First of all, I'm so sorry for the long delay. Lots of things happened this month. But I'm still thankful that people are following this story!
Thank you for the additional followers and favoriters! Special thanks to reviewers: ALIASTESIN, Temamaru, fanofthisfiction, SariaKasumi, looklivewithlove, Guest, Rose-aki, Guest, SnowHusky20. You guys are the best!
This chapter is rated M for language and sexual content! You've been warned.
At dawn, Temari managed to extract herself from his arms. Which was quite a difficult task. When she managed to return to the haven of her room, she threw herself onto the bed and screamed into the pillow until she felt her lungs were about to give out. Then she turned over and glared at the ceiling.
"You're such an idiot, Temari. He shows up and you give in so easily. You practically threw yourself all over him. Fuck. And that, you did that too. Several times too. Shit. What the hell is wrong with you? Have you completely lost your mind? Weren't you thinking at all? How last night can ruin everything?"
Flipping over, she slammed her fist into the pillow.
"You were not supposed to get back together just yet. Not until you have a solid plan of thwarting that elder!"
The pillow dented from her punch once more.
"Who knows what he is thinking now? Who knows what he might do? If he does anything, that elder might think it was all my plan and Gaara will bear the full brunt of it all. Shit."
She striked the pillow several times more.
"What do I do? I need to talk to him. If we're seen during the day, the elder will suspect foul play. I'm sure she has spies all over the place... No wait, I can't talk to him. Why do you think you left him at Konoha? If I tell him the truth, the more he will want to do something heroic and shit. I can't risk that. Bloody Konoha ninjas and their hero complex."
She muttered that with disdain but she knew part of the reason she fell for him was how he led the soldiers during the shinobi war. He motivated them with well chosen words that moved them to act with renewed energy and hope. Which was why she thought he would make a good Hokage.
But this was a complicated situation that should be handled carefully. He should not be acting haphazardly especially if he did not know all the facts of the matter.
She sighed. "Guess I have to make sure he doesn't do anything."
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"Who authorized this meeting?" the elder demanded with a frown. Murmurs filled the room from the members of the council who were equally puzzled.
"I did," the Kazekage announced as soon as he entered the room. The noise halted but it was not the Kazekage who held their attention. It was the person standing next to him, slouching as usual.
"Nara Shikamaru," the elder uttered with surprise. "What are you doing here in Suna?" Chatter erupted in the room once more as they speculated as to why the Konoha ninja was present in their village. The elder tensed as her eyes flitted between the two figures who just arrived. She smelled something fishy.
"All questions for Nara may be addressed after this meeting," Gaara said calmly. The elder and the members quieted. The Kazekage strode forward and took his seat at the front while Shikamaru sauntered towards the other end of the room and took his seat at the opposite end.
"I have gathered all of you because Nara Shikamaru requested an audience with all of you. It would be the height of rudeness to refuse a request from one of Konoha's highly respected ninjas and not to mention, soon-to-be adviser to the upcoming Hokage."
"But my lord—" Chiyo tried to interrupt. She had apparently not seen this coming.
"Chiyo-san, allow him to say his piece. Only then may you say yours," Gaara said in a tone of finality.
Chiyo clamped her mouth shut. Then turned a cool gaze onto the guest of honor who was uncharacteristically attentive to her movements. She fought to keep her startled expression. There was something in his gaze that unnerved her. Something that could almost be described as dangerous and predatory but such an unsettling a characteristic on a laidback personality.
But that something vanished a second later. As if it was never there. He let out a lazy, almost charming, smile. She felt the tension ease from her shoulders.
"Nara-san has come here to voice his opinion about your abrupt announcement a few days ago. Something that he should have been a part of. Because clearly, this issue involves him and he has the right to be able to say something in his defense, do you not agree?"
The members of the council held silent. The elderpursed her lips but held her words back.
"Nara-san, if you please," Gaara nodded towards him, signaling Shikamaru to start.
Shikamaru rose slowly, scraping his chair back. Placing his hands on the table, he regarded all members of the council as if he was memorizing their faces and settled his eyes on the elder.
"You all know why I'm here. You don't want me to get married to Temari. You think I'm a threat to this village. I get all that. But I'm here to give you a proposition."
