#Temari and Shikamaru are friends but she’s kind of scared of how much he’s into her so she pretends she’s oblivious -

[theylovevenus]

Updated relationship chart for my Naruto 2000s au!!

[misssunflowersandsangria]

Happy ShikaTema (4/10)!

I had to post something for my babies on their day!  Here’s the first chapter of a modern AU that I’ll never finish.

Summary:  Temari is a top divorce lawyer.  Sharp, cruel and cunning her skills in the courtroom are unmatched.   Life experiences led her to have certain beliefs about love and relationships.  Could a certain stand in flower seller change her mind?

*

**

De jure

*

“You ever get tired of ruining the lives of men?” 

Temari grinned at what she considered a compliment from her colleague. 

“Do you ever get tired of representing the absolute scum of the Earth?” 

Her male counterpart shrugged. “If they keep paying me the way they do I’ll represent Satan himself.”

“I’d say given your last client you already have.” 

“You wound me Temari.”  He replied dramatically, clutching at his heart.  She was sure that it was more related to how times she’d rejected his request for a date. 

“That’s what I live for.” 

Temari was one of the top and most sought out divorce lawyers in the area.  Known far and wide for her skills and talent.  

She was an absolute terror in court. Ruthless, calculated and precise. She always seemed to get the settlement, decision or outcome that she wanted.

Each case was its own kind of Chess match and she was determined to outplay her opponents every time. Beyond the mental challenge it presented she found joy in helping her clients get out of terrible relationships. The settlements didn’t necessarily forgive what happened, but it helped. 

A success story by every measurement.  Shrewd, and cunning she’d established herself as someone to be reckoned with.  And she relished being in that role. She didn’t work as hard as she did to make herself small in a field that was dominated by men.  

A lucrative career. The respect and fear of her peers.  There was little more than she could ask for.  But despite it all there was still ….something. 

Temari took a deep breath walking into the familiar flower shop. When she was younger and just starting out as a lawyer she’d send her clients flowers after their final meeting. It was just a little extra touch of comfort after having to go through such a difficult process. It became a habit. Usually she’d just have an assistant call in the order but today was a tough case and she needed the comfort of flowers. 

Her favorite store was just a few steps away from her office.  Family owned and operated their flowers and arranging skills were unmatched. She used their services so much that she’d even formed a working friendship with the shop's owner. 

Instead of the familiar blonde she was used to seeing she found an utterly bored man staring off into space.

Ino had told her weeks ago that she’d be going away on vacation with her husband and that a friend would be watching the store for her.  

“Oh you must be Ino’s replacement?”  This shook him out of his stupor and he straightened up to look at her.  

“Temari?”

A surprise look crossed her face at hearing her name.  “Ino told you about me.” 

“A little bit. She just mentioned that you might be stopping by.  She wanted to make sure that I didn’t scare away her best customer.”

“Still a chance.” 

His lips lifted into a curve at the response. “Hope not, Ino would never let me hear the end of it.  I’m Shikamaru.”

She shook his outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you.” 

“I have your previous orders on record. Just need to know which arrangement and the address.” 

“We’re going to go with the 4th one.” 

“That’s a pretty pricey arrangement.” 

“Well it was a pretty pricey settlement.”

He nodded, entering the information into the computer. “So you just send your clients flowers after they get divorced.”  Ino seemed to have filled him in. 

“If their partners had done it before then maybe there wouldn’t have been one.” 

“Touché”  He replied, agreeing with the reasoning. 

Her eyes shifted down towards a colorful arrangement.  “Besides, I might be heartless but even I have some compassion. These women have been through a lot. An act this simple, well, I’d like to believe it means something.” 

“I think that it does.”  She appreciated the sincerity in his response. 

“Here’s my question though.”  She stared, curious.  This was a very odd and unfamiliar interaction.  She intimidated the people that she came in contact with.  It took time for her and Ino to go beyond the basic small talk.  Shikamaru though didn’t seem the least bit wary of her.    

“When was the last time someone gave you flowers?”

Temari paused before replying.  “Can’t say it’s ever happened.”

“Then let me be the first.”  Surprisingly a single large yellow flower was presented to her.  

She grinned, taking the bright flower from his hand. 

“A sunflower?”

He nodded.  “It seemed fitting.”

She was unconvinced.  “How so? My sunny disposition?”  

“Maybe. How about we go out on a date tomorrow night and I’ll tell you why.”  He offered with a hopeful smile.  

In spite of herself she grinned at the self assured smirk across his face.

“I’m sorry, I’m really not interested in dating right now.” The words well automatically from her lips. 

Shikamaru’s face fell but he nodded.  “I can respect that. Well. I’m here for a few weeks till Ino gets back. Don’t be a stranger.” 

“Thank you and uhm thank you for this.” The fact that she could be taken by such a simple gesture was absurd but her fingers were clutched carefully around the flower's stem.

He waved off the thanks.  “You deserve them.”

“Flowers?”

“Yes, fields of them.”  He replied without a hitch.  

Temari stood there speechless by the sincerity.  This wasn’t a situation where someone was just trying to butter her up. She’d learned to read people quite well. This strange stand-in flower seller was genuine. “Thank you Shikamaru.”

“Anytime Temari.”

*

**

“Where’s the flower from?”  Temari wasn’t surprised by the familiar voice.  Her brothers despite having their own places would often drop by unannounced. 

“This guy, Ino’s replacement at the flower shop.”

Kankuro looked at her curiously.  Her brother was becoming excited.  “Did he ask you out?”

“Yes”

The flat response wasn’t promising. “And I assume that you rejected him.”

“I didn’t reject him. I’m just-“ 

“Not interested in dating. Yes I know. Well if hanging out with you baby brother is better than a free meal on a Friday night.”  He teased her with a shrug.  

“Hey asshole you came here.”

He ignored her response to continue.  “Come on Tem, what’s the harm in dating? Sure maybe early on it would have been a distraction but at this point what do you have left to prove.”

“Should you really be asking me that?”

“I date all the time. But it would be wrong to commit to one person.”  He explained.  

Temari just shook her head annoyed.  It wasn’t the first time that one of her brothers had brought up their concerns about her lack of a love or social life. 

 “Right.”

“I’m just saying, don’t let dad take another thing from you-

Her hand slammed against the countertop.  “Kankuro that’s not it.” 

He just sighed and pulled her in tight. Whenever he or Gaara brought him up Temari would just end up shutting down. 

“You’re brilliant Tem. Smart, successful and if you don’t want a relationship that’s fine but let that be your choice.  I’m not telling you to put yourself out there just for the sake of it but if someone happens to catch your eye. It might be worth exploring.”  

She stayed silent.  She knew that he was just concerned but she didn’t have a good response at this point.  

“That sunflower reminds me of mom.” Temari nodded remembering the brightly colored flowers that used to grow so beautifully in their backyard.  This flower had brought up some troublesome feelings.  

“Alright I’m out.  I know you're stubborn but just think about what I said.  Love you sis.”

She hugged him back tight.  She had him and Gaara. Whether she ever found anyone else she’d be happy with just being the three of them.  “Love you too.” 

Once Kankuro was gone Temari’s fingers gently glided over the soft yellow petals fighting back tears. 

‘You’re my sunflower Temari. Always face the sun, beautiful girl.’

She shook away the thought of warm summers and even warmer hugs.  What was the point in reliving the past?  It wouldn’t change anything.  She paced through the large, empty house. Despite how annoyed she’d act when her brothers were over she always hated the deafening silence that followed once they left. 

A buzz from her phone was a welcomed distraction. 

“Hey, it's Shikamaru from the flower shop. I got your number from your client profile.”

A series of panicked texts followed. 

“Please don’t sue me.”

“Fuck, please don’t tell Ino.”  Temari stared at the text message in disbelief.  She knew that she should feel offended, violated even but more than anything she was just curious. 

“It’s okay. Did you need something?”

“No uh I just wanted to say it was nice meeting you today. If you’re ever free from your big important job I wouldn’t mind company at the store.”  

“Ya know if you’re not busy. “

Temari’s fingers hovered over the keyboard ready to send an automatic rejection, but paused thinking about what Kankurou had just told her.  If she was honest with herself the temporary florist had sparked her interest during their brief interlude. 

“I’d like that.”  She bit her lip nervously waiting for his response. 

“Don’t make fun of me, but that made me really happy.” 

She hated the smile that automatically crossed her face.  “You’re embarrassing.” 

“You hurt me Sunshine.” 

They text back and forth well into the night.  Charming and intelligent Shikamaru was an easy person to talk to.  She didn’t get along with most people.  Often finding them tedious and obnoxious.  He was the exact opposite.  

Late into the night as she turned into bed she was surprised to see a call flash on her screen.

“Shikamaru?”

“Sorry I’m about to fall asleep so I just wanted to be sure that I didn't before I wished you a good night.”  

She felt her chest warm at the gesture.  His sleep-addled voice was a pleasing melody.  

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I really did though.  So thank you for today.  Good night Temari.”

How long had it been since someone had so sweetly wished her good night.

“Good night Shikamaru.”

She laid in bed that night clutching her phone to her chest. The warmth and giddiness felt so unfamiliar but it wasn’t a bad feeling.  

She was adamant about not dating. Sure that she was content with the life that she led.  She could have never imagined Shikamaru coming into her life.  

It would be easier to break off whatever this was now.  He was a stranger, she didn’t owe him anything.  It would hurt far less.  But the idea of just walking away.  Of pretending that they hadn’t met and to ignore the odd connection that had begun to form.  

Well, that seemed much more painful.  

Shikamaru's eyes slowly began to fall close. It was way past his usual bedtime but he’d gladly forgo his beloved sleep to talk to Temari. 

He recalled fondly when her expression lifted just a little when he'd given her that simple flower. Asking her on a date was such an uncharacteristic and impulsive act. Ino would kill him if she found out that he wrote down her phone number but this was all her fault. Ino had told him all about her hot shot lawyer customer. And had more than once mentioned that she and Shikamaru would get along well.

So while meeting Temari however briefly was new it wasn’t unfamiliar. Temari was beautiful, powerful and successful. On the surface it seemed like a charmed life. But the heaviness and sadness in those striking teal eyes told a different story. 

He sent her one final text before he finally succumbed to sleep. 

“🌻”

*

**

Notes:  Hope you enjoyed this.  Like I said I doubt that I’ll ever continue this but I wanted to post for today.  Also head to @inoshikachozine to preoder a zine I contributed a story to!  Such amazing talent contained in one little book/merch!!!! See you soon! Love you pretty babies! 

[getyouasenju]

Dragging Away.

Part 2/3 to the “Dragging” series

Part 1 Dragging Along

Word Count: 1.8k

Warnings: angst, profanity, small spoilers.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹

"What the fuck just happened"

Did she just give me the ring back? I stared at the ring I spent so long choosing that just had been shoved into my palm. This argument escalated entirely too fast. I was hesitating a hell of a lot more than I usually do, I couldn’t find a way to solve this tonight. I just knew that I loved (Y/N). I look through the window and see the weather was going to shit and I sigh to myself. I didn’t think this was going to be this troublesome. I tucked the ring into my pocket, brewing a plan to return it to her finger in the meantime. Scratching the back of my neck I glance at the bedroom door and then back to the window one more time. (Y/n) wouldn’t leave in this kind of weather, I’ll make this quick.

I was stressed. If it wasn’t raining, i’d light one for the walk. It didn’t take me long to get to the place Temari was staying. I lazily lift an arm to knock but before I could even touch it with my knuckles, it whipped open and a distressed Temari appeared. She looked so broken. In an instant she was in my arms sobbing, if my shirt wasn’t already soaked, it would’ve been in that moment.

Cradling her into my chest I tried to calm her sobs, pushing the door in I walk us both into the house, Temari shaking in my my arms. If I were to bring this up any other time, the blonde would deny ever crying. I sigh as I rub her back trying to soothe her and lead her to the couch. Glancing over her head to the weather outside, I started to worry If (Y/N) had really left.

This was going to be a long night... so much for making it quick.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹

I held my breath as I leaned against the bedroom door. What the fuck? I strained my ears trying to listen over the rainfall for movement. Is he really going to leave and go see her? I just gave him my fucking ring back. Holy shit. I felt like absolute hell, my mind was entirely too foggy to be dealing with this right now. It felt like I was listening through the door for ages until I heard it.

-Click-

There it goes, the door closing behind him. He left and I was too, we were done. I hadn't eaten anything all day, yet I still wanted to vomit- hell I already had that bitter taste in the back of my throat. I couldn't tell if my face was soaked from my tears or basically walking through a flood. I looked down at my left hand, it felt so... bare and I felt shattered. He let her in our home while I was gone. Then he doesn't even want to explain why he's running to her aid in the middle of the night? and I'm just supposed to accept that? Thousands of scenarios were running through my mind, I just didn't understand. The wet clothing had began to irritate my skin. I jumped into the shower and started scrubbing myself red. The cuts and bruises from the mission were burning intensely, but I had too much tunnel vision to care. 

"I won't be here when you get back"

Damn right I wouldn't fucking be here, is he crazy? How would he like it if I had invited an ex over while he's working? Then not tell him shit about it, how about that? He would never speak to me again. I step out of the shower and begin to ready myself. Glancing out the window I saw the storm was getting worse, but there was absolutely no way I was sticking around! I mean, I had already given the man his ring back. The ring. It was so beautiful, it meant so much that lazy man had actually went and picked it out all by himself. There goes that feeling of wanted to vomit again, damn. I didn't bother drying my hair or even dressing somewhat nice, the rain was so heavy it wouldn't matter. I grabbed my suitcase and opened the first drawer.

I was dragging the suitcase through the storm for a solid three minutes before I came to the realization. I had no where to go- I’m the worlds biggest idiot. Don’t get me wrong, I had friends but they were also shikamaru’s friends. If it was an option, I’d run straight to Ino’s house but she and shikamaru were friends before she knew me, for fucks sake they were two thirds of Ino–Shika–Chō. I didn’t want her to be stuck in the middle of our mess... plus she just started dating Sai and I really wasn’t interested in possibly intruding on anything they were up to at this time of night. So to a hotel I went, soggily. As I got to my assigned room I sighed to myself as my shoes made mushy noises down the hall.

I couldn’t stay here forever though, I had to figure it out. All I knew was that I did not want to see shikamaru for a while. I thought about my life, I started to laugh as I spoke to myself “I mean.. It could be worse? right?” I sarcastically laugh to myself, flopping my rain soaked body onto the once dry bed. Soon my laughter turned to tears. I was alone, and partially by choice. I wanted to leave, I needed to leave, I just wanted out and I wanted it so bad and that was just what I was going to ask for.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹

“Are you sure? This is a very dangerous mission (Y/N), This could take months.”

 I bow my head in regard to our new leader, Naruto. I was currently standing in the Hokage’s office. Naruto seemed taken back, and honestly a little confused. I felt his eyes trail to my ring finger, I wanted to melt into a puddle, he knew something was off. I felt bad for putting pressure on my friend, it was only his first week as Hokage,  I knew he was right for the job but this was a lot. So much for keeping our friends out of it. He swallows and speaks “You just came back from a mission, has Sakura checked you out yet?”... No... oops? I smiled almost too wide and waved my hands in front of his face, “I’m good I promise! see?” I stretch from side to side as Naruto face palms. “I feel like I’m missing something here”.

I sighed “I’m perfectly capable.” I knew this wasn’t about my capability, more like my stability really. I go to argue my case again as the door rips open.

“You left”

I whip around and stare harshly at the raven headed man. “You left me first” he crossed his arms and spoke lowly, “I told you I was coming back”, laughter ripped through me, “and I told you I wouldn’t be there when you came back after seeing her!” He took one step closer and I took two steps back, He let out a low noise, “You aren’t going on that mission”. I was bewildered, isn't this his day off? What the fuck was he even doing here? “That’s not your fucking business nor your concern” He looked at me like I was crazy and spoke quickly, “We’re engaged, I love you and that makes this my business (Y/N).” I angrily waved my left hand in the mans face, showing him the bare ring finger. “No, engaged men don’t play damsel in distress with other women in the middle of the night shika! You are very much single now and free to do what you want, and I will do the same!” The nickname slipped out, I won’t let it happen again. “Get away from me, I’m not in the mood- I don’t think I’ll ever be in the mood for you again.... and you smell like cigarettes.. bad.” I mumble out, turning my head to avoid the smell. 

“Regardless.. you’d have to be an idiot to do back to back missions like this. How troublesome do you have to be to even think this is a good idea.” He replies, “I understand trying to get away from me, but going off on a mission looking for a death sentence is just out right crazy and as an Advisor, I say no.” ending his rant with a sigh and a hand to the temple as always.

Did he just call me an idiot and tell me no?

I think my face gave away how pissed I was, and Shikamaru didn’t look too happy either. I turn back towards Naruto and see the man was basically scared for his life. “That’s enough” I thought to myself. I let out a groan “My apologies Lord Seventh,” I turn to Shikamaru. “I’m not doing this with you.” I bow my head to Naruto and try to make a speedy exit, but of course fiancé dearest is following me. I didn’t care though, I was leaving and most likely apartment hunting, If I wasn’t getting a “vacation” then I was getting my own place thats for damn sure. I was almost near the exit when he grabbed my arm.

“Can you just listen to me? Or an I just gonna profess my love to you and be brushed off again?” I snatched my arm back, how can someone so smart be so stupid? How high was that IQ again?... “brushed off you say.. like you did to me last night, huh?” I groaned out, I was so tired. There goes that feeling of wanting to vomit.. again. My head was fucking pounding still, the pain was so intense. 

I took another step back, staggering. “What is wrong with you (Y/N)” he groaned. I could hear him talking to me again, but I couldn’t focus on anything. I wave at him and turn towards the exit again. God my fucking head... I need to go, what is this man doing to me? As I reach my arm out to the door my vision started to blur, the next thing I knew my head was colliding with the door handle and I was out. Cold.

“You just came back from a mission, has Sakura checked you out yet?”

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹

Hey guys, thanks for reading part 2! Still new and learning :) 

Part 3!

Until Next Time! xxo (▰∀◕)ﾉ

[babybottlepop96]

Always: Shikamaru x Reader

Warnings: death, sadness, fluffy shit.

A/N: this one is about 2.2k words, it kinda got away from me lol enjoy and request!

Being Naruto Uzumaki's fraternal twin sister had its perks. I mean, the excessive amount of friends, ramen 24/7, always having a best friend that would be there for me and have my back no matter what but would also put me in my place if he had too. Being born five minutes after the infamous jinjuriki he was also so protective. Threatening any guy that would just have the nerve to flirt with me, the sister of the future Hokage.

We only had each other for so long, sure, our relationship took a bad turn for a while. While he was usually ignored and looked at as a monster, I didn't get the kind of treatment. Being the "normal" one of the twins, I was treated with more respect because I didn't have a tailed beast to host. I always felt awful for that and no matter how many times I stood up for my brother, he refused to accept my sympathy. The Chunin Exams came and went when he finally came to me after a few weeks of ignoring me. It was after Saskue had left and he was a mess. He cried into my shoulder and told me he was sorry. I just held him close and told him that I was never mad at him. I could never bead at him for how he felt about everything. It was unfair to him to be treated that badly, unfair that he had no say in being a host and I told him that he was so strong and had such a kind heart and people would eventually see that. I mean, they had to right? He was going to be the future Hokage.

When he left for those years with Jiryia, it was hard. It was like half of me was missing and I felt kind of lost without him. While he was out training, I had passed the Chunin and the Jonin exams. I was so proud of myself, but it would've felt even better if my twin was with me. 

When he came home, I wasn't there to greet him. I was on business with the Kazekage. Gaara became a close friend, he accepted my friendship because he felt like he could trust me. He became like a little brother. And then everything happened with the Akatsuki and I ended up losing an arm trying to save a few children from a clay bomb. I laid in one of the beds while everyone was trying to get Gaara back and I felt like I failed. I was a fucking Jonin for kage sake and I couldn't protect or retrieve Gaara. It hit me hard.

When Temari, Sakura, Kakashi and Naruto arrived, they went straight to Kankauro. That poor boy was in such pain from the poison, it hurt my heart when I heard him scream from the extraction. I was so focused on not paying attention I hadn't realized Naruto had made his way over to me and held my left hand. Once I felt his hand touch mine, my eyes flew open and he had tears in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, (y/n)! I should've been here to protect you! I failed and I'm so sorry you got hurt." He his head dropped to the side of the bed and cried.

"Hey, hey it's okay Naruto. This shit happens you know that. And it is not your fault, okay? You had to go and train. This was just a mission that turned wrong. But you're here now! And I just know you're going to go after Gaara and bring him home. And I'll be rooting for your success.. believe it!" I smiled, small tear trails staining my own cheeks. He looked at me and gave a small smile.

