A scarred heart [Shikamaru love story]

Enter Konoha

Okay maybe a small note, the lines in Italic are thoughts.
Example : "Why does he have to be here?" is a thought
"Why does he have to be here?" is just saying.
Hope I don't make it too complicated!

Meiko

After a long walk through the forest behind her escort from Konoha, Meiko saw these big walls rising up behind the trees in the distance.
Relieved to see this sight, knowing it wasn't long anymore until they arrived. From the moment they left after Meiko met the pineapple boy,
the sun decided to share more of its heat than other days. A bit too much in her opinion. Some small sweat drops dripped down her neck, her shoulders and her back.
"Why did I decided to wear my scarf. Such a dumb idea of me. How can I forget that summer in Konoha were pretty hot." She let out a small sigh after she was done with letting her inner self curse her. Meiko checked her backpack on her hip. There was still some space left, but was it enough? Unfolding the scarf from her neck, and making it as small as possible in her hands, Meiko tried to put it in her backpack. Perfect fit! Enjoying the breeze that could now reach her neck, a grin formed on her face.
"Almost there. Just a bit further, and then I don't have to follow pineapple boy anymore. And this breeze makes me only feel better"
But the grin started to fade. Shikamaru had stopped in front of her, looking around. "Why did he stop? Is there an enemy nearby?"
Reaching for one of her kunais, she noticed the boy turned around and was now facing her.
The kunai stayed in her backpack. Meiko stopped, her hands on her hips.
"What's the matter? Is there something wrong?"

Shikamaru

It felt like eternity. Nothing but trees, trees and trees. That is all what Shikamaru saw on their way to Konoha.
"Man, it feels like were not getting closer at all." A few minutes later, he saw the walls that surrounded Konoha.
Most people who see the walls for the first time at this point will think they are almost the walls were high.
Which means they were close, but not that close. Shikamaru decided to check on the girl he has to escort to Konoha. He took a quick glance over his shoulder.
He saw her folding her scarf up and putting it in her backpack. A small chuckle escaped his lips. Well konoha was known for being warm in the summer.
He looked up to the sky. The sky was blue, almost no clouds floating by. Shikamaru had to admit: It was quiet warm today.
"This might be a drag, but I guess it's better to stop for a short time." With another short look at Meiko, he saw sweatdrops formed all over her forehead. And, a grin?
He shakes his head, ignoring the last bit of information he gathered by looking at her.
They have reached a place where there was some shade from the trees that stood here. He decided to make them stop here.
He looked around, everything seemed safe. That was until he heard his companion speak up.
"What's the matter? Is there something wrong?"

"Let's take a break here. We have been travelling too long under these conditions, so it is better to give our bodies some rest from the heat."
Shikamaru said, sitting on a tree branch. "And from the looks I bet you want to take a short break too."
He pointed to Meiko's face, which were covered in small sweatdrops. Meiko reached for her face, her fingers softly touching her skin.
She felt the wetness of her own sweat. Quickly she rubbed her hand over her face to remove most of the sweat.
"But we can see the walls from here, don't we? If we are this close we can keep going and rest in the village?" Shikamaru turned around, facing the brunette.
"The walls may seem close, but we still have a way to go. The trees in this area are not as tall as the ones we passed earlier and the walls that surround Konoha are quiet high to secure the village." "Fine!" Meiko jumped down, sitting down on the green grass with her back against the tree she was standing on earlier.
Shikamaru shook his head, putting his hand over his face. "Oh great. Now she's mad for no reason? Tsk, women... I guess it can't be helped."
He jumped down from the branch, his back facing Meiko. Sluggish he made his way to a tree next to Meiko's.
Shikamaru stretched his arms and let out a yawn. A small nap sure sounded nice. He laid down on his back in the grass, his arms behind his head.
Before he realised him, he drifted away and fell asleep.

