Annnd WE'VE REACHED 20 CHAPTERS! A nice short chapter for her birthday...

Also I feel so bad for Shikamaru, the poor boy. Also Temari is too chill about everything.

All characters belong to Kishimoto-san.

Chapter 20: Dinner and Birthday Presents

He was gone when Temari came out, though that wasn't much of a surprise. Temari supposed she would have hightailed it out of there, too.

She descended back down the stairs, where Chouji and Shino were now playing Pokémon on Nintendo DS's, and Naruto and Kiba were having some sort of yelling match while playing Super Smash Bros.

"Ha! Beat that, Kiba!" Naruto shouted, knocking over Kiba's character.

Kiba rolled his eyes. "I'm still ahead of you, stupid."

"Oh, hey, Temari," Kankuro said, noticing his sister's return. He offered her a soda can.

"Want something to drink?"

"No, thanks," Temari replied, taking a seat next to her brother, who was watching Chouji's game over his shoulder. She scanned the room, looking for Shikamaru, who was probably hiding in a corner.

"Where's Shikamaru?" Temari asked, not finding him.

"He's most likely hiding out in his room," Ino said. "Large crowds of noise scare him."

Temari smirked, satisfied that she had caused such a reaction from the normally apathetic boy. "I see."

Ino gave her a questioning glance, but Temari shrugged nonchalantly. There was no need to further embarrass the boy.

.

The games were over after around two hours. It was around seven at night now as Temari and her siblings left Shikamaru's house. Shikamaru, who was kicked out of his room by his mother so he could "see his guests out", was refusing to look any of them in the eye, mumbling an incoherent "goodbye" as they walked out his door.

The only ones who hadn't left were Chouji and Ino, who were prepared to eat dinner at his place.

"What're you doing?" Ino asked as Shikamaru continued fidgeting in his seat at the dining table.

Shikamaru stopped moving. "What do you mean?"

Ino rolled her eyes. "Don't think I haven't noticed you acting weird this afternoon."

Shikamaru sighed and relented. There was no point in keeping information from Ino—she had her ways of finding out even when Shikamaru tried his hardest to hide it from her—and it was always better to tell her directly so she wouldn't jump to conclusions. Like with me and Temari, Shikamaru thought.

And so Shikamaru related the events from earlier that day, and how the Sunagakure girl had happened upon his room and the unfortunate clothes that had been in full view.

"At least they were folded," said Ino, comforting her friend. "I mean, how worse would it have been if you had done the laundry yourself, and just left it all displayed on your bed?"

"I never leave my clothes like that if I'm the one to do it," Shikamaru retorted.

"Don't lie," Ino said. "You leave your clothes scattered everywhere all the time, especially if you're the one who did laundry and had to fold it."

"Yeah," Chouji agreed. "Since you're always so lazy, you put it off until later."

"I can't believe she just put them there though!" Shikamaru exclaimed. "I mean, shouldn't my mom know better than to leave them there like that?"

"I mean, usually she remembers to close your door," Chouji said. "And, let's face it, most of your friends are guys."

"And I've seen your clothes plenty of times before," Ino added. "I've even had to help fold them that one time you were at an overnight shogi competition so your poor mother wouldn't have to do all the chores by herself."

"My mother is perfectly capable of handling it herself," Shikamaru muttered. "She doesn't need your assistance."

Ino patted Shikamaru on the back. "Nothing you can do about it now. It shouldn't matter to you, anyways. I mean, you won't see her again, right?"

"I have a club with her," Shikamaru said matter-of-factly. "And third and fourth period."

Ino feigned surprise, letting out a dramatic gasp. "Oh, that's right! I completely forgot! I guess you're doomed then. But she'll forget about it soon, anyways. Like I said, it shouldn't matter to you."

Ino smiled slyly. "Unless, of course, you like her."

Shikamaru sighed, burying his face in his hands. "I hate you."

He was rewarded with a soft object hitting the back of his head.

"Ow!" Shikamaru looked up to see his mother glaring at him. It was as if all the women he knew were trying to get him killed today.

"Set up the table, Shikamaru," Yoshino demanded.

"I'll help," Ino offered, but Shikamaru knew the real reason why she stood up. She wanted to continue her conversation, and Shikamaru was glad that at least she didn't do it in front of his mother.

Chouji also stood up. "Me, too."

The trio made their way to the kitchen, where the plates and eating utensils were stored.

Picking up four pairs of chopsticks, Ino resumed where she had left off.

"I mean, people do embarrassing things all the time, right?" Ino said. "And usually we all forget about such things after a few days."

