Ch. 8

Departing of the in-laws

Gaara, Kankuro, Temari, and Shikamaru were standing at the village gates. "When do you guys think you'll be able to visit next?" Temari asked her brothers as they picked up their belongings getting ready to go back home.

"I don't know, but one of us will try to make it here once before your nine months are up," answered Gaara, "Though nine months is a long time, can you handle it without going insane?" he was joking with her, but she didn't see it that way. He was lucky he had sand because only a moment before she tried to bring her fan down on top of his head. 'Note to self; no insane jokes,' thought Gaara.

"Well have a pleasant trip back!"

"As pleasant as it can be with Gaara!" yelled back Kankuro as he and Gaara started to leave. Gaara then slapped with his sand. "Hey what was that for?" Gaara stayed silent. Out of his siblings Kankuro was by far the stupidest, and yet the one who gave the best advice. Gaara rubbed his head. He was confusing himself.

"Temari, now that your troublesome brothers are gone, do you want to get something to eat?"

"Sure Shika, but I decide where we eat."

"Of course. Me choosing would be troublesome, and besides you know what you are craving and I don't," He put his arm around her as they walked back into town. It was going to be nice day since her brothers wouldn't be trying to kill him or any thing else they wanted to do to him. (Like torture.)

"I want ramen."

"We could always go to the ramen shop Naruto goes to. What do think?"

"I think that that's a good idea. Best you've ever had."

"No, I think my best idea was how I proposed to you."

(Flashback)

It was early summer and Shikamaru had dragged her out to this clearing in the woods. The clouds were drifting above them and they were lying on the grass watching the clouds. He had had his arm around her. She had her head on his chest. It had been peaceful. It was always peaceful when they went to his favorite cloud watching spot. They had stayed out later that day. The sun was touching the trees.

'I had better be going. I have another long day of paper work ahead of me.' He tightened his grip on her. He didn't like when she had to go.

'I have a question I have to ask you first, if you'll stop being troublesome for a while.'

'I can't promise you that. Besides you're the one being troublesome now.' He laughed. She couldn't use troublesome against him because he was only troublesome on purpose.

'Temari,' He reached into his pocket and took out a black box and opened right in front of her face, "will you marry me?"

The ring had diamonds surrounding one topaz. It shone in the setting sun. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. He had gone out of his way most certainly to get this for her. "I will marry you Shikamaru."

He pulled her closer to him and they kissed. After a couple more hours of lying there on the grass they got up and walked back into town.

(End of flashback)

They had arrived at the ramen shop and found Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Sakura already eating lunch. "Hi people." said Shikamaru as he and Temari sat down.

"I heard you guys got hitched, is that true?" asked Sasuke.

"Yes."

"Awww. I knew you guys would end up together. That reminds me, watch your backs."

"Huh?" Shikamaru did not like the tone in Sasuke's voice.

"After I killed Orochimaru, I found that he had used some sort of sealing jutsu between him and Kabuto. He needed to insure he had a good healer all to himself. The jutsu he used caused Kabuto to become very jealous of the people Orochimaru choose to use, but it was a double edged sword on whoever killed one of them. The jutsu allowed Orochimaru's power to be transferred to Kabuto. He now has a plan. What that is I don't know but it has something to do with a couple from different villages."

"That's not good," said Temari touching her protector which was around her neck. Shikamaru nodded. With 2 babies on the way that could only lead to trouble if the plan had anything in store for them. Temari's and his ramen had been served. They started to eat, but the news that they might be in this plan of an Orochimaru powered Kabuto was more than unnerving.

"Did you tell Tsunade about this?" asked Shikamaru. He knew that if there was even a chance that Tsunade might tighten the security at their house, but he had to be sure.

"Yes, I told her after I caused Lee to go insane."

"Sasuke, if you had to kill me according to Itachi, how did you get mangenku sharingun?" asked Naruto.

"I'm still trying to figure that out dobe."

"Maybe it had something to do with Sakura being in trouble," mentioned Hinata.

Temari had lost interest in the conversation. Shikamaru was thinking hard as he ate. Temari had already finished her ramen, but wasn't in the mood for anymore. It was odd. At first she had been hungry but now she was sick to her stomach. Not like she was going to throw up, but she now feared for her unborn children's future.

Back at the house….

"Every thing will be fine. Kabuto can't come near here. I don't think he'd want to fight everyone here. He's not stupid."

"Shika, I'm still scared. I don't know what to do."

"Would you feel more comfortable moving back to Suna?"

"What?"

"Temporarily. Since Gaara is stronger than me. Then you and the kids will be safe if Kabuto attacks Konoha."

"No. I want to stay here with you. If he does attack then I will fight. He's not going to use me or anyone else in my family as pawn like his master did."

"You mean back at the chunin exams where we met?"

"Yea. He killed my dad and then used us. I should have realized that my father was not like that, that he would sent Kankuro and me with Gaara. He was afraid of Gaara," she started to cry. Knowing that she and her family might be in danger from that force scared her.

"Everything will be fine."