He moved like lightning and struck hard with a three hit combo; left, right, and an open palm to the face. She went flying. She was flat on her ass looking up at him and tasting blood. He stood over her open hand extended.

She sat up and spat out some blood. "I am going to kick your ass one of these days."

His lips twitched just a bit. "I have no doubt you will, but not today."

She took his hand and let him help her up. "Let's go again."

He shook his head. "That's enough taijutsu training for one day." He tossed her a canteen. "Don't forget we have a two day patrol beginning tomorrow."

She spat out a bit more blood and then took a long drink. The water was stale and warm; and tasted sweeter than wine. "I know, Kankuro was bitching about it all morning. He doesn't think we should be stuck with patrol anymore."

"You are all still Genin, whatever your abilities or birth. So long as I am your Jonin sensei we will continue to take regular turns at patrol."

She held out her hands defensively. "Hey I agree. I'm happy to be out protecting my village. I'm just glad I'll be back by the twentieth."

He waited as she picked up her fan. "What is special about the twentieth?" They began walking back to Suna.

She looked at the ground, Baki was her father figure. Unlike her biological father he'd actually been there for her and given a damn about all the hardships she'd endured in her life. She actually cared what he thought. "Well I am expecting to meet someone."

"Really, who?"

Such a simple question. "A friend," she answered suddenly feeling like a small girl caught with a hand in the sweets jar.

He stopped walking and stared with his one eye. "Who is this friend?" His tone said he wanted a direct answer.

She studied the ground. Why was this so embarrassing? "It's Nara Shikamaru from the Leaf village."

He said nothing for a moment. "I see." They began walking again.

"It's not what you think." She said quickly.

"Why do you sound worried? He's the same one whose life you saved and who invited you into his home correct?"

"Yes."

"I presume you will be inviting him into yours?"

"I was planning on it."

"Temari there is nothing wrong with extending this boy some hospitality, it is only proper." He gave her a bit of a smile. "You know you can be friends with people outside our village."

They walked on for a bit. This was awkward, but she wanted his opinion. "What if we were a little more than friends?"

He shot her a look of complete astonishment. "Temari! You haven't…"

"NO!" She shook her head vehemently. "Baki I swear nothing at all has happened, we haven't even kissed." She could feel herself blushing.

"But you would not object if he were to offer you a kiss." She said nothing but got a shade redder. "Temari, there is nothing wrong with being friends with a foreign nin. But to be anything more would make your life very complicated."

"So what else would be new?" She spoke with just a hint of bitterness. "My life is already more complicated than one of Kankuro's puppets. At least with him I feel…"

"What?" He said cautiously.

She took a deep breath. "I feel like he sees me. Just me, not the first daughter of Sabaku, or Gaara's sister, or the Kazekage's daughter; just me."

"You're not used to that are you?"

"Not with anyone outside of you or my brothers."

They walked for a bit more. "I haven't actually met him but I remember your match at the exams. He's very intelligent and if he had the good manners to invite you to meet with his family his intentions are likely honorable. He is the heir to his clan is he not?"

"He is."

"Do you think I could meet him?"

"That depends; you're not going to try and scare him off are you?"

He shook his head. "On the lives of my clansmen I swear my only interest is in getting to know him."

"What happens if you don't like him?"

"I will tell you." He said simply. "I trust your judgment and your ability to deal with him on your own terms."

She smiled and felt a huge relief. "Thank you Baki!"

He just smiled back and they continued towards home. He did care for her as he would for his own daughter. She'd had little happiness in her life and he wanted to see her happy. Even if it was likely to only be for a short while.

XXXXXXXXXX

"The days are boiling hot, the nights are freezing cold, and there isn't a tree or a blade of grass for miles on end. Why would anyone deliberately live here?" Ino complained yet again.

"I really have no idea, why don't you ask them?" He nodded towards the four Sand nins stationed at the stone gatehouse. There was a Jonin and three Chunins. They were processing the last of the wagon drivers before allowing them to enter. The Sand nins had been keeping a discreet eye on them, not openly hostile, but not friendly either.

"No, thanks," she muttered. They had been on the road for seven days, the last three of them in the desert. She was hot, sweaty, and dirty and longing for a hot bath with plenty of soap.

When the last wagon rolled through Shikamaru and his team approached the gatehouse. The Jonin eyed his vest and took a few steps to meet him. The Chunins hung back and watched suspiciously. The Jonin simply confirmed that they had been hired by the merchants and then carefully inspected their identification. Satisfied things were in order he had the three of them fill out a few forms. Once that was done he handed each of them a temporary Visa good for exactly seven days.

"If your business should keep you here beyond a week you will need to check in with the registration office in the Tower of Winds. Be sure to keep those with you at all times." The Jonin explained. He was being carefully polite.

"Thank you." Shikamaru replied, cautious to be equally polite. "We have rooms waiting for us at the Quatarra Inn. Could you give us directions how to get there?"

"That place is a run down flea bag in the middle of the merchant quarter. Couldn't your Hokage have splurged on something more fitting for one of her favorite Chunin?"

