Disclaimer: Me not own Naruto. Me not own any these characters. Me love Naruto and its true owner.

To readers: By the way these short chapters are just quick pairings, thats why they're so short, the next chapter is the final short pairing chapter, then chapters are going to be much longer so hopefully that will please some people.

To TimeShifter: I'm probably not going to spend a whole lot of time dwelling on these pairings, a double date is a really good idea so I might incorporate that into my original plan. Thanks for reviewing and please review more!

To sephynarutocloud: Longer chapters will come later, be patient!

To Kame-chan: I couldn't resist Bambi eyes, I had to put this chapter on!

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Meanwhile, Shikamaru had free time just like Ino, and he decided to find a suitable place to lie down and watch the clouds, a habit which he was extremely fond of. He had just lain down in his usual place on a small isolated hill in the forest clearing, when he heard an extremely loud voice above him shouting

"Let's go Akamaru! Dynamic Territory Marking! Do a triple spin next time, don't miss your target!"

A loud bark followed, and as a big splash of acidic piss landed right beside him, he decided that this wasn't the best place to lie after all.

He found another quiet clearing in the same forest, and lay down. For a while, he was able to stare at the clouds in peace, marveling at their freedom and their random changing. Suddenly, he began to sink into the ground.

What the hell? He thought struggling to get out. Then he was lifted off the ground, still covered. As he looked down he saw it was sand he was covered in, and Gaara was underneath him.

"Gaara, what the heck are you doing?" he exclaims, still struggling inside.

"Go away, you're sleeping on the sand I'm collecting."

With that Gaara threw him several metres away where he landed with a loud thump onto the ground.

Ouch, how troublesome, now I have to somewhere else thought Shikamaru.

The third place he found was completely deserted, with only a few trees around and no noise at all.

Surely this place will be fine he thought. But he had only lain down for a few moments before he heard a loud buzzing from a few metres away, and nearing quickly.

NOT AGAIN! He screamed silently in his mind, as he saw a whole swarm of bees flying towards him. He got up and ran, but the bees were gaining on him. Just as they were about to reach him, a huge gust of wind blew out from nowhere and swept them away into oblivion, and it caused Shikamaru to fall over as well. Naturally, being a genius, Shikamaru had already worked out what had happened, so he wasn't surprised to see Temari standing a few metres off, with huge fan in hand.

"Thanks Temari, I think you just saved my life there..."

"Hey no problems, shadow boy."

She closed and shouldered her fan. Shikamaru asked

"So, what were you doing around here?"

"Oh that, I just wanted to find a place away from my brothers, so that I can look at the clouds in peace."

Shikamaru was astonished "But...but that's exactly what I was doing (he was after all getting away from Gaara as well), at least until the bees came along..."

"Well they're somewhere on the other side of the world now, so no need to worry about them. Why don't we enjoy ourselves?"

They lay down side by side on the grass and at last Shikamaru was able to just stare at the clouds for a long time. It gave him a sense of freedom, and their random changes seemed to him like they could do whatever they like out of whim, having no responsibility. After a while he had a look at Temari beside him. He was amazed that her face showed the same emotion that he felt, a sense of freedom, openness and peace. He realized that despite the fact that she was probably only here because she had been stalking him, she did understand him and his habit. Temari turned and look back at him, smiling seductively.

"Hey Shikamaru..."

"What is it?"

"You do know that I've been stalking you, right?"

"I guess I kind of did..."

"It's because I like you. I like your way of dealing with things, especially your laziness."

"You like...my laziness?"

"I sometimes wish I could live like you, and I do feel a lot like you even though I don't act like it. Always I've wanted freedom, to do what I want, and laze around for no-one else. And that's your ideal too, isn't it? Well you're a lot closer than I am."

Shikamaru said nothing but turned his head back to the clouds, his face slightly red. They were both silent for a long time, then Shikamaru said hesitantly

"Temari-chan, there's this troublesome celebration dance thing going on that we have to go to in two days, so I was wondering...Right now you're the least troublesome girl I know..."

"Shikamaru, do you like me as well?"

"I guess you're the best option available so far..." he said evasively.

"Fine. I'll go with you."

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So, pairings are nearly over, just another fast one with Neji and thats about it, be patient and originally I was going to end the fic at the dance but now I don't want to anymore, so I'll probably continue it but in a different way i.e. not quite as romantic and perhaps more actual things happening. Any advice on how to continue from there would be welcome!