Chapter 24

"AKARI! RAFU! NONONONO! PLEASE!" I screamed, my raw throat burning from the abuse. My eyes flew open, the unshed tears clouding my vision to the point that only a dim, blurry room revealed itself. I felt the surface I was laying on give a little as someone practically threw themself beside me right before wrapping me up in a firm hold and pulling me toward themself, the warm body instantly soothing a small portion of the fear pounding throughout my body.

"Ren, it's okay. I'm here." I heard, my breath catching in the middle of attempting to control the ragged inhales after recognizing the husky voice saturated in worry. Shikamaru continued speaking, a slieu of comforting words spoken by a shaky voice. Despite obviously feeling rattled by abrupt breakdown, I felt touched that Shikamaru is unwilling to be anything except a steady presence. "I'm here, petal, I'm here. Shhh, you're alright."

"Sh-Shika." I sobbed, my arms tightly wrapped around the Nara heir's waist, the tears falling rapidly from my eyes working to steadily soak his loose shirt. "What's happening to me?"

"I don't know but I'm right here. I'm right here." He murmured, gently stroking my loose hair. He maneuvered me up, turning me so I could lay on his chest instead of his stomach. Feeling my heavy, red rimmed eyes struggling to remain open after an indeterminable amount of time had passed, I finally allowed the sound of Shikamaru's steady heartbeat to lure me to sleep. The rhythmic beating combining with the familiar smell I associated as being distinctly Shikamaru acted faster than any sedative I have taken before. Right before I gave myself away to the oblivion of sleep, I felt a satisfied smile form due to the presence of the unwavering body molding comfortably to fit with my own.

"Up and AT EM BOYS!" A loud, smug voice shouted gleefully. I groaned out of annoyance after realizing I was being woken from what honest to Kami feels like the best sleep I've gotten in the past month. My reluctance to open my eyes evaporated as I not only heard an annoyed sounding grumble but also felt the vibration due to the proximity of the source that made the noise- or in other words, the noise would be hard to miss when it had originated from the comfortably warm surface that I am currently using as a pillow.

When the incident last night came rushing to mind is when I began forcing my heavy, sleep-laden eyes to open. Before My eyes became fully open, I braced myself for the possibility that I had only been dreaming about his presence last night so I wouldn't be as disappointed as I had been the first time it had happened. Instead of the disappointment that I had been expecting it is a jolt of happiness accompanied by a wide smile, one large enough to make a face feel like it could potentially split in half just from the force, appeared at the sight of Shikamaru's disgruntled expression - one I have only seen on his face when someone makes an attempts, and successfully manages, to forcefully rouse him.

I happily burrow my face back into Shikamaru's chest in a weak attempt at hiding the ridiculous smile before reaching out for the hand laying loosely on top of my stomach, intertwining our fingers and squeezing gently to reassure myself of his corporeality. A part of me, the piece that has been frantically off kilter while unable to see his future during the mission that lasted longer than expected, finally settled down now that I can be visually assured of his safety.

The absence left behind in lieu of the consistent dread regarding Shikamaru's safety during the mission has left me feeling far more centered. It should be disquieting, how much one person affects my entire life, but I file it away into the 'things to consider later or never' part of my mind in favor of enjoying the moment instead.

"Missed you." I mumble into his chest, my stomach feeling like a puddle of some kind of warm, melted, gooey substance as Shikamaru lightly scratches my back and chuckling before returning the sentiment.

"I missed you too." Shikamaru said, tapping on my head until I raise it and look up at him. In a voice that was teasing in nature but soberingly serious at the same time, he asked, "Why are you always in the Hospital when I get back?"

"So that you can find me easier, of course." I attempted to joke, unsurprised when the attempt fell flat between us. Just as Shikamaru opened his mouth to say more, the sound of someone pointedly clearing their throat interrupted him before he is able to make a sound. Our attention became drawn to the forgotten presence that had originally woken us to begin with.

"I have a question." Lady Tsunade drawled amusedly "Why is it every time I see you two together it's in a compromising position?"

"Believe me, Lady Tsunade." I sighed, trying to ignore the dark flush attempting to take over. "I've asked myself the same question every time it's happened."

"Let me know if you figure it out." The Godaime quipped, smirking at us both for a second before leveling Shikamaru with a look that, to be quite frank, could scare a biju into submission. Maybe. Either way, It is not a look I want directed at me anytime soon - especially considering the Hokage's famously short fuse. "Nara, if you'd kindly hop out of my patients bed."

Shikamaru scrambles out of the bed instantly and I stifle the automatic protest the action causes before it can begin to form. Judging by the sadistic glint in her eyes and the well-hidden amusement present in her voice, Tsunade most likely guessed that I had thought about protesting. What followed is a medical exam, and I am so tired of having them performed. There have been a countless amount of tests and examinations that I've undergone in the last few weeks - despite the high rate of exposure, my tolerance to them has decreased rather than increased. They were quintessentially, to quote Shikamaru, "Troublesome".

"Alright, brat, looks like you're good to go." Tsunade finally announced thirty minutes later, ignoring my cheerful exclamation, "Make sure to take it easy. I have a mission I want you to be a part of in a couple days."

"A mission?" I asked, perking up and turning serious instantly at the thought. It had been awhile since I had taken one so my interest is naturally piqued.

"Report to my office in two days." Tsunade said over her shoulder without elaboration as she walked out of the room.

"Do you really think you should be going on a mission so soon?" Shikamaru asked, brows furrowed in concern.

