It was now dark outside, and Shikaku was talking to another Leaf Shinobi. Temari was standing in the hall in between the kitchen and the living room, Koji in her arms, and Shikamaru standing next to her.

"We'll find out who it was," Shikamaru said trying to comfort her. He noticed that Koji had fallen asleep again. "Do you want to lay him down in my room?"

Temari shook her head and pulled her arms in closer to Koji. "No, thank you though."

"We don't know if they were watching you or us," Shikamaru said.

Temari shook her head. "No, they were looking right at the couch, and like I said, the man's face looked familiar. If it was someone watching you or your family, why would I recognize them?"

"I see your point," Shikamaru said.

Shikaku nodded and said goodbye to the man he was talking to, walked back in the house, and closed the door. He walked up to the two. "They said they didn't find anyone in the area, but they did see traces of someone being at the window."

"So I wasn't just seeing things," Temari said more than asked.

"No," Shikaku said. "Someone was really there, but they were able to get away without leaving a trail."

"Why would someone be sloppy while watching the house, but not when getting away," Shikamaru asked putting his hand on his chin. "You would think it would be the other way around."

"I don't know, but Lady Tsunade knows about this and says she'll figure out what's going on," Shikaku said. He then turned to Temari. "Shikamaru can take you and Koji back to the hotel if you want, or we can get the guest room ready for you. Either way, Lady Tsunade has ordered shinobi to watch wherever you decide to stay."

Temari thought about this for a minute. "I'll go back to the hotel," she said. "I don't want to inconvenience you, and if there's going to be people watching us anyway..."

"You wouldn't be inconveniencing us, Temari," Shikamaru cut her off. Temari looked at him a little surprised. "You'll be safer if you guys stay here. There would be more people to protect you two."

"It's up to you, Temari," Shikaku said, which made her look at him. "Though I have to agree with Shikamaru. I think it would be better if you guys stayed here in the guest room."

"I already made the bed," Yoshino said as she walked up to them.

"You did?" Temari asked.

"I overheard you guys talking. I don't know who this man is after, but it's always smarter to play it safe," Yoshino said.

"Ok. We'll stay," Temari said and turned to Shikaku. "Thank you."

"No problem," Shikaku said giving her a small smile.

"I'll show you where the room is," Shikamaru said.

Shikamaru lead the way up the stairs and showed Temari where she and Koji would be sleeping, then told her where his room was, and his parents room. After that he bid her goodnight and went to his own room. Now, Temari was laying on the bed in the dark room, her arm over Koji, trying to remember where she had seen that man's face before. She closed her eyes and racked her brain, until finally it dawned on her.

A clear picture of a man, surrounded by darkness, face lite up by a dim light on only one side. Cold air, something slimy around her wrists and ankles... Temari's eye shot open. "Kento."

She threw the blankets off of her and Koji, grabbed Koji, and ran out of the room and straight to Shikamaru's room. She banged quite loudly on the door, waking Koji up completely. "Mommy?"

She ignored him. "Shikamaru!" She pounded on the door again. She heard a door a ways down open, but focused only on the now opening door.

"Temari? What's... Hey!" Shikamaru asked as Temari barged into his room.

"What's going on?" Shikaku asked from the door. He walked in followed by Yoshino who flipped on the light in the room.

"Temari, what's wrong?" Shikamaru asked as he walked over to her.

"I know who it was," Temari said quietly. "It was him."

"Who?" Shikamaru asked completely confused.

"Kento," she said.

"Who's Kento?" Shikaku asked stepping closer.

"Temari, let me take him," Yoshino said as she held out her arms.

Temari hesitated, then handed Koji over to Yoshino. "Mommy," Koji said reaching back for Temari.

"It's ok, sweetie," Yoshino tried to comfort him. "We won't leave the room. She'll be right there."

Koji laid his head on Yoshino's shoulder, never taking his eyes off Temari.

"Now," Shikaku said looking back at Temari, "who's Kento?"

"He's that man that raped me four years ago," Temari said, her voice shaking a bit.

"What?" Shikamaru asked. "But I thought you guys took care of him."

"I thought so too," Temari said finally sitting on the bed. "Gaara said that they put him somewhere he would never bother me again."

"It must have been some kind of prison," Shikaku reasoned. "He must have gotten out somehow."

