A/N: Sorry for the wait folks. I've just been so...I don't know, distracted, grounded, bored. Any of them will do. But I had absolutely NOTHING to do. This chapter was originally supposed to be first person, but then I decided against it because it didn't feel right to me. So, sorry if the chapter is a little weird. Do you think I should write the next chapter in 3rd or 1st? Please R&R and give me your opinion!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does...And I DEMAND HE MAKE SHIKAMARU A MAIN CHARIE!!!

Dreams in Extravagant Colors: Chapter One

"Oi! Oi! Shikamaru!" A loud voice called to him, without intentionally being loud.

He sighed, his eyes closed as he stopped walking. Why were all the loud mouths bothering him today?

"Naruto…?" He answered, turning to look at the blonde boy. He was dressed in casual clothing, his hitai-ate nowhere to be seen, but a quick glance over his body says he's recently been to the hospital.

That's right; he and Sasuke had been on an important mission recently. He felt a sneer slowly cross his face. He had high doubts that anything got done on that mission.

"We're going out to drink for awhile later tonight! You should come 'tebayo!"

"We're? Who's all going?"

"Shino, Hinata, Ino, Chouji, Sakura, Lee, Neji, Tenten, Sasuke…"

"So pretty much all the troublesome people?" He sighed and closed his eyes, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I'll pass."

"Aw come on Shikamaru. You need to stop being such an anti-social bastard 'tebayo!"

"Like your boyfriend?"

"Exactly! Just like Sas…shut up."

He smirked again. They'd been dating ever since Sasuke came back, and yet Naruto still acted like it was a big secret to everyone.

"I'm not going Naruto."

"Temari invited us all, especially you. You have to come 'tebayo!"

Now this statement made him pause in my steps. Temari, huh, when had she come back from Suna?

"Kankuro and Temari came with Gaara for a meeting with all the kages 'tebayo. Kankuro and Gaara won't be coming because they have business, but we're going to hang out with them later 'tebayo."

Ah, so that explained it. But still, he didn't feel like going and getting drunk today, especially with everyone who'd be going.

"I might make an appearance."

"Alright! See you later then!" He waved frantically before bounding off.

There's only one word to describe Naruto at this moment, sucker.

Shikamaru then sighed, continuing on his trek. He wasn't teaching today, and yet, he still had to go to the academy to grade the previous weeks work. Why he put it off? Well, he was lazy of course, even if grading the work earlier would have been easy and would have given him more time to himself. Then again, he disliked having time to himself, not wanting his thoughts to trail to the night he nearly died.

He shook his head before sighing, looking up at the academy. The busier he stayed, the less he could think about the past.

Slowly, he made his way to the teacher's lounge, where all of their cubicles were gathered. He wasn't surprised to find his old teacher at his desk as he walked by.

"Iruka-sensei, good afternoon."

"Shikamaru, how many times do I have to tell you that we're equals now; you can just call me Iruka."

He shrugged in reply, kind of leaning against the wall next to Iruka's desk.

"Kakashi-sensei's birthday is today isn't it? How's he holding up?"

Iruka chuckled, shaking his head.

"He's not taking it very well. He could barely get out of bed this morning."

"Can't say I blame him, I'll probably be acting the same way when my birthday rolls around."

"You have no right, you'll only be turning eighteen."

"I'll be taking that step into adulthood." Shikamaru said with a shrug, sighing. "And yet, I already feel old."

Iruka chuckled then before he turned back to his work.

"Here to grade papers again?"

"Yea, but why are you here?"

"Kakashi won't bother me here."

"Oh, I get it."

The older Chunin was there conjuring up some surprise for the Jonin.

"Who's going to be at his surprise?"

"All of the Jonin and me."

"Who's babysitting Yuukiei?"

"Kurenai said she was going to stay at the neighbors house for the evening."

Shikamaru kind of nodded before walking away from the other Chunin, sitting lazily in the chair at his desk. Now to grade those little brats papers.

"Mendokuse." He muttered under his breath ad he took out his red pen and began marking the paper in front of him.

Preview of Chapter Two:

I'd stopped talking to him a while back, because of the fake grin he always gave me, and because he could never look me in the eyes. He was a horrible liar too, answering my worried questions with an empty 'Nothing's wrong, I'm fine.' Most of the time, I couldn't even stand being in the same room with him. Why couldn't he trust me?