IN THE LAST CHAPTER we left off with Temari getting the folder that pretty much pronounces that Shikamaru is dead. All the Konoha Leaf Villages ninja had either died or gone missing. Temari refuses to believe Shikamaru is dead and is determined to find him.

She had left only two days before and hasn't even reached the sand dunes. She had asked her men to travel three days before her to scout the area each farther then the other before returning to find her and tell her what they saw so she could be steps ahead of the enemy. That at least was her excuse. When then left she packed her steel fan and a few kunai and actually a very small sword. It was much like a katana, but very small in size. She knew going against the Akatsuki she would need all the help she could get and her weapons were the closest help she had.

She had left a night before her brother, Kankuro or anyone else could stop her only fueled by the deep need to find the one that left her behind. At first she found herself stuck in the sands her wicker hat tipped to cover her green eyes keeping the sand particles from her face. When the son came up and she was far from the village the true troubles began.

The sun beat down on her body the steel of the sand attracting the heat directly to her back making her sweat and grow tired. All she could hope for was nightfall to come quickly so she could hide in the comfort of the night and grow cool for the next sunrise.

She had walked for hours staying off the normal tracks she took keeping her feet light on the sand so new sand could easily cover her tracks. She knew she could find her way back as for others they wouldn't be able to as easily. She had reached a small groove with a water in somewhat of a small spring settling her weapon on the ground and herself by the water.

She took long sips of her drink the water cooling the back of her throat and leaving her completely relaxed until a slight noise of shifting sand fell upon her ears. She went to turn around a Kunai seeming as if it had sprung in her hands but left her hands as soon as it had found it. She felt pressure on her chest her legs pinned down and her arms held above her head.

Straining to open her eyes she cursed at how easily she had been caught off guard.

"You're name." her heart stopped as she felt a point of cool steel denting her flesh just slightly. "Tell me you're name ninja of sand."

Swallowing she couldn't see her capture through the hat that had fallen over her face. Her mouth was dry and her heart was beating quickly in her chest as he pressed the steal more against her throat. She found her body unable to move caught as if she was snagged on a nail. She struggled slightly with no avail. 'I can't let them know who I am!' Squeezing her eyes shut she spoke her voice shaking. 'But he will kill me and I won't be able to find him… Shikamaru…'

"Temari, my name is-"

She felt her hat jerked away quickly and all the weight off her before she was thrust down against the ground. The man had gotten up his eyes widened. It had took her only a moment to take in all the features that she had almost forgotten past the last year.

The black hair pinned straight up, the now tanned skin from staying in the sun, but the eyes she knew the most was the dark chocolate gaze that had watched her so much before was now looking at her again. At first she had to blink in disbelief, but then she found that he was really there.

"Shikamaru it's you, it's really you…" the burning behind her eyes caused her to blink a small tear falling down her face. "I came to find you, but I promised myself I'd never cry over you, but here I am." She started laughing rubbing her eye lids trying to become the Temari he remembered instead of one so fragile. She didn't have to be though, he just took two steps and she was already in his grasp.

She could feel his hands digging up into her hair his nose burying into her neck remembering her scent. She smelled like sunflowers and sand giving her this earthy tone and smell to her that was completely wild and natural. He had missed everything about her and now that Temari was in her arms he couldn't help, but be scared to open his eyes.

When she felt the quick kisses at the base of her neck she inhaled and smiled her hands cradling his head as they folded down against the sand. Even now she didn't look beautiful, but he found her gorgeous regardless of her blonde hair down in messy curls and her eyes hallow and tired from the bags in her eyes and lack of sleep. He found everything completely beautiful now just as much as he did then.

The familiar feel of her body beneath his sent him reeling his eyes slanting shut and his breath becoming hitched. Her eyes smiled to him as she stroked his face and kissed his eyelids. He didn't make any moves all he did was roll to the side and pull her against him.

"Shikamaru, I've missed you."

"Temari there is something going on." Their conversation went to and abrupt stop and she stared at his worry torn face. What he had seen, what he knew was probably what was making him act this way, and even now he wasn't getting any better with her there by his side. She lifted her fingers tumbling over his eyelids before smoothing the back of her knuckles along his cheek bones. "Temari this is important."

"I know, but getting worked up over it will only cloud your judgment. Relax." Shikamaru could only sigh taking her hands away from his face before getting up from the spot they laid down.

"The Akatsuki are trying to get all the demon tails spirits… they are after Naruto and Gaara, I don't know who else. They are planning an attack on your village and mine. I can't stay calm when I know that you could be in trouble as well as the rest of my village."

Temari sat up. "So, that is there plan after all? Gaara knew something like that was up, but we weren't sure." If she hadn't known better she could probably swear she was shaking. Temari had never been frightening before, but she was feeling that sick creeping in her gut now. "They said you and everyone was dead, and if not they were missing and soon to be pronounced. I came to search the area, but I only wanted to find you."

"That was a mistake."

"Shikamaru."

"Temari you had a mission."

"So did you, but you abandoned it because-"

"I wanted to save you?" he sighed pulling out a cigarette, a habit he picked up after his sensei had died. "I was told to find the Akatsuki, get information and if I could engage to kill, but I couldn't so I was returning with information. I would tell the Kazakage and the Hokage of all dangers. My mission comes first before all else, just as much as yours does."

Biting on her lip she stood up her fists shaking and her fingers itching to grab hold of the steel fan. He was acting so different, be a pompous ass that looked down at her. Being gone a year, fighting, it changed him.

"So I don't matter Shikamaru, all the months I waited for you to show up, when I never gave up hope even when they said you were dead, and not once did you ever think about me? Well you know what I will relay the message myself and you go back to your village and tell your people the news."

"I want nothing to do with you anymore Shikamaru." Grabbing her weapon then she opened it sending a gust of earth, grain, and sand in a cloud of mist about her. As soon as it cleared she was gone.

OVER 200 HITS! THANK YOU EVERYONE!

I will have a NEW FF7 fan fic up soon! Please keep reading!