The elder narrowed her eyes. Perhaps she let her guard down too soon. He was after all a known genius.
"There is no law that forbids me from marrying Temari. Or you would've used it already. But what you can do is make me out like a threat so that the village would object to the engagement. But what you and I both know is I will be persistent and my efforts will be endless so I have a proposal that will decide all this once and for all."
"What is that?" the elder asked, her eyes never leaving his face. As if she could somehow sniff out his real thoughts by detecting any minute movement on his face.
"Well, if you don't like me for Temari, then that means you have other suitors in mind who is more worthy in your eyes, yes?"
The elder tipped her head and said proudly, "That is correct."
"I thought so." Shikamaru nodded solemnly. Placing his hands on the table and leaning forward, he continued, "I propose a competition. Between me and the suitors. Whoever wins gets the princess."
A pin drop could be heard in the pause that followed. The elder cocked an eyebrow. Other members started whispering once more. Everyone knew that the proposal was unusual coming from the famously lazy black-haired ninja. Shikamaru merely gave a half smile, undisturbed by the noise his metaphorical bomb created.
"You can't prevent our marriage but you can make this competition difficult. Obviously you will be hosting and regulating the competition since I will be a competitor. Every suitor must pass through each round if they want to win. Simple, right?"
Narrowing his eyes, signaling his seriousness, he went on to say, "But in the end, to make it believable for the village, to show your own village that you did not try to prevent the happiness of the princess, it will be the princess's choice in the end. Whoever is left in any case."
A buzz filled the room as the council members whispered more fervently amongst each other. The elder caught Shikamaru's gaze, mentally cross-examining what he said. Is he crazy? He's right though. I can make it impossible for him and give others the advantage and kick him out in the first round...
The elder spoke up, "Let me clarify. From my understanding, you are giving us all reign with this competition to determine the princess's groom. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"From that I presume that once the winner is decided, that is, whoever the princess chooses in the final round, that would be who she marries. If you lose, you will formally end the engagement once and for all?" The elder raised a haughty brow as if issuing a dare.
Shikamaru accepted that challege and met the elder's eyes evenly. "If I lose, then yes, the engagement will be no more."
"I see." The elder intertwined her fingers and rested her chin upon them, eyes attempting to see through him.
Shikamaru held out his hands, palms facing up. "So? You have all the advantage here. You control the game. All I want is the chance to prove that the only reason I want to marry her is 'cause I love her. And do so in front of the village. So there will be no doubt in anyone's minds as to my intentions towards your princess."
Love-sick fool who is willing to do anything? This is too easy. And they say he is a genius? What a laugh.
Everyone's focus was on the elder as she pretended to muse things over while staring at Shikamaru intently. Then she finally nodded, resisting the urge to smirk, and said almost sarcastically, "You have yourself a deal."
Checkmate. Shikamaru nodded politely and sent a glance at the Kazekage.
Gaara gave a tiny smile.
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Kankuro knocked frantically on Temari's door.
When Temari opened the door and saw who it was, she growled with wild hair mussed from sleep, "What the hell, Kankuro? If someone doesn't open the door after a few knocks, it means they don't want to be bothered!"
"Sorry sis. But you need to know that Shikamaru held a meeting with the council to tell them his intentions."
"What?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Dread felt like lead upon her chest.
"You wouldn't wake up! What's up with you anyway? You usually wake up early."
A blush filled her face. Kankuro stared. "Oh shit, right, you were with him. Man, did you do it all night long or something?"
"Shut up. Where are they now?"
"The board room. Where else?"
Temari sprinted in that direction, hoping she would make it on time, and Kankuro followed. They went skidding into the room to find that only Gaara and Shikamaru were left inside.
"What the hell happened?" Temari demanded with a scowl.
"Tem..." Shikamaru started.
"Don't you Tem me! What did you do?!"
Gaara and Kankuro skillfully slipped out of the room.
Warily, Shikamaru explained the situation. Temari's eyes grew wider and wider by the minute until she exploded.
