Hey everyone!! I'm so glad I finished this chap, it was mighty long! (For me anyway) And I wasn't as lazy as I used to be! Wooo! Well enjoy this chapter okay?


When Shikamaru had regained conciousness, he had decided to keep his eyes closed and tried to make his breathing normal than it did when he was asleep.

Then suddenly, he heard muffled voices coming his way. Transmitting chakra through his ears Shikamaru had managed five times better hearing than normal which was good enough. Gaara and Kankuro were pretty much whispering to each other or were at least trying to until Kankuro would ruin the comfortable silence with his courageous remarks like 'Oh mi god!' and would shut up straight off. Probably because Gaara had sent him a glare saying 'If you say one more word you will die' But the next they discussed intrigued Shikamaru...

"Have you talked to her yet?" Gaara asked silently.

"Yup. Said she'd come a soon as she finishes her mission in the Land Of Waves. But I don't see the point" Kankuro remarked scratching the back of his neck.

'Her? Whose her?' Shikamaru thought to himself.

"What made you say that?" the younger sibling asked crossing his arms.

"Because I don't see how we can't solve this on our own. We're fit enough to solve their problems ya know?" Kankuro reasoned.

"Though some we didn't predict. It will get out of hand sooner or later and we need all the help we can get"

"Which only relies on one person. And to think she's female too" Kankuro huffed crossing his arms.

"Do you have anything against women?"

"Well, no"

"Be quiet then" Gaara sudden instruction made Kankuro sigh tiresomely.

"Ok so suppose we may need her help but why her of all people? Can't it be someone like--"

"We've known her for a while Kankuro. Even when I was young and blinded with hatred, I still knew she could be trusted"

"Yes I think everyone in Sunagakure knew her for being loyal. And for being wild might I add" Kankuro drawled.

"Well then that's exactly why I chose her of all people" Gaara answered glancing at Shikamaru's 'sleeping' figure.

"And I know you've been listening so you can quit the act"

"Should've known" a dry, hoarse voice sounded from Shikamaru's lips. "After all, you did ambush me with skill" he added thinking about his poor bed. Anyone who destroyed his bed claimes to be skillful.

"Why thank you. We shall take that as a compliment" Kankuro motioned his hand up and down, dismissing his comment with a sarcastic reply.

"Take it however you like. I couldn't care less cos it ain't troublesome" There was a moment of silence until Shikamaru glared hard at both of them. "What I do find troublesome is the fact that you have ambushed my room, kidnapped me and now what? Slaughter me?"

"No but it's a good idea" Kankuro pondered, putting his finger to his chin.

"I'm serious here! Tell what's going on?!" Shikamaru bellowed and sand gushed out from underneath him and trapped his body except for his head.

"You're in no position to say what you like at this stage" Gaara's said coldly.

"I could easily crush you if you took this the wrong way"

"I already am" Shikamaru mumbled under his breath, breathing heavily. The sand was slowly crushing his body. "I thought we were allies of some sort" he added.

"Yes we are" Kankuro replied. "This is a different matter however"

"Then tell me!" Shikamaru hissed now gasping for air. "What do you need from me? Why would you do this? Tell me everything!" One would think Shikamaru was hurt. And in a way, unknowingly he was. Last night, the sand siblings were both fine. They were enjoying themselves during the party and they weren't acting strange at all. So why now? He just suspected that this all had to do with Temari.

"I'll apologize to Temari if that's what you want" Shikamaru gasped out, loud enough for the two to hear.

'But you didn't really have to do this' he thought staring at them.

"Quite the opposite actually" Gaara's response made Shikamaru stop and look at them both. The grip of the sand loosened around him and he was left lying on the ground.

"Are you calm enough to listen to us?" Kankuro's voice was suddenly sinister and no longer contained atrace of humour in it. This made Shikamaru gulp and nod his head.

'This does have to do with her after all' he thought bitterly to himself and he was now slumped like a grumpy old man deep in thought. And this went unnoticed by the Kankuro and Gaara.

"I apologize for destroying your room but this was the only way" Gaara began, with a much calmer and yet serious voice. It seemed that he wasn't going to put his guard down for the whole discussion. But who would? Shikamaru didn't say a word, a signal for Gaara to continue.

"Temari is the oldest and therefore in the stage of starting her own life as a shinobi and as a... wife" at that Shikamaru's eyes widened.

"What are you trying to say?" he asked.

"Meaning we want you to stay away from Temari from this day on. You are no longer permitted to talk to her" Kankuro finished the explanation.

"As the Kazekage of Sunagakure, I don't want any interference because as far as we're concerned Temari is to be betrothed to clans of exceptional skills and history" Gaara continued, making sure that Shikamaru had indeed heard every single word.

