A/N: Sorry this is so short – having a full-time job and an internship cuts into free time. I'm really hoping to write more soon.

Please check out my other stories, especially if you're into the Sakura/Naruto, Sakura/Lee or Hinata/Kiba pairings. I'm working on chapter stories for all of those couples. I also have a few oneshots featuring Ino/Shika, Temari/Shika and L/Light from Death Note. To those of you who came over to this story from "Wounded" or any of my other stories: You rock! I thrive on reviews.

Kishimoto-san owns Naruto and all of his friends, not me. *le sigh*

Edit: Tweaked a few words/sentences and added to the end to make it flow better. Wanted to take advantage of the puppet imagery.

Chapter 3

"Lee told me he saw you out with Temari and Shikamaru… and Kankuro," Sakura whispered. "Dare I ask if there's something going on there?"

"Well…" Ino selected her words carefully as they walked down the hospital hall. She trusted her childhood best friend with her life, but she didn't think it wise to reveal her plan to anyone. Cryptic was the way to go. "Maybe a little something..."

"How long?"

"Since the carnival the other night. We wound up together on the Ferris wheel."

"Oh, how I love matchmaking…" The pink-haired kunoichi beamed. "Speaking of that, how are Hinata and Kiba?"

"As far as I know, they're back together, but it's kinda weird. Shikamaru says sometimes Kiba comes over to hang out with him just to get out of their apartment when he's in a crappy mood."

"Man… that must be tough. I hope everything works out for them." Sakura paused in concerned thought, then refocused. "What's Kankuro like? He's so mysterious most of the time. I've barely even heard him speak."

"When he's not in 'bodyguard' mode, he's a smartass and totally full of himself," Ino started, but added, "Most of it's just his way of trying to look cool, though. It's kind of cute." When the unintentional last four words escaped her mouth, she caught herself smiling involuntarily.

"It must be cute, if the goofy grin you're wearing right now is any indication," Sakura giggled.

'Damn…' Ino thought.

"Yeah," was all she let herself say before she and Sakura turned in opposite directions at the end of the hall to see their patients. "See you later."

"What's with you and Barbie?"

"Whaddaya mean?" Kankuro stretched on the couch, placing his open copy of The Adventures of Pinocchio on the end table, page side down to keep his place.

"I mean," Temari asked annoyedly, "Why her of all people? It's almost like you picked my boyfriend's ex on purpose."

"It was a fluke. I got on the Ferris wheel, and there she was," he responded in defense. "After we talked for a while, I decided I like her. That's it." That much was the truth. He didn't divulge his other motives.

He continued with a little white lie: "And for some reason or another, she seems to like me."

"She must really be desperate for some attention without Shikamaru around," Temari half-teased her brother as she walked past him, mussing his hair.

"Tem, don't say that… seriously. That's really catty, even for you."

Temari did a comic double-take. "Whoa… you're defending her before even realizing I've just insulted you, too… You're gonna marry this one."

"Screw you," Kankuro eloquently countered.

"I love you too, little brother." She started to saunter toward the door. "I'm going to Shikamaru's place. Don't wait up."

"Don't worry," he answered. "I never wait up out of concern for my sister… even if she's in a relationship with a guy who acts like he hates women."

"You know he's just kidding."

Kankuro rolled onto his stomach, resting his chin on folded arms. "He's still a jerk."

"Don't make me kick your ass," she mock-whined. "The guilt will ruin my night."

"Sure... Go on."

"Okay. Bye."

Temari's hand paused on the doorknob for a few seconds.

"Despite all the mean things I say sometimes, I really want you to be happy. If you like her, go for it. I'll deal with it. I'm just asking you to be careful. I've heard things."

Kankuro bit his tongue to resist saying "…from her dickhead ex-boyfriend."

As Temari opened the door, Kankuro sincerely replied, "Thanks." She really could be cool sometimes, he thought.

"No problem." She smiled back at him as she closed it.

It was going to be really hard for him to break his sister's heart, but it was for the best. Nara didn't deserve her.

He found it slightly alarming that he'd known Ino for less than a week and he'd already become viciously defensive against Temari's questioning of her honor. It probably had something to do with the fact that the damn Nara kid was involved.

He didn't think Shikamaru deserved Ino, either, but that was none of his business. It was her choice. Despite that fact, it still bothered him to think about them together.

"Bah," he groaned. "I'm getting soft about a chick. No good. Need a distraction."

He picked up his book and resumed reading. At least he attempted to resume reading. Not even his all-time favorite story could keep his rebellious thoughts in check. He would read about halfway through a page, then a grumble of "Stupid jackass Nara" or "What the hell does she see in him?" would rise in his throat. He'd force himself to focus on the printed words again, but it never lasted long.

He eventually fell asleep, but even that didn't give him any reprieve. He dreamed he was a marionette, his every move subject to the whims of a very familiar-looking blonde fairy who controlled him with strings on a stage. A spiky-haired fellow came along to watch the show for a while, and when the beautiful fairy puppeteer noticed the newcomer, she dropped Kankuro in a heap of wooden limbs and flew away. In a subconscious refusal to watch his fairy with that other guy, he woke up.

'I've got to lay off the fluffy reading before bed,' Kankuro thought before he turned over and went back to sleep. 'That fairy was pretty hot, though...'