”So you should ask her…”

Ino of course saw a lot in Shikamaru but she didn’t want to admit she still liked him.
“Well I see a lazy crybaby…” Ino remembered how Temari used to call him and repeated it word by word.
< Yeah, right… She’s still crazy about him… just as crazy as she is about Sasuke!> Sakura thought. < But she’ll stay with her crazyness, I mean she’ll never get any of them!>the pink-haired girl was right.
“So can we go now? Please!” Shikamaru yawned again.
“Sure, Shika! C’mon!” Temari answered.
<He never let me call him that! And now that sand bitch comes out of nowhere and he falls in mad love with her!? Urghh…> Ino was pissed. <I’ll make him fall for me again! She’ll see… like any girl could get in the way of Ino Yamanaka!>  she already had a few ideas of how to get Shikamaru out of Temari’s range and win him over…
***
“So don’t forget, class, the TEST is on Monday! So study!” As Mrs. Kurenai was talking about the test the bell rang and everybody got out of the classroom. “… it always amuses me how fast those kids are!” She said more to herself than to anyone else.
“Hey, Shika!” Ino shouted.
“Ino, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that!?” Shikmaru was beginning to hate his study partner (Ino, not Chouji).
“But you let Temari call you that…”
“She’s different and you know it! What did you wanted to talk to me about anyway?” Shikamaru changed the subject.
“Oh, I was wondering would you help me study for the history exam next week? Since we’re study partners…” Ino worked very hard not to blush… < (inner Ino) AAAH YOU’RE BECOMING A HINATA! I MEAN THE OLD ONE THAT WAS SHY!!! YOU’RE UNBELIVEBLE! JUST TELL HIM YOU LIKE HIM! IS IT SO HARD!? > < (Ino) Get out of my head! Go to Sakura! She’s the one who keeps you in her mind! >
“Sorry, no can do! I’ve promised to help out Temari…”Shikamaru answered just like Ino thought he would. “Go ask Chouji!” <Well so much for that idea…> Ino wasn’t very smart so she didn’t have so much ideas. But the ones she had seemed good enough…
“Thought so…” She said. That was the first part of her plan.
“What happened? You seem… weird!” Shikamaru razed his eyebrows.
“Oh it’s … it’s nothing…” she looked away trying to look like she’s worried or sad. She was succeeding.
“Oh my god, did something happen with Temari?” the boy was obviously worried. Ino didn’t said anything, wich convinced him he was right. “Ino, you have to tell me what happened! INO!” he was about to start crying.
“Ummm… Shikamaru… She… she… she’s gone…” she wanted to say more but was interrupted.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN GONE!? I saw her just now in history class… Ino if this is one of your stupid jokes, you’ll regret you even thought of it!” Shikamaru had passed from worry to anger for a little peace of the second.
< (inner Ino) YOU’RE SO STUPID! HOW COULD YOU FORGET ABOUT THAT!? THEY’RE ALWASE TOGETHER!!!! IF SHE WAS GONE HE WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE TO KNOW!!!! Oooh god you’re so stupid….> <(Ino)Shut up and get out of my head!> <(inner) I WONT UNTILL YOU GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF!> <(Ino) Oh,…> her thoughts were interrupted by the young Nara.
“So is it true? Is she really gone?” Shikamaru knew she couldn’t be, but he was prepared for the worst… <nah, it couldn’t be true… she’s just joking….> <(inner Shikamaru) YEAH RIGHT! CAN’T YOU SEE SHE STILL LIKES YOU!? SHE JUST WANTS TO GET YOU AWAY FROM TEMARI AND CLOSE TO HER… GOD, AND YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE A GENIUS… > <(Shikamaru) What the hell are you doing in my head!? Go to Ino, she’s the one who needs you!>Shikamaru was annoyed by the voice but he knew it was right. So he didn’t even wait for her answer and left.
“Hey, Shikamaru, wait! Don’t go…” Ino screemed after the boy but he couldn’t hear her. He was already too far away.
