"Hey Shika, wait up!" I yelled at the slow moving boy entering the academy.

He turns and looks harassed. "Kyri! You know that if you didn't have to be so stubborn and make your snail win the race every time, I wouldn't have to wait. I'm already late as it is.

I bend down and pick up my 20 pound, fast moving snail racer. "That would make the day interesting Shika."

"You're so troub-"

"Troublesome, yeah I know, but you love me anyway. "A huge grin crossed my face and made my vision go blurry. Just enough to not see the enormous blush on Shikamaru's face.

"I-I don't love you." He stammered.

"Relax, it's a joke Shika." The faint blush on my face said everything." We promised not to let feelings ruin our friendship when we were seven."'Yeah and you saying things like that only strain our relationship more now that we are older and I actually love you Kyri.' Shikamaru thought. "Whatever. Let's go. We're already late for class."

"Karinagi-san.""mmm…" I mumbled."Karinagi-san, wake up!" Iruka-sensei's voice broke through the fog of sleep clouding my brain."Wha'd ya want?" I say, still half asleep."If you want to sleep, please refrain from doing so in class. Especially when you sit next to Nara-san, as you seem to be extremely comfortable when doing so!" An anime vein popped out on Iruka-sensei's forehead."…" I was already asleep.

Class ended. No one moved. All eyes were concentrated on the back row, where two extremely tired people were just waking up. The smaller of the two stirred first and poked the other. "Wake-up Shika. Time to get up."Shikamaru cracked open one eye. "Mornin' Kyri."I smiled. "More like afternoon. Class is over." I pointed at the classroom clock. Then at his arms. "Please move your arms Skika, the whole class is watching us."He cracked open the other and sighed. 'Damn classmates, have to ruin the perfect opportunity.' He removed his arms slowly, having the excuse of still being tired.I stood up and walked to the door. "Bye-bye Iruka-sensei." The class waited till I was gone. Then they turned back to Shikamaru.He stood up and put his hands in his pockets. "What?"

I walked up the hill towards the familiar figure.He cracked open one eye and sighed.I sat down. "You get interrogated Shika?""Yeah.""I'm sorry.""For what?"Nothing."He sat up. "You always answer my questions Kyri. What's up?"

I sighed and looked at the ground. "What would you say if I said I liked someone and didn't know if he liked me back?"Shikamaru sat for a second. "I would say, 'Is it Sasuke?'"I looked up startled and stared at Shikamaru.He saw this. A sweat drop appeared. "It's not Sasuke is it?"I started laughing. "No, it's not Sasuke."He smiled. "Good I could never be your friend if you were a fan girl. Who do you like?"I quit laughing. "I can't tell you Shika.""Then show me." His face was blank.I sighed again. "Fine."Closing my eyes, I leaned forward and kissed him full on the lips. For a second nothing happened. I started to pull back. He grabbed my arms and pulled me back into the kiss.Both of us gasped when we finally drew apart. Breathing heavily, I said, "What was that for Shika?"He stared at me. "You mean you don't' know!?" He glanced at the ground. "Aishiteru, Kyri. I have for a long time."I smiled at him. "Do you really mean that Shika?"He blushed. "Yeah, I mean it."I hugged him and grinned happily. "Aishiteru Shika, Aishiteru."