Chapter 1: Eyes of the sky

Her laughter was like a lullaby in the cold night.

"No."she shook her head, giggling like a teenage girl she was. "You cannot break promises made under the stars."

His eyes grew dark as he was bothered by her lies. It almost consumed him - this anger, this sudden disappointment he felt towards her. "He did." With said words he slapped her right on the face, something she did not expect, not from him at least, but even unprepared, she maintained her smile, a ghost of what it was. "He broke your heart."

"No."she argued under the moonlight. Bitter smile graced her lips, luminous even in it's sorrow. "No."

Silence settled in between them. He could feel her slipping away.

"I loved him...I love him."


His grip on the covers tightened as he desperately clang onto something, brimming with fear. He fought with the moans and screams, cries so loud that until recently still birds flew away, chirping in panic. He cried into his pillow, whispering silent swears through gritted teeth, when suddenly - his eyes shot open.

Nara Shikamaru breathed in the sweet scent of a spring breeze.

Lilies...and Sakura trees. Magic of spring...She would say. She...her again. Every morning it was her. Dammit...

His eyelids nictated - as he was suddenly hit by the warm rays of the early morning Sun, caught off guard. Shikamaru carelessly buried his thumb and middle finger into each eye and sighed in mild frustration. He was never a morning person.

Later, tired man forced his eyes to drink in the vision of their surroundings. Grass. Bugs. Tend flowers and trees which swayed in the wind. Bushes and a lake bordered with stones. Garden, he guessed, similar to the one Nara household used to have, but his lack of ability and care caused it to wither away - just a symbol, a reminder, he thought, so he never forgets that nothing remains. Especially people.

Shikamaru grumpily leaned onto his elbow, lazy stare steered onto the flowers swaying in silence. It all looked so falsely peaceful, so...distant and unattainable. Almost chimerical, to him. What was this place, anyway? A home, probably. Home of a woman he spent yet another night with. Great. Just great.

He did not remember how he got here, to tell you the truth, he didn't particularly care, alcohol always did things on its own. It became...more than normal to him, a habit, something he did every day. Sometimes he felt like he didn't even have a home, since he spent days in the pub and nights in beds of women who dared to pick him up. One day, when - out of the blue - he decided to come home, hell, it was the dirtiest place he ever saw. But he wouldn't be him if he did not care, some things were just too troublesome for him to deal with and cleaning was definitely one of them.

Shikamaru Nara yawned, stretching out.

Only thing he prayed for - as he turned in his covers - was for this body behind him to be another eye-pleasing woman, not a thorn or a cross he'll carry on his back because of a one-night mistake. He didn't need yet another Shiho to stalk him for months.

Shikamaru shifted - and exhaled with pleasure.

She was lying there, fast-asleep on top of her covers, a goddess basked in golden sunlight. Her hair was spread all over the place, dark as the starless night and the most beautiful sight he ever saw. His deer-like eyes studied her figure with a hunger of a lion, mischievous gleam evident in them - an indicator of his never-satisfied thirst. His gaze caressed her silky legs, light amber under the sunlight - the color of the last night's sake. Shikamaru flashed a smile as his fingers met the skin of her thighs only to trace upwards, teasing the skin on her belly with a couple tender strokes. Girl flinched in her sleep, and Shikamaru found it simply encouraging. His fingertips stopped by her arm which rested, covering her bare breasts, leaving out just a little for him to see, but enough, since he spotted a nice purple colored mark on one of them, one that will surely last for days. He leaned forward to study her sleeping face, full-lips slightly opened in an inviting manner, eyes closed, nostrils spreading and narrowing. Such a beauty. What a sight...

But - his craving abruptly dwindled and Shikamaru withdrew his hand from the curve of the girl's neck - it never felt more fake.

Because he... was not her man. The man she slept with last night and the man which woke up from his years old slumber each time he looked at her naked figure - wasn't Nara Shikamaru. Only a shadow of a man he pretended to be...

Shikamaru sighed at his own stupidity. Considering having his way with this girl again would only raise her hopes, besides, she was too young, six or seven years younger than him, definitely not something he wanted right now. He didn't need anyone to choke him, not yet. Not ever. Maybe that was a reason why he broke up with Temari in the first place - that woman wanted something he could not give...a secure family.

He lifted his covers and laid them gently on top of the girl. She didn't even wince.

He took a moment to study her body for a second more, her youth. So innocent did she look, just like...a memory of her.

Shikamaru rose from his 'bed' and went inside.

Smell of roses and sweet flowers washed over him as soon as he crossed the doorstep. Decorated pots of the most beautiful flowers rested on the floor, on commodes and tables, wherever he turned. He simply eyed each one of them and headed down the hall, continuing his search for the bathroom. He stopped only to have a look at the living room, at the sight that remained there - a slap. A reminder of the last night's mistakes. Fallen bottle of sake, half-broken glasses lying on the floor, puddles of drinks Shikamaru didn't even dare to recognize, and clothes. His clothes. He whined inwardly, forcing himself to come inside and gather his stuff. He'll need them if he intends to leave this house.

Finally, after many wrong turns in the huge house, Shikamaru found his way to the bathroom. He closed the door behind himself, allowing his clothes to fall on the floor. Shadow ninja came to rest his forehead against the mirror, hating himself. Another girl. Probably another life he ruined. Did it make any sense? To play with feelings of others because you were once betrayed...was it right? Even a genius like Shikamaru had no answer in sight.

You can't...you just can't protect yourself from emotions no matter how hard you try.

He slipped into the shower, letting out cold water and shuddering at it's frigid fingers that traced their way down the contours of his body, leaving not a single part untouched. Fifteen minutes, not much. It takes women so little time to realize their partner is gone and Shikamaru had no intention to be found.

