Shika Tema intense mission pt5

- A short while later -

“There you are!” A familiar lazy voice called to Temari. She looked up to see Shikamaru walking towards her from the direction she had just come from. “Huh? Are you cry-“ He was cut off, because he was surprised to see Temari get up, and embrace him. She put her arms around his neck, and her head against his chest,
“You stupid chunin!” She scolded him in a muffled voice. He didn’t reply, mainly because he was still in shock, but also because he was trying to understand what was going on. Why was she crying? Why was she over here, and not where he had left her? He was only gone for a few minutes. He had just gone for a short stroll.
“W-What’s wrong? Something happen?”
“I thought you were dead! There’s a body over there, what else am I supposed to think, if I find you gone, and blood leading to a corpse?”
“Oh… well… sorry about that, but I don’t see how you could mistake me for a bear, I’m not that large.” Temari let go of him and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand,
“Yeah you’re right; you’re far to scrawny. You need to get some muscle on you.”
She laughed, and they walked back to their sleeping bags.

The forest around them was filled with tall trees with thick out-stretching branches covered in jagged leaves. There were almost no bushes now, but the tree roots stuck out of the ground rather unhelpfully, so the two had to watch their step. Shikamaru tripped occasionally whilst Temari never once lost her footing. They continued to walk on through the forest in silence until it was time to eat. They sat down and got out they’re lunch, and began to eat. Shikamaru had hurriedly put together some sandwiches before leaving, whilst Temari had some of the finest of her country’s cuisine in a tasty looking wrap. Shikamaru tried to hide his jealousy. He instead wondered why she had been crying. Even if she had thought he was dead, wasn’t that over-reacting a bit? She didn’t like him. The only two possibilities remaining, he thought, were that she must either have a secret soft side, or was afraid of going back on her own. She had hugged him, which suggested the first option, but it was highly unlikely. Being a girl, it was more likely that she wanted an escort. Shikamaru always did have a rather sexist opinion.

After eating, they got up, and started walking again, Shikamaru still puzzled. He hated hard work, and this was really annoying him. He had an IQ of 200, why could he not figure this out? He sighed deeply. Temari noticed this,
“What now? You know if you keep moaning like this, it isn’t going to make this mission any better.” She explained, slightly irritated,
“I know that, that’s not what I’m sighing about,”
“You’ve found something else wrong? Great.”
“Actually, I was trying to figure something out, but never mind, I don’t really care anymore: it’s too much of a drag.” He put his hands in his pockets.
“…Fine then, don’t think to tell me. I won’t bite your head off!”
“Yes you will,”
“Hey!” Temari’s face turned to more of a scowl, “I’m not that touchy, if your going to be like this, then I don’t see why I should care either,”
“Fine..” Shikamaru looked unbothered,
“Hmph!” Temari clearly was touchy. She was very annoyed at this. He didn’t have to point out her every weakness. Why was she letting this brat get to her? They didn’t talk again.

- Six hours later -

It was nighttime, and they had come a long way. They were coming to the borders of the fire country and the sound country, by the east cost. They would soon be finding a boatman to take them around the sound county, to the lightning country. They walked to the docks in silence, and Shikamaru went to find a boatman, while Temari waited. She felt better once he had gone. It was a far less tense atmosphere, and it would give her some time to check her hair in her mirror.

Shikamaru returned about ten minutes later with a tall man, in his mid fifties.
“The name’s Tenjou,” He showed them to a fairly large boat, big enough to hold about thirty passengers and a crew for a short voyage. They climbed on board, and he then told them that he would show them to their rooms, then they were free to explore the ship,
“WE’RE SHARING A ROOM?” Temari yelled, “WHY? This ship’s large enough for at least ten other rooms!”
“Well actually, below deck is the ships hold, theres only old rum shelves and storage down there, and most of the space upstairs is for dining, and of course there’s my office, my room, and my cabin, the cook’s cabin and the kitchen, so actually there’s only one passenger room. You see this used to be a pirate ship… so I bought it because it looked cool… but it means I can only take a few passengers at a time.”
“I’d rather sleep with the cook.” Temari muttered.