Shikamaru just sat there looking outside the window of the barbeque restraint while Eno went on and on about some new type of flower that Shikamaru could really care less about, while Choji was off ordering every single item on the menu. 'I love those guys, but sometimes they can be such a drag' Shikamaru thought.

Shikamaru did you hear me?" Eno asked grabbing Shikamaru's attention,

"What?" Shikamaru asked turning his attention back onto the conversation.

"She said Lady Tsunade wants to see you in here office immediately" Choji piped in through a mouth full of food. Shikamaru sighed, 'wonder what she wants' he thought sliding out of the booth.

"Fine" Shikamaru said no emotion to his voice. He put the money down for his food before walking away. Shikamaru had to admit his mind wasn't really there, it's like all of his energy wasn't there, like all of his motivation for anything gone, not like he had very much but still. Ever since the war ended a few weeks ago, everything about this place seemed different, smelled different, looked different, it even felt different. Something about the atmosphere in the village changed, it didn't feel like home anymore, like an important piece was missing. 'Well obviously we lost a lot of good shinobi in the war, my father included, maybe that why I feel this way' Shikamaru reasoned as he made his way through the streets of the village to the red Hokage tower in the middle of the village.

"Thank You" Shikamaru told the Anbu stationed outside the Hokage's door, as he opened the big red double doors for Shikamaru to enter.

"You wanted to see me?" Shikamaru asked taking a few steps into the room. Lady Tsunade looked up from her paper work.

"Oh yes, I want you to go to the village hidden in the sand, they are drafting a document for all of the five great nations to prevent us from ever going to war and would like each hidden village to send someone to represent their village, and I want you to represent the leaf." Lady Tsunade informed. 'Yes I get to get out of here' Shikamaru thought.

"Okay" Shikamaru said shrugging his shoulders "I'll be off in an hour" Shikamaru said turning around about to head out the door.

"Do me proud" Lady Tsunade said before Shikamaru walked off. 'What a drag' Shikamaru thought as he headed home.

"Konkuro!" Temari exclaimed irritated, after her older brother accidently knocked over Temari's lunch, "I swear how childish you are never seems to amaze me!" Temari continued frustrated walk over to the cabinet to get the broom to clean the mess up.

"I'm sorry Temari" Konkuro proclaimed getting on his knees to help Temari clean up the mess, but ended up butting heads with Temari, causing her to get more mad then what she already was.

"Konkuro, just go I got this." Temari said trying so hard to remain calm and not raise her voice. It was easy to tell that Temari wasn't in the mood so he decided to do what she said, so he quickly grabbed two plates of food, and got out of the kitchen as fast as he could. Temari sighed as she abruptly threw the food that she swept up in the trash can. She shook her head for some strange reason she felt so anxious, and it all started when Gaara told her that Shikamaru is coming to visit the sand. Temari shook her head, 'it can't be can it?' she thought trying to reason with herself logically as she got another plate of food. The more that Temari tried to shake off the thought of Shikamaru the more that it got in her head. 'Will this ever go away?' she wondered to her-self as she put her plate in the sink.

"Oh what about these?" Matsuri asked pulling picking a few flowers and putting them together, Temari laughed, taking the bouquet of flowers from Matsuri's hand.

"The red and the blue really don't go together try this" Temari said taking out the red flowers and adding an almost peach colored daisy in and a few white lilies. "Now that will be perfect in the Kazekage tower" Temari exclaimed happily.

"Hay Temari" Shikamaru said coming up from behind her, Temari turned on her heels, and gave a small smile.

"Shikamaru, you've made it, you've talked to Gaara I presume?" Temari asked raising a curious eyebrow, Shikamaru shook his head.

"No not yet I just arrived, I was heading that way when I saw you at the flower shop" Shikamaru said, Temari smiled a little bit bigger.

"Well I was on my way there, if you want to come with me?" Temari offered, "I'll just be a second" Temari continued going into the shop to pay for the flowers. "What are you all smiling about?" Temari asked Matsuri when they got into the store. Matsuri laughed.

"It's obvious that he like's you" Matsuri said "and he is not that bad looking if I say so myself" Matsuri finished as Temari handed the money to the lady at the cash register. Temari shook her head in denial,

"No it can't be we're just friends." Temari said blushing just a little, as she turned to walk out the door.

"Sure keep telling yourself that" Matsuri said opening up the store door. "Any ways by see you later" Matsuri said turning heading off in the opposite direction. 'Does he like me?' Temari wondered but soon dismissed the thought.

"So tell me what's going on around here?" Shikamaru asked as they started heading towards the Kazekage tower.

"It's the annual flower festival!" Temari proclaimed like it should have been common sense while, a small grin developed on her face.

"Flowers in the dessert? What a drag." Shikamaru said letting out a little chuckle. 'Did he just say what I think he said?' Temari asked herself silently.

"Of course there are little to no flowers in the dessert you moron! That's why we have the festival to show our appreciation for those who are running the green house so we have pretty stuff to look at, at such a bleak colored place." Temari said proudly. 'Women are a drag' Shikamaru thought as they walked the rest of the way to the big Kazekage tower in awkward silence. 'But something about her isn't as much of a pain as most' Shikamaru continued, 'What am I thinking all girls are a pain, no exception.'

"We have to attack during the festival, it would be our best chance to get Gaara" a hooded man informed. A guy spun around in his chair to face the hooded man.

"Very well, Kagehakure will take down all of the five great hidden villages starting with Gaara of Kazekage of Sunagakure, they will acknowledge us a truly great village, and will rue the day they pushed us aside as insupperior" the man in the chair proclaimed.

"Yes Tamashikage, I will be on it right away" the hooded man said before turning around and walking away out of the Tamashikage office.

Authors Notes:

I hope you enjoyed what I have added so far keep in tune for the next chapter, buds in bloom. Also I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or advise so please review, tell me what you think.