Chapter One
In All Irony

Six years later…

It was a nice day and Shikamaru was going out with his ex-teammates, Ino and Chouji, for lunch. They got together like this once a week, every week.

Today they were eating at the Ichiraku Ramen shop. They were still waiting for their food, Shikamaru felt like it was taking an eternity.

"Gee Shikamaru, you sure are quiet today." Chouji was waving his hand in Shikamaru's face.

He shrugged. Why did his friends have to be so troublesome? "Because I have nothing to say." He stated indifferently.

Ino scoffed, "Ha! You have nothing to say? That's a first."

Shikamaru glared at the kunoichi, "Shut up, Pig." He didn't care if he insulted her. Her ego was so big nothing really bothered her anymore.

"Now, now…let's eat in peace." Chouji interjected, just as he said this, their food arrived. Shikamaru could see the excited glint in Chouji's eye. "Look at all this delicious ramen. It would be a shame if we let it get cold…" With that, he started gorging himself.

Ino rolled her eyes at Shikamaru, "You're right, Chouji-kun." She said in a sweet, innocent voice.

Gag me. "Hn." Shikamaru sighed and turned towards his bowl of ramen.

After a few minutes, Ino stood up. "I have to go manage the shop." She announced. "I'll see you tonight Chouji-kun." The blonde leaned over and kissed the pudgy shinobi.

Shikamaru made a gagging noise and Ino backed off and glared at him once more. "Later, Pineapple Head."

He ignored the last comment as she skipped off to her father's flower shop.

"You should find yourself a girlfriend Shikamaru." Chouji edged as soon as Ino was out of earshot. She tended to turn conversations like this into setting up a blind date for Shikamaru.

Shikamaru groaned, he hated when Chouji brought this up. He just never considered dating. After seeing how his father, a great shinobi, could become so weak around his mother, he swore off women forever.

His friend just laughed, "I'm sorry Shikamaru, but you always look so lonely compared to everyone else…First there was Naruto and Sakura, then Hinata and Kiba last winter, Ino and myself…Neji and Tenten got together a month or two ago…I think…even Lee has a-"

"Chouji!" Shikamaru elbowed him in the ribs. "If you're trying to cheer me up it's not working…"

The other shinobi chuckled, "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings or anything Shikamaru, I just don't want my best friend to end up all lonely for the rest of his life."

"Women are so troublesome…I don't want to end up like my father and end up marrying a naggy, controlling woman…" He laughed. "I'm happy with the way things are."

Chouji just shrugged and took another huge mouthful of ramen, "Whatever you say Shikam-"

Just then, Shikamaru's father, Shikaku, interrupted them. "Hello Chouji." He acknowledged. "Shikamaru, the Hokage needs to see you…now."

Both Shikamaru and Chouji looked at the older shinobi. "What's up?" Chouji asked before Shikamaru did.

Shikaku shrugged, "I'm sure she has a good reason for it though. Now get going, you know she doesn't like to wait."

Shikamaru sighed, "Always so troublesome…" He stood up and said goodbye to his father and friend. I wonder what she wants this time…The shinobi thought to himself.

When he arrived at the Hokage tower, he noticed that Tsunade was waiting for him. That's unusual.

What was more unusual was that the older kunoichi seemed to be fidgeting. To anyone else it would have gone unnoticed, but Shikamaru was a genius after all. It didn't take a genius, to figure out that this was going to be an interesting day. And a troublesome one.

As he got closer to the Hokage, he tried thinking of what the mission could possibly be. He thought of several things, but none of them were probable. There was nothing that could keep Shikamaru busier than an unsolved problem. He remembered ruefully back to the days when his deceased sensei, Asuma, would keep him entertained with mind games.

Shikamaru snapped out of his memories when the Hokage addressed him.

"Good afternoon Shikamaru." The Hokage said, Shikamaru noticed the uneasy glint in her eye.

However, he was surprised at how well she held her composure, even though she was obviously nervous. "Do I have a mission?" He didn't bother greeting her, he wanted her to get right to the point. For some unknown reason he felt like he would soon be doing something very unpleasant. Maybe an assassination? The thought made him shudder.

The Hokage nodded, "I'll explain on the way to my office." Her long blond pigtails swished as she turned to walk down the hallway. Something about them reminded Shikamaru of someone. He just couldn't figure out who. Great another mystery…it's going to be a long day.

Shikamaru slowly turned and followed her.

"I'm sure you've heard the rumor going around that our alliance with the Sand Village is crumbling." She spoke as they started walking up a flight of stairs. He noticed her voice was hard as she said this. It felt like she was trying to mask something. Sadness, maybe? No, I don't think that's it…

"I've heard a rumor going around that Suna is planning to attack Konoha…" He shrugged, and rolled his eyes, "But that's obviously not true, considering the bond Naruto shares with Gaara."

Tsunade nodded, "You would be correct. However, the rest of fire country doesn't believe that matters, they think that the rumors are true."

So, it was a matter of allegiance. What could he do to prove that The Sand Village was on their side? He was no diplomat.

"I see…" Shikamaru looked at her curiously, scrutinizing her face to see what she was hiding, "…but what does this have to do with me?"

They were at her office door now, but they didn't go in. Instead, the Hokage turned to face Shikamaru. "How do you feel about commitment?"

His face twisted in confusion, "I commit to things…even if they are usually troublesome. You should know that by now Tsunade-sama. I am a shinobi after all, aren't I?" He studied her face for another moment, "I still don't understand where this is going, if you could just explain..."

She let out a deep sigh and put her hand on the door handle, "Nara Shikamaru…you are about to be a married man."

Before he had any time to react, the door was open and Tsunade was standing next to Shikamaru as he looked inside her office. Of course, he was already in shock and his eyes were probably abnormally large, but his jaw dropped when he saw who was on the other side of the door…

Sitting in Tsunade's chair was the Kazekage himself and on his left was his brother, Kankuro, the puppet master. Shikamaru paid little attention to them though, they weren't the ones who caught his attention. His gaze was drawn to the girl standing on Gaara's right. The blonde kunoichi with four pigtails and the giant fan.

Now he remembered. She's the one who kissed me all those years ago…Shikamaru collected himself as he recalled the memory. How could I have forgotten her? She was staring at him, with her deep blue eyes. She looks different somehow… He noticed and smirked. In a good way though…

Then it hit him. "Nara Shikamaru…you are about to be a married man."

Temari was here, she was from the Sand Village, and together they were going to prove their countries' alliance was still intact.

They were going to get married.

A/N: Yay! The actual first chapter! I'll try to update ASAP, but I don't know how soon that will be…ya know with school and whatnot. If you leave me nice reviews I promise I'll update faster though! Hehe xD