Chapter Two

It was quiet in the restaurant that night, with only a few other people at tables surrounding the double dating friends, Kiba and Kaori, Shikamaru and Amaya. The four were weary of the coming day, and were desperate to spend as much time as they could with each other, should something bad happen over the next week.

"That was some game today," Shikamaru was saying, "The plan really went off well."

"You're a genius, Shikamaru," Kiba said through a mouthful of food.

Shikamaru grinned, trying to act modest.

His arm around Amaya suddenly tightened its grip, his face hardening in a second, and Kiba turned his head at an almost impossible angle to get a glimpse of whatever Shikamaru was staring at. There, in the doorway, was Jay Fuse. Kiba and Shikamaru had known him for years, their friendship only ending when Shikamaru found out Jay was obsessed with Amaya, and Kiba found out he liked Kaori. He still openly chased them, which had made the three boys almost enemies.

Jay walked over and plopped down on the other side of Amaya, sliding his arm around the half Shikamaru wasn't taking up. Kiba could see Shikamaru visibly tense, his eyes narrowing when he looked over at the other boy.

"My, my, what two beauties we have here," Jay said, taking Kaori's hand and kissing it, then leaning down to kiss Amaya's head.

"This one," Shikamaru said, pulling Amaya closer to him, "is mine, so back off."

"This one is taken, too," Kiba growled, taking Kaori's hand in his own.

"No need to be so hostile, boys," Jay replied easily.

Shikamaru mumbled something inaudible under his breath, which Amaya thought was suspiciously like Shut up or I'm going to kick your ass. After which, Jay got up and left.

"Son of a-"

"Shikamaru!" Amaya whispered, "He might hear you!"

"Let's go, shall we?" Kaori said brightly, trying to bring the mood up again.

Kiba got up, helping Kaori into her jacket, Shikamaru doing the same thing with Mile.

Outside, in the cool night air, laughter and random chatter could be heard from all the little bars and restaurants lining the street. Amaya shivered, and Shikamaru pulled her in closer to him. Kaori and Kiba talked quietly, about what was going to happen tomorrow.

Tomorrow, after several years of training, they would face members of The Akatsuki. Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki. This mission required tracking them down, which would be the longest part of the mission. Sasuke had specially requested this mission, taking his Squad members with him. Kiba had suggested his squad go, too, since he was best friends with Shikamaru.

Shikamaru didn't like the idea of Amaya and Kaori going, but it was far too late to object now. Not that they would drag them down, but he didn't want them getting hurt. He felt Mile slow a bit, until she stopped, and he turned to look at her.

"Shikamaru...I'm, I mean, we... no, just me... I'm scared... About the mission. I don't think I'm ready. I mean, what if I screw up, and something bad happens? What if..." her voice trailed off, and she said the next part in a whisper, "I'm not good enough?"

Shikamaru closed his eyes tight together. She said those exact words to him the night he confessed his love for her, and it always tore him up to know she thought that way. He hated that she thought that way about herself now, after all the preparation they went through for this one mission, after all her progress and success, she still she wasn't good enough. He thought back to the night they fell in love, about how hard he argued that she was good enough for him, that he wasn't worthy to have her, but somehow he had the good luck to.

"Babe, you always were good enough."

"But what if... you get hurt, or I get hurt...or worse... and Kaori-" she began to protest.

Up ahead, Shikamaru heard Kiba reassuring Kaori. He thought about how much he loved her, and how she trusted him with every fibre of her being. He wanted the exact thing with Amaya, so he found himself leaning towards her, reassuring her with what he knew was the only promise he could keep for her.

"Don't worry," he whispered to her, "because I'll always be right beside you."