A/N: In this fic Kankuro and Temari aren't related. It was Autumn's idea. Also the love scene in this was written by me, not Autumn (she has no romantic bone in her body lol).
Enjoy!
''Uh..thank god.'' I groaned as the Cadillac approached the empty motel.
The car took a sharp right and drove into the entrance of the motel. It was completely deserted, just like the gas station. No cars in the parking lot. As if what hit us miles back where we came, never hit here.
Kankuro took a left and pulled up in a parking space, right by the check in. He put the car in park and pulled the keys out of the ignition.
''Anyone have any weapons? I don't know what we'll find in there.'' He asked.
''Uh a shotgun and pistol.'' Shikamaru answered calmly.
''Actually, just a shotgun.'' I added. ''I dropped the pistol while running away in the cornfields.''
''Nice going asshole.'' Kiba remarked.
''Shut up.'' I yelled.
I opened the door to the car and stepped out stretching my limbs. The others got out of the car behind me as I sighed looking around for a useful weapon. My eyes fell on a broken piece of pipe as I picked it up smirking. This will do. We walked into the check-in as Kiba immediately walked over and started to ring the check-in bell for service. What an idiot.. I tiredly staggered over to the lobby couch and sat down as Temari and Kankuro went looking around the motel, to make sure we were the only ones. I twirled the pipe in my fingers waiting, as Tenten came over to sit next to me.
The motel was your average motel. Really crappy, but would do. Paint was peeling off in some places on the wall. Old paintings were perched on the wall. It looked like a hurricane hit this place. And I mean before all this started happening.
A few minutes later, the group returned, giving me a thumbs up, meaning all clear. They sat down across from me as we all faced each other.
''Ok, so tell us what happened after you left the gas station with Sasuke.'' Shikamaru started.
''Well we drove towards a near-by city. And all we saw on the outskirts of the city was bodies.'' He answered.
''Bodies?'' Tenten inclined.
''Yes. Bodies. Well, anyway Naruto was right to stay away from big cities and people. What you guys faced out there... those 'things are all over the city. Thousands of them.'' He sighed. ''To make a long story short, Sasuke was bitten by one of the infected. He was fine for an hour, but then he started to have a high fever and he coughed up blood.'' He stopped. ''A few minutes later he turned into one of them.''
''Them..?'' Shikamaru asked.
''One of the infected. One of those things that killed Naruto... I don't know if this is a plague, a virus or a terrorist attack but whatever it is, you can get it by being bitten by one of the creatures.''
It was silent we all were shocked with the information Kankuro had given us.
''Maybe it's transferred through contact. Like through blood contact.'' Shikamaru wondered out loud. ''That would explain why Sakura's veins were that blackish color.''
''But she was infected so fast. Kankuro said it took Sasuke an hour.'' Temari reminded him.
''Maybe the more serious wound infected, the faster it spreads.'' Shikamaru answered her.
''I guess.'' She replied.
''Sakura was infected..?'' Kankuro questioned.
''Yes. she didn't make it.'' Shikamaru sighed in pain.
We all looked down as the room got silent. Truth is we all blamed ourselves for what happened to Naruto and Sakura. Trying to change the subject, Kankuro broke the silence.
''So, Shikamaru, you guys still heading to your dad's house?'' Kankuro asked.
''Yea. I think it's about an hour and a half away. But I don't know where we are at the moment.'' He sighed.
''I guess we could get some rest and then set out for your dad's place when we are ready.'' Kankuro continued.
''Sounds good.'' Shikamaru replied. ''We can hold down the fort until we know what's going on and get more information. I mean we still have no contact with the outside world.''
''Well, I think I saw an old radio in Room 121.'' Kankuro added.
''Go ahead and get it. There might be a broadcast going on.'' Shikamaru said.
Kankuro stood up and walked down the hallway out of sight. I inclined my head towards Shikamaru. He turned to me and nodded his head. Hmm.. So he noticed it too? Something was different with Kankuro. Very different.. Why was he so calm..?
He walked back in the room with an ancient box in his hands and set it down and started turning knobs. I was static for a good ten minutes before we heard something.
* Static This is the emergency broadcast system... head to the designated location Static and wait for further instructions...If you are unable to do so, stay indoors Static and board up your house until other instructions...This is the emergency broadcast system...Static.*
''Try a different station.'' I suggested.
''Well, there is hardly even a signal. Hold on.'' Kankuro complained.
He turned the knob more slowly. Static... static. Talking..?
