Disclaimer: I do not, will not and virtually can not own Naruto…so depressing

Okay I know I said this fic was complete but people are asking me to continue so this is sort of test chapter as to whether I continue this story or not.

Well enjoy =D

It was dawn when he awoke, gazing at his surroundings he became alarmed, trying to sit up he felt a heavy weight keeping him down, searching for the source of the weight a wave of memories crashed into him overwhelming him, gritting his teeth, he carefully slipped his arm out from under the small figure lying next to him.

It had taken hours for him to calm her down, he didn't want to wake her, and getting up out of the bed he tucked the blanket more securely around her. Stepping back from her he moved towards the door to exit the complex, suddenly stopping he took another look at the young blond in front of him.

He couldn't leave her alone she had just experienced what was probably the beating of her life and rape, but due to that rape if she found him in her apartment then it might alarm her causing her to have a panic attack.

Shikamaru was torn between leaving and getting some help or staying and trying to control the situation himself. Sighing he turned away from Naruto and walked towards the door, taking the handle in his hands he twisted it, but never got to exit

"Shikamaru-kun…?"

The young male froze not knowing what to do, slowly very slowly he turned, a confused expression was planted onto her features

"Why are you here?" She asked sleepily with mild confusion. Lifting a hand up she stretched as the blond yawned and rubbed the drowsiness from her eyes, all of a sudden realising that something was on her hand she looked down at herself. Suddenly alarmed her head shot back up staring at Shikamaru, she looked away a blush on her cheeks, she clenched her fists grabbing a handful of the blanket.

All was still, a pregnant pause lingered in the small apartment, Shikamaru stayed still not sure what to do. Naruto wouldn't meet his gaze she would not even look in his direction, his grasp on the handle of the door tightened making his knuckles turn white.

The silence was broken but Naruto, but if it wasn't for his enhanced hearing he would never have known she had spoken, the girl swallowed "…Please don't tell anyone" His eyes hardened and he tried to regain control of the bubbling anger that rose in him, calming himself Shikamaru thought of the situation logically.

The girl was almost murdered brutally the night before after being raped shamelessly in an alleyway on the outskirts of the village. She would most likely be ashamed and embarrassed, not to mention scared and self-conscious but also because it would lead to questions, most that he was sure she wanted to avoid.

Naruto could feel the males gaze bore into her, he was smart so he would have probably figured out her secret, but still a small part of her hoped, longed for him not to know, not to lose another precious person. She waited silently for his answer the silence stretched on she peeked out the corner of her eyes to see if the male was still there.

She jumped in surprise when she realised he had approached her and was kneeling down next to her. She pulled the cover higher over her body, Shikamaru seemingly getting the message retreated away from the bed. Yet Naruto still scrambled back, pressing herself against the wall, Shikamaru gazed into her crystal hazy eyes

…

"…I won't tell…"

His voice was barely above a whisper, but it echoed around the silent apartment as if he were shouting the words. The blonds eyes widened, hope present in them mixing with the relief that flooded its way through the azure orbs. The young kunoichi attempted to smile but put her head down as the tears started to flow again, whether it was from the relief or not he did not know.

"Do you…are you…-" Naruto's gaze turned back towards Shikamaru who shifted uncomfortably not being able to grasp the words

"…H-Hokage-sama and you are…somewhat close, isn't that right?" Naruto nodded unsure where the conversation was going, Shikamaru swallowed

"I won't tell anyone, but I think that you should at least tell Hokage-sama and get a check up" Naruto shook her head from side to side her hands trembled, she clasped them together tightly in a desperate attempt at stopping them from shaking so badly. Her voice trembled as she spoke

"She won't let it go…"

Shikamaru, frowned but nodded in understanding, sighing he made his way to the kitchen, Naruto followed him with curious and cautious eyes, the raven noticing this couldn't help but feel a little hurt that she didn't trust him, but crushed the feeling mercilessly as he reminded himself that she had just been cruelly tortured and raped.

Checking through various cardboards and the fridge, he found a sufficient amount of supplies and ingredients for a decent breakfast, gathering them together he cooked up a simple western style breakfast, all the while aware of curious azure eyes.

Serving it in a plate he placed it in front of her, ignoring how she shrunk back from his presence, and simply instructed her to eat, it would be troublesome if the food got cold.

The blond looked up at the chunin in wonder, mild confusion and a tinge of...hope?

Feeling uncomfortable at being stared at so openly he cleared his throat, snapping the girl out of her trance and ask her what her alibi would be for not being at the meeting yesterday.

The girl shrugged mentally and wolfed down her breakfast, Shikamaru stared at the girl as she ate wondering how she hadn't managed to choke yet. Sighing in content, she lay back against her pillow and let a small smile play across her face.

"Thankyou…"

Shikamaru merely nodded his head in acknowledgement and stood up from one of the lounge chairs, crossing the room he, once again ignored her inching away and took the plate from her lap and proceeded to wash the dishes.

