Rating: K+
Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by Kishimoto.
Fear
I watched Temari's back as I followed her through the woods. There was urgency in her movements as she leaped from one giant tree limb to the next for she had received a souvenir-a slash in the gut from the fallen enemy shinobi. While I, there was hesitancy on my part, an indecision, for she wouldn't ask for my assistance.
She leaned on a tree trunk momentarily taking deep breaths causing her shoulders to move with every gasp of air. I knew she was in pain. I could hear it from the way the air escaped through her lips. My eyes then zoomed onto her bloodied left hand as she used it to push herself off against the bark of the giant tree.
"Temari?" Finally, I broke the silence but she ignored me. Her being a strong kunoichi displeased me at this moment. I wanted to help. No, I needed to help.
She jumped to the next branch, trying to stay in balance with only her right hand slightly directed backwards in her flight. Her left hand was used to clutch a piece of soiled cloth to apply pressure on the wound.
The fact that I hadn't seen yet the full scope of her injury had left my palms sweaty and cold, and my stomach with an uneasy feeling. The only comfort I had was that she could still move. It reassured me that it couldn't be that bad. But then again it could be. The troublesome woman was so stubborn. But stubborn is good. It meant she wouldn't just quit and die.
Dammit she could die!
Going faster, I went ahead. When I was a few metres before her, I turned around to face her; I paused and raised my hands at my sides to give her the signal to stop.
She did. "Get out of my way, you ass!" She snapped.
Now that I was staring at her front, I saw the full extent of the blood stains on her black yukata. Really, it didn't look like it was blood, just a wide wet mark on the black yukata, extending from her stomach radiating up to her chest and tapering below to her thigh area.
I swallowed. My throat was already dry but it was either that action or I would say the first thing on my mind. Tch, 'don't die and leave me' sounded too much like a plea.
But her blood wouldn't leave such a mark on her dress if only a small amount was lost.
My gaze lingered on the blood soaked part of the yukata. I might not have uttered those words but my eyes probably conveyed them.
Temari then growled or might be it was a cringed from the pain. I saw her left hand tightened their grip on that bloodied cloth covering the cut.
I wanted to lift that hacked cloth and judged for myself the extent of her injury. But I'm not Ino, seeing the wound would accomplish nothing. But...
I came closer to her. Grabbing her left hand, I raised it, and I examined her tummy area. Her hand tried to resist but I only tightened my hold. The slash appeared to be deep and blood still trickled from it. I knew my eyes expressed my anger as I glanced up to her face. With her exertion she didn't give the wound a chance to clot by itself. With her every move she had forced the cut to remain open.
Mumbling an unintelligible defensive retort, Temari with a bout of strength pulled her left hand out of my grasp and started to take a step forward.
"I'm not going to call you a crybaby, you know," I said as I pretended to smirk, letting her know that I didn't consider her weak.
She gave me a grunt.
Taking her hand again and pulling her to my chest, I complained, "troublesome woman." This time she didn't resist my arms around her however her own arms remained at her sides. Taking it as a grudging consent, I stooped to be able to put my one arm beneath her knees, straightening I placed my other arm under her shoulders and carried her, bridal style.
She hesitated before she wrapped her right arm around my neck while her left continued to apply pressure on the torn flesh.
I was careful as we resumed our journey back to Konoha. I had to be since I carried precious cargo on my hands.
I heard her mutter, "thank you."
I nodded but the strength of the arm that encircled my neck and the reassuring breath I felt near my ear are what I needed from her, not her damn gratitude.
"Shikamaru?" She asked after a while.
"Yeah?" I rasped, my breath coming out in short spurts. Carrying Temari is just a piece of cake if not for the fact that killing the one who hurt her had not left me so damn exhausted. I juggled her a bit on my arms, shifting her weight. Konoha's gate would be visible after the next turn.
"You can put me down," the female on my arms demanded.
"No," I declared. The pain and numbness in my shoulders to my arms as I carried her, was nothing. The strain I was putting on my knees and legs with the added load as I bounded in a hurry from tree to tree, was nothing.
Giving me a meaningful smile, Temari announced, "I would still call you crybaby. More so now I think."
Looking down at her face, that was when it sinks in. She allowed me to help her to help me dissipate my fear.
Our eyes met. Hers communicated a confidence that she is really alright.
"Tch," I mumbled grumpily. She was right. I wouldn't have believed her if she had simply told me.
So I couldn't help it, moving my lips near her ear, I also whispered, "thank you." I knew I shouldn't. But feeling relieved, I didn't at the moment cared if I appeared like an anxious crybaby.
I would let her gloat for now. So long that she would be around to call me that cursed nickname, it would be a small price to pay.
"Don't mention it," the troublesome woman smirked as she started to remove her hand from around my neck.
Konoha's gigantic gate was just ahead. Obviously, Temari didn't want to be carried in like a helpless kunoichi.
Grinning, I tightened my hold.
-o0o-
5 16 11 ~6 9 11~
A/N: Thanks to Temari fl , Leca B., Effie-a, and 0FoX0 for the reviews and fave. Seriously, it brought a smile to my face.
Hey, did you get my message? Probably not...Hmn it would have sounded clever if it was intentional. Tsk, I just couldn't believed I missed it myself ~gah~ .
Review okay. Click on that blue button below. Thanks.