The Family
Three weeks ago
Location: Uptown District- Konoha
Laid beside his lover.
Sauske Uchiha pondered in the mission ahead. Soon he'd be headed for Wind, Tsuande had made it clear that a target had been chosen. A assassination mission, she had said, was needed in order to prevent war.
Sakura pressed into his side, lost in sleep. The soft strands of her rose colored hair laid across his chest, breathing as she did, his heart beating along with hers, but sleep was far away from him.
He wondered what she dreamed of when he laid beside her, of when he left for days and weeks. Was she happy to have him close, even if he couldn't stay with her? Such normal thoughts, for someone who didn't live such a normal life.
"You'll understand one day" his brother had said.
The very thought of Itachi, his jaw clenched and his muscles followed, Sakura shifted in her sleep under the movement, but didn't wake.
His phone buzzed.
Brows furrowing as he read the name, slowly moving away from Sakura, to keep her from waking, he answered his old friend.
"What do you want?"
"Meet me on the parking deck of 8th and Pine uptown in twenty minutes" a short pause, a lower voice, like a warning "and don't wake Sakura up when you leave" the line went dead.
With his order given, Sauske glared briefly into the ceiling of Sakura's bedroom. A moment to catch his breath, still his building irritation at the unexpected order, before moving away from Sakura. No longer just a man, or a lover, but an agent.
"Sauske" Sakura stirred, his name meowed out in her sleepy voice.
"It's fine, go back to sleep, Sakura"
"Where are" she began seeking her answer, but quickly stilled the question when he made it to the edge of the bed, already pulling his pants up.
"I won't be long" With a partinng kiss to her lips, he left the room and went to the streets of Konoha.
The drive and parking took as Shikamaru had said, twenty minutes. Taking a quick look around as he slammed the car door shut, Sauske caught sight of his lead agent leaning against the back of his car, cigarette perched on his lips and a memorable lighter flicking open to light it.
"On time for once" Shikamaru glanced up at him briefly, a trail of smoke blown into the wind as it blew by.
"What do you want Shikamaru?" Sauske made it to his side taking the already offered cigarette and lighting it himself. Taking just a breath, as he lit it, to remind himself who's lighter he had in his hands.
"You've been gone a couple of weeks" Shikamaru observed, keeping nonchalant, slipping the lighter back into his pocket "I take it you found nothing on the idiot brothers?"
"Trails cold, probably headed up to Lightening again" glancing away from Shikamaru, Sauske blew out his next puff and leaned more into the car "but" his eyes shut "I don't think you wanted an update on just those two" he sighed "what's the mission?"
"I need you to go and check something out for me" Shikamaru went on as if Sauske hadn't found out he was going to get another task from him, a new mission that wasn't just about his bingo book updates.
"To lazy to do it on your own, Sir" Sauske mocked his title and gave him a wary glare.
"I can't be spotted that deep into the underground with my history" Shikamaru returned the look, keeping serious "people know you better than me anyways so it'll be easier for you to find the information that we need this way"
"What for?" with the serious note, Sauske managed to straighten just a fraction.
"With Dai's assassination attempt a couple days ago, I need you to rule out if Itachi Uchiha did it" no pause, like ripping a bandage off, he spoke his brothers name as any other.
"You think he did?" He couldn't help it, the harder edge in his voice, the memory of what his older brother had done always there.
"It's possible, considering it was a sniper shot" Shikamaru remained indifferent, but easier now that Sauske hadn't reacted to the request as he thought he would "and I can't be involved in that right now with my position behind Naruto and the alliances between the nations" a side glance turned into Shikamaru facing him, straightening to remind him who had became lead agent and who had succumbed to become a lone agent "I'm expecting you to handle this for your country and not because of your personal ties in this, Agent Uchiha" Sauske pulled off the car and face him, a couple inches shorter than him, but just as intimidating as his leader.
"I can do it" lower his voice got, edging on a growl, ready to not only redeem himself, but finally seek his peace in finding his brother. He was here in Konoha after eight years, but the main question stood. Why was Sauske to go to Wind? Tsuande told him his contact would be there, the one to get him into Suna to do the task that was required of him, the task only a lone agent could do.
Assassination of the Lord of Suna.
Did Shikamaru know what the director was doing?
Should he tell him about the secret plan?
Just as he returned his focus to his leader, his task of stubbing out his cigarette complete, he blew out a heavier sigh with his last smoke and looked carefully into the brightly lit skyline of Konoha.
"One more thing" Shikamaru uttered in the silence, taking another breath "if you're going to keep messing around with Sakura, be a man about it" his gaze remained, ignoring Sasuke's leering look. Who was he to tell him something like this? "don't leave her thinking you're better when you're not Sauske" Shikamaru glanced back to him, the narrow of his gaze, a warning, a reminder of why he was always alone, making Sauske tense angrily.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" He managed to ask, but was quickly shot down a peg.
"I'm her friend, Sauske" Shikamaru turned enough to face him "and while you run off and leave her we" he strained, eyes narrowing and his voice darkening "take care of Sakura, because you choose not to, so either tell her or leave for good, don't string her along, she doesn't deserve that" he stepped away from him towards his car "you and I both know the kind of work we do can be dangerous for our families and loved ones"
"Shikamaru" he paused at his open car door, glancing back to Sauske a final time "I'll find Itachi"
He would find him. Soon.
But he was now sure, Tsuande had only given this mission to him, she needed him to do this alone.
One last run alone, before he returned for good.
Step by step, they walked at each other's sides, blending into the shady crowd of the underground's common people. Though today seemed thinner than most. Upped peacekeeper activity, Choji had said, the reality seemed to be far worse. Not even a block out the safe house and they had spotted one parked car and two on the streets, moving past them and keeping their heads low.
He hadn't questioned the cute way she had tied her hair in two low pony tails, that jacket and boot combo making her blend among the rough crowd of the streets. The darkened shade of mascara over each eye only brightening the teals more, hard to look away from them each time she turned them to him.
Each step made with casual confidence, he let Temari lead the way and keeping to his right side. Mentally he kept track of where they were, how many peacekeepers they passed, how his backpack felt lighter than the day before.
Trusting her to know her way.
As fearless as Temari was, she knew better than to engage a armed pair and give up such sure undercover position.
Though Shikamaru found out soon her methods seems to always be ones he didn't suspect.
"Two" Temari muttered, quick in circling her arm around his and dragging him a few steps away from the curb, away from the newspaper stand the agents were at. At least his knew why she kept to his right.
He had almost questioned her, wondering why she had moved them, until he realized she had slowed the pace and stopped them to the side of the stand, mere feet away from the unsuspecting agents.
Gathering intel from the perfect position.
The agents sights set to the crowd walking on the other side of the road while they took their break for coffee. Hayate and Genma, Shikamaru recognized, both agents leaning against a newsstand, cups in hand and talking amongst each other.
"Of course we'd get these shitty positions" gagging on the taste of the coffee in hand, Genma glared at the cheap drink with a groan "even the coffee down here tastes like shit"
"With our fuck up in failing to kill them, I expected worse" a defeated sigh from Hayate.
"Why do you think they did it anyways?"