After everything that happened at the sand and Gaara's return home, no longer a host for the one tail, things seemed to go somewhat better. I got a fake arm that works well with my chakra and I had been training non stop with all my friends. But I mostly spent time with one particular ninja the most. A cute, lazy Pineapple haired Nara. You see, Shikamaru and I had been close and dating for about a year at this point. We never particularly told anyone, but people seemed to know. Well, all except Naruto. He was so oblivious to it all, he didn't realize how close Shika and I were until Pein attacked the Hidden Leaf. So, that's where I'll begin this little tale.

~~~~~~~

"Shit shit shit!" I was running around trying to get civilians to safety, grabbing children and pushing other civilians towards the Hokage head mountain. A building was starting to crumble and fire and explosions were coming from everywhere it seemed. Once I felt like I got everyone I could I ran back to where the main event was happening. Thankfully Naruto wasn't here, I wouldn't even begin to imagine what they would do if they had captured him. I mean, they killed Gaara, but Lady Chio had that special secret jutsu that she took to the grave. I couldn't bear to lose my brother. 

To fight was lasting so long, there was no way to tell when it would all be over. I was separated from Choji, Ino and Shikamaru when everything began. The three started fighting while I helped get the civilians to safety, but I knew they had to be around here. Alive. They just had to be. Things were seemingly going fine until I heard a small child scream. I snapped my head to the sound so fast I swore I got whiplash. A small girl was cowering against a wooden wall, the enemy heading toward her. I ran as fast as I could and snatched the girl away. I tossed her to the side gently and told her to run. She just looked at me, her big brown eyes filled with tears and a worried look on her face. "It's okay, you go to the mountains and find your family. Okay? Go!" She nodded and took off. I fought off the enemy for as long as I could. My chakra was running extremely low, so low that I wasn't able to dodge the wooden spear that came hurtling towards me. It went straight through my chest, pinning against the wooden wall behind me. I coughed up blood and my vision started to go a bit fuzzy.

"Your time is now over. You were a decent Shinoni, but you were still weak." The enemy spat out. I didn't say anything as I clutched the wooden spear that pinned me to the wall, trying to take in air. It felt like I was drowning, I could feel my lungs filling with blood and tears start to run down my face. I would never see my friends again, see my brothers happy go lucky smile while down bowl after bowl of ramen. I would never be able to Shika that I loved him. Everything was fading to black, my head dropped and my arms went limp by my side.

I woke up in a dark place, no longer in pain. I was dead. "Hello little one." A voice spoke and I looked around to see a small light. I ran towards it, hoping maybe I'd wake up for real and I was alive and well. That this was just a sick dream or a gentusu. But what I saw when I reached the light was unbelievable. I saw the fourth Hokage with a woman with red hair. 

"Welcome, (y/n)." The woman came over to me and gave me a hug. "I'm your mom." She whispered in my ear and turned to the man. "And that's your dad." To say I was crying was an understatement. There was a river flow of salty tears streaming down my face as I hugged them both. 

NARUTO'S POV

I ran back towards the village at full speed, I just had to get back. I had to protect my friends and mentors. I had to protect (y/n). I saw the massive crater when I returned to what was supposed to be my village. Injured and dead ninja and civilians alike were being gathered in a clearing. I ran ahead, I had to find them, I had to find everyone. I spotted Sakura first and ran towards her, "Sakura!" She turned her head, tears running down her face and I stopped in front of her. "Where is everyone?" She pointed to our group of friends, everyone is there except for Kakashi-Sensei and my sister. "S-Sakura? Where… where is Kakashi and (y/n)?" She sobbed louder which caused all of our friends to look over. I walked towards them and the moment I spotted Shikamaru on the ground holding someone, sobbing, I froze. I knelt down and looked over him. He was holding my sister, cradling her head in his lap. Her body was paler than normal against the red stain on her shirt. I didn't move, I didn't cry, I just stared, not convinced that she was actually gone. After a few moments I got up and made my way towards the true enemy.

"N-Naruto? Where are you going?" Sakura asked me, her voice meek and breaking.

"To end this."

SHIKAMARU'S POV

The enemy had retreated for a bit, allowing us to gather our injured and deceased. I was frantically looking for (y/n) I had to make sure she was okay. "(Y/n)!!" I heard Ino yell from behind me. I ran towards her voice as fast as I could. Once I reached her, my blood ran cold. There she was, the one that I truly cared about and loved, pinned against a wall, spear straight through the chest. I tentatively reached out and touched her and my instantly moved back as I felt her cold, stiff, lifeless body. I stood frozen. The rationalist inside me was gone and I then pulled the spear from her form and caught her in my arms and she limply fell. The cry that ripped from my throat was inhuman, angry and broken. I fell to the ground holding her close to my chest. "W-wake up, please!" I cried even harder knowing it was useless. She was already gone. Passed onto the afterlife while I was here to deal with the heartbreak. The pain. I knew this love thing was a drag, but I endured it for her. She made my days brighter, the sun burn hotter, she made everyday so much better. 

"Sh-Shika? W-we should get her to the others." Ino whispered, scared her own voice would break, as she gently put a hand on my shoulder. All I could manage was a small nod and tried to suppress my cries. I carried her to where everyone was putting the deceased and all our friends stood there with wide eyes and I carried their closest friend in my arms. Everyone was shocked, too stunned to say anything as I put (y/n) on the ground. But I still cradle her head in my lap, I couldn't let her go just yet. The tears still slipping down my cheeks were enough for everyone to know this was real. When Naruto showed up I sobbed, he was just in shock as the rest of us. When he left to go confront the real Pein, none of us stopped him. If anyone could end this. He could.

YOUR POV

Talking to my parents had been the most calming time of my life. Well, afterlife. They told me stories about what it was like before they died, how Kakashi was like another son to him. How they never wanted Naruto to host the nine tails. I told them how life was growing up, how I was dating Shikamaru and my dad gave me a whole lecture on safe sex, even though I was dead and I wouldn't have to worry about any of that. Well, until I started to glow. "Looks like you still have a full life to live my sweet." My mother smiled and I looked at them with a smile and tears in my eyes.

"I love you both." I said as I faded back into the darkness. This time though, when I opened my eyes I saw a face I never thought I'd be able to see again. "Shika?" His eyes snapped open and he stared down at me, his eyes wide and mouth open. He stared at me for a moment, not believing what he was seeing. His dead girlfriend, breathing. Alive.he held me so close to his chest and sobbed even louder. Ino and Choji were all giving him sad looks until they saw my arms wrap around his neck and held him closer.

"OH SHIT!" Choji yelled as the other dead bodies were coming back from death. I sat up slowly and grabbed Shikamaru's face and kissed him. I kissed him like it would be the last time I ever would. 

"I… I thought I lost you for good this time." He spoke softly.

"I will always come back for you." I smiled at him, tear glazed eyes staring into his own. "Always." We kissed again, pulling each other close. We stayed like that for a moment until we heard a certain obnoxious blonde yelling at us.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?! SHIKAMARU THAT'S MY SISTER! WHEN THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?!" Causing everyone to let out a laugh. Resting his forehead on mine Shikamaru spoke quietly. "I love you."

"I love you too, Shika. I love you too."

[justabrazilianwriter]

The Request (SHIKATEMAWEEK 2020 - DAY 2)

It is past midnight here in my country (it’s past 2 AM, actually), so technically it is the second day of ShikatemaWeek. My contribution to the best Naruto couple is this little fic that has been hanging around my mind for months and that I only now saw an opportunity to put on paper. It is also published in Ao3. It is my first Shikatema fic, so I hope you enjoy it! 

DAY 2: Marriage  

SUMMARY: Shikamaru wants to propose to Temari, but his fears prevent him. A conversation with Gaara changes his perspective.

 (2338 WORDS)

English is not my first language, so I translated this story through the google translator. If you find any grammatical or concordance errors, please let me know!

There was something extraordinary about watching Temari at Suna's sunset.

Shikamaru was always taken by this thought whenever he ended up being honored by fate, that allowed him to visit and see her in that position.

Temari was in the distance, on one of the hills in the landscape, with the wind on her face and the color of the sky mixing with the tone of her golden hair. Her arms and hips were supported by her huge fan and she had her head tilted slightly to the side.

She shone like gold, with her feet buried in the sand and her eyes fixed on the horizon. She seemed to have been made by and to that place. She looked like she was home.

And that thought, as extraordinary as it was, brought him enormous pain in his chest.

Because seeing her there, so at home, so comfortable, so in love, made his wishes seem even more selfish. His dreams for the future seemed silly and unreachable. The small box he had carried in his pocket for weeks seemed to weigh five hundred tons.

How could he ask her to leave that place? Leave her land, her people, her place in this world, because of him?

Shikamaru thought, when the idea of marrying her seemed more important than breathing, that maybe he should be the one moving. Why should it be Temari? He could go to Suna. He could move to her house, become part of her people.

But his village was gradually rebuilding after the war and his work was one of the most important of all. Kakashi told him whenever he could that without Shikamaru, it would all fall apart. And his father died. Shikaku died in the war and Shikamaru was now responsible for the Nara Clan.

And there was also his mother. She was a widow now. Shikamaru was all she had. How could he leave her? How could he get married and move on a three-day trip away, probably only being able to visit her every several months?

Shikamaru could not move from his village. But then, how he could ask Temari to do it? She had her brothers. Her job. Her people.

He was a strategist, he was the man who always had a plan and could see all the different results that his actions could cause. But, with fear growing in his chest like a poisonous plant, all that Shikamaru was able to think of were two results:

She would say no. And they would be unable to move on, their relationship would end and he would lose the woman of his life, the love of his life, his partner and best friend, forever.

Or she would say yes. But there would always be a resentment lingering between them, a pain he caused by asking her to leave everything behind. And time will pass and Temari would never forgive him and their marriage would end and he would end up alone and depressed, without her and and and...

Shikamaru's shoulders fell. A resigned sigh came from his lips. These thoughts have been prowling his mind every day for weeks. For the first time in a long time he was completely lost. There was no plan.

"The view is beautiful, isn't it?".

The voice behind him startled him. Shikamaru jumped slightly, turning quickly and facing very light eyes and a familiar face.

"Oh, Lord Kazekage" he sighed placing his hand on his chest. "You scared me".

"Sorry," replied him, giving Shikmaru an almost invisible smile. “You seem distracted. Mind if I sit down? ”

Shikamaru shook his head and indicated the empty spot beside him, on the bench he was sitting on. Gaara sat down and they both turned to Temari, who was still standing in the distance.

"She always comes here to watch the sunset," said Gaara in a soft voice. Shikamaru looked at him curiously. "I always saw her coming here every evening, since we were kids. I think that's where she likes to think”.

Shikamaru nodded, not knowing what to say. Gaara was always a distant figure for him, even though he had been dating Temari for many months. He was kind and polite, but shy and didn't speak much. Sometimes Shikamaru wondered if he was in favor of their relationship or if he thought he was worthy of his sister.

"You know, when Temari told us that you and her were starting to date, I didn't know what to think about" murmured Gaara as if he could read his thoughts. "But I know that you and Naruto are close and he always speaks very good things about you, so I trusted my sister's critical sense."

Gaara looked at Temari on the horizon. The expression on his face was calm and gentle, as was his tone.

"Time has proved to me that you are good for her" he continued and Shikamaru's heart raced in his chest. “I see her smile whenever a letter arrives or when you call. She always seems lighter every time she comes back from Leaf or whenever there is a chance for her to visit you”.

A warm smile appeared on Shikamaru's lips and he looked back at Temari again. He loved her so hard that he sometimes felt like his heart would explode in his chest.

"And I see your smile too."

Shikamaru looked at Gaara with slightly wide eyes. He gave him a small, rare smile.

“I see how you smile at her whenever you talk and how you look at her whenever she passes. It is visible to anyone how much you love her”.

They were silent for a few seconds. Until:

"That's why I wonder why you haven't asked her yet."

If it were possible, Shikamaru would have swallowed his own tongue at that moment.

"What?" he exclaimed, feeling his cheeks burn. Gaara almost seemed to want to laugh.

“Every time I see you watching her, it's like if Temari had invented oxygen. And every time I see you leave, it's like if your heart is being left with her. So it's confusing to me. I am not a person who has much experience with love, so there are many things that I don't understand. This is one of them. If you love her and it hurts not to be with her, why don't you propose? ”.

It seemed like a genuinely curious question. Shikamaru found himself speechless for a few seconds, with his mouth open like a fish out of water, trying to make his own thoughts make sense.

"It's not that I don't want to," he said softly, moving his hand instinctively to the pocket where the box with the ring rested. Gaara's eyes followed his movement. "I want to. More than anything I ever wanted ”.

And it is the truth. Shikamaru wants everything with her. He wants to see her every morning when they wake up, with her hair spread across the pillows and her bare shoulders against the sheets. He wants to hear her humming around the house, talking to his mother in the kitchen, laughing with Ino in the gardens. He wants to hear her footsteps through the halls, her voice every day, her laughter at every moment. He wants to be able to kiss her in the comfort of his home, in the comfort of their home, and see her cheeks redden. He wants to feel her skin on his fingers. He wants to hear her sighs echo in his ears. He wants to have children with her, if Temari so wishes. Small children with black hair and green eyes or blond hair and black eyes or simply blond hair and green eyes. If he can see her there, in that new life, her smile, her look, her attitude, then it is worthwhile that the future of the Nara clan does not look anything like its ancestors. 

He wants everything.

"So what stops you?".

Shikamaru understood at that moment why Gaara was a great Kazekage. He seemed to have captured him in a fog that melted Shikamaru's brain and made him suddenly want to open his heart and tell him everything he was feeling. No one could deny anything to those eyes.

"I'm scared," he admitted, so quietly that he barely heard himself. "Her answer scares me".

"Do you think she'll say no?" asked Gaara with a frown. He almost seemed to find the idea absurd.

"I don't know" replied Shikamaru looking at his hands. He needed a cigarette. “I just don't want to put her in an uncomfortable situation. I thought about it a lot and I can't leave my village. They need me more than anything right now. So asking her to marry me is asking Temari to leave her home. And I know that you and this land are all that she loves most. I'm afraid she'll say no. I'm afraid she will say yes and regret it later”.

Gaara was silent for a moment, his eyes on his sister. Shikamaru's hands were sweating. He would never expect, even in a million years, to have this conversation with Gaara. The last time he heard him say so many words was when he threatened to kill Lee when everyone was twelve.

Shikamaru knew that Gaara had changed. He might not be outgoing like Kankuro or incisive like Temari, but Shikamaru could see his personality change in his eyes and his light, rare smiles. It didn't make that situation any less strange and uncomfortable, but he decided to keep talking. He wanted Gaara to like him and he was completely lost, after all. Shikamaru was so desperate that even Naruto's help would be welcome.

"It is true that Temari loves this place," muttered Gaara. “And that she would miss the sand, the heat and us. But is also true that no one forces her to do something that she does not want to".

Shikamaru did not answer, being able to just stare at him in silence.

"I don't know if you know, but Temari was against the invasion of your village in our chunnin exams." Shikamaru looked at him, jaw slightly dropped. Gaara laughed lightly. “She was the only one to question those actions. She was only sixteen, but she confronted our sensei and said that it was not a good idea. And do you know what that proves? ”.

He looked at Shikamaru and smiled. It was the first time that he saw Gaara's smile so big.

“It means that Temari is intelligent and wise, but that she acts with her heart. If she thinks something is wrong, she speaks. If she is against anything, she acts. And if she wants to marry you, she will. It will not be a few thousand kilometers away that will prevent her from doing it”.

Shikamaru smiled, turning to Temari in the distance, looking at her with all the affection he possessed.

"Your sister is as uncontrollable as the wind," he said. Gaara laughed through his nose, affectionately.

"She is. And I think you should keep that in mind. If Temari wants to marry you, nothing will stop her. You will not force her into anything. I mean, Suna's sages try to convince her to accept arranged marriages since she is eighteen and they cannot. It will not be you who will force her to do anything ”.

Shikamaru laughed, feeling his eyes sting. Gaara's words entered his heart and were able to ease the tension in his shoulders.

"She doesn't know that I'm having this conversation with you, but if you want a sincere opinion from her brother, know that I don't believe she would say no to you" he says and Shikamaru feels such overwhelming relief going through his body that it almost burst into tears. “I think what I'm trying to say is that I understand your fear, but I believe it is preventing you from seeing her side. If you make her happy, I don't see Temari repenting in the future, for the simple fact that she didn't make that decision unless it is what she really wants ”.

His eyes burned. If that conversation didn't end he would cry in relief right in front of Temari's brother and she, if she found out, would never let him forget that.

"But what about you and Kankuro?" he asked softly. "Won't that be difficult for you too?"

Gaara looked at the end of the sunset and at Temari for long minutes.

"I got used to loving people from afar," he murmured quietly, his eyes still fixed on his sister. "I will be fine".

Shikamaru swallowed a bowling ball in his throat. And after a few seconds:

"Kankuro, on the other hand...".

Shikamaru groaned sadly. Gaara laughed.

"Oh Lord, he will kill me" he cried.

"Kankuro likes you," said Gaara. “He will be happy. It will just be more difficult for him. He and Temari always had each other ”.

Finally, he chuckled.

“Besides, you can always have a child and call him Kankuro Junior. It will make him forgive you” he joked and the fact that it was Gaara, there, making jokes, made a laugh pass through Shikamaru's lips.

The sunset ended and Temari turned to where they were. Shikamaru saw her beautiful eyes widen in surprise and she raised her hand, waving. He waved back and Gaara stood up.

With a last smile, he murmured as he watched Temari walk towards them.

“Remember, this is not an individual thing. It is not your decision. You are a team. A very smart team to be honest. Talk to her. You will find out what to do ”.

Then he was gone, quiet as always. And when Temari arrived with her beautiful smile lighting her lips, Shikamaru smiled back and felt that the small box in his pocket didn't seem to weigh that much.

[rairaidango]

SEEDS THAT GROW - Tobisaku, Madasaku, Ita(masaku)

CHAPTER 2 - BEST FRIENDS

1

First chapter garnered more attention than I had expected it to ngl! But it felt nice to know ppl like wtv im trying out here. Here is chapter 2! Just a reminder I’m not a creative writer (nor do I write well at all lol). This is just fun for me and allows me to focus on something new during quarantine :) It’s pr slowburn but focuses on a lot of Sakura’s thoughts and feelings. (and her amazing friendship with Ino) 

TW : mentions of depression, anxiety, self-loathing, etc

“Yeah I’ve definitely seen you at the club before!” Itama pointed at her, mouth wide open in a boyish smile.

There was no way this Itama boy was that boy. Was there? 

Sakura’s eyes were eagle wide but she quickly shook it off with an awkward laugh. She really couldn’t be sure if it was him, but maybe it was? There really was a possibility. 

“Ah, you know maybe! I can’t recall if I have seen you on a night out though.” she tried to calm her nerves down with even more awkward laughter, but she caught Itachi’s eyes. He could see she was a little uncomfortable.

“Maybe you were like really drunk or something but I’ve definitely seen you-”

“Itama, you’ve seen everyone at the club.” Itachi rescued her. She gave Itachi a silent look of thanks. He only nodded in reply. “And you know, you talk too much man.” He slapped the Itama boy on the back.

“Was just trying to be friendly!”

“More like annoying. Why are we friends again?” Shisui tapped his finger on his chin comedically before laughing and receiving punches. 

The boys were strangers to her, with maybe the exception of Itachi, but she barely ever spoke to anyone outside of her girl group. She never allowed herself to talk to guys casually, and there was a reason for that as stupid as some people felt about it- but it made sense to her at the time and she feared getting close to people.

So this, this, this was nice. And this was a good thing, a casual conversation with friendly guys. She smiled at the thought, because she missed the times when she had close male friends. 

“Alright, everyone’s here according to the attendance list.” Madara announced whilst shuffling the papers in his hand. He pointed to the board making sure to point out the layout of the plans for tomorrow. “The introductory session is tomorrow and we’ve all assigned you to specific roles. We have a large group of eager college students who want to learn more about the wondrous world of medicine and medical practices. If you look at the board you’ll see about 5 groups, each group having 10 students. And two of you will essentially be leading each group and bring them around our campus, then the facilities in our building. This tour will all happen after the presentation that I and Izuna will prepare. Lecture hall 2 alright. You should ALL be there before students arrive. Is that clear?” 

The many student volunteers nodded. 

“Do we have to do anything before the talk?” Itama raised his hand and spoke. 

“Usher in and organise the students coming into the hall. Just make sure everything’s done in an orderly fashion. Knowing you Itama...please do this and work with Itachi.” 

Madara knew Itama? Sakura quirked her brow glancing ever so slightly at the boy with the badly done highlights. She wondered what relationship they had for Madara to speak so casually of him. 

“Will this be sent to us through email?”

“Of course, you’ll receive the plans, groups, layout and even the presentation when you leave the union. We professors aren’t stupid enough to think any of you, or one of you, could remember this stuff.” A playful smirk plastered on Madara���s face was all it took for Sakura to understand that he was probably only referring to Itama. “Alright 3.30pm tomorrow. Go home and get some rest.”

Who were they to each other?

“You know, I get why nii-san finds your uncle annoying and doesn’t like him very much.” Itama grumbled. 

“Eh well to be honest, I get your brother.” Shisui shrugged in response. “Madara likes Itachi though, because he’s a ‘prodigy’.” Itachi only smiled at the mention of his name.“He’s your professor right uh-sorry what’s your name?” 

“Ah yeah he is.” a pause. “Uh my name is Sakura. And he’s really a good teacher though.” She got up from her seat and caught sight of the mentioned professor turning off the projector. 

And then she realised he was looking right back at her with a piercing red gaze. Embarrassment rose in her and her cheeks felt hot; she looked away as quickly as she noticed his gaze and covered her face from him. 

What was that reaction?

“Sakura? I bet you hear how fitting that is.” Shisui snorted. She noticed Itachi was giving her some sort of look, but she couldn’t really figure it out. 

Ah shit, he knows. 

“Yeah, but you don’t have him constantly picking on you in class and after class and outside of university.” 

“Outside of university?” Sakura questioned. 

“Yeah, he’s just close to my family. Don’t really understand how or why.” Itama says hands stretched up in the air. 

“Don’t know why we’re close to you.” Itachi teased coolly, earning him an annoyed look from Itama. 

“Yo, anyone wants some bubble tea. Kokoro Kafe?” Shisui and Itachi grabbed their bags and headed towards the door. “I could do with some milk tea.”

“My sweet tooth and I agree. Sakura?” Sakura looked at the boys in front her. Were they really inviting her to go out and eat? Her? 

It was a good thing, they were nice people, and where was the harm in getting to know them?

But Sakura couldn't accept this.

“It’s alright, thank you though. I really do appreciate the invite. I’m just going to go back home and eat.” She smiled, eyes closed. “It was really nice meeting you three though.” She waved, and the boys all waved back and left the union. 

She sighed.

Outside, it was getting dark. The blue paint of the sky was darkening to a violet tone dashed with white specks of clouds. The yellow street lights only added to the magical transition of day to evening. It was quiet - but not eerily so, soft fading chatter of students echoed around the campus and the sounds of distant birds were sung in the air. 

Sakura breathed in, taking in the moment. She was sitting down on the cold stone steps in front of the union. She rarely ever looked at the scenery around her, but when she did, it helped her feel a little bit more at peace. It helped her feel a little bit more alive.

“Sakura?”

“Sir, you haven’t left?” a sudden bubble of anxiety exploding in her.

“I am now. Are you alright?” He asked. She wasn’t sure if he was asking just to be nice or if he genuinely was concerned. 

He probably didn’t care, he just had to ask as her teacher. Realistically speaking, why would anyone really care anyways. She was pretty burdensome and didn’t deserve to be worried about by even her closest friends. 

“Yeah, I’m fine!” She smiled, her smile feigning genuine happiness.

“Alright then.” He passed her a...cookie? “Just making sure. Get home safe, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He pointed at her, his expression asking her for confirmation. She just nodded in reply with the same smile.

His figure grew smaller as he walked away and into the parking area, and her stomach felt even more uncomfortable now that she was alone. But she wanted to be alone, so she really couldn’t complain about the discomfort. 

Also, what the fuck? A cookie?

--

“I kind of wanted to ask for her number…” 

“Then you should have before we left.” Shisui sipped his Chatime drink. “But then again, maybe you scared her off with all that eagerness.” 

“I don’t think I came off too forward.” Itama stated questioningly, and looked to Itachi for an answer.

“I mean...when you mentioned the club..she did look a bit uncomfortable.” Itachi pointed out. Itama pouted slightly. “Maybe next time. You need to be able to read people better if you wanna find someone.” Shisui only laughed. All of the boys, including Itama himself, knew that it was hard for the boy to date. “Not your fault though, cheer up.”

“I was a bit nervous.” Itama said, taking a sip of his green tea latte with a nervous smile.”I’m sure I’ve seen her at Kyo, but only in passing maybe, once or twice. Pretty sure we never talked before.” he sunk into the chair. Itachi just stared at his friend’s disappointed features. “I would’ve remembered.”

“You’re so upset, awh!” Shisui teased.

“She was just really pretty, you know?”

--

In their house it was always quite lively; everyone was cooking and getting dinner ready before communing in the living room area to gossip and talk about their day. Hinata and Ino were undoubtedly the best cooks of the house, while Sakura and TenTen were often the ones buying readymade food. 

Tonight however, Sakura’s fridge was almost empty and all she could really make was some good old penne pasta with ready done tomato sauce. She wasn’t upset about the option, but it was about the fourth time in a row now that she’s had to eat pasta for dinner. 

Ino came into the living room - bouncing happily as her usually gleeful self- with an amazing katsu curry dish she had whipped up. The curry flavours lit up the whole room in salivating awe. 

“Yes, all of you can have some too. I made a lot.” She grinned with a certain kind of confidence only the Yamanakas had. Taking a seat on the floor between Sakura and Tenten, Ino dug into her delicious dish.

“Honestly I’d marry you just for your food.” Sakura hummed after taking a spoon of her curry. 

“JUST for my food?”

“Let me correct myself.” Sakura rubbed her chin in a joking manner. “Because I love you.” Sakura hugged her best friend, and everyone erupted with laughter. 

“Ino would be an annoying wife though, think about it.” Temari piped in. “All that nagging and having to do everything her way blah blah.” 

“Well, Shikamaru seems to be completely fine with Ino.” Tenten winked and gave a sly look to her long haired blonde friend. 

“Oh shut up, we aren’t a thing. We’re just hooking up here and there and we enjoy each other’s company.” 

“Well I bet 50 that they’ll end up together!” Ino shot a look at Tenten.

“Honestly I’d be happy if you guys date Pig, you’ve known each other for a while and he is actually a nice person.” Sakura thought of them dating, and she had always rooted for them to eventually end up together. Ino furrowed he brows. 

“Maybe Ino just wants to just leave it as it is?” Hinata, usually just an observer, added. “I’m happy you’re having fun though!”

“Okay enough about me guys. My love life is always a hot topic but it gets tiresome when-” Ino flipped her hair back dramatically, “-its always about me” she grinned and sat prettily. 

“Yeah oh my god Hinata how are you and Naruto!” Tenten squealed like a little 15 year old girl. Hinata blushed at the question, she was usually more reserved when talking about her personal life.

But Sakura could feel a tightness in her chest at hearing that name. 

Hinata noticed this, and smiled softly. 

“We’re doing really good. It’s been about 2 months and he’s already met my family.” Hinata made sure to keep it short for her pink haired friend. She knew there was a lot to unpack there and hadn’t expected Tenten to carelessly bring that name about. 

“Awh, you guys are honestly so cute. It makes me happy knowing that 2 of us here are having good and fun love lives.” Tenten sighed as she slid next to Temari. 

“Let’s not talk about me though!” Hinata waves her hands off nervously. “My relationship isn’t very interesting, we all know about it!” She glanced at Sakura, who was fumbling with her fork and pasta. Ino noticed it too and caught on to redirect the conversation. 

“Sakura! So, found that mystery hot makeout session boy in Kyo yet?” Ino grinned nudging her best friend.

“Ah?” Sakura woke up from a trance. 

Fuck. She didn’t like falling in and out of conversation and her thoughts like this. It was really tiring and disorienting. 

“Kyo guy!” Tenten giggled back.

“Oh you know what, maybe? I met this guy today and he said he recognised me-”

“What?! You’re only saying this now?? Bitch the fuck!!” Ino’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped to the floor. 

“What’s his name?” Temari asked amidst all the shocked faces.

“Well uh..I met 3 guys. The guy who I think could be the one I met at Kyo is Itama. Then I met Sasuke’s brother and another Uchiha. Shisui if I remember right.” Sakura remembered. They were all really friendly guys.

“Was it at that meeting today?” Ino asked.

“Yeah, Madara knows like all three of them personally. Madara’s Itachi’s uncle. And I think Madara also knows Itama’s family? Or something? Honestly I’m not sure.” It was confusing to be fair. 

“Even I’ve never met the famous Itachi…” Ino muttered. “So, Itama was it?”

“Yeah. He’s got like brown hair with silver highlights and it’s not done well I can tell you that.” Sakura scoffed. “He said he recognised me because he’s seen me in the club.”

“Ah but everyone here goes to all the clubs. Your pink hair sticks out so he probably just remembered that.” Temari waved her hand and looked at Sakura before smirking. “Was he cute though?” 

“I mean..he was actually pretty cute...in a boyish charming kinda way.” All the girls had wide smiles on their faces.

“Will Sakura finally find the one?!” Ino shrieked.

“Is this Kyo club makeout boy?!” Tenten added.

“Will Sakura go on dates again?!” Temari furthered the questioning.

“Stay tuned to find out!” Hinata closed the statements clapping her hands together. It was followed by her kind smile and all the girls laughing- the atmosphere was light and warm between them. The girls, all 5 of them, shared a strong bond. 

Sakura smiled at their jokes, but she also knew they genuinely wanted her to be happy. All of them understood how hard it was for Sakura to engage in meaningful conversations with boys; her anxiety and defenses would instantly go up if a boy approached her on campus. Which was why they were all so interested in ‘Kyo club makeout boy’ who Sakura -though very drunk and out of it -chose to instigate a hot kissing battle with. 

However happy they were for her -and she was appreciative of this, don’t mistake that - it was hard to see herself dating again. It was a scary thing to think about, even though deep down she wanted to fall in love, again. She missed being in love, and the last time she was - she was unlucky. 

--

There was a knock at Sakura’s door. 

“Just come in!” Sakura yelled from her desk spilling with notes from lectures. The door opened revealing Ino in her flowery satin nightdress. 

“Almost done?” The blonde sat on Sakura’s double bed that was messily covered in her grey covers detailed with white and pink sakura trees. Looking at Sakura - who was dressed in her oversized Neck deep tee - Ino could see she was stressed; but this was often how Sakura looked. It worried Ino.

“Yeah - I’ll get to bed soon.” Sakura muttered, completely focused on her assignment. Scribbling away, her desk lamp was bright and boring into her papers and laptop screen; her jade eyes were tired and her eyelids weighed heavy. She sighed. She wasn’t taking care of herself with all of these late nights. 

She was tired of feeling this way.

“Do you need me to stay? Ino asked. “I can’t really sleep either... I’m just feeling a little off as well.” Sakura turned to look at her, not sure what she was saying.

“Yeah..of course. What’s..wrong?” Sakura asked, turning around from her work. Ino shuffled uncomfortably and crossed her legs on the bed. Had Sakura been so caught up in her own head that she completely ignored her best friend? Was Ino hiding it well or was Sakura that selfish?

“The whole talk earlier about Shikamaru...it just made me uncomfortable.” Ino paused. Sakura had completely forgotten and internally facepalmed herself. “I don’t like him that way. And you know how I feel about relationships.” The issue here was that Ino didn’t want to settle down, and Sakura would often bring up relationships to Ino - about how Ino should get in a relationship. Sakura knew that her friend was a strong and confident person, but had taken that for advantage and pressed on Ino’s insecurities.

“Fuck I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have projected my own wants of being in a relationship onto you..” Sakura muttered, guilt strung in her words. Her head was swirling and she felt horrible. Why was she such a bad friend? People always had to support her, people always had to help her, and she couldn’t even keep her own mouth shut. Why was Sakura such a fucking shit friend- and to Ino who had been there for her every step of the way. 

“No it’s okay, I just felt weird talking about it and I know I won’t date him. I just don’t want to get into a relationship.” Sakura’s eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but her head was heavy with guilt. “Hey, honestly don’t feel too bad about it at all. I came to also just sit with you. I knew you were uncomfortable too.”

Ino could pick up on Sakura’s discomfort, and Sakura couldn’t even do the same for her friend. She didn’t deserve Ino. 

“Yeah. The whole Naruto thing kinda just made me space out.” Sakura ducked her head as she moved to sit next to her best friend. “It’s just...it hurts to think about it sometimes.”

“You know, I think if you tried to talk to him now he would be all for it. You know how much he cares about you. Heck he loves you as much as I do.” Ino’s head fell into Sakura’s neck to remind her that she wasn’t alone. 

“Maybe one day I can. When I’m better.” Sakura muttered, wanting to believe it could happen. She wanted it to, but somewhere inside, she didn’t want it to. 

“Well, when you’re feeling good, or bad, and on your best and worst days I’m here for you okay?” Ino smiled reassuringly. 

“I know.” Sakura smiled in response. “I...I also emailed welfare for a session…its in 2 days” Ino jumped up and looked at her friend. 

“You did?” Sakura nodded smiling. “I’m so proud of you! That’s a really big step! I can’t wait” Sakura was met with a loving hug and giggled in response. “I am so proud of you. I’m coming with you okay?”

“You don’t have to-”

“I am.” 

Sakura thanked Ino. That night, Ino slept on Sakura’s bed to make sure Sakura slept alright and that she would feel at ease falling asleep. Ino missed being at peace with her best friend, and she just wanted the best for Sakura. 

There were no other two best friends like those two. 

--

She doesn’t even know why she’s here at this point. Why did she volunteer to do this? 

Sakura groaned internally, her back against the wall. She was standing in the hall filled with college students, and she was lined up on the sides of the hall with other volunteers. She slept pretty late last night, but she was glad she managed to get sleep anyway. The anxiety and self-deprecating thoughts always snuck their way into her head when she wanted to find peace in slumber; but she felt like she deserved it anyways.

It was just exhausting. 

“Oh I think he’s finally about to end his speech.” Shisui spoke. 

“Finally.” Itama yawned. “We gotta gather the students and call the groups after this.” Itama looked at Sakura, expecting an answer from his group partner. She was looking at Izuna presenting, but her mind seemed elsewhere. 

“Honestly, Madara talks a lot, but Izuna can go on forever. At least Madara is able to get straight to the bush rather than beat around it.” Shisui huffed. “Don’t know how Sasuke and you dealt with uncle Izuna over summer.”

Sakura woke up. Sasuke?

Itachi noticed.

“We were fine. It wasn’t hard.” Itachi shrugged his shoulders.

“And now your tour shall start. The volunteers will bring you around campus and the facilities - they’ll call you by name so when they do please stand up and come on stage.” Izuna closed signalling a thumbs up. 

“Aight, that's our cue Sakura.” Itama nudged her with a grin. 

He had such a boyish grin, Sakura thought. 

“Lets round up the kids.” She joked, a more confident part of her showing. Itama looked at her, amused.

Gathering their group, Sakura felt a little out of place. She had to remind herself to be confident, to just go with it, and that she would be fine. A little speaking wouldn’t hurt her and she chose to do this, so she had to live up to it. 

“So here we have our main cafeteria. Conveniently close to the Student Union, so it’ll be easy to grab lunch.” Sakura walked the students through the food hall. It was large and circular shaped, and it smelled like damn good food. 

“It’ll be easy unless you’re studying art.” Itama joked. “Which none of y’all are, so it’ll be an easy quick lunch!” he winked, earning him a laugh from the younger people. Sakura smiled. This Itama boy had charm, that much she knew. “Alright so that concludes the main campus. We’ve just got the facilities left in our building.” he led the way. 

