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...

Ino Yamanaka knew that she had a date for some time in the future. She was serious about this date, so any wandering eyes for Sai and Sasuke were quickly corrected and put into their place. But, it also didn't consume her. Maybe it was because he was so far away, like the old saying goes. Out of sight, out of mind. So she instead focused on adjusting to life in Konoha. She began a bit of T&I work on the side of her normal shinobi duties, and found herself growing more and more independent. Her old days of working in her mother's flower shop seemed to end as she worked harder as a kunoichi and trained more often. It would be a lie to say it wasn't the one-two punch of father figures leaving her life that pushed her to throw more of her life in her work. The days became far more simple.

Wake up. Clean Up. Breakfast Up. Walk Up to the team meeting spot. Wake Shikamaru Up. Walk up to the Hokage Tower. Get a mission. Go out for days. Do it. Come home. Go to sleep. Wake up. Bother Sakura. Train. Bother other friends. Wake Up. Clean Up. Breakfast Up.

After nearly three months of this steady routine, she found herself thinking a bit more about the date. When was she going to be able to go to Suna? Would the great Kazekage still want to go on a date with her? Was it the stress of the events? She actually took the time in early January to send him a letter by hawk messenger using a simple code phrase that she knew he would understand.

Will we be having pudding?

She waited a few days before she got her response, that made her smile.

The cat is getting hungry for it.

A few days later, the cat could begin to rest its hungry stomach. She was called into the Hokage's office during a taijutsu spar with a fellow Yamanaka chunin, along with her teammates Choji and Shikamaru. Tsunade was relaxed in her office, relaxing Ino as well. It wasn't them having screwed up anywhere at least. Tsunade began to speak.

"I have an B-Rank mission for you three. It's nothing major, I just need you to carry a few scrolls to Suna and retrieve a few back."

"What sort of scrolls?" Choji asked, curious.

Tsunade gave a shrug. "Nothing too vital. Mainly medical techniques we have been discussing sending Konoha exchanging with them. The scrolls we will be receiving will be some of the personal notes from a deceased Suna unoichi, Chiyo. She was a master poison crafter, so receiving information in order to recreate them if needed is probably a smart thing to do. You can stay the night in Suna, I know your team are highly regarded by the Kazekage and his siblings. Just don't dilly-dally too long. You'll get the scrolls in the morning, 8 AM sharp. You hear that Nara? I said 8."

Shikamaru muttered. "I'm not deaf. I have never been late to a mission." He defended himself.

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "That may be true, but when I say morning you tend to show up after 10, and the afternoon means close to 3 for you. So 8 AM sharp, you got it?" The three shinobi showed they understood. "Good, now prepare. Nothing should happen, but who knows what weird things could come up." With that farewell, Team Ten left the Hokage's tower.

Choji stretched, and got out a bag of barbeque potato chips. "Well, got to tell dad we won't be training tomorrow. Want to meet up for dinner at the usual?" He asked casually. Shikamaru nodded in agreement, but she shook her head.

"I already promised to eat with someone else. I have to get going anyway. See you two tomorrow. At 8, understand Shikamaru?" She teased her teammates before leaving. She could hear his annoyed grunt as she hopped away.

The truth was there was no one Ino was eating with. She had to do things. She had to tell her date that she was coming, Actually, she thought to herself, he would already know. His message had made him seem impatient, did he pull strings to get her team a mission to Suna sooner rather than later? She was moved by it. That meant she had to do her part, which was look nice. She had to figure out the right dress, and shoes, and maybe even jewelry! She knew he wouldn't care if she came off the battlefield for the date, but she wanted to look good. She also wanted to look good for him, it was her nature to peacock in these situations. She rushed home, ignoring her mother as she began to raid her closet, looking for the right outfit.

He would probably be wearing that maroon tunic he always wear, Ino decided. Besides his Kage robes, she had never seen the man wear anything else. But then again, he could try to dress up in something special. It was his first date. She had gone on a few with admirers between the time Sasuke left and Naruto returned, which flipped Konoha upside down, but it never got past the second date. It was usually right around the time they went in for a real kiss that she knew there was nothing between them and rejected it. She was saving her first kiss for someone who was worth it. Which was odd to think about, she was a 17 year old bombshell but she had never been kissed! Well, that was another reason to hope for this date to go well. She didn't want to turn into Shizune, though she did care for her like a sister. She was getting to be 30-ish and didn't have any male suitors. Not that anything was wrong with that lifestyle, but Ino wasn't Shizune.

