Shikamaru's ire rose with every step he took, his speed following suit. His brows were scrunched and a frown marred his face. That momentary glace at Temari as he ran from her brothers had intensified his irritation in to full-fledged rage. He saw the uncertainty she felt when their eyes met and it did not require a high IQ to correctly deduce its basis. Did she really trust him so little to even entertain the idea that he would leave her just to get her brothers off his back? The thought renewed his fury causing him squeeze his fist harder as he let out another expletive and sped up again.

The citizens of Konoha looked up in surprise at the ninja racing through rooftops pursued by two puppets, two foreign ninjas, and an abnormal amount of sand. Shikamaru paid no heed to the spectators as he single-mindedly advanced to his destination. He knew that, alone, he was no match for the two strongest Sand ninja and he had little faith he would be receiving any aid in dealing with them. His friends were having too much fun at his expense; he had a feeling anyone he asked for help would instead stand back and watch the show. He had thought of Chōji for a moment before dismissing the idea. Chōji might be his best friend and the only one willing to assist him but Shikamaru knew the fear of being chewed out by a hormonal Ino will make him apologetically decline. No matter how kind-hearted and dependable a person was, nobody wanted to deal with an upset Ino these days — especially not Chōji. Help or not, the strategist reaffirmed to himself the necessity to survive the murderous brothers so he can pull Temari up to eye level and tell her in exceedingly plain words that now that she had accepted his proposal, she was stuck with him for life.

Getting off the rooftops Shikamaru hastily made his way towards the training grounds. He knew once outside the vicinity of innocents, he would be facing the his pursuers' entire arsenal and while he did not stand a chance against them at full force, having frenzied warriors with attacking sand and poisoned puppets running around the village was not a good idea. So he brought them out to the training grounds where the foliage and shades offered slight terrain advantage. As he hid in the shadows on a tree, he noticed the displeased expressions on the Sand ninja. A low growl from Kankuro further asserted his foes' annoyance at having the Nara Head evade them for so long.

Even after assuming his thinking posture, Shikamaru had failed to come up with a good strategy to defeat his opponents. He was well-aware that his techniques were not suited for offense. He could make use of other weapons and attack but that meant severely harming his challengers and possibly even killing them. He deemed it ineffective; killing an ally — especially a high-ranking one such as the Kazekage or his right hand man — even in self-defense, was reckless in current times when they were already facing a threat. Shikamaru was also aware that Temari would not appreciate it. All he could come up with — that had a slight chance of success — during his focused strategizing session was to elude the bloodthirsty brothers until they tire or until the Konoha ninjas —including the Hokage — get over their amusement and put an end to the Kazekage and his brother's rampage. He was not optimistic that he would triumph but he was not going to go down without a fight.

Glancing at his adversaries from his hiding spot, Shikamaru noticed the sand flowing between the trees. He had two immediate objectives: do not get shut in Kankuro's puppet and evade Gaara's sand at all cost. Although he knew he could immobilize the puppets and the puppet-master from his earlier attempts, Gaara's sand rendered his efforts futile. The sand could attack at Gaara's will and restraining the sand-user did not contain it. At present, the best way to avoid the puppets was to stay away from clearings; the more trees there were the greater hindrance they presented to the puppet-master and the puppets' mobility. The sand was harder to outrun. He knew Gaara could sense his enemies using his special techniques which meant he could not stay hidden for long. This was confirmed as the surrounding sand suddenly changed its trajectory and flew towards him resembling shuriken. Shikamaru jumped from the branch he was using as a seat and headed in to the forest. The puppets, now aware of his location, were quick to follow him.

Shikamaru led the brothers deeper in to the woods. The trees grew closer together and there was no clearing in sight. This was a good chance to try and detain the puppet user. He could not use his shadow techniques effectively without giving a clear chance for Gaara to attack, so he had to make do with the tools he possessed. Gaara's sand was nearing steadily trying to detect his location. Shikamaru was in a bind. He had to move fast. Stopping at a branch, he went on the offensive. He marked Kankuro's location and threw several shuriken at the puppets distracting them. The brothers realized his whereabouts and directed their attacks at him. Shikamaru, however, had already vacated his original position and threw one chakra blade at Kankuro's shadow paralyzing him. In return, he was met with poisoned darts that he barely managed to avoid. Peeking at Kankuro's original location, he noticed that a Black Ant puppet stood where the Sand jōnin should have been while Kankuro grinned malevolently from a few feet away as Crow — another of Kankuro's puppets —freed the captured figure. Shikamaru jumped on to a tree branch circumventing Gaara's sand and triggering it to hunt the shadow user.

