Disclaimer; I do not own Naruto. C:

x

Cut My Life Into Pieces,

This Is My Last Resort.

x

Shikamaru couldn't fall asleep.

or maybe he just didn't want to.

But that wouldn't make sense, because he loved to sleep. It was all he had. it was his

escape.

It wasn't because life was hard, or because school was too much to handle, nor his family giving him problems.

No not that at all.

His grades were outstanding, he was of course, a genious. His IQ reached two hundred when he was only twelve. School was anything but a hassel, he had no problems. but then again, he also didnt have any

friends.

no one bothered him, and he bothered no one. that was how it was.

His family was fine, no fights, no problems. He was an only child so he didn't have any siblings. You'd think him lonely but Shikamaru loves to be alone.

That's the only way he finds solitude.

But it's the same thing everyday for the Nara boy. Has been for a long time and he is only just now noticing his repeatitive question is, will he break his habit?

"Nara-San." The teachers voice rang through said boys ears. Shikamaru lifted his head slightly above his crossed arms that laid on the desk, looking up with his eyes in slints he raised a brow to his teacher. "I would like to see you after class."

"Hai." He spoke in a lazy tone as he laid his head back down. Before he knew it, the bell rang for dismissal. He sat up, stretching. soon after he stood and made his way to his teachers desk.

"You wanted to see me, Kakashi-Sensei?" He asked as he leaned against a desk in the front, watching his teacher pull out his famous orange book.

"Ah yes, now why did I want to see you," He tapped his chin thoughtfully. Shikamaru rolled his eyes as he sighed under his breathe. "That's right, here." A sheet of paper was held out infront of Shikamaru, taking it slowly he skimmed the contents.

"This is a new student?" Shikamaru looked up to his teacher who's eye was creased, meaning he was smiling even if you couldn't see it behind the mask.

"You're as observant as ever, Shikamaru-San. I want you to show her around school. Befriend her. You need one." Kakashi said, watching his student look over the paper again.

"Friends are unnecessary. I will show her around, but that is all, Kakashi-Sensei." Shikamaru walked towards the classroom door.

"Come early tomorrow morning, and meet her at the office. And Shikamaru." He paused. "Just because Chouji is gone doesn't mean you don't deserve friends."

Yes it does.

He thought to himself as he walked out of the classroom.

x

The next morning was an awful hell for our dear Shikamaru, he wasn't use to the early morning. He would sleep until ten minutes before school started, take a shower, change, put his hair up and walk to school. This morning his schedule was put out of wack.

"Troublesome." He muttered, grabbing his backpack from the floor and walking out of his bedroom door down the stairs.

"Shikamaru? You're up early." His mother said as he rushed by her, toward the door. "where are you going?"

"School. Project." Was all he said as he walked out the front door and down the street to the school. He was already ready for this day to

end.

Strolling up into the school he walked into the office to the desk with his hands in his pockets.

"It's about time you showed up." Shikamaru turned to see a girl with bubblegum pink hair and shining emerald eyes that reflected her emotions like a mirror. She wore a white polo uniform shirt and a red plaid tie with safety pins trailing down it. Her tie matched her skirt that was covered with chains. Her jacket black with white stripes. White socks and black shoes. Her Konoha uniform was out of code but he wasn't going to tell her that.

There was no point.

"Shikamaru-San. This is Haruno Sakura. She just tranferred from Suna High Academy. you're excused from first period while helping her around. Show her to her all her classes. Good luck." Kakashi smiled underneath his mask as he waved them off. Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

"What a drag." He scratched the back of his head as walked out into the hall. Pulling out the piece of paper Kakashi handed himself he took a look at it and folded it up, putting it in his pocket.

"So what's first?" She asked, looking at him curiously. Shikamaru shrugged.

"Where ever you want." He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he slouched, starting to walk. Sakura followed next to him.

"You say that like I know the place. Which I dont." She looked at him throught the corners of her eyes.

"You do. Every new student gets a tour on their first arrival into the school by the principal. That's why I didn't understand why Kakashi-Sensei would make me give you a tour." He spoke lazily, leaning aginst the wall. Sakura stopped as she watched him, then smirked.

"Well, since I already know where my classes are, why not skip? I've always wanted to try the sushi in Konoha. I hear it's the best out of all the cities." Shikamaru looked at her, then shook his head as he began to walk again.

"Hey! Where are you going?" She ran to catch up with him, he stopped, turning. he opened his locker and looked at her.

"I'm getting ready for class. That's what you should be doing as well. What with it being your first day in all." He grabbed his book.

"You're so lifeless. It's like someone stole the most precious thing from you." Sakura said, looking at Shikamaru who's eyes widened.

"Shikamaru!" A voice screamed out.

a shot was heard as a body slammed to the ground.

