Lines between paragraphs signal flashbacks/memories

With the fourth shove Shikamaru was finally able to open the door, and he carefully stepped out and over the bits of rust that broke off. Wanting nothing more than to float away with the clouds, he figured the roof would be his best bet. Goosebumps accumulated along his bare skin; his body tried to adjust to the chilled temperature. He shivered, and with one foot in front of the other, he began to approach the ledge. The village looked melancholy. Only a few original buildings remained; the once bright and warm feelings related to them abandoned. Everything looked pitiful, and the grey winter sky didn't help.

For a moment it was as if time stood still. A mirage of green grass and lush spring vegetation blanketed the meadows, shops and homes stood tall and sturdy; they were filled with happy people with happy lives. Everything was peaceful; everything was right. Yet with one blink-all was gone.

"It's a damn shame." He uttered closing his eyes; no longer wanting to look.

The few sounds around him faded into one somber hum.

"Shikamaru Nara!" a distressed voice yelped out.

Shikamaru's eye shot open and darted around franticly. His body became chilled as he felt the grass around him. Blurred figures become clear, and his eyes burnt as they were filled with the glow of a fire. He sat up still disoriented and sweating.

"Sir we have reports that the enemy has divided their forces and are planning to head this way." The same distressed voice announced through his heavy breathing.

"Wha-what?" he asked rubbing his eyes.

"Sir we have to know. What should we do?" the man asked; his tone desperate for an answer.

"I….what? I don't know." Shikamaru uttered taking in the new information.

"What do you mean you don't fucking know? How can you not know?" the man questioned.

He knelt down and grasped Shikamaru's shirt, violently tugging him towards his face.

"How can you be sleeping at a time like this? Maybe I should just kill you now. At this rate it'll be your fate anyway; you little shit!" The man hissed.

"Leave him alone." Another voice, this time familiar and rather calm, chimed in.

Both men turned towards the fire.

Temari sat perfectly poised by it. Her legs rested beside her; keeping her skirt closed and her hands rested in her lap holding a small cup with a steaming liquid. Shadows danced around her stern face as the fire flickered.

The man heisted. Temari shot him a harsh look.

"You're tugging at the shirt of the best strategist this entire army has; your only shot of making it out alive. You should be thankful he's the only one getting sleep around here." She spoke firmly.

The man snarled; eyes still locked with the blond woman, and shoved Shikamaru into the ground before letting go of his shirt. Temari stood up taking a defensive stance.

"You got a problem?" She questioned.

The man moved backwards a few steps.

"I'm going to look for more fire wood." He announced; his figure fading away into the dark.

Shikamaru coughed as his lungs took back the air that had been forced out of them. He shuffled his tired body over beside the aggressive female and sat down. Her eyes, still stern, met with his. He sat silently anticipating her to speak, but she didn't. Her eye moved back to the burning embers. Her lack of communication was troublesome to him. Their eyes met and departed once more before she let out a heavy sigh.

"What?" he questioned becoming frustrated with her.

"You really should learn to fend for yourself. I'm not always going to be here to fight you're little bullies off." She uttered.

"I could have handled him just fine once I came to. If anything you shouldn't be pushing your way into other's problems." He scolded; folding his arms to his chest.

"Is that so?" she questioned; moving the burnt leaves around the fire with a stick.

Shikamaru didn't speak.

"Well you might not even be here if I hadn't done that in the past….shall I remind you?" she asked sarcastically.

"..."

"Cry baby." She scoffed.

"For fuck's sake, woman! Would you let that go?" Shikamaru yelled. "Damn it, you just don't-"

He stopped suddenly when he realized her giggling. He watched as her nose crinkled up and her lips stretched her mouth into an innocent smile; the tenseness in his body disappeared.

"I'm sorry Shikamaru," she said between giggles, "it sounds terrible, but it gives me thrills to see you all wound up."

"Of course it does." He said in his annoyed tone.

He stretched his arms behind his head and fell into the grass.

"I'm just making sure you haven't gone numb like the others. Don't take it personal. It's just my strange way of showing that….well, that I care." She said; keeping her eyes away from his.

"That she cares?," Shikamaru thought in disbelief, "And she cares about me? Good lord I've been missing a lot."

She hesitantly looked his way; feeling the burn of his eyes on her.

"Look I hate to admit it, and if the circumstances were different you'd probably never know…but you're actually a pretty ok guy Shikamaru…and pretty good ninja at that." She reluctantly admitted.

The way she said it didn't even sound like a compliment, but never the less, Shikamaru's face became soft. He was actually embarrassed by her kind words.

"That's why…" she started.

His expression became attentive once more.