Temari looked up at Shikamaru scared. "What if he found out about Koji? What if he's here to take him? What if..."

"Temari, calm down," Shikamaru said sitting down and putting a hand around her shoulder.

Temari leaned into Shikamaru's embrace without thinking. "I can't lose him, Shika."

Shikamaru wrapped his arms around Temari and rubbed her back with one hand. "You won't. I won't let that happen." He looked up at his dad.

"I'll inform Lady Tsunade of this. Maybe she can get some information from the Kazekage about what happened to this Kento guy," Shikaku said as he walked out the door.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

The next morning, Temari laid next to the warm pillow next to her. She smiled and snuggled closer to it. 'So warm.' Her eyes shot open though when said pillow moved on its own. "What the..." she sat up and saw that Shikamaru was lying next to her. She looked around and realized she was in his room, then she remembered what happened last night. She looked around franticly searching for Koji, but he wasn't anywhere in the room. "Koji!"

She jumped out of the bed, knocking Shikamaru completely off the bed with a loud thud. "Owww," Shikamaru cried out rubbing his head as he watched Temari run out of the room. "Troublesome woman."

Temari ran down the stairs and into the kitchen, mouth ready to tell Yoshino that her son was missing, when her eyes fell on the boy in question. "Koji?"

"Morning, mommy," Koji said around a big roll.

Temari quickly knelt down and hugged her son.

"I'm sorry, Temari. I didn't mean to scare you," Yoshino said. "I saw that Koji was awake, but that you and Shikamaru were still sleeping, and figured I'd bring him down here so he didn't wake you."

Temari looked up at her and smiled. "It's ok. I should've known that he was ok. You guys would've woke me if something happened to him."

"Of course we would've," Yoshino said.

"What's the big idea pushing me off the bed," Shikamaru asked.

Temari and Yoshino looked up at him and Temari stood up. "Sorry about that. I thought Kento took Koji while I was asleep."

"Troublesome woman. There are shinobi all over this area, and Koji was in between us when we went to sleep. You would've known if something happened to him," Shikamaru said and sat down across from Koji.

"Morning, Maru," Koji said with a big crumb covered, jelly smeared smile.

"Oh my," Yoshino said as she took a rag and wiped off Koji's mouth.

Koji pushed Yoshino's hand away, but Yoshino just put it right back on his mouth.

"I'd give up on that, kid," Shikamaru said. "She always cleans what she sets out to clean."

Koji just grunted and let Yoshino finish cleaning off his face.

Temari let a small smile spread across her face as she sat down next to Shikamaru. "Thank you for last night," she said quietly to Shikamaru.

Shikamaru looked over at her. "No problem," he said with a smile and grabbed her hand underneath the table. Temari blushed.

Yoshino placed two plates of bacon, eggs, and a roll in front of Shikamaru and Temari. "Eat up you two."

"Thanks," Shikamaru said before digging into his food.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Temari asked then took a bite of her food.

"I ate with Shikaku this morning," Yoshino replied. "He had that meeting with the elders this morning, then he said he was going to talk with Lady Tsunade about this man that was watching you last night."

"I see," Temari said looking down at her plate. "I'm sorry for all the trouble."

"Nonsense," Yoshino said. "You're a good friend of Shikamaru's, and visitor from another village. We wouldn't want anything to happen to either one of you while you're here.

"Mommy?"

Temari looked over to Koji. "Yes, sweetie."

"Gan we go to the parg?"

"Sure we can," Shikamaru answered for her. Temari looked at him a bit worried. He leaned in closer so Koji couldn't hear. "We need to keep him calm. Don't worry, there'll still be shinobi keeping an eye on you."

Temari took a deep breath in and smiled. "Yeah, of course we can go to the park."

"Yay!" Koji said and popped the last of his roll in his mouth. He stood up, took his plate to the sink, then ran to the living room.

"Dad said Lady Tsunade wants me to stay close to you guys too. This Kento guy won't get anywhere near you guys," Shikamaru added when Koji left the room.

"Thanks," Temari said and continued eating.

After their breakfast, Shikamaru, Temari, and Koji all headed to the park. Koji was impressed by the playground equipment, and ran over to the swings. "Maru, push me!" he yelled when he sat down on one of the swings.

"Ok, I'm coming," Shikamaru said as he made his way over.

