Thanks for the reviews. Here's the next story. And by the way, yesterday which was the eighteenth of November was my birthday. How cool is that? Enjoy the story.

With every slow fateful step closer to the gates, a lone tear would smear and leave a small wet stain upon the cold ground. It hurt so very much inside, but her mind told her to continue even though her heart screamed to turn around and run back to him. Temari discovered in those small instances that she loved him with all her heart, but there was only one problem. He didn't love her back. . .

Her bright blue-green eyes turned into a dull almost lifeless color and she continued to walk forward even though she had to force herself to walk through the open green gates. And as she left Konoha, she wondered why love was always so very painful when it was only one-sided. Temari answered that thought with a impatient but bitter reply.

"It's due to the fact that unrequited love means that no matter what the other person will never love you, no matter what you say or do about it," Temari answered herself, wondering what kind of torture others faced when the person they loved fell in love with someone else, "If that happens, I don't know how much more damage to my heart that would do."

Her heart felt heavy and she kept holding the pieces together no matter how hard it was to keep moving forward with her feet. Every so often Temari would feel her heart trying to tug with all its might away from her destination but she would quickly drag it back and yank it forward again. Would this be how Temari would feel for the rest of her life? She hoped desperately that it would only be temporary and she had always heard the saying that time heals all wounds. Who knows, maybe it could also heal heart-aches.

"Bye, Shikamaru," She mumbled under her breath, as warm salty tears left a worn trail upon both cheeks. Temari glanced high into the sky and heard the slight whistling noise from the wind.

It was picking up speed, and the clouds were fiercely turning a huge smoky color. It turned even darker and bleak, and she heard a slight rolling sound of thunder off in the distance. And she figured that it was fitting, especially on the way she felt today. She managed a small bitter smile, feeling the cold drenching rain as she leaned into it's icy wetness. She stood still for a few moments, letting the rain wash away her pain and her resentment of what could have been. It soaked all the way through to the bone, but she didn't move from where she was. When it had thoroughly rinsed away most of the bitterness and loneliness, she began walking in rhythm to the slow beating of the rain as it hit against the trees and trails. It soothed her sorrows, but didn't completely take it away. And she was fine with that, even if she wished she could forget. The pounding of the rain kept beating upon her worn weary shoulders, but Temari didn't pick up speed to get out of it until she heard the loud crack of lightening which lit the sky with a piercing blindness.

"Time to stop dawdling and start moving," Temari mumbled to herself, as she started to run toward her homeland. The thunder roared a few times and every so often, another flashing strike of light would light the sky with an almost pale and eerily yellow, as she swiftly continued on her long way home. . .

As Temari left, Shikamaru just stood around, and looking toward the sky. He knew it was about to storm. He had watched clouds for years, and he knew instantly when it was going to rain, by simply glancing upwards. But it wasn't rain that first ran down his cheeks. Shikamaru denied the fact that he was crying, but when he remembered the nickname Temari used for him, Shikamaru closed his eyes and started to sob as the words flickered through his complex mind.

"Crybaby," He choked, letting the rain mingle with his own tears. He didn't wipe them away himself, but let the raindrops wash them from his face. . .

Kankuro stood there silently, letting the Leaf Shinobi stay in the rain for a bit. He sighed and walked back toward the Medical building to tell Ino that they would have to wait a bit until the rain stopped. He was going to love that impatient expression she would have on her face. He entered and saw Ino quietly staring out at the window, registering the fact that it was raining.

"He loves her, doesn't he?" She asked quietly, twisting her head toward him. Ino wasn't supposed to get out of bed on her own, yet there she was standing at the window. Kankuro's brown eyes darkened with concern and he rushed to her side. She didn't argue with him about being strong enough to stand on her own, but simply leaned against his shoulder as his arm came around her. He nudged her closer to the bed and she followed without a word.

"Yes, he does," Kankuro replied back softly to her question from earlier. As they both sat on the bed, with their hands entwined together lovingly, Ino smiled sadly and glanced over toward her love before returning her gaze to their clasped hands.

"But we're together and I'm happy about that," Ino mentioned in passing, " even if I feel guilty that we're happy and they're not."

"I love you, Ino," Kankuro said comfortingly as he gently squeezed her hand. He never knew he would be this happy, and given the choice he would go through all the pain and experience again just to be with her.

"And I you," Ino answered sweetly smiling with love in her eyes before turning towards him, "What happens when you go back to Suna? Will we be torn apart again? I don't think I can take it if that happens again!"

" Don't worry," Kankuro teased with a grin as he lifted her hand to his mouth for a kiss, "I got a plan for that."

"It better not be perverted! I know how you are!" Ino reprimanded which caused Kankuro to laugh out loud. He glanced toward where the sun was about to come up alongside a rainbow. He would have never guessed that the storm would have ended so quickly.

"You'll just have to find out," Kankuro answered suggestively as he smiled seductively. He quickly received a smack for that comment.