Author's Note: Woah...am I busy or what? Our bathrooms are FINALLY getting redone (not like you guys need to know this...lol) so life around my house has been crazy - three bathrooms and only one with a working toilet and shower is not fun. ANYWAY, this whole week I'm helping out at my church's VBS with teaching the music along with another lady. We're doing Fiesta! and I swear every other church I know is doing it. It's fun though...lol. So that's why I haven't posted sooner. Speaking of posting, if you haven't read it yet, I FINALLY posted the first chapter for Dream Fighters and I already have some awesome reviews on it! So it looks like it might be here to stay. I just hope so! It's up to you guys to review and let me know what you think! We're halfway to 300 reviews in this story so KEEP IT UP! I FINALLY FINISHED MY DRAWING! I have my picture up on my deviantart account and obviously on Narutofan dot com. The contest ends july 21st so you can't see it until then on there. You can always email me too so I can give it to you that way. Anywho, onto your reviews:

Yoruichi-Yoshi12: Yeah, I believe myself that if you actually express your emotions that you'll be a better person, hence me using that in my story. I don't know how long the story is going to be. I can't believe it's almost going on 30 chapters already! I'm planning on wrapping it up soon and I have my ideas laid out, but I don't know how many chapters it'll take.

Heosic-chan: What's wrong with what? lol...

Daern: That stinks that your camp was cancelled. I loved summer camp when I was a kid and always wanted to be a counselor. I guess instructing colorguard is the next best thing, lol. I haven't listened to Evanescence much lately, but I do love them. And no, I have not heard the latest CD. I thought it was cute how you wrote my review! Hey...I'm weird, your weird...it's all good!

Heart of pure ruby: I'm glad you liked my idea! I figured I needed to feature them at some point, and there will be more to come! Just not in this chapter though. That's awesome that you actually got to see fireworks. The weather was so bad around here that we were forced to stay inside. So no fireworks for me; hence me updating...lol. I'll try not to stop writing! I love doing it!

Kisshu-luv: That was absolutely perfect! I LOVED IT! Short or not, that was the best one so far! I couldn't stop laughed when I read what you wrote about me! TOO GOOD! Don't worry about it being too short, I understand as well how one can feel after being at an amusement park all day. Damn that bastard for taking my other CDs! lol! It's perfect so far! There just needs to be a little conflict between me and Temari (and maybe Ino and Kimi) ;). KEEP IT UP!

LadyByakugan: Don't worry about how well you review, at least you reviewed period! That's what I try to aim for when writing. When I work on a chapter, I always put myself in the position of the reader to make sure it's something that I would want to read too. That's a good tip for all of you out there who want to or already write!

fullmetalchick101: What other pairings do you like? I can see if I can fit them in anywhere.

Lil Enchantress: Yeah, I eventually wanted to have Shikamaru and Temari get married, but of course with what you said it would've been odd getting married so young. I thought it would be good having a time skip because then you can see everyone after they have developed again into their early adulthood. That was the reason for my "filler chapter", to give a little break before the major change.

JFalcon: I don't know how far into Naruto you've watched (either it be the english or the Japanese), but either way I've seen every episode so far and know what happens. I don't want to spoil anything (much) but Gaara does go through some sort of a change and does become nicer...it's just further down the road in the episodes. I'm glad you enjoy my story anyway!


Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

The clouds are nice

Chapter 28

"Shikamaru and Temari are in trouble? How?" Sakura confusedly questioned. She IS Shikamaru's cousin though, so I would assume she's not joking around.

"Well…I've been following that girl Ino around the past few days. She's really nasty and has it out for them. She wants to destroy their relationship! We have to warn them!" Kita cried out.

Sakura immediately placed her hand over Kita's mouth. "Shh! They'll hear us if we're too loud." Sakura warned. "To tell you the truth, they already know what Ino's up to. Most of us do, and Shikamaru and Temari are perfectly fine." Not really. Ino beat the crap out of Temari and now Temari's starting to doubt their relationship.

"But…." Kita started to say. But it seems like Ino's going to do more, but that larger guy seems to be calming her down. Or at least I think so. I still want to watch Ino just in case she does something…I'm still getting a suspicious feeling about her.

Sakura sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Look…watch them all you want, but just be careful. I know Shikamaru is part of your family, but you don't need to worry about him so much," She explained. "Not to be rude or anything, but I need to get back to the clinic. It was nice meeting you though." She smiled and walked away. Kita waved and went back to her observing.

Meanwhile, Ino was now trying to contemplate how to get away from Chouji. I don't have time to spend here with Chouji! I need to find Shikamaru and that bitch! "Um…Chouji, it's sweet that you feel that way about me. But, not to be mean, I really need to get going."