"Absolutely!" I replied cheerfully, hopping out of the bed and walking over to the wardrobe.

"Really." Shikamaru deadpanned, giving me a look.

"Oh quit worrying, Shika, you'll get lines. " I said flippantly as I began to pull out the clothes Yami must have brought by. Making a mental note to stop by and thank her, I began shedding my clothes. "The best medic known to ninja, who also happens to be our Kage, is confident. It would be hard to convince me she wasn't absolutely certain I am in good enough shape to undertake it. Say what you will in regards to her anger but I doubt anyone who knows her would say she doesn't care about the people she's responsible for as more than assets. In fact, I think she may even have a soft spot for me deep down."

"Woah!" Shikamaru exclaimed in a higher voice than normal and, after turning around to see why, I saw a red faced Nara holding a hand over his eyes.

"Seriously, Shikamaru? I said she had a soft spot for me, not that we were in an affair." I drawled, rolling my eyes at the dramatic reaction and taking off my pants. When he didn't respond I let out an exasperated sound before vocalizing why I thought he is being a bit ridiculous. "You've seen other men at the onsen, we all have the same bits and pieces."

"It's different." Shikamaru protested, maintaining his position.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not some lady and we don't have to 'maintain our modesty' because we aren't in an arranged marriage subject to public opinion." I said, my chest warm at the show of chivalry despite my contradictory words. He really is too good for me. I yanked my pants up and threw on the green shirt, adjusting the clothes until they fit comfortably.

Shikamaru let out a long suffering sigh and mumbled under his breath, more than likely not intending for me to hear the words spoken. "You mean YOU aren't subject to public opinion."

I honestly don't know if I wish I hadn't or am glad I did but either way, the fact of the matter is that I DID hear him and I can't pretend otherwise. Feigning ignorance would just mean I'll constantly be fretting about it, drawing incorrect conclusions, and just being an all over mess. It has taken me this long to become a little comfortable with the idea of dating an heir to an influential clan and it's the single biggest source of my insecurity concerning our relationship, regardless of how well I hide it.

Of course I have thought about what it entails to be with him but I don't try to get ahead of myself, which my mind makes easy when it's something threatening to destroy my sanity via over-analyzation. I know that if we have been dating for a long while that the assumption would be for me to join the clan. I know that there are a lot of things regarding the Nara, as well as clans in general, that I am going to have to learn but Shikamaru will find as familiar as breathing - he has been groomed to inherit the leadership of his clan, the duty to prepare him for his inheritance being something I highly doubt even Shikaku would find easy to shrug off. It might be plausible in another universe, one which Yoshino wouldn't be the type of person to ensure he, for his own good, accomplishes what he needs to accomplish. Actually, no - Yoshino would have to not exist in that universe for that to happen.

My mind and it's digression aside, I have thought about what it means to be dating someone who is heir to a prominent clan. The problem is that while I know in the sense that I comprehend he will one day be an important person with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. It is because while I know about the future position he will take over, knowing and being capable of understanding something are two entirely different things. I don't know anything about the politics of clans, I have never been taught why a portion of earnings is paid to the clan, no one has ever explained the customs observed when a member (let alone the SOLE HEIR) is dating a non-clan individual. My point being that what it means to have a clan, never mind leading one, is not something I have any way of understanding.

People say it's like having a big family but that's basically the same as comparing a D rank mission to an S ranked one. It's how you'd explain it to a child so they have a way of understanding the gist without requiring an in depth explanation. After a couple of months of being with Shikamaru, I did attempt to learn what I could through the resources available to me - which, in a nutshell, is practically nothing. My 'research' efforts cumulated to include an explanation, which had been as massive in its length as it was painstakingly intricate, detailing the various reason clans were formed with only vague information hinting at the inner workings of one. Oh, I also unearthed the proper etiquette one is supposed to observe while attending any clan hosted function - it may or may not have been accurate depending on whether or not the etiquette has changed in the past fifty years.

The truth is that getting more than vague and brief information about a shinobi clan from anywhere except the clan itself is a practically impossible feat. While it seems downright idiotic to keep my curiosity at bay and refrain from asking Shikamaru about it, my childhood has left an ingrained aversion to discussing anything clan related - especially to a member of a clan. When you aren't affiliated with a clan, any attempts made to learn about a clan can be received poorly by the clan being inquired about. The reaction to an attempt, or one that is taken as one anyway, can be considered as minor as a faux pas, similar to how someone would respond if someone forgot to use the proper honorific when speaking with a higher ranking person. On the other side of the scale, it can be treated as major of a matter as attempting to steal a kekkei genke would.

The clans in Konoha carry a lot of poltical weight and also result with a large amount of military power since most are shinobi. If someone like me were to offend a member of a clan who was well liked or held in high regard, I would be transferred to the genin corps with a unspecific reason for the command. All of the shinobi not affiliated with any of the clans are warned by parents or friends to stay out of clan politics if you'd like to live happily in Konoha. Be polite and treat them as any comrade is to be treated. If they are antagonistic and you can remain quiet until able to withdraw from the company, then do that instead of responding or involving a commanding officer.

When that is how you handled anything relating to clans, and developed the tendency to avoid thinking about any specific clan or the general subject of clans for long. Not to say that I have a problem with the structure of our village or the privilege afforded to the prominent clans - it is a well deserved status earned by the amount of members that make up the ranks and the other income source they provide to maintain a stable economy. The Akimichi own a great deal of the restaurants, the Nara provide research facilities for medical techniques and other innovations, the Yamanaka known for the flower shop and the greenhouses they maintain in addition to providing mental health services and training others to do the same.

