Warning ahead- sad times, blood mentions, and omg Shikamaru being a boss

The Reviews guys like im living for them right now

Enjoy!

And grab some tissues you might need them

Updated 8/8/22

Temari's blood went cold, her heart stopped body tensed and she stared down at the captain forcing her eyes to narrow and clench her jaw, the ultimate form of loathing to hide her worry. They knew about Gaara. Her eyes rose to Shikamaru as he stood casting an impassive look to her and turned to leave for the commanders tent her face hardening wrath burning behind her teals. He knew about Gaara. If things could get any worse, she wouldn't be surprised.

Three weeks after the attack on Gaara, the village hidden in the Sand laid in silence, nothing unusual for the people really, as many of the able-bodied shinobi had taken to reinforcing the walls of the city or battling on the fronts. With many of the troops deployed to the borders of Leaf and Rock the main army of Suna still held strong in the village. Their commander was there after all. Temari stood beside Gaara as he read her recent report from the front line and looked up at her.

"Why are you still supplying the Leaf's borders with troops?" he asked having just become known to recent problems since he'd been made, by his sister, to stay and rest for some time. "They haven't bothered us in months" She sighed half in exhaustion and the other in his confusion.

"We've had some small scuffles with their border, but I saw some bigger movement before" she paused looking softly down at her brother, he seemed fine even looked well rested for once but she was worried for him after everything that had happened with the attack "Well what happened" she muttered gently "I'm just taking precautions" Gaara glanced back to the page a small sigh escaping his expressionless face.

"The Leaf should not be our main concern even if they are planning an attack" he mused setting the report down and leaning back in his chair "These Akatsuki are after jinchuriki, they will seek us until they have us all, they will seek Naruto as well" Temari pulled back crossing her arms irritated at the mention of the ones who hurt her brother. She had always been protective of him even when she feared him. Since their return home ten years ago she'd never let anyone dare turn a glare at her remaining family. Temari rose the ranks and surpassed her sensei becoming Suna's commander and second in command at Gaara's side. Before every title she held she always put elder sister first.

"Don't worry they will never come near you again, I'll make sure of it" She glanced back down to see him smile faintly.

"You and Kankuro are too protective" he shook his head lightly

"Well we have to be Gaara" She leaned down wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders pressing her cheek to his with a wide smile when he stiffened "your our little brother, no matter what" She chuckled and pulled back snickering at his faint blush of embarrassment before heading for the door "That's why I as your eldest sister must be the one to fight in the front, you'll have a safe recovery with Baki here so we'll see you soon"

"Be careful Temari" She turned and flashed him a smirk, softer than the ones she gave to her enemies.

"No need to worry Gaara, you focus on recovering and leave the rest to me and Kankuro" She closed the door behind her and let her smile fall staring into the sandy wall before her, jaw clenched as her lips tuned down with a harsh exhale. They took everything from her, these other nations wanted to take what little she had left, everything but her brothers and she'd die to protect them. As her eyes narrowed, she turned her focus back to the battlefield and left Suna.

Temari's teal gaze lowered down to Chikyu who slowly turned to look at her eyes widening in fear, her hazy eyes burning into his, as her lips curled into a ruthless smile.

"Please" he shuddered when she lifted the fan from his chest and draped it over her shoulder digging her foot into his hand and crushing it further into the ground as he cried out.

"You will never speak about Gaara again" Clouded in her fury she sent her fan down and silenced the noise. The cry hushed and the only sound the faint drops hitting the ground. Panting she pulled back and shut her eyes tightly, the rain rolling over her face washing the spots of blood from her cheeks. Pulling her dirtied weapon loose she didn't bother to look down at what used to be the captain and turned her darkened gaze to the tent. She'd done worse, killed many, and forever stained her hands in blood that would never wash off. Temari was tired but she still did it to appease some sense of obligation. She tilted her head up blinking the rain from her eyes as she stared into the darkened sky the sound of the drops falling soothing her. As she pulled her focus back, she lifted the weapon to her side and walked, her face slowly hardening at what she had to do. Each step confident and sure of what to do, yet she felt saddened it wasn't like she wanted this life after all.

