No comment (for once). gasp shock. (I bet you're all relieved you don't have to read some stupid authors comment here).


Chapter 7

Confessions

Temari knocked on the polished wooden doors that leaded into the Hokage's room. She smoothed out the front of her kimono; she wanted to look at least presentable.

"Enter!"

Temari opened the door and quietly shut it behind her. She walked up to the desk. Tsunade was facing the giant windows across the room, the back of her chair facing Temari.

"Um… Hokage-sama, you told me I would be able to meet my guide today."

Tsunade turned her high backed chair around, facing her with interlaced fingers.

"He'll be here shortly, don't worry."

"Have you heard from the Kaze-kage? Anything about how long I will be staying here for?"

"I haven't heard from him yet; I'll let you know as soon as I get his message."

From the other side of the room, a loud bang was heard. Temari turned around out of surprise.

"Sorry I'm late Tsunade-sama. Naruto told me that-"

He stopped and saw Temari, and flushed red form embarrassment. He bowed down low and said,

"I'm very sorry Hokage-sama, Temari-san."

"It's all right Kiba," said Tsunade "you're only a minute or two late. Anyways! You know what your mission is right?"

He shook his head, a frown upon his face.

"What!? Didn't Naruto tell you?!" she exclaimed.

"He didn't tell me anything except to come here, and he said something about gambling, but I really wasn't paying attenti-"

A vein pulsed in Tsunade's forehead, and her eye twitched simultaneously.

"Damn it… that Naruto…." she muttered. Temari coughed, making sure she wasn't forgotten. Her sudden cough seemed to bring the conversation back on track.

"Your mission is to be Temari's guide today. here's a list of places you'll need to show her around." She handed him a sheet of paper and continued speaking.

"You should be able to complete all these locations by today or tomorrow, and no later! Understand?"

"Yes ma'am!" he replied. Tsunade nodded and said,

"You're dismissed."

Temari followed behind Kiba and walked out to the streets. She was carefully walking beside him, making sure she wouldn't lose sight of him.

"'Kay well it says 'Ninja Academy' on the top of the list, so I guess that's where we're heading." he said.

"Yup."

She checked through her folder so that she had all the necessary forms and said,

"Let's go." Kiba nodded and leaded her to the direction of the school.

----

Walking with Kiba seemed to have proved to be less awkward when compared with Shikamaru. Temari found herself easily getting pulled into the conversation, and every silence was used to rest their non-stop talking mouths, rather than a silence because there was nothing to say.

"We're here," said Kiba, "you remember the exterior of the academy right?"

"Yeah…but I'm not so good with the interior."

He laughed and replied,

"That's why I'm here."

They walked into the school and Temari spent most of her morning and part of her afternoon in the academy. Kiba decided to help some of the students train while she asked the instructors questions about teaching methods, and observed the classes. Time passed quickly; Temari and Kiba both ended up going out for sushi. Both were happily eating their sashimi and teriyaki.

"…So the kid almost nailed me in the eye! I am never teaching those kids how to throw kunais!"

Temari laughed and said,

"Talk about bad luck!"

Kiba rolled his eyes at her comment. He eyed the empty dishes and bowls on the table, and suggested,

"Want to go for a walk?"

"Sure" she shrugged.

-----

They ended up walking under many trees, giving them shade from the afternoon sun.
"Can I tell you something?" asked Temari. Kiba smiled and replied,

"Of course you can!"

"The truth is…. I've never had so much fun with a guy for such a long time! I really liked hanging out with you today." she said.

'Other than the weird date with Shikamaru…' she thought privately.

Kiba's cheeks had a tint of pink of them, and his smile became bigger.

"I had fun hanging out with you too."

They continued walking, but at a much slower pace than before. Kiba stopped and ran his hand through his hair. He placed a hand on her arm, and said,

"I can't stand it anymore!!" Her expression became troubled and worried.

"Can't stand what?" she asked. He looked down at his face, but he looked into her forest green eyes.

"I have a confession to make. Temari…you know how I told you that I really like someone…"

"Yeah…." She knew what was coming next. After all, she was warned, wasn't she?

"…and that someone is…" he paused, but regained the courage to continue

"…you"

Temari, although she knew what he was going to confess, couldn't keep her face from pretending that she was 'surprised'.

"I've always liked you! Even though you were always with Shikamaru, I hoped that we would become friends and maybe…maybe blossom into something more…" he whispered.

Before Temari even knew what was going on, before her brain processed everything, Kiba leaned in and kissed her. She was frozen from shock. Kiba pulled her body closer towards himself; one hand was on her neck and the other was around her waist. Temari couldn't hold back her unconscious craving, and gave in into her temptation. Their lips parted, but were back on each other's again.

Temari felt shivers going down her spine as he licked the roof of her mouth. Maybe it was to her imagination, but she was actually enjoying the kiss. It was very different from the ones she and Shikamaru shared. His were gentle and soft but firm, while Kiba's were more aggressive than she was used to.

Realizing what she was doing by thinking of Shikamaru, she gently pushed Kiba away. He was confused as to why she had pushed him away, but he didn't pursue the topic.

Breathless, he asked,

"Want to go back home now?"

"Yes." she answered. He took her hand and interlocked with his, and began walking with a grin on his face. Temari had accepted his non-spoken question that was hanging about in the air.

Shikamaru was worried, extremely worried. His dinner with Temari did not go as well as he would have liked, plus Ino was irritating him nearly to death. His current location: on the roof top of a building he always went to so he could watch the clouds. He was starting to doubt his relationship with Ino. Breakfast with her did not go well.

