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Chapter 5: Thy troubles hath only begun.

I awoke much more rested than I had yesterday, even if we had gotten up much earlier. It didn't seem the sun would be peeking out for another few hours.

Temari was unfazed by the lack of ability to see, I discovered, as she had us quickly leaving, exclaiming she wanted to beat the heat today.

Even with my extremely limited knowledge of her at the time, I could still tell this was just an excuse for her to get home faster. We must have been close, judging the excitement in her voice.

I have to admit, I was excited as well. My curiosity about her and her people grew enough to surprise me. Very rarely did a living creature capture my interest for more than an hour or so (by then, I would have concluded enough for the subject to become mundane). This was a rather fresh experience for me.

A few hours, less than innocent thoughts, and accidental swallowings of sand later, Temari stopped us to declare in a prideful tone, "There she is, just where I left her..."

I strained my eyes to search for what she was speaking of. It was a bit lighter now, the sun was beginning to reveal itself above the dunes and provide some pretty orange rays. Yet, no matter the stress on my eyes, I could not find what she was talking about.

I needn't worry about Temari's sanity in the moments that followed, fortunately.

As we advanced towards wherever she was leading us, more and more came into view. I finally found one reddish-orange brick and traced it to a whole building. Many buildings, actually. A whole village. Kindgom, even.

The majority of these buildings were simple one story structures, but a good amount of them reached impressive heights, one in particular even rivaling the castles of Konoha. Though they were packed in a bit tighter than those of my kingdom, these buildings certainly did not lack in architectural design. They were clearly very sturdy. And in the desert, no less.

I was utterly shocked to find how these people could flourish in the desert. I expected the biome to had shifted a bit, even if only slightly, to allow them more livable conditions. But, nay, here they were. It was unheard of...

Then it hit me. The realization felt as if I had been taking a somewhat pleasant stroll nearby Jiraiya's castle, and then a large block of stone tumbled off to give me a nice concussion.

There was only one kingdom that was ever known to be capable of thriving in the desert.

The kingdom of Suna.

Suna and Konoha were not even remotely close to being on good terms. For as long as my elders could bother to remember, we simply hated each other. My mother had constantly told me grotesque stories about the Sunarians when I was younger. I had assumed she just didn't want me to wander off, but even now, as I could be classified a man, she still drilled these horrors into my head. 'They'll slice away the toes from thy feet and prance about with yer scalp slung from their belts!' had taken part of one of her numerous tales.

Suddenly I felt I had started pondering these Sunarian affairs much too late.

"Temari?" I rasped.

"Hmm?" she half-answered. She was still caught up in the bliss of being home again in who knows how long.

"Thou art," my voice fought for me, trying its hardest to keep the disgust and horror out of the word, "A Sunarian?"

Gone was the bliss.

She whirled upon me with such ferocity I stumbled back and fell into the sand.

Her now cold teal eyes were narrowed as she spoke in a low menacing tone, "I am a Sunan."

This was, obviously, not the first time she had been angry with me. But something about this time made it so much more terrifying. There was something about this side of Temari that told me, despite our agreement, she would murder me in cold blood if I spoke one more negative word against Suna.

Being the genius I am, I nodded to her, eyes wide and openly frightened.

My submission seemed to please her. She visibly eased, though only slightly, still remaining rigid and rather stiff as she tossed me a warning, "Never, ever, use that term to describe a Sunan, if you wish to keep your pretty little Konohian head."

I nodded once more, gulping.

Though I was capable of making out the buildings fairly easily from a distance, it still took some time to actually reach them.

When we finally entered, Temari took on a confident stance: chin up, eyes daring, spine strait, shoulders back, and gripping the camel's lead with more elegance than I thought possible. This woman surely knew her worth.

I on the other hand was not confident at all. I was on the very edge at all times; not only from my experiences with Temari, but from everything Konoha had told me about Suna. I never strayed even a single step from my blonde bombshell of a guide, though tried my best to hide my paranoia from her.

As we walked (more like I shuffled, and Temari strode) in silence, I soaked in every detail I could about my new surroundings. The buildings all seemed to be at peace with their desert habitat; being a part of the land, rather than being obtrusively placed on it as Konohian buildings were. The whole aspect would have been amazing, had I been able to overcome my fear of the 'bloodthirsty' beings that live there.

We were soon approaching the building I had earlier compared with a castle. Up close it seemed, even more, a castle of sorts.

I could only think of the worst: She was about to turn me in to an official that would chop my head of and parade it around town on a spear. Or perhaps they would not even grant me the privilege of dying first. According to my mother's stories, they would rather chain me up to a camel and have it drag me about the streets until I died of blood loss, or head or spinal trauma.

The only shred of hope I maintained was the wishing for my camel savior not to be the same one to kill me.