Itama was so confident, and so happy. He carried himself so well and just by the way he walked, you knew he was someone whose company people enjoyed. 

“Oh yeah we’re passing the main Law building, if any of you were interested in what’s that big old rusty building. It’s the Law building. Just one of their buildings.” Itama pointed to a very wide and stretched out red brick build. 

Laughs, and a lot of them. 

“They like you.” Sakura noted, walking by Itama’s side. She peered to see his reaction which wasn’t any less than what she expected from the boy. A toothy grin. He may be older, but sometimes she swore he was 15. 

“I’m just a likable guy haha! They like you too, you know. You speak very well.” he replied pointing backwards to their walking group of students.

“Oh no, I really don’t.” He looked at her with a really-bitch-? Face. “Alright, I guess..yeah I can speak quite well. But I’m not as confident as you.”

“What? Really? You seem really confident to me.” That earned him a sweet laugh. He suddenly felt a jump in his stomach.

“I’m not. I can be, but I doubt myself a lot.” They were close to the building entrance. “You also don’t really know me.” She pointed out, opening the doors to their building.

“Okay everyone, we’ll take you to labs first.” Itama announced to the buzzing group, before turning to Sakura. “Well then, can I get to know you?” he swung his phone out. 

--

“Did you get her number?” Shisui asked, slinging an arm around his two friends. 

Itama looked at the pink haired girl across the lecture hall.

“No, I didn’t.”

[cherryblossomshadow]

Masquerade

Summary: "You should be socializing," Temari stated, as if it were obvious. "You’re here as the Konoha envoy, right? You need to be dancing with someone influential."

Shikamaru opened his mouth to correct her, but he found himself asking, “Is that an offer?” His eyes widened in horror when he realized what he had said.

But her ruby lips simply curved into a surprised smile. "It can be," she answered, holding out a hand. 

Day 2: Masquerade

2282 words

Helpful link to AO3

Masquerade

Written for Day 2 of ShikaTema Week 2020 - Masquerade! 

I’m so excited that this event has rolled around again, because ShikaTema Week 2019 is what got me back in the swing of writing (and actually posting 🤭) last year! It means a lot to me to be posting and seeing content for my otp again 😁

This fic is set during the canon time skip. The setting is “just-AU-enough-to-squeeze-a-masquerade-ball-in.” I picture Sunagakure as being kind of aristocratic (with the big clans being the aristocracy) in order to get away with it. If anyone has read the Invitation series by Lord of the Land of Fire, that’s what I’m talking about.

“Come on, Shikamaru.” Ino tried to tug him to his feet. “You have to dance.”

Shikamaru stubbornly slouched further into the cushioned seat he had claimed at the edge of the village square. It had been a long, rough trip, and he had no intention of getting up until they were leaving.

“Well, it is a ball,” Choji nodded in agreement. He shrugged apologetically when Shikamaru scowled at him, but he did not retract his statement.

“And not just any ball!” Ino interjected. “It’s the Suna Masquerade Ball!”

Shikamaru gave an exaggerated groan in response, rolling his eyes for good measure. Secretly, he was glad that he and Choji had been able to arrange the invitations. They hadn’t seen Ino so lively in months. But that doesn’t mean that he wanted to dance.

“Ugh, fine,” Ino sighed. “Alright, Choji, sounds like you’re my dance partner!”

Choji quickly gulped down his mouthful and chirped, “Okay!” He took her hand, and they disappeared into the bustling courtyard. Shikamaru relaxed against his chair as they and the other attendees turned to the raised dais in anticipation. Finally, long low wails of traditional Wind instruments floated across the night wind, sparking movement as it swept over and brought the village square to life. The clamor of conversation softened under the force of the music and the allure of the dance.

The Suna Masquerade Ball was the village’s Event of the Year. The masquerade was ostensibly a celebration of Sunagakure’s founding and was intended for the affluent civilians of Suna. However, according to Ino, it was also a prestigious event for the Wind nobility, and only the most influential among them would make an appearance. Consequently, the Masquerade had become an unofficial summit for Suna and Wind nobility. Not that Shikamaru particularly cared. But talking and speculating about this event had been the only thing that they knew would pull Ino out of her slump.

“But they’re Wind nobles,” Shikamaru had said at one of their team dinners. “I know your dad’s started teaching you politics and stuff, but wouldn’t it be better to focus on Hi no Kuni nobles before you start looking at other countries?”

“But we don’t hold a masquerade ball; we hold some boring banquet.” Ino had rolled her eyes derisively. “After all, we’re allies! I’ll have to learn them eventually.”

“Well, it’s a shame that Lady Tsunade has already chosen her envoys,” Asuma had interjected. And that was that. Ino had sighed, Asuma had asked for the check, Choji had taken the last piece, and Shikamaru had started thinking. He had waited until he was certain of success to rope Choji into his operation, but the two of them ultimately managed to procure an invitation for Ino at the Masquerade. Tsunade had been amused, Asuma had been exasperated, and Ino had been ecstatic. She had excitedly pledged to fulfill all the Konoha envoy responsibilities, though she requested that her teammates escort her. Shikamaru had been reluctant to travel all the way to Suna for a multitude of reasons. But, watching his teammates whirl merrily across the courtyard, he knew for certain that it had been worth it.

Of course, this was the perfect time for one of his reasons to appear in the flesh. He shouldn’t have been surprised. He had spotted her soon after arriving and couldn’t help but notice when she started moving in his direction. He had hoped that she would simply ignore him. But then, she never did make things easy for him, did she?

"What are you sitting around for?" Temari asked imperiously as soon as she was within earshot, everything about her fiery and bold. Her dazzling blood-red mask framed her challenging gaze and matched her ever-present waist sash and her glittering red lips.

Shikamaru wrenched his gaze away and cleared his throat. “What? Am I not allowed to sit?”

Temari scoffed. "You should be socializing," she stated, as if it were obvious. "You’re here as the Konoha envoy, right? You need to be dancing with someone influential."

Shikamaru opened his mouth to tell her that she was mistaken, that he was here as an escort for his teammate, that Ino was the one acting as the Konoha envoy. Instead, he found himself asking, “Is that an offer?” His eyes widened in horror when he realized what he had said.

But her ruby lips simply curved into a surprised smile. "It can be," she answered, holding out a hand.

He gazed warily at the hand, as if it would reach out to bite him, before rising and accepting it. He led her to the center of the courtyard, and they waited for the next dance to start. I'm supposed to be avoiding her! Not dancing with her! he berated himself, even as they began dancing. I didn’t even want to dance! And this was the main reason that he had been worried about running into her. He couldn’t trust himself around her. He always felt off-kilter. And he would just do things - things he would never otherwise consider. As scary and unpredictable as she was, if he were being truthful with himself, he was more scared by how unpredictable he was around her.

Not that Shikamaru truly minded the dancing. Strangely, he found the rhythm in the moves to be soothing. The way they moved together felt so natural. They swept across the courtyard as fluidly as they did the battlefield, moving in perfect sync with each other. What did unnerve him was the closeness. He didn't think he had ever been as close to Temari as he was now, not even in training or battle. Because when they trained, he didn't rest his hands on her hips. She didn’t rest her hands on his shoulders. They didn’t stare deeply into each other’s eyes.

“I’ll admit, I was surprised to see your name on the guest list," Temari began before twisting away in time with the dance. He watched in awe as she weaved around the other dancers, barely paying enough attention to his own dancing. He really should have guessed how much her personality would be portrayed in the way she danced. Her movements were powerful and untamed, exactly as they were when she fought. She glided back into his arms and continued, "Taking an interest in politics?"

"No!" Shikamaru barely repressed a full-body shudder. He'll leave all the political maneuvering to the likes of Tsunade and Ino. He would much rather stick to his battle strategies and his cryptanalysis, thank you very much. “Troublesome,” he muttered.

Surprisingly, she began to laugh at his answer. He blinked, taken aback by how soft she looked. Even half-hidden by a fiery red mask, she clearly wore an ease about her that he had never witnessed in her before. Somehow, she always had a hidden side to reveal, no matter how many times he studied her. Every time he thought he had her figured out, she found a way to surprise him. She was a puzzle he had no hope of solving. A mystery whose solution lay forever out of reach.

“That sounds more like the Shikamaru I know,” she smirked. “I didn’t think you had changed that much in three months.”

“Has it been three months?” he asked, almost missing a step in his surprise.

“To the day.” She nodded.

“Wait, so when is your next visit?” he asked distractedly, his mind turning to his mental calendar. He thought he had her schedule down.

“Why, did you miss me?” She quipped, but her lips curved into an amused smile.

Shikamaru immediately wished he could take his words back. And maybe tape his tongue to the roof of his mouth while he was at it. Why does he keep saying the wrong thing? But to deny it would be to insult her. “Konoha is always honored to host her allies,” he mumbled.

Temari raised a delicate eyebrow above her mask. “Very diplomatic,” she complimented. They danced in silence for a few moments before she spoke again. “To answer your question, no. I won’t be back to your village until the spring.”

Until spring? “But I thought you were coming to the Konoha Winter Festival?” He desperately tried to shove the bitter taste of disappointment down where it belonged.

“I had been looking forward to it,” she sighed. “But I have no reason to go.”

“Oh.”

Even an unsavvy guy like him could tell this was the perfect opening for him to extend a personal invitation. But to what end? She wasn’t the kind of puzzle he was equipped to solve. And he was not in the practice of pursuing unattainable goals. He certainly wasn’t going to begin now.

The dance finished with a flourish of the music, and they bowed courteously to each other. Temari drew back, and he thought he saw disappointment cross her face. But he must have been imagining it. “Til next time,” she told him.

“Til next time,” he echoed.

She disappeared into the crowd of elegantly dressed nobles, and he stared after her far longer than he should have. Shikamaru forced himself to make his way back to his seat only to find Choji sitting there. He avoided his inquisitive eyes and slouched onto the stone bench beside him.

Shikamaru shook his head at his friend’s offer of a foreign pastry, instead asking, “Where’s Ino?” He had lost track of her while dancing with Temari.

Choji pointed her out, where she was dancing with … is that the nephew of the Wind Daimyo? Whoever it was must be hilarious, because they were both laughing exuberantly. He relaxed against his seat with a sigh. As exhausting as the journey had been and as grueling as his dance with Temari had been, it was all worth it to see the light return to Ino’s eyes. These past few months had dragged on far too long. Ever since … Shikamaru roughly shoved thoughts about that traitor out of his head with practiced ease.

“So, how’s Temari doing?” Choji asked.

“Fine,” Shikamaru answered shortly, wishing he could just put the troublesome woman out of his head as easily as he had the Uchiha.

“So, when’s her next visit?” Choji asked curiously.

“Not until spring,” he reported, unable to keep the bitter notes out of his voice.

“Wait, she’s going to miss the festival? I thou-”

“She said she didn’t have any reason to come,” Shikamaru interjected. He could feel Choji’s eyes on him, but he ignored them.

“Hmm, well, that’s a shame,” Choji hummed.

“Is it?” Shikamaru rested his head against the back of the chair, staring into the glittering night sky.

“It is. You should have given her one.”

Shikamaru lifted his head in alarm. “I should have what?”

Choji lifted his chin, as serious as Shikamaru had ever seen his best friend. “You heard me.”

“But … why would I do that?” Shikamaru sputtered.

“You know why.” Choji stared him down. “Ino was right; you do know how you feel, you just don’t want to do anything about it.”

Shikamaru just gaped at him. “Ino … what?”

“I thought you just hadn’t figured it out yet,” Choji explained. “But Ino said you were still confused by your feelings and that’s why you haven’t pursued her.”

Shikamaru couldn’t help but feel bitter that his friends had such little faith in him, though he was still reeling from the fact that his two best friends had already figured out how he felt, and they didn’t bother to tell him about it.

“Well, I have figured it out,” Shikamaru told him needlessly.

“Well, that’s good,” Choji nodded encouragingly. “Now, what are you going to do about it?”

Shikamaru sighed, shifting on the cold hard bench. “What can I do about it? She lives in another country.” He swept his arm out broadly, as if to encompass all of Sunagakure and Kaze no Kuni.

“You could make it work,” Choji said confidently. Shikamaru scoffed, but Choji shook his head with determination. “No, listen to me. Who got us in here?” He waved a hand nonchalantly at the finery that surrounded them.

“Okay, fine,” Shikamaru assented. He knew and Choji knew from experience that if he and Temari put their minds to something, they could make it happen. “But it doesn’t even matter, because she won’t want to.”

“Ino was right.” Choji sighed. “You’re scared.”

Shikamaru felt that was an unfair assessment. “I’m just being realistic!”

“Then shouldn’t this be her decision?” Choji asked. “She should at least know how you feel about her before you give up.” Shikamaru looked instinctively into the crowd again, his eyes immediately drawn to her. “Go. Invite her to the Festival. You can worry about what to do and say there.”

Temari turned, as if able to sense his gaze on her. She tilted her head to side, a slight invitation, but then she turned away. She wouldn’t be seeking him out any more tonight. He would have to pursue her. Maybe some puzzles don't need to be solved, Shikamaru mused. They just need to be attempted.

Filled with purpose, he weaved his way through the courtyard, focused on reaching her. He tapped on her shoulder and took a deep breath when she turned to face him. Strangely, he felt calmer than he had felt all night. “I would like to extend my personal invitation for you to come to the Konoha Winter Festival. If you are willing to make the trip, I would be honored to be your escort for the event.” He held his breath, waiting for her answer.

Her lips curved into a full smile, making his heart stutter. "I believe that can be arranged."

Endnotes: let me know what you thought!

[ghoste-catte]

gaalee - 6, 20, 24 ❤

6. What is their favorite feature of their partner’s?

Hmm, this was a tough one, because frankly both of them are straight-up pretty weird looking. I know in canon Gaara has a bunch of Suna ladies that crush on him, but you’ll notice it’s only Suna ladies (and Fuu) which leads me to the conclusion that Sunan aesthetics are less about looks and more about power. Power = attractive, which is why Gaara seems to attract a flock of lady admirers, in my opinion. ‘Cause listen, the dude looks like he hasn’t slept more than a few hours in the past ten years, and he’s the only person I’ve ever seen who managed to make himself look worse by running a comb through his hair. Plus he smiles in a really unnerving way (Have y’all seen that photo of all the Kage from Boruto where Gaara’s making the grimace emoji expression? That’s what I’m talking about). 

Anyways, now that I’ve just dissed Gaara’s looks really hard, let’s talk about physical attraction. I don’t see Gaara as being particularly invested in his partner’s looks overall; he just doesn’t strike me as the type. I think he likes Lee because Lee is kind to him, and doesn’t hold a grudge, and is strong. I think he likes that Lee is in many ways his equal and that he doesn’t have to worry about protecting Lee (his thoughts on the relative vulnerability of his partner compared to himself comes up a bit in the Gaara Hiden light novel) ... at least, he doesn’t have to worry about protecting Lee from anyone but Lee’s own self-destructive impulses, for the most part. Physically, I think he would then be attracted to Lee’s body/muscles, because that’s a physical representation of his strength. Also I think Lee’s turtle mouth is cute, so let’s go with the little turtle mouth as well. 

Of the two of them, Lee is definitely the more physically oriented and probably finds a lot of things attractive about Gaara, although as I’ve already established, I hc that Gaara is a straight up little sand gremlin in physical appearance. But I think the feature that would sell him would be Gaara’s eyes. Not because they’re unique or because of the tanuki marks or anything, but because I think when he first starts learning to read Gaara’s expressions, he conveys everything in his eyes. The rest of his face is relatively impassive and inexpressive, so as they’re getting to know each other I think Lee spends a lot of time staring at Gaara’s eyes to try and figure out what he’s thinking and feeling. And that probably grows into something of a favoritism.

20. What do their family/friends think of their relationship?

Oof, okay, this is gonna be a somewhat long one because they each have like three people who are the most important in their lives. 

So, for Gaara:

Kankuro thinks Lee is weird as hell, but ultimately well-meaning. He respects a guy who lulls you into a false sense of security by looking like an animated green bean and then straight up clocks you in the face so hard you shit your pants. I do think him and Lee butt heads on occasion, because they’re both stubborn as hell and Kankuro’s a bit of a bastard while Lee’s very noble, so they don’t have very well aligned values. And neither of them is willing to back down from a fight. So there are probably some family dinners where Kankuro gets this close to flipping a table because he can’t believe how stupid Lee is being about something, Gaara why do you even put up with this dude? But there’s definitely a respect there, and Lee is a genuinely nice guy, so Kankuro probably takes advantage of that a little bit (”Lee, can you run to the store and get me...” and Lee of course says yes even though Kankuro has two perfectly functional legs). 

Temari initially doesn’t trust Lee. I don’t think she believes at first that Lee isn’t playing the long con and going after Gaara for revenge. It takes her a long time to realize that, no, Lee really is just like that and that he genuinely doesn’t hold a grudge at all. She’s also the most likely to get worked up about the political implications and be scared for how this might affect Gaara’s standing. I think Shikamaru probably sells her on it a bit, because he’s known Lee for longer. And I think seeing how happy Lee makes her brother and how Lee makes Gaara come out of his shell really seals the deal for her. 

Naruto doesn’t get it, but he’s supportive. You know that meme that’s like “he’s not quite there but he’s got the spirit”? That’s Naruto’s approach to basically anyone’s relationship. He doesn’t have any room to judge anyway; his romantic life is a complete shitshow. And Naruto’s pretty guileless so I doubt he really even thinks through any of the potential pitfalls in their relationship. Gaara tells him and he goes “Oh okay, cool!” and then back to talking about Sasuke. 

As for Lee,

Gai does not trust Gaara at all after he caught him trying to kill Lee in the hospital room. I think that’s probably something he never even brought up to Lee, because he wanted Lee to focus on his recovery. So when Lee ends up bringing up that he and Gaara are dating, Gai kind of pales and goes quiet for a minute and then tells Lee very seriously, “He tried to kill you.” And Lee is probably like, “Haha, I know but that was in a match! Anyone could have killed anyone!” and then Gai has to drop the bad news that no, it wasn’t just during the match. Ultimately though he probably gives Gaara a very stern “what are your intentions with my precious student” speech (that Gaara mostly doesn’t understand because it’s so flowery), but is convinced enough by Gaara’s answers that he gives him a big snotty, tear-filled hug. 

Tenten has kind of the same wariness around Gaara initially as Gai does, but she’s much slower to warm up. She sees herself as Lee and Gai’s common sense/”angel on their shoulder” and she doesn’t necessarily believe that Lee has his own best interests at heart. She probably thinks at first blush that Lee is just overcome with infatuation like he was with Sakura or any other spur-of-the-moment crush that he may have, and definitely thinks Lee is going to get hurt. She absolutely threatens Gaara, more than once, even though she wouldn’t stand a chance against him in a match. In my opinion would be the last of Team Gai to come around. She’s probably the person on the morning of Lee’s wedding straightening his shiny orange bow tie and asking him if he’s sure he wants to go through with it. 

Neji (who is alive, damnit) also doesn’t trust Gaara, but he has his own emotional walls up about caring for Lee. So on the surface he tells himself “what do I care, that’s Lee’s bad decision to make and I’m not responsible if he gets hurt”, but he is definitely on edge and wary whenever he sees them together. I think he and Gaara are more similar in personality though, in the sense that both of them have trauma that has made them emotionally closed-off, and Neji recognizes something of himself in Gaara and is probably the first person to actually believe that Gaara means what he says and doesn’t have bad intentions. He sees himself in that inability to express one’s feelings properly in a way that convinces others that you’re genuine, and he probably is the one to bring Gai around in the end. 

24. Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear during inappropriate times?

I answered this one here!

OTP ask meme!

[dianapana]

SasuHina Month Day 7 - Falling in love with an Ex

Dark side of life -Part 1

Hey guys, so tbh this mini-series is the one that i’m most excited about! Sorry for the mistakes that are there, i don’t really have time to check what i write anymore

Anyway i hope you enjoy! Love Dia~

----

Hinata

Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t be here, at least not dresses this way, but it's Ino's birthday  and my best friend insisted we go clubbing, she also insisted that we get ready at her house and when I showed up my outfit was apparently not club-appropriate so she gave me some of her clothes even if she and I don’t really wear the same size…this is why I am here in this loud club wearing the least amount of clothing I have ever worn in public. It wouldn’t be all that bad if we weren’t waiting for her new boyfriend and his  friend to come, I am ok with the girls and even strangers seeing me in this but I would prefer if her new boyfriend met me when I was dressed more…well just dressed in more.  

TenTen and Temari are dancing together and most eyes are on them, Ino Sakura and I are in our booth waiting for the 2 boys to arrive, if I had known we could bring someone I would have made Neji and Gaara come too,they would have been able to stop the clothing mess and I would have been far more comfortable with them there.  

“So you just mentioned we’d be here and he said what...same’?”

Sakura asks a bit annoyed, she has met Naruto a few weeks ago and she isn’t his biggest fan. Also Sakura has been saying how we’re not spending as much time together as we used to in Collage. I met all these lovely ladies in my first year of Collage in the dorm, we weren’t roommates the first year but the second year all 5 of us shared a room, it felt like an endless sleepover and I adored every moment spend with them.  

“Pretty much, he said he and his friend have business around here and that they might drop by. So I'm not sure if or when they’ll come, also I don’t really know who this friend is” Ino smiles evilly at me “I hope he’s cute so maybe Hina and him can hit it off and that way we’re all taken.” Sakura rolls her eyes at Ino and gives me a kind smile. In a moment of weakness a few months ago I told her how I hate it when Ino sets me up with guys, maybe the guys she chooses are after her own taste or whatever, but all my dates so far have gone horribly wrong.  

“Speaking about couples, I should go check on my girlfriend, hopefully Temari didn’t seduce her” Sakura jokes and goes to the dancefloor and pulls TenTen to her and gives her a toe-curling kiss. I'm pretty sure that most guy around the club stare at them like it’s a free show. I've asked Ten if she minded that people stared and both she and Sakura said that they don’t mind it, they find it funny and usually they actually put up a show just for kicks. Today is one of those days. TenTen is taller than Sakura and she’s also stronger because she is a fitness instructor. Still kissing her Ten hitches Sakura closer to her and up by holding her butt, Sakura wraps her legs around Ten’s waist not even caring that she flashed the entire club her red lacy panties.  

“I swear to God I've seen them make out a billion times but each time it gets hotter. I'm really concerned that they’ll get to that point one day and just fuck in public without caring” Temari comes towards us fanning herself with her hand. She looks around and rises an eyebrow toward Ino “So where’s your boytoy? Also I told Shika he should come too if we’re allowing boys to come but he lowkey told me no. So I'm in a pissy mood and I wanna direct it towards someone, that someone will be your boyf, I'll grill him better than white dads grill their stakes.”  

I giggle a little, only Shikamaru could win an argument with Temari and still not have her mad at him all that long. They've been dating for over 5 years now, and we’re all joking about them getting married, but no proposal happened yet, Gaara, Temari’s younger brother, once asked Shikamaru about it and the Nara even has the ring and everything he said he’s waiting for Temari to give him some kind of sign that she wants him to ask her, he is scared of proposing and her laughing in his face.  

“I don’t know, that’s what I was telling the girls before, they might not even show up.” The blonde birthday girl shrugs while waving a waitress down and telling her to bring us a full tray of shots and a cocktail each. It would appear Ino wants to get us all drunk.  

“Those that bother you? That he might not come?” Temari asks after drowning a shot.  

“Not really, I mean it’s not like him being here was part of the plan. But it would be nice if he were to come, he’d drive us home and be the DD so we all could get even more drunk than I was planning on because we wouldn’t have to worry about being careful in the cab and all that” The three of us do two more shots and Ino wants to call Sakura and Ten back to do the last ones with us but they are slow-dancing in the middle of the club, totally lost in their own little world. They didn’t start dating until 3 years ago, in out last uni year. So instead we do 3 more and Ino and Temari drink the last 2 shots, before she even swallowed Ino is up on her feet and pulling both me and Temari on the dancefloor. I don’t particularly like the way people stare at me in Ino’s clothes but the few shots and cocktails I had make ignoring it easier, and the way Ino dances with me helps even more and I'm actually having a blast.  

30 minutes or so later Sakura and TenTen join us as well and it’s just like in collage, dancing all alone in our room in our pjs. Sakura is hugging me from behind and twirling me a couple times when I hear Ino squeal, I turn around to see her kissing a blond boy who I assume is Naruto. Temari waits patiently for their make-out session to end so she can introduce herself, she talks a bit to both of them and comes to me and Sakura to tell us she’s going home, by her grin I would say she and Shika made up already.  

“Naruto, this is Hinata, you’ve already met Sakura and I think TenTen is in the bathroom” I greet him and wave hello. Naruto says something but I can’t hear it over my own heart beating out of my chest. I pray to God that my eyes are playing tricks on me as I stare at the back of a guy but he turns around and I take in the familiar face. I feel stuck in place but also like I should run for my life. I only take my eyes off him when I feel Sakura shaking my shoulder.  I don’t even have time to ask her ‘what’ when I hear Naruto saying “Sasuke, you already done? Come here let me introduce you around”

Any amount of drunk that I was before is gone, it feels like a bucket of ice-cold water was just dropped on my head because Sasuke smiles at Naruto and he shakes hands with Ino and gives her one of his dazzling yet fake smiles, but his smile falls for a second when his eyes meet mine but he soon puts it back on and greets Tenten, you couldn’t have seen his facial change if you weren’t paying attention but I was. Just as I think that he’ll act as if we’re complete strangers his fake sile turns into an evil grin and he comes over to me and gives me a hug.  

“Hinata, good to see you again, you look lovely. It's been too long, 6 years or so I think?”  

I can see Ino’s smile growing from over his shoulder and I'm stuck in place because my ex from high-school is here, hugging me and talking to me like we’re old friends, not like we ended up on absolutely horrible terms, not like he broke my heart, not like the last thing I told him is that I hate him.  

[butkuroo]

{ Kiba; missing you }

•This is kind of trash but I hope you like ;)•

You and Kiba had only dated three months before you had decided to call it off. And to sum it all up, you regretted your decision completely. He treated you so coldly now, compared to the loving and sweet Kiba you used to get when you were together. Now if he wasn’t ignoring you, he was scoffing at everything you said, giving you dirty looks and you even heard him mumble “heartless” under his breath one time. Hearing those things hurt you so bad, because you didn’t break up with Kiba because you had met someone else, or you just simply did not love him anymore. You fell for Kiba hard. But you were scared to open up to him because of your past relationships. You were scared Kiba would end up just like them, so you decided to end things quickly before they got anymore serious. That was obviously your mistake. You missed Kiba, so much. You had put up with his rudeness up until you had the final straw. You were invited by Naruto, to go out and have a few drinks with him, and few of your other close friends. Little did you know, Kiba had been invited as well. You didn’t find out until you showed up outside the bar, waiting for one of your other friends to show up, when Kiba and Naruto showed up together as well. Kiba scoffed at you, as if he was disgusted by your appearance. You smiled although you were fighting back tears in your eyes.

“Hi Kiba.” You said, your voice cracking a bit. Kiba didn’t say anything, he simply crossed his arms over his chest and looked away from you, walking inside. You looked at Naruto, who just gave an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry Y/N” Naruto frowned as he spoke. “I thought he’d at least be in better mood since he’d be with us.” You shook your head smiling at him, not acknowledging the tears that welled up in your eyes.

“It’s okay, Naruto. It’s nothing you should be bothered by.” You swallowed and walked in to the bar with Naruto by your side. After a little while, and couple of shots later, more of your friends began to show up. Shikamaru, Hinata, Ino, Shino, Choji, Temari, and even Gaara was there. At this point your friend group was taking up half the bar and then some. “Heyyyyy guysss!!” You said a little too excitedly, when you stood up, you felt your head spin a little. You weren’t drunk, but you were definitely tipsy. You slowed down on the drinks as you and all your friends sat around at a circular table. You were chatting with Naruto about some mission that you had recently gotten back from when you overheard Hinata and Kiba talking about a mission where they would need an extra team member. You downed another shot before speaking rather loudly. “Heyyyy guys! If you need someone I’m here! I got some free time on my hands.” Hinata just giggled at your preppy attitude, while Kiba acted as if he heard nothing at all. You frowned slightly but let it go, turning back to Naruto.

Later that night you found yourself chatting with Hinata. Really it was just small talk, about how your lives were going and what you had been up to recently. However your conversation was cut short when Kiba butted in.

“Hey Hinata, are you ready to leave?” Kiba didn’t even so much as look at you.

“Huh? Oh no, I’m talking to Y/N, I’ll be leaving when I’m done.” She smiled lightly at Kiba.

“Who?” Kiba questioned you watched him raise an eyebrow at her, he still wasn’t looking at you though. Hinata just let out a nervous laugh.

“Don’t be funny, Kiba. I’m talking to Y/N, she is standing right here.” Hinata motioned towards you. You watched him look directly at you, and then around the whole bar. You felt your heart drop slightly.

“Don’t know who that is and I don’t see them anywhere, so let’s go...” he spoke with a shrug and dug his hands in his pockets, he looked down at Akamaru who simply just whimpered at the conflict. You, however, had had enough.

“WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!?” You shouted so loud that even the music had stopped playing the bar. Everyone was staring at you, and this included Kiba. He wasn’t expecting you to shout so loudly. You took a deep breath, composing yourself quickly while thinking of what to say next. You looked up at Kiba, tears once again welling up in your eyes. “I know you hate me because I broke your heart. But I’m hurting too. I didn’t break up with you because I found someone else, or I lost feelings...” you paused as you looked at him. There was still shock in his eyes as he stared you down, listening to every word you said. “I didn’t want to lose you, so I ended things. But I love you, and I spend almost every day wishing I hadn’t ended things. So don’t sit there and treat me like I’m heartless, because I’m not. I love you.” And with that you turned around and stormed out of the bar. As you walked, your arms crossed over your chest, you heard someone running behind you.

“Y/N!” It was Kiba, you frowned and just kept walking. “Please wait! Y/N!” You still kept walking. It wasn’t until you felt a firm grasp on your arm spin you around, that you let out a yelp of surprise. “I have missed you everyday of my life since you ended things.” He had a firm grip on your hand now, you could see tears in his eyes. “I wanted to hate you, but I couldn’t. So I made myself hate you.” He started to sob and he pulled you in for a tight hug. He buried his face into your neck. “I’m so sorry.” He said as he cried.

“I’m sorry too.” you hugged him tightly as tears began to fall from your own eyes as well. “I don’t ever want to lose you again”

•Hello!! No body requested this. Just a little thing I came up with. I know it is cheesy but I hope you guys like it!•

[notquitejiraiya]

Chess [25] - {ShikaTema AU}

Sorry that this has taken such an awfully long time to write, but I hope it’s okay nonetheless! This chapter goes out for the wonderful @shikanaradai - happy birthday :)

[ READ / COMMENT on AO3 ]

Hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The smoke filtered through the window as he perched on his windowsill, knees up against his chest as he stared out at the clear sky. Finally, it had stopped raining, and the clouds—lighter and brighter—drifted with as little purpose as they had before the storms had crawled in. And while usually he’d always be glad to sit and watch them float endlessly, his own puffs of smoke joining them every once in a while, today Shikamaru was glad that he had something to do. Well, more glad that he was doing something with her.

From the pocket of his jeans buzzed his phone, reminding him he had only a little time to daydream before he had to make a move, and he was amazed himself that he wasn’t ready to go right now. Upon his eyes opening a mere crack, Shikamaru had woken up instantly in the knowledge that it was Saturday; that she had something planned for him, and that today he got to be with her.

But he had forced himself to calm down. He couldn’t let himself get too sappy. How exactly he was meant to take what his father had said to him a few days ago, he wasn’t sure. Shikamaru certainly still believed it was way too early to say that he loved her, but his constant awareness of how long it would be before he saw her again was undeniable. Nothing compared to what surged through him every time he saw her laugh or her lips even curl up into the tiniest smile. He’d switch out watching the clouds for making her laugh any say of the week.

He felt like a sap.

He absolutely hated it.

With a gentle tap Shikamaru dropped ash into empty aluminium can sat on his bedside table beneath him, and took a long drag. She’d said to meet her at twelve-thirty and it was ten-to-twelve now, and despite being desperate to go he couldn’t help being scared to move. It was just Temari—he knew that—and he’d go no matter what, but what if her perception of him had changed after what he’d done on Thursday. He wasn’t like that, he didn’t just walk in and pounce on people, and he could only hope that she didn’t think that was all he wanted from her.

“Relax, man,” he mumbled to himself, taking a drag. He let out a long breath through the open window and shivered as the wind hit his face. “Just fucking chill out…”

There was a gentle rapping on the door, and before he could answer the latch clicked and a voice sounded, low and controlled.

“Shikamaru?”

He looked up. “Shut the door or the smoke alarm will go off.”

Shikaku chuckled. “I just came to give you the keys.” He annoyingly clattered them in his palm.

“Thanks.” 

“But before you go,” he sighed, “I have one more question about her.”

Shikamaru grunted in response. It took almost everything in his brain to stop his fingers quivering with nerves.

“Is she pretty?”

With a smile he met his father’s dark eyes, nodding slowly. “Very. Ridiculously, to be honest.”

“Nice friends?”

He took a drag, raising his eyebrows as smoke clouded his words. “Careful or you’ll sound like an old perv.”

“My son the comedian,” muttered Shikaku as he threw the keys onto the bed.

There was a chuckle between the pair as the young man put out his cigarette on the aluminium. “I don’t know any of her friends. Two brothers though.”

“They scary?”

He shrugged, dropping the stub through the can’s opening. “I’ve only met one and he’s the sort of guy who pulls his hood up over his baseball cap, so…”

Shikaku chuckled, his weight pressed against the wall. “I really should stop you smoking in your damn room,” he groaned, eyes rolling to the back of his head. “Your mother would kill you if I told her you still did this.”

“But you won’t.”

Shikamaru smirked as he hopped off the windowsill and tore off his t-shirt, throwing it haphazardly onto the bed beside his father. He turned away, reaching into his wardrobe to grab the khaki sweatshirt which he drowned in, but before he could pull it over his head Shikaku piped up.

“Christ, son,” he chuckled. “Your back is raked up. What have you…”

With his arms halfway in, the young man froze, turning to face his father with bright red cheeks. Shikaku was biting his lip, forcing himself to hide an unsurprised grin, but Shikamaru wasn’t nearly as cheerful. He’d thought that by now the scratches she had made—that he’d been so conscious of on Thursday night—would’ve disappeared completely. Even if they hadn’t, the least they could do was be faint enough by now that his father’s hawk eyes wouldn’t register them. Obviously, from the snickers that slowly grew in volume, his body hadn’t been so kind to him. 

He froze and slowly turned around, utterly speechless upon seeing how high his father’s eyebrows were positioned on his forehead, and the snide grin on his face.

Shikaku shook his head. “You sly bastard…”

“Dad, it’s not like—”

“They’ve lasted a long time. Must’ve hurt like a bitch on Thursday, huh?”

Shikamaru pulled on the sweater quickly and crossed his arms, desperate to avoid this. “Oi, Dad. Let’s not do this again, yeah?” he huffed. “I am twenty-three. You don’t have to care.”

“And I couldn’t care less, don’t worry,” chuckled his father, a cheerful and mischievous glint hidden behind his suddenly blander expression. “As long as you’re happy, son, I’ll leave you to whatever rutting you decide to partake in.”

“Fucking rutting?” spat Shikamaru, his eyes firmly lulling to the back of his skull. “Honestly, Dad, just stop talking.”

He did an awful job at stifling a laugh at his son and swiftly got to his feet, making a beeline for the door. “Watch yourself with her though, son. Strong women often feel so much more than they show you.”

“And by that you mean?”

“By that I mean be careful.” He twisted the doorknob, twisting his head to shoot his son a warm smile. “I want you to be happy, but your mental state is always my priority kid. Always will be.”

Unsure of how to respond, Shikamaru grabbed the keys off of his bed and nodded, jangling them as his father had done before. “I need to get going.”

“Be careful, son.”

