Some number of months later
The two people walked through the gates, smiling and laughing like a pair of newlyweds. They were both wearing long dirt colored cloaks, resembling the typical travelers that used that road. The taller one, a man, was smiling with his dark eyes more then with his thin mouth, casually pushing his long brown hair out of his face as. The rest of him was clothed in black pants and a green wrp-around shirt held together by a belt, accented by wide, flowing sleaves. She was laughing with all teeth flashing, teal eyes hidden as she closed them in mirth. Her blond hair was shorter then her partners, just brushing her shoulders, and as their shoulders brushed their hair mixed together in a river of black and gold. Her black kimono sat gracefully on her, hugging her curves and causing the men who they passed to stop and glare at the man, jealous of his good fortune.
Shikamaru grinned down at Temari as they entered the merchant town their wanderings had lead them to. They had no real destination in mind as they traveled, only to go to many places, explore a bit, and always keep moving. They didn't want to go through the pain of finding a lifestyle, only to have to leave it as they would surely have to if anyone found out they were missing-nin. It didn't matter how or why you became a missing-nin, only that you were one. That was the crime.
"How long do we have to keep laughing?" Temari murmered before releasing another pealing laugh.
"Just a few more minutes," he whispered in her ear. "Just to make sure they think we're harmless, only a couple fools in love. She nodded, and giggled. Ugh. I sound rediculous. She and Shikamaru had gone through this act in every town they entered. The more people ignored them, the easier it was for them to do what they wanted to do, get what they need, and leave. Yes they were hopelessly in love with each other; this just wasn't the way they expressed affection. That happened when they were alone in some forest clearing, resting from the day's journey, preparing for the next. Or not resting, depending on their mood.
They walked slowly down the main street of the town, subtly keeping an eye on their surroundings. Then Shikamaru felt something tug the hem of his shirt.
"Shinobi-san!" A young voice called out. He spun around, only to see a child of 7 or 8 pulling on his shirt. He smiled at the boy.
"Hey little guy, I'm sorry but I think you're thinking of somebody else. I'm not a shinobi," Shikamaru informed the kid.A puzzled look grew on his face.
"But my grandfather over there," he waved his hand in a general direction. "Asked me to stop the shinobi with the dark hair. I asked him if he was sure. He said yes. I said 'positive grandpa?' He said yes." The boy looked solemnly at Shikamaru. "Please come over to grandpa. At least don't make me tell him you're not a shinobi. He'll wack me with his cane!" A disgruntled look replaced the solemnity. Shikamaru chuckled, for real this time. He glanced over to Temari who gave him a look that said, 'might as well check this out.'
"Very well kid, I'll go with you to your grandfather." The boy yelped happily and grabbed Shikamaru's hand, dragging him over to his grandfather. He let himself be dragged, rolling his eyes at Temari in respose to her smirk. She followed gracefully after them, deliberately mocking Shikamaru's stumbling gait caused by the running boy with her smooth prowl.
The boy led them to a small, hunched man who sat in a rickety wheelchair. When he looked up, Temari felt almost frightened, not something she was used to. His hair, was cropped close to his head, accenting his skull, whike his beard was earily pointed, looking as sharp as a kunai. Gaunt cheeks and many wrinkles didn't help how he looked. But it was his eyes that were what chilling. They were dark and empty, resembing deep pits, but not the kind you fell into and that wrapped you up, instead the kind that pierced you, making you feel as though you ni longer had an secrets, eyes that were as powerful as a Byakugan or even a Sharigan. He is a weapon. He may be in a wheelchair, he may be old and hunched, but he is a weapon. Shikamaru, on the otherhand, was completely unaffected which made Temari scowl as a shiver ran up her spine from the man's gaze.
"Kenta-sama," Shikamaru addressed the man with a bow. The boy cut in, being a child he had an abundance of energy.
"Ojii-san ojii-san ojii-san this man says he's not a shinobi but you say he is and it doesn't make sense so I told him what you told me and what I told you and then what you told me and then what I told you and then what you told me and then he said he'd come with me so now he's here and he was with the pretty lady and she came with him too so now we're all here and he knows you-" he stopped for breath. Temari had a small smile on her lips as she swooped down and pecked the boy on the cheek. He looked up to her in shock, cheeks red.