But of course she wasn't going to force it. At heart, this Yamanaka was a romantic, she wanted to be able to tell her kids about the wonderful romance her and their father shared. And the first kiss was part of that mystique. She shrugged to herself though. They were shinobi. She was going to go with black, the uncolor that went with every color. She was thinking dress, but she had found a pair of black pants that fit her perfectly and had this cute sweater that wasn't really a sweater and it showed a lot of neck but it was just perfect. The dress could be saved for the third date, once she knew if he was a keeper. Plus, a dress was impractical if fighting broke out. And knowing what how her generation of shinobi luck was like, it was a feasible reality. She would have to go with a thin necklace. A cute pendant, maybe a heart? Ino knew exactly which one would work to.

She rushed from her closet to her jewelry box on her table, leafing through her collection of necklaces until she found...there! Gently, she pulled it into the open and looked at it. It was real gold through and through, and had cost a fortune. The heart pendant doubled as a potrait, so she popped it open to see if there was a picture held within.

Of course there was. How could she forget? It was the picture of her and her dad celebrating her promotion to chunin. He had gotten her this as the reward for doing so. They had a small party when the Nara and Akimichi and Sakura and Tenten and a few family friends were invited. They ate and danced and had fun. It was one of her best memories of her and her dad. She felt them coming. She wanted to hold them at bay, but it wasn't working. Fuck, she was gonna start crying. She used her wrists to rub her eyes, cutting off the tears before they formed. Then she heard a cough, and turned around. With a sad but gentle face, her mother was smiling at her.

"He was so happy that night. He was bragging to Chouza and Shikaku for days about how his little girl got a promoted after working so hard and was the first kunoichi of her year to become a chunin. Shikaku tried to remind him that his son was already a chunin, and made it before anyone from the year before your class. Or that Sakura had become a chunin at the same time, or that Chouji got to chunin as well, but Inoichi didn't care. His Ino was finally a chunin" Her mother told her, eyes locked on the necklace in her daughter's hand, a warm smile on her face.

Ino just nodded her head. "Yeah, I remember. I just... I didn't expect it to hit me like this. It's been months-" Her mother walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"My mom died when you were maybe 2, and it took me two years to make kimchi without balling my eyes out. The weird thing is, I hated my mom's kimchi." She let out a laugh, which was unexpectedly mimicked.

"I guess we are alike that way, huh?" They both kept, before her mom caught the insult. She bopped her on the head lightly, shaking her head.

"You know, just for that, I'm making it with every meal this week." She threatened her daughter.

"Good luck with that. " She informed her. "I'm going to Suna for a mission, and you know how long that takes. Have fun eating that much fermented veggies!"

Her mother raised her eyebrow. "Suna? That doesn't make any sense."

Now Ino had the confused look on her face. "What do you mean, mom?"

She pointed to the black outfit laid out, and the necklace in hand. "Well, unless my teenage years were secretly overdubbed by your father in secret, this looks like you are preparing for a date." She gave Ino a knowing look. "Unless... the boy is from Suna?"

Ino blushed at her mother's intentiveness and looked away, outing herself completely. Her mother's eyebrows raised completely. "Really, a Suna boy! That is surprising. I mean, I know that Shikaku's son has that thing with the Kazekage's sister, but you? When did this happen? Did he come to the village or what?"

She knew she was caught, so she told the relative truth. "No, it was after the battle. I needed some alone time, and he did too. We talked, and he asked me out. I thought we connected, so I said yeah."

"But honey, that was three months ago. I don't mean to be harsh on this boy, but they are very fickle. Do you know if you aren't just some side girl for him? Or that the date is still going to happen? Have you contacted him at all? I don't want you taking your nice clothes all the way to Suna for nothing." Her mother was worried for her daughter. She felt like those were legitimate claims she was making about this mysterious Sand boy.

