She cried. Bittersweet tears streamed down her cheeks. It was too late. Everything was too late. She saw it. She had seen him after all!

He hadn't even noticed her present - instead he had philosophized about Shougi with Asuma. Why did she have to wrap her heart in wrapping paper with a checkerboard pattern for this fool of Nara and throw it at his feet as if it were a bone?

Her throat was dusty and dry. The hands are clammy with the cold. She fished awkwardly in her jacket for the key. Blonde strands of her braids had come loose and fell annoyingly into her face. She shoved it angrily behind her ear and was about to grab the handle to let off her anger at the lock when the blow hit her.

"Merry Christmas," someone whispered roughly against her ear and at the same time she felt his heartbeat pounding against her back.

"Shika ... maru ...?"

He didn't answer, instead wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. "Turn around."

She did. Before she had turned completely to him, he kissed away the traces of her sadness.

"Pretty women shouldn't cry," he grinned sincerely. "Especially not because of me - come’ smile again - to love me. "

She smiled cautiously.

"It's better." The grin still hadn't left his face when he took her hand in his and placed a tiny box on it. "For you," he said. "Because I just don't deserve you."

She opened the box carefully and she felt dizzy with happiness. "For ... me ...?" Carefully he lifted the ring set in gold and gently put it on her finger.

"For you ..." he confirmed. “I love you, Mari, and I don't want you to think it's any different. I am the worst Romeo, but for you I would even be that, only if you still want me ...? "

"Naturally! Of course I want ... I want you! "She fell exuberantly around his neck, wrapped her arms in and cried tears of happiness. The ring on her finger flashed gloriously in the glow of the stars above their heads and Shikamaru caressed her hand lost in thought, which revealed his ring - an exact replica of her ring.

Kankuro, meanwhile, quickly retreated into the shadows of the darkness. “And Shikamaru dares to call her that. What do you think of the fact that love has apparently clouded our sister's senses, Gaara? "
Gaara shook her head with a slight smile. "You are and will remain an idiot, Kuro - just like Tema said."

A / N: I know, I know - I did it again, repeating characters that had already appeared, no bad intent, but the story just fitted so well.