The amount of revenue, number of job positions, and an expertise formed by the passing down of information and constant drive for improvement - it all adds up to a significant amount of credit for Konoha's stability being directly attributed to the existence and machinations of the clans. Without them there would not be such steady levels in both the housing and hiring markets. No, I understand as much as a young, non clan shinobi can be expected to understand. They are an amazing part of our village and don't take nearly as much advantage of the deference given to them as they could. Which is why I go out of my way to avoid making waves and try not to think about the potential repercussions that dating Shikamaru may result with. If I did consider it and managed to come out on the other side considered mentally fit, then I may wonder at some point if his status played a part in my actions. Making sure I stay far enough away that the clan politics couldn't be poked with a twenty foot pole.

Of course it is because Shikamaru sounded like I am a burden for him to be dating is what makes me toss the promise to myself without much deliberation. This caring about someone so much is way more work than people, namely Akari's parents, made it seem growing up. Mentally I make a note to bring it up casually later on when in a private setting.

"I'm decent now."

Shikamaru uncovered his name eyes, the blush just now beginning to recede from his tanned complexion. Smiling fondly, I walked up to him and swiftly kissed him on the cheek. "I tolerate you."

"I tolerate you." He replied, lips quirking up as he looked down at me. My smile turned into a frown as I realized that he had grown while on his mission - only an inch or so but still enough for me to notice the difference in our height because my eyes were normally level with his nose but now I am closer to being eye level with his lips than his nose.

"You grew." I said dumbly, making him laugh a little.

"Don't pout." Shikamaru chuckled, squeezing my shoulder and smirking. "I'll let you sit on my shoulders if you need to grab anything high up."

"I take it back - you're an asshole." I huffed without any heat, suppressing a smile as I wrapped my hand around his wrist, turned towards the door, and tugged him into the hallway. "Come on, I'm starving and this hospital has food that tastes like shit."

I finished my sentence right after exiting the room I had been confined to for the past four days. My words, said louder than intended, received a scowl from a nurse who was walking past. Once the stern looking woman was out of earshot, Shikamaru let out the laugh he had been holding back but it quickly turned into a quiet groan after my elbow made contact with his ribs. Ignoring the scowl I could feel being aimed at the back of my head, I made my way down the opposite hall the nurse, the one who'd heard my criticism of the food, had gone moments ago. It may have been the long way to get to the front doors, though Shikamaru wisely didn't comment on that fact, and if I was avoiding the nurse I'd pissed off - well, that is my business.

With a grin on my face, I raised my arms once we stepped out of the hospital, breathing in the antiseptic-free air and relishing it. The hospital smell is what drove me insane - I have no idea how those with a heightened sense of smell can hear to come within a mile of the building. Although, now that I am thinking about it, that may very well be the reason for Kakashi-san's constant escape attempts whenever he is forced to stay at the Hospital.

"Do you have any plans?" Shikamaru drawled, easily keeping pace as I began to walk towards the marketplace.

I thought about it for a moment before shrugging my shoulders in a lackadaisical manner eerily similar to how Shikamaru does. I need to make sure I don't adopt any other bad habits from spending so much time with him. "I am going to the Marketplace to get some decent food and then I'm not sure what else to do."

"Pack for a mission?" Shikamaru suggested, his eyes lazily scanning the surrounding area.

"I'll do that tomorrow." I told him, shaking my head and jostling the loose hair I am sporting. I glared at some of the brown locks obscuring my vision, moving the irritating piece of hair out of my line of sight.

"Here." Shikamaru sighed as he stopped me and, after placing his hands on my shoulder, spun me so that my back was facing him. A soft smile played at my lips as I felt him efficiently and gently gather my hair into the short ponytail the way it is normally styled.

"Thank you." I told him, turning around to peck his lips with my own.

"PDA? Wow, Shikamaru, that's not something I saw coming from you." A voice to our left commented, one we both recognized.

"Jealous, Ino?" Shikamaru asked as we both turned to face the direction her voice came from. Standing next to Ino is Chouji, Asuma-Sensei standing behind his two students with a steady smile on his face.

"Please." Ino dismisses, waving a hand to empathize her pointed disinterest.

"How are you Ino, Chouji, Asuma-sensei?" I asked, nodding politely at each one of them in turn and smiling at Chouji - I am particularly fond of the Akimichi-heir ever since the Sasuke retrieval mission, despite the fact that the mission ended up being a failure.

"Great, Ren!" Chouji replied after swallowing the mouthful of chips previously occupying his mouth. "I'm glad to see you're well enough to leave the hospital! I was worried when I heard you had been admitted and was going to swing around after lunch."

"Thanks, Chouji, It feels excellent to be in fresh air again. I'm honored you considered coming to check on me, though." I replied sincerely, touched by his thoughtfulness.

"Why were you in the Hospital?" Asuma asked curiously

I felt some of the blood drain from my face as I thought about the vision that I saw - even such a small glimpse, which revealed next to nothing, had resulted in chakra exhaustion severe enough to be nearly lethal. Despite the danger, I am curious to see if I could see anything else that may help Tsunade-sama in her search for his identity. If I did not know about the potential mission coming up in two days, I might head back to my apartment in order to force a vision in a private place. As it stands, I have a far larger amount of questions than I do answers and I am trying not to linger on the terrifying emotions I absorbed throughout the duration of the vision.

