Ino had no clue how much she had spent on barbecue, but the amount didn't matter. The fact that someone from her team actually made chunin was a good enough excuse the splurge on this meal.

In the booth with her was Karui and Temari, while Ino's team sat behind them with Choji and his team and Shikamaru. It's been a while since the girls actually had a chance to talk, so Ino felt this was the perfect opportunity. So with an expensive bottle of Sake, the girls began to catch up with each other.

"So Karui..." Ino raised her eyebrows as she tried to get every bit information that she could. "Have you and Choji set a date for the wedding?"

"We're thinking in a few weeks. Honestly the sooner the better." Karui admitted as she took a sip of her drink before sitting the glass back on the table.

"You and Choji must can't stay away from each other. I bet you can relate to that Temari, dating someone from a different village."

"It was hard being away from him. That's why I'm excited to move here." Temari had already agreed to move in with Shikamaru, but she decided to wait a months to actually do so. She wasn't ready to leave her brothers, but on the other hand, she was ready to be with Shikamaru.

"Well enough about me, how's everything going with you and-" Temari couldn't even finish her sentence before Ino had cut her off.

"HE PROPOSED!" Temari and Karui did not expect her to say this. "It was so romantic. He cooked us dinner with candles and he gave me a hand painted portrait of us. And before I knew it, there he was on one knee asking me to be his wife. Of course I said yes."

Temari couldn't help but to feel a little despondent. Of course she was happy for Ino and said congratulations. But there was someone else who was moving along in their relationship, while her and Shikamaru barely lived together.

"Now all we need is for Shikamaru to pop the question." Ino could see how much Shikamaru and Temari loved each other, she just wondered what was taking them so long to get married.

"I'm in no rush to be married. Me finally being able to live here is good enough for me." Temari said nonchalantly, making it seem like it wasn't a big deal. She wasn't in a rush to get married, but seeing all their friends relationships advance wasn't exactly making her feel good.

"Well, I'm just happy for us." Ino began to speak. "We all have our own thing going on, and it's only getting better from here."

ooooooooooo

AUTHORS NOTE: I know it's been a while since I've updated, but I do plan on finishing this story. But I do thank you all for bearing with me. :)