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Chapter Four

The second to last day of the Sand villagers journey came and went. Eventually day turned to night as the few restaurants and bars set up shop. Clubs opened their doors to rooms with pulsating light-up floors and booming music.

It was outside of one of these establishments that Temari, Kankuro, Shikamaru and Gaara found themselves. Kankuro finally got his wish of visiting the only fun place established for teenagers.

They walked in and snagged one of the tables that were set up around the perimeter of the main room, which also housed the dance floor.

They all ordered some drinks, and then just sat there awhile, taking in their surroundings.

For a Thursday night, the club was doing fairly good business. There had to be at least twenty other teens mulling around on the dance floor, doing what they expected to be the latest craze in dance moves, but resembled a peg-legged duck thrashing about more than anything.

Shikamaru didn't recognize anyone, which considering how small Konoha was to begin with was surprising in itself.

The music changed as an upbeat fast-paced music, replacing a slower one. This song had an infectious beat, and Shikamaru found himself tapping the beat out with his foot.

"Hey, I got an idea." chirped Kankuro suddenly. "Now, this might seem sort of out there," he began, sarcasm practically dribbling off of his tongue, "But how's about we go dance on the dance floor."

Temari, who was sitting across from him gave him a silent look that could kill, but he just waved it off.

"Come on, this is a dance club. Are we just going to sit here and watch other people dance, poorly I might add." he said as an afterthought, while watching one girl fail in her attempt to pull off what most likely have been a very cool dance move, but ended up looking just ridiculous and embarrassing. "Or are we going to have some fun and dance?"

Before anyone could protest, Kankuro stood up real quick and pulled Temari along with him by one the sleeves of her low-cut shirt. He turned though to face the other two. "Well?" he asked.

Gaara gave no reply which was instantly interpreted as "No." that no one argued with. Shikamaru was a different case though.

"I can't dan-" but he wasn't allowed to finish his sentence as Kankuro snatched him up as well by the sleeve of his shirt.

Practically dragging the two unwilling victims, Kankuro made his way towards the middle of the floor. The same song was still playing, and they found themselves swaying to the rhythm, though in Shikamaru and Temari's case it was somewhat hesitantly.

But soon they simply let the music wash over them and they just started to dance to it with no rhyme or reason other than to have fun with it and to hell with anyone who thought that what they were doing was embarrassing.

Sure enough, the song changed, the new one was much slower, meant to be a romantic couple song. Temari and Shikamaru were shaken out of there reveries by the change in tempo to see that they were only ones on the floor that was not coupled up and that wasn't dancing slowly to the music. Kankuro was nowhere to be seen.

"Uh, well, I guess we should sit down now." said Temari shakily after an awkward pause.

Shikamaru agreed, but he suddenly found himself pulling Temari closer to him, and began to move around in a smooth small circle like all of the other couples.

He placed his hands around the small of her back as he felt her hesitantly place her hands on his shoulders, then, after a pause, she nudged her chin onto his shoulder as well and leaned into his body's frame. They were so close that they could feel the warmth of each other's breath on their cheeks, and hear the gentle beat of each other's heartbeat, which was slowly starting to elevate, though in sync. Bum-bump, Bum-bump, Bum-bump.

After the song had ended, they pulled apart slightly, but still held on to each other. Their eyes met and they both carried the same message. Time slowed as the two's faces slowly, oh so painfully slow, came closer. Just as two pairs of lips were about to meet, their senses flooded back, and the two realized what they were about to do. They let go of each other quickly and stood apart from each other, blood rushing to their cheeks, coloring them scarlet at their embarrassment.

"Uh…"

"Yeah."

They stood in silence a bit longer before they both simultaneously turned and went off in separate directions.

"Was I about to do what I think I was about to do?" thought Shikamaru to himself.

"I can't believe I nearly ki- no, no, I didn't, there's no way, because as I have repeatedly had to tell Kankuro, I. Don't. Like. Him. Speaking of Kankuro, he's dead meat." Temari went off searching for her oldest brother and prepared to commit murder.

