Hey, everyone! Are you glad I didn't take so long to post this time? Lol. Thank you again for still sticking with this story!

This chapter will be a mini chapter because originally I had it planned it to be much longer. But the thing is I made a deal with someone that I would post today so I shall. Hehe. Is it obvious that someone is bribing me to continue this story faster? Lol

Hope you enjoy! :)

"How could he have possibly known our courtly dining etiquettes? He did not even bat an eye!"

"Well I thought he faltered at the spicy entree but he showed some will there, didn't he."

"But at the end there, that was so close! We almost got him! So cheeky of him to address our elder in such a way also!"

"Did you think he was going to make it, Chiyo-sama?"

Chiyo ignored the noisy discussion about her. She needed to process everything carefully. True, she did not think that the boy would even know a hint of their etiquette style. Even if he was a so-called genius, why would he care to know the etiquettes of such a culture as theirs? Unless he was arrogant enough to predict that he would become part of the royal family? Absurd!

Even so, even he had somehow known of their style of dining, she had taken into account the taste of Konoha's cuisine. But the wretched boy had actually finished the dish. Even when the reluctance was clear on his face at first. Yet somehow a determined expression overcame it. Sentiment for the princess, eh? How positively nauseating. She refused to think it gave significance to their union.

Talking to him while he was eating was obvious a ploy but she had to try every means. The way he took his time and replied to her during the meal was certainly impertinent. As if he dodged a blow and playfully jabbed back. He did manage such a comeback. A cheeky one at that.

The last stroke from her end was supposed to be foolproof. The boy was known for his fondness for smoke. Yet for some odd reason, it looked like some force froze his hand just before he picked up a cigar.

It was the most infuriating sensation. To have had an almost victory on the first round. It would have been glorious.

No matter. She had more tricks up her sleeve. That was for sure.

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"Shika, what do you think will happen next?" Temari asked while atop him. Her chin rested on the back of her flattened hands which rested on the planes of his chest. Her bare chest rose and fell with the rhythm of his stomach. Her legs crisscrossed in the air between his legs.

Hands at the small of her back, but at her question rose to pin themselves behind his head in thought. "I've no clue. But definitely something to throw me off. This round certainly did. It's just too bad for them I have stock knowledge of the subject." She had to hold back a smile at the smugness radiating off his face.

"Thank goodness for that. Otherwise I would probably be packing up right now and running away with you. Glad we don't have to resort to such things. As of now anyway." She slanted a warning look at him, reminding him not to get too big a head too soon in the game.

He gave a humourless chuckle. "You wouldn't leave your village like this. Not with this sort of politics underway."

"No, I would not," she agreed. "Not in this situation. But once the threat is cleared, I will be doing things for me and only me. I will not have my life dictated for me."

But she almost let them, didn't she. For the sake of her brother, the ruler. The only one she knew who would make a difference to their village and actually cared for it. And it would have been a noble doing on her part to sacrifice herself in order for her brother to retain his power. That would not have been so bad except she knew it did not feel right to surrender. It was so unlike herself. She was glad she chose to fight. And if they lose, at the very least Gaara no longer had to be stripped off his power since he did not push for their marriage. Not directly at least. The elder could not use that threat against her anymore. And that was definitely a massive weight off her shoulders.

Now they only needed to win this tournament.

"But you're a princess. You must do what's right for your village." She knew it was a question as much as it was a statement coming from him. Not that he doubted her loyalty to her village and her family, but he probably wondered how far she was willing to go for their relationship. But she already answered that, did she not?

"Gaara is what's right for the village. As long as no one is hindering him, the village will prosper." Which was the perfect answer for his overt questioning. But she decided to tease him by not replying to his underlying question.

Instead her lips brushed the skin along his shoulder blade. She heard the gasp and felt the stiffening of his torso. She held back a snicker.

"Tem." His hands thread through her messy hair.

"Hmm." She continued to pepper feather-light kisses all around his shoulder, spanning from the end of his shoulder towards his neck.

"Tem," he murmured warningly.

She dug her teeth into the crook of his neck. He jerked and hissed through his teeth.

A split second later, she found herself staring up at the dark orb of his pupils. Flat on her back while he hovered over her, the weight on his forearms.

"You'll run away with me?" She detected the note of hope and the hint of hesitance. His gaze seemed to intensify as well. She did not know whether to laugh at his adorable moment or comfort him.

Instead she answered him with stark honesty," I told you I will not have my life dictated for me."

"But your brothers—"

"They will be fine. I will contact them every once in a while."

Brooding eyes still thoughtfully peered into hers.

"What."

"I'm not sure if you're running away to get away from the clutches of the council or to be with me."

"I cannot believe your questioning my feelings for you."

He winced. "It's not like that. But you can't deny the council has a huge hold on you."

She gave a harsh bark of laughter. "Why do you think I broke up with you? That bitch of an elder threatened Gaara. What other choice did I have but to sacrifice us for Gaara and the entire village? I did it for them."

"I know," he said softly.

"But now since you challenged the council, Gaara is no longer in danger. I will not be strung along like a puppet in the elder's hands. Yes, I will do anything to get away from that. But." She cupped his face with her hands and stared at him hard. "If there wasn't you, there wasn't anywhere I would want to go badly enough to leave this place. If there wasn't you, I would stay and rebel alongside Gaara and Kankuro."

He took her hand and pressed his lips into her palm. "I know. I didn't mean to make it sound like you were just using me as a scapegoat."

"But the thing is it would be so much grander if you won this tournament instead."

"What?" he asked in confusion.

"Running away it does not suit us heroes of the war. Sure, I would do it if we had to. But I would much rather see the elder fall into defeat. I mean she is doing everything in her power to destroy us. I think she needs to be taught a thing or two." She grinned. "Do you not think so?"

He smirked. "Agreed. I did say I'll win, didn't I?"

"I am counting on it, lazy genius."

Thank you to my additional favoriters and followers! And much more to previous reviewers: spilihp17, fanofthisfiction, SariaKasumi, Rose-Aki, SlackingNara, and bunnyguest. I will thank you all individually soon!