Hidden

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters

A/N

I'm sure many of us have hidden things from friends or in this case, the ones "close to you" ;)

My stories are one of those things I keep from many of my friends, and that inspired this story.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you watch the clouds, Shikamaru."

The man turned around to see an old and still best friend.

"Chouji, long time no see."

Chouji smiled at his friend, sitting down beside him on top of the building.

"Yeah, just came back from another mission, and I thought a lunch with you wouldn't be a bad idea."

He looked at the way Shikamaru rested on the bench. "Only that it looks like you'd prefer it if you just relaxed here, am I right?"

Shikamaru smiled. His friend knew him well. "Of course you are."

Chouji chuckled. "Well these days, cloud watching only occurs when you have something important on the brain, so what's up?"

Shikamaru looked back up to the clouds. "Was there ever anything you wanted to show or tell Ino, but feared that she wouldn't like it, or would reject it?"

Chouji looked up into the clouds as well. "Is this about Temari?"

He closed his eyes. "Maybe."

The larger of the two laughed. "So it's something important to do with Temari. It always is for you, hey Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru chuckled.

Chouji took out a bag of chips, just like old times. "I'll put it this way. I don't keep secrets from her, and that includes where I'm going, what I'm doing, or even those embarrassing things that I wouldn't tell anyone else."

Shikamaru stood up and made his way to the stairs. "Not exactly what I was talking about, but it still helped."

Chouji crunched a chip. "No, I'm pretty sure that it was exactly what I'm talking about. I'm just talking about what happens next."

Shikamaru smirked. "Of course you knew. Thanks Chouji, I'll see you later."

She'd be here soon, and it would be just in time as well. The stars were starting to appear, and the sun's light had made everything go violet and blue, and from the top of the hill, the view was beautiful.

They hadn't been here in a long time, not since they'd grown up and began to take on more tasks. Now, they would meet together once more on the hill with the lone tree at the top.

He looked up to see Temari approaching in the distance. Shikamaru smiled. It felt like forever since he last saw her.

Quickly, he composed himself. Putting the ring into his pocket, he stood up and got ready to see her again.

End.