A/N: Thanks to the anonymous 'xxx' who let me know I still have readers :D I'm sorry it takes me so long to update but i'll try my best to improve that! It's just hard sometimes because I'm also constantly updating my other two stories :P (mirror and seeking solace). So ya, thanks for being patient with me :D


Shikamaru POV

Shikamaru sighed, rubbing his temples as his voice echoed scratchily through the gymnasium's low quality speakers along side Temari's. Apparently several people had decided to record their performance and post it on a site called "youtube". That, in this world, wasn't surprising. What surprised him, was the fact that Gai had found their performance "youthful" and was now showing all of his drama classes. Needless to say there was a wide variety of comments none of which Shikamaru particularily liked. Temari too was hiding her face but after a closer look he realized it was to hide the fact she was shaking with laughter. He just rolled his eyes.

"Such a wonderful display!" Gai sobbed, wiping his eyes of what appeared to be small waterfalls.

"Encore!" Kiba grinned from ear to ear, throwing an arm around both girls' shoulders. Temari looked about ready to bite his head off while Shikamaru hit his head against his knees.

"Good idea! Would you care to grace us with your beautiful voices? Miss Nara? Temari?" Gai smiled, his eyes twinkling as he spoke.

"And what should we sing?" Temari asked, tilting her head quizzically.

"Anything you'd like!" The thick-eyebrowed man exclaimed.

"Troublesome.." Shikamaru murmered under his breath.

"Can we have five minutes? It's drama right? We wanna do something!"

"Alright! Until then I want everyone to read over their dialogues." Gai smiled while Temari dragged Shikamaru out of the room into the drama supply closet. He looked around to see lots of costumes ranging from dragons and fursuits to dresses and props.

"So.. what's your idea oh brilliant one?" Temari asked leaving Shikamaru slightly baffled for a minute.

"I never suggested anything?" He asked.

"No, but you're the IQ genius. Think of something, I thought of the last one." she grinned. He sighed but put his hands into an all too familiar position, Temari was confused but said nothing.

"Can we talk other people in the class into helping? We could do a musical street battle. Using DJ Earworms mash ups." Shikamaru finally said after several moments of silence.

"Genius! Which one though? 2007, 2008, 2009 or Like, Omg Baby?" She asked, already rummaging through the clothing in the closet.

"We can figure that out when we know who all will help us." Shikamaru sighed.

"Okay." She grinned, dragging him back to the classroom and waving her hands.

"We've decided we want help in this performance. If you can sing at all and feel like participating follow us. That's if you're familiar with DJ Earworm." Temari grinned, ignoring Gai's adoring reaction as we rifled through his desk to grab his camera, no doubt already setting up a youtube account, or so she hoped. With in minutes they had a small group comprised of Matsuri, Kiba, Shikamaru, Hinata, Temari and two other boys they didn't know all too well.

"Plan switch.." Shikamaru grinned.

"What?" Matsuri asked, looking rather confused. Shikamaru said nothing, instead gesturing for them to follow him as he went back into the supply room throwing hats and baggy sweaters at everyone.

"If you're not wearing baggy jeans, switch to some. There should be boxers or pajama pants in here, wear them under the jeans and make sure they show. Hats should be at roughly a 45 degree angle." Shikamaru instructed.

"Say what..?" Kiba asked, already confused.

"Dress like you're a player, sag your jeans and twist your hat to the side." Shikamaru said, deadpan expression more than obvious.

"Oh.. gotcha!" He grinned, immediately stripping off his jeans for a baggier pair, much to the embarrassment of the girls in the room. Shikamaru didn't really care, instead he grabbed the needed supplies for himself, found a corner and changed. All of the girls in the group hid their pony tails in their hats or the hoods of their sweaters under Temari's command. She caught on quick, much to the liking of Shika.

"So what are we doing exactly?" The smaller boy of the two said, despite this his voice wasn't high pitched as Shikamaru had originally imagined upon seeing him.

"Singing, Pour some sugar on me." Shikamaru grinned. The guys paled slightly but laughed none the less. They quickly discussed what songs and who would do what so they wouldn't look stupid. The entire group got whistles when they went back in, looking sort of like a boys dance group.

"Love is like a bomb, baby, c'mon get it on , Livin' like a lover with a radar phone." Kiba immediately started grinning at the girls. Though Shikamaru saw him glance at Hinata several times.

"Lookin' like a tramp, like a video vamp, Demolition woman, can I be your man?" One of the boys followed up and the entire group echoed "your man." It sounded really cool, earning a couple of cheers.

"Razzle 'n' a dazzle 'n' a flash a little light. Television lover, baby, go all night!" Temari grinned tapping her foot in beat with the music.

"Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet. Little miss-a-innocent sugar me." Matsuri smiled followed by a course of "yeah".

"T-take a bottle, shake it up." Hinata started feeling slightly nervous but the back up of the others on stage seemed to help. "Break the bubble! Break it up.!" She smiled.