"You realize what you've done? There's no way you'll win! You practically gave me away! What the hell, Shikamaru? Who gave you the right to do that?! Why did you all decide that without me?! Do you think I wouldn't be able to handle it? Did you think I was some weak-willed little girl who needs her future decided for her? Some subservient prize to be won?! Fuck you! And I can't believe Gaara allowed this!"
"I convinced Gaara to allow me to do this. And I did this for us. You really think I would give such a proposition without planning ahead? There is no other choice but this. I'm sorry if I acted without you but I knew you wouldn't allow it. But you have to trust me."
"How? When they have all the advantage in this contest?" she whispered, stricken but looked at him with a little hope.
"Just watch me. I'll handle it. You really think I would propose something so troublesome without being prepared?" Shikamaru chuckled which irritated Temari greatly.
"Dammit, Shika, I don't want to lose you, don't you get it! And for sure, if you lose, they will find a way to evict you and never allow you to come back here. And it wouldn't matter anyway since they'll force me to wed one of those idiot suitors!"
"You don't?" he said quietly as he strode towards her. His gait shifted from lazy to purposeful. The shade of his pupils grew darker. The effect on her was immediate.
"Don't what?" And for some inane reason, she backed up as he came closer. Her back hit the wall.
He rested a hand on the wall by her head, leaned in and asked again, "You don't want to lose me?"
''D-don't change the subject!" She tried to push him away but her hand just came up and stayed on his chest.
"You brought it up." His other hand wrapped around her hip.
"But that wasn't my point at all!" Her hand curled on his chest, gripping his shirt.
"I'm sure that was your only point. Not that I'm complaining." He lowered his head.
"I..." Her eyes strayed to his mouth.
"Don't think." He touched his lips to hers. Hand snaking around her waist, he pulled her to him.
Her hands rose and buried into his hair. Hooking her leg around him, she pressed herself against him. She kissed him back.
"Shikamaru, if you lose, I will personally castrate you and feed you to the desert snakes," she muttered against his lips.
He swallowed, knowing she was well capable of such a feat. "I'm sure it won't come to that," he whispered, moving his lips down her neck.
"Prove your tenacity." She gripped his arms, the need to touch him was overwhelming.
He paused. Then started to suck on the skin of her neck. His hand swiftly went down her back. While dragging his hands up her thighs, her skirt rose and he touched her from behind. She gasped as his caress swiftly ignited her senses. He played lightly but skillfully with her and her legs started trembling. She buried her face against his chest.
"Shika..."
"Is this what you want?"
"Not.. quite..."
He suddenly ceased, spun her around and continued to play with her from the front. Loosening her yukata, he dragged it down until it pooled about her waist. He showered kisses from her nape and traced down the curve of her spine. Making nips here and there. As the sensations consumed her, she placed a hand out on the wall to steady herself, biting her lip.
"Is this what you want?"
"Mmm..."
"No?" He straightened her body while cupping his hand under her chin and pressing his lips against her ear and giving it a nibble. His breath seared her skin. She suppressed a shiver. "Shall we do it on the elder's seat?"
A chuckle helplessly tumbled from her mouth. Twisting around, smirking, she hooked her arms around his neck and said, "You read my mind."
She dragged him to the seat and pushed him down and straddled him. They proceeded to make out heatedly while moving their hips against each other.
A few minutes later, they shed their clothing completely and made love. Afterwards, they ended up in her room.
"Shikamaru..."
"Hmm?"
"Win."
"Done."
"How can you be so confident?"
"It's me."
"Be serious!"
"Hn. Just watch."
"Fine. But if you lose..."
"Yeah I know. Desert snakes. Gotcha. Just come here." He drew her in a tighter embrace. "Don't worry. Just sleep."
Resting her forehead against his shoulder, she gripped at his back, burrowing herself more into him. As if it was the only thing left that she could do in this situation. And perhaps if they stayed just like this, there won't be a chance of separation. And that tomorrow would not come too soon.
And like clockwork, despite the turmoil lingering in her mind, his scent and the steady beat of his heart calmed her. Before succumbing to sleep, she brushed the softest kiss on the skin along his collarbone.
When he saw her breathing even out, he pressed his lips against her temple. He whispered, "I won't let those fools win you." And let the image of her sleeping face imprint in his mind as he drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Longest chapter by far. Hope you guys like it.