"That's for calling me pretty," she explained. "Keep giving compliments like that and you'll go far in life." He stared wide-eyed at her, before-
"Ojii-san ojii-san the pretty lady kissed me because I called her pretty and said that complimetns are good and I did something right and-"
"That's enough baka," the old man's voice rang out, surprisingly deep and powerful for so frail a body. It suits him. A strong voice for a strong spirit. She was happy to hear amusement in his voice; apparently he wasn't as soulless as he looked. "Shikamaru, what is this about you not being a shinobi?" Shikamaru bowed again. There have been some unfortunate... upheavals in our lives that have caused me to seek an alternative lifestyle." Temari raised her eyebrows internally. It was a very tactful way of putting it.
"Eh, I see. Does this have anything to do with you always asking for news from Suna when I arrived? It was always your first question." Shikamaru didn't blush, but his cheeks turned slightly pink. "Let me guess," the man continued. "You always asked about Suna because there was someone you cared about there. Probably a woman, probably this woman considering I recognize her as the Kazekage's missing sister." Temari stared at him, not bothering to disguise her shock at his perception. "When the war broke out, you two wound up on opposite sides of it, and when it was time for kil or be killed between the two of you, you figured out the third choice: leave. So the two of you went missing-nin, which is why you told my son you weren't a shinobi." Suddenly the man grinned. "Nothing gets past these eyes, eh Shikamaru?" Shikamaru pursed his lips in amusement. Temari frowned as the voice stirred something in her memories.
"Of course not, Kenta-sama."
"Aha!" Temari exclaimed in a satisfied way. The three males looked at her. She realized she had spoken outloud, and smiled sheepishly. "I just realized why your voice sounded familiar, Kenta-sama. You used to come to Suna with a merchant caravan, you told me stories when I was little!" The man grinned, an action which brought life to his dark face.
"Hehe, I'm amazed you remember me, it was such a long time ago, even before the sorrows began to befall your family. Later when I visited I asked where my favorite princess was, and they told me your father was forbidding you from leaving the palace." Temari was astonished.
"They told you that? I thought they feared my father too much to say such things." Kenta looked abashed.
"Well... I have my ways... how do you think I know Shikamaru?" She looked confused. He chuckled. "Why don't we head over to my place, and I'll tell you the story while we walk." They began to move down the street, the kid pushing his grandfather's wheelchair, Shikamaru and Temari flanking them.
"I used to travel around with my father when he was a merchant. On my first trip to Konoha I saw a young kid fighting with a bigger, older kid. Obviously the big guy had something the little guy wanted. I was about to go and help out when it became obvious that the little guy didn't have a chance, when all of a sudden the bully froze, and took up the same position as the squirt. The bully was stunned, and although he didn't say anything it was obvious he had no clue what was going on. As I watched the capturer made the capturee hand something over to him which he safely tucked away into a pocket, before releasing his opponent, turning, and walking away. The bully spluttered as he regained movement. I decided to enlighten him. 'He used his shadow to keep you from moving.' The bully looked at me shocked, still shaken by his run-in with the young ninja, and stumbled away while the young champion eyed me. 'How'd you know?' He asked. I told him that the shadow he used was slightly darker then regular shadows. I asked him what he had taken from the bully. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a perfect red apple. 'It's for this girl I like' he told me proudly. 'Her name's Yoshino.' We started to walk down the street together. 'You seem pretty smart. Wanna play shougi?' I was ecstatic, and ever since then I've been very good friends with that young boy."
"So that was Shikamaru's dad?" Temari confirmed. She thought it was cute that Shikaku had been so sweet. It was like something out of a romance novel, except not pathetic because these were cute little kids.
"Hell no!" Kenta replied strongly. "It was Shikaji!" Temari scrunched her eyebrows.
"Shikaji?" Kenta's face fell.