Though our journey through the streets up to that point had not been populated, I could make out the shape of a short rotund man pacing by what I presumed to be the entrance.

He looked up in shock at the sight of Temari, his mouth even gaping, but quickly recovered, as if he were not suppose to show such surprise. His beady little eyes darted to the camel that padded behind us, and his expression pouted further into anger.

"That camel is my property!" he bellowed, his oversized gut and extra chins trembling with his motions, as he marched (more like waddled) towards us.

"Calm yourself, merchant," Temari drawled in a disinterested tone, "I am aware he's yours. You should be thanking this young man for returning him to you."

I raised my brows as she motioned to me. Hadn't she accused me of stealing him as well?

Judging by her tone, and the way she referred to him as 'merchant' instead of his actual name, she'd had less than friendly run-ins with him in the past. He didn't seem like the amicable type, but then again, neither did Temari.

Before he could grumble a reply, Temari pushed the poor creature's lead into his palm, and brushed him off with a simple, "Keep a closer eye on your belongings next time. I always have more important matters to attend to than reprimanding you."

I fully expected Temari's face to be impacted by the heavy and undoubtedly sweaty hand of the merchant immediately after I registered her words in my head. Her sass would definitely not fly in Konoha. But no such blow came. I was at a loss on what to conclude: women were treated with more respect in Suna, or Temari was a very special exception.

Probably both.

Suddenly I felt long slender fingers wrapping around my lower arm, and pulling me into the building. Before my mind slipped into a stupefied puddle of male mush, I managed one dazed look over my shoulder, and found an outraged merchant glaring at us with the intensity of Ino when a rival lover of Sasuke (or any one else she was interested in at the time, really) crossed her path.

Weaving in, around, and out of the hallways of this large castle-like building was simply all a blur to me. It was only after we had arrived just outside of our destination did I become aware of two things.

One: I really should have paid attention on the directions I was going, and taken note of possible escape routes along the way.

And two: Temari had let go of me as soon as the doors were closed behind us.

I was still dumbly touching my arm, where her hand had been, when she turned to me with a businesslike expression and instructed me, "Do not speak unless spoken to. Do not interrupt any speaker for any reason. And," she added extra weight to this last precaution, "Do not even dare to use the filthy language I warned you of earlier."

I was now a hefty amount more nervous than what I had been only seconds ago, but I couldn't help but note Temari cared enough to warn me beforehand.

Or maybe she just didn't want to feel guilty at my execution.

The heavy door that separated us from what I assumed to be some official's office opened much too quickly for my tastes.

Especially when I found out who exactly was on the other side.

"Your majesty," Temari spoke as if the title amused her.

My ever ingenious brain did a double take.

Whoa, whoa, wait, what? She had taken me strait to the king? Was she crazy, or did she have a death wish too?

The man whom she had addressed looked up from his desk, as stunned as I (though for different reasons).

His skin was a pale white, reminiscent of many a powdered womans' face back in Konoha. In stark contrast with this, his hair was a hellish red, the kind of red one only associated blood with. His terrifyingly icy blue eyes were rimmed with the dark edges of many sleepless nights. I could make out some sort of Sunan tribal mark on his forehead.

Though he was much younger than me, I did not doubt his capabilities. The moment his intense gaze silently left Temari's to find my own, I thought he would reveal himself as Lucifer and drag me to hell with him.

Luckily, there was someone else in the room to divert the attention away from me.

"Temari!" a gruff voice called from the left side of the king's desk.

This man, while still menacing in his own way, did not startle me in the same way the red-haired did. He was fairly tall, and bulky with muscle (from decapitating Konohians with his bare hands, my imagination told me). His hair was a muddy brown, and was tussled and messy as if he had just taken a helmet off. Most notable, however, were the tribal markings that adorned his face. A series of symmetrical purple lines over his eyes, cheeks, chin, nose, and mouth.

"Kankuro!" Temari mocked his voice, using what I presumed to be his name.

He sputtered, obviously flustered, "Where- who, what-?"

"We are grateful you have returned to us, Temari," the king stopped Kankuro's fussing short in a low, slow tone that traveled strait up my spine, "But it appears we have other pressing matters to attend to first."

I couldn't see Temari's expression. I only heard her agree, "Of course."

She motioned for me to step forward, explaining, "This is Shikamaru. I found him dying out in the dunes, whilst I trekked my way back."

Much to my discomfort, the king was eyeing me once again. "Tell me, Shikamaru," he leaned forward, placing his chin on folded hands, "How exactly did you end up in the predicament Temari found you in?"

I had learned my lesson of honesty already. I had no intentions of lying to this man. But that didn't mean I couldn't skirt around what might immediately get me killed, for a bit.