"Temari, Kankuro" a woman's soft voice called down the long hall, walls draped in handcrafted artwork from master craftsman, from beautiful calligraphy to a small paper fan, three brilliant purple moons painted onto it, pinned behind a glass case. A three-year-old girl sandy hair tied in four bunches set her doll down as she reached out for her brother's hand. The little brown-haired boy pulled away, to focused on an unpainted doll in his hands, but the sister insisted taking his hand and pulling him to his feet.

"Come on Kankuro mama is calling" he grumbled but followed the girl as she pushed out the doorway and half dragged her little brother alongside her. Her hair and bangs bounced as she attempted to quicken the pace forcing the brother to whine.

"No Mari play" He tried to pull back

"Faster come on Mama is calling us Kankuro" She huffed and hooked her elbow around his, her grip firm as he complained further. She turned the hall coming into the kitchen where the sandy haired woman stood beside a pot testing the contents and turning back to the two as they entered "Mama Kankuro didn't want to come" The little girl complained her brother seated himself on the floor to get away from her. The woman laughed lightly and set her spoon aside before coming to pick up Kankuro and hold him in her arms.

"Kankuro, you have to listen to your elder sister" she smiled lightly as he whined again and hid in her kimono "Come on now no complaining it's time for dinner, and your father will be here soon" Temari's eyes beamed up her mothers as she rushed forward holding onto her as she jumped up and down excitedly.

"Papa is gonna be home" The woman kneeled down just as Temari pulled her focus to hold her mother's cheeks with little hands and smile wide at her "he's not gonna work?" the woman smiled closing her blue eyes at her daughter's silly form of interrogation.

"Yes, he promised me he'd be home tonight so he can tuck you and Kankuro into bed later" Temari pouted pulling from the woman and hugged her arms looking disappointed.

"You said that before and he didn't come home" she dropped her teal gaze to the floor her mother sighing and turned her daughters chin up to her eyes.

"Well, he will be, we've got some news for you two and he wanted to be the one to say it" she put her finger on her lips to quiet her when Temari gasped at the door opening. She turned on her heels without a second though and ran towards the sound.

"Karura I'm home" Rara called into the home and grunted as the small force of Temari came crashing into his legs gripping the white robes as she squealed excitedly "Temari" Rasa smiled lightly to her and sighed as she looked up at him teal eyes wide refusing to blink fear of seeing him disappear. Karura walked from the kitchen with a short, amused laugh at her daughter's assault "Someone is excited to see me" Temari nodded and tucked her face into the robe hugging as hard as she could. Rasa amused kneeled down and picked her up now attacked with a hug to his face as she smiled wide pressing her cheek to his and giggling.

"The kids have missed you" Karura grinned as Kankuro pulled away from her sleeve and looked at his father with a slow forming smile like his sisters.

"Did you tell them yet?" he turned to his wife who chuckled

"No I was waiting for you" she spread her smile wide when Temari gasped turning her father's face to her as she smushed his cheeks together demanding his attention.

"Mama said you have something you wanna tell us" Rasa tried to grin, but she wasn't letting up her hold on him. Her teal eyes burning into his with wonder.

"Well for one you'll make a fine kunoichi someday" he managed through her grip.

"I'm going to be the best" she smirked nodding in confirmation and slipped her hands away to turn back to her mother as she placed Kankuro down holding his hand as he rushed over to grab the robe and look up at his father. Rasa sighed setting Temari down.

