Shikamaru x Temari Distance (AU)

Chapter 4

When the car driving past Shikamaru's signaled, making an ear piercing sound, he finally opened his eyes which were full of boredom. He yawned, looking at his surroundings, and realized he was in his car, not bed.

His watch read 7:54. A near 20 minutes had passed since his last phone call with Temari.

He called her cell but it was busy so he patiently waited.

For like a second.

Knock knock

The door opened faster than the speed of light. But when he saw the hope wash away from Temari's face, he realized he was not the one for whom the door was opened to. She immediately got back to her cellphone.

- No, you don't understand. I know my brother, and he would never... but ma'am... No, I need you to look for him, because he's in danger, and the situation will only worsen if we wait... hello?

"Fuck" – she muttered under her breath, closing her eyes while tilting her head backwards hopelessly.

- What's wrong? – asked Shikamaru in a worried tone, though he was sure he had the answer from that phone call.

She didn't look at him.

But after what seemed like minutes had passed, she slowly tilted her head like an inch or so, as if her brain has just processed the sound. When they made eye contact, he was taken aback. He has never seen her eyes this... lifeless before. As if her beautiful teal orbs just lost its color. But as she was looking at him, a flash of it came back.

- Your dad's a cop! – she said in a tone that showed the flash of color.

- I'm sorry, I mean... hi. – she started over, realizing what that must sound like.

- Hi. So... wanna talk about it?

- Gaara's gone. I called the police, but they won't do anything about it 'cause... - she started talking quickly and quietly.

- It hasn't been 24 hours.

- ...Yeah. They said that they think he might be just out and about with friends when I told them he hadn't arrived at school either.

- But you know that he's not?

- He's the responsible one.

- When did you find out that he was gone?

- This morning. I walked in his room, and he wasn't there.

- Do you mind if I take a look in his room?

- Why?... I guess. Upstairs, the one where it's the furthest to the right. And also...

- Yes Temari, I'll call my dad about it.

- Thank you, it really means a lot.

He could hear that she meant that.

Shikamaru silently went upstairs and opened the said door. He grabbed one of the many books that was brought down from the shelf, and noticed that its pages were not in place. It looked like they were ripped away from the book itself and someone had tried to put it back where belonged.

In fact, all of the books that laid on the desk were like that. One was open and he could tell the reason.

The page number went from 231 from 234.

He immediately turned around, and got out, looking around at the floor. As he had thought he had seen in his peripheral vision, a page was found by the door. He placed the missing page where it was supposed to be and closed the book, putting it on the stack. He read the title - "The Howl of the old Wolf". Next to it, on the chair, Gaara's bag was lying.