Title: From Here On
Characters: Slight Shika/Neji
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 285
Warnings: Mild angst
Disclaimer: Naruto is created by Kishimoto Masashi.
Prompt: prompt_of_day #1197 jostle
Summary: Neji muses.
Author's Notes: Half-baked. I'm still trying to get back into writing, sorry. Comments are welcome, though. :)
As Neji stood atop the Hokage's tower, he stared helplessly at his village slowly being reduced to ashes. Nothing could extinguish the fire of a powerful jutsu. Most shinobis deployed were either watching with plain disbelief or mere resignation.
The conflagration had been raging for almost a day.
The young man wondered what kind of miracle it would take for Konoha to get up on her feet again. The least he could contribute was to help young students from the Academy take shelter at a safehouse a few kilometers from the south gate. They didn't deserve to experience this kind of agony at an early age.
"Are you alright?" A voice piped from behind.
"Are you?"
Neji found it hard to swallow; his eyes were stinging, but he reasoned it was from the blistering inferno surrounding him. To think the sky held a radiant glow; it seemed unfair that the weather contradicted the unfolding tragedy.
A bony elbow jostled him from his dark musings. He turned to the other with a sooty glare.
"Everything will be better. We'll make sure of it." Shikamaru gently said belying the bereavement in his eyes, and the stiffness of his body.
Neji stared at him for a moment before slowly grasping the younger man's hand and squeezing in agreement.
End