Chouji blinked a few times before responding. "Why…why are you in such a hurry? It's only morning." He tried to stall her.

Ino growled and got up and Chouji quickly followed. What is that fat lard doing? Can't he see that I'm trying to leave? She shouted in her head. Ino didn't say anything but continued to try to ignore Chouji and get away. With her first step, Ino tripped over the leg of her chair and fell into Chouji's arms. And as luck would have it, their lips accidentally met and they kissed.

Ino quickly pulled away and blushed. Chouji couldn't help but blush either after the incident.

"Um…bye!" Ino said abruptly then quickly walked away. Eew! I just kissed Chouji! She began to spit on the ground. Why do the fat guys like me! I diet and diet and diet and still the NORMAL guys don't like me! ARG! I'm going to have to diet more!

Chouji just stared at Ino as she walked away. I just hope she leaves Shikamaru and Temari alone now.

Ino continued to walk around Konoha looking for the Inn Temari and her team was staying at after her episode with Chouji. "Damn it!" She loudly shouted. A couple of passersby heard her and stared. "What are you looking at?" Ino snapped at them. They looked away and went back to their business.

A few moments later something finally hit in Ino's memory. "That's it! I can't believe I forgot about that!" Ino said out loud. She spun around on her heal and started to run in the opposite direction.


Later that day, Shikamaru wanted to surprise Temari by dropping by her room along with his team. He thought it was about time that their students started getting along.

"And why are we doing this thing again?" Makoto groaned while he unwillingly walked behind his team.

Shikamaru sighed just like Makoto did. They're too much alike. "Since Temari and I are to be married, it's time you guys started getting along with her students." How troublesome. I can just hear them complaining now.

"What a drag." That's all that Makoto said in response as he placed his hands on the back of his head. At least I get to see Miya again…I guess. Girls are a pain to deal with, especially Kimi. At least Miya can control herself…well, except for that kiss she gave me. Makoto blushed at his thought of Miya kissing him.

Even though the light was starting to get dim, Kimi caught wind of Makoto blushing. How cute. I never thought Makoto-kun would like someone; he didn't seem to be the type to. I just wish Shikamaru-sensei would love me instead of Temari. She looked up at Shikamaru longingly. He looked at her and Kimi quickly looked away and blushed. I'm fighting a loosing battle. Should I quit trying?

"What are we going to be doing there, Shikamaru-sensei?" Yuki asked.

Shikamaru sighed again. "Not sure. Temari doesn't even know we're doing this."

Yuki, and just like Shikamaru, sighed. Is this what happens to you when you fall in love?

A little while later they finally arrived at the Inn. Kimi, Makoto and Yuki were all standing behind Shikamaru and waiting for him to knock. After a little hesitation Shikamaru finally knocked on the door.

There wasn't an immediate answer. Makoto heavily placed his hands on his back and loudly sighed. "This is useless. Let's go."

"MAKOTO! Patience is a virtue." Kimi scolded him and shook her finger.

Finally there was some sign of life when the door opened. "Hello?" Miya said while standing in the doorway. Makoto! Miya immediately started to blush.

Makoto noticed Miya standing there and looked away as he felt his face get hot.

"Are you just going to stand there like an idiot, Miya, or are you going to let them in?" Kenji stated as he walked by.

"Shut up dirtbag!" She immediately taunted back.

Kenji raised an eyebrow. Is it just me or did she get even more nasty when she went ga-ga for that red-haired punk? I guess I'll never figure them out. He shrugged his shoulders and walked away, ignoring Shikamaru and his students.

Miya faced Shikamaru and the others again and moved out of the doorway. "Uh…come on in, I guess."

"Thanks." Shikamaru said and walked in. Yuki nodded his head at Miya in his usual polite way. Kimi purposely looked away from Miya, but Makoto on the other hand stopped next to her.

Just as they were walking into the main room, Temari walked out of her room with Kiri on her shoulder. Kiri saw them and immediately ran over to Shikamaru. She went up on his head and laid there.

Damn animal. Shikamaru glared up at the ferret.

"Huh?" Temari said in surprise. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Um…just visiting…." Shikamaru blushed and scratched the back of his head.

A sweat drop ran down all of his student's foreheads.

How pathetic. Makoto thought to himself. Love makes you so weird.

Damn Temari. Why do we have to come see them? Kimi growled and folded her arms.

"Kimi, please behave yourself this time. I don't want to wander around Konoha again to find you." Yuki sternly warned to her. Kimi just shot him a glare and walked away. She's so moody.

