Note: I messed up and forgot to post a chapter 35, so you'll find something new there. All sorted out now =)

Temari

Somehow I finally left my bed and went to the city center to meet with Sakura – she invited me for a coffee several days ago. First of all we went to a weapon store as I wanted to by a small gift for Asa. Afterwards we sat down at some lovely cafeteria. It had the tables placed at the inside yard, which was decorated in traditional Japanese fashion – chattering spring of water, running through rocks and curving around bonsai trees and bushes. This place protected us from the wind and even though it was already chilly outside, we felt comfortable with hot cups of coffee in our hands.

- How's your lesson? I have heard you have quite a bunch of students. – she asked.

- Well that's true, the number of students tripled since my first lesson. I was thinking to prolong it and split the students into two groups as I'm already having some trouble with tending to them all at the same time… But I'm glad they are so keen to learn. – I smiled, remembering my second lesson and the attention I got from all the children.

- I'm sure your lessons will be as popular in Suna's Academy as here. – Sakura beamed. – I think there are more wind users there than in Konoha, right?

- I think so, yeah. But if I can barely manage the number of students here, what am I going to do back I Suna? – I smiled nervously, just now realizing that I will need to find another wind-technique teacher somehow.

- Doesn't Shikamaru help you here? I saw you two going towards your training ground yesterday. – Sakura smiled coyly. Something's coming up.

- Yeah, he does, since he doesn't have his own lessons at that hour. But he's a shadow user, so it's not like he knows everything about wind.

- Oh? I had the impression he knows quite some. We were talking about wind techniques maybe a year ago, and we were quite surprised by his knowledge. – Having said that she smiled like a cat and I felt I was walking into a trap.

- Well he's a genius, isn't he? I'm sure he figured out quite some about the wind techniques after seeing me and other wind users fight. – I was trying to play it cool.

- Uhuh, I'm sure he did… - Sakura beamed her smile at me, with a I-know-what-you're-hiding eyes.

- Sakura. Do you wanna tell me something? – I asked smiling. I decided to give up this stupid game, as we both knew that we both knew.

- Yeah. Spill it, Temari. I know something's happening between you and Shikamaru. It could not be more obvious. So..? Tell me! – She demanded so cheerfully I could not help but laugh at her excitement.

- Emmm… Well… - I tried to find some words that would answer her question but wouldn't create more interest. I closed my eyes and covered my face with my hands, laughing. I felt like a rabbit in a corner, without a way to get out of this safely. – Yeah, I guess something is happening.

She smiled widely, probably giving herself a mental high-five for noticing.

- Have you kissed yet? – she was not about to let the subject go.

- We did…

- When? Where? How?

- Um. Back then when we were in the club with you guys. We got kinda drunk and ended up dancing together and well… - I sighed. – He kissed me.

- Go on… - she was sizzling with eagerness.

I laughed again, kind of surprised how exciting it feels to share these moments with another female. I never really had a girlfriend and it was a first time when I was speaking of something like this. I bit my lip, smiling, replaying the club scene in my mind all over again.

- It was the best kiss of my life. I don't know why, whether it was because I was drunk or whatnot, but I completely forgot where we are. It was like I couldn't control myself anymore, I couldn't think straight. I forgot that anyone could see us – and it's surprising that nobody did, actually. – I smiled widely, remembering.

Sakura had this cute evil grin.

- That is so romantic and hot at the same time! You guys should have been a couple a very long time ago. Everybody said the same thing.

- What? Really?

- Of course. You two were always together whenever you came to visit. And the way you quarreled with each other? Everybody knew all along how this would end if you would be living in the same village, you know.

- But can't a girl have male friend? Without any romantic-erotic-whatever intention from either side? That's nonsense.

She gave me a "are-you-f***ing-kidding-me" look:

- Tell me you're not actually thinking this?

- What's wrong with that?

- Well it's impossible. That's all. And how can you speak of friendship without any physical attraction when you ended up making-out with your so called friend?

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

- …em. I guess I didn't really think about this before.