"Mom, I'm not an idiot. I did check up a few weeks ago, and he sent me something last week about how he was hoping it would happen soon too. And you don't have to worry about him being a playboy or anything. He is the exact opposite of that, more of the loner type." The confident young woman replied, getting up from her bed. She was walking around the room to collect her date outfit and put it away.

"You mean like that Sasuke that you crushed on for years when you were little?" Ino didn't have a response to that little jab at her prior fangirling. "Look, I am just worried. How do you know if this will work out?"

"I don't." She bluntly confessed. "Me and Gaara both know this might be a one time thing, or it could be more. That's why it is a date, and that we are not dating." She emphasized her point. She noticed her mother mouthing something to her self. She tried to read her lips. Gada? Hara? Hada? It was obvious to her now, but why would she be mouthing his name...

She told her mother his name.

"Gaara? As in the Kazakage Gaara?"

Shit.

"Honey, are you on a date with the kage of another village?" Her mother was shocked by this news.

She calmed herself down and replied with a perfect lie. "Of course not, mom. There is more than one person named that in Sunagakure. He is a chunin that is a year older than me." She told her mother in a manner that was right enough for her to believe it, but not too perfectly as to rouse suspicion. Being a damn good kunoichi had its benefits.

Her mother bonked her forehead. "Of course! That makes sense. Still, one heck of a coincidence. What does he look like?"

She had no problem answering this lie. "Well, if I had to describe it to you, imagine Shikamaru but three inches taller, short black hair, and eyes that look like they aren't about to fall asleep. That is the closest I can think." She would have to tell her the truth eventually if it worked out, but she didn't want her mom spreading gossip on a non-issue while she was away.

Her mother was satisfied. "Alright, he sounds nice. I'll leave you to packing, I bet you aren't going to Suna just for a date, am I right?" Her mother watched her nod in response "Alrighty then, I'll leave you to it. And honey, this needs to be said. Don't put out on the first date." A long pause came between the two before a pillow was thrown at her mother's face.

"Mom, you are starting to sound like Dad! I know that!" She was flustered at the sexual advice from her parents. Everyone gets flustered when they get sexual advice from their parents

…

Kami knew that Ino Yamanaka was a goddamn magician, along with being a kickass kunoichi and mirror model extraordinaire. Not only had she thoroughly knocked her mom off the scent, she had also wrangled a promise that she wouldn't talk about it until she got back. And she had found the perfect set of heels to go with her outfit. They were maybe an inch, but looked great and complimented her outfit fantastically. She had managed to seal them away in a basic storage seal that was laying around, so it wouldn't get lost. And she was making sure that this scroll in no way came into contact with the mission's scrolls. That would be a disaster. A kid looking to have his mobility repaired by a medic shinobi, only to be greeted with an awesome outfit. Tragic.

They left the day before, and were going to arrive the day after. It took time to travel to Suna, especially with Shikamaru leading the mission. He totally deserved the promotion he got, but did it really mean he had to be the team boss? Yeah, he was a planner, but she was a natural leader! Leaders led, planners plan, its basic Life 101.

It was getting late, so Shikamaru used it as an excuse to call for camp for the night. She didn't like it and thought about protesting, but she knew it would look suspicious that she wanted to get to Suna faster. She had no reason to want to get this mission done as fast as possible, so it would look out of place. Instead, she just called Shikamaru a lazyass and began to set up camp with them. They had been doing it for years, so it was quick. And dinner was nothing interesting, just a spare bag of potato chips Choji offered to his teammates. All they had eaten that day were bland energy bars, so the sour cream and onion flavor was especially good after that. They didn't really chat much, more focused on being aware and staying warm on this oddly brisk January night. As twilight turned into night, she found herself unable to sleep. She was trying to shut her eyes, but they refused to listen to her. So, instead of forcing it for the next few hours, only to wake up miserable the next day, Ino got up from her sleeping roll and went tree climbing.

The trees weren't especially high near the Suna border, so she didn't have to climb high to get a view of the night sky. She settled down on the branch and rested her head against the trunk of the tree, and looked up. It was the first time since that night she had gone stargazing, so she tried to find the things she found before. It took a little adjusting to the new angle she was looking at them from, but she started to find them.

