A teenage boy laid in the field of emerald, taking a gander at the cloud filled sky. Although he was often mistaken for a lazy ninja, he did have a knack for tactical warfare. Always planning the next hundred steps in his plot to foil his opponent at any given time. Yep, that was Shikamaru for you. After being declared a Chunin by the Hidden Leaf Village elders, he went on one unsuccessful mission-retrieve a fallen comrade. Executing what he originally thought was a brilliant strategy, it only left his four teammates in shambles. Each man in his squad for the most part were bandaged. He laid there, thinking of every possible reason why his first mission failed. Wasn't it enough that he and his squad did their best to retrieve Sasuke? Sitting up, he allowed for his inner voice to criticize his plan. He had kept the diagram he drew the day they had set out.
"What went wrong?" seemed to be the only question that escaped his lips.
"Maybe you're looking at it from the wrong angle, Shikamaru." The unfamiliar, yet feminine voice broke through his thoughts. His eyes shifted from the parchment to the young woman who stood before him. Blocking out the sunlight from his eyes, Shikamaru was able to see the figure clad in an unusual choice of clothes. For one thing, she clearly did not believe in shoes, her feet were calloused from walking. Moving upwards, a simple fighting dress with sheer pants underneath, loosely clung to her body. Her long navy hair danced as she crouched down to his eye-level.
"You don't remember me, do you?" she asked.
"No. Should I?" Laughing to herself, seeing that he clearly did not remember her name, it seemed only fair that she answer his question.
"When we were kids, we used to stare at the clouds," pointing up at the passing cumulus and stratus clouds, and noticing that her ways of jogging his memory were failing, she sighed, "I'm Mieke." When the stranger introduced herself, Shikamaru could not believe his eyes.
"Hey Shikamaru! Wait up! I want to go see the clouds too!" a smiling girl called out after him.
"Hurry up Mieke!"
"Mieke Sanjo? Is that really you?" Knowing that he had a small crush on her back when they were ten, he still could not get over the fact that with time, she grew up. Seeing the recognition in his face, Mieke plopped down to the ground next to him.
"Yeah, it's me all right," then taking a glance at the piece of parchment, "I heard about you making Chunin. Congratulations." A gentle breeze rustled the leaves and the blades around them. As if reading his thoughts, she took his hand like an old friend would do, "It wasn't your fault, Shikamaru. You did your best and that's all that mattered."
"I nearly cost them their lives. How is that the best I'm capable of?" Sighing, she let go of his hand. Despite how much time has gone by since she had moved away from their village, she still understood his laziness and adored his tactical instincts.
"Everyone makes mistakes, Shikamaru. Even me. Being a masterful tactician, not only do you have to plan the next couple of moves, but the next thousand steps after that," looking at her old friend, "Ever wonder why I stopped wearing shoes?" Remembering that her feet were bare, he did intend to ask her why. Continuing to answer her own question, "I wanted to feel the tremors in the ground."
"What?"
"Look around you. We're in a grass field. If someone were to walk towards this area, I would feel the vibrations with my feet, and so begins my own tactical strategy of watching and waiting." flashing a smile at her companion, "It's how I tracked you down." At the sound of her answer, Shikamaru didn't know whether to be shocked or impressed. In the past, he could care less about ninja training, but seeing how much Mieke trusted her instincts, and noticing her confidence in him, he chose to roll the parchment back into the scroll. Watching him put the scroll back into the pouch that contained his ninja tools, Mieke rose from the ground.
"Never doubt yourself, Shikamaru," she said with a smile, "Trust your instincts, like I have. I know you put on this charade that you're lazy, but you really aren't." A harsher wind began to blow, and the shadows of the clouds moved over the land. Closing her eyes, with a genuine smile on her face, she took out an old headband with the insignia of where her ninja training began. After five years of living in the Sound Village, and after the fire that burned down her house with her family in it, returning to the place where she born-that was her dream. Although, Mieke didn't tell her old cloud watching friend, she was a highly skilled assassin, she was content with the way her life had taken a turn for the better.
"Care to take a walk with me, Shikamaru?" Without having to be told twice, he stood up, and with his hands in his pockets, together they made their way back to the village.
In the office of the Hidden Leaf Village Hokage, Lady Tsunade sat in an audience with two representatives of the elders. On her desk was an open file with a picture of a young girl with wide light blue eyes. Recalling the family name, Sanjo, Tsunade allowed the village elders to plead their case about letting an assassin ninja come back in a higher ranking that Chunin.
"Her story is one of high importance, a Sanjo could save this village from another massacre from an Uchiha boy," explained the older man. Reading the last part of the file, Lady Tsunade closed her eyes, contemplating whether or not to honor their proposal.
