twelve

We were to stay in the village while Tsunade sent some anbu to escort us home. It had been a couple of days since Tsunade-sama had sent word and we would be meeting up with the rest of the team. They had been weary of me when I went to visit Sai on the first day, who was already up and about but he had still been a bit drained. I didn't like the awkward atmosphere so i had left the room an angry looking Shikamaru trailing after me.

We were currently walking to a place where our team had agreed to meet up. Shikamaru was greeted by a few sand ninja on the way out and I remembered he had spent a few weeks here. I held his hand tight as we got to the spot. No one was there yet so we took a seat on the bench. Shikamaru brushed a piece of hair behind my ear leaning forward and placing a kiss at the back of my ear.I smiled brightily gripping his hand placing a kiss on his knuckle. I let out a loud giggle as he wrapped his arms around me tickling my side unintentionally.

Ten minutes passed before Sasuke turned up. When he took in our posistion he rolled his eyes. I looked away as his glare focused on me. I honestly didnt mean to hurt them why was he being so hostile. Im not a threat. Am I?

Shocking both me and Sasuke Shikamaru pinned him against the wall roughly.

"Shikamaru!" Sakura yelled, joining us. A few villagers who were out looked at the scene in horror but I was frozen.

"Don't look at her like that!" Sasuke just glared at him.

"Like what?" His cold voice seemed to annoy Shikamaru more as he pulled back and tried to punch him but Kakashi was there in time to stop him.

"Let go of me!" He yelled but he didn't he held onto my boyfriend tightly. I felt Sasuke's eyes on me and I looked away, keeping my eyes on my fuming boyfriend.

"I said to stop looking at her like shes a fucking enemy!" Sasuke's eyes widened and I felt my body tense up. It was true besides Kakashi, Naruto and Shikamaru everyone had been acting like I was dangerous, like I would turn on them at any time. Sasuke was staring at me actually looking a bit guilty. We all stayed in silence until Naruto joined us, oblivious to the chaos. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"Hey Kira. Do you know when we're leaving?" His cheerful mood made me feel better but I just couldn't help but feel like running. It was in my nature. I had always run away when feeling a certain way, so that's what I did. I turned around and ran, ignoring their calls.

I didn't want to see their stares of hate. I kept running until I passed all the houses past everything and hid away in the middle of nowhere. I was still in the village but far from everything and everyone. I wasn't a monster, I wasn't.

Hours seemed to pass as I stayed against the tree I had found. A part of me wondered how it was here in the middle of nowhere and the other just accepted it. I heard a crunch from behind me and got up, kunai ready.

It was Temari. I lowered my weapon leaning back against the tree. She took a seat next to me sighing loudly like she didn't want to be here.

"They're all looking for you. Shikamaru is going crazy..." I flinched at that I could imagine it.

"They're scared of me." I whispered not knowing why I blurted it out. She was quiet.

"Well it was kind of scary when you turned on everybody.... Hey I'm just telling the truth. But I believe they don't think of you as some sort of monster." I frowned why was she being nice to me. Didn't she hate me?

"Look I'm just saying. Sure you can find someone scary but that doesn't mean you don't trust them with everything? Am I making sense?" I shook my head and we stared at each other before bursting out laughing.

"Don't beat yourself up about it... You were being controlled it wasn't like you wanted to hurt them." I stared at the girl next to me and smiled a genuine smile.

"If you weren't so set on flirting with my boyfriend I think me and you could be friends." She raised her hand scratching behind her neck.

"Yeah sorry about that. I just don't know when to stop sometimes. I honestly didn't know you were dating until he kissed you back then. I thought you guys were just really close. In short I was acting like a jealous bitch" She seemed genuine and I sighed. I looked out at the dessert nothing but plains of sand in view.

"It's peaceful here." I said after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah it is.... It's a little past five in the evening. I'm sure you've given your team and boyfriend enough of a heart attack. Lets head back." I hesitated I didn't want to be judged.

"Look if they try anything they can answer to me. I'll stick up for you."

I felt tears spring to my eyes wiping them away. I'm such a crybaby.

"Temari.. thank you."

"Ughh I'm only doing this because i feel kind of guilty for treating you so rotten when we first met." I nodded smiling at her.

She stood offering me her hand and I took it gladly.