"Who knows" Hayate sighed, sipping from his cup and looking out into the street, watching the light turn and the next line of cars move "it's probably level one business if Nara got involved"
"Figures" Genma sighed, messing with his coffee straw "all those legacies just up and left so it's something important I bet" with a sip and another sigh following he glanced to the line of cars "sucks we have to be in the underground looking for them, though, it's always so gloomy here"
"Don't forget we have more than just the kids to look for out here"
"Man" Genma groaned "twelve in the hospital. I heard something about some chick who came in with Nara that did it" To the comment Temari flashed a grin, mostly to herself
"Yeah one person did" Hayate paused when his phone rang "Sir" a pause, Shikamaru furrowed brows, pinning what agent would have taken over as lead since he was gone, Agent Kakashi Hatake "yes sir, we'll check it out"
"Where to?"
"Uptown, Kakashi wants us near the Hokage" with that the two left the stand and headed into their car "anything's better than being down here"
"Only twelve" Temari mumbled to herself, happy to keep her hands in her pockets "gods I am getting rusty"
"They want agents near Naruto" Shikamaru muttered, brows furrowed in thought. Agents now sticking to Naruto, whether to protect him from harm, or the truth.
"To keep us away from him, no doubt" Temari remarked, reading his thoughts.
"I'm sure you'll think of a way to get us in" a peek down to her.
"I'm sure you've already thought of one" she countered.
"Maybe" he hummed, not giving an inch for her to pick at. He expected the worst of today, the first day of the ongoing manhunt for them. Level one was always reserved for the few agents who manged to meet the expectations. The only four members now split into two sides.
Following her pace down an empty alley, up a ladder and to a barren balcony, Temari wasted no time in kicking the glass in with her boot and unlocking the window to open.
Crime one of the day.
Looking around the barren room, nothing but a table and chair on one side and a peeling door and dusty mirror on the other, Temari let out a breath.
"Already on the run" with a groan, she moved about the apartment, searching each empty room before meeting him in what was supposed to be a living room.
"So he's not here" Shikamaru muttered to himself, taking in every detail. The only thing standing out a rolled, untouched newspaper on the desk.
A clue she seemed to ignore.
"He was" she glared to the desk, a wrinkle in her nose with her sneer, the memory of Itachi's advance, pinning her on that desk, a distraction from what he had made her believe.
That had always been her last move if words didn't work.
They had killed the two posted to watch him the day Dai was shot, the ones sent to watch his 'back' as she had said to him. It hadn't been her order to have them posted, but she allowed Orochimaru to keep his eyes on her at the time. Had Itachi known those men weren't from Suna originally? No he couldn't, but Shikamaru had known they were from the Sound, she wondered had Itachi figured that out as well
"Seems he's found himself someone to hide behind again" she muttered quieter, searching the room again.
"Do you know who?" Shikamaru glanced back to her, the newspaper in his hands and Temari's focus above the table, nothing but a vent in the ceiling.
"Not at the moment" steps taking towards the desk "but you can only hide secrets for so long" stomping onto the chair and hopping onto the table, eyes never leaving the vent above, Temari reached up once, fingers just out of reach, a huff following her lean down to her boot.
"Need help?" Glancing her way, looking from the dusty picture frames of what he assumed had been the family who lived here before, she reached into her boot and slipped out a plain switch blade.
"I can do it myself" she insisted stubbornly, on her toes as she jammed the knife into the side and popped the vent open, letting it swing on its hinges "floorboards and ceilings, men are terrible at hiding things, just like that safe in your apartment, anyone can find it you know where to look" his eyes rolled, thankful that he had emptied it as soon as he got wind he was being watched.
Now watching her short stubborn struggle to feel inside the vent, grabbing a hidden note successfully. With it, a red woven band with the symbol of the hourglass hanging from.
"Cute" Shikamaru deadpanned, watching her unravel the paper "you two leave notes for each other" his tone ending on a note of distaste for his own comment.
"Yes, threats between us are very cute" Temari opened the note, shoving the band in her jacket pocket. He remembered seeing those bands on the day she blew up the office building.
My dear,
The storm has come and gone as I had warned, and here lies the remains of your wrath.
Tread carefully, the shadows are on to you.
-addressed to Mistress
"Great" shoving the paper in his direction she stomped off the table and to the creaky wooden floor "he only addresses me as Mistress when he's pissed" taking it in his own hands, he read it twice.
"I see what you mean about headaches" Shikamaru muttered, looking over the note, scanning the clean edges, nothing out of sorts or hidden otherwise "how well do you know the guy?" He would keep his own guess to himself, keep his eyes busy on searching the newspaper in his hands.
"Enough to know Itachi will be hiding right under our noses, in plain sight like we are" she paced towards the front door, peeking behind the mirror to its right as she spoke "more peacekeepers on the streets means he's going to the higher ups, people that don't talk to your righteous kind" looking back to him Temari returned to the desk, leaning against it "so many reasons on why your plan was a terrible one from the start, Nara" the remark enough to cast a side glare back to her.
"Sure, let's blame it on my plan" his eyes rolled, back to the news paper from a couple weeks ago "and not the fact that you didn't mention you knew who Tsuande was before you walked into that interrogation room"
"You never asked" she carelessly shrugged, kicking out her legs repeatedly and let a sly smirk grow "I wonder what bothers you more Nara, the part where your trusted director failed a simple assassination and then lied about it to her agency for years or the part where even now you're being kept in the dark about things that are right in front of you"
"Thought we agreed to no secrets" speaking slowly, caution for what else she could be hiding "especially with each other" he reminded her.
Temari grinned, no longer that soft exchange from this morning, but forceful and barring teeth.
"I've already shown you more than most people get the privilege of knowing about me" the grin fell and her eyes darkened coldly "do not mistake my kindness for weakness, because I will chew you up and spit you out the moment you become a threat to me" a threat made, Shikamaru shut his eyes.
"This truce we have, we have to trust each other, fully not half way. I get that you've been fucked over, but so have I, Temari, you're not the only person here who's pissed with our current problems" spoken calmly, but doing little to ease her.
"And what will your words prove to me?"
"For one, that Itachi left the day you killed Sato" he leaned against the desk next to her, sharing the date of the newspaper "did he know you were after these four men?" she nodded "then he knew you would have come to get Tsuande next, despite you deal with him. Do you think he knows Orochimaru is involved with Suna?" And he got her, her brows furrowed and her gaze hardened as she thought.
"No" she shook her head, hesitant at first "no, no one knows about the Serpent except me, our general, and Gaara, because he only approached us the night the deal was made" she looked to him, and quickly turning down, had he spotted guilt in her gaze? "I didn't even tell Kankuro about it until a couple weeks ago" she sighed, mumbling to herself "he always freaks out when something big happens"
"How sure are you?"
"I don't dabble in petty things like personal revenge often" she bit her lip, brief and ending with a sigh "it is why I stopped after Asuma. It's why I never sought to come back here, but I have a nearly decade long score to settle with Itachi Uchiha and not just because he hurt me"
"So revenge is where you draw the line" she shook her head, slowly.
