Chapter 3: Caught

(A/N: I was going to end it with the second chapter, if only because the school demon is trying to consume my soul, but the tale just wouldn't leave me alone. So, mostly due to the insistent reviews and pleas that I continue, I shall. Oh yeah, and I think I might actually have a plot developed, too!)

Without thought, Shikamaru leaned forward and pressed another, gentle kiss to Chouji's lips. It was good that he didn't have to try and articulate this. Words were so troublesome- if you were too vague, it seemed like you were being dishonest, but if you were too concise, you just seemed cold.

Chouji returned the kiss, and smiled when they broke apart, still sitting much closer than was normal. "I'm glad I finally said something." He said softly, staring down at his hands. "I was afraid you'd get mad or something."

The blush on his cheeks was rather cute, or so Shikamaru thought, and he chuckled softly. He raised his hand to run it over his hair, and thought of how nervous he would have been in Chouji's position.

"You're braver than me." He said with finality. "I probably never would have said anything."

Shyly, the larger boy placed his hand over Shikamaru's, and for a while they just sat like that, looking up into the sky that no longer seemed quite as interesting as it had before. Like normal teenagers, neither were exactly sure what to do now that everything was out in the open, and they kept sneaking furtive glances at one another, though there was nothing new to see.

Then their eyes met, and all at once they were kissing again; for real this time, not the childish press of lips that made their first kiss, or even the self-conscious, gentle exchange of the last. They were the sort of kisses one dreams of, all soft yielding lips with firm teeth just beneath, and they soon blossomed into something even deeper.

With his heart racing in his chest, his skin burning for more contact, Shikamaru reflected that, even though they were shinobi, it made them no less human; the purity of his reactions was proof enough. Being a shinobi did not remove the need for contact, for warmth and love. About that Ino and Sakura hadn't been wrong.

He could feel Chouji's heart racing to match his own, and stopped thinking. His mind focused on the warmth of the body pressed against his, the sweetness of the other boy's slightly chapped lips, the softness of the hair beneath his fingers. Somehow he knew that no matter what happened later on, he'd never forget the texture of those smooth strands caught between his fingers. Chouji's arms wrapped around his waist, not forcing him to stay but just resting there, and when Shikamaru finally pulled away, they moved with him, so those larger hands rested on the Nara boy's sides.

Cheeks warm with blush and passion, the dark haired boy brought a hand to his lips, finding them tender and slightly swollen. His friend's chest heaved as if he'd just run a race, and his eyes were wide on Shikamaru's, cheeks likewise darkened. A little rill of blood ran from the corner of Chouji's mouth, and on instinct Shikamaru leaned forward and kissed it away. There was a strange current running between them, a strong one that threatened to pull them into senselessness.

Sensing that and knowing that, for a while, discretion would have to be a large part of their relationship, Shikamaru stopped the kiss before it could reach that former intensity, laying his head against Chouji's shoulder with a soft sigh. The larger boy smiled faintly, content to hold the other boy just so, running slightly trembling fingers through the hair at the nape of the other's neck. They felt safe here, in this place they'd shared since their youth, and they relaxed against each other.

"Holy!"

And then the peace was over. That familiar, strident voice pulled both of them out of any calm they'd had, and (though neither was quite willing to leave that warm embrace) both stiffened in shock.

"…The fuck?"

And of course, Naruto wasn't alone. What he was doing up here with Kiba of all people, Shikamaru wasn't yet sure. Slowly, he disentangled himself from the embrace and turned to face the intruders. Both stood there in slight shock, the blonde's mouth gapping. Shikamaru cursed silently. If it had been Naruto alone they could have lied their way out. But Kiba was no where near as naïve as Naruto, and the slow smirk spreading over his lips told the Nara child that there would be no lying.

Kiba was, for once, without the small white dog, and his hood was down. He spread his hands slightly, a gesture that neither Shikamaru nor Chouji knew how to interpret. "Sorry." The canine-boy laughed. "We'll leave you two alone."

Naruto's brow furrowed. "B-but what're they doing?"

"Nothing!" Chouji choked out, and Shikamaru glanced at his companion.

Kiba chuckled and leaned toward the blonde, whispering softly in his ear. That expressive face first paled and then reddened, blue eyes opening impossibly wide. He shook his head and Kiba raised his pinky, muttering.

"Nan de?!"

The Inuzuka boy only smiled further, whispering something else that made Naruto blush again. The blue-eyed boy looked at the couple still sitting so close together on the rooftop, staring as if some puzzle had just been solved for him.

Finally Shikamaru stood up, placing his hands on his hips. He opened his mouth to say something, anything to make them go away, and Kiba held his own hands up in a pacifying gesture.

"Don't worry about it." He said coolly, smiling in a knowing way that Shikamaru wasn't sure he liked. "We'll go."

"If you tell-"

The brown haired boy shook his head. "We'll be quiet."

Naruto stared between Shikamaru and Kiba, as confused as ever. Shikamaru just thanked whatever god was listening that he wasn't making that troublesome face that spoke of some sort of scheme.

Chouji moved to stand just behind his friend, his face troubled. "Why…?" He ventured, wondering if Kiba was just being nice or if they were going to owe him later. All he was certain of at this point was that he wasn't ready for their relationship to be made public, and Naruto had a very large mouth.

"Because." Kiba shrugged, still smiling. He seemed to consider for a moment, and then he took hold of Naruto's wrist, pulling the shorted blonde toward him and crushing their lips together. The loud-mouthed boy struggled only for a second before seeming to melt against his companion in a way that advertised familiarity with that sort of action.

For the second time that day, Shikamaru found his eyes staring widely, this time at the very unlikely couple instead of at Chouji. He pulled his eyes away and coughed indiscreetly, uncomfortable. The pair broke apart, Kiba's grin wider than ever. Neither pair said a word, the sort of bargain not needing to be vocalized, and Naruto grabbed at his companion's wrist, pulling him away with an eager sort of urgency that made Shikamaru vaguely nervous. The Inuzuka boy raised a hand in farewell, and Shikamaru and Chouji returned it dully.

Alone again, they turned toward each other, and after a second, broke out laughing. It was nervous laughter at first, but it quickly became more natural and they collapsed against each other, relieved. Even as they laughed though, Shikamaru knew that something would have to change. It was just too troublesome to risk being together in such an open place.

By this time the sun was on the west, fading into the hues of sunset, and each knew they had to part. But for a while at least they sat back down, risking closeness and fighting the urge to kiss again, watching the sky in a companionable silence that suited them fine after the loud disruption with Naruto and Kiba. When Chouji's hand slid over his, Shikamaru didn't withdraw from it… there were some risks worth taking, after all.

He sighed and his head lolled back on his shoulders. He could only trust that Kiba could control Naruto's mouth… he wondered how long those two had been seeing each other. They certainly had gotten closer during their mission to retrieve Sasuke, but he'd never imagined they'd make a couple. Not with Naruto as hung up on Sakura as he was.

Chouji's hand tightened on his own, and he smiled. His thoughts turned to more pleasant things, and for a short while he took the risk and leaned his head on Chouji's shoulder, just enjoying the closeness. After today, they'd have to figure out some other place to be together, somewhere more private. For now, however, he'd take the chance of being caught and just let himself be comfortable,

(A.N.: Crappy ending, I know, but there will be more. I already have half of the next chapter done, so I hope to keep it up. Sorry this took to long, and I hope I haven't disappointed anyone.)