A/N: Ok so I came up with this episode and decided to add it. I'm still not sure if I'll continue this story or not. I might just put up scenes from time to time. I already have an idea for the next one. PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Flames are not welcome but constructive criticism is. Do you think I should continue? Do you think I should've left this as a one - shot?

Portrait

Scene 2

After Gaara left and Michicko finished her sketch, Kankurou suggested that they play a video game. After many (virtual) battles over the next two hours, Michicko finally put down her controller. "Alright Kankurou, that's enough. Face it - you can't beat me. I'm just the queen of Soul Caliber!" She said laughing.

Kankurou stared up at her sourly. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," he said while rolling his eyes but Michicko knew that he wasn't really upset with her.

"Anyway I think it's time I get home." Michicko said, glancing meaningfully at the clock.

Kankurou looked at the clock over the tv and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. He hadn't realized it was that late - it felt like they'd only been there for fifteen minutes but that, he noted with a faint smile, always seemed to happen whenever he was with Michicko. He just always felt so comfortable around her. He chalked it up to the fact that they'd been friends for so long (Although granted he didn't feel like quite that with any of his other friends.) "Well then, let's go."

"Kankurou I'm a shinobi, ok? You don't need to walk me home. I can protect myself."

"So? I want to. Let's go," and with that, Kankurou started across the room. Michicko grinned foolishly at his statement before replacing it with a neutral expression as she began following him out of his house.

Kankurou and Michicko ambled down the deserted streets of the Village Hidden in the Sand. At this hour (about half past 11) most of the Suna inhabitants were either already in or on their way to bed due to their early rising time every day. Michicko walked slowly taking in the mostly empty landscape - she loved how her village looked at night, illuminated simply by moonlight.

A light, cool wind blew, chilling Michicko (who had never had much tolerance for cold) and rustled Kankurou's hair. Michicko noticed and smiled softly to herself - one of the benefits to being such close friends with Kankurou was that she often got to see him sans his hood and face-paint which was a perk that she appreciated greatly. She did like how he looked in his usual ninja garb as well however, particularly in his face paint with which she (was ashamed to admit) she had developed a strange fascination. She had often thought of asking Kankurou to let her see him put it on but then realizing how odd such a request would sound, she'd never bothered.

Feeling her eyes on him, Kankurou turned to her and noting the position of her arms, which she had wrapped around herself after the gust of wind passed, said, "Hey, you cold?"

"A little, yeah."

As Kankurou did not have on a jacket, he did (what seemed to him to be) the next best thing which was to pull Michicko over to him and wrap his arms tightly around her from behind. She stiffened as he began moving his hands up and down her arms in an effort to warm her up. "K-Kankurou, what are you doing?" she stammered out, mentally kicking herself for that uncharacteristic tremor in her voice. Kankurou, fortunately for her, was too engrossed in his task to pay that much attention to her and simply replied, "You said you were cold so I'm warming you up. I don't have a jacket so I'm using my body heat."

His breath tickled her ear and she involuntarily shuddered. "You don't have to do that Kankurou. We're almost at my apartment." 'At least the tremor's gone.'

"It's no big deal," Kankurou said as he (to Michicko's silent horror/enjoyment) pulled her closer to him in response to her shudder which he had mistakenly thought was caused by the temperature. Michicko was torn now - she really wanted nothing more than to snuggle into Kankurou's chest but she figured that an action like that would definitely make her feelings for him more obvious. 'Curse these darn emotions!' Things had been a lot easier when he was just her friend but as her feelings for him grew, things started to become a little more awkward (at least for her.)

After a few more minutes, Kankurou stopped and moved away from her, "So are you all warmed up now?"

Michicko just nodded and started walking briskly in the direction of her apartment building. Kankurou just stared at her for a few seconds before starting after her at his previous pace. He was a little perplexed at her strange behaviour - and it wasn't just tonight. Kankurou could be dense at times but he was by no means stupid and he'd been noticing that Michicko had been acting different lately - in small but significant ways. Michicko was very affectionate and usually hugged her friends every time she saw them, even if it was every day but lately she'd stopped hugging him so much and (unless it was his imagination) her hugs were shorter and a lot stiffer than they used to be. In fact, if he wasn't mistaken, it seemed as though she tried her best to avoid touching him period. That's why he had relented so easily when she'd 'apologized' earlier - because having her arms around him was comforting and familiar. It was a gesture that he expected from her and it was one that he seemed to receive less and less these days. And now this - she'd totally frozen up just now and he couldn't for the life of him figure out why.

He caught up with her at the door to her apartment building. "Well you're here so I guess I'll be heading back now," Kankurou said to her. Although he was quite adept at hiding his emotions, Michicko could tell that something was amiss...and she also knew that she was most likely the cause. "Well later," Kankurou hesitated a second before turning around and starting back the way he'd just come. A few weeks ago, Michicko would've launched herself at him and squeezed him to death before going into her building. It was another of their unspoken rituals.

As she watched him walk away, Michicko realized that she had been subconsciously distancing herself from him and she had a feeling that he'd noticed. After all, how could he not? "Wait Kankurou!"

He stopped and slowly turned around right before falling over as Michicko collided with him.

"Ow! Kankurou, why did you take so long to turn around?"

He sat up, rubbing his back, "Well I didn't realize that's what you were about to do. I thought you just forgot to tell me something."

"I did actually."

"See? What is it?" he asked as he got up and helped Michicko to her feet. Michicko looked up at him and smiled before wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly. Pleased, Kankurou returned her embrace - there was that warm, familiar feeling that he had grown to love. Again she felt like melting but she tried her best to ignore it. She considered telling him then - showing him the sketchpads up in her apartment and confessing but she didn't thibk that now was the time. She didn't thank that Kankurou was ready yet..or that she was either in fact.

After a few minutes they separated - both grinning. "Sorry about the way I've been lately. I was just..." She trailed off...what was she?

Kankurou shrugged, "Forget about it - it's cool." And Michicko knew that everything was alright between them - for now at least. Michicko knew that there was a chance that she and Kankurou would never be more than friends but she vowed to herself there that at least they would at least always remain that. She wouldn't distance herself from him again - no matter how difficult it made hiding her feelings.