"Let's see, those are Choji's star flavored potato chips. And I think that was a snake. I don't know, I don't think it was 6 stars. And that has to be the turtle. But how the hell did I get turtle? That looks more like Rock Lee's head than a turtle. And that... that looks familiar. A box with lines? I didn't do any boxes with lines." Then it hit her. That wasn't the constellation she had found. It was the one Gaara had pointed out to her The cat.

With a smile, she began to trace it with her fingers. She remembered his instructions on how to see it vividly. It was in a perfect instructors voice, definitely something nice on a guy. He would tell you things properly, instead of being an idiot like Shikamaru who would be vague and get annoyed if you can't decipher his mumbles. She swore, for being a super-genius he was a giant idiot. Not like him... wait a second. She was starting to sound like a fangirl. She shook her head of that nonsense, she was a woman (or portended herself to be one) and she would act like it. She was beginning to ramble to herself, and she was starting to get drowsy. Apparently stargazing could also act as a sleep-inducer for her. Not wanting to fall off the tree when she was snoozing, she jumped down branch to branch, before lightly landing on the forest floor below. So of course, Shikamaru's eyes were wide open and looking at her.

"Still up?" He asked her with an indifferent tone.

Ino let out a yawn. She was getting tired finally. "Only for a few more minutes. I had to move around for a bit, but I finally can clonk out."

Shikamaru let out a yawn and closed his eyes. "Yeah, tomorrow we get to Suna, and you can get to whatever you have waiting their for you."

Ino had been heading to her bed roll but was now stopped. Shikamaru continued. "You have been a bit anxious since the trip started and wanting to get to Suna faster. I expected you to protest me setting camp so early today. What's in Suna?" She knew what was happening. Shikamaru was like a brother, and he was wondering what his big sister (she was the older one!) was on edge about. If it was Konoha it would make more sense, but he was the one who had something waiting for him in Suna (though he would never admit it.)

So she decided to be blunt but vague. "You'll know when I find it." She cryptically responded, climbing into her bedroll.

She thought Shikamaru had gone back to sleep, but she heard him say in his sleepy haze. "Troublesome. It is probably a sale or something." The blonde kunoichi laughed to herself. Like she would be this excited for sales in Suna. The good ones happened in May, not January. Her mind drifted from Suna shopping to the red haired date she was going to see tomorrow as she fell asleep. She really was obsessing, wasn't she?

…

They woke up early, and changed into proper desert gear that they packed before leaving. Even though it was winter, the sun was still bright and sunburn, sun poison and sunstroke were all in the realm of possibilty. They took a short water break at an oasis around noon, and found themselves in the late afternoon finally reaching the city of Sunagakure. Team Asuma were well known entities and were expected, so getting in and making their way to the Kazekage's tower was a fast process. She refused to show it, but she was getting a bit nervous. He knew they were coming around now, so she wondered if he was getting nervous as well. Would he show it, or hide it under his cool exterior? Had he kept it a secret as well, or did he let it slip to his siblings? She wondered this as they were taken up the stairs to the tower and to the Kazekage's office. She could hear the yelling of Temari from behind the door, but couldn't quite make out the words. The shinobi guiding them seemed use to this, and casually interrupted the argument, announcing they had arrived. That was when Ino began hearing Temari clearly.

"Shikamaru Nara, I am going to kick your ass so badly, they will be finding pieces of it in the desert for the next 100 years." Well damn, what did he do?

"What did I do?" He didn't know?

"I don't know how you did it, but now Gaara smoke cigarettes! And don't say it wasn't you, you are the only person he knows well that smokes!" Well shit, she did that.

"Temari, please calm down. I have told you this before, it was not Shikamaru-san that introduced me to smoking. Do not verbally assault your boyfriend like that." For the first time in months, she heard Gaara's voice. It was the same as she recalled it. She began to look around at the inside of the office, and saw only Gaara and Temari there. Temari was glaring at Gaara at the moment, while Gaara coolly looked back, in full Kazekage robe and hat.

"Boyfriend? Since when did Shikamaru become my boyfriend?" Temari wanted to beat her brother obviously, but knew it was largely futile. She glared at him even more fiercely, however.

