Rabbit Princess [Gaara] [2]

☾ 30 ☽

Tsukiko folded her hands-on top of each as she sat waiting for her order to come through at Amaguriama Sweet Shop. She could smell the waft of the sweets and the tea being made, and she smiled when she noticed that her food was ready. She wrapped her hands around the warm tea cup.

"Was hoping to run into you," Shikamaru's voice came through and Tsukiko looked up to see him walk into the shop. "No mission today, I see,"

Currently, Tsukiko dressed in her usual light blue t-shirt with the Kanji for 'Love' written across the front, along with her black shorts and black shoes.

"Looking for Asuma Sensei?" Tsukiko asked as he sat down across from her. He looked at her curiously. "Come on, I've seen him come here with Kurenai Sensei since Anko-San is always at the other dango shop,"

"I don't know why he's still trying to hide it, it's so bothersome," Shikamaru said, shaking his head. "Anyway, how did your mission go? Did you meet the spy?"

"Usa, it was Yakushi Kabuto," Tsukiko replied and Shikamaru's expression darkened. "But he had already broken out of Sasori's hold and was hoping to attack Sasori with Orochimaru,"

"Orochimaru was there, too?" Shikamaru asked in a low voice. "What about Sasuke? To imagine, that Kabuto guy of all the people..."

"Sasuke wasn't present there but we chased Orochimaru all the way to his hideout," Tsukiko replied as she took a sip of her tea. "That's where we found him, too,"

"How was he?" Shikamaru asked as he leaned back in the booth, staring at the white-haired female. "I suppose you all did fight him?"

"Usa..." Tsukiko muttered. "He's gotten extraordinarily strong now, probably has something to do with the curse mark and all... He, along with Orochimaru and Kabuto, managed to get away in the end. Wanted to leave us alive so we can fight Akatsuki for them,"

"How troublesome," Shikamaru responded, shaking his head. Tsukiko nodded in agreement as she ate her dango breakfast. "It was already such a drag to chase Sasuke and now he's gotten inhumanly powerful?"

"Most of my team was incapacitated before we even met Sasuke," Tsukiko admitted. "I wonder if I would've done a better job had I been alone. Maybe I should go by myself,"

"Don't be stupid," Shikamaru replied. "You're thinking just like Sasuke – going off on whatever without your team. Have you forgotten the test you made last Chunin exams?"

"I realise that, I'm sorry," Tsukiko answered with a long sigh. "On the mention of that, how did the Chunin exams go this time around?"

"Better than our last take," Shikamaru said. "Has Naruto decided to stick to being Genin his entire life? He's the only one left out of us all,"

"He's been very preoccupied with Sasuke," Tsukiko said. "And trust me, he's going to be just as busy in the following six months... He's most likely going to skip the next Chunin exams, too,"

"Well, him and Sasuke can become Chunins together in the future," Shikamaru replied. "He's only going to come back to the ground when Sasuke returns,"

"You're right," Tsukiko responded. "I'll see you around, then, hopefully you can tag along on our next mission to retrieve Sasuke, we can do well with your smarts,"

"Yeah, I'd like to see how much Sasuke has grown," Shikamaru replied. "How troublesome," He rubbed his forehead. "Well, see you later, then,"

"See you, I need to head to the library, too," Tsukiko replied as she pulled out her rabbit pouch and pulled out the money, placing it on the table before getting up. "Thank you, Oba-Chan! I've left the money on the table!"