"She will only be allowed into the ranks of Special Ops a Shin-obi if she defeats those candidates who did not make Chunin."
"B-but, Lady Hokage!" the other representative opened her mouth to protest, "She would have to fight against the best man of each team-including the girls-Sakura, Ino, Hinata!" Holding up her hand to silence the older woman, Lady Tsunade showcased her low tolerance for protesting.
"She defeats them all-and that is my final word on this subject."
"Yes, Lady Hokage," the pair bowed before they turned on their heels and left. Outside, in a ramen stand, sat Shikamaru and Mieke. Drinking tangerine tea and talking about the old days, which weren't really that long ago, Mieke enjoyed the company of an old friend-having him tell her about his missions with Ino, his fight against Temari, the rescue mission-he made her feel like she never left. Still holding the bandanna, she placed it on the table.
"I never got rid of it, just thought you should know." To be honest, she caught him off guard when she placed it on the table. Raising an eyebrow and looking at the old beat up headband and seeing the scratches on the silver portion, he couldn't help but ask what happened to it. Biting her lip, she couldn't help but remember the awful things she was called at the Sound Village.
"Hey, you all right? You don't have to talk about it," he said. Her house in flames clouded the boy in front of her-hearing the Sound ninjas holler at her to run away-she shuddered at the horrid memory.
"Yeah, yeah I do," she said with a sigh as the ghosts faded away, "I always hated the Sound Village." Sipping his beverage, he remained quiet. It was then that Mieke opened up, and told him everything.
"They hated me at school," Mieke said, hands nervously shaking underneath the table, "Just because I was top of the class, and because I came from the Sanjo clan." Arching his eyebrow up at her, "The Sanjo clan?" Shikamaru watch her head bop. Looking him square in the eye, Mieke revealed to him the secret teachings, and inherited abilities that made her the skilled strategist that she is.
"We, Sanjo, enjoy the thrill of the hunt. We are dangerous in battle-if we taste our own blood, we become murderous assassins; and I have tasted other blood before. It drives me insane." Grinning wickedly, "Old friend, I live for fighting and defending the lives of the people I sworn to protect-for that reason, I returned to this place-my home." The grin disappearing, with her hands folded neatly on the table, Shikamaru raised his hand for the check. Once outside, they continued their walk.
"You know, that doesn't surprise me." Shikamaru said as they passed a few stores owned by the families who dwelled there.
"Huh?" Stopping in front of a bench, he turned his body to face her.
"You coming back here."
"Oh really?" This time she arched her brow while crossing her arms over her chest. It was then, that her old cloud watching friend caught her off guard-he opened his arms and pulled her into him, crossed arms and all. He was surprised at how comfortable her shoulder was and he tightened his grip.
"Ugh, you're-" letting her arms fall, and seeing that there was no point, Mieke sighed. Her voice low, she repeated what she told him, "Never doubt yourself, Shikamaru." He smiled this time, knowing that he did what he told her to do and her words echoed in his head, "Trust your instincts, like I have. I know you put on this charade that you're lazy, but you really aren't." At that time, they didn't know it, but two girls, Sakura and Hinata, were also taking a walk and happened to witness the entire thing.
"Who's that?" Sakura asked herself, but her voice was loud enough to let the bashful Hinata answer.
"She looks familiar, Sakura. Maybe an old friend of his?"
"Yeah, come to think of it, she does look familiar. Hinata?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think we should tell Ino about-" Hinata's eyes widened in protest.
"No! We can't! You know she'd kill him! And then-" Holding up her hand to silence her, Sakura nodded.
"We won't tell her. C'mon, let's go find the rest of them. They can question Shikamaru later." When the two girls had begun to move on, Mieke felt their footsteps moving away from where they were standing, and feeling slightly uncomfortable, "Umm, Shikamaru?" Forgetting that he still had her leaning into him, "You can let go now." Although she didn't want him to let go, she had to tell him to because knowing her friend, he would not want to let go either.
"Huh? Oh, yeah." Straightening out her dress, he did happen to catch a glimpse of her sky blue eyes. She pulled her navy hair to her side and the way she looked at him when she was done was the same way she used to look at him after class-the same look she gave him when they were ten.
"So," continuing to walk in the direction of his house, "Where do you plan to stay the night?" Thinking about whether to take up his open-ended offer, Mieke wondered where did she really want to spend the night. Placing her arm behind her head with a nervous laugh, she answered, "I don't know. I haven't really thought about it." As they approached the front door of his house, his dad came and opened the door right before Shikamaru's fist met the door.