~~~

There had been radio silence for the last twenty-four hours, and as she stood alone in the crisp air outside the pub, already lively with jolly friends and families having lunch, Temari couldn’t help feeling forgotten. He’d been early for their date earlier in the week. Why wouldn’t he be early when he didn’t have to come on foot?

Maybe he thought it was a bit pathetic that, despite her brother being elsewhere today, she asked him to get her from the pub instead of her front door. Or maybe he’d broken down somewhere? Or he’d forgotten about her entirely?

“Oh, shut up, girl,” she muttered to herself. “He’ll be in traffic or something—yeah, traffic…”

Temari jumped as she heard an angry beeping and began rummaging through her bag to find the source. Please don’t be him, she wished as she fished it out, and answering her pleas, Gaara’s name flashed across the screen. She viciously swiped and held it to her ear.

“What do you want?”

“Morning.”

“It’s afternoon, Gaara.”

There was a chuckle. “I just called to ask where you are? I woke up and you and Kankuro were gone.”

“Of course I do,” she sighed. “I’m out.”

“Where?”

“I don’t have to tell you that.”

“You don’t,” he replied, “but you’re making yourself sound suspicious.”

Temari rolled her eyes, landing them on an approaching car; small and red, boxy and a little rusty. She turned to look at herself in the reflection of the window. “Don’t be annoying.”

“I’ll be out tonight. I’ve got a date.”

“Good for you.”

“Don’t be harsh on me,” Gaara complained. “It was Kankuro that—”

“I’m sorry, okay?” she whined, as engine whirring grew louder and more annoying. “I’ll wait up for you tonight if you like. And tell Kankuro if he comes back not to try and call me again. I already have to pass him in the hallway and given that he’s not going to listen to me anyway, I’m not up for talking to him.”

“He’s only trying to reconcile and—”

“I know, but it still isn’t okay.” Temari sighed. “I’ll see you later.”

There was a beat.

“Love you, Tem.”

Slowly her lips curved up. “Love you, too. Enjoy your date.”

“You too…” Gaara winced down the line. “I mean, um, thank you.”

She hung up with a groan, smirking to herself at Gaara’s awkwardness. God, what would she do without him to put a smile on her face?

Meanwhile, as he pulled up alongside her, Shikamaru switched off the radio and leaned across the gearstick, panting as he manually rolled down the window and hoping by the time he finished he would’ve stopped himself grinning like an idiot. But eventually he ended up staring at her back nervously, waiting for her to look up from her phone, and the blonde didn’t seem to notice anything around her had changed in the slightest. As she slid her phone into her bag she looked through the pub’s window, adjusting her hair.

Anxiously, Shikamaru cleared his throat and sat back. “Your hair looks fine.”

Temari spun around with a start, gaping. “Christ, Shikamaru!” she gasped. “How did you creep up on me in that?”

“I hardly think I did,” he offered, and she smiled in return, yanking open the door with all her strength.

“This car is a bit shit, isn’t it?”

“Trust me: I’m perfectly aware of that,” he laughed. “But you asked for a lift so don’t get fussy. Besides, you know deep down that you weren’t expecting anything good.”

Temari flopped into the seat and rolled her eyes. “Anyway, how are you doing?”

“What was it you said the other night about enjoying the silence?” He smirked, pulling away from the side of the road, and the woman beside him gave an impatient sigh. “I’m alright though, thanks,” he said, “but I have no idea where I’m meant to be taking you.”

“And you don’t have a sat-nav, do you?”

Shikamaru simply had to raise his eyebrows and laugh. “In this?”

“I didn’t think so,” she chuckled, prying her phone from her bag. “It’s fine I’ll direct you.”

“Can’t you just tell me where I’m going?”

As she looked over at him, his eyes stared ahead, so wide and cheerful with the same excitement fuelling his bright smile. Temari couldn’t help but mirror him, both in appearance and emotion. Ever scrap of anger at her brother vanished when she locked onto that grin. His satisfaction made her feel so light and carefree, to the point where even in moment she moved out of his sight that feeling remained. It was contagious, this feeling of euphoria he gave off. 

And yet she was about to direct him somewhere it was bound to vanish upon arrival; somewhere where the happiness in his eyes might instantly be replaced with pain. How could she laugh along with him with that knowledge? Surely that was just cruel.

Softly, she giggled and looked back at her phone, but Shikamaru kept his sharp, stubborn going as he spoke, “Unlike you I’ve lived here my whole life, Tem. I know this town.”

Temari sighed. “Just take a right.”

“Temari…”

“Take a right, Shikamaru.”

A chill flew up his spine as he registered the discomfort her voice tried hard to mask, and he—somewhat unwillingly—relaxed his shoulders, flicking the indicator and turning right, just as he had been commanded. Along the long straight road that followed, as silence compressed the walls of the car in a way he couldn’t quite stomach, Shikamaru began to edge his hand across the gear stick. When his fingers tickled hers, Temari’s head snapped up to him, mouth suddenly dry. Nervously she let his fingers wriggle between hers and grip them slightly, and her whole body seemed to relax.

“Left up here,” she told him, a strange, girlish giggle clutching onto her voice. “Then keep going as if you’re leaving town.”

“Are we leaving town?”

Temari shook her head with a sigh. “Do you have any music?”

“No,” he shot back, far too quickly.

“You definitely do. You at least have the radio. Can’t we—”

“It doesn’t work,” he chuckled nervously, tightening his grip on her hand as if he thought she would try and escape. “Don’t even try it hasn’t worked for years.”

“Shikamaru, I’m not an idiot.”

“What?”

As he turned the corner, he reluctantly took his hand from hers to help him steer, and Temari took her opportunity to rush her index finger to the on button of the radio, only to find Phil Collins blaring out.

Shikamaru hastily turned it down and huffed, rubbing his neck as he halted at some traffic lights.

“I was not expecting that.”

“And what exactly were you expecting?”

Temari bit down on her lip, staring at his troubled face. “I don’t know...some deep, meaningful stuff, or some old punk music or something. I don’t know. Just not Phil Collins.”

“It’s Genesis, for fucks sake...” Pursing his lips, Shikamaru tapped on the steering wheel. “You know what? I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

“You don’t,” she smirked, “but you’re going to.”

He rolled his eyes and continued on down the road. “I really liked Tarzan, okay? It just went from there.”

“So did I,” she said, “when I was a child.”

“Then don’t judge me.”

“I’m not judging you.” Temari’s hand wandered over to brush her knuckles against his thigh, and she smiled kindly. “You’re just so strange I don’t know what to expect from you.”

“Thank you for the morale boost, Tem.”

“What? You are!”

“Plenty of people like Genesis and Phil Collins, and people like far worse things!”

“Wow, I have never heard you speak this passionately about anything...”

“Yeah, well you barely know me and you’ve only heard all my mental health bullshit before now,” he grumbled, turning off the soft music that resonated in the background. “It’s just music. It fills…silence.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“I know you didn’t mean anything by it, Tem,” he sighed. When she looked over she expected his cold eyes to had softened, and felt a little disheartened when they hadn’t. “Besides, I don’t really care what you think anyway.”

Despite his words, she smiled to herself. He totally does.

Shikamaru ground his teeth as they approached the next junction. You totally do, idiot, he thought to himself. And now she thinks you’re a nerd.

“Right again?” he tried, clearing his throat.

“Yes, Mr. Dad-Rock.”

He quickly shot her a glare, and she burst out laughing, causing him to follow in quick pursuit.

How did she do that? Make him laugh at things that weren’t worth laughing about. Her teasing drove him insane, and yet he yearned for more. When she turned the radio back on with a grin, Shikamaru chuckled to himself softly.

