"It's good to see you," he said awkwardly, unwilling to search in the mossy darkness for a place to sit. Temari was crouched on a wet stone beside the filigree edge of the black water, her back bent in a delicate curve that belied the strength he knew it possessed. One finger trailed lazily across the glassy surface.

"Turn off the lamp," she replied by way of an answer. "It frightens away the fish."

He did as she commanded, and the gold highlights vanished suddenly from the lake, forcing him to hear rather than see the tableau before him. The ANBU strategist did not move for a long moment, letting his ears and eyes adjust to the night.

"It's good to see you, too, you know."

"Hn."

"Sit down."

He smiled lopsidedly into the darkness. "Che...bossy as usual."

There was a splash, and Shikamaru could almost see her whirling around in his mind's eye, her ponytails whipping out so fast they might decapitate anyone in the near vicinity. He was almost fast enough to duck the spray of icy water that cascaded out of nowhere toward him.

"Troublesome," he sighed, water dripping down the contours of his face and hair. He wiped his eyes with the back of one hand and wondered what had happened to the concept of not frightening the fish. "Hey... Temari?"

"Yeah?"

"How did you pick me? I mean, for the surveillance team?" (What he meant to ask, of course, is why.) She did not answer right away, pausing just long enough for him to be aware of the lake water trickling past his left ear and down his neck. And then her words came floating out of the dim night: "I guess I wanted to see what you were capable of, you know? It's been a long time."

Shikamaru didn't miss the shrug in her voice.

"I don't want you playing any risky games today, Shikamaru." The Hokage sprawled forward on her desk in a pose more suited for late night bar party than a military briefing. But at least the lack of sake cup in her hand told him she was serious. "There were two casualties on the last mission including yourself, and you've been hospitalized once prior to that this month. And this mission is going to be enough like playing with fire without having you throw oil on it."

"I don't intend to," Shikamaru told her stiffly. "These are Akatsuki we're dealing with; I'm fully aware of that."

"And do you also understand what is at stake politically?"

"Yes."

Tsunade snorted, not especially softly. "No, you don't. You are a genius, Shikamaru, but only at interpreting the mentality of enemies. Diplomacy is rather more my forte," She paused, eyeing him appraisingly. "And I can tell you that this mission is more important than you realize. Leaf and Sand villages have been pooling our resources and intelligence for months to figure out where their meeting is taking place. But the final strike force is mostly Leaf nin, so the burden of success or defeat rests with us. It's up to you to capture the Akatsuki party and prove that Leaf is a reliable ally."

"...And I can't be losing any Sand shinobi, either, am I right?"

"Correct."

Shikamaru cracked the bones of his neck experimentally, earning a reproving look from his superior officer. "You know the Sand delegate is always my top priority," he said blandly. He ignored Tsunade's look of polite skepticism. "I make only the most cautious decisions concerning her safety."

The Hokage muttered something unintelligible under her breath, and slid a heavy folder out from under the stack of books on the corner of the desk. "Be that as it may," she sighed. "Anyway, here are compiled reports." She flipped the folder expertly open and laid out a sheaf of neatly printed documents. "According to our people in the northern provinces there's been an increase in activity around these two towns here, indicating that the Akatsuki may have made a contract with the clans who control the primary economic ventures in those regions. So we put out a call to watch for the identifying apparel of the Sakanagumo family, who may or may not actually be involved..."

The ANBU's best strategist listened carefully to her dissertation, but his mind was already on the ground of the mission. This time he would have a plan, the perfect plan. Shikamaru didn't like to think of himself as arrogant, but also he wasn't without pride, and he knew it could be done-- by him, and only by him.

This time Temari would have no cause for doubt.

Sorry for the impossibly long time between updates. I kinda forgot about this fic. ; I'll try to have more soon...