I'm working hard and getting a friend of mine to read a draft of the next chapter. It shouldn't be long before it's up as well. Thanks for the reviews I never thought I would have 18 reviews in the first place. And that doesn't count the many of readers who have read this.1,271 is the amount of readers or hits? Thanks for reading and making my story such a success.

Kankuro smugly pried his lips from hers and smiled as Ino dazedly blinked her eyes and tried to concentrate. She felt her heart beat race and her knees quiver. Her vision cleared and she brewed with anger as he walked off knowing she would follow. Ino's blue eyes bubbled and brewed with anger but she said nothing for fear that Kankuro would kiss her to keep her quiet.

Yet I wouldn't mind experiencing it again- What has gotten into me? , Ino thought before blaming her thoughts on Kankuro's attitude, How dare he kiss me! Who did he think he was?

Kankuro smirked and glanced at the furious blond's legs as she struggled to reach him. Quickly he moved his eyes toward her soft and swollen lips. He had to admit, that Ino's lips were incredible when she wasn't using them to spout off threats. Maybe he'll spend a few days here, to see if Temari's relationship was working or not. If it was, he'll simply return to Suna and let Temari live her own life.And spending time with a curvy blond leaf ninja might just be fun.

Ino saw a strange look in Kankuro's eyes and she didn't like that at all. She walked onward knowing that sooner or later, he'd let his guard down and she'll smack him for his mistreatment. She'd have her way in the end. Just as quickly as they turned the corner, Ino spotted another blond that she wished wouldn't have recognized her.

"Hey Ino! Is that your boyfriend?" Shouted the hyperactive blond boy. He grinned, thinking of all the blackmail opportunities. Maybe he could get Sakura to go out on a date, if he told her he knew a secret.

"NO!" Ino responded with Kankuro rolling his eyes as he glanced at Naruto.

"Still wearing that orange jumpsuit, I see," Kankuro acknowledged, "And it's such a crying shame you don't recognize the master puppeteer Kankuro. But being you, I'll let you off this time."

"Was that an insult? Nevermind. I still have to get Sakura to agree on a date," Muttered Naruto scraping his feet and sighing with a frown. His face turned upside down as an idea came to him.

Excitedly, Naruto raced off, while leaving the confused couple with strange expressions on his face. Kankuro very quickly returned to his normal smirk. He shook his head and glanced at Ino.

"Naruto's an idiot," she declared as they continued walking on. They both shrugged and kept going, neither wondering why they were still walking together.

Kankuro thought about what all he had learned but he still didn't get it, "Why would Shikamaru need a bodyguard? Is someone after him?"

"Well-um all the girls who saw him with his hair down is," Ino stumbled blushing as she knew he was thinking that she had gone for Shikamaru just for his recently known good looks, "Don't even think it."

"Think what?" asked Kankuro innocently as he widened his eyes but he couldn't hold back a slight snicker, "I hope you've changed your mind about chasing him around like a puppy dog, otherwise I'll have to show you some sense. And that includes a few kisses and loads of advice."

"I don't need any advice from you, you pervert!"Ino glared angrily at him while flushing heatedly trying to come up with something to get her out of this mess.

"So you don't' mind a few kisses?" he teased touching her cheek with his rough hands. He smoothed his hand over her soft cheek and lightly brushed against the dark hue of her lips, that were lightly swollen from his earlier attention. Her eyes glimmered and when her lips parted, his finger slipped inside and touched the tip of her tongue before removing his hand. Ino's heart throbbed rapidly and her hands trembled while her knees quivered and shook. She wiped her sweat glazed hands down the sides of her skirt and her blue eyes dilated. Kankuro urged her body toward his and curled her into his arms as he gazed down on her and kissed her forehead and then kissed the closed lids of her eyes.

"Maybe not," she murmured gazeing longingly at the one who could easily break her heart if she fell in love with him. And deep within her heart, she knew she had already gave her heart to him. Ino leaned her head against his chest, knowing he wouldn't believe her so soon so she would have to wait until he said something. If he said anything about loving her and that was a huge if. . .

"So what do I do?" Shikamaru asked one of his various reliable sources. Hopefully his own dad would have a few choices or or some good advice. Either way it wouldn't hurt to ask. Temari, on the other hand was elsewhere at the moment, trying to figure a way out of his situation by trying to get information that might help them on their side quest.

The older Nara smiled fondly at his son, wondering how the boy always found something amusingly troublesome such as this. And as he pondered, his mind wandered and couldn't think of anyone his son could trick into taking his recent Heartthrob status. Shikamaru would just have to think for himself.

"Shikamaru. . . You better be glad I thought about your problem before answering," Shikaku dragged out his words , "But you'll just have to work hard at figure it out for yourself. After all, it should be quite simple since you take after me in intelligence."

"So you're not going to help?" Shikamaru murmured, wondering why he had not suspected his father of being too lazy to even tell him something to solve his problem. Shikamaru rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"You'll understand what I'm doing when you're older," The older Nara replied, "Now I better get going to the market before your mother gets irritated with me."

He sighed in vexation, hoping it wouldn't be too long before he got back to his cloud-watching days, without any worries at all. He shook his head to clear his lazy thoughts and headed back to the field, where Temari was waiting expectantly.

"You didn't find anyone did you?" sighed Temari shaking her head, "And here I thought you were a genius. So basically we're back at the starting point."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes and they both turned their heads as they heard a few lone shrieks coming from the village. Startled and wary, Shikamaru looked toward Temari. She shrugged and they decided to ignore it.