"Is he not a boy, and is he not your friend? Therefore, he is your boy friend. Akimichi-san would also be a boy friend, and Yamanaka-san would be your girl friend." Ino wanted to laugh. He was trolling his sister! She didn't know it was in him. Gaara didn't show it on his face, but Ino knew he was smirking internally. "However, I do think he could be your equal." He turned to Shikamaru with a straight face and told him, "Shikamaru-san, if you should decide to, you have my permission to date Temari, both as Kazekage and her brother."

Both Shikamaru and Temari looked embarrassed at this turn of events, and Gaara knew he had won this round. So, from a place behind his desk, Gaara casually grabbed a lit cigarette and took a puff. Temari noticed and sent a glare at Shikmaru, ignoring his exhale into the unfilled space of the office. Ino felt sorry for Shikamaru, he was innocent. However, Gaara decided to spare him, putting his cigarette away after another quick puff. His face shifted slightly, but Ino knew it meant that play time was over. "I believe you came here for a mission, and not to fight with my sister. Correct, Shikamaru-san?" He asked politely, changing the course of the conversation.

The environment turned formal as the details of the scrolls and what was occurring was formally explained and the medical information was passed to the Kazekage, who quickly sent it off to the hospital. Team Asuma was informed that for security precautions, they would be receiving their scrolls from Chiyo's archives before they left and not at the moment. They agreed and the diplomatic portion of the conversation was fulfilled.

"I offer you my village for the night. I hope this does not hinder your plans." Gaara spoke formally as Kazekage.

Shikamaru lazily shook his head. "No, it does not. We thank you for the hospitality. I assume the rooms are in the same building as usual?" Not far from where the tower was a small building filled with rooms meant for visiting shinobi.

Gaara nodded. "Of course. However, I would want to make sure you know that I will be unavailable after 8 p.m., as prior plans have already been scheduled." Ino's ears perked up. 8 p.m? Subtle way of letting her in on the plans. She would have some time to see the sights, then prepare for their date. However, Temari looked annoyed.

"Seriously, you didn't have these prior plans set up a week ago. You know we had been planning something for tonight. Would you mind telling your sister what they are?" Ino wondered about those prior plans.

Gaara looked seriously at his sister. "They are private, and only privy to myself and those involved. I apologize for them interrupting your plans, but they were set months ago, as I have explained. I have already mentioned that your plans for tonight can simply be had tomorrow night, and it would matter little. Temari, please escort our visitors to the barracks we have for them and help them as needed. Nothing here requires your attention at the moment." He was very direct and final in his statement.

With a sigh, Temari began to walk out of the room through Team Asuma. "Come with me to your barracks." She said in a phony, official sounding voice. The trio followed, with Ino getting in a last glance to Gaara before she turned to follow. She saw that Gaara was glancing as her as well, and the ghost of a smile was on his face. She couldn't wait to see him that night.

The hours passed, and 8 p.m. was approaching fast. Ino took full advantage of the shower in the barracks, letting the water and body wash sink into her skin as she wanted to look and smell nice on the date that night. Her mind, as it had been doing often the last few days, wandered to Gaara and his new habit of smoking. She couldn't help but feel guilty in a sense, at least to Temari. She hated smoking already, it coming from Shikamaru, and now her brother was doing it. However, she wanted to be sure that she wouldn't find out... for the rest of the trip. She would say ever, but it was unlikely if this got to be serious. But things came into her mind, such as his possible smoker's breath. She had heard from Kurenai about how Asuma's breathe sometimes bothered her, but Gaara had been smoking at most three months. She was certain that if they kissed, it would still be enjoyable. As she got out of her shower, she was admiting to herself that she was hoping she would get to test her theory out tonight.

