A/N: As requested by Sheeeeru

Part 3

Choice: Finally Temari

"Ass! Go die!" Temari shouts at Shikamaru pushing him away as the male shinobi tries to hug her.

"Temari, I already explained. If I told them you are the Suna representative and my girlfriend, Ino won't have any alibi being present at the gathering. She wasn't invited afterall" Shikamaru stops trying to placate Temari by embracing her.

"Why do we need her anyway? This mission is easy" Temari continues to protest.

"Tch, this is a covert mission. We won't be able to extract the target from the crowd as quietly as we did without Ino's Mind Body Switch Technique. That was the plan" Shikamaru explains maintaining a calm facade.

"Yeah, was the kiss part of the plan too?" Temari crosses her arms on her chest and put all her anger on the way she looks at Shikamaru.

"I can't very well push her away. All eyes were on us" Shikamaru replies exasperated "And it's not as if she kisses me really. It was just a brotherly smack"

"The I love you?" Temari argues.

"Woman, I do love Ino and I believe she loves me too. It's not my fault people misconstrue that love into that kind of love"

Temari gets her fan and immediately bashes Shikamaru thrice with it then kicks him twice for good measure "You lead the people to think that bastard! And me what was I supposed to think? That you were just playing a role. You damn look convincing!"

While doubled up in pain, Shikamaru is still able to smirk "Tch, woman the way you're reacting I would think you were disappointed I didn't announce to the people of Iwagakure that you are my girlfriend"

A pin dropping can be heard as Temari just scowled, speechless at the other nin's assumption.

Then suddenly a singsong voice coming outside asks "Shikamaru, you have to choose, me or Temari?" and is followed by Ino's mocking laughter.

Both Shikamaru and Temari shouts "Shut up!"

1/25/11

A/N: Does this one make the previous fic clearer?

The reader's interpretation is as good as mine. If after reading you have this certain impression, let me know. I might or might not enjoy your conclusion but then that's the risk *and the fun* of being intentionally vague with this series.