Shikamaru watched from the window, Tayuya had gone way too far this time...way too far...He looked back as the back door opened and Ino stepped in, then ran to him. "Oh god Shikamaru did she hurt you" she asked, hugging him tightly around the neck from behind. Shikamaru sighed, looking down "No Ino..She"
he blinked, then his eyes slowly moved to her arms. Ino's arms were bleeding in the exact same spot that Tayuya's had...he remembered Ino having described this technique to him. Any damage done to the person who is possessed by the mind body transfer technique is also dealt to the person who cast the jutsu. Shikamaru just stared at her arms...then his eyes slowly moved back to look at hers. "Ino...tell me you didn't do what I think you did..." he said softly. Ino blinked then noticed her arms. She pulled them back, then even though she knew she was caught, moved them behind her back. "...They are...nothing...Shikamaru-kun"
she lied, eyes low. Shikamaru stared at her, then shook his head hard "Ino you've...do you have any idea what you just did??" he asked in an upset voice. Ino glanced up, knowing exactly what she did. She remained completely silent. Shikamaru gritted his teeth then shoved the door open and ran faster then he had ever run before, streaking off in the direction Tayuya had gone.
Hours later, Shikamaru silently wandered the streets, looking everywhere for her. Night was the only thing that had fallen...a layer of snow had fallen on the roads and buildings, lights from buildings gently shining on the white blanket as he trudged through it. '...what if she's still out here somewhere'thought Shikamaru, head looking left and right as he went on. 'What if she's lost or hurt or...worse' He quickly erased those thoughts from his mind...he would not stop looking until he found her. As he continued to walk through the snow, hands and face slowly numbing from cold...he began to lose hope...it was going to be too dark soon...hardly bright enough to see...with only the occasional dot of a window or street light to guide his way.
Temari looked up from a bench she sat on and blinked...looking at Shikamaru. 'Ino's plan...it failed?'
-FlashBack-
Ino had cornered Temari in an alleyway, her hands on her hips. "Now you care about Shikamaru too...right"she asked softly. To that of course, Temari had nodded. Ino glanced left then right then leaned into Temari. "...Tayuya...the girl who you fought away...the girl who nearly killed Shikamaru...is now living in his house..." whispered Ino. Temari's eyes shot open and she stared at her, open mouthed. Ino nodded "I know..I know.." she said, her look turning into a smirk "I've got a plan..." Temari blinked softly, not knowing of Ino's true intentions "...a...plan?" Ino nodded, smiling. I'm going to put something nasty in Tayuya's toothpaste, and she's going to throw a fit and ask Shikamaru to go get a new tube...trust me she has him whipped..." Ino grinned wider "...He's going to come into the store next to us..." Temari glanced at it then nodded. Ino looked her dead in the eyes "I want you to be waiting in that aisle, and when Shikamaru goes around the corner...bump into him...and keep him there as long as you can while I get everything set up..." Temari rose an eyebrow "And...just what do you mean by set up...?" "I'm going to put a little something in Tayuya's drink...she'll be napping like Chouji after a meal...and then when he comes back...Ill be on the bench over there.." she pointed it out "...bleeding and cut..." Temari slowly nodded, eyes narrow. "...A few crocodile tears and a mind body transfer jutsu later...Tayuya will attack Shikamaru...and he'll just have to throw her out..."
Temari had to admit...it was a well thought out scheme..."...you sure he can't handle himself...Ino" mumbled Temari. Ino shook her head "..he's just confused...trust me..." Ino smiled "..It's for the best" Temari nodded but noted that there was an odd glint to her eyes and a falseness to her smile. Still, she thought, as she walked away from the alley, this needed to be done. Tayuya had to be taken out of the picture.
-End Flashback-
Temari looked out at Shikamaru "...Hey you..." she called as he came to a stop in front of her. "Hey yourself..." replied Shikamaru sadly, hands deep in his pockets. "Hey..have you seen Tayuya anywhere lately..? She would have been running..." Temari gave him a look...
