I'll follow you down...

...to where forever lies

Without a doubt I'm on your side

There's nowhere else that I would rather be

I'm not about to compromise,

Give you up, to say goodbye

I'll guide you through the deep

I'll keep you close to me

Shikamaru looked out the small cell window at the sun which was starting to set ever so slightly. To anyone else he appeared to be nervous or possibly full of regret as his eyes kept darting to the window with unusual frequency. But to any trained shinobi who took any time to evaluate the situation it'd be far from obvious he was telling time using the sun's location, a basic shinobi skill. And if he was correct he had 3 minutes.

Luckily for him it was the time of day everyone was more focused on going home to their families or out for drinks with friends then their jobs at hand. That was why he was still sitting quietly in a holding cell as they pawned him off on the next crew to deal with. They didn't even bother to do a very thorough search to make sure he wasn't smuggling in a weapon, a flask or worse a key. They really must of thought he wasn't a threat. The biggest mistake any shinobi could make.

And that was exactly what he had been counting on as he sat quietly drawing no attention to himself as he listened to the guards small talk about the evening's plans. The small talk was soon cut short with the slam of a large metal door followed by an almost eerie silence.

It was time. He could feel the surge of adrenaline rushing through his veins. He only had one shot at this if he failed, he failed both of them and well he didn't want to go down that line of thought. It was a lot of pressure. Lucky for him he was good under pressure.

Looking both ways he made sure the coast was clear he bent down taking the key out of his mouth quickly. It felt good to get the horrid taste of metal out of his mouth, he didn't even want to know where it had been.

Jumping up he made his way quickly to the door, double checking to make sure the coast was clear as he slipped the key into the lock opening the cell door. Now he just had to make sure he went the right way.

Temari looked out the small window of the cell she was stuck in. So it had come to this. She was going to prison for life for a crime she hadn't even committed and that as if she was lucky. Of course the prisons in Suna weren't near as hospitable as here and this wasn't exactly comfortable. The alternative to prison was starting to sound appealing about now. She sighed leaning against the wall as she sat down pulling her knees to chest as she buried her head in her arms. It wasn't until she heard someone clear their throat that she looked up. There was Shikamaru standing outside the door. How in the world did he get here?

"Shikamaru!" She said jumping up as she rushed over to him. "What are you doing here?"

"I told you I'd get you. We're getting out of here. Stand back." He said she looked at him confused as he pulled out a key from his pocket and started to open the lock.

"How'd you get that?" She asked in astonishment as he pulled the door open.

"I'll explain later we just have to get out of here we only have 2 minutes." He said grabbing her arm as he pulled down the hall down the route he had memorized as he was brought in. They moved as quickly and silently as they could neither making a noise as they slipped through the hallways out of a small back exit.

The sunlight was almost gone by the time they got out of the village giving them the added protection of darkness helping cloak their movements. Even with the added darkness neither bothered to slow except for the small occasional rest. The bare minimum they needed to go on.

Not much being said as they used all their energy to move forward. Not that any words needed to be said between them for them to know that they were now in this together neither planning on leaving the others side. Not now, not ever again.

It was the 2nd evening of running when they found their destination the large front barrier guarding Sauna. That must of been some sort of record, Shikamaru would of laughed if he had the energy.

Their bodies both sore and in desperate need of rest they knew wasn't going to come, but that didn't slow Shikamaru as he walked to the gate. What did stop him was the unoccupied space next to him. Temari had stopped a few steps short of him. But before he could even ask she answered almost as if reading his mind. A talent she seemed to have.

"I...I can't. I can't go back." She said turning away.

"Hey." He said grabbing her arm turning her to look at him. "Listen you trust me right? You know I'd never let anyone hurt you right?"

"Yes. But what-" she said still not sure but he didn't let her finish.

"Then trust me right now. I won't let anything happen. Come on." He said leading her to the front gate it only took a moment before they were surrounded.

"Don't move." Came a very familiar voice making Temari look over at Baki.

"We weren't planning on it." Shikamaru mumbled under his breath.

"Temari. What the hell is going on with you? You know you shouldn't be here." He said she looked down almost like a guilty child being lectured by a parent.

"It's not what you think." Her voice still quiet Baki gave her a confused look.

"Listen can we just speak to the Kazekage. She can explain." Shikamaru asked.

"I don't know if it's wise to let a foreign ninja & a missing nin alone with Lord Kazekage." Baki said almost threateningly.

"Temari!" A new voice joined in the conversation.

" Kankuro." Shikamaru groaned quietly. This was going to get complicated now.

I'll follow you down while we're passing through space

I don't care if we fall from grace

I'll follow you...

If I could find assurance to leave you behind

I know my better half would fade

I'll follow you down.