A/N: Hey, I'm back to rule the world. So this whole story will be a series of one-shots, just because I don't have time to do a full blown-out story. Well I got this inspiration for this one-shot from watching a replay of the Big 12 Championships. Yes, the infamous game where the Texas Longhorns beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers by one point at the last second, literally. It was so unfair, but a win is a win no matter how slim. I decided to write a Shikamaru and Tenten story first, just because Shikamaru is legit. But no worries, there will be a NejiTen story :)

I hope you guys enjoy!

Best Buds

*-Shikamaru Nara-*

Shikamaru Nara had always considered himself lucky. He was lucky to be born into the Nara Clan as the heir. He was lucky to be the smartest in his class without even trying. Heck, he was even lucky to be averagely attractive. But the first time he conversed with Tenten, he actually thought about how lucky he was. No one was around or at least wanted to be around them that day. The sereneness of the training field almost drove him crazy. All he heard was his own heart thumping intensely against his rib cage. You see, Shikamaru was pinned to a tree with many sharp and dangerous weapons. And Tenten was holding a kunai to his neck with one hand, while the other hand gripped his collar tightly. It was after the failed Sasuke retrieval mission, and she was livid.

How he didn't see this coming, he would never know.

"You bastard! I was worried sick about Neji and Lee! They almost died!" She applied more pressure to the kunai, almost drawing blood. Shikamaru was scared beyond his wits. His palms were sweaty and the bark from the tree dug into his back. How troublesome.

"It was unnecessary to be worried." He spoke with as much courage as he could muster up. After the words flew out of his mouth, he knew it was the wrong thing to say. Shikamaru cursed himself for being stupid. She pressed closer to him, getting in his personal bubble.

"It was unnecessary to be worried?" She laughed maniacally. This laugh sounded empty and hollow. It was unlike her usual one, which were light and filled with cheerfulness.

"You don't understand! You have a whole clan behind you! I have no one! The closest thing that I have to a family is my team! And you almost took that away from me!" A teardrop cascaded down her pain-stricken face while she gripped his shirt tighter.

"I'm sorry." He whispered gently, as if raising his voice any higher would crumble her to pieces.

"Don't. Don't you dare pity me!" She screamed. By now, her face was marred with wet streaks. She felt weak and vulnerable. Tenten never wanted anyone to see her like this, especially him. He was the one who doubted her abilities and predicted for her to lose. He underestimated her. This would only add fuel into the fire.

She shamefully released her grip on his shirt and lowered her kunai back into her pouch. She placed her weapons back into her scrolls with a snap of her fingers. Half a second later, she was ready to sprint away from the training field. But, before she could disappear, Shikamaru trapped her in his Shadow Possession Jutsu. Walking closer to her, he embraced her tightly, not letting her go. He didn't know what possessed him to do that, but he just wanted to console her somehow, and this was the best plan he had.

"I'm really sorry, I-I don't know how to ever make it up to you, but all I know is that right now, I deserve whatever you do to me. I can't even imagine what you went through, and I apologize for all of it. So if you want to kill me, I won't mind." Shikamaru took a kunai from his weapons pouch and deposited it into her hand. He guided her hand with the kunai to his neck. He closed his eyes, waiting for the impact. She pulled her arm back.

This is it, he thought. It's over. But instead of delivering the final blow, Tenten dropped the kunai to the ground with a loud thud. She wrapped her arms around him tighter and sobbed into his chest. Shikamaru opened his eyes slowly in disbelief. Was he really still alive? He examined himself carefully. Yes indeed, he was still alive. He sighed and wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug. Shikamaru was extremely lucky that day. He got to play shogi for another day.

*..*..*..*..*..*

It was Saturday, and Saturdays meant shogi days.

Shikamaru sat crissed-crossed applesauce on the hard wood floor. His partner doing the same. He studied the board carefully, his hand positioned on his chin in a thinking pose. Crap. He was going to lose. This sucks. He never loses! Wait. Yes! His sharp eyes found an opening and he made his move. He picked up the desired piece with his hand; the coolness of the ceramic chilled his fingers. The piece clattered towards its spot on the board with a distinctive click.

He looked up into the eyes of the twin-bun kunoichi and smirked confidently. Tenten lifted the delicate tea cup to her lips and took a sip, relishing its sweet taste. She set the cup back down gently and returned her gaze to the board. After a few moments, she looked up at him with irritation in her eyes.

"Noob, you cheated." Tenten crossed her arms defiantly and stared at him with disgust. Shikamaru shutter from the mean glare sent his way.

"Troublesome. I didn't cheat." Shikamaru set his arms one the table, one arm propping his chin up boredly.

"Yes, you did! There's no way you could've won! I had you cornered and everything! I should've won!" She pointed an accusing finger at him, her face set in a grim expression.

"I didn't cheat. You just failed epically." He sighed. Why must all shogi games end like this?

"Me fail? That's like Naruto hating ramen! It just doesn't happen, Mister!" Her voice was higher now, as it always is when she gets defensive.

"Ah, but you did, Panda." He closed his eyes tiredly, hoping she'll just drop the argument.

"Don't call me that, Pineapple!" She sat up straighter, her fingers twitching, threatening to flip the small wood table over.

"Okay, I'll let you in on a secret…" Shikamaru smirked. Tenten settled her hands on the table to lean in closer, so she could hear the vital information.

"I won because of this little thing called skills. Something you obviously don't have, amateur." He said with satisfaction. Tenten eyes flared dangerously with anger. She slammed her hands on the table, putting a crack into it.

"But I do have skills! I just lost because you cheated! Cheater, Cheater, pumpkin eater!" She taunted, sticking her tongue out at him and blowing raspberries. She huffed and puffed (and blew the house down.)

"…I'm allergic to pumpkins…" Shikamaru looked at her amusedly with a triumphant smirk upon his face.

"I'm allergic to your face!" She flipped him the birdie and narrowed her eyes.

"Now, now, Tennie-chan, that's not very lady-like, is it?" He petted her head mockingly.

"You can go suck it!" Tenten flipped the table over, sending it across the room and spilling the game pieces and tea all over the floor.

"That, I believe is your job." Shikamaru chuckled. Her face was red, from embarrassment or anger, he didn't know.

"SHIKAMARU!" She screeched like a banshee. This was why Saturdays at the Nara Compound were never quiet anymore.

She stood up menacingly and grabbed the shogi board off the floor. Tenten felt the weight of it and pondered her decision. She chucked it at his head with her 100% accuracy. It was no use dodging it, he concluded. He cringed from thinking about the bruise that was going to painfully end up on his forehead. Shikamaru managed to get one word out before the board smashed into him.

"Troublesome."

Some days he felt luckier than others.

Please review and tell me what you think :)

Thanks!

-Neji'sGirl185