Naruto watched the young chunin at work, unsure of herself she slipped out of her bed and made her way into the kitchen and stopping next to him, carefully reaching out to take the plate from his hands.

Shikamaru had stopped his movements as soon as he felt her presence beside him, apart from the water running the apartment was deathly quiet. Her fingers trembled slightly as they got closer to his hand, getting closer and closer, Shikamaru silently cheered her on, but left a blank façade on his outward appearance.

She was about to grasp onto his hand to take the plate when a sharp knock at the door sounded throughout the apartment and effectively shocked them both out of their trance, jumping Naruto mumbled something incomprehensible and darted off towards her bathroom shaking harder then ever.

Shikamaru swore under his breath, harshly shutting off the still running water, he left the half-washed dish in the sink and made his way out of the kitchen only to glare at the door which was still being knocked upon. He ground his teeth together before turning and jumping out of the open window onto a nearby branch watching with calculating eyes as the door burst open revealing a fuming Sakura and brooding Sasuke.

The pink haired banshee screamed for Naruto's explanation for not being at the outing last night and being late for their team meeting but looked taken a-back when she saw no one. The pink haired female went on cursing and mumbling about how she must have missed her, until she saw Sasuke leaving and immediately went on after him slamming the door shut behind her.

Shikamaru sighed in relief when they both left and jumped back inside the room and waited for the blond to reveal herself. When she hadn't, he went over and knocked on the door, he frowned when their was no response and pressed his ear towards the door, hearing water running he assumed she was having a shower. Using the time wisely he wrote a message to his father and mother making up an excuse as to why he hadn't come home last night and wouldn't come home until later that night. He made up a similar excuse hat had connected to the on he wrote to his parents, before sending them off to their destinations.

Sighing he frowned as the blond still hadn't come out of the shower, walking over and pressing his ear to the door again he heard the water still running, he was about to pull away when he heard a faint sob.

Freezing he pressed his ear closer, hearing the sob again he gritted his teeth before letting out a sad sigh, grasping the door knob he knocked on the door

"Naruto…I'm coming in, alright?"

Not waiting for a response he turned the doorknob and hesitantly stepped inside, his eyes widened at what he saw. Hugging herself tightly Naruto sat fully clothed under the shower head she was drenched as crystal drops cascaded down onto her soft golden locks making their way down her body. Her normally tanned skin was pale with various angry red botches scattered across her arms and legs. She was facing ahead of her but her eyes were glazed over, focusing on and seeing nothing, a strangled sob escaped her lips as she desperately tried to hold the tears back.

Shikamaru stared before slowly making his way towards her, moving into the shower he noticed the hot water hadn't been turned on, moving to turn the knob and shut the water off, he stopped abruptly when the blond snapped out of her trance and scuttled back as far as the shower block would allow her, her eyes squeezed shut

"Don't touch me… please…just…don't touch me, please…please don't touch me"

The chunin brought his hand back to his side as fast as he dared, trying his best to stay calm he felt his heart jolt as the blond opened her eye's displaying her shattered, hurt filled, cerulean orbs. Shikamaru swallowed and sat down in front of the shaking girl, watching her with sympathetic eyes

"…Are you cold?"

Naruto nodded shakily trembling against the cool surface of the wall, as carefully and quickly as he dared the raven reached out and turned on the hot water, the effect was immediate as steaming liquid gushed out, splattering onto the blonds shaking form. She muttered a shaky 'thankyou' and hugged her legs tighter into her chest, Shikamaru mentally cursed feeling hopeless in such a dire situation, carefully moving around her he plopped down in front of Naruto watching her warily as she stared at nothing. Water soaked them both in the infinite silence that stretched across the bleak apartment.

"…It won't come off…"

The words were barely above a whisper yet vibrated throughout the apartment as though the words were shouted. A strangled sob escaped her throat, watching her impassively Shikamaru stayed silent waiting for her to continue, not allowing himself to rush the girl and lose her trust (that is if he ever had it in the first place).

"…It's like their's dirt on my skin…and it's not coming off…no matter how hard I try …it won't come off…"

Shikamaru glanced at her raw skin again and winced, slowly inching closer towards the blond, he carefully reached out to her, as if afraid that with one wrong movement she would fracture, shatter, break, beyond any hope of repair…

He slipped one hand around her wrist he felt her tense under his touch, never taking his eyes off her he very slowly curled his free arm around her waist, stopping only when he had a loose yet secure hold on her. Very gradually the blond let her muscles relax and be pulled into the arms of the raven in front of her, curling up into him she let out another strangled sob before letting the hot water wash away her tears.

It wasn't until a while later that she fell asleep, cautiously, the male holding her turned the water off before picking her up and slowly exiting the bathroom the door shut close behind them with a soft ringing tap.

So, should I continue? Let me know

Remember to review

Shika XD