He lifted his empty glass. The waitress nodded and hurried to get him another.

"Don't you think you've had enough?" The older man next to him spoke.

Ossama Senya looked at him and grinned. "Tybal-sensei, couldn't you just be my friend and not my sensei for once?"

He shook his head. "As both your friend and your sensei I am telling you three glasses of wine this early is three too many." He frowned as the waitress as the waitress set down another glass and took away the empty. The girl didn't notice as she was focused on his student. Senya gave her a friendly smile as she left. The girl was returning the attention.

"Now what was I saying again?"

"You were telling me about your tragic luck with women." The older man said flatly.

Senya suddenly nodded and took a fresh drink of red wine. "I swear you should have seen it! She spent the whole night dancing with and smiling at this boy. It was disgusting."

Tybal took a sip of his tea. "And just why was it disgusting for a girl to be dancing with a boy again?"

"She is not just any girl! She is…"

"Sabaku no Temari, first daughter of House Sabaku, daughter of the Kazekage, and the most precious desert rose." He repeated the tired litany. "But again, why is it a problem that she was dancing with someone?"

"I am courting her." He said stubbornly.

"You and half of Suna, it's not like the two of you are betrothed. Tell me, how many other girls are you courting?"

"About a dozen."

"Did you dance with any of them?"

He shrugged. "Five or six, but I wanted to dance with her. Just one dance and she refused me!"

"You couldn't get something you wanted, how very tragic." He knew his sarcasm was being wasted. "You know I honestly don't understand you nobles and the production you make out of finding a wife. When I met Asrial I knew she was the one. I asked her father's permission, I courted her, and only her, I asked her to marry me, she said yes, and here we are a dozen years and three children later."

"Tybal-sensei, you know I have the greatest respect for you. But you are not of noble blood."

"Praise Kami!"

He shot his sensei an annoyed look. "There are certain traditions that must be respected. Even if she does like this foreigner she still should have given me one dance."

"Why? Because it's what you wanted? She's a woman not a carriage; you can't just expect her to do whatever you'd like. Believe it or not women do occasionally think for themselves, it's shocking but true."

"Why wouldn't she want to dance with me?" He saw Tybal open his mouth. "Don't answer that!" His sensei laughed at him. "You know it wouldn't be so bad if it were the Daimyo's heir or some great lord or prince she'd been dancing with. But she preferred a foreign Chunin over me. How can I not take offense?"

Tybal shook his head. "You know it seems to me things would be simpler if you just put the girls up on an auction block and let everyone bid on them. That way you could find out who could pay the highest price and just be done with it. Think of all the time and effort that would save! Just the savings on chocolates and flowers alone would be enormous!"

Senya shot him a frown. "You are mocking noble tradition."

He smiled back. "I'm a commoner it's what we do."

"Why do I keep hanging out with you sensei?"

"Because I'm your sensei and you are filled with admiration and respect for me." The younger man made a rude noise. "Also being around a mere commoner such as myself is probably a nice change of pace for you."

"That I'll grant."

"Seriously now, why are you so hung up on Temari? You've had dinner together exactly once right? And that was arranged by the Kazekage. She hasn't accepted any of your invitations since, she hasn't shown any interest in you at all above what's considered customary. Face it; she wasn't going to choose you. So what does it matter who she ends up choosing?"

"It matters because I want her and I can't stand the thought of losing her to an idiot boy from the Leaf." He looked at his sensei. "Be honest, do you want to see her marry a foreign nin, given what it means?"

"Well no, not especially, it does seem rather strange coming outside an alliance between the two villages." He shrugged. "But it's not technically illegal now is it? She can marry anyone she wants, even if her choice is a bit odd." Senya grunted and drank down some more wine. Tybal had been trying all morning, without success, to get his former student's mind off of Temari. He tried again. "You know Temari isn't the only gem in the mine. Aren't you also courting Caulderon no Celia? She seems to really like you and she's certainly easy on the eyes."

"Celia? Oh that hunt's over with." He shrugged dismissively.

"What do you mean?"

"Her parents informed my family yesterday that they were ready to accept my proposal."

"That's great! Congratulations!" He slapped his young friend on the back, but Senya merely looked annoyed. "Aren't you happy?"

"No, my father wants to accept but I've asked him to wait."

Tybal stared at him open mouthed. "Why? She's beautiful, intelligent, of noble blood, a powerful kunoichi, and best of all she likes and wants you. What more could you possibly ask for?"

"Sabaku no Temari," he replied.

Tybal shook his head in despair. "You know Senya, I love you, but you really are a spoiled brat at times. No one gets everything they want, not even the Kazekage or the Daimyo. Human wants are limitless; the material world is anything but. You should be thrilled that you get damn near everything your heart desires and not grouse about the occasional exceptions."

