It was getting late and Temari had to leave.

Reluctantly, they parted ways.

After his meeting with Temari, Shikamaru sat on his porch the rest of the day staring up at the sky. He didn't budge an inch, not even for dinner. He just sat there. Thinking the majority of the time about the death of his teacher, and occasionally about the blonde from Suna.

"Shikamaru…come hang out with me." His father's voice sounded behind him, breaking him out of his daze.

Shikamaru turned his head slowly and stared at him.

They played Shogi.

'Troublesome….the only game he can beat me at.'

Shikamaru grunted as he watched his father make his move and vaguely realized he had made a comment about the Akatsuki's strength.

"Yep." Shika muttered making his move with a click.

"So, what are you going to do?"

Click

Silence.

Click

"I guess if a man of Asuma's caliber couldn't beat them, you wouldn't stand a chance."

Snap!

Silence.

Click

"He was a hell of a guy."

Click

"Yeah."

Click

"Terrible Shogi player, though."

Click

"Heh"

Click

Click

Click

"You okay with that?"

"Don't nag me about how I play." Shikamaru said annoyed.

"Not that!"

Silence.

"What do you want to do now?"

Click

Shikamaru stared acrosst he board at his father. A frown twisting his features.

Snap!

Shikaku picked up one of Shikamaru's pieces. "At least I know you're not stupid enough to play into enemy hands and die."

Click

Click

"As your father I'm grateful for that."

Click

Shikamaru picked up one of his father's pieces.

Click.

"I don't want to attend my son's funeral."

Click.

"You're doing well." Another click. "I'm proud to be your father."

Snap!

Shikamaru sat with one knee bent, his left arm resting atop it and his head hung.

Click

"You're smart and talented. Someone Konoha can depend on in the future."

Click

Snap!

"But…."

Silence.

"Asuma's dead."

'That's it!' Shikamaru raised his arm and hit the Shogi board with all his might, sending it clattering into the wall.

The lamplight flickered out.

"What're you getting at?"

"I'm speaking my mind." Shikaku answered calmly.

Shikamaru leapt to his feet, fists clenched. "Your prattling is making me sick to my stomach!" He glared. "I'm nothing but a useless coward!"

Shikaku shook his head. "No."

"Then what is it?"

Shikaku rose to his feet.

The Nara men leaned towards each other. One with a calm stare and the other with a look that could kill.

Silence.

"Let it out boy."

Shikamaru backed up slightly, his glare vanishing and his eyes widening.

Shikaku continued, "Let out all the sadness, fear and anger that's building up inside you."

Shikamaru's teeth chattered and he started shaking again like he did in the forest. His fists and jaw clenched tighter.

"That's the first step." Shikaku turned and walked out of the room stopping just outside of the door.

Shikamaru twisted in agony.

"I'll pick up the pieces." He slid the door shut just as Shikamaru let out a wail of anguish, his tears flowing down his face, his knees buckling as he fell to the floor and cried. Shikaku calmly walked away.

He lay there on the floor hours later, not having the energy to move, and stared up at the ceiling.

'Temari would be happy…' He thought absentmindedly, 'I finally let it out.'

A Shogi piece made a small clattering sound as it fell over.

He looked over at it and stared.

After a couple of seconds he sat up slowly and crawled over to the toppled Shogi board.

He started picking up pieces and placing them on the floor when suddenly his eyes widened as he saw it.

The King piece.

He glared suddenly, a determined look in his eyes. Picking up the Shogi board he started putting the pieces in their proper places.

His eyes shifted over the board and he began playing.

Click, click, click

A vision of that bastard Hidan.

Click

Of Kakuzu.

Click, click, click, click.

Another vision of Hidan and his scythe.

Click

Kakuzu.

He grabbed a handful of Shogi pieces in frustration. His jaw clenched and he shook his head.

After barely three seconds he slowly looked up. Another determined glare gracing his features.

He knew what to do.

The early morning light seeped into the room as Shikaku looked in. Instead of his son he found instead the Shogi board with a most unusual game strategy played out.

"Hm." He smirked proudly.

