Temari struggled to put one foot in front of the other. She tried to shield her eyes from the sand whipping around her.
Damn this sandstorm and damn Kankuro.
In all reality it was as much her fault as Kankuro's that she was stuck in this sandstorm. It had been planned that she would have left for Konoha today but when she saw the sandstorm brewing she had decided to wait. Kankuro had then proceeded to call her a wimp and not much of a kunoichi for being scared of a little sand. Temari got pissed and left for Konoha in spite of the dangerous sandstorm. Bad idea. She hadn't made it halfway out of the desert before the sandstorm erupted around her. She tripped over a rock protruding from the sand. She tried to get back up but the sand kept beating down on her. She was so tired. As she felt herself slipping away a name passed through her mind.
Shikamaru.
Temari opened her eys. She stared up at the top of a cave illuminated by firelight.
"I was beginning to think you were never going to wake up."
Temari tensed and sat up wincing at the pain. She looked around for the source of the voice. She saw a girl about her age sitting by a fire. She had dark hair and eyes.
"You shouldn't really be moving," said the girl. "I'm not going to hurt you after I took the time to save you."
"You brought me here?" asked Temari.
"Yep. Your fan's damn heavy by the way."
Temari looked to see her fan leaning at the side of the cave. "Who are you?"
"Hosokawa Fumie. You?"
"Sabaku no Temari. How did you get here?"
"I've been living here for a while after I left the most recent group of traveling ninjas I was traveling with and decided to live in the desert."
"You're a ninja?"
"Yeah. Just not from a village. I've wandered from group to group picking up different things. It's always came easily."
Temari fell silent. "How long have I been here?" she asked finally.
"4 days."
"What?!" yelled Temari trying to get up. Fumie darted up and walked over to her.
"You're not leaving. You're still too weak. Don't know what the hell you were thinking to travel in that sandstorm but now you need to recover."
Temari winced when she mentioned the sandstorm. "But I should have been in Konoha 2 days ago! They must think…" Her eyes widened. "Shika!" She tried to get up again. "I have to go."
Fumie put a hand on Temari's shoulder and squatted down next to her. "You are resting." Her eyes softened. "It's apparent someone is probably very worried about you. I really don't think you should travel for another few days at least but if it means that much to you I'll help you back to Suna tomorrow."
Temari felt her eyes water and an extreme feeling of thankfulness directed towards Fumie but pushed it away for the moment. "Thanks a lot Fumie."
Shikamaru walked through Suna not really noticing where he was going. Gaara's words echoed through his head.
"She disappeared during a sandstorm. We sent out search parties but it's highly doubtful she'll be found alive… if anything is found at all."
He felt a stray tear trickle down his cheek. His head snapped around when he heard a voice.
A painfully familiar voice.
"Give me my fan."
"No. I said before, if I don't think you should be traveling you sure as hell aren't carrying this. It's way too damn heavy."
Shikamaru pushed his way through the crowd towards the voice. His heart stopped when he saw blonde hair.
"Temari?" he choked out. She turned, her teal eyes searching for who had called her name. They widened when she saw him.
"Shika?"
Fumie smiled slightly when she heard his name and quietly stepped back giving them their privacy. He walked up to Temari in shock. Temari searched his face for any emotion other than shock and spotted the tear trail still on his cheek.
"Kami woman! Do you know what the hell you put me through?! I thought you were dead!!!" exploded Shikamaru before kissing her fiercely.
"You didn't call me troublesome," said Temari, lightheaded from the kiss.
"Well you're the most troublesome woman in the world!" he yelled before kissing her again.
"How fast did you get here?" asked Temari quietly.
"After you didn't show up after the normal 3 day trip I left. I made the trip in just under 2 days."
Temari gaped at him. "Did you sleep?"
"I haven't since I left… I couldn't."
Temari cupped his cheek in her hand.
"What the hell were you thinking going out in that sandstorm?"
Temari decided now wasn't the best time to tell him about Kankuro. She would tell him later.
"I'm sorry Shika."
"I guess at this point I should just be happy you're alive," sighed Shikamaru kissing her then hugging her. "How are you alive?" he asked.
"Fumie," replied Temari. Fumie stepped forward holding out her hand to Shikamaru in greeting.
"I was on my way back to my cave when I saw her laying in the desert, so I took her back and cared for her."
Shikamaru shook her hand. "You have no idea how much I owe you," he said quietly.
Fumie smiled. "Don't worry about it. Well I guess I should be heading back."
"Absolutely not," said Temari. "You're going to live in Suna now."
Fumie's eyes lit up. "You'll let me stay?"
"Duh," said Shikamaru. "She's the Kazekage's sister. He won't let you go back to live in a cave in the desert, and even if he would I wouldn't allow it."
"You really want me to stay? I've always been a bother to anyone I traveled with before."
"Why?" asked Temari.
Fumie chuckled sheepishly. "I kind of have a… strong personality that didn't go over too well with most people."
Temari shrugged. "So do I."
Fumie hugged her. "Thank you so much!"
"We might as well go tell Gaara you're alive. Kankuro won't be back for a while. He's still looking for you. He said it was his fault you went out in the sandstorm but I don't understand why," said Shikamaru.
"I'll tell you later," said Temari.
"Come on Fumie. We might as well make it official that you'll be staying here."
Fumie nodded and followed Temari and Shikamaru towards the Kazekage's office.
AN: Yay new story. Though this does turn out to be a FumieKankuro story he doesn't show up till chapter 4! hehe there's a lot of funny stuff in here especially between Fumie and Kankuro just you wait. Hope you like it! :D