"Ren?" Shikamaru called bringing his fingers to brush against the inside of my wrist, unknowingly providing a source to anchor myself to. With only a small amount of difficulty, I forced my mind to focus on the present rather than the future and push any thoughts relating to my dojutsu far away my thoughts.

"Sorry about that, I was lost in thought for a moment there. To answer your question, Asuma-Sensei, my stay in hell came as a direct result of training harder than I should and a foolish overestimation in regards to the amount of chakra I have access to." I explained in a roundabout way, ignoring Shikamaru's eyes boring into the side of my face. I know that if I were to turn and observe Shikamaru's expression, the evaluation would show me piercing eyes that seem to glitter with intelligence. The aforementioned expression is one of the rare ones that Shikamaru and his father, Shikaku-sama, happen to share - from the uncanny way their eyes appear to take every inch of you apart, examine the pieces, before promptly putting you together again. This level of concentration is one they both usually reserve for either noticeably difficult Shogi matches or missions with unexpected or unanticipated factors.

The slight tension in the air, brought on by my lack of discipline controlling myself and inability to utilize false emotions as a mask, increased as the other members of Team Ten realized the out of character reaction Shikamaru is showing.

"Alright, fine." I sigh, exasperation coating my words, allowing my annoyance to become a distraction from the suspiciously out of character behavior of Shikamaru. Looking over to meet his eyes resignedly caused me to inhale sharply before I began to cough - my body attempting to naturally force the dry, parched interior that currently makes up my throat to cooperate and utilize the cough so whatever is hurting the sensitive body part can be expelled.

"I am glad we ran into you and that you have a couple days free, Rin-kun." Asuma-Sensei declares without any preamble before continuing to speak. "I have pretty exciting news - due to Shikamaru's promotion and the requirement that three genin are needed to enter a team for the Chūnin Exams, the Hokage is placing Ren on a temporary assignment as a loan to Team Ten."

I smirked slightly, having seen the moment (purely by accident) before Shikamaru left the village - despite the advanced warning, I smiled warmly at Chouji and even gave Ino the same goodwill as I aimed a smile her direction.

"Awesome! Shika's boyfriend is way more fun than any other reject that might have decreased our potential." Ino cheered, a delighted giggle escaping the blonde Yamanaka-heir at the sour look Shikamaru sent her way.

"I've been advised against using chakra until the mission; it should be a okay to spar though." I informed him

"Taijutsu works." Asuma decided, nodding his head in approval and already appearing to compile their skill lists before beginning to plan tentative formations they can use as a team. "If you have a few moments to spare and you are alright with doing so, Ren-kun, would you mind writing down the skill set you have? It is so I may get a feel for your abilities and match them with Ino and Chouji's own techniques."

"I suppose." Ren-kun agrees tentatively after a brief, silent exchange with Shikamaru. "I doubt I have to even say this but it would be silly not to do so - I don't want a page detailing all of my abilities to leave my possesion for even a moment during it's brief existence. You'll have to memorize it."

"Of course." Asuma agreed easily, obviously having expected the request or assuming it as a given to any ninja that isn't a complete moron.

"I have to either eat something as soon as physically possible or I might shooting at random targets for fun." I announced, receiving a look of approval from Chouji, trying to mask the shiver of unease as playful dramatics. The only person who did not say anything on the matter but the weight of his sharp eyes adding to my overall unsettled feeling - the thought of our conversation did make me nervous and I had a lot of trepidation concerning what will be discussed but this… this is something else.

"We should meet up for dinner in a couple of hours." Shikamaru suggested "We can eat a quick snack, finish shopping, and then meet up with the others."

Everyone agreed to that plan, so Shikamaru and I headed towards a dango stand to grab the bite of food before continuing to get the things I might need for the mission coming up.

"Hey, Ren?" Chouji questioned, my head turning to look at the Akimichi heir sitting beside me only to face openly worried eyes focused on me.

"Heh, sorry about that." I apologized, moving a hand from the table so I could pinch my leg if I became distracted again. "What's up, Chouji?"

"My Mom and I put something together for you." Chouji explained, bashfully glancing in my direction before giving a gift to Shikamaru. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion when Shikamaru held the ornate wrapping paper in my direction right after being handed the box himself.

Refusing to touch whatever that odd behavior had been with a ten foot pole, I unwrapped the present carefully enough to preserve the gold and green paper. My mouth became a tight line as I clamped down on my emotions as much as I could, my stare focused entirely on the present sitting beautifully inside a green velvet lined box.

"I know it can't ever replace what happened to your old one but.." Chouji stammered endearingly, looking terror stricken by whatever he was seeing on my face. "Well, it isn't supposed to replace it. I just thought it is the least I could do for coming back for me."

I couldn't do anything except keep staring down at the wonderfully wrapped present, feeling more than a few emotions attempting to fight out the dominant spot to represent the situation. I absentmindedly made note of the silence at our table, a large contrast when compared to the rest of the lively restaurant surrounding us, and I still had no idea what on earth to say.

Bewildered, my eyes connected with the dark set steadily watching me from across the table. Shikamaru's mouth twitching into what is not quite a smirk, it is softer than a smirk but not quite a smile, brought me out of the surprised stupor induced by Chouji's kind gesture.

"If it is inappropriate or you don't like it, I really don't want you to feel like you have to keep it." Chouji nervously expressed, the uncharacteristic rambling making me let out a sharp bark of laughter that startled Team Ten's members.

