Disclaimer: I Don't Own Naruto.
Author's Note: Is a slight AU, not an expert in Naruto or Japanese customs please forgive any stupid mistakes. Beta is welcome. Is written in second person…obviously. I know it doesn't suit many people but it's just my preference in writing.
Summary: "…- things were changing Shikamaru was going to break off and leave you behind… and it made you feel uneasy inside. He was your anchor and without him you'd surely float away."
Pairing: Undecided. Suggestions? Slash or Het.
Reviews: Always welcome!

-----------------------------

Nara Shikamaru – you have known him all your life.

You had always known him to be the lazy kid with the short attention span. He was smart of course; you never doubted that but just how smart you never knew, not until Asuma-sensei had tricked him into participating in an IQ test. Over 200 he said, which apparently made him some sort of a super genius. Though, it didn't change much. If anything Shikamaru used it as an excuse to do even less.

So you guess none of you saw it coming when it was decided that Shikamaru would be a chuunin. Well you knew you didn't see it coming you weren't sure if he saw it coming. You knew sensei might have hoped for it and that Chouji may have believed it but Shikamaru was… hard to decipher. He would easily let you know when he was bored or if he found you troublesome but to know how he felt beyond that… He was a puzzle, one were you had all the pieces but there were so many you didn't even know where to begin putting them together.

He enjoys watching the clouds though, strange but true. Not something you expect from a super genius. You remember asking him why he did it and he just shrugged and said "Because it's simple" and you had continued to stand there waiting for an elaboration that never came. You didn't get it then and you're not sure if you even get it now.

…Shikamaru is the simplest complex person you have ever known.

You have your differences; the two of you couldn't be anymore opposite. You'd call him boring and old whenever he pulled out the shougi board and he's roll his eyes and shrug whenever you talked about Sasuke. But he had always been your rock, with his steady, reluctant presence. That's the way things have always been in your life – but - things were changing Shikamaru was going to break off and leave you behind… and it made you feel uneasy inside. He was your anchor and without him you'd surely float away.

----------------------------

You and Chouji are playing audience to Shikamaru and Asuma-sensei's latest shougi match.

"Ah Shikamaru" Asuma-sensei sighs leaning back to stretch, "looks like you've beaten me again"

"I don't know why I even bother with you anymore" Shikamaru replies matter-of-factly, no trace of arrogance in his tone.

Asuma-sensei just laughs heartedly "Well, I guess after today you won't have anymore time for out little matches …hmm?"

You notice a ripple of emotion move across Shikamaru's normally uninterested appearance but in a blink of an eye it's gone. "I guess not"

Your uneasiness grows.

"Will you be gone long?" Chouji asks spitting bits of chips everywhere.

Shikamaru just shrugs leaning forward to rest his elbows on the board. "This is all so… troublesome; I should have given up earlier"

You feel it is your turn to say something, what you aren't sure and it is at this moment a small, brown bird lands directly in front of him.

"Ah duty calls" and Asuma-sensei stands.

With a heavy sigh, Shikamaru slowly rises to his feet and you stare up at him and you think he's changed on you; somehow he'd grown up when you weren't looking - even though you had never left his side.

*

"Shikamaru!" you call before the distance separating you from him grows too far, he stops, glancing over his shoulder, "be careful" you finally say after a brief pause.

He doesn't reply though his eyes linger a moment longer like he is waiting for you to add more. Then when it becomes apparent that you have nothing more to say he raises a hand slightly like a final salute and without a second glance he moves slowly but steadily until he fades into the distance.

*

"It feels like the end of something, doesn't it?" You turn to your companion, who was oblivious to the impact his words were having on you.

"Yeah, it does" you pause, chewing your bottom lip slowly, "Chouji?"

"Hmm…?"

"Don't…don't become a chuunin too soon, okay?" you say, before quickly turning away.

He contemplates an answer before turning towards you and saying "I think you'd become a chuunin before I do, Ino."

You smile even though a part of you feels like crying.

"You want to play a game of shougi with me while we wait for sensei?"

You nod but before you follow Chouji back, you cast one last glance at the path; still empty. You aren't even sure, of what it is you're looking for anymore.