" Tsunade-Sama," Temari greeted respectfully as she gently leaned forward in a polite bow. Shikamaru leaned near the entryway and just stood there. Tsunade did not know what to think but she didn't think it would be good.

"What is it?" Lady Tsunade asked wondering why these two were even in here. Only two more weeks were left before she would win that bet against Jiraiya. She hated it when she lost but that wasn't gonna happen this time.

"The mission is complete. The Fangirls have stopped bothering Shikamaru, and there no need for me to stay on," Temari responded almost robotically. She hid her anger well, but Shikamaru still noticed her hands were still clenched firmly into two fists.

"WHAT?HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?!! I mean . . ." Tsunade calmed herself down and cleared her throat, "Very well. . . You can be dismissed."

Perplexed by Tsunade's loud reaction, Temari shot a glance at Shikamaru who in return shrugged. Who knew why the Hokage was like that? Shikamaru shook his head and attempted to open the door for Temari but she ignored him and just yanked the handle from him and exited with a pulsing anger in her every step.

And just as Shikamaru to follow, his nose rammed into the door since she had just shut it behind her. Shikamaru quickly reopened it and headed after the angry Temari.

"What's your problem?" Shikamaru asked as he held his nose, hoping that it wouldn't began to bleed. She just glared at him and he asked, "Why did you slam the door in my face?"

"I guess even a genius like you can't figure it out. I'm going to go find my brother and tell him I'm leaving. You can follow, for all I care," Temari curtly replied in a angry snit as she walked closer to the hospital. Shikamaru did not want to make her any angrier so he just followed behind her silently until they ran into Sakura.

"Oh, hi guys. Are you heading back to the hospital? I just got back from almost killing Naruto. Ino should be fine by now," Sakura addressed the two of them. Something was different, but Sakura was way too busy to properly notice that those two were having a bit of a difficulty, "But she can't leave unless I sign her out."

"I'll come with you," Temari replied intentionally leaving out Shikamaru in her answer as she walked alongside Sakura. Shikamaru stayed directly behind the two girls, "After all I got to talk to my brother before I leave for Suna."

"What?!" Sakura blurted out with shock. She looked from Temari's face to Shikamaru and realized they were having a fight. Or a couple's spat. Either way, Temari was intent on ignoring Shikamaru for some odd reason that she couldn't even began to think about. She saw they were just outside the Medical Center and jerked them both inside.

"Let's just visit Ino and Kankuro," Sakura said nervously hoping they would not explain any further. She didn't want to hear how the most perfect couple could easily break apart. That would be just too depressing to hear.

Ino was just about ready to rip out that stupid IV from her arm. If Kankuro had been out of the room, Ino would have done it. But he was there and because of that reason alone she refrained from doing so.

However if one more nurse entered her room just to inform her that she couldn't leave until Sakura gave permission, Ino was going to throw something. Ino eyed the white glass vase sitting upon the dresser and just smiled mischievously.

When she heard the slight sound of the door sliding open, Ino reached out her arms towards the vase, but stopped when she realized exactly who it was.

"Finally!" Ino exclaimed, her whole entire face lighting up with joy as Sakura entered the room while followed by the appearance of Shikamaru and Temari.

"I'm not even going to ask," Sakura declared watching as Ino quickly placed her hands back to her lap, without any sign of guilt revealed on her face, while Kankuro rolled his eyes at the absence of that emotion.

Sakura went through the usual medical procedures, making extra sure everything was healing as properly as it should. When she was finished, she picked up the patient clipboard tacked at the end of the bed, and wrote a short report detailing on how well Ino was doing. Sakura signed her name to the attached release form, and as a clever afterthought added the words 'Bed-rest' with her signature.

"I'm free," Ino exclaimed cheerfully, yanking the clipboard from Sakura's arms and Ino blew some of her blond bangs out of her eyes and stared at Sakura with indignation as she read those last words.

"Even if you leave the hospital, that doesn't mean you can be up and about. You're still healing, even if most of your injuries were repaired with healing chakra during the surgery," Sakura admonished, tucking some strands of her pink hair behind one ear as she informed Ino, " So when you're taken home, you are to rest and stay in bed for a few days. No excuses, Ino."

"Oh, all right. . . I guess," Ino answered crossing her arms and looking toward where Shikamaru and Temari stood beside the door. Their attitude toward each other was making her curious and she quickly decided to solve her curiosity by asking, "What are you two doing here, besides coming to see if I was okay?"

"Um- I just need to speak with Kankuro. . ." Temari explained walking out of the room, while waiting for Kankuro. Shikamaru sighed and looked toward Ino was just waiting for more of an explanation. . . This was going to be so troublesome.

"Kankuro, are you going to stay here for a bit?" Temari asked slowly, watching as Kankuro's expression changed to one of confusion. So before he asked her, she added some information to explain why she asked, "I'm going back home. My mission to protect Shika . . . I mean Shikamaru, is over."

Kankuro's eyes widened with realization and he gazed at his sister who avoided his eyes ask he asked his question, "Why? Aren't you in love with him?"

"Don't ask me that!" Temari shouted back, before quieting her voice, " I'm not sure of anything, let alone if I love him. I'm not sure if he even loves me, for heavens sake."

Kankuro paused a for a few moments, letting a strange calming silence take over. He looked at the startling hurt in his sister's eyes and he wanted to hurt Shikamaru for causing the pain shown there. But Kankuro had a feeling that Temari would never allow that to happen. He watched as Shikamaru exited Ino's room, and Kankuro realized that Shikamaru had the same emotion deep in his own eyes. Both of them were hurting but they didn't know what to say to each other, once the protection mission was completed.

"Well, when you get back home, tell Gaara I'll be back in a few days or so. I got to keep a close eye on Ino or otherwise she might reopen a few of her wounds," Kankuro chuckled as he pulled Temari into a sibling hug, "And try to get him to start dating or something. He's always too serious."

"I will," Temari responded back, before glancing at Shikamaru once more before heading out. Shikamaru didn't even attempt to pursue her, but he let his eyes follow her until she was completely out of sight. He didn't follow Temari to the gates for he feared he would break down crying.