Roasted quails were turning slowly on a spit behind the glass of the butcher's shop. Above them, sausages and cuts of meat hung in crowded rows on gleaming, metal hooks. Shikako stared at them from her spot on the other side of the street.

There was enough time to make it home for dinner but she felt apathetic toward the idea of sitting down with her mom, who would expect conversation. It would mean an effort to act normal and the thought alone was draining. She considered the merits of just skipping dinner altogether, maybe heading out to one of the training grounds and practicing instead, when a familiar voice hailed her.

"Shikako!" Ino waved at her from down the street. She quickly altered course and ducked into the shaded alcove that Shikako was sheltered in. "I haven't seen you in forever! Have you been on a mission?"

Shikako made a noncommittal noise. The quails kept turning across the street, slowly, slowly. Their skins were bubbling from the heat of the lamps and Shikako could smell them, could hear them sizzle. Her eyes tracked them as they rotated in an endless pattern.

"Well, anyway, I just got back in and I was going to see Sakura. Are you busy?" Ino's voice was happier than Shikako had heard in a long time, happy enough to make her turn and give her friend a once over.

Ino's hair was fixed in a severe bun, tight enough that it pulled the skin of her forehead smooth. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes looked less cold, less haunted. They shone with something impish and Shikako was startled to realize that for the first time in a long time, they looked like Ino. The pupils were still black slits, a reptilian slash that changed their shape and divided their pastel hue. But it was less of a focal point, somehow just a feature now. Her eyes weren't glassy or clouded with lurking doubts. They looked bright and Shikako couldn't help but smile.

"You should come! I was just going to see her new place, I haven't had a chance yet. She said it was better than her room at her parent's house, but I bet you anything it's the size of a shoebox. We could both go and catch up along the way?" Ino laid a hand on Shikako's forearm, seemingly trying to sell Shikako on the idea. Though with Ino it could just as easily be a prelude to getting a firm grip and dragging her there by force. It was hard to tell, sometimes.

"Sakura moved?" Shikako hadn't heard about that.

"Yeah, before we even got back from Grass. She didn't tell you?" Ino's voice rose in question, her eyes searching Shikako's face. Who knew what Ino found there, but after a brief moment of searching Ino's mouth turned down in a frown and her back straightened. Shikako recognized it as her 'I've made my decision, so help me God' look. "You should come."

"Alright," Shikako had no will to resist her and fell in step with Ino, letting her lead the way.

Ino seemed perfectly content to carry the bulk of conversation, filling the space with countless observations about life as a Chunin. Shikako made an effort to participate where she could, but she realized uncomfortably that she had little to add. She'd spent most of their first month back on the stupid Review Board assignment.

Shikako was surprised how veiled Ino was when talking about missions, but it stood to reason. Infiltration was, generally speaking, classified work. From what she shared though, it was obvious that Ino found it very fulfilling.

"...And I have no clue why she was slated to train a Tracking unit of all things, because her Genjutsu skills are just terrifying. Did you know that she made her first signature technique when she was fourteen? And it was a viable mirage! Four out of five senses. It makes me crazy just thinking about it. Still, it can't have been wasted because even that annoying loudmouth Kiba graduated. Oh," and then Ino dropped off mid sentence. They were standing under the eaves of a building that Shikako was absolutely certain was condemned. "I think this is it."

"I...this? Are you sure?" Shikako looked up at the crumbling facade. It was in one of the oldest districts of Konoha, in between the Hospital and the outer wall. The building was brick, a rarity in Konoha, which favored wood and plaster. The front of it looked like it had received damage and had been poorly patched up at some point.

But there were lights on in several of the windows and when they pressed the button for apartment 4-H, there was a loud 'Zzzzzztt' as they were buzzed through.

Inside the door the hallway smelled like urine and the carpet featured a large, suspicious stain. At the end of the hallway there was an elevator with an 'Out of Order' sign hanging on the doors. Ino shared a significant look with Shikako and the two proceeded to climb the stairs.

