"Kaede and Shikamaru sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes-"

"Naruto, if you don't shut your mouth right now I'll...aw forget it. It's a total waste of time wasting my energy on you. It's not worth it." Shikamaru sighed while rubbing his temples with a look that spoke that he was getting extremely annoyed and tired.

Kiba laughed, throwing anarm over his shoulder. "Don't get so worked up about it, he was just joking around you know?" he flashed his canines and Shikamaru proceeded to take his arm off him while shooting a glare.

"Yeah, well his jokes are starting to get on my nerves. Ever since I showed Kaede around the school, all these crazy rumors have been flying around that Kaede and I are dating or something. Whenever we're within two feet of each other, people will start teasing me or bugging me about it. It's driving me crazy, even Choji ended up asking me about it earlier today." he explained rubbing his temples.

"So what'd you tell him?" Naruto asked.

"What do you think? Told him we're nothing more than friends, probably acquaintance is a better way to put it since I just met her! She hasn't even been here for a week, let alone three days."

"What about Kaede, has she said anything about this?" Kiba asks with a raised eyebrow.

"She just makes the situation worse by not saying anything at all. The fact that she isn't speaking up about it and saying the rumors aren't true is just making things worse. Nobody is going believe me unless she can agree with me."

"Guess you'll have to convince her that she should."

"And speak of the devil..." Shikamaru grumbled.

*Click*

*Click*

"Wow, this camera works wonders." she said as she flashed another picture of a random student.

"Kaede, where did you get that camera?" Shikamaru asked raising a brow.

"Oh, a few days ago actually. I got a package in the mail from my parents, they sent me this camera to take photos of anything that will show how I'm doing or just some pictures for myself to keep as well." she shrugged her shoulders.

'Great, if it's not one thing with her, it's another.' Shikamaru thought with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh, cute puppy at twelve o' clock!" She suddenly zoomed in with her lens to get an up close picture of Akamaru. Who merely cocked his head to the side cutely before flashing a picture. He whined a bit at the sudden flash of light, but shook it off. She quickly turned her head in Shikamaru's direction, holding her camera in her hand.

"So how about a picture Shikamaru?" she smiled anxiously for his answer.

"I'd rather not..." he mutters turning away.

"Aw c'mon please?" she whined.

"It depends, what are the chances of you shutting up right now?"

"Slim to none, unless you let me take your picture." she said flashing a smile.

"Fine,"

"Okay! One...Two...Three!"

*Click*

"There, you happy?"

She pouted her lower lip, crossing her arms over her chest. "No, you didn't even smile."

"You didn't say I had to smile." he said with a faint smirk.

"C'mon, you're not being fair Maru-Maru." she whined.

Kiba snickered under his breath. "Maru-Maru?" Shikamaru shot Kiba a glare that clearly told him to shut up in which he quickly obeyed like the good little puppy he was.

"Fine, but don't think I'm just gonna let you slide through this so easily." She walked away in a huff before heading back to her seat next to Ino. Shikamaru sighed in relief and raised an eyebrow at the laughing Kiba.

"What the hell is so funny?"

"You! You guys even got pet names for each other! Man this is just too funny!" he said in the midst of his laughter.

"Why me?" he slammed his head on the desk with a loud groan.


"Hey, Choji." Shikamaru greeted lazily, holding his bento. He sat down next to him on the bench and he opened it up. He forcefully pulled his chopsticks apart and shoved a piece of sushi in his mouth.

"Erm, I take it there's something wrong seeing your...violent chewing?" Choji replies a bit unsure.

Shikamaru swallowed the food in his mouth and sighed. "Just annoyed, people have been going on about how I've got a crush on Kaede."

"Oh, her again..." He said while opening up his rice ball and taking a huge bite.

"Yeah, her again. People aren't gonna stop talking about this unless she says otherwise. They aren't gonna listen if I try and deny it."

"Have you ever tried talking to her about it?" Choji asked munching on his second rice ball.

"Tried it, didn't work." he replied bluntly.

"Well, it's either try to convince her to help, or wait until the rumors stop."

He knew he didn't have much of a choice at this point. He pinched the bridge of his nose with a loud groan. "Such a drag..."


"I really don't see what the problem is Shikamaru, why do you care what people think or say about us? We're not going out or anything, so there's no reason to get so worked up about all this. If you just ignore it like I do, the rumors will eventually stop." she said, taking a bite of her stuffed egg roll from her bento box.

"That's the problem, it hasn't stopped. Normally I couldn't care less about what people say or think about me. But I've been putting up with all these stupid rumors for way too long. So could you at least help me out next time it happens instead of just not saying anything?"

"Hm..." she pondered, tapping her chin with her chopsticks.

"Kaede!" he sighed exasperated.

"Okay, I'll help ya out. But it's gonna cost you!" she agreed.

He sweat-dropped, drooping his head in defeat. 'Figures, they always want something in return.'

"Fine, what do you want from me? Money?" he asks, pulling his wallet from his pocket.

She shook her head and pushed his wallet away. "Nope," She grins as she flashes out her camera which makes him sigh in response.

"What, again?"

"Yes, you didn't smile in the last picture and I plan to keep these photos. Probably make a scrapbook out of them. So if you want me to help you with your problem, help me first."

"Fine, let's do this before I help me help you break your camera."

"Eh?"

"Forget it; just take the damn picture already."

"Okay!" She held onto the button and he put on a small smile.

"One...Two...Three!"

*Click*

She blinked slightly surprised to find that the camera didn't take the picture. She looked at the number for how many pictures were left.

"Oops, all out of film." she laughed sheepishly, storing away her camera.

He eye twitched in annoyance. "You can't be serious, after all that trouble you went through to take the lousy picture?"

She rubbed the back of her neck laughing nervously. She stopped and her eyes suddenly lit up, her lips curving into a smile. "Don't worry, I've got a better idea!"

"What?"

"You'll find out..." she said with a smile.


"Y-You're joking right?" They stood in front of the old man who stood beside an old-fashioned stand up camera.

"Nope, I told you I wanted to take your picture. So we're gonna have it taken; professionally done by a photographer."

"Fine, whatever. Just as long as you keep your end of the deal." He sat down on the bench to get his picture taken. She took this opportunity and sat down beside him and scooting beside him so close their knees were touching, earning a questioning glance from him.

"A little close there, I thought you said you wanted my picture."

"Yeah, but I wanna be in this one too. I had to pay a lot of money just for this one photo."

He sighed under his breath in defeat and looked directly in the camera when the camera man stood behind it. She flashed her cheesy trademark grin flashing a peace sign with her fingers. While Shikamaru just put on a small smile, glad this camera business was finally over. For now at least anyway...

*Click*

"Such a nice couple you two make." the old man commented with a feeble smile.

He frowned in response. "Look Gramps we're not-"

"Sorry sir, but we're just friends...right?" Kaede interrupted with a smile.

"Erm, yeah...friends." he hesitantly agreed a bit surprised at her answer.

"Oh, my mistake." the old man apologized.

'Well, I suppose that's a start.' he smiled faintly at Kaede. She stood up from the bench, smiling down at Shikamaru.

"C'mon, we gotta head back to the academy before Iruka-sensei scolds us." She grabbed his wrist to pull him off the bench and back to the academy. Before the two could reach it, Ino was heading the same direction, but saw the both of them together...Kaede holding his wrist.

"Ohmigod! Kaede-chan, why didn't you tell me you were going out with Shikamaru?" Ino gasped, pointing down at their hands.

'This is gonna take longer than I thought.' he sweat-dropped, fighting back a blush from embarrassment.