Author's Note: Post War. Post Infinite Tsukuyomi. Part 1 of … ? This isn't your run of the mill ShikaTema story! Give it a chance. Comments and constructive criticism is welcomed and appreciated.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my imagination.

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Journal Entry #91 What can I say that hasn't been echoed before? He's lazy. He's banal. He's not even that good looking, TO BE HONEST. That pineapple hair style and sassy strut; who does he think he is with the way he mindlessly gazes up at the clouds when he loses interest in the conversation or when he yawns before you get to the best part; what he does (or doesn't do for that matter) does not cease to piss me THE FUCK OFF. That smirk he gives when he knows he's got you cornered in a game of shogi, that softness in his eyes when he knows you're too tongue tied to counter

I let out an exasperated sigh, then continued,

… the very thought of him drives me up the wall. That stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, STUPID lanky man —

"Temari? Are you ready? The meeting is about to begin," a deep voice called from the other side of my bedroom door. It was none other than Kankuro. I let go of my pencil, held the bridge of my nose with my index finger and thumb and tightened my eyes shut. The pencil rolled from the desk I sat in front of, to the floor. Guess that's all the writing I can do for now, I thought bitterly. I was not in the mood for anything, not even my baby brother's debriefing with the Konoha ninjas.

Scratch that. I was especially not in the mood to deal with anything concerning the Konoha ninjas.

"Go. Away." I ordered hastily before opening my eyes and turning to a fresh page in my journal. To think I had over 13 pages dedicated to my ongoing battle with my feelings for this lazy ham. How embarrassing. That Infinite Tsukuyomi really fucked me up. Since we were awoken from our dreams, I never felt so unraveled. I was going crazy. Not the kind of crazy Gaara went through when our uncle tried to assassinate him, nor was it the kind of crazy I heard Sasuke went through when he lusted for vengeance. No. This was the kind of crazy you get from lying to yourself. The kind of crazy that strengthens when aroused by jealousy. The kind of crazy that a 20 something year old woman should not be getting from her ex commanding general and comrade. Get a grip, Temari! I thought as I ran my fingers through my thick heap of hair and threw myself on top of my desk.

Two minutes passed and Kankuro let out an uncomfortable cough to let me know he was still out there. "Why do you bother staying out there when I told you to leave," I yelled, though my words were muffled due to my face being plummeted on top of the desk.

He chuckled and said, "Ah, it's cause you've always acted like this when they come over here for meetings." Before I could let out a scoff, he continued smartly, "Besides. My younger brother was once a jinchūriki. I think if I could live past those years, I can live past my older sister's mood swings."

The fucking nerve of this kid.

I immediately picked myself up, rolled up the arms of my kimono, balled up one fist, and swung open the door, just in time to see the coward run down the hallway yelling out, "Ha ha! See you at the meeting, sis!"

"Oh you'll fucking see me alright!" I hissed, waving my fist in the air. "And you'll see this fan get shoved so far up your — "

"Ah Temari! You're finally out of your room," teased a voice from behind. If this were any other person, I swear I would've strangled them on the spot but any moment involving Gaara was sincerely precious to me. His sass and taunts were the only ones I could and would dismiss effortlessly. I turned my head to him and nodded slowly. Every time I got a glance of Gaara in his traditional Kazekage robes, I couldn't help but feel the previous angst melt right off of me. Temporarily, of course.

"Are you in cahoots with our idiot?" I asked dryly as I pointed in the other direction.

He nodded proudly, to my surprise. "He said it was the only way to get you out of there in time for the meeting. I proposed asking you nicely but his way —"

"Got me out the door," I repeated.

He let out a grin and nodded again. "Rather quickly!"

"You seem to be in a good mood, today."

"You should be too. Our friends will be here soon and we have to discuss our special mission with them."

"We just got out of a great war, Gaara. What other special mission is there besides Reconstruction?"

"I'm thinking along the lines of…" he paused, trying to think of the right phrasing without giving it away too easily, "…another sort of Reconstruction we will do. It will all make sense once the meeting begins." I looked back at my room. The sun beamed through the window, onto the blank journal page. I let out a defeated sigh. I could agonize over my love life (or lack of one) any time after today. Right now, my little brother needed a hand. "I suppose I can set aside my personal day off for the Kazekage. I have to warn you though. After this meeting is over and we all clock back into this household as siblings, beating Kankuro's ass with my fan is fair game."

He put on his traditional Kage hat and tipped it in my direction. "As the youngest sibling, I have no control over that call, Sis."

I smirked. "That's what I like to hear."

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Journal Entry #92 When I observe my siblings and I, I notice our relations to the outside world are in correlation to different sides of a coin. On the exterior, they know us to be Ambassadors and Leaders of Suna. We are both adored and feared by neighboring countries. But what lays on the other side of this coin? It's the side I get to see. Behind closed doors. Sure, it was never always like this but once Gaara began changing for the better — I began to feel like I had a family again. So much has happened these past few years that have strengthened my love for my siblings and my country. I can't help but feel so proud of everyone and their accomplishments… Still, I am proceeding with shoving my fan up Kankuro's —

"Watcha writing there, Temari?" Interrupted, yet again. I closed my journal with the palm that it rested on and looked straight ahead. It was the spiky haired prodigy, eyeballing my book devilishly.