"We'll come on before your boyfriend breaks my village searching for you." I let out a laugh at that and followed her back. I regretted coming so far out. I was exhausted by the time we saw houses in the distance.

"Why did I come so far?" I groaned earning a sigh from the equally as tired girl.

"'Cause you're an idiot." She said wiping away sweat from her brow.

When we made it to the actual village I was so relieved I danced pulling Temari into a twirl.

"We're back, wer-" before I can finish my sentence I was tackled from behind. I would've fell if he didn't hold on to me. Shikamaru.

I melted into his touch ignoring how sweaty he was. He leaned back and glared at me. I was waiting for him to start yelling but he didn't he brought me into another hug.

"I was so worried." I tightened my grip on him, it felt good to be in his arms after being apart so long.

"Sorry...."

He shook his head holding onto me..

"I would've still been out there if Temari hadn't come for me." I whispered pulling back to look at the blonde who was standing awkwardly, looking away from us.

"Thank you Temari." Shikamaru was so serious it was probably hard for her to not feel more awkward.

"It's fine she just needed a little space but I swear to Gaara. If you run back out there you can stay out there." I laughed smiling at her as she returned the gesture. Shikamaru seemed shocked that we were even talking to each other but he didn't say anything as we continued to walk back in to town. He had a tight grip on my hand probably afraid i was gonna run again.

We ran into Kakashi who had the rest of the team with him. He looked like he wanted to kill me.

"Don't scare us like that again. Idiot." He said shoving my forehead gently. I knew he could've found me easily. He just had to ask Pakkun but he could tell I needed space. I thanked him with a smile he nodded in return.

Sakura was the first to speak up eyeing Shikamaru before rolling her eyes and bringing me into a hug.

"Kira I'm sorry i made you feel like that. You're not a monster I swear. I don't know why but it was just awkward. That's why I stayed silent when you came around and oh gosh I feel so guilty." I giggled as my friend desperately tried to convince me.

"It's okay Sakura." I patted her shoulder laughing as she brought me into another hug this time almost squeezing the life out of me.

"Can't...breathe.." she let go as Shikamaru pulled me slightly towards him.

"Geez Shikamaru I'm not gonna kiss her or anything calm yourself." He blushed making everyone laugh as he hid his pink face in my shoulder. We all decided to go and eat at a restaurant Temari said was amazing. That's where we were now all squeezed into one booth i was on the end of the table half off the seat.

"I can get you all a bigger table if you'd like?" We decided to move and that's when I was pulled aside by Sasuke.

"Can I talk to you." I didn't make eye contact as he asked choosing to stare at Shikamaru. He glared at Sasuke but nodded for me to go with him.

"Okay." I said quietly following him back outside.

"I don't think you're an enemy. That's not why i was angry at you."

He said staring up at the sky.

"I was just angry.... You knew about Orochimaru and you didn't tell us?" I frowned listening to him talk.

"I don't know who he is at all. I only found out about the creep in that field." He looked to me and looked guilty.

"He knew who you were."

"Alot of people do apparently and I'm just figuring that out."

He looked confused. I sighed heavily explaining

"I came to the village knowing nothing about my self Sasuke. Shikamaru found me. I barely remember anything but when I saw Kakashi..... I remembered a lot of stuff. Mainly things to do with him but i still don't know who I am. Who my family is. If I even have parents? Do I have siblings? I found out I'm from the leaf village and that's all i know. I know more about Kakashi than I do myself."

He looked shocked to hear all this.

"Why don't you just ask Kakashi... About your family?"

I shook my head, the thought had occurred to me but it put fear in me.

"I don't want to grieve over people I don't know, if they turn out to be dead... That sounds harsh..." I said looking away.

"It's not. I understand.... Kira I'm sorry." He groaned looking down.

"It's okay. Just ask before assuming. it causes less drama." I said with a laugh patting his shoulder. He smiled but frowned again.

"Stay away from him Kira both of those creeps. They're dangerous."

"I wasn't planning on ever seeing them again... C'mon now my stomach is dying. Let's go eat." He rolled his eyes but stood with me making our way into the restaurant. Shikamaru looked up worried and I eased it with a wave. I sat down Sasuke next to me as we dug in with everybody else. The rest of the night was spent drama free and we laughed as if nothing bad was gonna happen.