[action]

[dangerouswind]

[At some point during the afternoon, as you walk across the town or through well-used paths in the fringes of the forest, you may feel as if you're being watched.

Yes. You.

A fleeting shadow, the feeling of eyes following your every move, the feeling that you can't shake a follower. You know the one. It makes the hair at the nape of your neck stand on end. Makes you paranoid and jumpy. Or maybe just amused. Annoyed. Whatever it does, it's there.

Temari's not trying too hard to stay unseen. It's less training and more something to do. You might turn around and see a ninja standing behind you. Maybe she's touching down next to you. Maybe you're attacking. (She won't like that much, to be honest, but maybe that's how you respond to being watched.)

There's a ninja stalking you. What do?]

Comments

[dangerouswind]

[Maybe he did and the thought did cross Temari's mind as she spots evidence of passing. Had this been a real enemy, she would have been more careful. Used more trickery.

But this isn't a fight and it's not even really training.

Lure followed, trickster. What now?]

[deathsdoctor]

[As with any good lure? He's going to feign an 'oh crap' moment and make attempts to throw her off his trail.

Redoubling his stealth. Throwing up more lures to grab her attention and redirect it.

The subtlest flash of color here. A whisper of movement there.

Of course those are tactics that only confuse amateurs, as they both well know, and Law anticipates she will realize probably immediately she is being guided in a certain direction and will likely act accordingly.

Which is all part of the plan. If she doesn't, however, well, he's accounted for that too.]

[dangerouswind]

[The first time she spots something, she's curious. The second time, she gets it. Well, then, let's see where this goes. Temari willingly follows the trail, though a part of her is definitely on guard.

She doesn't often willingly fall into a trap, but she's also very curious.

Where are you taking her?]

[deathsdoctor]

[Right beyond this thicket, overgrown with wild strawberry, hawthorn, black swallow-wort, and sweetbriar, the trees open up into a little meadow filled with wildflowers and a small bubbling stream that snakes away, and drops over a small rock outcropping, to escape to the river in the distance. Songbirds flit at the edges and sing. There might even be a startled lone rabbit.

A pretty little hidden pocket. Not well visited.

He'll give you a moment before dropping in silently behind you.]

Nice, isn't it?

[dangerouswind]

[It's very peaceful, full of life and color. Temari's lips curl into a small smile when she sees where she's been led. Well, hey. That wasn't so bad.

She glances behind her when he speaks.]

Indeed it is.

[deathsdoctor]

[The guy who comes by to play shogi with Shikamaru sometimes, smiles.]

One of my favorite places to disappear to. And since we were focusing on staying out of sight, I figured it wouldn't be a half bad place to end up.

[dangerouswind]

[She likes it. Reminds her of a few places in the woods out behind Konoha.]

I've a few places of my own like this. I'll try not to intrude.

[deathsdoctor]

Thanks. [He's grateful. There's hardly a place in these woods you can go for for solitude without having a person home onto you like a cruise missile.]

It's Miss Temari, right? We've never been actually introduced. I'm Law.

[dangerouswind]

Just Temari is fine. Nice to officially meet. I've seen you around a few times.

[deathsdoctor]

Gotcha.

[Chuckling] Pestering Shikamaru for a match, right?

[dangerouswind]

[Her lips quirk.] Usually. He knows I watch his comings and goings.

[deathsdoctor]

Aa. [Totally not surprised. Tis a ninja habit. That Law possesses himself, even before that experiment.] Sensible, that. Everyone needs someone watching out for them.

[dangerouswind]

He might disagree. [She's amused, though. Shikamaru is more likely to be annoyed by it than anything else.

... That's why she does it.]

[deathsdoctor]

[Laughing.] He might. Troublesome and all that.

Though he could use a little more 'troublesome' in his life at times. It's good for him.

[dangerouswind]

[Also laughing.] Don't let him hear you say that. You'd think it'd be too troublesome to argue the point, but he will.

[deathsdoctor]

True that. [Knowing smile.] And keep at it.

[dangerouswind]

You'd think it'd be less troublesome to let it go.

[deathsdoctor]

It would, but Shikamaru wouldn't be Shikamaru if he did.