Meiko was pulling pieces of grass out. How long was he going to lay there with his eyes closed saying nothing? It had been a while since he decided
they would take a break from the blistering heat. Could it be that he was sleeping? She moved some strains of her brown hair behind her ear and looked over to Shikamaru.
His chest was slowely rising up and down, a soft smile formed from his lips on his face. It was a peaceful sight that reminded Meiko of what?
Suddenly she felt her heart stop beating for a second. Her hands clenched into fists. And a small tear rolled over her cheeks. She remembered.
A soft whimper escaped her lips. "Kenta." Meiko searched for her scarf she tucked away earlier this day. It was the only thing she still had from her past away lover.
She couldn't help but smile when she looked over to Shikamaru. Whiping her tears away, she stood up and putted the scarf back in her backpack.
Slowly, she walked over to where he was laying. And as she thought, he was indeed sleeping. Meiko gave him a light kick at his hip, trying to wake the Konoha ninja up.
"Hey Shikamaru-san. I think it is time to go." Slowly the boy opened his eyes. Meiko leaned over his body, looking at him.
He got up and scratched his head. "Sorry. I guess I fell asleep huh. " He rubbed his hands over his clothes, removing some grass.
The sun wasn't shining as bright as earlier, and there were more clouds covering the sky.

Just before the sun started to set, Shikamaru and Meiko reached the gates from Konoha. The streets were filled with people, making their last errands.
When they entered Konoha, Shikamaru was greeted by Kotetsu and his best friend Izumo. "Finally returned huh? Oh, and look! He brought a pretty girl with him too."
Kotetsu said to Izumo, poking his side with his elbow. Shikamaru walked over to their little desk. "The young woman behind me is the shinobi from Tagikakure, Meiko.
Godaime Tsunade-sama asked me to escort her to Konoha and bring her to her office."
"Then you better hurry Shikamaru. Tsunade-sama is leaving for a meeting in a half hour."Izumo said to his follow shinobi colleague.
"Thanks. Well, cya guys." Shikamaru started walking into the village, waving to the two guards. "Nice to meet you." Meiko bowed forward to greet the two men, followed
by catching up to Shikamaru. "Once we arrive at the Godaime's office you will recieve more information on your mission here in Konoha. And when we arrive there, I am done with my mission showing you the way there." Meiko a short walk through town they got at the Kage's tower. Shikamaru stopped and turned around to Meiko. His hands were behind his neck again, like most times during their trip. "Well this is as far as I go. Just go up the stairs, follow the hallway to the east and at a big
red door, you enter. Thats Tsunade-sama's office." "Thank for guiding me to Konoha and to your Kage's office." Meiko headed towards the stair, going up on the steps.
"Should I say something else too to him?" Deciding she would say bye to the black-haired boy, she turned around. Only to see he already made his way home or such.
"Bye Shikamaru. Thanks." Shikamaru didn't turn around. He just stuck his hand in the hair and waved to the young brunette. Meiko chuckled. Kenta used to do that alot too.

After going up the stairs, she found the door that Shikamaru mentioned earlier easily. She gave a short but loud knock on the door. A female voice spoke up.
"Come in." Meiko opened the door and entered the office. She walked towards Tsunade's desk and bowed. "Goodevening Godaime, I'm Meiko from Ta-"
Tsunade cutted her off. "I know who you are. But I was expecting you here abit sooner. Well let's put that fact on the side and move on to business shall we."
She got up from her chair and walked over to one of the windows behind her desk. Konoha looked peaceful tonight.
"Now tell me Meiko. How much did Shibuki tell you about your 'mission'?" Tsunade looked at the girl, awaiting her answer. Meiko scratched her head and looked at her feet.
"Well, Shibuki just told me to come here since I have a mission in Konoha. He also mentioned that he didn't know how long this mission would take, or when I could go home again." Tsunade took her her tea-cup from her office and took a small sip. "So he didn't say anything about the mission himself. Damn that Shibuki!"
Tsunade took a step closer to Meiko and looked her into her eyes. "Too be honest, Meiko." She laid her hand on Meiko's shoulder.
"Your mission is not a mission."