DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto or the characters... sob

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Chapter Two: The Other Way

"You don't love a woman because she's beautiful; she's beautiful because you love her." -?

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The thing was, he didn’t really love her. Shikarmaru didn’t really love Temari. Not as anything more than a friend. But after all they’d been through, no one would have believed him. It just didn’t feel right to him, but all the pressure from people around him prevented him from saying anything. Normally, that wouldn’t have been a problem; Shikamaru could care less. But he did love her. Again, not like that. The problem was, he was pretty sure Temari was in love with him. And try as he might, he just couldn’t live with himself if he broke her heart.

“Sensei?” Shikamaru glanced up lazily from where he’d been leaning peacefully resting his head on his arm at his desk. Being a teacher was so troublesome. The short brown-haired student was handing him a paper. “Done already. As usual. Go home Shizuka.” The brown-haired student jumped in glee, grabbed her bag and ran out of the room, but not before sticking her tongue out at the rest of the class. The door shut with a loud bang and the whole class moaned. Shikamaru chuckled. Why was everyone in such a hurry these days?

Speaking of everyone being in a hurry, what was all this talk of him proposing to Temari tonight? Since when had all these people gotten the idea that they were an item? She was a diplomatic visitor, he her escort. That didn’t mean they were dating. Shikamaru’s head sank lower. His annoying mother had even given him money to buy a ring. “What lead everyone to the same damn conclusion?” He brooded.

Then his thoughts floated to Temari. The way she stubbornly blushed when he teased her. The way they were always insulting each other. The starry-eyed stares of the other villagers whenever she’d arrive and they’d walk together, talking bemusedly to the Hokage’s office. It wasn’t that he didn’t love her. He couldn’t deny that she was the only one, other than Chouji, who he felt most at ease with. The way he saw it, they understood each other. That was it.

But Temari probably thought it was more.

Well, if he did end up marrying the troublesome sand woman, he could learn to love her, couldn’t he? His head pounded. He didn’t want to marry her. He didn’t want to love her.

A few more students came to turn in their essays. He took the papers and waved them off. Maybe Temari would help him grade these stupid essays later…

The noon bell rang. The students rushed up to his desk, throwing papers at him and raced out the door. Early days never did leave a lingering shinobi-in-training in the classroom. After gathering up said essays, though it was obvious that some of them were just doodles, Shikamaru left and headed towards the main gate into Konoha. She’d be here soon. Time to figure out what to do about the whole situation was quickly running out.

As Shikamaru lazily rounded the corner, Temari was already there, tapping her foot in irritation. “You’re late, Nara.” He laughed inwardly. “I was teaching, princess. Cut me some slack.” An evil but amused grin played upon Temari’s face.

Shikamaru frowned his characteristic frown and walked towards Temari with a burdened heart.

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A/N: Still not sure where all this is going. I’m definitely taking comments into account, just know that I already had most of this chapter written before I got any feedback. Who knows how all this will turn out?!