Utilizing another opening in the pursuit, he launched an unforeseen strike by aiming explosive tags at one Black Ant puppet effectively splintering it to pieces. Readying himself to attempt destroying the other puppets, he spied Scorpion from the corner of his eye. The very next instant, triangular blades flew towards him causing him to jump around on the tree branches to prevent a hit. The blades struck the tree trunk next to his previous site and exploded. Sand dripped on Shikamaru like rain. He gazed up and recognized it as one of Gaara's techniques. He immediately looked down to see Gaara's sand encircling his feet during his momentary lapse in attention. Swiftly, he jumped to evade capture, the sand giving chase. He used the closely positioned trees and shadows to dodge the trailing sand and the attacks of poisoned darts and exploding blades. Things had just become worse.

A short while later, Shikamaru sat panting atop a branch in the heart of the forest after he succeeded to hide from his pursuers. He knew he was fighting a losing battle and time was against him. He was already tired from the mission and the effects were starting to show unlike his opponents who looked unaffected. Every path he simulated was ending in disaster and he could not figure out how to counter his hunters. The stalemate frustrated him. He wanted to use Shadow Sewing Technique on Kankuro and his puppets and the Shadow-Neck Binding Technique on Gaara. Yet, he knew that, despite the effectiveness of Shadow-Neck Binding Technique on Gaara being unknown, strangling the Kazekage and impaling the strongest Suna jounin was a very defective strategy. Sensing a lull in the fight, Shikamaru took up his thinking pose hoping for a bout of inspiration.

"Shikamaru!" A female voice called from some distance away. "Kankuro! Gaara! Shikamaru!"

Kankuro grunted in displeasure. Gaara remained silent. Shikamaru sighed mentally. Temari had arrived.

"Answer me, you idiots!" Temari yelled from a closer distance, agitation clear in her tone. "Shikamaru! Where are you? Answer me!"

Her commands were met with silence. Kankuro and Gaara did not want her interfering. Shikamaru was too busy thinking of a survival plan.

He heard her muffled voice say something but could not make out the words. The next moment a huge gust of wind went through forest uprooting trees in its path. Shikamaru lost his seating as the tree he was perched on tilted making him lose his balance. Righting himself against the fallen debris, he managed to jump on to a neighboring trunk before he fell to the ground. He continued avoiding the tumbling wood around him until his escape path was blocked by a displaced tree. Trying to avoid the large mass of wood from crushing him, he jumped backwards. His step hit a dislodged trunk and he stumbled over it landing on his back. A large stump fell on his right leg. Searing pain shot through him eliciting an agonizing groan. He glimpsed a heavy trunk coming towards him before a white haze blinded him to his surroundings.

"Shika…maru…" He heard a faraway murmur call him seemingly after hours of enduring excruciating pain. "Oi…Shikamaru…"

The voice seemed to be getting closer. Shikamaru opened his eyes to take in his surrounding through his dulled senses. His body seemed to be engulfed in pain and he could pinpoint his leg as the source realizing it was probably broken. The first thing he saw was a dark, rough trunk barely inches from his face.

The voice called again. In a raspy tone, he replied, "Here!"

Minutes later, he saw multiple orange blurs and the tree trunk move away from his face. He tried sitting up and succeeded, stubbornly ignoring the searing pain in his leg. He noted it was indeed caught under a stump and required an extended stay at the hospital in order to mend. He was glad it was a small stump else he would not have been left with a leg to heal. He also observed that the base of a large uprooted tree some distance away from his head had inclined the trunk near his face. He was especially grateful for that; had it not been so, not having a leg would not have mattered much.

As Naruto worked to free his leg from under the heavy base, Shikamaru thought back to his predicament and genuinely wondered about the prudence of marrying Temari. They were not even formally engaged yet and he came within an inch of his life. He shuddered to think of life after he married her. Briefly he questioned if he should withdraw; he would get out of this mess alive and he could rest easy knowing he would not be hunted down by the two strongest Sand ninja in the future. Yet even before he gazed in to the worry-filled green eyes that appeared beside him, heard the soft, caring voice calling out his name, and felt the gentle hands gingerly touch his injured leg, he chastised himself for giving in to fatigue and entertaining the previous notions. Nevertheless, his overflowing love for the woman could not alter reality and when Shikamaru sat up with Naruto's help, he wondered if he was secretly a masochist.

He cautiously moved to get a comfortable sitting position and winced as pain shot through his leg.

"Are you OK?" Temari asked in a concerned voice. He just nodded.

