"Mommy hurry up!"

It has been almost 3 years since the day when Temari and Shikamaru had come across Hidan and killed him. They were on their way with their 2 year old daughter, Yoru, to visit Kankuro and Gaara. Yoru was pulling Temari by her hand trying to get her to walk faster. Shikamaru was walking behind them with his hands behind his head.

"I'm hurrying. Yoru can you stop pulling me?" Yoru held onto Temari's hand, but walked beside her asking questions.

"What's Uncle Gaara like Mommy? Will he like me? Is he nice? Is Uncle Kankuro nice?" she was full of questions. Temari had to think about them.

"Of course Gaara will love you. He is nice and so is Kankuro. They'll both love you." Yoru grinned even more and was so anxious she started pulling Temari again. Shikamaru laughed at them. Temari turned to him and gave him pleading eyes to help her. He sighed.

"Yoru come walk with me." Yoru let go of Temari and ran back to Shikamaru and started dragging him.

"Come on Daddy. Your so lazy." Temari giggled at her daughters remark. "I want to see them. Hurry Daddy." Shikamaru sighed and let the toddler drag him. They continued walking for hours and finally reached the desert. "I'm getting tired Mommy."

"Daddy will carry you." Temari replied. He looked at her.

"Fine." He picked up Yoru and held her on his hip while he walked beside Temari. Yoru placed her head on Shikamaru's shoulder and fell asleep. "I guess she's worn out." Shikamaru sighed.

"I can't wait to get to Suna. I'm so exhausted." Temari yawned. "This trip is so long. I wish they could come visit us." Shikamaru smirked.

"And I'm the lazy one." Temari hit him. "Ouch troublesome woman. First you make ME carry our daughter then you hit me." He rubbed his head with his free hand. They continued walking and once they saw Suna they slowed there pace a bit.

"Hello Shikamaru, Temari." They heard a sinister voice behind them. They turned to see who spoke and glared at him.

"Hidan! I killed you." Shikamaru yelled at him. Hidan laughed in his face.

"I'm immortal dumb ass." Temari placed her hand on her fan getting ready to attack. Hidan spotted Yoru. "Whose that little cutie?" Shikamaru growled at him and Temari replied.

"That's none of your business. You're going to die anyways." She pulled out her fan and placed it in front of her. Hidan didn't move or make a comment. He just stood there staring at Yoru with an evil grin plastered on his face. Shikamaru put Yoru on his back and she continued to sleep.

"What do you want with us Hidan? Get a life fucker." Shikamaru was glaring at Hidan with hate in his eyes. Yoru stirred at the sound of the anger in her dad's voice. She rubbed her eyes.

"What's going on Daddy?" She spotted Hidan and her mom with her fan open. "Who is he? Is he bad?" Shikamaru nodded.

"He is a bad guy Yoru. Stay on my back okay?" Yoru held onto him tighter and hid behind his head. "Leave us alone Hidan. We don't want to get involved." Hidan shrugged.

"I don't care I just want to mess with y'all. Why don't you just let me kill the kid and call it even." Yoru whimpered and Temari yelled at him.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on her you ass hole. If you touch her I'll fucking kill you." Temari lifted her fan and sent a gust of wind at Hidan. He disappeared and reappeared behind Shikamaru.

"Daddy!" Yoru's hand shot for Shikamaru as Hidan pulled her away from them. She struggled to get free of Hidan's grasp. "Daddy! Mommy! Help!" She started screaming her head off and bit into Hidan's hand, but he didn't let go of her.

"She's feisty." Hidan gave them an evil smile. Temari growled at him while Shikamaru was thinking of a plan. Hidan held a kunai to her neck. Shikamaru stared at the kunai in shock. He had to think of something quick.

"Hidan stop please." Temari was looking from Hidan, to Yoru, to the kunai, trying to think of a plan as well. Before Hidan can reply Shikamaru interrupted him.

"Let her go and kill me." Shikamaru looked at his feet. Temari turned to him with an angry expression on her face.

"Shut up Shikamaru. Don't you dare." Shikamaru looked up at her with no expression on his face. "Shi-Shikamaru." The tears swelled in her eyes and one got loose and slid down her cheek.

"We have to save Yoru and this is the only way." He quietly said to her then turned to Hidan and spoke up. "Let Yoru go and kill me. This all started because of me." Shikamaru wasn't crying or yelling at Hidan. He showed no expression or emotion on his face. Hidan thought about it and dropped Yoru who landed hard on the desert sand. She ran over to Temari and hugged her tightly.

"I was so scared Mommy." Temari was holding Yoru and stroking her hair. Yoru turned to Shikamaru who was walking towards Hidan. "What's Daddy doing Mommy?" Yoru looked up at Temari who was crying. "What's going on Mommy?"

Temari shook her head and tried to speak. "N-nothing honey. He's just going to pro-protect us." She shut her eyes tight and let the tears fall. Yoru turned back to Shikamaru who was standing in front of Hidan.

"Ready to die?" Hidan smirked at Shikamaru.

"Get it over with." Shikamaru's expressionless face turned into anger. "Just let them go first." He motioned to Temari and Yoru.

"Fine. Go tell them to leave because if they're here when I kill you I won't hesitate to kill them." Shikamaru nodded and walked over to Temari and Yoru.

"Temari take Yoru and head to Suna. Run as fast as you can." Temari shook her head in frustration and kept her eyes shut. "Temari." She didn't open her eyes to look at him. He cupped her head with hands and held her face in place. "Look at me Temari." She slowly opened her eyes to look at him while the tears continued to fall. "I love you. I have to do this. This is the only way you can be safe." Temari nodded slowly. He leaned down and kissed her. She set Yoru down gently and put her hands behind Shikamaru's head and held him there. She didn't want to pull away because when she did she wouldn't see him again. He grabbed her hands and pulled them off him and pulled back. "I love you Mari."

"I love you too." She pulled her hands away from his and pulled him in for another kiss. He kissed her back, but only for a second.

"Hurry up or I'll kill all of you." Shikamaru and Temari separated and then he grabbed her in a tight hug. He let go and leaned down to kiss Yoru on her head.

"I love you Yoru." He stood up and looked at Temari seriously. "Run and don't stop till you reach Suna." She nodded and picked up Yoru and started running. Shikamaru started walking towards Hidan once more. "Get it over with you bastard."

Shikamaru stood there while Hidan made the preparations for his ritual. Goodbye Temari. I love you so much. Take care of Yoru. Shikamaru looked up at the sky awaiting his death.