Something Like That . . .
Part XII
Back Stage
Temari sat in a corner watching the play. She was ignorant of the fact that she was smiling as her brothers and Shikamaru made some goofy alliance, she couldn't imagine it in real life, Kankuro and Gaara would leave Shikamaru in the dust, and not just because he was lazy.
Though a small part of her wondered if he'd excel for her sake, as he'd said he would. Then a larger part of her wondered where such thoughts had come from!
She watched Shikamaru, he was mature beyond his years and it sort of threw her off. She sometimes forgot that he was younger than her . . . but then again, it wasn't like it was a huge age difference . . . not that it mattered, it wasn't like she . . . well it just didn't matter!
"Okay, here's what we're doing this next scene," Ino said, "You're going to have a chat with Shikamaru's mom, got it? Try to keep the perversion to a minimum if you can, anyway you're convincing her you're not a spy."
Temari didn't take her eyes off of Shikamaru.
Not that he was important or anything, she was just trying to follow the story he and her brothers were laying out, Kiba had his hand out asking for something and the scene ended, Temari had no idea what was going on thanks to that loud mouthed blonde.
"Now listen up, this is important, you're going to convince Mrs. Nara that you're trustworthy, and I told her to try to end the scene by offering you a chance to prove it, which you'll take, got it?"
"How'm I gonna prove it? It doesn't lead to the sex scene does it?" Temari sighed.
"No, no sex, just agree!" Ino commanded.
"Fine. Hey when is this going to end?"
"Hinata! Get the props!" Ino screamed, running off and ignoring Temari.
The sand kunoichi sighed and waited quietly. She wanted to perform a test.
As Shikamaru came back stage she extended her leg in front of him, he saw it, kept walking anyway and tripped.
Ah, so he was too lazy to adjust his step. She'd thought so. Or maybe he was checking her out . . . whichever. Either way she felt like she'd scored a point and taught him a valuable lesson about women.
Whatever the heck it was, she didn't really know why she'd done that just now, just that it felt about right.
Act X (For Peace and Love!)
Temari sat down across from Shikamaru's mother, who gazed at her appraisingly, "Ah, Julia of . . . wherever, I'd like to know whether, or not you are a spy."
"Oh go eat a stick, I know this is a trick, no matter what you'll say that I lie!"
"Yes that's probably, the most likely, outcome of our little chat. But on the bright side, I would have just died, if I had hair like that."
"How's that side bright? You sayin' you wanna fight? I'll beat you black and blue old girl!" Temari said, reaching for her fan . . . which wasn't there . . . but she did have a prop sword so she drew that and pointed it at Shikamaru's mom. Hey, why hadn't the guards taken her sword away?
"Old? I'm not old! Damn but you're bold, now shut up and listen as my plan I unfurl . . ."
Ino's voice boomed to life, "Alas, and oh no, how will this plan go? What will happen to our heroin? And what of her man, and his silly plan, can true love ever win?"
"Now hear ye my plan, if you truly wish to join my clan, then your loyalty must be put to the test."
Temari frowned and put her sword away. "Yeah sure all right, but if you don't want to fight, not making fun of my hair would work best."
"Just a little fun." Shikamaru's mother smirked.
"Well that's strike one." Temari glared.
"Get over it, child." The older woman glared back.
"Don't drive me wild." The teenager's hand was at the hilt of her.
"Anbu restrain her." Yoshino laughed.
"Eh? What the--" Temari gasped as a pair of strong hands grabbed her.
Okay, so that was Lee.
Two more Anbu appeared next to Shikamaru's mother. She nodded to Temari, "You see if you recall, you're our prisoner after all, and our Anbu are some of the best."
"Okay I give, oh please let me live, please grant my that minor request?" Temari said sarcastically, then threw Lee across the room into Tenten.
Tenten made some whinny comment about Temari always inflicting pain on her, but Lee just kind of held his head and got up.
"Now don't you touch me, I'll be quiet Mr. Lee, and listen to the matron's request."
"Very well then my dear, let me make one thing clear, you can join our village only at my behest. We've just heard tell, that two men you know well, are advancing on this position. Eliminate the enemy Shinobi, and prove yourself to me, with this simple mission."
"Oh heck, is that all? Well I'll just have a ball, beating the snot out of some losers!"
"Is that a fact? Because this attack, is not being led by any old bruisers. The enemy's lead, are your brothers indeed, can you face them and win?"
Temari gasped, "My brothers . . . ah well, For Ramon I'll send 'em straight to hell, for love's sake will I commit such a sin!"
Ino's narration came on, "What do you mean? Why you . . . do you have any idea how badly you've ruined . . . oh is this thing on?"
Temari raised an eyebrow at that, what the heck?
"Uh . . . right, well okay. Then set out today, lead this three man group! Find victory or defeat, turn them to raw meat, and annihilate their entire troop!" Yoshino said.
Temari stood up and punched the air, hiding the fact that she didn't want to even pretend to fight Gaara with forced enthusiasm, "All right then, sounds sweet, I'll never give in to defeat, so let's go beat us some bad guys!"
"My lady, bad news I fear." A new voice said, and another pair of Anbu stepped in and removed their masks as if it were supposed to be significant.
