A/N: Thanks Introperv!

Chapter 15

"Aren't you going to go after her big bro?" Kankuro suddenly asks. He knows something huge has just happened but he recognizes that this is not the time to pester Shikamaru about it. Judging by the looks of his brother, the stiffness of his shoulders, the narrowness of his eyes, he might actually destroy Karasu this time so Kankuro holds his tongue. But still his brother should go after Temari. Knowing his big brother, Shikamaru would need a little push since he is admittedly the most unmotivated person in Suna. Kankuro secretly grins and murmurs to himself 'baka' then shouts "Oi go after her!"

"Tch" Shikamaru glances at Kankuro and notices the teasing glint in his brother eyes "Help me dispose of the bodies then we could go home" Shikamaru states, his voice neutral and his face now blank.

"Suit yourself. But you aren't gonna get the girl that way you know" Kankuro smirks, baiting his brother to take action.

Shikamaru does not reply and starts to drag the body of the female shinobi first then that of the other male shinobi. He does not say anything and goes about the task at hand methodically. Kankuru follows suit, he starts to whistle and glances at his older brother every now and then while they bury the bodies.

-o0o-

"What do you mean, a kunoichi from Konoha suddenly barges in my father's office hours ago?" Shikamaru inquires from one of the Anbu guards, modulating his voice to sound just curious. Except his mind is already busy conjuring up several scenarios of what could have possibly happened at the time. But every one of the possible scenarios, all ends the same way with that of Temari lifeless and broken. "Where's my father?"

'Inside but—" The guard is unable to finish since Shikamaru pushes him on the side and opens the door to his father's private sanctum.

Shikamaru closes the door quietly upon entering, takes a calming breath then proceeds inside the room. Making sure his face and stance doesn't show any of what he truly feels inside, Shikamaru speaks, his voice unconcerned "The Konoha kunoichi, has been here. What have you done to her?"

The Kazekage raises his head from the documents he's been reading then chuckles upon seeing the lack of expression on the young shinobi's face "Pretending indifference, Shikamaru?" The Kazekage looks at his son maliciously, his mirth unabated "Since you made the effort, I will pretend to believe you this time"

"Where is she?" Shikamaru inquires steadily, tempted to clench his hands at his sides but that would be admitting to his father how correct he is "It's my responsibility to answer to the Hokage regarding the well-being of his people" Shikamaru shrugs, rolling his shoulders to pretend nonchalance.

"Don't worry Shikamaru. She's probably on her way back to Konoha" Then the Kazekage seems to genuinely smile.

Instead of reassuring Shikamaru, the smile confirms his fear. Temari might be walking into a trap. His father, the fourth Kazekage wouldn't order him to kill Temari. No, his father doesn't trust him anymore that he could do it so his father has already sent someone else to assassinate her.

"Hai father" Shikamaru replies and is about to turn to leave, his nonchalance maintained when the Kazekage speaks again.

"I expect to see you tomorrow at the training ground. Gaara would need supervision if not a sparring partner and he seems to listen to you" The Kazekage demands quietly, understating the fact that Shikamaru seems to be the only one that could calm Gaara when he transforms.

Shikamaru nods then leaves. For the second time he plans on disobeying his father.

-o0o-

Shikamaru has never before gone to Konoha. There never was a reason to except today. Shikamaru runs on the desert plain, with his hands directed backwards to make him move faster. He has calculated that Temari is four hours ahead of him. If he could reach her before the landscape changes to that of big trees and grasses he has an enormous chance of reaching her alive and being able to provide assistance to her. The probability that the assassins would wait until after they arrive at the border is high since killing Temari in the desert would point that the murderers are from Suna. Shikamaru is sure he could reach her on time since they wouldn't reach the border until tomorrow. Shikamaru doesn't plan to sleep or to rest to save time.

After two days, Shikamaru has started to struggle within himself to push down his fears. He has already travelled for two days, running non-stop at top speed but still he hasn't overtaken any Sunan nins or Temari herself. He is sure he should have reached her by now.

For most of the day, the foliage of the trees covers the sun while the grasses, shrubs and moss carpet the grounds. The weather is humid and Shikamaru is sweating underneath his robe. But he ignores everything, jumping from one tree branch to the next. Night is almost upon him again. If he does not see Temari before dusk, the probability of her still alive is zero to three percent.

After an hour darkness has come to blanket the woods and Shikamaru out of breath has to stop. He leans on a tree, trying to catch his breath. His vision has become blurred and it does not help that because of the trees the moon light can't penetrate the forest floor. A ten minute break is all that he allows himself to.

Shikamaru forces his feet to move again. He leaps from one giant tree limb to the next but at the back of his head, he is suppressing the thought that Temari's chance of being alive by now is nil. He could have passed her corpse without sensing it. His mind keeps informing him that without chakra that's possible.

Finally almost dawn, unable to run, exhausted and weighted down by emotions and cold logic, Shikamaru kneels on the forest floor with his back bowed and with tears streaming down from his eyes, Shikamaru suddenly shouts "NO!" to the ground. Birds fly away and the silence of what's left of the night is disturbed by angry sobs.

TBC

2/1/11