Disclaimer: I thought I already stated this…
Author Note: Thank you everyone for the reviews, true there has been a few arranged marriages done before in Fan Fiction. However I never liked how they turned out so I decided to write my own.
0000
Marrying Peace
Chapter Two: "Split"
"Shikamaru! You were supposed to clean the bedroom before the council elders get here!" Temari cried out hysterical referring to the letter they received six days ago informing them that they would be forced to host both sand and leaf council members for a "discussion".
"Where were you anyway?" Temari questioned suspiciously. Shikamaru had taken off for a few hours while Temari stomped around the house half crazed ready to explode at unsuspecting dust bunnies. He shrugged at her. Temari glared at him watching his shifty posture more suspicious however kept her mouth shut.
The rest of their morning was spent making sure everything was in perfect order when the council arrived. Temari had to formulate a little plan so when Shikamaru met Gaara he didn't end up buried six feet under sand. Best option seemed to keep them at opposite sides of the room so if any conflict were to arouse there would be space and time between them.
A loud knock interrupted them at the door. Temari rushed into the bedroom giving Shikamaru a questioning look.
He mouthed something like "a few more minutes"
She glared.
Another knock.
Slowly she nodded and walked to greet the front door. Temari opened the door slowly giving as much time as she could so Shikamaru could finish up with the bedroom. Outside standing in their doorway was a small group of wrinkled old bodies with Tsunade and Gaara standing out.
"Hello and welcome," Temari bowed opening the door wide to let them in. The group filed in slowly. Gaara last on purpose.
He stared at her with a brotherly gaze. Temari returned with a small, shy smile. He looked slightly surprised but gave her the ghost of smile. After all that was what Gaara could manage.
"Where is the husband to be?" One of the elders called out as Temari closed the door. She paused, waiting for something. A noise came from another room and the familiar figure came out frowning.
Shikamaru gazed around the front room at the council. He bowed and introduced himself. Temari looked relieved that he had finished and showed up to help her out.
"Would you all like some tea?" Temari asked politely as the council members found their way to the couch and chairs in the living room. There was a chorus of nods even Gaara joined it. She looked nervously to Shikamaru who would have to entertain the guests till she could serve all the tea. He gave her a fleeting half exasperated look one where she knew what was on his mind. For once he was right, this was really tiresome.
0000
"We shall begin the meeting now," Tsunade began after they enjoyed their tea. The already tense expressions on the faces of the elders hardened if possible. Temari glanced at Shikamaru who had a longing look on his face to be elsewhere. She couldn't blame him.
"We have gathered here to discuss the marriage between Temari of Sand and Shikamaru of leaf," One of the elders announced, Shikamaru had to resist rolling his eyes.
A long pause followed.
"This marriage is to unite both villages that they might create a stronger bond against impending evil." He continued. Many heads turned to Gaara and Tsunade's faces. Both had a neutral expression.
"From the brief encounter we've seen today, we the leaf village council frown upon this marriage." An elderly woman spoke out. Tsunade's eyes widened, "we never approved of this from the beginning because too much rides on the success of this relationship. Both of you are still too young."
"Council!" Tsunade cried outraged, "We unanimously agreed to this marriage!"
One of the older elders spoke out, "Tsunade, you very well know that we don't agree with your ruling. You're to young and rash to fully understand the complications that will occur. Since you've been Hokage we've done nothing but disapprove of your actions however you don't correct them when we offer our opinions."
Gaara noted the tension between Tsunade and her council.
"You are too old and senile to understand what I'm trying to build," Tsunade muttered clearly. An old woman near bye looked down at Tsunade as if she was of higher rank than the Hokage.
"So," Shikamaru broke the silence, "You are saying that you have no confidence that this marriage will work out?" Temari noted he sounded angry. She didn't blame him, she felt enraged herself. Dragged her from her homeland to marry a lazy ass only to be told that it will fail and accomplish nothing?
"What does the council members from Sunagakure have to say about this matter?" Someone asked. The few Sand elders looked at Gaara.