To the leaf Shinobi it seemed to be, "Shino! Sakura! What are you two doing here?"
"We've just come from the wall, and it's about to fall, the Fantasy Nin are attacking!"
"Then move out right away, go make them pay, now is no time for slacking!" Yoshino cried.
Ino appeared in Bemoan guise, and handed Temari a mask and a cloak, "Here put these on, and lead us to some fun, let's fight for justice with honor!"
"Yeah well okay, let's go make them pay, each one of you make one of them a goner!" Temari said, throwing the cloak over herself and putting the mask on.
Hey . . . maybe some day she'd have to become an Anbu, the mask was pretty cool.
"There's just one more thing I'd like to say, to you little child before you go play. Spare no one today, every last one must you slay. If you want my trust, it's really a must."
"I'll let you know when I care, now I'm going out there, to pound down some enemies. I know that Ramon will be happy to come home, and find the land free of fantasies." She cracked her knuckles and jerked her head towards the door, indicating that the others should follow her.
They did . . . Temari grinned, a big battle, this had to mean that the play was coming to an end!
Next Scene Prep
Shikamaru regarded the others sternly, "You've got to be joking." He said when he saw the two new faces coming off stage.
"Shino you dog!" Kiba laughed, "How'd you get over your sickness?"
"Prevention is the best cure." Shino said shortly.
Kiba scratched his head, "Say what?"
"What he means," Ino said appearing behind Shino and Sakura with a rolled up script, "Is that neither of them was really sick!" She whacked the both of them in the back of the head and growled, "I cant believe you two!"
"What did you expect?" Sakura demanded, "I didn't want to have to kiss Shino!"
"And I didn't really want to kiss Sakura." Shino said with a slight shrug.
"When we found out we'd both skipped out on the play we had a good laugh together," Sakura admitted, Ino tried to hit her again, but Sakura caught the script and tore it in half. Man that girl was getting to be strong.
"Not that it matters now . . . but do you two have any idea how troublesome you've made my life for the past two hours?" Shikamaru asked.
"What are you talking about? I thought you and Temari were an item anyway." Sakura shrugged.
"We're not." Shikamaru and Temari said together.
"But the way you guys kissed . . ." Sakura gapped.
"You saw that?" Shikamaru groaned.
"The whole village saw it." Shino said with a nod.
Shikamaru sighed. "Well now that Shino is here--"
"It's too late, you started this you're going to finish it." Ino said, shaking her head. "Sakura and Shino are going to play Anbu, in this next scene you're going to--"
"Aw man . . . what a drag." Shikamaru said, not even bothering to listen to Ino as she explained the next scene to everyone. He turned to Temari instead, who was looking at the design on her mask, "Hey Temari, I think I've got a cold, don't you?"
"What?" The older girl blinked.
"They skipped out on the play, I say we do the same thing."
"Where would we go?" Temari blinked.
"Who cares? We'd just get out of here." Shikamaru shrugged.
"Ooh, I think he's asking you out, Temari!" Kankuro teased.
Shikamaru gapped, no way! That was not what he was doing!
Now Gaara was watching him carefully, not really glaring but certainly not beaming, Ino had shut up and was watching him, which turned everyone else's attention to him.
Temari was watching him.
Well that was to be expected, he was talking to her for crying out loud, but the way she was looking at him, expectant, curious . . .
"I'm not asking anyone out." Shikamaru drawled, "I just figured if I were going to jump ship I'd see who else wanted a shot at freedom . . . Temari got dragged into this too, remember?"
Temari smiled at him, "No . . . I think we should finish this play off . . . it's almost done anyway."
Shikamaru scoffed, but suddenly Ino had him in a headlock, "She's finishing, so you are too! Don't even think about trying to escape, or I'll make yours a world of pain!" Ino cried.
Shikamaru groaned, "Man Ino, now you're both a literal and figurative pain in the neck!"
More To Come . . .
Stuff the Unworthy Writer Says: Is it that obvious that I'm having fun with this? Oh no, I'd better say something gloomy . . . uh . . . this story is troublesome.
Just kidding, I really do enjoy writing this, as much as (I hope) everyone is enjoying reading it. I hate having to say this because it sounds pompous, but I cant help it; I am amazed by this story. Yes awed by my own work, which makes me sound like I'm full of myself, but I'm not. I'm just really into this story. The way I feel when I write it, and the way others respond to it causes me to believe it has a life of its own, it only lets me think I'm planing everything. A couple times I've written two chapters back to back simply because I cant wait to see what's going to happen next, even though in theory I already know how it ends.
And I think I just confused myself.
I wanted Shino and Sakura, the original Ramon and Julia to be involved after I decided to extend the story, but I wasn't sure if it'd be a good idea so late in the game. However it is good to see that the readers feel as I do, and the neglected pair can appear.
We are all immersed in darkness, it is true, and I think as long as we don't form a suicide cult we'll be okay . . . if we do though there wont be any more ShikaTema fans, so our survival is imperative, everyone . . . buckle your safety belts!
ShikaTema rocks! Much appreciation to my reviewers and my many readers.