A jeering laugh reached his ears and he felt Temari leave him on the forest ground. His eyes followed her while Naruto supported his back. She stood facing her younger brothers, her body tense and hands fisted. Gaara stood expressionless as usual with his arms crossed over his chest. Kankuro stood in a similar pose, his demeanor exuding contentment and a smug grin plastered on his face.

"YOU!" Temari started, her pitch too high and uncomfortable. "WHY WERE YOU GOING AFTER SHIKAMARU AS IF HIS HEAD HAD THE HIGHEST BOUNTY IN THE BINGO BOOK? LOOK AT HIM! HE'S INJURED AND BOTH OF YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!" She finished pointing at Shikamaru.

Kankuro and Gaara just stared at the woman infuriating her further. "WELL? DON'T YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?" She asked angrily.

Kankuro shrugged. Gaara did not reply. Temari took a deep breath and asked dangerously, "Give me one good reason for why you went after Shikamaru like blood-thirsty barbarians!"

"He asked you to marry him." Gaara replied as if it explained everything.

Temari stared at him for a moment before urging him to continue, "So?"

"So we told him he can't…well showed him." Kankuro answered this time with a shrug and a gratified smile.

Temari took another deep breath trying to control her fury from spilling out again. "And why can't he do that?"

"Because you are our sister." Gaara presented another vague answer as if it was the most logical reason.

Temari was shifting her glares between her brothers. "You keep saying that! You've been saying that since yesterday and it makes. NO. SENSE! What does being your sister have anything to do with Shikamaru marrying me?"

"It makes sense! You're our sister and you can't marry him!" Kankuro answered using Gaara's inadequate reasoning with a frown on his face, his arms now uncrossed.

Temari huffed angrily. Taking a deep breath, she faced her brothers again, "Why? …Is it because he is from Konoha?" She finished, her face thoughtful.

"His affiliation has nothing to do with it. We won't let you marry him even if he was from Suna." Gaara explained.

There was a pause following which Temari asked in a low voice, "Is it because of him…as a person?"

Both Gaara and Kankuro shook their heads in the negative.

"So," she continued. "You wouldn't let me marry anyone from Suna either…regardless of who they are?"

Her brothers concurred.

She asked hesitantly, "So…you…never want me to marry?"

Gaara and Kankuro nodded. Silence stretched in the forest. Shikarmaru and Naruto looked on in interest.

"You imbeciles!" Temari said, her pitch rising with every word. "I have been a ninja for almost eighteen years and you choose to show your overbearing protectiveness right when I find someone to marry? You didn't even care if I went out with a guy before now! What did you think I would do if you simply said that I can't marry anyone? Nod my head and sit like some meek little girl in a corner?"

"Well—"Kankuro started to say but was cut off by Temari .

"It was rhetorical, you pea-brained moron!" She said in annoyance.

Naruto snickered and Shikamaru smirked. Temari looked like a mother scolding her children.

"You do realize I don't have to deal with you at all! I can just elope with Shikamaru and be done with it!" She continued angrily.

Shikamaru's head snapped to Temari, his eyes wide in astonishment. The woman was supposed to be placating her brothers not antagonizing them. Gaara's eyes narrowed as his sand inched towards Shikamaru. Suddenly, Temari was armed and addressed her brother in a low, threatening voice, "Back off Gaara. I know your weakness and I can kill you easily. Then I will leave Suna and marry Shikamaru and you will be dead."

Naruto snorted. Shikamaru groaned and hid his face in his hand. Did she just hint that she will kill the Kazekage, flee Suna, become a missing-nin, and then join the Nara clan? Was she trying to solve the problem or worsen it?

Following her threatening announcement, everything happened in quick succession. Kankuro assembled Black Ant, Crow and Scorpion, Temari opened her fan, and Gaara unfolded his arms, pointing one hand at Shikamaru aiming his sand, and said, "That is unacceptable."

"Try it, just try it Gaara!" Temari dared him in a low voice causing everyone to ready their attacks.

"Wait! Just…wait!" Shikarmaru interrupted facing the sand siblings before things could escalate, causing his audience to face him. He continued to explain calmly trying to diffuse the situation. "We won't elope. No one is eloping. Temari and I will marry in the traditional way. And both of you should calm down a little and stop trying to kill me."

Shikamaru knew about overprotective brothers having witnessed Ino's brother previously, but Temari's siblings crossed all boundaries and resorted to blatant hostility. For a few moments everything went still. Then, as if affected by Shikamaru's words, Temari addressed her brothers, "He's right. Both of you need to back off. I'll tell you now, if you kill Shikamaru, I'll just find another boyfriend. If you kill him too, I'll find another. And if you'll kill him as well, I'll just find another!"

