Author's Note: Thanks for all the positive feedback. I've decided to go ahead and continue this story as a few people have asked me to. Feel free to read and review and please enjoy.

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It was early morning and the three of them were headed toward the gate. As they approached there were the two normal sentries on duty. There was also an additional shinobi there, one with a top knot and Chunin vest. The three of them all had different reactions. Temari smiled, Kankuro grimaced, and Gaara looked over to his sister.

"Do not take too long." Was all he said, Kankuro was about to add something, but a look from his brother kept him silent. Without a word the two of them headed to the gate entrance as their sister went over to the young Chunin.

"You're up early." She said, not even trying to hide the pleasure she felt at seeing him one more time before she left.

Shikamaru put a hand over his mouth to cover up his yawn. He was definitely not a morning person. "I just thought I would come by and make sure you had no trouble leaving."

"Oh? Were you afraid I wouldn't be able to find my way?"

"It's possible there are a lot of twisting roads here, it's very easy to get lost if you don't know your way around."

She put her hands on her hips and moved closer to him. "I don't suppose it would be that you wanted to see my beautiful face again now would it?"

Having her so close he suddenly felt himself getting a bit warmer. "Troublesome woman, I was just trying to be polite and give you a proper goodbye."

"Really?" She leaned in, putting her face very close to his. "Did you know that in Suna we usually say goodbye to our loved ones with a kiss?"

Her face was all he could see. He could feel her warm breath. He even thought he could feel the warmth of her lips next to his. His mouth suddenly seemed very dry. And for once his mind failed him as he could think of nothing witty to say in return.

Watching him blush she decided to go in for the kill. She put a hand on his shoulder and deliberately let one finger brush his neck as she moved her lips to his ear. "Such a shame we're not love huh Shika?"

He felt a shiver run up and down his spine. How the hell was he supposed to respond to that? He suddenly wished he was a lot older than 13, he didn't know what to do. She might have been waiting for some reaction. When he said nothing, she stood up straight and smiled down at him.

"Well thank you for making sure I found my way, goodbye."

As she turned to leave he blurted out, "So I don't get a kiss?" The instant the words were said he knew he'd been way too loud. Her brothers were both looking at him now; Kankuro looked angry, Gaara had a very slight frown which Shikamaru found far more worrisome. But now even the two Leaf nins were looking at him and laughing. He felt a sickening certainty that everyone from the Hokage to Ino to his mom would find out about this. But that thought disappeared as his face was cupped in Temari's hands.

She leaned in close again and spoke in a low throaty voice. "Do you want a kiss?"

His mouth was dry again and his throat tight. All he could manage was to nod his head a bit.

Temari was enjoying this. She looked into his eyes and for a moment, just half a second, considered giving him what he wanted. But instead put one finger softly on his lips. "Come visit me and I promise I will give you a kiss." She then turned and walked away before he could say a word. She rejoined her brothers and the three of them headed out the gate. Just as they were about to go she finally heard him respond.

"Women are troublesome," he declared to the world in general. She looked back over her shoulder to see him smiling at her. "But some women are worth the trouble."

She laughed and smiled just for him, and then leapt away with her brothers.

XXXXXXXXXX

"You were up early this morning." Shikaku noted as he dug into his eggs.

"Hmmm…" Shikamaru moved the food about his plate.

"Shikamaru! Do not be rude to your father!" His mother Yoshino barked out.

He rolled his eyes. "So troublesome," he muttered under his breath.

"Say, didn't that girl have to leave today? Oh, what was her name again?" He remarked casually, with just the touch of a smile.

Shikamaru looked directly at his father. "You're not fooling anyone you know."

"Her name was Temari dear, such a nice smart young girl!" His mom answered ignoring her son's comment. "And so polite and respectful! That is so rare to find in young women these days." Shikamaru wondered if he could make it to the door before his mother hauled him back.

"Oh yes, Temari that was her name. Say, Shika if she's not leaving until later why don't you try and invite her over for lunch?"

He narrowed his eyes at his father. "I know that you know she left a couple hours ago."

Shikaku looked just stunned at the revelation. "Well son just how would I know that you know that I know… you know?" His wife threw a piece of toast at him. "But say weren't you out of the house at that same time?"

"Dad if you want to know something why don't you just come out and ask?"

He smiled, "because my boy slowly torturing you is so much more entertaining." His son sent him a death glare, which alas had no effect.

Yoshino looked at her son. "Did you see her off?" Her son nodded warily. "What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Shikamaru," she said in a no nonsense tone. "You got up this morning without having me to drag you out of bed for a change just so you could see this girl before she left. Now something must have happened. What did you say? What did she say? Did she give you anything?"

Not yet. Shikamaru felt himself blush at his own thought. "Dad I take it back please continue to beat around the bush all you like and avoid direct questions."

Seeing his wife about to continue he jumped in. "Take it easy on him dear. After all it must be hard for him seeing his girlfriend leave."

That word set off a wave of panic and he sat up straight. "She is not my girlfriend!" Upon hearing the denial both his parents gave him identical amused looks.

"If you say so dear," said his mom.

"Does she know that?" His dad quipped.

"Look she is definitely not my girlfriend, at best we are simply good friends!"

"Chouji is also a good friend, but I don't believe I've ever seen you walking hand in hand with him." Shikaku said.

"If you had dear we would be having a very different conversation right now."

Shikamaru buried his head in his hands. He sent a silent prayer to Kami to allow sweet death to come and take him.