He was at her every beck and call, lost on this road without her, and somehow he was glad for it.

~~~

“Here! Pull over here!” Temari demanded, pointing to the lay-by they were approaching.

Shikamaru slowly eased over there with a sigh, and parked, turning to her, exasperated. “Temari, this is a housing estate.”

“I’m perfectly aware of that, Shikamaru,” she managed through her nerves. “I wanted you to come and do something.”

So this wasn’t a date. He had totally got the wrong idea, hadn’t he? Why did he think that with Temari anything could just be as easy as getting in a car and going on a date? If there was some affectionate element to this escapade, he could tell that it wasn’t going to happen right now. A housing estate was hardly the most romantic of places, but was he meant to expect romantic? They weren’t together, after all. They were just two people who had done some things they probably shouldn’t, two people who’d got far more intimate than was appropriate, two people who found each other disasterously attractive…

But did that mean anything at the end of the day? Was he tying her down in the same way he felt compelled to do right by her? Something in him told him no, but there was this other, nagging crevasse in his brain taking charge, forcing him to think positively.

Because maybe, despite what he’d said, she wanted him to meet people; her friends or her family. Oh, what a horrendous idea that sounded, and an idea that he definitely wasn’t up for.

But at least, if that was the case, she really did care about him as much as he cared about her.

“I already told you, Tem, that I’m not ready to meet your—”

“It’s not Gaara,” she interrupted, tutting at his predictability. “Come on. It won’t take long.”

He watched her hop out of the car and, with a huff, mirrored her actions. He slammed the door shut thrice—it taking its usually excessive time to properly close—and leaned on the top of the car, watching her walk away with her nose in the screen of her phone. A smile grew on his lips as he nervously tapped the metal with his fingertips.

“Oi!” She called back to him, waving for him to come closer. “Hurry up, flower boy.”

With a shake of his head, the young man knocked on the roof, cocking his head slightly to one side. “I don’t appreciate that,” he laughed back.

“Don’t appreciate what?”

“‘Flower boy’, obviously.”

“Tough, now come on.” She held out her hand behind her, expecting him to grab it, and when he finally caught up to her, a very slight spring in his step, he elbowed her with a smirk and kept walking. “Asshole,” she spat, snickering to herself.

“That’s right.” Shikamaru shoved his hands into his pockets, elbow brushing against her arm every few moments. “Now, can you tell me what exactly is happening?”

Temari slowed her pace to keep beside him, chewing on her lip. “We want number 40,” she mumbled, her fingertips brushing his.

She couldn’t help but worry, and not just the subtle feeling of butterflies in the tummy kind of worry. This was full blown, palms sweating, knees ready to give out from guilt worry. What if this wasn’t helpful, and only upset the pair of them? What if she’d lead him into a situation in which he grew more panicked or upset than she’d ever seen him be? It would be entirely her fault—could she handle that? She wasn’t sure she could.

But it was too late now. As they paced along the pavement, their steps becoming synchronised, Temari’s heart began to beat faster. His eyes scanned the doors of each house, and she wondered what he thought was happening. He must’ve had a million ideas, and she was sure none of them were less enjoyable for him than what she actually had in store.

Her toe caught on the edge of the pavement and she stumbled slightly, immediately sending her whole body into panic mode. She should’ve turned them both around and taken them to the movies or something, or grabbed yet another unhealthy meal to tide him over until the next time she fancied scrutinising him.

However, just as it had been a moment before, it was too late—far too late—and Shikamaru started to slow, raising his arm.

Temari gulped, totally unprepared for what was to come.

All she could do was act like this was normal. It wasn’t. It wasn’t in the slightest.

“Well that’s 38,” he sighed, pointing to their left, “so that one must be…”

Shikamaru stopped, silent as he stared at the house before him. The figure in the window downstairs, her back to them, looked so impossibly familiar, and as her profile came into view before she left his line of sight, Shikamaru’s worst nightmare set in motion.

“Tem, tell me that this isn’t her house.”

“Who’s house?”

“Kurenai’s house. The lady I saw on the bus.”

Temari rested her head on his shoulder, threading her fingers through his so carefully it was as though they might crack. Right now, for all she knew, he might crack hers. “I can’t tell you that.”

“Okay,” he wheezed, an uncomfortable smile coming and going from his face in a matter of seconds. “I’m definitely not going in there.”

“Yes you are, Shikamaru.”

“I’m bloody not.”

“Shikamaru,” she sighed, “all she’s going to do is say hello. You’re not going to upset anyone, and she definitely doesn’t hate you or anything. I mean come on!” Temari urged, squeezing his palm in hope it was more encouraging than her bossiness. “She literally tried to talk to you the other day without prompting.”

“To which I ran away.”

“Because you didn’t know what to do.”

“Yeah, because I’m a fucking coward.”

She frowned. “Shikamaru…”

“It’s Saturday, Temari,” he said, pointing at the framing window from which the figure had disappeared. “It’s her weekend. It’s her daughter’s weekend. They don’t want me intruding. I don’t know about you but I was brought up to respect other people’s privacy.”

Temari shot him a vile look. “Right that’s it.” She dropped his hand and adjusted the strap of her bag sharply. “I’m fucking done.”

“What?”

“I’m done,” she repeated, exasperation filling every inch of teal in her eyes. “I’m done trying to help you and having you not try to help yourself.”

“Temari…”

“No, Shikamaru. Don’t.” Her arms linked, crossed across her chest—a barrier he was yet to break through on his own. “I know I sprung this on you quickly, but there’s nothing I want more than for you to be okay so our whole situation can be guilt free—”

“Guilt free?”

“But when you refuse to even try to conquer this huge hurdle, how can I do that?”

“Do what?”

She didn’t answer. She simply turned slowly and pointed in the direction of his little, red rust-bucket.

His blood boiled, and his stomach knotted to the point he felt like he couldn’t breathe, but the look in Temari’s eyes overpowered every ounce of negative emotion in his body.

“Fine. Okay? Fucking fine!” Shikamaru stormed up to the door and knocked rapidly, and she could see his body immediately freeze as he rapped his wrist again the wood the final time.

Seeing the man shut down, his muscles as still as if they’d been made out of wax and unready for the pressure and heat they were about to receive, did nothing for Temari except bombard her with heaps of guilt. She’d forced him into this, and he’d been fine to ask know questions. Why she ever thought that he wouldn’t put up a fight, she didn’t know. Why she even considered deliberately guilting him into striding up to that looming red door and knocking made her feel so much more liable for someones pain and discomfort than for anything else in her entire life.

She’d laughed at Kankuro the day he broke his elbow, and the only thing she’d ever forced him or Gaara to do without the help of guilt was to go to therapy. So why if she could laugh off someone’s pain so easily did she fill herself with dread knowing she’d caused Shikamaru to be hit with a tonne of it instantaneously, even before he’d seen the face beyond that door? And why if she’d guilted her brothers into doing things for so many years  why did doing so to Shikamaru feel so criminal?

But she didn’t have time to lament to him her every thought, call him back and pretend this was all just a game of ‘knock down ginger’ as they sprinted back to the car. Before the young man could even turn to see the distressed look on Temari’s face, the loud click of s latch echoed, and the door flew open, the long black hair of Kurenai Sarutobi fluttering in the breeze instantly.

“Shikamaru...” she whispered in disbelief, her bright eyes widening as though she’d seen a ghost.

Despite his inability to run, Shikamaru didn’t have a clue what he was to say. After all these years surely there was so many things she deserved to hear fly from his lips, but ultimately he just nodded. As he bit down hard on his lip, he knew there was only one thing that connected every thought that flew through his mind.

“I, um...” He stopped himself, hand edging towards the back of his neck. Three words had never come less easily when he was so desperate to say them. “I won’t bother you long, but I—uh!”

Never could he have expected the gigantic hug the lady had enveloped him in, but in only a few seconds he felt himself warming, softening his shoulders into her hold. It took no time for him to hug her back, and wrap his arms tightly around the older woman’s torso. Somehow, now, it felt like seeing a family member, despite the fact he was almost certain less words had been exchanged between them in the last ten years than in the last ten seconds, and Shikamaru immediately felt a weight lifted from his shoulders as the weight of her head rested on one.

But it didn’t take long for a shiver down his spine to appear, combatting any warmth the hug had mustered. As the piercing eyes of her daughter stared Shikamaru out, Kurenai pulled away from him, softly smiling beneath the many layers of surprise. But he could barely take his eyes off of that little girl and the structure of her face, the glare and the book in her hands—that was Asuma’s daughter. It was so impossible to think about. That girl was old—she was a baby, she was an actual child. Seeing her on the bus hadn’t given him time to let that sink in, but now he had no choice but to notice, and knowing that what happened was so long ago that she sat before him as she did provided some shift in his perception of all this. Not much, admittedly—he couldn’t work miracles on his own mind—but a little.

Then again, how was he still so damn pathetic about it after so many years? God, he thought as the little girl turned her attention back to her book, get your shit together, man.

Fighting the urge to force an awkward smile, Shikamaru ducked his head and shoved his hands into the pocket of his jacket. “I, um,” he began, just about making eye contact. “Kurenai, I just wanted to say sorry.”

With a gentle frown and a slight smile, Kurenai squinted at him. “Sorry?”

“Sorry that I never came,” he added. “Like I told you I would. Back when...you know…” He coughed nervously, his eyes drifting towards his feet. “And sorry for many, many other things…”

“Oh don’t be ridiculous,” Kurenai sighed, reaching for his forearm and tugging his sleeve slightly. “Please, come in.”

Shikamaru screwed his expression up, shivering as his shoulders tensed up. The little girl was back there. “Oh, Mrs Sarutobi, I count possibly—”

“Please, Shikamaru. Come in.”

Afraid and lost for words, Shikamaru turned to Temari, expecting her to say something that might save him from stepping through the threshold. Surely she wanted to do something else with him today other than this, or was her itinerary for the day exclusively filled with mental torture?

The gentle smile she gave him in return gave him the impression she had a mix of both on her mind.

“Your girlfriend can come in, too,” said Kurenai, letting his sleeve fall. “Please. Both of you. I would love to talk to you.”

Why did she want to see him? After this long?

Given that he could hear Temari’s boots clicking on the pathway up to the door, he could only assume the woman he so hated for bringing him here was wearing a fantastic grin to accompany the inevitable nodding she was doing. So, hesitantly, he took as step forward through the door and wiped his feet carefully before entering into the lounge. He could feel Temari looming behind him and hear the shuffle of her coat as he arms brushed against the doorway, but her presence did little to lighten his mood for a change. The little eyes staring up at him were far too powerful for her to work her usual magic.

It took little to notice his discomfort upon entering, and Temari made sure to squeeze his hand gently as she passed him, shrugging her coat from her shoulders and reaching out to shake Kurenai’s hand. “I’m Temari, by the way,” she said confidently, a bright smile across her face. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs Sarutobi.”

“Oh, please don’t—I’m not a work. I don’t need more people calling me that,” she laughed. “Call me Kurenai, Temari.”

Temari smiled. So she was a teacher, too? Interesting…

“Tea?” sounded Kurenai’s voice as she stepped backwards through the lounge. “Coffee?”

“Tea would be fantastic, please,” the blonde said, her voice far sweeter than she liked her tea. “Milk, no sugar for me, please?”

The kind woman nodded and turned her attention to Shikamaru, who still loomed in the doorway, hands in pockets, and firmly on the child who occupied a spot on the sofa.

“Shikamaru?”

When Temari said his name, he barely managed to turn his head to look at her. It was only when she grabbed his sleeve that he snapped round, confused.

“What?” he muttered.

Temari let the corner of her mouth raise. “Do you want coffee?”

He nodded slowly, looking at Kurenai for a moment then back toward the girl.

The older woman’s gentle eyes followed his gaze slowly, as did Temari’s, and set on the child with a gentle smile. Gently her voice sounded, and she stepped over to her daughter, a hand grazing the black hair that topped her little head. “Shikamaru,” she smiled, staring down at the girl, “this is Mirai. And Mirai, this is Shikamaru.”

Mirai looked up, a cute flush across her nose and cheeks. She pawed at her mother’s hands nervously before looking up, across the room at the young man who stood so incredibly still. “Shikamaru?”

His entire body shook as she said his name, and he’d never been more glad for Temari’s elbows to nudge him out of his freaked-out haze. 

“Yes,” said Kurenai. “He is one of daddy’s old friends.”

The sentence whipped through him, a wind in his sails which all at once lifted him up and sent him crashing down. It amazed him how he could feel so instantly lighter, and yet feel like the world was now pushing its weight even further onto his shoulders. Even more surprisingly was the indifference that laced Mirai’s eyes—a child who he’d been so afraid to meet, and so terrified to look in the eye, smiled at him and said a feeble, “Hello,” before turning her attention back to her book. She couldn’t care less who he was, or what he did. She didn’t know him before this very moment, and she had no idea what he had done in the past, but Shikamaru couldn’t decide if he felt better or worse for that.

“You have pretty hair, Miss,” mumbled Mirai, her bright eyes fluttering to Temari for a split second as her mother backed out of the room. 

Temari smiled and leaned forward slightly, raising her eyebrows. “Well, thank you. Your hair is very lovely, too.”

She heard Shikamaru snort as he finally started to slip his coat from his shoulders, and have him a swift elbow in the stomach to drop his backside onto the chair. With a groan he sighed and shook his head, and within seconds the little girl before them was giggling.

“Mummy said it’s wrong to hit people.”

“Well,” whispered the blonde, her thumb pointed at Shikamaru, “he is very annoying and makes fun of me, so I make an exception.” She bit her lip, cheeky, and squinted. “Is that fair, do you think?”

Without a second to think about it, a grin stretched across her chubby cheeks, Mirai nodded with another giggle.

Shikamaru nudged Temari desperate to look into her eyes, but as their gazes collided and her bright orbs stared him down, he was unsure whether to feel grateful or pissed off at what she’d done. This was, undeniably, one of the most unenjoyable moments he had spent with her. It probably even made it into the top ten worst moments of his life—or most awkward ones at the very least—and yet he wanted to smile at her. She didn’t look like she meant to upset him, and he had to believe that. He did believe that.

“You really threw me in at the deep end,” he muttered, his hand firmly on the back of his neck. As her fingertips dragged it away and gripped his tightly, a triumphant smile subtly staining her lips, Shikamaru couldn’t help adding an even quieter, “Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome, stupid,” she sighed. Temari rested her head on his shoulder momentarily, giving his hand a quick squeeze. “Next up on the agenda is visiting his grave.”

“Your sense of humour is vile, Temari,” he chuckled, whipping out the lighter that dug into his hip like a thorn.

Temari couldn’t help noticing he began to open and close it rapidly, an irritating clicking sound resonating through the room. In the silence, it was impossible to ignore, and Temari was moments away from snatching it from his grasp and stuffing it in her own pocket. But then, as she registered the way his jaw clenched, she remembered what Choji had told her when she met him; how he flicked it all the time, and that he did so for fun. But she could see now quite clearly that Choji wasn’t quite right. Maybe it was her time around so many nervous people given her job, or maybe it was just intuition after knowing him a short time, but it seemed to her like the lighter came out when he was nervous; like some sort of comfort blanket.

Admittedly it felt good to know he hadn’t done this around her before, and to know he felt less nervous with her than people he’d known years. It was possible that what he said about her bringing him calm was true, after all.

There was a little shuffling noise and the sound of mugs settling down on wood.

“That’s how I recognised you on the bus,” Kurenai said, sadly, plodding towards the pair with a mug in each hand. “The lighter, that is.”

“What is it?” Mirai asked timidly, following her mother’s eyes to the metal object. “I thought you said don’t play with fire, Mummy.”

“Shikamaru was friends with Daddy,” she said softly. “The thing he’s holding, the cigarette lighter; that was Daddy’s.”

A sincerely amazed look spread across Mirai’s expression, and she slammed shut her book to hop off of the sofa, dragging her little feet across the carpet to her mother. As the little girl reached up and grabbed the woman’s hand, Temari felt a sinister pang of jealousy in her chest. And, when the pair smiled, she could feel her throat tightening shut.

She wanted to cry looking at them, and while she had no place to tear them apart the desire to do so was overwhelming to her. It was rare, but upon seeing things like this, mothers and daughters together, that she yearned for the warmth of her mother’s hand in her’s. If some scrap of motherly love could drift her way she’d be pleased, but never would it happen; just as it hadn’t for the past decade or so.

But she missed her, so much, and hearing Kurenai’s words were nearly too much for her. The softness of her tone, just managing to shave off that patronising hint to reveal the pure affection and care that lay beneath. It was far too reminiscent of the sort of things she used to say to Gaara when they were children, and her mind flew to every night under the stars in their Godfather’s garden, every midnight meeting in the room her brothers shared to hold them until they calmed down, and all the times when she’d been the only one who understood; the only one who remembered.

As her mind had whirred around, Kurenai had sat down with Mirai, their arms around each other, and her mouth was moving as she spoke to the little girl. Temari could barely hear her over the guilt she wallowed in, jealous of this relationship. However, the gentle nudge of Shikamaru’s knuckle on the back of her hand brought her swiftly back to reality, and with a grateful smile she nudged him back.

Though neither of them noticed, they shuffled a little closer together, and immediately the room felt empty.

Smiling slightly, Kurenai looked up and over a Shikamaru. “I have to admit,” she said, “I’m amazed you still have it. That you kept it all this time.”

He scoffed, and with one final tap he flicked the lighter shut. “As if I was ever going to get rid of it.”

“He’d be very humbled.”

He nodded, knowing full well that her words weren’t an attempt at kindness, but rather just the truth. His palm wrapped around the metal, a calming cool against his hot hand, and the other found Temari’s by instinct. For a moment he worried if she would accept his plea to hold her, keep her there for what was undoubtedly going to be a difficult conversation for him not matter how kind Kurenai was. Why he had visions of the blonde snatching her hand away, he had no idea, because she grasped it quickly and squeezed wholeheartedly.

If at any point he felt uneasy, he had her. With one squeeze she would ground him, and he had never been more grateful for anybody in his life.

[shikastemari]

hiccups - k. i.

pairing: kiba inuzuka x reader 

summary: on a night hanging with friends, you found yourself hiccuping and needed help from your comrades to make it go away.

word count: 1,631

when it happens: months after hinata and naruto’s wedding

warnings: none

masterlist on my profile bio

It had been a long time since the last time you and your friends had been reunited on Naruto and Hinata’s wedding. Six months later, you all had been working hard nonstop on missions to keep peace on the Village and its surroundings. But, for a miracle, you actually managed to get everyone together to eat barbecue on a Wednesday night.

Around the table, was sitting, from left to right, Sakura, Ino and Sai - who had been dating for a while know, rumor has it she wanted to get married but Sai was a little resistant yet. After them, Shikamaru was there next to Temari - the most shocking and yet, fitting couple on your opinion - and Choji by her side.

On your side of the table was the newly not-that-newly weds Hinata and Naruto, showing everyone what PDA means by every time he touched her and her cheeks painted themselves in a strong color of red. Shino was the next, followed by Kiba, who decided to sit by your side - making your stomach flutter once his amazing scent filled your nostril - and Akamaru laying on his feet. Lee and Tenten finished the table, talking excitedly about some things Gai has taught them.

During all the time you sat there, you noticed Kiba maintained his interactions with you to the minimum - which was incredible strange for him. He was a flirting machine, and even you couldn’t dodge his lame and cheeky pickup line every time you met. You always flirted back but you never got your hopes too high. There was no way you could have a chance with him with all the amazing girls he would hit on.

However that night, he was acting up weird, breaking your heart a little bit every time he ignored you.

At one point, you got hiccups. They came out of nowhere, the first one made every head on the table look at your direction, Kiba included. You began to do everything your friends start telling you to do.

“Hold your breath,” Shikamaru instructed. You did, but it didn’t work.

“Take a glass of water,” Hinata suggested, but it didn’t help either.

You ended up doing every single thing they suggested, just to be frustrated as nothing worked on it.

You were the edge on giving up, when you heard what Sakura said. “Someone just make something to scare or shock her,” she pointed out on your direction.

“You can’t shock someone if you are warning th-“ your words were cut off by Kiba’s lips pressing yours. Your eyes widened big and you felt your heart going from almost stop beating to racing the faster it has ever done in your life. The kiss only lasted for a few seconds but it took like an eternity for you.

He leaned back slowly, his eyes still closed. You could hear everyone in the table holding their breath. The sudden realization of what happened hit you, and you didn’t know what to do besides to blush.

“Done,” Kiba said, returning straight to his position, acting like it wasn’t a big deal what just happened. It made worst to know it didn’t mean anything to him.

“Kiba! I bet that was not what Sakura-chan had in mind when she suggested that, dattebayo!” Naruto yelled from the corner of the table, his eyebrows arched in shock as literally everyone in the room.

“Well, it worked, didn’t it?” he shrugged, shoving a piece of meat on his mouth.

You were too paralyzed that even hadn’t noticed it did work. The hiccups were gone, but you still didn’t know how to open your mouth to say some kind of thanks - or say literally something at all. His attitude was making everything worst, but you wouldn’t let it stay in that way. No matter how much it would take for you to pretend and lie about it, you would mimic his actions.

“Whatever,” you heard a voice said, and you got a little shocked when you realized it was your own. “It wasn’t even that good anyway.”

Kiba gasped a little as the rest of the table chuckled. If he was going to be a jerk to you, you would be a bitch to him three times worst.

Out of nowhere, Akamaru came up to you and rested his head on your lap. Somehow, it did help you to calm down a bit, the stress Kiba gave you running away as you pat Akamaru, your fingers intertwined on his hair.

The rest of the night continued normally. Naruto was telling everyone how Sasuke was losing the best part that comes with a marriage while Sakura was almost killing the boy with her bare glare. Shikamaru always told everyone how troublesome was to work with the Hokage, and Temari made everyone laugh when she said how troublesome it was to date him. The most surprising news in the night was Choji’s girlfriend, he didn’t mention any names but he did tell you she wasn’t from Konoha, which made you all more curious about.

At the end, you quick yourself to say goodbye to all your friends, since you had to take the same path as Kiba to go home. You didn’t feel like walking with him, so rushing, you started to walk away from them.

As soon as Akamaru reached you, you knew you plan didn’t work at all. Kiba appeared next to you two seconds later, slightly panting. He didn’t say a single word, neither did you.

When you were on your house street, you nodded as your silent way of saying goodbye. You started to leave him when you felt his grip on your wrist.

“Not yet, please,” is the first thing he said, his eyes filled with sadness.

You were mad as hell, but couldn’t ignore how hurt his tone was, even though you didn’t actually understand why. Was all of this just because you said it wasn’t a good kisser?

“What do you want, Kiba?” you sighed. “I can’t deal with your mood swings right now.”

He was studying everything with his eyes, avoiding eye contact with you. Silence filled the space between the two of you, making it even more awkward. Akamaru got fed up and pushed his owner to your direction, like he was asking for him to take action.

“I am sorry about the kiss,” his eyes met yours for a second, before drifting away, his red painting on the cheeks suddenly being camouflaged due his blushing. “I shouldn’t have kissed you that way. Please, don’t be mad.”

“Mad? I am furious, Kiba!” you tried to keep your tone low, but emotions got the best of you. “But not because you kissed me! Because you ignored me the whole fricking night and then kissed me,” you shut your eyes, rewinding his apologize on your head. “Wait a minute, what did you mean by kiss you like that?” you questioned, confused by his word choice.

He sighed deeply, which it seemed like a eternity. “I overheard you telling Hinata you thought I was a flirting machine, this being the reason why you flirted back...” his voice cracked at the end. “And that you would never have anything with me because of it.”

“I am sorry, did I lie?” you were honestly so confused.

“No, but...” he trailed off, breathing slowly to regain confidence. “The thought of me not having any chance with you made me insanely mad. I wanted to prove to you I could play the same game as you, even though I have never in my life flirted with you for fun,” he bit his lower lip before speaking again. “I always thought we could had something but I never knew how to ask you out.”

You just froze there, feeling like you were stuck all over again on the Tsukuyomi genjutsu. Back then you had seen Kiba admitting his feelings for you, but watching him do it now and on reality, it felt more unbelievable than before.

"I was not playing any kind of game, Kiba," you said. "I just really believed you would never want to date me when you have, well, literally every single girl on this Village."

"What? That's ridiculous," Kiba simply told.

"You are telling me about ridiculous? How about our first kiss being in front of literally everyone we know and because you wanted to help me to get rid of a hiccup?" you frowned, still embarrassed about what happened.