***
“Hey, Temari!”  Shikamaru said and ran after his girlfriend.
“Hey, Shika!” She turned around and kissed him. “What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing… just stupid Ino and her stupid jokes made me mad” he sighted.
“Oh my sweetheart! I’ve been putting up with her for such a long time but this time she’s crossed the line!” Temari was getting kinda mad.
“No, Temari, don’t!” Shikamaru was starting to worry. “There’s no need to fight!”
Temari sighted. “Who said I was gonna fight her?” she stopped. “Or you just wanna see a girl fight? We’re not some kinda trained warriors so if we fight, wich we won’t, we’ll just slam each other a few times…”
Shikamaru shrugged. “No, you just looked so… pissed! I thought you were gonna kill her or something…”
“NO! You thought we were going to fight for you! Ah, you’re such a non-genius… I wouldn’t fight for you!” She kissed him softly on the lips and whispered “I already have you! I don’t need to win you over from that blondy again!”
<Does she realize she’s a “blondy” too? I hope so…> Shikamaru thought. “Well that’s a relief… It would be such a drag if you two fought… I’d have to lose one of you…” he saw Temari’s gaze at him and shut up.
<Did he just say it would be hard for him to choose between me and Ino…? Nah, he loves me and I’m sure of it!>
***
Meanwhile Ino was studying for the history exam on her own. <What am I even doing here?> She suddenly thought to herself. Than she stood up and ran out of the library and into the computer room. ‘Sabaku no Temari’ she wrote in Google and clicked ‘search’. After some reading about her family, her home country and her nickname “the desert lilly” she still found nothing bad about her. She was clear. No jail, no crimes, not even getting in a fight with a classmate… nothing she could use against her in front of Shikamaru.
“Oh god damn you, Sabaku no Temari!” Ino said out loud. “You can’t be perfect, there must be something wrong about you! I’ll just keep surching!”
***
<I’ve got the feeling I’m forgetting something…> Shikamaru thought sometime in the evening. He was watching  clouds with Temari again and she was asleep in his lap.<What could it be…OH MY GOSH!THE ENEVERSARY!> Shikamaru almost jumped when he remembered that it was two years since he was with Temari. He carefully moved her head off his lap and took off running. being the genius he was he still couldn’t come up with an idea. It was so troublesome… as he was running it came to him <Of course! How couldn’t I think of it earlier!?> He went in a new direction praying the shop he was running towards was still open. And his prayers have been herd.
“Hello, mister! What can I do for you to-“ the man was interrupted by Shikamaru.
“I want a big teddy bear that says “I love you” or something…” he was in a hurry and the seller could understand that perfectly.
“Well, we have this one…” the man pulled out a huge white bear holding a red hart with an “I love you” on it.

“It’s perfect! I’ll take it! How much?”
“250 $.” The man answered.
“WHAT!?” Shikamaru was frightened by the number he was presented to. “Troublesome! Troublesome! Troublesome!... Well I guess love needs sacrifice…” he pulled out the cash and bought the bear. Now he was in a hurry to get it to his beloved in time.
***
Meanwhile Temari had aweken and was wondering where could her boyfriend be. < Uh, where’s that pineapple-head again? I thought he was here with me… > While she was wondering where could her boyfriend be, the boyfriend was running towards her and praying she was still asleep. But unfortunately, god already gave him one wish so this one didn’t come true.
When he was back at the spot Temari was lying at she wasn’t there. She was standing tall right in front of him ready to kill if nessasary.
“Where the hell were you!?” she shouted. “You’ve never done this before! I thought something happened to you… Where’d you disappeared to?”
“Well, I wanted to give you this…” he pulled out the bear and Temari’s face glowed.
“Shikamaru…” she stepped closer to her boyfriend and took the bear.
“Happy eneversary!” he said and kissed her.
“Oh, that’s so sweet! You’ll see my present when we get back home!” she said with a smirk. Temari thought as she lied back in her boyfriend’s lap again.