"Lies, Nara" she corrected him, leaning against her hands and towards him "see you can always count on a dishonest man to lie to you" she leaned closer to him, he didn't realize he had froze in his spot, in those eyes as they hooded, in her whispered words, tempting "it's honest men you must watch out for, because you can never predict when they are going to do something incredibly" leaning closer and closer to each other "stupid" spoken a breath away from his lips, temptation pulling away with a grin after he almost leaned in to close the gap. At least he knew why she had added no lying to their truce "you cannot overthink the truth, but you can make up one hell of a lie" she pushed off the desk and looked back to him, adding confidently "and I plan to make that man feel something worse than death for his deception"
"What's worse than dying?"
"Pain" stated as if it was obvious "I want Irachi to suffer when his brother takes his last breath, even if I'm not there to enjoy it" her eyes darted away from his and he patiently waited for them to return to him "Itachi watched me bleed out for hours while he interrogated me and for hours I laughed and gave him nothing until that deal to work together" he took the story quietly, not knowing that he was the only man alive who knew it "but it would be wrong of me to do it just because he hurt me"
"How many times did he hurt you"
"More than once" she turned away before he could ask anything else, or see anything, simply standing and following after her "come on, we've got a busy day ahead of us"
It was a sin to love her.
But even great men fell.
Wednesday 2:08PM
"Where are you taking me now?"
His question met with a glance his way, as if Temari just noticed he was there, her focus having been on a blacked out car driving past and veering away from them.
"My connections in the city aren't just rouge agents and as good as I am at making enemies I'm even better at keeping allies" she glanced back to him, a mischievous grin eating at his curiosity "We are about to meet the man who taught me how to play dirty tricks on people"
"And who would that be?" He had an idea, but the woman was unpredictable, a variable that could change at any moment.
"I'm sure you already know who" the grin widening "he did help me try to kill you not too long ago" how quickly those tables had turned, wondering how two people could look at the same picture and still find a way to argue about its final outcome.
As simple as it was complicated.
"Deidara" he muttered to himself, a note in the back of his mind at how troublesome this woman truly was, from her secrets to her connection.
Knowing the moment she had been ordered to kill him, the deal she had with Itachi would be broken. Doing anything now to make sure her ties were not severed, even the only ones made long ago.
Deidara, the artistic explosives expert from Iwa, a wanted man back home, a man who held no direct interest to the agency, quiet and life kept busy outside city limits.
Turning into a dark red brick apartment complex, the smell of sewage strong as they entered the building, Temari huffed out annoyingly at the smell before taking to the stairs. Her pace keeping a step ahead of him, boots tapping light on each step, a casual hum in her chest as she went to the second floor of the shady building and to a apartment door down the far right, quick to rap a fist into the door three times and step to the side of the door, waiting.
"Who's there?"
"It's me dumbass"
"About damn time, girl" the gruff voice behind the door called back as a few locks and chains were unlocked for the door to open, the complaints continued as it did "do you have any idea how much I hate this fucked up city, it's too loud, it's smells like shit and people keep giving me dirty looks every time I walk out of this" a halt mid sentence when the door slipped open fully, one glaring blue eye meeting Shikamaru.
Shocked and quick to react, Deidara raised the gun he had at his side to point at Shikamaru. The short lived showdown met with a annoyed groan as Temari moved a step forward to move his gun away and have Deidara look over at her.
"Put the gun down you idiot" she shoved a hand in his chest and pushed him into the apartment "you looking to get shot again"
"The fuck are you doing with a peacekeeper, girl" Deidara hissed a whisper, looking past her to Shikamaru as he entered and shut the door behind himself "I thought you killed this fucker with my bombs"
"I could explain everything, but I don't want to" grabbing the gun from his hand and moving past Deidara, his glaring one eye kept on Shikamaru, suspicious.
"Damn this guy looks just like his old man" Deidara muttered leaning away from Shikamaru "hey girl" he glanced back to Temari as she set his gun down on the kitchen table next to a tarp covering bulges underneath "hey, you remember the guy I was telling you about who took down our operation back in Rain?" he looked away thoughtfully, trying to remember "how many years ago was it? Let's see, It was after Red stabbed me, but before the old man-"
"Reminisce on your own time, Dei" Temari interrupted sharply, with a annoyed groan continuing on "you need to start moving the operation back to our base"
"Thought you said not till Thursday" Deidara said in mild confusion.
"Change of plans" she shrugged, reporting to him, his eye widening "right now there are too many peacekeepers roaming the underground and I can't have them find you in city limits"
"Just fucking great" he scoffed with his hands at his hips "what did you do now, girl?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with, just do as I say and you'll be fine. I promised you protection remember" he scoffed in response and glanced back to Shimamaru, his short observation met with a groan.
"I don't like the way he looks at me" Deidara grumbled back to her, distracted by the indifference offered to him from Shikamaru, a quiet gaze that made his opponent tense further.
"You don't like the way anyone looks at you, Deidara" Temari muttered annoyingly with a roll of her eyes, fingers moving past the covered table and peeking under the tarp "I'll have Shira come by later to help you get this out of here" with her attempt to look, Deidara noticed her, growling as he turned back to her.
"Stop touching, how many times do I have to tell you" Deidara scolded with a hiss, stomping over to Temari.
"I'm just looking" she dropped the tarp and shoved her hands in her jacket stepping away from the table past him, her arm quickly caught by his.
"I might have taught you to steal, but doesn't mean you get to steal from me" putting a hand out following her away from the hidden items "pockets, Weasel"
"Spare a few more for me" Temari pouted up to him, pulling at his grip before he let her go.
"No you little thief, pockets" with a grumble she pulled out a couple of small metal balls to him, the smoke bombs Shikamaru remembered seeing back in River. A pause and Deidara glared harder at her "don't make me look in there too" he pointed to her chest and put his hand out.
"They worked so well back in River, why can't I have anymore?" attempting to praise his work, boost his ego, making the man scoff at her failure to grab the smoke bombs.
"That's because I made them" she reluctantly grabbing one of the metal balls from her bra and setting it in his hand "and they aren't for you"
"Then who are they for?" She questioned.
During the argument between the two, Shikamaru had moved to look at the table, pieces coming together. Something hidden, a man who knew how to make bombs, a woman who had just a week ago used those bombs, the return of the sixth sense.
Shit.
"You let him make bombs in the city, Temari" Shikamaru casted her a side glare when he realized, his whisper on the verge of harsh in his panic. The conversation between the blondes stopping as they glanced back at him, one glaring another hiding her amusement well.
"I can see now" she drew out slowly, realizing herself "why you consider me too dangerous to be on my own"
"Relax they are disarmed" Deidara added with a scoff, crossing his arms "they are not very likely to explode without the detonator" he paused waving a hand at him "just don't bump the table too much"
"We can't have bombs in Konoha, disarmed or not" he glared between them "why do you think the agency kept him out of the city in the first place?" he scolded, looking from the annoyed blonde to Temari, practically seeing the shine in her gaze as her lips curled, her trap sprung.
That cruel smirk, the devil.
"He called your bombs a joke, Deidara" with her remark, Shikamaru's own gaze darkened, blood warming at her smug look.
"A j-joke" Deidara gapped like a fish out of water, insulted, voice raised in his sudden anger as he stepped towards Shikamaru, the table behind Deidara now "do you understand the intricate level of detailing one needs to create such a fine piece of work" Deidara began his speech, long, prideful in his own skills, forcing Shikamaru to listen to each word.