''Stop!'' I yelled. ''Turn the volume up I heard something''
* Static...Virus could be...Static.. epidemic is worldwide.. over fifty countries have reported.. Static... Do not make contact with the infection...Static Government says the situation is under control...Static *
''Worldwide..?'' Temari said out loud.
''Damn government. 'Everything is ok, people are just eating each other'.'' Kiba joked.
''Really Kiba? Is this the time..?'' I moaned.
''I lost the signal.'' Kankuro sighed, turning the radio off and looking at us.
''What now..?'' Tenten sighed. ''If it's worldwide, then we have no chance of surviving.''
''We'll worry about that later..'' Shikamaru said, standing up.
''Well, let's get some rest. Since I had the most sleep of this hellish night. I'll do first watch.'' I volunteered.
''Fine by me.'' Kiba remarked happily, as he rushed in front of everyone else. ''I call the suite!''
''Why does the dog get the suite?'' Muttered Temari, following Shikamaru down the hall.
''That's ok, you can sleep with me, baby!'' Kiba yelled to Temari from down the hall.
''Pervert.'' She mumbled walking into the first room on the right of the hallway.
Kankuro shrugged and disappeared down the hallway as I was left alone in the lobby. Turning my head to the side, I noticed Tenten was still next to me, messing with her fingers.
I smirked looking at her, ''Shouldn't you be tired..?''
''After what all that has happened to us, how could I be..? She said sadly.
Just her saying the word 'us' sent a feeling all the way deep in my soul.
''Tenten your safe now..'' I told her.
''But those 'things' killed Naruto and Sakura so fast.. We have no chance..'' She looked down at her feet.
''Listen to me, I will never let anyone or anything hurt you. You understand me..?''
''Yes..'' She replied, but I could tell she didn't mean it.
Something awoke deep inside me. Something I had locked away. I was helpless to stop it as my body moved on its own will. Betraying me to my soul. I grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me. Tears were streaming down her face. I leaned down closer to her and pulled her to me, closing the awful distance between us. Her eyes widen as my lips brushed hers.
She pushed me away slightly. "What are you doing Neji?" I put my forehead on hers and gazed into her eyes.
"I love you too Tenten. I was going to tell you that in the cornfields, but we got interrupted." I placed my hand on her cheek and pulled her closer. Our lips met again, but this time Tenten was ready. She eagerly accepted the kiss and kissed me back.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and lifted her off of the couch. She wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck as she deepened the kiss. Her tongue thrust into my mouth and eagerly memorized itself with the inside of my mouth. I pulled back slightly, but kept our bodies close. We were both panting.
"You should get some sleep Tenten." I noticed her eyelids were halfway closed and she seemed to be nodding off, close to falling asleep in my arms. She slowly put her legs on the ground and I put my arms underneath them and picked her up bridal style.
"Goodnight Neji. I love you." She mumbled as she put her head into my chest and snuggled into my arms. A second later and she was snoring lightly. I kissed her forehead.
"I'll protect you no matter what Tenten." I carried her down the hallway and stopped at the first room on the right. I knocked and it was opened by Shikamaru.
"Will you take the shift? I'm going to put Tenten to bed and watch over her." Shikamaru nodded. He walked back into the room and whispered something incoherent and came back a minute later.
I walked in once Shikamaru left the room, and walked past the bed where Temari was sleeping. I quietly walked by her and headed to the bed on the opposite side of where she was sleeping. Using one arm to balance Tenten's weight and the other arm to pull the covers back, I laid her down and pulled the covers up around her. Smiling at her sleeping form, I pulled a chair up from a desk in the room and placed it at the foot of her bed. I wandered over to the room closet and opened it up. Finding what I was looking for a pulled the spare blanket out of the closet and walked back over and sat in the chair.
Five minutes.
Fifteen minutes.
My eyes drifted closed.
A high pitch scream woke me from my sleep as I jumped up out of the chair, falling face first onto the ground. The scream sounded again but louder this time as I quickly stood up, knocking things over. Temari and Tenten were gone. Shit. The shotgun was lying on the bedside table. I grabbed it and rushed out of the room to the motel lobby. I heard arguing as I stopped right before I barged in.
"That son of a bitch kissed me!" Temari was screaming at Kankuro.
''Why the hell would you do that..?'' Shikamaru yelled angrily.
''Oh don't tell me the little bitch didn't enjoy in.'' He smirked.
Shikamaru charged at Kankuro with his fist raised but Kankuro pulled up the rifle in his hands and put in between Shikamaru's eyes.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Kankuro said coldly. "Now this is how things are going to work... I'm in charge here. You follow my orders. In order to survive we have to reproduce and rebuild the world."
