I'm back! Sorry about this and that...Did you know? I started this chapter right after Christmas, you know, almost a year ago? And then, guess what just WONDEROUSLY happened~! Yeah, SCREW AUTOSAVE-THAT'S WHAT! So, besides the fact that I harbor an EXTREME vendetta against autosave (and myself for not saving things consistently), I've gotten over my grudge/ stubbornness at last and have this magnificence up! OK, so the magnificence level might be a bit lacking. Guess where I picked this back up- I dare you!

Bon appetit! And c'est la vie!

Wait, what?

Sad Clouds and Treasonous Shadows

Chapter Three: He Who is Still Breathing

Waking up early was not something Shikamaru Nara was accustomed to, so it definitely wasn't his forte.

Nonetheless, the philosophical teen found himself awakening at the wee start of the day, before the sun had even fully awoken from its own slumber. It was dark outside and the streets of Konoha were empty. Not even many shopkeepers had gone off to begin their work and ready their businesses for the day. It was before seven yet Shikamaru journeyed silently out of his house and ventured towards the other side of the village.

The town was uncomfortable with its eerie calm and emptiness. He numbly realized how large the village really was.

Twenty minutes later he was almost entirely across town and for the most part he hadn't encountered a soul on his way besides a cat and an energetic Rock Lee taking an early morning run around the village. The youthful ninja was already on his 512th lap. Finally at his destination, Shikamaru stopped in front of a large, impressive gate. He stared at it, pondering what action he should take, but then after all of his effort he turned and walked away.

It appeared that he wasn't giving up. He didn't retrace his steps but started away from the village, towards the training grounds-a certain one in particular it seemed. After fifteen minutes of walking he happened upon the place he was searching for. Surprisingly, it was deserted. Almost anyways. Yet still, he was slightly stunned that not even Tenten had arrived.

Under a tree, mostly protected from the wind, Neji Hyuga sat meditating. The prodigy looked as if a statue and it gave Shikamaru an uncomfortable feeling. Neji made no response as the lazy cloud watcher headed his way. Only when Shikamaru stopped right in front of him did the Hyuga give the new presence notice.

"Shikamaru."Neji smoothly greeted, not moving an inch. Shikamaru nodded even though the Hyuga's eyes were closed. After an awkward bit of standing, the chunin sat down. Silence filled the crisp morning air as the two ninja sat wordlessly. After an interval of time had passed, words were finally spoken.

"So why have you come here, Shikamaru?"Questioned Neji, lifting an eyelid.

"I was a bit caught up in my own problems for a while and realized something." Shikamaru simply stated. Neji made no venture for evaluation and nodded.

"So that's why."He quietly said, as if sharing a tacit knowledge with the younger man. More silence followed, but the two men seemed to be thinking. Upon finding the felicitous words, Shikamaru spoke.

"How are you?"The simple phrase dealt enough; he had trouble finding ways to avoid sounding piteous towards the white-eyed male. A corner of Neji's mouth tugged upwards into an amused, perhaps approving smirk.

"I've been better."He replied. "I have the feeling that you were wondering about something deeper too, as pertaining to my ninja career, which, as of now, is null." Shikamaru's eyes sharpened to the news yet he wasn't too surprised. It was more the impact of hearing Neji say this himself. And the hard-working ninja sounded so calm...

Shikamaru opened his mouth but then shut it, realizing he hadn't a clue of what to say to this. After all, he was a capable ninja yet no more was the man in front of him. Neji seemed to pick up on Shikamaru's hesitancy.

"It could be worse."Neji remarked in an off-hand way, startling Shikamaru. "I'm alive, aren't I?"Neji's quiet voice and state matched the morning sky and air. Cold and gray, that's what Neji should have felt and reflected. Normally, that was what Neji was. He was a wise man who didn't shirk from reality and had as much of an inviting, warm air as a cactus did to hug it.

"Alive, huh…yeah…aren't we all…?"Neji picked up on Shikamaru's empty statement and tone. The deathly amused tone at the end was read into, though the prodigy needed no insight on that emotional catalyst.

"We are indeed." Simply, concurringly, replied the man before the Nara. A silence filled the cold morning air as the two men sat adjacent to each other, each thinking their own thoughts. Finally, a rising bright light on the horizon caught Shikamaru's eye. Daytime was officially starting off. Peripherally, the shadow-possessor glanced at the meditating nobleman.

On the tip of his tongue, a question awaited, but he forced it back just at the sight of the very man before him for whom it was intended. It could wait, he thought. Or could it? Both his logical and grief-ridden sides spoke that to him. Finally, something unanimous.

Resolving himself, Shikamaru silently groaned as he sat up completely and then ventured to rise. At this, Neji Hyuga opened both eyes and watched the younger man.

"I think I'd better be going, don't want to ruin your guys' balance." The Nara said, looking from Neji at his right over to his left, revealing an approaching Tenten. Neji calmly assented and bid his companion a good day before closing both eyes to the world again and retreating to the solace of his pleasant microcosm.