So he was out in less than fifteen minutes, refreshed and dressed.

Today was twenty-second. Shikamaru mentally marked an x over it.


He walked into Hokage Residence as if it was his own, ignoring the vengeful glances Hokage's Assistant was sending his way. Another woman on his long list of one night stands, sorted under the 'overly-attached' section which consisted of those who wanted to marry him right after they shared a breakfast. Shikamaru still could not believe he managed to escape her tracking abilities which were far greater than his already drained well of ideas. But he did it good - paid a man to pretend he was him, they got married and then divorced after she found out he wasn't her beloved, much to the guy's dislike. Ever since, she hated every moment Shikamaru spent breathing.

He passed her by and went inside the office.

The man which was sleeping, - head buried in the huge stack of papers that covered his desk - Naruto Uzumaki, swiftly jumped when he heard the doors closing - a custom he trained to perfect in order to rouse without it being noticed. Hokage rubbed his eyes then blinked, recognizing Shikamaru at last. Then flashed a smile.

"Welcome, Shikamaru!"he greeted him cheerfully, in a way he always used to.

"Naruto."Nara man nodded.

"Sakura said to expect you around midday,"he spoke, trying to check his clock with the corner of an eye. Shikamaru found it rather interesting - wondering if Naruto hoped for their conversation to finish fast so he could continue to sleep, or if there was something the man was trying to hide. "but I am glad you're here this early. Did you have breakfast already? I could use some ramen, you could too."he suggested. His stomach churned to confirm those words. Shikamaru suppressed a laugh.

"Too troublesome for me, Naruto. Choji would be in."

But it seemed like his silly Hokage somehow overheard his words, lost in another world. Shikamaru arched an eyebrow at him, which Naruto didn't seem to actually notice. It was the sound of Shikamaru's voice, it's...liveliness, that caught Naruto's attention and a simple fact...that he was completely clueless. Naruto's face became serious, mask of a hidden guilt, in an instant - a habit that just seemed so surreal. Shikamaru found himself feeling uneasy under Naruto's stern gaze - one Kiba loved to call 'the Hokage's' gaze.

"What is it, Naruto?"Shikamaru asked, his voice echoing, making everything seem so dead out of sudden. And it bothered Shikamaru.

"Shikamaru"Naruto started, giving up on the papers he 'worked' on just a minute ago. He rose from his seat and took a steady step forward. "You know why you are here, don't you?"

Shikamaru frowned. What kind of game was this? "Yes. What is this about, Naruto?"

His interlocutor did not answer immediately, instead, Naruto allowed himself a moment of silence. It seemed as if he was waiting for something - or someone - to come. Impatience was written in every laid-back gesture Naruto tried to play out, but couldn't stop his eyes from constantly peeking at the clock. Something...just didn't feel right.

"I assigned you a team yesterday."he smiled, lightly, almost in remorse. Just...what? "Did Sakura-chan tell you that, Shikamaru?"

"Yes."Nara man nodded, becoming impatient. Was this one of those 'I am the father, you must take care of my child' speeches? If it was, was Naruto really that mad? Anger slowly boiled within him.

"Did she give you...their names?"

Oh kami. "No."Shikamaru spat in irritation, not caring how it sounded. "Naruto. What is this all about?"

Again, Hokage ignored his question. "Do you want to know? I mean...I can...give them to you."

"Fine. Say."

Naruto sighed, restless. "Choji's son. Akimichi Cho, you probably assumed that."he grinned, gave his best to. Shikamaru was very close to snapping at him like a mad woman. "My daughter also, Sakura said it would be good for her to maybe learn something from you, since she's hard to take, just like me."

Clock ticked eight. Naruto was silent for a whole minute.

"And? The last one?"Shikamaru spoke. Hokage's gaze shifted upon him, Shikamaru realized it just now. His gaze was fixed on the entrance the whole time.

He seemed defeated, by something Shikamaru knew nothing about, and it frustrated him even more. Naruto, who was always so predictable for him, became unreadable. Was it the alcohol? The slight hangover he felt - a dull emptiness in his head? Or was it Naruto, who grew wiser?

Finally, weak, almost whispered words left his mouth. "The third child is Asuma. Asuma..."

Sound of doors opening silenced the surname Naruto dared to say, but Shikamaru did not peculiarly care about. He turned to face the person that interrupted their conversation, therefore cutting the strings that held his nerves together.

It was a team. Three soon-to-be genins. His godson, young Akimichi. And Naruto's Kushina.

And him.

...him.

A certain raven-haired boy.

"Hello."they chimed together, nevertheless, all Shikamaru heard was the voice of the boy, the coldness in his tone, and the warmth in the eyes of the sky itself staring right at him, undeniably him. Eyes...he never forgot. Eyes he stared into for the sixteen years of his life, eyes that were the reason why he so loved the beautiful sky. Those were her eyes, undoubtedly her eyes. Her eyes...on his body. Combination of everything he hated was standing right before him and he could not escape. He could not escape...

They say poison comes in small bottles...Then...was this what they meant?

Shikamaru Nara turned towards Naruto, seeking answers, anything, just anything he could offer. But Naruto's face held no emotion except pity - and Shikamaru could not accept pity, wasn't willing to. Even though he so wanted to cry, scream, and drink more than any other day in his life, Shikamaru could not accept pity, not from the others. Not from Naruto.

"Asuma...Asuma Yamanaka."Nara Shikamaru finished for him.


So, this is the first chapter :D I hope you liked it and please, tell me what you think about it up till now. Reviews are really appreciated.