Thankful for her private room in the barracks, Ino spent a few minutes on her hair. Some girls spent hours, but Ino had it down to a science. A reasonably fast paced brush through her long hair, her special dry conditioner to make sure it stayed beautiful, double-check about split end, and craft it into her signature ponytail. She never knew when she had to go out on a mission, so she had to be quick if she wanted to be stylish. That mentality screamed diva to some, but for Ino it was natural. Why go half-ass when you could have it all? Checking her clock and realizing it was 10 until 8, she grabbed her scroll from her bag, explicitly marked "Not for Suna, for Ino" on it and popped it open. She put on her nice dependable black bra and panties (she didn't want to go sexy since she knew it wouldn't go that far, but did not want anything ratty or unflattering in case an incident arose.) She slid on her tight pair of black pants that hugged her right and fit on her hips perfectly, and put on her off shoulder sweater. Then, carefully, she put on the gold necklace that she had gotten from her father. She walked back into the bathroom and checked herself out to make sure everything looked right. And it did. She smiled, and went back to put on her perfect purple heels. Just as she was making sure everything was in place, she heard a knock on the door. Thankfully, she could look through the door eyehole to make sure it wasn't Shikamaru or Choji or Temari going to ask her something and would ask about this outfit. But she looked through and, in the maroon tunic and an oddly cute nervous look on his face, stood the Kazekage. She took a deep breath, and let it exhale. She was ready for this. She opened the door to greet her.

"Hello Gaara. I hope you've been doing well."

"Hello Ino. I hope the same for you."

The two looked at each other before Ino began to chuckle. Gaara raised a very thin eyebrow, but Ino quickly explained. "I'm sorry, but that sounded a little awkward. Not at all like a date."

Gaara frowned slightly. "Well, this is my first date. It is not like I am used to them."

Ino just gave him a smile. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I won't lie, I've been on a few dates before, but they all sucked. Hopefully this one doesn't." She put her arm out there, in order to be escorted. She figured Gaara would understand. "So, where is this dinner being held?"

Gaara did understand, and linked his arms with hers. "On the top of my tower. Tonight is a beautiful night, it would be a waste to spend it indoors." They started walking out of the barracks.

Ino had been hoping he would say "It's a secret" or something romantically cliché like that, but this was good too. "I agree. So, how have you been?" She asked sincerely.

Gaara let out a sigh. "The village has been-" Ino put a finger over his lips in a manner probably a bit too familiar.

"I didn't ask how Suna was doing. I can look around and see the people and see that they are happy. I'm asking how Gaara has been doing." She wanted to get to know the real Gaara, not the Kazekage or his mask.

Gaara looked surprised, but answered. "Then I am happy. I feel one with this village. So if it is doing well, I am doing well."

Ino shook her head slightly. "It sounds like you are a workaholic." She bluntly told him.

Gaara could only nod. "Perhaps I am. But for tonight, I think I can take a break from the village."

Ino let a small smile creep onto her lips. "Good. I want your attention on me. I don't want you to take this date half-heartedly."

"Of course. Why would I be half-hearted when a beauty is before me." Gaara complimented Ino, making her blush. They began to descend the stairs, and two unnoticed doors shut.

"Ino was with Gaara? When did that happen?" Choji asked his teammate, Shikamaru. He had been asked randomly at 8pm on the dot to look into the hallway, and had seen his teammate be dragged away by the Kazekage while wearing clothes for a date!

Shikamaru let out a yawn and shrugged. "I didn't actually think it was anything, but even I can be wrong. So Ino has a date with Gaara-san? Good for her. I think he is a better guy than that Sai guy or Sasuke are for her." He noted.

Choji just shook his head. "This means two of my teammates are with people from Suna. What are the odds?" Shikamaru looked annoyed at the accusation.

In the other closing door, Kankuro shielded himself from his sister's blows as he had something to a similar effect. "Hey, come on, you know it's true! Stop hitting me with the fan."

Temari stopped for a moment pummeling him with a smaller fan and frowned at him. "Oh come on, you are tougher than that. You're a shinobi, aren't you?"

Kankuro took this moment to smile. "You didn't deny it, Temari. Oh should I say, Temari Nara. Wait, stop it, it still hurts." Temari had continued her assault on her brother. He eventually managed to catch the small fan when he was blocking himself. "Come on, sis. Anyway, shouldn't we be following them or something. We had the party planned out and everything!"

Temari stopped and let out a sigh, looking at the door and the direction her youngest brother had gone. They had been following him for an hour to see where he was going, and to find him at the Yamanaka's barrack room, ready for a date? That was a giant surprise. Eventually she waved it off.

"Nah, we should let them be in private. I mean, letting him have some alone time with his girlfriend is the best birthday present we can give him, can't we?"

Kankuro nodded. "Yeah, I guess that's right." Gaara deserved to be happy in his eyes.

And right now, with Ino, he was the happiest he had ever seen him.