Happy @naraweek day 4! I’ve loved everyone’s submissions! The Naras are the best!!!! Hope you enjoy this quick ficlet starring the real star: Kamatari the Weasel! Lol I think we need more stories with Temari’s summoning animal. Oh it’s a Modern AU too. Okie, enjoy!
Summary: A way to meet the new neighbor.
Prompt: Pets
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“Kamatari! Are you hungry? I picked up the treats you like!” Temari announced stepping into her apartment. The move from Suna to Konoha was a tough one but she needed a change of pace and to branch out from the watchful eyes of her brothers. The tiny apartment was a far cry from the palatial home she once knew but it was all her own. Her mother and father had also been wary of the move but her family knew that there was no changing her mind after it was set.
They had come to help her move in but once she was settled headed back home. The silence of the apartment was a little startling. Thankfully, she had her pet weasel that would keep her company.
“Kamatari? Where are you? It’s time for dinner?” She’d set up a comfortable space for her roommate that was as similar to back home as she could get it. Kamatari had been her pet since she was little and he was as good of a pet as they came. It may have been an odd choice but she’d raised him from infancy and he’d become her loyal companion.
Temari searched high and low through the small apartment, not finding Kamatari anywhere. It was dinner time and like clockwork, he’d be ready for his meal. She began to worry that the move had been too traumatic for the small animal. She started to dial her brother's number hoping they weren’t too far away and could come back to help her search the neighborhood.
“Ahh! What the hell is that?” Temari looked up hearing the muffled cry from the other side of the wall. She ran outside and stormed into her neighbor’s apartment with a sneaking suspicion of where her errant pet was hiding.
She wanted to laugh out loud at the terrified expression on the man's face as he held a book and a spatula in front of him while Kamatari jumped and danced.
“Kamatari! Get back here! This is not how we meet our neighbors.”
The man’s panicked eyes turned towards hers. “Is this thing yours?”
“He’s not a thing. He’s my pet weasel Kamatari.”
The pineapple haired man rolled his eyes annoyed at the lack of worry. “Oh of course I’m the crazy one. Is he dangerous?”
“Only if he thinks you're a threat. I think that he might actually like you?”
Her neighbor looked unconvinced. “How can you tell?”
“The way he’s moving. He dances like that when he’s happy.” She explained grinning at the cute way he was moving around.
This seemed to calm the man’s fear and he lowered his “weapons.” “Okay….well, it’s nice to meet you then uhm... Kamatari and you are?”
“Temari.”
“Nice to meet you both. I’m Shikamaru.”
“Here give him a treat. He’ll love you then.” She placed a few pellets in his hands before pulling him closer to the small mammal.
She kneeled down and he followed suit still unsure. “Hold out your hand.”
“Come here Kamatari, this is Shikamaru, he’s our neighbor and friend.” The small animal seeing his owner and food presented to him crawled over and began eating out of his hand.
“He’s pretty fun once you know he’s not going to bite your face off,” Shikamaru admitted feeding the creature a few extra pellets.
“Meh, give it some time.” His eyes widened in worry.
“I’m kidding. You’re doing good with him so far.” Temari could admit that she was impressed. Kamatari could be very overprotective and was very selective about who he liked. It was unusual to see him bond so quickly to another person. He was still wary of Kankurou at times. What was so special about her new neighbor.
“Thanks, my family has a long history with deer keeping and veterinary work. Although I’ve never encountered a weasel this close.”
They sat there together while Shikamaru fed Kamatari a few more treats. He asked Temari a little more about her history and how she could have acquired a pet weasel. She was surprised at how easily the conversation flowed between them. It took away the pang of loneliness she felt since moving away. They stayed up long into the night, Kamatari falling asleep in his owner's lap.
“I guess our boring talk made him fall asleep.” Temari glanced at the clock surprised at how late it was. It felt like no time had passed at all.
“Thanks again Shikamaru. Most people tend to get very freaked out when they meet him, I think he can smell the fear too. I appreciate that you didn’t just try to hurt him or call animal control.” She didn’t want to think about what could have happened if Kamatari made his way into another person’s home.
“No problem, he is cute.” He wouldn’t admit that she was pretty cute too holding the furry creature carefully in her arms.
“Well, I’m next door if you need anything.”
He replied in turn with a soft grin. Thankful for the wandering weasel that led to this experience.
“Same here. Good night Temari.”
“Good night Shikamaru.”
Shikamaru shut the door and began to get ready for bed. He smiled faintly hearing Temari scold her pet next door. It was quite obvious how much she adored that furry thing.
He’d wondered who would eventually move into the vacant apartment next to him. In all his imaginings he could have never conceived that it would be a gorgeous blonde with a pet weasel. All he knew was that this would be very interesting.
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Kamatari as a wingman :D Thanks for reading deers! This was initially going to be a multichapter work but for now it’s just this quick one shot. Maybe one day I’ll finish it up. Thanks again!!! Love you my sweet fawns!