"Unless it's friends," said Chouji. "Then we continue rubbing it in your face for a few months."

"But she's not your friend, right?" Ino said. "You two are just acquaintances, after all."

Shikamaru groaned, stacking four bowls in his hands. "What do you two want from me?"

"Nothing," Ino said at the same time Chouji said, "Your snacks."

Ino rolled her eyes at Chouji. "All I am doing is helping you realize just how much you care about her."

Shikamaru sighed. "It's hard to not care when she walked in on my clothes like that! What if that had been you? And it had been Sasuke?"

Ino went red in the face. "How dare you compare us like that, Nara Shikamaru! Besides, I like Sasuke-kun. By using that analogy, you inadvertently admitted that you do like her!"

Shikamaru hated how perceptive Ino was about all the useless, tiny details that didn't even matter. He had just said the first boy that came to mind, and it had just so happened to be Sasuke, the one Ino liked. It made no sense for her to compare that to how Shikamaru might possibly like Temari. He didn't like her, and that was all there was to it.

"Ino, that's stupid. What kind of logic is that anyways?" Shikamaru said. "Fine, then how about Naruto instead? Or Kiba? It doesn't have to be Sasuke. You get my point. It's embarrassing either way. Any normal person would be this embarrassed!"

Ino shrugged. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Shikamaru."

.

"Ah, there you are. I was wondering if you were ever coming back at all," Baki joked as the three Sunagakure siblings trudged out of the elevator, looking utterly worn-out.

"Did something happen?" Baki asked, unaccustomed to Temari and Kankuro's tired looks.

"Nah," Kankuro said. "We just had some dango and snacks after school, and then we went over to Nara's house and played a bunch of video games."

"Was it fun?" Baki asked, knowing how lacking his students were in the video games department. Even though he was their primary caretaker, he was still under the Fourth Kazekage's orders and had no choice but to refuse them such entertainment.

"Yeah, it was!" Kankuro said. "It was so fast-paced and everything, and it's, like, one of the few things I can beat Temari in!"

"Only because I was going easy on you," Temari countered.

"Yeah, sure," Kankuro said. "Anyways, where are we going for dinner?"

"There's this nice soup place I found," Baki said, looking at the map on his phone. "It's got Temari's favorite, as well as rice for Gaara."

"What about my favorite food?" Kankuro whined.

"We can have hamburger steak some other day," Gaara spoke up. "Today is Temari's birthday, not yours."

Kankuro exchanged looks with his sister. "Right."

After washing up a bit, the Sunagakure citizens filed into the car and Baki drove them to a fancy restaurant, a sharp contrast to the food they had earlier.

Temari ordered her favorite dish, kenchin soup, while Gaara and Baki ordered two bowls of white rice and some side dishes. Kankuro contemplated the menu for a while before resolving to eat noodles.

The four of them happily ate their dinner, with Gaara joining in on the conversation, much to everyone's surprise.

"Naruto-kun taught me how to use the Wii today," Gaara said. "He was very good at it."

"But you were even better," Kankuro said. "You should've seen Gaara, Baki-sensei! He beat Uchiha Sasuke like it was nothing!"

"I still have much to learn," Gaara said modestly, stuffing more rice into his mouth to hide his embarrassment at being praised by his brother.

"I wish we could play games back in Suna," Temari said wistfully.

"I'm sure you'll be able to once you graduate," Baki said reassuringly.

"Yeah, but until then, we still have one more year," Kankuro complained. "And by then, Temari will already be eighteen!"

"Legal in the country, but not in the household," said Temari.

"Just look to the future, Temari-san," Baki advised. "Like I always say, indomitable perseverance."

Kankuro rolled his eyes. "We know, we know. It's your favorite phrase."

"But are we seriously going to the Uchihas' place for dinner tomorrow?" Temari asked.

"Yes," Baki said, returning to his strict mentor mode. "I am not giving you a choice. The dinner is at six, so be back by five at the latest. We're leaving at five-forty."

"Great, just what I wanted for my birthday," Temari said, "A depressing hours-long formal dinner banquet thing with the Uchiha who never talks."

.

After dinner, they made their way to the hotel and up the floors, back to their little oasis. They were still full, so the four of them retreated to their rooms to relax a bit before ten, the time Baki had decided was perfect for eating cake. Temari had never asked him why.

Temari and Kankuro played a game of cards, before Temari retired to the showers and Kankuro to his homework, which he grumpily did.

Around nine-fifty, Temari came out of her room, halfway finished with what little homework she had.