***
“Urgh! Still nothing… I think I’ve searched enough! I should get back home…” Ino yawned. She was kinda mad she didn’t find anything to insult Temari of, but she was really tired. <I’ll just continue tomorrow… *yawns*> she thought.
As she was walking by the street, she saw Shikamaru and Temari holding hands walking to the new apartment in town they lived together in. They were looking at each other right in the eyes and it seemed as even if she bumbed into them they wouldn’t notice her. <God, I hate her! How can she make him stare at her like that…I mean it’s obvious she loves him, but how did she made him love her!? I don’t think I’ll ever understand that…> Ino was rather pissed. Actually she was ready to kill Temari with one look…
***
“So where’s my present?” Shikamaru woke up first the next morning and he was impatient to know what has Temari got him for their eneversary.
“Wait a second, now, Shikamaru!” she got up and out of the room.
While he was getting dressed, Shikamaru’s mind was busy thinking of what could be Temari’s present. Then she finely came in.
“Well, I thought since we were living together now, another one could join us…Now, don’t freak out when you see her!”
“Her? My eneversery gift is a girl?” a weird thought crossed Shikamaru’s mind. <Get ahold of yourself, Shkamaru! There’s no way she would do that expecially on her eneversery…> (I hope you can figure uot what he’s thinking of… two girls, one boy, a bed…)
“No, Shikamaru, don’t you even think of it! It’s not a person!” a puppy walked in the room an looked around itself. “It’s a dog! I really hope you like it…” she was really worried Shikamaru wouldn’t like it, but when she looked down she found him already playing with the dog.
“Thank you, honey! I’ve always wanted a dog, but my trublesome mother wouldn’t let me have one… She’s so cute!” he got up, kissed Temari on the lips and went out of the room followed by the dog.
“I’m glad you like it.” She said more to herself than to Shikamaru.
***
As they were walking to the park with the puppy on a leash next to Shikamaru, they met Ino.
“What’s up, Shikamaru?” she asked when she saw her crush. She was really hoping he’d notice she stopped calling him “Shika”.
“Oh, hey, Ino…” Temari answered instead of her boyfriend. She was beginning to hate Ino.
Shikmaru remembered what his girlfriend said about Ino getting on her nerves and tried to separate the girls and stop them from killing each other with evil looks.
“Hey, Ino. What are you doing here?” he tried to bring up some kind of a conversation, but he wasn’t succeeding. The girls just kept on fighting and the dog started barking at Ino. The animal obviously didn’t like her.
“See, Ino, I’m not the only one who isn’t enjoying your company…” Temari laughed.
“Oh, gosh…well when I kill the damn dog you will be!” she thought she was shoeing some great mind possibilities, but she actually made a huge mistake….
“WHAT!? I‘ll never let you kill my dog, Ino, you fat pig!” Shikamaru was pissed. Right now he was ready to kill Ino!
<Hm…I thought he would defend me!...Wait, he did defend me, right… because it seemed like he was defending the dog… Well, whatever! The point is that now we both hate her!> Temari was celebrating. But Ino wasn’t…
“You actually like that little furry ball…” Ino couldn’t belive anyone could like it. Especially Shikamaru, he didn’t like anything… except for Temari of course… <Mean, this is getting too hard! I can’t win him… he’s defenetly on her side! I’ll have to quit…> “Oh, whatever! You can keep him! He’s too freaky for me!”
“What did you just say!?” Shikamaru was really mad.
“Oh my god!” But Temari was even more mad. So she did it…. She hit Ino. She slammed her head so hard, it hit in the wall and jumped back… like a balloon (you get the accociation, right? Balloon=empty=Ino’s head… it just means she’s stupid!)!
“Way to go, baby!” Shikmaru kissed her and looked at the knocked out Ino. “Mean, you really hit her hard! Good job!” he smiled, grabbed Temari by the hand and they left together.
+++