"Can we get something to eat, please?" Ino dragged her feet. She couldn't help the growls from her stomach. Shikamaru's stomach replied as if the two's stomachs were having an in depth conversation. Kankuro was between the two with an irritated look on his face. He was grouchy which meant he was hungry. The four person squad was heading back from escorting a Lord's son to their vacation home. Almost all of their supplies had been ransacked from their hotel room. Unfortunately the Prince whom they had protected was inconsiderate to offer to see to it they were replaced for the journey back to Suna.

As all four Shinobis bowed, the Feudal Lord thanked them for their hurried arrival. The prince shielded his face behind a small decorative fan. "Well, that is what you paid the Sand Village a large sum for, right, father? Least they could do is show their gratitude by showing up early. And look at the bargain, father; you paid for four Sand Shinobi and received two from the Leaf. My, my, a blossom and a desert flower." He wiggled his wispy pencil-thin eyebrows at Ino and Temari. Both girls tried to keep their passive demeanor without showing their disgust.

All four Shinobi agreed on one thing: the Prince was vulgar and selfish. Neither Ino nor Temari would ever reconsider him fit to be any self-respecting woman's husband. Ino pitied the woman who would have to make love to a man such as him. No amount of money in the world could buy him charm or respect. Throughout their entire mission, the Prince shamelessly flirted with both women, even going as far as to offer money to take them to bed at the same time. Ino had uncontrollably let out a laugh while Temari, being the more diplomatic of the two, re-affirmed their mission details to the Prince. The Prince whined and threw tantrums but they ignored him as his servants treated him like a baby.

Ino looked passed Kankuro at Shikamaru. Her heart was still stinging from his words two nights prior on their mission. She had been quiet and kept to herself the rest of their time with the Prince and even Kankuro had left her alone.

Shikamaru handed Ino a small cup of tea as he sat beside her. Kankuro and Ino had taken the night watch as the others slept. Kankuro had taken watch on the south end of the convoy.

"Thanks" Ino took a sip of the hot tea, "You should be asleep."

"I can't with the Prince snoring. Temari can sleep through an explosion" Shikamaru smiled at her.

Ino faked a smile and took another sip. The two sat in silence for a while, enjoying the night air. She missed nights like this where they'd star gaze in the open Konoha fields. Only difference there was another blonde between them. 'You need to fight for him. No more running away! This is why you're here. Tell him how you feel!'

"You know I still love you.." Ino whispered.

Shikamaru didn't look at her. His brows knitted as he stared up at the bright moon. That mind of his troubled. She wanted to sooth his worry away. To kiss him again. She missed being in his arms.

"Shika?"

"Hm?"

Ino couldn't help it. Like an impulse, her arm snaked across his chest and around his neck to bring him closer. She had longed to be close to him.

"Don't. Please don't, Ino." Shikamaru said as he pulled away from her.

"Why? Don't you want to talk about us?" Ino tried pleading, pulling him to her again.

Shikamaru shook his head, holding her wrists in both hands to keep them off him, "There's no 'us' anymore. I told you we shouldn't have ever gotten together and I stand what I said"

"No. No. What does that mean?"

"This. It ruined our friendship."

"No it didn't. We've always had one another. You're the one for me."

"You made a mistake coming here, Ino. I can't give you what you want. Not then and not now. The only thing I can is my friendship and fight by your side. But nothing else beyond those feelings"

Temari looked back at the three as they lagged behind her. "We're almost there. If you guys hurry up, the quicker we can eat"
That had the three going. They passed her up in a hurry, leaving her behind in the dust.

Ino bounced on her toes as she waited in line to order, "Food, food, food, fooood!"
The line in front of them was long but apparently it was the talk of the town, being a staple to experience whenever entering the town. Kankuro squinted trying to read the menu that was above its stand. Temari had insisted on going somewhere else for her lunch while Ino and Shikamaru agreed to try the famous stand. Being friends with Choji almost all their lives, they had developed an appreciation for good food but the wait was starting to get to them. They still had quite a bit of a wait before they reached the counter. Ino was sure they had already been waiting almost an hour.

"Ughhhh! I'm so hungry! I can't wait any longer. I'm going where Temari went" Shikamaru headed off towards another stall. The small stands had set up benches around the grounds to accommodate their clientele to enjoy the meal. Temari had already gotten her meal and was eating. Kankuro had shifted anxiously next to Ino, "Are you going to abandon this mission too?" she asked.

"Huh? Oh.. no. I'm not"

Kankuro looked uncomfortable and Ino put a hand on his arm, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

A girl's laughter was heard nearby which grabbed Ino's attention when he stiffened. Looking behind her, she could see a pretty brunette laughing with a fairly good looking man. Their headgear identified them as Sand Shinobi.