"That's why I want you to fight your hardest." She said finishing her words.

"..."

Her fists smashed into the ground.

"Look, if you die because you're too fucking lazy to follow through, then I'll never forgive you!" she yelped.

Shikamaru studied her face before speaking. It was stern again. Many thoughts filled his mind at once and he sighed; giving up trying to sort them out.

"Look, Temari…I realize this isn't the best time, but I wanted to know-"

The winds changed and brought a dark presence with them. Both of their bodies froze as the hair on the back of their necks stood straight. The only movement was that of the fire and their eyes shifting and straining to see into the blackness of the world around them.

A horrid growl from the distance broke the silence

"Temari…." It began, "Temari, darling, I know you're here."

A voice so ghastly had never touched her ears before. It was like poison as it sank into her mind and made her stomach churned, and it was saying her name. Her breaths quickened and a cold sweat broke out on her skin.

Shikamaru grabbed her horror stricken body and forced the two of them into the nearby brush. Eye peering, and bodies motionless, they rested on their stomachs and waited.

"Temari…there's no need to fear me. I'm not here for you, not yet anyway" the voice spoke with a chuckle.

A massive figure emerged from the bushes across them in an Akatsuki robe. The sudden stench of evil surrounded them and the air around them felt heavy. It held the almost lifeless body of their third group member by the neck; his flesh cut up and bleeding.

"I just want you to relay a little message for me to your pathetic little brother. Think you can do that for me?" it asked in a sinister tone.

Shikamaru put his arm around her back to keep her down. Her emotions became a mixture of fear and loathing.

"In fact, I never intended to kill anyone here tonight, but I ran into your little friend here and it hit me. He's quite the inspiration; a muse of sorts. What better way to give you the message then to show you?" the figure mocked while cocking it's head. "Actions speak louder than words anyway. Just imagine this man as the brother you hold so dear to your heart."

The figure finished his speech. Its dark claw sank into the skin of the man it was holding. With one quick motion, the arm was torn off. Bits of muscles scattered to the ground and blood pooled in the mud. A gut wrenching scream was let out instantaneously; it sent a shiver down Temari's spine.

"Oh come now. That was only the first amputation." The dark figure uttered. "My, you humans are so squishy and weak."

Next was a leg; torn off slowly so every ligament could be seen snapping. The hiding pair watched in horror. Shikamaru held tightly to shaking body beside him. The figure paused as if it were listening.

"It knows were here." Shikamaru concluded through observation, "So why not kill us now and get it over with? It's obviously stronger than us."

He glanced over at Temari. Water rimmed her eyes and she opened her mouth slightly; Shikamaru firmly placed his hand around it, and shielded her eyes.

The figures face was hidden, but Shikamaru got the vibe it was smiling. The dark claw ripped the shirt off the dying man and slowly began slicing his torso down the middle and tearing out organs and intestines. Temari's body twitched at every gurgle and gasp the man let out. The lifeless carcass was thrown to the ground; cast aside like a piece of trash. A demonic laugh erupted from the figure as it sank back into the forest leaving the stench of fresh blood.

Sweat dripped from his brow as he strained his neck; making sure the figure was gone. His hand remained over Temari's mouth. Every hair on her body stood on end. Eyes bulging, she shook uncontrollably; every inch of her wanted to scream.

"Stay quiet." He whispered to her as he cautiously removed his hand

"It killed Gaara!" she yelped.

"No, that was just the man assigned to our group." He responded trying to hush her.

"No! I-it was in my head! It made me watch; made me…made me see!" She said between stutters. "M-m-my…..Gaara!"

"What the hell kind of jitsu was that?" Shikamaru wondered.

He bit his lower lip out of frustration.

"Temari it wasn't real. He used a jitsu on you." He said, desperate to calm her. "Gaara is okay, and he's waiting for us."

He pulled her depressed body from the ground and helped her find her footing.

"We can't leave! It'll find us-find him!" she exclaimed. Her knees buckled beneath her. "It'll be there…in the shadows…waiting!"

Shikamaru held her up. Her vulnerable eyes were unable to focus on her surroundings.

"Look at me!" he demanded.

He snapped his fingers to get her attention, and held her jaw straight while he spoke.

"I control the shadows." He said firmly, "As long as you're with me…and Gaara too, it can't touch you-us, all of us."

Hearing his last words she collapsed. He studied her unconscious body in his arms. Her eyes were swollen and left streams of water down her face, her nose was red, and the tips of her bangs were wet from sweat.

Shikamaru sighed. Even if she was awake she was in no condition to travel. He'd have to carry her; it couldn't be helped.

"Passing out at a time like this?" he questioned aloud, "troublesome woman."