"If she gave me a chance I know I could win her over." Senya insisted. His former sensei shook his head, tired of trying to shine light into such darkness. Then Senya spotted something. "Oh! Kami is too generous!" He gulped down the last of his wine, tossed down some ryu notes and fled out of the café.

Tybal watched him go; wondering what had set a fire under him. He saw him hurry down the street and begin yelling at someone. Tybal jumped to his feet. "Senya, for the love of Kami don't do anything stupid!" He could only watch as he did something stupid. "Ah damn it!" He ran out of the café.

XXXXXXXXXX

Shikamaru was headed towards the Sabaku mansion when he sensed a killer intent coming from behind him. A blonde haired Suna Jonin ran up to him. "You Leaf nin! What the hell do you think you're doing with Temari?"

He could obviously see the man was furious but he didn't know why. He decided to give an honest answer, but give at as politely as possible. "She and I are dating."

That was evidently the wrong answer as the man punched him in the face knocking him down. Shikamaru was surprised to find himself in a fight for no reason he could see. The Jonin was standing over him; he got onto his side and swung his feet taking out the man's legs below the knees. The Suna nin was down only a second, he rolled back up to his feet and into a taijutsu stance. Shikamaru stood a few feet away ready to fight. He knew this was bad. He was being attacked for no apparent reason by a local Jonin while in a foreign country. This could get very ugly.

Senya smiled down at the boy. He was going to show Temari just how pathetic and weak this Leaf nin was, and how unworthy of her attention. "I am going to enjoy this." He sent his opponent a nasty smile.

But before he could move he felt a vicious punch cracked into the back of his head. He dropped like a puppet with strings cut and everything went black.

Shikamaru remained in a fighting stance. He was completely confused as to what was going on. A second Suna Jonin had just attacked the first and knocked him out. With the first one down the second one turned to him.

"I have no idea what this is about, but I will defend myself."

But the second ninja made no move to attack him. Instead he offered him a hasty bow. "My humble apologies to you sir, I beg you to forgive, my friend has had too much wine for so early in the day and it has led him to such a disgraceful act. Please believe me that we men of Suna are civilized and are not in the habit of attacking others without cause."

Yes you are! He thought unkindly, remembering the attack on Konoha. "I recognize him now; he was at the festival wanting to cut in. His name is Senya isn't it?"

The other man nodded as he put his comrade over his shoulder. "If you will excuse me I think it would be best that I take him away from here before he wakes up. Again I apologize to you for his behavior." With that the man leapt away.

Shikamaru watched him go without comment. His face hurt like hell, but otherwise he was fine. What had happened was troubling though. He suspected that there would be more to come.

XXXXXXXXXX

Temari was staring at him.

"What?" He asked unconcerned.

"What happened to you?"

"What do you mean?"

She grabbed his arm and led him down the main hall to a spot where a mirror hung. She pointed to his image in the mirror. "I mean that."

He could see his face and the large bruise that covered most of the left part of it. "It was nothing, I fell and…"

"Don't you dare lie to me! I've been in enough fights to know a bruise from a punch when I see one! Who did this to you?"

He tried to give her an apathetic answer. "It's not a big deal."

She crossed her arms and glared at him. "Who did this?"

"Temari I think you should let this go. It would…"

"Shikamaru I am not letting this go and you are not going to lie to me. Now tell me who did this."

He hadn't known her long but he recognized that look. She was not going to let this go. With a resigned sigh he told her. "It was Senya from the festival."

She looked very surprised, but nodded. "Wait here a minute and I'll get something for the bruise." She headed toward the stairs.

"Temari it would be best to just let this go."

"I'll be back in a minute." She hurried up the stairs.

She was going to get some medicinal cream for him, but there was something more important she needed to do first. She found her youngest brother in the hall near his bedroom. "Gaara."

"Yes Temari?"

"There is something important I need to talk to you about."

XXXXXXXXXX

Senya couldn't help but remember the time he was nine and had been caught stealing candy. Then he had been forced to stand in his grandfather's office silently and wait to be punished. He remembered how the long wait had been so much worse than the punishment itself. He thought about what he had done, and was willing to admit it had been stupid. Too much wine, too much frustration, and just too tempting an opportunity. He had wanted to beat down that stupid boy and have Temari really understand just how unworthy he was of her. How could Temari not want him? How could she prefer a weak boy from another village? He just couldn't understand it. He was Ossama no Senya and one day he would be the head of his House. He deserved to marry Temari. In all things he deserved the best.

The door to the office opened and his grandfather entered. It only took one look at his grandfather's face to confirm he was in real trouble.

"Grandfather I…"

"Address me by my proper title." He cut him off.