"I took advantage of the situation to kiss you, it is not my fault if you didn't like it," he shrugged.

"I liked the kiss, you idiot," you pointed to his face. "I didn't like it being surrounded by all of our friends."

For the first time on the night, he smiled widely. He pulled you closer to him, his arms wrapping around you like he was used to do when his flirting skills were on maximum. "So, it was good?"

You looked over his shoulder, avoiding eye contact. "Maybe."

"Maybe, huh?" he repeated, a playful smirk crossing his lips. "So, why don't we repeat it, just so you could be sure?"

It was impossible not to smile at him. Your lips leaned in to kiss his red stripe on his cheek, you kept your lips there a little more time than necessary. Once you leaned back, he quickly erased the space between you two, his mouth finding its way to yours. After a few minutes, he stopped, so he could tug you into his arms and plant his face on the crook of your neck. "From now on, you are the only one I will flirt with, deal?"

"Deal," you whispered back, feeling the happiest you have been in your life.

[misssunflowersandsangria]

Homecoming

Happy Temari week!  Thank you to everyone at @heartofthesand  for hosting! I’m excited to help celebrate our queen.  Enjoy this small introspection! 

Prompt: Reunion

Summary:  There’s nothing in the world like being home. 

*

**

Homecoming 

The area was a natural phenomenon out in the barren desert.  A small oasis of green trees and plants with a pond in the middle of miles of sand.  It was the perfect place for the previous Kazekage and his wife to have their final rest.  

“Hello mother, father.  I’m sorry that I haven’t had a chance to visit in so long.”  Temari placed a few gifts at the headstones.  Various flowers and treats before settling down.  Her fingers traced over the names etched in stone.  Willing herself to imagine their spirits there with her.

“I’m getting married tomorrow.”  She took a deep breath.  Calming herself, centering her thoughts. 

“I just wanted to have a moment to talk to you.  I pray that you are both at peace. Please know that you raised three wonderful children.  I wish that you could be here to see it. Gaara is so strong now.  Not just physically but mentally and spiritually.   He has grown in all this time.  He found peace along the path you set him on.  Suna is prospering under his watchful eye.”  She took a moment to remember the frightening monster that her brother once was.  Now he was so much more.  A dependable leader, brother, and friend.  

“Kankuro, well Kankuro is the same.”  She grinned thinking about the puppet master.  “He may joke, and he annoys me on a good day but I think that in some ways, he is stronger than all of us.  Please don’t ever let him know I said that.”  Kankuro had always been the annoying younger brother.  In many ways though, he was her best friend. 

“As for myself.  I’ve held onto a lot of anger for so long now.  Mother, I hated that you left us.  You left me.  You weren’t there to protect us.  I had to learn about love, the world, and my place in it without you.  I wish you could be here to help me.  To teach me how to be a good wife.  I’m terrified about having my own child.”  She brushed away those sorrowful tears.    

“I wanted to hate you forever father. I carried so much anger and resentment for what you put me and my brothers through.  I hated what you did to Garra.  How you taught us to treat him.  I allowed how I felt about you to fuel me. Now I think that I have a better understanding.  I’m not angry anymore.  I want you to both know that I forgave you a long time ago.  Perhaps you don’t need my forgiveness but I needed it for myself.”

“Father, you raised me to be fearless and selfless.  To give everything that I am to Suna.  I have done all that I could but it is time to move on.  I will still continue to love and support my home but I have a different mission now.  I would do anything for the Sand and my brothers but I can’t give up my heart.  I’m sorry to leave Suna but it’s in good hands.”  She choked back a sob as the realization began to sink in that she was leaving. 

“Shikamaru makes me so happy.  I didn’t know that I could feel this way. That I was even allowed to.  I’ve never known a love like this and I don’t think that I ever will again in this lifetime.  I can be myself with him. I can be messy, cruel, soft, and vulnerable and it doesn’t scare him away.  Even if it probably should.  He makes me feel safe and I haven’t felt that way in so long.  Shikamaru is my home now and I have to be with him.  Marriage, being a wife, and having a husband.  These were never things that I wanted.  But I want these things with him.  In all honesty, I think that he needs me more than Suna does.”  

A soft smile crossed her face as she thought about the pineapple haired ninja.  “It’s silly huh, the famed Princess of Suna marrying a foreigner with no title or station.  The Council gave us a hell of a time.  I pray that you are not rolling in your graves.  But please believe that he is the only person for me.  There is no one in Suna or across the great nations that I could imagine loving more.  I know that he will love and care for me in the way that I deserve.  I pray that we can be just as happy as I believe that you two were.”

She stood up with one last longing glance, feeling the wind kick up around her. “Thank you both.  Watch over all of us.  I will be back before I leave to reintroduce Shikamaru to you as my husband.  When our child is born he will know his grandparents.  I love you both.”

She made the trek out of the hidden area, the desert sun drying her tears.  Her steps were light as her heart was now unburdened. 

Shikamaru turned hearing her return and opened his arms out wide to her.  She settled into his chest a kind of peace and love radiating from her.  Knowing that this is where she belonged.  He was her home.

He pressed soft kisses into her hair.  “How was the reunion?”

“Good.”  Shikamaru was thankful that she could have some peace.  

“Ready to be married to me?”  He asked with a grin.  

She glanced up at him with an excited gleam in her eyes.  Eager for this next chapter in life.  

“Absolutely.”   

*

**

Thanks for reading loves!  I needed to do something to celebrate her! I probably only have one more entry for this week if I can get it together.  But I am excited to see everyone’s contributions! 

[tinywriter2018]

Pink Champagne 

Inspired by Pink Champagne from Ariana Grande

Word Count: 2629

Sakura held her hand out once more for a cab.  She kept it raised this time, while Ino rolled her eyes.  

“Why can’t we call an uber?  It would be much faster!”

“But more expensive.”  Sakura bargained back.  

“You’re a doctor, you could afford an Uber.”  

“I newly certified doctor in Konohagakure, I can barely afford an apartment.  Not to mention my student loans-”

“Enough!  You always use that excuse.  Right Hinata?”  Hinata nodded her head quickly.

“Lay off of her Ino, it’s not like your anyone to talk.”  Tenten quickly shoved Ino in a playful way.  Ino giggled as she blushed.  

“Hey, it’s not my fault, I’m newly engaged.”  Sakura shook her head, finally a cab began to slow down.  

“I think tonight It’s Sakura’s time to let loose.”  Hinata said, holding on to her friends arm.  Sakura smiled, nodding along to her friends, all of them laughing.  

Tenten sat up front of the cab, giving the driver directions, while Sakura sat in the middle of her two friends.  

“But what I was trying to say, is tonight is going to be fun!”  Ino said, leaning up to make a point to Tenten.  

“Yeah Yeah.”  She waved her off, quickly texting away on her phone.  

“Naruto may even come, he’s going to bring the guys with him.”  Hinata said, clapping her hands together.  

“The newly weds out and about again.”  Sakura teased.  Hinata began to twirl her wedding ring.

“He said all the guys will be there, at least the ones who can get away from work.”  

“Sai is coming.” Ino added.  “Shikamaru as well.”  

“How did you get his lazy ass to come.”  

“He found out what club we were going to.  Had no choice but to come.”  Tenten added. “Lee is still away at boot camp and can’t come.”  

“What about Neji huh?”  Sakura asked teasing her friend. Tenten shook her head.

“He’s still overseas on a business trip with my father.”  Hinata added for her.

“So let’s see, that’s Naruto for Hinata, Tenten out of luck, Temari with Shikamaru and me with Sai.  Looks like someone is going to have fun man hunting tonight!”  Ino exclaimed.  

“Naruto is also bringing a friend from his Elementary school.”  Hinata remembered.  

“Wow, really?”  

“Yeah he had moved to a different city for a while, but he’s back to do his fellowship here at Konohagakure Hospital.”  Hinata smiled at Sakura.  

“I haven’t heard of us getting a new fellow, so he must not be in Neonatal.”  

“Anyway, no talking about work anymore.  Sakura!  You are the one who is deemed this time to get the most drunk.”  Sakura rolled her eyes.  

“Oh yeah, who is going to take care of me?”  Ino raised her hand.  All the girls laughed, while Sakura agreed.  The cab pulling to a stop in front of the Sand Club.

All the girls made their way to the back straight to the VIP booth.  Temari was already there, when they got there.  She stood up hugging, Sakura.  

“It’s been to long!”  She exclaimed. Sakura can’t remember the last time she saw the starlet.  

“Are you okay coming here?  I know you don’t like paparazzi.”  

“Don’t worry, it’s my brother Kankuro’s club.  They are scared to come here.”  Sakura caught a couple of the guests taking photos anyway.  Temari shrugged her shoulders, turning to hug Tenten next.  All the girls sat down, while a waiter brought out a bottle of pink champagne.  Sakura giggled while everyone was given a glass.  Tenten opened the bottle with a loud pop came out as everyone cheered.  Once everyone’s glass was full they all stood up while Ino held heres in the middle.

“For the girl we never see!”  Everyone laughed and giggled while they all clinked their glasses together, downing the first flute of champagne in one.  A couple of people gave them odd looks, while they continued to have another glass.  Not caring about anything or anyone.  Sakura was happy to just be with her girls.  

It had taken Sakura four or so full flutes to build up enough confidence in order to go dancing with the others.  Temari even had joined.  All the girls dancing together in a circle.  Sakura laughed while Tenten couldn’t even keep a rhythm.  She could fight off anyone in the world, but keeping with the beat was something she couldn't do very well.  

Suddenly Hinata was pulled from the group, and everyone stopped what they were doing, to help her.  Drunk men was something they could handle as a group, or at least something they had handled as a group before.  But before they could pounce on the man, Naruto’s blonde locks came into view, a wide grin came with it.  

“Naruto!” Hinata blushed at her Husband.  The youngest aid to the Hokage smiled widely at everyone.  

“Seems they still can’t get you out of a suit.”  Temari remarked, looking at Naruto.  He shook his head.  

“I just came from the office.  Shikamaru had to pick me up.”  Shikamaru stood behind him, along with Sai and a new face no one knew.  Sakura made eye contact, but then quickly looked away.  The drinks were slowly starting to get to her.  

“Let’s head back to the table, you can at least get semi-normal.  Maybe take the tie off.”  Temari, looked at Shikamaru with a smirk, before they all made their way to the table.  

“I like the Tie.”  Hinata mumbled to Naruto.  Who only smiled wider at his wife.  Once sakura got back to the table, she found Ino pouring her another glass.

“Water?”  She asked, but Ino shook her head.  

“You promised!”  Sai wrapped an arm around Ino, pulling her back once Sakura took the glass.  Sakura sat down, with the new Guest sitting next to her.  Naruto pulled Hinata down on his lap, smiling up at her.  

“Everyone, this is Sasuke Uchiha.”  He introduced.  “I mean Dr. Sasuke Uchiha.”  Naruto corrected.  Shikamaru handed him a beer, filling up another glass for himself.  “He just moved back to start work at the hospital.”  

“What a small world, Sakura works there.”  Sasuke’s eyes glanced to her, the pink hair didn’t really scream Doctor to him.  Sakura downed the rest of her glass, before it being filled again almost immediately by someone at the table.  

“What study.”  

“Neonatal.  I just started my fellowship a week or so ago.  You?”  

“Trauma, they say Tsunade is the best in the field.”  Sakura nodded.  

“She was really unhappy when I chose mine, she wanted me in Trauma.  I did my residency here.”  

“Stop!”  Ino said, sliding out of Sai’s arms pulling on Sakura.  “No shop talk!  You promised, drink now, talk about work when you're sober.”  Sakura rolled her eyes.  Ino turned to Sasuke.  

“Look handsome-”  Sakura could feel the jealousy coming off of Sai the moment Ino said the word. “-Sakura never gets to come out anymore.  She finally has a two days off and at least not even being on call.”  Sakura rolled her eyes.  

“Ino-”

“Don’t Ino me, I know it’s hard with babies, but you promised.  You get drunk, no talking about work.”  Sakura nodded her head, holding up the flute, and downing it in front of her friend.  

“Better?”  She giggled as her friend was pulled back.  Tenten reached over, adding more to her flute again.  

“Drink up, or you will never hear the end of it.”  Before anyone could continue, a song came on, that made Tenten excited.  Pulling Hinata with her, Ino soon followed.  Naruto shrugged his shoulders to Sasuke, as they all ran to the dance floor.  Sai shot Sasuke a dirty look before following Ino out.  Temari shot Shikamaru a look, before telling Sakura she would be back in a few minutes.  Shikamaru followed soon after.  Sakura knew it was only a few short moments that Shikamaru and Temari could find away from prying eyes.  Both being in the spotlight, wasn’t easy to hid it.  

“You’re not going to dance?”  Sakura sipped more, at a slower pace.  

“I’m not that big into dancing.  Yourself?”  

“Not unless forced.  I was raised to do a different type.”  He eyed, as Ino and sai were grinding to the beat.  

“High class dancing is something I would prefer over this type.  At least that comes with instructions.”  Sasuke took another sip of his beer.  He was still on his first one, while Sakura couldn’t remember which one this was.  Her mind was beginning to fog a little.  

“It’s rare to still have friends since Elementary school, I’m surprised I’ve never met you before.”  Sasuke looked down at his glass, remembering a moment when he saw her with Naruto.  When was picking up the dope, once in High School and once in College.  Each time, he never seemed to actually talk to her, just noticed her from afar.  The pink hair was hard to miss.    

“Naruto is that kind of rare friend.”  He looked at her noticing her smile.  It was soft yet he knew she was remembering Naruto.  

“He is, isn’t he.  Without him, I never would have been friends with Hinata or gotten over my rivalry with Ino.  I would have just been left in the waters so to speak.”  

“He never left me in alone in elementary school.  I would just be alone, reading but he would just come and bug me till we slowly became friends.  Took a while, for a moment there, we actually hated each other.”

“I know what you mean, he kept asking me for help with his studies all the time.  Even throughout college.  I have no idea how he got into the Hokage office, probably just let him to get him to stop talking.”  Sakura giggled.  

“You’ve known him a long time, have you two ever dated?”  Sasuke tilt his head, looking at her.  Sakura burst out laughing, shaking her head.  

“No.  Never crossed that road, though at first he did say he followed me around because he liked me, but than Hinata entered the picture.  Ever since then he's only had eyes for her.  Once he realized he liked her.”  She pointed to the two, their eyes connected.  

“Dope in love.”  Sasuke mumbled, while Sakura poured herself another drink.  The alcohol made her lips loose, she normally never spoke about these things.  

“You?”  She asked, taking another sip.  

“Dated Naruto?”  He raised an eyebrow to her.  She shook her head, a small smile on her lips.  

“Dated anyone?”  

“In high school.  There was this girl, Karin, who followed me around, and I thought I would try dating.  But once I realized I wanted to be surgeon, I knew it wouldn’t be beneficial to her.  Once you become a doctor, there's no time for anyone else.”  

“I bet she still in love?”

“Married, with two kids and one on the way.”  Sasuke shook his head.  “Still sends me email updates.”  

“At least your dating life wasn’t so bad.”  

“She’s can still annoying every once in a while.”  Sasuke took a sip of his beer, realizing he had finished.  He knew out of everyone he was probably the only one that was still realtive the most sober.  “What about you?”  He asked.  Sakura put her head in her hand, her elbow resting against the back of the booth.  Her hair falling loose from her ponytail she wore.  He could tell the alcohol was getting to her.  

“Only one serious guys in college.  Idate Morino, he was the star soccer player, currently playing professional somewhere.  It didn’t last as long as I thought it would.  Naruto nearly broke his jaw once he found it he cheated on me.”  Sakura finished off the glass.  Even though it was long time, the wound still hurt.  More so the feeling of letting someone hurt her like that than him himself.  

“Naruto was always one to punch first, ask later.”  Sakura meant to say something next, but Temari suddenly appeared behind her.  

“Come on, let’s go dance some more.”  She grabbed her friend, dragging her to the dance floor.

“I thought that’s what you were doing?”  Sakura jabbed, laughing at her friend. 

“Poppin’ Like Pink Champagne!”  All the girls yelled as they exited the club.  

“Pink Champagne!”  Ino said spinning Sakura around.  The boys followed them, ignoring the looks from strangers.  Sakura could barely walk on her own, followed right by Ino.  All the girls were laughing.  

“Tenten.”  A voice called from the sidewalk.  Tenten looked up to see Neji standing there.  He looked like he just walked off a runway, which probably meant he just came from the airport.  He was leaning against his car, the driver waiting for them.  

“Neji!”  she yelled, hugging him close.  Tenten had one to many as most of the girls had.  The only one not falling down was Temari.  

“Cousin!”  Hinata said, waving at him.  Naruto was pulling a cab over, trying to get her home as well.  Ino was busy calling an Uber for Sakura and herself, when Sai shook his head.

“You’re coming home with me.”  

“But Sakura-” Sai silenced her with a kiss. Emotions he was never good and his jealousy was still going strong.  

“Sasuke drove here, he could take her home.”  Naruto pointed out.  “He hasn’t been drinking like the rest of us.”

“You would dump me on someone I just met.”  Sakura glared at her friend.  Naruto walked over placing a hand on her shoulder.  

“I would trust him with my own life.  In fact I have in the past.”  Sakura rolled her eyes, shaking him off.  

“Fine.”  she turned to him, slowly falling backwards till Sasuke steadied her.  “I’m in your hands.”  Sasuke swallowed, looking at everyone.  Drunk people was something he was use to, but didn’t like as much.  

“Sorry, I would help but I’m meeting someone later.”  Temari shrugged getting into a private car.  Shikamaru hailed a cab after watching Temari take off.  Soon it was just Sakura and sasuke standing on the sidewalk in front of the closed club.  He fumbled for his keys in his coat pocket.

“I’m sorry.”   Sakura whispered next to him.  She was still hanging off of his arm.  Trying to remain standing.  Sasuke quickly found them helping her walk into the parking garage.  He could already tell she was falling asleep.  

“Don’t worry, I’m going to get you home.”  He helped get her in the passenger seat.   Reaching across her, he buckled her seat belt, she giggled her hand coming to rest again his cheek.  

“It tickles.”  She mumbled. Sasuke felt her fingers run through the side of his hair.  Pulling back, he took in a deep breath.  

This is why I hate you Naruto.  Sasuke thought walking around to the driver's seat.  Getting in, he pulled up the GPS on his phone.

“So where do you live?”  He asked, turning to her.  “Sakura?”  He asked, but she was out like a light.  He thought about texting Naruto, but knowing the idiot he was busy.  He didn’t have anyone else’s numbers and her phone was currently in her purse.  

“Shit.”  He mumbled.  

Opening his bedroom door, he slowly laid her down on the bed.  She had a grip on his hair, mumbling against the pillow.  The tugging was not helping him leave her there alone.  

She’s drunk.  He thought before removing her hands from his hair.  He then moved to take off her heels, afterwards covering her with a blanket.  Reaching over he grabbed a pillow and made his way to the couch.  Lying back down he shook his head, wondering how he let his friend talk him into things.  He also smiled, remembering her laugh when his hair tickled her.  Sasuke smiled, before drifting off to sleep, wondering what his life in Konoha was going to bring.  

[artlessictoan]

Lovely work for Kiba/Chouji! I'm a chouji hoe so if you could do something were it's basically a ouran highschool host club cliche and everyone is trying to win his heart and the poor boy is oblivious to it all (take your pick of a few chars to add would love to see sasuke tho!)

okok I haven’t watched ouran in yonks so I don’t remembermuch about it, but I am all kinds of intocho being Everybody’s Not So Secret Crush

---

“Hey, Chouji!”

The call stopped him in his tracks, halfway through lockinghis front door. Hand still hanging in the air, he twisted round to see the ballof yellow and orange bounding towards him. “Hey Naruto,” he said with a smile,as he finished turning the key and stepped back to properly greet his friend,“you sound happy today.”

“Super happy! Sakura handed my ass to me in trainingyesterday, gave me a concussion and everything!”

He blinked, frowned and then blinked again. “And that’s… agood thing?”

The blond chuckled, awkwardly rubbing his neck. “Well notthe getting injured bit, that hurt,but after she healed me she got really panicky – even though I’m fine! – andforbade me from training and missions for at least three days, doctors’ ordersso Kakashi-sensei can’t complain.” Suddenly an arm was draped across hisshoulders, pulling him into Naruto’s side. “Sooo, I figured that since I’ve gotthe day off anyway I should spend it having some fun, so whaddya say, wannahang out? All day, just you and me?”

His warm, friendly grin was as inviting as always and helooked so genuinely excited at the prospect, even waggling his eyebrows at him,which made what Chouji had to say next all the more difficult.

“Sorry Naruto, I’ve got stuff to take care of today-” blueeyes started to look far too watery for his liking, so he rushed to comfort him“-but we should totally do something soon! Maybe get lunch tomorrow?”

The grin was instantly back on his face. “Really?”

Chouji smiled and clapped a hand on his shoulder as hedisentangled himself and started walking backwards down the street.“Definitely,” he called out as the distance between them grew wider, “we shouldinvite Ino and Shikamaru too! And your team, let’s get everyone together!”

Whatever Naruto’s reply was, it got lost to the breeze asChouji jogged into town to make up lost time. He was already looking forwardsto tomorrow, it was always nice to hang out with friends.

---

When he got there, the market crowds were at the perfectdensity; not so tightly packed that you couldn’t move without touching sevenother people, but not so empty as to feel vaguely creepy. He always lovedcoming here on days like these, just to take the time to casually browse thestores, maybe pick out things to tell his friends and family about the nexttime he saw them, but today he had a packed schedule, so he headed to the foodstalls with determined steps.

The shopkeeper called a greeting the second he steppedinside, as he always did for his regular customers, before ducking into thestore-room with the promise of returning with some produce he’d kept backespecially for him.

As he waited for the elderly man to return, Chouji glancedaround the shop, planning to pick up a few vegetables, when he noticed afamiliar head of dark hair.

“Hinata!” he said cheerfully, as he stepped up beside her,apparently catching her off guard with how high he jumped. “Sorry, didn’t meanto scare you, how are you doing?”

She quickly caught her breath, though it took her a fewmoments to stop staring at him with wide eyes. “O-oh, I’m fine, thank you,” shesaid, stumbling over her words until she dropped her head to focus on herfingers twisting along the handles of her shopping basket, “how are you?”

“I’m great thanks, you out doing a little shopping?” heasked, more to give her a gentle opening to a real conversation than out of anyactual doubt.

Her long, straight hair bobbed up and down with her slightnod, before she nervously glanced up at him from under her fringe. “A-a-a-” herlips pulled into a thin line at the word stubbornly sticking in her throat, buthe just smiled encouragingly and waited for her to collect herself; she hatedwhen people tried to guess what she wanted to say. “…You also?”

He grinned at her, turning to look through the displays,picking up onions and giving them a critical inspection “Yup, Ino and Shikamaruare coming over for dinner and I feel like making something I’ve never triedbefore, Karui sent me some Kumo recipes I’ve been itching to try out!”

She smiled softly at him, though didn’t make eye contact.“That sounds lovely.”

“If there’s any leftovers I’ll remember to bring you sometomorrow so you can try it out too,” he said, finally deciding which was themost delicious-looking vegetable. He handed it to his friend and took thesecond-best one for himself.

Neck snapping, she turned to him with wide eyes and wavinghands. “O-o-oh, n-no, that’s n-ot, n-n-n-”

“It’s no problem, I’m happy to share!” The creak of a dooropening drew his attention back to the grocer trundling back in with a cratepacked full of bright greens and reds and yellows, he gave the man a thumbs-upbefore turning back to Hinata, ready to quickly say their goodbyes when henoticed something off. Leaning down to get a better look at her face, hefrowned. “You’re looking a little red, are you feeling ok?”

“I-I-I-”

He pressed a hand to her burning forehead. “It’s pretty hottoday, maybe you should sit down for a while-”

“I will be fine thank you!” Having practically screamed inhis face, she stiffly turned around, flew to the checkout counter, dropped ahandful of coins and ran out of the store before Chouji could even think tostop her.

Walking over to the shopkeeper, he gave him a sheepish grin.“Sorry, I think the weather must be getting to her.”

The man shook his head, idly poking at the coins on thecounter. “Well, next time you see her tell her she’s got over five-hundred ryōin change waiting for her.”

---

Finished with the markets and all his shopping carefullypacked away in a sealing scroll, his next destination was the academy.

He’d only recently taken up teaching and he was still alittle overwhelmed by it at times, but he had to admit that he loved hisoccasional guest lessons, they were a good way to get in some practice dealingwith children before he got a genin team of his own one day; the most importantlesson he’d learned thus far being neverlet sticky-fingered kids chewing bubble gum play with his hair, no matter howbig and watery they could make their eyes go.

His head felt so naked with it cut short.

“Ah, Akimichi-sensei,” the receptionist said as he steppedthrough the academy doors, “your lesson starts in fifteen minutes, your TA isalready in classroom five-B waiting for you.”

He frowned, he was getting a teaching assistant? Since when?Walking the familiar halls, feet knowing the exact path to take even withouthis mind’s input. By the time he gingerly peaked through the door, he’d cookedup at least seven awful scenarios in his head, but they all flew out the windowonce he saw who it was in there.

“Neji?”

The other man started and turned to face him, giving one ofhis slight smiles when he saw him. “Hello Chouji, I was beginning to wonder ifyou were coming.”

“I try not to get here too early,” he said, walking fullyinto the room and marching over to the huge blackboard covering one wall, “lesstime to get anxious, y’know? What are you doing here anyway, when thereceptionist said there would be a TA, I kinda figured it would be someone toevaluate me or something…” He trailed off at a sudden horrible thought. “That’snot why you’re here, is it?”

Neji shook his head, observing closely as he started writingthe lesson-plan up on the board. “Nothing like that, it was just… suggested tome that I should take up teaching. To improve my people skills.”