Shikamaru looked over to see a familiar face rounding the corner of the gatehouse. At the sight of her the Sand nins all immediately offered her a bow which she graciously returned. "Hello Temari, I was not expecting you to meet me until after I got settled in."

She walked over to him with a young woman a few years older than her a couple paces behind. "Well I had to make sure you didn't get lost coming into the village. Some of the roads can be very confusing." She gave him a small smile. As she was about to stand in front of him a young girl in a dusty purple outfit slid between them.

"Shikamaru! Aren't you going to introduce us to your girlfriend?" Ino gave the taller girl a huge smile that did not touch her pupil less blue eyes.

Temari was surprised to find herself being challenged, but decided to ignore it momentarily. She focused on Shikamaru. "So you've been telling everyone I'm your girlfriend, huh?" Her smile expanded.

"Uhhhhm… well…"

She shifted focus to the girl in front of her. "Actually I haven't decided whether or not to permit him to call me that. I did decide I would grant him permission to court me, but there are 43 other names ahead of him. So he has his work cut out for him."

"You've got 43 guys huh? Wow you must just be worn out."

Temari's mood switched from playful to seriously angry in a flash. Shikamaru decided to take a more active role before someone, likely Ino, got severely hurt. He took a hold of her shoulders and deftly pulled her a step back so he could get between the two. "Temari you haven't actually met my friends and teammates yet. This is Yamanaka Ino and that," pointing behind him, "is Akimichi Chouji."

She looked over to the heavy set boy standing several feet back. She gave him a polite nod. "I am very pleased to meet you Chouji-san, Shikamaru has told me all about you and how much he treasures your friendship. I am very glad you've recovered from your injuries."

Not used to positive attention from any girl except Ino he blushed a bit. "Thank you Temari-san."

"Please, call me Temari or Temari-chan." She then looked at the girl standing just behind Shikamaru. "It's nice meeting you too… Pig."

"What?!" Suddenly Shikamaru had his hands full barely restraining his furious teammate.

"Chouji a little help please!"

His friend quickly flashed through several hand signs. "Body Expansion Technique." His hands and arms expanded and he quickly took a firm, but gentle, hold of his teammate and held her away from the other two.

With Ino restrained Shikamaru turned back around to Temari, who had not moved a muscle. "Was that really necessary?"

"What?" She was the picture of innocence. "That is her name right?"

"My name is Ino you blonde bimbo!"

"Like I said, Pig. If you don't like it blame your parents."

Shikamaru shut his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose with one hand. "Temari I've just arrived and you and Ino are already set to fight." Troublesome was not a strong enough word. The only word he could come up with that was close could not be said in front of women.

She let out a sigh. "I didn't come here to cause any trouble for you or your teammates." She pointed to the girl standing behind her. "This is Tanya, one of the servants of my House. I guessed you might not have the best of accommodations so I took the liberty of getting all of you suites at the Garden Rose Inn, it's the finest hotel in Suna."

"Temari I appreciate the thought but we're on a C-rank mission. It only pays…"

She waved that away. "Don't worry about it, just consider it my way of saying welcome. Oh and speaking of which, Kankuro!" She looked behind her and shouted. "Get your ass out here now!"

"Hell no! I'm not doing it, you can't make me!" He shouted back from somewhere.

"Are you going to go back on it then?" She demanded.

There was an extended moment of silence. Then Kankuro stepped around the corner. "I hate you."

At the sight of her younger brother she gave him a triumphant smile. The three Leaf nins all wore open mouths as they could not believe what they were seeing. Shikamaru looked from Kankuro over to his sister. "Is this some sort of weird welcoming ceremony?"

The sight actually shocked Ino out of her fury and she stopped thrashing in Chouji's grip. "Geez, I thought he looked like a freak before."

"Well what are you waiting for? We haven't got all day." Temari said.

With the look of a man walking the final steps to his own execution Kankuro approached Shikamaru. He was not dressed in his usual black cat pajamas and he was missing his customary makeup. Rather he had on a pair of baggy dark brown colored pants, a loose grey jacket, a black fishnet shirt, and his Suna headband was tied around his left arm. But the real eye catcher was the top knot his hair had been put in. As the Leaf nins all continued to stare Kankuro came to a halt and bowed low to Shikamaru.

"Nara Shikamaru of Konoha village I Sabaku no Kankuro of the village hidden in the sand stand in awe of your vastly superior looks, intelligence, and shinobi skills. I consider you to be my idol and will attempt in some small way to approach your magnificence. In short I would like you to know I consider myself to be your bitch."

When he finished his statement there was once again silence. Shikamaru was looking to Temari to get some hint of what the hell this was. He honestly wondered if all this was some sort of bizarre Suna tradition. The others were just as silent and just as confused. For his part Kankuro was now staring at his sister, obviously furious. Temari was staring right back, looking very content with the world. Surprisingly it was Ino who finally found something to say.

"Did you lose a bet or something?"