Author's Note-Hello, Readers! I know it's been longer than usual for my update and I'm sorry about that. Anyway, I believe I'm going to have Shika give my two reviewers each a hug. Congratulations to Tia Minx and jennku! Yay! Now Shika do your job!

Shikamaru: Do I have to?

Me: Yes! Now give these two wonderful reviewers hugs. ^_^

Shikamaru: Fine. *hugs Tia and jennku* Happy now?

Me: Yes, I am. Thank you, Shikamaru. Oh, can't forget the disclaimer. I DO NOT own any characters except my own. Please review and vote on my poll. Now on to the story!

Chapter 21

We followed Temari to the Kazekage building where we would be staying and she showed us our rooms. The guys had the room across the hall from Ino and me.

"I'll be back later to tell you when to come to dinner," Temari said and then sulked away. She had been upset since Shikamaru had told her how long he'd been in love with me. I felt bad for her, but I was happy we were together.

"Yumi? Yumi! Hey! Earth to Yumi!"

"Huh?" I said blinking. Ino rolled her eyes.

"I said that we have some time to kill so why don't we go shopping." I smiled and the guys grimaced.

"I think we'll stay here," Choji said.

"Bleh, girl stuff," Shikamaru added.

"Mm hmm," Kiba agreed. Ino stuck her tongue out at them.

"This village has amazing shops with clothes so beautiful that you three will be drooling all over just from looking at us," she said as she grabbed my arm. They rolled their eyes and Ino and I walked out into the village.

"So where are we going?" I asked.

"This little shop right here!" she exclaimed as she stopped in front of the shop. We walked in and I gasped. The store was filled with the most beautiful kimonos I'd ever seen. "They can get better dyes here than in our village because they have different flowers. That's why their kimonos are so much prettier." A kind-looking old woman walked up to us.

"Welcome! Is there anything I can help you young ladies with?" she asked.

"No, thank you. We're just looking for now. That's all," Ino told her.

"Well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," she said and walked away. We'd looked around for a while when I found one for Ino.

"Ino, look at this one!" I exclaimed as I pulled it off the rack.

"Kami, that's gorgeous! I have to try it on!" she said, running to the fitting rooms. Shortly after that, she came out beaming. It was light purple with dark purple flowers on it and it had a dark purple obi. "It looks amazing!" she said as she looked in the mirror. "This is the one. Now it's time to find one for you." She changed and we looked around some more.

"What about this one?" I asked, holding up a bright green one. She shook her head. "What's wrong with it?"

"Yumi, with your hair color you can't wear anything that's that bright a green. You look like you're getting ready for Christmas!" she explained. I nodded and put it back. "Here we go!" She handed me a red one that was a little darker than my hair. "Go try it on." I did as she said and changed. She grinned when I came out. "It's perfect!" I looked in the mirror and saw that it had black vines coming up from the bottom and the hem of the sleeves. It also had a black obi.

"I love it, Ino!" I told her. I changed back and we went to the counter to pay. They had a make-up display and Ino decided to stock up. She also grabbed a small square of red fabric that matched my kimono and a black string. I pulled out my wallet, but Ino told me to put it away.

"I'm paying," she said.

"I can pay for it myself, Ino."

"Not this time. My treat."

"But, Ino-"

"Stop. I'm not budging on this." She smiled. "Think of it as a present for Shikamaru, too," she said. I gave her a questioning look. She rolled her eyes. "He thinks you're beautiful anyway, but when he sees you after what I have planned…" I smiled and put my wallet away.

"Thank you! Make sure you come back," the old woman said. We nodded, grabbed our bags, and left.

"Thank you so much, Ino," I said.

"It's no problem at all, but we better hurry and get back to the Kazekage building to get ready." I nodded and we took off running.

When we got back to the room, Ino flopped on her bed.

"Wow! I'm tired," she said. She stood back up and went to the bathroom and changed. When she came out her hair was out of its normal high ponytail and she on light lavender eye shadow, a little mascara, and shimmering lavender lipstick.

"Ino, you look so pretty!" I exclaimed.

"Now it's your turn. Go change and I'll do your hair and make-up." I nodded and went to change. When I came out, she motioned for me to sit on her bed. She untied my hair and started to wind it up into a bun, leaving two strands hanging on either side of my face. The, she put the cloth over my hair and tied the string around it. She gave me a hand mirror so I could see it.

"I love it," I told her. She smiled and grabbed the make-up that she was going to use. I sat patiently as she put on the make-up. She put lipstick on me and stood up, clearly proud of her work. I picked up the mirror and gasped.

"What's wrong? Did I do a bad job?" she asked worriedly. The red eye shadow and lipstick looked great.

"Ino, I look amazing! Wow. Who knew I could be beautiful?" I said. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"It's time for dinner," came Choji's muffled voice.

"Go on. We'll be there in a second," Ino replied. I heard their footsteps fade. "Okay, we can go now." We left and started our walk to the dining room.

"So who are we eating with?" I asked.

"Temari and her brothers."

"So why are we eating in the Kazekage's dining room?"

"Because Gaara, her youngest brother, is the Kazekage."

"Really? He's the Kazekage?" Ino nodded. We got to the dining room and when we walked in I looked for Shikamaru. He was sitting between Temari and Gaara. He was staring up at the ceiling with a bored expression. Temari stood up when we entered.

"Ino, you'll be sitting between Choji and Kankuro. Yumiko, you're between Gaara and Kankuro." Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba looked up at us. Ino was right. They were practically drooling! But Shikamaru wasn't looking at Ino. He kept his gaze fixed on me. It was like that the entire dinner. Even when Temari was talking to him, he would be looking at me. When everyone had finished eating Shikamaru stood up.

"Gaara-sama, I would like to be excused to take a walk around the village and I would like to take Yumi with me," he said.

"Why take her? I mean, this is my village. You should take someone who knows their way around," Temari rambled.

"Temari," Gaara said in his emotionless voice, "be silent. You have permission, Shikamaru." Temari jumped up.

"But, Gaara-!"

"I said be silent." Temari sat down.

"Thank you," Shikamaru said and walked over to me. I stood up, bowed to Gaara, and we left.

A/N-Okay. I have one quick little thing to say. I know that they don't have Christmas in Naruto, but I wanted to put that little joke or whatever you want to call it in there. R&R. Thanks!

ren-shika-inu15