"He loves it, Chouji." Shikamaru explained, the relief that statement brought to the generally jovial Akimichi making me aware of how tense my reaction had made him. "He's just processing."

Shifting my foot under the table to press against Shikamaru's own as a way to silently thank him, I hurried to verbalize my gratitude and avoid making the exchange any more uncomfortable than I have already. "Absolutely, I have- This is so amazing and beautiful and I cannot even begin to come up with a way to thank you for this."

Chouji visibly brightened at the praise, flushing pleasantly out of embarrassment but sporting a satisfied expression at the response his gift had received. Attention shifting back to the hearty amount of food still occupying our table's surface, Chouji enthusiastically beginning to fill his plate as he spoke.

"I honestly don't want you to feel like you have to do anything beyond thanking me. I already told you that it's because of what you did on the retrieval mission, I think you have more than repaid me for what that bow cost." Chouji insistently told me, hesitating as his eyes flickered in Shikamaru's direction before he continued. "If coming back to me isn't enough of a reason to accept a friend's gift, maybe telling you this will help - I know he'll hate me for talking about it but I really think you're good for Shikamaru."

Chouji ignored both the mortified choking sound that came out from his best friend and the giggle, that preceded into a coo, originating from Ino's seat with an ease that spoke of practice in doing so. "Everyone calls him lazy, and even though he can be unmotivated, it's something he indulges more infrequently than people think. Shikamaru is a simple guy and also someone who is extremely complicated at the same time - he has layers hidden behind indolence. I am so glad that he found someone that understands him, that challenges him in different ways, and who is willing to be a such a steadfast source of support.

My undivided attention, which is a rarity to be given considering the amount of effort required to focus for long periods of time, has been on the words Chouji spoke. At the last sentence I found myself needing to lower my eyes, using the existence of the elegant weapon as an excuse to hide the water gathering in my eyes. With a quick, surreptitious motion to reassure myself that my eyes are dry, I looked up to watch Chouji's remaining thoughts.

"I know Ino, Asuma, and I haven't spent a lot of time getting to know you - its that we are acquaintances because of Shikamaru but that is what I want to change." Chouji explained, smiling hopefully around the words saturated in emotion. "I hope that I'm not crossing any lines when I say this but… I know no one could ever replace Akari and Rafu. No one can do that because you guys were so close - I am not asking that you do anything you aren't prepared to try, so don't feel like I wanted to ask while you weren't expecting it. There isn't a proper way to grieve and I hope one day that you're ready to let people other than Shikamaru get close to you."

"I hope you don't think that I am subtlety saying this is as a way to thank me for the bow. When I get a chance to see you with Shikamaru, you look close to bursting with happiness and anyone around has to pay attention to you two because it's magnetic." Chouji described, lips forming into a small smile at my surprise from hearing that people watch us. "I could tell you never noticed and I thought about it afterwards a great deal since the first. Then, a few weeks after, I saw you without Shikamaru around."

Here, Chouji's confident and easy-going way of articulating himself noticeably wavered. Hypnotized with his words, I nodded with an encouraging smile as silent prompting to continue. Despite the reassurance, Chouji's troubled look remained, my gut beginning to churn unpleasantly during the silence left behind as Chouji paused to gather his thoughts.

"I saw you by yourself one time - I think you may have been going to the store? At first your back had been to me, so I started to call your name but you were already starting to turn before I had a chance." Carefully choosing his word and ignoring the sudden burning intensity coming from Shikamaru, Chouji became quiet again as he debated whether to keep talking.

I squeezed his shoulder comfortingly, guessing that he needed encouragement. "You don't have to finish but you don't have to quit either - I want to hear anything you think important enough to put into words. We can stay here all night."

Chouji's reluctance ebbed a little after I spoke but still seemed unsure of something. The glance following my words, while being done subtlety enough, was obvious concerning the source of his discomfort. Patting his shoulder reassuringly, which only made him look confused - Well, he looked confused until a yelp and a loud bang reverberated inside the restaurant. As is expected after a disturbance loud enough for a whole dining area to hear, all of the occupants cohabitating the food establishment with Team Ten and myself began looking in our direction for a minute filled with awkward eye contact between strangers.

"I am going to kill you." Shikamaru threatened lowly, the focus and certainty contained within his words made goosebumps rise on my arms. Asuma flinched a little, giving a deeply sympathetic grimace to me.

I pointedly didn't look anywhere except Chouji, expectantly waiting for him to continue what he began.

"What a drag." Shikamaru huffed, pretending to be irritated but I could see he wasn't really mad. "Sorry, Chouji, go ahead, you aren't being troublesome."

"I-I had no idea what to do when I saw you." Chouji confesses, the guilt on his face making me commit to cheering him up later. "You didn't look like yourself - your hair didn't have feathers, your skin had a wax-like appearance, their were bags and dark circles under bloodshot eyes. It.. well, it scared me."

I winced, closing my eyes for a minute steel myself for the conversation to come, and taking a deep breath of air before slowly exhaling. The temptation to look into the future is one I push out of mind despite the desire to do so. I am not overly fond of being taken by surprise - small ones, such as the bow, are great. It's the unsettling moments that I detest and Chouji mentioning the poor state I had been in while Shikamaru wasn't in the village is most definitely making me feel unsettled.

While it is annoying that I had spent what had been a large, and is now instead a fruitless, amount of effort avoiding people that may talk with Shikamaru about me - the thing that always made me hate being blindsided is the reminder that I am not infallible. Ruefully, I have to admit Chouji is frequently doing things I don't see coming.

