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And the chase was on, leaving behind dust clouds in their wake. The others watched as Naruto glanced back and wisely sped up. But that wasn't what caused Shikamaru to start laughing. It was the utter look of complete terror, Naruto had on his face when he realized just how close Sakura was. But Shikamaru couldn't blame him. One punch from the amazing Sakura could just end his life if she didn't calm down in time.

"That was interesting," Shikamaru remarked, glancing about at the terrible destruction that they all had been a part of in some small way. But he knew that if Sakura had used her full strength it would be much worse.

The fangirls had all left, including Ami who conveniently shifted her longing in favor of Kakashi in a matter of seconds after the mask incident.

"They sure do change their minds quite frequently, don't they?" Temari replied with the slightest agitation creeping up in her throaty voice. She folded up her large heavy fan and quickly strapped it securely to her back. Her neck was stiff with tension and she avoided rubbing it; she didn't want him to see how stressed out she truly was.

But somehow Shikamaru sensed it and came up slowly behind her and whispered soothingly into her ear, "Relax, Temari."

Temari closed her eyes, letting her eyelashes gently rest up on her smooth cheeks. She felt his roughened fingers lift a small blond tendril of hair and place it behind her ear, but he wasn't done yet. He moved downward with his warm hands and rubbed one finger down her neck.

She shivered in startled delight as he began to massage the sides of her neck. Every so often, Shikamaru would lazily switch to her shoulders and Temari would lean her back into his wonderful hands. As the tension melted away, he pulled her closer and let her rest in his strong arm with his hands folded across her waist.

But after a few lazy minutes, Shikamaru pulled away with his right hand and carefully tilted her head slightly to one side so he could stroke his fingers against her pale slender neck. Temari stretched her neck a bit more to the side and shuddered and sighed deeply when he bent his head and pressed feather-like kisses to the smooth skin of her neck. Shikamaru pulled away and turned her around to face him.

Sad soulful blue-green eyes met his and he swallowed a sigh. Her duty was over and there was no other reason for her to stay. He wished he could be a reason, but Shikamaru knew she had to head back to her own village. Temari was loyal to her home and that's where she belonged; just like Konohagakure was where he belonged. Shikamaru had to let her go, not that she was his in the first place.

"I guess this is it," he said with a gulp, loosening his grip around her. She pulled out of his arms with a stiffening in her spine. Her eyes burned with sparks, but strangely she did not take out her anger on him.

"I guess we better head straight to the Hokage's office," she commented as she stomped off in a snit in that direction. Shikamaru hurried off after her, and they both silently walked toward the Hokage's.

Whenever she coughed, Kankuro was there holding her hand while urgently calling for a medic or a nurse to check up on her. Ino would just shake her head as his worries and after the fifth time she could not take it anymore.

"What is your problem. It's just an injury that's almost completely healed!" Ino grumbled pulling away her hand from his suddenly tight grip. She saw how concerned he was and softened her voice, " I like that your worried for me, but the medics said I was fine as long as I have plenty of bed rest. But I hope that some time today, I'll be back home and maybe later go ahead and open back up the flower shop. Oh, I can't remember if I put a closed sign on the outside."

"Ino! You shouldn't even be thinking of something like 're worried about your flower shop?You almost DIED INO!! And I just couldn't take it if something happened before you're completely healed. I never want to let you go again!" Shouted Kankuro in anger as he gripped the bed sheets tightly in his hands before relaxing and stroking Ino's blond hair with his hand. Ino rolled her eyes but allowed him to continue to play with her hair. It was relaxing and she so needed that.

"I love you but you are so stubborn," Ino stated shaking her head from side to side. He grinned at her and answered back with a nice smart aleck remark.

"And perverted, you can't possibly forget that," Kankuro teased his brown eyes laughing with happiness. Ino lifted the hand that she could use and smacked him. He rubbed his head and kept on grinning.

Kankuro looked deep in her eyes and said, " You're mine Ino. Forever and always. I'm never letting you go."

Ino lifted up her face, and Kankuro leaned forward to sweetly kiss her. He was so thrilled that she was alive that he almost kissed her too intently. Ino didn't care, but Kankuro stopped himself. She had her good arm wrapped around his neck and he smiled down at her, meeting her vivid blue eyes.

"Just wait until later for those kisses," Kankuro teased a bit before backing away. Ino pouted but allowed him to escape her clutches. Sometimes he was so annoying, but she loved him anyways. She watched him as he headed out as the medics came back in.

They prodded her and poked her, clamoring all around her but eventually settled down and told her that she just needed some bed rest.

"How long is this going to last?!" she yelled at them. They didn't flinch or anything. Probably because of Tsunade-sama, and Forehead girl.

"As soon as Sakura gets back and checks your progress," one answered as they puffed up her pillow and rearranged the sheets. The others busied themselves by making sure the IV was still connected to her arm.

Ino blew a puff of air out and shouted loudly voicing her frustrations, "You better get here soon! WHERE ARE YOU, SAKURA!?!"