"Does that sour look on your face have anything to do with that couple over there?" Ino nodded in their direction.

"Why would you assume that?"

"Because I do the same thing when I wanna avoid someone"

Kankuro's shoulders sunk in, and he shook his head, "It's nothing, Ino"

"C'monnn. You can tell me" Ino nudged his arm.

"There's nothing to tell, Ino."

Ino put her hand on her hip. It was useless to argue with Ino Yamanaka. Just give her what she wanted. Kankuro rolled his eyes, "We dated for a few years.."

"Oh? Is she the 'girly smell-good' girl? I have to say you have good taste. She's pretty"

"Yeah, well pretty enough to get any guy she wants. Including the guy she's with now. She cheated on me with him."

Ino slyly looked back at the couple disgusted. The girl's eyes had noticed Kankuro. He really wasn't hard to miss with his black attire and and purple paint. What completely left a sour taste in her mouth was the fact that since noticing Kankuro, the girl was really clinging to and flirting with her boyfriend, knowing fully well that Kankuro would see them. Oh no, that wasn't going to fly with Ino. Not one bit. Sure, she and Kankuro weren't good friends but she couldn't watch the puppet master be defeated by the display. What ever happened in their relationship, clearly he was uncomfortable. The brunette whispered behind her hand to her lover, their eyes on Kankuro and laughed. 'Oh hell no!' She couldn't help the overwhelming need to defend him.

"Go with it" Ino whispered, closing the distance between them. Ino slowly ran her hands up his hard chest to the back of his neck, her fingers massaging into his hair, "Kankuro! When are you coming to visit me in Konoha?" She made sure her voice was flirtatious but loud enough to capture the girl's attention. Kankuro's eyes got big and even under the paint, his cheeks were flaring. "You know I'm impatient.." releasing her hands, she turned her back to his chest and took his hands in her own, "You shouldn't keep a girl waiting. Just makes me want to do naughty things" Slowly she guided his hands down her stomach and dip low before glancing over at the watching Sand couple. Other patrons waiting in line backed up a little, uncomfortable by the display. Temari had watched the whole thing and her face was red in disbelief. Kankuro's ex stood up quickly, clearly pissed off. Taking her boyfriend's hand, she stomped off, yelling at him as she passed in front of Temari who did a double take at the couple. Ino released his hands and dusted her own off, proud she could throw it back in the cheater's face. Kankuro was still and took a moment before he spoke, "I need to sit down"

"Why?"

"YOU KNOW WHY" Kankuro yelled over his shoulder as he sat next to Temari.

Shikamaru arrived with his food and sat besides the siblings, noting their red faces, "Did something happen?"

"NO" they both spoke up.

Kankuro walked ahead of the group. Shikamaru followed a bit behind him. Both had their hands in their pockets with their lazy slouch. She didn't know why Temari had to be walking next to her. It's not like the two had anything to talk about. There was a good distance between the girls and the men and Temari clearly had something she wanted to say for she kept looking over at Ino.

"Thank you for doing that for my brother."

"Uh, yeah.. wasn't really expecting a thanks for that"

"When she broke his heart, I wanted to beat the crap out of her but he asked me to stay out of it. Seeing their faces today was priceless and almost worth the wait" Temari smiled at Ino.

"Why'd she cheat on Kankuro?"

"To be vindictive" Temari shrugged, "He saw something in her; I don't know what exactly. He doesn't have much experience with girls. She was manipulative, insecure and jealous. She acted crazy if she didn't get her way and he was putting his duty to Gaara first before her. She didn't like being second to anyone"

Ino stared at the back of Kankuro's broad shoulders. Who knew such a hard ass with a foul mouth could bring her to pity and sympathize for him. Doing what you can for someone and it still not being good enough was an absolute horrible thing to hear from someone you love. She understood his pain having seen the two today. Seeing Shikamaru and Temari hurt her. She wondered if they had more in common. In a way, she liked Kankuro a bit more.

"I couldn't stand seeing her flaunt her new boyfriend in front of Kankuro like he was a joke, like his feelings never mattered"

A small blush came on Temari's face. She could read the underlining hint. Shikamaru and she were not an overly PDA couple but they didn't shy from the occasional kiss in public or the even being affectionate. She knew now it was bothering Ino. Temari looked at the girl with an understanding. She smiled to herself. To her, maybe Ino wasn't so bad. If Shikamaru hadn't been between them, maybe, just mayyybe the two blondes could have been friends.