- Well if you didn't, it doesn't mean nothing was happening between you two. If Shikamaru was more into girls back then, I'm sure you would have gotten together much earlier. But he was all clouds-and-shogi before starting with Ino and… - she suddenly jammed, realizing she said too much.

- I know about them, don't worry. – I gave her a little smile.

- Did he tell him yourself?

- Yeah.

- That already tells a lot. He never spoke about it with anyone. Anyway, as I was saying, after the thing with Ino he became quite into girls. He even kind of got this heartbreaker label.

- Well that explains what happened in the club… - I thought aloud.

- What do you mean?

- Well he danced and flirted and almost made-out with at least three girls, all the time looking at me provokingly.

Sakura giggled.

- I bet he just wanted to make you jealous. You couldn't really believe that Shikamaru would do this, right? He always seemed like a good boy.

- Yeah. He seemed. – I blushed slightly, remembering other things we did.

- Maybe that's why you like him now? – She asked, smiling slyly. She noticed my blush and poked my cheek with her finger, laughing.

- I didn't really think about that…

- All the girls like bad boys. It's in our genes. – She giggled.

- Oh, and then what about you? Which one of the bad boys you're into? – I decided to stick my nose into her personal life too, since we were being so open today.

- Well I had a thing with Sai. Nothing too serious. But he's kind of a good boy. Too good. – She said matter-of-factly. – But right now there's no one, unfortunately. And I'm so willing to fall in love and stalk someone and kiss secretly in the dark corner of the street… - she sighed, then smiled.

I stared at her surprised. To think the shy Sakura became such a playful woman, openly speaking about everything… Maybe it was just me, still living with some old-school fashion that your personal life must be kept secret? It felt amazingly good to chat girlishly about stuff like that. Or maybe I was like this because of my inexperience – I did not know.

- Speaking of secrets, when are you two going to come out of the shadows? – She grinned, and we both started giggling until we finally burst into laughter until our bellies hurt, and we were almost lying on the ground, gripping our stomachs.

That had to be the best inner joke we could pull speaking of this subject. After a while we wiped the tears from our cheeks, and I answered:

- Actually, we didn't really speak about that. Everything's still pretty unclear and, I don't know, unstable? It's not like we're hiding, it's more like I'm not sure if there's anything to show.

- Oh come on, this is just a matter of time, I'm sure.

- Yeah but if Shikamaru became such a heartbreaker, who knows how long it will be until he decides I don't interest him anymore?

- Oh Temari, don't be ridiculous. If you were just one of his flings… Actually you wouldn't, because you're too unachievable. It doesn't seem you're much into one-night-stands. And the way he's breaking his back for you – I have never seen him do that for anyone. He actually strives with this matter, it's so obvious, and we all know him as a lazy and unmotivated guy. And I can bet that no one, not even his parents, have seen him struggle for something or someone as much. Simply the way he looks at you is very self-explanatory.

- Really? – That was unbelievable to hear, and I frowned, thinking. I could not remember noticing anything really different about him. Well, maybe his extremely clean room. And a fridge full of food. Hm, I'm gonna have to think this through sometime later.

- Yes! Though I'm pretty sure you can't see this yourself, but for others it's very obvious. But be aware that you're no different. You're changing yourself, becoming quite a different person than we all knew you, when you're with him.

- Hm, that's what I feared, actually.

- What is there to fear, silly? It's only natural. And looking at you – and him – it's for the best, trust me. – She smiled again. I started feeling better and more sure of all this, having received a second opinion and a sincere conversation with another female. I think we could become good friends with her.

After a while we got up and were planning to head home, as it was getting pretty late and Sakura still had some errands to run. Before we said our goodbyes, I turned to her:

- Hey, Sakura. What did you tell him, when you two were dancing in the club last week?

- Well… I asked him if Temari was supposed to stare at us like she wanted to kill me. He said yes. – Having said that, she grinned, kissed me on the cheek and headed home, leaving me standing on the street a bit amazed. I smiled at her when she turned around to wave me goodbye, and went home, smiling to myself all way back.