He frowned, pausing his scribbling long enough to look overhis shoulder. “Suggested?”

“Tenten’s idea-” the man grimaced “-the busybody found outthat you were giving classes and thought it would be a good opportunity for me.”

Finishing off his sentence, Chouji nodded and grinned wideas he replied, “That’s awesome! It’s definitely a learning experience, but Ibet you’ll be great at it once you’ve spent some time with the kids, though I reallydon’t see how you’re bad at talking to people, you’re always so nice when wemeet up.”

“…I need to… find… someone, please excuse me.” Neji was outof the door before he’d even finished his sentence.

---

His class went well, even though his new assistant had spentmost of it standing in the furthest corner of the room staring at the walls.

Chouji never would’ve guessed the guy got stage-fright sobad.

The next port of call was the Hokage tower, where he wasexpected to assist with some new international treaties being worked out.Politics wasn’t exactly his area of expertise, but he’d made many friendsduring the war, from all over the five nations; at some point he’d become avaluable advisor to the Hokage, as he could offer insight into the way the commonfolk of other nations thought and how they might be affected by big policy changes.

He hadn’t been expecting to bump into the Kazekage and hissiblings on their way out.

Temari was the first to see him, waving and jogging over. “Heythere stranger, it’s been too long!” she said, grinning and giving him a tighthug.

“It has,” he agreed, returning the embrace before pullingback to smile at the two men wandering over, “what’re you guys doing here? Ihadn’t heard of any big diplomatic summits coming up.”

The younger brother nodded, giving him that same intensestare he always gave his closest friends – it was a little weird, but once he’dbeen assured that it was just him trying to be friendly in his own awkward wayhe’d found the attention mush easier to bear. “There aren’t, this is aninformal visit, to catch up with friends. Like you.”

He smiled, hiding a tiny blush beneath his hand. “Aww, that’snice of you to say, you must have a lot of people you want to see.”

Gaara’s stare didn’t waver in the slightest. “I suppose.”

A heavy hand clapped down onto his shoulder, Temari shookhim lightly. “Who’s got time for those other losers? You’re the best bit ofKonoha, everyone knows that!”

Several steps behind his siblings, Kankuro slapped a hand tohis face.

He laughed, nudging the tall blonde back. “You’re too kind.”

“No, she is correct, any time spent with you is a true pleasure,”Gaara said, face blank but voice earnest and as happy-sounding as he ever got.

Temari glared at him, her grip on Chouji’s shouldertightening slightly. “Yes, which is why I said it. First.”

In the background, Kankuro groaned.

The Kazekage sniffed, drawing himself up as high as he could– which wasn’t much, but he was trying his best. “Why don’t you go and trackdown Shikamaru, oneesan? I’m sure he’dlove to see you again.”

Nails were digging through his shirt. “Why don’t you go andfind Naruto, otouto?”

Kankuro had an expression of pure despair. “Guys, please,just stop.”

“Because Chouji is here now and I would like to spend timewith him.” Gaara’s glare was deadly enough to make him start to worry, just a little.

“And you think I don’t?”

“I swear to-”

“No,” the redhead said, cutting off his brother and steppingcloser to glare up at his big sister, “I think that you monopolise his timeevery time we come here, oneesan and would like the opportunity to spend timewith my friends too.”

He risked a nervous cough, but no one seemed to notice. Was shestarting to break skin with her tight grip?

Temari scoffed, finally retracting her arm to cross themover her chest, leaning down to stare her little brother dead in the eye. “Areyou gonna stop me?”

Chouji coughed again, holding up a hand and weakly saying, “Excuseme,” but it made little-to-no impact.

“If you two don’t stop I’m disowning the pair of you.”Kankuro’s input went unnoticed too.

“No, because I am a good brother, who wouldn’t jeopardise mysiblings’ relationships for personal gain.”

The cold fury in Temari’s grin sent a chill down his spine. “Youlittle-”

“Oookay!” Chouji shouted, quickly sidestepping the argumentand pointing intently at the tower. “I’ve got a meeting to get to, it was, uh… funseeing you guys again!”

Kankuro’s loud cackle followed him, ever after the doorsslammed shut behind him.

He snickered to himself as he rushed to the meeting he wasprobably now late for; weird as they were, he was fond of the three and their intense,but ultimately affectionate bickering. It must be nice to have siblings.

---

It had been a long day for Chouji and it would be longer stillby the time he’d gotten home and prepared dinner for his teammates.

He decided to take a detour through the nearby park anyway,he’d always liked seeing the flowers.

They looked especially beautiful the evening, turned shadesof gold and red under the setting sun, a lone bee still roaming even with nightrapidly falling. And it was pleasantly quiet, most people home with theirfamilies by now – he felt like he had the entire park to himself.

A sharp crack to his left caught his attention, he turnedcautiously, but wasn’t expecting an actual enemy attack, not in the middle ofthe village.

When he saw who it was lurking in the shadows, he completelyrelaxed and waved a greeting. “Sasuke, how are you?”

The man muttered something under his breath, but he didn’tlook distressed, so Chouji decided that he was probably fine. “You out for a walk to?” he asked, slowly restartinghis walk, as his friend matched his pace. “It’s a lovely evening for it.”

“Yeah.”

Ok then, Sasuke didn’t feel like talking today – not surprising,he rarely did – but that was fine with him, it was just as nice to have someoneto quietly wander through the park with sometimes.

They walked together slowly, Chouji humming a song that hadbeen stuck in his head recently, his friend zigzagging as they followed thewinding paths, sometimes drifting close enough that their swinging arms couldalmost touch, before rapidly veering away until they could easily be mistaken fortwo strangers who just happened to be walking in the same direction. He alwaysended up closing the distance again after a few minutes though.

As the sky was beginning to turn purple above them, Choujisuddenly frowned and slowed to a halt, Sasuke following his lead a few steps later.

He stared back at him with a question in his dark eyes.

“Wait, isn’t your place back over that way?” Chouji said,pointing at when the path had branched in two directions several feet ago.

Sasuke looked a little surprised, though whether it was atChouji’s knowledge of where he lived or himself forgetting was unclear. “…Yeah.”

He smiled and started walking again, giving his friend ashort wave as he passed, saying, “Well, guess this is where we split up then,it was nice seeing you, hope you have a good evening!” before he finally turnedaway to rush to his own home; he’d spent a lot of the day dallying, now he hadto rush home and get ready to see his best friends!

---

“Damn, that was delicious, Karui really knows her food, huh?”

Ino scoffed, flipping her long hair dramatically inShikamaru’s face. “Of course she does, any girlfriend of mine must have impeccable taste.”

He grinned at his two friends childishly swatting at eachother as he gathered up the dishes and depositing them in the sink. He leftthem to soak in some hot water – Ino had drawn washing-up duty tonight andShikamaru would be in charge of drying and putting away – before returning tothe table and flopping back down in his chair, taking a long sip of his tea.

“Long day?” Shikamaru asked, finally disentangling himselffrom Ino’s long, crushing arms.

Chouji nodded. “Yup, though it’s weird, I ran into loads offriends today, but everyone was acting kinda… strange.”

Ino cocked a fine brow, asking, “Strange how?”

“All sorts of ways, Naruto wanted to hang out even though hewas injured, Hinata looked really feverish, Neji was all nervous about observingmy class, Temari and Gaara were bickering and Sasuke was being all spacy,” hesaid, shrugging his shoulders as he thought about it harder, “maybe the hotweather we’ve been having is just getting to people.”

There was a long, heavy silence, prompting him to glance upat his friends. They were sharing an unreadable look, identical crooked smirks ontheir faces as they rolled their eyes in perfect unison.

“Wait, do you two know something? Seriously- why are youlaughing, what’s so funny, is this some prank I’m not in on? Guys-”

---

[twinkletoes-rp]

Naruto AU “Surface Breaker” Ch. 6 - Flower Language

(Can also read on FFN | AO3 | Previous | Next )

--

It’s over an hour later, nearly two, before Kakashi finally stops crying. Naruto only stopped just before he did.

 Kakashi feels…lighter, like he can breathe easier, than he has in years, he’s sure. So many. Maybe since…since he lost them. His heart no longer sends excruciating pain through him every time it beats, reminding him that theirs no longer can. He feels…free. Not entirely, of course—he expects the survivor’s guilt to always be there, at least in some way or form—but…it’s still so much better than he’s felt in…forever. He thinks the last time he felt this unburdened was…back when he was a child with his father alive and well.

 It only dawns on him then that he’s still holding Naruto and vice versa. Both of them are much more relaxed now, but their holds on each other are still strong, tight and gentle at once, reluctant to let go and just wanting to be there. It’s nice, honestly. Really nice. They know they can’t stay like that forever, though, no matter how much they might want to, so they finally pull away after a few more seconds, though Naruto, as usual, doesn’t hide his feelings at all on why he does so so slowly. “Your hugs are really nice, sensei…”

Kakashi blinks, heart stuttering while light pink dusts his cheeks. He’s…never been told that before. Then again, the last time he hugged anyone was Kushina and Minato-sensei, and technically, they initiated it. A shy smile comes. “T-thank you, Naruto. And yours…” He softens in remembrance, voice following. He can’t help it. “Yours remind me of your parents’, protective and strong, yet warm and comforting at the same time. Of course, that’s not to say they’re not your own, too.” His smile grows, and the adoration and respect in his voice are practically palpable. “That’s where your love comes in. You have even more love in you than your father. I’d even go as far as to say you overflow with it.” He chuckles. “Not that I’m surprised. You…” He melts, more than he thinks he has in front of anyone in forever, and it surprises him more than a little. He attributes it to how much better he feels. “You are the most loving person I’ve ever met in my life, Naruto. Temari was right when she said you have the power to change people with your open heart and love alone.” Hell, look at how Naruto’s gotten him to open up. No one else has ever been able to do that. Well, no one still alive, anyway. His voice lowers further still, soft and warm and reverent as hell, expression with it. “It’s amazing… It really is.”

 Touched tears crowd the corners of a stunned Naruto’s eyes. Shikamaru pressing a tissue into his hand snaps him out of it enough to wipe them away, and then he smiles widely, if shyly, at his sensei, rubbing the back of his head. “I-I don’t know about all that, Kakashi-sensei. I think I just…get lucky, that’s all. But thank you so much.” His grin grows, and he blushes pink. “I’m really happy you think that!”

 Shikamaru, watching him with his chin nestled between his knuckles, can’t help but scoff lightly, so fond, he’s actually surprised he held it back this long. “He’s right, ya know,” he chimes in. Naruto looks at him, blinking wide blue eyes while his blush deepens. Shikamaru takes the opportunity to keep going before his friend can deny it again. “You know what it’s like to be without love, without friends or anyone to care for you,” just saying that makes his throat constrict in fury and guilt, “and you don’t want anyone else to ever feel like you did. That’s why you make friends with almost everyone you meet as easily as breathing. It just comes naturally to you to touch people, to change them for the better, even our enemies.” Hell, look at how he’s changed Shikamaru himself over the years. He smiles at Naruto, startlingly fond and admiring as anything. Naruto doesn’t miss it, swallows as his heart pounds in his chest. Shikamaru reaches forward to rap his knuckles there, at his heart, brown eyes never leaving Naruto’s. “You’re one of a kind, Naruto Uzumaki. Don’t forget it.”

Naruto is struck speechless, particularly at those last words, echoes of what he used to say to the villagers as a kid so they wouldn’t forget he existed. Now Shikamaru’s using it on him… He doesn’t miss the significance, doesn’t know how he could. When he finally finds his voice again, thick with emotion, he softens with that same shy smile still playing. “I-I still think you’re giving me way too much credit here,” Shikamaru huffs a laugh and cocks an eyebrow in that way of his that Naruto knows means he can stuff it, “but…” he bumps their fists together, smile growing, “…I’m really happy to hear that, too. Thank you, Shikamaru.” He gives Kakashi a fist bump, too, making him chuckle. “You guys…!” He looks between them, beam and happy flush coming back in full force. “You really are the best!”

 Only because you are to us first, they think as one.

 On that note, Kakashi takes a breath. “If you’re ready to hear it, now that you know about my old team, I have some final parts to my explanation.” Naruto’s confused, trading a glance with Shikamaru, but he nods and pays rapt attention regardless. “After I lost everything, I felt like I was wandering in darkness for years. If it weren’t for Gai, Asuma, Kurenai, and eventually, you kids, who knows what would have happened to me?” He breathes a wry laugh. “I held on to those bonds like a man drowning, but when I saw Sasuke wanted no part of any new bonds here, he reminded me so much of myself back then that I wanted to be there for him, to try to steer him back toward you and Sakura and the rest…” He sighs a bit, shoulders slumping. “But we all know how that turned out...” He does his best not to blame himself like Naruto asked, but he suspects he’ll always feel at least partially responsible.

 Taking another breath and clearing his throat, he keeps going. “On the other side of that, you were so much like Minato-sensei and Obito in so many ways, and the reminders…” he looks away guiltily, “…were too much for me a lot of the time. It’s…it’s why I…wasn’t around while you were growing up, too, never mind that my mental state at the time was…fragile, at best.” These explanations don’t stop him from clenching a fist, angry at himself. “I turned away from you in an effort to escape my own feelings… I was a coward…” he bows his head low, “…and I’m so sorry.”

 There’s a long moment of silence, and then, “You’re not a coward, sensei.” Kakashi’s ears perk at that, at Naruto’s soft, sort of confused, yet matter-of-fact tone, and he looks up. “Anyone would feel uneasy and scared around someone who reminds them of people they’ve lost. That makes total sense!” He rubs the back of his head sheepishly and laughs. “It’s why Sakura and I weren’t the nicest to Sai when he first showed up, remember? ‘Cause he reminded us too much of Sasuke, and we weren’t ready for him to be replaced yet.”

 He shrugs. “To be honest, I don’t really see how you could have been there for me growing up. You were probably terrified of being reminded of my Dad and Obito, and the idea of getting attached to me and possibly losing me like everyone else you ever loved?” He’s doing his best to be sensitive about this, he really is, but he can’t help the point he’s making. He huffs a small, incredulous laugh. “Forget it. There was no way.” He locks firm, empathetic eyes on his beloved teacher. “If you ask me, there was nothing cowardly about any of it, Kakashi-sensei. It’s natural, just being human. No one can fault you for that.” He grins, toothy and bright. “Besides, you’re here now, right? So you’re already making up for it!” He chuckles. “Not that there’s actually anything to make up, in my book.”

 Kakashi can’t help but stare at Naruto for a few moments, the little tension left in his shoulders easing as a helpless, hopeful smile lights his face. He hopes Kushina and Minato-sensei are watching. Their son… He really is something else. Something incredible. “Thank you, Naruto.”

 Naruto just nods. “Of course!” Then, remembering something that’s been bothering him, he perks up a bit. “Oh, and by the way?” He crosses his arms as best he can, his good arm over his chest, at least, cocking his head. “After going through all that, Old Man Third was a jerk for putting a team like ours on your shoulders.” Shikamaru and Kakashi blink wide eyes, the former unable to help sputtering a laugh at his bluntness. Naruto flashes him a tiny smile before going on. “I mean, come on! He knew I was your sensei’s kid and my mom was like your mom, he knew I was a lot like Obito, and he must have known that Sakura had medical ninja potential. Plus, he knew Sasuke was an Uchiha, so he’d also remind you of Obito, and he had to have known how you’d feel about Sasuke’s trauma and the darkness surrounding him. There’s no way he didn’t know all that. And even if he didn’t put together all those things, he knew enough to realize how unfair it would be to you. Hell, he’s lucky it didn’t traumatize you even more.”

 He curls his good fist in his hospital gown till his knuckles crack, grinding his teeth. If Lord Third were still around right now, he’d give him a piece of his damn mind. “He could have given our team to anyone, but he gave it to you. I mean, I’m grateful, and I know Sakura is, too, because like I said, you’re the only sensei I’d ever want, but still…” His eyes burn low with righteous fire. “Honestly, Kakashi-sensei, given the circumstances? I think you did the absolute best you could with what you were given. And I think the rest of us turned out great! Sai, too!” He softens. “You’re really amazing, sensei. I know it was hard for you, and I wish it wasn’t, but…” he bows as low as he can, “…thank you so much. For everything.”

 Kakashi is surprised to have to swallow a lump in his throat and feel tears burn the back of his eyes. He wonders if he’s a little more emotional than usual because of the circumstances or because of the closure he’s received. Maybe it’s a combination of both. Either way, he reaches out to touch Naruto’s shoulder so he looks up and straightens some, then leans forward slowly to rest his forehead on Naruto’s.

 The boy’s eyes widen and he forgets to breathe for a moment, the cool metal of his teacher’s headband making this all the more poignant for him, but then he just smiles and relaxes, following Kakashi in closing his eyes. They stay like that for a moment or two before Kakashi finally whispers, “You’re pretty amazing yourself, Naruto. Thank you, too…so much.”

 --

 Naruto’s dinner comes a short time later, and even though he doesn’t really feel like eating, mostly because he knows after that he’ll have to take Granny Tsunade’s sleeping medicine and he still wants to wait for Sakura, he remembers Shikamaru’s advice from yesterday and does what he can. After a few minutes, he goes quiet and eats a little slower as something else that’s been bothering him, something he’s not sure he should talk about, weighs on his mind. His friends notice the change in him, of course, but they don’t say anything. He’ll talk when he’s ready.

 About ten minutes later, barely halfway through his meal, Naruto can’t take the uneasy anticipation churning his stomach anymore. He doesn’t want to bring this up, hates that he even has to think about it, but he also feels like he’s going to jump out of his skin if he doesn’t. Slowly setting down his chopsticks and wiping his mouth, he gathers his resolve. He’s…not really sure how to approach this, but…he feels like he has to. For them.

 “What happened with Rin…and my mom…” he starts at last, coming to rest a hand over his stomach, the Seal drawn there. The thought of something happening to his village, his friends, because of him…it’s always been one of his biggest fears, the stuff of most of his nightmares, and having even more proof that that fear isn’t unfounded…it terrifies him. “It could—happen to me someday, too. It…i-if I weren’t here in the village, and even then, it…it might have already.” His hand shakes, clenches a bit in his hospital gown. “Itachi and that—other Akatsuki guy already came to the village looking for me once, after all.”

 Neither Kakashi nor Shikamaru knows where this is going, but they’re listening like their lives depend on it. They know this isn’t the sort of thing Naruto would bring up if it weren’t of utmost importance.

 “Shikamaru told me the Nine Tails helped save me after what Sasuke did to me. I—I remember, when it happened, it told me not to give up.” A sardonic laugh leaves him. “Can you believe it? Specifically, it said, ‘Don’t give up, brat!’, but still… It…it still saved me. I know it might have only done it because it had to, because I’m its host, but…I don’t know how to explain it. I…I felt something more there, almost like it…it cared, even just a tiny bit, about what happened to me, I swear…” His gaze drifts to his bandaged hand. “Knowing it killed my parents and remembering how I was treated growing up because of it don’t exactly paint it in the best light, but…” his face scrunches, “…I’m…confused about how to feel about the Nine Tails…”

 Kakashi nods, wishing he was at less of a loss here. “With all that, I think anyone would be.”

 Shikamaru scratches the back of his head. “That’s an understatement.” He eyes his friend pointedly. “So, what are you thinking, Naruto?”

 Naruto purses his lips, then bites the lower one. “I’m…I wanna try talking to the Nine Tails. I’ve done it before, a few times.” A chill goes down his spine at the memories, which makes Shikamaru’s hairs stand on end. He isn’t sure he likes this idea. “I…I want to thank it for helping me, but…mostly, it’s because there are some things about it saving me that don’t make sense. I’m hoping…maybe…we can work something out. It could…take a while, maybe a long time. Months or years. Hell, it might not work at all. But if it does, maybe we could even become…allies or something. Close to it, anyway. I don’t know…”

 The two at his side blink. He wants…to make friends with—with the Nine-Tailed Fox…? They’re not…quite sure what to say to that… After a few more shocked seconds, Shikamaru recovers first. “Okay… I admit, I have questions and concerns, but they can wait.” His eyes narrow. “You haven’t told us why yet.”

 Blue eyes fall at his scrutinizing gaze. “I…well…” He curls his hospital gown tighter in his fist, skin crawling and stomach sloshing again at the idea of telling them. He knew he’d have to, it just…still feels so sudden… He doesn’t feel ready. His voice follows his eyes. “You won’t…like it…”

 The two geniuses trade a look instantly. “Tell us anyway,” they say in unison, doing their best to mentally prepare themselves for, well, what could be just about anything.

 Of course, nothing could have prepared them for what he actually says.

 Naruto takes a deep breath, then looks up at them both, eyes fierce and bright and bold. They don’t think they’ve ever seen him this serious. “I’ve lost control of the Nine Tails a few times already. Not completely, but close enough that I lost my sense of self and things got bad. You and Pervy Sage managed to intervene those times, sensei. I know he’s the one who warned you about it and gave you the sealing tag that helped stop me on our mission to rescue Gaara.” Kakashi nods. Shikamaru doesn’t know what they’re talking about, but he can ask Kakashi to fill him in later.

 Naruto has to visibly steel himself before he says this next part, taking another deep, shaky breath. The room seems to drop several degrees at once while his eyes are set ablaze. “If it happens again and I lose control completely…if there really is no way for you to get me back…” his lips tremble, but he forces his way through, “…I need you to take me out.”

 “Absolutely not.”

 Shikamaru’s response is an immediate snarl, teeth bared, brown eyes alight with white-hot fire. Naruto blinks. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen him so pissed off and defiant. Not since Asuma’s death, anyway. He doesn’t know, maybe this outclasses that, considering Naruto’s still alive and Shikamaru’s fighting to keep him that way.

 “Shikamaru’s right, Naruto,” Kakashi says, much more calmly, glancing at Shikamaru, but there’s some steel backing his words, too. He refuses to lose another loved one to a Tailed Beast. “We’ll find another way. It doesn’t mean you have to die.”

 “You can’t honestly think we’d just let you go that easily! Do you really think so little of us, of yourself, that you’d rather die than let us try?” Shikamaru presses, grinding his teeth at the very thought, mostly in an effort to keep back the bile threatening at the base of his throat. He can’t even think beyond the fact that Naruto is a complete idiot to ask this of them or he really might be sick. He can’t. There’s no way in hell.

 Naruto’s eyes widen, and he reels back as if struck, hurt blooming in his chest as he blinks in confusion. “W-what? N-no! No, I—I just—if you can’t get me back, if there is no other way, you might not have a choice! I’m—I’m trying to prepare you for that!”

 Shikamaru opens his mouth to fire back, hackles effectively raised at the very notion of losing Naruto for good, especially to something that’s not his fault, has never been his choice, of having to do so by his own hands—but Kakashi holds up a hand, black eye stern. Grudgingly, the younger man swallows his words and defers to his superior, though he defiantly takes tight hold of Naruto’s hand, threading their fingers together and squeezing.

 “I understand where you’re coming from, Naruto. More than anyone else ever could, I do,” Kakashi reassures. He doesn’t want him to think he’s alone in this. After all, Rin asked the same thing of him when he was much younger. The last thing he wants is for this to become a repeat of that. “But I need you to tell us exactly what you’re thinking. Maybe there’s something you haven’t thought of yet.”

 Naruto raises a skeptical eyebrow, but Shikamaru squeezes his hand again, silently begging, and he sighs. “Back when…Pervy Sage and I were training, at one point, he wanted to try to help me control the Nine Tails’ chakra. It…” his eyes fall to his bandages, face crumples, and he holds Shikamaru’s hand a little tighter for purchase, “…it went bad, and…I leveled an entire building, the yard around it, a huge part of the forest. I…I hurt him…” He swallows. “When I woke up, we were both really badly hurt and recovering in the hospital…”

 He knows he probably shouldn’t, knows Pervy Sage held no fear or ill will toward him at all afterward, but he still feels really guilty for that. He glares at his sheets before peering up at his friends again.

 “I don’t want to hurt anyone ever again. I never want to kill anyone. If I ever did, even while like that, even if it wasn’t technically my fault…” He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment and shakes his head vehemently. “Hurting Pervy Sage once was bad enough. If he wasn’t him, I probably would have killed him. That’s how bad it was.” He needs them to understand. This isn’t just something he’s come up with out of the blue. “If it ever happened again, if my Seal broke completely, and there was no one around to stop me like he did, if you or Captain Yamato weren’t here, Kakashi-sensei…” he feels sick at the truth to his words, remembering how much it hurt Pervy Sage just to laugh after that time, “…I-I couldn’t take it.”

 He fixes hard, absolutely unyielding eyes on them. It’s scary and hurts like hell to talk about this, but it’s necessary, damn it. He needs to know he’s not going to be a danger to the people he loves. He couldn’t live with himself. “You know me. You know that’s the truth. This isn’t something that’s just come up suddenly either. I’ve—I’ve been thinking about it for years.” Kakashi and Shikamaru’s hearts pang something fierce, devastation clawing at their insides. The younger man barely bites back a curse. Naruto’s eyes smolder, even while his words start to tremble and break. “Please… I’m not kidding around here. I’m—I’m begging you…”

 Shikamaru unconsciously squeezes Naruto’s hand tighter, as tightly as he can, not even realizing it might be painful until his friend squeezes back. When he does, he immediately loosens his grip and locks eyes with Naruto, silently apologizing and just trying to communicate how…wrong this feels. He’s the guy who always goes over all the angles, every possibility, but right now, that can all go to hell. Why are they even discussing this? Like hell they’ll ever let that happen. Shikamaru will die first, and he already knows Kakashi feels the exact same way. The others, too, any of them.