Temari found a bench by them and sat down. She scanned her surroundings and noticed the shinobi that were keeping tabs on them. She closed her eyes and let out a long breath trying to calm herself down.

"Hey, Temari."

Temari jumped at the voice, but saw that it was only Ino. "Oh, hey Ino."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. You ok?" Ino asked as she sat down beside Temari.

"Yeah, I'm just a little on edge right now," Temari replied.

"What's going on?" Ino asked concerned.

"Koji was born because I was raped by a man named Kento four years ago," Temari started. Ino gasped. "Well, last night, I saw Kento staring inside the window while I was at Shikamaru's house."

"What?" Ino asked loudly, which caused a few other parents to stare at them. "Sorry," she said to them, then turned back to Temari. "You're sure it's him?" she asked quieter.

"Not positive, but I remember that man's face. I had nightmares about him for months after the rape," Temari said. "I can't forget that face even if I wanted to."

"Oh man," Ino said and looked over to Shikamaru and Koji. "Does Koji know?"

"I don't think so," Temari said turning towards the boys as well. "If he does, he either doesn't know how bad the situation is, or knows that we'll protect him. All Koji really knows about his real father is that he's a bad guy."

"Well, at least you have Shikamaru," Ino said with a sly smile and bumped her shoulder into Temari's.

Temari smiled back at her. "Yeah," she said then looked back at Shikamaru. "I'm really glad I do."

"Wait, does that mean you two are together now?" Ino said excitedly.

"I guess," Temari said with a blush. "I mean, we haven't actually said it yet, but..."

"But..." Ino asked eagerly.

"He grabbed my hand this morning," Temari said, her face getting redder.

Ino squealed. "Oh, I'm so happy for you two!" Ino stood up and grabbed Temari's hand. "Come on."

"Hey! Where are you taking me?" Temari asked as she tried not to stumble over her feet.

"Hey, Shikamaru! I'm taking your girlfriend for a while!" Ino yelled ignoring Temari's question.

Shikamaru looked up and saw Ino dragging Temari away. "Hey... and they're gone." He looked down at Koji, who looked a little worried. "Hey, don't worry. We'll catch up to her later."

Koji looked up at him then back toward his disappearing mother. "Ogay."

Koji played at the park for a few hours before he started complaining that he was hungry, so Shikamaru took him to Ichiraku Ramen. Shikamaru could still feel the shinobi watching them, but he was still at high alert just in case.

When they arrived at Ichiraku's, they could hear someone speaking really loudly with the owner. "Looks like Naruto's here," Shikamaru said.

"Who's Naruto?" Koji asked.

"Naruto's one of my friends," Shikamaru explained as he pushed back the small curtain above the entryway. "He's a good friend of your Uncle Gaara."

"Hey Shikamaru," Naruto said turning to the two. "Who's this?" he asked looking down at Koji.

"This is Koji," Shikamaru said as he hoisted Koji up onto one of the stools. "He's Temari's son." Naruto looked at Koji wide eyed then to Shikamaru. "No, he's not mine," Shikamaru said anticipating Naruto's next question.

"If he's not yours, then why is he with you?" Naruto asked and looked around. "And where's Temari?"

"Ino took Temari somewhere and I'm watching Koji while she's gone," Shikamaru said as he sat down on the stool next to Koji. "Two miso ramens please," he said to Teuchi.

"Coming right up," Teuchi said and turned to make the ramen.

"So, you're Gaara's nephew, huh?" Naruto asked Koji.

Koji smiled up at Naruto. "Yep! I love Ungle Gaara."

"How's Gaara doing?" Naruto asked matching the boy's smile.

"He's not hurt," Koji said confused then looked to Shikamaru. "Right, Maru?"

"No, Gaara's fine, Koji, but Naruto hasn't seen Gaara in a while, so he was just seeing how he's been since he's last seen him," Shikamaru explained.

"Oh," Koji said then looked back to Naruto. "Ungle Gaara is fine."

"Good to hear," Naruto said then turned back to his bowl of ramen and took another bite.

"Here you go," Teuchi said as he sat two bowls of ramen in front of Shikamaru and Koji.

"Thang you," Koji said then tried to grab a pair of chop sticks, but struggled to grab it so Naruto grabbed it and broke them in half for him. "Thangs," Koji said to Naruto then grabbed some noodles and stuffed them in his mouth.