"Pour some sugar on me, ooh, in the name of love." Kiba grinned, winking at a couple of the girls in the class as he "danced" with the music.

"Pour some sugar on me, c'mon fire me up!" Shikamaru couldn't help but grin. Part of him wished Konoha was a bit more like this. Sure they were all allies.. but he doubted he'd ever get to see something like this there.

"Pour your sugar on me, oh, I can't get enough!" The smaller boy sang earning a couple of whistles.

"I'm hot, sticky sweet from my head to my feet yeah." The all sang, a couple of them hiding grimaces as Gai attempted to dance along with them. Everyone had to admit it was pretty funny though. Shikamaru gave a little smirk for the camera filming in the back of the room before inviting everyone up for the second song. Even if they didn't know it they could dance. It was for fun after all.

"Gai sensei.. this is going on youtube isn't it.." Matsuri stated more than asked, groaning slightly when he nodded.

"Then hi youtube..ers.. this is love shack.. promoted by our insane teacher!" Temari grinned earning several laughs and snickers before Shikamaru turned on the music. A rather nerdy boy moved to the front of the group after talking with everyone, a small grin causing his nose to crinkle and tilt his over-sized glasses.

"If you see a faded sign by the side of the road that says.. 15 miles to the.." He sang, trailing off with a goofy grin.

"LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE SHACK!" The girls of the group sang, the ones with hats throwing them off so it was obvious who was of each gender. The guys immediately echoed them.

"I'm headin' down the Atlanta highway, lookin' for the love getaway." Matsuri sang grinning as she did the sprinkler.

"Heading for the love getaway, love getaway!" Another girl sang, everyone stiffled laughter as everyone broke into rather old and lame dance moves. It fit though.

"I got me a car, it's as big as a whale and we're headin' on down.." The same boy from the beginning sang, emphasizing the size of his car with his arms.

"To the Love Shack!" The girls sang.

"I got me a Chrysler, it seats about 20! So hurry up and bring your jukebox money." Kiba grinned finishing before Temari and Shikamaru took over.

"The Love Shack is a little old place where we can get together, Love Shack baby! Love Shack baay-beee." They sang in unison, grinning and acting like fools.

"Sign says.. Woo... stay away fools, 'cause love rules at the Lo-o-ove Shack!" The two boys from the original group harmonized. Shikamaru wondered if they were in choir because they were really good. Does this school even have choir?

"Well it's set way back in the middle of a field, Just a funky old shack and I gotta get back." Temari and Matsuri sang.

"Bang bang bang on the door baby!" Everyone sang, immitating the action of knocking on the door to the timing of the beat in the music. "Knock a little louder baby! Bang bang bang on the door baby!"

"I can't hear you!" A smaller girl with blonde braids shouted.

"Bang bang on the door baby, Bang bang on the door, Bang bang on the door baby." Everyone sang before it quieted slightly to just Temari and Shikamaru again.

"Bang bang.. You're what?"

"Tin roof! Rusted...!" Hinata sang loudly with a sly grin, which was slightly shocking but a small cheer erupted anyway as the class finished up it's final course.

Even after the song finished and the camera was turned off their was the hum of hushed talking as everyone packed up. Most people in this class had gym next, also with Gai so nobody was in any rush. They just had to keep up with Gai after all.

"That was awesome!" Temari grinned as she, Hinata and Shikamaru made their way into the halls.

"What was awesome?" Ino asked, sneaking up behind them.

"Oh nothing important." Temari taunted, laughing when she imagined a tic mark forming on Ino's forehead.

"W-we sang as a class and recorded it f-for youtube. It w-was a lot of fun." Hinata smiled. Ino's anger seemed to disappate a little bit but she was still upset. Whether ninjas or school girls Shikamaru could still tell when Ino was hiding something. She had been ever since they were at the water fountains. She seemed.. oddly protective of him, especially in regards of Temari.


"Shika... " Ino mumbled, quickly pulling her back pack over her shoulder as she waited for him to finish getting changed.

"What?" He asked, sighing as he cracked his neck. Gym class with guy felt like military training or something.

"You picked me.. right..? Over Temari?" Ino asked, looking slightly vulnerable the way she was avoiding eye contact. Was this what was bothering her?

"What do you mean..?" He asked, trying to clarify.

"I mean.. if we're best friends here.. I have no doubt in my mind I'd love you somewhere else.. I just.. wanted to know you didn't leave me for her.. I.. nevermind." She whispered, swiftly disappearing from the room leaving Shikamaru, yet again, completely lost and alone. He thought she liked Sasuke.. Sai even..

You picked me.. right..?


A/N: I do have an end planned out for this.. and possibly a sequel but If i do the sequel I'm going to finish Seeking solace or mirror first so it's a long ways off :P Btw.. sorry it's short.. again. This is kind of a bit of a filler chapter. Nothing all that big besides the end.


akitty: Thanks :D I will never drop a story but I tend to focus on the story that is more fun to write :P I'll try to get some updates on this though :P thanks for the review.


xxx: thank you :P Sorry it took me so long.