"Sulamon-sama, I most humbly apologize for my behavior."

His grandfather shook his head in disgust as he sat down at his desk. He did not invite him to sit. "Grandson you are an idiot. Perhaps we should have let you become a carpenter instead of a shinobi, for I swear I am tempted to strip you of your hitai-ite and disown you."

Senya looked at him in cold terror. He knew his grandfather well, and he was serious. To be stripped of rank and disowned was a fate worse than death. He bowed deeply and spoke quickly. "Sulamon-sama I do apologize and will do whatever is required of me to make amends for my actions. However, surely my actions would not warrant so extreme a punishment."

"You think not?" Sulamon answered coldly. "Do you truly understand what you have done?"

"I started a fight with another ninja."

His grandfather stared at him in disbelief. "You idiot!" Senya felt really afraid now. His grandfather was not one for emotional displays. If he was this angry then this was even more serious than he thought. "Do you think this is just another one of your stupid bar room brawls? Do you think you are in my office simply because your behavior has embarrassed the family name again? You are shinobi, you were trained to look underneath the underneath, how is it you are still so simple minded? Does your wine stained mind even comprehend that you might have started a war?"

"A war?" He said in disbelief.

"Yes, a war." Sulamon confirmed. "Whatever else he may be grandson, he is shinobi of the Leaf and therefore a representative of that village. Attacking him is equivalent to attacking their village. What is even worse is the fact that you did this publicly in broad daylight in front of dozens of witnesses. You can be certain that by tomorrow the entire village will be talking of this and by next week their Hokage is likely to know of it, if not sooner. If this had happened without observers there might be some doubt. As it is she will know one of her Chunin was attacked by a Suna ninja."

"Sulamon-sama I only hit him once! Surely that is not enough to begin a war."

"Tell me something idiot grandson. Did you intend to hit him only once? Or was that due to the fact your sensei was there and he understood what was happening?"

Senya looked down at the floor. "I wasn't going to kill him; I just wanted to beat him up." He mumbled.

"What was that?" Sulamon spoke sharply.

He brought his eyes back up. "Sulamon-sama, I would not have killed him. I only wished to beat and humiliate him."

"Why? Why would you wish to do such a stupid thing?"

"Sulamon-sama I wished to impress Temari with his weakness and my own strength."

Sulamon shut his eyes and shook his head. "Idiot, idiot, idiot, my grandson is an idiot." He opened his eyes and looked at him with disappointment. "Where do you get this stupidity from? My son was always clever, your mother is intelligent and the soul of civilized behavior, none of your brothers or sisters act in such a shameful manner. Why do you insist on being the family disgrace?" Senya was wise enough to keep his mouth shut. "Do you know I have been trying to arrange a marriage between Gaara and your cousin Alysa?"

"Yes, Sulamon-sama, the entire family knows."

"Do you really believe I would be trying to do that if I thought there were any chance Temari would want to marry you?" Despite the circumstances he stiffened at the way his hopes were so casually dismissed. Sulamon noticed that and smiled. "Oh, so that's it? You've got your eyes set on Temari and you think she is still in reach do you?"

"Sulamon-sama I…"

"Forget Temari," he said coldly. "Even if this Leaf nin were not involved she would still never be yours. She would simply marry the Daimyo's eldest son. That is a connection that even we cannot match. So set aside all foolish hopes about Temari, she is lost to you."

"Yes, Sulamon-sama."

His grandfather stared at him. "As I said your actions might have sparked off a war had you seriously hurt him of even killed him. As it is, this should be nothing more than an embarrassing incident. But I think you should be aware of just who it is you attacked. Tell me, do you even know his name?"

"No, Sulamon-sama."

"His name is Nara Shikamaru; he is the heir to the Nara clan and was the only Konoha ninja to be promoted from the previous Chunin exams. He is reported to be a personal favorite of the Lady Tsunade's. That is who you attacked, the heir to one of Konoha's most respected clans and one of their Hokage's preferred agents. That is who you intended to humiliate in public. Do you begin to understand what the consequences might have been had Tybal-san not intervened? Even had Lady Tsunade declined to start a war over it, it would certainly have been an ugly incident and would have harmed our relations." His eyes narrowed. "And you grandson would very likely be sitting in a cell right now."

Senya paled. "I understand the degree of my mistake Sulamon-sama. I was not aware of his importance to his village."

Sulamon shook his head. "I would suggest that before launching an attack you first gather information."

At that moment there was a knock on his door. The door was then opened by the only person who could do so and get away with it. His wife of forty years poked her head in. "Pardon me dear, but Lord Gaara and is asking to speak to you."