"Well, Shikamaru, how come you didn't tell me that Mieke was back in town?" His dad couldn't help watch her face light up with that signature smile of hers painted onto her face. Standing aside to allow his son and his friend to walk inside, "And to think I'd forget a face like yours after all these years." He said, closing the door behind them. Shikamaru went up to his room while Mieke chose to stay put while his dad escorted her to the kitchen where they exchanged stories. Mieke, this time opted to tell his dad, the whole story-including the real reason why she had no shoes.
"Orphaned, huh?" he questioned. Mieke nodded, "Sadly, it's the truth-I hope you don't mind my staying here. I had no place to go." Sighing, the father of the lazy boy, said something that truly showcased the loyalty that her friend was known for; rubbing his chin,"Well then, no one's using the spare room..." Instantly, Mieke's shocked expression turned into a gracious grin.
"You mean that I could-?"
"Yep, for as long as you need to." Running up the stairs, Mieke went to inspect the empty, yet wonderfully furnished room. Standing at the doorway, she stepped into her new room. A twin-sized laid parallel against the window, the closet across the foot of the bed, to her right was a desk with a lamp and a stool. Mieke collapsed onto the unmade bed, and stared up at the smooth ceiling.
"You like it?" Shikamaru's dad asked, leaning against the doorway. Bolting up, the smile he gave her, made him secretly wish that she carried their family name, "Of course, you'd have to do your fair share of work around the house."
"Oh, yeah. I will."
"All right then, I'll be downstairs if you need anything," Turning his back before leaving the room he motioned with his hand that Shikamaru's room was the last door to her left, with a third door in between for the bathroom. Laying back down, Mieke closed her eyes and began to remember why she had always liked watching the clouds as she slowly drifted to sleep. Waking up half asleep, she straightened her body out on the bed, and went back to sleep with a yawn. Before turning out the lights of his house, Shikamaru's dad peeked into the spare room, which was now occupied by his son's childhood companion. He smiled at her, much like a father would to his sleeping daughter, only she wasn't though. Quietly, closing her door behind him, he tip-toed to the master bedroom, and the house remained still as a few clouds passed over the moon.
Waking up to the sunlight hitting her face, Mieke rubbed her eyes as she shifted her body. Smiling to herself that today would be a good day, she couldn't escape the haunting smell of breakfast being cooked downstairs. Wanting to clean herself up, Mieke made her way to the bathroom. After splashing her face with cool water, she took a long hard look at her reflection in the mirror. Sighing, she said to herself, "Today's another day. Be proud of where you came from, Mieke." Picking up the comb, she began to run it through her long hair. Parting it into thirds, Mieke began to braid her hair; in the end, she improvised and used the white ribbon that held the family toothbrushes together, to tie her hair. When she returned to her room, she saw a new set of clothes with a towel folded underneath, on top of her desk. Shaking her head because she knew those clothes came out from the kindness of the old man, she closed the door behind her and she begun to change clothes. Dressed in a black shirt, which was hemmed to fit her, and gray pants that stopped at her knee, she opened the door and made her way down the stairs, following the scent of bacon and rice.
"Good morning, Mieke." his dad greeted with a smile, taking a gander at how well the old clothes fit her.
"Morning." she returned the greeting with a smile. She noticed that on the table was just one bowl and one glass filled with water for her, "I take it you two already ate?"
"You catch on quick." Chuckling, "Shikamaru went out for a little bit. If you want to catch up to him, you better-" He didn't have say another word because he heard the bowl come back down on the table and the now half empty glass of water landed with a clink; and then the front door close right after a hearty, "Thank you!" was said. Shaking his head and smiling to himself, "They got it bad for each other. I wonder how long it takes the two of them to figure out that each one wants something more than just being friends." Nearly knocking people off their tracks, Mieke ran to the emerald field, only to see that her friend wasn't laying or sitting in the ground. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she happened to notice the passing cirrus and stratus clouds over head. A marshmallow sized cumulus floated happily in the distance, and not too far, more to the northwest, were a a set of nimbus clouds. Instead of going back into the village, and trying to find him, Mieke sat down, without knowing that Shikamaru was doing the same thing-looking for her. He was just about to head to the field where he usually watched the clouds pass over head, but was stopped by Lee.
"Hey, Shikamaru."
"Hi Lee." Not really wanting to spend his time talking to the recovering Tai Jutsu student, "I have to go." Excusing himself from further conversation, Lee noticed that Chunin-level comrade was in a hurry to get somewhere, "Ugh, yeah, sure. I'll see you around!" By the time Shikamaru made it the field, Mieke had already left.
