Clear Feelings
"I can't believe she's gone."
"Yeah, she really was an angel, wasn't she?"
"I feel sorry for Kerei-san; First her husband, and now her daughter."
"And so is the life of a ninja."
Whispers and small sobs were heard in an audience dressed in black. Every person in the area dreaded the day they would see the young lady named Narumi, in a cold, oak coffin. Her mother was kneeling beside it, dressed in black, her left hand clutching the pale right hand of the girl. In her other, was a white rose. Some said kunoichi and shinobi were to be buried normally, and a small ceremony would be held in their honor. But she was different. She changed the lives of everyone she met- Ally or foe. Her smile taught people that there was still good in this injured world.
"What happened to the kid who always hung out with her?"
"Nara-san? He's probably moping around somewhere."
Indeed Nara Shikamaru was moping around, but at the same time, he had this weird feeling that wasn't anguish, nor was it amusement. If the feeling was none of these things, then what was it? He didn't know. For some reason, when he looked up at the wistful clouds, he held the same feeling in his heart.
Longing...?
Was it the longing to be like the clouds, free and uncaring?
Was it the longing to see Narumi, alive and awake, at least one more time?
Maybe it was.
Of course he wanted Narumi alive… but why?
He missed her.
Worry…?
Was it the worry that the clouds will one day disappear just like Narumi did?
Was it the worry that everyone will blame him for their angel's death?
Maybe it was.
He couldn't take it if they blamed him for Narumi's death… but why?
He loved her.
Wait…
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Damn!"
He slammed his fist on a side table, he glanced at Narumi again. Then a sudden rush of feeling came onto him.
"It's my entire fault. If I paid more attention to my surroundings, this wouldn't have happened. Why didn't you let me take the hit? Why?!?"
It seemed time just stopped when a single sentence came from the weak mouth of the angel.
"Be...because Narumi...Narumi loves you, of course..."
"Narumi?!"
Exactly three seconds after her sentence, the weak line on her heart monitor became...flat.
"NARUMI!!"
Love?
He loved the clouds…
Did he love Narumi?
….
He was sure his life plan for himself was to marry a normal wife, have his normal life as a ninja, retire, then die old. Had he ever thought of putting love into this equation? Had Nara Shikamaru ever even thought this much about one person? A dead person at that.
Maybe it was love.
No…
He was sure.
"I think," He said, standing up from his sitting position, "The sky's becoming clearer."