"I was traveling with my village's caravans, when we were attacked," I was carefully schooling my voice, trying not to make it seem too Konohian, "I remember naught much. I was knocked out, and woke up alone. A camel saved me, and brought me to Temari."

I should not have bothered, for it wasn't fooling anyone. My short time with Temari was simply not enough to cover up Konohian radiance.

The king now offered me an expression of mild interest, but it was short lived.

"You," spat the brown-haired man, "You are a filthy Konohian, are you not?! You stole the camel, damnit, just admit it! And what have you done to Temari—"

"Kankuro." The youngest, but most powerful, man in the room scolded.

"But, Gaara, he—"

"Enough." King Gaara, as I know knew him, said calmly, temporarily silencing Kankuro.

I found it a bit odd that he did not address Gaara with any sort of formality, but I assumed it was simply another difference between our two kingdoms.

"Our own caravans have repeatedly been attacked, recently." Gaara informed Temari and I, "This is why my brother is pressing the matter." He directed his last comment solely to Temari, "I must confess, however, I share his concerns, regarding Shikamaru."

This was quite a bit to take in. I learned Gaara and Kankuro were brothers, giving me a more accurate reason for the informality before. More importantly, however, was the caravan bit of news. This couldn't be a coincidence, could it?

The last thing to hit me was that the king was now questioning my reliability. I stuttered a bit, trying to redeem myself, "I will offer my services to thee. Together we can explore into the connection between our caravan mishaps—"

King Gaara bluntly ignored me. He, instead, focused his attention to the blonde-haired member of the room.

"You knew of his origin, Temari?"

The woman in question turned her head to the side, and stubbornly frowned. "Yes," she answered, after a pause.

It couldn't have been my imagination. The ghost of a smile, just the faintest illusion of the curling of the sides of his lips, had just graced the almighty king of Suna's face. I was sure of it.

"I will consider your offer, Shikamaru," Gaara's voice was full of calm authority, "But until my decision is made, you must take up residence here as a prisoner in question." He looked back down at the papers on his desk, before adding, "Welcome to Suna."

Kankuro did not seem happy with the lack of my immediate death, but he was content with calling in the guards to take me to my holding cell. He sneered at me, as I left him, Gaara, and Temari to discuss other things.

I was at least granted the luxury of getting a cell to myself, even if it lacked any and all furniture (I told myself this was better than having a lice-covered, lumpy, wire-framed bed anyway). I was surrounded by three walls, a ceiling, and floor of solid, cold stone. The remaining wall was, of course, where the iron bars that sealed my imprisonment were placed. The odor was unbearable, but I suspected I smelt no better myself. I probably looked just as disgusting as the many stains that covered the walls and floor of this whole prison.

With nothing left to do but give into brooding thoughts, I laid myself flat on my back on the grimy stone floor, and tapped deeper into my ever present brain.

I heard the voices of the other prisoners around me, but they were mostly muffled by the walls of rock that separated us. I suspected I was in a cell especially made to separate captive foreigners from the local lawbreakers. Even here in jail, I still caught air of many an insult directed towards my kingdom.

I wondered if Temari ever made as vivid slurs as these concerning Konoha.

She probably did. I had an odd feeling of sadness at this admittance, but I can't say I blamed her. Konohians made crude jokes about the Sunari— Sunans all the time. Perhaps she was making them now, to Kankuro and Gaara, as I laid here.

What was her connection to them anyway?

This had been eating at me since she barged into the king's office and both men inside immediately recognized her, and even more amazingly, had not thrown her into a cell for her behavior.

She definitely had privileges. But why? Even a young, attractive woman such as herself couldn't get away with just anything...

My next conclusion came upon me with a surprisingly crushing wave of loss and depression: Temari had to be married into the royal family.

It was probably the easiest thing in the world for her to seduce a rich relative of the king, and win herself some special rights. Her victim was most likely Kankuro, too. This would explain why he was so livid when she returned with me in tow...

I was angry with myself for feeling upset over this. Of course she would already be married. There was no logical way for a catch like her not to already be caught. And, not only that, but she was from an enemy kingdom, for Pete's sake. What was I planning to do about that? I should have never had any inclination towards her other than that of survival. Of all the times to be an idiot...

I huffed quietly to myself.

I should have been connecting the caravan incidents during this time. But that woman was crawling beneath my skin.

"Troublesome woman," I grumbled, and would continue to grumble, for the rest of my life.

How was this one, guys? More plot is here than you may think. ;)

A giant thank you to all of my reviewers. I'd be lost without all of your loveliness. And, this being said, would you guys like me to pm you back (answer) on your reviews? I'm a noob with this whole thing, so I have to learn yet how things are usually done around here.

It may not seem like it, but I feel terrible when I don't post for a long time. I've got everything up in my head, but you guys are left hanging...

So let's inspire each other, yeah? You review more and I'll write faster. c: