I'm sorry if this chapter seems very...well, out of place. ' I can't stand angst, so this is very humorous. I had fun, so, sorry if you don't like it.

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Chapter 14: Just when you thought he was gone…

I was once again left alone. I hadn't been so bad before, since I had never known company like his. But now it just seemed as if something was out of place, a piece of me missing. I sighed again, I know I had said all those things about it being for the better and he was apart of my past, but I didn't really mean any of it and I knew that. If he hadn't left the instant he did I would have never let him go, forcing him to stay with me. Making it okay for him to stay here, because what was the point of being the Kazekage if I couldn't make things go my way? But he had left, and if I bring myself to think about it, it was for the better. Everything would have gotten too complicated if he had stayed.

But I still longed for him. I wondered if he longed for me, remembering what he had said just before he left. He'd make me fall in love with him? Didn't he realize that that was what was wrong with me? I'm so lovesick I'm becoming physically ill. He had turned my world upside down, and it was hard getting it to go back to the way it was before. He had only been here a day and a night, but it had seemed much longer. The time we spent together appeared to be longer then it actually was, but actually went by faster. It had only been two days since he left, but I was already going insane. Other than paperwork and mediocre tasks there wasn't much to do, and I couldn't sleep. I'd finally eaten, but the food seemed to have no taste, all my feelings numb to me now.

I had limped around the first day and a half, my ass still sore. I told anyone who asked that I had fallen. But now that the pain was gone, what was there to physically remind me of him? I touched my collarbone, the actual flesh hidden under my shirt. I went from my office to my bathroom, to check for it. I'd changed and bathed in the past days but I hadn't taken a good look in the mirror. Pulling down the collar of my shirt down I saw the mark there. His mark. It was very noticeable, the red mark on my pale skin. I'm glad that my shirts had covered it. If anyone had seen it… Well, it would have been awkward. I smiled, the first real smile I had had since he left.

I wondered about the mark I had left on him. It was surely still there. When would it fade away? When would his fade? I took a closer look at my neck in the mirror and saw, if I looked real hard, some of his small love bites were still there. It brought me joy for a moment, making me feel like he was here again. But the happiness left me promptly, and my smile faded away into a small frown once again. I let go of my collar and let my shirt cover his mark again. He wasn't here, and he could never come here again…

"What makes you say that?"

Shukaku! It's been awhile, hasn't it?

"Eleven chapters, to be exact."

Chapters? What are you talking about?

"Oh, I forgot, sorry. The fourth wall is a mere plaything to me."

Whatever… Shukaku had and always would confuse me with his twisted sense of humor.

"I may have a twisted sense of humor but at least I'm not moping around the place like some little Kazekage I know."

Well, you know why I'm depressed. What do you suggest I do?

"Coming to me for advice now? Finally, you listen to me. Just so you know, I'm a lot wiser than I let on."

Just hurry up and give me some of your 'wise' insight.

"Fine! You don't have to be so impatient, I haven't been around in awhile, and I want to get some dialogue in."

Shukaku!

"Okay, I get it! I don't see why the boy can't come to visit. Who says long distance relationships always fail?" He held back his laughter. This whole situation seemed to be a kind of joke to him.

Yeah, but if he came over he'd just have to leave again. He'd come and go, and I'd be interrupting his life. Also, seeing him leave over and over again would just hurt me more and more.

"You really are a downer, you know that? Also, if you didn't notice, to the boy, you are his life. So don't take 'interrupting his life' into account."

What makes you say that?

"He practically proclaimed that you were his 'everything.'" He stopped himself from retching. "So I don't see why you have to keep turning away his affection."

I'm not 'turning away his affection'! I'm simply doing what's best for the both of us. I think…

"You shouldn't think too much, it isn't your strong point. Just sit there and look pretty." He chuckled.

One of these days I'm going to learn how to smack you without hurting myself.

"Threatening me now! I guess you don't want any more of my suggestions, then?"

I don't know if it's worth hearing you badmouth me so much.

"Oh, well then. I guess I just won't tell you my next idea. And this idea was great, I'll tell you that much."

Just spit it out, Shukaku.

"Now I'm not in the mood…"

Okay, okay, I'm sorry Shukaku. I should be nicer to you…

"And?"

And what?

"Say it! You know what I'm talking about, don't lie."

You want me to say that? Aloud?

"Yes! What are you worried about? You're in your bathroom, who's going to hear you?"

Well, I guess… If I do it you're going to tell me that ingenious plan of yours?

"Maybe… Whatever, just do it and we'll see."

Promise you'll tell me!

"Wow, you must be more desperate for the boy than I thought. Okay, I'll tell you, I promise."

Good, it's a deal then.

I paused, not ready to do this. It was embarrassing, even if I knew no one could hear me. I gathered my breath.

"Shukaku's the coolest raccoon ever and I want to have his man babies." I said, quietly, to myself.

"Louder! I didn't hear you!"

You live in my head, you always hear me.

"Did you not hear me? Say it louder! Say it like you mean it!" He started laughing already.

"SHUKAKU'S THE COOLEST RACCON EVER AND I WANT TO HAVE HIS MAN BABIES!" I said, my yell angry, but loud enough I could hear it even over Shukaku's laughing. He just continued laughing, louder now, like he might explode or at least have his appendix burst. If he had an appendix of his own to burst.

"…Aahahahahahaha…haaa. That was priceless. Kodak moment, one for the photo albums."

So what's this great idea of yours? Doing that just made me want to see Lee more.

"Ah, so you want to have his man babies?" He laughed again.

I didn't say that! Now my face is red, thanks a lot.

"You took it seriously? You're sick." He chuckled a little; he was all out of laughter.

Tell me!

"Oh, but why right now? I said I'd tell you but I didn't specify when."

You! You know I meant right now! Just tell me! I held up my part of the bargain now it's your turn!

"But that wasn't part of our agreement. I agreed to tell you, not right now, though. Maybe tomorrow."

I'd kill you if I didn't have to kill myself to do that. I'm so depressed I just might…

"Oh be quiet. I'll tell you tomorrow, you can wait that long. 'Night."

But, Shukaku! Shukaku? It was no use; he wouldn't talk to me now. Why'd he say 'night'? It was barely 3 in the afternoon. Argh! Why did he have to be so difficult?

I looked in the mirror again, pulling down my shirt to see his mark again. I could wait until tomorrow. Shukaku might be sarcastic and mean but I knew he was smart. His idea was probably worth the wait.

I made my way back to my office and sat at my desk. Thumbing through my paper work I was surprised to hear someone knock on my door.

"Come in!" I called. Who could it be? Shiya had been given a week of paid vacation. Mostly because I didn't want her telling everyone about Lee. And the rest of my employees were too scared to knock on my door. The door opened, fast and dramatically. And there stood…

"Hey, little brother!" Temari greeted me, smiling. Kankuro was behind her, practically snickering. I'd forgotten today was the day they got back from their mission.