Temari walked over to Shikamaru and picked Kiri off of him. "No…really. Why ARE you here?" She asked for a second time. "I mean, it's not that I don't want to see you, but this is just a surprise and greatly unexpected; especially after this morning." Temari whispered the last part. I still haven't confirmed my answer yet. I really need some time alone to think about what Sakura told me this morning.

Shikamaru put both of his hands on Temari's shoulders. "I would hope that you would want to see me." He said then kissed her forehead. Temari's cheeks turned bright red. "Since we're getting married I thought that it would be a good idea just to get our teams involved a little more with each other. We are going to be seeing each other more often, right?"

Temari shyly looked up at him. "Uh…yeah. That's a great idea." Since when did Shikamaru become sensible like this?

"That's what I told my students. Truthfully, I just want to spend some more time with you." Shikamaru gently whispered in Temari's ear.

The softness of Shikamaru's words tickled Temari and made her jump inside herself. "Oh…um…well then, we'll send one student each to go get some food for us. Then we can go somewhere and catch-up."

Right around the corner from Temari's room sat Ino behind a huge vase. She had her ear up against the wall to try and listen to their conversations.

"I sat here all day waiting for Shikamaru to come by. I better hear something good." Ino said to herself. "Damn. I can't hear anything here. Let me go around the front."

Ino crawled out from her dark hiding spot and ran around to in front of the door. She leaned in on the wall right next to the door and tried to listen again. "There! Finally I can hear."

Around the other corner sat Kita who was diligently watching Ino. I have to stop her! If I don't, it's going to get ugly really quick and someone's bound to get hurt. Probably Ino. Kita thought. "I need to be on my guard just in case she makes any sudden moves." She stood up and watched Ino more intensely.

"Uh oh! Sounds like they're about to come out or something! I better hide again until it's clear." Ino quietly said to herself as soon as she heard some footsteps come her way. She went to turn around and leave but she couldn't move. "Huh? What the? I can't move." This has to be Kage Mane, but I thought Shikamaru was inside?

"Going somewhere?" Kita said finally coming out of the shadows. She was standing some feet back from Ino with her hands in her ninjutsu seal and a shadow protruding from beneath her feet.

"Who the hell are you?" Ino hissed when she finally took notice of Kita.

"That's not important. What is important is finally getting you exposed." Kita winked.

"Damn you! Release your jutsu right now!" Ino screamed.

"Ah ah ah! They'll hear you if you scream too loud. Besides, I'm not just going to let you go that easily." Kita said as she heard voices on the other side of the door getting louder. Larger bullets of sweat started to run down Ino's face.

"Invisible Shadow Technique!" Kita commanded then jumped back to where she was before.

Ino looked down and noticed that there was no shadow holding her. "Ha! You twit. Are you stupid or something? First you bind me then leave to go back to hiding. HOW PATHETIC!" She chided and then tried to move. "Huh?" When Ino tried to take a step she was still stuck in her place. "BITCH!"

Kita giggled to herself. "Now who's stupid? Invisible Shadow is a technique that I developed and only I can use. Not even my dear cousin Shikamaru-senpai can use it. It uses a persons own shadow to bind them to where they are for how ever long I desire. That's why you can't tell because it's your own shadow holding you back!" Kita pulled down her eyelid and stuck out her tongue. "Have fun." She waved and walked away.

…"Miya, since Shikamaru and his students have unexpectedly come over, can you run out and get us some food. It doesn't matter what you get." Temari addressed as she handed Miya some money.

"Uh…alright." Miya agreed then went to the door.

"Are you going too?" Makoto asked when Miya approached.

"What do you mean 'too'? Temari-sensei asked just me to get food." She said trying to act tough.

"Shikamaru-sensei just told me to go with someone from your team and I guess your it," Makoto sighed and responded. "This is such a drag. You don't have to act so tough."

A vein popped on Miya's forehead, but before she could snap Kenji stepped in between them. "Will you two just go already? We're hungry," He began to say. "We know you like Makoto, Miya. So just give it up already."

Miya felt get face get hot and grabbed Makoto's hand. "Whatever. Let's go." She growled.

Makoto looked at Miya weird. Feh…girls.

When Miya opened the door to leave she saw someone unexpected standing there. "Eh? Who the hell are you?" She questioned.

The person at the door was Ino. She was still stuck to where she was with Kita's ninjutsu. "I…uh…um…."

Kimi heard the commotion and walked on over to the door. That voice sounded oddly familiar. She thought as she walked up behind Kenji, who was still observing what was going on. Kimi's jaw dropped when she saw who was there. "INO!"