Notes: First! So sorrythis update wasn't as quickas the others! Homework does get in the way. Second, because of that, the flow in this chapter isn't as nice as the others since I really got away from it, but I didn't want to leave the fic unfinished and I did promise I would, so here we go! The finally chapter! Hope you enjoy it anyway and very sorry again for the wait! ;

(-) scene change

Disclaimer: Naruto (c) Kishimoto.

CHAPTER 6: Hidden Confession

They traveled as quickly as possible, Temari in the lead. Her face was fixed in a worried and angry expression throughout the entire journey and Kankuro just tried to keep up with her pace. They hadn't taken a rest at all and he was starting to feel that.

"Temari."

"Shut up, we're going to keep going until we get there." Kankuro grimaced. He understood the urgency of reaching Konoha quickly (Gaara being unpredictable and all), but without taking a break, even for 5 minutes, they'd be too exhausted when they arrived to do anything about Gaara.

"Temari, we have to stop. Just for a minute at least!" She stopped at the next branch, turning and leaning up against the trunk of the tree.

"One minute."

Kankuro stopped a branch over from her, panting. He glared over at her to notice she was as winded as he was. A corner of his mouth upturned.

"You're just as tired."

"So what...?" She closed her eyes, resting her head against the tree.

"We shouldn't push ourselves too much. There'll be no point in us getting there early just to fall over."

She opened her eyes again, staring up through the branches. He was right, but she couldn't help it. What if Gaara already made a move?

"And anyway...how do you know he's in Konoha?" That part had never been explained. They'd awakened a morning two days ago to notice Gaara was gone. Somehow, Temari knew where he had gone, even though there had been no clues or anything. The look in her eyes had told him not to complain.

"I just...know. Don't ask about that right now. We're already too far to go back." Temari pushed herself forward from the trunk, and looked back at him.

"Let's go."

(-)

Shikamaru closed his eyes, sighing. This was troublesome. Why, when he just wanted to relax and take it easy, did things have to come up? A presence like Gaara's was hard to ignore and he became even more uneasy as it seemed to loom right over him. He could feel those pale green eyes staring. Sitting up, Shikamaru eyed the strange boy who stood only a few feet from him. The long grass rustled gently from a breeze, but that had no effect on the growing tension.

"Hey..."

"...you look like you want to kill me."

"Not kill. Maybe just hurt a bit." Gaara's eyes widened and his sand exploded from the large double-barreled gourd strapped to his back, flying rapidly at Shikamaru. The latter rose quickly from his spot, just barely dodging a direct hit. He winced, glancing down at his sand-burned arm. It'd felt like a hundred or so tiny razors had just tried to cut it off. Oh great, he's serious, Shikamaru thought, looking back to Gaara. The other was still staring in silent jealousy, but to Shikamaru, it looked like contempt. The attack came a second time, and again Shikamaru managed to dodge it, but with a less success.

"Ngh!" Shikamaru held to his burning arm, a little blood trickling from it. He'd seen Gaara's power before at the Chuunin exam. If he had wanted to kill him, it would have been done well before now. The dark haired chuunin stared back at his opponent with narrowed, contemplative eyes. Was he just toying with him?

"Why did Temari stay here?"

Shikamaru blinked, the intensity of his face disappearing in surprise. Temari? Was she the reason for this assault? It seemed odd since she stayed here of her own will. So why...? He couldn't possibly think...

"Hey, you think it was my fault?" Gaara kept his silence. Shikamaru kept his focus. It would make sense, he supposed, but she should have returned by now. It wasn't that long after them that she left either. Shikamaru's eyes narrowed into a squint, his mind trying to wrap around the idea of Gaara attacking him because Temari had remained in Konoha for a few days longer. Was Gaara that type of person? Did he value that girl this much? What kind of relatio-

"PAY ATTENTION STUPID!" A loud, boyish kind of voice bellowed out from behind Shikamaru before he was knocked aside, a strong gust of wind cutting back the sand aimed for him.

"Nnm!" Shikamaru blinked a few times with wide eyes as a figure in black stood before him, letting her fan rest on the grass a moment.

