'What's wrong with me…?' Temari thought quietly, sighing with the annoyance she was causing herself. Was that encounter with that woman really going to ruin her two month vacation? Konohagakure was truly like a paradise, a vacation home to her. But her depressed mood was killing it; she felt bad already.

Sighing, she began unpacking her things, the pain fading from her ribs while she laid her Tessen next to the bookcase. Her mind wandered as she slowly began going through her room, placing objects here and there. She pulled out her clothing, and opened the closet to put them in. Hanging them one by one, she held up the black kimono Gaara had made her bring, staring at its violet and green designs. But the Obi…She sighed as she hung it and ran a hand along the vivid violet sash that hung lightly from it.

Her mother's obi…Her wedding obi.

x-x-x-x-x-x

Shikamaru stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Temari had been in that room for hours now, the lamps outside turning on; the sun had long faded from the sky. A waning moon hung above, shimmering lightly in the dotted sky that had but a few clouds here and there. His obsidian eyes wandered down from the window to the hall, staring up at Temari's door and wondering what was truly wrong with her.

'If the damn woman is hurt, she ought to take care of it. Being weakened isn't a good state for her, and just my luck, I'll have to deal with her crabby ass.' An irritated sigh emitted from his throat as he adjusted his arms behind his head, pushing off the couch a moment later. Reaching over, he turned off the lamp and a peaceful darkness eveloped the house. He turned and walked towards the stairs, starting to climb them. About halfway up, movement distracted him, and he looked up to lock eyes with a certain kunouichi. Looking her over to figure out her stature, he figured she was still in slight pain, considering she was hunched over a bit. Yet, when he looked more carefully, he noticed something else; her eyes were apologetic.

"Goodnight, lazy bastard…Sorry for snapping earlier." She muttered the last part a bit, not one to say sorry. And Shikamaru took full advantage of that.

"Did I just hear that correctly?" He quickly ran down the stairs, opening the door and leaning out, glancing at the sky. Seeing nothing, he shut it and returned before her shocked face, smirking viciously. "Nope, the sky isn't falling. You really said sorry, didn't you?"

"If you want to be a damn ass about it, then forget I ever apologized!" She growled, crossing her arms, yet lingering a bit above her ribs, giving her a childish demeanor. Shikamaru chuckled, shaking his head and walking past her towards his room. He opened the door and turned his head to look at her once again, that smirk still lingering on his lips.

"Eh, forgiven, troublesome woman." He walked into the quiet room of his, catching the smirk she returned. Once Temari retreated to her room, and her door had closed, he pushed his gently. As it closed, he stretched, giving a yawn. Shikamaru glanced at the clock, mumbling about the time. He wouldn't get as much sleep as he wanted. Another yawn overcame him, causing him to yaw. Oh well, it had been a long day.

Sliding out of his clothing, he slid on some pajama bottoms before hanging his flak jacket upon a hook on the door. The rest of the clothes ended up just about anywhere there was floor. Lazily dragging himself to his bed, he slid under the warm blankets, removing his hair tie. Shikamaru placed it upon the inn table beside his bed, and soon drifted off into a peaceful, sound sleep.

x-x-x-x-x-x

Twitter…twitter twitter.

The sounds of birds in the morning were something Temari wasn't used to, the young girl more used to the blowing winds that surrounded her home. Her winds. But being in Konoha, they were going to be badly missed. Yawning, she opened her eyes in a dazed manner, sighing as her pupils began to focus on the ceiling. Her hair sprawled upon the pillow beneath her, like golden waves of sunlight upon a pale girl's skin. Her mind was clouded, veering off to her encounter with that girl. Letting go of those thoughts, she slowly pushed the comforter off her chest and brought her feet to the ground.

Her bare feet touched the cold hardwood floor, and her eyes closed, a slight wave of dizziness overwhelming her senses. A hand shot up to hold her head, brow furrowing as her other arm kept her steady with the wall. Something didn't feel right; as if something was piercing at her skin from the inside. Exactly where that Tessen had been shoved into her side a few days ago. She knew she had gotten broken ribs, but they had been taken care of…why was she still --

'Forget it. I'm tough, I can deal with pain,' she scolded herself, pushing off the bed and lightly making her way to the closet. She realized she had been so tired last night she hadn't even changed. A sigh emitted from her throat, and she pulled out clean and unwrinkled clothes.

x-x-x-x-x-x

Shikamaru turned the golden doorknob, a creak sounding from the hinges of the door. 'I've gotta fix that…' he halfheartedly noted. Like he would ever get to it. He had been up at roughly ten that morning, having to go and reassure Tsunade that he hadn't done anything to their guest. That woman…sometimes he just wanted to—

"Morning," a curt voice wavered at him, Shikamaru blinking as he looked up at the stairs where the Sabaku girl stood with a grimacing expression. So she wasn't a morning person…Ah well, he shrugged and gave a slight jerk of his hand as if to wave and shut the door behind him, tossing the scroll Gondaime had given him onto the coffee table. Temari simply walked past him, sliding onto the couch quietly and picking it up in order to brief herself with it.

"Nothing much," Shikamaru sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets and lazily staring out the window at nothing in particular. "Just have to entertain you."

"Ah…Well, I don't mind doing something today, just as long as we stay in the village," she replied oddly, causing Shikamaru to turn his head and raise an eyebrow at her. 'Stay in the…what?' he blinked, wondering why she said that. She seemed in thought, but for now the boy would leave it be. She apparently didn't seem too happy with him butting in last time, no need to ruin a day so soon.

"Mendokuse…"

"Shush, baka. With you as company, we have to go do something. You aren't the most engaging person," she smirked, raising her eyes without moving to lock with his. He grinned, a smirk forming upon his own lips as he saw that normal amusement in insulting him that proved the Temari he knew was back. How he enjoyed these troublesome banters…He usually won.

"Well, it's hard to be an engaging person around someone who finds violence entertaining" he shot back, mentally chuckling at her twitching hand. She had left her Tessen upstairs.

"I find it entertaining because you can't dodge," she clenched her fist lightly to stop the twitching.

"I can dodge, but it's best to let a woman think she has control. Keeps them in check."

"Sexist bastard."

"Violent Bitch."

Mind you, through all of this, their competitive smirks never left their faces. Shaking her head, Temari stood and punched him in the shoulder before walking upstairs to retrieve her fan. Though he hadn't flinched, once she had left the boy closed his eyes and held his shoulder tightly, silently mouthing the word, 'Ow.'

Yep. My BETA saves me again. XD Another Chapter re-done thanks to Midnight Memories. I will post the next chapter soon. -

Disclaimer: Nope, no Naruto-kun for me!

Copyright: Hey…This is my plot, and some of these are my original characters…Please leave them alone unless you ask.