Glaring past the rambling man to her, the smirk continuing to play on her lips as she grabbed a couple of the smoke bombs and put them into her shirt, winking at him for his sacrifice as the distraction, leaning back against the table and waiting out the chaos she caused to aid her crime.
A troublesome thief, but he couldn't help admiring her technique.
Keeping at each other's sides, casual and calm in each step after the detours she had taken them down. Itachi gone and Deidara warned, it had been time to finally head for the parked car uptown, to get them away from the underground and on schedule.
The subway ride different than yesterdays, sitting beside him now, still that pesky inch of air between them. Certainly strange this distance she kept toying with.
Ever the quiet observer, he did his troublesome chore, checking and counting people, searching for danger, no agents thankfully, reading back the memorized files he had left at the safe house, plans of wars and missions hidden. Troublesome thoughts piling one after the other, desperately seeking some relief in his growing headache. Blood loss and a migraine, sounded like such a drag.
Now wondering why Temari was giving him a questioning look.
"Something on your mind?" Calling him back, she had noticed his distant look.
"Your string of crimes going unnoticed for months is one of them" he sighed, the few short hours on the streets, hearing her speak of people like Kisame and Hidan, known felons, as if she was conversing on a wicked tale from a book. Dangerous people, even the agency avoided, and she spoke about with such a sense of familiarity.
"And none of them will ever link back to Suna or me" she leaned against his side briefly, a nudge to his right arm, during her teasing chuckle "I am very good at what I do"
"You and I are going to have to have a talk about that" how do you stop a weapon? Especially one as unpredictable and daring as her.
"Want me face down or looking at you?" his neck almost snapped when he looked to her, he was sure he heard his name moaned somwhere in his thoughts, or was it echoing from the look in her eyes.
"I was being serious" was he?
"So was I" was she?
"You sure get a kick out of doing this in public" looking away, hiding behind his jacket hood, wishing to be caught in that warming gaze. Stupidly wanting her to scoot that stupid one inch closer.
"I'm not the one making up dirty daydreams" he scoffed, looking to her.
"Even I know that's a lie" she faked innocent and
"Relax a little, it's not like we can solve all the world problems on this subway ride" she glanced down the line and back to him, quick to fulfill her need to question "do you always overthink everything like this?" His answer a sigh followed by silence "fine, ignore me" he had been lost in the piles of paper clouding his thoughts, but he reminded himself of a important one. If she needed to be honest with him, then he had to do the same with her. Give and take.
"Yes"
"Yes what?" Her annoyance to the reply,
"Yes I overthink everything" he admitted, slumping further back into the seat "and it's exhausting"
"Leaders are responsible for everything, no matter how troublesome the task seems"
"It's supposed to be an honor to be the lead, it's what Asuma always called it" he muttered, glanced past her to the silent occupants, engrossed in phones and other tasks, the observation an afterthought.
Lead agent, what a honor. The one to guide all the others, the best of the best. Currently he didn't feel like the best, he felt, just as Tsuande had said, like a traitor. The position was nothing more than a vault for secrets, hidden from everyone, to protect everyone from the things that went bump in the night.
"It was expected of you" he hummed his agreement to her statement, keeping his eyes forward. Always unexpected, Temari leaned against his arm, catching his gaze in the windows reflection across from them, speaking Sunian quietly, somehow she made the heavy words sound so light like a breeze "the past does not define you, nor does the future. What defines you as a person is what you do in the present, what's right in front of you" she pulled away slowly, added quieter "it's something our general would have said to us"
"Why couldn't he have just said something?" he remembered that final grip, Baki giving his hand a squeeze, trusting him.
"It was a secret, one I made him keep between us to protect our people in the walls" he felt the shift against his arm, dropping his gaze down to hers and letting their eyes meet "it's a risk I couldn't take if it failed, because there was too much at stake"
"We haven't failed" he wasn't quite sure where the confidence came from, but the uncertainty in her look back might have giving his courage to make a promise "and I don't plan on anything else going wrong"
"You can't promise that"
"Sure" he nodded and grinned, he couldn't promise tomorrow, but he would promise this moment with her, and above all promise the truth "but nows the time for risks, it's our last hope and we have to give it our all, no matter what"
Oh how he wanted to reach out and brush a thumb against the healing mark to her lip, as if could make it go away.
Leaning up and taking his lips into hers, giving her breath to him and taking his own in return. A hand pressed against his cheek to either pull him or her away. Gentle and delicate, impulsive on her end, or has she just sought that feeling of a simple touch?
Not in lust, but in comfort.
"What was that for?"
"No reason"
Why is the truth called ugly and a lie called beautiful?
One is hard to bear and the other easier to hear.
Wednesday 4:13PM
Car parked, a lingering unease at his next task, one Shikamaru had planned out in his death and with her aid he finally had entry, finally had a safe way to approach the group who had once been the greatest threat to Konoha, to Fire.
He'd keep the fact that he knew about this place a secret, he was rather fond of the woman in her good mood, focused and calmer when she spoke, the mocking hadn't stopped, but he didn't mind that either, used to it by now he guessed.
That stolen kiss, giving him a surge of more ways to take her, no not to fuck, but to simply be near her touch, to be warmed by her.
They might have been a team, but that dance they had started seemed ongoing, and frankly he hoped it would never end.
"Kankuro was inspired by those old spy movies we watched as kids" Temari had explained leading them down the gravel wall way towards the warehouse "he's good at masking our interference, let's us slit under the radar from everyone" glancing at Shikamaru she grinned "it's why no one was able to find any of our locations"
"So in other words, untraceable" he nodded slowly at the luck, perfect "think your brother can decode the flash drive"
"Depends if you make it past the introductions"
"I'm really hoping no one tries to stab me again" Shikamaru muttered beside her, calm outwardly, but unable to keep the caution out of his step, knowing at least he had her there to help.
"The only one who's most likely to stab you again is me, so you're safe crybaby" never mind, he sighed "besides" she took her own breath, not nervous, but as if readying for a fight "you're not the only person here who's about to get a threat or two thrown their way"
"Whys that?" He asked, reaching the door, opening it before she could do it herself, a brief pause in her step as she glanced to him.
"When I decide to do something dangerous like this and on my own, I tend to not tell the family about it" she confessed quickly, turning away, he could have sword he saw guilt flash in her look "and I might have been gone since Saturday night without telling everyone" she quickly added, eyes still away from his "just stay close and speak Sunian, their Konohan isn't that great" walking through the door, passing him before he could question her statement.
"You could have mentioned this before" he grumbled to himself, dangerous may have been a understatement. If these people were anything like her, was about to pass into the gates of hell. He followed after her, the caution shown now in his tense shoulders, the hall into the building dimly lit and empty, dirty floors at the entryway, seemingly abandoned building, passing a set of double doors and entered a cleared room.
What once would have had stacks of boxes and imported goods lined on metal shelves was now mostly empty. A loading dock on one side a staircase and railing to the other, rooms that seemed like offices to the right under the railing. The few shelves lined in the back with a couple of tables laid bare and empty, another double door to the side under the railing.