"We place our full support with our leader's opinion. He has his best interests for our village." One said out loud. Gaara understood that it was now was his place to speak.
"I must protect my sister and the land of Sunagakure, therefore I support Tsunade and the marriage that it may help create a stronger alliance between us." He said carefully. There was no hint of doubt in his voice but a firm unquestioned statement.
"Then we follow our Hokage's decision." They replied loyally. Tsunade smiled feeling she had gained a powerful ally. Temari looked surprised but a little happy that Gaara held some confidence in her.
"Then we shall allow this marriage," The old elder said slightly disappointed, "For a chance that it might not fail."
Tsunade frowned at her council members, "I firmly stand by my decisions which have not failed me yet and will not this time."
"We should get going," An elder said standing up, the rest of them followed exiting, however Tsunade remained behind with Gaara.
"You're lucky you have such support from your council," Tsunade chuckled, "Those old farts hold a life long grudge. They're bias towards anything that suggests change. Everything is black and white for them. Like Naruto…"
Gaara looked at her.
"You know I'd rather deal with the demon fox than those closed minded fools. Wish they could see I do have the village's best interests in mind." She sighed. Gaara looked slightly surprised at her, he recovered quickly.
"It looks as though Leaf has a wise Hokage," Gaara said quietly, "and a bright future with Sand even if the relationship does or does not work out."
Tsunade smiled, holding out her hand. Gaara took it without hesitating and shook her warm hand firmly.
0000
"That went well," Temari said sarcastically after everyone left. She was cleaning up the tea cups and bags left on the coffee table.
"I think if it weren't for Tsunade I might have moved away somewhere else less annoying." Shikamaru replied partially serious. The blonde looked him, Shikamaru looked angrier than she had expected. He slammed his fist down on the table causing Temari to jump.
"Whatever," he groaned talking to no one in particular.
Temari sat next to him on the couch. His eyes were closed but she knew he was awake thinking from the frown on his face. Shikamaru in his sleep rather than frown he had a distant awkward smile that Temari found herself fascinated with. It was so raw with emotion that she felt like she was peeking at the true Shikamaru behind the scowl and half opened eyes. She wished the awkward smile would appear on his face now.
"Hey," she poked him.
Shikamaru groaned.
"What woman?" He replied testily.
Temari frowned at his response.
"I was wondering if you would like to go out for dinner tonight," She said slightly annoyed and if possible embarrassed.
"Uh," Shikamaru said clearly not expecting this, "Yeah sure that sounds good."
Temari smiled.
Shikamaru gave her a tiny lopsided grin.
She finished cleaning up. They left the house to find a place where they could eat dinner. Shikamaru didn't eat out much so he was little help for good places to eat. Admittedly the only place he knew really well was the Raman restaurant that Naruto would drag him to. Temari seemed disappointed that he knew so few restaurants but she said Ramen did sound good.
They talked about a lot of things over dinner, both were more comfortable with each other. Temari found it easy to express her mind to Shikamaru since they thought on the same plane. He could understand the way she thought therefore they could communicate well.
"Do you really think that if our marriage doesn't work out it will lead to a tension between the villages?" Temari asked quietly when things had settled down.
"No," Shikamaru replied bored, "Because your brother and Tsunade aren't stupid enough to place the peace between their villages' up to our marriage."
Temari smiled feeling a little bit better about her decision to stay here with him.
"Yeah you're right."
0000
That night she watched him sleep gazing at the smile playing on his lips. Temari couldn't help but wonder what he was smiling about in the first place.
"Idiot," she mumbled before drifting into sleep, a small, quite grin on her face.
0000
Chapter two! Gasp!
Thanks to all who reviewed my wee little story:
zabuzafan8, iluvgaara, Canadain-Girl, ab, Vbabe11almostinsaneElemental Dragon1Natsu-kun, EmoGothGirl, FallenXAngelXMystery
Thank you again!
And to everyone else….
Please Review!