.
-
-
-------
"How are you?"
"I'm good, alive." Neji replied with a small laugh.
"I am so sorry, I should have planned better, this never should have happened."
Staring deeply at his friend Neji saw how broken up he was about the results of their mission. "Shikamaru there was nothing you could have done. These were by far the most powerful shinobi we have ever faced. They also had abilities you could not account for. It was your first mission as leader and you did well."
"You almost died. God both you and Choji almost died. I should have planned better."
"Shikamaru, you're repeating yourself." Eyes looked up into his. "You do the best you can. Things happen in the heat of battle. Sometimes things go wrong. You learn from it and move on."
"But if you had died."
"Then you would have learned and your next team would have been that much more fortunate. Death is part of the life of a shinobi. I would not hold mine against you. Do not hold my almost death against yourself."
Hearing a soft knock against the door Shikamaru pulled himself together while Neji called out for the person to enter. The door slowly opened and Hinata Hyuga's head peaked around. "Niisan?"
"Hello Hinata-sama, would you like to come in?"
"If it would not be too much of a bother." She said with a slight blush. "I just wanted to make sure you were recovering well from your injuries. The family has been very worried."
"It is kind of you to worry Hinata-sama. Has everything been well with you?"
"Oh yes, I have been allowed back to normal training. I am trying very hard."
"That is good Hinata-sama but do not overextend yourself."
"Thank you for your concern Niisan. I would never do anything to inconvenience you or the family."
"It is not about inconvenience, Hinata-sama. I am just worried for your health. "
"Thank you Niisan. I hope you heal quickly. Please let me know if you need anything." Bowing her head she quickly turned and left the room.
Pondering the strange interaction for a moment Shikamaru turned to look at Neji, whose head hung in shame. "Be happy you can blame someone else for our injuries. The guilt is much worse when you are the direct cause of them."
Leaning his head back against his chair Shikamaru closed his eyes and pondered his role in his friends' injuries. Shaking his head he muttered "troublesome." He really didn't like being in charge, but Neji was right. It could have been worse.
-
-
-
-
Shikamaru made his way home through the forest. He had just left Choji's house. His friend had gotten out of the hospital today and Shikamaru wanted to make sure he settled in okay. While he knew that Choji was physically alright the sight of his now thin friend just seemed wrong. He figured he would be able to relax more once Choji put on some more weight, and with the way he had been eating when he left, Shikamaru was pretty sure that would be happening soon.
As he made his way further into the forest he began to hear sounds of a fight. Going forward to investigate he saw Neji Hyuga having a fearsome battle with a couple of trees. Neji had only gotten out of the hospital the day before so Shikamaru didn't really think that this was probably a good idea.
As Neji did not even break stride when Shikamaru dropped down next to him Shikamaru reasoned that Neji had been perfectly aware of his presence. After waiting a few minutes he gave up on Neji actually acknowledging him. "Are you sure you should be training this hard this soon?"
"Yes"
"You're going to hurt yourself Neji."
"She's in the hospital again."
"Hinata?"
"Yes, she trained too hard. Her heart is still not up to it. They think they will need to do another surgery."
He never stopped hitting his inanimate opponents. Seeing the blood on his hand, Shikamaru started to worry. "Lady Tsunade can fix her Neji. Remember with Lee, if the Hokage didn't think she could do it she would tell her," having said that, Shikamaru put his hand on Neji's arm in an effort to stop him. Neji finally looked up into Shikamaru's eyes and the chunin could see the tears held in check.
"This is my fault. I know you blame yourself for what happened when we went to retrieve Sasuke but this is my fault. There is no one else to blame."
Grasping the other boy's bicep Shikamaru squeezed to get his attention. "Yes you caused the initial injury, but you no longer carry the same intent. You be there for her now and stop carrying the blame. That will not help her."
Neji stared at him for another long minute before silently nodding his head. Arms falling to his side he sat down with his back leaning against one of the nearby trees. Closing his eyes and tilting his head back he just waited until Shikamaru came and sat besides him. Neither said anything just sat together for a long while with nothing but the noises of the forest between them.
Eventually Neji stood, briefly squeezing Shikamaru's shoulder he said, "I need to go, Hiashi will be worried if I do not check in." Shikamaru interpreted the silent thank you and got up to leave in the other direction. Both boys left with no further conversation but with much more peace then when they had come.