For the first time since the Chunnin exam, Shikamaru dropped to his thinking stance in plain view of someone who could be considered enemy ninja. "If you don't mind, I'd like a private word with Ino and Yami before we head to your village" Was all he said as he stood back up to his full height.  Meiko gladly granted it and took Choji, Neji, and Temari to get their blindfolds on while Shikamaru took his requested group aside and looked pointedly at Yami.

"Thank you Shikamaru," Yami started out, "I wasn't sure how to say what I needed to without the villagers getting suspicious.  Ino," Yami turned to her mentor. "Sorry I couldn't tell you earlier.  As far as the village hidden in the shadows is concerned, Gaara is still in the hidden village of the Sand, and Sakura, Hinata, and Naruto are still back in Konoha.  We don't want to scare them any more than they already are.  That's all, right Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru smiled his agreement and silently motioned for Mieko to come blindfold them.  Mieko looked horrified at the thought of blindfolding Shikamaru, but signaled for the blindfolds to be put on Ino and Yami while pretending to also blindfold Shikamaru.  Once the rest of the Konoha ninjas were thouroughly blindfolded, Mieko took Shikamaru off to the side.

"I hope you don't misunderstand." Mieko started so quietly that not even Yami could hear and Shikamaru had to strain to catch the words, "But blindfolding another shadow-jutsu user is a criminal offense in our land, unless that ninja has proven himself or herself untrustworthy.  Leaving you to see is a symbol of the trust we're giving you as a fellow shadow user. Don't let that trust be misplaced." Louder, so that all that were traveling could hear, Mieko declared, "It's time to head to the village.  Let's go!"

Kankaro and Tenten had made the long, dark journey to the village hidden in the shadows in silence and were just now letting their eyes readjust to what seemed to be blinding sunlight. 'I didn't have a chance to tell Tenten anything yet!' Kankaro thought in dispair, 'Maybe I can guide Tenten through this with subtle clues.  She's smart enough to become a gennin and live through the chunnin exams, she should be able to figure this out.'

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Kankaro slowly let it out and turned to face Tenten.  "Tenten, come here. I've got some questions to ask you." Kankaro hesitated, then plunged on, "Where are Shino, Kiba, and Lee right now?"

"Probably on thier mission with Gai, if not back in Konoha already." Was Tenten's immediate response.

Kankaro nodded his approval at this answer and continued, "How about Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata?" There was something in his voice that told Tenten she'd better think carefully before answering this one.

Tenten's answer was slow in coming, and, when she finally did respond, it was with uncertain tones, "They were on a mission with Gaara of the Sand, but I imagine they're long finished with that assignment by now."

Kankaro growled approvingly and they carried Itchi to the vet area to be checked on.  The vets in the village were extremely anxious when they heard they would be helping Nekozumi Yami's cat by revived, and were doing everything in their power to make sure Itchi, Tenten, and Kankaro were comfortable while they worked.

Yami was anxious to see the land she had been born in, and to see Itchi again.  This was the longest Yami could ever remember being without her cat, and it worried her so much that she neglected to listen to the unique sounds they were rushing past.  She knew she'd regret not paying attention later, but Yami really just wanted to get to Itchi.

Gaara watched as Hinata traced the route the village ninjas were taking in the dirt. Hinata had told him of the villagers response to hearing that Kankaro and Termari were their traveling companions. Gaara knew what kind of reaction it would cause if they were discovered.  He wasn't at all anxious to get that kind of welcome.  Watching Hinata's finger trace the path in the dirt, Gaara noticed something peculiar and pointed it out to Sakura.

As Mieko and her traveling companions entered the village, Yami would exclaim quietly about things she remembered from the pictures she'd seen growing up. "...and they have the strangest, coolest, weirdest library!" Yami was babbling as they walked to the hospital so the medics could take a look at Shikamaru's neck.

"Library?" Kankaro walked up at that moment. "Mieko, would you mind showing it to me?  I'd heard about a.... different... library that was out this direction..."