A/N: I have been asked if I can write a little sequel to this for the other couples. This was meant to be a one-shot but I always like to make my reviewers happy :) So for YenGirl the sequel includes Ino/Sai (hopefully I can write Sai in character) and for mississippimudpiecraves Temari/Shikamaru. Thanks again to all reviewers. Now I hope all of you enjoy the sequel :)

Sakura saw how desperate Temari was to distract the others from herself and Ino definite deserved a little attention, so why not make Ino taste her own medicine?

"And what about you Ino? You probably were smart enough to not drink any of the truth serum, but don't you have something to say to Sai?"

Temari was relieved that the attention was off of her, but she could still feel Shikamaru's analyzing eyes on her. She was truly happy for Tenten that her and Neji were finally together, but she doubted that Ino's plan would work for her and Shikamaru. It surprised the Suna-nin that Ino knew about her feelings for the lazy genius because she had thought she hide them well, but if Ino knew wouldn't Shikamaru as well? Temari shook her head lightly. Shikamaru might be a genius when it came to tactics, but in the matter of the heart and when it came to women he was dense. For now she had to stop thinking so hard about it and concentrate on the situation at hand and that was revenge on Ino.

"Yeah Ino why don't you tell Sai what you told us on our last girl sleep over?" The Suna-nin smirked at the blond kunoichi who went pale.

Ino looked pleadingly at Hinata for help who to everyone's surprise shook her head.

"I think they are right you should tell him."

Sai had stopped taking notes of the new couple still standing outside and was now facing Ino.

"I don't seem to understand. What does she need to tell me?"

Feeling Sai's eyes on her Ino went even paler than before. She couldn't believe her friends were turning against her, but to be honest she knew she deserved it. Telling him what she told her friends on the girl sleep over? That would mean she should confess, but could she really do that? It was obvious that Sai had never been in love with anyone. His social skills were even worse than Sasuke's and Neji's together and he clearly didn't know much about relationships. Sure he tried his best to learn from books or taking notes, but would he really understand the deep of her feelings for him?

"Ino?" His voice pulled her out of her thoughts. It looked like he wasn't going to drop the matter. For a moment she was tempted to lie, she after all didn't drank the truth serum and she knew her friends wouldn't be so cruel to tell Sai straight out, but then she remembered that it wouldn't be fair.

"Sai would you help me in the kitchen for a moment?" If she was about to get rejected she wouldn't want it to be in front of everyone.

Sai, still more than confused, nodded and followed Ino into the kitchen.

Ino took a deep breath before looking straight at the shinobi next to her. It would be difficult, not only to confess but also to make him understand the feelings she held for him.

"Do you know what love is?"

"You mean the love I feel for my brother?" Sai was proud that he finally, after Naruto opened his eyes about the meaning of deep friendship, understood the bond his brother and him had shared.

"That's family love." Ino paused for a moment, knowing that what she was about to say would change Sai's opinion on the word love. "What I mean is romantic love." Seeing that Sai wasn't following she continued. "It's not what you feel for your friends or family it's what Tenten and Neji share for example."

"You mean kissing and hand-holding and looking into each others eyes." Sai could remember now that he had read about it in a book. This kind of love was the most special and deepest one apparently.

"Yes, you can put it like that for now." She bit her lip before finally confessing. "This is the kind of love I feel for you."

Sai's eyes widened slightly. "You want to kiss me?"

At that Ino blushed and averted her eyes from his. She wasn't sure if Sai really understood the meaning of love, but this was a start. Without looking up she nodded.

"I'm sorry but then I don't see the problem. I want to kiss you too."

Ino's head raised at that. Sai was always blunt, but with the truth serum she could be even more sure that he meant it.

"But it's not only about that. What do you feel for me?" If she began a relationship with Sai she wanted to be sure he wasn't misinterpreting his feelings.

"You're a good friend." At that Ino's heart sank, so he was not understanding his own feelings. It seemed he felt only friendship for her, but when he continued her mood changed. "And you are very attractive. When you are around my heart feels strange and I want to kiss you."

It would be a long way until he would fully understand what romantic love really meant but Ino saw hope that she could help him understand it. Seeing that he already felt some kind of love for her made her happy and maybe with time they could become a couple.

"Well than kiss me." It would be the first step in the right direction and for now it was enough for Ino.

Meanwhile the others in the living room were on their way to the front door. With the host absent all agreed that it was better to leave before anything else could happen. No one really wanted to say anything until the effect of the truth serum wore off, fearing they would reveal too much.

Temari was about to go in the direction of her hotel when Shikamaru walked up to her.

"I'll walk you."

"You don't have to. I know the way to my hotel. It's not like I'm in Konoha for the first time."

"I'm your guide and it's my duty, so stop complaining troublesome woman."

Troublesome woman, that was all he saw in her. Temari sighed. After seeing Tenten and Neji finally getting together she felt even more lonely than before. If even Neji was able to love why couldn't Shikamaru? She had known from the first moment she realized that her feelings for him turned into something more than friendship that it was hopeless. He always said that all women were troublesome. Not only that but he had once told her how his ideal wife should be and she was none of these things.

Forcing herself to ignore the pain in her heart she felt at that thought she decided to distract herself.

"Do you think the effect of the truth serum is still active?"

If anyone knew, it would be Shikamaru. He was after all good friends with Ino since they were little and she was sure he knew the one or other Yamanaka clan secret.

"Well the Yamanakas are specialists when it comes to interrogation. The serum surely has a long duration of effect for all-day interrogations, but I'm sure by tomorrow it has worn off."

If that was true all she had to do was not speak to him until tomorrow and she would be safe, so she kept quiet the whole way to the hotel. When they arrived in front of her room only a normal goodbye separated her from keeping her secret, but Shikamaru had other plans.

"What did Ino mean? Are you in love with someone?"

It was clear to her that the truth serum had still an effect on him because normally he wasn't so blunt and when she felt her own mouth open she knew it still affected her as well.

"Yes."

His next question was predictable, but she didn't want him to ask it because she knew she would say the truth.

"Who?"

The only way to get out of the situation was to retreat to her room and that fast. With shaking hands she opened the door, but before she could even make a step into her room she was held back. With a light tug Shikamaru forced her to face him again.

"Temari, who?"

It was futile to run away now and she bit her lip to stop the next word from coming out, but it was hopeless. She closed her eyes, if she had to get rejected she at least didn't want to see the disgusted look on his face.

"You."

Now it was out in the open and she felt his hand on her arm stiffen. In this moment she cursed Ino. This was all Ino's fault, she just ruined everything between Shikamaru and her and that only to test a stupid truth serum. Feeling his grip loosen she made a step inside her room, but his voice stopped her.

"Why are you running away?"

"I know how rejection looks Shikamaru." Her voice was bitter. He had been the only one she had loved in that way, so technically she didn't know what rejection looked like but she was sure it felt exactly like this. Her heart felt like a kunai was stuck into it and she only wanted to get away.

"Troublesome woman always so impatient. You were that in our first fight back at the Chunin Exam and you are still now. Let me at least answer before you jump to conclusions." For the first time since she so involuntary confessed Temari felt hope rise inside her. Somehow it didn't sound like a rejection any more and his next words only confirmed that. "As troublesome as it is I feel the same way."

She looked up at him and saw the same blush on his face that was probably showing on hers. He really meant what he said, not only due to the truth serum but she could see it in his eyes. Slowly she leaned in, when he had made the first step to their relationship she could at least do the second one. When their lips met Temari thought that maybe she had to thank Ino later.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it :)