We were standing in the reception area of the Kage Office, waiting for the other ninjas to arrive. He was early. There were 4 more on their way. It was my duty to lead them in, while Kankuro, the lucky bastard, got to be Gaara's bodyguard for the day. I waved the book in front of him, "This? Why don't you see for yourself?" His devilish smile turned into an unwavering shrill of excitement, which was kind of unsettling, even for him. To be honest, it made me a little angrier than his initial glance so I didn't regret my next few actions towards the world's savior. I pretended to hand it over. As he reached for it, I pulled him by the collar with my other hand and smacked the journal against his head. While he rubbed the top of his head and made a small whimpering sound, I leaned over and hissed, "If you ever try to get your hands on this, I will end you."

"Hello! Hello! Sorry we're late Lady Temari!" exclaimed a young man in a green leotard. "Choji got food poisoning on the way!"

"What the hell, Lee?" Naruto grumbled, still patting his head, "You left the same day as I did! We were racing here remember?"

"Oh yes! I remember but, uh. Well you see…" his face turned crimson.

"We saw him drinking at the same place Choji got food poisoning at," Ino interrupted as she set her backpack down. "We decided to kill two birds with one stone and drag him along with us."

"Saki, really does wonders you know?" Rock Lee said as he robbed the back of his head bashfully. I nodded politely. What I wanted to say was Hell yeah I know Saki works wonders! but no one here needed to know Kankuro and I were raging alcoholics. Not now at least.

Shikamaru and Choji followed a minute later. Choji looked a little pale in the face and was being supported by his … not so lanky anymore … friend.

When the hell did Shikamaru get more muscle? I thought as I observed him sit Choji down on a seat next to the secretary's desk. His shoulders were more broad, his arms were more cut. The amount of muscle on him made him look so ... attractive. A wave of nostalgia fell over me as I was reminded of my experience with the Infinite Tsukuyomi. I was brought back to reality when I heard his raspy voice go "You good, man?" Choji nodded but quickly threw his hands in his mouth as if ready to blow at any second.

"Get him a nurse," I ordered the secretary. She nodded and made a call to the first floor to send in a wheelchair. "We have an underground hospital stationed at the office. You can go with your friend if you'd like. Naruto or Lee could fill you in on what the Kazekage desires to be upheld from this meeting." His back was still facing me. 5 seconds of silence felt like 5 minutes.

Ino chimed in, "Actually…I'll go with Choji. Shikamaru, you go for us."

"Are you sure?"

She patted his shoulder, "Yeah! Will you just chill. It's food poisoning, he isn't going to die."

"Yeah, man. I ate too much. Chill."

"Would you two stop telling me to chill," he growled under his breath. "Geez." His face began to redden. Now Lee and Naruto were giggling. I really hate being outside of the inside joke.

"Did I miss something?" I finally chimed in. "Like a joke? A pun? something?" Before I could get an answer, a paramedic with a wheelchair walked in and got a hold of Choji. Ino followed but before doing so, flashed a thumbs up sign to Shikamaru. Somehow I found myself walking alongside Lee whilst Naruto and Shikamaru were behind us whispering amongst themselves. "Care to explain the behaviors of your strange teammates?"

"To be completely honest with you, Lady Temari. I'm still a little drunk. I am of no use right now."

"At least you're honest…" my voice trailed off.

Then it hit me.

Journal Entry #93 Get Lee shit faced drunk. Make him tell me what the hell is going on with Pineapple head.

I jotted down the note into my journal and tucked it away into my shirt. "What was that Lady Temari?"

"Can't say. I'm too sober." I replied as I patted his head.

After another minute of walking down the narrow hallway, we arrived to the double doors of the Kage Office. "Here we are, gentlemen," I announced before opening the doors to the Kazekage's Office, "take a seat and look alive. That means no sleeping or cloud watching until the meeting is adjourned." I turned and stared directly into Shikamaru's eyes, "Think you can handle that?"

He sighed heavily, shoved his hands in his pockets and strutted lazily inside. I swear he was a sloth in a past life. I rolled my eyes and continued to watch him walk to the seat that had his back against the window. When he adjusted himself, his comrades took a seat beside him. He smirked. "Better?"

I felt like he was mocking me. It was probably because of the smirk. It's always because of that stupid smirk. I remained silent and took the seat right cross from him.

My brothers arrived shortly, carrying different colored scrolls. "Alright," began the Kazekage, "today, we will discuss the Reconstruction of … Bonds."

"Bonds?" I repeated.

"Not just any bonds, Temari." Kankuro continued with a wide grin on his face, "Relationship bonds."

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Journal Entry #94 What the fuck do my little brothers think they're doing?!