Chapter 22

"Oi big bro!" Kankuro shouts as he runs towards them, trying to catch Shikamaru's attention. When he is alongside his brother and Temari, Kankuro asks, "Where have you been these past days? Father was looking for you...but hey," Kankaru elbows Shikamaru and then he glances meaningfully towards Temari, "I know you were busy somewhere... so I thought to transform myself and have a painful time being you." Kankuro leers before grinning openly, expecting more than a pat on his back for his trouble.

No wonder father asked where I went with Gaara and didn't react when I didn't deny I was with Gaara. "Thanks Kankuro." Shikamaru then simply nods at the younger shinobi. "I told father, Gaara and I trained in the Eastern Plateau."

Kankuro shrugs Shikamaru's very typical unenthusiastic reply. After all, his niisan haven't heard the best part yet. "Gaara took care of the spy nins. They weren't able to follow us to our final destination so they couldn't disprove your claim." Kankuro smirks. "Just remember you owe me big time!" Kankuro then transfers his attention from his brother to his brother's blonde companion, giving Temari a knowing grin. Then abruptly swivels his attention back to Shikamaru. "I know you would go after her. So you two—?" Kankuro let his question hang, instead his two index fingers approach each other, a blatant action suggesting that the two are now together.

"NO!" Temari snaps, finally finding a reason to unleash her tongue. She and Shikamaru are having an important discussion when they notice Kankuro's approach. By mutual agreement they have remained silent as the younger nin draws near. But now his implication is too much. Who would want to be with that lazy good-for-nothing ass? Not her!

"Tch." Shikamaru's nonchalant expression doesn't change.

Temari turns her head to stare at Shikamaru upon hearing his noncommittal reply. Why doesn't he deny it too?...Because he doesn't have to? Because he thinks the suggestion is stupid and not worth his answer?

Shikamaru can feel Temari's eyes on him, ignoring her, he addresses the other male shinobi, "You've informed me. Now, you can go ahead."

"Hey! Is that the way you treat your brother who has gone to the trouble of saving your skin?" Kankuro demands.

"Don't do me any favours if you're going to act like you can't wait to collect payment," Shikamaru mutters; a slight edge to his voice.

Kankuro frowns. Wow, my older brother is losing his cool. "Sheesh! No point taking your anger at me. If the girl doesn't like you, that isn't my fault!" Kankuro snickers.

"Keep out of this Kankuro," Shikamaru states in an authoritative voice then he reiterates his earlier command, while pointing towards the direction of the village gate they just exited several minutes ago, "Go back to Suna."

Ignored long enough, Temari retorts, "You have no right to order him around!"

Shikamaru with his right hand still extended, he just continues pointing with his index finger towards the Suna gate, making it clear to Kankuro that he wants him to leave.

While Kankuro glances from his silent brother to the furious woman.

"He has a right to know!" Angrily, Temari repeats, "Mybrother has the right to know."

For a second, Shikamaru is frozen like a statue. Then returning his hand to his side, he swivels his head towards Temari. "I—you. You can't just announce it like that to him."

"Announce what to me and your brother?" Kankuro looks upon the blonde kunoichi. "Where's your brother, Temari?" Kankuro turns his head left then right searching for the other person. "He must be a really good shinobi, I can't feel any traces of him." Then Kankuro notices his older brother's stony expression and Temari's almost exasperated, but mostly still angry one. Kankuro uneasily gives a laugh, "What?"

Temari doesn't laugh, neither does Shikamaru.

"What? I'm gonna be your bro-in-law?" Kankuro, surprise evident on his face, addresses Temari. "Is that your way of telling me that you two are gonna get hitched?...But I thought you said you two are not together."

Kankuro's speculation is then met with silence.

Finally, Kankuro realizes something. "No wonder niisan didn't deny it." Kankuro glances at Shikamaru, seeing his brother's set expression, Kankuro ends up laughing, hard. "Well, if you don't consider that a happy news, why are you two going to get married?"

"WE ARE NOT GETTING MARRIED! BUT I AM YOUR REAL SISTER. AND—" Temari's anger suddenly diffuses and, she continues more calmly, "and Kama—I mean Shikamaru is not your real brother."

Kankuro just blinks then he gives in to boisterous chuckle. His breath coming in spurts as he is still laughing too hard, he declares, "Oi Temari, I didn't realize your sense of humour is weird."

"I am—" Temari is not able to finish what she's about to say since Shikamaru suddenly pulls at her hand to drag her away from Kankuro.