Kankuro and Gaara looked at their sister with a slightly sickening expression and although Shikamaru could understand why she was saying it, he did not like that he was made out to be so easily replaceable.

She continued with a slightly smug expression, "Umm-hmm, and if you don't stop, I'll just leave the village and find a new boyfriend…or better yet, I'll kill you, leave the village, and then find a new boyfriend. I think if you back off now, you get a pretty good deal. I give you my permission to kill him if I ever complain about him."

Naruto let out a laugh and Shikamaru groaned loudly. Was he supposed to be the scapegoat in any case?

Temari's brothers reluctantly pulled back after a moment of contemplation causing her to smirk with pride. "So?" she asked. "You'll accept that we are getting married and stop trying to kill him? Or I'll just go ahead and do as I said." She ended with a warning.

Kankuro and Gaara looked at each other and then slowly nodded to Temari who grinned at her victory. Shikamaru figured they gave in because dealing with him was easier than finding Temari's new boyfriends and finishing them off. He was willing — bound — to follow traditions. Her other boyfriends might be impulsive. Also, he was certain her brothers knew Temari would come after them with a vengeance should they kill her fiancé and she can be very scary when angry. He sighed. All that mattered was that he would be able to marry Temari and he would ensure she never gets a chance to find that other boyfriend she mentioned. More than confronting troublesome, irrational brothers, Shikamaru was irritated at the thought of another being amorous with his Temari.

"Good," Temari said. "Let's head back. We need to go to the hospital. I want him to continue putting food on the table once we're married." She finished looking at Shikamaru as if he was at fault for an accident she caused.

Her brothers put away their weapons and started to leave when she called out to them, "Where do you think you are going?"

"Back to the village," Kankuro replied.

"No, you're not!" Temari replied firmly. She looked at her brother and instructed sternly. "Kankuro, you help carry Shikamaru to the Konoha hospital. Give him your shoulder!"

Shikamaru looked at Temari in shock. Kankuro opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Temari firmly saying, "Do it!"

"There's no need for that." Shikamaru said quickly as Naruto offered him support and held him up. All faces turned to look at him questioningly.

"These two," he pointed at Gaara and Kankuro, "tried to kill me just moments ago. I'm not stupid enough to believe that Kankuro would not stab me with a poisoned kunai while offering me support."

Kankuro smirked, his expression insinuating his intentions to do something similar. Temari frowned, opening her mouth to say something before changing her mind.

"Fine!" She said irritably. Pointing to her brothers, she ordered, "You two! March! And as soon as we get Shikamaru to the hospital, we are going back to Suna. Don't think I won't make good on my threat if I find you have been bullying Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru scowled at the suggestion that he needed her to protect him or that he could be easily bullied but he remained silent. His was barely keeping himself from whimpering in pain and getting to the hospital was a priority at present. He saw the younger Suna siblings begrudgingly start towards the village and Temari followed behind them.

In an exasperated voice, she gave her brothers a push and yelled, "Move it! Don't slow us down!"

Shikamaru let out a sigh of relief as he started following the Sand siblings while being supported by Naruto. He would live — for now. May be he should tighten the security around his compound just in case Temari's threats did not convince her brothers. The real problem was the visit to Suna to deliver the official proposal. He was hesitant of making the trip dreading that he would have to deal with the situation all over again. It was too late now. He had already promised a traditional wedding and there was no chance of backing out. Besides, he could not imagine any woman beside Temari with whom he was prepared to spend his life. The entire situation was taxing.

During their trek back to the village, Shikamaru unenthusiastically acknowledged an earlier observation. When he had proposed, Naruto told him that he was choosing a woman very much like his mother. Then, the Nara Clan Head had scoffed at his blond friend. Now, when he considered Temari's recent actions, he realized his mother and Temari would get along very nicely. As he looked at the back of the chiding woman walking ahead, he realized he was getting a very bossy, nagging wife — the type he had sworn to avoid — and two crazy brothers who came bundled with the package.

Shaking his head, he deliberated on his future. His life was going to get very troublesome, but he was not willing to change it for the world. May be, subconsciously, he was a masochist.

In the years to come, Shikamaru would often be stopped by harried, bullied ninja in the middle of the street complaining about a blonde, bossy Nara. They would ask him if a laidback, brilliant strategist like him always had problems with his wife. He would smirk reminiscently as one distinct memory would surface and with a sympathetic glance at his harassed enquirers, he would attempt to pacify them, "Just one."

THE END