 Naruto’s way out… It’s not an option.

 Not one he’ll accept, anyway.

 Shikamaru looks to Kakashi next, taking a deep, if shaky, breath. He knows he’s usually not as emotional a thinker as all this, and yeah, okay, realistically, he knows why they’re having this conversation. Naruto’s not an idiot, after all. The only way he’d ever propose something like this is if he were dead serious, if he really had been thinking about it for years, maybe since Master Jiraiya was hurt.

 To be honest, he’s not really sure what has him so worked up about this. Yes, Naruto’s his friend, he loves him, he would fight and die any second of any day from now till the end of time to protect him, and he’s had an idea forming in his head about staying by his side for a good half-year now, maybe longer…but still… Maybe it’s the thought of losing someone so close to him again. He doesn’t know if he can take another Asuma. That’s why he’s…he needs Kakashi-sensei to temper his upset and ground him right now. His hold on Naruto’s hand tightens again, consciously gentler this time.

 Kakashi, for his part, is quiet. He’s disturbed by this information, too, deeply so. Not the part about the incident where Master Jiraiya was hurt, that he already knew, but…the fact that Naruto’s been grappling with the reality that his last day could come at any moment, that he’s had something like this weighing on him for years… He wonders if Master Jiraiya knew. Given how close and alike he and Naruto were, he’s guessing so. He wonders if he ever talked to Naruto about it. Hell, maybe…maybe that was one of the things he’d wanted to discuss with Lady Tsunade after he was meant to return from his mission to the Hidden Rain village. It’s a morbid thought, but…it makes sense. Plus, given how similar Naruto and Rin are, how much they love their village and their friends, it also makes sense that Naruto would be willing to make the same sacrifice Rin did, even if he didn’t necessarily want to. Because he knows Naruto doesn’t want to die. He has far too much he wants – needs – to live for…

 But like Shikamaru said…that almost makes it worse…

 And yet, despite any reservations or misgivings he and Shikamaru may have…this isn’t about them. At the end of the day, this is about Naruto. He comes first.

 That’s why he finally takes a breath and says, “Let me talk to Captain Yamato and Lady Tsunade about this first. Then, we can think up a game plan. Between the three of us—and Shikamaru, too, if you’re up for it—” the boy immediately nods, zero hesitation, “—I’m sure we can come up with something that will make you feel safe without giving us early heart attacks.” He reaches out to ruffle his student’s hair gently, though there’s a weight to his hand that Naruto doesn’t miss. He leans into it all the same, actually presses up into it a little insistently, almost like a cat would. A tender smile and chuckle escape as Kakashi obliges, though he turns protective and serious again a moment later. “But no matter what we decide, please know this: your friends and I, your family, will not let you go without the fight of our lives. That’s a promise.”

 Naruto’s eyes widen, heart skipping in his chest. Tears sting, but he just sniffs, chokes back a happy sob, and nods, grinning toothily. “R-right…!”

 --

 After their talk, Naruto’s appetite is a little better than before, so he eats what he can, and that’s all Shikamaru can ask. He refuses his sleeping medicine afterward, though, wanting to wait for Sakura, just in case, and Shikamaru agrees on the condition that he take it once visiting hours are over at the latest. Naruto’s more grateful than he can say, though he’s pretty sure Shikamaru understands with how bright and fond his smile is. He’ll take it.

 By the time Sakura’s presence actually registers in the tree outside Naruto’s room and then the girl herself appears at the foot of Naruto’s bed, it’s well after dark. She’s breathing hard and sweating. She must have run the whole way in her rush to make it in time. The flowers in her arms don’t escape Shikamaru’s notice. So that’s where she’s been.

 “You know it’s after visiting hours, don’t you?”

 Sakura jumps at the sudden voice, though she’s not surprised when she turns toward it to see Shikamaru still sitting vigil by a sleeping Naruto’s side, glaring with arms crossed over his chest. Kakashi’s still here, too, leaning against the wall across from them, just silently observing for now.

 “Technically, Hokage’s student or not, if I were to sound the alarm, you’d be thrown out.” There’s flaying ice in his tone, not that she can blame him. Honestly, he’s being nicer than she expected, than she thinks she deserves. She’s sure he’d agree. “I’m sure you’re also well aware that there are shadows all around you. So tread carefully.” She knows what that means: I won’t hesitate.

 Effectively chagrined, she winces, gaze slipping to the side. “I know…” she acknowledges softly. “But I couldn’t go home without making this right. Or at least…” she lifts the flowers in her hands for emphasis, “…apologizing, if he lets me. I’m…” her grip on the flowers tightens some, doubt dragging down her expression, “…not sure he’ll actually want to see me, though…”

 Sighing roughly, Shikamaru lets one of his arms fall between his knees as he leans on them. This girl’s just lucky she’s Ino’s best friend and one of Naruto’s, and that whether she deserves to be the latter isn’t for him to decide. “Oh, he wants to see you, all right. He made me wait until visiting hours were over to take his sleeping meds, and even then, he was really bummed when you didn’t show up. He wanted to wait a little longer, but I reminded him he promised, and, well,” he shrugs, something in it and the way he looks at her unrepentantly sharp and jagged, “you know how he is about promises.”

 Sakura flinches at that, but…he’s not wrong. She deserves that. Much worse, actually. Frankly, she’s surprised he’s letting her anywhere near Naruto at all. He’s probably only going along with it because he wants to put Naruto’s feelings before his own. Ino was right. A guarding shadow-lion, indeed. Swallowing, she holds the flowers for Naruto a little tighter and nods. “You don’t…have to worry about me anymore. I…I get it now. I’ve been horrible to him…and I know it shouldn’t have taken something like this to understand just how badly I screwed up, but...” she bows as low as she can, “…I really am sorry.” Her green eyes are full of fire when they climb back up. “And I’m ready now, I swear. I’m ready to let Sasuke go and do whatever it takes to make it up to Naruto. All of it, no matter how long it takes. I don’t care.”

 Shikamaru regards her quietly for a few good, long seconds. He freely admits he’s partly doing it to make her squirm. It’s the least she deserves after what she pulled. He’ll have to thank Ino for talking (and, knowing her, smacking) some sense into her later. He can feel Kakashi’s calm, steady gaze on him, waiting to see what’ll happen from here. In the end, he sighs again, gentler this time, and levels with her. “Naruto’s done his part to make this as easy for you as he can, Sakura. Now you have to do yours.”

 Giving that a moment or two to sink in, he slowly sits back in his chair and crosses his arms again, nodding toward Naruto. “He’ll probably be a little groggy, but we just gave him his meds about ten minutes ago, so he shouldn’t be too hard to wake up. Don’t know if he’ll be able to stay awake, though, unless you can temporarily slow the effects or something. Of course, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that, being a medical ninja and all.” He shrugs.

 She nods, taking that as the permission to come closer she knows it is. “I can. Slow his medication, I mean.” Making sure she has his okay to do this, too, she hesitates before reaching over to let her hand glow green over Naruto’s chest for a few seconds. She stays standing after pulling back, though, and she’s worried about shaking him awake after earlier, even carefully, so Shikamaru does it for her.

 “Hey, Naruto.” The younger boy whines a bit, and Shikamaru can’t help but snicker. “Wake up, sleepyhead. Sakura’s here.”

 Sakura’s name makes it through his formerly-medicated haze, and Naruto’s eyelids flutter open just seconds later. “Wha…? S-Sakura…?” he asks, raspy and slow and dragged out by a yawn as he rubs at his eyes.

 A tiny smile tries to sneak onto her face, but she’s not sure she should let it. She can barely make herself look at him right now. “R-right here, Naruto…” she announces softly.

 Shikamaru helps him sit up, and when Naruto sees it really is her, he seems surprised to see her for a few ticks before he grins brightly, sweetly, like he never lost faith in her for a second. “I told ‘em you’d be back!”

 Sakura, forgetting to breathe for a moment, can’t help it when she laughs and touched tears sting her eyes. Wiping at them with the back of her hand, she shakes her head, the smile on her face growing. “I-I really don’t deserve you, you know that?”

 She has a feeling that if Naruto weren’t here or at least awake, Shikamaru and maybe even Kakashi-sensei would have something to say in agreement with that, but as it is, they hold their tongues. She appreciates it. Naruto, for his part, blinks wide eyes and flushes, waving his hand in front of him in embarrassment. “W-whoa, wait, what? W-where’d that come from, Sakura? That’s not true at all!”

 Her smile turning small and sad, she steps forward to set the flowers Ino picked out for them both on his bedside table. “Yes, it is.” Whether he’s in denial or, more likely, genuinely doesn’t see it that way, she knows she’s right, no matter how much she wishes she wasn’t. Her gaze comes back to his. “You’ve always been there for me, no matter what. You’ve never raised a hand against me, even when you could and should have. You always do everything in your power to protect me. You cheer me up any way you can, and you always keep your promises, even ones that only ever get you hurt—”

 Her voice breaks off in a sob here, and a few tears fall. She supposes she shouldn’t be surprised. She is something of a crybaby, after all. “Y-you’ve never left my side, all this time, and I—I realized I’ve been taking you for—for granted…e-ever since we were kids…” She sniffs and swallows back the rest of her tears. She doesn’t want to cry through this. “You shouldn't even be letting me see you after what I did, let alone talk to you. You definitely shouldn't forgive me. I don’t deserve it, so I wouldn’t blame you at all.”

 She wants to smack some sense into her younger self, feels nauseous at just how ignorant and plain awful she’s been. Realistically, despite Ino and now Shikamaru’s reassurances…she doesn’t know for sure if she and Naruto can fix this. She wants to, and she meant it when she said she was willing to put in the work, but…their relationship was pretty broken right from the start, all because of her. Like she said, she wouldn’t blame Naruto if he came to that conclusion himself and wanted nothing to do with her anymore.

 She bows as low as she can—hell, she gets down on her knees and lets her forehead touch the floor. Ino did say she had to grovel, after all. Whether she meant it literally or not doesn’t matter to her right now, and that’s not why she’s doing this anyway. She’s doing this because it’s what Naruto deserves. He deserves way more than anything she’s given thus far, and from now on, she’s going to make sure he gets it. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. For tonight and everything else. I know this doesn’t make up for any of it, but…I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying!”

 Naruto, for his part, is left reeling, eyes wide and heart pounding in his chest. He wants to say something, anything, at least get her off the damn floor because it’s killing him to see her like this. He wishes his legs were in better shape so he could get down there with her. There’s no way he can reach her from here either. Frowning in distress, he instantly turns to his friend. “S-Shikamaru, help me out here!”

 Already figuring what he wants, Shikamaru easily slides off his chair to a crouch in front of Sakura without protest. “Sheesh…” He gently takes her small hand and deposits it in Naruto’s waiting one, the blond immediately encasing it in his strong grip. Sakura finally lifts her head, surprised, and Shikamaru pokes her forehead. She blinks, and he finally smiles at her, tilting his head. “Don’t be so dramatic.” Her eyes follow him as he moves back to his seat. “You know, Asuma used to tell us that the closer you get to something, the tougher it is to see it,” he eyes her pointedly here, “so never take it for granted.”

 It takes Sakura a second to understand his meaning, but when it hits her, she doesn't know how she didn't see it before. She took Naruto for granted, and she and Naruto were so close to Sasuke that they couldn’t see how unhealthy their relationships with him were. She gets it now. This is Shikamaru’s way of saying their slate’s clean as long as she really does make it up to Naruto from here on out. Swallowing, she nods imperceptibly to show she understands. Shikamaru smirks, satisfied. Good. She’s learning.

 Getting to her feet, she wipes her eyes and face with her free hand before turning back to Naruto. She points at him with a stern expression. “I’m serious about letting me make it up to you, okay? I won't accept any other way of fixing this!”

 Naruto blinks, but seeing he doesn't have anything to counter that with, he smiles shyly, wondering what she might have cooking up in that big brain of hers. “W-well, okay...but you don't have to go all out or anything, all right? It's just me.” His grin turns toothy as he chuckles. “It's not like I'm exactly hard to please.”

 Despite himself, Shikamaru can't help snorting and chiming in, “Yeah! You could probably just stuff his apartment full of instant ramen, and he'd call it even!”

 Naruto’s joining laugh is raucous and bright. “Hey, you're not wrong!” Looking back at Sakura, he softens and squeezes her hand, sad and happy at once. “Look… This whole thing – letting Sasuke go, and looking at our relationships with him and each other and realizing things weren’t what we thought – has been a long time coming. I think we both know that now. It was bound to be emotional and scary, and I’m sorry if I went about telling you what I decided the wrong way.” He chuckles. “‘Course, I’m not really sure there’s a good way to bring up something like that, you know?” Sakura breathes a tiny, relieved sob of a laugh despite herself and nods. That’s very true. Kakashi marvels at how much he sounds like Kushina.

 Naruto strokes the back of her hand with a gentle thumb and melts. “I accept your apology, and even if you say I shouldn’t, I do forgive you. I understand why you hit me,” he rubs a finger along the bridge of his nose, only to hiss and pull back when it hurts; right, right, broken, “even if that doesn’t make it okay or right.” She winces and nods, and he squeezes her hand again, then threads his fingers securely through hers. “We’re good, okay? I’ll let you make it up to me whatever way you want, but nothing’s changed between us. You’re still one of my best friends. Nothing’s been done that can’t be fixed. Okay?”

 Sakura beams, squeezing his hand as tears sting her eyes. She feels almost lightheaded with relief. “Thank you, Naruto!” Leaning forward slowly, making sure he’s okay with her being this close to him after before, she hugs him carefully and presses a kiss to his cheek. A bright blush paints his face instantly, and her smile only grows. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. I promise I’ll be worthy of that someday.”

 She can tell he wants to protest that last part, but he stops when she makes to reach toward his face. Remembering how he flinched away from her before, she stops, too. Swallowing, mint eyes find sky. Sensing the gravitas in her, Naruto just waits for her to say what she needs.

 "Would you...could...my first step be...healing your nose?"

 Beside them, Shikamaru stiffens the tiniest bit despite himself. Her tone is soft and low, nervous and guilty, but full of conviction, body language the same. There’s no trace of the rage or blame from before. He thinks Naruto will be safe this time, but he also remembers how Naruto freaked earlier. All the same, he glances over at Naruto. In the end, it's his decision.

 The blond meets his eyes, and after seeing that Shikamaru’s feelings match his own, he slowly nods. He knows this isn’t like before, and this is his way of showing her that he still trusts her. He meant it when he said that that wasn’t going to change over something like this. Not for him, at least. He hopes this will also help her trust herself again. He smiles. “Yes, please.”

 Sakura is thankful as all hell, shoulders giving way beneath her relief as she sighs and beams like the sun. "Thank you!"

 His nose is fixed in record time, not that he expected any less. He takes a deep breath through it and laughs out loud in delight, throwing his good arm in the air. “All right! Good as new!” He grins widely. “Thanks, Sakura!”

 She scoffs and waves a hand dismissively, meaning it for once. “D-don’t thank me! It’s the least I could do!” Honestly, she wishes she could do more. Perking up when she remembers something, she snaps her fingers. “Oh! That reminds me!” Grabbing his vase from the bedside table, she hands it to him. “These are for you!”

 “Wow…!” Naruto gasps, lighting up like a kid on Christmas at the sight of the pretty bouquet. “They’re for me? Really?” He takes the vase with careful fingers. “I’ve never gotten flowers before, especially not Ino’s!” He chuckles delightedly. “They’re beautiful! Thank you, Sakura!”

 He pats the bed beside him, and she slowly sits down, a warm, grateful thrill going through her. This is another way he’s showing he still trusts her. There’s no way she’s going to waste it. “Ino sent them with me after spending forever picking them out and making them look perfect. She was so happy and relieved to hear you were finally awake and doing well. I’m sure she’ll be by to see you as soon as she can.”

 Naruto admires all the different flowers, smile growing. “That was so nice of her! If you see her before I do, tell her thanks so much for me! I don’t know much about flowers, but these are so pretty!” He bounces a bit in his seat, like he’s been given the most special gift in the world. “She’s the best!”

 Sakura softens. He’s not wrong about that. She really is. “I will, don’t worry.”

 Beside them, Shikamaru can’t help but laugh. He finds Naruto’s reaction sweet, honestly. Expected, knowing him. “Ino didn’t tell you what the flowers meant, though, did she?” Sakura shakes her head. He smirks. “Figures.” Sitting back in his chair, he points them out one by one. “The Blue Salvia means she’s thinking of you, the Pink Rose means joy, the Dwarf Sunflower’s adoration, the Morning Glory’s affection, the Amaryllis’ pride, the Yellow Tulip means there’s sunshine in your smile, the Bluebell’s loyalty, the Geranium means true friendship, the Edelweiss is courage and devotion, the Lotus means enlightenment and rebirth, the Chamomile means patience in adversity, the Larkspur means remember to have fun, the White Hyacinth means she’s praying for your recovery, the White Carnation’s good luck, the Valerian means she’s ready and waiting if you need her, the Honeysuckle means bonds of love, and the Peony means she’s wishing you a happy life.”

 “Wow…! How’d ya know all that, Shikamaru?” Naruto asks, amazed and impressed.

 He shrugs. “When you have the daughter of florists for a teammate, you tend to pick things up between the girl talk, you know?”

 Naruto laughs. “Oh, right. Yeah, that makes sense.”

 Looking back at the flowers, something catches the brunet’s eye. “Hey, look. There’s a tag, too.”

 Sakura tilts her head. “There is? Huh. I never noticed her writing one.”

 Shikamaru reaches in to pull it out. “It says, ‘Get well really soon, you ramen-loving knucklehead! Love, The Konoha 11.’” He chuckles, shaking his head. “Typicao Ino.”

 Naruto rubs the back of his head and chuckles, impressed as hell. “No wonder it took Ino so long to get those flowers ready. That’s a lot of different meanings, and she even included a nice card, too!” He beams, feeling giddy and important. “I feel so special!”

 Sakura, Shikamaru, and Kakashi soften. Because you are, Naruto.

 Unable to help noticing the other flowers on his bedside table, Naruto can’t help but ask, intrigued now, “Whose flowers are those, Sakura? Are you visiting someone else, too?”

 Looking over to see what he’s talking about, Sakura remembers and flushes a bit. Grabbing them, she explains, “O-oh, no! Ino handed me these right before I left. She said they’re for me.”

 Taking a look himself, Shikamaru does a double-take before he just barely smothers a wheezing laugh. The others look at him, confused, and he waves a hand. “S-sorry, sorry,” he says. He is so going to laugh his head off once he’s alone! This is too good! Ino is the best, he swears! “I-I’m guessing Ino didn’t tell you what those meant either, huh?” His smirk only grows when she shakes her head again. “W-well, sorry to disappoint, but I’d rather not repeat those particular insults in current pleasant company. Man, you must have really pissed her off.”

 Sakura is shocked for a moment or two, Naruto, too, but then she laughs sheepishly and deflates. “That’s fair… I deserve that…”

 Naruto opens his mouth to protest, but Shikamaru holds up a hand to stop him. A gentle smile comes to his face, and he points out three flowers in the very middle of the bunch. He knows for a fact Ino put them there on purpose. “This White Tulip means forgiveness, this Daffodil means new beginnings, and this Bell Peony means good luck and best wishes.”

 Sakura brightens back up with a joyful, relieved smile, like a flower blooming after it’s rained. Her teacher and friends are glad to see it. “Then I won’t let her message go to waste!”

 --

 They talk for a while longer before Sakura starts nodding off. Her first instinct is to fight it like she has every other time in the last few weeks, but...she stops. Naruto’s awake and here with her, Kakashi-sensei and Shikamaru, too. They’re close and warm and safe. Something tells her she won’t have to worry about nightmares while they’re around. Making sure to undo the impediment she put on his sleeping medicine first, though it won’t take effect for a few minutes, no one is really surprised when she does fall asleep, head resting on the bed at Naruto’s side. Naruto just softens, tender fingers stroking her hair. “We should let her sleep,” he whispers, “since she hasn’t been getting much lately.”

 Kakashi nods in agreement. He’s still so proud and thankful everything turned out so well with his kids. Thank goodness. “That’s probably a good idea. She seems a lot more at ease sleeping here than at home, at least from what her parents told me. I know you’ve probably been wondering what Pakkun and I were talking about earlier, after he brought her in.” Naruto nods, and Kakashi sighs a bit. “Mostly, it was just an update on what I already told you, but this time, it seems she hasn’t slept in at least three days. The nightmares got too bad, so she fought her body’s need to sleep like it was the only thing keeping her going.” He watches her closely, voice lowering. “No sleep was preferable to what she faced when she closed her eyes.”

 Naruto eyes her anxiously. Did she not tell him how bad the nightmares were because she didn’t want him to worry? Was it a pride thing? Did she just not think about it—not want to think about it?

 “But,” Naruto looks back up at the smile in his sensei’s voice, and he doesn’t miss the way he’s watching their resident medic with hope in his eye, “now that she’s got her head and heart sorted on Sasuke and she knows you’re okay, Naruto, it seems her fear of sleep has faded. For the moment, at least. Let’s hope it lasts.”

 Naruto smiles. There’s a thoughtful beat of silence, and then,

 “She’s already totally out. If we try to take her home, she’ll just wake up again,” Shikamaru cautions.

 Kakashi pushes off the wall to come closer. “That was my thought, too. So…” Crouching down, he ever so carefully picks Sakura up and lays her on the bed beside Naruto.

 Said boy jerks away instantly, as far away as he can, face going bright red. The pain from the sharp movement doesn’t even register. “K-K-K-Kakashi-sensei! What the hell are you doing?!” he hisses, scandalized. He shakes his head vehemently and points at his teacher. “Y-you can’t just put a—a girl in my bed! Especially not S-Sakura!” His voice turns to a whine. “She’ll totally kill me when she wakes up, and it’s not even my fault!”

 Kakashi chuckles, and Shikamaru can’t help but do the same. They always figured Naruto was a gentleman, at least for the most part (any student of Master Jiraiya would have to be a bit of a philanderer, at least; it was practically part of the job description), but seeing it is honestly adorable. Kakashi waves calming hands. “Now, now, just listen for a second. Like Shikamaru said, if we move her, she’ll wake up, and she might not sleep well once she’s home, if at all. But if she stays here with you, I’ll bet she’ll sleep like a baby.” Naruto, uncurling a bit as his teacher’s explanation sinks in, doesn’t even realize that he’s getting close to Sakura again. Kakashi, though, does, and he also sees something else that makes his smile grow. “Case in point.”

 Following his gaze, Naruto’s eyes widen as he sucks in a breath and turns even redder. Sakura, curling into his side, rests her head on his chest, right over his racing heart. He gulps and doesn’t dare breathe. His warmth and heartbeat in her ear just seem to comfort her, though, even send her into a deeper, more restful sleep, and Naruto releases his breath painfully slowly. “All—all right, but…” he points warningly at his sensei, “…if she wants to kill me when she wakes up, I’m siccing her on you.”

 Kakashi, for one, prays that doesn’t happen. Her strength is genuinely terrifying… “F-fair enough…”

 That settled, Naruto can feel his sleeping meds kicking back in, so he pulls the blanket up around Sakura and wraps an arm feather-lightly around her shoulders. She curls into him a little more at that, and he can’t help smiling shyly through his blush this time. Her warmth is comforting to him, too. He yawns then, and his eyes move between his friends, lids drooping. “Night, Shikamaru… Night, Kakashi-sensei…” He yawns again, eyes finally closing while his fingers play with the ends of Sakura’s hair. “Love you…”

 He’s out like a light.

 The two left awake look at each other and can’t help but laugh again. Their number one knuckleheaded ninja really is cute as hell. Not wanting to wake them, they stand silent vigil in case of any nightmares.

 Once half an hour’s passed, Kakashi walks over to Naruto’s other side to card his fingers through his hair. Just like Minato’s… He wanted to wait to make sure his kids would be all right before heading home, and now that he is, he thinks he’ll take his leave. Today’s been exhausting for a good many reasons, and honestly, it’s been a long few weeks for him, too.

 But before that…

 He glances up to see Shikamaru watching Naruto thoughtfully, and the older man can’t help but finally say something that’s been on his mind for years, even more the last six months, and especially the past thirteen days.

 “You’re good for him. The way he looks at you… You’re good at grounding him – keeping him on his toes, but not slapping him in the face with harsh reality either. It’s a good balance, not unlike your cloud-watching habits.”

 Shikamaru regards him quietly, eyebrow raised, for a good few moments. “That might be the weirdest connection I’ve ever heard,” he finally returns, chuckling, his gaze falling back to Naruto as his smile turns warm and grateful, “but I’m glad, too. I want to be there for this knucklehead…” his voice lowers, “…no matter what it takes.” There’s undeniable conviction in every note, and Kakashi knows he means every one. “I’m glad you approve,” he tells him, coming back for a moment; he keeps his stare clean and certain, “not that it would make any difference if you didn’t, for the record. I’m here for him. That’s all.”

 Kakashi laughs. “That’s about what I expected from you.” He softens. “I know you’ll be good to him, and that’s all I want. So, thank you.”

 Shikamaru smiles helplessly and shakes his head. “Don’t thank me.” The fondness he fixes Naruto with here is something Kakashi thinks will stay with him forever. He prays Minato and Kushina are watching. They’ll want to see just how loved their boy really is. “He’s the sun, after all. The shadows were bound to be drawn in at some point.”

 Kakashi blinks. Quietly poetic when he wants to be, isn’t he? He just grins, melting when his own gaze drifts back to Naruto. Shadows, indeed…

 “Truer words, Shikamaru. Truer words.”