Finally, finally, Temari burst from the "Interrogation Room" with all the Konoha ladies in tow.
"Fresh...air!" she moaned exaggeratedly, falling backwards onto an unoccupied sofa.
"C'mon, Princess. Your Sugar Daddy's tired," Shikamaru droned, sardonically.
Temari frowned, irritated. "You're nobody's Sugar Daddy, you sloth."
"Who bought you dinner, hm? Who put you up all winter?" He glanced at his watch. He really didn't want to be here anymore; the guys had been harrassing him for details most of the evening.
"Quit being so cross. I don't have to live with you, you know." She folded her arms, indignant.
"Then don't," He challenged. He wanted to hear her say it. Too bad she was so stubborn.
"Fine, then. I'll ask Tsunade for a private residence tonight." She didn't even look at him; just got up and left. Shikamaru landed on the sofa with a groan.
Alone on the deserted streets of Konohagakure, which had fallen asleep hours earlier, Temari enjoyed her first taste of solitude since she'd set off for the village a few months ago. It was nice, for once, to be separated from the ever present shadow that was the Nara boy. He hadn't had any missions all winter, thanks to her, and now his only job was to be her escort, as was the customary link between the two.
The soft quiet of the night was a much more gentle companion, she thought; much more predictable and easily understood. She relished these moments of solitude, remembering the quiet of her journey across the desert wastelands. It had seemed just a routine duty, she thought. However, this proved how quickly even low-classed missions could evolve into life-or-death situations. She would be more careful next time.
At that moment, her senses picked up a change in the night: Gone was the chirping of crickets; the whispering of the breeze. An eery silence had taken the place of these. Half a second later, she felt an arm wrap her waist, pinning her arms, and there was cold steel at her throat.
Memories. She had felt these deft fingers before; was haunted by this man's scent while she slept. He had come again for her. She was frozen.
"Don't move, or I'll...what?"
He was frozen, too...and that was no accident.
"Let. Her. Go." There was venom in the familiar voice. Her neck twisted so fast she heard it crack. There he was...hiding in the shadows created by the moonlight.
Slowly, Deliberately, he opened his arms; made her attacker drop his kunai. She stumbled away from him, and caught herself on Shikamaru's outstretched arm when she reached him. Not missing a beat, Shikamaru pushed her behind his person, and caused the man to reclaim the kunai. With a rought motion towards the left side of his chest, he made the man stab himself. He released the jutsu. The attacker fell.
Immediately distracted, he turned to Temari; they clung to each other's sleeves.
"Are you hurt? Has he threatened you? Harmed you? Are you-"
He glanced in the direction of the fallen man, and his words were cut short.
The man was gone.