"Alright let's settle down then I'll tell you the news" He grinned looking at the two then Karura who smiled softly and looked at her children "Remember when I told you you'd be a big sister Temari and we gave you Kankuro?" Temari nodded her hair bouncing with the excitement. "Well now Kankuro will be a big brother" He looked at his son who blinked up at him confused. Temari gasped grabbing her brother's hand and jumping up and down with him while he began to whine again

"Kankuro we are gonna have a baby sister" She paused and brought a finger to her lips looking thoughtful "or maybe baby brother but I want a sister" she nodded and began to jump again taking her brother with her. Rasa smirked down at them and turned to glance at the faint smile on Karura's face, her eyes lowered, and she placed a hand to her stomach protectively. His smile fell and he looked down the distant chants of excitement from his daughter zoned out of his mind. Karura placed a gentle hand on his shoulder bringing him back and smiled when he looked up

"Everything will be fine" She turned her gaze to her children and walked over to them, leaving him alone. Temari slowed her pace and stopped still holding her dizzy brother when her mother kneeled before them her smile soft. "Now Temari you have to promise that you'll take great care of your siblings, ok?" Temari frowned and looked at Kankuro, who sat down tired from his sister's enthusiasm, then back to her mother with a smirk full of determination.

"That's gonna be easy"

"Is that so?" she raised a brow at her matching her smirk and both laughed with Kankuro joining in finding them funny.

"Don't worry mama I'll protect my little siblings" she pointed into her chest with her thumb "I'm the eldest so they have to listen to me, and I'll tell them if they do something stupid" Karura sighed trying not to laugh and kissed her forehead with a wide grin.

"I know you will, now let's get you two ready for dinner shall we?" Temari nodded and grabbed Kankuro's hand again this time helping him up gently and walking to the kitchen talking about her future sister.

The memories would have made her smile, but not now. She had been cleaning up her father's mess for years now, and if the other nations knew Gaara was weakened she'd expect more than just the Land of Earth's troops planning to invade. Her gaze focused on the curtain of the tent as she lifted the blind, placing her fan defensively before her, and lowered her eyes to stare at her opponent, rain dripping from her chin and bangs.

"Shikamaru" He voice felt meek, it came out to soft for her initial command for attention, she was just trying to clean up his mess. When Shikamaru turned to look at her she gripped the fan in her hand jaw clenching as he narrowed his eyes slightly, as if prepared for an attack. He knew of course he did, he'd say something soon he'd have to. She glanced down to the shift in his cloak and instantly tensed, he was smart she'd give him that. Pulling herself forward she let the drape fall behind her the room darkening as the dim light outside was closed off. No shadows in darkness, at least she had the advantage. The faint outline of him held her focus, yet she could make out his eyes narrowed tightly into slits, he remained still knowing that one wrong move would cost him. Yet when he spoke, she only stiffened and held her fan tighter.

"When did they take the one-tail from him?" His question was spoken warily as if a change in tone would spur her the wrong way, it might have if she wasn't so tired. She tilted her head slightly as if she was thoughtful on answering. Even weighting the options, she always slipped into the darker parts of her mind. Killing him now would start a war against the Leaf, she didn't need that with the Earth coming at them soon. Besides she needed his numbers for the initial battle ahead, the army would have around two days while entering the desert before they reached Suna, that is if the sandstorms didn't reach them first. However not killing him would lead to him sharing the information of her brothers recent lose against the Rain's Akatsuki, that would end worse in the long-run if they decided to take the advantage of the weakened Kazekage.

The thought of her brother against a village's entire army stifled the smallest grin on her face, hidden in the dark, they'd be attacking in the desert full of sand, his main weapon. Amusing herself for a moment she turned her lips up at him when he shifted to face her, the faint light slipping through the cracks of the tent. Ten feet apart, not much distance for her to pull her fan quickly, she'd prefer not to get to close but it seemed like the only option. There he was just waiting patiently mapping out his own actions to counter hers, the respect for him still stood she'd never deny that, and finally with sigh she spoke.

"How long have you known?" She knew he wasn't going to let it go, so she gave in.

"I figured it out a couple months ago" he sighed "when I didn't see you at the front for a while and when I saw them near our borders, I wanted to warn you, but it was to late" she shook her head slowly, the attack on Gaara, the fight against the jinchuriki of the Leaf, everything that followed, and she let herself speak freely, she knew he'd listen.

"A few months ago, the Akatsuki entered Suna and bombed our village from the skies, Gaara defended as best as he could against them" Her tone was even as if she was reading a report in a meeting, calm and controlled, betraying what she had felt "by the time I got back to Suna, they had taken him to the border and took Shukaku from him somehow" her lowered lids fell to the end of his cloak speaking quietly, remembering everything "we were able to find him and bring him back" She swallowed "but when they took the one-tails from him he died. He's alive now, but he's no longer our jinchuriki" Her gaze rose up to his, she felt something wet slip down her cheek, the faint glint in his eyes betraying that he widened them at her words "We can't let the Leaf know about it, your village has taken too much from us already and if they order you to attack us I need to be prepared to defend my nation against yours"

"Did you go after them?" Barely a whisper from him, cautious of her even now.

"I did, I killed one of them, and I brought him back home" Her grip tightened fingers turning white as she observed through blurry eyes the shift in his weight when Shikamaru stepped forward.

"Temari, listen" He remained tense, voice firm, yet calm and ready to defend against her. She grinned slightly of course he'd try and diffuse this with words, she'd just have the counter "What makes you think we'll turn against the Sand, because of this? We signed the alliance, and we will stand by our word and not attack, We can figure out how to counter the troops if the Earth is planning on sending to march towards Suna. We are allies and we aid each other when we need help. You could have told me sooner and" He trailed off and dared to shift a step closer stopping when she tensed visibly eyes narrowing blinking away the wetness in them her lips turned down into a snarl "As for what happened to your brother" he paused when she shifted the fan towards her in preparation yet he continued "I'm sorry Temari" he glanced past her cautiously as he felt the slight shift in the wind as the tent's curtain swayed open slightly, shining the faintest light to her red cheeks and tear filled eyes, she remained staring at him quiet though as if unaware that she was crying. The war between them waged in their eyes neither moving nor speaking. His next move was his last as he stepped forward, she awoke.

"Sorry?" Her voice dominated over the silence around them. Shikamaru almost groaned, he'd made the wrong move. She was tense eyes shut, blinking away the tears and when they opened, they filled with a fury that shifted the tent again and she shouted her next words "Apologizes can't bring back what we had before your village screwed us over, the reason everything happened, this war will always be your faults! We tried to stop before you even showed up, no one can stop this! Not me, not even you! They ordered me to kill you because of the attack, Shikamaru, because of Naruto, I have no choice!" her weapon shifted in her grip, and she swung towards him. Even sheathed the damn fan sent a swift blow his way. He ducked and grimaced at the sound of metal crushing the shelf to his right where his body had been a second ago. Quick to follow his plan he shifted away from her range and ducked past the entrance turning to avoid the next strike gliding past his face to connect with the mud below. The unsavory splash of mud waved around them when she turned her glare his way, her lips turned and another shout leaving her.

"You bastards took everything and called us traitors, everything but my brothers and I'll be damned if I let you take them too!" Shikamaru shifted away jumping back to give himself some distance from her direct hits but stayed close enough to keep from her long-distance attacks, she was deadly both ways. This woman always seemed to make him do more work than was necessary. He needed to only get close enough where she wouldn't be able to avoid his jutsu, if he could even spare the little amount he had left, but she wasn't giving the time to recover. He threw himself to the side landing on his shoulder when the three moons slid open sending the wet earth into the rest of the camp, slashing gashes into the remaining tents and tossing the mud into the falling trees. He shut his eyes everything becoming clear, and he lifted himself up to kneel.

Shikamaru stood quietly outside the shogi room at his family's home, his face impassive, eyes trained on his father and mother out by the pond. His mother looked shocked a hand coming to her gaping mouth as Shikaku explained what had happened to Asuma during their failed mission and when she covered her face a wail escaping her, his father came forward taking her in a firm embrace, holding his shuddering wife at the lose of their friend.