His mom reached over and put a hand on his arm. "It's all right Shika; there is nothing to be ashamed of. You're a normal healthy young boy and you're getting to that age where you are beginning to notice women. Who could blame you for noticing her? Especially with the size of her…"

"MOM!!"

His mother glared at him and he shrank back into his seat a bit. "Don't you dare yell at me! All I am saying is that the way that girl's hips move…" She was interrupted by a sudden pounding at the front door.

Shikamaru put his hands together in prayer. "Oh please Kami let it be the ANBU with a 6 month mission to Snow country!" His mother sent him another angry glare as she got up to answer it.

"You know son you shouldn't joke." Shikaku sipped his tea. "The last time we were interrupted during breakfast it was the ANBU with a mission for you."

Shikamaru nodded hesitantly, all kidding aside there was no way the Hokage would assign him to a new mission so soon, was there?

But it wasn't an ANBU operative who rushed into the kitchen to stand right beside him looking at him with an expression that could only be described as absolute terror. One look at her caused both Nara men to worry. Normally her presence in this house would not be considered unusual. She was even known to occasionally come by early just to share breakfast with them. Her presence did not alarm the men, her appearance did. Her hair was an absolute mess, her face unwashed and dirty, but most shocking of all the girl had simply thrown on a coat and rushed over. The fact that Ino Yamanaka would be willing to be seen in public in a coat and bunny pajamas signaled a major disaster had to be pending.

"Ino! What..." Shikamaru tried to ask.

She stared at him, obviously on the verge of panic. "Shikamaru I just heard the news please tell me it's not true!"

Ice cold fear ran through him. His very first thought was that Chouji was still in intensive care and something had happened. He stood up and put his hands on her shoulders. "Ino calm down! I don't know what you're talking about." By this point his parents were on either side of her also trying to calm her.

She was shaking. "I got a call from Sakura who is at the Hokage's office, she got the information from Tsunade herself, but it has to be a lie! Shikamaru tell me it's a lie!"

He took a deep breath readying himself for the absolute worst. "Ino I don't know what happened what is the news?"

She looked at him in horror. "Sakura told me you had been seen making out with that sand nin right by the main gate, but that's not true is it? You would never do something like that."

Both of his parents turned their attention from the girl to him.

"Shikamaru you made out with her in public?" His mom said scandalized.

"Still claim she's not your girlfriend?" His dad put in.

"GIRLFRIEND!" Ino exploded.

Shikamaru sat back down and shut his eyes wearily. This is going to take a very long time to explain. He opened his eyes and cleared his throat. "All right to begin with…"

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Temari could not remember the last time she had been in such a good mood. Quite possibly not since she was a small child, before Gaara had begun killing. The weather was perfect, Gaara was pleased to have talked to Uzumaki again, and of course she had made the boy she cared for beg for a kiss. I am just too damn good; poor lazy never stood a chance. She was already thinking about different scenarios of what might happen when Shikamaru came to visit. Because she had no doubt that he would be coming to get that kiss. It might take some time; she understood that he would likely visit her as part of a mission to Suna, and those were not common. But she found that she didn't mind, it was sort of nice to have something to look forward to. She also found that it was kind of nice to be able to think about a boy in that way.

"So just what the hell was all that about?"

She looked to her left and Kankuro was glowering at her. They were making good time leaping through the trees and were already about five miles from Konoha. "What? Can you really blame the poor boy for wanting a kiss from a beauty such as me?" She knew she sounded smug but didn't care.

"I mean what the hell were you doing back there?"

"I was just being nice to him." She said primly.

"Being nice doesn't include being draped all over him like some fan girl!"

She gave her younger brother a sharp look. "Well you would know all about that and don't compare me to any of your stupid tramps."

"My fan girls are not tramps!"

"Wrong, any girl who is with you just because of your name or your money is by definition a tramp. Don't even think about butting into my personal life. Do I do that with you?"

He looked at her in outrage. "Yes you do! All the time! You chased my last girlfriend out of our house with a knife!"

"She was in my room!"

"You're always doing stuff like that to get between me and my girlfriends."

She sniffed at him. "Don't insult women everywhere by calling those sluts girlfriends. If you would date a decent girl instead of those mindless bimbos I wouldn't have to keep helping you."

"Helping?! Every time I bring a girl home with me I have to watch out for, 'mysterious gusts,' or the poor girl ends up in a heap." His sister grinned at him. "Pffft whatever, I don't know why I'm even worried about this; it's not like you're ever going to see him again."

She sent him a hooded look. "I've already told you he's going to be visiting us."

"Yeah right," he said dismissively. "He's really going to come all the way to Suna over a little fling."

If they had been standing on the ground she would have beat him until he was unconscious. "It was not a fling! Unlike you and your bimbos Shikamaru and I have real feelings for each other."

He laughed at her. "Sure just keep telling yourself that."

"He is going to visit me!"

"Of course he will."

She sent Kankuro a sweet smile; she knew exactly how to shut him up. "Care to make a bet? Why don't we wager he comes to see me in the next, oh lets say six months?"

He smiled right back at her. He loved a challenge and he loved bets. "You're on sis, what do you want to bet chores or pride?" Since they were wealthy money had no meaning to them. So the stakes were always household chores or having to perform humiliating acts.

"Oh I definitely think we're going to have to go with pride on this one. In fact this is what I have in mind…"