Temari's steps stopped, hand raised for him to do so as well, his pause a few feet back, her head tilting slightly to listen to the distant hum of the building, like ceiling lights flickering, the wind shuddering against the old and dirty windows above them, abandoned and too quiet.
Her hand went behind her back, under the leather jacket and rested on her hidden gun.
"I am home" She called out loudly into the cleared area, voice echoing, waiting only a moment more before steps sounded on the second floor to their right. A door opened from one of the lined offices down one of the hallways and a short dirty blonde came out quickly, her steps excited and light, as if she walked on air.
"Temari you're back!" Yome called back down, leaning against the railing, her bright amber gaze widening at the sight of the two, wide smile dropping, suddenly hesitant and quiet, the far off voices of two more women coming down the same hall to join the first.
"Did she say Temari?" Matsuri called down the hall.
"She's back?" Yukata quickly took to her sister's side as they rushed to Yome at the end of the hall, her arm raised and both women slowed coming to stand beside her with more caution now, a threat detected.
"Why are you three staring?" Temari raised her voice louder, letting the gun go and moving her hands to her hips, annoyed at their hesitation "it's not like you haven't seen him before, now come down" with Yome at the front the three moved towards the steps following the eldest until she reached the final step "it's too quiet here, where are the others Yome?"
"Uh well" Yome glanced between the two for a second more before responding "Scar and Feather are out in the other home, should be back soon" she cleared her quiet voice, speaking firmer as she settled on Temari, eyes dropped to the bruise on her lip for a brief second "Puppet is down in the basement with" she paused, hesitated before speaking the name nervously "Red"
"Sasori is here?" Her surprise quickly turning to anger "who the hell told him we were here?" she hissed at them, each shaking their heads to clear the accusation, until a clearing of a throat behind her turned her glare to Shikamaru "you did?"
"Backup plan in case you killed me" he shrugged, uncomfortable under the burning glare, but managing better, keeping to himself as she blew out a frustrated breath with a mumbled curse, forcefully accepting the decision and turning back to Yome.
"He just showed up, and you know we couldn't" Yome trailed off, glancing away uncomfortably, Temari scoffed, knowing her discomfort to Sasori, focusing back to the two girls and pointed to the back of the building.
"Get them now and be quick about it" with her order the twins nodded hesitantly and rushed off side by side leaving Yome to cast a glance between the two new arrivals as she neared Temari, less tense, more curious in her wide eyed gaze.
"So" Yome ventured brushing her shoulder to her tense leader "he's an ally?"
"Yes" a flat response, Yome nodding slowly as she smirked eyes set to a mark on her neck.
"Wonder what changed your mind" Yome snickered behind her hand, stepping past Temari to Shikamaru raising her hands "I am Yome" extending his hand back hesitatingly to her, Yome took it and shook with two hands, her grip tight and grinning now, speaking quickly and excitedly "handshaking is such a strange custom here, I find many people accept it with the same look you have, confusion mostly" she giggled "don't worry, I won't hurt you"
"You don't shake hands?" He glanced to Temari, uninterested in their discussion, teals set intensely to the back of the building, on guard as if expecting an attack. He looked back to Yome, the short woman still gripping his hand in hers as she carried on amused.
"In Suna we bow in greeting to others we don't shake" Yome explained "it is forbidden for men and women to touch, unless they are family" she glanced back subtly to Temari "or lovers" she got no response to the remark and looked back to Shikamaru "or people we have to kill" she grinned innocently, making Shikamaru tense when she let his hand go.
"Yome" a warning behind her name "stop making him nervous" Temari huffed, glaring back, a quick glance at Shikamaru then to her comrade already turning to her, hands at her hips.
"You told Sen and not me, I am hurt by your lack of trust" Yome huffed, glaring back with a resentful pout. The news that Sen had delivered the day before, of their leader still being alive after her disappearance, still holding her stray bit of jealousy that she hadn't been involved in the secret mission.
"You would have told Kankuro where I was going" Temari sighed as she glanced away "and you know how he gets when he grieves"
"Just like you" Yome jabbed, Temari groaned at the scolding that came next "You left for three days, didn't tell anyone and he has been worried" she pointed to herself "I've have had to deal with it alone mostly, and he gets difficult to handle when you're not around" Yome sighed crossing her arms tightly with some discomfort as she spoke quieter "we have all been worried after what happened to him"
"Everything will be fine and I will explain the situation later" Temari stated confidently, easing her worry, looking back to the doors, a stomp heard in the distance "and how is he today?"
"Limited" Yome sighed, dropping her arms but keeping her place next to Shikamaru "he's been pretty pissed off since hearing from Sen you were alive" she put a finger to her chin "though seemed calmer when Red showed up"
"Won't last long" Temari drew out with some annoyance, taking a step away from the two and waving back "stay by him just in case, Yome"
"And there's something else" Yome began hesitantly, voice quieter, glancing from Shikamaru to her "a message from home"
"It will have to wait" with her final words a set of doors slammed open, hitting the sides of the walls with a sharp echo in the room.
A storm approached.
"Temari!" The familiar shout of her brother, panic and rage laced in her name as Kankuro came down the hall into the large open space "you thought I was joking about putting a tracker on you, well I fucking wasn't. This isn't Suna, you can't just go wherever you want, without telling us, where have you been!?" his brisk pace breaking a step, only when Temari shifted to face him fully, to stand in the way of Shikamaru and her fuming brother, noticing who was behind her, his pace quickened "and what the fuck is he doing alive?"
"Stop being so dramatic you big baby, calm down" he glanced to her, briefly, then back to Shikamaru, the same burning look he remembered from the fight two nights ago, grief.
"You better have a good explanation for this" he growled through his teeth, glaring from Shikamaru to her, noticing the bruise to her lip, lifting her chin to look at it closer "did he do this?" She batted his hand away.
"This is exactly why I don't tell you everything" she pushed her hand into his chest, stilling him from passing her, his focus set and pushing against her "you always panic like this and fucking lose it"
"Panic?" he scoffed and glared back down to her, pointing a accusing finger at her "you went to the fucking agency! We both agreed you wouldn't go near them after what we found. You promised Temari! What would have happened to us all if they caught you, huh, if they killed you, huh?" Her chest heaved when he pushing into her arm to move past her, forcing her to bring her second hand to his chest and hold him back "I'm fucking killing him!"
"No, you're not!" at her growl back, Shikamaru noticed Yome step closer to him, grabbing his sleeve, as if to pull him out the way in case of a unexpected strike, the whole scene dangerous, but managed under a leaders controlled guidance. Temari quickly raised her hands, grabbing her brother by his face and forcing him to look down to her, to keep his eyes set on hers as he fought to look away "look at me, Kankuro, I am alive, see" she added quieter "since when do you of all people doubt me?" Kankuro blinked, his chest still heaving angrily, but listening to her "you need to calm down and listen to me, brother" holding him as he had held her, as her brother had pleaded to keep her calm when Kabuto had left, to keep the man from seeing her break right in front of the enemy at the news of Baki's murder "Gaara is no longer safe here and we need him to help us if we want to stop everything and prevent this war, we need him" at her severe whispered words his brows furrowed slowly, blinking away his hazy rage, shoulders slumped and flaming down.
