In this story Shikamaru isn't the Nara Clan heir, but his cousin who everyone believe is smarter then him.
The first time Nara Shikamaru sees her, sitting in his favorite chair in the library, he spends the entire afternoon studying her like he would a book.
She's a small girl with perfect beige curls twisted into a complex braid and soft copper filled eyes. Everything about her is very delicate, from the way she holds the book in her dainty hands to the pristine white dress she wears. All the Nara knows is that, she's different than anyone he's ever meet before, a very composed and poised child in a silent shell.
She was silent but not shy like the Aburame in his class, instead she just seems to enjoy the silence.
She was confident but not overbearing like Ino, instead she seems to know her own value.
She was caring but not self conscious like Choji, instead she just seems to want those around her to smile.
Interest caught, the boy returned to the library to watch the girl a second day.
"What is your name?" The girl asks, eventually looking over her book towards Shikamaru's hiding spot on the second day. "You've been standing there a very long time."
"I'm Nara Shikamaru," The boy introduces. "You are in my stop."
The girl looks at the chair she sat in curiously, a brief look of annoyance crosses her face but it quickly leaves as she turns back to the boy. "I am Nanaji. This spot doesn't have your name on it but if you would like, we could share it."
Nanaji moves over enough for Shikamaru to sit on the chair with her, before going back to the book she's been reading. Only looking up when she feels the stop next to her sink slightly, and a light almost unheard ghosts her cheek 'Troublesome Girl'.
One of the Anbu guards assigned with the task of watching Nanaji, could only watch silently as black muck from the Nara boy's shoe fell onto the girls pristine white dress.
"Would you like to come over to my house for dinner?" Nanaji asks at the end of the day, books protectively wrapped in her arms and hope edging into her voice. "I've never had anyone over for dinner before."
"Sure."
'Troublesome girl.' A voice in Shikamaru head musses fondly.
XXX
Shikamaru felt a little awkward and self conscious about where he was. He was just waiting for someone to jump out from behind a door and yell that this has all been a practical joke. This couldn't be real, the little quiet girl he'd meet at the library couldn't be the Fire Daimyo's daughter.
"It's okay, my father and brothers won't be joining us for dinner. You only have to worry about passing my Aunt Jiji's inspection." Nanaji jokes lightly, playing nervously with one of the many bracelets on her wrists. "I'm sorry if you are uncomfortable, you can leave if you want to? I understand, people always get nervous when they find out who my father is."
"It's fine, I'd like to stay if that's okay, but are you really the Fire Daimyo's daughter?" Shikamaru asks, taking a hesitant step towards the table in the dining room. The voice in his head trying to reasons why he should actually stay and not just run back home. 'It would be very troublesome to come all this way and not at least get some food.'
"I am." Nanaji blushes softly. "I am Nanaji the seventh royal child to the Fire Daimyo, I am also the youngest child and the only daughter."
"Okay." Shikamaru breath out. "I guess, I just don't understand why you invited me over. I'm not very important, just a boy from a small family, I'm not even my clan's heir."
"I have never had someone our age notice me," The blond explains, sitting at one of the many settings on the table. "But you noticed me. Even if it was because I was sitting in 'your' spot."
Shikamaru gave the girl a small smile, not because she is helping him pick the correct fork to use for the salad (why is there four forks?), but because he understands. No one ever notices him either, he always seems to just be 'A Nara' or 'Shikaku's son', In a way, Shikamaru was happy that Nanaji noticed him, even if she noticed him watching her read in his favorite spot.
"Troublesome girl, So should I call you Nanaji-Hime?"
"Nanaji-Hime is very formal and everyone calls me that, but I would like to think that a friend would call me something else."
"Troublesome princess, How does Nana-kun sound?"
In a second the princess's copper eyes wells with unshed tears, making the Nara fear that he's done something wrong, but she quickly smiles. "That sounds really nice...Ru-chan."
'Troublesome girl.'