But for all impressions of being derelict, Sakura's floor looked well maintained and her door was sturdy and clean. Sakura answered on their third knock, revealing a very small, brightly lit apartment beyond her.

"Ino! Shikako!" Sakura looked momentarily surprised at the addition of Shikako, before she broke out into a smile and motioned them both inside. "Want some tea? I was just going to make some. Oh, this is my friend Fukui Keiko. Keiko, this is Yamanaka Ino and Nara Shikako." Sakura gestured to a girl sitting on the couch behind her. She had blindingly white hair piled in a messy bun on top of her head and her golden-brown eyes were lost behind an enormous pair of glasses. She wore the same medic uniform as Sakura, obviously someone from work.

Shikako bowed politely at the introduction.

"Actually, if it's not too much trouble, could we order something to eat? Maybe some take-out? I don't really feel like going out just now," Shikako was finding the hunger cramps harder to ignore and if they were going to be social, food would probably be necessary.

"That's a great idea!" Sakura looked eager, walking back into the kitchen to fiddle with the kettle on her stove. "What should we order?"

"Oh my god, everything. I haven't eaten in years," Ino flopped dramatically onto the couch next to Keiko.

"Still on a diet?" Sakura teased, balancing four steaming mugs as she returned.

"You know, that's not very healthy at our age..." Keiko trailed off awkwardly, missing the nuance.

"No," Ino shot Sakura a dirty look. "I've been busy, thank you very much. Though now that you mention diets you do seem to have gained a little weight, Sakura-chan."

"All muscle!" Sakura smiled, slamming Ino's cup onto the coffee table in a frightening show of force.

"You have a very nice home," Shikako deflected, hoping to stop the two before they really got going. It wasn't a lie, either. First impressions and scary hallways aside, the interior of Sakura's apartment looked well maintained, if a bit empty.

There were boxes scattered about in various states of disarray, and there was a distinct lack of personal effects. The kitchen, living, and dining area were all one modest room, but the hardwood floors looked new and the walls were freshly painted and cheerfully lit by recessed lights tucked in the ceiling above.

It smelled clean and looked homey, though it was on the small side.

"I know the outside is kinda scary, but the head nurse's husband runs this place and the place next door. Half the medics in Konoha live here anymore because the rent's so cheap and it's so close to the hospital," Sakura lowered herself to sit seiza style at the coffee table, leaving the armchair open for Shikako.

Shikako settled in carefully, content to listen now that any arguing had been diffused.

It turned out that Sakura had been progressing in her studies at a frightening pace under Tsunade's tutelage. She was on a grueling regimen that had her waking up before the sun and reporting for duty at the hospital. She'd work the long shifts, sometimes back to back, then she'd get off late, often after the sun had set, only to be beaten to a pulp in combat training or pushed to her limits in endurance trials. And that wasn't even to mention the volumes of medical texts she had been expected to memorize.

Moving closer to the hospital to shave ten minutes off her commute both ways was less of a mark of her growing independence and more of a survival tactic.

Keiko seemed to be Sakura's study partner, of sorts. She was a pleasant girl, if a little ignorant of shinobi life. She had come into the Medic Corps from the civilian sector and Shikako found very little common ground with her.

When take-out arrived they ate around the coffee table in the living room as Sakura had no dining area to speak of.

"You've been quiet, Shikako. What have you been up to lately? More crazy research, maybe?" Sakura's voice held no accusation, her smile was open and friendly, but it still made Shikako freeze. She risked a glance at Ino, who was paying very close attention, waiting for her answer.

Shikako looked down at her lap, chewing her bite of rice slowly. She swallowed, before calmly telling them, "I've been on an ongoing C-rank. It's a special task force put together for Hokage-sama. It'll only be for a little while longer, but it's been keeping me busy." It was, very carefully, not a lie.

"Oh," said Sakura. Then, "Wait, do you mean that review board thing she was talking about weeks ago?"