"What happened in there?" He muttered, concern settling at the mention of their brother.
"I will explain everything, but you need to rein it in right now" she dropped her hands from his cheeks, keeping her gaze on his "the old man would scold you for this behavior" at the mention of Baki, Kankuro nodded slowly and leaned away from her, calmer now.
While Temari had walked out the dark cell controlled on her first injection of the scorpion venom, her brother had been slumped against his older sister, her bond to him strong and settling his panic. She had been the one to guide each of the family members out of that cell, each shadow taken by her hand, helped out of hell and into the light. Given their choice and they all chose to follow her, to stand behind Gaara, to protect Suna and the balance of Wind.
"Red said something about an ally when he got here" he muttered and slowly turned a wary glare to Shikamaru, keeping quiet, tense, but calm on the outside. Yome smiling small as she let him go and stood beside him, threat gone "he was talking about Nara, wasn't he?"
"Where is Sasori?" Temari glanced back to the doors as they swung open a second time with less force.
"Finally you two made it" Sasori called out, calm and relaxed, the twins trailing behind him as he made his way over to the group, moving past the siblings to Shikamaru, raising his hand "you're late, Nara"
"Unexpected delay" Shikamaru took his hand and they shook their greeting. An unlikely ally, a man who wanted the same as the group did, a man who had prepared and aided him a couple days back.
"Better late than never, I suppose" Sasori hummed and turned a reserved look to Yome as she stepped away to Temari's side, quiet and avoiding his half glaring stare, not fearful, but caution towards the man, habits hard to break "I was just in the middle of explained everything to Puppet here, unfortunately hadn't gotten to the part of this little alliance we agreed upon" Sasori sighed and turned back to Temari, her eyes stuck on him as soon as he had entered "I take it you're still angry with me?" Sasori kept a level gaze with hers, fearless in looking away, but the regret lingering in his softened honey colored eyes.
"This does not mean I forgive you, Sasori" Temari spoke quieter than normal, dangerously calm, he nodded in acceptance to her decision before she turned away.
Monday 6:12PM
Song Suggestion- the Irripressablies- In this Shirt
He could hear the last stomp on the steps, the news channel in his apartment quietly playing in the background.
Sasori braced his hands against the back of his couch, the news of Sato Maasaki's unfortunate heart attack making the daily headline again, but he knew the truth. His silent killer now making it to his door, and Sasori had been waiting for her the entire day, waiting for her to come to him, to finally speak her truth.
Temari had always been stubborn, even at a young age, a scrape or bruise would result in a forceful pull away from her cousin, hiding how she hurt from it, taught to hide her true feelings. He knew all to well who had forced her to learn how to control herself, her perfect facade a lie. A mistake would make her tense and avoid his gaze all together, or lash out in her frustration, but he had never been angry with her, he soothed her, showed her kindness and care that he knew Suna could not offer her, that he knew her father had refused to show her.
He had taught her what it meant to see beyond the walls of Suna. Kankuro had been the same, but his bond to his cousin was quick, almost instant compared to his cautious sister. He had felt protected, while she had felt trapped. She hid her suffering, and when she had left, Sasori began to hide his own in solitary, giving up the day the family had disbanded, the day he was betrayed by a man he had created a unexpected tie to, a man he had loved and left.
Now she was blinded, blinded by the grief of a severed tie, one that had been almost as strong as her tie to her youngest brother.
She was angry and he was ready to try and settle the storm, part one of his ally's plan.
When the unlocked door closed behind her, Sasori tensed and forced his turn to meet the gaze, under a tan coat a black dress hidden, chest heaving as if she had been running to him or away from something.
"How fucking dare you" her first words a low quiet snarl, teeth bared as she made her first step to him, even now smart enough to approach another shadow with caution "How dare you let that man live!" Each word after growing louder with her scream.
"Temari, calm down" he fully turned to her, raising a hand, each keeping still for a moment, a fight threatening the air.
"Calm down?" Her first step, her voice quiet again "calm down!" now she shook with rage "You let him live, you aided him, a man I need dead!" she shoved into Sasori, grabbing his shirt, stilling as his hands gripped her wrists and she used her scream to fight instead "You traitorous asshole, how dare you stop me from killing him!"
"Calm down, please" a soft plea against her, fighting her rage, gripping her wrists tighter.
"No!" She shoved away from him, pulling from his grip.
"Why did you lie to me?" Sasori asked quickly, his voice low in a hiss, forcing himself to scold and make her listen "Why didn't you come back to me? To seek me, your family? Why didn't you seek aid when you needed help, when Suna needed it" his voice dropped lower, speaking now softer "when Gaara needed help"
"You want the fucking truth!? Why I refused to tell you? Why I haven't told anyone, not even my own brother!?" She barely took breath with her screams "I failed! I failed protecting Suna! I don't know how to get out of this! I don't know how to get home back! I don't know how to get Gaara out anymore!" the cry of her scream, the tears filling her blurry teals suddenly "I'm exhausted Sasori, I'm exhausted of losing people, because of my mistake in allowing this to happened" tears threatening to fall, but she held them back, fought them with all her might, with all her control.
"What do you mean, Temari?" He asked slowly, brows furrowed.
"They are gone" she wailed, lips quivering, her chest heaved and she turned away to put a shaking hand to her mouth, as if she had let a secret spill "every shadow I created has died, I only managed to save the ones you've seen. I failed them" his eyes widened at her admission when she looked back, the dam had broken, tears fell, and the fear showed itself "there is seven of us left, Sasori, seven to protect Gaara. Our army is drained, cut in half, our people are prisoners in those fucking walls" she shoved her hands into her chest, pointing at herself "I am broken! The Serpent, he broke me into killing father, to severing my tie to him, to everyone so that I would obey. He made me into what you were" she screamed "nothing!"
"I know" He whispered after a moment, his ally having told him the story of River, one that had been kept a secret for months, for years of who truly had let them live.
"He gave me no choice" she went on, wiping quick at a tear on her cheek, voice thick as she tried to steady her breathing enough to speak "we wanted to seek this alliance for Gaara's sake, for our peoples future. I wanted nothing more than to ask, to bend even, because of his sacrifice in coming here to seek this alliance" Baki, he thought instantly, the news of his passing even threatening his own calm the day it happened "but to find out that they were aiding those monsters in Wind, and to find that out from that snake who now controls Suna" she turned away wiping her hands into her eyes smudging the makeup more, jerking away the moment Sasori put his hand to her back, his touch like a hot iron to her skin, burning "and then he killed him to punish me" she quickly stepped away from him, creating distance to calm herself "he was trying to help us get Gaara out, he failed us, because I failed him" she put a hand to her chest, swallowing down her tears, eyes shut and shaking as if she was freezing "I failed everyone, Sasori"
"Temari, you have not failed yet" Sasori stepped closer, ready to calm her storm, despite his own battle, seeing the red rimmed teals, the grief. Wanting nothing more than to hold his family in his arms to protect her in the weakness she could no longer hold back.
