Shikamaru stared at the grimy wall in front of him, contemplating the establishment he was sitting in. The bar was dark and cramped, streaks of unknown substances adorning the walls, and strange fumes whispering through the room. The wooden tables and chairs were wormy and chipped, and Shikamaru put his weight on them gingerly, staying alert for the telltale sound of cracking wood. Unfortunately for Shikamaru, this was, ironically, the only place in tea country that served something other then alcohol, namely tea. In all the missions Shikamaru had taken here, he could never figure out why a country named after the drink almost never served it. A waiter approached.

"Your tea sir," He remarked oily. Shikamaru eyed him warily. He had had some bad experiences in this bar. He decided to check the waiter.

"Thank you!" He said in a voice much happier then he himself felt. "It's so nice to find something to drink that contains no alcohol," He chuckled inside, picturing what had occurred that time Lee had cake flavored with rum. "The last time I had a drop of alcohol I went ballistic, completely destroyed the tavern I was in and knocked out half the patrons." He chuckled out loud this time, and clapped the server on the shoulder. "Good thing I have you guys." The waiter turned white, his hands shaking.

"Ah, yes. L-let me g-get you another glass just to be extra careful." The man turned around and headed back to the kitchen in a sophisticated run. Shikamaru knew the chances of tea that wasn't spiked were slim, and being careful never hurt. Alcohol was a shinobi's downfall, especially outside of the village, even worse on a mission.

Missions. The word dragged up memory after memory, all pertaining to the life he had led, and had now left behind. And that train of thought ultimately led to her. Temari. Damn. That was almost a regret of his, that this change in life he had initiated would separate him from her, consoled only by the fact that he wouldn't have to stain his conscience with her blood. Just let her survive this war, he prayed. Make it so someday I'll see her again.

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Temari paused outside the scruffy Tea village, her scratched hitai burning a hole in her kunai pouch. She stood in her usual black kimono, but her fan wasn't in its usual spot, and her golden locks fell softly around her shoulders. She took another look at the town. Everything about this town was dirty. Temari was disgusted. But she had to check everywhere for Shikamaru, asking about him in every town she passed, and if not leaving him a message. She paused, looking for a local she could question. In a town this small everyone knew everyone, and nothing was a secret. Anyone she came across would have the information she needed. An old woman hobbled past her, towards the town. Yes. She walked up to her. "Excuse me grandmother," she called out. The woman turned towards her. "Do you think you could help me?" The woman stared at her impassively. Temari waited for a sign she should continue.

"Well?" The old woman croaked. "Out with it, girl." Temari seethed inside. Girl? I'm far from a foolish little kid. She swallowed her pride though, and posed her question.

"Have you seen a young man in this town of yours? Slightly taller then me, ridiculous ponytail?" The woman's face became suspicious.

"Why do you want to know?" Temari blinked. This was a first. No one had wondered before why she was looking for Shikamaru, and she had stupidly forgotten to prepare a story.

"Well... um... you see...." She stalled. Then inspiration hit her, and she bent down to the old woman's ear to whisper her story to the crone.

"No," The old woman exclaimed. "He didn't. I know where this man of yours is, let me lead you to him."

Temari smirked as the old woman led her into town. He's gonna kill me.

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Shikamaru still sat, staring at the wall. The difference was this time he had a mug of tea in his hand, surprisingly good considering where he was, and thankfully not laced with spirits. The bells on the door jingled, and a blast of cold air whistled past his ear. He overheard a female voice quietly ask for some tea. What's a woman doing here? This is no place for any female except the hardiest of kunoichi. Footsteps echoed off the wooden floor, heading in his direction. No matter, there were plenty of empty tables around him. He took another sip of his tea. The person walked past him, black clothed back arrow-straight.

He was surprised when she stopped next to his table; shocked when she sat down across from him; stunned when he identified her.

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Temari entered the dark bar the old woman had pointed out to her, pausing for a moment to let her eyes adjust to the murky gloom. She looked around as she headed towards the counter. There. In the corner of the establishment sat Shikamaru, surrounded by the shadows he loved so much. She softly gave the bartender her order, and started towards him. He was slumped in his chair, nursing a mug which she was sure contained tea as he stared dejectedly at the wall in front of him. Temari grinned. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face. She stopped when she reached his table. He didn't look up, but she could see the little signs of tension that only she knew he had. When she sat down, she saw his body shift ever so slightly, moving into a more defensive position. When he saw her face, she watched his body go completely slack, and she smiled, soon laughing as his body completely slumped down, not believing she was there.