"She told you about that?" Shikako asked, surprised. It wasn't exactly sensitive information, but the fact that Tsunade bothered discussing something so petty held it's own kind of significance. If Tsunade was sharing details about daily life with her it implied a growing confidence between the two.

"Well," Sakura hedged. "Less told me about it and more complained to Shizune-senpai about it. At length. While I was just kind of standing there."

Shikako could feel Ino's stare and avoided looking in her direction.

"But I thought, I mean, wasn't that sort of a desk job?" Sakura's voice tapered off, as if she realized halfway through the asking that her question might sound rude.

"Ah, no. Not exactly. There's another Chunin on the panel. And they only pulled me in as a consult on sealing work," Shikako could feel Ino's eyes, like twin lasers boring into the side of her head.

"Oh! Well that makes sense," Sakura said.

Shikako spied Ino from the corner of her eyes. The blonde's face made it clear she disagreed strongly. Hoping to end the current line of questioning, Shikako stood and carried her dishes into the kitchen, face shadowed by the fringe of her bangs.

She hovered over the sink, letting out a relieved breath when Sakura chattered on. "I have tomorrow off for the first time in forever and I don't know what to do with myself. I have less than thirty hours, but I refuse to look at a single scroll. I'm off the clock!" Her voice rose in determination and next to her Keiko snorted.

"You'll have your nose in an anatomy journal the second we leave, I guarantee it."

"No! I'm going to stay up late reading stupid, girly books and tomorrow I'm sleeping in and then I'm going to do my hair and I am going to go shopping!" the 'Come hell or high water' at the end was implied through the sheer ferocity of Sakura's tone.

"You could finish unpacking," Ino muttered.

"I should probably get going, I need to be up early," Shikako's tone was light, but her eyes skittered towards the door.

"Me too," Keiko stood with a sigh.

"But you only live two floors down! You don't have to leave yet," Sakura protested, grabbing Keiko's wrist. "You can walk home in like three seconds. It's too early to call it a night!"

Shikako dusted her shirt off and gave the girls a little wave before ducking out the door. She almost made it to the stairwell before Ino caught up to her.

"Ok, what the hell is going on with you," Ino put a hand on her shoulder, halting her progress. Shikako was not retreating. She was just in a hurry to get home. To bed.

She sighed and turned around. "I'm just tired, Ino. This assignment is taking a lot out of me."

"Well that's a steaming pile of shit," Ino crossed her arms. Shikako was a bit shocked by Ino's casual profanity. Had Ino always been that blasé about swearing?

"Ino, I know you're concerned but-"

"Don't try to handle me, Nara. I'm the queen of that maneuver," Ino cut her off. "Seriously, what's the deal? Something's going on with you." Her tone lost it's bite near the end, concern bleeding through.

"I...," Shikako was lost. How could she explain something she didn't understand? She was struck with the crazy urge to drop her seals, run to the nearest window and leap into the night beyond.

Ino waited, undeterred, and the silence wore thin.

"...I need to go home, Ino. It's late," She tried to ignore the brief look of hurt that flashed across Ino's face. But Ino uncrossed her arms, expression stoic once more, and Shikako chose to take her silence as a form of acceptance.

She was down the first few steps, ready to turn the corner and leave Ino's line of sight, when Ino's voice called softly, "He misses you, you know. He doesn't say it but... Whatever's going on with you two? Shikamaru hates it too."

It was an easy thing for Shikako to continue descending and pretend she hadn't heard.

ooo

Her walk to work the next morning was uneventful until she rounded the second to last corner, approaching the final three blocks. There was something there, on the edge of her chakra senses.

It was deep and roiling and radiated out like heat.

Searing heat.

The closer she got, the more puzzled she felt. It was strange, because it felt exactly like...

She turned the last corner and stopped in her tracks, eyes confirming what her senses had suspected.

"Gaara?"

ooo

A/N

I've received a couple generous offers for betas and I'm going to try them out. Hopefully any chapters that follow after will have fewer errors to distract from the story.

Thanks for reading!