A/N: This is the start of (hopefully) a series of oneshots. Female Naruto(I've got the Genderbender curse), with light ShikaNaru. I love this pairing, but it's sooo rare! Down with SasuNaru! Shika is soo much better!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

A sigh, followed by the rustling of clothes.

Clack.

Another shougi piece is set on the board. A quick glance toward the green sand hour glass shows that the unconscious figure on the bed is still recuperating from their chakra exhaustion.

He looks back at the game board, and with another sigh, moves a piece.

Clack.

He looks up from the board once again, this time toward the sleeping figure. His eyes trace down cheeks still plump with baby fat, each scored by three whisker-like marks that are the only marks on the smooth, golden skin, and along the graceful jaw-line to the hollow of an ear. He takes in the long, thick eyelashes lining closed eyelids, and lengthy locks of gold hair that shine in the sun as they sprawl across the pillow. A small, straight nose and slightly chapped lips complete the image, and he smiles contently to himself.

Glancing once more over the petite frame of the figure on the bed, he returns to his solo game.

Clack.

Time passes slowly, one inhabitant of the room sleeping off the effects of rigorous physical training, the other arduously training mentally. The room is comfortably silent, broken only by the continual sharp taps of pieces being set on the wooden board and the occasional fidgeting of either figure.

Clack.

Suddenly, the conscious figure looks up at the chakra hourglass and notices that the green sand has stopped flowing. He then watches the unconscious form expectantly, looking for any sign of the person waking.

Fluttering eyelids and a furrowing of the brows are his first signals of awakening, before delicate eyelids are sluggishly pulled up. Eyes of the purest blue are revealed, like sapphires set in the gold mount of the face, and they are glazed over with the remnants of healing sleep. Slowly, hands raise to rub the eyes groggily, wiping away the remaining sleep sand lingering in the corners, pausing only as the figure gives a jaw cracking yawn.

Their task done, the hands drop gracelessly back to the figure's side as they lick and smack their lips together, trying to get rid of the dry cotton feel in their mouth.

Blue eyes contemplate the ceiling for a moment, before moving to peruse the room in which they are sitting. The lock quickly onto the watching boy, and the figure sits up quickly in the bed in surprise.

"Shikamaru?" The voice is slightly hoarse from days of disuse.

The dark haired boy gives a lazy look, before replying, "So you're finally awake, Naruto?" A soft smile spreads across his face as he drawls, "How troublesome."

The blonde blinks, still somewhat sleepy, before a grateful smile spreads across her face.

"Yeah," she responds quietly, laying back on the bed, "how troublesome."

Comfortable silence takes control of the room once more, broken only by the sharp sounds of wooden pieces being laid on the wooden board.

Clack.