"It's about that Baku guy…." Shikamaru began. Yamouri immediately rolled her eyes knowing where this was going. After all Neji brought up the same issue. In fact, it seemed that everyone was brining up this issue. She didn't see what the big fuss was even about. Sure he was rough on her in training, but that was what she had asked for. Yamouri crossed her arms and slightly glared at him, though she was quite curious as well.

"What about him?"

"It's just weird how he left like he did…. And on top of that didn't even say anything to Lady Tsunade…. Almost like he was avoiding something," Shikamaru continued sounding unsure. He eyed Yamouri carefully who was staring into space. It was hard to tell when she was paying attention or pretending to listen. And she was good with the blank expressions that sometimes seemed like she was sleeping with her eyes open. He coughed and when she didn't even flinch his eyebrow twitched. "Yamouri…. Did you hear what I said?"

"I assure you, there's nothing strange about him… He helped me and I'm grateful. Besides, he's gone now…." Yamouri pushed her bangs out of her face and looked to the side awkwardly. Yamouri had definitely taken into consideration what he said and thought about what Neji had also said. Maybe Takami was going to tell her the same thing? But it wouldn't make any sense at all if she did; after all she had spent years with him.

"Hm, yeah… Oh yeah almost forgot…. Was going to give you this…" Shikamaru then took out a small red bag out of his pocket. Yamouri looked down at it puzzled and when he revealed what was inside she suddenly felt sad.

"Oh… my charm bracelet…"

~::.::.::.::.:: Shikamaru's flashback ::.::.::.::.::~

"Aw man she left… I didn't get to say goodbye…." Choji sighed.

"Well at least there will finally be some peace and quiet…" Shikamaru calmly added and leaned back in his chair. Choji eyed him strangely and just then Asuma showed up asking him if he wanted to play a round of their favorite game. Shikamaru followed and Choji looked out the window as it suddenly began to rain. Afterwards Shikamaru decided to walk towards the tree him and Yamouri would hang out at and thought he saw her standing under it.

"Yamouri?" He called. But the breeze swept away the image. He slowly climbed on up and saw the bracelet he gave her for her birthday just sitting there. "She left it…" Shikamaru looked up at the raining sky with his hands in his pockets. He thought back to the words she had told him back at the hospital.

"Don't pretend like you know everything! Don't even act like you know how it is… You can never imagine how it's like to lose everything! How to lose people so close to you…Just because Neji told you the truth…Don't pretend like you suddenly know everything about me, because you'll never understand!"

~::.::.::.::.:: End of flashback ::.::.::.::.::~

Yamouri cleared her throat and made an excuse that she must have dropped it and was too busy with other things to notice. But she remembered exactly when she had taken it off and told herself no distractions. Shikamaru just shrugged his shoulders and looked like he was ready for a nap and pretending not to care so she wouldn't feel guilty. After all, to him it was just a simple gift for a friend. Yamouri suddenly felt bad for leaving like she did and most likely had hurt Shikamaru's feelings by leaving behind his present. But it seemed that Shikamaru was trying to seem cool. Yamouri placed it back on her wrist and looked up at him, noticing for the first time his new earnings. She reached up and touched his ears wiggling them to annoy him. A giant sweat drop appeared on the back of his head as he stared at her awkwardly.

"Asuma gave them to us," He smirked. Yamouri crossed her arms as he asked how the mission went and how Gaara was doing. After giving him the scoop they began to walk towards the ramen shop that Naruto was obsessed with. Yamouri was disappointed when she saw they changed their menu to dipping noodles and decided to spend her money else where. As they walked around and caught up about things, Yamouri talked to a few people and was greeted by familiar faces. She finally felt like this was home, despite all the things she had said before. Coming back was changing the way she thought.

"So anyways! About what you asked earlier…" Shikamaru added while placing his hands back into his pockets. Yamouri began to look around nervously as he asked the same question he did before, why did she ask about a girlfriend? To her luck she saw Neji walking near by casually. He was looking at something and hadn't noticed them.

"Ah. Neji! There you are! Tell me about that story you were talking about!" Yamouri shouted and began to run towards him, causing a giant sweat drop to form on the back of Shikamaru and Neji's head.

"What are you talking about?" Neji questioned with that same attitude of his. Yamouri wrapped her arm around his, like an escort would, and she began to laugh nervously.

"Well she got weirder…" Shikamaru mumbled. He followed after them with his hands still in his pockets and noticed how strangely Yamouri was acting, but didn't think anything of it. Finally Neji had enough and told her they could meet up later to train because he was busy. Yamouri nodded and soon it was back to just the two of them. It was enough to buy some time for Shikamaru to drop the subject again and Yamouri was relieved. She thought back to the numerous times Akahana and Takami would tell her that she liked him, and began to get angry. They were just friends and that's all they would ever be, she would tell herself over and over again. Besides Shikamaru would go for an average girl, he said so himself. He wants a normal boring life. She had heard Shikamaru tell Choji about it one time, that pretty girls would go for elite ninjas and not guys like him. Choji had noticed Yamouri was ease dropping and asked about her on purpose. Shikamaru had simply stated that she was one of those girls and quickly changed the subject. Yamouri remembered that day perfectly. She was going to ask him to train for she learned a new jutsu, but after that had decided to ask Neji instead. She didn't think of things like that for she always saw herself not living to that age where one would settle down and start a family. She was set on sacrificing herself at the cost of Kento's life. Just then Asuma had come out of a building and ran into them.

