A/N Ok, this is just some random fluff because there's not enough of it... Sasuke/Shikamaru... Nothing heavy... Set just after Sasuke leaves Konoha, before the Sasuke Retrieval Mission... Enjoy
Shikamaru stood trembling in the doorway, his eyes glued to a piece of paper in his hand. He couldn't believe what he was reading. It couldn't be true.
"Shikamaru,
I know you'll find this, because I know the first place you'll go when you find out I've left. Just so you know; this was my idea. Nobody forced me or anything, it was all me. And also, please don't try and find me, if I come back, it'll be when I'm ready. I know it's troublesome but deal with it.
There's something I've wanted to tell you for a while now, since the Chuunin exams, y'know, when we were in the forest, but I couldn't. I couldn't tell you then because I didn't know what to say. I still don't think I've got it quite right, but we're out of time now, I'll just have to tell you in these imperfect words.
I think of the time we've spent together and I smile. I didn't know why before, but now I realise it's because I enjoyed being around you. I hated when it was everyone though, Ino and Choji, Kiba and Akamaru, Naruto etc. I wanted it to just be me and you. When it was just me and you, I don't think I treated you like I should. You were my friend, but I never treated you like that.
Do you remember the day we first kissed? I do. You were so angry with me and I just kept on smiling, smirking, you called it. You asked me if I was listening to you and I said no, telling you that there was something else you could do with your lips that would definitely make me pay attention. Now that I think about it you were probably just playing dumb when you asked what I was talking about, but I'll still never forget that night. I think about it every night before I fall asleep; that kiss and every one after. And when I wake up, before I open my eyes, I pray my dreams have come true and you're lying next to me. Most mornings they haven't though, but sometimes I wake before you've had a chance to sneak out. Because of that, I know my dreams will eventually come true but while I'm here playing with dreams, my ambitions are getting farther out of reach. If I'm going to succeed, I need to get stronger, faster. That's all this is about. When I'm finished, I'll come back. I promise.
Look after yourself while I'm away.
S.
P.S I love you."
The final line reverberated in his mind, the perfect imitation of Sasuke's voice. He had never said anything like that before. Shikamaru had assumed he thought it was just a bit of fun.
"P.S I love you."
Was he just saying it, to keep the hope alive in Shikamaru's mind?
"I love you."
"I love you too."
[[A/N I would just like to point out that this is the first thing I've written in months and to be honest, I don't really like it. Any criticism would be more than welcome.]]