A Much Welcomed Visit

Temari looked ahead of her. Through the trees she could see Konoha. It looked exactly the same as last time, she smiled to herself thinking of the happy days she had spent there. The Kazekage, her brother Gaara, was beside her, eyes dead set ahead. She nodded to him, and they both sped up, running towards the village hidden among the leaves.

*

Nara Shikamaru leant at his usual spot, watching Ino and Choji argue again.
"I'm just saying if you didn't eat so much, then maybe more girls would like you!"
Ino was straying into dangerous territory there. Shikamaru shook his head. It would be troublesome to have to break a fight up between those two. Again.
He turned away from them, looking out over the village. Suddenly, a hawk flew above him, crying out.
"What now…?" he muttered, immediately setting off towards the Hokage's tower.

He entered Tsunade's office, knocking lightly first, and then letting himself in. Standing in front of him were two very familiar people. He fought to keep a smile from his face, and instead bowed his head.
"Kazekage, it is an honour." He said, "And Temari. How nice to see you too."
She avoided his eyes, instead replying with an abrupt "Hai."
"I'd prefer it if you didn't call me that, Shikamaru. My name will suffice." The sand ninja spoke.
"As you wish, Gaara-san."
"As I was saying…" Tsunade's voice came from behind her desk, "I have arranged for you to stay with one of our Chuunin. And seeing as Shikamaru was first here…then I guess he's the lucky one!"
She let out a loud 'hic' and unsuccessfully tried to sneakily take a sip from a conspicuous looking bottle.
She can be troublesome when she's drunk…I had best get them out of here. Shikamaru thought to himself.
"Gaara, Temari. If you'd like to follow me?"
With that, the three ninja left the Hokage to fell asleep in her chair.

*

Kiba and Hinata were out walking. Hinata had managed to escape her father's, and Neji's watchful eyes for a few hours to see Kiba, and they had quickly gone as far from the Hyuuga compound as they could. When he was sure they wouldn't be seen, Kiba pulled Hinata to him and kissed her gently. She sighed as he pulled away, looking down. Every time he kissed her, she still felt the same sensation. Dizzy, wobbly legs, heart fluttered… No matter what kind of kiss it was.
He smiled at her and grabbed her hand.
"I wish we could do this more often." He said, "I know it's difficult. You still love me, right?"
Hinata laughed at him, "Of course." She replied.
This answer seemed to satisfy him, and he happily walked along with her in silence. They strolled through the small woods on the outskirts of the village, their breath coming out as mist. Occasionally he caught her looking at him, and he smiled to himself. Beautiful, wonderful, caring Hinata. Her stutter might have gone, but she still blushed every time he kissed her. It made him love her even more, he thought, if possible.
Her gasp made him look up. Further up the path from them, the last of the melting whit snow was stained red. He was surprised he hadn't smelt it. They ran to the crumpled heap, which soon turned out to be one of ANBU, judging by the mask. Hinata checked for a pulse.
"It's faint, but there is one! Kiba get help, quick!"
"I can't just leave you! Come on, I'll carry him, you follow."
With that, Kiba scooped up the near-dead ninja and they ran towards the hospital.

*

Shikamaru opened the door to his house. It was small, and only had two tiny bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen/sitting room, but it was home. Gaara and Temari followed him inside, Gaara immediately sinking onto a chair.
"So which room is mine?" he asked, raising an invisible eyebrow.
"Well, that room's mine…" He pointed to a door on the left.
"I can't possibly share a room, I'll have the spare, and Temari can sleep on your floor. I'm sure you won't mind that arrangement. And now I'll have to rest." With that, the Kazekage rose and left the other two in the sitting room, snapping the door shut behind him.

Temari could almost hear her heart, it was beating that hard. She hadn't been alone with Shikamaru for over a year. Not since she'd been in Konoha for Ino's 17th, and they'd all gotten very drunk. They had written to each other, but it just wasn't the same as being near to each other.
The male ninja approached her slowly until he stood right by her. Her skin tingled at his closeness. Her breath caught in her throat.
How pathetic, that a boy can do this to me…, she thought to herself, angrily. He was so close now, leaning in towards her ear.
"I'm surprised a girl made it this far in only a few days." He whispered, mockingly, in her ear.
She span around to face him, her eyes blazing. His lips fell upon hers as soon as she did so, cutting any angry reply short.
"The effect you have on me Temari…" he said, breaking away, "What can I say? It's troublesome."
They kissed again, this time harder, and with more passion. Slowly Shikamaru backed into his bedroom, pulling Temari after him.