This one is nothing speical. I just had to write it anyway.... Oh, right. I once again apologize for randomly killing all those people last chapter (okay, especially Kakashi). As always, thanks for the reviews!

I Won't Let Go

"I don't like this at all," Kankuro grumbled, crossing his arms.

Gaara's voice held a hint of annoyance, "Brother, you know if there was another way," he sighed, "We've already been through this."

"The Leaf will do all it can to see Temari is happy here," Tsunade assured them before taking a sip of whatever she had in the mug on her desk. Gaara nodded, grateful for the Hokage's sympathetic response to his brother's outburst. Kankuro crossed his arms and looked away.

"It's settled," Gaara continued, "It will be Shikamaru Nara."

"And you're sure your council will ratify the choice?" Tsunade asked skeptically.

"Quite. They'd be content if she married a bag of potatoes."

"She might as well," Kankuro muttered.

"Kankuro," Gaara warned lowly.

Tsunade smiled, "Temari is very… shall we say, blunt. I'm sure she will let us know if she finds anything here not to her liking."

"No she won't," Kankuro whined, sinking in his chair like a small child, "She'll suffer in silence, like she's done all her life with her 'orders are orders' crap." Gaara momentarily closed his eyes. Shizune coughed to break up the atmosphere.

"As for the ceremony, I was thinking next spring," Tsunade continued.

"Fine," Gaara agreed.

"They'll live here most of the time, but be free to make extended visits to the Sand."

"Acceptable."

"I will have to authority to assign missions to Temari, but you will retain that power over her and Shikamaru."

"Good."

"It will be difficult logistically, but we'll manage."

"If I may," Shizune interrupted, "perhaps we should involve Temari and Shikamaru in this, since they are, you know, the ones being forced to get married." She laughed nervously. Tsunade looked at Gaara, who nodded in agreement.

"Very well, bring them in, Shizune," the Hokage instructed. Shizune peeked out the door. Temari and Shikamaru were sitting smashed together in the crowded outer room. Apparently, they had been chatting amiably while those around them, a mass of various bodyguards and advisors, sat in awkward silence.

"Shikamaru, Temari, you're needed," Shizune called. The two in question calmly rose and came towards the office. Shikamaru stopped to let Temari through the door first. She rolled her eyes but said nothing, placing her hands behind her back and walking through the door.

Inside the Hokage's office, Temari and Shikamaru found both kages standing suspiciously close together. Gaara narrowed his eyes.

"Lady Hokage, Lord Kazekage," Shikamaru began unexpectedly in a very respectful tone, "there is a matter we must discuss with you."

Tsunade held up a hand, "It will have to wait." Shikamaru looked sullen but put his hands back in his pockets.

Tsunade took a deep breath, and in the most commanding voice she could muster, went on,

"Temari, Shikamaru, in the interest of securing a permanent alliance between your respective villages, you will be married in the spring."

There was utter and absolute silence. Temari looked at her brother, then her other brother. Then she shifted her gaze to the Hokage, and finally, to the man beside her.

"You knew," she accused.

"I did not," Shikamaru answered flatly.

"You did!"

"Did not."

"Did-"

"Temari, I can assure you Mr. Nara had no prior knowledge of this arrangement," Tsunade put in. Temari did not protest, but continued to eye Shikamaru suspiciously.

"What would make you think that?" Gaara asked quietly.

Temari full-out blushed, "Well," she twiddled her fingers, "we just sort of agreed… that is, Shikamaru and I just decided we want to get married."

"Really?" Tsuande questioned.

"Out there in front of all those people?" Shizune wanted to know.

"You mean he actually asked you?" Kankuro squealed.

"Yes, actually we were sitting on the roof, and not really, it was more of a discussion, in that order," Temari explained, the last part in the direction of her offending brother. Shizune sighed. Only those two could turn something so romantic as a proposal into a discussion. Another momentary silence enveloped the room, but it did not last long.

"I'll kill you, potato boy!" Kankuro screeched suddenly, lunging at said target. He was stopped short, however, as Gaara had simply grabbed his hood.

Gaara was about to reprimand his brother (again) when Temari stepped forward, "Kankuro, will you give me away at the wedding?"

"Really?" he squeaked.

"Really," Temari affirmed solemnly. Kankuro looked over at Shikamaru once more before returning to his sister.

"Okay," he answered calmly, embracing her.

"Alright, Kankuro, I need to breathe," Temari choked out, never one for such displays of affection. Kankuro held her at arm's length for a moment before turning back to Shikamaru. Shikamaru watched him warily, unconsciously leaning backwards. Kankuro hesitated a moment before giving Shikamaru a hearty pat on the back.

To say Shikamaru was surprised would be an understatement, but even so the action's subtext did not escape him. Kankuro might as well had spoken the threat out loud, "If you ever do anything to hurt her, I'll kill you."

Tsunade coughed, "Well, now that we've got the mushy stuff out of the way, let's get back to what's important. Sit," she ordered. Everyone obeyed, somewhat begrudgingly.

"Can we try to keep the guest list to a minimum?" Temari inquired dryly.

"We'll uh… see what we can do," Tsunade chuckled.

And so it went: Tsunade taking charge of the operation, Gaara nodding or shaking his head for his part, Kankuro suggesting they hold the bachelor party in various dangerous, accident-prone locations, Shizune trying to be the voice of reason, Temari replying to questions in an increasingly annoyed tone, and Shikamaru attempting to fall asleep with his eyes open.

Even if Shikamaru had been paying attention, he would not have gotten an answer to the matter which bothered him for the rest of his life. While neither Temari's nor Gaara's nickname for him, 'crybaby' and 'hey you' respectively, was exactly normal, he never for the life of him understood why Kankuro called him 'potato boy' (or more formally 'potato-in-law') until the day he died.

For the love of tri-corner hats, somebody tell me the potato joke was not funny so I can stop vainly laughing at my own brilliance.

USR: 1 (4)