Quick Note; OK, second update for today...the next update I'll TRY to get out, hopefully, during the week, like on a Wednseday, but it msot likely will be Friday knowing me...and a very, VERY late Friday too...
This chap is alright...kind of, hm, I want to say this chapter is important to the plot, but then it's also kind of...boring(?) I don't know what I'm saying...you decide...
Disclaimer-Okay, 12 chapters later and I've yet to come up with somethnig creative here...no...
She was powerful, not to be underestimated. Shikamaru couldn't, for the life of him, remember her ever being so powerful that she was able to, without words, seals, or even her fan, command whirlwinds to hold him down. And because of that unique new power of hers, Kankuro had fallen before his own eyes. Shikamaru turned and starred with wide eyes at the fallen comrade. True, Shikamaru had barely known him, but he'd known him nonetheless. Kankuro; one of the best, if not the, puppeteer of his time; said to be the next greatest after Chiyo-baasama and Sasori. But, now he'd never be called that again; he'd fade into the background of people's minds, going from hero to legend to mystery to forgotten.
Shikamaru knew how Kankuro must have felt in his final moments. Sure, he might feel a bit of pain or betrayal, but mostly...mostly he'd feel satisfied. Satisfied that he had died by the hands of the one person he'd die by. Anyone else would have been disgraceful; a joke on his title of Suna Jounin. But no...dying by her twisted, tanned hand was the befitting end. Shikamaru closed his eyes for a silent moment to honor the fallen Jounin; Suna would miss him.
"Well, well, crybaby. Looks like it's just you and me."
Shikamaru opened his eyes, rage building inside of him. He turned to look at Temari, unscathed by her previous battle. She seemed to not care, even after her own brother had just died. Shikamaru clenched his fist; she wasn't human anymore. She was a hollow shell, possessed by darkness; moved by the wind. She no longer held any emotions other than spite and hatred; but, that was fine. Shikamaru felt and heard his knuckles crack under the pressure; he'd bring back those emotions, one way or another.
"As much fun as watching you stand there, I'm a girl who prefers to move, and show off flexibility. You, however, are still in movements, and stiff. This isn't a dance match in heaven, but it'll do for this dance."
Shikamaru watched as she once more unleashed her fan, sending three monstrous waves towards him. He was ready, though. The first he dodged easily, leaping far to the side; the second caught him however, sending him backwards. As he began to reach a tree, he quickly switched positions to land on his feet and bounce forward, hiding behind another tree as the third wave passed by him.
"Nice try, but you're forgetting the strength of my winds."
It was a second before Shikamaru remembered.
Crap!
Temari sent a wave larger than any before, crashing and slicing trees down like a knife to butter. A huge area, cleared down to trunks, now stood before her. Somewhere underneath the rubble of fallen trees lied Shikamaru, she thought cynically to herself. She turned around, only to nearly trip over something. She scolded as she stumbled back.
What?
It was Kankuro. She hadn't realized how close she had gotten to him, but now she looked down at him, or more so his back. His head was face down, so she rolled him over with her foot, his face now looking up. His eyes, beady and black, were closed, the eye liner appearing thicker than it really was. His mouth, though, was smiling one of his twisted smiles. He looked like he always had, when he would close both eyes, or just one, and smile, that reassuring, confident smile. Confident; the lazy-ass had too much confidence, Temari thought.
Her smile faded. She didn't know why, but it did. She looked down at his body, no expression showing on her face. So...this was her brother? Up close after over a year apart, and this was what he looked like? No different than before; still looked the most like dad. Something shot up her throat; pain? No, that couldn't be it.
She looked up, and her eyes widened. Standing before her, for a split second, was her brother, Kankuro. But, he wasn't alone. Gaara was there, too. And their father, the late Kazekage, and their mother. Temari began to identify them all; she even saw Chiyo-baasama. What were these many figures, all old friends and acquaintances, doing before her? But, they lasted only a second, and then faded.
Something flew into Temari's eye, and she quickly whipped it away.
"You're not crying, are you?"
Temari froze in realization.
"You know, it's not good for one to turn their back on their partner, especially in only the middle of the dance."