They sat there and talked with Naruto for a while longer before Naruto left. When Shikamaru and Koji were finished eating, Shikamaru paid for the food, helped Koji down, and they headed off to find Temari.

"Where we going?" Koji asked as he looked up at Shikamaru.

"We need to figure out where Ino took your mother," Shikamaru said as he took one hand out of his pocket to cover the yawn that decided to escape his mouth.

"Oh, ogay." Koji watched Shikamaru's hand come back down to his side and before Shikamaru had a chance to put it back in his pocket, Koji grabbed his hand. This surprised Shikamaru, but he just smiled and gripped Koji's hand.

NNNNNNNNNNNN

Temari looked at the clock in the restaurant she was in and noticed that it was a little past noon. 'Koji will be getting hungry soon, and I'm sure Shikamaru doesn't want to watch Koji all day.' She looked around at the four girls at the table. Ino had kidnapped her to bring her to a surprise congratulatory party. Sakura, Hinata, and Tenten were all waiting here when the two arrived.

"Hey, this has been fun, but I really need to find Shikamaru and Koji," Temari said.

"Temari, I'm sure Shikamaru can handle watching Koji for a few hours," Ino said.

"I'd like to meet him," Tenten said.

"Yes, I'm sure he's adorable," Hinata said.

"Well, we don't have to wait too long," Sakura said looking at the entrance of the restaurant they were in.

The girls all looked toward the entrance and saw Shikamaru and Koji walk in.

"Mommy!" Koji yelled and ran over to Temari.

Temari smiled and turned in her seat to get ready for his hug. Koji ran right into her arms and she picked Koji up so that he was now sitting her lap. "Guys, this is Koji," Temari said to the girls. "Koji, this is Sakura, Hinata, Tenten, and you've already met Ino," she said pointing to the respective person.

"Hi," Koji said with a smile.

"He's so adorable!" Sakura said.

"He looks a lot like you," Hinata said.

"Not completely," Temari said, "but thanks."

Shikamaru stood by Temari's side quietly until the introductions were over. "Sorry to interrupt," he said.

"It's fine," Tenten said. "We would've lost her soon anyway."

Sakura saw the look of confusion on Shikamaru's face. "She was just saying that she needed to get going so she could find you two."

Temari blushed a little. "I didn't want to inconvenience you anymore than I already have," she said trying to explain herself.

Shikamaru sighed. "I told you, Temari, you're not inconveniencing me. I don't mind helping you with Koji. You haven't spent any time with the girls since you got here this time around, so you deserved a little time."

"Ok," Temari said then looked down at Koji. "You were good for Shikamaru, right?"

"Yes, mommy," Koji said. "I met Naruto."

"Oh boy," Sakura said with a smile.

"We saw him at Ichiraku's when we went to eat," Shikamaru said.

"You didn't have to feed him," Temari said. "He could've waited until he was back with me."

"I was hungry too, and I had no idea where you were, so it's fine," Shikamaru said putting his hands in his pockets.

"Well, you have an adorable son, Temari," Tenten said.

"Thanks, Tenten," Temari said as she put Koji down on the floor and stood up. "We should get going though."

The girls all exchanged their goodbyes and made Temari promise that they would do it again, then they all went their separate ways, Shikamaru, Temari, and Koji heading to the Hokage's office to see if they found anything out.

Shikamaru knocked on the door, and entered when Tsunade gave the ok. "Sorry to interrupt, ma'am, but Temari was wondering if you found anything out on our stalker situation," Shikamaru said.

"Could you not phrase it like that," Temari said.

"Mommy, what's a stalger?" Koji asked.

Temari gave Shikamaru a glare before kneeling down to be eye level with Koji. "A stalker is a person who sneaks around and watches someone."

"Is someone watching us?" Koji asked a little worried.

Temari looked over at Shikamaru then down at Koji. "Yes, sweetie, but I promise we won't let him hurt you."

"Maru protegt us?" Koji asked looking at Shikamaru.

Shikamaru smiled. "Yeah. Promise."

Koji smiled then walked up to his mother and wrapped his arms around her neck.

Temari wrapped her arms around Koji and stood up, positioning him so he was more comfortable, and turned back to Tsunade.

