[003]

[dangerouswind]

[Temari's back.

She's not sure she wants to be. She's keeping to the trees as much as she can, before she finally decides she really needs to get into the town and figure out what in the hell is going on.

There's blood smeared across her cheek. Her hands are scraped raw. Her wings -- normally tucked away under her clothes -- are ragged and missing feathers here and there. There's a wild look in her eye.

And she doesn't really know where she is.

This might not end well. At least she doesn't have her fan on her.]

Comments

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[She stares at him, unbelieving. Ambassador is a far cry from what she currently was. It takes her a moment to answer and, when she does, she manages to skirt the issue entirely. Less thinking it all over that way.]

So I still kick and save ass, even in your weird reality. Good to know.

[endgames]

Yup. You've come a long way. [He picks up the first aid kit.] So. You coming with me to get your fan, or am I hauling it back to you?

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[Make no mistake, Shikamaru. She's still tense as all hell. Suspicious. Not sure what to make of anything. But she wants her fan.

She stands up, bandaged hands brushing dirt off her legs.]

It's too heavy for a weakling like you to carry.

[endgames]

[...shut up.] Who said anything about carrying. I'd drag it.

[MOVING IT, is the important part. Duh.

He sticks his hands in his pockets as he stands, then walks toward the building.]

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[She falls in behind him, several steps back and keeping an ever-watchful eye on as much as she can see. It'll be good to get inside, she thinks, and if she can hole up somewhere with her fan, so much the better.]

No one drags my fan around.

[endgames]

I think the floor would have more to worry about than your fan. Thing's made out of iron, isn't it?

[He holds the door open, and when she comes in she can probably see the stairwell off to the left.]

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

It's the principle of the matter.

[Temari slips inside, as far away from him as she can manage and then waits. She's not going up those stairs first, thanks very much.]

[endgames]

[He shrugs, then heads up the stairs.] Well if I don't have to carry it, I guess you have nothing to worry about.

[While Shikamaru continues to keep an eye on her as he moves, his posture continues into its slouch the closer to the fourth floor they get. It's by no means relaxed; if anything, it's sullen.]

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[She stays exactly three steps behind him: far enough that she can get away and close enough that she can attack if needed. After a few moments, she dares to speak again. There's just something... familiar about needling him.]

Some ninja. Can't even stand up straight.

[endgames]

Tch. I don't remember having to pass a test on that to become a genin.

[He'd make the effort to slouch further, but that would make walking uncomfortable. 8|]

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

Maybe it is for jounin. You should look into it.

[endgames]

In that case, I'll pass. [He looks away. It would figure. She's not even from the same reality as him - she all but hates his guts - and he's still hearing talk of becoming a jounin from her. Where's the justice in that?

...He doesn't think he's told her that he's been working on that back home, since Asuma died.]

Too much work. [/deadpan.]

[He turns onto the fourth floor, walking into the hallway.]

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[That, for some reason that she can't fathom, is a somewhat familiar refrain. She follows him into the hallway, sharp-eyed gaze taking in everything. Her answer is somewhat distracted; she's too busy cataloging potential threats and escape routes to give needling him her full attention.]

You're not just an ass; you're a lazy ass.

[endgames]

How perceptive of you. [He points to the kitchen as they pass it.] That's a kitchen, by the way.

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[Temari looks over the kitchen with a critical eye. Just like any other kitchen, which meant that, yes, it was a veritable treasure trove of improvised weaponry.]

Yes, thank you. I never would have figured that out on my own.

[endgames]

You're welcome.

[And then with 90% less asshole:] The two apartments on that side of the hall are empty. You can check 'em out if you don't trust me. [He turns to the doors on the other side of the hall.] Your apartment is at the end there. Mine's in the middle - [He stops in front of said door with a key even as he says this.] The other one's empty too.

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[Waitasec. What the hell is this?] I really do live next to you?

[Oh, yeah. She's checking those apartments. Then setting traps over her own.]

[endgames]

Your idea, not mine. [He'd say you're free to move anytime you like, but considering the situation, it's probably for the best you don't.

He opens the door to his apartment without another word, stepping inside without closing it. She can stand out there or follow - he won't force her either way.

...If she does follow, she's bound to notice the place is a mess. Of the broken furniture and giant hole in the wall variety. The wall hasn't had enough time to recover from its meeting with Chouji's fist, leaving chunks of it scattered in the apartment next door.

As for the furniture, with the mood he's been in today? Things were more likely to break further than get fixed if he got his hands on them.]

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[Temari follows him as far as the door, unwilling to step foot inside the apartment and watchful for any traps that might be there. She takes in the damage with wide eyes.]

What'd you do to this place?

[endgames]

Wasn't me. [He jerks a thumbs towards the hole as he heads towards the coat closet.] Told you it was empty next door.

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[Uh huh. Yeah. Empty. She sees that. More importantly:]

What put the hole in your wall, then?

[endgames]

Knowing Chouji, probably a fist. Apparently there's no stopping the Malnosso when they want to kidnap somebody, but you can't blame a guy for trying.

[Then before she can comment on that, he pulls something familiar from the closet.] Here. Your fan.

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[She takes another look around and the abruptly strides into the apartment to take the fan from him.]

About time.

[endgames]

Tch. You're welcome. [He takes a step back once it's in her hands, wary of an attack if she decides to go that route.

If she doesn't? Well. He'll just go sit on the couch and wait to see what she does next.]

[dangerouswind.livejournal.com]

[She does snap the fan open, but there's nothing malicious in her movement. She's simply checking it.]