"So you think I'm a bother?" Shikamaru said scathingly. He really couln't help it! Why would they suddenly consider him a bother when one, he and the rest of the Konoha rookies were just as involved with them as he was, and two all he ever did for Temari was to be a guide tour of when she travels down to Konoha to supervise the Chuunin exams.

"Yes you are. You are intefering-"

"With what?!" Shikamaru bellowed.

"Let me finish!" Gaara said icily, his eyes full of bloodlust, Shikamaru could tell and he no longer wished to interrupt him any further. Defeated, Shikamaru bowed his head low avoiding their gaze.

"Temari does not need anyone, particularly you. She is to marry on her birthday as soon as she turns 18"

"If you decide to disobey our orders, we will take actions" Kankuro warned. "Much worse than you're in now"

Shikamaru hadn't said a word nor did the brothers. For once in his life, Shikamaru just wanted to sleep forever and never wake up again. Or maybe this was all a bad dream.

'Yeah, a bad dream' Shikamaru thought.

Trying to convince himself.

'All a bad dream' he pinched himself, bit his tongue, closed his eyes and opening them a fraction of a second. And nothing happened.

He was in reality.


The group settled in the Konoha border waiting to see the Sand siblings off. They didn't need a warning but being shinobi, promises and loyalty is where they come in. Altogether there was Ino, Sakura, Hinata, Tenten, Kiba, Sasuke, Chouji, Neji and Lee. The Konoha guards Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo waited along with them.

"You guys are up early" though Kotetsu didn't need an excuse for he knew already and merely yawmed in his seat.

"Well what can I say... I guess I'm a better shinobi than you" joked Kiba. A cross vein emerged on Kotetsu's forehead as he tried to keep his anger down.

"Now, now calm yourself" Izumo said genty, patting or more like smacking Kotetsu on the back which made him even more angry. His anger however, died down when the sand siblings came into view. Gaara looked his normal self, Temari looked so lost and Kankuro who looked energetic as ever first thing in the morning. But the truth was, he was so exhausted that he didn't even consider going to sleep in case lazy ass ninja found a way out and expose their plan.

The group however were more concerned for Temari as she didn't even come to greet them nor did she smile at them. Hurt was displayed on the girls eyes but they knew it would take a while before Temari was up and about again.Well at least back to herself with the exception of one person missing in her life. Sakura was the one who walked towards Temar first and she shot her a glare in which Sakura ignored.

"Leave me alone" she grumbled, walking over to Kotetsu who had the Konoha sign out book. Sakura followed not taking any notice of her warning. Temari who no longer controlled her patience immediately grabbed her fan and wielded it causing a slight fear from the group, even her brothers who stood aside knowing full well how and why she was like this.

"Bitch!" Temari hissed glaring at the spot where Sakura used to be. Sakura reappered beside Temari who stood in shock.

"You've never let your guard down Temari. Not once" she whispered to the blonde's ear which made her tremble. "Except when you were fighting him" and she knew very well who Sakura was talking about. Temari trembled all over as Sakura looked at her sadly, putting her arms around her friend she whispered three words.

"Let it out" and let it out, Temari did. She hugged Sakura to her, sobbing uncontrollably. She was hurt, so much in pain but what made her more in pain is the fact that he didn't even come to see her. Did Shikamaru really hate her that much? Does he really want her out of life? Temari had never felt so ashamed of herself. Even knowing that she was loved by friends and family... there was just something that was missing.

Temari's voice broke as she constantly thought of him. She couldn't imagine that of all people, she was affected by what happened so much. What did she ever do it? Why did she even bother to kiss him when he'd just reject her there and then? This wasnt supposed to happen.

No.

This was supposed to happen.

'Only in my dreams' she thought sadly, her heart breaking. Her body felt heavy than before, like she was carrying a big burden in her and indeed she was.

"Ssshh" Sakura said, rubbing her hand coaxingly on Temari's back whilst everyone stared in disbelief. Did Temari of Sunagakure just cry? Was this a genjutsu cast on the group? Is this a dream?

Slowly but reassuringly or it seemed, the girls walked over to the crying girl along with Kankuro who couldn't and didn't want to see his older sister cry anymore. Sakura understood and broke her embrace with Temari which was replaced by Kankuro holding her instead. This creeped out the guys but however understood that Temari is indeed in help of someone and being comforted by her brothers was one of them.

Temari didn't hesitate and sobbed in his chest whilst Kankuro sighed deeply, which made him have slight doubts in his mind. And as if by magic or pure coincidence, Gaara appeared beside him. A sign that they should be going and that a private conversation will take place between the two of them.

"We'll best be going" Kankuro announced making the others nod. Temari broke the hug and wiped her tears and settled her eyes on the girls. She smiled, a sorry smile.

"I'm sorry I caused some trouble. I'll see you guys soon ok?" she said weakly. The girls smiled and each gave her a hug.