It's easy, with the gift I have, to trick yourself into feeling, if not all-knowing, then at least incapable of being taken by surprise. It's the same reason I am so anxious about person who found a way to avoid being Seen by me. I can easily admit that it is unhealthy to be so confident - especially for myself, I who know better than any the fluidity of the future, to have that mindset. Just because I can admit that it's not an outlook kept, for long or at all, by people desiring a long life doesn't mean I have to like it.

Having come to terms with the likelihood of a draining conversation, one that is both long and highly emotional, I took in the dispositions of everyone. Starting with Ino, mainly because it means Shikamaru is last, lets me take in the surprise and curiosity warring between one another for the right to be predominantly expressed. Asuma is next to impossible to read, the only thing I can discern is that he is more tense than a few moments ago. Chouji is confused and uncertain, his head swiveling between Shikamaru and myself as though trying to learn the rules of an unrecognizable game by watching two people play.

Reluctantly looking at Shikamaru, my brows furrowing on their own at the unexpected sight of the top of his bowed head. Maybe it's not just Chouji who keeps me on my toes, is the absent minded thought that comes to mind while trying to understand what Shikamaru is feeling and the thought process.

"Oh geez, this is just painful-" I heard Ino say with a large amount of disdain that almost completely covers the affection laced in her words.

"Ino." Asuma warningly, obviously having some insight regarding what she intended to do.

"Asuma-sensei, are you serious?" Ino retorts without pause, continuing to do as she wants - which, if speaking honestly, is nothing new in the way she operates.

"It's not your plac-" Asuma began to chide her, disapproval tainting the usually warm timber of his voice into a bittersweet sound instead of a comforting one.

"Oh, come on!" Ino exclaimed, getting both Shikamaru's attention as well as my own.

Now that I am more aware, I realize that Chouji had also stepped away from the table and now stands slightly behind Ino on one side where Asuma stood as well. Panic begins to burst out of me in devastating waves as soon as my mind starts to come up with awful ways for this to end - Shikamaru and I alone in the public restaurant having our first fight with the other guests as the unwilling audience; Shikamaru and I under one of Ino's mind jutsu until we are dead in the physical world; Ino handcuffing me to Shikamaru and- Actually, that one sounds not so bad… I wonder if Ino has ha- right, focus on not being dumped because you're a nutcase.

"Look, I'm all for people coming to their own conclusions, but they are both so intelligent that they are stupid." Ino argues, gesturing between he and I while one hand rests on a cocked hip.

"Hey!" I half-heartedly protested, not having the energy for an argument but unwilling to let someone insult Shikamaru like that. "He's not stupid - it's that he's so aggressively intelligent that it takes like five minutes to go through about a million more scenarios than yours or my own could in a lifetime."

"Asuma-Sensei. Really?" Ino continues to persuade, my comment only earning an eye roll and derisive snort. Which, okay, the comeback is a little lame but at least worthy of acknowledgement!

Asuma sighs in a way that just yells that he expects this to come back to bite his ass when it should get Ino's instead and the reason it's going to end that way is because it already has happened to him more than a few times. Obviously not the type to second guess himself, Asuma crosses his arms with one another and stays quiet as Ino's attention latches on to Shikamaru and I with a startling amount of precision.

"Alright, look." Ino begins in a soft tone that has me warily on guard instantly. I hadn't been aware Ino's voice could sound anything other than demanding, giggly, angry, or expressing the unholy sound made by a jutsu Shikamaru and Chouji call Sasujutsu no Fangirl.

I've only seen it once and have no desire for a repeated viewing after watching the terror that appeared on the target; an ebony haired boy sporting a unique hairstyle that Shikamaru had been created with a Duck's rear end in mind for the shape. I admit that the end result had a unique effect - it also did look exactly like a duck's butt.

Coming back to the present allowed me to hear Ino's explanation about why Team Ten is leaving sans one member at dinner alone with that members next potential kunai throwing target. Apparently wanting to assure that she has our undivided attention and finding Shikamaru's persistent staring contest with the floor as proof that he is not providing the correct amount of attention, Ino's hand became a blur of speed as it flashed towards the Nara's head.

Shikamaru looked up after feeling her hand touch his hair, eyes narrowed out of annoyance, and looking unfairly adorable the now loose hair coming to his shoulders. Ino unrepentantly smiles, one full of teeth and a general predatory feeling, and pointedly fidgets with the stolen hair tie in her hand.

"Alright, look." Ino said once again, ditching the uncharacteristic tone and sticking with the one she usually has - demanding. "You're both, like I said, gifted with a large amount of intelligence. That is one of the reasons I think you guys work well together."

"Ino, stop being troublesome." Shikamaru told her, hand held out expectantly. Ino considers him for a moment before a devilish expression appeared on her face.

"I'll give it to Ren and wait while he puts it up." Ino compromised, holding it out towards me and waiting for Shikamaru to agree. Having been expecting to hear a protest or refusal, his instant agreement understandably threw me for a loop.

"Really?" I blurted, flushing when I got his attention.

"Of course." Shikamaru softly replies, a frown present I wish I had the courage to kiss away.

Unable to kiss him, the pleasant feeling that I experience from the way he relaxed while I carded my fingers in his hair in a soothing, rhythmic manner. A smile came easily to me when Shikamaru shivered after having felt when my hand accidentally brushed the tip of his ear.