"Chouji!" Shikamarun yelled as he fell to his knees.

"You're friend's dead, kid." A deep voice was heard as Shikamaru stared at his friends motionless form with widened eyes, "you were in the wrong place, at the wrong time." Shikamaru was pushed to the ground, with a gun to his forehead.

"Aye. Let's go. I hear the cops!" Another voice was heard. the man holding the gun grunted as he pulled back, shooting once at Shikamaru. The bullet made contact with his torso. The man walked off into the shadows of the city, leaving him to die.

Shikamaru's shaken body sat up and crawled over to the lifeless form that was once his friend. He coughed as his heart beat was rapid against his chest, pounding at his ribcage and his stomach bled as his thought process raced.

"C-Chouji." He shook his friend gently. "Chouji wake up!" Tears rolled down his face as he shook his friend violently in hopes he would waken. "Chouji come on. don't go, kami-Sama please dont go." Shikamaru's body began to shake uncontrollably as he coughed blood.

"Sir there are two bodies there. Ready the stretchers." Shikamaru heard the paramedics as he fell back. the cold pavement hitting his back. he looked over to his once bestfriend that laid bleeding next to him. Rain began to fall as it mixed with Shikamaru's tears, he closed his eyes tightly, wishing it would

just go away.

Shikamaru turned on his heels as he rushed to his first period class. Hoping, wishing the memories would

dissipate.

x

Every class Shikamaru attended before lunch he had sped through his work and slept. Though sleeping seems natural for the Nara boy, he never actually sped through his work. But he wanted to sleep. He wanted to escape. He wanted to

Forget.

Forgetting was harder for Shikamaru due to his photographic memory. Others believed it to be a gift, he considered it a curse. Being haunted by images and memories of everything you've ever seen, ever heard, ever

experienced.

Pushing that aside, Shikamaru laid out on the grass during lunch. He'd always walk outisde to the picnic area and lay by a tree far from everyone else. Not that they noticed anyway.

"Are you always alone?" Sakura hung upside down from a tree branch above Shikamaru. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at her lazily.

"Usually." He drawled out, his hands behind his head. Sakura flipped down, landing next to him swiftly, crossing her arms.

"Why's that?" She watched him close his eyes again.

"Silence." He spoke, opening one eye to look at her and closed it again. giving her a hint that he didn't want to talk. Sakura stuck her tongue out childishly as she moved her arms behind her back, holding her hands.

"Hmm... hmm." She began to pace around his body. "Hmmm."

"Is there something you need or do you enjoy being troublesome?" He asked, opening his eyes to look at her walk around him. She grinned.

"Well-" She was cut off by a certain blond across the yard.

"SAKURA-CHAN! Come over here! Sasuke-Teme wants to meet you!" Naruto received a hard smack to the head by the raven haired boy who was seated beside him at a picnic table.

"Alright Naruto-San!" She waved to him, looking back over to Shikamaru who had closed his eyes again. She began to open her mouth but closed it as she walked away toward the blond and his group of friends. What she didnt know was that Shikamaru watched her leave.

He didn't really care that she had left, he didn't know her well and she was obviously very new if she continued to speak and hang around him. He wouldnt say he was a complete loser, he could make friends easy. He was friends with Sasuke and Naruto and others in Elementary. Along with his childhood friends Chouji and Ino Yamanaka.

But they all grew apart during the move to Middle school. Their friendship being divided by silly labels and levels of popularity. Shikamaru being ignored by most everyone, except for Chouji of course, he wasnt even in the levels. Because he was barely acknowledged. Everyone knew who he was, but they chose to ignore who he

really was.

Chouji didn't have that privilage due to his weight. Oh yes, in Konoha Middle School there were many kids with absolutely no consideration. Nor care for someone's feeling other than their own. Chouji didn't have a problem with that though, and that's what Shikamaru admired about his friend. His ability to love himself without having a care of what his peers believe.

Shikamaru sighed heavily as the bell rang, signaling the students to attend their next class. He stood, looking up at the sky once more.

"Lunch just isn't the same without someone eating all my food." He murmered as he walked inside the building, and towards his next class. And on his way there he couldn't help but feel there was something

missing.

Sakura watched him from her position with Sasuke, Naruto and the rest of the group.

"Ano sa, Naruto-San. Why is that Shikamaru boy always alone?" Sakura asked the blond who turned to her, but quickly forgot the question when he saw Sasuke standing up, leaving.

"Sasuke-Teme! Where are you going!" He called to his friend loudly, making Sakura twitch.

"Class, dobe." He spoke in a smooth voice as he continued walking off. Naruto jumped up and ran after him.

"Come on Sakura-Chan!" He yelled back at her. Sakura shook her head as she put a hand to her temple.

