I don't own Naruto of course. Otherwise it would hardly be fanfiction would it.

Chapter One: The Chapter where Kankurou and Temari Have a Talk in the Car

"Dismissed," Tsunade declared, and the meeting was adjourned in a thin mist of gray as the Chuunins left.

Only Shikamaru remained, staring blankly at his slip of paper. He sighed, but before he had a chance to leave, Tsunade grinned at him.

"What's the matter?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "Nothing."

She raised an eyebrow and strode across the room to take a peek at his paper.

"Huh. What's wrong with this Temari person?" she questioned.

Shikamaru put the slip into his pocket and thought a while before answering irritably, "Nothing, hokage-sama." He gave a curt nod to Tsunade and performed the jutsu to leave.

Tsunade chuckled amiably to herself.

"Their relationships are too perdurable, these people. It's rather a folly if you think about it," she commented to Shizune, "I've already forgotten that bloke we ate lunch with yesterday."

Shizune tried her best not to look annoyed. "He was the owner of those forests to the South we've been planning to buy..." She shook her head, "Honestly, I can't see how you can forget who he was when you just arranged a compromise with him."

"Oh stop it!" Kankurou grumbled irritably, "You've been fiddling with that stupid fan for seven hours now."

Temari scowled. That was, of course, an exaggeration, as Temari and Kankurou had only gotten into the car two hours ago. She put her fan down though, and looked out the window as a herd of merino started running towards a fence.

"Dumb animals," she muttered and and looked at Kankurou. He was still reading that book. She snorted.

"I didn't realize you were THAT bad at kanji. How long have you been reading that anyway?"

Kankurou rolled his eyes but didn't answer; it was true and he was embarrassed by his reading speed. Temari's linguistic abilities excell his with alarming difference, though he thought it was a bit too nefarious of her to bring it up.

"You know, you should really clean that puppet once in a while," she frowned as she examined it.

"Yes yes," Kankurou said offhandedly as he returned to his book, "Now shut up will you? Narima's inamorata is just about to die."

Temari sniffed her disapproval, "I think you should be more concerned about your eyes than some picaresque character's amoretto. Reading in the car isn't very good for you."

"Whatever."

Temari gazed back out the window. She wasn't very comfortable in a car; it felt rather claustrophobic to her, being cooped up in such a small amount of space.

She wiggled his toes. Kankurou was distracted by the motion and looked up from his book.

"Why're you dressed up so meretriciously today anyway?"

"What?" Temari blinked. "I wear this everyday."

Kankurou said nothing but continued to look pointedly at her. Temari was even more confused. "What makes you think I look different from any other day?"

"Just... your... your shoes."

Temari could do nothing but stare at him incredulously. She looked at her shoes. "I've had these since forever."

Kankurou scratched his chin and put down his book. "Really."

Temari glared.

"Yes," she said, "and I thought your observation skills had improved too."

Her stare was turning icy now, so Kankurou fervently stirred the conversation in another direction. "So, Shikamaru's picking you up huh?"

Temari nodded, though she continued to stare coldly at her brother. She dropped her gaze after a while though, and mumbled something that Kankurou couldn't quite catch.

"What?"

"Ugh," Temari looked away, "looks like your ears are turning bad too."

Kankurou wouldn't drop it though so finally Temari blurted out, "Thanks for escorting me Kankurou."

She'd said it very fast, but Kankurou heard her all the same and grinned; he knew how hard it was for Temari to show gratitude.

"No problem... Though Gaara asked me to as well."

"Ga- Gaara?" she sputtered.

"Yes. But I wanted to come anyway," Kankurou said and returned to his book, "Besides, who'll protect you from any moves that Shikamaru might make?"

He enjoyed watching her shocked expression.

The car stopped.

Temari told Kankurou goodbye and gave him a quick peck on his cheek (despite his protests, but he agreed in the end after he was punched). She saw Shikamaru leaning on a pillar with his hands in his pocket, trying in vain to see through the car's tinted windows.

Temari smiled at Kankurou and opened the door into the sunlight.

Shikamaru saw her and grinned, raising his hand by means of a greeting.

"Didn't expect you to be on time." she said.

"Didn't expect to you to make it."

The door slam shook some picture frames threateningly.

REVIEW PLEASE!