Thanks to my reviewers and to everyone who reads this story! Here's the next chapter, just in time for Christmas!
Though it was still a few days until the actual Okuma-kabuto Festival, festivities in the village were in full swing. The streets were crammed with villagers and visitors alike as Shikamaru and Suki wound their way through them, looking for suitable festival-wear. Their shinobi clothing was a little out of place among the peaceful villagers.
"What about this place?" Shikamaru suggested, stopping outside of a promising-looking shop advertising festival kimonos and hakama.
Suki, holding his hand since they knew no one there, dragged him past with her nose in the air. "No way. Those aren't cute enough."
"Who cares how cute they are?" Shikamaru grumbled. "You're never going to wear it again anyway. How troublesome..."
She finally agreed to stop at a store with brightly colored cloth in the windows, where she took approximately forty-five minutes to select one kimono.
"I am never going shopping with you ever again," Shikamaru complained when they left the shop with two new kimonos for the festival.
Suki smiled sweetly. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "It's just, back home in Taki, I've never been allowed to shop for myself before. I guess I got a little carried away."
It was possible it was a lie, but Suki knew Shikamaru in a way that no one else did. He couldn't even pretend to be mad at her after she said something like that.
He slipped his arm around her waist, drawing her close to plant a kiss on the top of her head.
Suki leaned into his embrace, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the village around her. She was happy, truly happy. It was a brand new emotion to her, one she found that she really enjoyed.
It was unfortunate that it had to end.