"Damn it!" he exclaimed raising his fist in the air. Rubbing his head, he sighed as he glanced up at the sky, by now the marshmallow cumulus had started to block out the sun. Angry at himself for missing Mieke, Shikamaru laid down on the grass, in an attempt to clear his mind. The remainder of the day pretty much went on like that; they had kept missing each other at different locations around the village with a matter of ten, fifteen minutes in between when one arrived and the other had left. Finally exhausted, and settling to see her cloud-watching friend at his house, Mieke sat down on a nearby bench and leaned back. Shikamaru had it running around the village trying to find her, and then he saw her sitting on the bench. Right as he was about to cross over, she stood up, hands in her pocket, and she began walking away.
"Hey Mieke! Wait up!" Hearing her name being called, she stopped and turned around in time to see Shikamaru jogging towards her.
"What took you so long, Shikamaru?" Mieke asked, jokingly.
"That's not cool." he answered, then noticing the rain clouds overhead, "We better get back home before it rai-" Taking his hand confidently, Mieke walked ahead and they made their way back to the field, slowly getting wet with every step they took.
"I like walking in the rain, Shikamaru." was enough reason for her to let go and dance around in the now muddy field. He couldn't help but watch her. She moved her hands around her body, and as she spun around, he saw how perfectly in tuned she was with her chakra.
"C'mon Shikamaru!" Mieke stopped for a brief moment, but seeing that he just stood there with his hands in his pocket, she rolled her eyes. Splashing happily into the puddles that laid ahead of him, Shikamaru sighed, knowing that they were already soaked to the bone, he was still hesitant. Wiping off the raindrops on her face as the rain continued to pour, Mieke was determined. Her hand extended and armed with her friendly grin, she knew he couldn't resist.
"Arugh, do I have to?" Lowering her hand back to her side, Mieke's smile disappeared as she turned away and went back to dancing alone. Cursing at himself for not taking the invitation, Shikamaru decided to muster up whatever courage he had at the moment, and stopped just as she did another turn. He waited for her to turn around again to catch her hands. Surprisingly, he did quite well.
"I didn't know that dancing was part of the Chunin exams." Mieke said jokingly.
"You were the one who wanted me to." Laughing and nodding her head at the same time.
"You always find an excuse for everything, you know that?" The rain steadily slowed to a stop, only this time to reveal a twilight sky; after all, it was only an hour since they had arrived at the field.
"You look beautiful, Mieke." Shikamaru couldn't stop the compliment from escaping his inner voice. "Ugh, we should get home. You're soaked."
"Shikamaru," Mieke said, letting go of his hands, and placing her arms at her side, "Shikamaru, it's okay. You don't have to cover up what you said, besides, it's early." Blinking out of shock because she saw through his trying to take back what he said about her, he said nothing when he closed his mouth. Watching her take out the braid, she wrung her hair dry and then moved on to squeeze her shirt and pants to get rid of the excess water. What happened next was the most courageous and the most industrious thing Shikamaru could do-he cupped her face, while she was pushing the droplets of water off her arms, and just pulled her face into his-and for a brief moment, their lips brushed against each other.
"What was that for?" Mieke questioned with a mischievous gleam in her eye. Not backing down, Mieke had a smile on her face when her hand rested gently on his face, "You caught me off guard, no fair." Her saying that was reason enough for him to kiss her again, confidently. Gone were the days where he went to the field without her; gone were the days where she was harassed by school rivals-a dimly lit ember gained strength because it was in that moment that both realized that they were each other's ultimate weakness and found the reason for their will to persevere in all that they did-pulling apart, with a welcoming smile, Mieke asked him the question that she'd been wanting him to answer the day she had to leave the Hidden Leaf Village, "Shikamaru, what took you so long?"
"I've been meaning to do that since the day you left." Shaking her head, Mieke moved her hand to his shoulder, and she looked like she was ready to scold, "You really are lazy, you know that?"
"In my defense, you left the day before I was."
"You do realize that was a few years back, right?" Once again, he pulled her cool body in his own protectively-and they took the stance that they had the day before.
"To tell you the truth, I'm not that lazy. I just didn't have someone telling me to keep focused."
"We should start heading back, don't you think?" This time, Mieke walked up to the door with Shikamaru behind her, and was greeted by his dad again.
"You found him, didn't you?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow, laughing to himself at how well she excused herself with a nod and a smile, and went up to her room. Hearing the rush of water come from the bathroom upstairs, Shikamaru's dad closed the door behind his son.
"It's about damned time, Shikamaru." His dad said as he passed by him. Hands in his pocket, Shikamaru shook his head and walked up the stairs with a smile firmly planted on his face.