I woke up the exact same way I do every morning, with my cat pawing at my face. I reluctantly sit up, glancing at my alarm clock. 6:59 AM. Of course, one minute before my alarm was set to go off. I stretch and yawn and jump out of bed. I threw my hair into a long, lazy ponytail and walked into the kitchen. My father, Kakashi, making breakfast for the two of us. My mother died when I was just a baby, so naturally Kakashi and I are very close. Maybe that's why I've never been on a date, they're afraid of my father.. or maybe I'm just ugly and can't compare to Ino or Sakura. Whatever, I thought, not gonna waste my time worrying about stupid things like that.

"Goodmorning father" I said as Kakashi gave me an ear to ear smile. We ate breakfast together and after he finished he put his mask over his face. "Why do you have to wear that thing every day? You look much less menacing without it." I asked. "Oh, my darling Kimiko, if I didn't wear it the ladies would be all over me, and I couldn't focus on being a ninja because I'd have to be fighting away the women instead!" He said with a laugh.

"Alright, father, fair enough" I giggled.

I slipped on my black pants, blue sandals, fishnet top and Chuunin vest. Strapped my kunai holster to my right thigh and out the door I went. I left my ash-gray coloured hair in the lazy pony tail and out the door I went.

High school was different in Konoha.. four classes a day, each an hour long, with an hour long lunch break in between two of them. There are only 30 students in the final grade. The school was not mandatory, but a choice. We could've gone on to ninja training after the academy, or continued our studies as well as ninja training. For some reason I chose the second. All of us are 16-18 years old, and Chuunin. We love learning, and of course we want to be skilled ninja, but sometimes high schools are all the same..

My first class is a justu class. Today was a study day, where we listen to Iruka sensei talk and talk and talk about the different kinds of jutsu and just sit back for an hour jotting notes. Funny enough, this is my favourite class, because I get to sit in between my best friend Kiba and my.. well.. crush is a stupid word. On the other side of me is Shikamaru.

I've liked Shikamaru since the beginning of high school. I don't know what it is about him, but he fascinates me. He's so cool.. how does he even get away with sleeping in every single class, yet passes all the tests with flying colours? Who knows.. I thought, turning to Kiba. "Hey, wanna ditch the next class?" I asked, giving him my cheesiest smile. Akamaru barked and Kiba gave him a look, "Yeah, sure Kimi, HEY!" he yelled, smacking the table "SHIKAMARUUUUUUU! WAKEY WAKEY!"

Kiba can be so obnoxious.. I thought, but one of the reasons why you just gotta love him.

Shikamaru groaned and looked over at the both of us. "What?"

Kiba gave him a toothy grin and winked at me, "Wanna skip next class with me and Kimiko? It'll be funnnnnnnnnn…."

I smacked Kiba. "Yeah" Shikamaru said sleepily as he rubbed his eyes. "Sure."

"OH, PARDON ME. WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO TEACH THE CLASS?" Iruka sensei yelled from the front of the room "I'M HEARING A LOT OF CHIT CHAT BACK THERE"

"Lay off!" said Kiba, he laughed "we're listening Sensei don't you worry!" Akamaru barked again.

Iruka shook his head and returned to teaching. "Anyways…."

The bell rang and the three of us left class.. and then the building.. and then the premises. For a ninja school, you'd think the teachers would be more alert about skipping class, you know, being Ninjas and all.. but maybe we're just too sneaky. Ha. Ha.

"ALRIGHT!" shouted Kiba "Where are we going?!"

I shook my head and pulled my ponytail over my shoulder, playing with my hair "must you always yell, Kiba? You're giving everyone in a five mile radius a headache."

Shikamaru laughed, giving me a warm smile. "I agree, it's so hard to sleep when you're around."

Kiba glared at both of us, walking backwards in front of us so he could stare us in the eyes "WELL YOU SHOULDN'T BE SLEEPING IN CLASS ANYWAY SHIKAMARU" he turned to me "and YOU, just, shut up. I could say one thing right here right now and you'd run away so don't you ruin this fun day for us!"

I stopped. I knew exactly what he was talking about. He'd tell Shikamaru I'm into him and that'd basically ruin my life, because, obviously he'd never go for someone like me. I glared at Kiba "shut up. Stop talking."

Shikamaru laughed "you guys fight like a married couple"

Kiba howled and laughed "HA! Like I'd marry her! Now, seriously, where do you guys want to go?"

Just as he said that, Akamaru started whining. "Damn it! I forgot! Akamaru has an infection in his ear and I forgot his medication, I'm going to run home and maybe I'll come find you guys later! See ya!" and he ran off.

I stood there for a second, trying to soak in what just happened. Akamaru is his life.. he wouldn't have forgotten that. And why was he so quick to leave? What just happened….?

And then I remembered I'm now alone with Shikamaru.

He turned to me, "well, looks like it's just you and me. What do you want to do?"

I turned red, "Umm.. I'm not really sure.. uh.. we don't have to hang out if you don't want to, I mean.. we could still hang out.. or do something though.. but only if you want."

Shikamaru smiled. "You're cute. Let's make it a date then."

My eyes turned wide "A date? Like a real date or like.. today's date is the date we're doing this on?"

"What?" He laughed again "Like, a date Kimi, I'm not one to do this but we do have the opportunity. We've been stuck beside each other in class for months and I like your attitude. We're friends enough that we could see where it leads us."

