Shikamaru was relaxing at Ichiraku's after a hard days training. He didn't realise how rejuvenating a bowl of ramen could be until Naruto bugged him into trying it. The blonde was sitting next to him, devouring his fifth bowl.
"Naruto really can eat for Konoha." Shikamaru stated to the owner of the joint.
"That he can. Naruto-boy's a great customer and an even better person." the owner stated.
A woman with blonde hair and the bluest of eyes sauntered in. Naruto and Shikamaru stared wide-eyed at the beautiful woman. She smiled sweetly at the gawping pair and perched herself gracefully on one of the stools and said, "Hello, cuties."
They regained their composure almost simultaneously. "Hi." Shikamaru replied dumbly.
"Hey, Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto introduced as per usual.
"Amaterasu Takanori." she introduced. "And you?" she asked Shikamaru.
"Shikamaru Nara."
"Nice name." She was sat next to the brunette. She leaned over and whispered something into his ear. Shikamaru blushed slightly, and Naruto could guess exactly what she was saying to him.
He got up and paid the owner of the ramen shop and said, "I'll see you around, Shika. Amatesaru." He elbowed the shadow ninja playfully before leaving.
"What do you say?" Amatesaru asked once she'd finished whispering her proposal.
Shikamaru was struck for words. Was this woman really interested in him? The laziest ninja in Konoha? Apparently so. He nodded, seizing the chance to be with this stunning woman. He hadn't been with anyone since Temari and that didn't last long on account of their differences. Luckily neither Amatesaru nor Shikamaru wanted anything serious. Just one night he thought. It won't do any harm.
Shikamaru's hands were shackled above his head. The shackles, however, did not stretch low enough for his feet touched the floor. The metal bit into his wrists, cutting them. The blood had long stopped flowing, but it had dried on his arms where it had trickled. Most of his clothing had been ripped by the whips and various other torture instruments. His brown hair was plastered to his face with sweat and blood. The bobble that tied it up was discarded somewhere on the stone floor.
The woman came in. Shikamaru winced reflexively at the sight of her.
"Hello, sweetie." she purred. Her voice was silky and persuasive. Shikamaru barey remembered the night she talked him into following her into her car. He remembered that voice. Her breath on his ear. Then nothing.
"Don't you want to see me?"
Shikamaru remained silent.
"Aw. That hurts my feelings." She pulled out a kunai from her weapons pouch. She placed the blade on his cheek. The ninja remained perfectly still. The knife sunk deeper into his skin until she drew blood. She dragged it down his face, from his eye to the corner of his mouth.
"You'll have to speak to me sometime," She moved the blade to the inside of his mouth, "Shikamaru." She pulled it out, cutting through the muscle and skin as she tore through. He cried out.
"Is that the best you can do?" she yelled uncoiling the whip from around her arm and striking it violently across his chest. He screamed in pain. The woman sighed. "I suppose if you don't want to talk to me then some of your friends would be more willing."
"NO!" Shikamaru shouted on instinct.
The woman smiled. "How's about I make you a deal? If you talk to me and keep me interested in what you say, then I won't subject any of your friends to the same fate as you. Okay?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Choji was worried about his best friend. Shikamaru hadn't been seen around Konoha for days. A woman went to Tsunade saying that he was caught up on his mission and wouldn't be home for some time. She was usure when. That was fine, except for the fact that Tsunade wouldn't have sent him on a mission that he would get 'caught up' in on his own. It just didn't add up. Choji had expressed his concerns to his friends and teachers, but they all flipped him off. Only Naruto seemed to vaguely know something. He told Choji that the woman was probably making up the story as she 'wanted' Shikamaru for herself, "If you know what I mean." he added on the end.
What was going on?
Shikamaru was alone, left with his thoughts. How did she know who he was friends with? He guessed if she was tailing him for as long as he suspected, she would know every aspect of his life inside out. He was panicking. What if she took one of them to face the same fate he was pulled into? What then? He didn't think he could stand knowing that he had subjected one of his friends to this fate. That would kill him.
He heard the tiny taps of sandals and on stone. His heart started racing. It felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. She emerged around the corner.
"Hello, Shika." she said. No matter what she did to him, her looks and voice were seductive and alluring.
"Hi." he replied shortly.
"That's all you can give me? 'Hi'?"
Shikamaru closed his eyes accepting that he was going to get beat on again. He mentally prepared himself for the pain that was bound to come. Amatesaru noticed this and took advantage. She stalked up to the scared Nara and saw his muscles tense in fear. She smiled sadistically. She traced her fingers over his bare chest feeling his muscles convulse at her touch. She moved placed her hand on his wounded cheek and moved her face closer to his.
"Open your eyes." He complied. Her blue orbs bore into his brown ones. She was still smiling. Shikamaru, despite himself, felt himself being drawn to her. "I don't want to hurt you." she said sweetly. "Really, I don't. But I'm just so impatient. I don't know what comes over me. I just get ever so lonely. You have to believe me. Do you?"
"Yes." he lied.
Her eyes darkened. "Don't lie to me." She had seen straight through him. She yanked his hair which, in turn, snapped his head backwards. He grunted in pain. She pulled out a kunai with her other hand and dragged it down the length of his left arm making him cry out. She had what she wanted.
"Next time," she said, "entertain me."
She left.
-To be continued-