Shikamaru stared for a moment unable to move as she clung to her husband fingers gripping his shirt and hiding her face into his chest to stifle her cries. Shikaku simply stood quiet keeping her still allowing her to let out her grief. Shikamaru pulled his gaze away and stepped off the deck the distant sound blurring as he made his path clear.

He'd given the mission to himself; he didn't have too but who else could deliver this news to Kurenai. His sensei's words still clung to him, everything he was taught by him came back in the steps he took to her home. He knocked, she opened the door and he spoke. He knows he did, because when her face fell, he stiffened as she dropped to her knees.

The tears fell slow, she was in shock her body frozen. He kneeled to her and when she fell into his arms, he shut his eyes to the piercing cry as she wailed into his vest, his arms wrapped tightly around her. All he did was kneel there with her suppressing every thought and emotion he had to allow to her time to mourn.

His father once said when a woman cries you embrace her and don't let go.

The old man was right.

Inwardly he cursed at the entire predicament, but he could understand it, he understood her. She was hurt after all she'd lost more than he could ever comprehend, she didn't want to lose what she had left. She'd been betrayed and hurt for so long, that all she could do was hurt back. Like Suna had once she'd be betrayed by her allies. With a heavy sigh he rose to kneel standing his ground firm and braced himself when she faced him and twisted her body. It hurt the direct slashes from the wind to his now tattered muddy cloak cuts deep enough to get to his skin, but even through the stinging pain he continued to force his glare past his arm at her. Temari heaved with the last attack bracing herself on her readied weapon lips turned up baring her teeth over the edge of her fan, the rain settling from her attack and beginning to wash over them again, falling past her tears. He steadied his breathing holding her gaze as he rose slowly from the ground standing wary of her ability and spoke.

"Temari" when he called out, she lowered her gaze eyes glinting over the edge of the fan wide and focused, delicate fingers resting at the shining metal ready to strike. If she was listening, she showed no sign of it "stop and listen to me please" He dared a step forward but she remained still, she had deadly accuracy if she decided to strike now and although unnerved he didn't show it "I am not your enemy!" He narrowed his eyes preparing himself expecting a reaction from this one but she didn't budge aside from a slight twitch in her eyes as she lowered her lids to a glare "The longer we as nations keep this hate up, the longer we all suffer" Another step towards her "we can't change what happened" another step "but we can change how the future will be if we stop now, our enemy is here in the Rain" his next step resulted in her hand wrapping around the edge her eyes never leaving his. He tried to diffuse this with a second option, she wasn't budging, and he couldn't help staring at the blurry teal iris. She was too quiet and silence seemed to be a woman's loudest cry, he needed to get close.

"Do you believe I was thinking about the war when I pushed you out the way during the ambush?" His eyes softened when she faltered and blinked her hand relaxing slightly from her death grip on the fan, remembering "When I snuck into your camp to deliver the message? After telling you I would never step into wind country unless I had a good enough reason, you were the reason" Temari pulled away slightly but kept her eyes firm "When I suggested the alliance I wasn't just thinking about the Leaf" she stepped back pushing to straighten and stand her fan now resting in his way from her. "Don't you think it's enough losses? This war should never have happened between our nations" he paused and took a breath "I have never lied to you and you know that Temari" This one caught her, and she pulled her eyes away blinking the tears down her flush cheeks.

"I'm just cleaning up his mess" She whispered regrettably, like a child confessing, eyes filling slightly as she looked down. He braced himself and took the last step pushing past the fan to look down at her as she tensed and stepped back quickly becoming defensive, realizing she allowed him to get to close. Shikamaru didn't allow her to shift her weight towards the weapon and pushed past her attempt, grabbing her wrist to stop her from using it, and leaned forward embracing her. She was tense and stiffened at his move, her chin resting on his shoulder as she stared wide eyed into the grey sky, yet he didn't make a move to pull away. Releasing her wrist he wrapped his other arm around her, his hold becoming tighter, and he buried his head into her hair, awaiting the inevitable.

When her eyes shut her lips parted, her body shuddering, and the screaming cry escaped her lips piercing the quiet night air.