Chapter 48

Gaara Shikamaru showdown

It was evening and Gaara was sitting at his desk thinking about how the night had passed. He had expressed his feelings to Hinata only to have his moment interrupted by Naruto, Shikamaru, and his sister. He was also thinking that with all Hinata was already going through, maybe he shouldn't have mentioned his feelings for her, maybe he made things more complicated for her. But he never imagined that she would decide to leave so soon.

He also was waiting for Naruto to come by since they had more to talk about than he would like to admit. He felt he owed it to his friend to be honest with him. Naruto was his first friend and he would never want to risk his friendship. Hinata was a great lady and deserved to be with someone who was great, and could protect her. If anyone other than Naruto were pursuing Hinata, he would fight for her affection, but he knew Naruto was worthy of her.

He knew tonight Temari would also leave and that made him a little disappointed. He enjoyed her company too, far more than his brothers. She knew that if she wanted to go all she had to do was ask and he would grant it.

There was a knock on his door, he was ready for his visit with Naruto. "Come in," he spoke towards the door. The door opened and it wasn't Naruto, but Shikamaru who had come to see him.

"Do you have a minute, I was hoping I could talk to you about something," Shikamaru began.

"Sure, please have a seat," Gaara motioned to a chair next to his desk.

Shikamaru took a seat, not sure how exactly to word what he wanted to ask. "Temari mentioned that she was heading back to the leaf," he began.

"Yes, if that's what she'd like to do…" Gaara replied.

"I'd like to escort her back if that's alright," Shikamaru added.

"Shikamaru, can I ask you what you wanted to talk about, it's probably no surprise that I have a lot on my mind."

'I can see he's direct like his sister,' Shikamaru thought. "Okay, what if Temari wanted to stay in the leaf?" he asked.

"What? The Sand Village is her home, why would she stay in the Leaf?" He began to lose the calm manner he usually had.

"Would you ever consider, hypothetically, marriages between the villages?" Shikamaru could see Gaara glaring at him.

"Are we talking about hypothetical situations, or are we talking about my sister?" He asked pointedly.

"I'm talking about Temari. I know it's terrible timing, but I came back because I had to see her. I want a life with her." Gaara sat up in his chair, "I know this wouldn't have been possible before, but things have changed now, the Leaf and the Sand are united." Shikamaru waited for Gaara to respond.

Gaara sat quiet for a few moments and then looked at Shikamaru. He wasn't expecting this. Of course he believed times had changed, and he believed in marriages between the villages. He wondered if Shikamaru would have been able to face Temari with his feelings, it was no secret that he barely spoke when he was around her.

Gaara smiled, "What does Temari have to say about all this?" He was sure Shikamaru hadn't mentioned this to Temari.

"I don't want to speak for her. I came to ask you if it's possible, I don't need to answer today Gaara." Shikamaru finished, realizing that Gaara probably wouldn't give him an answer.

"Where's Temari?" Gaara asked him, his tone unreadable.

"Right outside," Shikamaru stood up to go get her.

"I need a moment with my sister," Gaara said to him as he left.

"Sure," Shikamaru left and after a few moments Temari came in.

"What's going on Temari?" he asked her in an angry tone.

"Why are you so upset Gaara, it's not like you didn't know that I liked him. And it's not like you don't also like someone from the Leaf, am I right?"

"Please do not talk to me about Hinata," Gaara shouted.

Shikamaru could hear them yelling from outside, maybe approaching Gaara wasn't such a good idea after all.

"I'm sorry Gaara," she said, "and I didn't know how to tell you, Shikamaru offered to try to make it easier by asking you. It's the proper thing to do." Temari sat down in the chair that Shikamaru had just vacated.

Gaara sat down in his chair again and exhaled, "This is something that has to be brought up and approved at a 5 Kage summit, I'm not the only one who can make these decisions. Has Shikamaru even spoken with Kakashi yet? How do you know that he would even approve?" Gaara asked her.

"We don't, you're the first one that we've asked because you are my brother first, Kazegage second. I want this Gaara, you know Shikamaru Nara is an honorable man. He will ask Kakashi when we return, but I'd like your support. If you can't support me, I will have to let him go Gaara, and I don't want to do that." She finished.

Gaara could understand how she felt, he didn't want to have to let go of Hinata, and he didn't want to be responsible for causing this pain for his sister. He stood up from his chair again and walked to where his sister was sitting. "Temari, I will support you, you know that." He said.

Temari hopped up from her chair and hugged her brother "You're the best Gaara!"

"I will write to Kakashi and if he approves then you can consider it done. I will still hold a summit but the result will not change my being in favor of my sister finding happiness." Gaara moved back to his desk and began writing a letter to the Hokage of the village hidden in the leaves. When he was done he asked Temari to call in Shikamaru.

Shikamaru stood at Gaara's desk and waited for him to speak. After the yelling, Shikamaru thought he knew what to expect.

"I will support you and Temari in the path you choose. This is a letter for your Hokage explaining my reasons for supporting an alliance between our villages. Please understand that the Hokage has the right to decline and I will respect his decision." He smiled at Shikamaru as he handed him the letter. "I wish the best of luck for you and look forward to hearing the outcome." His tone sounded genuine.

"Thanks Gaara," Shikamaru took the scroll. He had a feeling that Kakashi would consent, if Kakashi didn't he knew Kurenai definitely would. When he came to the village tonight he didn't think he would be leaving practically engaged, the thought would have scared him in the past, but he knew he was making the right choice.

"Naruto's waiting outside if you wanted to see him before we left," Shikamaru added.

"Yeah, let him know I'm ready to see him."