dangerouswind

[Having two days you can barely remember and a best friend kidnapped right from under your nose? It makes you alert.

If it were a serious threat, he doubts he'd have picked up on the person until it was too late. But the fact that someone's sneaking around and doing a better job of it than he would expect from Luceti's residents is still somewhat worrying.

He sticks to the edge of the path, continuing his walk without a change in his demeanor. If she's still following him after sixty seconds, he's going to send his shadow, stretched needle thin, into the dark to search out the person tailing him.]

[She remembers. Nothing but hazy memories, but they are there nonetheless. He's in them, another figure hazy and indistinct and in the shadows.

... The shadows.

She had to get out of the shadows.

Temari wasn't sure why, but she'd learned that listening to her instincts was sometimes the only thing that kept her alive. She left the shadows, knowing full well she risked being seen by doing so. She steps into the street behind him, trying for confidence and nonchalance.

Hard to do when she was bleeding.]

[Much better. He turns when he sees movement, then stares when he sees who it is; her appearance.]

Temari? You all right?

[She takes a half-step back before she catches herself. She is not unsure of herself. Never afraid.

How does she know him? And, more importantly, how does he know her? It takes her a moment to answer; she should have slept by now. Ate, at the very least.]

Tell me your name.

[If she had his name, maybe she could connect it all.

Maybe.]

[You should know it already. He's going to take that as a no, then.

He straightens out of his slouch, trying to determine what's been done to her. Something more than physical, by the looks of it.]

Nara Shikamaru.

[Nara Shikamaru. It's... familiar. Somehow, it's familiar. Temari just looks at him, gaze critical and cataloging as she tries to remember.]

Konoha.

That's right.

[Luceti is no stranger to alternate realities, right? She doesn't know him; if she does, it's nothing but a faint memory. Which isn't the problem at all; the twists involved with something like that could be influenced as much by the people they meet as it could by politics.

And that could get messy.]

Is that a problem?

[A problem? It's only a problem in that the fall of Suna came after a defeat dealt by Konoha.

There was no love lost between Sand and Leaf, that was certain.]

No problem.

[But she's tensing, ready to run -- or attack or defend. Whatever comes.]

[Bull. Shit. You don't sound confident about that at all.]

All right. [But he doesn't point it out. The last thing he needs is for her to run.] So I guess that brings us back to my original question. You okay? [He nods his head, looking at the blood on her cheek; the state of her wings.] You look like shit. I can find you medic if you need one.

[Her response is immediate.] No medic. [Not if Konoha is offering it.

But even after refusing the help, she stays. She can't shake the feeling that she knows him and that worries her.]

[Then let's cut to the chase.]

What do you want then? Or are you just planning on sight-seeing?

[That stops her cold.]

I want to know where I am.

[And, by God, he'll tell her if she has to force it out of him.]

[Not going to be a problem.]

You're in Luceti. I take it you don't remember it?

I remember... [Her voice is raised, but trails off abruptly. Suna is gone, for the most part. She remembers being hunted. Remembers fighting. Hiding.

She does not remember Luceti.

But maybe she does. Conflicting and hazy memories crowd her mind and she simply... does not know. Confusion, thy name is Temari.]

Go. [She'll figure it out herself.]

I can't do that. [And indeed, he doesn't move an inch. It's always been easier to conentrate on his jutsus when he stays in one place.]

Troublesome as it is, whether you remember me or not, you're an ally. I can't walk away.

[And if you try it, you're not going to get very far.]

[Troublesome. Why... why is that familiar?

It's troublesome.

Troublesome woman.

She hears the phrases, tumbling over themselves until they just don't make any sense anymore.]

We're not allies.

[And she starts moving backward, intending to get as far away from as she can while keeping him in sight for as long as she can.]

Maybe you're not mine right now, but I can't say the same thing for myself. I can help you, Temari.

[And he will, whether you like it or not. He breathes out, shadow in position and out of sight for now. He's low on chakra (for reasons he can't remember), but he can manage this.

Last chance. So he'll throw out something that's more worth her time.]

You want your fan back, don't you?

[Somehow this stranger (who is not a stranger somehow and hell if she can figure it out) has once again stopped her cold. Her gaze -- and her voice -- hardens.]

Where is it?

Not far from where you left it. I've been holding on to it for you, until you got back. [And doesn't that just raise more questions?]

And it's all yours again if you come with me. I can answer sone of your question, you can answer some of mine. There's a first aid kit you're free to, and if you decide after that you still don't trust me you're free to go. [Provided you don't give him a reason to do otherwise.]

[That certainly does raise all new questions. Got back from where? Why has he been holding her fan? Why would she have left her fan in his care? She would never leave her fan, not willingly.

She weighs her options, and decides she really just wants her fan. She's had experience running and hiding, if all else fails. Temari nods toward him.]

Lead the way.

[If she senses a trap at any point, she'll skin you.]

[He nods, then turns back in the direction he was heading, drawing his shadow back as he waits for her to follow.]

First question goes to you. Ask away.

[It slips out before she can really control it.]

Why in the hell would I leave my fan in your care, Konoha?

Like I said: we're allies. Weird as it sounds, while we're stuck here we're neighbors even. Your idea, not mine, by the way. [You're free to move to a different building anytime you want. 8|]

When the people that run this place kidnapped you, your stuff got left behind. You took out a wall when you left, so I grabbed your fan in case anyone came in to investigate.

[Damn it, man. Whoever you are, quit saying things that give her pause.]

I don't... [Remember? Get kidnapped? Live anywhere near any Konoha nin? Any of the above?

Taking out a wall, she can believe. The rest? Not so much.]

You're not making sense. [And that tone? That's somewhat accusing. She's waiting for the trap to spring.]

No, I guess I'm not. [He frowns, and adjusts the bag on his shoulder.] Look, sometimes when the Malnosso kidnap people, they tweak them. If that's what's happened, you might not remember the same things that I do.

So that's my question. How do you remember things?

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