Shikamaru walked around the corner to see Temari plant a kiss on Chouji's cheek. Chouji lit up like a Christmas tree and when he saw Shikamaru excused himself and told her what time Shikamaru would come by her hotel to pick her up.

Shikamaru was surprised to see Temari kiss Chouji, just like that. For no reason at all, I mean yeah he had been the one to get her to the hospital and everything, so I guess he earned that kiss. But why didn't Temari treat me gently like she did with Chouji just then. He walked up to Temari feeling somewhat unnecessary and asked if she was ready to leave. They walked out together towards her hotel which wasn't far from the hospital.

"So Chouji invited me to watch the eclipse with you guys tonight, is it alright if I crash your scene?"

"Yeah it's fine; Just don't forget the snacks 'kay? Chouji loves snacks!" he snapped at her.

The way Shikamaru answered her, she knew that he wasn't being himself but didn't bother herself with asking what was his problem was. All of a sudden Gaara came running towards Temari and gave her a huge hug asking her to forgive him. When she asked what was there to forgive him for, he told her that because he wished to come to Konoha to watch the eclipse and hadn't known that she was so tired.

"Listen Gaara, I was tired but now I am well rested and ready for the eclipse, besides I wanted to come here too." Kankuro walked up to Temari smoothly and then quickly hugged her.

"This is for being an idiot okay?" Temari just laughed. "baka."

She was enjoying all these guys paying her so much attention but she had reached her limit. She realized it was four pm and left to go to her room to get ready for tonight. A shower was what she needed and some clean clothes which she was looking forward to, until she remembered she didn't have her bag with her. That was the only thing that Chouji left behind when he found her, so she rushed outside, brushing past Shikamaru, Kankuro and Gaara who again were confused with her out of character behaviour.

"Where are you going Mari?" yelled Kankuro.

"Lost my bag! Must go buy clothes! And snacks! Among other things" she replied and added "No I don't need help thank you!" Shikamaru then decided to go home and get ready as well. Shikamaru walked home in a hurry. He didn't know why but for some strange reason he was excited for the eclipse. Gaara and Kankuro decided to have a quick power nap, to give them strength for the night ahead.

Temari had found a store that sold some decent clothing when she saw Ino inside. She hesitated but figured she'd be friendly and say hi to her. Temari approached Ino slowly, for her and Ino had never been friends, just girls who knew each other, but at the same time didn't know each other.

"Hi Ino" Temari said her name cautiously, then Ino turned around to see Temari.

"Oh you've been released from the hospital already? That's so good! How are you? What are you doing here? Are you shopping?"

Frankly Temari was surprised. Ino was being so open and friendly with her. She slowly answered her every question.

"Well actually I lost my bag with all my clothes inside, you see, so I must find something to wear for tonight and quickly" her cheeks turning slightly pink. Temari was not the type to do girlie things, although she had always wanted to try.

"Temari, I can help you find something to wear, I'm free right now and actually I'm shopping for myself too, but it gets boring if you have no one to show the clothes too" Temari was stunned but accepted Ino's kind offer.

They tried on many clothes complimenting each other's choices on hair style, beauty and fashion. Temari was unsure of her feelings at this point; she knew she had wanted a friend so long and she had wanted to do girlie things just like this, she wanted to keep having fun like this and began to wonder what Ino thought of her in return.

Ino and Temari chose to have a soda just to unwind their hyper-ness when Ino began telling Temari a few personal stories. Ino talked about how Sakura used to be Ino's best friend but they had a falling out because they liked the same guy and now they were always fighting each other. She also told her how much she missed having Sakura as a friend and that Sasuke was awesome and everything but wasn't worth them fighting over him.

Temari slowly began to understand that Ino cared a lot for her friends although she tended to disguise her caring, in contrast to herself who acts very tough with the ones she cares about. It was the same kind of hidden caring that Temari had allowed to take over and in that moment believed she could trust Ino and if Ino wanted to she could trust Temari in return.

"What a loser"

Temari replied to Ino who didn't know what Temari had meant and gave the Sand kuonichi a confused look.

"This guy, Sasuke, sounds like a loser"

Temari clarified but immediately regretted doing as Ino agreed with what Temari had said, but while she was smiling her eyes began to flow with tears of obvious heartbreak. Temari was taken aback but knew this pain very well. Temari tried to soothe Ino the best way she knew how, which was a "Kankuro" hug.

At first, Ino had no response to the sudden hug. She sat there upset with crying in front of a near stranger, but Ino found herself to be safe in the strong woman's arms. Ino put her arms around her and allowed herself to cry even louder. Ino poured her heart out and Temari listened to everything this girl had to say.

She continued sobbing and Temari simply continued to hold Ino in her arms, telling her that everything would be alright. Temari wanted to share her past with Ino but locked away her words for the time being. Ino was the one in the desperate need to express herself and she suddenly felt very protective towards the blond kuonichi. When she figured out why she was feeling this way she discovered that she had made her first friend.