Back before the whole mess of the slow dance had even began, Kankuro had made his way back to the table where Gaara was still sitting at, leaving Shikamaru and Temari to fend for themselves.

"Watch and learn little brother, you are looking at a matchmaking genius." he told Gaara.

"And who exactly are you using your "matchmaking genius" on?" asked Gaara sarcastically, not particularly caring how Kankuro answered, or if he answered at all. He was just practicing the art of conversation, which is apparently a skill required by the Kazekage.

"Temari and Shikamaru." came the response.

"Shikamaru's that guy that's been following us around all week, right?" asked Gaara, trying to conjure a face to the name.

"Yeah, he's our guide, although I guess I shouldn't have expected you to remember him, you've been to busy with your Kage business." said Kankuro.

"Isn't he also the guy who's been sneaking out every night?" asked Gaara, which came as a surprise to Kankuro.

"Wha- he's been sneaking out every night?"

"Yeah, and it looks like he goes to the Hokage's office, but I'm not entirely sure."

"What would he be doing at the Hokage's office?"

"Obviously something top secret, or he wouldn't be waiting until everyone was asleep to sneak out." supplied Gaara as an answer.

"Every night…what could he be up to?"

Kankuro came to a decision, he'd confront Shikamaru about his late night walks.

Right then was when Temari showed up, face red from embarrassment and anger.

"What the hell was that about Kankuro!" she said, screaming over the music, but not particularly caring who overheard. "What were you thinking leaving me there alone wi-"

"We've got bigger problems than that, apparently Shikamaru's been sneaking out every night and meeting someone." interrupted Kankuro.

"Meeting someone…" she said in a small horrified voice, more to herself than anyone else.

"Yeah, and I think we need to get to the bottom of it, Gaara, come on." Kankuro said, while turning to his younger brother, before heading off to find the two-faced rat, Shikamaru.

"Crap, crap, CRAP!!! This is the exact opposite of not getting tangled up in this mess. What was I thinking, I nearly…I nearly…I can't believe I almost did what I almost did…"

Shikamaru made his way to the illuminated bar and ordered an ice tea, and sat down, to wade through his complicated and unidentifiable emotions.

It wasn't long before he got a tap on the shoulder, and turning, he saw that it was Kankuro.

"We need to talk." he said in a serious tone befitting a funeral.

"Crap, Temari told him about what almost happened, and now he's going to beat me up to 'protect his sister's honor' or something.."

He followed Kankuro, who was soon joined by Gaara and Temari, with his head hanging. He glanced up briefly to see Temari looking at him with a look of such disappointment."

"Shit, is she that upset about the kiss-thing?"

"Shit, shit, SHIT!!! I should have known he'd be seeing someone. How could I have been so stupid?!?!?! I've seen him with his shirt off!!! I know how he looks, and I surely can't be the only girl who's noticed. I bet he's seeing that stupid dumb Ino-chick!!! sigh the worst part is that I'm letting this effect me so deeply. This is not what was suppose to happen. I was suppose to come Konoha and beat up the little punk, get my revenge…I wasn't suppose to fall in love with him." there was no denying her feelings now… not after what almost happened on the dance floor. She nearly jumped him for heaven's sake! She would have to if it she hadn't come to her senses, but she couldn't deny anything now. This wasn't some little crush. Temari understood her feelings, she knew the difference between lust and love.

"But stupid little Shikamaru, completely messed me up!"

Soon they had reached the Inn, and they climbed up the stairs, slowly, solemnly, like a funeral procession.

The group of four reached Kankuro and Shikamaru's shared room and stepped inside. Kankuro pointed to Shikamaru's bed, gesturing to him to sit down. Shikamaru could see the anger in his eyes. Temari went to go sit on Kankuro's bed, listless, and Gaara stood in the corner farthest away from Shikamaru's bed.

"Alright, explain yourself." demanded Kankuro.

"Wha-"

"You know exactly what I mean, Gaara's been saying that you've been sneaking out at night and going towards the Hokage's office."

"The Hokage's office? I thought he was meeting a girl, unless… unless he's been meeting Tsunade… EWWW!!! That's just gross!!! She's like, three times his age." thought Temari.