"I'm afraid we haven't found anything yet," Tsunade said. "Shikaku is out with a few other shinobi trying to find this man." She turned to Shikamaru. "I suggest you take Temari and Koji back to your place for now. I received the information about this Kento guy from the Kazekage, and he wants you and Koji to remain in the village until this guy is caught."

"Alright," Shikamaru said.

"Dismissed," Tsunade said then looked down at a few papers on her desk.

Shikamaru and Temari walked out the door and back to his house. As they went through the forested area between the village and Shikamaru's house, Shikamaru stopped and put his hand in front of Temari to stop her.

"What is it?" Temari asked wrapping her arms around Koji a little more.

"I can't sense the shinobi that's been following us all day," Shikamaru said still looking around.

Temari looked around the area as well. "Neither can I." She walked a little closer to Shikamaru, making sure Koji was positioned in between them, but jumped back when she sensed something coming toward her.

Shikamaru immediately spun around and saw a kunai sticking out of the ground where Temari was previously standing. He looked up again, trying to sense the person that threw it, but had to jump up and away as a barrage of shuriken came flying at him.

'Dang it, he's trying to separate me and Temari,' Shikamaru thought as he landed on a tree branch and pulled out a kunai from his weapon pouch to deflect a few more kunai.

"Shikamaru!" Temari cried out.

"Don't worry 'bout me. Just run!" Shikamaru said as he jumped from branch to branch to try and find the man attacking them.

Temari watched Shikamaru jump off and started running through the trees.

"Mommy," Koji said scared.

"Shhh, keep quiet," Temari said. She stopped and jumped back when a kunai whizzed past her face. She looked up and saw the man that she hoped to never see again smiling down at her. "It's been a while, Temari."

Temari put Koji on the ground and pushed him behind her. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard about my son," Kento said as he jumped down from the tree and started walking toward her. "I've come to take him."

"Over my dead body," Temari said angrily.

"Oh? It'll really be that easy?" Kento said. He made a quick hand sign and smiled.

Temari slowly reached for her weapon pouch, but stopped when she felt something slimy wrap around both her wrists and her ankles. She looked down and panicked when she saw the all too familiar mud cuff. "No!" she cried out as she tried to break free.

Kento started walking toward her again, but stopped when a kunai dug into the ground in front of him. He looked up in anger and saw Shikamaru drop down.

"You didn't really think I'd fall for the shadow clone distraction trick, did you?" Shikamaru said as he held up a kunai in front of him in defense.

Kento smirked. "No, I didn't think it would take you too long to realize I used a shadow clone to draw you away, however," he began.

Shikamaru looked down and saw mud slide up and around his ankles. He quickly swiped his kunai to cut both mud tendrils, and jumped back closer to Temari.

"Shikamaru, please, take Koji and go," Temari begged.

"I'm not leaving you here with this man," Shikamaru said, eyes focused on Kento.

"Shikamaru, please. I don't want him getting his hands on Koji," Temari said.

Shikamaru could hear the fear and desperation in Temari's voice and looked back to Koji who was clinging to Temari's leg afraid. He looked back at Kento who just stood there and smirked.

"What are you going to do Leaf Ninja?" Kento taunted. "Leave the woman you love, or save her child? Either way, I win."

Shikamaru saw something moving out of the corner of his eye and looked down to see mud tendrils crawling their way towards them. 'Dang it. He's following Temari's lead now. If I try to save her, the mud will probably grab Koji, but if I take Koji and run, he'll have Temari.' He looked back at Kento who was still smirking and waiting patiently for Shikamaru's decision. He tightened his grip on the kunai, closed his eyes, and sighed. "I will find you," Shikamaru said quietly so that only Temari could hear him.

Temari closed her eyes relieved.

Shikamaru quickly turned and grabbed Koji and jumped into the trees.

"Mommy!" Koji yelled, reaching out to Temari as Shikamaru carried him away. "NO! Go bag!" Koji yelled at Shikamaru, hitting Shikamaru's arm and trying to push it away.

"I'm sorry, Koji, but I have to make sure you're safe first," Shikamaru said. He reached into his weapon pouch and pulled out a kunai with a paper bomb attached and threw it up in the air. He knew that someone would see it and know there was a problem, but he also knew that Kento wouldn't be in the area for very much longer.

-------------------------

Kento be back. Poor Koji :( So what did you think? You want to leave me a comment to tell me? Don't be shy. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.

See you in the next chapter