-Flashback-
Temari waited behind a tree, as Tayuya came streaking down the road, face full of tears and snow. She
counted silently to 3 and just as she was about to pass, jumped out and slammed her fan into the back of
Tayuya's head. Tayuya grunted hard and landed face first in the snow. Temari bit her inner lip and lifted
Tayuya over her shoulder "I don't know what you did to make Shikamaru trust you...but you're no good"
She said softly, walking toward Konoha jail. Being the girl that she was, it wasn't hard for Temari to
get Tayuya put behind lock and key, but the whole ordeal just left a bad taste in her mouth for some
reason. She kept looking back over her shoulder at the dark jail house as she walked away, wondering if
she had really done the right thing, and wondering if Shikamaru really knew what he was doing.
-End Flashback-
Temari softly bit her lip but shook her head "I'm so sorry...haven't seen her at all..." Shikamaru lowered his head with a depressed sigh and sat next to her. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and ran them through his hair, staring at the snow. "..I'm worried about her.." he confessed after a minute. Temari softly glanced at him "..worried?" Shikamaru nodded quickly and shut his eyes. Temari shifted uncomfortably. "Why are you worried about a girl like that...?" Shikamaru softly opened his eyes and stared into the snow. He finally had an answer for her question. "...I guess because...I feel a connection." Temari tilted her head "...a connection?" "..Hai..I can't stay mad at her..I can't stop worrying about her..and I can't believe I just sent her out into the cold..." Temari's eyes softened and her heart sank...she was being sent on a guilt trip as he spoke. Tears actually filled Shikamaru's eyes but none ever fell. "..I'm worried about her Temari.." Temari finally broke and gripped her hands together "...I'll...I'll help you look for her..." she whispered. Shikamaru sighed "...I've looked everywhere..." "...Well I think I have an idea of where she might be..." Shikamaru blinked and looked up at her but Temari didn't elaborate. She got up and walked down the road. Shikamaru slowly got up and followed her.
Meanwhile
Tayuya shivered in a prison cell, a blanket wrapped tightly around her. Everything had happened so fast, the yelling..the crying..the attack..and now imprisonment? All she could remember was settling down for a nap and waking up on top of Shikamaru. She stared at her still hurt arm...could she have actually attacked someone in her sleep...? It seemed so unlikely but she supposed it was possible. She rested her forehead on her knees and shivered once more. "Shikamaru-Kun..." she whispered to herself, as silent as the grave. "I...I want to go home..." Footsteps could be heard down the hallway, but Tayuya paid them no mind, still drowning in confusion and sadness. It wasn't until a pair of hands gripped the bars of her cell and a voice called her name that she looked up. Her eyes widened...then slowly lowered. Shikamaru stood there, staring in at her. Temari kept her distance...not looking at her. "...Tayuya-chan..." repeated Shikamaru softly. Tayuya finally looked into his eyes, still trembling. A guard came forward and unlocked her cell, then backed off a bit. Tayuya looked at the guard, then slowly looked up at Shikamaru. "..Let's go home"said Shikamaru, watching her with eyes softer even than his voice. Tayuya pushed herself up to her feet and took a few shaky steps...then ran into Shikamaru's arms, hugging him tightly, pressing her face against his chest. Shikamaru silently hugged her back, stroking her head. After a long minute Tayuya looked up at him, still teary eyed. "W..what happened..back there..I swear to god I didn't mean...t..to" began Tayuya but Shikamaru shook his head, looking down at her. "I know that full well...I was wrong Tayuya...forgive me?" Tayuya gulped, shivering and nodded, then pressed her face against his chest. "You know I'd never ever do those things...sometimes your so stupid...stupid stupid" Shikamaru sighed softly and pulled her gently up onto his back. Tayuya wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and Shikamaru gently held her legs. Tayuya's hug reminded him of Ino's hug...which reminded him of Ino. Shikamaru's eyes narrowed...there would be hell to pay for this little stunt.
Temari followed them both from a distance as they walked home, feeling worse and worse. She had helped
cause this...but Ino was the little mastermind behind the whole thing. She had been used like one of
her brother's puppets, and had been fooled just as well. Shikamaru opened the door to his home and entered,
followed silently by Temari, who shut the door behind him. Shikamaru entered the living room and glared
down at Ino, who silently stared up at them, mouth slightly open. Shikamaru's eyes narrowed...
"...There's gonna be a few changes around here"
There's my extra long chapter. That quote leaves alot of room to think. What changes? Stick around next chapter and find out. R&R.