"I'm going to talk while you put his hair up while flirting, so pay attention." Ino ordered, the corners of her mouth twitching as a show of the effort being put into suppressing a smile. "So - like I said, you're both smart enough to be considered a genius in your own way - and that is how I know you need me to interfere because you don't even know what you are doing wrong. It's your status as 'genius' where the trouble begins."

One long winded lecture from Ino later, during which both Shikamaru and I resembled tomatoes and gaping fish at various moments, saw Shikamaru with his hair once again out of his face and myself sitting in the seat I had originally occupied - the biggest change being my new attempts to hide the transparently dopey, smug look on my face from being directed at anyone in my line of sight.

"Stop that." Shikamaru sighed, his head thumping on the table as it hit.

"What?" I asked mischievously "I thought you didn't want me to stop? In fact… I'm pretty sure you moaned for me not to stop."

During Ino's talk with us, I continued to play with Shikamaru's hair and eventually ended up massaging his scalp. When Ino was finished, I pulled away from Shikamaru's head so that I could shake Asuma-sensei's hand. Shikamaru had moaned my name before realizing what he had done and wanting to die from embarrassment.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru surmised, shaking his head as the ten thousand watt smile once again took over half of the archer's face. I couldn't help it - my boyfriend wanted me, moaned my name in public, and he is awesome.

"Troublesome." I echoed in agreement, laughing a little when Shikamaru forced a ridiculously over the top smile.

"Would you like to come over for some tea?" I asked, enjoying the lovely weather Konoha could boast about that we were confronted by after passing through the doors of the restaurant.

"I would hate to spend a lifetime calculating the way every possible response will determine your feelings for me but I heard I could end up as a 'spiky haired grumpy geezer' with only my 'cracked from overuse shogi board' as company" Shikamaru replies, his tone as dry as Suna's climate.

I laughed at the reference of Ino's earlier one woman intervention - which had contained a whole host of colorful language that included the words Shikamaru used as a quote. "I'd like that, actually - that way I'll know someone since I 'live in the future so consistently that I don't properly experience the present'."

"Oh, right, I forgot." Shikamaru countered playfully, the smirk that followed making my heart speed up in response. "Do I look good, wizened and married to my Shogi board?"

"Unfairly so." I informed him, chuckling at the mental image the words invoke. "I have a thing for older men, you know - it's why I have a huge crush on the most attractive Shogi master in the elemental nations."

"Is that so?" Shikamaru asked rhetorically in a husky voice that shouldn't be allowed to use in public. "I knew you liked me."

"Huh?" I let out, looking as confused as possible at the implication before correcting him. "Oh - no! I tolerate you, true, but my crush isn't on you."

"Is that a fact?" Shikamaru questioned as we continued walking down a road located only a block from my apartment.

"I wouldn't lie to you!" I assured him, dramatically gasping and facing toward him by walking backwards. "This won't affect our friendship, will it?"

"What are you talking about?" Shikamaru asked, the confusion about our conversation now entirely genuine.

"Oh come on, Shikamaru! " I exclaimed with a roll of my eyes. "The most attractive Shogi master in the world?"

Realization sparked in his eyes before turning into horror, making him look a little sick. "Oh god, never say it. No."

"Alright, Alright." I agreed placatingly, pushing down the mischievous side of myself that couldn't resist the opening. "I agree - Nara-sama sounds too formal for what I want to do. I'll have to get used to calling him Shikaku."

"You're done for." Shikamaru promised

"If you can catch me." I countered, darting out of the way as he attempted to trap me with his shadow. I could see my apartment building from the street we were on, so I bolted in the direction it was, cackling like a maniac while doing so.

Shikamaru didn't disappoint, moving faster than I thought he would and stay on my heels consistently. I haven't felt as alive as I do right now since before the Chunin exams; Shikamaru and I weave in and out of the crowd of people, earning a few chastising shouts when a close call happens with a civilian. I am almost at the door to my building when I notice the large, long dresser that two men are struggling to fit through the doorway for a neighbor I recognize.

"Evening, Temuchi-san!" I called out, running full speed at the oblivious movers.

"Oh, what a surprise, nice weather we have today, isn't that right, Ren-kun?" Temuchi replies, waving me forward and warning the men helping with her furniture. "Steady now, you two, don't drop it from surprise."

When I got close enough, I agilely flip over the closest movers head, landing on the heavy dresser and taking a few steps forward to keep my balance while also maintaining the momentum. The workers yell and allow the dresser to shift due to the unexpected increase of weight; Applying chakra to my feet solves the problem easily before I jump towards the wall of the building rather than through the door.

Standing horizontally on the sturdy outside wall, I looked down to watch Shikamaru approaching the dresser. His face turning from one of concentration to surprise makes me notice old Temuchi-san bent over at the waist to pick something off of the ground. I stifle my laugh as he tries to stop in his tracks and, realizing it as the only way to avoid colliding with her, throws himself to the ground unceremoniously.

"Man, what a drag."

"Oh, dear, shinobi-san? What are you doing on the ground?" I hear both Shikamaru's and Temuchi-san's voices, the latter of the pair sounding way too innocent to be convincing, float up to me. "You're getting dirt all over that fine flak jacket. Would you like a hand getting to your feet?"

"No, no that's okay, I'm fine." I hear Shikamaru reply, my shoulders shaking as I tried to not bring attention to myself. There's a covering over the entrance that allows me to sit and listen without being in sight of anyone on the street.

"I'd imagine so. If all it took to take a Konoha Chunin out is these old bones then I'd be worried about our future." Temeuchu said dismissively "Oh, tell Ren-kun he can thank me for getting in your way by taking my grandson for a couple hours next week."