Well he's straight to the point, I thought, hold on, does this mean he likes me or something? No. Noooooo. Did Kiba leave us alone on purpose? Nooooooooooooooooo…

"O-okay.. so where are we going?"

"Would you like to come watch the clouds with me?" Shikamaru asked.

"You do that too? I thought I was the only one!" I said as I got a little too excited, "I mean, yeah, sure, sounds cool."

He laughed "yeah, none of my friends really like to do it with me because they think it's boring or something. I really enjoy it though. It's peaceful."

I nodded and we walked into town, looking for a nice spot.

"So," said Shikamaru "you have a thing for Kiba?"

I stuck my tongue out at him "No! No no, Kiba is like a brother to me. He's my best friend. I've always been that way, always found better friends in boys. I don't really get along with girls too much."

Shikamaru smiled "why's that?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not really the dramatic type. I've always kind of kept to myself, and the friends I do make just happen to be boys. I was raised by a man and him only so I'm more comfortable with them I guess.."

And our conversation continued, him asking me about my mother, family, and personal life. Talking to him was easy.. I wasn't sure why I was telling him all of these things. His voice was comforting, he always had a response for what I said and there was no awkward silence whatsoever.. I loved it.

Throughout the conversation we walked all through town and finally got to his favourite cloud gazing spot.

"Here, come on, and be careful" he said as he led me to a ladder, located on the side of a very tall, abandoned building. "You first" as he gestured for me to climb up.

"Alright.." I hesitated, climbing up the ladder. I got to the top very quickly and once I was up there I realized what was so special. It was a rooftop garden.. with a waterfall, flowers, the works. "How is this on top of a building?! Who looks after this? The building is abandoned!"

"Anyone who comes up here, really. Look" He pointed to a small greenhouse. "In there are all the gardening supplies you need, sometimes I come here and keep up the garden just so others can enjoy it too. It's kind of a pastime for me, haven't showed anyone. Don't tell Kiba about it" he laughed, "He'll call me a girl or something."

"It's beautiful" I said, taking in the scenery "I've never seen anything like this."

Shikamaru smiled. "I'm glad you like it, come over here." He was sitting on a very large hammock, and motioned for me to come lay beside him. "Don't worry, I don't bite."

I giggled, wondering if that was an innocent joke or a small dig at Kiba, who happens to bite quite often. I laid down next to him and looked up at the sky.

I can't believe I'm here right now.. how did an ordinary day of school turn into this?

He looked up into the sky, "How peaceful is this? When I stress out I come here, lay down, light up a cigarette, and just relax. I've never really told anybody about this place either, so keep it to yourself alright? It'd be a real drag if a ton of people started coming here."

I laughed, "Shikamaru, I hang out with about 2 people. You have nothing to worry about."

He lit a cigarette, "want one?" he asked.

I don't smoke. Kakashi would karate chop me into the next village if he found out. Kiba would freak out. But.. Shikamaru smokes, and it looks good on him. And.. maybe he'll be impressed.

"Sure" I said, accepting his offering, "thanks."

I lit the cigarette and inhaled. Nothing happened.. I sort of enjoyed it. So we continued to sit there and puff on cigarettes and talk. Before long the sun was setting, and we realized two things.

We skipped the entire day of school, and we ditched Kiba.

"I guess we should get going, then?" asked Shikamaru, "My parents are really strict about dinner time. A real drag, I'd rather hang out with you some more."

I smiled, "It's fine! I have to get back to my dad too. He's probably wondering where I am."

We both got off the hammock and looked at each other. He's so tall.. I thought, and handsome. I look like a short little potato next to him.

It was almost like he read my mind. "You're adorable" he said, patting my head, "Thank you for today. I enjoyed it. See you at school in the morning?"

I smiled, blushing as I looked down at my feet "Yes, of course. See you."

With that, we went our separate ways. I ran home, jumping from rooftops but I felt like I was dancing, twirling as I jumped.

When I arrived home, Kakashi already had dinner made and had eaten. "Where've you been?" He sounded concerned, "It'd be nice if you told me you weren't going to be home for dinner."

Typical dad. "I'm sorry! I was out with a friend."

"After school, right? You can't abandon your studies Kimiko."

"Yes, of course."

"Well, how's Kiba?"
"Actually, father, I wasn't with Kiba.."
"What? Who were you with? Another girl from class?" asked Kakashi as he gave me a quizzical look.

I looked down, obviously he wouldn't think I'd be with a guy other than Kiba. What guy would be interested in me, right?

"Shikamaru, actually. We went for a walk together." I looked down.

"Nara? Oh, good kid. Seems kind of lazy, though. Almost dumb."

"Actually, he's quite smart. He does this thing where he just thinks really hard and puts his hands in this weird position and literally shuts out everything and he's really really nice, he's very sweet I'm sure you'd really like him I mean I know since you lead Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke that you'd have met him a couple of times dad he's really great." I need to stop talking. "He's also really tall.. and handso-"

"Okay, Kimiko, I get it. You must like him very much."

I turned red. "What? No!"

Kakashi laughed "I've never heard you talk so much and so fast in your entire life. It's fine Kimi, just focus on your studies. That's all I ask. And let me know if you won't be home for dinner!" he said sternly.

"Alright, father. Understood."

Thank you so much for reading! More to come. xo