[003]

[dangerouswind]

[Temari's back.

She's not sure she wants to be. She's keeping to the trees as much as she can, before she finally decides she really needs to get into the town and figure out what in the hell is going on

Comments

[its_troublesome]

[Today has been a bad day. Overly bad, really, to the point where 'troublesome' just doesn't seem to cut it.

So he's actually out walking around the village today, bag of groceries slung over one shoulder. No Chouji means he's on his own for food, so he's going with the simple stuff. If Temari gets into town, she's bound to see him wandering around there.]

[dangerouswind]

[Temari does make it into town, slinking through shadows -- probably not the smartest thing, but hey, they hide her better -- and sticking to trees when she can. When she spots Shikamaru, she pauses.

And pauses again.

She thinks she knows you. Which means she's following.]

[its_troublesome]

[Having two days you can barely remember and a best friend kidnapped right from under your nose? It makes you alert.

If it were a serious threat, he doubts he'd have picked up on the person until it was too late. But the fact that someone's sneaking around and doing a better job of it than he would expect from Luceti's residents is still somewhat worrying.

He sticks to the edge of the path, continuing his walk without a change in his demeanor. If she's still following him after sixty seconds, he's going to send his shadow, stretched needle thin, into the dark to search out the person tailing him.]

[dangerouswind]

[She remembers. Nothing but hazy memories, but they are there nonetheless. He's in them, another figure hazy and indistinct and in the shadows.

... The shadows.

She had to get out of the shadows.

Temari wasn't sure why, but she'd learned that listening to her instincts was sometimes the only thing that kept her alive. She left the shadows, knowing full well she risked being seen by doing so. She steps into the street behind him, trying for confidence and nonchalance.

Hard to do when she was bleeding.]

[its_troublesome]

[Much better. He turns when he sees movement, then stares when he sees who it is; her appearance.]

Temari? You all right?

[dangerouswind]

[She takes a half-step back before she catches herself. She is not unsure of herself. Never afraid.

How does she know him? And, more importantly, how does he know her? It takes her a moment to answer; she should have slept by now. Ate, at the very least.]

Tell me your name.

[If she had his name, maybe she could connect it all.

Maybe.]

[its_troublesome]

[You should know it already. He's going to take that as a no, then.

He straightens out of his slouch, trying to determine what's been done to her. Something more than physical, by the looks of it.]

Nara Shikamaru.

[dangerouswind]

[Nara Shikamaru. It's... familiar. Somehow, it's familiar. Temari just looks at him, gaze critical and cataloging as she tries to remember.]

Konoha.

[its_troublesome]

That's right.

[Luceti is no stranger to alternate realities, right? She doesn't know him; if she does, it's nothing but a faint memory. Which isn't the problem at all; the twists involved with something like that could be influenced as much by the people they meet as it could by politics.

And that could get messy.]

Is that a problem?

[dangerouswind]

[A problem? It's only a problem in that the fall of Suna came after a defeat dealt by Konoha.

There was no love lost between Sand and Leaf, that was certain.]

No problem.

[But she's tensing, ready to run -- or attack or defend. Whatever comes.]

[its_troublesome]

[Bull. Shit. You don't sound confident about that at all.]

All right. [But he doesn't point it out. The last thing he needs is for her to run.] So I guess that brings us back to my original question. You okay? [He nods his head, looking at the blood on her cheek; the state of her wings.] You look like shit. I can find you medic if you need one.

[dangerouswind]

[Her response is immediate.] No medic. [Not if Konoha is offering it.

But even after refusing the help, she stays. She can't shake the feeling that she knows him and that worries her.]

[its_troublesome]

[Then let's cut to the chase.]

What do you want then? Or are you just planning on sight-seeing?

[dangerouswind]

[That stops her cold.]

I want to know where I am.

[And, by God, he'll tell her if she has to force it out of him.]

[its_troublesome]

[Not going to be a problem.]

You're in Luceti. I take it you don't remember it?

[dangerouswind]

I remember... [Her voice is raised, but trails off abruptly. Suna is gone, for the most part. She remembers being hunted. Remembers fighting. Hiding.

She does not remember Luceti.

But maybe she does. Conflicting and hazy memories crowd her mind and she simply... does not know. Confusion, thy name is Temari.]

Go. [She'll figure it out herself.]