Luvs2smooch: Hello, this is me. Thanks for all of you who reviewed--you rock! Here's another chapter, sorry I took so long to update! I don't (yet) own Naruto!

Ex's and O's

(Abruptly continued from chapter one)

"Temari, what are you doing here?" I spoke through nearly-bared teeth. This was the last thing I needed…

Temari tilted her head. "Have you forgotten?" I could detect more than a hint of mock surprise in her voice. Sarcasm, too. Listening to her tone, I guessed that she was just as displeased as I. Not surprising, really, considering what had happened to us…

"She's here to confirm her visit tomorrow," I nearly jumped when I heard Iruka. He stood beside Temari. Didn't notice him. Temari had me caught off guard.

"Her students are going to train alongside yours for a while." I suppose he noticed my disdain, because he added, "Tomorrow."

I groaned silently. I had forgotten. For some reason or another, our superiors wanted the ninjas-in-training to meet. Maybe to strengthen village relations. All in all, it seemed like a plan. Neat and dandy. I saw no problem with it. But Temari…I moaned slightly, aloud this time.

She cocked an eyebrow and smiled a crooked smile. Not joyous, but from the corner of her mouth. The kind of smile that makes you think someone's out to get you.

"Well, that's all…" She turned on her heel and began to walk away, but turned again before the second step, as if she had elapsed over an important note.

"Iruka! Before I forget again, get this to Hokage-sama." Temari beckoned to Iruka, and held out an envelope. A sealed (AN: as in ninjutsu-sealed) envelope. Iruka reached out rather sheepishly and took it. He pocketed it, apparently savvy to whatever was happening. I didn't burden my mind with thoughts of it. Tried not to, anyways.

Temari walked away again, this time confident. I watched her go. Watched her hips sway. Her hair shake. Her fan thump methodically against her back with every step. I just stood there as Iruka dismissed my class. I could hear them walk off, and a few off them even offered a good-bye, but I did not turn. I merely stood, solitary; staring at the straight path Temari had taken. She was gone, out of the village. I stayed, though, for nearly an hour. Another hour after that. Not a single thought crossed my mind, just her image. It echoed through my head like a visual broken record.

A single raindrop struck my shoulder, breaking my trance with a light plop. I looked up at the darkening clouds. Saw a forming thunderhead. Knowing it hailed a storm, I began home. I took the scenic route. Decided I had time, and should relish my solitude before morning breaks.

As I walked, I contemplated what had happened. What I had taught. Kuroramu's success. Even my lunch. Anything to avoid thinking about Temari… But my mind just seemed so engrossed upon her…

It was quite a time ago, maybe a few days after I had failed to retrieve Sasuke. I say "I" because I had led the mission as a chuunin. There were several casualties for both Orochimaru's men and my teammates…no one left the battlefield unharmed. Of course, the village prodigy and my best friend were the worst off.

I wasn't very worried about Neji, but to know that I had almost inadvertently killed my closest friend tore me apart. He did survive the ordeal. Some medicine book my family owned saved him. It couldn't save my ego, though. I beat myself up about it for a long time.

Which led to further thought about what lay in store for me. I knew I would have to lead more missions, that a single mistake on my part could quite possibly be the death of any given comrade. I realized how much responsibility had been hefted onto my shoulders. How much I would have to risk just by living my life. The thoughts that my actions could very well lead to death became almost constant, a fog over me day and night. For the longest time I just sort of…wandered. Let the flow of time push me along. Every morning I barely woke, and when I did it was to the instant dread that a mission may be coming. Sleep was of no comfort, either, as it could only lead to another woe-laden day. I had virtually no placation.

Then I found Temari.

I was actually trying to soothe my mind at the time. I was out walking. It may have been night, but it was quite tepid. Although the stars were out, my eyes were directed at the ground. I wanted deeply to forget my fears, my worries, for at least a while. My mind occupied, I did not at all notice Temari when I passed her. She was lying against a hill. Not too steep, just a comfortable tip. I was walking along a beaten path. It lay at the bottom of her hill. It was apparent from her posture that she was stargazing. I pretended not to see her. I don't know why. Maybe instinct. Whatever the case, she did not let me hold the charade.

"Shikamaru?" Her voice held curiosity mingled with nostalgia and slight worry.

"I wasn't sure what to say. In the end I just gave out a slight "Um…" Looking back, I never was good with women.

I suppose she saw something in my expression, because she gave a concerned smile. She patted the spot on the hill next to her. Then she laughed. She had seen the utter surprise in my face. It was deep and whole-hearted. I nearly blushed, but quickly composed myself.

She patted the spot beside her again, and accompanied it with a single syllable: "Sit."

I still don't see why I complied, but I did. I sat. She was leaning forward on her haunches, her knees on her elbows. I leaned back uncomfortably, hands against the moist grass of the hillside. She asked me a simple question, her tone brimming with understanding, patience, and something else that escapes me, even to this day. She asked me what was on my mind. The first friendly words we ever shared. Her voice still lingers in my mind…

I told her. Told her everything. All that weighed on me. Of failure, atonement, death, and relocation. And she listened, reverently and tolerantly. Admirably, even. And all the while, she gazed at me. Her eyes were round and interested, but her look suggested something more solemn. Like a quieted tempest. Beautiful and chaotic.

After what was barely a few minutes, my mental bottle was emptied and I was nearly crying at my own condition. After it all, she simply patted my back, as if I was a child in need of reassurance. Which wasn't too far from the truth. The strange part was, though, that it felt good. I nearly expected her to say, "There, all better now?"

But insted, she just got up and left. She turned her head back with a wink and said,"See ya!", but just left. I didn't want to go. I didn't want the moment to die. Wanted to keep the bliss. So I laid back and put my hands behind my head and took a fresh look at the sky above Konoha. I chuckled. I never thought the stars could even hold a candle to clouds…

But that was a long time ago. Before what the fat-ass behind the keyboard is about to tell you even happened.

Luvs2smooch: Thanks for reading! Reviews will determine the fate of this script! So review. Or else Sasuke and Orochimaru will rape you in your sleep tonight.