"Gaara? Please invite him in dear." She nodded and spared her grandson a look of sympathy before retreating. Sulamon looked over to his grandson. "Stand there and do not say a word unless you are addressed by either me or Gaara. Also, if he is here to kill you don't resist, it will only make your death harder."

Senya stared at him, he was not joking.

Gaara entered and closed the door behind him. He looked at Sulamon and then let his eyes drift to where Senya was. He turned back to Sulamon and ignored the other completely. He gave a deep formal bow. "Sulamon I thank you for meeting with me here in your home."

He returned the bow. "Of course Gaara, you are always welcomed here. Shall I presume this is in relation to the unfortunate incident of this morning?"

He nodded. "It is, I am here in my role as clan head of Sabaku to inform you that Ossama no Senya has been removed from the list of candidates for Temari's hand in marriage. She asks that he no longer attempt to contact her." His eyes shifted to the other man. "Should he make any attempt to contact her there will be serious repercussions." Senya wanted to argue, but the look in Gaara's eyes was more than enough to keep him silent.

"I see." Sulamon spoke gravely. "Removing someone from the list is a grave insult not only to the suitor, but to his family. Is it really your intent to insult my clan Gaara?"

Gaara focused on the older man. "No, it is my intent however to make it clear that Temari wishes nothing more to do with him. He attacked another suitor and that is unacceptable behavior."

Senya clamped down on his jaw. There was so much he wanted to say, but he didn't dare.

"I agree his behavior was wrong and he will be punished for it. However, to remove him from the list would discredit and shame him."

Gaara nodded. "That is Temari's wish."

"I see." He said quietly. "It just so happens that this is immaterial, he was about to remove his name from the list as he is to be betrothed to Caulderon no Celia. Would Temari be satisfied by allowing him to withdraw his name voluntarily?"

Gaara considered it. "I believe that would be acceptable on the condition that he never try to contact her again. My sister was most specific on that one point."

"That I think I can guarantee." He gave Senya a sharp look. "Please extend to both your sister and to Shikamaru the apologies of my House."

"I will." He turned to leave. "I thank you for your time. I will show myself out."

Once Gaara left Sulamon turned to his grandson. "Congratulations on your engagement, the two of you will be betrothed by the end of the week." He said sardonically.

"Yes, Sulamon-sama."

"You need not look so sour. As I said you were never going to marry Temari. Celia was always the most likely and best choice. She is a wonderful girl and if you are luckier than you deserve you may grow to love her just as I have loved my wife."

"Yes, Sulamon-sama." His expression remained unchanged.

The fool still wants Temari. Sulamon shook his head in mild despair. Senya was a crushing disappointment to him. The boy had so much raw talent; he had vast chakra reserves and great physical strength. He had the potential to be clan head one day. But he had still not grown up and Sulamon was wondering if he ever would. He was still a child who wanted what he wanted and got upset whenever he was denied something. He understood the privileges of being nobility all too well. What had escaped him was the other side of it, the responsibility that came with his birth. Despite the many lessons he'd been given over the years he remained the same spoiled child.

"When was the last time you went on a patrol?"

Senya looked at him in surprise. "Not since I was still Genin, Sulamon-sama."

He gave the young man a smile without a hint of warmth. "Well then, high time we change that. You are going out on a three day patrol as part of a two man unit. I have already spoken with your sensei and he has agreed to go with you. Be sure to thank Tybal-san, not only has he agreed to this but it is only because of his actions that you are not in far worse trouble."

"Yes, Sulamon-sama."

"You may consider this as a mere prelude to whatever punishment I decide on. When you return from your patrol you will come directly to this house, and remain here until I see you. If I learn you have stopped at any bars before returning home I will add to your punishment. Do I make myself clear?"

"As crystal, Sulamon-sama."

"In that case you are dismissed. Get to your room and gather whatever you need. You will be leaving with your sensei within ten minutes."

"Yes, Sulamon-sama." He bowed low, his grandfather did not respond. He left to hurry and get ready.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Thanks for the cream." He said.

She nodded. "It's very good; the bruise should be completely gone within the hour."

He smirked at her. "You know you don't have to look so worried. I'm not so fragile that one punch is going to break me."

"I'm sorry about this." She said quietly.

He gave her a wide smile. "Hey, you weren't the one who hit me, this time."

"I'm serious, this happened because of me."

"I don't remember you being there." She gave him a look. "Look, I ran into a guy who was a jerk, it happens."

"But it wouldn't have except for me."

He shook his head. "No, it happened because he was a jerk, and jerks like him don't need a reason." He put his arms around her and pulled her over to him on the sofa. "Don't worry about it."

She looked at him seriously. "I don't want you to be hurt because of me."

He gently caressed her cheek. "Temari," he said softly. "I'll be fine."

She pressed her face against his hand. "Promise?"

"Promise."