"Gaara! What do you think you're doing! Do you really want Konoha to distrust us after we worked hard to build their alliance!" Temari's face was slightly flushed in anger, her grip on the fan was tighter than usual. Kankuro came up to them then, standing closer to Gaara's side. Looking between the two of them, it was best not to interfere. Especially with Temari that upset.

The sand began to recede slowly, returning to the gourd and Gaara's eyes lowering to the grass. He'd never seen Temari make that face at him. Nor had he considered the fact that he was endangering relations between their villages.

"...Tell me the truth, Temari."

"What?" Her angered face eased slightly.

"Why did you stay? Was it him?"

"...W-why are you asking me that? Didn't I tell you a few days bef-"

"You didn't tell me everything. You never lied to me before, Temari..."

She didn't know how to respond to that. A rustle in the grass behind her made her glance back to see Shikamaru standing to his feet and dusting off. She looked away from him quickly, her eyes lowered. It'd been a while since she saw him last...and she wasn't feeling quite the same way then as she did now.

"Geez, this is such a troublesome thing, but I've got a code to keep." Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "Just leave her alone. It's really troublesome for her if you keep asking questions and she doesn't want to answer."

Temari's eyes went wide and she turned to look at Shikamaru. He...he had stood up for her? Gaara was staring at the chuunin again, but no emotion could be read on his face. Kankuro swallowed. If Gaara became provoked enough to attack again, there was little he nor Temari could do about it.

"Tch, a lazy guy like me shouldn't do these things...I just wanted to relax and sleep all day, then this happened..." Shikamaru began to mumble to himself, crossing his arms. Temari couldn't take her eyes off him. He'd defended her. Was it possible that maybe he felt the way she did...? She didn't realize it, but there was a certain glow in her eyes then.

Gaara picked up on it immediately, his face darkening a bit. He understood. This was why she couldn't make that promise...and even though his attention-deprived jealousy was rearing on him, he closed his eyes and turned away.

"I see now." He glanced over at Kankuro, who was still staring at Temari's face. She was making it a little bit too obvious, although Shikamaru didn't seem to notice a thing.

"Temari...don't stay too long this time." She snapped out of the trance hearing Gaara's voice call back at her, and looked over at him just soon enough to see him and Kankuro depart. She stared at the spot she last saw them in wonder. Neither had put up much of a fight to make her speak. Her thoughts went back to Shikamaru's words and she suddenly blushed, turning around to hide it. Her face! It had been blatantly written all over that she liked him. Only someone very dense wouldn't notice.

With that in mind...Shikamaru had seen it too. She felt a heat rush to her head. Did he know how she felt now? A breeze blew against her face and she made a fist with her free hand, the other tightening on her fan. If...he knew...She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and exhaled, turning to face him again.

"I guess...you know everything now, Shikama-ah?" Her eyes widened then narrowed. Shikamaru was lying on his back, hands behind his head and watching the sky as if nothing had happened. She twitched.

"Hm?" Shikamaru glanced over at her cluelessly. "Were you saying something?"

"Y-you...you...!" She closed her eyes, forcefully holding down her anger and set her fan aside, sitting down beside Shikamaru.

"...you're impossible."

Shikamaru smirked, closing his eyes. The grass rustled a bit beside him and he opened his eyes, turning to see Temari laying beside him, her expression calm and watching the clouds float above. He blinked a couple times, surprised she could suppress her anger so quickly. She didn't seem the type to do so. But then again, girls were full of surprises. That's what made them so troublesome.

"Hey..."

"...Hm?"

"You should hit me or something." Temari raised a brow.

"Why?"

"Keeping your anger pent up like that isn't healthy." She smiled a bit, glancing over at him.

"Ohh? You're concerned about me? That makes it twice today." Shikamaru snuffed a little and closed his eyes, turning his face to the sky.

"I don't mind I guess."

Temari smiled a bit more. "Really?"

"Yeah..."

"...Shikamaru...?"

"Nm?"

"...Thanks."

End.

Ahh hope that wasn't a crappy ending. I didn't want to push this story into utter mush, sothis is how it turned out. Hope no one is too disappointed ;;. Alas! I shall be writing more with these two in the near future (although it'll probably be short stories) andseeing how their relationship grows. Keep watch for them!

And thanks so very much for sticking with me until the end. Again, I'm sorry for the long wait and hope you read my work again soon. X3 Kurogamo.