I will

Stage a reenactment in a false pretense

Exist inflict

Unworthy unconsciousness

Why debate when the actions suppressed?

There was tension in the air, tension so thick Shikamaru could practically feel it rubbing against his skin. He sat with Temari in the office of the Kazekage. The Kazkage himself, the practically legendary puppet master, their sensei Baki, and of course the ever intimidating Kazu all stood across from them. To say the feeling in the room was unwelcoming was an understatement.

Just looking at Kazu made Shikamaru's hand fidget slightly. One move. That would be all it would take. Use his shadow strangle jutsu and he'd get what he deserved. Almost poetic really. But he couldn't, he knew had to keep his cool or this whole plan was worthless along with his life. Instead who stood in the silence he knew he'd speak when he needed to.

"Temari..." Gaara started running a hand through his hair. A very frazzled gesture for the normally stoic redhead. "I just can't understand. Why would you steal from your own country let alone me? Then run. We didn't know if you were alive or dead."

Temari looked away from her brothers not bothering to respond as she looked at the floor instead like a small child about to be scolded.

"With all do respect Lord Kazekage if I hadn't found her she would of been dead." Shikamaru said.

"Well that's quite the coincidence." Kazu said with a condescending chuckle.

"What do you mean Kazu?" Gaara asked from behind his desk.

"Well don't you find it odd she just disappeared and was in such danger she managed to find her way to him? Some she's in close contact with? Seems like they planned it to me." He said with a smirk. Shikamaru knew that Kazu would pull this card and try to disprove all of this, that was a given but it still pissed him off none the less. But he still managed to stay quiet unlike Temari which he also expected. So far everything was going according to plan.

"It coincidence. I just ran I had no idea where. What else was I supposed to do after you dumped me in the middle of the fucking desert to die!" Temari snapped.

"Wait what!?" Kankuro joined in the now very loud shouting match.

"Oh come on obviously she's lying. She's always lied about me. She's nothing but a lying bitch." Kazu snapped.

"Kazu you may be right about her lying but you must remember she is still in fact our sister and your wife. I won't accept you speaking about her in such language." Gaara said calmly even though his posture suggested anything but.

"Your siding with him!" Temari yelled shocked that her brother didn't side with her.

"I'm not siding with anyone." Gaara replied.

"This asshole tried to kill me!" She said this caused Kazu to stand.

"I'm getting really fucking tired of the way you're speaking to me. I am your husband show some respect!" He yelled it didn't go unnoticed by Shikamaru that Temari subconsciously stepped back slightly. From the look on his face it didn't go unnoticed by Gaara either. Perfect. Now was the next step in the plan.

"Well we tried." Shikamaru said, Temari looked over at him shocked he'd given up so easily. He just shrugged pulling a flask out of his boot causing her more confusion. They really did a bad job searching at the jail. Of course it only took a moment before it was snatched out of his hand.

"Give me that I need a fucking drink." Kazu said putting it to his lips taking a large swig.

"I wouldn't do that." Shikamaru said casually crossing his arms.

"What the fuck was that?" Kazu said disgusted.

"Just a little Sodium thiopental. Told you not to drink it. You're probably going to want to sit down now." Shikamaru said as Kazu was already starting to wobble slightly.

"Did you just drug him?" Kankuro asked watching Kazu fall down onto the chair.

"It's just a highly concentrated concuation I got from Ino. Its better known as a truth serum. And no I didn't drug him. He drugged himself." He said matter of factly with a smirk looking over at Temari who smiling. "Now I suggest you answer again. Did you leave Temari in the desert?"

"I..thought she was already dead." Kazu said in an almost drunk tone as his head lulled to the side looking up at the lights. "She should be."

"So you tried to kill her and took the scrolls?" Gaara asked Kazu let out a scoff.

"You won't be able to prove shit." He slurred slightly as it seemed the drug had finally taken its full effect.

"Temari you need to show them." Shikamaru said he could tell by the look on her face she was reluctant. "Tem they really need to see. Please."

"Fine." She said with a sigh as she turned her back to them lifting her shirt. The room grew silent for a moment as they took in the bruises that covered her skin. They were better then when Shikamaru first saw them but they were still very visible. She stood facing away from them for a few moments before pulling it back. "Enough proof for you?"

"I'm going to kick his ass!" Kankuro said leaping at Kazu knocking him to the ground.

Shikamaru took this moment to join in to psychically vent some of his frustrations on Kazu as well. He only got in a few good shots before he felt himself being removed by force as Gaara's sand wrapped itself around him pulling him back he looked over to see Kankuro as well but Kankuro was fighting it.

"Let me go. I'm going to teach this bastard a lesson." Kankuro said even though he knew it was pointless.

"As much as I would enjoy seeing this I am the Kazekage and I must be justice when it comes to issues such as this. No matter how personal they seem." he said. "Bring in the guards have them handle him till the time I am able to think of a proper punishment."

The guards had no issue taking the drugged man down to a holding cell as he couldn't fight back. Shikamaru couldn't help but feel a relieved when he watched them take him away.

"Shikamaru. I have no words to thank you for everything you've done for our sister. If it wasn't for you we probably would never of seen her again." Gaara said with a very rare smile.

"Don't thank me. She's strong enough to have found a way back herself." He said smiling over at her.

"None the less not just our country but me and my brother thank you." Gaara said. "Now may we please have a few moments alone with Temari? Baki will show you somewhere to rest as I'm sure you're exhausted from your travels."

"Of course." Shikamaru said taking his leave.

After he left the room again fell silent as an awkward tension again filled the air all 3 of the siblings not knowing what to say.

"Temari…" Gaara started Temari just held up a hand.

"It's fine." She said.
"No! No it's not fine! Why didn't you tell us?" Kankuro said still fuming over what had happened.

"I did." She said simply both boys looked at each other guilty.

"We didn't realize Temari…" Gaara said awkwardly .

"I know."

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

I... I felt much better than this before.

If they find out to avoid

Then the accidents kept hidden away

But if they stay…