OH MY GOSH! You guys! Thank you so much for the reviews and favorites. I'm tremendously sorry for the long wait BUT I can promise you I've got plenty of ideas for this ambitious story. I have to make one excuse in that this semester, college is kicking my rear end and I've been distracted. BUT Shikamaru's back and Team Tema are about to get a wake up call. Thanks Again!
The sole purpose of a maddening, infuriating, troublesome alarm clock is to wake a slumbering man or woman from their dreams. In Shikamaru's case, it merely serves as a reminder that he had several more hours of sleep he could have enjoyed.
Shikamaru was fully dressed in civilian clothing, though with a slight lazy touch. His hair was done up in his signature ponytail, along with a simplistic grey t-shirt and black pants. He sat on his bed, allowing the bothersome alarm clock to blare the ringing sound as he placed small scrolls and his truted trench knives into his pouch. The look of a man who was prepared to face the wrath of god painted on.
With an expert flick, his lighter caught the end of a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Today was to be the day of infiltration for Shikamaru. The shadow wielder had decided he would put all of his shinobi training to use by locating Kenji, as well as trying to locate Temari within the walls of the massive living quarters the man owned. The wisest of all Konohagakure shinobi was prepared down to the last of the worst case scenarios with strategies to overcome any situation.
The shadow user walked calmly down the road leading to the central homestead of his enemy. Through his calm demeanor, there was a very strong killing intent flowing off of him, more and more with every step closer he got. The only thing on his mind was a bushy mass of golden hair, beautiful emerald eyes, and sun-kissed face.
As the entrance came into view, he noticed the doors were open allowing free entrance and exit, save for one, what Shikamaru assumed, guard. A quick look around was all Shikamaru needed to see any and all possible threats and escape routes. With his signature head scratch, Shikamaru approached the guard in charge of the entrance, adding a slight yawn, asked, "Is..uhm..this Kenshin-sensei's home?"
The guard nodded, and narrowed his eyes to stare down upon Shikamaru. "Uhh, well, you see, I've lost my home and I was hoping, well, maybe I could find work.." Shikamaru droned out. The guard simply nodded once more and stepped aside, allowing access to Shikamaru's unsuspecting prey.
'heh, idiot didn't take my back or anything. This will be easy.' Shikamaru thought to himself as he wandered through the great hall towards what appeared to be Kenshin, sat atop a rather eloquent chair.
"Welcome my young friend. What is it I may assist you with?" Kenshin passively enquired, with an air of leadership and selflessness. "Well, Kenshin-sensei, my name is Kumori…and I uhm... I am looking for work, my uhm..my village is lost and I need money..uhm I thought, well, maybe I could assist you." Shikamaru stuttered out expertly.
Kenshin allowed an extremely menacing grin to dance across his lips quickly before returning to his stoic, calm demeanor. "You say you lost your village, does that mean Konoha is in ruins?"
Shikamaru's mind went blank. He knew his face still showed calm, but his mind was desperately grasping at any straw that would lead to an answer. 'So he knows I'm from Konoha. But how? There's no way.' The Nara fearfully thought.
Kenshin continued, "You only continue to breathe because I do indeed intend to employ you. You see Kumori, or rather Nara-san, I am what you would call a disgruntled former employee. I know Lady Tsunade made sure you knew who it was you were going to confront. I am very disappointed that the old hag would allow you to carry out this mission regardless of that knowledge. Did she tell you by chance the nicknames I developed? The Crimson Demon. Red Death. They used to say I was indeed Shinigami himself. What you are feeling now, Nara-san, is fear. You know how powerful I am and, as a well-trained Konoha-nin you are, smell the overpowering stench of death." A hearty grin ripped across his face.
Shikamaru stood paralyzed by the menacing character in front of him. The tantalizing fear of pure over-powering malice that stood embodied in front of him made Shikamaru feel it nearly necessary to pull out a kunai and slit his own throat. The man, no, the demon that stood before him would make the devil himself quiver in fear. "Tch, how did you know? I planned everything.. No, what is it you want from me?"
"You will return to Konoha, and announce to Lady Tsunade that I, the Crimson Demon, have decided to wage war. You, Nara-san, will also announce that you have denounced Konoha, cut the leaf of your forehead protector, and that you have become my personal strategist."
Shikamaru stared at the striking beast in front of him. 'Troublesome, he's better planned than I was. Well, I have no choice it seems. Wonder how the team will take it.' "I have one request, if I may, before agreeing."
Kenshin looked at Shikamaru, his all-knowing eyes glaring into the dark recesses of Shikamaru's mind. "Ah, I suppose it's only fair as a gracious host. What is it?" "I want to see the Suna ambassador. I want to know she's alive" Shikamaru, set in his resolve, said as sternly as he could.
Kenshin waved his hand to one of his many guards, who nodded and disappeared down a corridor. Shikamaru felt on edge, the few minutes it took the guard to return with his prisoner felt like ages. When Shikamaru's eyes fell on the dirty blonde in tow, his heart dropped. Temari was there, alive, but she looked as though her soul had left her body. Shikamaru started at her hair, an slowly allowed his gaze to flow down her body. Her hair was unkempt, dirty and wild. Her face was paler, from being kept in the dark, cut and bruised. She was unclothed, save for her chains, showing all of her gashes, cuts, and bruises.
The one thing that truly crushed Shikamaru's heart was the lack of emotion in her beautiful emerald eyes. They were sparkling with love and happiness the last time he had looked into them. "Please, allow me to go to her." Shikamaru gritted out in pleading form, though the underlying sound was that of hatred. It may have sounded like a request, but Shikamaru would not be denied.
"I'm afraid before I allow that, there's the matter of your allegiance."