Shikamaru spent that day preparing. First in his office reading, next back home setting out his weapons.

He picked up the Chakra absorbing blades of his deceased Sensei. Focusing hard, they rang slightly as his chakra surrounded them.

Next he walked to his best friend and teammate Akimichi Chouji's home to inform him of his plan.

Awfter that, he was on to Yamanaka Ino.

In between he had to make just one short stop...

Sabaku no Temari.

She happened to be at the ninja academy helping with the younger kids. Wherever she went a crowd of children followed behind her like baby ducklings following their mother. Shikamaru couldn't help but smile. 'Temari as a mother…now that's scary.' He thought with a laugh.

He leaned against the gate and waited patiently for her to notice him. It was way too much of a pain to try and get through her little fan club anyway.

Luckily it didn't take long.

She noticed him leaning against the wall watching her and turning away to hide her blush from him she told the children that she would be back in just a few minutes, she just had to speak with an old friend.

"Hey ya Nara." Temari said as she sauntered over smiling at him. "What brings you here?" She asked.

Shikamaru was still leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. "I'm leaving tonight." He said without hesitation. "I figured you should know."

Temari was taken aback by this sudden information. "What? Leaving? Why?" She asked, her smile gone.

He shrugged his shoulders, "I just have some things to take care of."

Silence had never been quite so loud to Temari until just then.

She curled her hands into fists. "You're going after Hidan aren't you." More a statement than a question.

Shikamaru gave a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his head. 'Troublesome observant woman!'

"I knew it! Shikamaru what are you thinking! You could get killed!" She shrieked at him, hands on her hips and eyes glinting in the sun.

Shikamaru raised his hands in defense, "Keep it down woman! Ino and Chouji are coming too so It's not like I'll be alone!"

Temari glared at him. "This is suicide." She hissed.

"No it's revenge." Shikamaru said pushing himself off the wall and stepping towards her. "I HAVE to do this Temari. You know that." He whispered so only she could hear. "Besides you know me, I've already got every move planed out, no way can I lose." He grinned that oh so smug grin of his at her.

"And if you do?" She breathed, voice barely above a whisper. "Konoha's already lost one great Shinobi…they can't lose two in the same week."

Now she was the one shaking.

Shikamaru sighed loudly. He hadn't expected her to react like this. "Temari…" He suddenly pulled her against his chest, arms wrapping around her torso, and his chin rested on her shoulder.

Her face started heating up again.

"Just trust me…." He whispered in her ear squeezing her slightly. "I'll come back, I promise."

And with that he did the bravest thing I would ever do in his life. He covered her lips with his to silence any more protests.

Before Temari could even get her brain to function again long enough to register what he was doing his lips had left hers and he was heading out of the academy yard to the main road of Konoha.

She stared dumbly at his retreating back before shaking her head to clear it, "Hey crybaby!" She shouted.

"Hm?" Shikamaru had stopped and turned just in time for a spiky haired sand kunoichi to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him hard and lovingly on his lips.

Now it was HIS turn to blush.

She broke the contact and smirked at him, fire in her eyes once more. "Think you can just kiss me and walk away to possible peril? Oh no buddy, you'd better have every intention on making good on your promise Nara or else!" She challenged.

Once his brain began to function again, Shikamaru gave her a lopsided smile and chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say troublesome woman."

Temari unwrapped her arms from his neck and stepped back smiling. "Well get going then crybaby!"

"I'm going, I'm going."

Shikamaru smiled softly as he turned and headed down the road.

"Oh and just to clarify some things, if you ever do anything with Ino or any other kunoichi and I find out? If the Akatsuki don't kill you I will!"

Shikamaru laughed nervously. 'She'd really do it too! Aw man what did I get myself into? Troublesome.'

He sighed and shook his head. "It's too troublesome to cheat woman!" He called over his shoulder.

Temari smiled happily to herself and headed back into the academy. 'Now I have to find ways to occupy my time to keep from breaking down in worry. Great.' She sighed and shook her head.

'Now I have to really make sure I don't screw up.' Shikamaru sighed.

They both looked up at the sky.

"Man…what a drag."