"What an annoying boy." She muttered with a frown as she followed behind slowly.

x

Shikamaru walked down the streets of Konoha city. Passing by small food carts and large buildings stacked next to each other. Only the larger and, or, memorable buildings had a large yard with grass. Konoha was divided into two parts of the city. The suburben area, and downtown. The suburben area was not only filled with neighborhoods but shops and restraunts. Downtown was where you went when you wanted to pick a fight with a gang or have a few bottles of sake` at a bar.

Shikamaru worked at the Library, which was located on the border of Downtoun and the Suburben area. He didn't enjoy the idea of having to walk so far down a noisy street and passing by drunkards who didn't know their limits. But he enjoyed books, preferably physics. So he beared with the hour long walk.

When he entered the Library he was met with silence, and he silently sighed relief as he walked over to the book check in and check out. walking behind the desk he was met with a girl with wide pearl eyes and navy blue looking hair.

"S-Shikamaru-San." She nodded to him as she held a book tightly.

"Hinata-San." He spoke, nodding to her as he grabbed a few books from the check in pile and walked over to the computer.

"H-How are you today, S-Shikamaru-San." She asked as she sat down, checking out a boy at the counters book. "I s-saw the new g-girl talking t-to you t-today." She stuttered quietly, trying to make small conversations with the boy.

She was like him in a way, always alone. But in a way she wasn't anything like him, because she had

friends.

But she was more observant than others. She watched everyone, but most of all, she cared about everyone. She was timid, shy and not one to make friends easily on her own. But she was kind and tried to do her best at making people happy.

After hearing the incident with Chouji and Shikamaru, Hinata tried to befriend Shikamaru but was too afraid and shy. She eventually worked up the nerve to small talk with him every once in awhile when he or she worked on the same days. But Shikamaru only kept the conversation going for so long until he becomes

silent.

"I'm fine." He muttered. "The new girl is troublesome." He spoke bluntly as he checked a book.

"a-ano. She seems nice." Hinata spoke quietly as she continued checking out more books. Shikamaru grunted in response, signaling that he was finished talking as he grabbed the books and headed to the shelves.

Hours seemed to pass

Because it was already time to leave. Shikamaru grabbed his backpack as he began to head out the door.

"H-Have a g-good night, S-Shikamaru-San." Hinata called to him as he walked up the street, toward the Suburben part of Konoha city.

"Anata mo." He called back loud enough for her to hear but not loud at all. He check his phone seeing it was only a few minutes pass five was beginning to get cold, and Winter was approaching. Only a few more months and it would start to snow. It always snowed in Konoha.

Too bad Shikamaru hated the snow. It gave him a cold feeling, inside and out. He never found much beauty in it because the white snow could be stained so easily. Ruined with one sweep. And the Winters were always

Harsh..

He walked home silently as he slightly shook from the chilly air hitting his sleeveless arms.

x

Arriving at his house at his house a few minutes after six thirty he greeted by his parents who stood in front of him when he walked into the door. he dropped his bag as he raised an eyebrow.

"Mom, is this another one of your interventions? you know you actually need a reason to intervention someone." He spoke lazily as his mother rolled her eyes and handed him a small basket.

"You know I dont watch those silly shows anymore, Shikamaru." She waved her hand at him as her husband coughed loudly. He received a whack and a glare. The Nara woman adjusted her shirt as she began to speak again.

"We're going out to meet up with the Akimichi's to have dinner. We want you to go introduce yourselves to our new neighbors who moved in last week. Give them that basket as a welcome gift. We have to hurry! Ja ne." She grabbed her husbands arm as she passed by Shikamaru to walk out the door quickly

Shikamaru sighed as the door 'clicked' shut.

"What a drag." He complained as he grabbed a thin black jacket from the coat rack and opened the door. He trudged through the grass and quickly made his way over to the next house. His mother and father had already left in the opposite direction as he rang the door bell.

Waiting patiently he examined the small basket in his hands. His parents were always giving small baskets to people, even for a stupid reason. Though he can't necessarily say his parent(s) because his mother was the one who came up with the idea and put into action. His father just went along with it so he wouldnt have to hear her complain. She always put small fruits and flowers in the baskets.

"Well, hello there." Shikamaru looked up to meet a grinning Sakura with her arms crossed and her body leaned against the door frame.

Shikamaru mentally face palmed.

xxxxx

Yay. This First chapter is insanely boring and not well written. ;w;

But I'm hoping I can try to stick some humor in the second chapter and so on and so forth. But for now this is all I have. There are errors because I did this on wordpad. And wordpad does not tell me when I type something or spell something incorrectly.

It's also very short. but I'm hoping the later chapters will be much longer. Idea's are greatly apprieciated.

Review please! Thank you. C:

-Henea-Chan