Baki already had the cake set up in the common room. It was a two-layer cake—one chocolate and one vanilla—with purple icing, decked out in colorful, tiny frosted flowers. The words "Happy Birthday, Temari!" were written on a chocolate slab, and Baki was putting the candles in.

Kankuro was sitting next to him, a large wrapped-up box next to him. He was neatly dressed in a clean T-shirt, his face scrubbed clear of paint. Gaara was seated opposite him, dressed even neater than his brother. His hair was somewhat tamed, unlike his older brother's, and he held a box in his hands.

"Happy birthday, Temari!" Kankuro shouted across the room for the second time that day. "You're the coolest sister ever, even if you can be hella bossy!"

Temari rolled her eyes but couldn't keep the smile off her face. "Why, thank you, Kankuro."

Kankuro grinned, standing up. He made a show of bowing as he handed Temari an envelope. "All my debts paid, my dear sister. Including the one from the other day with the paint, and excluding the food I bought today."

Temari accepted it. "I'm counting this money and making sure it's right, young man."

Kankuro smirked. "Of course, it's right. I'm Kankuro. I never make mistakes."

"I don't recall math being your strong suit," Gaara said thoughtfully.

Kankuro shrugged and said nothing, sitting back down as Baki lit the candles.

"Happy birthday, Temari-san," Baki said.

Kankuro, and even Gaara, echoed him, and Kankuro pulled out a chair for his sister to sit.

"You're only nice to me on my birthday, huh," Temari said.

"That's nonsense," Kankuro said. "I'm always nice. It's part of my charm."

"You're too full of yourself," Temari said.

She looked at the candles in front of her. I wish it could be like this all the time, Temari thought. Where we're all happy and peaceful, and having fun together. I wish we could always be like a family.

"So, what did you wish?" Kankuro asked curiously.

Temari hit him. "I'm not supposed to tell you, idiot."

Kankuro rubbed his shoulder. "That hurt. But since it's your birthday, I'll let it slide."

Baki handed Temari a knife and she cut the first slice, handing it to the man who had always been by her side as she grew up.

Baki accepted it, looking a bit proud, and Temari cut the next slice until everyone had a slice of cake in front of them.

"So," Kankuro said, after everyone had taken a few bites, "It's time for presents!"

He slid the box behind him forward and Temari wondered what was inside. What had Kankuro made her this time?

Temari unwrapped the box, and stared, puzzled, at the object before her. It was her fan, except made entirely of wood, and on a much smaller scale. Where the purple dots on her fan were, there were now vase-like protrusions. On the back were the words "To: Temari. From: obviously the best brother in the world because who else would replace me, Kankuro." Temari rolled her eyes, amused at her brother's depiction of himself, but was still grateful, if a little confused.

"Uh, what is this?" Temari asked.

Kankuro's face fell a little, disappointed his sister had not recognized what it was right away. "It's a vase! Or like, a series of vases! It's a, uh, vase stand thingy? Like, you can put plants here! And you can just prop this fan upright in your room and stuff!"

"Ohhh," Temari said. It was certainly creative, Temari admitted.

The next to come forward was Baki. He handed her a square box. Temari opened it up to see a framed picture. There were two people there, one she easily recognized as her father. The other was the face of someone Temari sometimes had trouble recalling—her mother. In their arms, they held a baby girl, which Temari knew right away had to be her.

"I found this while packing," Baki said. "I'd forgotten I had it. Your parents were very proud that day, and decided to send these out to their friends."

"Thank you, Baki-sensei," Temari said quietly, still staring at her mother's image, remembering once again how she didn't look like her mother, save for maybe her hair, and the shape of their eyes.

The last member of her family stepped forward, a little hesitant at interrupting Temari from her reminiscing.

"Temari." Gaara said, clearing his throat uncertainly. He handed the small box in his hands to her. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you, Gaara," Temari said. She had not expected a present from her youngest brother today; she hadn't even expected him to tell her "Happy birthday", yet here he was, doing it for the second time that day.

Temari opened her last present, ripping off the wrapping and tossing it aside. It was a small potted plant—a flower.

"I remembered you like flowers," Gaara said awkwardly, his eyes glued to the floor. "So, I bought one at the flower shop in Konohagakure yesterday. I wasn't sure which one you would like, so I picked the most expensive one."

"It's very pretty, Gaara," Temari reassured her youngest brother, who looked relieved.

"You can put it in Kankuro's vase contraption," Gaara suggested helpfully.

Temari did so, and the family spent the rest of the night taking pictures, playing games, and laughing with each other.

Temari watched how relaxed everyone seemed, and Temari thought that maybe, just maybe, her wish might come true.