Another sort of quick-chapter! Don't be mad, please! But more quick-chapters means more frequent updates. I hoped you like this one.

Chapter 7

Rational Thinking

"Ino!" Shikamaru and Tenten called in unison.

"My baby!" Kurenai cried, clutching her chest.

"…Mina." Growled Asuma, fuming.

Shikamaru turned to Kelisa. "You! You know the crevasses in this place, where could she have disappeared to with Marnie and Ino in that time?" He asked her this desperately. Kelisa bit her nails in a panic.

"I honestly don't know!" she said nervously. "There are still things here not even I have figured out. Mina may be an evil mental case, but it's usually the evil mental cases that are the most crafty."

"Yeah well that got us absolutely no where…" said Neji, looking around.

"I'm sorry but I don't know," Kelisa tried explaining again. Suddenly, Shikamaru thrust himself forward at her and grabbed her fiercely by the shoulders.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?" He yelled at her. "THE WOMAN'S CRAZY! THEY COULD…" Shikamaru let his grip on the frightened Kelisa's shoulders loosen as they began to drop. "They could…Ino could…" He hung his head. Kelisa saw a droplet hit the floor.

Shikamaru felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Asuma towering above him.

"I know," he said in an understanding voice. "But you won't have to worry. We will get out girls back."

"How are you going to do that?" Tenten asked, frightened about what happened to her friend.

"Having known this young man's father, I can just tell it's a like-father-like-son matter here. You've got an impressive IQ, right boy?" Asuma patted Shikamaru's back.

"I guess so…" Shikamaru said, raising an eyebrow, wondering where Asuma was getting at.

"And you too?" He looked at Neji. Neji made a muffled 'hmp' in reply. "Thought so. Then that's all we need. A few good brains can take down an evil mastermind with ease, if one is cautious," he said. Kurenai sighed.

"I'm afraid you've been reading too many Sherlock Holmes books, dear. I thought I took those away from you." She shook her head.

Asuma turned red. "Well, those book's logic just happens, to come in handy in this little situation, honey," he said to Kurenai.

"Fine," she said quietly. "Whatever will get our Marnie back is fine with me."

Shikamaru felt a bit more reassured, but his feelings did not sway.

I swear…he thought as his face turned angry. If Mina hurts Ino…she won't live to tell about it.

OTHER PLACE (AN: YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHERE YET…)

"Mmph! Agh! OUCH!"

"Shut up you rat! And keep that baby's wailing under control!"

"You-urgh- won't get away with this!"

"Oh, I'm sorry dear…" A large thump sounded. "I already have."

WITH OTHERS

"Ok, boys…" Asuma put his hands together. "What do you find odd, or uneven about these floorboards? Anything works. Anything you find peculiar," he advised them.

The two geniuses studied the floor for a few seconds.

"The pattern of tiles," said Neji. "The rows here are in an even formation…this row is more slanted," he said.

"Excellent," grinned Asuma. "Anything else?"

"The mold," said Shika. "The mold around every other tile is a deep gray, while the molding around this one is a brighter gray."

"Bingo," said Asuma. "You boys are quite the observers. Didn't expect any less from the offspring of two of my best friends."

Kurenai and Tenten stood to the side, both quivering as they looked at the tiles.

"I sure can't see anything peculiar about them," Tenten said, tilting her head.

"Then it's not just me," Kurenai said, sighing as she leaned against the wall. She buried her face in her hands. "Goodness…my poor baby. She's so precious to me. I won't be able to bear it if what happened to my friends happens to her. I…" Tenten heard a sob. "…I don't know how I will live."

"Don't worry," Tenten comforted her confidently as she looked proudly at the concentrating Neji. "They won't let you down. They won't let any of us down."

Neji, being one to catch just about every exchange made, heard this. Tenten wasn't aware of it, but he knew she was staring at him. If it were any other person, he would have told them to get lost or something, as he didn't like being stared at steadily. However…this person for some reason, didn't tweak one nerve in him. He, dare he say, kind of…enjoyed it.

"Neji, sorry to break your daze, but we've got some deep issues here," Asuma snapped Neji back into reality.

"My bad," said Neji, concentrating on the ground again.

Shikamaru looked steadily at the floor. There has to be more to it than that…people don't just up and vanish. He looked harder at the discolored tile. He concentrated on it harder. He saw a very small tab poking out the side.

What the? He bent down. He put his finger under the tab to lift it. It was red.

He considered pulling it, then hesitated. Curiosity killed the cat.

"What ya find over there, Shikamaru?"

Then he thought rationally. Screw the cat. Ino's life is on the line.

In his curiosity, Shikamaru very slowly pulled the tab. As soon as he did, the tile instantly tilted in, sending Shikamaru down a square-shaped chute.

"Shikamaru!" he heard the calls echo from above. "Shika-" instantly, the sound zoned out. Of course…Shikamaru thought as he dropped. Sound mufflers.

The remaining light faded out, as the chute's opening automatically closed. He heard a click. Shikamaru gulped. The sound mufflers didn't effect that sound at all…he could tell it was a lock. Now no one could even go in after him.

Before Shikamaru knew it, he had dropped very hard onto a rigid ground. He rolled onto his stomach, hand clutching his back in pain.

"Nice of you to join us, Mr. Nara. My, you do look like your father! Oh well…once I'm done with you…"

"AGH!" Shikamaru felt whiplash heavily on his back.

"…You won't anymore."

SHIKA! NO! You'll see what becomes of this situation soon! Don't worry! R and R!