"Yes, you are hilarious!" Kankuro shouts at Temari, thinking that Temari's unfinished sentence means she agrees with him that her jokes are weird. Kankuro waves his hand in a farewell gesture as the older woman is hauled to quite a distance away from him.

Temari glowers at Shikamaru's back as she is being towed against her will. Seeing his expression though has stopped her from saying anything and from actively resisting his grasp. For a brief moment, before his hand grabbed hers, she has noticed cold anger flare in Shikamaru's eyes and she knows it is directed towards her. Shikamaru is right, no matter how she feels, she shouldn't have announced the news that way. She has just lost credibility in Kankuro's eyes. For now and even maybe in the future, that is for the best.

Once they are sufficiently away from Kankuro, Temari pulls her hand away from Shikamaru's grasp.

"Ass!" Temari doesn't need to raise her voice. Her eyes say it all. She's angry. She doesn't know why but it feels like Shikamaru is always right and she's always wrong. It shouldn't be like that. He's handling the situation in a very controlled manner while she's almost falling apart. Doesn't he realize at all what he has lost? What she has taken from him? He should be the one grieving but the lazy ass just continuous to act indifferent, showing anger only when it suits him.

"You are not needed here. Go home, Temari," Shikamaru expressionlessly commands.

Home? Shikaku and Yoshino are not her real parents and the Kazekage?...The Kazekage, her own father doesn't want her. In fact, he has ruined everyone's life because he doesn't want her. Temari gives a cynical laughter. "Where is that? Where is my home?"

"You know it's in Konoha," Shikamaru speaks quietly. "You have made your mother and father worried sick about you."

"How do you know that?" Temari is a bit surprised.

"They asked me to bring you back," Shikamaru adds.

"You— you have met them?" Temari's shock is written on her face. Thinking back, she now realizes what Kankuro is gloating about and what Shikamaru is thanking him for—a solid alibi. Subsequently, Temari comprehends one other important thing. Shikamaru has met his real parents and he knows what he has lost. Temari looks into Shikamaru eyes, trying to read him. He doesn't seem too upset about losing out on his parent's affection. If he's not really angry about the situation then he must pity her, seeing her like this.

"You don't have to worry. I don't want them and they don't want me either. They want you." Shikamaru tries to smile.

But it's actually the wrong thing to say. It proves that Shikamaru does pity her. "Ass, what am I a stray dog, that I must belong to whoever wants me?" Temari furiously answers back.

Shikamaru's lips lift at a corner momentarily. If that is true, then you would belong to me, Shikamaru finally admits to himself but not out loud, instead he repeats his father, the kazekage's order, "Go home, Temari."

Temari sees that smile. "I hate you!" she suddenly announces, eyes sparkling with hatred.

Shikamaru has already an inkling that Temari hates him, after all didn't he tried to kill her in front of the Kazekage? But she should have realized he won't actually do it...

Shikamaru stares at Temari, noticing the clenched fists at her sides and her glare.

Shikamaru has given Temari a promise years ago that she could trust him not to let her die. Back at his father's quarters, he was hoping that she would bear that in mind and not fight his jutsu...But it's now obvious she has forgotten. Fact is a promise only has a value, if it was given by an important person. She would have remembered it if it has meant anything to her. The realization causes Shikamaru's shoulders to become rigid as he speaks in an angry monotone, "You can hate me all you want but that won't change the fact that you are not welcome here. Go back to Yoshino! She's crying because of you. They are your family. Go home and don't ever come back!" Shikamaru takes a deep breath, saying the words that needed to be said, again fulfilling his promise that ironically, Temari has already forgotten, "Don't ever come back."

TBC

—oOo—

~~3/7.5/28 31/11 7 2 2O~

A/N: Anybody read my old fic Gaara hates Shikamaru? That one is improved immensely by my beta xXxBloodDeathLovexXx.

Now, I have asked her help again in improving Intertwining fate...We have started re-editing from prologue and I'll be posting in the summary up to what previous chapters are now beta-ed.

No, I didn't change any details in the story. My beta just added a lot of important commas and periods though and changed some would to will, essential stuffs like that.

Hmn, the nin thing, my beta already pointed it out that it's lazy not adding the two extra letters...hmn blame my pigheadedness, as for all the other still confusing parts.

I keep seeing white clad, masked people these days...haha...THANK YOU xXxBloodDeathLovexXx!

Hmn concrits are appreciated! Don't forget to review...