So this is the first chapter of my new story! It's a sequel to Barbecue Flavored Kisses, and I've totally changed the premise. I would suggest you read the other story first, since you'll probably be like "WTF??!?!" for the first couple chapters if you don't.

The main idea of the plot would fall under a suggestion I got from MarikTheInsaneInsomniac, so I suppose this fic is for you (since nobody else would take it -_-''). I'm just hoping somebody will read this at all. So, without further ado, we start!

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters (Teddy excepted), groups, themes, within this story, nor do I receive monetary profit from the creation of said story.

Teddy sighed as he reentered the gates of Konoha. The few weeks he'd been gone was more than enough for him to fully appreciate the separation. Though he missed Chouji from the first day, he was practically dying to see him now. If he wasn't walking now, he might've been convinced that he was literally dying too. Leaden arms and blistered feet can do that to a guy. He'd never admit to anyone, let alone Chouji. From experience and observation, he found that playing hard to get really did work. Chouji could wait if he expected this ninja to come stampeding to the Akimichi compound.

He plodded through the streets, almost shocked by how shiny and cold it was in Konoha. However winter seemed to have let up in his absense. A week trudging through sand and sun was like summer compared to this. The mission went smoothly; he'd only a few other ninja, none of whom were really any good. Even though he knew the crap missions would fall on him as a genin, he was almost insulted by how easy it had been. However, that was going there, not coming back. That had been an entirely different story.

In reality, it only took him a couple days to get to the Sand Country, and that was with the merchant. The rest of the time consisted of him acting as a provisional envoy to the Kazekage. At first, it was quite intimidating, but in the end, he just needed to update the Kazekage on his Konoha friends. Temari really seemed indifferent to his existence, but then there was Kankuro...

Teddy shook the thought from his head. The puppeteer-nin was one of the most interesting parts of his trip. He couldn't help but shake the feeling that those painted eyes were watching him whenever they were in the same room, sometimes for a while after too. A shiver went up his spine when he pictured the black-robed teen. In truth, they'd gotten along swimmingly, but there was always that underlying feelings; a mutually unspoken vibe they knew they both felt. If Chouji wasn't waiting back home, Teddy probably would have confronted him about it.

The last day there was an interesting one too. He'd never really gotten used to all the sand, but then again, who really did? Kankuro seemed to notice too, and he tossed him a scarf. All he said was, "You're face is dirty" before leaving and retreating to his puppet lair.

"Strange guy," Teddy thought to himself as he fingered the material of the scarf still around his neck. While it wasn't protecting him from sandstorms it sure did a good job of keeping the chilly spring wind out. It would have to come off though since he didn't want to track sand inside.

The way back to Konoha wasn't just smooth sailing. He'd encountered multiple obstacles; sandstorms, rockslides, you name it. It forced him to double back and head through the Land of Wind. It was common knowledge that most villages were wary of foriegn ninja, so it didn'ts surprise him much when he was detained for questioning. It really wasn't his fault though; those genin just happened to stumble in on some impromptu target practice. Five days later he was set back again by some farmers pleading for help. Not only had he been

Shaking what was left of the sand and dirt in his hair, Teddy turned onto the street of his apartment. Maybe the chill in his spine would wash away after a hot shower.

"Teddy's back," Shikamaru sighed to his friend.

"What?!," Chouji blurted as he shot up from his lying position. "He's back?"

"What did I just say?," Shikamaru spat impatiently as he rubbed his temples.

Unsure how to react, Chouji considered his options. "Should I go see him now? Or wait? Do I seem really desperate?"

"Chouji!," Shikamaru groaned. "Just go and see him before you have an aneurysm!"

He didn't have to tell him twice. "I'll be back later, Shika," he blurted as he practically rolled down the hill. "Thanks!"

"Troublesome..." Shikamaru just continued to loaf there on his back. He allowed himself a little smile as he heard Chouji crash into a tree. "Well, I guess they're... cute," he admitted to himself.

He felt a small blush come to his face at the thought, and shot a nervous glance around. If he wasn't careful, Teddy and Chouji were going to turn him into a yaoi fanboy and if Ino caught him with so much as a hint of a smile, she'd never let him live it down.

"Whatever..." he sighed as he laid back down. He couldn't seem to put the thoughts to rest. Thoughts of Chouji and Teddy's little reunion plagued his mind as he desperately tried to concentrate on the clouds above. Shikamaru gagged was appalled to realize his feelings were actually hurt that Chouji just left him like that. "Since when do I care?," Shikamaru mumbled.

As soon as that question left his lips, his eyes shot open in shock. Now he was talking to himself?! He tested his breath and retraced his footsteps mentally to see if he could've been slipped some sort of drug. One way or another, he'd figure this out.

So ends chapter 1. I hope you liked it, even though it was sorta puny. I'll have more chapters up if I so choose.