"Okay, so he's not going to beat me up to defend his sister's honor," concluded Shikamaru, "But it's just as bad because they know about my meeting with Tsunade."

'It's not- I can explain." he started, rather lamely.

"Then do." hissed Kankuro.

"And how do I explain this? Do I just tell them that I've been spying on them? Yeah right…"

"Well…Uh, you were right, I have been meeting the Hokage."

"EWWWW!" thought Temari.

"But it wasn't my fault, I was just taking orders, and I know that that is the stupidest excuse, but believe me, I never wanted this mission, especially not after I found out I had to watch you…"

Silence filled the room.

"SHIT!!! I was not suppose to say that!!! How the hell did that come out?!?!?!"

But it was much too late to call for a retraction. Due to his nervousness, Shikamaru ended up blowing his big secret, and there was no way to make the other three occupants of the room forget it.

"What do you mean watch us? Have you been spying on us?" asked Kankuro, voice getting dangerously close to sounding murderous.

All Shikamaru could do was nod numbly.

Relief flooded through Temari. "He wasn't seeing anyone, well, not like that." But this relief was short-lived as red hot anger overtook Temari's body.

"Who put you up to it?" demanded Temari, getting up from the bed.

Shikamaru turned his head to face her, "It wasn't Tsunade-sama, she was just following orders from the feudal lords. They're the ones who said we needed to keep an eye on you, despite the fact that you signed that treaty. And I was the sucker who was suckered into it." he added, preparing for the eruption that was sure to come.

He was not disappointed.

"You…you…YOU SNOT-NOSED, LYING, TREACHEROUS, TWO-FACED, LITTLE SNAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Temari yelled, not caring who heard "How dare you…you. I can not believe this. This whole time you've been spying on us!?!?!" said Temari.

Shikamaru didn't reply, he couldn't. he lowered his head. Everything she had said was 100 true, even the part about him being a snake. He never felt so low in his life.

He raised his head when a slamming noise reached his ears. Temari had left, leaving Shikamaru in a room with one very angry shinobi, and a Kazekage who, although appeared aloof, would probably join in if Kankuro decided to start beating Shikamaru up.

Trying to intercept this inevitable future, Shikamaru got up and left the room, but he had no idea where to go. There was no way he could sleep in the same room as Kankuro. Based on that last look he gave him, it was safe to assume that Kankuro would try to kill him in his sleep. He supposed he could return to his home, but…

But he couldn't feel compelled to take this course of action, although it was by far the most logical. He couldn't bring himself to do it though because of Temari. Although her anger had been much apparent, Shikamaru had heard another emotion under all that. Disappointment. Complete and utter disappointment. And he was the cause of it.

He felt responsible for the state Temari was in, but he wasn't sure what he could do. He sincerely doubted that her seeing him right now would solve anything, but he didn't want to leave her all alone either. He compromised by seating himself just outside of her room. He rested his head against the wall and prayed. "Please, please let her forgive me, please let this be a nightmare that I'll just wake up from it and she'll be there, still on friendly terms with me." these thought circled his mind as he fell deeper and deeper into sleep.

It was well past midnight, and Tsunade was still waiting for Shikamaru. She peeked out her window for the thousandth time, hoping to spot him walking up the street, but to no avail.

"Where is he?" she thought to herself. "Something must have happened, something bad." she sat down behind her desk, various scenarios entering her mind, each more worse than the last one.

"He'd better be okay, because by the time I get my hands on him he won't be."

And with that, Tsunade slowly drifted off to sleep, her head resting on her desk.


Please review!

Shalom!

Um yeah, this is both one of my favorite chapters as well as one of my least. It's my favorite because of what happens, what with the big secret being let out and stuff.

It's my least favorite because of the way I handled it…especially with Temari talking to herself when she's leaving the club… about the falling in love thing…

Either it seems to quick for me, or it just seems poorly written… because you know how authors draw on their own experiences? Yeah well…imagination can only get you so far and I really have no idea how the falling in love thing works…

But anyway… hope you enjoyed it

Gomen Nasai for the cursing… but its all Class Three curse words anyway….