"Ah, Yamouri! I heard you got back," He said with a big smile and patted her head. She was practically like another person on his team, because they all used to eat together all the time. Shikamaru seemed to look bored as Asuma asked questions about her training and how things were going. Only when Baku's name was mentioned, did he look at her strangely." I see you guys don't waste time!" He exclaimed. He winked at Shikamaru who didn't seem to get it and Yamouri was too busy thinking about what she was going to have for dinner. Typical for her to be day dreaming of food. He sighed realizing they were just too slow to understand it.

"Where's Kurenai?" Yamouri blurted out. Asuma seemed to get a bit nervous and scratched the back of his head as Shikamaru smirked.

"Uh… Look at the time… Let's play shogi later Shikamaru." With that he quickly walked off and disappeared into the crowd. Yamouri looked at Shikamaru who just shrugged and they began to walk again. They made their way onto the bridge and Yamouri stared at her reflection in the water. Everything that Baku said seemed to have left her mind completely. All those things about not trusting anyone or having friends, was slowly fading. The idea that solitude was the only way also didn't sound the same to her. Yamouri didn't know how she could separate herself from everyone now. It was already too late, she was connected with them and wasn't sure if she wanted to let it all go. Sure she had thought differently before, but now that she was back she felt peaceful.

"Listen Yamouri, there's something I wanted to ask you for awhile now," Shikamaru began. The breeze seemed to pick up and mess with her braid. She looked down at the fishes that were swimming by waiting for his question.

"Do you trust Hikaru?" He finally asked sounding more serious than ever. He had his thinking face on.

"W-what are you talking about Shikamaru?" She gasped and looked at him straight in the eyes. It was definitely an odd question.

"He knew about your past before I did and I was wondering if you told him first or something?"

"I never told him anything before…. You better explain yourself Shikamaru!"

"Well he told me one time that there was something about you that I would never understand and then after your battle with Kento, when you were in the hospital he came up to me about the same thing and told me he knew for awhile. And plus he pops out of nowhere…. It's just weird don't think you think?"

"My, my Shikamaru, talking about me now?" Hikaru's voice suddenly came from behind and they stared at him with suspicion. He wore a big smile and was wearing the traditional leaf Shinobi outfit with his green vest. Yamouri still couldn't believe that this once annoying boy had become Jounin while she was away and now what Shikamaru had told her what he did Yamouri didn't know what to say or even think. Shikamaru scolded him and Yamouri was beginning to feel like she was in a soap opera. Not wanting to deal with unnecessary added stress, she walked off waving at them and leaving them both staring at her in confusion.

~::.::.::.::.:: A few days later ::.::.::.::.::~

Yamouri had heard that Lady Tsunade was planning on brining a new addition to Team Kakashi. But she didn't expect it would happen so soon. Shikamaru had told her about this weird guy who attacked him, Choji, and Naruto just earlier that day. Yamouri already didn't like him and was trying to understand why he would attack them. Shikamaru had explained that he told Naruto he was merely testing their skills.

"What a jerk!" Yamouri had shouted. She stormed off to search for this person and had found him sitting in a tree somewhere. Shikamaru was with her telling her to not make a big scene. But when she did see him she froze.

"He's so pale…." Yamouri blurted out. "You! State your name!""

"Hm? Me? My name is Sai…" He added nervously and jumped down from the tree he was sitting on.

"Sai?" She repeated. He nodded his head and recognized Shikamaru as the boy from before. He apologized which made Yamouri feel bad. She looked around awkwardly until finally he asked about the book she had in her bag that was sticking out. It was her sketchbook. One of her most prized possessions that contained thousands of drawings of all sorts of things. Sai began to explain that he was a painter which seemed to impress her. Shikamaru began to tell him a little about Naruto, but Yamouri found herself staring at Sai. She didn't recall meeting another artist before. Though he painted and she drew, and he used his in battle and hers was just merely to pass the time, she thought maybe he could teach her new skills. She didn't know whether she should like him or dislike him, however. Instead she told him that he should be more careful who he messes with. Sai smiled which made Yamouri shiver for it was rather a strange smile; almost like he just wasn't meant for it. She found that he resembled Sasuke a bit which would probably be difficult for Naruto to accept. She heard that little progress about Sasuke was made and that was devastating for her as well. Naruto had done a lot for her in the past and wanted him to be peaceful, though going after Sasuke was just a dream that could not be made a reality. She had hoped they would have gotten over it, but that was just not going to happen. It was just like her and her path. But she was also devastated at her lack of progress when it came to Kento.

"Maybe we can draw sometime?" Sai added in. Yamouri blinked several times before turning her expression into a slight glare.

"I'll think about it…" She pondered and began to walk off. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and told her he needed to meet Choji and headed off the other direction. But Sai had got her thinking. He seemed like an overconfident self centered jerk and even a fake, but the fact that he attempted a smile was good enough for her to not scold him, like she came there to do. She looked up at the clouds imagining her brother and decided that right now would probably be the only time she would be able to take a nap in peace. She had a mission coming up and usually missions with Lee and Neji were energy draining, but that was no surprise.