A/N: I DON'T OWN NARUTO.

SHOGI

Chapter 2 Check & Mate

After the conversation, Shikamaru and Chouji left the meadows and went to the Hyuuga mansion to see Hinata. While they were on their way, Chouji noticed that his friend looked so tense that he'd seem to faint. He was surprised, because he rarely sees Shikamaru loose his cool.

"Hey, Shikamaru!" Chouji said as he gave Shikamaru a pat in the back. "Are you alright?"

"Huh? What?" Shikamaru mumbled as he woke up to reality. "Oh, Chouji! I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Chouji double-checked. "Because you look like you're about to faint."

"I-I do?" Shikamaru stuttered. "Y-you're kidding, right?"

"No, really!" Chouji told him. "And now, you're stuttering."

"I-I am?" Shikamaru stuttered again. "Umm… Yeah, I am now, huh? Well, I'm just nervous about the contest and all. Never mind me, Chouji. I'm okay."

"Is that about the contest?" Chouji asked. "Or is that about Hinata?"

"A-about H-Hinata!?" Shikamaru raised his eyebrow. "W-what d-does s-she h-have t-to d-do w-with t-this?"

"Well, that was the first time you stuttered a sentence." Chouji mocked him. "And did I just say Hinata's name when I asked a while ago?"

"That's just stupid!" Shikamaru yelled as he tried to keep his sanity. "What now if I'm stuttering, anyway?"

"You know, you'd better keep your act up straight." Chouji warned him. "Because if you start acting like crazy, I might think that you're officially in love with the Hyuuga heiress."

"What are you talking about?" Shikamaru turned red. "I… I'm not in love with anyone!"

"Tell that to your crimson red face, lover boy!" Chouji grinned.

"Stop that, Chouji!" Shikamaru ordered. "You're doing that on purpose!"

"Oh yeah?" Chouji challenged him. "Is falling in love even on purpose, huh Shikamaru?"

"How should I know if I'm not even feeling that yet?" Shikamaru answered.

"Oh, but you'll know later." Chouji said as he gave a bigger grin.

"Get a life, Chouji." Shikamaru sighed. "Sometimes, I think you're overdoing it."

"Heh, I'm only trying to be a friend." Chouji told him. "I'd do anything to know what's on your heart, even if I have to overdo it."

Shikamaru was speechless when he learned that Chouji was only trying to help. He knew that he was lucky to have someone like him as his best friend. Now, with Chouji's help, he knew the reason why he was so tense… so tense to see Hinata. Sure, he knew he was a genius. But even without anyone's help, he'd never thought…

…That he was actually falling for Hinata Hyuuga.

Once they saw the mansion, they were stupefied to see how big it was. They went inside to see if they can train with the clan's heiress.

"What brings you to these parts?" a long-haired boy wearing a white sweater asked.

"Hi Neji!" Chouji greeted him. "We're here to see Hinata. Is she training with you for the Shogi contest?"

"Actually, she's not here." Neji told them. "She went to teacher Kurenai's house. She mentioned something about playing with teacher Asuma there."

"She's playing Shogi with teacher Asuma?" Shikamaru asked in disbelief. "That's a surprise."

"Yeah," he nodded. "Maybe that's the reason why I can't beat her whenever we play Shogi."

"Thanks for your time, Neji." Shikamaru said as he grabbed Chouji. "We'll be going!"

"Yeah, whatever." Neji said.

Shikamaru rushed to teacher Kurenai's house as he pulled Chouji to hurry. He seems pretty excited to see all of them.

"What's with the rush?" Chouji panted. "Why are we running?"

"I have to see them play." Shikamaru told him. "It must be a pretty good fight."

"Geez, what unbelievable mood swings!" Chouji snickered. "First you're tense, then you're angry at me, then you're so excited to see them play! What happened to you?"

"Less talking, more running!' Shikamaru told his friend.

As soon as they reached Kurenai's house, Shikamaru opened the door, excited to see his teacher Asuma and teacher Kurenai.

"Hi everyone!" Shikamaru greeted as he entered. "Long time, no see!"

"Shikamaru, my man!" Asuma stood up as he gave his favorite student a high-five. "Good thing you came here!"

"Actually, he's here to see Hinata, teacher Asuma." Chouji interrupted. "Is she here?"

"Hinata?" Asuma muttered. "Oh, right! I just played Shogi with her. She's inside."

"Who won?" Shikamaru asked him.

"She did." Asuma sulked. "She's almost as good as you, Shikamaru."

"Can I play with her?" Shikamaru asked.

"Sure!" Asuma agreed. "Come, follow me!"

Shikamaru and Chouji followed their teacher. They saw Hinata fidgeting with her fingers as shs stared at the Shogi board. When she saw Shikamaru and Chouji enter the room, she stood up and greeted both of them.

"Hi Chouji! Hi Shikamaru!" Hinata smiled. "What are you two doing here?"

"I was wondering if, well…" Shikamaru said. "…if I can play Shogi with you for today."

"Why didn't you say so?" Hinata said as she arranged the Shogi pieces in front of her. "I'd be happy to play, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru took his seat and played his pastime with Hinata. This was the first time he played Shogi with a girl. He gave his best to win against the girl, but the girl knew how to play the game as well. Hinata successfully eliminated all of Shikamaru's defenses. But Shikamaru was not to be fooled by her great antics. He went through Hinata's ultimate move but Hinata was good enough to stop him from getting her checked. Alas, the game ended up in a stalemate.

"Unbelievable!" Asuma rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "That was just the greatest Shogi battle I have ever seen!"

"You are a pretty good Shogi player, Shikamaru." Hinata told her opponent. "I think you're better that my cousin."

"Y-you think so?" Shikamaru stammered. "Y-you're pretty good too!"

"Yeah," she giggled. "This was the first time I had a stalemate with anyone. You're good."

"Eh, thanks!" Shikamaru scratched his back.

"Do you want to grab shakes at the store nearby?" Hinata asked him. "I'll treat you!"

"Umm… sure!" Shikamaru nodded. "Hey Chouji, wanna come?"

"Nah, you go." Chouji grinned. "But I'll tell you something."

"What is it?" Shikamaru asked as he went closer to his friend.

"What'd I tell you?" Chouji whispered. "Sometimes, there's more to Shogi than just strategies. Now, you've got to cook the right strategy to checkmate that girl's heart at the right place."

"Heh, I just had the perfect plan." Shikamaru grinned as he went out with Hinata.

Since that day, Hinata and Shikamaru played the game they both liked all day. Both of them won the first Shogi contest in Konoha and they had been sent to Osaka to represent their village in the nationals. Also, Shikamaru had the chance to pay his debt to Chouji. Not bad for a happy ending, eh?

THE END