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"Temari?" He whispered, unable to make his voice louder, still stunned from the shock of seeing her there. She grinned in her predatory way, telling his surprised mind that this was Temari. A wild joy bubbled up from somewhere deep in him. His mouth broke into a wide smile, but something was bothering him, causing his grin to falter. "What are you doing? Why the change in your look? And where's your hitai?" He was scared to hear the answer. Had his actions got her in trouble with her village? Why wasn't she still fighting in the war? Her broad grin turned into a bittersweet smile.

"Well, I'm trying to stay under the radar, so I stored my fan in a summoning scroll," she patted her kunai pouch. "I took my hair down because it's a pretty recognizable look." She looked straight at him. "Shikamaru," she said slowly, as she reached into her kunai pouch and withdrew her defiled hitai. She laid the forehead protector on the table. His eyes widened.

"What happened? Is this my fault?" He asked, pain and guilt evident in both his voice and his face. Temari felt herself getting annoyed.

"No you idiot," she snapped. "I willingly scratched my own protector." She looked straight at him. "I can't fight this war, and I can't lose you. After you left, I delivered your message to your teammates and asked them to find a way to let Gaara and Kankurou know what I had chosen, scratched my hitai, and went after you." She gave him a mock-annoyed glance. "You are very difficult to catch, you know," he was still not responding. She rolled her eyes, as she slapped him across the face.

"Hey!" He exclaimed angrily.

"Thank god, you can still react." She drawled sarcastically. He glared at her.

"Just because I'm concerned-"

Crack

Shikamaru winced as another red mark materialized on his face. Temari was furious. "You chauvinistic pig. I made this decision willingly and only after thinking it through thoroughly. Get over yourself; this isn't your fault. Just..." She faltered for a moment. "Just accept it, and let the two of us live a new life together. Think about it. The two of us," she reached across the table to caress his smarting cheek. "Us, without having to worry about politics, or war, or all the other barriers that separated us before. Let's travel together, and find a way together" He looked intently at her for a moment, then he smiled the sweetest smile he had, the one he saved for her.

"Your right," he said quietly. "I've been a bit on edge lately. I find it hard to be solitary for so long, since I can't associate with people freely." He chuckled. "Being a missing-nin is harder then I thought in would be." He rose and went to the bar to pay for his drink, then turned towards her, holding out his hand. "Shall we?" She smiled, and took his offered hand, and together they walked out of the bar.

As they headed to the edge of the town, Temari caught sight of the woman who had helped her. "Oba-san!" She called out. Shikamaru quirked an eyebrow at her

"A friend of yours?" He asked, amused. She glared at him, as the old woman slowly made her way over to them.

"I see you found your man," she said imperiously, and gave a Shikamaru a nasty look. "See here young man," she started. Temari smirked, expectantly awaiting the lady's wrath. "How could you abandon your girlfriend? Not is that just ungentlemanly, but pregnant no less!" Shikamaru's head whipped around to stare at Temari, confused. She surpressed a giggle as she whispered sweetly in a voice only he could hear,

"Don't wreck our cover Shikamaru," His eyes just widened as he turned to look back at the little grandmother who was somehow looming over him.

"What is this generation coming to!" The woman continued on. "What happened to having class, and caring for those you love, and taking responsibility for your actions!" Shikamaru still had a poleaxed expression on his face. The elder turned towards Temari. "You keep a tight hold, on this man, he looks like the type that would take off at any moment. Don't let him get away, since you say you love him and therefore won't leave him yourself." She gave a satisfied nod and laboriously walked away from the two of them. As soon as she was out of sight, Temari collapsed in hysterics, gasping for breath as Shikamaru still looked clueless. He kept looking from where the woman had last been, to Temari, and back.

"What...?" He whispered. Temari just laughed harder, tears starting to leak from her eyes. As she gasped for breath, she explained.

"Asked her... 'bout you... wanted to know why... made up story..." She kept laughing as comprehension dawned on Shikamaru's face. He glared at her.

"Temari!" He hissed.

"Oh come on," she giggled. "It was hilarious." more giggling. "The look on your face was priceless." He glared at her for a few more moments, then relented, his face relaxing into a grin.

"Yeah, it was kind of funny. Like I could run away from you if I even wanted to." He laughed, then a mischievous gleam came into his eyes. "Well, since your pregnant, you shouldn't be engaging in too much physical exercise." Shikamaru reached down to Temari and swung her up into his arms as she inhaled sharply, too much of a ninja to shriek. Shikamaru laughed as she clutched at his arms, and carrying her bridal style, they walked out of the town.