Checkmate
Summary: Winning a shogi match is easy. Checkmating a girl's heart? Think again. ShikaHina
Disclaimer: Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto
-First Move
That was the first night he noticed her.
Standing by the riverbank while fireflies illuminated the darkness surrounding her and the pale face of the moon reflecting off the dark waters. Only one word could describe her.
Beautiful.
He had followed her without thinking; though later he would make up the excuse that he was never one for parties anyway. But simply, the flowing indigo hair had caught his eye. Black as midnight with a tint of violet in it. Uncommon. Even more so than pink hair.
Maybe, it was that night by the riverbank, that he decided to chase her. Maybe, it was that night while they were talking softly, he realized that, given more time, he might possibly love her. Maybe, it was that night while she left for the Hyuuga compound, that he suddenly had a feeling to checkmate something other than a shogi panel.
Maybe that night, as he reminisced in the darkness, was nothing out of the ordinary after all.
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"Shikamaru-san…?" She tapped his shoulder anxiously. He blinked and yawned lazily, stretching out his arms.
"You…you fell asleep…" A smile was on her pink lips. She pulled her knees to her face, staring at the clouds happily. Shikamaru jolted up in sudden recognition. Hinata Hyuuga. He invited her to go cloud watching with him, after seeing her wander around aimlessly as her teammates trained elsewhere.
"Ah, gomen. I was tired." He put his arms behind his head, lying in a relaxed manner. The sun illuminated her pale skin beautifully; not that there was much of that showing. But that was one of the things he liked about this Hyuuga girl.
Among other things.
"Have you…have you ever watched a cloud grow, Shikamaru-san?"
He was mildly surprised by her bold question.
"Hai. It's one of the more fascinating aspects of cloud-watching," he drawled, silently thinking that she was definitely more intriguing than any cloud.
"To watch a puff of white grow and grow…and then get carried off by the wind far, far away…I find it a bit sad." Hinata's thin voice was quiet with a melancholy undertone. Shikamaru stiffened slightly, realizing that she was referring to something other than simple clouds.
"It's alright. They always come back later. It's a cycle." He stated bluntly. He glanced at her expression; it was sad, though a brave smile was still on her face. The strange urge to hug her found it's way to his mind, but he rejected it immediately. Acting on his instincts would make him lose her company; however light and platonic it was.
"Do you play shogi?" His own question shocked him; it'd slipped out of his mouth with warning.
"N-no…"
"Would you like to learn?" Now where did that come from? He was growing increasingly irritated from the involuntary words he was spouting. Maybe he was finally developing schizophrenia.
"I…I don't know anyone who plays…"
"I do." Shikamaru felt eager now, and for good reason. "I could…teach you."
"Hm…I'll have to ask outo-san…"
"It's alright, it'll only be for a little while. I'm sure he won't mind!" He managed to choke out. Asking the infamous stern and overprotective Hiashi-sama if his daughter could take shogi lessons from the laziest ninja in Konoha. That would sure go well.
"Then…okay! Where c-can you teach me?" The joy lighting up in her pale featureless eyes were brilliant.
"I have a shogi board at my house." Aren't we moving a little fast, Shikamaru? He ignored the warning from his mind. This was just another move in the game of the world. More importantly, the world of love.
"I'll come by tomorrow…" Hinata smiled at him, sending butterflies down into his stomach. She got up to her feet and brushed herself off. "By the way…thank you for listening to me, Shikamaru-san."
"Anytime." As much as he wanted her to swing by now, he knew it was useless to push it too far. Hinata was fragile like porcelain; he couldn't force her. Besides, attempting to do anything except agreeing with her would reveal too much.
He felt something warm press against his cheek.
"Good-bye!" Hinata waved and ran off with flushed cheeks. Shikamaru touched his cheek in a daze. Did she just…kiss him? He fought off the arrogant smirk that wanted to wrench itself onto his face. Just one chaste kiss on the cheek, nothing more.
Besides, it wasn't like he was really in love with her or anything.
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Author's Note: Totally random garbage that I wrote in ten minutes. I hope you like it, I'm writing a follow up, so look for it! This is my first time writing ShikaHina…it's oddly satisfying. Please review, as always!
-moonhaku
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