So I'm just trying to layout the story. But just to let you know there will be times when chapters will not be about Temari and Shikamaru. After all they spend alot of time away from each other considering they live 3 days away. And well Shikamaru has a girlfriend obviously and well the rest you'll just have to wait and see. I've decided to keep my chapters short. This way I can make the updates quicker.

Temari's contemplating about things she shouldn't be thinking about in the first place. She is too preoccupied on the piece of cake in front of her, making a mess with the frosting and taking a bite every so often that she does not feel the presence of the man approaching. Her mind is never this scattered; even the tiniest of noise has her eyes wandering in detection. This never happens…

"Lady Temari, I'd be more than honored if you'd agree to just one dance with me."

"What?" she unintentionally snaps at the person who has broken her train of thought.

Sassy as always. She could already hear the banter about her rudeness towards a politician.

Brown meets teal; there is a glimmer of amusement in his eyes and a remark to her offensive voice never leaves his lips. She is certainly surprised.

"My apologies. I wasn't paying attention and you caught me off guard. Please forgive my rudeness." Temari extends her hand to shake his, being a liaison really has given her much practice.

"Not at all. I shouldn't have sneaked up on you that way. I apologize."

A firm shake is exchanged between each other but she finds herself grateful that he did not try to kiss her hand. She hates the saliva residue that was always left afterwards.

"You must be…" Temari notices familiar features that lead her to believe that he is.

"The Fire Lords nephew," He finishes for her. "but I'd prefer it if you'd call me Ryota."

"About that dance…" he continues.

The man quickly piques her curiosity, which is also rare. "Sure."

They lead the way towards the dance floor; it has gotten more crowded since she last waltzed with Gaara. Certainly the alcohol was beginning to haze people's judgments already.

The hand that is placed on her back makes her feel smaller in size. Even with her six inch heels Ryota towers over her by a head. With her hand on his shoulder she can feel the ripples of his muscles as they move to the rhythm of the music. His jet black hair in disarray yet it made his face more alluring, and the color of his skin a shade lighter than hers.

As they twirl together in circles her eyesight lands on one of Ryota's guards, Shikamaru to be exact. His face looks sharp, just like that time during the war. Almost as if he was having an internal battle with himself. Briefly before her attention is drawn from him their visions intertwine and it's almost as if a shock of electricity has literally connected one another.

"What?" she asks not knowing what Ryota has just asked her.

A raspy deep chuckle escapes his throat. "I asked what exactly does the liaison of the Sand Village do?"

"Oh." Splitting herself and her mind away from the man across the ballroom. "Mostly a lot of paperwork. Travelling back and forth from my village to others." She sighs heavily. "It's really not that fun. And yourself?" she asks politely. "I never even knew the Fire Lord had a nephew until four months ago when it was announced that you'd be taking his position."

One dimple forms on his left cheek as he smiles, she notices that they never reach his eyes. She wonders…

"We decided to keep it a secret. For safety reasons mainly but also so people wouldn't say that there was favoritism."

"What do you mean?" she asks, "It's not like your uncle has other children."

"No, but a big commotion would have been made if the people knew that his nephew was one of his twelve guards."

"I see." She of all people knows how it is to be discriminated for being related to someone with high authority. "I understand perfectly."

"I've worked hard to get where I am today Lady Temari. And from what I've heard so have you."

From what had started out with just one dance turned into the remaining of the night. They had lost track of the songs that had been played and before they knew it everyone was being kicked out. The workers wanted to be relieved of their duties it seemed, if it wasn't for a flustered bartender making the last call it could have continued all night.

She bids farewell to Ryota and makes her way towards Gaara who was waiting for her to go home. Kankuro had found himself a friend for the night and was long gone until the next morning.

She sees the four Leaf Nin take the lead as the twelve guards protect the Fire Lords family from the back. Those four have come so often guides are no longer necessary, taking the job of escorting them themselves towards their reserved hotel.

Gaara is busy bidding goodnight to everyone who exits, she sighs in frustration, he's too nice. Temari takes a last glance as the two men in the front disappear by the doors leading towards the outside. Shikamaru is leading Ryota out but with the sloth's hands in his pockets and the Fire Lord's nephew looking professionally alert one would think it's the other way around.

Temari thinks back about the man she has just met and the sorrowful aura that surrounds him despite the cover ups. It's a shame he leaves the next day. Sometimes two broken people make up a whole, at least that's what she'd like to believe.

Next chapter I promise will b a Shika/Tema interaction chapter.