"Take care of yourself ok?" Ino said making Temari nod in agreement. Though she was not sure if Temari meant that. Making eye contact with Kankuro, her eyes told something he couldn't quite place. Feeling a mysterious feeling in his stomach, he merely brushed it off and talked Tenten who was standing closer to him than the rest of the girls.

"Have you guys made up with the guys?" he asked glancing round the Konoha men who weren't exactly standing near the girls or anyone but themselves for that matter.

"No. As you can see" she replied sadly. Ever since Kankuro had told them to make up with the guys, she felt a guilt inside her and she badly wanted to apologize to Neji. But she didn't have the guts to go to him. But she felt that she did had the right to be mad at him, but the rest was completely her doing and right now she could not do anything to get him to listen. It seemed that he was mad too. And completely proud of that it seems. Kankuro's face fell as if everything was too much for him and then he suddenly gave her a thumbs up.

"It'll get sorted" he winked and started to talk to Kotetsu who told him to sign his name on the book. Gaara and Temari started to make their way out and onto the dirty path that led to the forest of Konoha. Kankuro followed and soon met up with them, he walked by Gaara's other side. Making sure not to be noticed, he leant over to Gaara and whispered.

"Everythings according to our plan. What next?"

"We wait" Gaara mumbled glacing over at Temari who was clearly in another world of dimension.

'Shikamaru...'


"Shikamaru...? Shikamaru dear?" came Yoshino's shrill from downstairs. "Shikamaru I know you're awake!!"

"Best leave him. He's had a rough night" came Shikaku's protest in Shikamaru's defence. He didn't know what happened like Yoshino, but the tense atmosphere in which the rookies were in last night still lingered in their living room.

"Be quiet! It's 12:00! Usually Shikamaru comes down at 11 no matter how lazy he is" Yoshino eyed her husband. "Like you"

"Yes, yes I've heard that many times before and it doesn't affect me any longer" Shikaku waved her comment off with ease.

"Oh really?" Yoshino asked, with a quirked eyebrow and then turned around, continuing to cook their late family breakfast with consisted off bacon and eggs as well as orange juice which was set out ready on the table. Shikaku sat by the table, leaning heavily on his chair and watched Yoshino's figure as she moved around gracefully around the kitchen.

"Yes" he replied simply, putting his arms behind his head.

"Lazy, ignorant jerk. How's that sound?" Yoshino said with humour, Shikamaru forgotten. For now.

"Nope" Shikaku replied easily, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Humourless bastard?" Yoshino suggested, raising an eyebrow at Shikaku.

"Nope" Shikaku replied, shaking his head.

"That 'nope' wasn't as strong as the one a second ago" Yoshino sign songed her response, waving her forefinger and returning to her cooking once again. She didn't even hear when her body was suddenly crushed against her husband's body. That earned a gasp from her- as he had expected knowing her too long.

"Well then, do you want me to lie instead?" Shikaku asked teasingly trailing kisses along Yoshino's neck.

"Go ahead" she tried to sound normal but what Shikakau was doing... it was just...

"It didn't hurt me one bit" something touched Yoshino's heart as she turned around to face her dear husband. He had many scars, a rough hair which in actual is actually too soft when you feel it, a lazy attitude which seemed to have passed on to their younger generation. But all in all, she loved him. No matter how bossy she may seem to act around him, deep down she loved him more than anything else in the world.

"Can I make up for it?" she asked gently tracing her fingers on his scars, the slightest touch made Shikaku's skin tense but soon relaxed to the feeling. He looked into her eyes and saw so much love and passion for him that he couldn't express how thankful he was for having her as his wife. Without her, he would be a ghost. A ghost of nothingness just trying to find it's way round.

"Have you got in mind?" he asked huskily, tightening his arms around her waist which seemed to just fit into his arms. Yoshino couldn't hide what she was feeling right now and kissed him. Just about when Shikamaru's voice was heard.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"What the hell happened to you?" asked Yoshino, not even breaking the embrace she had with Shikaku.

"Answer mine first" Shikamaru said, clutching his injured rib.

"What does it look like we're doing, son?" he asked as if it the was the most stupiest question Shikamaru has ever asked.

"Yeah, yeah I get" Shikamaru made his way for his room.

"Shikamaru! Wait here!" his mum commanded.

"I need a shower. I'll explain everything later" he replied, his footsteps echoing on the floorboard stairs.

"Oh and you've burned our breakfast" the door slammed.


Well hOw was it? I hope you like it! This chap is quite lOng cos I have I feeling I won't be on, for a while.

But I wil cOme back. I won't quit writing this story! Pls Review!

Oh and that Mysterious girl that Kankuro and Gaara were talking about, .. I hope you don't hate me when you find that. (Probably because she's nothing important) but I'm a writer. I have a right to put characters in...

Rei Uni