Okay, I've decided that I won't give up writing: I couldn't live without it! I accidentally started five Naruto fanfics I can't finish, so I've combined three of them into this one as of this chapter, so this won't be completely Temari/Shikamaru based all the way through. It's also Kiba/OC. So I'll try to update about every other day, and hopefully I'll have this fic done within a month. I'm also hoping to make this my longest fic ever! Yay Naruto!
And just so you know, the thing Sasuke is looking for isn't the nine tails, either.
Enter Leiko! Flash! Temari in Trouble:
"Okay, we've been searching for Temari for days, now where the heck is she!" Kankuro was getting angry. Gaara just sat in the shadows away from the fire, letting everyone else in the group eat in peace.
Kankuro continued, "She should've come back as soon as possible. Jeeze, she's so…"
"Shut up," Gaara mumbled.
Everyone turned to him. "Huh?" asked Kankuro.
"I said: Shut up about my sister!" Gaara yelled, turning away and walking back farther into the woods.
Everyone looked at Kankuro. Kankuro couldn't handle Gaara alone; he never could. But Temari had at least some control, and Gaara listened only to her.
"What're you looking at?" he bellowed at the others, who were still staring at them. Quickly they turned away, throwing him occasional glances. Except Shikamaru, who was sitting in a tree above them all in his thinking position. He slowly opened his eyes, and immediately knew that something was wrong.
(&)
"Come on, wake up! We're going to head this way today!" said Shikamaru, pointing to the East.
"But that's moving towards Konoha! Temari was going the other way," said Sakura.
"We're going that way. That's the way Temari is, and that's where we're going. End of story."
Shikamaru wasn't acting like himself today. Sakura didn't say anything else, and instead followed Shikamaru with the rest of the group.
(&)
"Hey, has anyone seen Gaara?" asked Kankuro.
"He's following us. You didn't notice?" asked Ino reproachfully.
"No, I didn't. Gaara happens to be excellent at…"
"Yeah, yeah…" interrupted Ino. They continued on their journey.
(&)
"Stop!" shouted Shikamaru. Everyone immediately halted, some (Ino) losing their balance and stumbling. The group stared at Shikamaru.
Then Shino spoke, "Someone else is following us. Besides Gaara, who seems to have stopped along with the other. We should go back and see if he's all right."
Some nodded and they were all off in the opposite direction.
They got their just in time to see a black-haired girl bowing down in front of Gaara, who just stood there. The girl suddenly shot up and flung herself at Gaara, who stumbled around, trying to pry her off without hurting her. "Gaara-chan!" she screamed happily.
"G-Gaara-chan?" stuttered Kankuro, eyes open wide. Gaara finally managed to get the girl off.
She was quite short, shorter than anyone else their, with medium-length black hair pulled into two pony tails on both sides of her head, tied up black ribbons. She had unusually pale skin, and blood-red eyes. She was dressed completely in black (sort of like Tsunade and Temari's outfit combined) and wore black ankle-boots. And she was overly cheerful – very much like Naruto.
"Heh. Lost?" Gaara asked nonchalantly.
"Quite the contrary! I've been looking for you. Where's Uzumaki Naruto?"
"Not here."
"Oh. Ah, well. I'll travel with you until you and your group reaches Konoha. That's where he lives, right?"
"Fine."
"Care to introduce me to them?" the girl asked, indicating the group behind Gaara. Gaara gave no answer.
"Okay, then. I'm Leiko, from the Hidden Village of Ice. This is a tiny village of exiles from the Water Country. I'm looking for Uzumaki Naruto. I need to tell him something. By the way, have you found Temari yet?"
"Uh…" Everyone just looked at her.
Hinata stepped forward, "Umm…no, we haven't. Hello, I'm…"
"Huuga Hinata. I'm surprised you were the first to say anything."
"Umm…I just didn't think you were any…threat…or anything…so…"
"Yeah, I see. Anyhow, there's no need to introduce yourselves. I already know who you are. Let's just get…" Leiko froze, eyes wide.
"Leiko!" yelled Gaara, running to her. He grabbed her shoulders.
"Hey, hey! I'm alright. I can control it now, Gaara-chan. But thanks anyways." Leiko said, rubbing the back of her head.
"Good," said Gaara, turning away.
'Why is Gaara so protective of this girl…Leiko?' thought Kankuro.
"Oi! Don't just be staring into space! Let's get going; Temari's in trouble," yelled Leiko, now far ahead of them, beckoning and waving her arms.
"Let's go," said Gaara, turning to follow Leiko.
"O-Okay, then…" agreed Kankuro. "Let's go!"
Hinata just shrugged and ran off, followed by the rest of the group.