Impatience
by Original Blue
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
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I is for Innuendos, or lack thereof.
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The evening of June eighth was surprisingly cool as student and teacher strolled down the silent streets of Konoha. They were lost in their own private worlds.
As they passed under a streetlight, the girl waved at a friend who was watching his parents' market stall. The male jounin who accompanied her dug hastily in his pocket for a packet of long awaited cigarettes and smiled. "That was a great party, Moegi. Thank you for inviting me."
"You're welcome." She sighed and crossed her arms. She could feel goosebumps forming and was thankful they were nearing her apartment.
Nara Shikamaru lit a cigarette and took a long drag. "Well you're really... depressed for someone who just turned eighteen. It's troublesome." He stuffed the lighter into his kunai pouch.
Wincing, Mo watched him blow smoke through his nose. "I'm not really in the mood to talk about it, Shika–sensei." Is that even sanitary?
"I can see that. What happened?"
"Nothing." If you know what's good for you, you'll shut up, Shika–sensei.
"Something." If I knew what was good for me, I wouldn't have taken over a chunin team from Ebisu.
"I'm not speaking about this." She crossed her arms in the hope that the gesture would dispel his curiosity.
Shika sighed. "I'll get it out of you eventually."
Her chin went up defiantly. "That's then. This is now."
"So what happened?" He shoved the pack of cigarettes into his pocket. "It takes a lot to get you worked up like this."
"If you were as smart as you think you are, you wouldn't need to ask."
"Was it Konohamaru?"
Moegi swallowed and raised a pale eyebrow. "What?"
Shika yawned, eyes trained on the empty sky above them. "He was practically drooling over Hanabi tonight. And I know you like him." He glanced at the youngest member of the chunin squad.
"I–I don't like him!" The tattoos on her cheeks barely hid her rising blush.
"So you admit that he's what's bothering you. Well, I'd be bothered too if Temari started making sheep's eyes at Kiba, especially at my birthday party." He took another deep breath of smoke as they passed under another streetlight.
"I'm not mad at Konohamaru!" She bit her lip in anger, knowing that her vehement defense only made her seem guilty. "Besides, you and Temari are married! And she doesn't like you to smoke," she added belatedly.
A wry smile twisted Shikamaru's lips. "I know she doesn't. So are you mad at Hanabi, then? She could hardly help him looking at her." He took one last drag from his cigarette and dropped it, smashing it with one navy blue sandal.
"I'm not mad at Hanabi, either!"
"...then who are you mad at?"
Silence reigned for a long moment.
How could I have been so stupid as to talk to him about this? Shikamaru's just doing his psychoanalysis thing on me! She felt her expression darken. Am I that obvious?
They had reached the apartment Moegi shared with her teammates. The shrubbery next to the door was dented from Udon's nightly trips out his window for ANBU missions and there was a strange acid stain from one of Konohamaru's failed attempts at creating poisons.
Moegi felt the tears prickling in the corners of her eyes and bit her cheek to keep her expression neutral.
"I'm not mad at anyone, okay?"
Just let me hash this out on my own. There are some things I can't say to you, Shika–sensei.
Shikamaru looked at her sadly for a second. Then he turned away, leaving her frustrated and forlorn on her doorstep.
...
How many nights do you spend awake
(and wondering and wide–eyed with muffled panic )
of loneliness and tears,
of worrying and fears,
of not knowing if you'll wake up
or if your world will end?
When someone tells you the news
(when he doesn't make it back)
that he wasn't fast enough, wasn't strong enough
(he wasn't enough)
that you waited too long
(and now there's no one to wait for you).
...
Shinobi and civilians alike gathered to bid Team 7 farewell at the village's main gate. The old Team Ebisu was at the forefront, cheering and waving until the trio was out of sight.
Konohamaru grinned at his 'older brother,' who would be Hokage in a few years. Udon just stared after Sasuke, memorizing his posture for future reference.
Moegi was crying; it would be a year before they returned from border duty, and lately Sakura had been like a mentor and sister in everything from training to hair products. "Be careful!" she shouted after them, and she could have sworn she saw a short, red–clad figure waving enthusiastically.
She cupped her hands to her mouth. "Do your best, Sakura! We're counting on you!" Moegi pumped a fist in the air. "Shannaro!"
...
Moegi woke up on a weekend and steeled herself. Today was the day she admitted something she'd denied for years. Today. Today she would tell him.
I love you, Konohamaru.
She dressed and made her way to the marketplace, keeping an eye out for a teal scarf. Before she knew it he was behind her, slinging an arm around her shoulders and talking at the top of his lungs.
"Hey Mo! Wanna grab some ramen at Ichiraku's, my treat?" Although his smile was for her, his gaze followed a pretty kunoichi dressed in blue who winked at him as she passed.
"It's kind of hard for me to talk when you have me in a headlock, Sarutobi Konohamaru."
Look at me.
"That's my name, don't wear it out. What's up?" The woman was buying kunai from a weapons dealer and had taken off the heavy jacket that hid her shoulders from view. She caught Konohamaru's look and gave a sly smile.
Moegi ground her teeth. "I'm going to be honest with you."
Just look at me already...
Her hands balled into fists.
"Huh?" He was barely even paying attention. She grabbed a hold of his scarf and yanked his taller form down to look at her; even then his eyes flickered away from her face.
"I love you."
"..."
Moegi let go of his scarf, searching for acceptance or rejection.
LOOK AT ME!
"I know I've never said this before, but I realized you had a right to know before either of us got killed on some stupid mission, and I'd never had a chance to say it, so..." She trailed off, fighting the urge to twist her fingers together nervously.
Don't hate me...
A grin spread across Konohamaru's face. "Wait a sec, Mo. Let's back up. How'd we get from ramen to declarations of love?"
Stop being an idiot.
"I love you."
The grin faltered slightly. "Like a brother, right?"
She struggled not to raise her voice, knowing they were in full view of the public. "Konohamaru, I love you."
Listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth!
His eyes narrowed in a frown. "Is this some sort of joke? It's not very funny."
"Dammit, Konohamaru!" She stared at him, furious. It wasn't even like she was being subtle! He was either willfully ignoring her, or he was an even bigger idiot than she'd ever thought. "What is your problem?"
Konohamaru blinked slowly and smiled, trying to find the jest. "Does this mean you don't want ramen?"
SHUT. UP.
Her palm hit his face before he knew what was happening, and Moegi stalked away from his stunned form and rapidly reddening cheek, trembling with humiliation and barely checked rage.
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I is for Innuendos, or lack thereof.
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Author's Note:
I'm writing this because there's not enough decent Konohamaru/Moegi fanfiction around. And because the pairing is so freaking cute! It's like the alternate ship for NaruSaku fans who won't get what they want.