ShikaTema- chap 7
Shikamaru held onto Temari, keeping her close to him as he walked on. She was in turn, blushing a bit at the sudden close contact. But, he couldn't exactly help it... even if he wanted to. She couldn't walk on her own... She'd proven in just a half hour ago. They were on their way back into konoha now... they were nearing the gate. He was careful to observe her face, so as to adjust her if she was in pain. She carefully averted his eyes however.
Temari couldn't face him. She knew he face was flaming up terribly, but she couldn't help it. His hand was around her waist, holding her close to him so that too much pressure was not applied to her seared foot. Her thoughts trailed to the fight... and him saving her... Her face flushed further as she thought this... She was glad that the sun was past the horizon now. She hoped he couldn't see her face.
They were nearing the gate quickly now. She grasped the map carefully. Shikamaru had decided to leave the man there, believeing it more important to carry Temari back. They'd only been gone about 2 hours... but they had stayed a bit in the forest to observe the contents of the scroll. It gave messed up coordinates, most likely a code, as Shikamaru had established, and needed to be deciphered in the village.
"Temari, are you alright?" Temari snapped out of her trance and looked at him curiously. "Your really red... do you think it might be an effect of the pain?" Temari smiled weakly.
"So much for the smart one..." She thought smiling. "He can't tell when a girl kinda likes him... did I just say I liked him?" She looked into his eyes.
"Well?" he demanded "Are you sure you don't want to stop at the medical center first?" Temari shook her head and looked foreward.
"No," She stated. " This information is important... who nows how long it could take before they find these guys... It's best we get it to the Godaime hokage first... I'll be alright until then." Shikamaru looked at her a bit worridly, then continued to walk foreward.
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Tsunade turned around in her chair to look at the two kunoichi that stood before her. It had been two hours now, and the two had sent no contact, nor any signs of return. She wasn't sure if they were alright... She was about to send a search party to make sure that they weren't dead. Ino and Sakura looked at her nervously, awaiting the verdict.
"hernm..." Tsunade grumbled. Sakura looked out the side window. Ino stared at Sakura, and then Tsunade.
"Er... Godaime Hokage..." Ino piped up. "Maybe they just... got caught up an-"
"If they're not here now, theres a problem." Tsunade said. Ino recoiled a bit.
"But, maybe-" Sakura said. Tsunade cut her off with a look.
"They could be injured, or worse. I'd rather not send a note to the kazekage that his only sister and liason to the two villages was killed in out forest on a regular a-rank mission with as minimal risk as possible!!" Sakura and Ino made no noise as Tsunade stood up and turned to the window. Then, she turned around.
There was a knock at the door. Sakura went over and opened the door. Her face instantly lit up.
"Shikamaru!!!" She said. "Temari!!! Oh my god, what happened to your foot?" Shikamaru pulled Temari into a chair at the side of the office and took the scroll from her hand.
"Don't worry." He said at the look on her face." I'll explain it to her, let Sakura heal your foot for you." Temari nodded. Shikamaru straightened up and allowed Sakura to kneel down and get to work on Temari's foot.
"Godaime Hokage..." Shikamaru said." This document was captured by Temari as she faced a lone rogue nin. He is deceased and lays in the forest about 62 kilometers east from here." Tsunade nodded for him to continue.
"On the scroll is a code." Temari cut in standing up. " We couldn't decipher alot of it. Perhaps you have someone who can do it." Tsunade nodded and stood up.
"Good work." She said. "But please, the next time you plan on being gone for more that an hour, tell me so that I can find a way to bide my time instead of worrying." Temari and Shikamaru nodded. Tsunade looked at them. "Alright, dismissed." All four bowed and exited the room.
"You are soooo lucky." Ino said nodding at Shikamaru. "She was about to explode with worry!!"
"Yeah," Sakura said. "But, enough of that, we'd better get home, tommorrows a big day!" Temari stopped.
"What do you mean tommorrow's a big day?" All three turned to look at her.
"You don't know? Oh man... Sakura, your suck a bad host!!" Sakura stuck out her tongue at the other kunoichi and turned to Temari.
"Tommorrow. " She said holding up a finger knowingly. "Is the festival of light!!"