-Flashback-

"Morning Shika-kun!" chirped Ino, preparing breakfast for the two of them. He stumbled in and walked into the kitchen.

"Morning." he yawned. As he was reaching over Ino to get a mug, she kissed him on the cheek. He ignored her and began to fill his mug with coffee. Ino wore an expression of unfathomable confusion. Shikamaru normally would have hugged her and kissed her, but

'…maybe he's having a bad day?' she thought.

Shikamaru sat at the dining table, drinking his coffee. Ino placed his and her breakfast on the table.

"Thanks." he muttered. She frowned and sat across from him.

"Shika-kun, is something wrong?" He looked up from his food and said,

"No, nothing's wrong." He went back to eating. This made Ino more upset and slightly angry.
"You're completely ignoring me! ...have I done something wrong?"

Shikamaru sighed and replied,
"Once again, nothing's wrong and I'm not mad at you." A look of frustration appeared on his face, making Ino angrier.

"Well if nothing's wrong, will you at least look and talk to me?!"

"…" He didn't say anything, which was exactly the wrong move to make.

"Shikamaru Nara! What is up with you!! I'm your girlfriend…. yet you've been completely ignoring me during this past week! What is taking your attention all the time?! Can't you at least try and talk to me! I'm your girlfriend…" she snapped, "I thought we would be able to trust each other and talk to one another…no matter what the issue is. Aren't we supposed to help each other…?"

Shikamaru remained silent, pondering, then replied,

"Sorry."

Ino's cheeks became red out of anger.

"Is sorry the best you can say?" she whispered. He didn't reply.

"Is it!?" she yelled. Shikamaru looked away from her. Ino slammed her hands on the table and stood up.

"When you have something decent to say to me, then you can talk to me and apologize actually meaning it!" she snapped. Ino stomped out of the dining room and slammed the front door on the way out.

-End Flashback-

Shikamaru's head was filled with so many overloading thoughts. He had been wondering about his feelings towards both Temari and Ino. He really did love the blonde… but maybe that love could only be extended as friendship. He didn't feel the strong emotional pull he felt with Temari. Then again…why did he leave her for Ino? Wasn't he sure that Ino was his soul mate? Why…why? He had known her for years, ending up on the same team, and became close friends with her.

But Temari…. she suddenly appeared out of no where and into his life. They first met on the battlefield as enemies. But as time passed she saved him, and he saved her in close battles. Every time they met, insults were thrown at each other, ending with laughter. He always wanted to make her smile, to hear her laughter ringing in his ears.

Ino…what was she to him? A friend… or a lover? What was he intrigued by her? She was always kind to him, always smiling at the darkest of moments. Maybe the reason he left Temari for Ino was because of her abilities to raise his spirits. But, Temari; just seeing her smile already made his heart soar. Then why? Why did he leave her? Had he chosen Ino because it was the easy route? Why did he leave her? Truly…why?

-Flashback-

It was a rainy afternoon for Konoha. The sky was pouring buckets and all the people ran for shelter. All except Shikamaru and Temari. He had asked her to meet him under a special sakura tree by her favorite reading spot. He saw her running towards him, not carrying an umbrella, bangs sticking onto the sides of her face. As she slowed down to a walk, coming closer to him, he could see her radiant smile under the pouring rain. How heartbreaking it would be for him to break her smile and her heart into pieces.

"Shikamaru!" she yelled. She ran up to him and gave him a wet soggy hug. He wanted to enfold her into his arms, but he unwillingly pushed her away. Temari's smile dimmed, and was replaced with a confused look of worry. Another wave of despair ran through him.

"W-what's wrong?" she asked him. He looked down, trying not to look into her eyes…her beautiful pool of emeralds, trying to regain his control speak.

"What's wrong?" she asked him again. Shikamaru clenched his fists and forced himself to look at her, into her eyes.

"I don't think this is working." he said. Her eyes widened with shock. He almost withered, looking at her.

"W-what did you say??"
"I said, I don't think this is working out." he said more strongly. He saw her eyes flicker, and he could tell she was trying her hardest to hold back her tears.

"People work problems out Shikamaru…why won't you tell me what's wrong?! Shouldn't we work it out first?" she exclaimed, her voice teetering from cracking.

"It's complicated."

"Please…don't do this! Please don't do this to me! Why? Why Shika why?" she pleaded.

"There's another woman!" he blurted. He saw her heart shattering into more pieces through her eyes. She looked towards the ground, away from him, and then back to him.

"…who?" she whispered. He then looked away and said,

"Ino. It's Ino. I'm sorry Temari but…she needs me."

"I also need you…"

"I'm sorry…but you're strong, you'll pull through this." He took one last long look at Temari's crying figure, and walked away.

"I'm so sorry." he whispered, but it was lost in amidst of the pouring rain.

-End Flashback-

Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes. He knew what he had to do…but he couldn't do it.

Her lips, her smell, her laugh, her smile…there was so much more he could add to the never ending list.

'I love you' he thought, as he drifted off to sleep.


It was agonizing to write that whole scene with Kiba and Temari... ugh ugh ugh just horrible!! (and also the break up flashback, but not as much).

For those of you who think I support Kiba x Temari, HAH! Hardly!

Only Temari x Shika for me )

Hope this was a non-crappy chapter!!

Please Read and Review! I'll give you a chocolate chip cookie!!