What's with him? What happened while I was asleep? Kiba was holding his hands in surrender and Tenten was behind him. Kankuro had his back to me, waving the gun in their faces. I quietly moved into view behind Kankuro so he couldn't hear me. Shikamaru's eyes widened seeing me, but he pretended to listen to Kankuro's demands. I raised the shotgun over my head and brought the butt of the gun down on his head. He collapsed and fell to the ground with a loud thud.
"What was that all about?" I asked.
"He finally snapped. I told you something was different about him." Shikamaru stated. "Here."
Shikamaru threw over a bundle of rope.
"Tie his legs and arms together. We'll figure what to do with him later."
I caught the rope and flipped him over on his stomach. I pulled his arms around to his back. I started to tie his hands together as I noticed something on his side. What the...? I grasped his shirt and yanked it back revealing blackish-purple veins coming from a small cut on his abdomen. My eyes widened looking at his body. My fingers continued to tie his hands together. I finished the knot and moved to his feet, my eyes never leaving the little cut on him. I took a step back and observed my handy work.
"He's infected." I muttered.
"What? Where?" Kiba asked.
"Below his chest on his abdomen." I replied.
Kiba walked to where he laid and winced looking at the cut. He picked the rifle up and tossed it to Shikamaru.
"Bet you a hundred dollars he was the one who shot our tire out." Kiba inquired. "You said it was a rifle bullet. He is carrying a rifle."
"Well what do we do with him..?" I asked, sitting down in a near-by chair.
"I say leave the asshole." Kiba spoke up.
"That's not very human." Tenten added.
"Kill the pervert." Temari growled angrily.
"No. We are not going to be like him. But I don't see why we should bring him. He is infected. Who knows how long he has left." I told them. "Where to now, guys? We can use the Cadillac and what little gas it still has. According to Shikamaru, we still have an hour and half left, until the lake house."
"I don't know about you guys, but I think we should arm ourselves." Kiba started. "One for those 'things' and two for people like Kankuro." He said motioning over to Kankuro's still form.
"There might be a gun or weapons store down the road, a little ways." Shikamaru stated, "But I wouldn't know because I still have no idea where the hell we are."
"There has to be a map in this motel, so look around." I pointed out, "But in the meantime I'm going to get something to eat from what we packed earlier."
Kiba jumped up from where he was sitting. "I'm starving."
''You always are.'' Tenten jokily moaned and followed him to the lobby counter to show him where the bag with food was.
''Nejiiiii!'' Tenten called.
''What?'' I yelled back.
''What do you want?'' She called.
''Anything!'' I laughed and walked over to where Kankuro was.
I kneeled down by him. Shikamaru had tied him to a pole in the room so he couldn't escape. Hmm..
''Shikamaru!'' I called.
''Yea..?'' He asked, walking into the room.
''Do we still have that bag, with medical supplies..?'' I asked.
''Yea, why..?''
''I was thinking we could take a sample of the infection. In case we do make it and want to find a cure.'' I continued.
''Well, you're the chemistry dude. Never failed a test.'' He chuckled. ''Just keep it away from yourself.'' He tossed me the bag.
I nodded a 'thanks' to him and opened the bag. First Aid. Nope. Pills. Nope. Latex gloves. I guess that would keep my hands from getting covered in that stuff. I pulled them out. Ah. Found it. I pulled out a small test tube. A centimeter in diameter and two inches in height. I unscrewed the top off. Grabbing the gloves, I pulled them over my hands. I put Kankuro's shirt over his head and gazed at the cut. It had spread more since the last time I saw it. Hmm.. Now I need something sharp to break the skin, but not cause any pain. I looked through the bag. Wow, Sakura must have thought of everything. I pulled and a little metal pick. What it's supposed to be used for, I have not the slightest idea, but it will do.
I looked for the most concentrated area of the infection. Placing the pick right above it, I broke the skin. A drop of blackish blood fell and hit the ground. I lowered the test tube under it, as it dripped in. Before it was even more than half way full, I removed the test tube and screwed the top back on tightly. I placed the tube back in its container to hold it and put it in the medical bag. And I placed a band-aid on the cut I made on Kankuro, chuckling to myself.
''Tenten, where is my food?'' I yelled, standing up.
''I'm cominggg!'' She sang, but was cut off as she ran into something, causing it to crash onto the ground, with her loudly screaming 'Shit!'.
My mouth almost quirked up into a smile. Almost.
Autumn's A/N: Thanks for the reviews. This chapter was so far the funnest to write. Thanks to Love Is Only A Word for helping me with the love scene and posting this fic. What do you guy think they should do with Kankuro? Please review :D