"If I don't obey, that is it, our only hope dies" he moved closer, she raised a shaking hand in defense "no, don't touch me" she stepped away from him again, hugging herself "you know what happens when you sever a tie this strong to someone, what that grief can cause"
"I know better than anyone!" he snapped, fists balled at his sides, fighting back his own tears "I severed my ties for you and Kankuro. You know I couldn't obey your father, to kill you, my own blood, I couldn't do it, because I loved you too much to break Karura's trust even in her death" his hazel gaze shut for a second, calming, and looked to her, seeing the child he had once protected, the one he had been forced to let go, the decision hers to return "and to see you now" his voice barely a broken whisper "I am sorry you had to make the decision by yourself and hide it from everyone. Leaders always make the greatest sacrifices no matter the cost to themselves" he tried desperately to have her listen to him, to take his hand when he raised it to her, to admit to herself the truth "But I need you to trust that man, that's why I helped him, because he can help you, Temari" at the mention, she stepped back and away from him in disbelief, distrustful.
"He might have a heart, but a man who has been betrayed like this, blinded by people he trusted" she shook her head stubbornly listening to the words of her father from long ago "is not a man I can trust"
"I trust him and you need to as well" Sasori said firmly.
"You do not get to decide what I need, no one gets to decide that for me" her voice raised now, back to spoken word, stubbornly shaking her head, fighting herself, unable to decide who she could trust "He won't help me, you can't help me, no one can. To protect my ties, I have to do this on my own, like I have been" she spat bitterly.
"Then you are no better than your stubborn father" his accusation froze her, her eyes wide and the trail of her final tear rolling down her red cheeks, the mention enough to cause his own chest to tighten, instantly regretful in his own frustration. The look in her puffy eyes, as if he had shot her, growing colder than he had ever seen it, controlling the emotion of nothing "Temari I didn't mean-"
"You're right" she spoke quietly looking away "I am exactly like my father" she nodded slowly, sniffed and took a breath, composing herself as she straightened, glaring back at him now "I am cold, relentless, and as insane as he was and I refuse to bend to anyone anymore" one way to take back Suna, force "But do you know what the worst part is?" she swallowed down the tears, her throat aching still "even in my father's death I still fear him, I fear what I cannot control, his rage lives on in me, his hatred. I am the weapon he wanted from the start, I am the bad omen the elders spoke about when I was born, the end of our people" in her vengeful venting, he reached for her again, to apologize, but she jerked away with a growl, spitting hateful words through her teeth "don't try to stop me or I will sever my tie to you as well" with her threat he realized he had lost, only one made her fear show, and he was in Suna. Only one way to get Gaara out, bring the beast the Serpent wanted dead, obey and finish her deal with that devil "I've already killed my father don't think I won't kill you Sasori" his hand retreated, slow, dropping it to his side with a sigh.
"I do not fear dying" he went quiet again as he looked down, regretful "but I fear what it might do to you if you allow to lose yourself like this" he sighed "I know how difficult it is to feel nothing, how difficult it is to come back from it after you've experienced real happiness, true love, those emotions that keep you grounded, keep you sane"
"Why do you think I'm doing all this?" She sneered, looking away "If Gaara dies I will destroy everything in my path, no matter what or who it is, I will burn that hell until he is free" she stated firmly and looked back to him "I will only stop fighting when I am killed"
"It is your decision then" he sighed in defeat, knowing he could not stop her "but know this, if you continue down this path, revenge will cloud your reasoning, Temari" the final words from Baki, her chest ached, but she dared not show it.
To seek help, to trust, to believe in Gaara's faith that good was still left in this world, it was too much, too much to hope for someone who didn't deserve forgiveness for her sins.
"Then I have decided" she stepped back, wiping at the daring last tear in her eye, keeping her promise to him "and to start, Shikamaru Nara dies tonight" with her final whisper she turned and left.
Words muttered into the silence, a whispered plea from Sasori as he grabbed his phone to call his ally.
"Please don't fail us"
The small woman, Yome, had stayed behind waiting for the others as the group made it to the hall Sasori and Kankuro had come from. The basement as they had called it, a long hallway leading to two flights of steps into the warehouse's lower floor they called the basement.
"Do you always have a entourage following you" Shikamaru muttered to her, glanced a third time to the two woman trailing at their back, seemingly closer each time he felt their eyes on his back, caution there, but less threatening than her brother had been. Both similar in looks, the only difference their hair, one long and black the other short and brown. He had managed to subdue the pair a couple weeks back, their skill decent, but still learning from what he could tell, as if they were just starting out, just as he had once as a field agent.
"The twins are like puppies, young and nosey, you just get used to them following you around" Temari shrugged and glanced back at them, the girls stepping closer to listen "the adults are speaking now girls" she waved a hand to them "off with you"
"Yes ma'am" they replied in unison and left the group, a stray bit of disappointment clouding over them to not be involved in the discussion.
"How old are they anyways?" Shikamaru asked once the left, leaving four to descend down the steps.
"They just turned eighteen, but we've known them since they were ten, orphans living on the streets" she explained "the little one with the brown hair, that was Matsuri" glanced back to her glaring brother, annoyed still when she had taken to Shikamaru's side rather than his "she stabbed Kankuro when we first met them" she added with a sly amused smirk back to him, to break her brother's piercing look.
"Hey" Kankuro's gruff tone shot her way, stepping closer to the pair's back at the end of the steps "she was trying to steal from me, how was I supposed to know she had a dagger"
"Hint why she earned the name Little Dagger" Temari glanced back to Shikamaru, hiding his grin well enough at the story, at her lighter teasing mood "stabbed Kankuro right in the ass with a tiny little dagger"
"And you fucking laughed instead of helping" Kankuro scoffed and moved to stand closer to her, though the two leading seemed to keep at their own pace.
"It was funny" taunting him now "A trained elite getting surprise attacked by a child who had no idea what she was doing" she turned, stepping backwards "and Yukata who still managed to steal your gold" with a playful shove into his shoulder she turned back with a cackle, his groan following her story "shameful brother"
"What was I supposed to do wring her neck?"
"You adore those two" she waved him off.
"Tolerate, I tolerate those two, because of you" Kankuro grunted correcting her "just like I have to tolerate every other stray you decide to bring in" his muttered words met with a leering look at Shikamaru.
"Now now, it's not polite to threaten our guest" she stopped in front of a door, turning back to her brother sharply "especially when they took a bullet meant for me" she waited, Kankuro slowly glanced at Shikamaru then back to her.
"I want every detail about the escape, you owe me that much for running off"
"Fine" unconcerned with her brother's lingering irritation, but accepting now of their guest. When she opened the room, one side filled with glowing computer screens and tvs the other stuffed with boxes, chairs and a table in the middle. She stepped in the dimly lit room to one of the offices of the bottom floor.
"Seems cozy" Shikamaru observed, a subtle smirk making way when she casted him a short glare at the taunting memory of her own first impression to his safe house.
Her focus quickly leaving him as she casted a darker glare to Sasori when he made his way to the other side of the room, seating himself next to Kankuro at the computers, her brother's knowing stare set on him, making him inwardly uncomfortable as he was during the fight to keep him calm earlier. He had expected this, expected the suffocating air between the two,
"Did you manage to find anything useful in the archives, Nara?" Sasori broke the silence, calm and cool as Shikamaru was in the tense air, setting his bag to the table.