Tenten had stopped mid-trot upon noticing Shikamaru and remained there, a decent, possibly out of earshot, distance from Neji. Shikamaru glanced back at the Hyuga as he headed towards Tenten, an unusually somber-looking Tenten. Not that his face was screaming enthusiasm either…

The dubbed genius stopped. The chunin faced each other, painfully too aware of the man sitting behind them, and shared the same dismal, stinging thoughts all related to that man. Finally, Shikamaru's question was about to come out in a respectful, solemn whisper. Really, that man behind him, he was too much.

Or was there just too much about him? For once, many could wonder that.

As the chunin opened his mouth, barely, he was thrown a ball he was not ready for, yet knew was coming.

"Four months."Tenten whispered absently yet solidly. "Four months is what they've given him."Her eyes did not water, a most appropriate guess would be out of respect for her teammate, and her face did not twitch. The news was definite, though she wished to be far from it like all the rest. Shikamaru was frozen. In truth, that was much longer than he would have bestowed upon the war veteran. Yet, hearing such a thing about such a man…

"They're being generous."Tenten added in a still hushed voice. At this, a flash of pain, sadness, danced across her features. The Nara boy's throat was dry, his words were strangled or tied down. His mouth was sown closed much like his heart seemed to be. At last, the logical part of him commanded a sigh to be released.

He looked Tenten in the eye and then quickly averted his gaze. With that, he briskly walked off back in the direction of the village. Tenten did not look back at his flight but immediately summoned a bright, perky smile and attitude to embellish her features. With a jump in her step, she half skipped over to the meditating Hyuga.

"Hey, Neji! Look at this new move I've been trying!" As she fumbled about with her scrolls, attention minutely diverted from the one the act was for, the dark-haired man opened his eyes once again, focused indulgingly on Tenten. "OK, so here, maybe you can help; I mean, I get that the turn is after I leap, but it's actually pretty unclear at where and how I'm supposed to do that trick with the Demon Windmill and five kunai, so-"Neji perused the scroll which he was thrust upon as Tenten continued babbling away about something he and she alike very well knew she could do alone since their genin days. And at that, he was glad.

Despite the sun's position in the sky, he hurried. Far. Fleeing. Fast.

After racing away from Tenten, more so her news, he knew that objective number one had to be met. He needed information. What else had he missed? Were people purposely keeping him in the dark about things because of his depression or was this his own, antisocial, moping doing? In all actuality, he really didn't care.

As he jumped across rooftops and keenly looked around for one person, he knew that reality had set with him. Well, about some things. As in, victory, the future, and the war's causes. Neji's case was only partly under that list, as even though the cloud gazer knew the facts of the man's scenario, it just wasn't real, what being that such could happen to him of all people.

Why did the shadows continue clutching all those dear to the sunshine? To the light? Even their own friends? For those that they had worked for, they had merged with permanently, the light and flame of their lives snuffed away dully. For another, whom always had brightness and vision on his side, always accompanied and renowned with shimmering glory and awe and accolades, this dear to him, a part, really, was subjected to the darkness.*

Betrayal, jealously…was that their fuel?

Again, Shikamaru Nara crossly shoved those thoughts away as he rhythmically slowed down. Jumping towards the ground, one house caught his eye and thoughts. If she wasn't home, he'd be more than a little jumpy or peeved. Not that it was her fault or anything. But it was OK, for she was. He could sense it. He needed it.

He approached the small house in the heart of the village and knocked twice. His emotions had snowballed since leaving the training grounds minutes before. His mind was racing, his emotions pointing a finger his own way. His logical side was in overdrive, only hyped up on his maddening, compacted grief. His own despair was fuelling him for once, beckoning him to return to the woman it once pushed away. Actually, twice.

Not really a record he was proud of keeping at the moment, presently standing on her doorstep.

"So it's you…"Shikamaru popped out of his insane thoughts and concentrated on the woman before him. "Need something?" She asked easily as he suddenly chilled up again much like at the training grounds. Another sigh, another adverted gaze. For once a nod.

Eventually, he turned back to face her, the woman leaning casually against her own doorway. She watched him with a placid interest, for once not urging him on with her void of patience. Peculiar, but not an issue at the moment.

"Yeah," He breathed, exhaling it as a slight groan or sigh, "Sorry."

* "For another, whom always had brightness and vision on his side…" Just to be clear here, Neji is NOT blind, which, I mean, you could have gathered from reading, but just to be safe…

If you don't understand my spontaneous madness, well then that makes two of us! Ha, just kidding (sort of), but if you don't get it or if I'm going wild, then just tell me, 'cuz I'm a psychological rambler by nature.

And if you DO get it, well then kudos! Congratulations, you get a cookie! Where is said cookie?

…Well, where's Waldo, huh?

Oh yeah, got'cha there.

Finally, Shikamaru has met up with Temari whom he hopes will fill him in on everything and maybe even set his mind straight. His thoughts are far more jumbled than they have been since the war's end, understandably due to his meeting with the ill-fated Neji Hyuga. Exactly what answers is Shikamaru seeking and what will he do when he does or does not receive them? Continuing his trek back to sanity and stability, the reputed Konoha genius will have to run headfirst through the hells he has avoided since that dreaded day when the world stopped for him and restarted for all else.

Oh, review? Well, OK, you can, but only if you want to.