"Oh yeah, I forgot your family doesn't like to talk about him." Temari's confusion grew.
"Who's Shikaji?" Shikamaru winced.
"You would need to know at some point anyway, might as well tell you now." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "My uncle was very much in love with a kunoichi. From the Village Hidden in the Clouds. There was a war about 20-30 years ago, you remember its why Neji's dad died, he talked about it during the first chuunin exams. Anyways they found themselves in the same situation, as we did last year, except they went with kill or be killed." Pain filled Shikamaru's eyes. "My uncle wound up with kill. He was so broken up he went temporarily insane, destroyed a good portion of both Lightning's and Fire's armies. When he realized what he had done he left Konoha, hasn't been seen since." Kenta grunted in agreement.
"Wow." Temari was saddened. That could've been Shikamaru and me. There was a subdued silence for a moment, with only the soft taps of their feet and the creaking of the wheelchair to mar it. Suddenly a thought hit Temari.
"Wait a minute," they turned to look at her. "Your uncle was in love with Yoshino?" They nodded. "But... she's your mom! What the hell?" Shikamaru grinned.
"The reason my dad noticed my mom in the first place was because he would watch his brother sigh after her. When my uncle moved on, Shikaku, who was closer to her in age anyways, filled the void he left and began to pursue her. Didn't I tell you the Nara men love troublesome women?" He said with a smirk. Kenta burst out laughing.
"Damn it's been a while since I've heard about the Nara curse, especially with the word troublesome." He looked at Temari, but this time his eyes didn't seem as cold, and she smiled at him.
"I became close with all the Nara's, and began bringing sharing news from the Land of Lightning with Shikaji whenever I was in Konoha. This changed into any information I could learn, which I shared with the Nara's. When Shikaji left I gave my information to Shikaku, and more recently Shikamaru." He looked up at Shikamaru proudly. "You made the right choice Shikamaru." Shikamaru looked down at the incapitated man, before abruptly stopping and bowing low to the old man once more.
"Thank you Kenta-sama. It truly means a lot coming from you." The wheelchair trundled to a stop, and Temari remembered the boy. He had been strangely quiet. Then he popped out from behind the wheelchair, face red, arms visibly shaking from exertion. Temari laughed inside. The kid has guts, is determined, and doesn't give up. He will go far.
"We're here," Kenta announced as he wheeled himself up the small ramp that led into the humble house. May I have the honor of your company during dinner?" Temari and Shikamaru glanced at one another.
"We would be honored," He replied, the two of them following the strong little man into the house.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Thank you for your hospitality Kenta-sama," Temari and Shikamaru bowed to the old man.
"My pleasure, I enjoyed the company. Where are you heading next?" They shouldered their packs,
"Ah, probably the Land of Waves, Temari wants to spend some time oogling the ocean," Temari grinned sheepishly as Kenta looked at her, amused
"What? I'm from the desert it's a big deal." She defended herself. Kenta just chuckled.
"Well to get to the ocean you want to take the south road. It'll lead you to a seaside town eventually, just stick with it. But be careful, bandits like it." Temari scoffed.
"Bandits? Come on, we're better then that." A mischevious look crossed Kenta's face for a fleeting moment.
"If you say so. Have a safe trip, and I hope our paths will cross again." He wheeled himself back into the house as the two began to walk down the street.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The man watched from the trees as the blonde girl and the dark haired man passed beneath him. He was lucky that they were taking this road. It saved him the trouble of hunting them down. Then again, maybe luck came in the form of an old man in a wheelchair. It didn't matter. They were here, and he was ready.
He sank into the darkness surrounding him, dissappearing into the night.
A/N: Okay, so sorry I wasn't specific with how much time has gone by, I just figured it wasn't too important and I couldn't decide. If for some reason some number of months comes to mind later, I'll change it. Please let me know what you think, especially considering these are my first original characters.
I've also started posting other stories, a few one-shots and the beginning of another multi-chapter fanfiction. Please check them out and let me know what you think. Chapter 6 is in progress, but I don't know when I'll be posting it.
Thank you for reading.