"I've been out of the loop the past year, since my task was more involved with public affairs and the elections" he sighed, accepting the challenge ahead of them "but from what I've read so far, we've got seven bases we have to infiltrate to take down their mission orders. And in order to change those orders we possess the kill code to Shino's fire walls" he fished in the pocket of the bag and set the flash drive on the table, looking to Kankuro, his leering look slowly turning curious as Shikamaru spoke "everything that involves Fire, Earth, and Wind is in this flash drive, including troop movements from two years back when it all started" straightening to slip his hands in his pockets Shikamaru continued, as if he was reporting to his own team about a mission "Shino said it needs to be untraceable, decoded, and we have only two weeks to do it since he won't be able to leave headquarters anytime soon"
"Before Gaara gets here" Kankuro muttered to himself, leaning over to pick up the flash drive and inspect it. A short observation as he glanced up to his sister, her look just as collected as Shikamaru's, he sucked his teeth and glanced back to the new arrival, the ally he had heard about before they showed up "what kind of angle you working here Nara? Why are you helping us?" He questioned, suspicious, distrustful and seeking his own truth.
"We all have people we want to protect" Shikamaru stated, a breif thought of his family, his parents, little Mirai and her mother, the will of Fire to be protected by his hands, by the oath he had taken, the one expected of him to uphold. His hands dirty and stained so others wouldn't have to know the feeling "and it's clear that our leaders aren't doing what needs to be done. They want to start the fourth war and we will prevent it" quoting words form his mentor "we don't need armies when we have a few good men" he glanced to Temari "and women to finish the job" rolling her eyes at the addition.
"Between us how many heads do we have then?" Sasori asked looking between the two, his relaxed hooded gaze just narrowing subtly with the observation.
"If all goes well" Shikamaru ventured "ten of my agents" Sasori nodded to him and looked to Temari.
"You have eight, Temari"
"Aw look who wants to step out of retirement to break his hip in his final battle" Temari drew out sarcastically, scoffing and crossing her arms "I will not accept your aid"
"I'm not that old" Sasori grumbled, crossing his own arms "besides I'm worth twenty good men even now"
"And I am worth double that"
"Just whip your dicks out and see who's bigger already" Kankuro groaned and looked to Sasori with a sigh, forced to accept his sisters say "you guys do this every time, besides right now she outranks you Red, final say goes to her, you gotta respect it if you want to stay" Sasori sighed, the Scorpion had never been good at taking orders from others after his leave from Suna.
"You have to consider others in the hierarchy system now" he nudged his head over to Shikamaru "you all work as a unit, together, work as the agency does, not like shadows, not alone" he gestured a hand between the leaders "work as you two did to escape headquarters"
"I do not need advice from you on how to lead" she hissed, disregarding his calm look back, taking her words but unmoved by them "you are a shell of a man you used to be Sasori, so if your going to stay, start listening and stop intimidating the family"
"How long do you plan to be mad at me?" He asked slowly, regretful even now.
"As long as I fucking feel like it" she snapped back to him, the threat of a fight edged in her growl.
"Seriously what did you say to her" Kankuro muttered to Sasori, unheard in the room.
"It wouldn't hurt to have an experienced solider around" with Shikamaru's addition, Sasori sighed.
"I don't remember asking for your input on this Nara" cold and dismissive as she was to Sasori.
"Voice of reason, we aren't the only ones with connections to people in this city, so focus on priorities right now" Shikamaru spoke into the hot hair, three leaders stood in the room, but his voice was the one that brought reason amongst the unforgiving pair "Orochimaru used to be a Sanin, one of the three, a commander for Fire, so he knows the type of moves Tsuande will use. Our current goal is to stop troop movement on the borders, we need to intercept their orders and buy ourselves more time before Gaara gets here, and we'll do that by knowing who's been crossing those borders outside of our known knowledge"
"Where do we start then?" Kankuro asked, glancing at Sasori when he chuckled.
"I'm sure you know where" Shikamaru looked to Temari, the aid from his friend that morning revealing their first step, a reunion in the making "It's the place we first met"
"Oh" she slowly grinned, turning sly when she caught onto the meaning, quick wit following "you mean that memorable time where I kicked your ass through a door" spoken with a tease.
"Then you shot me" he shot her a forced grin back, just as quickly dropping it to a look of annoyance at the memory of the first exchange. From the way she had fought, to the way she had laid below him, tricking him and escaping capture "all fond memories I'd like wiped from my brain thank you very much"
"What can I say" batted her eyes innocently as if she hadn't done anything wrong that night "I do like seeing men on their knees" a dangerous grin in place "and Hidan looks good on his"
"Hidan?" Kankuro scoffed "fucking cult freak, knew you should have killed him" his sister shrugged, finding use in her missed shot. Reminded that she had promised him death.
"He still had use, as you can see"
"Hidan will know exactly who's been moving past the borders" Sasori brought a hand to his chin nodding along with the first move "a good start" glancing over to Kankuro when he stood from the chair clapping his hands together as he rubbed them, ready.
"I'm coming too then" Kankuro piped in "been waiting for the chance to knock that pervert's head in since we got here" lopsided smile quickly falling when his sister spoke.
"No, you will stay" a firm command as he narrowed his eyes and leaned on the table pointing to her.
"Last time you went over there we got into this mess, because of that fucker giving you up" Kankuro huffed our annoyingly "I'm coming so I can rip his beady little eyes out his head"
"No and it is not up for debate, in fact, you all stay put" Temari declared, the quick look from Shikamaru going unnoticed in her final words "I will handle this alone"
"No" Shikamaru furrowed his brows, annoyed further when she shot him a dismissive look.
"I can handle Hidan alone"
"We made a deal" he stood his ground.
"I'm doing this my way" Temari argued back.
"Your way it is then" he nodded once and smirked "but I'm still tagging along"
"Dead weight" she shot back, irritated, tense and looking ready to strike him.
"Truce" his response met with a middle finger raised in his direction, his eyes rolled unconcerned as he reminded her "we work as a team, remember"
"Fine, tag along" She groaned, throwing her hands into the air, defeated "but you will be useless to me, just like you were back in River" with her snide remark he mentally grinned in victory, the truce aiding his win, but not the dangerous voice of her brother.
"You were in River?" Kankuro exchanged a look between the two and settled on his sister, voice raised "He was in River and you didn't think to tell us?" His sister
"She also poisoned him with adder venom, classic slow kill technique" Sasori piped in, aiding the chaos with a subtle smirk, glancing half heartily back at them as he skimmed a report on troop sizes in his hands.
"You knew about it Red?" Kankuro gapped openly looking between the three in disbelief, working his mouth to speak, but nothing coming out, betrayed and staring back at his sister, her shoulders tense under his slow growing anger "you are going to give me a damn heart attack Temari" he began, turning to Sasori "and you too Red, you always tell me everything" he next words directed at Shikamaru "I knew I should have fucking shot you" he growled and continued to ramble on between the three.
"I see why you don't tell him everything" Shikamaru sighed, his resolve a shrug.
"He'll get over it eventually" and her gaze kept from him for a moment, she gave him a once over pulling his hoodie sleeve "you're gonna need a suit for tonight"
"This is gonna be a drag"
"Not with me it won't" she grinned proudly to herself "Just sit back and enjoy the show, crybaby"