Imagining the incredulous expression on Shikamaru's face while being sassed by an old woman with oversized glasses made me lose it; I fell back onto the covering with my head thrown back and the proof of my amusement spilling out in the evening.

Shikamaru appeared in the space right in front of where I am sitting. All that it took to shatter my attempt at reigning in my laughter is Shikamaru's sour look. Closing my eyes to wipe any evidence of shed tears from laughing so extensively. My chuckles died in my throat as I stopped being able to move.

When I was around nine, living with Akari while we attended the Academy together, I had woken up one night after a nightmare and I remember Yami bursting into the room with a kunai held awkwardly in her hand. My screams had woken her up and I was still extremely scared because it wasn't the nightmare that had me screaming - it was the fact that, for a few seconds, I couldn't move a muscle once I had woken up. One large hot chocolate and lesson on sleep paralysis later, followed up by a plan to get several psychology books on the subject the next day, and I was going back to bed.

Sleep paralysis is when your body is unable to move after waking up; some people say that it happens so that your body doesn't move in case your sleeping at a large height so that you don't fall from a tree while asleep. It can be pretty terrifying to experience and it is exactly the same feeling as being trapped in the Nara Clan's Shadow Possession jutsu. I scowled up at Shikamaru as smirked down at me.

"Why'd you stop laughing, petal?" Shikamaru asked mockingly, bringing his hand up to put his fingers to his mouth and stretching it into a demented looking smile. Having no choice but to copy him, looking down at me with his fingers making his mouth form a ridiculous shape, I couldn't help but to laugh even more. Shikamaru sat on my stomach with an exaggerated grunt of effort, the extra weight making me instantly release the air I had managed to inhale while laughing.

"There's his laugh!" Shikamaru spoke lowly with a feral sort of smile that looked out of place on the normally impassive face.

I didn't notice when he released his shadow, I idly thought, neither of us breaking eye contact. For all that I felt able to move, he might as well have not used his shadow - his eyes could pin me down just as effectively as his jutsu. He leaned forward and I closed my eyes as he did, sighing happily right before our lips connected and I began to lose my breath for a altogether different reason.

This kiss is a lot different than all of our past kisses have been - less soft, lazy exploration and more fiery passion. Don't get me wrong - we had been passionate before but it felt different. Normally, Shikamaru is like boiling water; He starts out slow and gradually becomes more hot until suddenly he's boiling. Right now he is like a wildfire out to incinerate anything that he can and I am a bunch of wood soaked in oil about to catch flame.

Shikamaru pulled back to where he hovered slightly above me, his bruised and swollen lips matching my own in a way that is positively sinful. Leaning down to my ear, his teeth grazing the lobe, and whispered softly "Ren.."

"Hm?" I hummed, tilting up my hips so he'd rest more comfortably.

"We have to get up."

"Shikamaru." I groaned as he rolled off of me, still with that damned smirk on his face. Scowling because I know that he was just paying me back for laughing at his embarrassment earlier, I turned on my heel and applied chakra to my feet so I could walk up the building to my window.

"Nice view." He commented, making me regret not letting him go first so that I could stare at his butt while we climbed. Mentally telling myself to do exactly that the next time, I began working on the traps on my window so we didn't set any off going into the apartment. I activated my Sakimonagan more out of habit, one still engrained in me from Takeshi-sensei's crazy training exercises, than any suspicion. I tensed my arm muscles as soon as the vision began and turned to face Shikamaru when it is over and using Konoha signs with my hand.

'One intruder - strong, identity unknown, unaware of our presence.' My hands flashed through the signs easily, my brief worry that Shikamaru doesn't have as much experience using them unnecessary because he understood instantly.

'Engage?' He signed, apparently ready to follow my lead despite his Chunin status.

Thinking of the pros and cons with both choices left me dizzy. Regardless, a decision needs to be made before it's made for us and we lose the advantage of surprise. I took a deep breath and raised my hand to sign the answer, hoping it is the right one.

'We should-

TBC….

A/N: Hello! This came sooner than expected and I wrote quite a bit…hope you all enjoyed another long chapter! Thank you so much to those who chose to read and act on the page I started, it's very amazing of you. If anyone is interested in knowing what I'm talking about:

Go/Fund/Me is the website and you can just search for: 513f0co

Thank you for the continued support and feedback! Next chapter we will be seeing a lot more of Ino and Chouji, the introduction of a new character, and Ren gets a mission!

Until next time!

** READ BELOW IF YOU LIVE IN USA **

On a far more sombre and serious note, I would like to say that my thoughts are with those in Florida during this unimaginably difficult time. To any readers in the United States, especially the younger generation, I hope you are watching the news and I hope you understand what needs to happen. In our History books it speaks about amazing people who went to great lengths to enact change; they made sure their voices were heard even who no one wanted to listen.

No longer can we sit idly by and allow our fate to be decided by the uncaring leaders who have gathered a horde of sheep by use of their silver tongues; No longer can we stand idly by while the people entrusted to serve and represent us are selling their service to the highest bidder and yet relying on our inaction to remain in gilded towers built by the taxes they collect.

In Washington D.C. , March 24, 2018 there will be the #MarchForLives and I hope to see you there next to me as a last line of defense for the next elementary school, middle school, high school, college; we are the last hope they have, that us students have, against a gun wielding mass murderer aiming for our backs. Don't wait calmly for the next tragedy, be the change in history to ensure the safety of your children, your siblings, your friends.