Temari turned, first slowly and then quickly, and as she did, she heard him shout those words;
"Shadow Imitation no jutsu!"
Temari froze, cursing slightly under her breath.
"Chouji? Sai?"
Naruto looked around; as quickly as the ones before them, chakra had dropped, and Naruto found himself stopped, feeling slightly dizzy at the thought. Another wave of pain hit him as, once again, another familiar sent of chakra died.
"Kankuro?"
A tear hit Naruto. They were all dead; dead, as in gone. As in they'd never look at Naruto again. As in Sai would never make some snide comment about Naruto and his 'parts'. As in Chouji would never offer Naruto some of his chips, or happily agree to eat ramen with him. As in Kankuro would never...
Naruto stopped. He hadn't even known Kankuro very well. In fact, he didn't know him pretty much at all. That hurt even more than knowing him; the fact he never got the chance to actually meet Kankuro. He grinded his teeth together.
He didn't like the way this was turning out at all. The only ones left were himself, Kiba, Shino, and Shikamaru. But, Shikamaru's chakra was flaming, so he must be in trouble, or in a battle. Naruto looked in the direction of Shikamaru's chakra. Should he go help his comrade? Should he give up his own chase that was leading to nowhere and help Shikamaru battle whoever it was he was battling? Naruto took one step in that direction then stopped.
"Don't you dare, Naruto."
Naruto turned around. No one was there; it was inside his own head. It was a voice; who's? Shikamaru's perhaps?
"You have to go forth and find your own battle. Shikamaru is smart; he'll survive. The same can't be said about you, though."
Naruto gulped; it was his own voice. Realization sunk in. He was right. He had to continue on. Naruto nodded his head, and with that, began to turn and head the way he had been going.
Shikamaru, you'd better not...
"Clever, I'll give you that much."
Shikamaru and Temari both smiled, despite the situation. Temari, after a silent moment, began to laugh.
"Seriously, Temari, after one loss of focus, you'd think you'd learn!"
Shikamaru watched as Temari spoke to herself, until she turned to him.
"Well, I guess we all have off days; mine just happened to be today. Pity, I'm normally never like this, but..."
She trailed off. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, then remembered his situation and began to walk towards Temari, his movements being reflected by herself. He was slightly ticked that, even in her position, she was smiling as though she had won. Sweat rolled down his temples; something wasn't right.
"It seems this isn't my dance. Then again, I never was a slow dancing-type. What do you say we pick up the pace, eh? I'm dying to see your actual moves!"
Shikamaru froze in horror as, like before, without even moving wind circled around the two. Still, she was trapped in his jutsu, but how? How could she still command wind?
How could she still smile as though she had won, when they had barely even started?
"I bet you're wondering, aren't you? Your genius mind can't comprehend my trump card, can it? Let me show you, if you please."
Shikamaru starred with even more disbelief as the wind began to move his limbs; his own limbs! And, as he moved, so did she. The wind brought his hand to his chest, and her body did the same. His fingers were pulled down, clasping around the neck of his shirt, pulling it down. To him, all it did was reveal slight skin beneath his skirt. But, for Temari, it revealed the area above her heart; and within this area, a black seal rested.
A circle, surrounded by tiny symbols, and in the middle was the kanji symbol; Art.
"This unlocks my true potential, putting me years and years above even the greatest masters. I control my element beyond any normal being, even to the point where I surpass ninja skills. I can command the wind; it is mine to command! I don't need words, signals, or seals; it moves at my disposal!"
Shikamaru was now gasping for two reasons; air, and disbelief. How was it possible? Stronger than ninja? What seal was that powerful? How did she obtain such a gift?
"It's really a pity. In these kinds of dances, it is the male that should lead. But, it would seem that in this case, the female must lead, and in doing so, you must follow, crybaby."
Shikamaru gulped; who was controlling who?
A/N: And...that's the end of this chapter...yeah...It's an okay chapter, probably could use some improving, then again which chapter couldn't?!? I've got about...three more chapters typed after this, but the latest one is being revised drastically, so I really need to get working no them so I don't fall really behind and have, like, nothing to update with come a week...I like to be consistant in updating...hm...anyway, reviews, flames, comments, critisims...I thrive on them all!
